Vacation

One of the things I did during my blog hiatus was get hired on full time at the company where I've been working since November. It took six months, but my first official day was May 19. As a result, I now have benefits and honest-to-goodness vacation days. So I took a few days off earlier this week to spend time in Wooster with my favorite mom and favorite five-and-three-quarters-years-old niece, who's actually five-and-five-sixths-years-old now, but you try telling her that. :)

It's amazing what a little R&R will do for your knitting. Look at all this stuff I got done.

The first Brigit sock is finally done. It's sort of embarrassing how long it has taken to finish just the first sock, especially since I'd hoped to have these done a couple months ago. However, it's encouraging to have the first one completely finished. And gifted hand-knit socks are still gifted hand-knit socks, even if they're late, right? I'm using the Brigit sock pattern by Monkey Toes, Berroco's Comfort Sock yarn, and size 2 double pointed needles.

I FINALLY started my Brea Bag, which I've been waiting to do for more than six months. I've had the yarn for a while. It's Berroco's Ultra Alpaca, double stranded, on a size 9 circular needle. This first piece worked up so fast, and was really fun to do. I think this will be one of my favorite projects ever, and I have the most perfect fabric to line it with. This may actually be a knitted bag that I carry!

I finished the February Baby Sweater on Two Needles, by Elizabeth Zimmerman. I love this pattern and everything about this sweater. I used a size 3 circular needle and Handmaiden Casbah Sock yarn, so it's merino, cashmere, and nylon, and it's superwash. It's definitely a newborn size, so my new niece won't be able to wear it forever, but I'm still rather excited about it. All I need to do now is find the perfect buttons and make some complementary booties. (Saartje's, anyone?)

Maggie got to see the finished sweater this past week, and Tuesday night she was talking to her Mama on the phone. At one point she held the phone about six inches from her mouth and looked at me and stage-whispered, "Can I tell Mama about the baby sweater?" Since I was across the room, it was obvious Mama already knew about the sweater, so I laughed and nodded. It was very cute.

Lastly, to break up the deep red/purple monotony, I cast on my Twisted Flower socks by Cookie A. I'm using size 2 needles and Claudia's Handpainted sock yarn in Limeade! The pattern is heavily charted, which keeps me on my toes and is quite enjoyable. I'm already really enjoying this pattern in this yarn.