A Few Yards Short of a Full Skein

Time flies when you're...not knitting much!

2007-05-22T21:15:00.000-05:00

Hello there!
Remember me?? After the last 2 weeks, I am not just a few yards short of a full skein, but I think I'm pretty much the little ball you have leftover from that project that you spend the last 3 or 4 rows praying that you'll have enough! It has been more that a week before my last (lame and short) post, but I have been so crazy with life stuff that I haven't had much time to knit, never mind blog about it. I am looking forward to a restful holiday weekend with lots of knitting. We saw Spiderman 3 last weekend, and I made a sad attempt at knitting a mindless dishcloth during the movie and ended up with this:

Needless to say that this will never see the kitchen sink!

As for progress on my EZ Baby Surprise Jacket, I have the body done, and have started the hood that I am making the pattern for. The pattern notes give very general directions, so I'm not sure what it will look like. Once the hood is done, I will bind off the body and hood as one with an applied I-cord edge. I hope to finish this weekend so I can try it on the recipient and see if I'll need to add more length to the sleeves.

Happy Mother's Day!

2007-05-13T21:17:00.000-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to everyone in blogland. I hope that you were able to spend it with loved ones!

"Spring Into Summer" Dishcloth Swap

2007-05-12T18:25:00.000-05:00

Dishcloths are one of my favorite projects to knit. There quick, portable, and practical.

"Spring Into Summer" Dishcloth Swap Questionnaire:

When did you learn to knit? Who taught you?
I learned about 2 years ago at my LYS, Finely A Knitting Party

What was your very first completed object? Your most recent?
My first completed object was a washcloth, and my most recent was my Landscape Shawl.

What was the very first thing you sent to the frog pond? (pulled out and started over) Your most recent?
I don't remember the first frogged project, but my top-down tie cardigan was the most recent.

What is currently on the needles for you?
Oh boy, here we go:
A felted basket
My top-down tie cardigan
Flying Geese blanket from Mason-Dixon Knitting
A pair of socks

What types of needles do you enjoy working with? What have you tried and hated?
I like my Addis and my KnitPicks Options for circs, and also bamboo for straight and circs. I have a Needlemaster set that I hate, all metal straights that I've tried.

Have you knit dishcloths before?
I always have a dishcloth going!

What was your favorite one?
I have a simple pattern that I am always knitting that is knit on a diagonal and has a nice eyelet around the edge. It's portable and the pattern is easy to memorize, so its kinda mindless.

Least favorite?
I don't think I've found one that I don't like yet, although I haven't tried too many!

Do you use homemade dishcloths or face cloths yourself, or give them as gifts, or both?
Both

What are your favorite and least favorite scents? (For your body, such as soap/lotion/etc)
I love fruity smells, cherry blossom, almond, coconut, honey, vanilla, light florals

What are your favorite colors?
I love all colors but not a huge fan of pastels.

What colors (if any) are your bathroom and kitchen decorated in?
My kitchen is sage green and cream, with cranberry accents.

What other hobbies and crafts do you enjoy?
I crochet, and rubber stamp and bead just a smidge. Other things just take away from knitting.

Chocolate: Dark? White? Milk? Ew?
Milk- Definitely (preferably with something like caramel, almonds, etc. in it)

Do you like salty treats? What kinds?
Not so much, maybe pretzels and popcorn

If you could go anywhere in the world for one day and spend the day any way you wanted, where would you go and what would you do?
I think that I would just sit outside in a big city park on a blanket and just relax.

Do you have any allergies? (Yarns, foods, etc. that might impact what your pal can send)
Nope!

I have a bunch of other questionnaires up too, so you can check them out if you need more info!

Caution: Non-knitting content ahead!

2007-05-04T22:33:00.000-05:00

There are 2 things that I have found sheer enjoyment out of the last couple of crazy days. I wanted to share them with you!
1. The beautiful tree in my front yard, in all of its pink blossom glory:
2. David Caruso as Lt. Horatio Caine on CSI: Miami
I love how ridiculous he is on that show. You miss the opening and the entire episode is ruined!

