How do I love thee? Let me count the ways…

1. Buttons
   www.TextileGarden.com have such gorgeous buttons. I had to restrain myself from spending a fortune. I got some pearl buttons that stand out on a shank. These buttons are great, I use them all the time as they’re elegant and feminine. They’re also the perfect size for a 4-ply YO buttonhole. You might be seeing these again this summer ;) ! I couldn’t resist these lovely red oval s either – I think they’ll be great on a grey assymmetric layering piece. And who could leave these sweet little hearts? No idea what I’ll do with them, but they won’t go to waste!
2. Spring edition of Pompom magazine. I’m working on a proposal (or two) for Pompom magazine, so I wanted to meet the editors and see if they had any hints for me J! The spring edition has a very clever raglan cardi with lace raglan increases. Lobelia by Meghan Fernandes. I might make Roseroot by Anna Wilkinson
3. Chiaogoo Lace Interchangeables from Tall Yarns ‘n Tales. I’ve been wanting some of these FOREVER. Well, about 6 months. I’ve not been happy with my existing supply of 3mm needles, and I seem to be working more and more frequently with 4-ply and other weights down at that end of the needle spectrum. I cracked them open at lunchtime and oh, they’re so smooth. Me likey, bigtime. I am saving up for the set now. Fortuitously, the 3mm ones are the only size NOT in the set, so I won’t be doubling up. Anyone want to make an offer on my extensive collection of knitpros? J
   
4. Project Time! I have an idea for a beaded wrap/shawl and I wanted it in RED. I mean RED. And d’you know what? I couldn’t find a deep, luscious, full-on red anywhere – plenty of dark reds, tomatoey reds, and faded reds – but nothing matched the colour in my head until I found some Deeply Wicked Cherry Red from EasyKnits. I really wanted some 4-ply twinkle in “Night Sky” too, but it had already sold out. And the beads? Those I got from Moon Beads. I picked out some sheeny-jet black ones in size 5. They’re gonna really give the wrap some heft.
5. My last purchase of the day was a set of blocking wires from Jillybean Yarns. I actually sourced them earlier in the day, but left it to the last minute to pick them up – there’s a yardstick in there! Nice flexible but strong stainless steel wires, T-pins and yes, a Yardstick! It’s huge. My daughter was completely wowed by my new enormous ruler. “What size of paper are you going to use that on, Mummy?”

This was me at my most abstemious. I could have spent a fortune so easily.

The best thing about Unravel though, is bumping into people you already know from the knitting community, including a good many I heretofore only knew online. In my previous post, I mentioned how complimentary people had been about my capelet, and I gotta tell ya, I’m still on a high from that, knitting peeps rock.

Mwah!

X Elanor