Fiber Fest Recap

Saturday was a wonderful day. My mom and I enjoyed a beautiful drive and wonderful weather. I wore my Arwen. It kept the chill off when I needed it to, and provoked the sun to shine so I did not need it for long.

These guys were some of my first critterly greeters. Later on, they had a bag of food, and the guy on the left did his best to butt the others out of what he clearly thought was meant only for him.

I began my purchases with a bargain score. I picked up a gently used copy of Folk Knitting in Estonia by Nancy Bush for seven dollars. I rounded out the transaction with four magazines priced at fifty cents each. I grabbed the Spring 2000 IK, the Fall 1996 Spin Off, and Fall 1996 and 1999 Knitters. I saw that the Spin Off has an article with thirteen exercises to teach color stuff. I need the help.

While many Skanky Knitters (including one I had not seen for a while) attended the event, we did not spend too much time together. We were Free-Range Skanks, crossing paths to show off purchases and point out great vendors. I agreed to give my best efforts at teaching Beth how to spin on a drop spindle. I talked her out of an overpriced cd-drop spindle kit containing a small, questionable fiber blob. Instead, she chose some nice wool (BFL, I think) in colors she loves. I am already thinking of how I might help her to learn. I should lend her my copy of Spinning in the Old Way by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts. I found it to be full of great information. Still, I think the best advice I can offer is to put in a bit of spinning time each day.

I wandered about and enjoyed watching people spin. I need to spend more time watching people spin. I might need to spend some time spinning around other spinners, too. There is always so much to learn. Speaking of learning, I saw a different short-row heel construction that I want to try.

My fiber stash did not have a huge increase, but I added a new fiber. I have never spun silk. I saw some gorgeous100% silk calling out to me with its brilliant colors, but I left them there. Instead, I picked up some beautiful 50/50 merino/silk, and some gorgeous 80/20 alpaca/silk. The lady who prepared and sold the alpaca/silk blend called it Purple Haze. My picture does not capture the color. The purple is just barely there, and I love it.

I encountered more than one Raveler. Pat promised to send a prize to anyone who stopped by her tent and mentioned Ravelry. It was too bad that I had already depleted my budget for the event when I found her and figured out who she was. She had some gorgeous fiber in brilliant colors that caught my eye. Maybe a road trip will be in order to visit her store.

I meant to pick up a small lavender plant. They were only two dollars, and my attempts at growing lavender from seeds have not been successful. I planned to make it my last purchase so that I would not have to carry them around, but I forgot. I guess it was not meant to be, and those little plants can heave a collective sigh knowing that they have a chance to live.

I hope to make it back next year. It is a wonderful way to spend the day.

p.s. Thanks for the birthday greetings! I had a fabulous day!

Can't Blog, Busy Partying

It's my birthday! This year I am going to celebrate instead of ignoring it. I will share my fiber festival adventures later. Now I am off to enjoy my day.

Howling

It could be the full moon, but I am not sleeping. I have a big day ahead. I am going to the Harvest Days and Fiber Festival in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It is a nice, little event. Many of the Skanky Knitters will attend. My mom is going with me, too. I think it will be a fun day. I do not know whether I will buy a little or a lot, or nothing at all.

If I do not find anything that calls to me at the fiber festival, I will have a somewhat larger Knit Picks order. I have been filling my online cart and emptying it as I make decisions. I think I will get yarn for the Tangled Yoke Cardigan, some mittens (colorwork), some socks, and the Halloween vest from my out-of-print Seasonal Fair Isle Vests, more Palette yarn for various colorwork adventures, and maybe one of the Harmony needles (Who said, "Budget"?). I may change my mind again. I am having fun shopping. That cart will hold more than my finances allow.

For someone who flips through EZ books and is not so impressed (blasphemy, I know; I like her stuff, but am underwhelmed by her books), I sure am interested in knitting some of her designs. The BSJ is in time-out due to user error. I have been thinking about knitting her Fair Isle Yoke Sweater, but adding a steek to make it a cardigan. I do not own the book containing the pattern, so I will probably put this off for a while. Still, it speaks to me. I have even considered putting back the yarn for the Tangled Yoke and buying the yarn for this sweater now, and getting the pattern later. Maybe the library has the book. I will go check. Nope. Decisions, eh? Maybe I will find such wonderful stuff at the fiber festival that there will be no room in the budget to order yarn.

Nuppin' to Show

I thought that I would make it through at least one nupp-filled chart over the weekend, but I spent more time spinning than knitting. I spun up more superwash, navajo-plyed my Kool-Aid singles, and spun some warm wine Corriedale. I like the way my Kool-Aid yarn turned out after washing. It still has plenty of imperfections and irregularities, but it is the softest yarn I have spun. I did not tell you about running the singles back through to remove some twist. I think that made a huge difference. Anyway, I think I have about 150 yards. I do not know what I am going to knit from it, but I want to knit it soon. Maybe it will be enough to knit the Koolhaas Hat from the IK Holiday 2007 issue.

My nupp-knitting was painfully slow on Monday. After a couple of rows, I stuffed it back in its bag in favor of some socks. The jury is still out on the socks. I will give them about twenty more rounds before I make a decision. They look like they will not work out without making some changes, but in the end, that may make them work out better than ever. I really need to keep notes in case this works out so that I can knit a matching second sock. Optimism abounds.

I feel like I could be overcome with startitis at any moment. I also feel like I could have the beginnings of an ear infection. The two may be connected. In the meantime, I am struggling to catch up on all of my blog reading. It would seem that many people attended some sheepy shindig over the weekend. I am enjoying all of the accounts. I hope to attend a much smaller one this weekend. I should probably head to bed. A possible early day calls.

Feeding Frenzy

Thursday was not such a good day. Not that anything bad happened, but the threat of nasty weather lingered about disrupting things, and I think making me feel a wee bit sick. Now that the weather has passed (I am thankful it was not bad), I do not feel sick. Go figure, eh? This meant that I put off much of my computer stuff off until the middle of the night.

