Knit Masala

Socktoberfest!

2007-10-25T20:02:00.000-06:00

Hello!!!! Feels weird to write a new blog post, it's been so long! Partly the lack of posting can be blamed on Ravelry, but partly on my computer. See, a whole 1 year and 1 month after I bought my laptop (so out of manufacturer's warranty), my laptop video card went bad. And apparently this is not a good thing for laptops (not so much an issue for desktops). Anway, the fix was going to be so expensive that it made more sense to just get a new computer. But this meant, in the meantime, that I couldn't upload pictures. SOOOO, I've finally gotten around to doing so.

But this doesn't mean that I haven't been the busy little knitter. I'm happy to report that I finally blocked all my completed pieces. I've also completed a bunch of new projects. This post, though, will focus on footwear.

First up - Saartje's booties:

A work colleague just welcomed a new baby into the family. I'd been wanting a reason to try this pattern, and I have so many random leftovers in the stash. So I dug through them and came up with this. The problem is that I don't have the ballband and so don't have any idea what yarn this is. It's some cotton or cotton blend - that's about all I know. But the pattern is SOOO easy and SOOO quick - each booty represents one evening's work. I think the booties are a little big, which is good because that means the kid might actually have a chance to wear them someday. Or they'll make a great accessory for a doll.

Next up - cabled footies:

The pattern is from One Skein. I made these for my mom and plan to give them to her for her birthday next month. I used Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in Cranberry (incidentally, the exact yarn and color called for in the pattern). The only pattern modification I made was to use a smaller needle (I think the pattern calls for size 8 and I used size 6) because my mom has tiny feet. This also meant that I had a fair amount of the skein leftover.

And lastly - Jaywalkers:

Ok, so I only have 1 sock completed, but it still counts, right? The yarn is Knitpicks Memories in Cape Cod. I don't think Knitpicks sells this line of sock yarn anymore (probably not as popular since it is not machine washable). I was not initially thrilled by this colorway, but I'm actually very pleased with how it knit up. There's more green in it than I thought and than what you can see in the picture. Apparently people have had issues with the sizing of the pattern (I made the smaller size), and while it is a bit snug getting it on, it feels perfectly lovely on. I haven't cast on for the second sock yet but plan to soon.

Block par-tay

2007-09-10T07:52:00.000-06:00

My completed knit pieces finally started calling out, "Block me. Block me." So I had to oblige. Above you see the aborted Mystery Stole 3 (which I'm going to give to the kiddo to include in her dress-up bin), the Branching Out scarf, and the Bobble Blue scarf. I knit Branching Out with 2 balls of Knitpicks Elegance in Grass. The yarn was lovely to knit with and turned out soooooo soft. I knit Bobble Blue with 2 balls of Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Blueberry. This yarn is not so soft initially, but blocking seems to have softened it up quite a bit. Hopefully it will stay this soft when it's completely dry.

When these are dry, I just have to block the Clapotis and Clementine Shawlette and I'll be up to date.

I'm in!!!!!

2007-09-04T14:26:00.000-06:00

Finally, after months of waiting, I got my invite for Ravelry this morning! The story is actually kinda funny - I got an e-mail from Knit Mongrel on Saturday saying that she looked me up on the wait list, and it said that 0 people were ahead of me. I did a double take and checked myself and discovered that she was right! But I hadn't gotten my invite. We figured that I would be the 1st person on the invite list when they started sending out invites again. But I also realized that, being a holiday weekend, I would have to wait until Tuesday to get the invite. ARGHHH! But I was patient (what choice did I have?), checked my e-mail as soon as I could this morning, and soon after got my invite! I've already been spending way too much time on it, considering that I should be working today. But I can't help it! I've uploaded pictures of my stash and will hopefully, later this week, have a chance to put in some projects and such. And, of course, look at what other people are doing!

If you're in Ravelry, I'm knitmasala, and I want to be your friend! Let me know your name, or just add me to your friends list. Woohoo!

Showing off the WIPs

2007-08-29T18:40:00.000-06:00

Well, I don't have any FOs to show, but I figured I'd show off some WIPs. I actually only have three active WIPs on the needles. First up, Odessa:

This is my second Odessa, the first having been gifted to my mother. My sister really liked it and requested one of her, and since a request for services is a knitter's joy (or, at least, this knitter's joy) I'm happy to oblige. I'm using the same yarn (the one called for in the pattern), just in a different color. I still enjoy this pattern a lot; it is so simple to do (especially when you leave out the beads, as I am) but looks lovely.

Next up:

Can you guess what this amoeba is? Hmm, I think by calling it an "amoeba" I probably gave it away, since that is how it is so often described. Well, anyway, it is the beginnings of my first Baby Surprise Jacket. The pattern, of course, is genius. The yarn, well.... I'm using Patons SWS in Natural Plum. I love the color and the way the striping is going. But the yarn itself is very...un-yarnlike. It's what I imagine roving to be like - there is no definitive plying or "ropiness" (for lack of a better description) to the yarn. It's just really fuzzy. It isn't horrible to knit with, and the finished object will probably be pretty soft, but I'm not loving it. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that I'll have enough of it to finish this, so I may end up having to buy more.

And, finally, we have the Clementine Shawlette from the Spring 2007 IK:

The pattern calls for you to knit 2 identical pieces, which are then grafted together. So this is the completed first piece (I've started on the 2nd piece but am not that far on it, so it wasn't worth photographing). I really like this pattern. It's incredibly simple to understand and memorize, and the way it is set up there really is no need to count stitches - it is very intuitive where you are supposed to do the increases and decreases. Again, my issue with this project....the yarn. I'm using KnitPicks Andean Silk in Orange. For the first time, I'm a little disappointed in the offering of my beloved KnitPicks. This yarn, while soft, has a lot of, uh, stuff coming off of it. I'm not wise enough in the ways of yarn to explain what is happening, but there are little strings that come off the yarn, making it fuzz. So, for example, if I'm wearing black when I'm knitting this, I end up with little bits of orange all over me. I'm hoping that when I wash and block that it'll somewhat alleviate the problem. When completed, if I'm satisfied with the finished product, it will be a Christmas gift for my sister.

So, that's what I'm knitting. I have 3 inactive WIPs (Norberta, the dreaded Tie-Cropped Cardigan, and a pair of basic house booties). I think I'm going to officially take Norberta and the cardigan off the list - I'm just never going to finish them. The cardigan - well, we won't talk about that. And while I think Norberta is cute, I just was not having fun knitting it. I may decide to complete the booties someday (they would just be for me), but I kinda screwed up on the first one, so I'd have to frog it and re-knit.

Also, I officially did give up on MS3. I saw some of the final projects, and while I appreciate the detail and the intricacy of the pattern, it just isn't for me. So I bound off what I had and will eventually block it and give it to my daughter for her dress-up bin. Someone might as well enjoy it!

FO machine

2007-08-17T15:36:00.001-06:00

That's how I feel right now - like an FO machine! I have yet another project off the needles:

Pattern: Bobble Blue Scarf from Yarn is My Metier

Yarn: 2 balls KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Blueberry

Needles: US 10.5 straights

Modifications: Since the pattern calls for a chunky weight yarn, and I was using worsted, I had smaller bobbles. And while I didn't cast on any more stitches than called for, I did knit more pattern repeats (11 for Piece A instead of 9, and 10 for Piece B). Basically I just knit each piece until I finished up a ball.

This really is a great pattern. So quick to knit and with results that look more complicated than they actually are - thus, a great gift! And this will be gifted to my mother-in-law at Christmas. I think she'll like the color, and because I knit it with bigger needles, it'll be a little airier (she lives in Santa Fe and thus doesn't need the warmest scarf).

Now, I haven't yet blocked the scarf, so it will actually be a bit longer and wider than what it is now. Which leads me to a problem. I have 3 scarves that I've gotten off the needles recently but have yet to block (this one, my Clapotis, and the Branching Out scarf that I finished ages ago). I don't know why I am so slow to block - maybe because I don't have the greatest blocking space? Or maybe because I'm lazy? Ah, who knows. One of these days, I'll have a blocking extravaganza. I'm just happy to be starting another project - I actually only have one thing on the needles now (an Odessa hat for my sister). The horror! Must start additional project...

Clapotis finished

2007-08-13T11:48:00.001-06:00

Pattern: Clapotis from Knitty

Yarn: Hill Country Yarns Merino Silk in Indian Summer (3 full skeins and just the tiniest bit of a 4th)

Needles: Size 8 KnitPicks 32" circulars

While I originally bought this yarn to make the Clap for myself, since I was so kindly gifted one from Knit Mongrel, this one is going to be gifted (a Christmas gift for my mom). And since I have so much of the yarn left over (practically an entire skein), I'm also going to make the Clapotis hat.

I really enjoyed knitting this. It took me a while, since I was knitting many other things in the meantime (namely, the now defunct mystery stole 3), but when I was knitting, it went by pretty quickly. And the yarn is truly a joy to work with. My mom really like the Clap that Knit Mongrel made for me, so I think she'll be happy with this. I'm not entirely sure what she'll think of the colors, but I think if I give her the hat to go with it, she might be more inclined to wear it. And the colors are rather like sari colors, so I think she'll like that, too.

Oh, and by the way, I went to Stitches Midwest on Saturday (with Knit Mongrel and Knitdds) - holy schmoley, the yarn! And I am amazed to say that I walked away with none of it (as did Knit Mongrel - Knitdds was not so restrained, but she got some beauties that were definitely worth it). The really fascinating thing is that there was also a comic book convention or some such at the Rosemont Center, and as we were driving in, we saw a Boba Fett and Darth Maul. Crazy. Although certainly crazier would have been Darth Maul knitting himself a light saber cozy. Now that would've been a sight to behold!

