Paper Starfish

Malabrigo is one of those yarns I have heard about forever but failed to really "get" the excitement. I got some in a swap and although I haven't knit with it yet I do have some opinions already.

Some Mal worsted in Ravelry Red:

It was near impossible to take this picture. I tried natural light, no flash as well as automatic with flash. Nothing really worked but you'll have the idea and at least I can get it in my stash on Ravelry.

I also got a skein of Silky Merino (DK weight) in the color Topaz:

This is a beautiful gold color. Both of these yarns are so, so soft and squishy. I get the appeal of it right away. I do wonder about the pilling factor - especially with the worsted. It's a single ply which (in my experience) tends to pill. Anyone out there reading have any experience with Malabrigo? The colors are gorgeous and like I said, the squish factor is high!

I also recently bought two skeins of Mosaic Moon Rainbow with Black on superwash wool:

In baking news, I tried a recipe from Cookie Madness for sour cream scones. I love scones. Not too sweet. Some crunch on the outside with a tender inside. Yum!

Well, if you follow any sewing/quilting blogs at all you've seen this already:

It's Picnic and Fairgrounds by Denyse Schmidt. I didn't buy all 21 prints because I didn't love them all but I love these.

I know there's a lot of talk in the blogosphere about the pros and cons of a designer fabric being sold at a big chain like JoAnn Fabrics. I support my LQS pretty often both because I like to support small businesses and also because she carries what I like. I will say this. I was so excited to see a line that reminds me of Flea Market Fancy since I missed out on those prints and refuse to pay what people are asking/getting for them now.

If you celebrate Easter and have leftover eggs you might like to check out one of my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipes from one of my favorite food blogs - Cookie Madness. This recipe uses hard boiled eggs and is SO YUMMY. Exhibit A:

I noticed this year there were recipes for an oatmeal variation as well as a chocolate chocolate chip variation. Check them out HERE!

I love this pattern and have knit it before. I love the yarn. So, what is my problem?

I cast on for this pair of socks on Thanksgiving Day. 2009. Yes, 2009. I just can't finish them. I don't know why. I pick them up and go like gangbusters for 11 or 12 rounds and then put them down for weeks. Someone remind me of the great feeling I'll have when they're finished.

The April blocks in my Sew Bee Wonky bee is string blocks.

I've never done these before. I've never done anything with paper before but it was fun. I didn't sew them together. The hostess for April wants to mix and match for an even more "scrappy" look. I can't wait to see this finished quilt!