And then there were Seven

Oh man, that was a rough episode! And not for the reasons you might think. I am so effing sick of Uli not winning!!! She is an amazing designer and for her to have done such an amazing job for a plus-size woman on short notice in just about the most gorgeously flattering color scheme, and those stripes! And the paisley!! I'm getting upset again, I need a moment...

On the bright side, my fabulous KSKS pal came through like gangbusters! Cindy, you brightened up my day like you could not believe, thank you again. The bag, I cannot say enough about this groovy bag! It's made from recycled sweaters (Hey, like the bag I made for my pal), with the strap & patches out of fair isle which just tickles me to death! Not only that, she stitched my name in the dang thing! What a crafter this lady is!



Then come the Crystal Palace needles that I have been wanting to try for ages. And the cute Chibi, containing sock yarn appropriate needles w/the curved tip - I've only found the bigger size & thought the sock sized were a myth. Needle holders of my very own, some Eucalan, a sweet little Mary Engelbreit box (perfect for some stitch markers), cool "G" post-it notes, ooooh & the Red Vines!! Why are these so hard to find in Richmond?!?


And then, the yarn & pattern! Trekking XXL (which I have admired from afar) & its perfect pattern match in iknitiative's "Magic Lace Rib Socks." How great is it going to look in that yarn? I know!


Wow, so much goodness. I need to go lie down. Happy crafting to all!

Can't blog

Watching Project Runway on DVR! Be back in an hour.

Muh-numa-nuh!

Happy thoughts:

My new job is a dream! I work with people as crazy as myself & can make real decisions that actually matter. Plus, I was totally busting out the "F" words today when we did Mad Libs. I'm especially proud of "funicular." (Even if I did say "finuncular" at first.)

My new house is amazing! My craft room is going to be featured here as soon as it's straightened up & I've kicked out the Mr's stray boxes. So many windows!! Natural light is very important to me, how else will I photosynthesize properly? The yard is so big, I think we have an echo.

Swap package for KSKS is almost done. I have had a lot of fun with this. What a great idea, hope there will be more!

Pictures to follow soon.

She was such a nice swapper

That's what people will say about me. "She communicated well, used whimsical packaging, blah blah blah." Most likely, it'll only be 3 people, because I have begun travelling the slippery slope towards swap-suckage.

Oh sure, I can use the usual excuse: life got in the way. Selling a house, buying a house, a new job, heck I can still play the "newlywed" card, right? Well, it's all true. And yet. There is a really wonderful person out there who is likely pulling their follicles out one by one, trying to figure out what to make for me. A selfless, giving person, excited by the prospect of gifting a relative stranger with neat crafty items put together especially for them. By all rights, this is a win-win situation - someone wants to make me stuff, I like to get handmade stuff. How hard is it to tell somebody my favorite colors? That I'm a fan of wool, in all it's crazy varieties (except mohair! Itchy itchy, makes me bit-...never mind)? That I knit socks anywhere & everywhere & would knit them in bed if it didn't make the Mr nervous? Enough self-flaggelation already, here's the long-overdue questionnaire, with my sincerest apologies to the long-suffering crafter who drew me, know that you are earning major knitting karma points this time around.

What are your foot measurements? OK, my ruler is packed away somewhere, so I'm guesstimating here. I'm a size 9.5/10 & last I measured, I believe I was about 10.25" long with a 9" circumference at the widest point. Geez, at this point don't worry about the math!

What are your favorite colors? Reds, rusts, orange, blues, purple, green - basically anything, but yellow & pastels

Are you a new sock knitter? How long have you been knitting socks? Fairly new, I've been knitting socks for a little more than a year. Haven't tried anything too tricky. Most ambitious has likely been Crusoe from knitty or the Cable Rib socks from Interweave Knits.

Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn? Multi-colored, all the way. Variegated, rather than patterned

What fibers do you prefer in sock yarn? I've only ever used wool yarn for socks, but I am open to a blend. Absolutely no silk. I'm opposed to the use of it, it's the one rule I have.

Where do you usually knit socks? Everywhere. In the car (not while in motion, except for when I'm too absorbed & relax my foot on the brake), in line @ stores, while waiting anywhere, at the bookstore, on the couch. I will knit them in a house, with a mouse. I will knit them Sam I Am!