I knew I married him for a reason!

2007-08-09T15:04:00.000-06:00

My husband has often teased me for my knitting habit, calling me grandma when he sees me curled up on the couch watching TV with my knitting on my lap. He has rolled his eyes with other knitter spouses when my knitting pals and I have gone on endlessly about fibers and patterns.

But although he may not understand my knitting/fiber addiction, he apparently is willing to feed it. He was in Santa Fe over the weekend visiting his mother, and he actually made a trip to a yarn store. And not only did he get me yarn (oh, boy, did he get me yarn!), but he got me the most gorgeous yarn ever! Stuff I would have drooled over but probably not actually purchased.

He's a good man.

Let me show you what I got!

This is Sirino from The Great Adirondack Yarn Company (which is somewhere between lace and fingering weight) in Black Violet. It is 50% silk/50% merino, and there are 675 yards of it! The picture doesn't capture the color well; it's a great mixture of black and a beautiful purple (my favorite!).

Then we have this:

This is Boomerang by Fiesta, which is a worsted weight, 100% extrafine superwash merino, in Abalone. He got me 2 skeins of this, at 320 yards/skein.

Finally, there's this:

This is Kiki, also from the Great Adirondack Yarn Company, and it is a worsted weight 50% alpaca/30% silk/20% merino. The colorway is Trillium. I have 4 skeins of this, at 250 yards/skein. I can't even begin to describe to you how buttery soft this yarn is. Ooh la la!

And here I thought I'd do a little yarn freeze until I had knitted up some of the many projects on my list! But if I'm going to melt a yarn freeze, might as well be will some of the nicest yarn I've ever owned! Since my wonderful, thoughtful husband gifted this to me, I am determined to make sure that whatever I knit with this stays mine! So now the question is - what do I knit with this?

I'd like to do a lace stole/shawl with the Sirino, but I need something that won't get lost with a multi-colored yarn. Knit Mongrel, didn't I see some time ago that you were doing the Baltic Sea Stole? Do you like the pattern? Of course, I have no idea how much yarn that pattern calls for, but I feel like I can do something pretty respectable with 675 yards. I, of course, also have Victorian Lace Today to look through, but since almost all of those are pictures in solid colors, it's hard to tell if a variegated yarn will work well with the patterns.

I have plenty of the Kiki to knit another Clapotis, this one for myself. Of course, I already have a lovely Clapotis gifted from Knit Mongrel, so I don't really need another one. And I have absolutely no idea what to do with the Boomerang. So, people, any suggestions you might have for projects will be greatly appreciated!

Man, it's times like this when I really wish I had my Ravelry invite.

And so it goes

2007-08-06T21:05:00.000-06:00

Well, as anyone who's doing the MS3 knitalong knows, the theme was revealed last week to be a Swan Lake thing. So the finished stole is supposed to be asymmetrical, to be in the form of a wing. My first reaction when I read the theme and saw the rough design of the finished project was, uh, pretty much that I didn't like it. The designer did give an option to make the stole symmetrical, but because I opted to do a shorter version of the stole (since I had to frog the whole thing a couple of weeks ago), following the instructions for a symmetrical stole would result in the world's shortest stole. And while I could probably figure out how to add some length to it, I'm not sure that it's worth it. I'm just setting the project aside for now, figuring I can always go back to it later if I want. But at this point, I'm more inclined to just call it a day and use the remaining yarn for something else (I don't think I can salvage and reuse what I've already knit, since the bamboo yarn I'm using is so splitty). Like I said, I'll let it sit for a while before I make any drastic decisions. In the meantime, I certainly have enough other projects on the needles.

For example, I have my Clapotis. I'm almost finished with the straight row section and am about to start the decreases. I'm so sorry I haven't posted any pictures of it, but the yarn colors are difficult to photograph well (particularly when your photography skills are menah menah). I also started an Odessa for my sister, but this is my train knitting project so it's going slowly (since I only need to take the train to work once a week - yeah, I have a really good part-time setup). Then this weekend I just cast on for a Bobble Blue Scarf. I'm enjoying this pattern so far, and it's a really quick knit so it shouldn't take me too long to complete (although I think I'm going to try to finish the Clap first, since that's been on my needles longer).

All of the above WIPs are projected Christmas presents. Yes, I'm planning my Christmas knitting this far in advance. There's no way I'd come even close to completing the gifts I want to make if I hadn't already started. Plus, I'm not much in for summer knitting, since summer knitting for the most part appears to be garments, like summer sweaters and tanks. And my experience thus far with these types of projects has not been productive. So for now, I'll stick to scarves and socks and hats.

What have I been up to?

2007-07-31T10:22:00.000-06:00

Well, let's see. Since my last post, I went to Boston for a few days. Of knit-worthy note, I completed the Branching Out scarf. I used just under 2 balls of KP Elegance (70% Baby Alpaca/30% Silk) in Grass, which I think gave me something like 31 pattern repeats. I don't have pictures yet because I still have to block the scarf.

Speaking of which, I was driving on the north side of Chicago yesterday and passed a dry cleaner (I think). This would usually go unnoticed by me, except that there was a large green sign on the window stating "Knits blocked!" What a temptation! I don't know why, but I really hate blocking. I think it's because once I've finished the creative part of the knitting, I feel like my job should be done. Plus I don't really have a good space for blocking. Currently, I use the bed in our guest room. Which creates problems when we have guests.

While in Boston, I also visited Windsor Button (acclaimed by both Grumperina and Knit Mongrel). The sheer volume of yarn and other crafting supplies is quite impressive. I am quite proud of myself, though, that I didn't succumb to the pressure - I actually just browsed a while, petted some yarn, and then walked out without making a purchase. The will power amazed even myself. But I currently have more yarn than I know what to do with, so that helped me refrain from purchasing. Well, I actually know what I am going to do with most of the yarn I have. It is finding the time to actually do what I plan to do that is causing me grief. Yeesh.

Hmm, what else? I've been knitting along quite diligently at the Mystery Stole 3. Here's what I have so far (I'm about 20 rows from completing the 4th clue):

All right, so I need to 'fess up something on this. I actually had knitted halfway through Clue #3 when I noticed a (to me) rather large screw up in the knitting. I had dropped or added stitched at some point, and I thought I had adequately fixed the mistakes, but I didn't. And because I had been rather cavalier about the placement of lifelines, it wasn't something I could easily fix. So (take a deep breath), I frogged the whole thing and started over. I figured, since we had 2 weeks for Clue #4, that now was the time to do it. So I very diligently knit and knit and am caught up again. But man, I definitely learned my lesson and am placing frequent lifelines!

Other than that, in the knitting world, I'm still plugging away at my Clapotis. I also started an Odessa for my sister. MS3 has kinda taken over my knitting life, so I haven't had much time for anything else. But I try to get bits in on my other WIPs when I can.

And I had to take a bit of a break from knitting last weekend to join the hordes in reading the final installment of Harry Potter. Don't worry, there will be no spoilers here for anyone who hasn't finished it. I will say, though, that I was not completely satisfied with how Ms. Rowling wrapped up the saga.

Happy knitting, everyone!

2007-07-10T08:52:00.000-06:00

I received the most wonderful gift from my Secret Pal yesterday - my own copy of Victorian Lace Today! Every time I go to the bookstore, I thumb through this book, but I've always refrained from purchasing it. And now, I don't have to! This book is so unbelievably gorgeous, and I'm already making mental notes of the patterns I want to try out. My Secret Pal also revealed herself as Alexis of The Longest Yarn. Alexis, I have been so spoiled by you, and I've loved every bit of it! Thanks so much!!!

Alexis's gift couldn't have come at a better time, too, since I've become SOOO into lace knitting. I'm enjoying the Mystery Stole 3 KAL a lot more than I thought I would. Since I'm going to be out of town for the rest of the week and didn't really want to travel with a cone of laceweight yarn at my side, I worked overtime on MS3 over the weekend and got through the second clue. Here's how it looks:

I was so worried when I joined the KAL that I wouldn't be able to hack the lace knitting. And I don't necessarily expect to stay this on top of the clues as the KAL progresses. But I find that I really enjoy the challenge of lace. And I love how it is turning out. So I definitely see more lace in my future. And now, I have an excellent source for patterns and ideas!

It's been a while...

2007-07-06T08:58:00.000-06:00

...since I've had any yarn pr0n to show off. Not that I haven't had the pr0n, and with the recent increases I've made to my stash, I should have lots to show of for some time to come. But my camera doesn't take the best pictures, or I'm just not the best photographer, so getting good pr0n shots can be a bit tough. But I got some decent pictures of one of my more recent acquisitions.

This is Dream in Color superwash merino, worsted weight, in the Dusky Aurora colorway. I saw this at my LYS and fell in love with the colors. One skein will probably be booties that will be gifted for Christmas, but I don't know what the other skein will be. Maybe booties for me?

I've used Dream in Color yarn before, and it knits up really nicely. The only thing about it is that the dye from the yarn rubbed off on my bamboo needles. Not that I really care, but I just have never had that happen with yarn before. Maybe because it's hand painted (as opposed to hand-dyed? I don't fully grasp the difference).

