I didn't buy any yarn in Iowa, but.....

I visited Crazy Girl Yarn Shop in Coralville (next door to Iowa City) and drove past The Knitting Shoppe, but I didn't buy anything. I didn't have to -- I had yarn waiting for me when I got home!

The day after Yarn Focus Challenge ended, I succumbed to two yarns I had been wanting to try. The blue-green is Sophie's Toes Sock Yarn (superwash merino) in Seafoam. Her shop is empty right now, but keep checking back -- it's definitely worth it! The two skein sof reddish yarn is Jessie's A Piece of Vermont sport weight merino/tencel in Long Time Gone. The color is way off in the picture for both, but probably more off for the Piece of Vermont. It's really a gorgeous, sort of faded burgundy almost-solid. And it's squooshy, squooshy soft!

Obviously, the Sophie's Toes will become socks -- maybe Theresa's Whiskers and Paw Prints. I've been looking for the right almost-solid sock yarn for that pattern. I have no idea what the two skeins (about 825 yards total) of Jessie's yarn will become. I'm thinking maybe a shawl of some sort....

Hmmmmm.......

Moving Along

Four days in Iowa City convinced me that I'm really moving there, and I'm happy about it. Everyone I met was really nice, which doesn't surprise me, since Iowa City feels like central Illinois, where I grew up. I found a place to live -- a three bedroom townhouse with a little pond behind it -- despite the fact that it's totally the wrong time of year to find a rental in a college town. My mom drove over for a day while I was there, because it's only about a 3 and a half hour drive from where she lives. Mom got to meet my new boss and some of my co-workers-to-be.

I know that a few of you who have led sheltered lives wonder what Iowa looks like. I've made a Flickr set with a few pictures of the University of Iowa campus. So far, I don't know the names of most of the buildings, but the Hardin Library is where I'll be working.

Of course, on the way back to San Antonio, during my layover at DFW, I got a little teary at the idea of leaving San Antonio. I've been here almost my entire adult life. I've worked in the same place for over 22 years, working my way up the ranks. I've sold the only home I've ever owned. Simon will be going back to live with my sister, his real human mom. It's the first time I've ever moved anywhere alone, unless you count going off to college.

Actually, I won't be moving completely alone, because Harley will be going with me. I've talked to her a lot about the adventure we will be going on together, but she seems skeptical. She's never traveled anywhere except to the vet, and a 17 hour car ride will probably be a trauma. If any of you have advice on traveling with a kitty -- especially a skittish one who doesn't like to be held -- I'd love to hear it!

YFC

You can tell from the ticker up there that it's been over three months since I bought yarn. Well, we were allowed a free day each month, and I used two of mine, but still..... Thanks to Rebekah for setting up the Yarn Focus Challenge. It was really a good thing!!

And of course, I should keep it up, since I'll have to pay to move every skein of yarn that comes into my house. That didn't stop me from ordering a beautiful skein of Seafoam green sock yarn from Sophie's Toes this morning, of course.

And later this week, I'm flying up to Iowa City to find a place to live, and I plan on stopping by Crazy Girl Yarn Shop (actually in Coralville) and the Knitting Shoppe (no website?). They're already marked on my map, along with the realtor's office and my new boss's home. Priorities, people!

Hi there!

Yes, I'm still here. This getting-ready-to-move business is very time-consuming, especially since work is sort of freaking out about my leaving. I mean, pretty much everything I do will have to go on once I leave, and figuring out how that's going to happen takes a lot of meetings!

There has been knitting, though. In fact, I flew to Dallas and back yesterday for a meeting, which supplied quite a bit of knitting time.

Oops! That would be Simon....

I just turned the heel of my first Embossed Leaves sock in Lorna's Laces Shepherds Sock in Yellowstone. I like the way the colors stripe/pool differently in the stockinette heel, as compared to the lace leg. This is a really fun pattern--enough going on that I don't get bored, but simple enough that I could knit during my meeting yesterday.

And I hope you noticed the pie plate it's laying in. Here's a better picture:

Yes, Armadillo Pie! My meeting yesterday was (most likely) my last SCC/MLA Board meeting, and this was their surprise farewell gift to me. Our chapter's "critter" is the armadillo, and the current Past President (who was President-Elect when I was President) had been holding onto this dish for just the right occasion! My favorite part is the little line of 'dillos marching around the edge.

Sorry for the blurriness--I need to figure out how to take close-ups!

One of the hardest part of this move is leaving SCC. I'm sure the Midwest Chapter of MLA is very nice, but any group with an armadillo as the chapter critter is special!

FO: The Black Purl Socks

But first - BRRRRRRR!!!!! The high yesterday was 55ºF, but that was at midnight and the temperature dropped through the day. It stopped dropping around 9:00 p.m., when it got down to 35, where it stayed most of the night. This was a new record low for April 7 in San Antonio. Last year on April 7, we set a record high -- 99º. All in all, I'd rather it be colder than average, because it will be plenty hot soon, but still -- almost freezing in April is unheard of! (The average high for today is 79º and the average low 55º.)

Today, Easter Day, was a little warmer -- it got up to about 50º -- still chilly, but it was definitely warmer for those taking part in the San Antonio tradition of "camping out" at Brackenridge Park. Several days before Easter, the park district lifts the normal curfew, and families stake out tables and barbecue pits at the park for their Easter picnics. I looked for pictures online and couldn't find any, but I'll bet they were chilly Saturday night!

Remember the Black Purl socks? I finally finished them!

Here they are, modeling with their friends, the Mitred Squares

and here they are on my feet.

Specifics:
Pattern: Marietta Rib Socks, with Scalloped Turn-Over Top, from Lucy Neatby's Cool Scoks, Warm Feet.
Yarn: About a skein and a half of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Black Purl on size 2 bamboo DPNs
Modifications: I used the Round toe instead of the Common Wedge Toe, and I used Grumperina's pretty method for picking up the gusset stitches
What I would change: I would make them a little smaller, probably on size 1 DPNs -- the socks I make for myself are always a little big, because I'm so worried about them being too small. I also worry about running out of yarn, but I had a half skein left, so in the future I can make the legs a little longer, at least from LLSS.

What's this?

Where'd this come from?


It would appear to be the beginnings of something. It would be the beginnings of Cozy, a pattern I've considered frequently. It's made out of Brooks Farm Primero in a sort of golden/pinky/peachy color, which I purchased at Kid'n'Ewe and have been saving for something special. Unfortunately, I don't have enough yarn to make it as long as the pattern, but I think it will be a nice scarf-y accessory.

If you've been paying attention, you may realize that the Black Purl socks are not yet finished (although I'm past the heel on the second one), and I already cast on for a pair made from Yellowstone. And there's Arwen, whose back isn't even finished yet, although there's lots more done than there is in that picture I linked to. And the Mitred Square Baby Blanket -- all the squares are knit, but only 3 are sewn together. I really need to get it done before I move to Iowa....

And I should be cleaning out closets.