FO: Anais and some exciting news

Is it just me or do one's FOs look so much more fabulous on Ravelry than in real life? I've finally been adding pictures of old projects to my page, and those slightly off-center shots make me marvel at my knitting skills! Really! Funny how in real life, there's something awry about each and every project.

Well, I am thrilled to be able to show my finished Anais. It's been done for several weeks now, but we just moved to a new apartment (after the wedding and the honeymoon and a stressful apartment search; whew, I'm tired), and I only unpacked my digital camera a few days ago.






I was absolutely giddy when I first saw this sweater and ordered the booklet right away. It's my first Norah Gaughan pattern, and I really loved it. That said, the sweater's a little on the short side. (I believe that the pattern says that the length is 18 or 19 inches. That's top to bottom, mind you, not armhole to bottom.) I added an extra two inches, and it's still short, but I think it's okay, given that I'll probably wear it with a shirt underneath.



The yarn is Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light in Denim Mix (5 hanks). At less than five dollars a hank, I wasn't really expecting much. It's not the softest yarn in the world, but it's really nice and holds its shape incredibly well. I'm eager to see how it will wear.


Next up, a sweater for my husband. He wanted a basic rollneck raglan sweater, so I'm trying my first EZ sweater, using her percentage system. And the yarn? Karabella Aurora 8 #22 (a dark, dark charcoal gray), which is--I hate this phrase--"to die for." I can't gush enough about it. It's like knitting with a cushy cloud. It's the softest, squishiest yarn I've ever used, and I think I should knit all of my future projects in it. Too bad it's on the pricy side for a sweater.




I almost forgot the news! Publishing Perk #567 (not to be outdone by Publishing Pitfalls numbering in the thousands): A certain Teva Durham is stopping by the offices on Thursday to teach a crafty group of us how to crochet. Whee!