I must be crazy

2007-07-03T14:25:00.000-06:00

Because I signed up for Mystery Stole 3 last week. I fully blame Knit Mongrel for my dementia. I originally figured it wouldn't be such a big deal for me to join, since I already had enough lace weight yarn and Bryspun needles, which are supposedly great for lace knitting. But I discovered that my lace weight is more like cobweb weight (I'm not sure if that's a technical term, but I think I've read that term online, and it seems to accurately describe the stuff I was using) and I didn't like how it was knitting up at all. And I wasn't digging on my Bryspun. Well, to make a long story not terribly longer, I settled on some beautiful 100% bamboo yarn (Silk City Yarns Bambu 7, to be specific) in my favorite color, purple (to ensure that I keep this knitted item for myself - more on that later) and size 2 Inox circulars. I couldn't actually pick up the required amount of yarn until yesterday afternoon, so I only cast on last night (although the first clue was posted on Friday). But I'm about halfway through the first chart. Wanna see?

The color in this picture isn't entirely accurate - it's much more of a royal purple than blue. Doesn't look like much yet, but I love it! I really like how the bamboo feels. It's really splitty, which can be a pain, but overall, I haven't had too many problems with it.

The MS3 designer recommended a black or white yarn for this project, and I could've purchased some black bamboo for this. But Knit Mongrel and my LYS owner both said that knitting with black yarn is not so much fun. Plus I kinda figured that I'd be more inclined to gift the stole if I knit it in black. And that's a problem because in a year and a half of knitting, which includes a number of FOs, I HAVE NEVER KNIT ANYTHING FOR MYSELF!!! That's so wrong, isn't it? I mean, I love to knit for others, but I think it's about time I make something for moi. So, since I don't know anyone who loves purple as I do, I figured if I got the purple bamboo, I'd be more likely to keep it than find a reason to gift it.

A girl could get used to this

2007-06-23T14:41:00.000-06:00

"This" being finding skeins of yarn magically in one's mailbox. Yesterday, I got this little gem:

It is 360 yards of hand-dyed superwash merino wool sock yarn from Cherry Blossom Fibers in the "90s Youth" colorway. Gorgeous! I absolutely adore all the colors in this skein! Thanks again, Secret Pal! I cannot wait to figure out what this will become!

I didn't order this...

2007-06-20T17:59:00.000-06:00

...but I am certainly happy to receive it! I returned home from work today, checked the mail, saw the package of KnitPicks yarn I had ordered (hey, they were having a sale), and then saw another package. It was from Elann.com, a site I had visited but from which I had never ordered. Intrigued, I opened it up to find this:

600 yards (!) of 50% alpaca/50% fine merino laceweight in the loveliest plum-y shade! I can only assume that I have my generous Secret Pal to thank for this! I am so excited to use this - I'm always seeing these lovely lace shawls that I'd love to knit, so I'm eager to browse through some lace patterns to find the perfect one for this. Thanks so much, SP!

An FO a long time the making

2007-06-14T13:00:00.000-06:00

I FINALLY finished knitting hubby's Shifting Sands scarf last week! I still need to block it, but I figured I could show off some pictures anyway.

I used under 2 skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in Cedar for this. Unblocked, it's about 55 inches long. Here's a closer shot of the many, many, MANY cables in this scarf.

Truly, though, the cables were not so difficult to do, following Grumperina's instructions on how to make cables without a cable needle. It's really a great pattern because it isn't too boring, but it also is not so complicated that it requires focused attention. And I truly think this is one of the more beautiful items I've ever knit. I hope lucky hubby appreciates this! I think he does, see that it took me, oh, 6 months to knit this! Not dedicated knitting, of course, and many other projects were begun and completed in the interim. But still, 6 months!

Another gift

2007-06-07T20:05:00.001-06:00

As promised, I need to show off another gift I recently received. But a bit of set up first. If you read Knit Mongrel's blog (which you should if you don't), you're probably aware that she recently completed a Clapotis. This Clapotis was actually her second one, since, heartbreakingly, she had lost the first one she knit some time ago. Boo. However, in the course of cleaning her place in preparation of an imminent move, she found Clap the First. In response to her blog post about it, I jokingly told her that this meant she could give one Clap to me. Well, little did I know that before I had even posted that response, Mrs. Mongrel had already wrapped up Clap the First for me! I was (and am) so excited! It's gorgeous. See:

I absolutely love it! It was actually a bit chilly in Chicago yesterday, and I was thrilled because it meant I had a reason to wear my Clap! Thanks so much, Knit Mongrel!

In other news, I finally finished hubby's Shifting Sands scarf. No photos yet, since I haven't yet had a chance to block it (seeing as my blocking room aka our guest room is occupied at the moment with my in-laws). But I'm very happy with how it turned out. I still can't believe I actually did all of those cables. An entire scarf's worth. With sock yarn. Yowza.

Periodically, I go through organizational phases. I've cleaned out my closet (mostly - I have a lot of crap to go through still) as well as the kitchen pantry. So I decided to put my organization craze to some real use and organize the stash and my WIPs. Now, my stash is modest compared to some, so I have all my yarn stored in just a few plastic Container Store-type drawers. But the coup de grace of my anal retentiveness was the creation of an Excel spreadsheet, listing out my needles, WIPS, future projects for which I have yarn in my stash, future projects for which I need yarn, and extra yarn in the stash. I roll my own eyes at my nerdiness sometimes.

But this means it's quite easy for me to tell you what I currently have on my needles. I have a pair of house socks that I'm knitting for my mother-in-law for Christmas (yes, I'm slowly starting my Christmas knitting already - I refuse to be caught at the last minute as was the case last year). I am in the middle of a Branching Out, which will probably also be a Christmas gift. I just the other day cast on for a Monica for my daughter. And last, but not least (well, maybe least), I have a Norberta. Now, technically, Norberta is not on my needles, being something that's knit in pieces and seamed together. And you all know my history with seaming. So I've knit some of the pieces, but we'll see if I ever finish it. But since I'll probably never have another use for the yarn I purchased for it, I guess I might as well keep it in the WIPs list as a possibility. I know my daughter would love it, so in the end, that may be the incentive I need to finish it.

Bad, bad blogger...

2007-05-24T12:49:00.001-06:00

...and bad, bad gift recipient. See, I've been lucky enough to have received a couple of wonderful gifts over the last few weeks, but I haven't yet acknowledged the generosity on this blog. So time to rectify the oversight! Each gift is so wonderful that each should gets its own blog post. So we'll start with the one I got first, which was another package from my Secret Pal:

I got 3 balls of Patons SWS in Natural Plum. This is 70% wool and 30% soy - love the fibers created from non-traditional sources! And the colors really are wonderful. SP also sent me a pattern for "My So-Called Scarf" to make with this, which I think will look totally fabulous! I also got some Life Saver candies and a yarn cutter pendant. I also got some chocolates that have (ahem) somehow (uh) just, uh, well, I guess they just aren't around any more. :)

But my favorite item in this package is the little dandy on the left. Let's see it close up, shall we?

This is sock yarn that my lovely SP hand-dyed just for me! She calls the color "Blurple," which describes it perfectly. I love it! I've never had personally hand-dyed yarn before, so I'm so thrilled to have gotten this. They are definitely going to end up as socks for me!

Thanks again, SP, and please accept my humblest apologies for not posting this sooner.

Though I haven't been blogging, there's actually been quite a bit of knitting going on. I'm still plugging away at the hubby's Shifting Sands scarf. Yikes, I know, this was supposed to be a birthday present for him (and his birthday was in March). But I figure he doesn't need it until at least the fall now, so it's been easy to put it to the side. But I've recently needed some mindless knitting, so I've made some good progress on it and probably only need another 4 or 5 inches on it before I can bind off. I really love the way the scarf looks and can't wait to post the final product.

I've also been knitting many baby things - some for Knitdds, whose little squeaker (as she so affectionately dubbed him) made an early arrival, so I had to finish up a hat (the pattern is from the One Skein book) and some little baby socks (the pattern for which I found somewhere on the Interweave web site). I had also made a baby blanket (a pretty simple basket weave pattern with garter stitch border). Of course, I forgot to take pictures of all these things before giving them to her. Oops.

Well, I'm off to exciting Louisville, KY to attend a cousin's wedding extravaganza. And I mean extravaganza, as there are 3 days of festivities planned. I'll post my other awesome knitted gift when I return!

Yarn Pr0n!

2007-04-27T07:58:00.000-06:00

Today's Yarn Pr0n Friday is brought to you by our friends at Rowan. More specifically, Rowan Tapestry in Color 177 (Lead Mine).

This is a blend of 70% wool and 30% soybean protein fiber. How is yarn spun from soybean fiber? Beats me. But I was interested in testing it out. I think I'll probably turn these into some fingerless gloves at some point.

A very blueberry T

2007-04-24T11:38:00.000-06:00

I'm amazed at how quickly I finished this!

Pattern: Very Berry T from March 2007 MagKnits

Yarn: Crystal Palace Bamboozle Yarn in Blueberries-Grapes colorway

Needles: Size 7 Addi Turbos (16") for body and size 7 bamboo dpns for sleeves

This FO is definitely not perfect. I made a very visible error in one row of the lace pattern but didn't really notice it until I was way past it and too lazy to go back and try to correct it. I also had some trial and error going on when I was attaching the sleeves to the body, which resulted in some gaps. But luckily, they are at the underarm and I was able to kinda fudge them closed.

