DAL

That stands for Designalong, and Donna Druchunas just announced she's having one after the holidays. It's based on her knew book, Ethnic Knitting Discovery, so get your hands on a copy. We'll be designing our own sweaters using her tips, and she'll be coaching us along. You can sign up at the Ethnic Knits yahoo group for more information, or just stay tuned here and I'll give an update as soon as I know more. I'm in though!

Maybe this sweater with some modifications? I've certainly got enough wool in my stash to work with, and I'm thinking I'll try my art project using a least favorite color, the most favorite, and black. Maybe I can redeem that hideous yellow I found.

Tiny stash enhancement

I know, I know. I swore I wouldn't buy any more yarn until I put a dent in my existing stash. But, I had to get some dark blue to finish my nephew's kiss-my-big-toe socks, and I so loved the Trekking that I got last time, I had to buy some more, and then the Cashsilk screamed out my name and I knew I had to make myself a pair of those gorgeous red gloves out of .... which knitting book were those in? Anyway, I've made good progress on the gift socks for Christmas. How are you all doing with holiday gifts?

Coveting lace

I spent a little time going through pattern books looking for fast holiday gifts. I'm always drawn to lace, and wish I could see and count well enough to crank out a nice shawl or scarf. Like the ones in Victorian Lace Today. So Old Buddy, here in his favorite pose, kept me company while I drooled over the pictures and patterns, and then cast aside any crazy ideas of casting on. He just drooled all over my wool scarf, perfectly content to let me have my little fantasies. He's a grand old cat, Buddy is.

Yarn arts

I've decided I'd like some wall art depicting knitting and spinning, but don't really want a print. Most of the artwork I have is original, so I may need to paint my own. But here's an idea of what I'm looking for, a few examples from history. Aren't they lovely?

Next week's project

I'm going to card up some merino with angora, hopefully enough to ply with straight merino for a pair of homespun socks. I love those subtle Fair Isle socks in the Twisted Sisters Sock Book and at least want to have the yarn on hand to give it a try. We'll see how much knitting I get done in November. It's National Novel Writing Month, so I'll be trying to get in my 50,000 words along with thousands of other writers worldwide.

Stash monsters

Of all those balls of yarn I recently counted, more than 300 if you recall that post, these are the only ones I could easily unload. I've held on to the orange because the school colors here are orange and black. It's like Halloween year-round, boo hiss. But, any of the kids around here would love a gift knit in those colors. I haven't been able to get over the gag reflex though.

The yellow has a greenish-gray cast and I suppose I could create a design challenge with it. One of my favorite assignments for art students is to pick your favorite color, your least favorite color, and black. Then make a drawing using those three. It's amazing the dynamic results, and I imagine it would be as creatively stimulating with a sweater design, too.

The white stuff is some sort of velour ribbon and I can't for the life of me think of anything to do with it. A cape for a bride? A hammock? I got it in one of those great surprise bargain boxes from WEBS. All the other yarn packs were lush and expensive designer yarns, so it was worth it even if I got this one dud.

Done

One completed burgundy mohair tam. I tried it on and looked as hideous as I do in any sort of hat. So, I made hubbo put it on and he looked quite good in it, rather Brueggelesque. Of course, he's a mad hatter and would look great in a dunce cap. His comment was, "I don't have to wear that, DO I?" It was a rhetorical question, of course. I'll try another version, but perhaps in a soft merino knit up with a multi-color pattern. Probaby not for the Man of the Place though.