Movin' on to me-stuff

I finished the things I was feverishly knitting: My Loopy Swap project is done and I'm this close to keeping it for myself. Of course I won't..lol..but it turned out nice especially after I washed it in Eulalan. I took a pic of it and I'll post it on a future blog after I ship it to Karen along with the other goodies I got her. The Alpaca yarn I received from the two women I work with was knitted up into two scarves. They've been given, and I didn't take any photos of the finished work because I was so anxious to get the scarves to them I forgot. One scarf was done in a Mistake Rib, about 5 inches wide and about 42 inches long. Just long enough to wrap around and hang down a bit. The other scarf was a double cable pattern, modified from the Irish Hiking scarf. That one was longer because it was narrower. It turned out about 4.5 inches wide and about 48 inches long. They were both very pleased with them.
Now, because I'm completely out of my mind I've decided to try knitting lace. I mentioned that in a previous blog and I actually followed through. I got my Schaefer Trenna yarn, which is absolutely gorgeous. However, knitting lace is HARD. It's something I have to get used to and learn properly. I was using US 7's and knitting such a fine yarn with relatively big needles was like knitting with tree trunks. Very difficult. I sought some help and advice from the wonderful people on Ravelry in the lace postings and one of them suggested I try using US 4's instead. It will alter the pattern, I think quite a bit, but I'm going to try it to see if it makes it easier. Here's a pic of it so far still on the US 7's. By the way, this is my 5th try.
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The colors of the yarn are so pretty, and I really want to do this for Lynn, my sister.
Also, I thought I'd try a smaller project, the Anya scarf, using my Dream in Color Smooshy fingering weight yarn. Its not any easier because the pattern is on both sides of the scarf, instead of the pattern being on the RS (right side) of the scarf and a plain row such as K2, P across, K2 on the WS(wrong side). Here's a pic of that attempt.
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It's really pretty yarn and easier to work with because its a heavier weight than laceweight.
And..because evidently I don't have enough to do, or enough yarn, I went to Bridget's fabulous yarn shop "Have You Any Wool" in Berkley the other day and she had just got in some Berroco sock yarn. (groan).
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and I got some of this, which I'm knitting up now and I love it. Look at the cool patterns made by the yarn!
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The wound around the skein yarn was caused by a severe case of yarn barf when I tried to fish out the starting end of the yarn within the skein. I hate that! I'm also making a helmet liner for my nephew, Drew, who is over in Iraq and will be there for the next 14 months or so. Hopefully not any longer than that. I hope it turns out ok. I don't understand part of the pattern so I'm going to have to take it into the shop where I bought it for some 'splainin'. It's knit out of Cascade 220 in a militarily approved charcoal gray and I'll post a pic of it when its more done. I've only got about 2 inches on the neck part completed so far, so it doesn't really look like much.
One of my friends that I work with, Katie, has joined Ravelry just this past week. Its an overwhelming site, for sure. I hope she likes it as much as I do. I'm on Ravelry at least once a day looking around at all the yarn and patterns and asking questions if I need to.