Where have I been?

I think it's time for me to update you properly, don't you?

The main reason for my absence from this blog was that I was studying abroad in Portugal for six weeks (late June to early August). I didn't take my laptop with me, so my computer time was quite limited, thus, only one very brief post. I saw a lot on my trip, including some fiber and textile related things which I'll have to share with you. Unfortunately, I'm not as quick about these things as Lolly is, who has written several wonderful posts about her recent adventures in Peru, but you can see some of the pictures I took over on Flickr.

I mostly blame my trip for my lack of knitting progress between late June to early August--there was so much packed into each day that I barely had the time or energy to knit! I did manage to knit up a Hufflepuff house hat (pdf), although I worked it flat and still need to seam it. I also started the "Stripes and torchon lace" shawl from Victorian Lace Today, but I haven't gotten very far on that yet.

About a week after I got back home, my family and I went to Monterey, California. While we were in the area, we also stopped in Carmel and Pacific Grove, where I went yarn shopping at Knitting By The Sea and Monarch Knitting and Quilts, respectively. Two very nice yarn shops which carried some yarns that I've seen before as well as some that were new to me. Here's what I bought, along with what I'm thinking about making.



Here's what I got, going from left to right.

From Monarch Knitting and Quilts I bought

• YarnArt Wool, 2 skeins in colorway 9641. I've been wanting to knit some socks that are about knee-length, but I didn't want to spend a ton of money on them. This yarn was relatively inexpensive, so I bought two skeins. Maybe I'll use one of Cookie A's patterns.

From Knitting By The Sea I purchased

• Araucania Pomaire, two skeins in color 6. I'm currently working on a scarf with this; you can see some pictures below.


• Schaefer Anne, one skein. I'll most likely use it for a lacy scarf, especially since I don't like mohair in my socks.


• Mountain Colors Weaver's Wool Quarters, one skein in Sagebrush. This calls for some kind of warm woolly socks! Possibly Friday Harbor Socks, but that means I need to get Knitting on the Road first.

As I mentioned, I'm working on a scarf with the Pomaire. I'm making Midwest Moonlight from Scarf Style, which is definitely one of my most used knitting books--this is the fourth scarf I've made from it! I had actually started this scarf in a silk yarn before, but I felt that it wasn't properly showing off the lovely texture of the pattern. I'm much happier with how this version is turning out.





Instead of working three repeats, I'm only working two, since I don't want the scarf to be overly wide and I only bought two skeins of the yarn. I hope it will be long enough!

In Sockapalooza 4 news, last month Carrie received the socks I knit for her. I'm pleased that they fit and that she likes them so well! You can read her post here.

My super secret sockpal sent off my socks at the beginning of August, but they still haven't gotten here. I've contacted her to let her know that they haven't come, and she has told me that she will try to track them down once she returns home from vacation. I hope that they aren't lost and that they arrive soon! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

P.S. - I'm now on Ravelry, where I'm bluelacefiesta. I haven't explored everything yet or entered all of my stash, projects, etc., but it looks like it will be a great resource and a good way for me to keep track of what I have, as well as to see what other knitters are working on. Hope to see you there!