Pretty, Pretty handspun from Gotland

One of the things I love to do on vacation is find some handspun yarn from the region or country.

Did I hit the jackpot at Sticka.  Sticka is this absolutely lovely little yarn store in Gamla Stan, the old town of Stockholm.  John and I found this store on DAY 1 of the honeymoon.  It was good, and bad, all at the same time.  First, it was such a cute little store, with such an AWESOME selection.  I was just like a kid in a candy store, regardless of the morning sickness (more about that later, this is a fiber related post).  It was really hard to decide what to purchase, but when I saw the handspun from Gotland, I fell in love, especially with the more variegated skein (don’t I wish that there was TWO skeins of it!).  I made the sales girl PROMISE me that I wouldn’t find this on Gotland (which I did, but that was ok).   

I’ve decided that I’m going to make a shawl with it, it’s too pretty to just sit in hanks like this.  It will be fun to knit with because I’m not forced to knit on small needles!  It uses a size 8 – 11 needles.  I was looking at my needles this morning, and I think I’ve decided a 9 is a bit too small and 11 is a bit too big.  Now I have to find my 10 & 10.5 needles so I can make my choice…  I’ve been thinking about making a moebius.  Something that will be a bit larger, but with some character…

This is a close up of the more variegated yarn, isn’t it just devine, i mean really, how could I not buy this.

Now, in SP11 news, I kinda need some, well, advice.  I bought some really cute things in Gotland, especially for my SP.  I went with grays, just because, well, it’s kinda a neutral color.  After reading what she likes (color-wise), gray really isn’t it.  Should I go ahead and send her this “Gwen’s Vacation gift package” or, should I keep the super cute things for myself, and go shop especially for her.  It is a quandary.  They had all kinds of fiber related things in Gotland, including sheep cookie cutters (with a recipe for something in Swedish), this really cute sheep magnet made with felt, and really pretty lace weight yarn with a Swedish pattern on the tag!  What would you do?  I wish I had known about her color likes (bright, bright, bright) before I bought all these neutral grays.  I just don’t know what to do.

Anyway, I feel good today, the first time in well, MONTHS.  Maybe I’m getting over the morning sickness, FINALLY.  I think I may pickup needles tonight.  I’m so excited.  I’ve missed it so much.