SP 10 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I am currently LOVING sproingy, squishy basic fibers like merino and such. I am not such a big fan of furry yarns like mohair or angora, but I love alpaca. Oh yeah, no acrylic please :)

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a two hand-made needle rolls, one for my straights, one for my dpns, and my circs are just kept in their plastic baggies.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I've been knitting for about three years. I taught myself using a "teach yourself to knit" kit I got at a craft store with cheapo acrylic yarn. I consider myself to be intermediate. I've made a couple of sweaters and know the basics of lace knitting, but have never ventured into the hard core colorwork stuff.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Not currently, but can create one if needed.

5. What's your favorite scent?
I love, love, love citrus smells. I find them energizing and invigorating. I also love the comfy, homey smells like pumpkin pie and cinnamon apple.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Major sweet tooth. I'd have to say my favorite candy is probably skittles, but I love just about everything.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I haven't tried spinning yet, but would like to give it a whirl (ha ha). I also quilt, scrapbook, and do a little bit of beading.

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 music, but if I have to be specific I'd say my two favorite genres are country and reggae (I know, opposite ends of the spectrum) Yes, I can listen to mp3s.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I am currently loving yellows and oranges, but I like to experiment with color. I am a participant of Project Spectrum 2.0, so I will be following those color guidelines as much as I can. I can't really like of any colors I don't like.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
No kids yet, been married for a little over a year. I have two giant loving doggies.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes, yes, yes, and not anymore. I have a couple of ponchos from when I first started knitting, but I haven't worn them in a long time.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I love socks, and that is usually my standby, but I'm also venturing out. I'd say I really like experimenting with classic style sweaters.

13. What are you knitting right now?
I am currently working on a baby hat, some leftover Christmas projects, and my Central Park Hoodie.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I switch around a lot between straight and circular, it depends on the project and if I intend on traveling with it. I use my circulars a lot more unless I'm making a scarf, then it's straights all the way. I never use plastic needles, can't stand them. I really really love wooden needles. Every once in a while I crave the slick addi turbos that everyone loves, but for the most part I love my basic bamboo and birch. I've never tried rosewood though, I hear it's divine.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Yes, both thanks to my darling husband.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
It celebrated it's 10th birthday this year. It's a black crochet afghan from high school. My longest knit UFO is probably "Jesse's Flames" sweater that I'm making for my husband-its been lingering in the basket for about 2 years.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Probably Thanksgiving, but I love summer picnics and barbeques too, so maybe the Fourth of July is a close second.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I collect shot glasses, but currently don't have anywhere to display them.
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 currently don't subscribe to any magazines, but I love Interweave Knits. I've been trying to find a place that sells Rebecca, but no one around here seems to have it. I'm just curious what that magazine looks like, never seen it. I would like to try a simple stranded colorwork project, like maybe a hat kit. I'm also looking for a simple sweater pattern to use a beautiful purple Manos del Uruguay yarn I purchased recently. That's about all that's currently on my wish list, but I'm always seeing something that I'm dying to try next.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
As I mentioned earlier, I'd really like to try a stranded colorwork project. I think a hat might be a good beginner project. I was going to try mittens, but I don't know if that's a good first project.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I am a sock knitter, and I'm a size 6 1/2 women's. I don't know my exact foot measurments but could provide them if needed.

23. When is your birthday? Nov 15

The Yarn Room

I have been highly negligent in showing you pictures of the completed yarn room, so now since I am severely lacking in pictures of finished objects (because there are none) I will supplement with a photo show!

First up, my award-winning quilt. This quilt was hand-pieced by my great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother in the 40s. It was then quilted by professionals in the 90s and won third place at the pike county fair in Missouri. For Christmas my mother-in-law gave me a quilt rack so I could dipslay it proudly in my crafty room.
It hangs proudly behind the two oferstuffed armchairs that is the primary seating in the yarn room. If you are sitting in these chairs, this is your view:

The custom-designed shelving unit that my husband made, and the boob tube where I watch endless episodes of Friends and Scrubs while I knit. Surrounding that area on the floor are the numerous plastic containers that house the overflow of my craft obsessions. To the left is the sewing nook:

This side of the room gets the most natural daylight and is where all the quilting and sewing takes place. Speaking of the quilt, this little lady perches over the room, keeping things peaceful.


