Category Archives: Knitting

My Stitches West adventure

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Oy! The humanity! The Stitches West market was insane when I went on Saturday. People everywhere, most of them not paying attention to what was going on around them and stopping right in the middle of a busy walkway. The worst part was the people with the stupid pull-along suitcases. The place was so packed there was no hope of seeing the floor… or the stupid suitcases being pulled along behind someone… perfect for tripping over. Geez. Amazingly enough I did the circuit in about 2 hours. How did I manage that? I avoid all the stores that are within driving distance of my apt (it’s not like I was going to get a discount buying from them at Stitches), and I avoid places like Webs and the Yarn Barn (both of which have websites). I went around and made notes of the things I liked… I only decided what I was buying for sure after I’d seen everything. (I went to a few conventions before I developed this strategy only to find something near the end I really wanted and have no money for it.) If something seems to be going quickly I might get it when I first see it, but usually my motto at these things tends to be “If it’s not there when I go back, I wasn’t meant to buy it.” The only place with a long line that I contemplated buying something from was Carolina Homespun cause their winter hours suck, I don’t drive up to SF all that often, and I’m not fond of the navigation of their website…. and they had glow-in-the-dark yarn. But, I had a budget.

So, I present “The Haul”:


Doesn’t look like much does it? But that represents all $100 of the budget I set for myself. The nifty item I picked up for my secret pal (not shown, obviously) went on the plastic card so that I could utilize all $100 for myself. *grin* So, what is it you’re looking at? On the left is 2 ounces of cashmere fiber…. mmmmmmm. On the right is 2 skeins of Brooks Farm Duet (55% mohair/45% wool) that is currently destined to be a shawl pour moi. (I think it is highly evil of Brooks Farm to have opened a website… because now I want more… so soft. Unfortunately, a quick perusal of their new website does not have that particular color of 100% mohair I was drooling over but was $5 short of being able to get. *sigh*)

Hmm… I need a title…

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It would appear that I am not the only one around here in desperate need of a vacation. Many people I pass in the hallways of my work place have a look on their faces that screams “What the fuck am I doing here?!” along with an air of being plain worn out. For all I know it’s the precursor to some illness ravaging our dept’s ranks… which makes me all the more thankful for my new cube out on the edges surrounded by empty cubes. I’m taking tomorrow off though as a mental health day… there will probably be knitting and getting back on track with my classes (I’ve fallen a tad behind on the reading).

I pulled $100 out of my savings account today as that is the budget I have set for myself for visiting the Stitches Market on Saturday. (I’m so glad Stitches isn’t in Oakland this year… and having it in Santa Clara puts it 10 minutes down the highway from me.) As I was getting my budget out of the new mini ATM my credit union has installed in the cafeteria building on my work’s campus I noticed a sign saying that as a promotion they had randomly put fifties. Unfortunately, there were no fifties amongst my twenties. *pout* An extra $30 to spend on yarn would have been sweet.

It doesn’t look like we have anything planned for Sunday, which is good cause this weekend is jam-packed otherwise. Friday night, we’re driving down to Monterey to go to a wine tasting/silent auction with my parents. Saturday, I’m hitting Stitches. Saturday night, there’s a wake for the little girl who died last week. Sunday will probably be for recovery…. and fondling my Saturday purchases, I’m sure.

For my Secret Pal

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1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high-end/natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

I prefer natural fibers, I love the way they feel and breathe, but they don’t have to be high-end. I’m not a big fan of most of the novelty yarns out there… some have purpose, but they mostly seem too frilly for my tastes… I’m a down to earth kind of girl. I don’t avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand… they have their place: afghans, baby items, etc. I’ve been knitting an afghan for my mom for the last 2 years and I’m using Red Heart. I also use softer/baby acrylics for knitting booties and hats for Stitches from the Heart.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

I have been spinning for about year now and love it. I know enough crochet to do a provisional cast-on.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)

I can be allergic to cigarettes if they’re being smoked right near me, so I’m also not all that fond of the smell they leave behind. Things that are highly perfumed with things other than natural oils can also give me a fit of sneezes.

4. How long have you been knitting?

I’ve been knitting for about 2 years.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Not with anything important on it… I use it for remembering things I thought might be interesting, not for telling other people what I would like as gifts.

