Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Such good stuff I can't stand it!

Ok, I had a ridiculous good knit night last week. On Tuesday nights I meet up with some of the Chicks & we knit at Starbucks. Man. Tonight I got my KnitFlix swap gift & it was AWESOME. Here it is:




The Cutting Edge (haven't seen it? No? OMG - you must). The Cutting Edge Licorice Twist yarn dyed by Liz of Knit Clinic Yarns, Zitron Unikat yarn & 2 hat patterns. I'm going skiing & I'm totally into whatever I will be able wear while I'm there (nevermind that I will be in Colorado for 5 days & already have knitwear for about 50 days - just hush!), some of my favorite candy including M&Ms, Giant Chewy Sweettarts, Rainbow Twizzlers which I've never seen in my whole life but was more than happy to try out, Ghiradelli hot chocolate (yum), beads, little magnetic pads which I always have a soft spot for, a pom pom maker, low fat popcorn to even out the candy - all housed in the coolest popcorn bowl ever! Whew. I know - lots of stuff right?

Close ups of the yarn:
Knit Clinic Yarn - hat or maybe Calorimetry?



And then there are these letters. Sigh. You'd almost have to know my swap partner Janet to appreciate this. She is the mom of one of the girls in my group. You know how you hang with your friend's moms & it's not the same as hanging with your mom since they are cooler than your own mom & in no way responsible for you so you are friends with them too? But when you say / do something that you know your mom won't approve of & they give you that mom look but don't really mean it because well, they aren't responsible for you? Well, that's Janet. And she doesn't really approve of my cussing, I can tell. I've been wanting some cursing stitch markers since Becky made some for blogless Betty. Well, Janet got me these letters so I could make some cursing stitch markers of my very own. How sweet is that?


Then ---to top it all of Lise got there & she just got back from Rhinebeck. I entrusted her with some of my hard earned cash & she did not disappoint. Here is what she came back with.

Oasis Aussi Sock Yarn


Some ridiculous gorgeous pink & brown handspun. Which Patrick said looked "unfinished" (ie, thick & thin handspun). Exactly. Sigh. I love it.


Dorchester Farms Handpainted sock yarn


It was hysterical because we were all sitting in a circle & she was showing us all of her loot. It was a haul let me tell you. I was politely looking at all of it & petting it as it came around the circle all the while sitting on the edge of my seat because I knew my stuff was in there! So she pulled out a plastic sack & I couldn't see it & I swear I felt like those people on the Price is Right when they are telling them "you could win......THIS" - And she'd pull out some yarn & I'd get all excited & clap & try to figure how much did that cost. Not really on the cost part. She said she almost came home with $14 of my money. I would have killed her & taken some of the gorgeous stuff she brought home for her!

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Look, I made a Knitter! And other fun stuff.

My niece Jordyn has been showing interest in my knitting since I started pulling it out in front of her. She kept hinting that she might want to learn but never came right out & asked. Honestly, I really didn't think I was a good enough knitter to be teaching anyone - I have my own way of doing stuff & figured I would confuse anyone interested to no end. Not to mention that I'm neither patient or a teacher in any way, shape or form.

Well, Friday night I stayed at my mom's house & Jordyn stayed with us. Away from the watchful eye of her little sister she asked me to teach her to knit. I was happy to do so but I didn't really have teaching supplies with me. I'm working on my Central Park Hoodie & no way was she using that yarn. I had a beaded bag on size 0000 needles with me. Luckily I had some Caron Simply Soft in my suitcase but not with suitable needles - I only had Addi circulars with me (of course!).

I told her that I knew there was some children's rhyme about a bunny & a tree or something (maybe I was thinking tying shoes?) and she told me she didn't need a rhyme to learn. Oh - excuse me. It was a good thing though because I didn't know it & I didn't even know who to call that would know it! She had her own way of learning - "up, around, through & off". Can you see how hard she's concentrating?



Works for me. Worked for her. The circs were throwing her off though. I made mention of the fact that it didn't escape me that she was learning on expensive needles. Too funny. Saturday I headed to Hobby Lobby & got her some cute pink & purple needles with some sparkly yarn - also pink, purple, aqua, brown - any guesses as to her favorite colors? While I was there she finished this scarf:


I am gushing with pride & excitement. I have visions of her in 20 - 30 - 40 years telling the story of how her Aunt Tasha taught her to knit when she was 8 years old & how she put it down for a while but picked it back up because it brought back good memories. Oh, I'm such a freaking sap! This might be her only scarf ever but I'm too happy about it.

Other fun things.

Ya'll. Really. If you don't listen to another podcast, you have to listen to this one. It has nothing to do with knitting & everything to do with nuthin. I love it.
The Big Boo Cast

I'm also reading this Southern Vampire Mysteries series by Charlaine Harris. It is about vampires & it has a sexual undertone (maybe some overtones too)and you know, a little vampire bloody. But it's really funny & tons of fun. I just didn't want ya'll to say I didn't warn you in case you are easily offended. I am loving it though.

More later about what I'm knitting. Really.