Please go read this

Stephanie's sock.

:-)

I am spoiled.

My Secret Pal is spoiling me and my dog. I came home to a very heavy box the other day. A big box. A box big enough to hold all of this:

(How can you not smile at that happy frog?)

So this is all that is in the box:

Wait… there is a card. An adorable card. I saw it and said ‘Awwww.’ Bet you will too.

Unwrapping all of these goodies has been great fun for me. Christmas in May.

So besides the excellent magazines (English Garden- I love English gardens! And the latest Knit ‘n Style!) Alyssum seeds (such a sweet smell from a garden bed) and dark chocolate with peppermint. And my Frog drink cooler. :-) What is in those packages?

Much wonderfulness…..

There are two adorable planters, lavender and tomatoes. Beautiful floral gardening gloves, copper plant markers, passion fruit soap with a natural sea sponge (luscious scent), Pepperoni Popcorn for Mona! Yummy chocolate truffles for me! And Animal Crackers! (We just had a discussion at work this week about animal and graham crackers and how none of us have them anymore, and how we wanted some with some cold milk for dunking. We were on the verge of making a grocery list! Wait until I bring these in with my lunch on Monday!) My own Green! Frog drink cooler. :-) And some gorgeous Trekking sock yarn. The color isn’t true on my monitor. It is really a deep forest greens. Luxurious. This skein will be for me. Thank you Secret Pal. (Mona says Thank you, too!)

And a special Thank You for the special sweetie who picked the Green Frog!

I can't find the words to say this with eloquence:

For the people effected by yesterday's tragedy in Virginia, all of you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Knitters Treat Exchange Questionnaire

I heard about the Knitters Treat Exchange while reading Loribird's blog From the Wool Room. You should go see her Millicent knee socks.

It sounds like fun and I am so enjoying Secret Pal 10, that I have joined up.

Here are my answers to the questionnaire.

1. What's your favourite type of yarn? I really don’t have one favorite type of yarn, anything soft with some spring.

2. What's your least favourite type of yarn? Scratchy.

3. What's the first thing you do when you visit a new yarn shop? Take a deep breath, enjoy the aromas, colors, and touch the skeins.

4. What other crafts do you do / would like to do? I crochet, embroider, and sew. I would like to quilt.

5. What magazines do you currently subscribe to? Interweave Knits, Real Simple, Cooks Illustrated, and Country Cooks.

6. Put this type of magazine in order of preference:
Knitting / Crochet / Food / Garden/Home / Other Craft / Fashion / Celebrity Gossip (those two hold no interest for me.)

7. What items do you like to knit / crochet? Socks, mittens, scarves, shawls and hats. I would like to try a sweater soon.

8. Are you allergic to anything? Cats, shrimp, and latex.

9. What do you like to* smell of? Clean, fresh, green and citrus scents, until Autumn, then I like the heavier woodsy scents.

10. What's your favourite way to relax? Visiting with family & friends, sitting out under the trees knitting or reading.

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? The Italian Café.

12. What do you come out with? Espresso, biscotti, and with luck a fresh cannoli.

13. Where do you go next? The bakery for some whole grain bread.

14. Any other words of wisdom for your pal? Nothing I can think of at the moment, but you can always ask.

Spoiled!

I came home tonight (after a very long day at work) to find a mailbox bulging with bills, catalogs, sales fliers and a rather large package. It is from my Secret Pal! I love the card! Isn't that expression great? I had a hard time waiting to open each of the packages. This was like Christmas!


These items are so right on. You will note that the Dark Chocolate didn't stay intact for the photo shoot. Couldn't wait. Did I mention I had a long day at work? My Secret Pal also has some psychic abilities. Not only did she pick my favorite Dark Chocolate with Espresso, but somehow she knows that I have managed to lose my tape measure! This one is perfect because I can attach it to my knitting bag. There is also an adorable set of note cards with a journal and notebook and pen. Now I will be able to keep my knitting notes in something prettier than my wide-ruled notebook paper!
Additionally, she included treats for my dog, Mona. That is so sweet.
Thank you, Secret Pal. My work day may have been long and it might be after midnight here, but everything just seems so much nicer and brighter. (Better living thru Pals!)

FOs (part three?) and the unfinished madness

I knit an additional wee sock for a dear friend of mine. The yarn is Gypsyknits Superwash Fingering Yarn , colorway is Winter Mountain Flowers. I love Gypsyknit's yarns. Her colors are breathtaking. Check out her Etsy store.









My tenure at Sock Madness was short lived. My work schedule did not assist in this matter, nor did my inability to do a decent short row heel with wraps! until the third try. I did have a great start. I was working both socks at once on two circulars, but once I was into the stripes, keeping four skeins of yarn from tangling up was taking too much effort. After placing one of the socks on the dpns, I was able to progress in a more efficient manner.
But how fast can a turtle slog through mud? I like the pattern, but am not happy with my yarn choices for it. These socks have been sent to the frog pond. And I am out of contention in the race. I will however remain a loyal cheerleader for all of my 'Wendy' compatriots. Knit! Knit! Purl! rah, rah, rah! (Okay, we need to work on the cheer part.)

Intermission (from FOs)

This came in the mail today. I can not get the colors correct on this pic to the left. The card is a gorgeous lacquer red. Inside was this beautiful wee sock!
Sean knit this using KnitPicks Dancing. It is so sweet and handsome. It looks like he knit it on 000s and toe is perfect. (I couldn't keep mine from puckering.) I think it may be kitchnered! (Forgive me, if that is not a word.)

