Modest Goal Met, and Then Some

On Friday, I finished the back of the Minnesota trip top, a full month after returning from Minnesota. The yardage on Silky Wool is amazing. I did the entire back with two skeins and a tiny bit of a third, and I lengthened the thing 2 1/2 inches (1 1/2 in the torso and 1 in the arm hole). I should be able to finish in 5 skeins, so I'll have one leftover. Is the rumor I heard about the Elsebeth Lavold people discontinuing Silky Wool true? It's a fabulous yarn...I'd think they'd have more sense than to do that. I immediately cast on for the front, and have little more than a hem done, but it's a hem more than I had before I started. My appreciation for the simplicity of the piece is still lingering, though I'm really looking forward to the lace bit.

I also got the turtle hat pattern written and sent to a few testers. Two volunteers (Sharon and someone whose email may start with "cleereman") have given me email addresses which bounced. If you're still interested, leave me a comment with your contact information.

So far, it's only sized for premie (12 3/8 in) and 6 mos (16 in), but I could expand it to an 18 or 20 inch hat. Do you think an older child would actually wear a turtle hat? Or would the Portland Hipsters be interested? They could wear turtle hats while participating in a game of Adult Kickball.

The wee first turtle hat has been sent off to a little girl born very early and very ill. She's survived about 10 weeks, which is 5 weeks longer than predicted. Her prognosis changes all the time, and all we can do is hope for the best and hope that her will is stronger than her disease.

I have visitors this week and so will only be around briefly, but I'll post some photos of finished work as I find time.