My first meme

I have never completed a meme, but when I read this one on Chicken Knits I thought it would be a great way to help my secret pal get to know me a bit better. She didn't send out specific tags, so I jumped on the bandwagon right away.

So here it goes, 8 random things about me.

1. I love to sing/perform on stage, but I get really embarrassed when my friends/family/coworkers hear me sing randomly. I have no problem up on stage in front of a crowd, but I can't sing in the car with my hubby. Weird huh!

2. I love soda. It's a really bad habit, and I am trying once again to go cold turkey. There is just nothing like a fountain soda on a hot Florida day.

3. I have the craziest laugh. When I was a kid I was often compared to Woody Woodpecker. It has sort of become my trademark.

4. I wish I could live on a farm....again. I grew up on a farm, and I miss it terribly. I loved being surrounded by animals, and I loved working the land with my parents. It was just the three of us (mom, dad and me). It was hard work, but it was great. I am so grateful that my parents raised me on the farm.

5. I love my car. I always develop an attachment for my cars, and I get very protective of them. I try to park away from other cars in lots because I am very worried that I will come out to door dings. This is not an overreaction. I swear! Anyone else who has parked on a college campus probably has this fear.

6. I love game shows. It is a guilty pleasure I know, but they are so funny. I find it very hard not to "advise" the contestants. I love it that my hubby joins in with me.

7. I am a total night owl. I love to stay up at night. The world is so peaceful, the house is quiet, and I feel like I can totally relax. My perfect work schedule would be to start work late in the morning, and end in the evening. This way I can stay up and get plenty of sleep. My body doesn't want to sleep until at least midnight. This makes getting up at 5am to get to work by 6:30ish very very hard. I have been getting up this early for over a year now. It has not gotten any easier.

8. My husband is truly my best friend. I know it sounds corny, but he is. We started out as best friends. We make time to do things together as often as we can, and he even knits with me. He is the best partner that anyone could want. This year will be our 5th anniversary.

Okay, enough about me. I tag Two Knits of Ivory, Mr. Poopers Day Out and Furry Terrier. I love reading their blogs. I hope you ladies haven't already been tagged with this meme.

Clapotis update:
I am almost done with the straight rows, and I am really impressed with my dropped stitches skills! Okay, I know the beauty of the yarn really deserves the credit. I will post pictures as soon as it is done. I hope to have it finished by the end of the week.

Clapotis in progress

I am totally in love with the clapotis pattern created by Kate Gilbert. (You can find the pattern on Knitty.) I have seen so many beautiful versions of this pattern in the blogosphere, so I just couldn't resist any longer. It is a really fun knit, and the way the pattern is separated by sections makes it easy to memorize. I have only worked on it a few times because I have been so exhausted after work each evening. I am planning on making some progress tomorrow at my knitting group.

I wish I had knit a gauge swatch before starting this project. I started on my brand new 7's, and I knit almost all of the increase rounds. But I didn't like the way the fabric draped, so I ripped it all out. SOOOO much fun with Noro! For the second attempt I used 8's, and I am very happy with the drape now. Maybe this will be a lesson learned for me....I don't know. I am so impatient! When I start a project I never want to knit a gauge swatch. :)

I just finished the increase section tonight, and I decided to add one additional increase section. I am really happy with the colourway so far, but I am not sure if I am going to attempt to match the stripes or not. I tried when I started the second skein, but the colors didn't repeat the same as the first. I think I will probably let go of my obsessive compulsive tendencies and just let the colors be chosen by destiny.


I smile every time I see these colors together. They are all my favorites....pink, green, oranges, and blue. They look so fun together. Can you tell where the color repeat went wonky?


Well, off to start dropping some stitches on purpose! Whohoooo!! :)

I have no self control

It has been such a hectic week around here, and yes I know it is only Wednesday! I returned to my office last week (guidance counselors return one week earlier than teachers in my district). So I have been working very long days that start with very early mornings. So I haven't had much time to knit, or sleep, or see my family. OK, enough complaining! I love my job, I really do.

I sat down a few days ago to start my clapotis. I set up my beautiful new noro, my pattern, grabbed a pair of needles, and my most comfy cushion. I took a moment to take in the beauty, and to contemplate how fantastic it is going to be to work on this project. I cast on my two stitches and thought it looked a bit loose. Hmm...did a couple a rows and it still didn't look quite right. Well, it turns out the needles I had in my hands were 9's instead of 7's. Yikes! Of course, I don't have a pair of 7's that aren't carrying stitches on their backs. I literally felt like crying. I was so excited to start the project. Now I was stalled. So I called my hubby at work and humbly asked him to go by the LYS and pick me up a new pair of 7's. He lovingly agreed, and they actually had the size and length I needed! Whohoo!

Only one problem. Hubby works an hour away, and it will be more than an hour until he gets off work. Then there is the commute and stopping by the store on the way home. This is a lot of time without knitting, and I was so psyched about starting a new project. After so many stressful days I really needed some serious knit time. Suddenly I realize that there are two beautiful cakes of Fiesta Boomerang from The Loopy Ewe staring at me. They are brand new, and they are so wonderful. They are calling out to me. What would it hurt to go ahead and cast on my second chevron scarf? I did buy this yarn for that purpose, but I was going to wait until I had made some decent progress on my clapotis. Well of course you know what happened.