I'm concerned that this is going to be way to small for my daughter. I made the 4 year old size (my daughter is a petite 3 year old, but I figured I'd still err on the side of being too big), but I'm not sure it will fit her. I have yet to block it, so maybe I can get some size out of it that way. I probably won't get a chance to block until this weekend, so if all goes well, I can post a picture of the kid wearing it! Otherwise, I'll have to find some other lucky little girl to be the recipient of this.

This edition of YPF is brought to you by...

2007-04-19T15:51:00.000-06:00

...my most awesome Secret Pal! I know, I know, it's only Thursday, but I was so excited to get this that I had to get a jump start. I went as normal to check the mail today to find my usual bills, junk mail, etc. And a package. Hmmm....let's see what was inside, shall we?

Just this!

OK, see that on the left? Those are Knitpicks color cards! Oh, SP, you know me and my addiction to Knitpicks so well. I mean, come on, I love that! And it will be ever so useful to me. Then there's also some Tofutsies yarn:

It's sock yarn made of 50% superwash wool, 25% soysilk, 22.5% cotton, and 2.5% chitin. That's chitin, as in fiber made from shrimp and crab shells, which is naturally antibacterial. I love that she sent me this! In addition to really liking the colors (you know how I loves me some purple), I love that it's such an unusual yarn. Then, there's this:

That would be 2 balls of Berroco Gem in Sphalerite. So sparkly and pretty - I'm thinking a little wrap perhaps?

Do you think I'm finished yet? Oh, no, not by a long shot. Sit back and relax, my friends. Let me show you some more:

That would be a knitted cupcake. With beads for sprinkles. This might possibly be one of the cutest things I've ever seen. Then there are these:

Some oh-so-pretty stitch markers. I've never had pretty stitch markers before, just the boring blue and pink rings. So me likey.

And last, but in no way least, are 2 bars of the yummiest milk chocolate (yes, I already tore into one to try :). Ahh, how could I not love a woman who sends me chocolate in the mail?

Well, I feel sufficiently spoiled! And to my wonderful Secret Pal, my sincerest thank you! You definitely made my day!

Warm feet

2007-04-17T08:26:00.000-06:00

After what seems like many, many months, I finally have these to show off:

Pattern: Baby Cable Rib socks from Sensational Knitted Socks

Yarn: Knitpicks Gloss in Woodland Sage (less than 1 skein for each sock)

Needles: Size 2 Knitpicks dpns

While it did take me a long time to finish these (I finished the first one way back in January), it is only because I was knitting many other things in the meantime. But I kept occasionally plugging away at these, and I'm so happy that they are finished! And I'm already trying to decide which pattern to go with for my next pair of socks. I love knitting socks!

I'm also really rocking on the Very Berry T for the kid. I didn't take a progress picture, but I'll try to post one soon. I love how it's turning out and how quickly the knitting is going. I'm feeling quite productive lately!

In other knitting news, I'm happy to report that I've finally visited the acclaimed Arcadia Knitting! I just loved walking in to the skeins and skeins of yarn, all organized by color. I went with Knit Mongrel and Karen from Yarn is My Metier, whom I met for the first time yesterday. We met, along with KnitDDS and her mom, at an Indian restaurant for some authentic South Indian cuisine (mmmm....masala dosais). I've been reading Karen's blog for a while, so it was really nice to finally meet her! And she made KnitDDS the most amazing baby blanket (and even gave her more yarn to continue knitting it herself). I totally envy this woman's skills with needle and yarn! Anyway, afterwards, I had some time to kill (since my in-laws are in town and had the kid for the afternoon), so I convinced Karen and Knit Mongrel to join me in my virgin visit to Arcadia. We had a lovely time, and I left with some yarn to make my sister an Odessa (she saw the one I made for my mom and requested one for herself) and some fabulous yarn for my secret pal. What a day!

Yarn Pr0n Friday!

2007-04-13T15:20:00.000-06:00

For today's pr0nny goodness, I give you:

This is Bamboozle from Crystal Palace Yarns in the Blueberries-Grapes colorway. It is 55% bamboo, 24% cotton, and 21% elastic nylon. I've never worked with a bamboo yarn before, but I read about them in the latest IK and was intrigued.

My main criticism of this yarn is that it comes un-plied (is that a word?) relatively easily. It unravelled pretty much immediately when I started casting on, making knitting that first row with my Addi Turbos (aka Blunty Stumpos) a little tricky. But I haven't really had a problem since then. It's otherwise a pretty nice yarn to knit with. And it's really stretchy.

I've already started the project I have lined up for this yarn - the Very Berry T from Magknits. See my progress:

I know, it isn't much. But it didn't take me too long to get to this point, so I'm optimistic that I may be able to get this finished in time for my daughter to be able to wear it this summer!

FO for a very good friend

2007-04-11T18:57:00.000-06:00

My friend Susie very kindly stayed at our house during our 2 recent trips to watch our dog, Homer, and keep him company. Homer was a very happy and contented boy when we returned, so we know she did her job well. Some time ago, on this blog, when she saw my first attempt at a Calorimetry, she expressed her desire to have one. Well, if that isn't a call to a knitter! I love it when people actually request my talents! So I took her to an LYS and she chose some lovely yarn. I had way more than necessary for a Calorimetry, so I also made her a scarf. Following Jessica's suggestion, I made a Short Row Rib Scarf. Check it out:

I was pretty pleased at how everything turned out. I was a little worried that I wasn't going to have enough yarn in the skein left over to make a decent sized scarf, but through the miracle of blocking, it all worked out fine. And the yarn ended up being really soft, especially after a washing. I liked how it all turned out, and I think Susie did, too (or, at least, that's what she told me :)

The Return of Yarn Pr0n Friday!

2007-04-06T07:52:00.000-06:00

Hi, folks!

It's been a long time since I've posted any pr0n. But this is such lovely pr0n, that I think it was well worth the wait!

This is the much-praised HandMaiden Sea Silk. And from what I see so far, this deserves all the praise it has received!

This is some wonderfully soft yarn, and if Grumperina is to be believed (which I think is a good bet), it knits up very nicely. I don't know what color this is, since I can't find a color on the label. But judging by the colors (or should I say colours) on the HandMaiden site, I'd guess it is Sangria. Or perhaps Origin. The colors are so incredibly beautiful, and my pictures definitely don't do it justice! This is a lace weight yarn, so I'll have to find a worthy lace project for it (that my skills are up to, of course). If anyone has any ideas, throw them my way!

In other news, I don't have the very special FO that I had promised. I'm lame. And I'm not going to drag out the suspense - I decided that I was not going to be undone by the sweater, and started seaming it. But it looks terrible, so I'm going to have to rip it out and try again. This time with the help of Knit Mongrel, I hope (to whom I have promised a dinner in exchange for a seaming lesson - hopefully, she's still up for it!). ARGGHHHHH!!!!!

But let's get back to happy thoughts - mmmm, Sea Silk. I think I need to go fondle the yarn. That'll cheer me up!

And.....we're back!

2007-04-02T13:24:00.000-06:00

We returned late, late Saturday night from our Colorado ski trip, which was a lot of fun. The snow was only so-so this year, and I'm not sure my skiing improved all that much, but it was a good time. And the kid seemed to really love being on skis (at least by the end of the week :)

I don't know if it was just the post-skiing exhaustion each day, but I didn't do nearly the amount of knitting I thought I would. I fully intended to finish the other baby cable rib sock, and while I made some progress, I didn't finish it. But the trip was not a complete knitting bust - I found a lovely LYS in Steamboat (The Fiber Exchange) and splurged on a completely luxurious, completely unnecessary, and completely beautiful skein. I'll save pictures and more details for Friday.

And I'm still working on the WIP I teased about in my last post. It's coming along slowly but surely. Hopefully I'll have pics for you by the end of the week!

See you on the slopes...

2007-03-22T09:59:00.000-06:00

I'm leaving for another trip tomorrow. This time, we're headed to Steamboat, Colorado for a ski vacation. I went skiing for the first time in my life when we went to Steamboat last year. I was surprised at how quickly I picked it up (well, at least when I had my husband, who is an excellent skier, teach me. My first attempt at ski school was not so good. I guess I should've known to back away slowly when I saw the name tag "Disco Stu"). My daughter even skied (albeit between hubby's legs). This year, she'll get to do ski school as well. Steamboat is a great, family friendly ski resort, and the town is very cute as well, so I'm looking forward to going. I recall a very cute yarn store, too...

I won't be back until next weekend, so I'll be taking a mini-break from blogging. I'm going to leave you with a tease - I have a very special WIP that I'm hoping will be an FO that I can show off very soon. Stay tuned...

Ooh, the excitement!

2007-03-19T19:42:00.000-06:00

SP10 matches have been sent out, and I received the cutest e-card from my secret pal. I swear, I can already tell I'm going to like her! I was also very excited to find out who I get to be spoiling - I genuinely love giving gifts, so I'm very psyched to start putting together some packages.

I have to apologize again for being MIA with YPF. This past Friday, I was actually out of town, in of all places Orlando, Florida. As in, Walt Disney World. My husband had a conference at one of the WDW resort hotels, so since his travel and the hotel room was going to be paid for by his company, we decided to take the opportunity to take the kiddo to the Disney extravaganza. Now, I actually was not planning on doing Disney anytime soon - my daughter is only 3, and while she knows all the princesses names and some of the other characters, the only Disney movie she's actually seen is The Jungle Book (one of my personal favorites). But since my husband was going there anywhere for this conference, we decided to just do it. And we had fun, but I stand by my original statement that she would've gotten more from the experience were she a few years older. Plus it is really difficult to explain to a 3 year old why you just have to suck it up and wait in line for everything!

