Knit n Things

Hot dam I am on a roll!! I just found my missing socks!! Your not gonna believe this one... I had to drag out the stash (I keep it in a rubbermaid in the bottom of the closet-which incidently it barely fits in anymore) and I'm digging around in the tote & I decided I'd like to pet some of the pretty wool I got at Rhinebeck. Well guess what I found all snuggled up with the alpaca lace weight?! Yup my socks where hanging out in the stash. What they were doing in there is beyond me - I can't figure out for the life of me what would have possesed me to put them into the stash but there they were. They are back where they belong now and if they value they're life they better stay there this time!!

Hmm...maybe I should take advantage of this lucky streak & play the lottery?!

Edited to add photo
I must say that I had a great week last week. It started with winning that gift card at Borders on Monday. Then I finished a sock on Wednesday. I Love the pattern – however it completely obliterated the idea of a simple project that you could do while doing other things. I couldn’t work on it without the chart; it’s just as complex as all my other knitting – defeating the whole purpose of simple portable sock knitting. Therefore I don’t think I’m going to cast on sock #2 just yet. I’ve got some Dancing from Knitpicks that has been calling my name for weeks…

But back to my great week – went to my AC Moore knitting party on Saturday, all yarn & accessories 25% off! And they had a few contests….guess who’s the fastest hooker… crotchet hook that is…yup yours truly! I won! = ) I even beat the little old Scottish woman who whipped my ass at the fastest knitter contest. When I say she whipped my ass – she thoroughly tromped everyone involved – she knit twice as fast as the rest of us sorry slops, 40 rows to our 18-21 in the same time period. Dam can that woman knit! I still say some of us should’ve gotten a handicap based on our knit experience (or lack thereof). I did kick her but at crochet so that made me feel much better. I won a $25 dollar gift card to AC Moore, way cool free yarn!!! A couple of my knitting peeps won the sock contest with their original designs. It was a really fun event you wouldn’t believe the number of new knitters we made.

Have I ever mentioned what special people knitters are? I went to this event with the plan of popping in for a minute. I had really no intention of entering contests, teaching newbies, or staying longer than a few minutes. Four newbie knitters, three hours, and two contests later I was just managing to get to the shopping part of my trip. There were so many people the poor employees were a bit overwhelmed. So the experienced knitters pitched-in to help teaching random people all afternoon. My buddy Trek was teaching this young girl to knit & when her mother came back to claim her some time later the woman was shocked that a) her daughter was knitting with some skill and b) Trek didn’t work in the store & was volunteering her time. I was really impressed with the number of people that were there. AC Moore did a really great event– Michael’s tried to do the same thing on Sunday, I stopped in with Tisha; I was not impressed. They had one table, demoing that circular loom knit thingy and that was it! They wouldn’t let you enter both speed contests either; Tisha won the crochet contest…by half a stitch! She got a really nice basket of goodies. I had splitting issues with my yarn & did miserably. But it’s fun to know that we’re both fast hookers!

So at my knit out the other day we were getting ready to go home & Trek says to me "did you fill out a raffle?" I seldom fill out raffles because I never win. Never in my 30 years have I ever won a drawing/raffle of any kind. Until yesterday that is :) Borders called me and I WON!!! Woohoo Baby I got 25 buckaroos for books!! My favorite thing right up there with new yarn!!!! I'm so excited! I'm going over there on my lunch hour today to get my gift card. Thanks Trek for making me fill out the raffle - it totally made my day!

Didn't you just know it was going to happen?! As soon as I typed it I knew. "The knitting is behaving" what the hell was I thinking?!?! Remember the tiny little cable needle I bought? The one that I've only used for one project that isn't even finished yet. Yea that one - the one that makes cables not a time eating pain in my butt!

My house ate it.

I've been crawling around for the past two days searching and alas...no needle. Someone probably threw it in the trash thinking it was an oversized toothpick. And of course the LYS that carries it is having issues getting more in stock (I've been on the hunt for a "medium" for a while now) and I'll probably have to order one off the internet. Dam and I was just begining to think I could actually wear this hat for my trip to Vermont. Stupid, stupid, stupid - never praise the knitting it will bite you in the ass!

Unbelivably the knitting is behaving (for the moment). I've got nothing finished so there's no new pictures to show you. The lace is a little bigger but it still looks the same. The sock has a heel but it's in being shy and hiding in the car and I'm to lazy to go get it for a photo-op. If you scroll down this page to the Embossed Leave socks - it looks just like that in navy blue without toes.

I've been working on the crazy cable hat a little. I'd like to have it done for my ski trip in February, it's slow going so I dunno. I did finally get to try the little cable needle - I like it. It's so far my favorite cable method. Although I do really like the cableing without a needle it's just not effecient for me, I screw it up every time! I wind up with cables going the wrong way all over the dam place. Since I don't usually rip unless it's a hideous/fit destroying error the no cable needle cable just doesn't work for me.

