Hey y'all, the search function is down so I apologize if this question has been asked before, but does anyone have any opinions on the Knitpicks' bulky yarns, specifically Sierra, Decadence, and Panache? I want to make Ysolda's Apocalpyse Tree Hoodie but Rowan Polar is discontinued  so those who've hoarded it can ask whatever they want for it. I'm liking the sound of Panache especially (40% Baby Alpaca, 20% Cashmere, 20% Silk, 20% Extrafine Merino) but it's only 68 yards per 50 g ball.

...an eyelet newsboy! Well, sort of. I neglected to account for the pulling-in effect that ribbing and cables have, so I didn't change the # of stitches or anything, so you can hardly see the eyelets. I'm also thinking of redoing the brim--I made a ribbed (but not cabled) newsboy (which I'm wearing in my avatar pic) and thought the brim was too big, so I made this one smaller, and now I think it's too small. But whatever, it's a gift for my sister, and I sent her the pics and she likes it, so I may leave it alone.

So I bought the Kenmore Mini Ultra sewing machine (http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=APPL&pid=02011206000) that was featured in Bust, and I have been struggling with it for almost a month now. I've used sewing machines before, quite a bit actually, and I am following the instruction to a T, and yet the thread keeps getting caught on the shuttle when I try to sew. I've tried switching the direction the thread feeds off the bobbin, different bobbins, different threads, different tensions, and a lot of different swear words. I can't do anything different with the shuttle itself, unfortunately, or else I'd try that too. I googled for reviews of this machine and they were all positive. So did I get a lemon, and try to return it? Is this machine crap and the reviews nothing but dirty, dirty lies? Or is it me? (Don't be afraid to say, "it's you," that's actually the answer I'm looking for, especially if you've got something constructive to add, so I don't have to schlep it back to Sears.)