I think I found my yarn!

I was doing some yarn googling and found Classic Elite's Four Seasons, a 70-30 cotton-wool blend that looks like it's just about the right weight. And it's cheap! Especially if you get it on sale at WEBS. Now I've just got to pick a color.

I'm trying to decide between blue, pink, red, orange or green. Nothing like an easy choice, ,right?

Help!

So, here's hoping I may get a suggestion or two on here.

I want to make a sweater. Yeah. I know it's spring. The pattern I'm eyeing (and I'm betting it will take me a few months to make. Can't neglect my secret pal once I get cracking on miles and miles of 2-by-2 rib) calls for Gedifra Cotton Merino. I can't find it, let alone afford the 16 balls I need. So, I'm looking for a substitute.

I think the cotton merino is an aran weight yarn, roughly 50-50 wool to cotton content. So far the other yarns I've found have been 80-20 cotton-wool, and they've been DK or worsted weight. Any suggestions?

What's going on... What's next

My questionnaire should still be pretty easy to find below.

I'm still working on the thrummed mittens (also see below). The first one's done, and I'm about to start making the hole for the future thumb gusset. It's been in the 50s lately, so my desire to knit mittens is waning. I really want to finish them, though.

I'm also working on a couple projects for my secret pal... They involve I-cords, garter stitch, beads, sparkles, grafting and a tiny bit of sewing. Whew. No pics, or more details, though. In the event that my secret spoilee finds my blog in compulsive clicking on the participants page, I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise.

You all have to wait, too. ;-p

There's another project brewing... A sweater, but not Rogue. That yarn's getting another long rest.

And, just like that, it's secret pal land!

I'm super excited! I managed to successfully sign up for the 10th Secret Pal Exchange. I got my giftee and sent her an e-mail, to which she has responded, quite kindly. I also received my first e-mail from my gifter. She said we have things in common. Hmmmm. Besides knitting? What fun! Two new buddies, in one day!

My gifter asked me a few questions. I dashed off a pretty quick, instant response by e-mail but wanted to elaborate here, just for fun.

1. Laces or cables. I said cables. I've got a sweater I'm trying to get going on (I had to rip it all out because my guage was so off that I think I could have work the FO when I was nine months pregnant) that has these lovely cables, and I so want to make it. However, there's also some lace patterns I've been oohing over since I got my first pattern book. It's also freezing in Wisconsin, so I want warmth. Who ever heard of warm lace? It's got all those holes in it.

2. Fingering, DK or worsted? Worsted. I've never had much cause to use fingering. That whole not-knitting-lace thing. I've got one pattern that calls for LOTS of cotton DK, doubled, but haven't actually bought the yarn yet. It's a ballet-style T-shirt thing from loop d loop. Since it's been 50 degreees here I'm getting excited about knitting that kind of thing.

3. Hard candy or gummies? Gummies. Not too fond of hard candies. They're usually too tart for me and make my teeth and eyes hurt. Weird, I know. I do like Lifesavers, though, and I like tart gummies. I hate Jolly Ranchers. Blech.

4. Which is more exotic/interesting: Japanese, Chinese or Indian. This one's tough. I'm fascinated by all three cultures, really. Japan and India are high on my list of dream vacations, and I studied China a bit in college. When it comes to food, Japanese and Indian beat out Chinese, unless I were to be able to get back to that crazy good place in Boston's Chinatown.

5. Facials/home spas? Not so much. Lotions, yes. Bath stuff, yes. I'd use stuff if I had it, but I'm not often driven to buy it for myself when I'm out shopping. I've got some clay mask stuff I use every few months or so. I got my husband to do that with me once. THAT was fun. I'd do that again.

In other knitting news, I've started the second thrummed mitten. It'll be done just in time for us to have cleared all possibility of real snow for the year. I need to learn to time these projects better. You know, start the tank top in March so it's done by June and start the mittens and scarves in September so they're done by Christmas.

My Rogue is now a big ball of red yarn. I need to rethink my guage. I'll try size 7 needles next, but if they're too small I'm going to have to go out and buy really long 7.5 circs. No half size needles in my interchangeable set. Boo.

And, Buddha's Birthday is coming up soon. Got to figure out gifts for all my dharma buds!