I have taken some pics of the sock from each side and then also on my wee sock blocker.



So first a left view.















Now one from the right side:


I love how the stripes continue across and yet how different the color segments are in such a tiny piece of needlework.









And then an attempt to show the wee stitches on the toe with the sock blocker in place. Can't help but admire the workmanship and artistry.

Thank you, Sean. I treasure this sock.













ETA.: Forgive my poor housekeeping which allows the inclusion of dog hair on my bed linens, particularly my comforter that is my current backdrop for my photos.

FOs and one not (part II) (not yet)

Blogger still isn't letting me post any more photos! Very frustrating. I'll try again tomorrow.

FOs and one not (part I)

1. These are my first pair of Fetching. It was also my first experience with cables. My DSIL has always told me how she loves cables and I didn't get it, until I tried. They really are fun. I added length to them with an extra round of cables at the top. This pair is modeled by their recipient, my darling niece S. She is living in an old Victorian house at college and to save money, the housemates are keeping the place cold (high temp is 60 F). I finished these in time for her return to school after the Christmas break. The details: Fetching from Knitty Summer 2006. Lion Brand Cashmere Blend in light pink. Clover Bamboo dpns US 6.

2. I made another pair of Fetching for my niece P. Wristers and fingerless mitts are all the rage in her school. In the Lion Cashmere blend, light blue. I kept the additional length and cable row as with the first pair, but did a traditional bind off instead of the picot edge. Unfortunately, I forgot to get a picture. Hopefully, she will let me get one soon.

3. I joined the Wee Sock exchange. This was a sock I knew I could finish! I modified Emily's pattern by adding a cable down the leg on one side. I tried to photograph it to show the cable, it appears more with the wee sock blocker in, but I couldn't get it to 'pop' any better for the camera. The yarn is Black Bunny Fiber's Angelique. It is a wool/nylon blend. I've mailed this sock off to its new home. Enjoy!






Blogger isn't letting me place more than these two photos right now. So I am going to finish the discussion of the FOs in another post.

Sock Madness

I have been admitted to the Sock Madness competition. I am a member of the "Wendy's Toe-Up Sock" Division. We are the novice sock knitters. I feel as though I am a member of the 1980 USA hockey team. Or the small town basketball team in the movie "Hoosiers". We have desire, potential, and a love of the craft.

Tomorrow morning, 128 knitters will anxiously await the chiming bell of 'you've got mail!' There will be a clamoring of knitting needles as we all furiously peer over the pattern for the first pair of socks. Sixty-four of us will be defeated in the next two weeks. My mantra tonight as I wound my yarn was "better to play and lose, than not play at all."

For my first pair of socks I have selected a very warm taupe of the Lang Jawoll yarn and a Claudia Hand Painted Merino in the John B colorway. We were told to choose two fingering weight yarns, one variegated, one solid. I can't get my picture to show the colors exactly right, but these do work well together.

So please wish us all well and for me, please, who knits with the speed of a turtle crossing mud, Godspeed.

Secret Pal 10

I am excited because I have been admitted to Secret Pal 10. Here are my responses to the questionnaire for SP10.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? Truthfully, I like anything that is soft and springy: alpaca, casmere, merino, even (dare I say it?) some of the 'man-made' fibers.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have a mix of holders, some are kept in their original packaging in a bin, others are in roll-up holders and/or vinyl envelopes.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I did learn how to knit when I was a child, but only garter stitch and never made anything. I was an avid crocheter for many years. When I was 28 (which was many many years ago), with a good friend's encouragement I attempted a sweater. I never finished it... :-P
December 2005, I picked up the needles again to make some Christmas gifts, couldn't remember squat, so went online and learned. I feel that I am still a beginner with mostly scarves and some socks and hats completed. I learned how to cable last month!

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? No.

5. What's your favorite scent? They change with the seasons. In the winter it is cinnamon and nutmeg. Spring and summer the lighter floral and greener scents.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Dark chocolate with espresso.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I cross-stitch, embroider, needlepoint, sew and garden.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) My musical tastes are eclectic but lean toward 'country'. I do have an iPod.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Dark forest green. Any colors you just can't stand? Puce, chartreuse, etc.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I'm single, living with a wonderful dog - Mona.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes, to all but the ponchos.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Don't have one yet.

13. What are you knitting right now? Socks, fingerless mittens, scarf and shawl.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes. They are my favorite gifts.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? My preference in needles depends on what I am knitting (object and yarn).

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

17. How old is your oldest UFO? Refer to question 3.

18. What is your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving.

19. Is there anything that you collect? Lately, yarn.

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 subscribe to Interweave Knits.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? The Latvian Mittens.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yes, I knit socks, slowly, but I do knit them. I wear a size 11 wide shoe. I will have to measure my foot.

23. When is your birthday? February 22.

I'm still here

I haven't gone anywhere, except for that place of a sometimes (for me) overwhelming life. I am still knitting. Didn't finish much of my Christmas knits, but I did complete two pair of Fetching, a scarf for the Red Scarf project, and some socks. My camera died, but I have now replaced it and hope to post pictures soon. Had a nasty knee injury and a bad infection that have kept me somewhat confined. Those things are better, and I feel like I am emerging from a funky fog. Why now during a wretched winter blast? Don't know, though I like it! (The feeling better part, the weather....)
Well, I am off to play with the camera and finish the laundry.