I'm inspired by the anticipation of yet another big order from WEBS/Yarn.com.  The Ladies and I have banded together once again to meet the $120 minimum that earns the 25% discount.  Unfortunately (fortunately?) we went way beyond the minimum.  My anticipated projects from said box of glory:

•  Fiddlehead Mittens by helloyarn.  I've been eyeing these for a while and have them planned in Rowan Scottish Tweed, with RYC Silk Wool DK for the lining.
• Mom and Dad socks.  I can't tell from the order history what I even bought, but I'm sure it's smashing.  Some his and hers socks are sure to brighten their holiday (yes, I'm starting now).
• Socks for me!  Pattern TBD.  I loved knitting with the Dream in Color yarn so much that I'm going to give their sock yarn, Smooshy, a try. 

Not overly ambitious, I think.  I'm still working on my Diminishing Rib Cardigan, but as it's beyond portable size it's taking a breather.  The arms are all that I have left at this point.  Of course, there's no rush now that it's practically summer! 

• Falling in Love socks:  one down, one to go.  I decided to do a twisted rib cuff, which looked great until I combined it with a tubular bind-off.  I wanted the stretch of that bind-off, but the tightness of the twisted stitches made it a painful process.  I'm not looking forward to a repeat.  I started the second sock today on my commute and hope to crank it out during this week's business trip.  I'm using Plymouth Happy Feet, which I find pleasant to knit but am not loving the variegation.  I should have gone with a colorway that was more uniform, as the purple pools too much for my taste, making it look like girl-camo.  Did I mention that these are my first socks? 
• Diminishing Rib Cardigan: just about finished with the body, and then on to the sleeves.  The best part about this sweater is the minimal amount of finishing.  I really should only have ends to weave in from yarn joins and a little blocking to do.  I've knit it up in the a dark brown Cascade Ecological Wool and it's very dense, just the way I like it.  I have high hopes for the fit, too, but we'll see.  I also hope that blocking will even it out a bit, as I think the variations in ribbing are a little sloppy.  I imagine it will look great on, but one shouldn't look too closely. 
• Cabled Blanket Coat: in my initial post, I remarked on the major undertaking this sweater is, with 19 balls of yarn in the closet.  Well, it really is a beast.  I've gotten a third of the way through the main body, which is essentially a giant cabled blanket with cast-off holes in the middle for arms.  I think it's reasonable to assume that this sweater will not be done before it's cold enough again to wear.  Also, it's the project I pull out when I don't have something else in hand (or that can be worked in front of the television).

There are a bunch of other projects in the queue for which yarn is already in the stash.  For the others, I am attempting to exercise self-control. 

• Chunky Merino Throw:  I finally received the massive backorder of Twinkle Soft Chunky, so I can get crackin' on this blanket.  My initial intention is to knit this for my mother, but we'll see how that goes.  I've never knit anything on giant needles (size 17!), so this should be interesting, to say the least.  I will continue to be inspired by Jared Flood's photos of this project.
• Blooming Cotton Scarf:  Here's another project requiring a ton of yarn, but it's just so pretty!  I'm planning on working this one up in greens.  Though not generally a fan of cotton, there aren't many yarns out there with so many shades available, so Tahki Cotton Classic it is.  With the WEBS discount, it shouldn't be too bad.
• A bunch of man gear:  meaning, I've got a slew of projects in my mind to outfit my man in wooly warmth.  A green Koolhaas hat, using the same Queensland Kathmandu Aran that I used for mine.  A cotton scarf using some sort of slipped stitch pattern.  He's slightly afraid of color, except some greens, so I'm thinking of a dark green and charcoal palette.  I think I can get his scarf out of the leftovers from my queued Blooming Cotton Scarf.  Then there will be some new mittens.  I'm thinking some really rugged big mittens under which he can wear slim work gloves, and then something for every day wear.  I initially made handwarmers because I didn't think he'd wear mittens.  I guess I don't know everything.  The best thing about this bit of the queue is that I have lots of time until fall rolls around again. 

I'm already tired of listing it out and this is the tip of the iceberg.  There are hats and sweaters and socks in my future, but I'm not sure which will be next.  I never feel that I have enough time to knit, and forget about the half-written patterns.  Designing takes even more time! 

You also know it's bad when I'm considering watching Twilight for the second time in three nights.  I'm probably going to that special hell - you know, the one reserved for people who watch and occasionally pay for bad movies.  Here's the thing, though:  It's got replay value!  I've read all the books, and will only admit to liking the first.  But you can't eat just one, you know?  And then there's the fact that after book one I hoped Bella would die repeated and painful deaths.  Yet I saw the movie.  In the theater.  It was probably a good thing that we went a while after it opened or we might have had a lynch mob on our heels.  In fact, the whole audience was giggling throughout, so we were with a like minded crowd.  A friend mentioned that everyone looked constipated, so this may have colored my perception, but the expressions were priceless.  Jasper looked like Edward Scissorhands upon the application of purple-tinted foundation.  Edward had a perpetual "I'm gonna throw up" look about him.  And Bella was so "teen" it was surprisingly accurate.  Hell, I'm putting that baby back in the DVD player right now.   

On the knitting front, well, I gave into my urges and bought that crazy bright Manos that I've been eyeing.  I bought it in Texas, with no witnesses, so it's okay, right?  Apologies for the iPhone picture, but hey, natural light!

Now it's a couple days before I've got to pop these babies in the mail, and I'm totally mittenless.  Last night I made an emergency run to Knitty City and probably spent the most time ever choosing yarn.  I know my recipient likes turquoise and wool, so I picked up the yummiest handpainted Dream in Color Groovy, and cast one once again.  It's smooth, strong and beautiful (at $20 a skein, it should be!).  In fact, I already feel inspired to knit myself another pair in the same yarn - it's that nice.  Of course, I'll be receiving a pair of mittens, too, so no hasty yarn purchases appear in my future. 

There is a silver lining, however, and this fiasco just follows what I've always believed - when one thing doesn't work out, something better comes along.  I'm now working up much prettier mittens in a yarn that is a joy to knit, all the while my hands remain their natural color.  Also, I reworked the pattern in the round so I won't have any seaming to do.  I still think adding beads would look fabulous, but I may not have enough time.  And that's what it always comes down to - time.  What happened to the days of patrons - isn't there someone out there who would like to support me financially so I may spend my days knitting?

Twinkle Soft Chunky
Though generally not a fan of bulky yarn or really anything made with it, I have fallen victim to the beauty of Jared Flood's photography on brooklyntweed.  Practically anything he makes and photographs is something that I want to make and photograph.  It's a problem.  The Chunky Merino Throw by Wenlan Chia, with it's rather large pricetag, was an even bigger problem.  But WEBS entered into the equation and the yarn became slightly more reasonable and it's on its way.  Since I'm not into pastels and my black-haired puppy rules out the rich cream color, I finally decided on a deep ocean blue. 

Plymouth Happy Feet
It's time to admit it - I've never made socks.  I honestly never understood the draw and haven't felt motivated.  I go through socks pretty quickly, and it seems like quite a lot of time devoted to something that I'll most likely trash in a couple months.  Also, I was always worried that I would feel the stitch definition on my feet and it would be uncomfortable.  And so on.  But a friend of mine is always happily knitting a pair and I finally found a pattern that inspired.  So this vivid yarn of pinks and reds will be the basis for my Falling in Love socks.     

I also purchased some merino and microfiber blends to whip up a couple of fair isle hats.  I have this strange and inexplicable love of Norwegian knitting, and I invested in Hats On! by Charlene Schurch.  The cover is a little 80's, but the finished objects on Ravelry helped me get past my bias.