Friday, October 27, 2006

I Think I Might

I have been doing the Secret Pal 9 Swap which so far has been a lot of fun because I get to buy a lot of fun things to give to my pal. At times I actually forget that there is someone out there who is buying fun stuff for me! My secret pal, the one that is buying for me, seems to be very nice and she has asked me lots of questions that have made me stop and think. Especially about the scary and before uncharted topic of socks! I think that I might have given the impression on my blog here that I don't want to knit socks more than I may have meant to.

I will admit that before she asked me about socks I really didn't care much to make them because I don't really wear "decorative" socks all that much. (Yesterday was an example of when I should have as my feet were cold and I had to wear stupid white socks that really didn't look all that cute with my shoes.) But now that I have pondered the question for a while I think that I might actually want to make them. It doesn't hurt that I have found all kinds of fun things with which to make socks.

Exhibit A:
Stretchycirculars.com
Obviously DPNs are intimidating, even though I feel I have become somewhat of a master after my successful baby hat earlier this month. I thought that I would try 2 circulars b/c that is what Ann uses, and if it's good enough for Ann then it is certainly good enough for me. I also looked up the magic loop method which seemed like something that I might want to try. Then I got the Knit Simple magazine and inside was an ad for 10'' size 2 Stretchy Circular needles which they proclaim to be useful in the knitting of socks. I believe that this will be my poison of choice.

Exhibit B:
Sock YarnStacie has informed me that sock yarn does not count as stash, so all the more reason that I should learn to make them. I don't really have a huge stash anyway, but I would be more than happy to have some fun yarns that don't count toward it!

I bought some.

Exhibit C:
Patterns
Really, the patterns for sock knitting are almost endless when you pair them with the wide array of sock yarns out there. I found several yesterday in my brief search that I liked, these, these, these (sort of) and these for Jason. These are also fun, but I am thinking that they might be a little too ambitious for one just starting out.

Exhibit D:
Gifts
I think that many of my very grateful family and friends would be more than happy to get a pair of socks from me for an important gift giving/receiving occassion. Maybe next Christmas everyone will get socks. Who knows. (If this is to be the case, then I think that I shall have to start on the first pair on Dec. 26, 2006 just to get them out in time. I think that we all know that this isn't going to happen.)

I believe that all of these exhibits are just cause for me to learn to knit the elusive sock. I will do it...one day.

On a side note, I have been knitting this week. (Although I knit nary a stitch yesterday! Nor did I crochet.) However, all of what I have been doing is going to be a gift to my secret pal, and really, I can't be posting that on here. Once I am revealed to her, I will be more than happy to slap a few pictures up for your viewing pleasure.

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Ann Shayne Day

As I alluded to yesterday, and if you've been to either Ann and Kay's or to Maria's, you know that this past Saturday ANN SHAYNE came to Memphis, TN as part of the Southern Festival of Books. Maria and I were indeed not only lucky enough to go, but to get to meet and hang out with ANN! It was a thrilling experience to say the least. (I won't go into the pick-up lines that we encountered along the way to and from the festival as they are best saved for another time.)

Ann gave a very cute talk about their fabulous book complete with profound truths, and as you might can imagine, she is just as funny and cute in person as she is on the blog and in the book. After the talk, she signed books outside and thought that it possibly couldn't get any better than just meeting her and talking for a brief moment. WE WERE WRONG. We were told of a kitting trip at Sleep Out Louie's. Of course we then proceeded to go to Sleep Out Louie's and sit and knit with Ann for about 3 hours with a group of about 20 knitters. It was so much fun!

Bless Maria's heart, she just could not separate herself from the love of the Rebels long enough to really let loose and give Ann all of her attention, but she had a grand time too. Fortunately, Ann is a really relaxed and fun person and found all of our antics to be humorous and I hope not too over the top. (Maria and I can really be a force to be reckoned with at times.) She thought that Maria was funny with all of her running back and forth to check the score. (Really, Maria loves those Rebels.) And I am sure that she thought I was crazy because I kept saying, "I can't believe that Maria is going in there to watch the game!"

We are going to try and convince her and Kay to come to Oxford and visit our LYS because we need to meet Kay too! We can only imagine that the Ann and Kay duo would be twice as nice, and we are having a hard time imagining how we would be able to hold up to the excitement of seeing them both! Somehow, I think that we could manage!

(I am sorry to inform that blogger is being a pain in the hiney and won't let me upload any pictures. I will try and rectify this situation and get some fun pictures posted ASAP!)

I think that Ann gave 10 profound truths during her talk, so I am going to be so bold as to add #11.
PROFOUND TRUTH #11: If you have the opportunity to go and see/visit/knit with/talk to ANN SHAYNE, by all means GO!

Monday, October 16, 2006

Kerchiefy Fun

A friend of mine and Maria's is going to be doing the 3-Day Walk for Breast Cancer this weekend in Atlanta and since I am such a thoughty person I made her a kerchief like she has been wanting. She is a part-time knitter (ha) and had tried to make herself a more complicated one but since I was under a time constraint and didn't have said pattern on hand I used the Kerchief pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts (can you tell that I just got a copy?) and some Sugar n Cream cotton that I had on hand. (Of course!)

