We have knitting progress!

In a month where words like thoracotomy, pneumothorax and empyema have featured prominently, stitching of any kind feels like heaven.

Obsessive, distracting heaven.

Upon my return home 8 days ago, I first set about finishing some pre-hospitalization knits.  These came with me to the hospital but, sadly, I was too unwell to make any progress.  No longer!

First is the Charade socks in a Fleece Artist mill end.  You can actually see (on the sock at the top and right below) where the colour changes slightly after a join, but it's better than what I expected from a bargain basket purchase and I'm still very happy.

[64 stitches, toe-up, Magic Loop on my Knitpicks Harmony wood circs]

Next was Bartholomew's Tantalizing socks from Cat Bordhi's New Pathways book, in the Black Bunny Fibers yarn I obtained in Philly.  The colours pooled really oddly, but it was a very enjoyable knit.

Christmas morning brought a generous stash-enhancement bag from my parents.  I think my sock yarn problem is genetic, as my mom is almost as bogged down in sock yarn stash as I am.  Here's the haul she put together for me:

I couldn't resist starting a new project from the magical bag o' stash, so I cast on with the red-orange Panda Wool and am officially in love.  Here's a Retro Rib, from Favorite Socks, worked toe-up starting Christmas day:

And, as if delivered by Santa himself, my final shipment from the Rockin' Sock Club arrived at dinnertime on Christmas Eve.  The first sock is worked to the cuff, and I'll definitely use the pattern again.

[apologies for the poor lighting; it seems the blinding white of a snowstorm may not be the best background.]

I am currently buzzing down the sleeves of Thermal and hoping to complete it as I welcome 2008.

I feel I simply must give shout-outs for some great service I received from yarn purveyors in 2007.

Firstly, Knitpicks.  As their new circular needles, both nickel-plated and Harmony wood, were new this year, the folks at Knitpicks were very kind and open-minded about feedback received.  They replaced numerous needles for me this year, first for a design flaw that led the cable to be pulled from the needle join, and later for severed cables that resulted from my overzealous magic looping.  Thank you for taking care of your knitters, Knitpicks.  I look forward to dumping my wallet in your direction in 2008.

Next round of kudos go to the Blue Moon team, who it is generally accepted have some of the best yarns in the business.  I recently purchased a skein of STR from a shop in Toronto.  Through no fault of the shop, the skein was riddled with joins, so I contacted the Blue Moon gals to let them know.  When it was determined that I couldn't get back to the shop for a return, Blue Moon sent me a replacement skein, promptly and graciously.  Service like that will ensure my long-term status as a customer, and is much appreciated.

Who treated you especially well in 2007?

Comments

[melissaknits]

Totally jealous of all Rockin' Sock Club members past, present and future!!

Who treated me well? Book buyers. And my husband who gave me diamonds for our anniversary, reminding me that I am not ALL chicken farmer!

[Pixie]

Gorgeous socks Deb and glad to see your back and able to work them :)

Service, well there are a few places here in the UK that have helped me out.. best of all was the Wednesday before Christmas, my eldest son said Mum what do you want? well that part was easy the New Pathways for Sock Knitters.. well then to find a UK shop that had it .. I found one place,wrote a email asking if it was in stock.. no reply so Troy said order anyways.. then the next day they rang me to say yes it was in stock and they were putting straight in the post in the hopes I would have it in time.. got it the next day the Friday
Its fab and so pleased I finally have a copy..

Happy New Year to you all

[Elspeth]

This is just barely 2007, but on New Year's Eve a very nice gate agent for American changed our flight so we got home and weren't stuck either in D.C. or Chicago! It wasn't yarn related, but it did give me a lot of knitting time!