my new goal....

ok, here's my new challenge to myself.... I'm going to make myself use up the beautiful yarn sent to me by past Secret Pals....and then post pics or, ok post as I go.... I've been a bit of a slacker in that department...I don't know why, it's all very nice and I like it very much. I think it might be that I've just been petting and coveting it (must. get. life.) and thinking about what it might like to be! yeah that must be it.

Ooooh maybe I should cast on a project from each of the yarns at the same time!!! eeeh that might be fun!


So I started on a sock from the hand died merino from the lovely Nicole H. And I chose the Retro Rib Socks pattern from Favorite Socks by Interweave. I like the pattern...but it distracted from the beautiful yarn colors, and the colors took away from the pattern. So, it just wasn't a good match. I knitted about 4 inches and ripped it out last night, I'll just stick with the basic stockinette and so far I'm liking it much better....what do you think?

I think yes....I like it!

In other news....It was a busy but good week! Well, busy as my weeks go I guess. I went with my DB to see 300 tonight. It was interesting....it was done almost like a comic book or something...but it was good for what it was. And does anyone else out there think Gerard Butler is hot? You know, Gerard "Phantom of the Opera" Butler! well...um if you do...you should go see 300...where we see alot more of ol Gerard....very nice.

Ok enough of that! I've got a sock to knit.

Happy Weekend.

Package #1

Woohoo... I just mailed off my pals first package!! Yay!

And I finally started working on my Noro Blossom sweater again....I'm knitting the neck and then I'll sew it up and hopefully be able to wear it before it's too warm. It actually has been too warm lately, but we're having a little cool down this week, so we'll see.

The second sock is almost finished. I'll graft the toe today then I'll post a picture. I like the striping better on this one. I have no idea why it's different. oh well.

And that's my exciting life....hahaha.... work has been busier lately, but today, I'm having a leisurely day off. Gotta love it.

Life's Good. Happy Knitting.

ps....Rachel, remember the little pepper plant in a can you sent me in sp8? Well...I took a pic today with my camera phone but it hasn't arrived in my e-mail yet....it's not only blooming but it has peppers on it...one of them is even red! Very cool....oh and it's still in that little can!!!

OK, here's the pic!!! Isn't it cool?

How Cool is This?

My Hostess for SP10 is Robyn. Robyn is already offering a second contest....two contests and it's only been 6 days since the start of Secret Pal 10. Now that's pretty cool! You go Robyn.

So here's the deal:
She wants us to blog about (and show a picture of) our favorite knitting accessory. Here is mine:




It's my Constant Companion knitting bag from the book Knitter's Stash.
I knit it for myself from Cascade 220 worsted wt wool.
I love love love this bag.....I loved knitting it... I loved the way it came out of the washer after felting with perfect corners...I loved the way my first attempt at chart work (the pattern on the pocket) turned out. I love the way the handles can be short and doubled or long and single. But mostly I love this about it:

It does a lovely job of containing all my other favorite knitting projects and accessories. (It doesn't look bad sitting next to my couch....and looks very nice against my carpet!)

ps...Rachel, if you're reading this, look closely into the bag....I really do use the needle rolls and the small project bags you sent me. love them too!

ps...I finished the sock!!!

weird striping huh? I think it's because of the rib pattern, I'm thinking I'll decrease the cast on to 60 in place of 64, on my next pair, which should fit fine and might make the striping a little bit more like the foot/toe area. maybe.

new day, new season and a new attempt at posting....

OK, let's try this again shall we? Happy Spring everyone...it's officially spring, or so they said on the news tonight.

I got to sleep in today, until the phone rang waking me up to remind me of my dentist appt. tomorrow. I hate waking up to the phone ringing, I'm always afraid I'm supposed to be somewhere and overslept! I did have to go in to the office for a little while today, but not long. Had a quick lunch with my sister first, and then I went to the LYS and looked, found a few little things for my secret pal's first package, and in general just hung out and visited. (note to self: take your knitting next time).