She was a gift from my mother-in-law for Christmas, inspired by the main fabric of the quilt we are making. Last but not least, is the newest decoration.

Shelf provided by Beth, to hang and display the pretty pretty Manos del Uruguay I bought a few weeks ago. The folded items on top are two ponchos I made a long time ago and will probably never wear, but are too pretty to be confined to a closet.

So that's the yarn room, where all the magic happens.
Not much else going on here, but I did make a huge splurge purchase yesterday.

Size US 2 DPNs, for sock knitting. The splurge part? Ebony. Mmmmm..... I can not wait to cast on!
Also, something I shouldn't even admit to knitting here, because I will get a comment or email from mom asking about her socks.....Illegal Knitting. No, the Christmas presents aren't done. Yes, I feel really bad knitting something for myself while they loom in the knitting basket. I know it's wrong, but it feels s..o........g..o..o..d! I'm not telling what it is, but I bet you can guess since I've mentioned it before!

Quality

Is it just me that judges the quality of a blogpost by the amount of pictures in the post? I have a few blogs that I read every word of every post, but the rest I browse the pictures and read the post if something catches my eye. Now, before anyone gets offended thinking I don't read their blog every day, let me clarify. I subscribe to about a zillion blogs via bloglines and if I read everyone everyday I would have to quit my job. Anyway, I assume other people do the same thing, and just browse the pictures. Since I have resolved to be a better blogger, I try not to post unless I have a decent amount of pictures, or at least one related to knitting. So, may I present, a blogpost of good "quality".....

Last time I mentioned a kitchen makeover, and now I have the pictures to prove it. For Christmas, my mother-in-law gave me a ton of red kitchen stuff. I secretly suspect she is redecorating my house one gift at a time, but I don't really mind. It's not like I would buy this stuff for myself unless I really need it.

Red items from left to right: coffee maker, water bottle, blender, food processor, stand mixer, pot holder and oven mitt


Red items from left to right: toaster oven (it's red, you just can't tell at that angle), spoon rest, pot holder, utensils in the caddy, toaster, sugar and flour holders, cookbook.

So we spent all day a few weeks ago going through my kitchen purging my old unmatched dishes and appliances and redecorating my kitchen. All that's left to make my kitchen completely MarthaStewart-ized is paint, retile the floor, and make some curtains. Whew! After all the redecorating, something amazing happened. I had this inexplainable urge to.....cook! I love all the new kitchen appliances and I wanted to use them. I am still in awe of the stand mixer. You can dump your ingredients in there and just.....walk away. When you come back they are all mixed up and you didn't have to DO anything! Technology is great. My hubby has been extremely pleased with my newfound love of the kitchen.


(I can't get that picture to rotate for some reason, sorry about the neck-straining.)

Just a sample of the dinners he's been treated to lately. The top (sideways) picture is spinach-stuffed shells, and the bottom picture is lime-pepper-garlic chicken with a salsa and lime garnish. I've also made coffee cake, cookies, egg salad, and lots of breakfast stuff. Cooking is fun! Who knew?

Lest you think I've abandoned knitting for the kitchen, don't be mistaken. It's just another excuse to knit dishrags.
My very first ball-band warshrag from Mason-Dixon Knitting. Love it, ove it, love it. I want to run out and buy cotton in every color and churn out these babies night and day!

I've also been getting paper-crafty. I mentioned that I was co-hosting a baby shower. I was in charge of the invitations.
It took me a little less than an hour to make one. Then I decided to get crazy and make this many.
After making eleven my hand got a little cramped so I store-bought the rest. The guests will never know! I am saving one for the mom-to-be that I'm going to put in a shadow box with some ribbon and other cutesy stuff. (By the way, Jackie I'd love to get the picture and instructions for the diaper cake-I couldn't figure out how to email you back from the comment.)
That's all for now. I am SOOO close to finishing the Christmas presents, but...not...quite....yet. I know I am now exactly one month overdue. I'm already planning for next year.

