Yarn Therapy
I feed my yarn addictionArchive for socks
A Nice Surprise!
I received a nice box of goodies from my Secret Pal (13) today. Everything was wrapped and presented so well. It was also more of a “winter” theme than actual xmas, which suits me very well. My friends know I tolerate xmas but it is not my favorite holiday. Amelia “helped” me open the gifts because she heard that some of them were intended for her. I was happy to receive a nifty ball of Lanaloft wool, and a green one at that. There was a cool little bag with a frog on it that said “going green” on it with a little pad of post-its and a pen. A container of little candy canes Amelia will help me consume. A box of Tension Tamer Tea which I already need from work stress this week (clients are all escalating in time for the holiday). Amelia got a Polly Pocket activity book and new crayons! She also got two pairs of holiday socks and two “magic towels.” There was a little 2 year datebook which Amelia claimed and already found her birthday and started writing in it.
Thanks Secret Pal! It was such a treat to get this package.
Almost Year-End Wrap Up
Last December, I made New Year’s Knitalutions. Looking at them now, I did pretty well. Let’s review:
1. Finish UFOs (a good attempt)
There were some failed projects, but they got frogged if I didn’t finish them. The exception is my one Inside-Out sock. I have very bad SSS.
2. Take time to use good finishing
I am getting much better at this, because I realized that I can knit pieces perfectly, only to finish them into something that looks like doo-doo. I tried to take a finishing class at a LYS, but it was a terrible bust. Not sure if I will try again at another LYS, or just continue on myself.
3. Frog and redo, when necessary
Yes. Getting much better at this, realizing that, if I go to the trouble of buying expensive yarn and many hours knitting something, I might as well redo parts if they aren’t the way they should be.
4. Start xmas presents earlier
I am not doing as many this year, which helps. However, I did start earlier.
5. Make one thing with lace
I made Camelia, by Stefanie Japel. I love the way it turned out.
6. Make one thing with cables
I am making Mr. Greenjeans out of Malabrigo worsted in a lovely teal green color. It is going so well, I vow to make many more things with cables in the near future.
7. Make one thing with intarsia
Nope. I tried the Heart Hoodie from Knit Picks and the gauge was just off, so I will try again later. I also want to start some fair isle projects.
8. Make Jaywalkers!
My attempt just failed miserably. I just can’t seem to get the right gauge and don’t have the patience to play with it. So I am the only knitter in the universe who is Jaywalker-less. Maybe I’ll try Monkeys next.
9. Make a vest
Yes, did Sloane. I love wearing it, although I need to take in the side seams. I have two more vest patterns to try, one for me and one for dh.
10. Make the Yarnplay sweater!
Did it!
11. Make a shawl
Again, I tried, but lost interest in the scrap shawl idea. I have a shawl pattern from WEBS that I want to start, but haven’t found the right yarn yet. That will probably be my first shawl.
12. Use circular needles whenever possible.
I think I have used circs almost all the time. What has made that easier is that I have made a bunch of things in the round from the top down. I also bought the Harmony needle set from Knit Picks, the pretty, colorful, wooden ones, and I LOVE them.
So that is my wrap up! I think I did pretty well, and it has been a good knitting year. Now that I’m on Ravelry, I am more organized and have increased access to LOADS of information and inspiration. I also started going occasionally to a knitting group that meets weekly (I don’t go every week). I learn a lot from being around other knitters.
This year I also got up the nerve and submitted several items to the local county fair and won 3 ribbons!
My secret wish is to meet a fellow knitter with whom I really connect (locally or on the net) and develop a close friendship. Maybe in 2008!
How was your knit-year? What do you hope to do in the next one?
Update
That’s pretty much it!
I finished one Inside Out sock from STR Sock Club. I had to modify the leg because once I tried to do the cable pattern, it wouldn’t go on my foot at all. It is, however, a very comfy sock.
I frogged the Amelia sweater because my gauge was too loose and it was HUGE. She’s growing, but not THAT fast. I plan to restart it soon. I may make myself a little sockie for my ipod (very little, because it’s a Nano) as a break.
