Package Received!

This morning I received the most amazing package from my tea swap pal.

Look inside


She sent some of the most beautiful, soft yarn. I received Crystal Palace Merino, Lorna's Laces...In the most beautiful colors, Knit Picks Baby Alpaca and a special treat, a skein of Lori's own hand-dyed yarn in a beautiful color of Lime Sherbet. Oh and my favorite, chocolate. She sent chocolate mint thins, chocolate covered butter biscuits, buttercrunch toffee with chocolate and almonds, and caramel macadamia clusters. She sent four boxes of some of my favorite tea...China Green Tips Fusion Green and White Tea (I'll have to hide this one from my daughter), Assorted Tazo...Black, Green and Herbal, China Green Tips Varietal Green Tea and Decaffeinated tea with oranges and sweet spice. She also included a ceramic mug just perfect for a good cup of tea, the most amazing scented soy candle and a cute note card. That's not all folks. She included two knitting magazines, the Fall 2006 issue of Interweave Knits and the Fall 2006 issue of Knit It.
Lori, you really did an amazing job of selecting ALL of my favorites. Earlier today, I decided to take the yarn with me to the knitting shop. Well, the shop owner was so amazed at the softness and colors of the yarn, I decided to order Lorna's Lacecs for her and three other ladies. It was a treat for them to see the beautiful colors of hand-dyed yarn. Lori, Thanks for everything.

I decided to complete the sweater and abandon the throw, at least for now. The throw was for my daughter, but she has fallen for the Viveka Sweater. Completing this sweater was definitely a challenge. The pattern was an original and the designer/shop owner could not speak English. However, since I first began knitting at the shop, my Korean has gotten better. Hana, dul, set,--one, two, three. These numbers were important to learn, especially when trying to determine how many decreases or increases to make. The sweater is both knit and crochet (bobbles and trim). The yarn is 100% cotton and is extremely soft, a brand from South Korea. I always learn something new when I knit with the ladies. I now finish my sweaters without blocking. Blocking doesn't seem to be a technique used by the ladies at this particular shop. In fact, I watched a few ladies finish their sweaters without blocking and they looked perfect. It works for them and it works for me.