Don't get me wrong, by no means was the trip a bust. I mean, she did get to meet some of her favorite celebs:

(For those not in the know, that's King Louie and Baloo from the Jungle Book.)

A bad blogger

2007-03-12T10:10:00.000-06:00

Yes, I know I've been a bad blogger and a bad pr0nographer lately. The missing pr0n is partly due to my sucky camera, and partly due to my own laziness. And the general bad blogging - well, I haven't had a whole lot to share. I have a few projects that I've been working on, but I don't have FOs to share yet.

I have a number of projects in the wings, plus I just ordered some yarn to finally knit some stuff for my daughter. I was looking through the spring knitty, which, as many have mentioned, is only so-so this time around. Not too many exciting patterns, except that when I saw this, I knew I had to make it for the kiddo. In what I'm sure my daughter would deem a blasphemous turn (if, of course, she even knew what the word "blasphemous" meant), I did not order pink yarn for this project. I decided she has enough pink in her wardrobe, so I ordered some lovely green yarn, which I think will be fabulous.

I also saw this in the latest Magknits, which I also think is super cute. I was going to use a pink yarn for this but it was backordered. So I'm using this instead, which I think will still be pretty cute. Plus I'm very much looking forward to using a bamboo yarn. I've heard good things about it, so I'm curious to test it out for myself.

Still not Clapotis cast-on yet. I've totally been coveting Knit Mongrel's, though. It is SOOO pretty and soft. She'd better not turn her back, or she might find that Clap #2 goes missing as well! :)

Secret Pal 10 questionnaire

2007-02-27T09:28:00.000-06:00

I signed up for SP10, which I am very excited about given the stories I've heard from Knit Mongrel and Knitdds regarding Sp9. So without further ado, here are my questionnaire answers:

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

As any casual observer of this blog would quickly discover, I'm a HUGE fan of Knitpicks yarns - I love that I can get some really soft, luxurious blends for a very reasonable price. I don't know that I have any surprising preferences - as I think with most knitters, I'm a fan of anything super soft. I guess the only stuff I really don't like are the novelty yarns - I've had some bad experiences with eyelash yarn!

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

Hmm, I've been working on this. I have not found a really good storage system yet. For now, I keep my needles in an expandable folder (I know, exotic).

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I began knitting in December 2005, taught by Knitdds and Debbie Stoller. I became instantly obsessed! I'd consider myself an intermediate.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

No.

5. What's your favorite scent?

Love jasmine and sandalwood. Not a huge fan of fruity smells.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Ha, I think I'd be understating it if I said yes. I'm a sucker for anything chocolate (milk over dark). I also have an unhealthy addiction to SweetTarts.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I do not spin and am not really otherwise handy. It actually came as quite a surprise to me that I took to knitting as quickly as I did.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I'm pretty easy. I like jazz, classic rock, classical, pretty much whatever. Some of my favorite artists are Sting/The Police (woohoo for the upcoming reunion tour!), Neil Finn (woohoo for the potential Crowded House reunion tour), the Rolling Stones (woohoo for the recent reunion tour - gee, do I sense a pattern?). I have an iPod, so I can play mp3s.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

Purple. I'm not overly fond of yellow, but I think it would be a stretch to say I hate it.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I am married with a 3 year old daughter and a dog.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Yes to scarves. Yes to hats when it's really cold. Sometimes to mittens. No to ponchos.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Although I haven't knit all that many, I really love to knit socks/booties. I've also become quite the fan of knitting hats.

13. What are you knitting right now?

Geez, that's a loaded question. Too many things - I've still got to finish a scarf for the husband. I started Norberta for my daughter. I also have a lace scarf that I'm just barely into but am really determined to finish. Oh, and I still have the 2nd baby cable rib sock to finish for me. And did I mention that I'm really dying to cast on for a Clapotis? Yeah, I really need to finish a couple of other projects first...

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Most definitely. Especially since I started knitting, I truly appreciate the time and effort that goes into a handmade gift.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I don't think I really have a preference - I will typically use whatever the pattern calls for. Although, I really am into the metal needles these days. I love my Knitpicks dpns, and I'm also a fan of the Knitpicks Options line. But, of course, I also have a great respect for the venerable Addi Turbos.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Thanks to my yarn fairies, I own both.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Hmm, not particularly old. Probably the lace scarf I'm trying to do - I think I started that before Christmas. I also have my sister's sweater that I knit before Christmas but have yet to seam.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

I guess Christmas. I'm not Christian or otherwise religious, but ya gotta love the infectiousness of that holiday. Or, if you're Ebeneezer Scrooge, you hate it. Whatever. Did I even spell "Ebeneezer" right?

19. Is there anything that you collect?

No. I used to collect paper clips when I was a kid (any Bert fans out there?). And bottle caps. Now, I just collect yarn. :)

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I'm not hugely into knitting publications yet. I have a few books that I really like, and I've been toying with the idea of subscribing to Interweave Knits. I've thumbed through copies of Victorian Lace Today and think it's stunning, but I don't know if I have the gumption to actually buy it, since I'm not sure I could make anything in it.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Not really a new technique, but I need to work on my seaming! I can't say that I have any interest in doing fair isle or anything like that. I'd like to develop the patience to get into lace knitting, because I've seen some really beautiful stuff that I'd love to be able to make.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Love the socks. My shoe size is 7-1/2 to 8, depending on the shoe. Measurements are: foot circumference 8-1/2, heel-to-toe length 7-3/4, and toe length 1-3/4.

23. When is your birthday?

July 17.

So sorry....

2007-02-23T13:36:00.000-06:00

But I have no pr0n for you today. Not that I have no new yarn to show - I do. But the pictures I took of it all turned out really fuzzy and icky, and I haven't had time to try to take some new pics. So it will have to wait until next week. Sorry, folks.

In knitting progress, I unfortunately don't have any new FOs to show yet. Progress on hubby's Shifting Sands scarf is moving slowly but surely. I was trying to surprise him for his birthday, but I had to break down and tell him about it because I ended up never being able to knit it since I was trying to hide it from him. So now that it's out in the open, hopefully it'll get done quickly...

...because I really, REALLY want to cast on for my Clapotis. I bought the yarn for it a while ago, but I've been trying to put other projects for other people ahead of that. Well, I've seen that Knit Mongrel has started one, and I just saw that Knit Me a River has started one, and I'm getting jealous. So I may have to just say screw everyone else, I'm getting the Clap!

Brand spankin' new yarn pr0n

2007-02-16T13:48:00.000-06:00

This week's pr0n is a very new acquisition, purchased just last weekend.

This is Dream In Color handpainted yarn, which I recently learned from Yarn Is My Metier's blog is actually a Chicago company. So I'm pleased to be supporting another local yarn maker.

The only thing that I'm a bit perturbed about is that the ball band didn't include the color, which I didn't notice until I got home. Which could be a problem because I may need another skein of this (the LYS where I got this only had the 1 skein in this color). Whatever color this is, though, I just love it. I love the minor variations of blue and purple and even pinks that crop up throughout the yarn. And as an added bonus, it's 100% superwash merino.

I purchased this with my friend Susie, who requested a Calorimetry. There are 250 yards in this skein, which obviously is way more than necessary for a Calorimetry, so I'm also going to make her a scarf with this. I'd like to try making a multidirectional scarf, but I'm worried I won't have enough yarn left over for it. I'm also not sure there's enough variation in this yarn to look good in a multidirectional scarf. Any other ideas?

Yarn Pr0n Friday

2007-02-09T13:29:00.000-06:00

As I mentioned in my last post, some time I ago I purchased a Knitpicks kit for a throw that I never made (and will never make). But, of course, I will not let the yarn go to waste! So for today's yarn pr0n, I have the Suri Dream that came in the kit.

The solid is Suri Dream in Jade, and the lighter one is Suri Dream Hand Dyed in Emerald Isle. This is labeled as a super bulky yarn, but I have to say, I'm stymied by that. It definitely does not appear to be super bulky to me. But it is super soft, which is always lovely. And it apparently is quite warm when knit up. So the yarn will be transformed into a Potato Chip Scarf someday. Or, I should say, 2 Potato Chip Scarves. Knitdds has requested one of the colorways, and the other one will be for yours truly.

This closeup does not accurately portray the Emerald Isle colorway - it definitely has more green in it than what appears in the picture.

A cheer and an FO

2007-02-06T13:18:00.000-06:00

First, the cheer:

The Colts won the Super Bowl! The Colts won the Super Bowl! The Colts won the Super Bowl

I'm only just a wee bit excited about that. Needless to say, I immensely enjoyed the game Sunday. There was even champagne to help celebrate (courtesy of Mr. Knitdds).

Next, the FO:

I decided to join the club and knit a Calorimetry. I wasn't just dying to have one, so I originally was going to wait to make it. Then I decided that I wanted to be in on a fad while the fad was ongoing, rather than wait 'till it was yesterday's news. So I cast-on on Saturday, and by Sunday afternoon, I had this:

I used approximately 1 ball of Knitpicks Shamrock in Dougherty. It amuses me that the effect of the pattern with this yarn is to create something that looks like a leaf. Perhaps that'll come in handy someday. I still need to get a button for this before it's completely done, but I think it still counts as an FO.

