Lots of new stuff

This past week I finally received my yarn order from Knit Picks. 11 hanks of lace! My right arm is sore from rolling the hanks into balls. I have 6 hanks left. I wonder if rolling yarn builds up arm muscle. Anyways, the new spring yarn colors are beautiful! Here's what I received:

Papaya Heather - 100% Baby Alpaca. This color is absolutely beautiful, the picture does not do it justice in my opinion. I'll be knitting my mandala shawl out of this yarn. I already have the yarn rolled into three balls. I just need to pick up my 32" size 5 circular needles and I'll have all my supplies ready to go when the first section of the chart is revealed.

Oregon Coast Heather - 100% Merino Wool. This is a lot softer than I had expected it to be, and I'm thinking it will be even softer after blocking. This sandy color is so pretty. I've already rolled the two hanks and have cast on for a shawl from the book I ordered, Wrapped in Comfort: Knitted Lace Shawls by Alison Jeppson Hyde This is a wonderful book! The shawl patterns range from easy to experienced skill level. So even if you are new to lace and/or shawls this book is great for beginners as well as experienced lace knitters. The instructions are very clear and easy to follow and she also includes a section with tips to make your lace knitting easier. I highly recommend this book. I'm part way through the yoke and then I'll begin knitting the body of the shawl. It is knitting up really fast.Snorkel Heather - 100% Merino Wool. This color is so much richer in person than the picture on the website. This is another one of those colors that a photo cannot do justice. It is more beautiful than I had originally thought it was going to be. I am very pleased with it. I'm planning on knitting up a Arctic Diamonds Stole from the Arctic Lace pattern book that was printed in the Winter 2006 issue of Interweave Knits magazine. I believe this pattern in the snorkel heather is going to be absolutely gorgeous. I think this is going to be one of my projects that I do for the Season of Lace Competition that is starting on June 21st.
Hot Rod Heather - another 100% Merino Wool. I'm not positive what I am going to knit up with this one. I just love the color! It will probably another shawl from my Wrapped in Comfort book.Yesterday I went to Hobby Lobby (love that store!) to pick up 16" size 5 circulars, and came home with some blocking pins, stitch markers, and a pretty basket to hold my lace knitting. When I got the basket home, I started worry that the yarn might catch on the edges and inside of the basket. So I fixed it! I used my sewing machine! Finally!
My hubby bought me my first sewing machine for Christmas last year. Up until now I didn't really get a chance to do much with it. I had a lot of reading to do to figure out how to work it. I don't think what I did was really all that impressive, but hey I used my own sewing machine! I just hemmed the edges of a large rectangle piece of fabric and then fastened it to the basket with safety pins. No big deal really. But I think it turned out pretty good.
I also finished up the feather and fan scarf that I was working on. Here's a picture, it turned out kind of dark, the yarn is a pretty purple color.
Well, I think that's about it for now. My shawl is calling me to knit on it some more. So until next time!
~Happy Knitting!