I'm Back! Back in the Saddle Again! Yarn Saddle...

I got a big treat delivered this weekend.

I made an order with my gift certificate from Webs: America's Yarn Store.  It wasn't a huge order, which was tempting, since they just got finished with their big Summer Sale.  But it was an expensive one.

The Yarn I purchased is created/dyed by MadelineTosh, which seems to be one of the most sought after yarn companies lately.  The colorways are amazing, but it always seems like every time I want to order, I can never find a store that has enough in stock for a Crocheter (Naturally, a crocheter needs at least 2 more skeins of anything than a Knitter, to make the SAME thing!).

I wanted enough to make a sweater, or a shawl, but the yarn I selected is one of MadelineTosh's higher end yarns, Pashmina.  Pashmina is 75% Merino Wool (Superwash), 15% Silk, and 10% Cashmere.  It's a very saturated yarn as far as colorways and dyeing, and (*I think*) because of the silk, there is definitely some darker excessive saturation in some sections.

I know, I know.  Even the Mouse is amazed that 1440 yds of Fingering/Sport yarn will just barely make a Lace Crochet Shawl.

This yarn goes from a vibrant, super loud Safety Red, to a deep, cherry pie.  It's aptly named "Tart"!

 

(A LoveStruck Mouse and the Clever Plastic Cat intently oogle my Fabulous yarn)

See?  It's different colors in a bunch of different photos, and though I couldn't capture it in the late afternoon light, it does have some sheen to it.  I hope that sheen really "pops" after I make my shawl and gently block/wash it.

Since I know I'll be crocheting this for the next few months, and I haven't been crocheting too much lately, I decided to just warm up for a bit.  I've been practicing getting better with crochet gauge, and trying to match the recommended gauge in popular patterns with my "Yarn, I plan on strangling you with my Crochet Hook" tension.  I'm too rough on yarn when I crochet, so I've been trying to get better at it, starting slowly, and basically, re-learning how to crochet.  

I was spot on using the recommended Hook and tension for this super basic hat pattern.  And I'm slowly getting better at changing colors via the recommended methods for crochet.  Luckily, all the ends have weaved in nicely.  

 

The hat turned out super great, and if I can ever give myself a moment, it's going into a very overdue care package to be sent out WEST...

I'm still being wishy-washy about which Shawl to make, but I think part of that is because I know I'm going to be so busy the next couple of months, I'm not sure how much time I'll be able to devote to it.  I still have my heart set on a Triangular Shawl, but I'd settle for anything that isn't just a regular, rectangular stole (like alot of my Shawls).  I wish Life has a Hall Monitor like in Elementary School, and every time I acted up, I could go get Time Out to crochet/craft/breathe!

Well, that's all for now.  For some odd reason, I'm extremely sleepy, and it's not even late (for me)!