Simply cannot believe it was one year ago todayI started the Plucky Knitter  -  it’s been quite a year. Wow.

I think a contest is in order, don’t you? As you may be aware, I started dyeing yarn this year (June to be exact). The person who guess how many skeins (closely or on the dot) wins a skein of my 100% cashmere laceweight.

And, if today wasn’t  momentous enough – I was asked by Miss V of Lime & Violet fame to do an interview. Thank you Miss V – what a treat.

So, guess away. I will be taking entries until Sunday, January 20 at 12:00 a.m. 11:59 p.m.  EST.

Oh. And for those of you that have been asking. The next shop update will be tomorrow afternoon. See you then!

and because I can’t make everything I wear (ok. So I am not even close to making everything I wear, heck, I’m only now getting close to having a weeks worth of knitted socks to choose from….) and, most importantly, because I want a cute, blue (for the love of all things blue, how cute is this?) sweater for Spring. Yes, I know it’s only January 16, but Spring will be here before we know it and this sweater will go quickly. Just thinking ahead – I flaty  refuse  to have  a repeat of the  wedge and espadrille  search of last Summer.

Go ahead, click the link (I’m such an enabler). Comes in lot’s of other colors too.

Oh, what am I swatching for? Have you seen this? Those Zephyr girls come up with some very  snazzy patterns. The collar alone is reason enough to knit the sweater. And, I just so  happen to have some yarn in my stash that  should work – if I can get my swatch and knitting math skills all  sorted out.   Super big thank you’s to Amanda and Naomi for their help with the gauge issue.  Swatched on size 7’s and I was coming out with too many stitches. So now I am swatching on size 8’s and hoping the resulting fabric won’t be too drapey.

In a perfect world I would have this all knit and able to wear to Madrona. But, since I do not currently inhabit a perfect world, well, I went ahead and got the blue sweater. However, I will give  28thirty a solid try (and well, I can look forward to wearing after Madrona) and since  I will be going to  visit the girls next week and we will have some knitting time together I might make it further than I think (again, provided I can get gauge). Naomi and Amanda – I will be in touch.

Oh, and speaking of shoes…..

Willow Peep Toe Wedge – Banana Republic

Don’t they just make you smile?

I squeel with delight everytime I see a work in progress or a finished knit in Plucky Yarn. Seriously, what a thrill. There has been quite the bumper crop of them lately and I wanted to share (and I think they totally qualify as Eye Candy):

Purl Bee Cowl by Amanda – in TPK cashmere lace. This particular pattern would also work well in the Merino lace weight or evening my merino single ply fingering weight.

Rib And Cable Muffler  from One Skein  out of TPK Merino Worsted. Another Amanda knit….

Mock Cable Wave socks from Favorite Socks by Nicole

And these… they are just cuter than, well, a bug’s ear.

PeekABoo mittens by  Melissa. Knit in TPK Merino worsted. Colorway – Bugs Ear

Thank you all for your willingness to share your pictures with me. Anyone else out there want to share pictures of their knits? You would totally make my day!

Question for you… Is anyone going to Madrona? The lovely ladies at Village Yarn and Tea  have invited me to share a little spot in their booth with them. So.Excited.

Done!

Now I just have to  remember how to post it to the SAM5  site. And, even more imporantly…. decide which yarn  to cast on next – I’m thinking Jaywalkers. Yes, I know I’m late to the party, but I want a pair!

When **gasp** your husband asks: “When you are going to start knitting more sweaters? You know, you will never get good at it if you don’t practice.” Thank you, Bob, for pointing that out to me. (Oh, and yes, Mr. Plucky’s name is Bob).

Think my sweater fiasco of  06′ has left a scar. (Yes, there was a  sweater knit back in October 06′ – pre-blog. Too big. Gauge issue I am sure. The main issues being  that I did not do a gauge swatch and then proceeded to knit a size too big for me).

It’s not for lack of inspiration. I’ve got inspiration. Here, I’ll show you – check these out:

• Look what Emily made!
• Flint Knits  - Wow.
• Kaari  by Darktrico  - I love the neck line and the simplicity of the sweater
• Tilted Duster   by  Parikha – Gorgeous! Or, even a Rusted Root – Love her modifications.
• Look at Annie’s Juliet – so pretty and flattering
• And dear Gina – encouraging me to finish my Flair  (acutally have a couple inches of this done but have oh so conveniently misplaced my pattern).

Oh, to be able to pick-up the needles and decide to just do something like this:

So, now my question to you is. For someone who considers herself a pretty solid intermediate knitter, but is afraid, soooo afraid, of garmet knitting… what should I do first? I need help. And hand holding.

I have enough  Malabrigo to make a Flair, Jo Sharp  DK to make a  Cavern or anything that calls for a yarn such as Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool (enough yarn in two colorways), and 10 skeins of BSA sportweight in the Licorice colorway and BSA in colorway 525. What’s a gal to do?  HELP.

As far as finished objects go. I did finish up  a couple o’  easy peasey ones this weekend. Yet another Slouchy Copy Cat in Malabrigo worsted, blue graphite.

And this fun little ditty. The XO UO Cowl from Knit Lit.

Based on this. I couldn’t resist a Grace Kelly shot.

I used some Malabrigo chunky I found when I went searching through my stash along with some handspun (also found in the stash) purchased off etsy last winter.

And, my socks in the snow as they have come to be known are this close to being done. Which means I get to cast on for a new pair – yeah!

Of cashmere.

20 skeins dyed. One too jumbled, tangled and snapped to use. However, to the very patient amongst us, this will yield approx 375 yards of cashmere softness.

Yours if you want it. First comment, first served.