so come and get them!
First we have the pattern for the Spring by the Pacific Hat. I made up a chart for it in addition to the written directions because I’ve been hearing a lot lately about how much people like them.
Next up are some wristwarmers I made in an effort to use up the (mostly full) partial skein of Debbie Mumm Traditions left after my hat and scarf.
Aside from how beautifully the colors flow together (really, the more I use it the more I like this yarn) I really love the gentle flare at the wrist. I’ve long been a fan of bell sleeves. It goes fairly smoothly under a long sleeve, although it does create some bulk in snug-fitting sleeves. See! How pretty!
Unfortunately they only used about half of the yarn I had left.I decided to try and see if I could get an openwork hat out of the fifty-some-odd yards I had left. After a bit of trial and error, I was left with something I think is pretty cute! I absolutely love the drape I’m getting with the larger hooks, by the way. I may never go back, the difference it makes is just astonishing. Anyway – the hat!
I was surprised to see that I had a bit of ribbon in such a nicely coordinating color. (I bought a bag of random ribbon lengths at Joann’s a few months ago. Remember? I never had ribbon when I needed it? Now I do! Or I might. It depends on the project. But this was precisely the right width, as well!) Both of these projects were completed in a matter of hours. Each takes about 55 yards of worsted weight yarn. You might actually be able to get both a hat and a pair of wristwarmers out of a (fairly typical for worsted weight) 110-yard ball of yarn! Which brings me to my next point –
The free patterns are ready for the Cabbage Rose Cap and the Feminine Wristwarmers. I hope you enjoy them, and I’d love to see any that you make.
I’m not sure how much you’re going to see of me for the next week and a half, at least. We’ve only got about a week left in this house, then two weeks in temporary housing before our exodus. I’m going to be honest, here, I’m getting nervous. This is huge. Sometimes I lie in bed and think things like, “What if the movers pack our passports?” and “How many diapers do we need to put in the luggage to get us from Texas to Japan?” and “How will we make it through three major airports with two kids and all of our baggage without causing an international incident?” and “How will we ever get everything done?” In the end, though, I just remind myself that it seems a lot like childbirth: a long, excruciating slide down into pain and screaming mayhem, after which you are exhausted, sore, and more than a little triumphant. At least, I hope we’ll be triumphant. Right now I can’t even find a store that carries winter coats.
Keep an eye on your tv, though. We may make the evening news yet.
While I was there (buying armfuls of Patons Classic Merino for $3.00 a skein…) I ran across their new line of Debbie Mumm yarn that I’ve heard so much about. My local Joann’s doesn’t carry it, apparently only the larger ones do, but I thought I’d take the opportunity to investigate the buzz-yarn. Debbie Mumm Traditions (the most talked about of the line) has been touted by many as an alternative to Noro Kureyon, for those who like the colors but not the feel (or the price) of the more expensive Japanese wool. It may not seem like much of a price difference, but it really adds up. Kureyon retails for $6.99-8.50 per 110yd ball, while the Traditions sells for $5.99 normally (although Joann.com has it for $5 at the moment!) for 149 yds. That puts the Noro at 6.3 – 7.7 cents a yard, as compared to 3.3 – 4 for the Traditions. Let’s say you’re making a pullover and need 1000 yards (not unlikely); with the regular price for the Traditions you’d pay $41.93 for 7 skeins vs. $69.90 for 10 skeins of the sale price Noro. So you see? Quite an appreciable difference.
