Jackpot!

This weekend, while in Ann Arbor for the football game (GO BLUE!) I dropped by Knit A Round to scope our their Labor Day sale. And hit the freakin jackpot. All the sale yarn was at least 70% off, and I found this gorgeous Atacama hand dyed 100% Alpaca. Pretty, soft, lightweight...perfect for a Clapotis. Being the good samaratin I am, I took all 12 hanks off of the store's hands (at a whopping $2.40/hank, how could I resist!?)...that's 1400 yards of the stuff. Enough for one clapotis for me, another for a Christmas gift for someone...maybe even a pair of fingerless gloves???? Love this stuff. Even though I've got a few other projects going on, and another little project I need to start/finish by a certain date, I have the urge to cast this baby on today.....

At the sale, I also raided the $1 bin, and picked up 3 balls of this cool red Paillette yarn, which has sequins in it. Not sure what I'll end up doing with it...it would make a nice scarf for a Christmas gift...I also got 4 balls of this blackish/purplish Modal eyelash yarn. Now I know I've cursed Fun Fur's existence many times, but eyelash yarn is a little different since it doesn't scream "look, I killed a muppet" nearly as much, knit together with black could make a nice scarf for mom/aunt/grandma/someone on my Christmas list who would be into this sort of garment. The color is really pretty. And it was like $1.

My Urban Outfitters knockoff circular shrug is slowly progressing. It's a nice pattern to do after my Vogue sweater, since it doesn't require much thought and finishing is minimal...but at the same time, it's just kinda boring. I'm doing it in some Plymouth Encore in a light gray that I had hanging out in the stash (although I just had to buy some more 'cause I ran out. Funny how Plymouth Encore was the most expensive thing I bought @ Knit A Round this weekend!) My sock, done in some Knitpicks Dancing is also growing...I started it last week when I was early for my job interview with Google, and it served as a nice conversation piece (at which point I confessed to being a huge nerd and having a knitting blog...but if all goes well, my nerdiness will land me a job. Hey, Google!!! Please!!! Hire me!!!!).

BEST OF ALL....

Here is the FINISHED Vogue Crochet Edged Sweater, complete with its button. I have yet to wear it, as the top I thought would look nice under it actually doesn't, but it fits, it looks great, I am IN LOVE with it!!!! I found a really pretty shell button at Cityknits, and it's the perfect touch. Not bad for my first sweater, eh? Or my first crochet project?

Project specs:
Pattern: Vogue Crochet Edge Jacket from Spring/Summer 06
Needles: size 5 circs
Crochet hook: 6.5 mm
Yarn: KnitPicks Main Line, 8 balls ivory and one each of dusty rose and lavendar
Pattern modifications: Changed guage of knit part from 4 sts/inch to 5, left off row 8 of crochet on the whole thing.

Go me.