I Love Getting New Yarn!

It's like getting a new car every time I get yarn in the mail. I ordered my MadelineTosh, Tosh DK from Webs on January 2nd and it came last weekend. I was a bit nervous opening the package because you never know what the color is really going to look like in real life vs. a picture on the Internet. But it's beautiful and it's going to be perfect for Gnarled Oak Cardigan.

It's green, brown, yellow and blue all at once. And soooo soft! I love Tosh DK. I knit my Honey Cowl with it last year and have worn it a ton. After almost a year of wear the stitch definition is still beautiful and the yarn is soft with little to no piling.

I can not wait to swatch this up and start my Gnarled Oak Cardigan. Fingers crossed it will be done in time for Stitches West.

Second Finished Object of 2012...

I'm calling this scarf Baa Baa Black Sheep but it's really called Eatons Scarf by Jennifer Refat. I wanted a scarf to go with my beautiful red, black and gray wool jacket that I got a few months ago while on a spur of the moment trip up to Reno. I have lots of scarves but nothing that would look fantastic with my jacket.

When it got really cold here at the beginning of December I knew I need to knit myself a scarf to go with the jacket. One of the things I love the most about knitting (and sewing) is that I can create the perfect accessory to go with a piece of clothing that I love.

It took over a month to finish the scarf because I bought 3 skeins of yarn at my local LYS, Anna's Yarn Shoppe but when the yarn ran out the scarf wasn't long enough for my liking. I went back to the shop and they were out. I figured I'd just order another skein from the Internet but never got around to it until I ordered my yarn for Gnarled Oak Cardigan. The yarn came over the weekend and I wanted to finish my scarf before I started on my Cardigan. Otherwise, I was afraid that I'd never finish the scarf.

Pattern: Eatons Scarf by Jennifer Refat
Yarn: Berroco Lustra in colorway 3134, Ebony (4 skeins)
Needles: US 8
Mods: Added 2 extra repeats of the pattern to make the scarf wider and used more yarn then called for in the pattern to make the scarf longer.

I love this scarf with the jacket. It's perfect and it's long enough that I can double it and then wrap it around my neck. I love the buttons on this coat. They are one detail that really makes it special.

I also love the hood on this jacket. It's nice to not have to carry an umbrella to avoid getting my hair wet when it's raining or when we have heavy fog.

I love this scarf. It was perfect pre-holiday mindless knitting. I would totally made this again for gift knitting. Non-knitters would be totally impressed with how lovely it is and not have a clue about how easy a knit it was.

First Finished Object of 2012

And my first piece of color work! I give you...Muckle Mitts!
Pattern: Muckle Mitts by Mary Jane Mucklestone
Needles: US 3 & US 4
Yarn: Lion Brand Lion Wool Solids in Pearl Gray and Ebony (1/2 skein of Ebony & 1/4 of Pearl Gray)
Mods: Moved thumb hole to row 12 instead of row 11. Did 6 repeats of the finger ribbing instead of 4 & did 8 repeats of thumb ribbing instead of 6.

I love any pair of mitts that has a thumb. I never liked the pairs that has just a hole for the thumb.

One of my goals for 2011 was to learn color work. I know it's not 2011 anymore but I'm marking it off on my goals since I still have 2011's listed in my side bar. This pattern was really easy to follow and didn't really need any mods. The only reason I did mods was because my hands are long and I wanted them to cover more of my fingers. They fit really well and I only had a couple of places where the stitches could have been pulled tighter or where the colors don't match up exactly. But all and all, I'm super proud of these mitts. My first try at color work and I actually walked away with a use able and beautiful pair of mitts. I can't wait to wear these!

4th Book of 2012

Breakdown by Katherine Amt Hanna

We all know that I have a love of post-apocalyptic/dystopia novels. Just look at my reading list 2011. I love them a lot. I read pretty much anything I can get my hands on...well, and zombie books too but that's a different post.

Breakdown was great! Six years after a pandemic devastates the human population, and the subsequent loss of much of the world's technology, Chris Price finally makes it from New York to Britain to reunite with his brother. But unresolved grief over his dead wife and baby and the horrors he witnessed as he traveled through a changed world have damaged him. He struggles to let go of his past, accept the healing kindness of those around him, and let love back into his life.

There is a lot of mystery sounding Chris and his journey from New York to Bath. I would have liked more of the story about what happened to him in the US but the author conveniently says that Chris doesn't remember it except for small parts. I didn't love that, it was too convenient. But it really didn't take away from the story. It's kinda like his wife and kid died and he went crazy and doesn't remember. It doesn't detract but I would have liked more of that part of the story.

I loved the ending, which I won't give away. Sadness and happiness. I just wonder if the author is going to write a second book about Pauline's brother. I'd like to know where he's been and what he's seen.

I gave the book 5 out of 5 stars on good reads. The things that bothered me didn't detract enough to take away from a really good story. I'd like to read more by this author.

I Guess this is What Happens...

when you fall off the face of the earth. You miss that the Winter 2011 Twist Collective came out. Where was I?!

I always love the photography in Twist Collective but this time I doubly love it. The mix of the fancy fabrics with the rusticness of the wool is beautiful.

Lots to love in this issue but two were my favorites:

Corinth by Christa Giles

Bellevue by Robin Melanson

Last years Stitches West sweater was from Twist Collective, Roheline. It got lots of attention at Stitches and I still wear it all the time. This year my mom and I are going and we're taking one of my mom's friends that is part of her sewing group. I am really looking forward to going again this year. I got a copy of Cookie A.'s Knit. Sock. Love. for Christmas and I NEED sock yarn!

3rd book of 2012

Plague Year by Jeff Carlson

From Goodreads:

The nanotechnology was designed to fight cancer. Instead, it evolved into the Machine Plague, killing nearly five billion people and changing life on Earth forever.

The nanotech has one weakness: it self-destructs at altitudes above ten thousand feet. Those few who've managed to escape the plague struggle to stay alive on the highest mountains, but time is running out-there is famine and war, and the environment is crashing worldwide. Humanity's last hope lies with a top nanotech researcher aboard the International Space Station-and with a small group of survivors in California who risk a daring journey below the death line...

My take:

This book lost me with all the Nanotech gargon. I gave it 2 stars. It just couldn't hold my attention for long.

2nd Book of 2012

Fighting to Survive Book 2 by Rhiannon Frater

From Goodreads.com:

Katie and Jenni have found new lives with the survivors of their makeshift fort, but danger still lurks. Nothing is easy in the new world where the dead walk and every day is a struggle to keep safe.As the elements, bandits, and the zombie horde threaten their safe haven, Jenni and Katie join the other survivors in fighting to survive as the world dies.

My take:

Great zombie book. Has all the elements: zombies, bad humans, peril, fight for survival, interesting lead characters. I won the 1st book in the series from Goodreads and the second one was just as good as the first. I gave it 5 stars.