I didn't get to go to as many crafty stores as I hoped I would- I was traveling with a bunch of people and didn't want to drag them all around the city from store to store.    But I did get to go to Yuzuwaya.  Their craft floor is large and has a good selection of yarn, fabrics and buttons.  I bought a whole bunch of buttons there, stuff that we could never find here- Ultraman, Pokemon, the cutest little animal buttons... I also bought some 30 cm circular needles, which are handy when knitting sleeves because I like to avoid dp's as much as possible. 

I just flew out of LAX and had no problems getting through security with two projects, both on bamboo circs.  Just an FYI! 

Could you slip half of the stitches from your circular onto another needle, then do a 3-needle bind off?

Ooh, thanks for the great suggestion, slick!  I think I may try making a felted bag too.  And now I have to ask you a bunch of questions: Did you use a pattern for the bag, or did you just wing it?  How big did your bag end up after felting, how many skeins did you use, and what size needles did you use?  (sorry for all the questions!)

Oh, and WildIrishRose- I placed my order a few days before yours and I just got it yesterday.  So you should be getting yours soon!

I just received my second order of yarn and I'm happy happy happy!   I got the merino worsted in Natural and Cactus Flower, and the bulky in Dusty and Stone Sky.  As far as the colors, I ordered 2 skeins of the Cactus Flower and one skein is significantly brighter and more solidly colored with no variegation than the other skein.  No biggie though.  The Dusty color, however, is a completely different hue than was pictured on the site- the site shows it as a mauve-rose, and what I got was a warm pink color with hints of pale terracotta.  Again, no biggie... in fact, I like this color much much better than the picture!

Also, just a note: I got the "handspun bulky" (not the "merino bulky") and isn't as soft as the merino.  I should have expected that, but I can't help but be a bit disappointed since my hands have gotten spoiled by the buttery softness of the merino.

Oh yeah, none of them have a vinegar smell.  I guess my last order was just a fluke! 

So now what's left is for me to come up wth some projects for all this yarn!  I always prided myself on not "stashing", especially stashing without a specific project planned... but I went nuts with this yarn and just bought a whole bunch without anything in mind!  Maybe the herringbone "so called scarf" like Slick's (which looks awesome, btw!) or the MagKnits pattern (thanks for posting it, troodie!)...

I've got a couple of pairs (size 13 and 19).  They're in the 14" length and I got them from yarnmarket.com, mainly because they'd been out of stock of those sizes in Crystal Palace bamboo at the time I ordered them.   14" is too long for my taste... when I'm knitting in a chair with armrests, the ends of the needles always hit the armrests.  Other than the length, they're perfectly good needles.
If you like pretty colors, you might want to try the Daisy needles.  They're pretty pastel colors, and they come in 10" and 14" lengths.  The only thing is, they only come in size 9 and larger. 

Thanks for the compliments, everyone!   

crazy wazy, it didn't take me long at all- I used size 11 needles so it breezed by quickly!  And it shrank down to about 2/3 of its length.  (I wasn't too worried that it'd shrink too much, since I used the yarn called for in the pattern.)  I think that if you're concerned that your project will shrink too much, knit up a swatch as a "test," throw it in the wash, and see how much it felts.  You can get a better feel as to how long it should stay in the washing machine.

Thanks for the pattern!  I can always use a new scarf pattern- it's never too early to get ideas for Christmas gift-giving!

Just finished my very first felting project!   Despite my house smelling like wet wool for awhile, I can definitely see how felting can be addicting!

http://www.thekiko.com/tmp/popbag.jpg

Pattern is from Hello Knitty and made from Cascade 220.  Stripe pattern courtesy of this nifty random stripe generator.

Good idea about washing the wool- I made a purse and I'll try to give it a wash right now.  I've still got enough yarn leftover to make a hat, and if the wool softens up, I'll just make a hat to match the purse!