International Treat!

2007-05-04T21:46:00.000-05:00

I got my Knitter's Treat Exchange package from my Marion, at VARDAKEERUTAMISED all the way from Estonia! Take a look at all of my treats!

She sent me:
A huge hank of Estonian wool in a great colorway (click here for a closeup)
A copy of Filati Handknitting magazine (great summer sweaters!)
An assortment of teas and a bag of cappuccino with a package of cookies
2 chocolate bars: 1 white chocolate w/rice crisp & blueberry pieces & 1 dark chocolate with cherry pieces (YUM!)
Fruittini Ice Mint lip balm and Bourbon Vanilla Smoothie body lotion
A handmade bookmark & earrings

Thank you to my treater, Marion, for all of the wonderful gifts! My thoughts are with you and hope that you stay safe with all of the troubles in your town (read the details on her blog).
Thank you!

We now return to our regularly scheduled knitting...

2007-05-01T22:40:00.000-05:00

Isn't high-speed internet access great? Especially when it has been fixed and running smooth!
So much to report... where to begin? How about with an almost finished object?

Yes, that very warped rectangle will soon be a baby sweater. An Elizabeth Zimmerman Baby Surprise Jacket, actually. See??

I am ready to do the bind-off row, but I'm going to add an applied I-cord edging around the body and the sleeves instead of the purlwise bind-off that the pattern calls for. I am also going to try it on an actual baby to check the sleeve length and possibly pick up and add some length and then the applied I-cord. I got little shank buttons in both fuchsia and yellow, and will make a decision when I see the finished jacket, maybe even use both!

I really love this sweater and will be sure to knit more! I will have to do some research about incorporating longer sleeves into the pattern to avoid having to pick up and knit at the cuffs!

Coming Soon!

2007-04-29T21:30:00.000-05:00

My Internet access has been HORRIBLE lately and always down, so I have had minimal Internet access this past week as I don't have access from work either!
I am currently Internet mooching from my parents (with a dial-up connection), but should have my own fixed tomorrow, so I promise to have my Spring Felted Bag Exchange Questionnaire and a bunch of other updates as well posted tomorrow.

Stay tuned!

Spring Felted Bag Exchange :: The Questionnaire

2007-04-29T21:07:00.000-05:00

Hello, my name is Dana, and I am addicted to swaps, and also to felting, so this exchange is perfect for me!

1. How long have you been knitting or crocheting? How did you learn?
I have been knitting for about 2 years now and learned at my LYS. I have been crocheting for about 10 years on and off. My mom and I taught ourselves from a Leisure Arts book. I prefer to knit.

2 What are your favorite yarns to knit\crochet felted bags with?
I use Plymouth's Galway and Brown Sheep's Lamb's Pride, mostly because they are easily accessible.

3. What are your favorite needles to knit\crochet with?
I prefer circulars, particularly Addi turbos and my KnitPicks Options set. I do like to use the bamboo when doing bags with bulky wool. They seem to grab the thick wool better for me.

4. What are the last 3 bags you knitted\crocheted (include URL for Yahoo! or flickr album or your blog if you have them!)?
The last 3 that I made are (click to see pictures):
1. A felted clutch from One Skein (unfortunately not photographed before gifting)
2. The Sheep Tote from Fiber Trends (without the needle felted sheep)
3. My entrelac pouch

5. Do you carry the bags that you make give them as gifts, or both?
I make a lot for gifts, and carry a few that I have made.

6. What is your favorite felted bag that you have made for yourself?
I think that my favorite my entrelac pouch.

7. What are your favorite colors? Do you like bags in these colors or choose other colors?
I an pretty easy to please. I like earth tones and unusual color combinations. My current favorite combos are pink & brown and turquoise & brown.

8. Chocolate: White, Milk, Dark, or not so much?
Milk definitely, preferably with something in it (caramel, almonds, krispies, etc.).