I went shopping today and got presents for my secret pal. It was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I think that's because my LYS is a little lacking. They got lots of yarn but...I don't want to just send yarn. I want to send little knitting gadgets & little knitting "things" but my LYS doesn't have that kind of stuff. And it's hard to find that kind of stuff elsewhere, and I don't really want to order her stuff off the internet, it feels like cheating. I did manage to get her some REALLY cute stuff. But...I can't tell you what it was cuz that might give me away.

My brother & his long time GF finally set a wedding date. They'll be married in July. Guess who gets to be a bridesmaid?! Oh Joy - Weight Watchers here I come! I've been debating on wether or not to make her some type of wedding shawl. I'd like to create the whole "heirloom" thing for my niece's sake but... # 1 I'm not a very accomplished lace knitter #2 I don't want to impose my "thing" on Laurie just because I would like it #3 I've only got a few months and I'd probably have to give up all other projects to finish in time. #4 I'd have to kill her if something happened to it and frankly I just don't trust her to care for something that special (my mom made her a stocking for her first Christmas with Zeke & her dog ate it - fortunately it was repairable but now the stocking lives at my house). Well - now that I've written it all down it's looking pretty bad for her getting a shawl. Oh well. I'll probably try one eventually but I'll keep it for me!

This is why I love to crochet. I started this wrap on Thursday and finished it yesterday. A skein a day is just so satisfying! I really do love homespun, it's just so fast and soft and cuddly. See I'm not a yarn snob, if it feels good I don't care what it is!

There is a beautiful story that goes with this yarn but I'm having a hard time putting it into words. So rather than butcher the story I'll just say that this wrap is a gift to ease the loss of a loved one. Which makes it all the more special!

D was right. I went with the annoying kinky yan and it really does work up beautifully!


The way the yarn is plied causes it to make a odd shaped knit stich which just looks so cool that I almost wish I had made these socks in a plain stockinette stitch so you could better appreciate it. Next time! **Note that the color representation of these socks is so far off that I didn't even attempt to photoshop it. They are actually a dark navy blue. - Go figure?!

On a different note...did I mention I got a set of Boye interchangable needles for Christmas? I used them for the first time last night to cast on my Picovoli (eventually I hope to be able to spell that without having to look it up) for the SKC knitalong. Let me just say that the experiance was ... unpleasant. After two hours, many curses and countless dropped stitches I gave up and ripped out the 5 rows I'd managed. What's up with these needles?? Trek has a set and she loves them, thinks they're the best! Maybe it was because I was using the short cord? I had to fight the stitches over the connections. I had issues with the connections staying screwed in tight and actually wound up with yarn trapped in there when I tried to re-screw it (the poor yarn.) I had issues with the cord being to short, which is odd because it's longer than a standard 16" circ. So far the only thing I liked about these was that the tips where very pointy. Maybe it's me, who knows. I'll give it another go with the longer cord later in the project but I don't really have high hopes.

The coolest thing happened to me the other day. I got mentioned in Blogger Delights! I didn't even know there was such a thing. He did a little review of my blog and said some really nice things about my knitting. How neat is that - someone actually read my blog besides Trek & my mom! Just kidding - I'm sure I've got lots of lurkers, it's cool I don't really comment on other peoples blogs either. I should get one of those counting thingies to expose you all. On second thought that's probably a bad idea. I'd probably get depressed by the number of non-commenters, not to mention the fact that I can't even get a button into my sidebar without help let alone a county thing.

My SnB really took off this week with 11 people in attendance. We're a baby group and that's a new record for us. Group knitting is so cool. There was this new chick there and she was just learning and the poor thing struggled all night, but the cool part was that she got four different teachers during the course of the evening. Sometimes someone could try to show you how to do something and they just don't speak your language so you struggle. Then somebody else could show you and all of a sudden it's easier. So with each new teacher she struggled a little less. I hope she doesn't get discouraged and comes back.

Not much new happening on the knitting front. I ripped out the goofy ribbing on the new sock and gave it normal 1x1 rib. I'm not really crazy about the yarn, it's plied funny and kinks itself up while I'm working with it. D says it makes really nice socks so I should suck it up. Gotta luv her. I haven't worked on the lace since the last time, but I did do a few rows of my twisty cable hat. With every row I regret not converting the pattern to be worked in the round. I'm not going to like it with a seam - oh well lesson learned I guess.

Here's the answers to my secret pal questionnaire.

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? I'm not a true yarn snob because I do use some of the better acrylics for baby blankets and I like Lion Brand homespun (to crochet). However I do hate those nasty acylics that feel like plastic/cardboard when they're worked up, you know the ones.

2. Do you spin? No Crochet? Yes, I learned to crochet first, it was my only yarn hobby for many, many years.

3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have one of those zippered case thingies.

4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I've been knitting a little over a year. Two of my current projects say "for advanced knitters" in the descriptions. But I don't really consider myself advanced. Somewhere in the middle I suppose.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? I think I do but it's not current because I've gotten some of the books on it.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) I like sweet scents, like strawberry, vanilla, and musky scents, nothing floral!