I have been having a spinning adventure. I spent some extra time oiling the wheel. That was nice. I like taking care of my wheel. I have also spent time with some superwash wool. It is a different experience. More time spent at the wheel with this fiber has greatly increased my enjoyment. Maybe I will have some knit-worthy yarn at the end of this. Of course, I am thinking socks. I plan to Navajo-ply the singles. Speaking of Navajo-plying, I think my Kool-Aid bobbin of singles is ready. I also have another possible spinning project planned.

The Swallowtail Shawl is coming along nicely. With one repeat of the Budding Lace 2 Chart left to knit, I decided it was time to get out the scale and work some calculations. I put my math skills to the test. I knit the fourteenth repeat. I weighed and mathed some more (wishful thinking). I will not be knitting extra repeats. That is okay; I really knew this from the beginning. To further heal my disappointment at not being able to make this shawl larger using this yarn, I have taken a picture of the lace in process on the stray cats I feed. I am brave. I think I might this to my grandma, and she is a tiny lady. I am already thinking of my next lace project, but first I have nupps.

Speaking of my next lace project, I have nominated some lace patterns for The Best of Interweave Knits: The Reader's Choice Awards Collection. In fact, I think I only nominated lace shawl patterns. C'mon, you know you want the Orenburg Lace Triangle, Irish Diamonds Shawl, Paisley Lace Shawl, Flower Basket Shawl, and the Cherry Blossom Shawl. We will vote on the ten finalists in January and be rewarded with a free e-book of the top five patterns come Spring 2008.

Speaking of IK, I picked up the Holiday Gifts 2007 issue. I think there are some patterns in there that I would like to knit. A big surprise to me is that I think that I might want to knit the Sugarplum Shrug for myself. Usually I see a shrug, and shrug, because I just do not get them, nor do they usually appeal to me. However, this one just might. I know that I am crazy and that my judgment is often way off. Therefore, I need help. Do you think this one might be right for me? I even think I have the right yarn (not the one called for) in my stash. I have only looked at the pictures and the yarn requirements. I guess I should check out the pattern itself. No charts, but I can chart it myself. I think I would also see if I could change how she has you knit the edging separately and sew it on. I guess I have more to think over.

Have a nupp-tastic weekend!

Matchmaking

I followed the advice, and it is good. She may need socks to make it through a lace project, but I just plain need lace. I thought that perhaps lace socks could qualify, and while I need to cast on for another pair of socks, this was not what I needed to do tonight. I purchased this lone skein of discontinued yarn long ago, and it has sat in the stash ever since. I have thought of it often and sometimes taken it out to pet and sniff. Then as I mentally (be nice) prepared for Monday Night Knitting, I knew that the BSJ was not what I wanted to knit. My mind returned to my nearly lace-free needles. My MS3 almost made it out of the drawer, but the time is not right. The large charts and beads make it less than ideal for knitting with everyone else. Then it hit me. Swallowtail Shawl + Cherry Tree Hill Possum Laceweight. I grabbed my pattern, yarn, and magnetic board and shoved them in the knitting bag. I sat down to knit tonight, and knew I had a match. Freda kept saying that you cannot knit that kind of lace and from charts when you are with all of your friends. However, at the end of the night, I had made it through four repeats of the Budding Lace 2 chart and had a wonderful time talking with everyone. No, it is not huge progress, but it was right for the night.

A Gift of Angels

I am sure you remember me writing about accepting a request to knit a particular baby blanket. It is not what I would have chosen, but I knit it well, and some people have really liked it. That has helped me to feel better about the project. My friends who know that it is not quite my style have nodded, smiled, and said, "It sure is pink." Well, it certainly is pink, and it is finished. The fact that I have completed it has improved my attitude towards it. The large, warm, mass of yarn is much nicer off my lap and spread out where I can see all of my work. Finishing it yesterday was great. It was another day in the nineties, and those last bits of finishing seemed to take forever because of the heat. There are bonus details that add to my joy. I agreed to complete the blanket by November. The baby shower is Friday. I beat both deadlines!
Pattern: Gift of Angels Blanket by Pauline Bilodeau
Yarn: Mary Maxim Starlette, 7 Balls
Needles: Denise Interchangeables US9 (5.5mm)
Finished Size: Approximately 42"X42"

Recovery

I am glad that I grabbed up more yarn before we left on Tuesday. What was supposed to be a day surgery kept us overnight at the hospital. Knitting the mate to a pair of socks only took me through his surgery. Several people were interested in what I was doing. One lady reached out and touched not the socks I was knitting, but instead, the ones I was wearing. Because I was knitting socks and wearing handknit socks, more than one person felt compelled to ask if socks were all that I knit. Because I was more than a little sleep-deprived and stressed, I am sure they did not ask it in the way it came across to my frazzled mind.

Tired as I was, and with the thought that I had the long drive home to prepare for, I made my way to the ground floor for some coffee. There is a little coffee counter where they serve up a bit of Starbucks. On the menu board, it states that the drinks are also available iced. Apparently, this is not something conveyed to the employees. The cashier was bewildered on how to ring up the sale, but the drink preparation specialist recovered well enough to prepare a regular caramel macchiato, and dump a scoop of ice in it. Although it was not what I was trying to order, it was still pretty good.

After venturing out and exploring the exciting Chinese cuisine within walking distance of the hospital (greatly resembles that which you might encounter at the mall, by the way), I returned to the seemingly endless wait between the five o'clock visit, and last of the day, nine o'clock visit. The socks completed, I reached for some wool and the Baby Surprise Jacket pattern. While I have not finished the blanket, it is not good for waiting room knitting, and I was in need of a treat. I cast on and knit away. My husband was out of it when I looked in on him at nine, so I returned to the hot, stuffy waiting room. My progress was slow, and my mind even slower. By the time we turned off the lights and locked the door, I did not have much to show for all of my work. My mind kept puzzling through the numbers. I could not knit another stitch, and I was so tired. I drifted off into a restless sleep, where I would wake to the numbers in the pattern, roll over, and sleep more. Finally, I awoke and the numbers made sense. It is really just simple math, and not complicated at all. I was sure that I must have gotten a good chunk of sleep despite the way I felt. I looked at my watch, and it was just 11:30. I wanted to cry, or curse. Also, the Old Navy commercials inspire me to blurt out bad words when they announce their offering of fair isle starting at twenty-four fifty. But that is a rant for another day. Anyway, we are glad to be home.

