I started the Dale baby sweater from book 124 - the cute many-colored cardigan with the bunnies and ducks and carrots and garden tools. I'm using Norwegian sport wool bought at Elann which is actually giving me a gauge slightly lower than the recommended Baby Ull (a fingering weight yarn). It does seem like a rather thin sport weight yarn. Like most of the Norwegian yarns I've used, I get the sense this one will never pill. It is superwash but doesn't feel like plastic.



I had to change colors slightly from the original colors used but I figure it will all come together in some sort of harmonious whole. The pattern uses 16 colors so I am working on keeping up with the ends during the process rather than taking a day or two after I finish it to do this task. I'm almost done with the first sleeve and there are a few three color rows.



I brought the spouse into my yarn room last night and showed him all my yarn. I asked him if he agreed with me that my yarn stash was huge. Surprisingly he said no, it wasn't that huge. Of course he says exactly the same thing when I ask him how my posterior looks in my new jeans. So I guess I can go spend money at Taos now without the slightest amount of guilt.



Blogger won't let me upload photos now so I'll try to get photos of Jeanette's Dale sweater tomorrow.

I'm working a bit on the blog today. I added an email link under my tag-board per request and also added comments to discuss issues at length. I tried to add a feature where a Milky Way bar would pop out of your computer every time you accessed this blog but alas I couldn't get that particular HTML code to work.

Fringed Latvian Mittens

Here are Jeanette's fringed Latvian mittens from the book of the same name by Lizbeth Upitis. Aren't they absolutely gorgeous? I got her the kit for Christmas from Schoolhouse Press - unfortunately they don't offer the kits anymore on their web site. The yarn is Satakieli from Finland and it was really nice stuff. The kit came with a really large photo and great instructions so Jeanette didn't even need the actual book.

Organizing my stash the other day made me remember I have two future Sanquhar glove projects planned. I came down with a serious case of glove envy when I saw Krysta's beautiful Merike's gloves from my favorite book, Folk Knitting in Estonia. She did them in Koigu (which Theresa the yarn enabler has told me is totally addicting to work with). They would also be gorgeous in a cashmere blend, wouldn't they?

Also, check out Stasia's gorgeous Bea Ellis moose hat and also the fun fair isle Starmore mittens she photographed at a wool festival.

I'm starting to get excited about the Taos Wool Festival. It is Oct. 4 and 5 this year in Kit Carson park in downtown Taos (you can't miss the park). I highly recommend it and will be taking plenty of photos for the blog. We also plan to return via the "high road" to Taos which means Chimayo and the miraculous sanctuary there. Chimayo is also home to some great weavers so I'll take plenty of film. I think the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is usually the same weekend so perhaps I'll get some balloon photos as well. I know for sure I'm going to buy some more whiter-than-white Cormo yarn from Elsa Sheep & Wool and Sweaters from Camp and the new Elsebeth Lavold book if I can find it.