The story behind this yarn - some time ago, Knitpicks advertised their "Mix and Mingle" kits. The kits included a free throw pattern and enough of a variety of yarns to knit it. I got very excited when I saw these kits - I thought I'd make a throw for my mom (who is perennially cold). Then the kit came and I started knitting it, and I realized that it just wasn't going to happen. The pattern required changing yarns every few rows or so - my head started spinning when I realized how many ends I was going to have to weave in. Also, a throw is just such a large project - I start getting antsy at the end of a baby blanket, so I'm not sure why I thought I'd have an easy time knitting an entire throw. Anyway, I very quickly gave up on the project, but I then found myself with an abundance of green yarn. Some of it got used to make Sheldon (and I think I actually have enough left to make another), and some if it is going to be used to make a Potato Chip Scarf, and some will probably go to making more Dulaan items. So I guess I don't feel so bad about bailing out on the throw!

Yarn Pr0n Friday!

2007-02-02T10:36:00.000-06:00

In this edition of Yarn Pr0n Friday, we are going to reach way back in to the nether regions of my stash to unveil this:

It's Berroco Quest in color 9860 (which I don't see on the site, so possibly they don't make it anymore?).

I bought this way back when, when I first started knitting and and didn't really know anything about what yarn was appropriate for what projects and what would be nice to knit with, etc. I purchased this to make a novelty scarf for my cousin. The idea was that I was going to knit this together with a strand of an eyelash yarn, so that the effect would be similar to the Fireworks scarf pattern in Stitch 'n Bitch. Well, the resulting knitting looked nice but was a real pain in the a** to knit - I discovered that I really dislike eyelash yarn. so I never finished it. And thus I still have this yarn. It is 100% nylon, and I don't really know what to do with it. I really like the color, and it does have a lovely shine to it. I don't know, maybe a purse? Anyone have any ideas.

A little story...

2007-01-29T12:56:00.000-06:00

...about how this...

...a sad, lonely ball of Rowan Cashsoft DK (57% extrafine merino, 33% microfibre, 10% cashmere) in #525 Kingfisher, after a few days of a little love, attention, and knitting, became this...

an Odessa hat! My mom recently requested that I make her a hat, so I decided to try Grumperina's pattern. I eliminated the beads, 'cause my mom's not much of a bead lady (and I, frankly, did not really feel like attempting to knit with beads at this juncture). Here's another view:That's my lovely daughter modeling the hat. This yarn is quite stretchy, and my mom has a rather small head anyway, so this hat should fit her quite snuggly. The kid looks so cute in it that I think I'll have to make her one, too (in pink, of course).

For any knitters in the Chicago area who may read this blog, the dream of the knitter's book club is coming to fruition. The club has been dubbed Stockinette & Sophistry (although I, of course, would not partake in any sophistry :), and the first meeting will be on February 18 at 4 p.m. (at a location TBD) to discuss The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai. For the official announcement, click here.

Yarn Pr0n Friday!

2007-01-26T07:36:00.000-06:00

For last week's yarn pr0n, I branched out and showed off some Lorna's Laces I had just bought. But now, it's time to return to the old favorites. That's right, this week, I again show off some Knitpicks yarn.

This is Panache in Moss. It's a blend of baby alpaca, Cashmere, Silk, and Extrafine Merino. Can you say SOFT! I don't think my pictures are really doing the color much justice - it's a much deeper, richer green than is showing up on the screen.

These will eventually become booties for me. I made a pair of booties out of Panache for my mom a while ago, and they came out so nicely that I decided I needed a pair for myself. As with most of the other Knitpicks yarn I've worked with, it knits up very nicely, and because it's a bulky yarn, it also knits up very quickly.

A loner...for now

2007-01-25T15:29:00.000-06:00

I have a partial FO. Well, it's a completed object, but since it's only 1 sock of a pair, I guess it only counts as a partial FO. But here it is, the first sock!

The pattern is the Baby Cable Rib pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks. I used less than 1 skein of Knitpicks Gloss (70% merino, 30% silk) in Woodland Sage.

Here's a close up of the ribbing. While I've made adult booties and kid socks before, this is actually my first proper adult sock. And it fits like a glove - it's like it was made for me. Wait, it was made for me!

Lest you worry, I've already cast on and finished the cuff for the second sock - so no second sock syndrome here! It'll probably be a while before I can show you the completed pair, since I have at least a scarf and a hat to complete first (they are for others, so I feel obligated to work on them more diligently than on the sock for now). I really enjoy working with this yarn, though, and the Knitpicks dpns, so I quite look forward to knitting the second sock.

In non-knitting news, I have been on cloud 9 all week. Why, you ask? Because, after 22 years of watching, waiting, and hoping, my beloved Indianapolis Colts are finally going to the Super Bowl!!! [Insert image of me doing a little jig here. Ok, maybe that's not a good image.] What a roller coaster ride of emotions I went through on Sunday - from the depths of despair and depression at halftime (so much so that I refused to talk to my husband or take any calls - well, except one from Knitdds), to the cautious optimism of the 3rd quarter, the heart palpitations and nervousness of the 4th quarter, and the sheer joy at Marlon Jackson's game-ending interception in the final minute. What a game! Unfortunately, as much of a superfan as I consider myself to be, I can't fathom shelling out thousands and thousands of dollars to go to Miami for the big game. Luckily, I have a 52" flatscreen as a substitute. I live near Chicago, so clearly I'm not a particularly popular person right now. But such is life.

(And my apologies to Knit Mongrel and any other unfortunate Patriots fan out there. But you've had years of domination - now it's our time to shine, baby! So I guess that's not much of an apology, huh? :)

Yarn Pr0n...Thursday?

2007-01-18T23:16:00.000-06:00

I'm posting this now because I don't know if I'll have a chance early enough tomorrow to post and didn't want to skip out on the pr0n for this week. So this week, I give you:

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in Cedar. This is actually the first Lorna's that I've ever worked with. So lovely to knit with. I'm making a Shifting Sands scarf from Grumperina for my hubby for his birthday. This has required me to learn how to cable without a cable needle (which Grumperina so beautifully explains on her blog). This pattern has so many cables in it, I couldn't imagine doing it with a cable needle - I seriously think it would take twice as long. Here's my progress so far:

Excuse the gratuitous shot of my hand - because it is essentially a stockinette pattern, the ends curl up. It's a bit slow going since it's a sport weight yarn. But I have about a month and a half until the husband's birthday, so I should be able to get it done (I know, famous last words). And I do think he'll like the weight of the lighter yarn much better. I actually made him a scarf for his birthday last year. But I had only been knitting a few months at that point, so I used a bulkier yarn and followed a very simple pattern. At the time, I was so pleased with how it turned out, and I still think it's very nice. But I look at it now and just think, "I could do so much better than that." I suppose that probably happens to knitters often when looking back at their earlier works.

Meet Sheldon!

2007-01-17T20:51:00.000-06:00

This project made me so happy!

I saw the pattern for Sheldon on Knitty and knew that I absolutely had to make this for dear Knitdds, who is expecting her first child (yippee!) in the spring. So I cast on, and about a week later had this:

I've already told Knitdds that I'm vying for favorite auntie status, and I'm so not below bribing the kid to get it. :)

Overall, I thought this project was a lot of fun. The pattern was SOOO well written and super easy to follow. Working the double points was a bit tough on some of the smaller sections of Sheldon (like the neck and the legs), but luckily those didn't last too long. And the shell is supposed to be removable - which technically this is, but I think getting the shell back on Sheldon would be a bit tough. I happened to have the suggested Knitpicks yarn in my stash (I know, shocking!), and I think I actually have enough to make another (I know, more shocking!). Since my daughter apparently really loves Sheldon (or so she told me), I may be commissioned to do another.

Baby FO

2007-01-16T14:49:00.000-06:00

I am planning to visit a friend on Friday who recently had her 4th child (yeah, you read that right - I can sometimes barely manage my 1, let alone being able to think about adding 3 more to the bunch :) Actually, the baby was born in July, so I guess she didn't have the kid all that recently. But with 4 kids, it can be difficult for her to arrange time for a get together, so this is sadly going to be the first time that I even see the new(er) baby girl. So I checked out my stash yesterday, found some leftover yarn from a baby blanket I did a while ago, and made this:

I love making baby hats - this took me all of a couple of hours to finish. I also tried a new technique with this hat - I knit it continental style. It was surprisingly easy and quite speedy, although the Addi Turbos I used to knit the hat may have helped the speediness of the process. I don't know that I'm ready to cross over to the dark side yet - for example, I still can't purl continental. I'll try that someday.

Of course, I have no idea if this hat will fit a 6 month old baby's head. My daughter is almost 3, and I have absolutely no recollection of how big her head was 2-1/2 years ago. I know, I'm an awful mother. But my daughter apparently liked the hat:

She likes anything pink, though, so I don't know how good a critic she is! The scarf she's wearing was one of my first knitting projects. She likes it but has already requested that I make her a new one (all pink, of course). :)

Yarn Pr0n Friday!

2007-01-12T09:27:00.000-06:00

Hello all, and Happy Friday! I don't know about you, but this has been a long week. I spent the first half of Wednesday thoroughly convinced that it was actually Thursday. So needless to say, I'm happy that it's finally Friday! And I have pr0n!

Here we have a pile o' Knitpicks Elegance, which is a blend of 70% baby alpaca and 30% silk. The color is Barn Red, although I think the color is much warmer than what I would consider barn red.

The yarn is so scrumptiously soft, and I just can't wait to work with it. The majority of it will become the Cinnabar scarf from Magnits (for me) and the rest will tranform into a hat. I haven't made a final decision on which hat I will knit, but it will most likely be Grumperina's Odessa.

