free yarn!

I knew it had been awhile since I posted here, but wow, didn't realized it had been this long!

I wanted to share some exciting news. It is no secret that I am a huge Knit Picks fan (I've been buying their products since I learned to knit). I have entered nearly every contest they've held and guess what? I WON ONE! And I must say I won a really good one with a prize of a $25 Knit Picks gift certificate.

My yarn arrived in the mail today, which was what made me remember I hadn't posted about this yet! I was waiting until they announced the winners, but it's been a couple weeks now and I can't contain myself anymore. This is the contest I won. My entry is the fifth comment down.

Even though I have a huge backlog of projects to work on, I couldn't resist using the gift certificate for yarn for some sweaters I've been wanting to knit. I chose the newWool of the Andes Sport in Tidepool Heather (MC) and Wonderland Heather (CC) to make Daffodil and a favorite of mine, Palette in Merlot Heather (MC) and Camel Heather (CC) to make Lydia.

I received a gift certificate from a friend for Christmas, as well, and used that to try out two newer yarns: Chroma in Rollerskate worsted-weight which has since become Maine Morning Mitts my favorite fingerless mitts pattern that I've knit more times than I can count and a matching Calorimetry to replace mine that has been lost for a couple years (I tend to lose a lot of knitted accessories). I also wanted to try Capra to make Tudora (chose Harbor in that). For the first time ever, I am actually disappointed in something from Knit Picks. This yarn is not nearly as soft as I imagined it would be. I actually think Merino Style is softer. It's an awfully pretty yarn, but I haven't knit it up yet (next project to be cast on tonight!) so can't comment to that, but I just expected it to be so soft that I'd want to snuggle with it. And then with the few extra dollars and a few dollars of my own I chose some Wool of the Andes (Blossom Heather) to make this crazy cute cowl from Cowlgirls, which is a stupidly fun book.

Selfish knitting season has begun!