I’ve been working on some Google maps of yarn stores in several states.  I’ve recently added the Illinois and Wisconsin store maps to the links in the sidebar.  Since I started the maps for me, the red/pink pins are for stores that I have visited, purple pins are for stores I have not visited.  I have one additional map in the works and will post it soon.

If you have updates for the maps, contact me via comments or at blog@twistedloops.com.

This is the first post in a new series.  On Wednesdays, I’ll be featuring items from the web that I enjoy.  The items could be blogs, websites, podcasts, videos, or anything else I stumble upon.  My Web Wednesday series may not always be knitting related.

NPR Sunday Puzzle with Will Shortz

What can I say?  I love puzzles – crosswords, sudoku, word games – the type doesn’t really matter, I love them all.  Will Shortz produces some of the best puzzles created today.  He’s the crossword editor for the New York Times and the author of many puzzle books.  He does a short puzzle show, about 10 minutes or less, on NPR on Sunday mornings.  The entire puzzle is available as a podcast.  If you love puzzles and don’t know the Sunday Puzzle, go check it out.

Here it is, finished and ready to be shipped to Denver.

Pattern: Own – (cables from Interweave Knits Winter 2006, A Cardigan for Arwen)
Yarn: Cascade Bollicine Holiday (70% Superwash Merino / 30% Acrylic), 136yards / 125m
Quantity: 10 balls, 1360 yards / 1250m
Color: 22 (Red)
Needles: US 6 from Denise Kit
Size: 30 inches wide by 36 inches long

Started: March 2007
Completed: May 23, 2007

The blanket is finally finished, and I can’t stop smiling.  It’s getting a quick run through the laundry before I pack it up and send it off.  Pictures will be posted soon.

The new baby has been here for 3 weeks, and her blanket is not done yet.  I’ve woven in the ends.  I’m on the final ball of yarn.  I’m on the final portion of the border.  Yet, this blanket feels like it will never end.  Perhaps this is why I usually don’t knit for gifts, the impending deadlines make knitting feel more like work and less like fun.

I’m usually a fairly faithful knitter.  Usually, I have only a primary project and a pair of socks being knitted at any one time.  Many times, it’s just the pair of socks.  Since I started this blanket back in March, it is the only project I’ve worked on.  I did not even start a pair of socks because I knew the deadline would approach too quickly… and then there was the incident with the mandolin.  That incident sidetracked me for a few weeks. 

I’m not trying to make excuses for my project, but I now find myself thinking continuously about the next project to start.  I’m thinking that I may finally cast on for a significant lace project.  Perhaps casting on for the Diamond Triangular Shawl from Orenburg Lace Design Collection?  I’ve wanted to try lace on this scale (thin yarn/tiny needles) for some time, and I think the time is now.  There aren’t many of them out there in blogland, but knackfulknitter seems to have finished one just yesterday.  Lace for the summer would be fun.  I’ve volunteer to show/teach other members of KTog about lace knitting.  The two projects would coincide nicely.  Hopefully, I’ll have to decide soon, because I’ll finally finish the blanket.