Knitters are such nice people!

In my short knitting phase, I have met the nicest people who are knitters. Some I've "met" online and have always been so impressed with the number of people who are willing to share their time to help a fellow knitter with a request. Others I've met in person through a pop-up knitting group. Great group of people that I never would have met if we didn't share an interest in knitting.

So why am I gushing? Well, I just finished wrapping the first package to send off to my secret pal for SP5 I had emailed Bob (one of the people in my knitting group) to see if I could order some of his gorgeous stitch markers to send to my secret pal and mentioned that my SP liked fairies and the color purple (among other things.) So check out the photo..... Bob finds a cute little votive with a fairy on it in the color purple and picks it up for me! And then, his partner Jeff makes me an adorable little fairy from wire and silk flowers. Are they too nice, or what???? I'm sure my SP will love them, too!

Here's a picture of the projects I've been working on. I am almost done my Soleil top. All I have left is to crochet the edges and block it (I can't remember how to crochet!) I'm so excited about this project. It's the first fitted item I've knit and it actually fits me! I can't wait to wear it.

I also started another pair of socks. I am trying out Cascade Fixation in a purple varigated color and I like it a lot. The pattern is Knitty's Broad Ripple Sock. Cute pattern and not difficult at all:

The pink and white triangle is a dishcloth I started last night. I was just in the mood to do something quick.

Oh and the little packages? The first shipment to my Secret Pal!! Shhhhh......
 

I have CEHD!!!!

"What is CEHD", you ask? It's an acronym for Cotton Ease Hoarding Disorder and it is reaching epidemic proportions across the country! Two weeks ago, I was blindly wandering through life happy as a clam, unaware of something called Lion Brand Cotton Ease Yarn. And then, like a lightening bolt, I was hit with the news...... "Lion Brand is discontinuing Cotton Ease!!!"

Immediately, like the run on the banks before the depression, knitters across the country poured into unsuspecting Tuesday Morning, JoAnn Fabric and Hancock Fabric stores to snatch up this unheard of but apparently, very valuable yarn!!! Savvy knitter and shopper that I am, I scored a bunch (see photo!) I even took time out of my vacation to hit the stores!

Back home, feeling smug and satisfied, I surrounded myself with my treasures. And then it hit me! What the hell am I going to do with all this yarn? I don't even like cotton yarn!!!! OH DEAR LORD - I HAVE...... CEHD!!!!

Fun little "quiz" I found

Choose 5 and complete the sentence and then tag 3 other bloggers…
If I could be a scientist . . .If I could be a farmer . . .If I could be a musician . . .If I could be a doctor . . .If I could be a painter . . .If I could be a gardener . . .If I could be a missionary . . .If I could be a chef . . .If I could be an architect . . .If I could be a linguist . . .If I could be a psychologist . . .If I could be a librarian . . .If I could be an athlete . . .If I could be a lawyer . . .If I could be an inn-keeper . . .If I could be a professor . . .If I could be a writer . . .If I could be a llama-rider . . .If I could be a bonnie pirate . . .If I could be an astronaut . . .If I could be a world famous blogger . . .If I could be a justice on any one court in the world . . .If I could be married to any current famous political figure . . .

Fun to think about. Here's what I thought of.....

If i could be an inn-keeper..... I would create the homiest environment for all my guests and spoil them rotten with elaborate breakfasts and mid-afternoon cookies and cakes and tea and evening cocktails and nibbles. I make THE best lemon drop martini. They would never want to leave!
If I could be a writer....... I'd be very clever and would be able to think of a wonderfully fun topic for my "letter from the editor" that I write for our company newsletter...... that is due THIS Thursday......
If I could be an athlete..... I would be a gymnast or a diver - graceful and lithe and ever-so-flexible.
If I could be a librarian...... I would be sure my library stocked all the books on my "to be read" list. Even the very brand new ones. And I would get first dibs on reading them! Imagine..... all those knitting books that I could peruse without having to shell out $16 bucks only to find I don't like any of the patterns.
If I could be a chef...... I would surround myself with the most talented assistants who would chop and peel and fetch and boil and perform all those tedious tasks that seriously infringe my artistic creativity. Did I mention the clean up crew? Oh yes.....large clean up crew.