How do you usually carry/store small projects? In my purse. No lipgloss cross-contamination as yet!

What are your favorite sock knitting patterns? Hmmmm, loved the aforementioned Cable Rib. I generally use a rib pattern, but want to break the habit.

What are your favorite sock knitting techniques? Toe-up, baby! I recently learned the Turkish cast-on & love it.

What new techniques would you like to try? Entrelac, fair isle, I haven't done much in the way of different heel techniques, but would love to try.

Do you prefer circulars or dpns for sock knitting? Circs. Dpns are for people far more clever than I.

What are some of your favorite yarns? Debbie Bliss Cashmerino is tops. I also really, really love Plain & Fancy Sheep & Wool's socks yarn, made 2 pair with it & have another skein in reserve. Koigu is nice, but I'm not sure it's worth the hype...of course, I've yet to knit myself a pair to go by.

What yarn do you totally covet? I'm very interested in trying some Fleece Artist. I also like the looks of Sweet Georgia's yarns, Trekking & Lorna's Laces.


Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)? Really like my Addi Turbos, would like to try their Naturas

Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack? Red Vines!!! Or Pocky, especially the pudding or milk flavors!

What's your favorite animal? Sock monkey! Ha ha.

Do you have pets? What are their species/names/ages? Sadly, yes. Aleister (cat, 9), Betty (cat, 6) & Dharma (dog, 3)

If you were a color what color would you be? old copper

Describe your favorite shirt (yours or someone else's).. oooh, tough one...either, Til Death Do Us Part or Loch Ness Imposter from Threadless.com (I own both)

What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature? I love the photos at The Bitter Girls.

Tell me the best quote you've ever heard or read. "If I couldn't laugh, I'd rather die" Claudette Colbert

Do you have a wishlist? Yep, a rather scary one @ Amazon.com & an even scarier one in my head.

Well, I think that's enough for tonight! Ab Fab is on & I have packing to do, darlings.

Parting thought: Project Runway. Bringing silk charmeuse & crazy people together every week. Bless you Bravo!

Kool Aid Dyeing - Oooooooo Yeah!

I was skeptical at first. I was afraid I would end up with a pastel nightmare. But I did it anyway.
The roving was dyed first in a not-so-successful attempt at rainbow dyeing. I love what happened.

Here it is being spun up:


These are my 2nd attempts, kinda funky, but I love 'em!

Dye-no-mite!

Hope this helps you, dyepal, though I doubt you need any! :)

Answers to the Dye-O-Meme-A-Rama:

Your favorite colors? Reds, Purples, Rusts, Orange, Greens, Blues, Browns

Preferred yarn weight (Fingering, Sport, DK, maybe even Worsted)? Any of the above, I think fingering to sport is what I usually use for socks.

Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn? I really like both for socks. I'm very fond of solids that have varying degrees of saturation.

If your buddy is able to do so, would you like a variegated, self-striping, or self-patterning yarn? I love variegated yarns the most! I'm intrigued by self-striping, haven't used it yet though. Self-patterning, I really don't like it much, I'd rather come up with the pattern by knitting it myself! :)

Would you be interested in a wool blend sock yarn (nylon, tencel, silk, acrylic, alpaca, etc.)? I'd be very interested in a blend! I've been meaning to try a wool/nylon blend & am planning on trying to spin a wool/alpaca blend myself. I don't knit with silk, please save it for yourself.

Imagine the perfect colorway. What would you name it? Russian Autumn

What was the biggest appeal to you for joining this dye-along? I love secret exchanges & have been wanting to learn to dye for some time now. What a perfect combination! There's nothing better than making something special for someone you've never met & the anticipation of your own surprise!



General yarn/fiber questions:

Have you dyed yarn/fiber before? Nope

If so, what’s your favorite dye and method?

Do you spin? Yes, I'm a beginner, but have fallen head-over-heels...much to the Mr's dismay.

Have you knit socks before? Indeed, I love it!

Do you use sock yarn for just socks or in other patterns too? Mostly socks, but I'm planning on knitting some shawls that would be approximately the same weight.

