Now That's Service!

As you know, I'm trying to pick a yarn for Icarus. A few days ago, I sent an email to one of my favorite yarn suppliers, littleknits.com. In it, I explained the project and asked for some advice about the yarn I was considering. I didn't really think anyone would get back to me, but I figured it was worth a shot. A couple of days went by, and I decided to just go ahead and place the order. Last night, I was sitting at home, the phone rang, and--to my complete surprise--it was the owner of littleknits! She saw that I had placed an order and knew she hadn't emailed me back, so she called me at home to discuss the yarn before she filled the order! She looked up the pattern online so that she could tell me all about the yarn used in the original pattern, then all about the yarn I had ordered, compared the two side by side for gauge, and gave me a detailed description of the relative weights, drape, color, and sheen. She was absolutely knowledgeable and helpful. It was easily the best service I've ever had from an online merchant, and frankly, better than I've had in most local yarn stores. And I should also mention that littleknits prices are typically about 50% less than retail on many, many fine yarns. Go see.

If you haven't yet clicked over to littleknits (bad timing on my part, huh?), here's the progress on Ariann.

[Note: this is not the color. The actual color is teal, with tweedy flecks of yellow and blue. I'd like to blame this on my camera, but I suspect operator error is at work here.] As you can see, it is done, except for the buttons and the tie (it can hardly be called a belt) for the waist. Let's hear it for no seams! I made a few modifications to this pattern besides the gauge change. I made the body an inch and a half longer, and the sleeves an inch longer, both to accomodate my height. I spaced the buttons farther apart to account for the length change. I picked up the collar stitches from the wrong side, since I don't like seeing the collar seam on the inside of the neck (and it's hidden under the collar on the right side), and I did the collar in 1x1 rib instead of garter stitch, just for the heck of it (I like the way the ribbing matches the button band). I made the collar about an inch longer to balance the extra body length. Other than that, I knitted it exactly from the great pattern. I enjoyed it so much that I will probably do a second one in wool or alpaca for cool weather wear.

How many more excuses can I find to avoid Sparkly?