9. Coffee, Tea, or Milk?
Coffee

10. Do you prefer sweet or salty treats? What kinds?
Sweet ~ My favorite candy is Chunky or Swedish fish.

11. If you went into Bath and Body Works and could only come out with one item, what would it be and what would it smell like?
Moonlight Path body splash (lavender, rose, musk scent) is my favorite. I like pretty much every thing from that place!

12. Do you enjoy any other crafts or hobbies? Do you collect anything?
I do some beading and a small bit of rubber stamping. I collect Wonder Woman paraphernalia (don't judge), and have begun to accumulate a nice array of sheepy things (as do most knitters).

13. Are there any bag patterns you have not yet knit, but hope to someday?
I would like to knit the Prism Bag from Noni & the French Market Bag from Knitty.

14. What is currently OTN (on the needles) for you?

1. Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket (almost done)
2. Top down Tie cardigan
3. A felted basket (also almost done)
4. A sock

Too many others to name...

15. What is your most recent finished object before that?
My Landscape shawl.

16. What's cutest: Puppies, Piggies or Pixies?
Puppies!

17. Do you enjoy reading? Books, Magazines, or both?
I do like reading, but don't get to do much as I usually grab the needles first! I like books and magazines.

18. Do you have any children? (kid-kind or pet-kind apply!)
I have 1 son, Kyle, who is 10, and 2 dogs.

19. What are some of your favorite yarns for other projects?
I love cotton lately. I like to try a different yarn for each project. I have also fell in love w/alpaca.

20. And for the final question, one I see debated all over: Novelty Yarn: Love it! Hate it! or It depends!
I think that it depends... I like them for a tiny accident on some things, but not as the main yarn. I have used them for little projects and for some children's items. I personally don't like them for my own items.

2007-04-19T20:31:00.000-05:00

My top down-tie cardigan that I started here has taken a turn for the horrible. I was making beautiful progress...for the first time in the history of my LYS I was actually on schedule for class # 2 of 3 - ahead even! I arrived for class #2 and knit away on the long rows of the body (its knit in 1 piece and wraps around with a bizillion stitches in a row) and happened to try on a classmate's sweater in the same size that I am making at the end of class. (Gasp!) It was way too big! I put the sweater away and returned for class #3 and had to painfully rip out an entire skein + of Cotton Fleece (actually I watched Linda do it and suppressed tears). It went back on the needles and I haven't touched it since!!! I won't post a picture as it looks about the same as it did here.

I did, however, cast on for another class: Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket. The sweater is knit in 1 piece, then you sew up 2 seams when your done and you have a sweater! (There are a bunch posted on the Zimmermania blog/KAL if you want to see what it should look like when its done.) I am using Plymouth's Fantasy Naturale. It is colorway #9703. I like this pattern and this yarn, but it is a ton of counting! Here is the limited progress so far:

This may be the first sweater that I ever complete!

Aren't I just so crafty?!?

2007-04-19T20:11:00.000-05:00

Thought that I'd show you the 2 sets of stitch markers that I sent to my partners for the Stitch Marker Exchange.
The first set (on the left) was sent to Caroline over at Fiber Arts & Furry Critters. According to the hostess, she loves purple and orange, so I crafted these flower stitch markers. They were packaged up and shipped with a few other sheepy treats.

The other set (on the right) was for blogless Sulah. I didn't have any idea of color preferences, so I kind of had to wing it. They were also paired with some sheepy items and sent on there way!

The package contents (both were similar):

Both of my partners have received their packages and I got wonderful thank-yous from them, even a post on the swap's blog. I really liked this exchange and will be sure to sign up for the next round!

