Quarterly Knitting Update

My sister's birthday socks were, as usual, a bit late, but they're done.  I finished them about three days after her birthday and mailed them about a week late. I hadn't told her to expect anything so she was quite surprised.

I next moved on to my Tri-Cities Socks.  I purchased the yarn three or four years ago when visiting the area.  The pattern is SpillyJane's Pittsworth.  I liked the cables as they remind me of the three rivers in the area.  The yarn colors remind me of the landscape in the area--blue sky and various colors of brown for the vegetation and dirt, with a hint of green.  I was worried that they'd be too snug to wear, but they're not.  They're quite comfortable. I hope they wear well.  This is the first time I've used an alpaca-wool blend yarn for socks.

During an early April trip to Tbilisi, Georgia, I worked on a new pair of socks. The pattern is Paraphernalia. I think the yarn is Mountain Colors Weavers Wool Quarters. Size two needles.  I have the first sock done.  The cable repeat is a bit uneven, but it's not uneven enough for me to rip back.

After that, I studiously avoided the orange cardi with the badly sewn on lace edging.  I toyed with going back to my Spring Forward socks but instead decided to start an EZ Anniversary Pi shawl (Wendy Johnson's KAL from a couple years back).  I think I'm on the third clue now.  I'm using Cascade Alpaca Lace and size 4 needles.  

A colleague at work is having her first baby in July and her baby shower is in a week, so I started another Baby Sophisticate.  I started using Paton's Shetland Chunky, just like the last time I made one, but then thought that a thicker yarn would make a larger sweater which might be better.  So I picked up several skeins of Lion Brand Hometown USA.  I am nearly to the point of dividing for the arms.  I think it's going to be huge and may just revert back to finishing the Shetland Chunky version instead.  The shower is on the 2nd or 3rd of May so I have a little time yet.