My two oldest went back to school and they had a far better first day than I did.  The day absolutely crawled for me -- I worried if they liked their teachers (they did), I worried if they got enough to eat at lunch (they did), I worried if they were getting hot (they were, but none the worse for wear).    Judging by the happy sprint off the bus by the whole crowd, everyone had a blast* the first day back.



In order to busy myself during the first couple of days of school, I started several projects.

First up is a basic sock from some yarn that has ripened, aged, matured in my stash for quite a while now.  The yarn is Skacel Trampoline Stretch and the stretch part added a bit of challenge in determining gauge.  It's actually very difficult to get a consistant gauge on something that stretches a lot is stockinette stitch.  (That last sentence just means it took me several tries to get the size right so the sock wasn't just going to fall off Megan's foot.)  Despite the odd elasticity, the fabric has a cool tiger pattern to it that Megan really likes.



Details:
Yarn: Skacel Trampoline Stretch in the vaguely named "229" colorway.  I shall dub it "Tiger".
Needles: US 1 for the ribbing, US 2 for the rest of the sock
Pattern:  The Yarn Harlot's basic sock pattern

I also started spinning some fiber I bought last year at the Finger Lakes Fiber Festival.  It's a silk/merino blend and will make a lovely yarn. Unfortunately I can't find the tag to identify the vendor although I believe she was from some where in the mid-west.  I love the sheen (that sadly was lost when I took a picture).



I also started (I really was trying hard to keep myself busy so I didn't miss the summer hubbub* of having everyone at home.)  this...



I also bought this yarn at the Fiber Fest last year.  It's from Steam Valley yarns and is 50% silk and 50% merino and just incredibly soft.  I have had this yarn out a couple of times in the last year but it took me a while to find the right pattern.  The yarn is a single and heavily variegated.  I wanted to find a pattern that showed off the colors with a dense enough stitch pattern that the singles would stay cohesive but no so fiddledy* that it would take me a year to knit.  I found the pattern for "My so called scarf" on Ravelry and it is perfect -- the herringbone pattern shows off the yarn nicely and is easy to remember.

* a blast? hubbub?  fiddledy?  I would like to apologize for my excessive use of 1950's vernacular today.  I think I shall now go make a layered jello dessert and something au gratin.

(Added just before I published this entry:
I accessed Mr. Spell Checker for some verification on the above entry and had to share my amusement at his suggestions.  I've mentioned my battles with Mr. Spell Checker before, please see my March 29, 2008 entry. Well, we're at it again.  

Mr. Spell Checker wasn't happy with this sentence:
"The yarn is Skacel Trampoline Stretch and the stretch part added a bit of challenge in determining gauge." 

Instead Mr. Spell Checker seems to think it should actually read:
"The yarn is Sexual Trampoline Stretch and the stretch part added a bit of challenge in determining gouge." 

Umm. Bwhahahahahaaaa. <snort>  Sorry.  )