Tulip Sweater - Check!

I realize that it seems that I've been a knitting machine lately, but in all honesty, most of the projects that I've been completing have been hanging out on the needles for awhile, just needing an hour or two of work to pass over into the "FO" pile.

For example, I got the replacement yarn for the Tulip Sweater weeks ago, and it sat on my table just mocking me for quite some time.

I finally got around to putting on the neckband and the icord tie. This sweater marked my first experience with icord. I have to say, I think it's kinda fun.. however, applied icord is just a pain in the butt. Literally, for every one stitch that you want to progress down the line, you have to knit at least 3. It takes forever!! But, it looks really nice & neat when it's all said and done.

It's all finished except for the 5 billion ends that need to be woven in - but, that's fun for another day. By the way, if you have not knit with Dream in Color yarn, you really need to! It's so soft & squishy and comes in the most amazing colors.

Final Specs:
Pattern: Tulip Sweater by Lindsey Pekney from Dream in Color (included in kit)
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy (Kit from Threadbear) - $32
Needles: Size 5 & 7 circs and double points
Time: About a week of TV knitting
Total Cost: $32

Breathing a Sigh of Relief.

Cancel Red Alert. Threadbear threw some yarn in the mail to me the other day after I called. I think that I'm so used to bad customer service these days that I'm still in shock. I'm pretty sure that when they told me that, I sat there with a bewildered look on my face for a good 15 seconds. (Not that I should be with them, the store is fabulous, and the employees are always so kind.)

The Tulip Sweater has been saved. Carry on with your Saturday.

Red Alert! Red Alert!

So, here I am.. knitting along on the Tulip Sweater & surprise! It really looks like it is supposed to look! I finish the second sleeve and was about to start on the neck - and what is this?? I'm out of yarn?? How did that happen? See that little blue stragglely piece there? That's all that's left!

When I picked up the kit, I had noticed that the blue skein for the trim was about the same size as the other skeins of of yarn, but really didn't think too much about it. I was in possession of a Tulip Sweater kit! The only thinking going on involved how fast I could get home to cast on for that thing!

I called the LYS today to ask if they could maybe give me some more yarn. (Possibly kinda tacky, but I swear I'm on gauge and following the pattern precisely.) I have enough out of the rest of the colors to make more than half of another sweater, so I think this was truly an accident that I got short yardage of this one color.

I feel like they owe me enough yarn to finish the neckband and do the icord ties. Is that asking too much? The lady on the phone seemed very confused at the idea that there could be short yardage, and told me that a manager would call me back in just a few minutes. Four hours later - no one called. Hmm. I'm going to chalk it up to "they got busy" and stop by on my way home tomorrow after my internship.

On another note, The Boyfriend gave me a gift certificate for a LYS that I hadn't been to yet. I went this afternoon, and it was definitely a unique experience. I had wanted to get yarn for a sweater or cardigan for myself, but they didn't have enough in one color - in any yarn - for an adult sweater. Then, I figured that since Baby Watch 2007 has just jumped to FIVE babies (yes, FIVE!), I'd get some yarn for a baby sweater instead. They didn't have anything but acrylics, and then in not so great colors. The acrylic part interests me because their slogan is, "Naturally Nice Fibers." Intriguing. Another interesting note - the person working at the store had never heard of The Yarn Harlot. I repeat - she'd never heard of the Yarn Harlot. Blasphemy.

So, after pouring through the aisles for an hour and a half trying to use my free money, I wound up getting some Sockotta, Adrienne Vittadini Allegra in a coral color, and the best thing - I got some Addi Tubos in 1's and 2's. Happy Birthday to me! I have no idea what I'm going to do with the Adrienne Vittadini, but it was gorgeous and shiny and called my name. Maybe a lacy, light scarf?

There's a little knitting going on here.

I'm not normally a "show your works in progress" kinda girl, but I figure after the big whine-fest that I had last week, I should post something a little more positive. (Thanks for all the great advice, by the way!)

So, here's a shot is the first of my second pair of socks. It's made out of Colinette Jitterbug in Jay. It's short yardage (and I'm still learning socks), so I decided to just use the pattern on the inside label so that I didn't run out of yarn. It's just a simple pattern, but I've been warned that there was an error in the heel. I kinda avoided this entirely by just doing the same heel as I did on my first sock because I got confused by something in the directions, and I didn't have stitch markers with me at the time I was ready to turn the heel. I'm almost ready for the toe! Yay!

On Saturday, I picked up my Dream in Color Tulip Sweater kit from my LYS. I was so excited to cast on for this thing! It knits up really fast. Several of my girlfriends are pregnant, and one in particular is an especially good friend of mine, so I'm making this one as her "In Case It's a Girl" present. If she has a boy, it's going into the closet for someone extra special. It's too cute just to give to any ole pregnant lady.

It's kinda funny because The Boyfriend keeps looking at it and telling me that it's too small for a real baby. It's sized for 6-9 months & I'm gauge. I think he just thinks that babies come out weighing 30 pounds or something. I really can't tell you the last time that he actually spent time with a real baby, so his view is a little skewed.

I really like this pattern a lot. I'm tempted to put my name on the waiting list for another kit, but I think I'm going to pass for now. There's too many other cool patterns that I want to make first.