FO: Aria

World, meet Aria...Aria, this is the world...
Ooo, show off your ruffly, flirty side for the nice people!Specs:

Pattern: Aria from Knitting New Scarves by Lynne Barr
Yarn: Frog Tree Alpaca, 3 skeins
Needles: US Size 7, Knit Picks OptionsModifications/Notes: I followed the pattern exactly as specified. I had thought about making it narrower, because I wasn't sure if I had enough yarn, but I'm glad that I kept it the way that it is. This is the first scarf that I've made for me that is actually long enough. It may have gotten a little old towards the end, but I promise this was not the most boring knit I've ever made. And I really, really love the finished product. The alpaca is SO light and surprisingly warm without the bulk. The one drawback - she sheds like CRAZY. I didn't block this, so that might help - any other suggestions? I love wearing it, but it's getting a little tiresome to pick even more fuzz and fur than normal off of my coat.

I'll try to post again, but I'm headed out of town -- okay, to HAWAII -- on Wednesday so it may not happen. Lots to grade, print, photocopy, and pack before Wednesday!

Knitting Retreat

I went on my first official knitting retreat a few weekends ago and it was an experience worthy of its own blog post. My weekly knitting group set-up this retreat at a beach house in North Carolina and overall the experience was FABULOUS. The only drawback was the fact that I developed a cold that is still lingering today, but otherwise, it was so much fun!

There was lots of time devoted to knitting. We knit in the living room, the kitchen and the “tower” sunroom that had an amazing view of the beach. Some of us made it into regular clothes - others stayed in pajamas the whole time. Of course, it rained all weekend so there wasn’t much outdoor knitting, but we were cozy inside - knitting away.

We had a sock yarn and wine tasting, which resulted in my sock yarn sample tube.

The tube and I went for a walk on the beach and a photo shoot. While I was at the beach I also found HD’s finished sock washed ashore. (Who hasn’t longed to take an FO shot on the beach).

This is Shibui Sock yarn in Bark that I bought as a souvenir in Chapel Hill, NC at Yarns, Etc (which is really in Carrboro). The pattern is Retro Ribs from Favorite Socks. (See my WIPs on the side for a Ravelry link to the pattern.) Unfortunately, I couldn’t “find” the second sock anywhere … still haven’t “found” it.

This is the house we stayed in and you can see some of my retreat companions waving outside of the sunroom.

Of course, the sun came out on our last day there and we took advantage of the nice weather with some outdoor knitting.

We made one trip to a yarn store while at the Outer Banks. It was called Knitting Addiction and it had a really nice selection. I strayed from my traditional souvenir sock yarn because I absolutely fell in love with the Baby Bobbi Bears they had knit up! I bought 3 skeins of Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton and I cannot wait to knit those things up! We found out that HD’s brother and wife are having a girl so now I get to knit for a NIECE! Hooray!

I finished two projects since the trip, but they’ll have to wait for another post. Oh, and on the HD quest for a PhD front – he got accepted to Tufts!! Make that a hard check on Boston being a possibility of future places to live. Hello WEBS!