WWKIP & More Stash Enhancement

This has got to stop. I can't keep on accumulating stash like this, it's going to take over soon!

But it's so hard to resist when delicious fibres come your way.

Remember I was in Cushendale Wollen Mills at Easter?

I had seen this yarn and fallen in lust (again) with it, but they didn't have enough skeins. I wanted 10 to be sure I had enough for a sweater. The lady in the mill shop took my details and told me she'd call when they did a new dye lot.

So she rang me on Thursday, and I got it on Friday! That's great service.

There's a massive 218 yds in each one of these skeins, so I have a total of 2180 yds for €45. €4.50 a skein is just ridiculously good value.

I've been thinking of what to knit with it, and am a bit stumped. I want this to be a really special sweater for me, to remind me of the lovely mills and make the most of this lovely Irish yarn.

I initially thought of this pattern: Viking Turid by Elsebeth Lavold, but am unsure about the diamond placement, it's right where I wouldn't want it to be, on my wobbly bits.

I'll keep searching as I'm sure I'll find the perfect pattern!

So yesterday was WWKIP day. I really didn't think I was going to make it, but hubby was great. He brought my Mam to the hairdressers & collected her afterwards. He also dropped Alice to my friends house for her sons birthday party & collected her. Thanks hun!

So, once I'd made the dinner for Mam & Dad and washed up afterwards, I zipped into town full of excitement. I always love this day. It's great to meet people you haven't seen for a while, and to meet new knitters too!

In my excitment I forgot my camera (duh) but Elven took some really lovely ones here: Photos

I hope you don't mind me linking to your photos!

Number 9 is my handbag with my Wollmeise peeking out of the top :)

We sat and chatted for ages, ate some gorgeous ice-cream, buns, cookies & apple pie (thanks guys for baking!) and generally had a ball. So much fun. I got home at around 7pm bumsore (from sitting on hard ground) and happy.

Of course, I couldn't let the day go un-marked, could I ;)

I detoured via This Is Knit as I'd heard they had a new delivery of Irish artisan hand dyed yarns in.

They had Dublin Dye Company, Gaiety Girl and Hedgehog Fibres in. I've been dying to try Hedgehog Fibres for ages now, I'd heard so much about it.

Well colour me swooned. It's a-maz-ing stuff.

Check this out:

Sock Yarn in a deliciously evil type colourway called Sour Cherry. Just gorgeous. So squishy and the intensity of the colour!

And this:

Silk Lace. Oh my. The colour of the yarn is Magic Mushroom (love!) and there's 1km of laceweight 100% silk in this baby. 1km!!! Unbelievable value at €28.95.

It's so soft and mushy and full of *sigh*. That's the best way I can describe it.

I can't wait to find a lovely pattern for it!

So, as if that weren't enough, I met up with The Constant Knitter at WWKIP to collect some yarn from her. Thanks for bringing it for me!:

Drops Karisma, a DK weight superwash 100% wool for Dad's Wall Street Cables vest.

Another really great value yarn, 1680 yds for €37.80! Dirt cheap!

Plus, it comes with a free monster:

Heh. I wonder what my monster will turn out like?

Hubby & daughter are busy gardening. We've planted:

Strawberries. Drool. My favourite fruit. I can't wait to have a bowl of these babies with some fresh cream!

Sweet peas, petunias, geraniums

And chilis! Nom. We have 4 different types planted:

Californian Wonder

Yolo Wonder

Chili Jalapeno

Chili Cayenne

Can't wait to see if we get any fruit from them!

BTW, what do you think of the new blog template? I just fancied a change.