Belated Easter post

2007-04-16T00:29:00.000-05:00

Things have been so crazy the last 3 weeks that I'm still catching up with all of the knitting-related updates!
Here is the felted Easter basket that I knit as a hostess gift for my mom. It has 3 little chick soaps from Avon and was intended to be a soap dish for her bathroom. My mom hosts us for every holiday and Easter is the biggest (usually 25-30 people)
This was my first foray into pattern ~~writing~~ modifying/altering. I wanted the look of a woven basket and immediately thought of the ballband warshrag from Mason-Dixon Knitting and thought it was exactly what I wanted. A little math and a few modifications on the fly and Presto-Change-0 ~ we have a felted basket! Now, I really had hoped that it would shrink more vertically. I got the idea for this basket in my head about a week too late. If I had thought of this idea sooner, Round 2 would have made the basket about half the height before gifting it. I am working on Round 2 now for next year. I'll let you know how it goes!

The Knitty-Gritty:
Pattern: Felted Easter Basket by Me
Yarn: Plymouth Galway Worsted in colors 89 (purple) & 601 (blue multi)
Needles: Sz. 11 (8.0 mm) X 16" bamboo circular by Clover
Finished size: Didn't measure (oops!)
~~Modifications~~ Improvements: Not bad for my first attempt at creating my own pattern! I had to do some math and a whole lot of reminding myself that this thing was going to be felted, but overall it went pretty well!

How could I forget?!?

2007-04-14T22:11:00.000-05:00

In all of the hustle & bustle of the last 3 weeks, I forgot to mention our new addition:

Meet Mini, also known as The Mouse. She's a white miniature schnauzer, just over 4 months old. We got her about 1.5 weeks ago from a local pet shop. We got our first mini schnauzer (Dizzle a.k.a. The Rat) there and found out through a coworker knows the owners and that they are great with their puppies, don't buy from puppy mills, etc. We go in there pretty frequently to check out the puppies, and this one had been in there for about 6 weeks... we watched her drop in price over the course of 6 weeks, and ended up taking her home last week. Kyle (my 10yr old son) fell in love with her the moment we saw her when she first arrived, and began saving his money in hopes that we would get her. What can I say? I'm a sucker for sale! The whole evening was quite bizarre. Jim and I were walked into the pet store with Dizzle in to see if she was okay with a puppy before we would consider taking Mouse home, and they informed her that she was just sold. The woman who bought her came over to see us and told us that she actually hadn't paid for her yet and that she was only buying her because no one else wanted her. She told us that we could have her if we wanted her. While we played with her & Diz in the back, she changed her mind about giving her to us, left to pick up her son and said that she was coming back for her. The salesgirl told her that she had 15 minutes to get back and if she didn't then the dog was ours. The woman didn't come back, so we paid for her immediately after the 15 minutes was up and I filled out the paperwork after. Of course the woman came back after 30 minutes and was furious. The whole incident has been coined "Schnauzergate" by Jim.

The pup is pretty good overall- sleeping through the night with minimal accidents in the house. She and Dizzle are getting along pretty well. There have been no serious incidents, just playing and wrestling. Its getting to warm to make a sweater for the little one, but I will make one in the fall that matches Dizzle's:

Stitch Markers for Me!

2007-04-12T20:03:00.000-05:00

I am trying to catch up on all of the stuff that happened while I was too busy to blog and then when I had time but my Internet access was down!

Last week I got a package from my Stitch Marker Exchange partner, Donna over at Knit1Spin2. It was a huge box filled with goodies for me:

There was a bunch of Mary Engelbreit stuff in the box that she sent me. It was all "royal stuff": 2 different size journals that say "Queen of Everything"; a magnetic list pad, a pad of post-its, and 4 magnetic bookmarks that say "Royal Stuff"; a magnet that says "It's Good to be Queen". Even the little round box that my stitch markers came in was Mary Engelbreit and said "Queen for the Day"! There was also a Chunky candy bar (thanks for reading my Secret Pal 10 questionnaire) and a rubber stamp with a vase of flowers. The stitch markers are so beautiful! They are orange with a celestial charm at the end- one side has a sun and the other side has a moon, and the rings have little bobbles around them. I love them!

The stationary stuff was so me! Its a little know fact that I wanted my brother to call me "The Princess" for 1 full year in lieu of buying me a birthday present. I figured that would kill him more than spending money on me. I am still waiting (3 years) for that gift!

