I know it's a lot colder where a lot of people live than it is where I live right now, but even so I just want to wrap myself up in knitwear. I worked up these super cute (and warm) eyelet armwarmers from part of a skein of Ozark Handspun that recently leaped off the shelf at me at my local yarn store.

I'm loving them now because of the bright colors, and because they can almost serve as an extra layer under a sweater (though you miss out on most of the eyelet goodness that way). In the spring I'll still be loving them for the color, but also for the fact that they'll keep my arms warm on cool evenings without having to cover up my cute springy tops with a wrap or jacket.

The pattern is really easy and quick, and you can add extra stitches at the top to make them shaped or rely on the yarn to stretch like I'm doing. Either way, these little gauntlets are sure to bring a smile to your face and some warmth to your arms. Hang in there! Spring really is coming all you Northern Hemisphere folks!

Kate Hudson says in the February issue of Cosmopolitan magazine that she loves knitting and the alone time she has now that she's single. While the article makes it sound kind of sad, we know what she means. And Meryl Streep told Oprah that she was doing a lot of knitting as she played the part of the hard-as-nails nun in the new movie Doubt. So knitting really is everywhere!

Interweave Press announced this week (PDF) that Marilyn Murphy is stepping down effective March 1 from her roles as president and publisher of the fiber division of the company but will continue in her role as editorial director of the yarn division. That still leaves plenty on her plate: the yarn division is in charge of Interweave Knits, Interweave Crochet and KnitScene magazines.

In other staffing changes, Vermont Organic Fiber Company, makers of O-Wool, have named Edward Kiniry its new CEO. Kiniry is an outdoor industry entrepreneur. The company makes wool yarn, fabrics and other products from organic merino wool.

Finally, you might have seen the book Handmade Nation (it's in my to-read pile as we speak), and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports the film of the same name is coming out soon. You can see a preview at the linked page, or see the whole movie in person February 5 in Milwaukee or April 4 and 5 in Portland, Oregon (more screenings will be posted on the film's blog as they are scheduled).

Southwest Trading Company Bamboo, 100 percent bamboo. 270 yards per 100 gram skein, light weight. Photo (c) Sarah E. White.

I bought a bag of this yarn sometime last year with an eye toward making a summery sweater. I just recently cracked the bag open and I think I'm really going to enjoy working with this yarn when I get to it.

It's very soft and silky and the colors are interesting. It should make for a great project to knit and to wear. Has anyone worked with this yarn before? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

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The knitting stitch glossary is one of the most popular places here at the Knitting site, so I take it that a lot of people are interested in trying different stitch patterns.

But I wonder how many of you are using stitch patterns beyond the basics of Garter, Stockinette and ribbing when you knit. Do you still use the basics most of the time or do you try to incorporate different stitch patterns into everything you do? Let us know by answering this poll; leave a comment if you've got any tips for new knitters on trying stitch patterns (mine: make washcloths).