Wagons Ho!

Like many blogophiles I have hopped upon the bandwagon for my projects recently.

It started small. Dear Yarn Harlot’s obsessive love of the Tulip Baby Sweater started it. It wasn’t the first post, but the one in which she was uneasy about trading away her last girly kit that did it. I too, had to have one and was so pleased I did. Fast, wonderful yarn, and I want to do it again.

Then came the Heartbeat Sweater Kit with Yarn Place’s Vivace Bamboo yarn. Beyond yummy, this just pleases the eye and hands so much during knitting that I have to be careful or I will end up with a huge size, distracted by the fun of the yarn.

And more Jaywalker Socks.

But the newest sock jumps on three, well four bandwagons all in one. First, the yarn is the amazing Panda Wool and I admit that I want to go out and buy binloads of this stuff. It slips through the fingers with such sensual pleasure that it should be done behind closed doors. I was a little intimidated by making socks at such a fine gauge as I usually prefer thick ones. But this project is flying along and makes a soft and supple fabric. Inspiration came from Smoking Hot needles Lacy Zig Zag socks. She didn’t give full directions but gave a lot of hints; however I didn’t have the pattern calendar she referred to in her post. I rooted through Barbara Walker and came up with the very close Herringbone Lace. Oh, and they are toe-up using two more bandwagon links. Judy’s magic cast on (love it, love it, LOVE IT and have used it so much that I have a stack of 20 toes sitting on my knitting table). And Maia’s Toe-up Gusseted Heel Tutorial, unusual and so far, appears to be working. I admit here that being struck with something new that I was dubious, but found, as usual, that I was wrong. This is quite a good idea.

Anybody want the recipe for these baby’s when done?

I wish I could say that was all, but with 4 sweaters and about 20 socks going right now, it is enough. In spinning I have become obsessed with The Black Lamb’s superwash merino. Man, this is just so nice (and inexpensive). I have been blending it to mix colors and to mix fibers. Pink Alpaca legs and black superwash are very nice. I thought I wouldn’t like the texture, but it is spongy and superb. She runs actions at quite a good price and I just can’t recommend this fiber highly enough. Over 20 lbs live here with me and I am not sure it is enough yet. I may need more colors…