6. What’s your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

I’m a fan of vanilla, lavender, mint… basically, I love herby smells… rosemary, thyme, sage… citrus is good too.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

Big time… probably more than is good for me.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

I used to cross-stitch, but since picking up knitting I have yet to do any work on my last cross-stitch project.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I’m pretty ecclectic in my listening habits… The only things I’m not all that fond of are country and rap.

10. What’s your favorite color? Or–do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer?

Hmmm… favorite color… I love deep reds… burgandy, cranberry… I also like soft blues… something sort of country/French blue… I think it goes well with the deep reds.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I’m married… no pets because the apt complex doesn’t allow them. 🙁

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)

Life dreams… wow… right now I’m working on my Master of Library and Information Science, but I’m not sure I’d call it a life dream. There was a time when I thought my life dream was to go study Paleopathology at the Univeristy of Durham, England so that I could go digging in historical cemetaries… (morbid, eh?) but that fell through. I think I’d like to just lead a quite life, doing the things I love… but I have to win the lottery for that to happen.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

I fell in love with Jo Sharp DK wool (the long fiber stuff) the first time I knit with it. I’m having lots of fun with the Buton D’or Ksar that I’m knitting with right now.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

Squeeky acrylic, you know the stuff that feels obviously like plastic… and I haven’t found a cotton I like yet, but I’ve only really use the kitchen cottons that are out there and one type of merca… um, that treated cotton… yeah.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

Current knitting obsessions… I’m still loving lace… it’s why I started knitting in the first place.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Don’t know… haven’t actually done lots of things… mostly a few large things… I think I’m finding sweater construction interesting. I’m ceratinly going to knit more lace shawls.

17. What are you knitting right now?

Sweater for my husband… almost finished.. then it’s on to a lace shawl for a friend.

18. What do you think about ponchos?

um, didn’t like them the first time around when I was little either.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

Depends on the project.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I prefer bamboo and other woods because they’re easier on my hands.

21. Are you a sock knitter?

Damn skippy! I love socks; they’re good for instant gratification.

22. How did you learn to knit?

Knitting for Dummies and Knitting in Plain English.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

2 years old… it’s a washcloth… I told you I don’t like kitchen cotton.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

Favorite animated character: GIR from Invader Zim

Favorite animal: dragon

25. What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween… I love the fall in general.

26. Is there anything that you collect?

Hmmm… fiber and yarn… I tried starting a Pocket Dragon collection and got “that look” from my husband cause there’s no room in the apt. He seems ok with my stash though. 🙂

Mmm… red

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Six skeins of Sheplova Mushroom arrived via UPS this morning….

It’s such a yummy color… I love deep reds, I just look funny wearing them… my pale skin (I’m a blonde) reflects it and I look like a beet. *pout* This is, of course, why deep reds are my favorite colors.

This particular batch of skeins are destined to become the Wool Peddler’s Shawl from Folk Shawls for a friend of mine. She has a gypsy heritage, and it shows in her coloring. When I saw this color I knew it would be perfect for her… and reading the description of the Wool Peddler’s Shawl, it is also an appropriate color… apparently wool peddler’s wore red shawls so they could be found in a crowded market place.

Settling into the blahs

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I’ve been feeling kind of blah towards knitting this last week… hence the reason there hasn’t been much here. I doesn’t help that my right wrist has been bothering me. Thankfully, my brace, ice, and BenGay have been close friends, and they work. The funny thing is it’s not actually my wrist that’s the problem, it’s my elbow. The tendons in my forearm pull it out of place and pressure is placed on my ulnar nerve, which makes my wrist and ring and pinky fingers ache and tingle. I have an exercise from my chiropractor that I usually forget to do until things hurt. The only thing that really makes it feel better is not knitting. *sigh*

I’ve begun the sleeves for Le Bete Noir. But they are languishing in my knitting bag with about an inch done of each. I’m glad I’m doing them together… less chance of me doing something to one that I don’t do to the other.

I know I promised pictures from the dyeing class I took on Jan 15. But, I forgot to take my camera (we all saw that one coming right?)… not like it really mattered… I was the only person who showed, so it was pretty laid back and drawn out, which was probably good for the teacher since her daughter was in a flip-over accident the night before. I will however post pictures of the resulting roving as soon as I remember to get it and my digital camera in the same room.

