Cast on: Hoodie Scarf

I started the Hoodie Scarf from Diana. Such a cute idea. So far my only mod is the cable pattern. I shorted one of the alternating segments.

Yarn is the KnitPicks Shine Worsted as suggested by Diana. I think the color is Snapdragon…but maybe it’s Crocus. I can’t remember!

The yarn is silky soft. But I’m wondering if it’s TOO silky for my slick KnitPicks Options needles. I find I work hard at keeping the stitches on the needles. So, I may have to find some of my old Addi Naturas to add some grip. This is intended to be a gift for a family friend. Let’s hope I can finish it before Christmas!

Stashing Up

Lovely new KnitPicks yarns!

Gloss:

70% wool, 30 % silk in Burgundy and Dusk
Initial impressions (of course, I haven’t even swatched yet so take it with a grain of salt):

It has a bit of the silk “crunch” but lacks some of the softness. There’s a definite sheen to it…but not as much as I had hoped for. The ply is decent and it’s not too fuzzy. And the colors are just so delicious. It’s a nice rich reddish burgundy and a love rich not-too-bright blue.

Swish – Superwash in Baby Blue

So, the excitement of superwash from KnitPicks is pretty high. And again, I have’t even swatched yet – but my first impression is very positive! The yarn is SOFT! I think it’s noticeably softer than Cascade 220 Superwash. The color is perfect for a baby outfit…a nice soft blue. In the past, I’ve had issues with KnitPicks yarn looking much brighter/garish than I was expecting. But these 3 skeins are perfect. I’m going to swatch soon and put it through the wash to see how SUPERwash it really is.

And there were more KnitPicks Options needle tips and some DPNs too. I must say, Kathy’s concern about weight didn’t phase me at all…until I got the DPNS. The Options line I don’t really notice the weight at all…and the tip and flexible cord make up for it. But these DPNs…I noticed right away they they felt heavier to me. Hrm. Not a good sign. I have 4 socks on the needle right now…but I may have to cast on for a test sock just to see how much the DPN weight impacts me. I’m probably more inclined to be critical of the DPNs because I have wood (Crystal Palace) and metal (INOX Express) options that work just fine.

And finally, the pattern for Rona Lace Shawl. I figure this could be my first round shawl. But man, I was thrown off when it didn’t come with charts. Since I’ve never knit a round shawl before I don’t know if this is normal. Don’t circular lace patters have charts???

Princess Peach

The girl gets the spotlight. It’s about damn time!

Of course, I could make all sorts of comments about the feminist (she’s rescuing the boys) or anti-feminist themes (she does it by prancing around in a pink hoop skirt) of the game. But instead I’ll focus on the game play.

Hey – it’s a fun game. What can I say? The top screen is where most of the action happens, while the touch screen is mostly used when you need Peach to emote. Need water? Make her cry (a heart with a frowny face…awwww how cute). Need to burn a bridge? Make her angry and

NBS.

NBS, or Neglectful Blogging Syndrome, is common amongst busy bloggers who struggle to find a work/life/play balance. While treatable, NBS can cause intense feelings of shame, guilt, embarrassment and inadequacy. While the neglectful blogger continues to read other netizens’ blogs, he/she only feels worse when he/she recognizes that his/her fellow bloggers continue to update at regular intervals.

The cure for NBS is both simple and difficult. The neglectful blogger needs to bite the proverbial bullet and post a blog entry. While the first NBS treatment can be painful and may result in a post of lesser quality. This is the critical first step in treating the cyclical syndrome.

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Hello. My name is Suzanne and I have NBS. But to be fair I’ve been a busy gal. In the past 5 months I’ve started a new job, bought a new house, started the adoption process and we’ve been fixing up our current house for sale this summer. I’ve been knitting a lot though and will start posting FOs (Strawberry Hat, Lace Leaf Shawl, Clapotis II, Angel’s Rest Socks etc.) after I take photos.