Less Than Two Months Until Maryland Sheep and Wool
I had better start saving money, because going there unable to spend is torturous. Just look at the vendor list! Koigu, Tess, Ernst, Green Mountain, oh my!
I am plugging away at my STR sock, although using size 0s makes it seem interminable. You knit and knit and get a half inch! Woo hoo! I did myself a favor and transferred the stitches to 2 circulars and it makes it much easier. Thanks, Knit Picks!
I Officially Have a Life! Whee!
It’s been alleged that if you’ve seen over 85 movies you have no life. Mark the ones you’ve seen. There are 239 films on this list. Copy this list, go to your own blog, paste it in and put x’s by the ones that you have seen. Add them up, figure out whether you’ve got a life or not, and post it.
(X) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(X) Grease
(X) Pirates of the Caribbean
() Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest
() Boondock Saints
( ) Fight Club
( ) Starsky and Hutch
( ) Neverending Story
(X) Blazing Saddles
(X) Airplane
(X) The Princess Bride
() AnchorMan
( ) Napoleon Dynamite
(x ) Labyrinth
( ) Saw
( ) Saw II
( ) White Noise
( x) White Oleander
() Anger Management
() 50 First Dates
() The Princess Diaries
() The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
( ) Scream
( ) Scream 2
( ) Scream 3
( ) Scary Movie
( ) Scary Movie 2
( ) Scary Movie 3
() Scary Movie 4
( ) American Pie
( ) American Pie 2
( ) American Wedding
( ) American Pie Band Camp
( ) Harry Potter 1
( ) Harry Potter 2
( ) Harry Potter 3
( ) Harry Potter 4
( ) Resident Evil 1
( ) Resident Evil 2
() The Wedding Singer
() Little Black Book
( ) The Village
( ) Lilo & Stitch
() Finding Nemo
( x) Finding Neverland
( ) Signs
( x) The Grinch
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
( ) White Chicks
( ) Butterfly Effect
( ) 13 Going on 30
() I, Robot
() Robots
() Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
() Universal Soldier
( ) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
() Along Came Polly
( ) Deep Impact
( ) KingPin
( ) Never Been Kissed
(X) Meet The Parents
() Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
(X) Joe Dirt
( x) King Kong
( ) A Cinderella Story
( ) The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
( ) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Dumber & Dumberer
( ) Final Destination
( ) Final Destination 2
( ) Final Destination 3
( x) Halloween
( ) The Ring
( ) The Ring 2
( ) Surviving Christmas
( x) Flubber
( ) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
( ) Practical Magic
(x ) Chicago
( ) Ghost Ship
( ) From Hell
() Hellboy
( ) Secret Window
( x) I Am Sam
() The Whole Nine Yards
( ) The Whole Ten Yards
( ) The Day After Tomorrow
( ) Child’s Play
( ) Seed of Chucky
( ) Bride of Chucky
(x ) Ten Things I Hate About You
( ) Just Married
( ) Gothika
( x) Nightmare on Elm Street
(x ) Sixteen Candles
( ) Remember the Titans
( ) Coach Carter
( ) The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
() The Mask
( ) Son Of The Mask
( ) Bad Boys
( ) Bad Boys 2
( ) Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number Sleven
( ) Ocean’s Eleven
( ) Ocean’s Twelve
() Bourne Identity
( ) Bourne Supremecy
( ) Lone Star
( ) Bedazzled
( ) Predator I
( ) Predator II
( ) The Fog
() Ice Age
( ) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
( ) Curious George
() Independence Day
( ) Cujo
( ) A Bronx Tale
( ) Darkness Falls
( ) Christine
(X) E.T.
