Yarn Therapy

Renewal, down to the fiber of my being.....(snicker)!

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Knit and Crochet Progress Report

Here goes:

I finished the wool tea cozy from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. The yarn used was an oatmeal colored Paton's Classic Wool. Despite the fact that I felt very slow compared to the estimate in the book (good thing this wasn't really a last minute gift for anyone), it turned out very nice. I tested it on my tea this morning, and it really kept it warm! Yay! My expectations were low because I only made it because it looked like it was fun to make and I wasn't too concerned about the actual use.

The Einstein Coat is going faster than I thought it would, courtesy of the bulky yarn, plain garter stitch and size 10 needles. I switched to a bamboo circular for the ease of it. Good choice.

I am almost finished with one of the Broadripple socks in Cascade Fixation. I ended up stopping the ripple a bit prematurely, but I think it will be OK.

I haven't worked on the ballband shrug at all lately. Boring.

I started the felted slippers...zzz....again, boring. Not too motivated on these.

I cast on and did a few rows on the Paton's Soywool mittens I am making for gifts. I do like the yarn, but it is a bit splitty.

Since November is just around the corner, I am feeling a bit pressured on the xmas gift arena. I keep telling myself that nobody expects handmade gifts, so why do I pressure myself? I guess it's because the handmade things are original and I otherwise don't have too many ideas on what to get all my husband's relatives.

In additon, there are so many other items I have in mind to make, I am wishing for additional arms to start growing. Yikes! This is supposed to be therapeutic, right?

Sunday, October 22, 2006

A Good Time Was Had By All

Well, we had the Wizard of Oz birthday party for the little girl. (People uninterested in cute kids should bail out now. No knitting this post).

Amelia made a really cute scarecrow, which she will reprise for Halloween next week. I used yarn scraps for the straw.



I made the cake. Those are my furry-looking arms in the background!




My business partner, Karen, brought her one-year-old, Hannah. It was Hannah's first birthday party! Hannah only weighed two pounds this time last year, so she's doing pretty well! (See the lit-up ruby slippers back there? Don'tcha love ebay?)




>

Do you get the flying monkey? lol





On days like this, I am struck by how many skills us mommies have to employ--baking, party planning, nursing, teaching, and on and on. Don't you agree, mommies?



Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Hot Socks Swap


I don't know what possessed me to put my work address on this swap, but I did. It turned out well, because in the middle of a busy work day, I had a fun package to open on my break. It was from my Hot Socks Pal, Shannon, in the next town of Quantico! She sent some lovely treats and yarns! Just look! She acts like she knows me!

This has been a fun swap. I sent my box today to my pal in Germany. I hope she likes the Fleece Artist sock yarn and Celestial Seasonings Teas I sent. Now, I will get back to shopping for my SP9.....

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Shelby's Game

My hostess from SP9 is having us answer some questions. I'm game, but you'll see I have a hard time choosing absolute favorites...

Actor - Johnny Depp, Dick Van Dyke
Actress - Judi Dench, Juliette Binoche
Animal - cat, sheep, alpaca
Band - Sixpence None the Richer
Book - Anne of Green Gables
Bubble Bath - anything from Lush
Candy - chocolate covered almonds, Heath Bars
Color - green/purple
Drink- tea (Iced or hot)
Flower - rose, violet
Food - seafood
Lip Balm - Burt's Bees
Lotion - Ulta chocolate and rose
Movie - Amadeus
Place- beach
Song - "Let's Misbehave"
TV Show - ER
Yarn- Noro, Bliss, Cascade and handpainted sock yarn
Vacation Spot - Nova Scotia, Crete

1. Where is your favorite knitting spot?
On our bed! We spend lots of time there watching TV and petting cats, especially after the cutie is asleep.

2. If you suddenly could never knit again (shudder) - what would you do instead?
I guess I'd go back to crochet, but I'd be very sad.

3. If you could travel anywhere in the world - where would you go and why?
Lots of places! Italy, Western Canada, California, Hawaii, Ireland, etc. All for different reasons.

4. When you were little - What did you want to do "when you grew up?" Are you doing it?
I wanted to be a ballerina! Later, I wanted to be an actress, and then an opera singer. I did sing professionally for awhile. I didn't want to be a mother. Now, I'm a psychotherapist and a mother and love both!

5. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Peach.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Yaaaaaaaaaaarn..............

I received some cool sock yarn "for my secret pal" (ha) that I had ordered from
Lisa Souza. You gotta check it out! This is nice hand-dyed stuff, and it looks even nicer in person (plus, it's soft). And the skeins are big.

The colors are awfully nice. I feel as though the Lime and Violet colorway was designed especially for me (my fave color combo). Never mind that there is a podcast of that name, it couldn't have been for them. No. I own the combination of green and purple, don't I?

