A new book, new yarn, old yarn, and a new sock in progress

I received 3 skeins of overpriced Fortissima sock yarn for Christmas but it was from the same line as these Mexico socks. I didn't want two additional pairs of socks that look so much alike (I can make 2 pairs from 3 skeins) so I quickly accepted the receipt when mom waved it and headed off to Linda's Knit n Stitch, where the perfect exchange was waiting:





Fantastic book. I'll write a review that compares it to Alice Starmore's out of print Fair Isle book after I borrow her book from the library again.

On the way home I stopped at Weaving Works in Seattle and left with five skeins of Jamieson's 2 ply Spindrift for even more colorwork gloves/mittens.



Hooray for Christmas cash


The Spindrift will be combined with one of last year's major thrift store scores: a bag of 2 ply Shetland yarn, including some Alice Starmore Campion.



Hooray for thrift stores


The new yarn shop in town, Marilyn's Yarn, also carries Jamieson & Smith's 2 ply Shetland, so it'll be easy to pick up another color or two.

*****

Right now I'm working on grandma's Christmas request, a pair of socks in Lorna's Laces Shepherd's Sock. This is the "Jeans" colorway:



Grandma's Request socks


I asked mom for gift suggestions and she said "Give her yarn and say you'll make socks with it." Mother knows best. I also offered to make gloves or mittens with the yarn but grandma wanted socks.

I'm declaring a moratorium on knitting socks at home after I finish the Trekking socks and grandma's socks. 2006 will be the year of colorwork for me. See how I snuck the "at home" in there? I'll continue to work on socks when I'm not home, it's easy mindless portable knitting so I can't give them up entirely.

Hello 2006, I hope you're kinder than 2005.