( ) Children of the Corn
( ) My Bosses Daughter
(X) Maid in Manhattan
( ) War of the Worlds
() Rush Hour
( ) Rush Hour 2
( ) Best Bet
( ) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
( ) She’s All That
() Calendar Girls
( ) Sideways
() Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
( ) Ever After
(X) Wizard of Oz
(X) Forrest Gump
( ) Big Trouble in Little China
( x) The Terminator
( x) The Terminator 2
( x) The Terminator 3
() X-Men
() X-2
() X3
( ) Spider-Man
( ) Spider-Man 2
( ) Sky High
( ) Jeepers Creepers
( ) Jeepers Creepers 2
( ) Catch Me If You Can
(X) The Little Mermaid
() Freaky Friday
( ) Reign of Fire
( ) The Skulls
( ) Cruel Intentions
( ) Cruel Intentions 2
() The Hot Chick
(X) Shrek
(X) Shrek 2
( ) Swimfan
(X) Miracle on 34th street
( ) Old School
( ) The Notebook
() K-Pax
( ) Krippendorf’s Tribe
() A Walk to Remember
(x ) Ice Castles
( ) Boogeyman
( ) The 40-year-old Virgin
( ) Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
( ) Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
( ) Lord of the Rings: Return Of the King
(X) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(X) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
() Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
( ) Base-ketball
( ) Hostel
( ) Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
( ) Devils Rejects
() Elf
() Highlander
( ) Mothman Prophecies
( ) American History X
( ) Three
( ) The Jacket
( ) Kung Fu Hustle
( ) Shaolin Soccer
( ) Night Watch
(X) Monsters Inc.
(X) Titanic
(X) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
( ) Shaun Of the Dead
( ) Willard
( ) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
( ) Hulk
( x) Dawn Of the Dead
(X) Hook
( ) Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
( ) 28 days later
( ) Orgazmo
( ) Phantasm
( ) Waterworld
( ) Kill Bill Vol. 1
( ) Kill Bill Vol. 2
( ) Mortal Kombat
( ) Wolf Creek
( ) Kingdom of Heaven
( ) the Hills Have Eyes
( ) I Spit on Your Grave
( ) The Last House on the Left
( x) Re-Animator
( ) Army of Darkness
() Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
() Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
() Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
() Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
() Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
() Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
( ) Ewoks: Caravan Of Courage
( ) Ewoks: The Battle For Endor
() The Matrix
() The Matrix: Reloaded
() The Matrix: Revolutions
( ) Animatrix
( ) Evil Dead
( ) Evil Dead 2
( ) Team America: World Police
( ) Red Dragon
( ) Silence of the Lambs
( ) Hannibal
Wow. I’ve only seen 40 of these, so I officially have a life. At what point do I not have a life because I need to see more movies? Do I get extra points if I own the movie? If I got credit for seeing a movie multiple times I would not have a life because between Shrek, Shrek 2 and Wizard of Oz that is at least 200 viewings right there. Well, this is not scientific stuff.
Knitting update: Several failed starts to projects. My jaywalkers were too big with size 1 needles and I just stubbornly refused to go to 0. Yesterday, my STR Club Kit arrived with the most gorgeous yarn and pattern! I did a gauge swatch with 0 needles and so I’ve surrenderred to the fact that my gauge is going to require what seems to be way too small a needle.
I managed to wind the ball and finish a neat toe pocket using short rows that seems to be the right size with the 0 size needles. Oh, well, you do what you have to do.
Semi Ta-Daaaaaa
In keeping with my 2007 Knitalutions, I finished the Sloane vest for myself, as well as the Broad ripple Socks I started I don’t know how long ago. That’s two WIPs done! Using circulars! Made a vest! Yay!
In keeping with another knitalution, I’ve been plugging along on Poppy, with the help of the KAL. It is so helpful to have other examples of the finished item other than just the one in the pattern book, and to hear what others are finding as they attempt the pattern. I finished the bottom panel done in Noro Cash Iroha (love that yarn) in Periwinkle (with random Silk Garden stripes) and completed the top part of the back of the sweater. Now for the front and then the sleeves. The Silk Garden is fun to knit with to see how it will stripe next.
In further keeping with the knitalutions, I started Jaywalker socks, but the gauge is way to big. I will have to keep another knitalution (to frog when necessary). I plan to either start them over, or make Monkey socks from Knitty. I saw some on another person’s blog, and they looked so pretty!
I also made my first mixed CD on my laptop’s CD burner for my Favorite Color Swap partner.
Today, dh had to work, so dd and I made heart cookies and Valentines.
BTW, she is learning about people being married from her fairy-tale movies, but I think she is a bit confused. It seems she thinks people kiss and they are automatically married (I can see why from some of the movies, they kiss and the wedding bells start). She pointedly asked dh and I in a very quiet restaurant recently, “Are you married, Mommy and Daddy?!?”