So although I really had every intention to stop my constant yarn-buying fixation, I find that I've placed several orders recently. But I have plans for everything I've gotten - I just got some Lorna's (which will probably be the subject of next week's pr0n) to make a scarf for hubby for his birthday, and my mom recently requested that I make her a hat, and she wanted a specific color, so I had to order some yarn for that. But I really do plan to stop purchasing yarn for a little while - at least until I've finished some of these projects. I need to start showing some more FOs on this blog! Hopefully I'll have some for you very soon.

First FO of 2007

2007-01-10T21:44:00.000-06:00

I'm proud to show off my first FO for the new year:

This is actually a scarf I started way back in November at the Dulaan Knit-In hosted by Franklin (of the Panopticon fame). But then when I found out I had until July to actually send in my Dulaan projects, I decided to hold off finishing it until I finished my holiday knitting. Not that I ended up doing much holiday knitting, but that's beside the point. I'd kinda forgotten about the poor little scarf until I recently forced myself to pull out and assess all my UFOs. I used some leftover Lamb's Pride yarn (can't remember the exact colors or anything) and I only had enough to make a small, child's scarf. But from what I understand of the Dulaan project, they're particularly looking for items for children, so it should work out well.

Creepy!

2007-01-07T08:18:00.000-06:00

OK, if you look at the comments to my last post, then this post may make sense.

Joe - I second Jessica's comments. Eww! How did you find my blog? And how the hell did you know that it was me? In addition to being frustrated with Discount Yarn Sale, I now think I'm a bit frightened by your tracking methods. I guess the site must be fairly concerned about its image, if you go searching blogs for consumer comments to respond to. That being said, I stand by my post. I see now that the web site has updated its ship to time, but I swear when I ordered, I double-checked and triple-checked, and it gave an approximate 1 week ship time for that yarn. And regarding my previous orders, I was never told that anything was backordered until I contacted Discount Yarn Sale to inquire about status.

Ok, I'm officially creeped out.

Yarn Pr0n 2007

2007-01-05T16:21:00.000-06:00

I'm very pleased to kick off yarn pr0n in 2007 with this beauty.

Would you like a closer look?

This is Hill Country Yarns Merino Silk in the Indian Summer colorway. It's a 50% wool/50% silk blend, advertised as comparable to Lorna's Laces Lion & Lamb (although never having fondled the latter, I can't attest to that). This yarn is quite yummy, though. I purchased it in order to finally knit the amazingly beautiful Clapotis - I'm so excited! But I have a few other projects in the works that I feel I must finish before I can cast on for the Clap (as I've seen it lovingly referenced). Ah, it's just motivation for me to get some projects finished.

I ordered this yarn through a website called Discount Yarn Sale - anyone else order through this site? If so, what are your experiences? I actually tried ordering yarn from them some time ago, but I found the customer service to be somewhat lacking. Although the site had said 2-3 weeks to ship the yarn I had ordered, 2 months later I had heard nothing. So I e-mailed customer service to find out what was up and was told that the yarn was backordered. They couldn't have told me that when I ordered?!? And 2 months later they still didn't have it? I was so annoyed I just canceled the order. I was wary of ordering from them again, but since this yarn is just for a project for me, I figured it didn't matter if it took a while. That said, the site said 1 week to ship, and it took them over a month to actually ship it to me. Frustrating. I definitely would not order from this site for a project with a deadline.

But let's not end this post with a note of frustration. The yarn is here, and it is lovely, and I'm so looking forward to working with it. I never thought I'd so looking forward to having the clap. :)

Obligatory resolutions for 2007

2007-01-02T13:31:00.000-06:00

1. Knit more for myself. I know, awfully selfish, huh? But I have never knit anything for myself. Well, that's not entirely true. My first knit socks were booties I made and kept (because I didn't want to expose anyone to my first attempt at socks). And I was right to keep them - my half-assed attempt at the kitchener stitch didn't hold up, and I didn't have any extra yarn to even try to correct the mistake. So it would've made an awful gift. The bottom line, though - I don't own anything that I've knit. I must rectify this in 2007 - I've one pair of socks started and many others in line, and I plan on ordering some yarn to make a scarf and hat. Oh yeah, and I ordered some beauteous yarn to make myself a Clapotis. Yay!

2. Start Christmas knitting WAAAAAY earlier. To complement my first selfish resolution, I must include a more generous one. I had aspirations to knit gifts for friends and family this year but just did not have the time when it came to the wire. But not so in 2007. I purchased Holiday Knits, which has some lovely patterns in it. I think I'll start my holiday knitting in March.

3. Refrain from the "eyes are bigger than my knitting needles" trap. I have a bad habit of seeing a pattern and thinking, "That's awesome! I could knit that!" Then I proceed to order the yarn and get all excited about starting the project. Then I start the project and realize just how complicated and/or time-consuming the project will be. Then I lose interest. But not so in 2007! I resolve to read patterns through carefully and completely at least 3 times before committing to any project. I will only take on projects that I really and truly believe that I can/will knit. I will not needlessly and recklessly add to my already substantial stash.

4. Complete the tie-cropped cardigan for my sister. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

5. Visit Arcadia Knitting. I know, a travesty that I'm so near it but have never been. For those not in the know, Arcadia is (as I understand it) rather a mecca of the Chicago knitter. So I guess I already know that my resolve will crumble with respect to the last part of #3 above...

6. Make room in life for more than knitting. OK, I'm not as lame as this resolution sounds - I actually do have other things in my life besides knitting. But since beginning to knit just over a year ago now, I've become quite obsessed. I stay up late at night to finish just a few more rows. I carry my knitting around wherever I go, even when I have hardly a hope of having an opportunity to knit. I guess what I've most let go to the wayside since beginning to knit is reading. Don't get me wrong, I still read a fair amount. But the list of books that I want to read continues to grow, and I haven't been very good about checking names off the list. So I gotta work on that. I guess that means the title of this resolution should have been "read more." But I like to keep it all about knitting. :)

7. Get the knitting book club going. Talk about killing 2 birds with one stone (which, really, is a terrible saying. Poor birds.). I had first discussed this with Knitdds, who posted about it and I think had some response from those interested in it. I'll admit I was part of the problem in its not coming to fruition - Sunday is really the best day for a book group meeting, and I refused to give up my Sunday NFL ticket. But football season is almost over, so I'm all about getting the knitting book club in order. Oh, and Go Colts! (I know, I live near Chicago and should be a Bears fan, which I am. But I grew up near Indianapolis, so gotta stay loyal to the home team.)

8. Actually stick to a fitness program. So I couldn't get the word "knitting" into this resolution. And this is such a cliched resolution. But it's an important resolution, nonetheless. I can be so hot and cold about exercising, although I will say that 2006 was a better year than most. I started going to spinning (biking, not roving) classes in 2005 and actually was relatively consistent with it through 2006. But I have a terrible all-or-nothing attitude about exercise - if I'm in the routine, I'm gold. But if I have to skip a workout or 2 for whatever reason, it's very easy for me to skip several weeks of exercising. Then it's tough for me to get motivated to start again. I've allowed myself to slack off over the holidays, but I'm going to be good from here on out!

I hope the first 2 days of 2007 have been all you've dreamed for and more!

Yarn Pr0n Friday!

2006-12-29T13:31:00.000-06:00

In today's edition of Yarn Pr0n Friday, I present to you...

...Knitpicks (what else) Alpaca Cloud in Autumn. This is a 100% baby alpaca lace weight yarn. I'm attempting to make a simple feather and fan scarf with this. But I have to say, I don't think I'm a fan of the lace weight yarn. I'm using size 3 Bryspun straights, which are supposed to be great for the lace knitting. But I'm still feeling that this is some incredibly delicate stuff. It's also very soft stuff, though, so I'm willing to keep at it and finish the scarf. And I just love the color. What more can you ask for in a yarn?

So what's everyone's plan for New Year's? I hope you have more exciting plans than I have - I haven't made it to midnight in the last couple of years (which I fully blame on my child). But maybe this is the year. Or maybe I'll horn in on Knit Mongrel's Pajama Party Scrabble Tournament. We'll have to see what the weekend brings.

Happy Friday, all!

Can you feel the love?

2006-12-26T13:31:00.000-06:00

I opened my front door Friday to the most thrilling discovery.

I have yarn fairies.

Not only do I have yarn fairies, but I have the most fantabulous yarn fairies in the history of the universe!

Let me explain. I opened my front door on Friday afternoon to get my mail, and there was a Whole Foods bag at the door. It contained gifts. I brought them inside, assuming they were gifts from one of my neighbors for my daughter. But, no! The gifts were labelled for me, courtesy of "Your Yarn Fairies." "Who are these yarn fairies?" I wonder. I was ever so curious to see the goodies inside, but like a good girl, I waited until Christmas morning.

What did my yarn fairies bring me? An umbrella swift and ball winder! I'm the happiest knitter in the world! I LOVE MY YARN FAIRIES!!!!!

After picking my jaw up off the floor and hurrying everyone else through the gift-opening process (no small feat, given the volume of gifts for my daughter), I got to work.

I am so thrilled with this gift and have warm fuzzies inside thinking of all the love I have from my knitting buddies. Especially since I've taken to ordering yarn online more and more (see previous post re: Knitpicks addiction), this will be used often. Even my daughter wanted in on the yarn winding fun!

In other news, sorry for not posting pr0n on Friday. My hubby had knee surgery (ACL reconstruction) on Friday, so I was otherwise occupied. Hubby's in some pain, but he's doing really well. So I'll be back on the pr0n train on Friday.