Thank you Donna for spoiling me!!!

Thanks Secret Pal!

2007-04-11T21:15:00.000-05:00

I got my 1st Secret Pal package!! Last week I got a surprise in the mail after a really crummy day at work. I came home to this:

Its 9 skeins of Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Violet (darker purple) and Hush (lighter purple)! I have never used Knit Picks yarn, so I am excited. I really like the colors ~ makes me think that spring-like weather might actually be coming soon (not this 40-50 degree crap we've had the last week or so)! She also emailed me a link to this great felted bag pattern that I will definitely make. I'm quite a sucker for felting as you will learn. I mean who doesn't love washing your mistakes, wonky stitches, and unsightly holes away?
Thanks to my Secret Pal for a great gift!

PS- Sorry to my wonderful Secret Pal for the delay in the public post. Cable Internet access has been horrible the last week, and was out all day on Easter Sunday! Ugh!

Knitters Treat Exchange :: The Questionnaire

2007-03-22T19:24:00.001-05:00

I am excited to be a part of this swap! Another questionnaire!
Knitters Treat Exchange Questionnaire
1. What's your favourite type of yarn?
I like all types, but nothing too scratchy. I love the look of hand-dyed yarn in fun colorways.

2. What's your least favourite type of yarn?
Besides acrylic for me personally, I don't like anything too chunky.

3. What's the first thing you do when you visit a new yarn shop?
I like to stop, scan, and breathe in. I like to go in when I can devote a whole chunk of time so that I can wonder around and touch everything, usually at least twice!

4. What other crafts do you do / would like to do?
I do crochet, but mostly baby items. I have just begun to rubber stamp a little bit.

5. What magazines do you currently subscribe to?
I subscribe to Interweave Knits and Vogue Knitting.

6. Put this type of magazine in order of preference:Knitting / Crochet / Other Craft / Food / Home / Fashion / Celebrity Gossip / Garden
Knitting/Crochet/Other Craft/Home/Garden/Food/Celebrity Gossip/Fashion

7. What items do you like to knit / crochet?
I like to knit all kinds of thing, mostly things that require little to no seaming. I like scarves because they are great for trying new techniques and they usually go quickly, plus they're portable. I am such a sucker for a scarf pattern!

8. Are you allergic to anything?
Nope

9. What do you like to* smell of?(*This is not a typo. The question is: What do you like to smell of)
I like vanilla, citrus, and honeysuckle (pretty much anything from Bath & Body Works). I'm not too big on heavy floral scents - I like all of my scents to be light.

10. What's your favourite way to relax?
Usually knitting or crocheting while watching TV or sitting outside on a warm day. I like to play board games w/my 1o yr old son as well.

11. You're stood in front of a Victorian style sweetshop, an Italian cafe, an old fashioned bakery and a dainty tea room. Where do you go first?
Probably the old-fashioned bakery

12. What do you come out with?
Something that's covered in powdered sugar

13. Where do you go next?
The Italian cafe for a cup of coffee to go with above item

14. Any other words of wisdom for your pal?
I am pretty easy to please. I really enjoy knitting with a variety of yarns and patterns. I usually stick to smaller items as I have a short attention span and hate to seam. I like patterns that change so I don't get bored.

Here we go again...

2007-03-14T22:56:00.000-05:00

No sooner did I bind off the Landscape Shawl then I cast on for a new project that shall never end. I started a" Top Down Tie Cardigan" (Cathy @ the knitting shop thinks that sounds like a drink) in a class last week. Not the official title of the pattern, but it is by Knitting Pure and Simple. I am making pretty good progress for just about 1 week on the needles. I am using Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece in CW-115 ~ Driftwood. This is the first time that I have used it and I am loving it. Its a whole lot of knittin' @ 5 stitches per inch! I hope to wear it by ~~June~~ July. I am also scheduled to begin the Elizabeth Zimmerman baby jacket class next week!