Earlier today, I joked that I had reduced my husband's post-surgical care routine to knitting pattern format. I had written it out to read: *soup or mashed potatoes, sugar-free popsicle, pain meds, repeat from * every six hours. Of course, this is life, so it is a bit more complicated. I needed to include those words so often missed, at the same time. There are so many things that must be done, both related to his recuperation, and the life and world that goes on outside. I was rewarded for making my way out into that world with a fabulous offering of samples at Costco today. The Ghirardelli brownies, turtle cheesecake, and Cinnabon were my favorites.

Now, it is time for sinus medicine for me. They have been spraying the cotton fields with defoliants. It stinks so many ways. I like that they do not spray the field next to my mom's house. Anyway, I also must set up the vcr to tape, because if I do not, the phone will ring endlessly, and I will be needlessly annoyed. Yes, I am old with my vcr and no cell phone. I need to knit and spin.

Celebrating the Week

I have spent as much time as possible at the wheel for Spinning and Weaving Week. I have missed time with my Kiwi over the past couple of weeks as I have worked to complete other projects. While I still have several things I would like to finish knitting, it has been so great to sit down and spin. I am pleased to report some improvements. First, I had a much more successful Navajo Plying session yesterday. I had spun the singles on Monday and let them rest. I had some older singles that I used to practice, and was much more comfortable when I sat down with my peachy singles. I think it is about fifty yards of worsted weight yarn, but I have not done wpi or anything else besides feel and look. There are still plenty of imperfections and problems with it, but it is a vast improvement over previous attempts. My other progress is increased production, I suppose. I am not spinning faster, but I am getting more spun in less time. I think what this means is that I am improving on my over spinning issue. I spun up the rest of my purple and green Polypay and all of my apricot/peachy Shetland (or is it Shetland and Angora, I cannot remember). After the singles have had time to rest, I am going to Navajo ply. I hope I will match what I have created with the peachy stuff earlier, and that I can get some good results to keep the colors separated with the Polypay. I am back to having three of my four bobbins full, so I have to ply before I can spin any more. I have ample knitting projects to complete while the singles rest. So, did you do anything extra to commemorate this week? My other happy moment of the week was to enable the purchase of a Kromski loom by passing on information of a used one for sale. My friend had hoped to buy another loom at holiday time, but he was able to get this one now, and with many extras at a price that works for him. I love seeing what he creates, and hearing of his experiences and impressions of different yarns and fibers through weaving. It is sometimes quite different from what I encounter with the same yarns when I use them for knitting. Learning is good.

Tick, Tock

An invitation for a baby shower arrived today. I am glad that I have finished all nine squares of this baby's blanket. I need only assemble and border it. It would be great to have this finished in time for the shower, but I will not rush myself. When I accepted this assignment, I asked when she needed it to be finished. She said she wanted it by the beginning of November, so I will not be falling down on the job if I do not have it completed in time for the baby shower. I already have a sweater knit for this baby, but I would like to include a hat and booties with it, too. I am probably being overly ambitious to want to include a Baby Surprise Jacket in the package, but I am so excited to knit it that I may be able to make it happen.

The test knitting is progressing wonderfully. I will be finishing these soon and sending them on their way. I love this pattern. They look like a good candidate for a spin and knit project. I also need to package up the hats I have knit and get them mailed. I need to get them out to Becky by the beginning of October. She will then mail all of the hats we have knit so that they arrive by the October 14 deadline. I am feeling good about getting the deadline knitting done on time, but the clock is ticking louder.

So Tired

It has been another long day with an early beginning in preparation for another longer day beginning even earlier. Of course, you know this means I did not sleep. I am pleased, however, to write that I put the insomnia and waiting time to good use. I have made my way through the seventh square and begun the eighth. That blanket will be done soon. I also knit two more Foliage. I did one more in the same golden, worsted weight yarn, and the second using green, chunky yarn. I did go down on my needle size from US 7 and 5 to US 5 and 3 for the gold hat. This pattern is such a quick knit. I estimate my knitting time at five to six hours for the worsted version, and three to four hours for the chunky version. There were times today while knitting the chunky hat when I could only knit two rounds and then had to set the needles and yarn aside because I was so exhausted. It felt like this (second picture) kind of work. Seriously. When I came across the link in my inbox from one of the Skanks, it was as though someone had been peeking into my mind. Anyway, I think I have enough of these yarns to knit another gold and another green if I feel like it. If not, I am still pleased to have these three hats to send off next week.

It is not going to be all Foliage, all the time around here. I still have the last two blocks to complete on the blanket. Then it will be the fabulous assembling and border. I have already nixed the ruffled border. The directions did not look good, and I think the blanket will be more useful with a border that lays flat. Besides that, I have some fabulous test knitting to do. I was delighted to find the yarn in the mailbox today. I just need to get some sleep so that I can get started.

Road Trip Denied

Some things just are not meant to be. I was hoping to make it to Atlanta to attend the Yarn Harlot event. I thought that I might get the chance to meet some people and have a fun time. Besides, my husband was going to drive, and that would have been a lot of knitting time. None of the Skanks are able to make it, either. Between travel, motherhood, employment obligations, and life, we figure we will have to try again on the next tour (unless, perhaps, she has an event closer to us?).

Speaking of the fabulous Skanky Knitters, I received a gift from one on Monday. Laura is out-of-town right now, but she asked Margaret to give it to me. It is the Baby Surprise Jacket pattern. I have been talking about the pattern and quite interested in knitting it for a while. Laura brought me her Opinionated Knitter book for me to look through last week. It looks like a good book, but now is not the time for me to get more books. I was so thrilled and surprised to receive this very thoughtful gift. I can hardly wait to knit it. I have been mentally going through the stash for prospective yarn choices. I have so many ideas.

