Okay, so my project today is not technically a WIP, but a FO…but I decided to share anyway since I stayed up very late last night finishing and washing them. I cast on for these late Monday night and finished the first sock easily. Then I was gone all day Tuesday and most of the evening as well. Knitting commenced madly on the second sock very very late in the evening. I stayed up until the wee small hours of this morning finishing and washing them to ensure they would be dry by this afternoon. It is rather hard to mail a wet pair of socks! These go out to a very new and very special expectant mother. Congratulations… (Okay, so I’m really not very good at keeping a secret!)

Pattern: Garter Stripe Baby Socks by Jennifer Hoel [ravelry]

Yarn: Alpaca With a Twist Socrates

Needles: Size 1 DPN

Ever since my gorgeous Spun Sugar (100% silk!) in the Brambles colorway arrived from Yarn Chef, I have been eager to cast on with it. I decided that the Fountain Pen Shawl [ravelry] from the Spring IK would be a great match for the yarn. I got to work immediately…but was not really happy with the results. My nupps looked rather sad and skimpy. So I decided to replace the nupps with beads – swarovski crystal beads, to be exact. I love the way they sparkle and catch the light on a shawl. I visited my bead supplier on Etsy, placed my order, and today the beads arrived in the mail! I was so excited that I opened the package, compared the color of the beads and the yarn, verified they were a good match, and began happily knitting away! I am hoping to finish this shawl very quickly, as I would like to wear it to an event that is only ten days from now.