Miss Babs, The Snow Angel, and "Wheat"

***My newest birthday acquisition: Miss Babs "Yummy" Fingering 2-ply superwash yarn in the colorway, Verrassing. Content: 100% Merino Wool, Yardage: 400 yds. Hmmm, what to make of it, what to make of it! I love their yarn, they have the most wonderful color combinations. It was very hard to make a choice! Find more yarn here. 

Also, check out Marly Bird's post about Miss Babs. 

***This is one of their new offerings: "Kilimanjaro" Fingering yarn in colorway Surpriza made up of 85% Superwash Blue Faced Leicester/15% Nylon putting up in approximately 1,750 yards.

***The Snow Angel has brought us even more snow, as you can see.

***"Wheat" is almost finished save three inches of garter stitch work, and then I will be binding off! Such a good feeling when you finish something, right? What are you all finishing up out there? 

Has anyone else knit with Miss Babs yarn before, and if so, what have you made? Send me a picture, I would love to see!

Well, this is all I have for today. Hope everyone is having a great weekend. Get some knitting done! I'm off to watch Knitting Daily, love that show.

Swatching to Beat The Band

As I promised a few posts back, here is my swatch of the organic merino bulky wool I purchased at the Kentucky Sheep and Fiber festival a few months ago. This yarn is so nice to work with and is such a good quality that it has been fun to knit with.

At this point the swatch is telling me it wants to be a scarf. I will admit, I am such a perfectionist and want whatever I end up making to be perfect for this yarn and to turn out really well. So much goes into designing something I am finding out. Everything has to work, the right needle size, the right yarn, gauge, etc., etc. In other words, all the planets must be lined up. Don't get me wrong, the swatching part is fun but is a little unnerving at the same time.

While I like the technicality and beauty of cables and lacework, a lot of times I really just prefer the simplicity of garter and stockinette stitch which is what I have combined here.

Erika Knight, the well-known British designer, is one who is very good at bringing beauty and elegance out of simplicity as shown in these designs from her book, "Simple Knitting".

I leave you with these words,

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” 
― Leonardo da Vinci