Obviously I had to make some modifications due to the differing guages of the called for yarn and the SnC yarn otherwise it would have been more shawlish. It is really too small for her to wear around her head (made to the measurements given in the book) unless she wants to pin it into place, but she thinks that it will be extra handy for any sweating emergencies that are sure to come up during her 3-day, 60 mile walk.

I am only too glad that I could help. :-)

And because I am nothing but a shameless tease, here is one pic from this past Saturday that was spent with the lovely and adorable ANN SHAYNE in Memphis, TN. I promise that I will give a very detailed account of the fun time that ensued tomorrow. You will all surely hate me once I tell it because it was so fab. :-) :-)

Friday, October 13, 2006

Alert: Adorable Baby Hat!!!

This is the Children's Cotton Hat from Last Minute Knitted Gifts and is going to Ella, the brand new baby of a friend of Jason's. Seeing as this is only my second attempt to make an item using dpns I would say that it is spectacular! Of course there are a few imperfections, but laddering was kept to a minimum. Hooray!

I used size 8 dpns (b/c I unlike some people can admit that I knit tightly) and 1 skein of Mission Falls 1824 Cotton in 805 Lemongrass. This yarn just happens to be the featured yarn this month at my fabulous LYS, Hanging By a Thread, so I got a very cute baby gift for $4!!! I am definitely going to go back and get some more of this while they are running the sale! It is so soft, comes in about 20 different colors, and 1 skein will make a baby, toddler, or child sized hat in this pattern.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Some Exciting News & Some Not So Exciting News

Exciting News: Maria and I are excited and happy to be travelling to her favorite city this Saturday to see our favorite dishcloth knitter, none other than ANN SHAYNE! (Oh I really can't express to you how excited we are.) I am in fact so excited that no words spring forth in order for me to express just how excited I feel.

Not So Exciting News: I made myself a very detailed timeline so that I would feel confident that I could get everything completed for Christmas in time. I then decided that I didn't want to have to work under those conditions so I am just going to get what I can completed. If you are expecting a present from me, don't fret, I will get to it eventually. (I am not thinking of it as giving presents late, more like making the holidays last a little bit longer.)

I have also had to choose some different items to give to some individuals (three!) due to the fact that 3 x 75 does not equal 256. I don't know how I ever thought that it did, but due to this error I am somewhat short on yarn yardage. One situation has been rectified by choosing another project and already completing it*. One will be ok because I had a little more than 3 skeins, so it will just be a little smaller. One I am going to have to start all over from scratch. Ugh. This is very disheartening b/c the receiver really would have liked what I was going to make.

I guess I am off to search for patterns and see what I can make with 225 yards of worsted weight yarn that is not a dishcloth.

*Pictures to come soon as my camera took a vacation to New Orleans and has not yet come back home.

Monday, October 02, 2006

SP 9 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I am not really picky in the sense that I won't use acrylic yarn b/c I will, but I have a hard time seeing with fun fur and really frou frou novelty yarns. I'd really like to try Koigu since everybody raves about it so!

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a quilted little roll up case for my straight needles, I have a Denise circular kit so those are in the case that they came in, and my crochet hooks are in an Ashland Sky Hook Sac.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have been knitting for a little less than a year by my best estimate. I taught myself from a "I Taught Myself Knitting" kit. (Same goes for Crochet) I think that my skill level is advanced beginner to almost intermediate! :-)

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes, I have an amazon wish list.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
I love just about everything except coconut and pear. My favorites are vanilla , raspberry, and oriental florals.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
YES! I love chocolate. ANY KIND.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I don't spin, and I keep a scrapbook on and off. I am trying to learn to hand sew, but just for small projects like seaming, etc.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like pop, country, and rock. I don't really like rap and R&B. I imagine that my computer will play MP3's but I've never tried it.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love PINK! Orange doesn't really look good on me, but if it's not something that I will be wearing, then I like it too. I don't really have a color that I don't like.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am single, without pets.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes, all of the above.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I have really only knit a limited number of items (dishcloths, scarves), but I am looking forward to branching out soon to sweaters/tops and felted purses.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Lots of things! I am working on Christmas presents mostly.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Of course!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Straight, and I don't have a preference between bamboo, aluminum and plastic. I use aluminum the most, but I like them all.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I have a yarn winder, but no swift. I don't really know if I need a swift to be honest.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Baby poncho with some terrible novelty yarn that is hard to work with and makes my hands feel yucky so it has been sitting around for about 8 or 9 months now.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I love stuffed Lambs!

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
There are tons of books that i want but mostly I have been coveting "Sexy Little Knits." I have subscriptions to Creative Knitting, Crochet!, and Knit Simple.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Even though I don't really WANT to, I need to learn how to do intarsia. eek.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
No socks yet, therefore I have no idea what my foot measurements are.

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
03/21