Hope everyone had a great Christmahannukwanzafestivus!

Sweater Trauma

2006-12-21T14:15:00.000-06:00

After weeks of knitting, who knew that the foil in my knitting drama would be the seaming process? Well, I guess I knew. Or at least I had a strong suspicion. I knit all the pieces, blocked them, sewed the front pieces to the back, and then - I couldn't figure out how to sew the sleeves on the body of the sweater. Am I an idiot? Or perhaps a knitiot? Either way, I've decided to put aside the sweater for now and not stress about figuring out how it all comes together before Christmas. My sister's birthday is in April, so I can figure I can take the pieces to my handy knitting buddies and have them help me figure it out in time for it to be a birthday present. Sheesh - I'm pretty sure I won't knit a sweater again!

Yarn Pr0n Friday!

2006-12-15T14:05:00.000-06:00

I think I need to find a support group for those who are addicted to Knitpicks yarns. Seriously, I contribute quite a bit of money to their coffers. Well, I guess not that much, since it is a discount yarn (or, at least, that's how I justify it). In any case, I need help.

But enough of my therapy requirements - onto the pr0n! Today we have some Knitpicks Memories in Redwood Forest and Cape Cod.

A closer view of the Redwood Forest...

...and the Cape Cod.

Don't know when I'll actually be able to get these on the sticks, but there's a chance one of these colorways will become Grumperina's Jaywalkers (I know, I'm way late to the party on this pattern).

For the good news for the week - I finished the knitting portion of my sister's sweater. The segments have been washed and are currently drying, awaiting some seaming. Hopefully I'll have some finished pictures to post next week. What's most exciting - I can move on to other knitting without guilt! So back to the Baby Cable Rib socks I started a little while ago. Life is good. :)

Moving right along...

2006-12-14T18:25:00.000-06:00

So the sweater I'm making for my sister for Christmas is moving right along. I'm almost finished with the second sleeve (I'm going to make a big push to finish it tonight). Then just blocking and seaming left! Of course, the seaming part makes me VERY nervous. I've never had to seam so much for one project, so cross your fingers for me! Oh, and then I think I have to do some crocheting around the neckline, which I'm also not really looking forward to. But it will be completed! I'll post pictures when I'm finished with it.

I think what I've learned from the process of knitting my first sweater is that I'm just not a sweater-knitting kinda person. I'm a little nervous that, after all this work, my sister won't be that into the sweater. She probably wasn't the best person for whom to knit my first sweater - she can be one of those people who wears something twice and then forgets about it in her closet. But in any case, I just can't imagine doing another sweater - it's just too long of a project. And then you've got sizing to worry about. Yikes! I think I'll stick to socks.

Speaking of which, I received yet another Knitpicks order with some FABULOUS sock yarn. So I have some good stuff to post for Yarn Pr0n tomorrow!

Yarn Pr0n Friday!

2006-12-08T14:08:00.000-06:00

For today's yarn pr0n, I present you some Knitpicks Gloss in Woodland Sage and Pumpkin.

This yarn is 70% Merino, 30% silk, and 100% DELICIOUS! I cast on for a sock in the Woodland Sage, and I am just adoring how this yarn feels when I knit. Wanna see a picture?

I'm using the Baby Cable pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks. I started doing the Elongated Corded Rib pattern, but I wasn't feeling the love from the YO into a purl, instead of a knit stitch. So I thought I'd just go with something simpler that I know I can do. And I'm definitely feeling the love from this. And, while we're on the subject of things I love, I LOVE the Knitpicks dpns I'm using for these socks! I was a little wary of using metal needles, since I was afraid the stitches would just keep slipping off. But I haven't had any problems yet, and I love how pointy the dpns are, so that I can really get under each stitch super easily.

As much as I'm enjoying the socks, I feel I must return to the sweater I'm knitting for my sister, if I have any hopes of finishing it in time for Christmas. I just have the sleeves left to do, so I should be fine as long as I don't get sidetracked. Which may be difficult if I get my latest Knitpicks order (which includes more sock yarn).

By the way, can you tell that I'm a huge Knitpicks fan. :)

Happy Friday all!

Gotta love Ziggy...

2006-12-05T16:17:00.000-06:00

Snow Fun

2006-12-04T12:40:00.000-06:00

I'm glad my daughter berated me into taking her outside to play in the snow Friday. It wasn't nearly as cold as I thought, and I forgot how much fun it is to make a snowman. Or more like a snow kid. I also learned that my snow person making skills leave much to be desired. What can I say, it's been a while!

In knitting news, I've been naughty. I'm knitting a sweater (my first sweater - I'm using the free pattern from Knitpicks for the Tie-Cropped Cardigan) for my sister for Christmas (my sister, not being a knitter, will not be reading this blog and thus no surprise is ruined). After much confusion with the pattern (a subject for another post), I finally figured things out and have made good progress on the sweater. But now for the naughty part. I'm kinda sick of the sweater, so I've put it aside. And instead of doing some other holiday knitting, I've decided to cast on for some socks for me. I know, not in the selfless spirit of the holiday, right? But what can you do? Sometimes, you just need to knit socks. :) I'm going by one of the patterns in Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks. I'll probably do the baby cable pattern, although I haven't decided yet (I'm still on the cuff). Once I have some progress, I'll post pictures.

My first Pr0n!

2006-12-01T09:50:00.000-06:00

I'm so excited to participate in my first Yarn Pr0n Friday! Here I have 2 skeins of Touch Yarns 4 ply N.Z. Fine Wool in color 215 (blue/purple/green). This is the yarn my husband called "nice." I, in turn, call this "yarn-o-licious." It's super, super soft, and the colors are just gorgeous.

I bought 4 skeins of this from a yarn store in Ann Arbor, MI (I was there visiting my sister), and I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to do with it. It's actually the first time, I think, that I've bought yarn purely because it beckoned me. I usually am good and have a specific project in mind before I purchase, but this just called out to me. And who am I to ignore the commands of hand-dyed wool?

I think ultimately what this will become are the Pomatomus socks from Knitty. I'm not all that experienced a sock knitter, and I definitely think that pattern would be a challenge. But I think I can do it, and I think the pattern would complement the colors of this yarn really well (it's actually kinda similar to the yarn used in the finished sock on the pattern page).

Now I am hearing the beckoning of my 2-year old daughter, commanding me to get dressed so that we can go outside and play in the snow. Ah, youth. I remember a time when I just enjoyed playing in the snow, with nary a thought of how friggin' cold it's gonna be out there! I'm just thankful for North Face.

A few finished objects

2006-11-30T13:05:00.000-06:00

I'm new enough to this whole blogging thing that all I want to do is post! So I thought I'd start off with some FOs. This is a scarf that I made for my sister for her birthday. I used 3 balls of Knit One, Crochet Too Paint Box in color 12 (Tandoor), in a simple broken rib pattern. I was pretty pleased at how the striping turned out on this. I probably could've added a bit more length, but that's my only complaint about it.

These are some booties I made for my mom. I used 1 ball of Knitpicks Panache in color Dusk for each sock. I used the basic sock pattern from Knitty Gritty. LOVED how these turned out - the yarn is SOOOO soft, and I thought the color was really beautiful, too. Since this is a bulky yarn, it knits up fairly quickly. I'll probably make a couple more pairs of these for Christmas gifts.

This is a baby hat I made using the same Knitpicks yarn as for my mom's booties - somewhere under 1 ball of it. I used a seed hat pattern I found free online - it's basically a moss stitch border, and then stockinette until the decreases. I made this for my husband to give to his driver/translator in Brazil, whose wife had just had a baby (yes, my husband gets to do fun things like go to Brazil for work. And, no, he really doesn't have that glamorous of a job - he's a commercial real estate appraiser :)

Here's a baby blanket I made for a friend who just had a baby. I used 4 skeins (although I had some leftover) of Cherry Tree Hill Super Sock Yarn, I think in the Fall Foliage colorway (although I can't really remember). I used the Big Bad Baby Blanket pattern from Stitch 'n Bitch. While I like the border and how the pattern layed out, I wasn't crazy about using sock yarn for a blanket, even if the yarn was doubled. I'd do the pattern again, but with a thicker yarn. I loved the colors on this, though.

And finally (for today at least :), here is a purse I made for my friend Susie. It's the All-in-One bag from the Pursenalities Plus book. I used 4 balls of Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Mist for the body and probably another ball of the same yarn in Hollyberry for the contrasting color. This is my first and only felting project so far. I had fun with it, and it was SOOO quick to knit, that I'd probably do it again. I had some issues when I was knitting the handles (stray lengths of yarn whenever I did the bind off, cast on part to create the handle opening), but it's wonderful how forgiving the felting process is! I just snipped off the extra yarn and problem solved!

Ah, that was fun, but a bit time consuming. I think I'll limit myself to fewer pictures in the next post!

I have a blog!

2006-11-30T11:15:00.000-06:00

Hello all!

I never thought I'd ever be one to start a blog. I never understood why people wanted to blog.

Then I entered the world of knitting blogs.

And I had to join in.

It really hit me one day when I came home with some FABULOUS sock yarn that I was so excited about (and which I will post pictures of once I figure out how to do so). I showed it to my wonderful husband, and he said, "That's nice." NICE?!?!?!? That was so not the reaction I wanted. And it became abundantly clear to me that only other knitters could possibly be as excited about my yarn and my projects as I am. So here goes, my foray into the wild, wacky blogosphere!