Yarn Meter???

Ok, I'm cheap, I admit it. My daughter would tell you I don't pay full price for anything which is almost true. J over at Knit N Things is going to do the Mystery Shawl 3 with me. I go on line, find the yarn for cheap (cheaper I should say) and purchase a pound (yes, a pound). It arrives and it's beautiful except I'm now in a dilemma over how to split the cone in equal amounts. I'm not about to spend $50.00 on a yarn meter but thanks to a knitting friend I don't have to! I took a trip to Tackle and Things and purchased the same meter for $10.99. OK, admittedly it's not that easy - I now have to enlist the help of DH to actually MAKE the holder for the meter (see pics). Another trip to Home Depot and, voila, all the necessary pieces are sitting on the dining room table. Since we're supposed to be snowed in tomorrow HE should have lots of time to work on this. I have to give J her half on Monday, I'm sure she's anxious to swatch :-)

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take pictures before I start winding off for J - isn't it pretty! I think the color is called Claret and it's just gorgeous. It's wool and silk - does it get any better than this. I CONFESS already - I'm a yarnaholic and I can't help myself. Do you think they have support groups for knitters like me? If they do I don't want to know - I'm perfectly happy collecting all this yarn so when I retire and I'm poor as a church mouse I'll still be able knit with yummy yarn!

Update on MS3

Ok - I REALLY do know how to knit. No wonder those swatches looked a little funky! There's a mistake in the pattern! More later after my knitting meeting this afternoon. Since we're expecting snow tomorrow in our neck of the woods I need to get my fix today. (See how easily I can justify going out to knit.) We probably won't get much snow - haven't had any to speak of since we started buying Jeeps and have a trusty snowblower sitting outide begging to be used LOL.

My Quest for Employment

I've actively started to search for employment. Today was my first experience with a recruiter. She telephoned me last evening with this "wonderful" job opportunity and could I come in to speak with her. Little lamb that I am, I dutifully drive to Bridgewater, take all their tests, fill out all their forms, give them all my references and lo and behold - the company isn't accepting new resumes. They ended the first round and will evaluate the applicants they have. My naivety never ceases to amaze me (and probably lots of other people too!) The old "bait and switch" happening here! Oh well, everyone has to start somewhere, right!

All this preparation seriously cut into my knitting time. I had to go to bed early, rise early, drive a long distance and all for naught! If I were sitting here knitting I would have at least accomplished something even if it was several trips to the frog pond LOL.

OK - I swatched some stash yarn 'cause I wanted to see what the pattern looked like for MS3. The bright pink is Cascade Indulgence (which I realized afterward I would need another skein to use this yarn and sent out an SOS to some groups). The cream color is a mohair/nylon combo I got at Stitches last year and I like it better than the Indulgence. I have one more yarn to try but since swatching is REALLY on the bottom of my list for knitting it will have to wait until tomorrow. Comments, anyone, comments???

On a happy note, my favorite guy in the whole world showed up again and he delivered the last of the 100% pure wool so all you secret agents out there - get ready and we'll set up a secret drop. I can't guarantee that I'm not under surveillance so we should be careful with this one. I just love these clandestine operations, the anticipation, the intrigue, the suspense - will we pull it off without getting caught? I don't want the knitting police to arrest me!!!

SEX

Stash Enhancing Experience that is. A few friends and I went to the yarn sales on Saturday and although we each bought something it really didn't amount to an awful lot. I guess being on unemployment really does affect my thinking LOL. Anyway - In one store the owner was her regular nasty self. Needless to say it didn't encourage purchasing much and in fact I put back four skeins - SO THERE to that yarn store owner! The other yarn store has increased its selection of sock yarn and had some I really like (which I did buy). I'm still really surpirsed at my self control this weekend. Of course, it was totally out of control today. I was going to make the MS3 from Stash - yes, you read it right and I actually picked out about 5 different things to swatch. That was until a friend who joined the knit-along decided since it was a mystery shawl they should do it in the yarn called for. Well, anyone who knows me knows it doesn't take much to make me purchase yarn VBG. Note how easy it was for my to just jump right in and purchase yarn since I had a project for it :-) Perhaps that's why I didn't buy too much at the sales - no project in mind except the socks! So, we're working on a color. In the meantime - check out the photos of my SEX from this weekend :-) The picture of the mosaic socks is what I'll be making with the solid gray and multicolor pinks and grey. The cotton in the back right is also designated for these socks - a little more dramatic and if I start now perhaps I can get them done for next fall 'cause the yarn is definately fall colors :-) Won't be as dramatic but I just didn't want to do balck