I just couldn't resist. This project is such an easy knit, and I really did want a project to keep in my purse to work on during lunch at my office. :) I am very happy with the way the two colors are blending. When I picked out these colourways I tried to pick something totally different from my first chevron scarf. I wanted something more subtle. These two are just close enough to each other to blend well, but they are different enough to add some variety. They are both Fiesta Boomerang. The one on the left is Plum Pudding, and the one on the right is Mochachino.


I am going to my hang out at the weekly knitting group tomorrow night, and I plan on starting my clapotis then. I will post some pictures as soon as I make some head way on it. Until then, happy knitting!

Chevron Scarf.....finished!

Yep it's true, my chevron scarf is complete. It has been off the needles since last weekend, but I didn't have time this week to take any photos. **WARNING-Too many photos ahead**


I had fun photographing this scarf.

I am really happy with the way the colors blended. So very yummy.


Overall, I am very happy with how this turned out. It was a fairly fast knit, and the pattern is a snap. It is 75 inches long and about 6 inches wide. Since I used DK weight yarn I got a bit more bulk, but I really like that. In fact, I purchased two more skeins of Fiesta Boomerang from The Loopy Ewe last night to make another chevron scarf. I am very excited about the new color combo I chose. I hope it works out well. I picked two shades in the same color family so it will be very different from this one. This will be the perfect project to keep in my purse so that I have something to work on at work during my lunch break. When I actually take a lunch break that is. :)

I hope everyone has a great weekend. I am off to start my clapotis and watch a movie with my hubby.

Secret Pal 11 Questionnaire

I am so excited to announce that I have joined Secret Pal 11! I think this will be such a neat way to meet a totally new person. I am going to have a lot of fun with this. It reminds me of having a pen pal.

I completed my questionnaire tonight, and I realized that I am pretty high maintenance. My husband has told me this for years, but it never hit me that it is true. I do like things the way I like them, but I am not rigid or anything. I think I am a good kind of high maintenance....yeah I will keep telling myself that. :)

To my secret pal: I am allergic to chocolate...yep actually allergic, sad but true. I know that people (especially us girls) love to give chocolate with gifts so I wanted to let you know.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I love so many different yarns, and I am not opposed to trying something new. I am in L*O*V*E* with Fiesta Boomerang. It is the softest wool I have worked with, and I adore Dream in Color Smooshy.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I do not have a good method for storage now. I simply have them all over the house, and at the bottom of my knitting bags. I really need a holder. I want something unique and functional.

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 since the first week of January 2007. My husband and I bought a “Learn to Knit Kit” at a local bulk store while I was on holiday break. We learned to knit together, and it was a lot of fun. The instructions we had were horrible though…so it’s a miracle we learned anything at all.

I consider myself to be an adventurous intermediate knitter.

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

No, but I really need to start one.

5. What's your favorite scent?

I am funny about scents. Some give me a terrible headache, and others are very soothing. I love fruity smells for the most part. I really dislike scented candles. They are often too strong, and some are dangerous for pets.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

I am staying away from all sweets right now. Please don’t temp me.

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

I love to collage and I enjoy anything to do with pottery. I do not spin, but it is on my “must learn” list.

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

I love all types of music. I know this is a generic answer, but it’s true. My top 5 genres are: 80’s, Broadway, soundtracks, classical, and jazz. I have an IPod, and I have many things that play MP3’s. I love “mix tapes”.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I am a big fan of color exploration. I used to think that I was only attracted to soft colors, but the more I try out bold jewel tones the more I like them. My favorites are pinks and greens, and the only color I don’t care for is black.

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

I am married…. no human children but we have 2 mini dachshunds and two birds.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

I live in hotter than heck Florida, so all my scarves and hats are light. I do enjoy wearing them. I have never had a pair of mittens, but I have always wanted a pair. I would like to knit a pair…they are so lovely and look so snuggly. Ponchos don’t look quite right on me. I already look enough like a pear.

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

This is such a hard question. My three favorite items to knit are shawls, toys and socks.

13. What are you knitting right now?

I am working on my first Clapotis (actually going to start this weekend), a pair of socks, a knitted octopus (also starting this weekend), and a lace shawl that has been on the needles for a couple of months. The pattern has gotten tedious, so I really only work on it every once in a while.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

YES! I love knowing that someone spent time on me much more than money.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I prefer circulars. I have hand issues, so circs are a must for me. I hate plastic needles because they are too light for me. I enjoy all wood, and I like the addi turbos. Other aluminum needles seem to be too heavy for me. I guess I have a Goldilocks complex about my needles…they must be just right.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Unfortunately not yet.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

7 months, and considering I have only been knitting for a little over 7 months that’s really bad!