I am plugging along on the baby blanket that I promised to knit. So far, I have knit five of the nine squares. I figure that puts me at about 40% of the way through. I knit the more complicated squares first. I only have the four plain lace squares left to knit before assembly and the border. I am pleased that this is moving along at a nice pace. I want to finish it quickly so that I can move on to knit things I enjoy more. Therefore, I am using the wonderful new BSJ pattern as a reward. I have not decided exactly how to work it, but maybe I can knit it after I finish this, or maybe after I finish all the squares. Whatever I decide, it is a great motivator, and one more reason to thank Laura.

Autumn for a Day

Saturday was lovely. We got to experience Autumn. We may be back to a warming trend for the weather, but it has not stopped the new Knitty. I checked it out, and I like a few patterns. My needles and life are pretty full right now, so it might be awhile before I get to some of them. Still, I was ready to knit a hat, so I knit Foliage. I have not knit many hats from the top down. It was a bit fiddly at first, but after a few rounds it was easy. I knit Version 2. It calls for worsted weight yarn, while Version 1 calls for Chunky weight yarn. I may have some chunky yarn in the stash. I am not a fan of the chunky yarn, nor do I have much use for it, but I bought a bit when I wanted to knit something for someone and it called for it. That project probably ought to be frogged and might be turned into more of these hats. Anyway, I liked the pattern. It was a quick, easy knit. I got a light lace and chart fix, and hat is always good. I did a modified Emily Ocker cast on (found in Simple Socks Plain and Fancy by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts) instead of beginning as directed. The hat turned out bigger than I had expected, (it fits me) but it is not a problem. I will change needle size and perhaps work one-half fewer repeats of the Leaf Lace Chart the next time I knit this pattern.

This hat will be mailed off by October 1st along with any others I can finish in time. Over at Caps for a Cure, we are taking the month of September to knit hats for Knitting for Noggins. They are looking for all sizes of hats. I will try to make all of my hats larger sized because I figure most people will be knitting smaller ones.

Love for Mom

The Print O' the Waves Stole has made its way to my mom. I blocked it after I took the previous picture, and it was ready when my stepdad called to say he was coming over. This was going to work out just great. I could bake up the cookies and give them to him, and he could take the shawl to Mom. It is good when things work out well. I wanted Mom to have the stole for some waiting room time she has coming up soon. I think of shawls as knitted hugs. I hope this keeps her warm and feeling loved.

Before the Magic

I have met my self-imposed deadline. Only blocking, waiting, and gifting remain. I will dish details soon. The real trick is going to be baking the cookies and keeping them safe until it is time to deliver them with the stole.

First Socks?

Of course I have knit many other pairs of socks, but this is the first pair I have knit from yarn I have spun.

Yarn: My first big batch of handspun from the wheel (I continue to learn through experience), 2-ply
Fiber: Ebay purchase of Merino/Mohair Blend (it is okay)
Needles: Knit Picks Fixed Circular 2.0mm/US 0, 32"
Knit toe-up, Judy's Magic Cast On (a must have in your knitting skills tool chest), Short-row Heel (Priscilla Gibson-Roberts), Garter Rib (Sensational Knitted Socks)
Interesting Tidbit: These socks fit either me or my husband. It is some sort of magic trick that I cannot replicate.

From All of Us

Months ago, most of the Skanky Knitters received an email with the subject, "Super Secret Knitters No Christinas Allowed." It was a plan hatched by Laura to knit a baby blanket for the baby Christina is having in November. Between a flurry of emails and hurried conversations while keeping a lookout for the expectant mama, we decided on squares knit from Knit Picks Shine Sport. Laura would assemble the blanket. The colors were assigned, and the yarn was ordered and distributed near and far. Yes, even the re-located Skank, Brittany, contributed lovely squares. Finally, we gave the love that is group knitting to Christina. I got out my camera and tried to take a few pictures without getting in the way too much. You see a bit of the blanket, and yes, that is the wee one growing away under that grey t-shirt. I am so pleased with the way the blanket turned out, and I think Christina really likes it. It seems like we really surprised her. I hope that the love we put into this blanket follows her son through his life.

After all the talk of babies and the pressure of this secret project, I had to let out a potential surprise. I told Christina and Laura that I am thinking of knitting Chicken Viking Hats for their babies. I also plan to knit the adult sized version for my son. Now I just have to find the right yarn for the project. I was forewarned that the right shade for the main color is elusive. If anyone has a hint, I would love to hear it.

Unashamed

I confess myself unashamed of my love of badges. When I read about these the other day, I just had to scoop up the ones that I had earned. I will also admit that I have never listened to a podcast. It is nothing against them, but I just never have, and may never do so. Still, you never know where life will take you. I hope to earn more badges, but for now, this is a good start.

First off, I have the "Proselytize Knitting" badge for spreading Knit. I am most likely to be heard lauding Knit in waiting situations of all sorts. I do enjoy when the opportunity presents itself for the Skanky Knitters to share Knit with someone who wanders too close to our sphere, and is sucked in for a short presentation. Each Skank pipes up with another positive quality of knitting, and the potential new knitter is completely caught off guard and bewildered.

This brings me to the "I Can Be an Asshole When it Comes to Knitting" badge. This may have happened when spreading Knit to someone who did not care, or someone who called my knitting crochet. There is also the infamous "Pomatomus Pronunciation Incident." I also suppose that I have knit at inappropriate times or places.

Qualifying for the "I Will Impress You With My Math Prowess" badge was easy. I often disagree with yarn choices, and even more often cannot afford the suggested yarn in patterns. I substitute the yarns all the time. I can handle the basics of knitty math. I have detected and compensated for errors in patterns and patterns that could use a bit of help.

Becoming a recipient of the "I Will Crush You With My Math Prowess" badge is not pretty. I can apply the more complicated maths to knitting. It is just a bit painful to watch for those more gifted at math. Still, I can do it, and I claim my badge.


I have earned my "MacGyver" badge (Level I) from activities such as changing bamboo skewers into knitting needles, transforming toothpicks into cable needles, and using coffee stirrer straws as stitch holders.


