SP10 Questionare Answers

My favorite fibers are ones with mostly natural fiber content: cotton blends, wool and blends, alpaca, etc. I don't like fibers that are mostly or entirely synthetic, especially fun fur types.
To store my needles, I have a zip around case that is really intended to store 14 inch straight needles. As such, it really doesn't do well for my circulars and double points. For my hooks I have an aluminum pencil box that works very well. I'm currently looking for something to store my stitch markers and point protectors. They're in the case that doesn't really work for anything!
I have been knitting for about 3 years. A friend wanted me to teach her how to seam knitting (something I would know from my years of crochet experience) and I offered to teach her, if she'd teach me how to knit. She taught me how to cast on and knit, and then I was able to teach myself more on the subject through reading books. I would consider my level to be advanced, as I have done projects in fairisle, intarsia, cables, and lace.
As a general rule, the more intricate the design, the better I like it!
I have started an online wish list at amazon.com, but don't have very much on it.
My favorite scent is lavender, but it has to be from natural lavender oil, as I am allergic to nearly all synthetic scents, including those in lotions, body wash, and bubble bath.
I don't have much of a sweet tooth, and don't eat refined sugar and rarely eat anything chocolate. As a food treat, I love teas, especially those that naturally do not contain caffeine.
I do spend some of the time available to me for crafting on scrapbooking. About once every 6 weeks, I invite a group of about 6-10 people to my house to scrapbook together for an entire Sunday afternoon. This is about the only time I really work on my scrapbooks, as I have difficult time finding the motivation to complete pages, if I'm alone. However, I do love photography and end up with quite a few pictures from when my husband and I go camping and from his slow-pitch softball games. I find most of my free time is spent knitting or reading. I also do a little beading, usually to make stitch markers which I trade with others online. I don't spin, but I do crochet. Usually, I use crochet only for edgings on sweaters or blankets.
My favorite kinds of music are ones that use mostly acoustic instruments. Classical (particularly Bach, Bethoven, Chopin, etc.) music is one of my favorites, and I also enjoy Praise and Worship music. I don't have the ability to play MP3s, yet, though I've been thinking about getting an MP3 player.
My most loved colors are pink, purple, blue, aqua, black, and some greens. I don't really like yellow or orange. I do like most neutrals, but they seem to "sit on the fence" as far as rating them as loves/hates.
I am married, without children, but do have 2 cats.
I love scarves, predominately for warmth rather than for fashion. (I take them off when I go into a warm building, rather than wearing it all day, no matter how lightweight.) My clothing style is very classic/natural and I don't often embellish an outfit with scarves and the like as I get irritated by the way that I constantly fidget with them! Although I love hats, I haven't found a style that I think works well for my shape of face, which is round. Mittens are always fun and I've knit some ponchos for myself, but prefer larger shawls that can be wrapped.
I knit many sweaters. However, I also enjoy knitting socks and shawls. Right now I am knitting a cardigan, two pullovers, a shawl, some gloves and some socks. I love to start new projects, and almost always have 4 or more projects going at the same time.
I love handmade gifts. One of my favorite cold weather scarves was made by my best friend and given to me for Christmas last year.
Mostly, I use bamboo circular needles, with a full set of double points thrown in for socks and sleeves. The straight needles that I have onl yseem to collect dust!
I do own a ball winder and swift. The swift was gifted to me by my mother, who no longer had a need for hers, so I think it is older than I am, but it still works alright.
My oldest UFO is about 4 months old. Last August, I finished up all of my UFOs, so I've only had 5 months to start and not finish new projects!
I love holidays, but I think that Thanksgiving is probably my favorite because of family togetherness & because it is no overly commercialized like Christmas and Easter.
I collect china and salt and pepper shakers. I haven't very many shakers, as I have such limited space in which to store them and I also am rather picky about how much I will spend on a set.
There aren't any knitting books that I am really wishing for, but I'd really like to try yarn made of bamboo or hemp. Knitting with a new fiber is such a great, fun adventure. I've been thinking about starting a pair of mittens or gloves with a very complicated looking color pattern, but have not yet purchased a pattern or yarn. Currently, my only magazine subscription is to Interweave Knits.
I am always looking for new techniques to learn, but don't have any in mind to learn, right now. I would like to try a more complicated fairisle pattern and have pattern at home that I just need to find the yarn for. I haven't started this one because I need to find a yarn that will work as a substitute for the wool yarn that the pattern was written for, as the person I would make the sweater vest for is allergic to wool.
I am a sock knitter. Size: 9" instep & 9.25" long. I wear a size 8M shoe.
My birthday is May 23rd, which I share with my dad!

Lots and lots of knitting!!

