A little while ago, my local yarn store had a sale.  The more you bought, the bigger the discount on sale stuff.  Well, since I’m basically just starting my knitting obsession hobby, I needed some sock needles, so I thought this would be a good time to stock up.  I also needed to get some black yarn for Ron’s hat, some colorful yarn for toys, etc. etc.  I didn’t really understand how the sale worked, but I just bought what I wanted needed.  So I was hemming and hawing over this beautiful Schaefer Helene yarn that was the softest 50% wool, 50% silk I ever did touch.  It was in blue (my favorite color) and it was soft and expensive.  So I should buy it, right?  Well, I held it a little (a lot) longer and couldn’t put it down.  Did I mention it was originally $44 a hank?  It was $44 a hank.  But it was on sale!  When do you get a chance to buy yarn so expensive on sale? I had no idea how on sale it was because it wasn’t marked except for a colored sticker.  I was guessing it was maybe 30-40% off.  Good deal.  Ok, I decided I would get it.  It would be the perfect yarn to make a special scarf for myself.  This was the yarn stashes were made of.  This is a yarn that might stay in the stash for a long time because I would have to think of something special to do with it.  So here’s a picture of it:

The hanks are beginning to look a bit scraggly because, well, I can’t stop touching the yarn.  Sometimes I just like to hold it and pet it.  I’ve noticed it’s beginning to pill a bit, but it’s a flaw I can look past.  So now I can tell you how much I paid for it.  Guess.  You don’t know?  $11 a hank.   Yes!  $44 yarn for $11!  It was because I bought all those needles!  See how much you can save if you spend a lot of money?!  And look, I’m putting the new needles to use on a pair of socks.  My first effort at socks on two circulars:

I’m diggin the red.  It’s the KnitPicks sock garden in Zinna (I got it on sale and I think it’s discontinued).  And yes, I took a picture of it on a pile of laundry because where else do socks end up? I’m sad because I’m realizing I can’t take it on the plane with me today because of the metal needles.  Has anyone ever successfully taken size 2 circular metal needles on the plane?  I don’t think it’s worth risking it.  But darn.. it’s so portable.  I need to do some thinking about what to take.  I don’t think the size 15 plastic Denise circulars for the tote I’m working on are such a good idea either.  Heck, those seem more “dangerous” than the size 2’s that aren’t any bigger than a pen.  Maybe I’ll start another hat on smaller Denise needles.