My "MacGyver" badge (Level II) was earned when we used yarn to tie the remote oil filter to the car when it had been knocked loose by a person and then a poorly designed speed bump. It was able to get us home.


The "Knitting Has Forced Me to Seek Medical Attention" (Level I) badge came about as a result of the Knitting Olympics. I developed a case of psychosomatic carpal tunnel syndrome. I cannot explain it much more plainly than this. If I think about knitting induced repetitive motion injuries, the pain comes on, and will not abate until I can distract myself with some other stupid obsession. The medical attention I sought was all courtesy of Google and knitting magazines.

Here we have the "I've Knit Items With No Practical Application" badge. Each time I knit something for certain people, I earn this badge. You know the type of people of which I speak.


I know that this badge could be revoked, because I am ashamed to admit that in my knitting past I earned the "Inordinately Fond of Novelty Yarn" badge. It was a phase. I put the yarn to good use. I do not know if I will experience a relapse.


Speaking of inordinate fondness and badges, I have joined a number of groups over on Ravelry (I am sarahkc) just to have the badges. I have not participated much in the groups, but I wanted the badges. Ravelry is nice. I think others get more use of it than I do, and perhaps I will get more use of it in the future. I will tell you that it gave me a nice feeling when I logged in the day after I accepted my invitation and saw that people had claimed me as a friend. It was the kind of encouragement that I needed that day, and I draw upon the memory when I feel like a loser. I suppose this makes me a bit of a dork and a loser, but I proclaim it a good thing.

Spinning the Hard Way

I am still getting to know fibers, my wheel, and spinning in general. I spun and plied and am now trying to convert the resultant yarn into knitted socks. We shall see what happens. The yarn still feels a bit harsh. To put a positive spin on the situation, all yarn used after knitting on these socks feels so soft. I am getting used to knitting with the yarn I have spun, and discovering how many stitches I need. It is fewer than I had predicted. I still have not chosen the pattern for the leg. I have been perusing my Charlene Schurch sock books. You can see a progress shot of the toe along with another experiment.

In furtherance of my fiber journey, I took my first adventure into dyeing spinning fiber. I dug out the Kool Aid and a pile of fluff and gave it a go. My husband got up from a nap and asked what I had been cooking. I asked if it smelled fruity, and smiled. He was not amused. I was glad to have a consolation dish of strawberries to make up for whatever it was he thought I had cooked. Anyway, I like the way it looks so far. The color in my photo is way off, but shooting outside is a no go for now. We shall see what happens. I used more Kool Aid than I guessed I would, but that is fine. I am anxious for it to dry so I can try it out on the wheel.

I missed out on an opportunity to see Lynn Vogel on Sunday. I had really wanted to attend, but it was not to be. I have received report that the afternoon was wonderful, and that fiber-y goodness did abound. I am trying to not mope too much about it, but move on and look forward to future happy happenings.

Finishing Friday

No, I have not finished any knitting projects, but the week is over. I hope that tonight is the beginning of a wonderful weekend. While I missed knitting with the Skanks on Monday, it looks like I will be able to knit with the NAKG tonight. Tomorrow is Freda's bridal tea. I have reports that she has been knitting with her gift yarn, and that the stole is progressing nicely. I am doing a nice job with not freaking out over the tea party, but rather focusing on the prospect of having fun. If I mess up horribly, it should at least be nice blog fodder.

Our week has not been as fun as we would like. Bruce is suffering with terrible dental troubles. He has other health issues that cause dentists to fear him. We spent Wednesday at the Birmingham VA, and it looks like we are on our way to getting things fixed. There is still more waiting ahead, but we have hope. I am sure to keep plenty of on the go knitting packed and ready.

I am still plugging away on Mom's stole, but progress feels slow. I keep doing the math to figure what percentage of the edging I have completed. While this number is in the double digits, it is still terribly low. Perhaps I should work a bit of baby knitting to get that nice FO feeling.

Speaking of babies, I have learned that one more of the many babies in process will be a girl. So much baby knitting to get going. I had an inquiry yesterday on that other blanket. Please, Geri, I do not need the pressure. Ugh! I may stuff the yarn for a Vine Lace Hat in my bag and bring it along tonight.

I have knit this hat twice already, but I used larger needles and worsted weight yarn. I used Cotton Fleece. They turned out well. I donated them to Caps for a Cure. Speaking of, I think I am hostess for the next round. I am ready!

As for some more on-the-go, easy knitting, I think I am going to try to knit from my handspun. I had a plying adventure earlier in the week. This yarn represents the most I have spun on my wheel. It also reveals that I am not yet an expert. Still, I took my experience further and abused the yarn. The treatment improved the yarn, and I thank other, more practiced spinners for sharing their journeys with the method. I was able to step out of my comfort zone and give it a go, feeling the spirit of adventurous spinners by my side. I definitely need to pick up the specialized equipment, and perhaps that issue of Spin Off. At any rate, here is the yarn, and I am going to try to make it into socks. I also share with you my current, favorite, treat. Fear not, my friends, I emptied the wrapper before taking it outside with the yarn for pictures. It was 102 degrees, and one cannot be too careful.

How Hot Is It?

It's so hot that they had to shut down a reactor at the nuclear power plant because the temperature of the water in the Tennessee River is over 90 degrees. Perhaps it is just the heat, but I have grown tired of following the Brady/Dimera Rivalry on Days, I look forward to my upcoming invite to Ravelry. I gave it a quick check, and I am #9374 on the list. A scant 26 people are ahead of me in line. I am a bit curious to explore it, but do not think it will consume my life. Who knows? I could be wrong. It happens all the time.

Speaking of being wrong, I was surprised that the errata remains in the Print o' the Wave Stole pattern. Eunny gave the corrections back in May of last year, but the pattern itself has never been corrected. It was not difficult to find this information, but it is just surprising that it was never fixed. I suppose this is part of the price one pays for a free pattern. I corrected my copy. I have finished the border. Next up is the edging. Then it is the magic of blocking, followed by the joy of gifting. We must think of a nice, enjoyable accompaniment for the knitting that comes after. I have some ideas.

