Yarn in a box and a few more things.......

Nothing makes me quite as happy as getting a box of yarn in the mail.  This box was delivered on the perfect day, after my car tire fiasco, I definitely needed this pick me up.  Have you waited long enough to see what was inside my lovely box from Knit Picks?

After much searching, trips to Joann's and Micheal's, and a few visits to various websites I decided on Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Superwash to make a potential crochet blanket for my family room.  I love bright colors, but they would look horrible in this room.  So after a lot of thought I decided on two variations of green. 

There are ten of each color which I am hoping is enough to make a nice sized blanket.  The darker color is Noble Heather and the lighter one is Pampas Heather.  I am not sure I am in love with the yarn yet, now mind you I have only held it up to my face and rubbed it on my cheek, there has not been any crocheting with it yet.  It is a tad scratchy, which should not surprise me as it is made of wool.  I hope it gets softer as I work with it.  I did not want an expensive blanket, gads you could spend oodles of money to make one if you wanted to.  I am on a budget so that is not happening in my life right now.

I also ordered size 8 and 9 Caspian wooden needles.  Seems this size needle of mine gets borrowed a lot and not returned.  I like the wood, they are smooth and very beautiful.  For the cotton yarn I am using for my dishcloths I find my good old, and I mean old metal needles are the best, the cotton slides right off of them. 

I was also in Barnes and Noble last week and saw these two books.  They are beautiful and inspirational.  I love myself a good knitting or crochet book.  I was not about to pay full price for them but jumped at the chance to get them 40% off at Knit Picks.  They are having a book sale right now if you are interested. 

I think I like these colors together.  I am thinking large granny squares in maybe a different sort of pattern than a traditional granny.  I found this square on Ravelry by SmoothFox, she has loads of other ones, too.  What do you think?  Big 12 x 12 squares, alternating greens.  At least that is my vision of this blanket right now.

I am up to 15 completed dishcloths, and I have to say this past two weeks have ruined my momentum.   So much going on at home and at work, add in a trip and flat tire and well, you know not much gets done.  Just when I thought about throwing in the dishcloth towel, (ha, ha) the wonderful Heldasland posted a picture and link to this beautiful crochet dishcloth.

I was contemplating making it when one of my favorite bloggers  Ingrid 
suggested I make some of these, too.  Then she went and made some and I fell in love even more.  Here is a link to the Flower Power Dishcloth by Doni Speigle.  I loved making it and it has given my brain a rest from The Almost Lost Washcloth.

The pattern suggests an H crochet hook, which I used, but it seems small to me.  My next one will be made with a size I hook just to make it as big as the knitted washcloths.

For you yarn lovers out there I received a catalog in the mail for a new to me yarn company located out of Wisconsin.  I love Wisconsin and have lived there briefly twice, my husbands family still lives there.  I think you should check them out Willow Yarns.  The prices and quality look very much like Knit Picks so I think you will be pleased with what you see.

Seriously this is a whole lot of promoting and I am not getting a thing in return, just thought you yarn lovers might be interested.

I am overwhelmed with work right now, I promise to catch up with blog reading this weekend.
Hope you are having a good week and if you have used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Superwash, what did you think about it?