Off the needles...for now!

2007-03-10T22:58:00.000-05:00

It's finished (on Thursday night, actually)! I bound off and wove in my ends on the Landscape Shawl. I think that the blurb at the beginning of the pattern describe it best: "Rows of eyelet separate chevrons of garter, seed, stockinette, moss, and reverse stockinette stitches..." It turned out a bit bigger than I expected, but I love it. The only thing I may do is un-bind off it and do it again in a smaller needle size to make it a bit more taught at the top edge. Still needs to be blocked, and that will probably happen ~~tomorrow~~ in the next 3 months.

The Knitty-Gritty:
Pattern: Landscape Shawl from Fiber Trends
Yarn: Ultra Alpaca by Berroco, colorway#6284, "Prune Mix"
Needles: 10.5 (mm) x 24" bamboo circular by Clover
Finished size: Really big (85" wide at the top x 40" long from center point to top edge- unblocked!!)
~~Modifications~~ Improvements: You can knit this pattern in various weights of yarns for different finished sizes. I went with the worsted, but knit it using the numbers for the next finer yarn to get a larger shawl. I did bind it off with a size 13 needle to get a looser top edge/ I am going to think about binding off using an 11 for a bit more structure. (Although, its a miracle that its finally a FO, so I'm not hopeful for the deconstruction and reconstruction.)

The home stretch...

2007-03-07T21:43:00.000-05:00

I have 3 more pattern rows in my Landscape Shawl. The it is Fiber Trends pattern, started in October of 2006 but has been dormant on the needles since mid December. I am using Berroco's Ultra Alpaca in a beautiful color called "Prune Mix". The color is a great shade of purple, with blue, red, and yellow in it (check out the picture below. Its hard to picture, but is coming out great. I have 3 more rows (200+ stitches each), plus 4 finishing rows, then ends to weave. I am planning on wearing it on Easter. I can't wait to knit something else with this yarn. It is really great.

Secret Pal 10 :: The Questionnaire

2007-02-27T00:29:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to be a part of Secret Pal 10! This is my first swap and I am very excited.

Okay...here it is! What a long questionnaire!!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I think that my current favorite to knit with is Berroco's Ultra Alpaca- great colors and looks and felts fabulously. I also love wool. I don't hate acrylic (gasp!!!), but typically only use it for baby blankets and such (i.e. things that need to be super washable and dryable).

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
WIPs (I have way too many going at any given time!)
The few that aren't wrapped with a project are kept in a plastic storage cart thingy in my craft corner of the office. I have spent too much money on a duplicate set of needles because I can't find the set that I know that I have.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have been knitting for about 2 years. I think I am somewhere between intermediate and advanced.

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

5. What's your favorite scent?
My favorite scent is yarn, but after that its coconut, honey, and vanilla.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I do have a sweet tooth and like pretty much any candy. My favorite candy is Chunky.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I crochet and have done a little hairpin lace. I am just starting to have fun with stamping (little things only). I do not spin.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like all kinds of music and can play MP3s. I have a rather eclectic taste in music: Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, Garth Brooks, Indigo Girls, various showtunes. People at work think I'm crazy because one minute they come in my office and I have on Led Zeppelin, then the next time the come I have the Sleepless in Seattle soundtrack on!

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love pretty much any color in any shade except pastels or neon/brites. I do lean toward earth tones. I have been on a pink & brown/turquoise & brown combo kick lately.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live with my 10 year old son, Kyle, and my boyfriend of 3+ years. We have a Miniature Schnauzer named Dizzle, also known as The Rat.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I wear a lot of scarves and mittens, and only very loose hats on occasion. I don't think I have worn a poncho since 1979 when I was 3.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I love to knit scarves, as cliche as it sounds. I really prefer small items that have an intricate pattern. I get bored rather quickly and will not finish a project if it takes me too long. I like being able to splurge on an expensive yarn, and a scarf is a great way to do it since you only need a skein or two.

