As in, Kim's Hats from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I used Berrocco Foliage. I love this yarn. It changes color gradually like Noro, only it's a wool/acrylic blend and thus much, much softer. I cast on the infant size, however due to the gauge of this yarn it came out more like toddler size. Which is fine, it's a baby gift and kids tend to grow.

This is also my first pom-pom.

I don't understand. Technically, this sweater is Perfection. Each stitch where it should be. Every cable crossed correctly. Decreases where they should be, increases the same. Blocked exactly to the measurements I wanted.

It is Perfect.

So why did it shrink two inches all around after I seamed it all up? Is it because I smoke too much? Curse too often? What sin did I commit that earns me such punishment? Are you there, Knitting God? It's me, Yarn Abuse.

Tonight, after I shop and get my hair done, I am going to soak this sweater in warm water. Then, I'm going to block the bejesus out of it. Because I'll be damned if my crowning glory of hard won technical skill turns to nothing but a diadem of thorns.

OMG! Days after I extoll the many virtues of this fabulous yarn I come across a sale for it!

Littleknits.com, all around yarn porn and good deal central (check out their other sale items), has this wunderwoll on sale for $11.25! People! You can't afford NOT to snatch this up! Think of the possibilities! 478 yards of wool, three (shit, if you're tiny you only need TWO SKEINS) of these will give you a nice sweater plus some left over to make cute Jess Hutchinson creatures! You know you all have this book and you're dying to use up your oddballs making these!

Go buy yarn!

This blog post brought to you by Yarn Abuse "If we all buy the yarn, I am somehow less guilty of budget breaking" Kim.

Look what I did this weekend:

Front, back, and two sleeves. All done. In four days. I mean, I know it's an easy pattern, but FOUR DAYS, Y'ALL. *cue maniacal laughter*

Sadly, I ran out of blocking board, hence the retarded sleeve on the far right. Dudes, don't look at me like that, I'm exhausted.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I really, really, really need to wash my hair.

This comes as no surprise to any of you, I'm sure. I am a yarn ho. I spend all my money on my knitting. I regularly make excuses to "reorganize" my stash, but really I'm just fondling the yarn. Imagine my delight when a yarn I happen to have lots of, yet was "meh" about, turned into a new favorite.

Cascade Eco Wool. 478 yards of pure Highland wool. I bought this yarn only for the generous yardage and bargain price. At first glance, this yarn is rustic (maybe a little *too* rustic), crunchy, and plain. I was already a little prejudiced due to past experiences with Highland wool and it's damn near unbearable scratch factor. I thought to myself, "Eh, for this price I'm sure I can come up with something to make." Then I quickly decided on a pattern and set to work with this yarn, so I could get it out of my way before I made something with "nice" yarn.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. This yarn is...is...awesome. It's not crunchy at all! It's SO SOFT. I pressed the swatch on my neck and it barely itched! And forget rustic, this yarn is spun and plied expertly with not even a shred of vegetable matter. And it behaves beautifully. It doesn't coil back on itself, doesn't shed, doesn't want to snag or stick to itself, and knits up fast on size 10 needles. The tension is above reproach, as usual a little tight (but that's my fault), and my swatch washed and blocked with nary a thought of changing size so no worries about my sweater blooming into a tent.

I love this freaking yarn! Look how pretty the little plies coil around each other so softly.

Really, you must touch to appreciate the relaxed nature of this plying.

Oh, the sweater? It's about 9" x 20" of stockinette. You could watch some ice-cream melt for the same amount of excitement.