But this yarn was different. I bought yarn that I normally wouldn’t have purchased. Yarn that was in a color scheme that normally doesn’t appeal to me.

Why? Because the yarn had the same name as my cat.

This is a hank of Mama LLama Perfect Sock, in the colorway “Zelda.” That’s right, Zelda, which is the name of one of our cats. Here she is:

And because I couldn’t buy yarn named after just one of our cats, I made a point the same day to purchase yarn for our other cat. Here it is:

This is Sundara Sock Yarn in the colorway: “Ruby Most Sought After.” Which I thought was appropriate, because of our two cats, Ruby is the one that hides more often, and we’re always trying to figure out where she’s hidden herself. This is Ruby (not hiding):

Yup, I think it’s safe to say that I’ve turned into a crazy knitting cat lady. It was just a matter of time, I suppose. But aren’t they (the cats and the yarns) just gorgeous? I think so, but then again, I’m probably biased.

Plus, I sat down to start Mr. Martini’s plain, boring grey scarf last night, and was immediately bored to pieces.

Which means, I ordered some high-end designer yarn today to make a striped scarf for Mr. M: Noro Silk Garden, which is know for it’s long color runs and gorgeous texture. I figure I’ve been very, very good this year, and so has he, so we both earned some nice yarn – for me to play with, and for him to wear.

I’m starting to second guess my color choices though. Here are some terrible internet pictures of the yarn I ordered:

and

The other photos I’ve seen of the first color show less pink and more muted browns. But really, once I see it in person it could look completely different.

I guess I have to wait for the mailman to deliver to find out for sure. Hopefully I’ll get it by the beginning of next week. We’ll see.

Which is why, when a co-worker showed me some yarn she bought recently, I was suspicious. The name of the yarn? “I Love This Yarn!” It even had an exclamation point. I mean, come on. How desperate are the marketing gurus at the yarn company to actually make you say how much you love the yarn just by saying the name of the yarn? You know?

Then, Co-worker let me pet the yarn (SO SOFT). Then, Co-worker showed me a hat she had made out of the yarn (great stitch definition, and SO SOFT). THEN, Co-worker told me that she washed the hat she made out of the yarn, and it washed beautifully (AND GOT EVEN SOFTER).

Needless to say, I had to get me some of this yarn.

I have to say for the record that this yarn is 100% acrylic. I also have to say for the record that if I hadn’t seen it for myself on the label, I never would have known.  I have never worked with 100% acrylic before, because the ones I’ve found have either felt squeaky, or oily, or they catch on my fingers funny (that last one is Caron’s Simply Soft, which I know has a huge following, but there’s something about the ply that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I touch it – I don’t know, it’s just me).

I picked up a couple of skeins of “I Love This Yarn!” at Hobby Lobby last weekend, and used it make my crocheted beanie. It was a dream to work with, and the result is a super soft hat. There’s a ton of yardage (well over 200 yards) and you can’t beat the price (less than $3).  I went out today and bought a couple more skeins, “just in case.”

One note: this yarn does have dyelots, so if you decide to make a larger project (this would make a fabulous afghan) be sure to buy enough. I’ve read a few reviews on Ravelry that mention that this yarn grows a bit if you make garments, so keep that in mind.

I can’t believe this wool-loving girl found an acrylic yarn that she likes working with. Looks like the marketing gurus got the name right with this one!

NOTE: I’ve signed up for National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) which means I’ll be posting each day in the month of November. Stay tuned for more attempts at craftiness of all varieties this month while I try to find blog fodder expand my crafty horizons.

Of course, now I’m starting to wonder if we’re actually going to have enough boxes. Mr. Martini believes so, I’m starting to wonder. Figures, right?

Between all of the packing, I was happily distracted by a package from my “Swap Sock Yarn from your Stash” swap partner, Karen. Here’s the loot:

Some Colinette Jitterbug yarn in a gorgeous bright blue, a fabulous lace sock pattern, some “Office” post-its, an SnB design journal, a handmade project bag, some handmade beauty supplies, a much-needed Chibi, a Jelly Belly candle and my absolute favorite Jelly Belly jelly beans.

This was quite a pick-me-up during the stress filled packing mode. Thank you, Karen!

For those of you not living through The World’s Longest, Coldest, Grayest Winter, Ever, (Seriously, Ever), this may not be a big deal. But for those of us who are  living through The World’s Longest, Coldest, Grayest Winter, Ever, (Seriously, Ever) this was a very big deal.

What does a girl do on a sunny, non-snowy Saturday during TWLCGWE(SE)?  She rents the Zipcar and goes to her local Joann’s Superstore.

I’ve been meaning to go to Joann for what seems like months now, but I refuse to drive in the snow if I absolutely don’t have to.  And since, for me, trips to big-box craft stores don’t really count as “have to” trips,  I’ve been putting this off for awhile.

When I started this new site, I was sure that I wanted to do more sewing.  There’s just one glitch in those plans.  My sewing nook is small and sits in the corner of our den.  Our den is built over the front porch of our house.  This means that the floor of the den gets very very very cold, as there is nothing underneath it except the ice cold air during this, TWLCGWE(SE).  So sewing has been put on the back burner for now, until it warms up a little and I can sew without risking my feet turning into blocks of ice.

However, I did score something sewing related (at 40% off!) that makes me feel like an honest to goodness crafter.

My very own rotary cutting set, complete with rotary cutter, ruler and self-healing cutting surface.  I’m thrilled beyond measure.  It’s definitely a starter kit, but I think that’s all I need right now.  I’m still petrified of quilting, but I like to make little bags and wallets, so I think this will suit my purposes just fine.

I did come home with something else:

That’s every color of CottonEase that was available at the store.  Yes, it’s true.

I am making a Babette Blanket.  I started this weekend, and will have project pictures tomorrow.

This is insane.  I’m crocheting a blanket.  Me, the girl who can’t even commit to knitting a sweater.

I think the sunlight got to me.  I still can’t really believe it.