Inspiration

Last weekend my friend Beth and I revived a tradition that’s been hibernating since spring. We went yarn shopping! The thought of knitting a single stitch on any of my Christmas knits (still not finished) was completely unappealing and we both needed a day out of town. We hit up a few yarn stores in the Harrisonburg area. The tone of the day was definitely “indulgence” as I went more than overboard with my purchases. I can justify it though: it’s been a while since I spent any money on myself and I was in need of some pampering. At the first store I stumbled onto a great deal-Manos del Uruguay at 20% off! So I got seven skeins of a variegated royal purple to make a sweater.



I also got a skein of Crystal Palace Baby Alpaca in a light lavender-blue color.


It came with a pattern for a hat that I promptly cast on for the next day. In fact, Beth and I each got a skein (in different colors) and had a race to see who could finish their hat first. Sadly, she won, and I owe her a batch of cookies. I don’t mind though, because I’ve recently discovered my love of cooking. (More on that later) Besides, I still ended up with a super-cute hat!



The best find of the day though, was a total shock. We stumbled across this store that was primarily a fabric store that also carried yarn. We went in, expecting to find an assortment of basic wool and acrylic. Imagine our surprise when there, on the 30% off shelf, was Blue Heron metallic/rayon blend, three shelves worth! I don’t know if any of you have ever had the pleasure of knitting with this yarn, but you should seek it out if you haven’t. I knit my Green Gable out of it over the summer. I got a skein of the Tulip color. Anyone have any ideas on what I should make? I’ve got 550 yards that’s about a DK weight. (I knit it on size US 6 for the Green Gable)



After I knit the hat I swatched a little with the purple Manos to see what patterns I like. I dragged out all my good sweater patterns I have and tried to match it with the yarn. Every pattern I’ve seen with Manos del Uruguay has been either a man’s sweater of something I wouldn’t wear. Any suggestions? I am really considering making the Central Park Hoodie (LINK to Carrioke) from Knitscene, but the varigations and the cables might be too much. Opinions?

Don’t worry, Christmas gift recipients. Knitting that hat and the yarn purchases was just the inspiration I needed to get cranking. I’ve made more progress on the gifts in the past few days than I have since Christmas. They’re coming! It won’t be much longer!

Also, before I forget. I picked a winner from the comments from the last blog post using a random number generator. So, congratulations JENNIFER! I will be contacting you to get your mailing address soon!

Next time....Kitchen Makeover and hopefully the big Christmas Knit reveal!

PS. I am co-hosting a baby shower in three weeks for a friend and need ideas. We already have the games planned out, but I'm specifically looking for instructions on how to build the diaper cake and some cute do-it-yourself invitations and decorations. Crafty friends....help! Oh, and a super-quick baby knit since I have very little time to knit and plan!

Happy Blogiversary!

First of all, I’d like to say thank you for the kind comments and wishes of a happy new year. I really appreciate them and so does my family.

I told my husband earlier in the week that my blogiversary was coming up and he almost rolled on the floor, he was laughing so hard. After he regained his composure he said, "what's the custom gift for your 1 yr blogiversary, a hard drive?" No silly, it's yarn of course. I have a ball of lovely soft pink Anny Blatt angora to give away to one lucky commenter. I will pick the name at random, and announce it on my next post.

To celebrate one year of blogging, I decided to highlight some memorable things from the past year.

January
a blog was born, finished two objects, and experimented with dyeing yarn

February
the Knitting Olympics consumed most of my time, although I didn't finish.....

March
finsihed Tubey, started my first pair of socks

April
went to the DC Knit Meetup, bought a house

May
Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, signed up for Secret Pal 8

June
made yellow ankle socks, attended Soxperience 2006

July
organized the Flip Flop Swap, started an obsession with quilting, went wedding dress shopping with my youngest sister

August
not much knitting, but lots of home improvement

September
celebrated my one-year wedding anniversary

October, November, and December really didn't hold much knitting content, but I celebrated my birthday, learned to knit continental, and worked on Christmas gifts (still not done!)

Here's to a completed year of blogging, and another good year with more frequent posts and more finished knits! Happy New Year!