This weekend, I took Saturday as a day of rest and knitting...I finished both sleeves on the Curvalicious Cardigan! After all the ripping I had to do on Friday, I was a bit discouraged, but now I have a sense of accomplishment. (The cardigan won't photograph well as I have it scrunched onto a 24" circular. Once I get to the hood, maybe I can get a picture posted.)

On Saturday, I received this in a package from my "Think Green" Stitch marker exchange. My partner even sent some of my favorite flavor of tea! I've even had the opportunity to use one of the markers while knitting my sleeves on Saturday. I'm hoping to finally send out my exchange packages to my partners, this coming weekend. (Packages for both the Tote Exchange and the Stitch Marker Exchange.)
Also, in Saturday's mail were my KnitPicks needles for the Civil War Shawl KAL. Just looking at the cables is enough to make me fall in love with these needles. Typically, I use bamboo needles, but with the increasing size of the shawl, I think that having an interchangeable cable size will be more cost effective than having to buy 3 different needles for the varying widths of the shawl. I'm really hoping to get my cardigan finished before Thursday, when this KAL begins.
Today, my husband will mail out the 2 squares that I finished for the Gracious Parcels Project. I hope that Firefly receives them in time!!

Frogging...

Yesterday was the day of the frog. I finished turning the heel of the second blue & white sock to realize that I had started my short rows on the wrong needle & so the toe was 90 degrees off from the heel. Frog...Then, I started working on the sleeve to my cardigan. The pattern calls for a 12 inch cuff! I could just see those needing to be pushed up all the time, so I did some recalculating and cast on again for an 8 inch cuff. I finished most of the increases and realized I was increasing too quickly and all the increases would be finished in 10 inches instead of 16. So, frog...I did manage to get about 5-6 inches re-knitted before going to bed. It was a very frustrating day. Hopefully, I won't have these problems when I sit down to knit later today!

Curvalicious Progress

I had about an hour to work on my cardigan, last night. It is finished to the bottom of the sleeves! Feeling a great sense of accomplishment, I really wanted to start a sleeve, last night. However, I knew I needed to get some sleep, so I postponed starting it.
On another note, I have been working rather feverishly on the Blue & White Socks and have the second one almost to the heel. I really want to get these done so that I can start working on the Huskies socks. Maybe, I'll get to start those this weekend.

When I arrived home last night, I checked my mail, and what did I find, but the All Things Heather yarn that I ordered from The Loopy Ewe, only last Friday! The yarn is super soft and I am really looking forward to working with it. I just have to finish the socks that I've already started, as I need the needles! These socks will be my March socks for the Sock a Month KAL.
The color is "Huskies," and is for a pair of socks for my husband. I wanted them to be a surprise, but when he saw the color name, he asked if it was for his socks! Of course, I fibbed and said, "No." I'm still hoping that I can make them while not at home, so that he doesn't catch on in an even bigger way!

A Restful Holiday

Since I had Monday off for President's Day, I spent the day not doing much of anything. Of course there was a little laundry to be taken care of, but I worked on making a bunch of stitch markers, too! Some of the ones that I finished are here and may go to a partner in an exchange. Also finished are about 12 markers that I intend to use on my Civil War Shawl, once that KAL begins.
I, also had the opportunity to finish reading Katie's Dream, which I had begun over a month ago and just never found the time to sit and finish it. Yesterday was a great day for relaxation.

Sock Progress!

I've been knitting almost exclusively on the blue & white "Sock-It-To-Me" sock. I have the first one done and just finished the toe of the second one. I've decided that they will be a birthday present for my mother-in-law, who loves my hand knits, but is afraid to wear the last pair of socks that I made as I told her that it is best to hand wash them. These will be machine washable so I'm sure they'll get much more use. After all if they aren't used all the time spent knitting, seems like such a waste.

On Saturday, I went shopping for some green beads to make stitch markers. Here are the ones that I found. They're bright green glass with parts that are cloudy & parts that are clear. I might even do something with some of them, today!

UFO's

This sock yarn has been in my collection since just before Christmas. I started the sock on Christmas Day, but when it turned out too small, I set the yarn aside in favor of a new project. Last night, I frogged the whole thing and wound it back into a ball. Then, I started over again, finishing the short row toe, before going to bed.
This is the Tied Up Tee from White Lies Designs. I've been working on this since last September. I have the front, back and one sleeve done. Maybe once I finish the socks, I'll get a little more initiative to get this one finished! This color is one of my favorites and the yarn is a cotton/rayon blend that is beautiful. The rayon causes it to shimmer.

Stitch Markers

Last night I finished the bag for the Tote Exchange. It looks great.

After finishing, I started to work with some wire and beads. I want to make myself some stitch markers and found some jewelry findings at Michael's last Sunday that should help. Here are the finished markers:

They were fun and quick to make. I may have found a new hobby!!