Here are the pics I couldn't post last night...


The sweater sleeve mentioned in the previous post:
the yarn is Noro Blossom, it's the ladies striped sweater from the Noro pattern book vol. 20

And the sock and really white foot (with the fancy toes):
the yarn is claudia hand painted 100% merino, size 2 dbl pts and just a generic sock pattern with the leg in k2p2 ribbing. (i'm getting tired of ribbing...not good on the first sock)

And that's what I've been working on!

I'm procrastinating on making up the sweater, hence the sock in progress!

I love knitting socks...have I mentioned that? No matter what else I'm working on....I like having a sock on the needles too. And I have the sock yarn stash to prove it. In fact, when I started this sock, I was being kinda lazy. I had my sweater pieces all pinned out blocking on the dining room table, which also happens to be where I usually set up the winder, sooo I had the winder put away. Soooo I just grabbed the claudia which was already wound instead of setting up the winder and swift and winding what I really wanted to use which is this :

Lovely hand dyed (specially for me by my sp9 spoiler Nicole
100% Merino. Isn't it beautiful? I can't wait to see it on my feet. Tell me people, is it ok to knit socks in from a beautiful dyed yarn like this in a pattern....like some fancy stitch pattern verses stockinette? would it take away from the color? or would the color variation take away from the pattern?

Oh and while I was looking for that picture, I remembered that I don't think I've posted a picture of this: The Danica Enterlac Scarf in Noro Silk Garden. I can't tell you what a nice blocking in a little bit of wool wash does for this scarf. Soft, drapey, so nice!!! I just love it!

And on that note, I have to get going.... I bought my sp's favorite candy for her first package....and um... I had a moment of weakness.... ate it...finished it off today.... now I need to go find real food. At least it's gone and it's over. I'll have to pick up some more tomorrow...shhhh don't tell her!

Third time's a charm!

Alright....I've just about had it with this thing...this is my third attempt at blogging and posting pics tonight. I'm not sure where the problem is but I'm tired of trying.

close your eyes and picture the sleeve from what will be a beautiful sweater knit from Noro Blossom....and my beautiful half finished sock from Claudia hand painted , it's on my very white foot with fancy nail polish from my pedicure last week...woo. hoo. There was much more enthusiasium in the two previous posts with actual pics!

happy monday woohoo woohoo.

secret pals...and....lies

OK...I heard from both my secret pals this week! (my spoiler and my spoilee) Yay!!! I think it's going to be great fun! And today I went shopping....and have all sorts of ideas for my pal's first package....

oh the lies part....well that's all me, last post I said I'd post pics this time...not going to happen. I'm not supposed to be at the computer, I'm supposed to be cleaning the house and I'm being a slacker instead. So....I'll try to post pics later....really I really will! Honest!!!!

Happy St Patty's Day everyone!
Beware of green beer ( you don't really know where that's been!)

finished objects

ok...pics next post....but I'm feeling guilty about neglecting my blog....so here's what I've been doing.

1. I knit a sweater for my mom for her birthday from Noro Revisited by Cornelia Tuttle
Hamilton. It's called Avesta and it's knit in Transitions. (forgot to take a pic before I mailed
off this morning.

2. Finally finished the hat for my son knit in sock yarn.

3. Finally sewed the suede bottoms on the felted clogs I knit him before Christmas.

4. Tonight I'm supposed to be blocking the pieces of my sweater so I can make it up.
It's also in Noro, Blossom. Its from Noro Knitting Yarns Volume 20. It's the Noro Blossom
Ladies Stripped Sweater. I will post a picture of it soon.

5. I made a feeble effort to learn to use my drop spindle....feeble but an effort .... it's going to
take some practice!!

6. Soon....very soon.... I get to start something new!!! Yippeeeee! I'm ready to start some new
socks or something!

Knit on my friends!