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I think friends are very, very important. Nothing in life can compare to the knowledge that someone understands you and cares about you. Despite having moved a bit in my life, I definitely consider myself lucky enough to have a couple of those friends spattered throughout North America. One friend in particular is especially thoughtful. While we don’t see each other nearly enough I know that we will always keep in touch and be there for each other. She knows me so well that she has sent me gifts so meaningful that I have cried upon opening them.

Last Tuesday I received one of the coolest gifts a knitter can get.

It is not just an ordinary hank of yarn. When Hello Yarn had a shop update last week I nearly purchased this yarn despite my stash diet. I mustered all the conviction and strength I had in me and resisted. When I got home, it was waiting for me on the doorstep. The look of confusion on my face must have been priceless. I was certain I didn’t order this yarn! How was it here for me? And even if I ordered it, how did it get here in less than one day?

My good friend Erin had it custom dyed just for me. It was no wonder that I was watching it with lust during the shop update, it was screaming my name. In fact, it was literally made for me. I love love love it. Erin is the best gift giver I have ever encountered in my life. What an amazing friend to have. Thank you, Erin! We all should be so lucky to know people like her.

I am trying to clear out some old WIP’s while in the midst of my stash diet. With so many things I want to make and lots of yarn to use up, I feel like it would be prudent to get to the bottom of the pile first. It’s not like there is much going on compared to most knitters but I do have some bad OCD when it comes to UFO’s. WTF, right? (Okay, that last one wasn’t really needed, but I couldn’t resist.)

This big, boring thing is a wrap with sleeves from the free section of Rebecca. It’s endless fisherman’s rib. But it will be comfy when it’s done and I do want to finish it up.

While that is technically my travel knitting, I lent out my swift so I can not wind any more balls of the alpaca cloud I am knitting it out of. So while I wait for the return of my baby, I started a new pair of socks to tide me over.

It’s the Mad Color Weave Socks pattern, in Regia Canadian Colo(u)r. This is stash yarn that also came to me by the way of Erin. It’s a theme, people! They are looking like they will be a fairly quick knit.

Some other things I would love to take care of before I really get started on some crazy sweater knitting this winter (links bring you to my Ravelry projects page for each item):

- The Razor Cami. All it really needs is some motivation. I have to knit a couple more inches in the pattern and then bind off and attach some sort of straps. Blah. I really want it outta the queue!

- Spider Stole. I actually really love this and want to wear it. I am just searching for the right lace border. Nothing seems good enough. Can you think of something lacy, open, and web-like? I may need to spend a couple hours with my lace dictionaries.

- Lopi Sweater. The Leavened Raglan pattern from Interweave Knits. It just needs seaming. Well, and most likely lengthening now that I have blocked the pieces and see how little they look. If I am feeling super lazy I may just give this one away instead of messing with it to make it fit me. Bulky stuff makes me look like the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man anyways.

Aside from those projects and a couple other sweater edits I need to make, things seem to be shaping up! I bet by the end of November I will have had the time to clear this out and be able to start on a fresh batch of sweaters. Man, I can’t wait!