This was such a quick knit that I didn't even have a chance to write about its progress!

Its Glampyre's One Skein Wonder. I used size 7 needles and a yarn that got 4.5spi instead of the called-for 4spi. Before casting on, I spent a good week worrying about not having the correct gauge. When I finally sat down with the pattern and a calculator, it became quite clear that I could just make a larger size. no problem! silly.

The yarn is Cascade 220. This hank has a history. It started out white, purchased last spring while I considered a crochet edge on my very first scarf. That was an ill-fated idea, and months later it began again as The Thing. The Thing wasn't really my thing, but luckily, along came Kool-aid dyeing! As it turns out, this yarn was meant to be green.

This is my favorite thing about hand dyed yarn, the subtle variations in color depth.

The Kool-aid recipe: 7 packets Lemon-lime, 1 packet Lemonade, 2 packets Wild Watermelon Kiwi (also green), 1 packet Grape. The grape helps to tone down the neon green for a more reasonable color.

This was a total of 11 packets for 100g of yarn, way more than any Kool-aid dyeing article recommends (I've heard 1 packet per ounce). Its quite possible this same color can be acheived with less Kool-aid. I got a little concerned while dyeing it and poured in like 4 extra packets of green and the yellow. Just to be on the safe side.

Because a person cannot just knit one One Skein Wonder, I have started this:

The yarn is Blue Sky Cotton. Man, why didn't anyone tell me about the greatness that is Blue Sky Cotton? I am in love with it. Its cotton, but unbelievably soft. A whole sweater made out of this stuff would be perfection.

I love that this miniature shrug takes only one skein of yarn. Its a great way to try out new yarns! Who knows if I would have discovered the Blue Sky Cotton otherwise?

And now for the exciting news of the day:
I have been accepted into the NY Marathon!!! yea! There are so many people who apply that there is a lottery, and today they drew the names. The running gods have spoken! November 6, 2005, baby!!

The other day I noticed that half-knitted things were lounging on nearly every available surface in my room. Now, this is especially disturbing because at one point in time, I declared myself a one-project-at-a-time knitter. Ooops. guess I fell off that wagon.

Cases in point:

1. A partially knitted One Skein Wonder, looking lovely in pink on my nighstand.

2. The crocheted sling bag, travel-ready in a ziploc, waiting for a good subway ride on my fiber cabinet. (Yes, I have a piece of furniture whose sole purpose is to store yarn...there's no going back now.)

3. Long neglected, Orangina waits patiently on the top of the bookshelf, hoping someday to get that last 2 inches of ribbing. Someday.

4. Hiding out next to Orangina is a sock and half so unloved it didn't even warrant mention here before now. I made it quite far on this pair of socks before deciding the gauge is too loose and have yet to decide whether this development warrants ripping.

My goal: finish these knit items and send them on their way!

The second One Skein Wonder is complete!

I do love this pattern. Its so quick to knit, and more importantly, very wearable. Now, I am sure all of you wear your knit items frequently, but mine rarely make it out of my apartment. I know - I should wear them! But for whatever reason, I just don't gravitate towards them when deciding what to wear. Maybe they are just not appealing after all the time spent knitting.

The One Skein Wonder is an exception. I wore the green one to work yesterday, and didn't even question it. Its quite possibly the perfect mix of handknit + fashion.

(It looks kinda lopsided here, but that is just my rushed photo styling this morning. in real life it is symmetrical. really.)

This one is knit in Blue Sky Alpaca Dyed Cotton, size 9 needles, 4spi. The yarn is wonderful. It is super soft. I knit the second size. It seems that the cotton did stretch a bit, but it still fits! I had to cast off with size 9 needle even though the ribbing was done on 7s.

and this is the leftover yarn:

Phew! I was worried about running out of yarn.

I am already thinking about knitting another one of these - might need another color, maybe dark brown..