Ta Daaaaaa!
My New Year’s Knitalutions
Knit-wise, I have had a productive year. I learned to master DPNs and knit socks with them and also 2 circs. I finished 6.5 pairs of socks. I learned to felt. I even finished the Einstein Coat! Pics later.
For 2007:
1. Finish UFOs (a good attempt)
2. Take time to use good finishing
3. Frog and redo, when necessary
4. Start xmas presents earlier
5. Make one thing with lace
6. Make one thing with cables
7. Make one thing with intarsia
8. Make Jaywalkers!
9. Make a vest
10. Make the Yarnplay sweater!
11. Make a shawl
12. Use circular needles whenever possible.
Have a good knit-year, everybody!
Gifties and A Challenge From SP9
Well, here you see the Great Gobs of Gorgeous Generosity from my SP9. First, she arranged for Shelby to send these cool stitch markers and nice handmade card. Notice the markers match the aforementioned Cha-Cha yarn! Shelby is not only our SP9 hostess, but a talented craftista. I had actually seen these very markers on Shelby’s blog, but had no idea I would own them! Wow!
Today, I got a “parize,” as Amelia would say. Just look at all the Secret Pal goodness that came my way: 3 books (I am assuming these are for Amelia and one has a tape) and bath fizzies, 3 kinds of tea, 3 skeins of yarn (2 cotton and some really unusual sock yarn in colorway Monster Mash), a knit gauge, a pretty sequined blank book and a very nice postcard. It seems my SP is from British Columbia. I must insert that I LOVE Canada! One of the teas is very interesting. It is called Swamp Tea and is supposedly a Native American tea that looks very earthy.
Clever and elusive SP said maybe I could guess her identity and job from “clues” in this package. Hmmmm…. from the postcard and all the contents I am thinking she does something in the way of conservation or hunting monsters in swamps while wearing cotton. Beats me. Later, I’ll probably say, “Oh! Of course!” So, am I on the right track, SP?
Thanks for all the cool goodies, and especially for the neat neat books for Amelia. They look totally appropriate for her, and she loves books.
Next episode: The Einstein Coat takes over the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area…
Knit and Crochet Progress Report
Here goes:
I finished the wool tea cozy from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. The yarn used was an oatmeal colored Paton’s Classic Wool. Despite the fact that I felt very slow compared to the estimate in the book (good thing this wasn’t really a last minute gift for anyone), it turned out very nice. I tested it on my tea this morning, and it really kept it warm! Yay! My expectations were low because I only made it because it looked like it was fun to make and I wasn’t too concerned about the actual use.
The Einstein Coat is going faster than I thought it would, courtesy of the bulky yarn, plain garter stitch and size 10 needles. I switched to a bamboo circular for the ease of it. Good choice.
I am almost finished with one of the Broadripple socks in Cascade Fixation. I ended up stopping the ripple a bit prematurely, but I think it will be OK.
I haven’t worked on the ballband shrug at all lately. Boring.
I started the felted slippers…zzz….again, boring. Not too motivated on these.
I cast on and did a few rows on the Paton’s Soywool mittens I am making for gifts. I do like the yarn, but it is a bit splitty.
Since November is just around the corner, I am feeling a bit pressured on the xmas gift arena. I keep telling myself that nobody expects handmade gifts, so why do I pressure myself? I guess it’s because the handmade things are original and I otherwise don’t have too many ideas on what to get all my husband’s relatives.
In additon, there are so many other items I have in mind to make, I am wishing for additional arms to start growing. Yikes! This is supposed to be therapeutic, right?
Hot Socks Swap
I don’t know what possessed me to put my work address on this swap, but I did. It turned out well, because in the middle of a busy work day, I had a fun package to open on my break. It was from my Hot Socks Pal, Shannon, in the next town of Quantico! She sent some lovely treats and yarns! Just look! She acts like she knows me!
This has been a fun swap. I sent my box today to my pal in Germany. I hope she likes the Fleece Artist sock yarn and Celestial Seasonings Teas I sent. Now, I will get back to shopping for my SP9…..
Courageous, optimistic, and successful.
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