Knitting away

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I’m nearing the end of the front of Le Bete Noir. I think I’ll take another picture when I start the sleeves. I’ve decided to knit them both at the same time so they at least turn out the same length.

I’ve started a little lacy scarf out of Frog Tree fingering weight alpaca as a gift for someone.

My friend that made my wedding dress offered bribes for a lacy shawl. I was considering it, when I came across a new color at Peace Fleece: Sheplova Mushroom. The color instantly reminded me of her. I’m thinking of making the Wool Peddler’s Shawl from Folk Shawls.

I got paid last week, and now that bills are situated and I know that spring tuition is handled I made a donation to MSF and emailed Stephanie with my donation amount. I am truly amazed by the amount that has been donated by knitters.

And soon… soon I should be finding out who my secret pal is for Secret Pals 4.

The post office finally pulls through

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Back on Dec 15th I ordered an Extra Fine BFL sample from Copper Moose on eBay for a buck. I wanted to see how soft it was before I went buying 2 or 3 lbs of it. They mailed it out. There was waiting and more waiting. I got the stuff I won in an auction on Dec 22nd. So, I email Copper Moose and they assured me they had indeed mailed it, but would mail out another sample. The second mail sample arrived yesterday and is quite nice (now to see how it spins up). Who knows where the originally mailed sample is… could be at the South Pole for all I know. *sigh* I’ll laugh if it shows up in my mailbox three months from now.

Le Bete Noir is about half way to the armseye shaping. I’m getting work on it in at my work but am eschewing it at home for some reason. Thankfully, it’s 6 rows to the inch, so every 6 rows actually seems to get me somewhere.

I’m quite proud of myself for getting Designing Knitwear in hardcover for more than half off at Bookshop Santa Cruz. It looks rather interesting since it talks about actual shape of the human body and that sort of thing, which has perpetually confused me.

The dragging week

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A short stop at the LYS brought me a copy of Folk Mittens and Folk Knitting in Estonia. I’ve flipped through both books and have started reading the interesting information Nancy Bush has at the beginning of the Estonian book. But, I haven’t decided if I’m crazy enough to try knitting a pair of mittens. A pair of socks in the Estonian book have certainly caught my eye though.

Le Bete Noir is plodding along since I work on it when I feel like it can. So, I didn’t work on it last night… there was no knitting at all last night. I have started my new exercise regime… well, it’s not all that new, I tried to start it a couple weeks ago, but the holidays interrupted it. The plan is to get at least a half hour of something that makes me sweat everyday. Mainly, I’ve been riding the exercise bike in our apt complex’s fitness room for 40 minutes (working my way slowly up to an hour). Last night, after exercising and a hot shower, I felt up to nothing more than vegging in front of the TV while cozy under a blanket. These days happen and I embrace them. *grin*

In other news, I am planning on taking a dyeing class this Saturday at my LYS. But, I don’t have any yarn for dyeing… I’m not sure I feel like spinning something up just for this class. I’ll probably just grab something white before the class starts.

Maybe I need chocolate

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Spending my three day weekend in my pajamas and not going out at all seems to have helped clear up the illness (which, of course, meant I had to go back to work today with everyone else). I did more sleeping than knitting, but I did manage to finish the back of Le Bete Noir (but not photograph it) and cast on for the front. I’m about an inch of the way into the ribbing so far… but it is indeed the front and not the back… and it is good. Thankfully, it shouldn’t take me two and a half months to finish off the front since I no longer have a lace shawl to worry over. In fact, I’m hoping to get a good portion of it done before school starts at the end of the month…. and for while it’s still cold out. I’d hate to finish it and have the weather turn warm, so here’s keeping my fingers crossed that we don’t have a weird early spring like we did last year (it came at the beginning of Feb for 2 weeks, then got cold again for a few weeks before heading into the end of spring/beginning of summer). Considering the storm that blew through here this last week, I’m expecting a nice cold, wet winter… I’ve even heard rumors that this might be the beginning of an El Nino cycle. If that’s true, we should get many more downpours. *squee*