Lining Fabric Chosen

Here is the lining fabric that I've chosen. With such a busy weekend, I didn't have the time that I thought I would to get the lining finished. However, I did get the handles sewn on. After sewing the handles, I started to line the bag, but made the lining too big, and it looked really sloppy. I took out the stitches and then cut the lining fabric down some. I will probably work on this more, tonight. Then, I'll just need to finish a few little goodies to send with it!

Great Mail!

I had a busy morning today. All the stuff I had planned were things that I really wanted to do, but there was just so much. First, I met my mom and swimming partner for 45 minutes of lap swimming. Then, I rushed to get showered so that I would only be 15 minutes late to the church musical practice. Afterward, I stayed after the practice for the women's fellowship time at church. I was so blessed to have a long conversation with my friend Julie. I finally arrived home about 2:00, pretty tired out. But, when I opened my mailbox, I saw the large envelope from The Knitting Guild Association. I ordered the pattern for the Civil War Shawl Knit Along. I was starting to open it, before I even had the door to my condo opened. However, before I did get to look through the magazine, I found a package on the counter from my upstream partner in the International Tote Exchange III. She sent coffee, chocolate and a large travel mug. Since my favorite one just broke, this could not have come at a better time!

Once I got over the excitement of such a fun package, I began to look through the back issue of Cast On that I had ordered. I was, then, a bit disappointed. I ordered the issue from 2002, instead of 2001. So, I am now in the process of ordering a pattern from the author (which is what I would have done in the first place, if I had finished reading the blog entry before ordering!) I also stopped by my LYS, Village Yarn & Tea, to see which lace weight yarns they carry. They had the Jaegerspun Zephyr, but wanted 16.95 (plus 9% tax) for 4 oz! I had already checked out the prices online and knew that I could get it online for around $35 (plus shipping, but no tax) per 16 oz. I know where I'll be buying it from, if I decide on that yarn. It is a beautiful yarn, and it probably is the one that I'll end up with, but I have to consider all my options. (Isn't that part of what its all about when you have almost a month to get the materials?) I am very much looking forward to beginning that project, but must get some others done first.

Fun without Knitting?

Last night, I went to church to sing in my first Worship Team practice. Being a bit apprehensive, I wasn't sure how I'd sing. However, everything went very well. I had so much fun and am looking forward to the time when I will get to help lead worship. We sang songs that I knew, which certainly helped much. The songs for this week were: "My Redeemer Lives," "Shout to the North," "Give Us Clean Hands," and a couple others that I cannot remember the names of right now!

Fulling finished!

Here is the fulled bag. (It is still drying & so you can see a little of the Tupperware container that I'm using to help it keep its shape. This weekend, I plan to sew on the handles, and sew a lining into the bag. At that point, I'll really be finished. I hope my secret pal loves this bag as much as I do!

While the washing machine was working on the fulling, I made some more progress on my cardigan. I am almost done with the decrease rows for the waist shaping.

Tote Knitting Finished!

Here is the finished tote before fulling. It has been fun working with this pattern. I plan to full it tonight & then I'll have the real finished photos!

More Progress

I managed a couple hours knitting time, last night. On the cardigan, I finished about 2 inches, and on the tote, I knit through another pattern repeat (about 2 inches.) All in all, I'm pretty pleased with myself! Both projects are so much fun and are keeping me interested, fairly easily. I wasn't sure how it would be, as there is no change to the pattern on the bag, once the checkerboard section is started. And, on the cardigan, almost all of the garment is worked in basic stockinette stitch. This one remains interesting because of the color work.

A Wedding and Knitting

This weekend, my oldest, younger brother was married. Since I needed to be there 3 hours early to be in some of his pictures, I took my tote along to knit while waiting for my turn & then to wait for the main event. I did get quite a bit done, see?

I think that I have about half of the knitting done, then there will be felting, adding hardware & a lining and then to top it all off with some decorative felted knitting! I am so excited for this and am really enjoying watching it take form. I may even have to make one of these for me. I'll definitely knit myself a bag at some point, though maybe a different pattern, as I do get easily bored on the second of anything. (This is why I often take forever to finish both socks! Right now, I have 1 sock done in a pattern, but have not even cast on for the second, yet.)

I've also realized that I love working with this yarn. I see a sweater or shawl knit in it, at some point in the future. Being half alpaca, half wool, it felts beautifully and is sooo soft and warm. Like I said, "I love it!"

Another New Project

Last night, I went shopping for yarn for the Tote Exchange III. Getting to spend an hour in the store looking at everything and talking to the store keeper, was very relaxing and exciting at the same time.

I started a swatch. Since this will be felted, the swatch needs to be, too. And, I have some elements on the bag that will be cut from the felt, so the swatch is usable...I think that's great!! I hate wasting yarn to swatch felt.