“Vacation”

Surprise, surprise, traveling alone with a toddler doesn’t really count as a vacation. I did manage to get some knitting done, though. I finished the swatch I was knitting for Seraphim:

And I started the shawl. I’m currently nearing the end of the second chart, and I have to say, these were a good two weeks to be away from the blog. Because even really nice yarn gets old when you’re knitting a huge, shapeless blob of stockinette.

I am alternating balls, both for the dye lot issue and because there was a small amount of pooling in the swatch. Not something that would necessarily happen when the stitch counts are increasing every row, but hey. You never know. I really love the way it’s shaping up. The yarn has a beautiful sheen, and the color is just gorgeous. (“Java”, for CTH fans.) I have 64 more rows to go before the shawl is finished, so hopefully it won’t be too much longer before the guest bed is stepping in as a blocking surface.

Next, I’m excited to knit up some of my leftovers from sweaters into wee vests and sweaters for Jacob, and I absolutely need some hand-knit socks for my tootsies. I think April will be all about instant gratification, chez stash. Anyone interested in a Quick-Fix Knitalong?

*****

I had a great time hanging out and knitting with my partner in crime. With the two of us together, shopping at my favorite vacation yarn stores, you know there was some stash enhancement going on.

(And there’s more, if you can believe that, winding its way to me through the post.) I have a project planned for the tweed but not yet for the Lacey Lamb, which is just divine, let me tell you. As I was lovingly placing them on the shelf in my stash closet, I realized the time had come to catalog the stash so that I know what I have and what I planned for each yarn when I purchased it. How do you all keep track of your stash? I’m thinking about a spreadsheet, embedded with photos if I can figure out how to do it.