I contemplated the "married to a political figure" question but all I could come up with was evil things I would do to such a spouse. What does it mean when "political figure" equates with "bad person" in my mind?

"About Me" questionnaire for SP5

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
For the most part, I use higher quality but I always like to try something new!

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
no

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
no

4. How long have you been knitting?
6 months

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
no

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
vanilla, soft florals, cinnamon, lemon/citrus

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
oh my, yes! dark chocolate..... caramel..... cookies......

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
sewing

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
new country; not sure about the MP3 so probably not!

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
PURPLE! (pink is nice, too); I don't like brown. Bright colors win me over every time.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
married, 5 kids (11-18), 3 cats

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
To achieve world peace and eliminate hunger..... oops, sorry, doing my Miss America impersonation; my real life dream is to simply make other people happy.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
I love wool/silk blends. I'm so new to knitting that I'm having fun experimenting with all different kinds of yarns. Yarns that twist annoy me.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I don't think I've found any

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
I'm not sure what this question is asking. My kids claim I'm obsessed with knitting because I spend every spare moment knitting. I DO find that I'm now looking forward to long car trips because I can knit.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I like to knit socks and capelets/wraps. Because I'm still a relatively slow knitter, I like smaller projects, however, I've started a cotton summer sweater that is moving right along.

17. What are you knitting right now?
I have 4 projects going right now. A pair of Ripple socks in Fixation yarn; A Good Bias Shrug (half done); A Soleil sweater in Classic Elite Flash; and a Booga Bag in Kureyon.

18. What do you think about ponchos?
love them! Short ones... long ones... they're all good

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
I think I'm leaning towards circular

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I don't care for plastic but I like both bamboo and metal depending on the projects. The Addi Turbos are wonderful but for some yarns (silky alpaca), they are too slippery for me and I use bamboos. I've only used bamboo DPNs for socks.

21. Are you a sock knitter?
yes

22. How did you learn to knit?
My dear friend, Linda, taught me the basic knit stitch - my first project was a scarf out of Great Adirondack Fluff yarn. After that, I got a few books and taught myself. I also took a sock class.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
6 months old - I started a dish cloth right after learning to knit but never finished it.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
I can't think of an animated character that I like but I do like bunnies.

25. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas - no doubt!

26. Is there anything that you collect?
Besides yarn? No. Well, actually, my friends and husband would argue that I collect shoes.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
None. I've purchased the Interweave magazine and the Family Circle Easy Knitting and enjoyed them both. Oh and a Vogue magazine - nice, too.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
I love to read and get most of my books from the library or used book store. I guess the only book I've been wanting which my library doesn't even have yet is Sarah's Quilt by Nancy Turner. It's a sequel to These Is My Words - one of my favorite all time books.

I finish the first sleeve of my Good Bias shrug! 

Yarn bonanza!! A local yarn store is having a 40% off sale. YES! ALL yarns are 40% off. I purchased some Cascade Tweed in a wonderful purply color to make a chunky winter sweater. Also some fun hot pink cotton/lycra yarn to make a summer top (Classic Elite Star.) Also a skein of Berroco Plush yarn in pink (wow! this stuff is so soft) and a coordinating grey pink nubby yarn (I forget what kind) to make a scarf (cuz I don't have enough scarves!) Boy this picture looks crappy on my monitor. The purple yarn is so dark. Oh well - take my word for it.... It's beautiful!!

Good Bias shrug from Interweave Knits - picture taken last night! I'm using Elsebeth Lavold, Silky Tweed which is a silk, cotton, merino, viscose blend in a DK weight. The color is black and it has raspberry and orange flecks in it. I worked on it for two hours today and have knit about 9 inches total. It's looking good!