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Yarn Shopping

I've been thinking for some time about making the Sally Melville Einstein Coat from The Knit Stitch. I like the shape of the coat, and VERY LITTLE SEAMING. This is a good thing. I believe I can knit very professional-looking garment pieces, only to sew them up into a completely crappy-looking thing. For some reason, I can only visualize this sweater in dark red. I priced yarn on Knit Picks, Webs, and most others on my link list. I finally decided to order it tonight from Knit Picks. I set up the cart, etc. It would not recognize my email, which, I assure you, is the same one I used the last time I ordered from Knit Picks.

So, you lose, Knit Picks! I instead ordered from Webs (ironically, in Northampton, MA, where I lived for three summers while in Social Work School 1995-1997 and I never visited). I got Berkshire Bulky in color #16. Because of the fabulous discount Webs gives, it was under $50 for yarn to make a coat. Pretty good.

Saturday, October 07, 2006

No, they are not cactus covers....


I've been wanting to try knitting some mittens to practice for xmas gifts (our relatives have everything, so what am I supposed to do? I have to make presents). I decided to knit a pair for Amelia. She liked wearing them even when they were an "it." She pinched her finger in a drawer yesterday and had to wear the Mommy Mitten to help the boo-boo feel better (aw!!).

To be honest, I love my dh's family, but some of them are very less-than-grateful for the handmade gifts. Seriously, if it weren't for the little cutie, I would abstain from xmas altogether. Wah, wah, wah.

Monday, October 02, 2006

Major Tea Stash Increase


Wow! My Knitter's Tea Swap 2 package arrived and it floored me! I was looking forward to having some new tea....try 12 kinds!! The list: Harney & Son's Bangkok (the bags are like little pyramids and it smells incredible), Stash's English Breakfast and Green Moroccan Mint, Twinings' Earl Grey and Irish Breakfast, Bigelow Fruit and Almond, Tea on the Thames two large tea bags of Earl Greyer and Papaya, respectively, Adagio's Candy Apple, Gingerbread, and Chestnut, and Lipton Iced Tea to Go. The treats included Schoolboy Cookies, Milano Cookies, M&M Minis, and Ginger Thins--all perfect! She included some Bath Tea (oooh!) and some handmade stationery. And, if that wasn't enough, some goodies for Amelia: Animal Crackers, cocoa and a little pink bunny (already taken by the recipient). The yarn is Mountain Colors (which I've been wanting to try) in a gorgeous colorway. I love it all! Thanks, Lisa of Rhode Island!

Sunday, October 01, 2006

SP 9 Questionnaire

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

I love wool, cotton and alpaca. The brands I like most are Noro, Rowan and Debbie Bliss. I am not real fond of novelty yarns or fuzzy things like mohair or angora.

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

I have the knitting needles in a wonderful hanging holder my sp 8 sent me. The crochet hooks are in my night stand.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I am probably considered intermediate. I learned to knit 2 years ago at the Knit Out in DC and have been mostly self-taught after that. I did take one class in sock knitting about 3 months ago.

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

I have 2 Amazon lists: one knit/crochet and the other non-knit/crochet.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)

I am really picky about these, so I would prefer not getting any.

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

I have a terrible sweet tooth! I like all candy but European chocolate is the best. With nuts, if possible. I also like trail mix.

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

I don't spin but I do crochet and cross-stitch. I have made beaded jewelry. I dabble in other crafts.

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

I can play MP3s and I like most kinds of music, esp. old Broadway and songs from the 20s and 30s.

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

My favorite colors are purple and green (even together). I shy away from orange and yellow usually.

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

I am married with one 3 year old daughter. We have 2 cats.

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

Yes, but I avoid hats until I am really cold.

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

Socks and sweaters.

13. What are you knitting right now?

See blog!

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Yes! Especially if they are well made.

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

I use them all in various situations. If I had to pick only one it would be bamboo circs.

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

I have a yarn winder but no swift.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Several years.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Two: Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day (and DD's birthday, Oct. 29)

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Besides yarn? Teapots, hearts, toy figurines (for work)

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 would love anything on my wishlist. Any handpainted sock yarn. I subscribe to Vogue, Interweave and Creative Knitting. I love those fancy knitting needles in magazines. I love lots of patterns.

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

Intarsia and fair isle are both on the list. I love learning new things. I want to get better at knitting lace. I want to combine knit/crochet more.

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

I love knitting socks! I'm on my 5th pair now. I have a size 8 average foot.

23. When is your birthday?

July 12 (it was during the last SP).

PS: I am allergic to smoke.
PPS: I am also allergic to xmas decorations.