18. What is your favorite holiday?

It’s a tie between Halloween and Christmas. I have such great family memories associated with both. My MIL gave me a wonderful Halloween quilt a couple of years ago. I absolutely treasure it. It’s so unique, and I must say it’s one of the best gifts I have ever received.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

I collect anything with dachshunds on it, and I love pottery items.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I subscribe to Interweave Knits, and I buy pretty much every other knitting mag I see at the bookstore. However, I see so many interesting magazines that are available overseas, but I cannot get them here. I am trying to build my collections of patterns for toys and hats.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I would really like to learn how to spin and dye my own yarn. I am so intrigued by both processes.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I love to knit socks. They are so fun, and I love wearing wild socks to work. I have to dress somewhat mundane for work, so I love to wear outrageous socks. They are a covert way for me to express my wackiness. I wear a size 9 ½ shoe, and I have chubby ankles…hahahaha

23. When is your birthday?

Sept 18th

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?

I am still on the waiting list. I think I will get in the first week of September.

A Dilemma

I have developed a strong love....OK obsession for yummy yarns. I like to explore for unique items, interesting textures, hand-dyed, fun novelty, etc. I have found so many wonderful websites out there through reading other knitter's blogs, and I am a loyal shopper at a few now. I especially love some of the indie dyers out there (you know who you are), and Etsy has turned out to be a wonderful resource.

As a result of the interesting yarns available online I do not shop at my LYS as often as I once did. Let me first say that my LYS is about an hour away from my house. My LYS is a great shop in a lot of ways. They carry a great selection of wool, almost every color you can imagine. They have a decent selection of sock yarn, and some fun novelty yarns. I love the needle selection, and they have a ton of patterns available. They do carry some hard to find yarns, and some very nice accessories. They do not carry any indie dyers, and they take a very long time to fill special orders. I absolutely love the people, and I attend a weekly knitting group there. Overall, I really enjoy this shop, and as a result I do not mind the drive at all.

My dilemma is this, how do you balance supporting your LYS and honoring your quest for the perfect yarn for each project? I know that maintaining a yarn shop is a daunting business. I know that this owner is there 24/7. She works very hard. I want to be a loyal customer, but I also want to experience all the wonderful variety available.

This dilemma was sparked by my recent desire for my first Noro purchase. I have decided that my next project is going to be a Clapotis from Knitty. I have wanted to make one for a while now, and I have also been longing for a project that would look great in Noro Silk Garden. So, on my weekly trip to the LYS I checked out some Noro. I didn't find a colourway that screamed "buy me", and the price was a bit higher than I have seen online. I was so disappointed, and when I got home I went online to check out the Noro supply on a site I frequent. Eureka! I found the perfect colourway, and the price was right. Even with express shipping I saved around $30 by purchasing online. That is a huge savings, but I couldn't shake the guilt of not throwing this business to a local shop. I could have ordered it from them and waited for a while. Plus, I want to bring this project in to work on during the weekly group, but I feel a bit hesitant since i didn't buy the yarn there. Yuck.

You didn't think I would talk about Noro Silk Garden without a picture did you? No way! Here it is in all it's loveliness. It is a new 2007 colourway, #258. I love it, and I can't wait to see it knit up. I am going to make the Clapotis stole so I bought a bit more than the pattern calls for. Plus I picked up an extra skein or two to maybe make a little drawstring bag to match.


I can't be the only one facing this type of dilemma. I have found knitting bloggers to be a fantastic resource; so any advice, opinions, feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Progress

I have not had much knitting time in the last couple of days...unfortunately. It is almost time for me to return to work (I go back on Monday), and I have been trying to get things in order before I return. I am very sad that my summer is over, but I am also excited to see my work friends. I am going in for a bit today to get settled in my new office, and to figure out what supplies I need to get.

I have been working on my chevron scarf off and on, and I am very happy with how it is turning out. It is 58 inches long now, and I still have quite a bit of yarn left. Originally I planned to knit until I ran out of yarn, but I think the scarf will be 10 feet long if I do that. I think I will go to 75 inches and stop. That will give me good wrap around without hanging down to my knees. So I am torn. What do I knit with the left overs? Should I knit a simple hat, a set of fingerless gloves, socks...hmmm... Any opinions?

Here is a shot of the scarf this morning. This thing was very hard to photograph. Not only due to it's size, but the colors are so hard to capture. This photo shows the colors the best, but it is still not 100% accurate. Once I finish it and block it I will take some pics outside in "real" light.


This will be the first project that I intend to block...besides socks that is. It is going to be so large I am unsure of how to block it in a timely fashion. My knitting friends suggested that I block it in sections. Umm...I don't like this idea because there is not a spot in my house that I can allocate to blocking this thing for a week straight. I have read that some people block with steam and magic sizing. Has anyone tried this? Does it work?

I hope to finish the scarf this weekend, and I have also been working on a chevron hat in a skein of Fiesta Ballet. I want to finish it this weekend too. Hopefully I will have some finished pictures to share early next week. Then I can move on to my next big project even though I haven't finished my leaf lace shawl. I will alternate between the two for a while. I am expecting the yarn for this project on Monday. I will take pictures and fill everyone in then.

Have a great weekend, and enjoy some glorious knitting time!