Does anyone know of a good substitution (preferably cheaper) for GGH's Soft Kid yarn?  I'm planning on making a top from Rebecca magazine that uses the yarn, and it's not available at my LYS.  I was considering Rowan Kidsilk Haze (which is lighter weight and actually more expensive, but with better yardage) and Jo Sharp Rare Comfort Mohair (which is heavier weight).  Any thoughts?  I'd appreciate any input...  If any of you have knit with the Soft Kid and loved it, that would be helpful too.

At the prompting of girlypirate, I thought I would start a knitalong for the gorgeous off-the-shoulder ribbed sweater Tempting from the brand new issue of Knitty.  Here is a link to the pattern -

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter04/PATTtempting.html

Anyone else interested?  I will probably not be able to start this project until next month, but I will most likely buy yarn and swatch for it before the holidays start...

I finished this sweater recently and wore it for the first time today (even thought it's from the Summer issue of Interweave Knits, it's still a little heavy for Houston weather, which is still in the 90s!):

http://www.elizabethklett.com/images/cabaret.jpg

I'm going to steal a page from my friend Shelby's book and answer 20 questions about the project, just like she does on her knitting blog, Karmic Knits, http://karmicknits.prettyposies.com...  so here we go!

1. Name of Project: Cabaret Raglan
2. Pattern Source: Interweave Knits, Summer 2004 issue
pattern by Norah Gaugan
3. Yarn: Reynolds Cabaret
4. Fiber & Color: 100% cotton tape in bright red
5. Needles: straight bamboo size 7 & 9, and Denise size 7 needles for finishing the neckline
6. Where did I get the yarn: eBay - I bought 17 skeins, used 10, and sold the extra
7. Is it the yarn called for: Yes
8. How long did it take to knit: 2 weeks - I knitted it way too fast
9. Did I change anything: Yes - I knit the neckline (4 rows of garter stitch) in the round instead of flat.  I also shortened the sides a bit - from 14" to 13".  And I played with the gauge so that it fell between the two smallest sizes.
10. What would I have done differently: Maybe added some shaping to the body.  Also the bottom curls up even though it's not meant to (there are a few rows of garter stitch at the bottom) - I maybe should have made the garter stitch border a bit wider.
11. Were the instructions clear: Yes - very clear, chart was easy to read.
12. What did I learn: that endless stockinette stitch with no shaping is BORING; how to read from a chart (this was my first chart!), and how to use a cable needles (for some of the stitches on the front yoke).
13. Was it worth it: I think so, yes, since I like the way it turned out and it's comfy.
14. Would I do it again: No - knitting the front and back pieces was kind of tedious b/c it was just 13" of stockinette with no shaping.
15. What seaming methods were used: mattress stitch.  I love raglan sleeves - no pesky seaming of sleeve caps into armholes!
16. Will I knit with the yarn again: the Cabaret is nice - it's a stretchy cotton tape that looks a bit like shoelaces but is very nice knit up.  it's easy to work with and even has a very subtle sheen to it.  I might possibly use it again - maybe as a substitute for Rowan Cotton Tape?
17. Do I think I’ll wear it: Wore it today - with white capri pants and my Camper "sushi" sandals.  (Yes, I know, it's after Labor Day - but I live in Houston!)
18. Process or Product: product
19. Do I have shoes to match: yes - although I didn't wear them today b/c they're not super comfy.  They are a lovely pair of Nine West red sandals with straps that tie around your ankles.
20. Final Thoughts: I pushed myself too hard while knitting this sweater - I gave myself tendonitis in my left wrist, from which I'm still recovering.  I think sometimes I get way too obsessive with knitting and just want to finish something, and I knit for too long.  With this one, I was looking forward to getting to the fancy front yoke (which I left until last), so I rushed through the other pieces.  Also, I really need to stop tying on new balls of yarn in the middle of rows - I had to block the crap out of this to make sure you couldn't see the places where I wove in the ends.

Is anyone else out there knitting the "Loll" cardigan (or sweater) from the Rowan Calmer collection booklet?  I just started on the first sleeve of the cardigan - I'm using Calmer in "Squirrel" (a dark almost-black color).  It's a funky pattern, with some challenging stitches, and I'd love to swap advice with anyone else who is knitting (or has knitted) it.  You can see pictures from the Calmer magazine here:  http://www.theknittinggarden.com/ro-magcalmer.htm

Just wondrin if any of y'all have suggestions for stretching or massage exercises you can do to relieve hand aches from too much knitting.  I knit so much that sometimes my hands hurt a little - and my wrists too - and I'm afraid I'm going to give myself carpal tunnel syndrome and then I won't be able to knit anymore!  But I can't seem to stop knitting so much...  any thoughts?

Just finished this - it was a great project and went pretty fast as well!  It fits great and was a lot of fun to knit.

http://www.elizabethklett.com/images/cachcoeur.jpg

fans of Salt Peanuts will enjoy this one as it uses the same yarn - Muench Bergamo.  same designer, too.

Can anyone recommend some good yarn shops in London?   I will be there for 10 days in late June and I would like to do some yarn shopping...  Thanks!

I just frogged what I've done of the "Pia" tank top from the most recent Rowan magazine.  It's the cute little tank with the D-ring closures at the straps.  I'm making it in the suggested yarn, Rowan All Seasons Cotton.  I frogged it because it was looking kinda crappy - there are 8 rows of yarn overs in the pattern and on one side you do a P2tog before the YO and on the other side you do P2tog tbl ("through back loop") - which was a new stitch for me.  I'm doing it correctly but it looks puffy and weird - not flat and smooth like the P2tog side.  

Has anyone made or tried to make this sweater?  Would love to see pics or hear about your experiences if you have.  Or does anyone know any lil' tricks for doing P2tog tbl?  

I find I'm getting a little out of control lately with buying yarn for new projects.  I'm a pretty fast knitter and I (usually) tend to complete projects that I start, but lately I've been snapping up yarn for future projects right and left.  Partly it's b/c I'm wanting to knit all these little tank tops and they only require 2-3 balls of yarn and so it's easy and cheapish to get sucked into buying it...  In the future projects queue are:
* the fluffy camisole from Weekend Knitting
* the jewelled shell from Knitty
* the "Salt Peanuts" cardigan from Interweave Knits
* the little black top from Stitch n' Bitch
* the camisole from the cover of Vintage Knits

(I'm currently knitting the cobweb shawl from Magknits.  Plus there's the halfway-done chenille throw from Erika Knight's Comforts of Home that's been on hold since December.)

So I've got projects to last until the end of the summer, at least.  So what's the problem?  I can't stop!!  A friend just sent me a link to a super-cute pattern from ChicKnits, and now I'm thinking about that!  Help me!!!

Does anyone else out there do this?  Am I a freak?  

I'm freaking out a wee bit right now - I just got an email from Paypal saying that a payment I received for goods bought and shipped last month has been "reversed" - that is, the buyer reversed or rejected the credit card payment that they made to me via Paypal.  Has this happened to anyone else?? I sent an email to the buyer right away of course - but if this is someone who simply bought my stuff, sent me a Paypal payment and then reversed it so that they could get my stuff for free, what can I do about that??  Paypal's site basically says that you have to get their buyer protection if you want to avoid this.  But their email also mentions an "investigation" of this and asks me to send them all kinds of information about the transaction.  So maybe they will be some help.  

I'd really just like to hear from people who have had this happen - and I'd like to know how often it happens, and whether it's worth it to get the seller protection?  (I've been open for business less than a year and am still learning about all the fab surprises involved in running an online business).

Thanks in advance for your help...