13. What are you knitting right now?
"Hello, my name is Dana and I am an overzealous knitter."
My current WIPs are:
1. Landscape Shawl
2. Trekking XXL socks (I have about 3 inches done on the 1st sock)
3. Toddler socks (1 complete, but #2 has grown quite attached to my size 2 DPNs just before the toe.)
4. Cross-hatch scarf (from Creative Knitting- I think)
5. Ruffle scarf in Berroco Softy.
6. Flying Geese Blanket from Mason-Dixon Knitting
7. Weekend Pullover (Currently a vest-no sleeves yet!)
I am signed up for 2 classes in March: Top-Down Tie-Cardigan from Knitting Pure & Simple & the Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
I love handmade gifts. Having made a few myself, I really appreciate the time that someone puts into making a gift.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I prefer to use bamboo needles, either straight or circular depending on the project. The only metal needles that I have used and liked are Addi Turbos and my KnitPicks Options set.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I own both thanks to my mom! (Happy birthday to me last year!)

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
I think the toddler socks would have to take the prize... they are at least 18 months old.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Not sure... maybe Easter because it is all about candy! Its also the holiday that I get to see most of my family at my parents' house.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I collect some Wonder Woman paraphernalia. She's just the coolest. I also collect yarn, but who doesn't??

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 have a subscription to Interweave Knits and Vogue Knitting. There are too many books and yarns that I have been lusting over to name in one post!

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I have done 1 entrelac project, a small felted bag, but would like to try more. I think that I also want to try a lace pattern.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
As I have proclaimed before, I am trying to get into socks. I wear a size 10 Medium shoe. I'm not sure what foot measurements to list!

23. When is your birthday?
September 9th

4 DOWN & 2 TO GO

2007-02-26T23:51:00.000-05:00

See what an hour of TV time can produce! I finished 1 more finished square for my Flying Geese Blanket from Mason-Dixon Knitting. Only 2 more large squares and 10 more strips of "geese" to finish. Then comes the most undesirable part...weaving in the ends. I am thinking of putting on a flannel lining to avoid this. Do you see how many ends are sticking out of the bottom of the piece pictured. No thank you!

2 hour delay is better than nothing...

2007-02-26T21:18:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately I had to take a 2 hour delay over a snow day this AM. No knitting, but there was time for chocolate chip pancakes! What's the point of going to school at 11AM? They are done by like 2:30P anyway! Don't they know that these kids have parents that need an excuse to stay home all day?!?
There will be knitting this evening during CSI: Miami tonight. I am going to try to finish square 4 out of 6 on my(long dramatic pause a la David Caruso as Lt. Horatio Caine)...Mason-Dixon Flying Geese Blanket.

Snow Day = Knitting Day

2007-02-25T17:49:00.000-05:00

The snow is coming down pretty hard right now (can't really tell from this picture- it was slow when I took it) , and so I am hoping that my son's school will have a snow day on Monday - which will equate in a knitting day for me! I didn't bring any work home to justify "working from home", so I will have to settle for a PTO day with Kyle.
Lots of hot chocolate and knitting and cartoons for us!

Expensive gift tags

2007-02-24T23:38:00.000-05:00

My sister-in-law has taken up scrapbooking as her new hobby and recently hosted a Stampin' Up! demonstration. I prefer to buy photo albums that you slide all your pictures in and pick out witty and touching cards at Hallmark. I went in with the attitude that I wasn't going to buy anything, but walked away with an order for $40+ of stamps and such to make little gift tags for my handknits. I figured said handknits deserved a special tag when I bundle most of them with pretty ribbon before gifting them.
Am I nuts?? But they were so cute!

My Life as a Sock Knitter:: Act II

2007-02-23T22:54:00.000-05:00

I must admit that I don't think that I am destined to become a sock knitter. I tried to knit a pair of child's socks over a year ago. I finished one, but its match still rests on my size 2 DPNs. I have learned that I love sock yarn- such great colorways. I used my Christmas gift certificate on this:

1 skein of Trekking XXL & 2 skeins of Austermann Step. I immediately signed up for a Socks on 2 Circular Needles class at my LYS and its Take 2 for me. I just can't resist how the colorways knit up after coveting other people's socks, and I it is soooo much nicer on 2 circs.