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Oh yea! Never met a candy I didn't like (except for maybe coffee flavors). To bad my hips don't love it too.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Well I've tried just about every crafty thing out there, but knitting is my only current obbsession.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I have very eclectic musical taste, mostly rock but I like just about everything. My computer can play MP3's but I don't know if my stereo does, I've never tried.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? Not to be difficult but I don't really have a favorite color. I like earth tones, and colors that are rich and vibrant, I like pastels but sparingly. I don't like florecents.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? No pets, no kids. I do have a 16 month old niece that I spoil rotten.

12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I've tried to make myself two ponchos in the past year, they both looked like crap on me - so no ponchos. I do wear all the rest.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? I can't really choose a favorite because I'm still discovering what's out there.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? So far the only thing I'm not real fond of is mohair, it's itchy.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? Socks, lace, hats.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? At this moment my favorite is my Kiri. Next week it will probably be something else.

17. What are you knitting right now? I'm a little light at the moment, I'm working on a hat, a pair of socks and the Kiri, I have plans to cast on the Picovoli this week.

18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Handmade is the best kind, provided it's practical. I'm not a fan of tchotchkes (even if they are handmade).

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? I guess I perfer circs though I use straights too.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Never plastic if I can avoid it. I like bamboo, and aluminum, would really like to try wooden needles.

21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? No but I have plans to buy a winder soon, doing it by hand is a pain.

22. How did you learn to knit? My mom.

23. How old is your oldest UFO? About 4 months, it got kicked aside for Christmas knitting.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird? I'm a Tigger fan but I just got rid of all my Tigger stuff (see question #18) and I love wolves.

25. What is your favorite holiday? They're all my favorites for one reason or another. But I probably like Halloween the best.

26. Is there anything that you collect? Books (the only dust collecter I purposley bring into my home)

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? None but I was thinking about getting one just trying to decide which one.

28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? I'd like to try wooden needles. I'd like to try socks that rock yarn.

29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I'm always up for new stuff, but I don't really think of it terms of techniques I'd like to learn. It usually works more like "I'd like to make (fill in the blank) oh crap I don't know how to do (fill in the blank) guess I'll have to figure it out.

30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yes! I wear a women's shoe size 10, foot is 10" long and 9 ½ " around (if you make me socks I'll love you forever!!)

31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) 07/05

Before I do anything today I have to give a big huge THANK YOU to by buddy Trek! Notice my sidebar? Notice that's is not all screwy like it's been for the last few weeks? Trek fixed it...yea!! It's very handy having a programmer for a friend. Thank you so much!

Ok on to the knitting! I have pictures of the lace for you.














I can't wait to see how it looks when it's done. (for the record, it's not crooked - that's just the way it got pinned for the photo) I'm still enjoying it but I'm a little worried about how long it's going to take me to finish. The thing increases 4 stitches every other row & 8 stitches every 7th row. I'm already at almost 100 stitches and I'm only on the third pattern repeat. And then there is edging. I worked on it for two hours the other night and only did 4 rows. At the rate I'm going I'll be bored to death before I'm even close to finished. We'll see how it goes, hopefully it will keep me entertained long enough to get done.

I'd also like to share the ultra secret project that I didn't even tell you I was doing it was so secret! You all know I made mom socks for her birthday - but the super secret was I also made her socks for Christmas (being modeled by me, I really, really loved these socks & almost didn't give them to her) The yarn was wonderful (Regia) the pattern easy - (Gull wings, from Socks, Socks, Socks) and they only gave me small little problems here and there and she loved them. I hate the new socks & just cast on, they've got this annoying twisted rib thing that just won't cooperate so it's coming out tonight. Hopefully the pattern works out to be ok. I'll keep you posted.

Hi all - miss me? Hope everyone had a great holiday & I hope the New Year brings lots of good things.

I haven't been up to much on the knitting front. The evil blue stripe hat I made for my brother just had to stick it to me one more time and not fit. I was going to fix it for him however his girlfriend put it on and that ended that idea. It does looks really nice on her. I spent the entire week making him a new hat so he'd have a something new for his snowboarding trip to Colorado (he left this morning). I made him the same one I did for dad with the same yarn and everything. He likes it much better than the blue one. I learned two very important lessons #1 I should measure & #2 I hate doing the same pattern twice!

So after I got Zeke shipped off to Colorado with his new hat I had a very interesting thing happen. I only had one project on needles (my cable hat) and I swear if I make another hat right now I might scream! So I started this. My first real lace project with lace yarn. Wow! It's challenging but wow! I love it. I don't want to put it down, it pains me to sit here and blog about it when I could be knitting it. I'm not using the Kid Silk Haze because my LYS dosen't carry it but the stuff I'm using is (according to my yarn lady) the same thing just not Rowan. I don't care - it's so soft and fluffy and unbelivable nice and so NOT a hat. It's going to be beautiful and guess what...I'm keeping it! Not giving it to anyone - Ever! I'll post some pictures later when you can see more than a little fluffy white thing.