Monday, October 30, 2006

got fiber? A stash enhancement story.

Well, I did it. I finally caved. I have joined the ranks of crazy sock knitters and hopped on that Lisa Souza handpaint train. In the "Wild Things" colorway... 'cause I need more sock yarn like I need another hole in the head. I can't wait until it gets here!

Edit: It came, it was beautiful... it was perfect for my secret pal package, so I made the ultimate sacrifice and put it in her box. I bought two more skeins in mahogany and berry poppins to pay myself for being a good girl.

Friday, October 27, 2006

Spanked!

I've been a naughty blogger, and I have been graciously reminded of that. Thank you.

Fiber-y postage to come...

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Hi Secret Pal!

I received emails from both my assigned secret pal and the name of the secret pal that I'm assigned to... is there terminology for this? Pal-or? Pal-ee? ANYway, OneSkeinWonder... welcome!

This is such a fun project... how do you spoil someone you hardly know? Fortunately, this is just the kind of challenge that I love to have.

There has been some knitting accomplished, believe it or not. Baby manages to sleep for a couple hours at a time when she decides to sleep, and I've managed to finish both hers and Miz Izzy's sweaters. Now that I've figured out this picture posting thing (so much easier than Livejournal), I'll show them off when the light is better. Our changeable Nebraska weather has seen fit to grace us with a bit of a cold snap complete with cloudy skies and the incessant wind that goes along with it. Needless to say I've been baking. Cinnamon rolls were the order of the day yesterday, brownies will be this afternoon's project along with decorating the house for Fall/Halloween.

Now that the girls' sweaters are done, I've really got to get crackin' on the christmas gifties. I have one of Clayton's glittens done except for the flap and I have the cuff started on the second. I think he, Jackson, MacZilla and SisterSarah will be the only ones getting hand-knit stuff this year. I'd like to do something for Daddy and KingZach, but since Dad's in Arizona and knitwear is not really needed there and Zach is Hagrid-sized and therefore impossible to fit (and suprise)... alas.

Since Miz Izzy's climbing on my lap, asking for breakfast, I'd better get going on my day... much as I'd like to keep sitting here and typing and reading about knitting stuff.

Monday, October 02, 2006

sp9 questionnaire

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

I've not really tried many different types of fiber... so I don't have any absolute dislikes yet, so no problems there... I do enjoy knitting with alpaca and merino. I'm not terribly fond of super-bulky yarns, however. I'd like to try some of the "alternative" yarns: soy silk, ingeo, you know the drill.

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

I use a florist's frog to store my straight needles, a basket for the circs (not my favorite method, but it works for the time being), a needle roll for the dpn's.

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

I taught myself to knit about three years ago, from a Martha Stewart: Baby magazine and then graduated to the internet and library. No one in my circle of acquaintance knows how to knit, so I'm primarily self-taught. I'd consider myself to be an advanced beginner.

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

Yep. If you wanna know how to find me, email me.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)

spicy smells (cinnamon, bay rum, white pepper), vanilla, citrus

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

Do I have a sweet tooth? Heck yes! I love black licorice, cinnamon, and chocolate!

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

See my 100 things list for the entire list... I do some house remodeling stuff, sewing stuff, gardening stuff, and I'm starting the hand spinning thing.

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

I can tolerate all kinds of music for the most part, I prefer music that I can understand the words and/or sing along. I love 80's synth-pop, 70's folk, Big Band, and Baroque chamber music. I am always open to what other people listen to, I think it affords a nice insight into someone's personality.

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

I mostly wear black or brown with a judicious amount of reds and pinks and the occasional baby blue. I don't particularly like yellow or orange colors.

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

No pets, but I have three kids (1 boy, 2 girls), and a goofy husband.

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

Scarves- yes
Hats- occasionally
Mittens- yes
Ponchos- no

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

Right now it's glittens/mittens and socks

13. What are you knitting right now?

one pair of glittens
three pairs of socks
1 baby sweater
2 adult sweaters
2 not-yet-fulled purses

I also have the icarus shawl back burnered until after Christmas.

did I mention that I had knitter's ADD?

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Absolutely!

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

I prefer circular needles and dpn's, I don't really have a preference on materials.

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

*sigh* no, but I'd love to get my hands on one (or both)

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

I started a cabled sweater for myself about 6 months ago. I'm still working on the first sleeve. I try not to have something sit on the needles for a long time... I'm very forgetful, and fickle. If it sits around in the UFO pile for more than a year, it is evicted to the frog pond and reincarnated at a later date.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas, followed very closely by Valentine's Day.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

I collect vintage housekeeping manuals. There's a wealth of information in there, and it's extremely entertaining to see how our grandmothers and great-grandmothers kept the house. I also have a penchant for cool baskets, bud vases and vintage lab equipment (I was a biology major in college).

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'd love to get the Rogue sweater pattern or the Telemark sweater pattern, the 2nd treasury of knitting patterns book, or some "Socks that Rock" lightweight sock yarn in the Apple Valley or Scottish Highlands colorways.
I don't have any subscriptions right now. I tend to pick up an Interweave Knits issue if there's something in it that strikes my fancy....
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I'd like to try fair isle and give toe-up socks a try

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

Yes, I knit socks (constantly), but hardly ever for myself.
My foot measurements are:
top of sock to floor-6.5 inches (16.5cm)
ankle circ. -10 inches (25.5 cm)
Heel flap length 3.25 inches (8.5 cm)
Foot length (including toes) 10 inches (25.5 cm)
Foot length (excluding toes) 8 inches (20.5 cm)
foot circ (at ball of foot) 9.5 inches (24.25 cm)

They really don't look that big/chunky in real life... I (hope) promise.

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

My birthday is June 5.

If you want to know more about me, take a gander at the 100 things entries previously posted in this blog.