Skanky Shower

A Skank is getting married, and we are into the preparatory celebration rituals. There was a bridal shower tonight, and there will be a tea at the end of the month. There has also been sneakiness amongst the other Skanky Knitters. Elisabeth organized the group gift, and it was something of an adventure. First, there were the dye lot troubles. This quantity of this yarn in this colorway in the same dye lot did not exist. There had to be a special order with this yarn at the head of the dyeing schedule. Then there was FedEx trouble, followed by the bride-to-be's perpetual absence from Monday Night Knitting. The package was passed around to make sure it would be there each Monday. There were talks that we would split it up amongst ourselves. Finally, we were able to present the gift to Freda at the shower. We think she likes it.
This is what we got for her. Can you really blame us for thinking of keeping it? Freda recruited me for lace help. I am honored. I just cannot believe I was so nervous about the shower. I am more nervous about the tea.

Confessions

I suppose that confession is a much stronger word than I need to use. Perhaps it would be better to call these admissions, instead. In all truth, there really is not much of a need for me to come clean with all of you over these matters, but here I am blathering on about it anyway. Lately my Fit Knitter button has been mocking me. I have not been exercising with any regularity. I could spend more time examining the reasons for this, but I suspect it might lead to paralysis through analysis, and it would just be further procrastination. The biggest reason is that I do not like to exercise. Still, this is no excuse. Therefore, I am getting back on the exercise wagon. Wait, that is sedentary. I am hitching myself to that wagon and pulling it around. I hope that bringing exercise back to its rightful place in the schedule will drive away some of the pain that has been plaguing me. I also would not mind shedding a bit of fat and gaining some muscle. Whatever the outcome, it is good for me and the way my life needs to be. I am also employing a nifty tool to assist me. It is FitDay. I have used this in the past, and was reminded of it the other day on the radio. A particular dj, whom I consider something of a jackass, was talking about a similar program and running it down. He failed to see the usefulness of it. He was really getting on my nerves, and I wished he would get back to the music, but the experience was helpful. It reminded me of something I had in my arsenal but had not been using. Keeping a food log can be quite useful. I do not see myself using it everyday of my life forever, but it can be a revealing experience.

I also publicly proclaim that I am guilty of sending out my Caps for a Cure knitting a bit late. All I can say is that it has been hot and I did not want to go to the post office. I am making personal progress in that I did not beat myself up for having knit three caps instead of more.

I finished spinning up a second bobbin of singles. I will let them sit a day or so and then begin my plying adventure. This is my first big bunch of spinning on the wheel. I am not a huge fan of the fiber I am using. I have about four more ounces of it to play with, so we will see what happens.

I have cast on again for Sandia. I tried starting it last week, but it only served as a distraction, and I twisted my cast on. The knitting I did was helpful to pass the time, but it had to be ripped. Besides, one of the balls of green had a tangly mess and it needed fixing. I hope to have this hat gracing the head of a busy toddler soon.

I think I will have the time tomorrow to begin the border on Mom's stole. It will take some quiet and concentration to pick up and knit the many stitches along the long edges. By the way, my modification working the center panel worked out wonderfully. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to try it.

Life Keeps Moving

Last night was a fabulous night with the Skanky Knitters. We labored on under the difficulties of a broken espresso machine. The upside was a nearly empty Barnes & Noble Cafe for us to be ourselves. Attendance was slow to begin the evening, but by the end of the night, we had pushed together more tables and had a wonderful time. We were pleased to have Christina and Bill amongst us once more. We were beginning to grow more concerned. Bill was still not feeling as fabulous as he would like, but we were so glad to have him with us. Christina is having a baby boy in November. We all knew about that. She had more happy news to share--it's a Majacraft! Now we have another Skanky Spinner. Laura had an exciting announcement she had to deliver about three times as more people arrived. She is going to have a baby! We knew it was something they had been hoping for and the number of baby knitting books she has purchased had clued us in that we would receive this news soon. Now, the question remains, will I hide the knitting for her baby from the blog or mix it in with all of the other baby knitting I have planned? It seems like there is a lot of baby going around. Speaking of, for another of the Skanks, Margaret, it is not going to be a human baby, but rather a rally car for her and her beloved. That was another bit of good news we heard of last night. There is an excellent chance that there are more good things happening soon for these two. It fills my heart with joy when good things happen for wonderful people, and the Skanky Knitters are some of the best!

Sockapalooza4 has been wonderful. I enjoyed the experience greatly, though I was filled with a bit of anxiety towards the end. I wanted to check the progress of my pal's socks as they made their way to her, but usps.com denied the existence of the delivery confirmation number I had. Argh! I was freaking when the projected delivery date passed and there was no news of the socks. So, I checked one last time today, and usps.com reported that the package had been delivered on August 10th. I was perplexed. I wondered what had happened. I was concerned about my pal. Still, I was relieved that the package had been delivered. I was pleased when I returned home this evening to see that my pal has updated the database to reflect that she has received her socks. Whew!

With all of this excitement, you might wonder if any knitting is happening around here. See for yourselves. Yep, that is the center panel of Print o' the Wave. I finished that this afternoon. I made it to a NAKG meeting at Books-A-Million and had a great time. I met a new knitter. It is too bad that she had not brought her knitting with her. I hope I was still able to be of some help. I had the opportunity to spend a few minutes with Annette. I hope my words were able to offer some small comfort and encouragement in her difficult circumstances. I rounded out the afternoon by calling on the assistance of a bookstore employee. I have been waiting for the new IK, and they had not yet placed it out on the shelves. That is no longer the case, and I have a new magazine.

