I’m finally getting around to doing this… March 22, 2008

A Knitting Survey

I’m reading back through LaurieC’s blog since she replied to one of my posts on Ravel-crack and I found this survey again so I figured it was time I did it.

Mark with bold the things you have knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.
Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk (if a blend counts)
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own hand-spun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Participate in an exchange
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else’s hand-spun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Knitted flowers
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Free-form knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/arm-warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an on-line knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair (no no no no!)
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

ETA: Oh, my gosh!  I feel so accomplished now.  I totally need to get my  knitting out!

Loopy Ewe Swap March 4, 2008

I don’t think I even mentioned joining this swap.  I tried really hard to stay a secret pal for this one.

Pattern:  Delicato by Anne Hanson

Yarn:  The Knittery 4ply Sock: Merino

Colorway:  Moonlight

Needles:  KnitPicks DPNs - 3.00mm (2-1/2 US)

Knit for:  Anne of Knitting Sox Fan

Notes:  I adore this pattern.  It’s the first time I’ve done a thumb gusset and it was so well-written that I had no trouble at all.  I would definitely recommend this as a first mitten or first lace pattern.  I’m also hooked on Anne Hanson now and  have queued a billion patterns on Ravel-crack.

I was really nervous about my package, but I think it turned out okay.

I received my package from Sheryll (no blog, this links to her Ravelry profile).  The camera that has the pictures is with Michael right now, but my package contained many goodies:

A pair of gorgeous socks in Lorna’s Laces

A valentine’s themed washcloth

A bar of natural and yummy smelling soap

Watermelon flavored icee mix (I don’t have the package with me)

Coffee milk mix

Chocolate

Heart peeps

Note Cards

Needle keeper

I’m forgetting things, I’m sure.  It was a heck of a package.  Thanks, Sheryll!

Hmm…deranged??? February 6, 2008

I’ve been sick for a couple of weeks now. I’m on my second round of antibiotics for whatever the upper resipiratory/sinus/flu thing going around is.

I’m not eating or sleeping very much lately. I’m my deranged state of mind last night I started scheming. Yes, it’s true…late at night, when I cannot sleep, and my mind is delusional from lack of food and sleep I begin to dream of all of the crazy things that L and I can do when Michael is deployed. Last night my mind began forming a plan to grab L, drive to Canada, and tag along on one of the knitting excursions that the Yarn Harlot plans/goes on. LYS hops using public transportation full of knitters, or knit night. Even in that state of delirium though, I was scared that I wouldn’t be cool enough to hang with The Harlot. LOL I really need some solid sleep!

Pay it Forward January 5, 2008

No one wants to sign up for Pay it Forward?  Now, now…don’t be shy.  I promise to send something really fabulous!

No pics, but lots of WIPs January 3, 2008

I ended the year by finishing a pair of wristwarmers for Mslindz and a pair of socks for Michael.

Unfortunately I still have the following on the needles:

Mike’s Anniversary Sweater that I started, oh, two years ago

Wicked - Needs the bottom 1/4 finished and the sleeves knit

The Bag from No Sheep for You - May be modified with another slip stitch pattern if I can’t figure this out without going completely brain dead

Corazon from Knitty - Still trying to decide if I want to make them fingerless or mirror images to deal with the yarn shortage, but I do like the fit much better this time around

Mike’s gray socks - Had to rip out the toe of the first one and knit it longer.  Finished it New Year’s Eve.  Started the cuff of the second one

I am searching for just the right pattern for the Jitterbug that Mslindz gave me.  I started Monkeys, but the colorway and the pattern were fighting for dominance.  Considering Charade.

Mmmmm, Malabrigo Mitts December 17, 2007

Pattern:  Based on Avocado Stitch in Stitchionary 2 (will be available soon)

Yarn:  Malabrigo Merino Worsted

Colorway:  Pink Frost

Needle Size:  4 & 5

 

The other day I went up to my parents’ house to help them decorate their tree.  I love the way it turned out!

It snowed here over the weekend and the view off the deck was absolutely gorgeous!

  

And gratuitous cute puppy shot:

 

 

Pay it Forward :0) December 11, 2007

I love this idea:

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days. That is my promise. The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

So, with the holidays coming up, there might be a slight delay, but I’m so excited about doing this.

Leave a comment and if you’re one of the lucky ones, I’ll contact you for your address.

I made yarn! November 4, 2007

Nels (of Babe spinning wheel fame) sent me the part that I needed to fix my broken wheel and we’re up and spinning again.  I raided my basket of roving and spun up some Spunky roving that I got ages ago in the fiber club when I still belonged to it.

4 ounces of South African Fine in Cool Rain

I plied it the other day and set it and to my great amazement it’s pretty balanced.  I’m still searching for a pattern for about 200 yards of a light worsted.  Yeah…I was trying to spin a 2-ply fingering weight.  I don’t think I’m quite there yet!  LOL

Knitting has been on hold as my medicine has me feeling slightly light headed and I don’t really have any mindless knitting on the needles right now.

Have a happy Sunday!

Eh… October 6, 2007

Yeah, I know, inspiring, huh?

I’ve been really sick all week and have gone to work, come home, gone almost straight to bed every night.

Tonight, however, I came home and knit and accomplished something. I split my Wicked. Now I have a body and sleeves. Yep…go me! I don’t have pictures b/c it’s late and the lighting is horrible, but I’m so excited. There are a couple of really obvious joins, but I’m trying to not let it bother me in the hopes that blocking will work wonders.

I’m destashing some needles over on Ravel-crack Ravelry . I also have some yarn up over there. I’m attempting to get it all together to post on the Destash for Cash site so look for that link in the next couple of days if you’re not on Ravelry yet. (What??? You’re not even signed up yet? What are you waiting for? Go sign up!)

MsLindz wrote a great post about destashing yarn and I couldn’t have said it better myself. When I first started knitting, I knit with whatever I could get my hands on. Now I’m a bit more discerning and go by the, “Knit with the best yarn you can afford” rule of thumb. Sometimes this means I knit with KnitPicks or Elann (both great brands, but very affordable) and sometimes this means I knit with Rowan or STR or other “name” brand yarns. What it boils down to is that some of the yarns I bought in the early days of my knitting just aren’t “me” anymore and so I’m making room for yarns that will be used and loved. It’s hard (b/c I’m a packrat), but it’s good for me.

Happy Birthday, Ms Lindz! October 2, 2007

It’s MsLindz’s birthday.  Go say hey!