well, I tried to make the old look work with the new blog, but that’s way more complicated than I’d like it to be (at this time, at least). I stumbled across a design/theme that I like, so I changed the header image (my Kashka checking out yarn from my excellent SP) and voila - I have a knitting-related design again. yay! :D now I just need to get the sidebar stuff updated and we’ll be all set.

I’ve also installed a number of plugins - so we have a spell checker (for both posts and comments. oooohhhh. I know exciting stuff), we will have a little weather thing (and it will not be a pixie. the weather pixies are cute and all, but not really me), and a theme switcher (eventually, when I change the layout again, it’ll be added and you can choose your favorite). there’s more I’d like to add in one of these days as well.

I decided to finally attempt kool-aid dyeing. I had picked up an old skein of 100% Virgin Wool (Rochelle brand) in an ‘Eggshell’ color. Crappy color, but I figured for 99c couldn’t pass it up and it’d be great to practice kool-aid dyeing on. :D that was probably back in November/December. I don’t know what possessed me to do this today, but as I type, the wool is microwaving. I ended up getting a 1-oz skein and a 2-oz skein out of it. I used one packet of Jamaica flavor - it looks like a really dark red (the flavor tastes pretty good too, though I’m not a big fan of the stuff) - on the small skein. I’m planning to use Mandarin on the larger one.

just finished up knitting something for my Secret Pal. going to get it packaged up and sent out in the next day or two. It’s SO CUTE! I hope she likes it

In other news, we went to Half Price Books today. I picked up Adventures in Knitting by Barbara Aytes - from 1968. It’s got lots of stitch patterns and a few patterns (bags, sweaters, etc). Looks interesting, so I grabbed it. Also picked up an issue of Knitters from last year and a few other non-knitting books.

I also ordered a few yarns from KnitPicks - the natural Wool of the Andes & Color your own sock yarn and the Andean Silk in Pitch. and I ordered the size 0000 needles so I can try making MaryElla from Knitty.

Finally finished my bear today. got the arms added Wednesday & Thursday, started stitching him together, and today he’s all stuffed and fully seamed. yay! now I need to head to Coldwater or Needleworks and drop him off.

I’m heading out to the Minnetonka area in a bit. I need to figure out how to add the arms to my bear, and Coldwater Collaborative is having one of the Mother Bear classes/meetings today. on my way, I plan to stop at Skeins and see how it is, now that I know how to find it. ;) and I might stop at Yarnzilla while I’m out there as well - see what’s new there.

tomorrow we have a big rehearsal for our St Pat’s performance that’s coming up on Sunday, so I’ll be there most of the night. I’m only in one dance and after rehearsal we have a parade-info-meeting, so I’ll be there at least 2 1/2 hours - plenty of time to knit! (I’m either reknitting Nakiska so I can wear it in the parade next week, or else I’m starting my legwarmers). since classes are in St Paul, I plan to stop and check out some of the ‘downtown’ St Paul shops - I know Yarnery & Borealis are down there, and I think the Textile Center (where the Guild meets) is really close to where my dance school teaches! how convenient!

in other news, I have another ‘pelt’ finished… this one is for, well, I can’t say yet on the off-chance my SP stumbles on my blog… but I will say the pattern knit up really quickly! I bought the kit at Clickety Sticks last Thursday, and finished it up on Tuesday. granted, I didn’t work on it continuously - I’d say it took me maybe 6-10 hours total though. and it’s SO CUTE! I’ll post a pic of it finished (once I figure out how to finish it) after we reveal ourselves.