Prediction: I will be able to wear the rainbow colored babies above in December.

Scary things out there

2007-02-22T20:31:00.000-05:00

Wow- there really are some frightening things on the web these days.

I came across this from another blog and it is having the driving-by-an-accident-on-the-side-of-the-road effect. I find myself looking at it way to much.

I might have nightmares.

Click here it to check it out.

Poor Vera

2007-02-20T23:49:00.000-05:00

After I posted about Chelsea yesterday, I spoke with my sister-in-law and she told me a tragic story. She and her husband were in a parking lot, and her Vera Bradley baby bag fell out of the bottom of the stroller. They didn't discover it until they were home and it was too late...very is gone forever. Her husband said they should be lucky that they didn't lose anything of value. Thank heavens that she didn't tell him the price! I can't have that- he will tell his brother (my boyfriend) and he will take note of how many Veras are hiding yarn in our house!

So sorry for your loss, H.

Hello, Lover!

2007-02-19T21:05:00.000-05:00

Confession: I have an addiction.

Last week I purchased this bag in Chelsea Green. This pattern was on my list, but it had not hit the top of my queue yet. Retired in January 2007, I have been stalking a few styles in this print on eBay as it was discontinued, but then I stopped by a little shop looking for a unique birthday gift on my way back to the office after an work errand. In addition to unique gifts and such, they also have a ton of Vera Bradley bags in every size, shape, and pattern. The bonus: 25% off retired patterns and styles!! I snatched her up and signed up for their email list and was sent a coupon for $5 off- I see this in my future! I admired her for a few days before filling her with yarn because she's just so pretty, but now Chelsea is now storing a current project like a mama kangaroo (who is covered in green and pink paisley).

Needless to say, I ~~did not get the birthday gift I was looking for~~ got myself an early birthday present (7 months early). Christmas is only 10 months away- I should start shopping for an little tool bag to match. I don't want to wait until the last minute...

Better late than never...

2007-02-18T16:50:00.000-05:00

I finally finished an overdue baby shower gift (from October)- so what if the baby is now almost 2 months old?!? This is the Seija Set from Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker. This a great pattern to make that crochets up fast (ignore the fact that this was 4 months overdue) and has endless color combos. It's also the perfect size to fit over the stroller and/or baby carrier. I have made this a bunch of times before and usually check out the stroller/car seat that Mom has registered for and make it in matching colors. Instead of a set stripe pattern, I used this random stripe generator to vary the colors. I'm pretty happy with the way it came out- mom liked it to. The downside: a million ends to weave in!!! I did weave some of them as I went (aka crocheted over the ends in the next row, then back-weaved them and trimmed.), so it wasn't as painful as the first few times that I made it. I also made the matching hat, but the shaping is kind of weird and looked like a viking helmet with the braids hanging down, but I stretched the bottom when I blocked it to give a little more normal shape. It fit perfectly!

The Knitty-Gritty (or should it be the crochety-gritty?):
Pattern: Sejia Set from SNB The Happy Hooker
Yarn: Caron One Pound
Hook: E/3.5mm (blanket) & C/2.75mm (hat)

Finished size: 24" x 28" (blanket) & approx 15" diameter (hat)
~~Modifications~~ Improvements: Besides the striping pattern, I added about 8 rows to make it a little longer. I also eliminated the slit for the car seat buckle. I have made this pattern with it before, and none of the moms have been able to use the slit, so I just left it out!

I Pledge Allegence...

2007-02-17T22:32:00.000-05:00

I pledge allegiance to my blog
to post on a regular basis.
And to the Internet for where it is found,
One blog, about knitting,
With pictures, and welcoming comments from all.

Isn't it sad that this was what I came up with for my first post?