Clapotis as a Shrug

I just love this thing!! I think it looks like a shrug when worn like this. I am wearing it tonight with a lacy tank top underneath and a denim skirt. I have a blue rhinestone-y pin that I'm going to pin right under the tie.

Clapotis Shrug 

Closeup of Soleil. 

Soleil (Still can't figure out how to attach pictures to a blog entry. Oh well.)

Soleil in process

I'm so excited! I MADE GAUGE! I am finding that I
am a very loose knitter so I had to go down 3
needle sizes (using size 3 Addi Turbos) to get
gauge. I still wasn't sure so after I got through
the three lace sections, I removed it from the
needles and measured and VOILA! Perfect size!

I just love this little pattern from Knitty. If
anyone wants to give it a go, here's a link to
the pattern:
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUESpring05/PATTsoleil.html

And here's a link to a knitalong:
http://www.soleilalong.blogspot.com/

I am using Classic Elite Flash in Crocus - not
sure if you can get a good look at the color. It
is sort of marbled periwinkle. Just beautiful!

My lace doesn't look as airy as some of the other
samples I've seen in blogs but Mr. Bob assures me
that after I block it, it will look just fine.

Clapotis scarf 

Clapotis Shawl 

I finished my first Clapotis

Wow! Took forever but it's done. I love this scarf / shawl thingy! I used Knitpicks Shimmer in Morning Mist color (double strand). This yarn is wonderful. It's alpaca (what IS an alpaca anyway??) and silk and is soooooo soft. I really like the drape for a spring/summer wrap. I hope to make more of these. I love how it can be worn as a shawl/wrap or as a scarf. Tres chic!!

The $98 socks 

The $98 socks are finished!!

So I'm new to knitting and new to knitting socks and new to blogging but what the heck! Looks like fun! On a sock group, I was recently reading some of the past posts about the most expensive socks ever knit. I think I can top them all.

Although I'm a relatively new knitter I decided in February that I'd like to make a pair of socks. Coincidentally, at the same time I was having those thoughts, the closest yarn shop to my house offered a sock class on nights that I was available. The class was a little expensive ($45), but offered 6 hours of instruction so I thought as a new knitter, it was a good deal.

Not knowing anything about sock yarn (i.e. perhaps a beginner should start with inexpensive yarn!), I puchased some beautiful Lorna's Laces sock yarn for $9 skein ($18 total) in a beautiful purple (my favorite color!) colorway and some very nice Crystal Palace bamboo DPNs in size 2 for another $10.

At this point my husband and friends were reminding me that for a mere $5, I can buy a bundle of socks from Wal-Mart. Not to worry, I assured them, these socks will be spectacular!

I took the first class and although I was traveling for work and for fun for the next two weeks, I took my sock-in-progress with me everywhere I went (including Magic Kingdom) and got my homework done for the second class on my last flight home. I was almost giddy in antipation of getting to the class that evening and figuring out how to turn the heel. But alas, I stupidly left my ziplock baggie with my sock, needles, and second skein of yarn on the airplane!!!! This was a month ago and it has never turned up in spite of several calls and visits to Delta.

So, after I had a little cry and grieved for my lost purple yarn I did what any obsessed new knitter would do - I headed to the yarn store early and bought $15 Opal sock yarn and another set of $10 needles so I could start over.

To recap:
Lorna's Laces Yarn - $18
Crystal Palace needles - $10
Sock Class - $45
Opal yarn - $15
Second set of Crystal Palace needles - $10

Look on my husband's face when he finds out these socks cost $98:
PRICELESS

I am pleased to report that at my knitting group on Tuesday night, I finished the socks!!!! Woo hoo!! I think they go very nicely with my lime green shoes, don't you?

Welcome to my blog!

I can't believe I'm actually creating a blog!