Contemplating the New Skeins

Cindy asked in my last blog "How many skeins of lovely ShiBui sock yarn did you buy at Knit/Purl?!" Oh, Cindy, I had my hands full of ShiBui, then I spotted the above skein and it was love at first sight.

This is Fleece Artist's Superwash Merino in Fruit Punch.



I decided right there and then that the theme for the afternoon had to be "tropical," so I reached for some Sangria:



In the book that is coming out in August, my heroine wears red wool socks--very unfashionable for her--but perfect for me. So I've had my eyes peeled for a red that I liked so I could make a pair just like hers. I'm even thinking that one pair of red socks might not be enough . . .

As for my tropical indulgences, I brought them home and wound them right up. I just love yarn when it is all caked up and ready to be knit:



Now they are living in my knitting basket for the time being. This means that while I'm knitting these,



I glance over from time to time at my basket and consider what I am going to do next. Please don't everyone at once shout out the obvious answer: Knit Socks with them. Yes, I am a sock knitter. I have to keep practising that because I am not quite used to it yet.



Of course, as I am knitting this fun pair of stripes and solids, that are partly from my stash and a skein I scored on DeStash, I am also searching my brain as to where I put my copy of Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks. Don't you hate it when you can't find a book?


Speaking of books, while at Powell's, I found this book. I've never read it, but I would like to get better at making sure a sweater is going to fit before I launch into knitting it. Has anyone else read this book?