Fabulous Friday

I was at the computer and my husband was in the living room watching television. We were getting ready to meet the children out for a birthday lunch (yes, our son dared to turn 25 on Wednesday) when there was a knock at the door. I was already dressed and set to go, but my husband was still in mid-preparation. He dashed out of the way and I answered the door. I knew it would be the mailman, and I knew that this would be my Sockapalooza4 package. I was right. Robin knit me the most awesome River Rapids socks in the world. They fit me wonderfully. Robin is a new schoolteacher and a spinner. She made that cute felted bag, and gave me wonderful Trekking and Opal sock yarns. I adore the colors and have already begun plans for the yarn. Robin is a wonderful Sockapalooza4 Pal, and I thank her for knitting for me and for her very generous gifts. She has made Sockapalooza4 a wonderful experience. I hope my pal enjoys the socks I knit for her and her prizes as much as I enjoy mine.

Socks, Stoles, and Spinning

The Sockapalooza4 socks are off to my pal. I hope she likes them. My 5-year-old nephew examined them and was a bit critical of the Golden Snitches. He told me that when he is older and knits these, (my heart did a leap) the Golden Snitches will look more like Golden Snitches. Apparently, a big problem is that the gold is not gold enough. He is so funny. I can hardly believe that today is his first day of kindergarten. They grow up so fast.

I only have eight more repeats (a mere 96 rows, or 7680 stitches) to go on the center panel of Mom’s stole. It looks like my modification will work out marvelously. I will be knitting the border soon.

I have been spinning a bunch lately. I have improved at not holding onto my fiber so tightly. Moving away from this stage of learning is a relief. My fingers used to really hurt from pinching the wool. I tried out Navajo-plying. I need more practice on this technique. I might benefit from watching another spinner demonstrate. There is still so much to learn and explore. I enjoy spreading this joy to others, so I am going to send my grandma a box of different fibers to try. She bought a drop spindle back in June at Estes. I think she will have a fun time experimenting with everything.

In the meantime, I was able to receive my yarn from a group Knit Picks order last month, and plan to knit a hat as soon as I can.

I've Got Rhythm

I enjoy knitting lace. I was not getting much enjoyment from knitting MS3. It is nothing against the pattern, or the beads or the yarn; it just was not happening. Sometimes that is the way it is. I can set aside the piece and see if I can work on it at another time. We just did not click, I tried to fight it, but I am glad I finally decided to give it a break. Now I have lace flowing from the needles. Print o’ the Wave and I have a nice rhythm. This is the way lace knitting should be. I find myself trying to make my best time on a repeat. Sometimes I am really flying, but then have to take a break. I was even able to work on it at Barnes & Noble. This was the first time in a while that I have made it on time and stayed the whole time for a Monday night with the Skanky Knitters. I know that trouble getting out is often associated with the dark, winter months, but it seems like July is also a difficult month for many. Anyway, I love knitting this stole. Zephyr is perhaps the perfect lace yarn.

I am over 75% done with one half of the center panel. I am considering making a wee change to this pattern. You see, the pattern states (basically) that I should *provisionally cast on, work seventeen repeats, set aside, repeat from *. Then I am to graft the two halves, not the provisional cast ons, as I had first thought, but rather, the live stitches still waiting patiently on the needles. Now grafting does not really bother me, and I do it well enough on socks. I am not wild about grafting all that lace. I do believe it will show, and it is even more crucial to match tension, what with the blocking of lace and all. My thought is to provisionally cast on, work seventeen repeats, then work seventeen more repeats from the cast on end. This would still have the lace flowing from the center, but it would still change the look of the shawl. Of course, I will put in a lifeline before attempting such a modification, but otherwise, do you have any thoughts? Last night I asked a couple of my trusted Skanks, and they think it will work.

Speaking of Eunny, I am more entranced by the Tangled Yoke Cardigan than I ought to be. I wish they included a bit more information in the preview. I would like to know the gauge and the sizes. I need to know how much yarn I should buy for this sweater. Rowan Tweed is a bit out of my price range. I am considering Knit Picks Merino Style in Hollyberry. Whaddya think—acceptable substitute? In addition, I am considering buying Knitting Workshop or Knitting Around by Elizabeth Zimmermann. Thoughts, anyone?

Time for a Break

Lie down slowly, MS3. You know how to move slowly. You have been stationary in Clue 2 for a while. We will get back to you later. The rhythm is just not there. Besides, other lace needs to come first. You knew that Print o' the Wave has waited a long time. Now the right yarn is here and the right recipient is ready. C'mon, it's for Mom. Take a moment and look at those two lovely cakes of Zephyr in Mushroom. Is that not perfect for her? I knew you would understand. I will let you rest with other lace yarn. You can enjoy some lavender aromatherapy until it is your time. I know that it is little consolation, but I am setting aside the angel baby blanket, too. You should be back in the active line-up before you know it. I am considering bestowing you upon someone with a birthday at the end of September.

News to Us

Our week has not turned out the way we thought it would. We were supposed to have out-of-town guests, but that fell through. I guess it was not meant to be. We kind of had a feeling that it was not going to work out, but continued with plans as if it were going to happen. I feel bad because it was probably their last chance to make it down before the new school year begins. To put a positive slant on it, at least I was able to spend time with my wheel. They do not quite understand my fiber obsession, but are quite kind about it and muster up as much interest as they can. However, they have invited us up to visit them, but our schedules might not work.

Then we received a phone call Monday morning. We were still in bed and let the answering machine take a message. When I returned the call later in the day, someone wants me to come over and take a look at some knitting. She wants to see if it is something I can make, and if so, she will pay me to do it. This seems to be a somewhat odd request. We head on over. I ask my husband what he thinks the odds are that this will be crocheting rather than knitting. We arrive and there is a package from Mary Maxim. She pulls out a kit she has purchased. I know you are dying to know what it is. I'll wait while you take a peek. That is a lot of pink. As it turns out, she wants this knit for this blanket recipient’s baby sister due in November. I had already planned some knitting for this baby, but I had not yet heard that it is to be a girl. I also learned about another baby due early next year, so I have a lot of baby knitting to do. Anyway, if I knew how to put a jump in a post, I would place a Choose Your Own Adventure thing here. Instead, I will just ask a question--do you think I agreed to knit it? Of course, I said I would. Will I be paid? I have no idea. I am not doing it for money. I am not quite sure why I am doing this. Many things are puzzling me, but I do not have time for that now. I have much knitting to do. While this blanket is not something I would have picked out, it is something I have agreed to knit, and I will keep this in mind when I feel like complaining. This will not stop me from offering up this bit of bitching about the pattern. It contains, of course, the familiar advice To Save Time, Take Time to Check Gauge. Then I read the gauge information. It reads:

Gauge or Tension: One square should measure 10.5" square using suggested needles or any needles which will give the correct stitch gauge or tension.