What are some of your favorite yarns? Are you kidding me? How can a person answer that?!? Koigu, Rowan Calmer, Blue Sky Alpacas, Manos del Uruguay, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino, and on and on and on!

What yarn do you totally covet? Anything with alpaca.

Favorite patterns? Dublin Bay, Cable-Rib (Interweave), Conwy, Badcaul & Giotto

Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object? Throw from "Weekend Knitting" in Blue Sky Alpaca, been dreaming about this for 2 years now!

Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)? Addi Turbos & My Denise needles, I love me some circ's

If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be? Manos Cotton Stria


Nothing to do with knitting/yarn/fiber in any way but seemed kinda fun:

Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack? Pocky!!! I love Animal Crackers, too. Red Vines.

What’s your favorite animal? Cats

Do you have pets? What are their species/names/ages? 4, 2 cats - Aleister (10) & Betty (7), 2 dogs - Ruby (4+) & Dharma (3)

If you were a color what color would you be? Eggplant or a rusty orange

Describe your favorite shirt (yours or someone else’s).. Pucci print tunic

What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature? Cherry Blossoms

Do you have a wishlist? In my head! Actually there's one on Amazon right now, too.

Anything else you’d like to share with the group today? I can't believe you made it this far!

My Sockpal Made Me Cry

in a good way!


Gina tested, Dharma approved! :)

These incredibley gaw-geous socks are from the very gifted hands of Joanne. They are in Mountain Colors Weavers Wool Quarters "Bitterroot Rainbow" in the Friday Harbour pattern from "Knitting on the Road" (a book I have been meaning to get for ages!). They are to die for! I love this colorway, the rainbow colors are muted by the main deep red, so it's just enough "wow" without being over the top. The fit? Phenomenal!! I really like the toe, it fits so perfectly! The heel is a thing of beauty, I'd have a picture of it, but the Mr only got a couple pictures before the batteries died, so I plan on taking more in the near future. Thank you Joanne, you have made me feel so spoiled & special! I'm already looking forward to making another pair out of this yarn. I have to tell you I was a little hesitant to try them on, at first, because I know their Bearfoot yarn has mohair in it, so I just assumed this did to. Sadly, mohair & I are not on friendly terms. Imagine my bliss when I wore them itch-free for my photoshoot! Hooray for mohair-free sock yarn!!

You may also notice my sockapaloooza tribute monkeypants in the photo. I have a deep & abiding love for monkey sleepypants. This is my second pair & they feature 3 different sock monkeys doing the "Hear no, see no, speak no evil" routine. I thought they would be appropriate accessories to the picture. Dharma cannot get enough of the socks, either. She just shoves her nose into them & then lays her head on them. I think she's enjoying the kitty essence they must have picked up. Our cats stay on the 2nd & 3rd floors of our house & she is rarely allowed above-stairs, so she is forever intrigued by all things feline.

As if this wasn't enough of a sockapaloooza reward, my crazy-cool pal Olga sent me such a glowing note of appreciation, I've been on a high ever since! It is just the best feeling ever, putting so much thought & time in a gift like this - hoping they fit, hoping the colors don't make her eyes cross, hoping the pattern isn't a bore, hoping they fit, hoping they fit, hoping they fit!!! Her feet are 4-5 sizes smaller than mine, so "I hope they fit" became my mantra. I might have muttered this in my sleep a few nights, I know I did on my lunch breaks, but everybody there thinks it's kind of cute. Well, if they don't fit, the Divine Miss O is too kind to tell me so & I bless her for that. The picture of her wearing them with heels? What can I say, I have been assimilated. All the ads lately have been showing ladies wearing sassy skirts with little socks & heels & these just seemed so right for that. How sweet was it of her to oblige me? I know!

I have so much love for this funny community we knitters have made for ourselves.

Up next: Dye-O-Rama, baby!

For Dad!

Hi Pop, I love you!







We were married on Nov 24th at Phil's parents home. It was a surprise for the whole family! We had a wonderful day & when we returned home, one of my co-workers had taped a huge "Congratulations" sign to our front door & tossed rice on our front step. Phil surprised my by having my best friend, Tammy (in the blue top, above) come & I surprised him by having our minister insert a line from Henry David Thoreau (Phil's favorite writer) in our ceremony. It was a good day. :)