Yep. That's mega-helpful, Mary. As long as there is enough yarn, it really does not matter. It is a baby blanket. So far, I have one angel square finished. That puts me about 10% finished. I studied it a bit more in the pattern and I may need to change the edging. I know what my real problem with this is. I dislike deadline knitting. I will survive.

Constant vigilance! There are spoilers cropping up everywhere and I do not want my Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows experience ruined. Good thing I have all of this knitting and spinning to occupy my time.

New Arrival

I have wanted one for quite some time, but it did not seem like it would happen anytime soon. I focused on what I do have and felt grateful for my many blessings. I tried to push the idea from my head and convince myself that having one would really not be that great. Still, I hoped that one day the fantasy would become a reality. Today, this became this
I am so excited.

Sockin' and Rockin'

I love learning and trying new things. Thirassia is the first pattern I have knit which was written in a language other than English. The presence of a chart made things so much easier. Still, I read through the written instructions and think I spotted an error on Vtas 13 and 15. I am more than a bit impressed with myself. Either I have forgotten less Spanish than I thought, or my knitting abilities are greater than I had imagined. This pattern led me on a learning adventure about Spanish language knitting patterns. Tejemanejes is a nifty online knitting magazine. I first discovered it when one of the Skanky Knitters shared a link to this pattern.

It is a wonderful pattern and a quick knit. It seemed to be something of a magic pattern because I am still left with quite a bit of yarn. My modifications were to knit it toe-up and I did a different ribbing at the top. I also started the first foot on Vta 1 and the second foot on Vta 9 to make mirror image socks. The yarn is Knit Picks Essential in the color Petunia. This was my first time using this yarn and I love it. Speaking of lovely Knit Picks sock yarn, I got to feel a ball of the new Risata that one of the Skanks bought. It feels quite nice.

I am honored to receive this Rockin' Girl Blogger Award from Becky. Thank you so much! I was reading right along and was quite surprised to see my name on the list.

As part of my duties, I pass the Rockin' Girl Blogger Award on to these five:

Margene I love the feel of her blog, and she has been a great inspiration to my spinning.

Laurie Her funny, offbeat stories have brightened many a day for me.

Kimberly I think it is great that she has given fitness a place of importance amongst knitters.

Mandy Her work with Caps for a Cure is one more reason she rocks.

JenLa The pictures and the stories are a great source of entertainment for me.

I may not feel very Rockin', and I feel shaky at best about my blogging skills, but I graciously accept this special distinction. Thanks again, Becky.

I am still patiently waiting for the time that I can share my surprise.

Waiting

Yesterday I returned to my so-called doctor and waited to be seen. I waited for a reason to believe that I was under the care of a competent physician. I waited in vain.

I waited in line at Hobby Lobby to purchase more beads for my MS3 (spending more on this than I thought I would). The wait would not have been so bad if I were feeling better. I almost purchased the latest Knitters magazine because it did not look too bad. I did not trust my judgment. At least I will not wait for the third clue for MS3, but that is because I am behind. I am ready to put in a lifeline and begin clue two.

It is too early to head to the theater to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, so I must wait.

There is a mini skein of handspun soaking, and then it must dry. I wait some more. Will it be acceptable sock weight yarn? We will wait and see.

I waited for the pages to load over at the Hurt Book sale. I did not get any books there.

Now, I wait for something even more exciting. I am in a bit of a state of awe and disbelief.

Did I ever tell you that I do not really mind waiting? I am considered a pretty patient person. I have knitting and spinning to keep me company. Still, I am excited!

Socks and Snacks

It is good to be home. I think we were only gone for about fifty hours, we had a good time, but I am still relieved to be back. I still have much to catch up on with Bloglines, but I wanted to share a bit of my out-of-town time with all of you. This picture is more illustrative of the trip than is good for me. We do not have Dunkin' Donuts at home, and have not for years. I missed them, and we became reacquainted quickly.

I managed to visit a lovely yarn store while we were gone. I bought some Warm Wine Corriedale roving and a clearance copy of the Winter 2005 IK. I kind of wish I had picked up the bag of black diamond bamboo roving. Ah, there is always next time. Besides, I have a lot of roving already.

I am wicked behind on Mystery Stole 3. Sign-ups are closing and the second clue is about to here. No need to panic. This is lace we're talking about, not life.

Baby, Baby

I may have bought Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac specifically for this pattern. I think I would like to knit some other patterns in the book, but I know I will knit more of these sweaters. This is the first EZ pattern I have knit. Her instructions are different from others with which I am more familiar, but I made it just fine. I was unsure of how I would fare, so I just grabbed the unlabeled skein of soft, white, acrylic (leave me alone, it's a baby sweater) yarn and knit. It worked so well that I decided to cast on for another. I had the finished white sweater in my bag along with the variegated yarn when I was shopping for buttons and other fasteners. I did not find the right buttons for the first, but had buttons ready to go before I even cast on for the second. Minor mods: I changed this to completely seamless by working the sleeves in the round. Minor oops: She gives the directions for the buttonholes a bit later in the pattern and I had to fix my error. I do not know what I was thinking. I guess I was not.

I am going to see if I have enough of the Moroccan Red Cotlin left to knit one of these. It would go to one of two babies that are in process. I might also like to knit matching hats or maybe socks or booties to go along with these. I think that I have another ball of the variegated mystery yarn and could perhaps knit another set.

In other knitting news, I did not begin knitting for MS3. There is a bead issue. I may try something different. In other non-knitting news, we were missed an adventure Saturday night. Apparently, there were pigs running amok in the neighborhood wreaking havoc. We would like to have seen it, but maybe it was best that we were not here.