Guess who called me today? Jeannine... from Amsterdam! (It's not every day that I get international calls.) =)
In the true spirit of international cooperation that the Olympics represents, we are going to compete in the 2006 Knitting Olympics by knitting each other a One-Skein Wonder! We agreed to keep the details a surprise, so no pictures until the end. (Sorry!)
I've never gotten anything handknit before... I'm very excited!
Guess who called me today? Jeannine... from Amsterdam! (It's not every day that I get international calls.) =)
In the true spirit of international cooperation that the Olympics represents, we are going to compete in the 2006 Knitting Olympics by knitting each other a One-Skein Wonder! We agreed to keep the details a surprise, so no pictures until the end. (Sorry!)
I've never gotten anything handknit before... I'm very excited!
Until photos! (It's really hard to have a knitting blog without pictures... trust me.)
Of course I couldn't wait to cast on for my Clapotis-inspired scarf. The yarn I bought at the Knit-In is actually blue, silver, and green. I had to steal the picture off the Mango Moon website for my last post and it wasn't the right color. The scarf is looking very nice, I think it will be great for spring. I just hope it will be long enough!
Apparently a gift from my Secret Pal is on its way... I can't wait to see what it is!
Guess what I'm going to do this spring?
(Actually I'm only running the Half-Marathon. But I still think that's a good challenge. My friends Emily and Meredith are going to run it with me. Fun fun! In case you were wondering, I've run 4 half-marathons... no full ones. My knees thank me!)
Woo hoo! Kudos to Carol for hosting an awesome 1st Annual Knit-In tonight at Simply Fibers, a great yarn store here in Springfield, MO. There were about 20-30 people there the whole time I was there, just knitting away. Then... drum roll please...
At 9pm she announced the special Knit-In Sale -- 30% off all yarn in the store. I am somewhat restricted budget-wise (just bought a house) but this is truly the chance of a lifetime, right? So I bought some really beautiful yarn from Mango Moon to make a Clapotis.
(It was still expensive, but it's made by a women's collective in Nepal. That's gotta be good karma, people.)
I also got a couple balls of Trekking XXL -- some really nice sock yarn from Germany. Here's a preview:
This might be a nice surprise for my Secret Pal, what do you think?
I got to meet Brianne in person! I think she's going to some knit with my knitting group this Sunday.
[Picture removed -- major computer problems]
Well, what do you think? I finally made something that fits! I'm so excited. I can't wait for the other one to be done. But first, I'm going to try to finish up Picovoli.
I won't be having any more pictures until Feb 1. I maxed out my flickr account because apparently I was taking the largest format pics with my new camera. At some point I guess I should read the manual, but learning along the way is so much more fun. At the wedding last weekend I discovered "night mode" which still uses a flash but still makes the room look dark. Also, everything is a little blurred unless it is absolutely still. I got some pretty cool pictures of people dancing. Stay tuned!
Lolly has an interesting project
planned starting in March -- it is all about using color. That is oen thing I am not very good at, whether in knitting, decorating my house, or even coordinating my own wardrobe. (Sometimes I have to ask my husband if I'm fit to leave the house.) =) The other neat thing about her project is that it incorporates all kinds of arts and crafts, all based on color. She has different colors picked out for each month starting in March.
I was in my husband's sister's wedding last weekend. I have some pics to show you, but my stupid flickr account is full for the month. I'll have to work on that.
Simply Fibers, a yarn shop here in Springfield, is hosting a "Knit-In" this Friday night from 6-midnight. I'll be there, will you? (If you haven't been there before, it's on South Campbell behind Andy's Custard.) It was also featured in this month's 417 Magazine!
Let's all give a warm welcome to Brianne, a knitblogger who recently moved to my neck of the woods. She looks might prolific -- and she takes pictures in the yarn shop I go to (so maybe the owner thinks she's even crazier than me!)
That brings us to today's Reuse-Remake-Reknit challenge. Remeber these socks? They're knit out of some really great Cherry Tree Hill yarn, with my own pattern. Can you guess the problem? (Hint: Not the yarn.)
I just winged it on the pattern, since I couldn't find any patterns for worsted weight yarn. Well, the socks are way too floppy, even on my husband's big feet. So a-ripping we will go!
Here's my plan for the yarn: Thuja! I still need to buy the needles, but I am declaring this my Olympic Knitting 2006 project. I have to finish BOTH socks during the Winter Olympics. Challenging, but not impossible. Stay tuned to see if I win a gold medal!
Is anyone competing in the 2006 Knitting Olympics? It's a challenge cooked up by none other than The Yarn Harlot herself. Basically, the idea is to pick a challenging project and complete it -- start to finish -- while the Olympic torch is burning in Torino.
I love the Winter Olympics (all those sports I don't understand, plus figure skating is pretty!) so I think this could be a really fun project. I just need to come up with a project that is "medal-worthy."
If anyone's interested, we could do a swap -- each knit something during the Olympics and send it to the other person? I don't really know how these things are supposed to work, but let me know if it sounds fun.
I know, I know. Everybody's doing it, it's this year's Crap-o-tee, etc. But I want to knit me some Jaywalkers. They're still really cool socks! And designed by Grumperina, no less. (Maybe just to prove that I knit cooler than thou, I shall dub them "Jayhawkers." The ultimate insult! (KU is my college rival, FYI.)
Not much knitting progress to report this weekend. I ran a lot (9 miles!) and worked quite a bit, so thatcut into my spare time. I'm at that middle stage on all my projects where I start to get bored and want to cast on something new.
My husband also went a little crazy with his new BBQ smoker, making ribs, brisket, AND a pork shoulder. (For only 6 people. We could have fed about 50.) It was very tasty, though, and now I have yummy BBQ sandwiches for lunch all week!
I met one of my fellow Springfield bloggers in real life a few days ago. It's Bethany from rantings in red. She is my age and also fairly new in town. I've been reading her blog for a while and tt seems like we have quite a bit in common, so I figured, what the heck? She doesn't seem to be an axe-murderer. We should meet!
I didn't take any pics (oops!) but I think we'll probably get together again soon. She is a relatively new knitter, so I helped her find a cast-on that worked better for her and gave her some pretty yarn (KnitPicks Shine) to play with. I think it's so much easier to learn to knit when you like the yarn you're working with. If any beginners are reading this -- put down that nasty Red Heart from your grandma's basement and go get something you like! It doesn't have to be expensive -- just so long as you think it's pretty.
Four jobs I've had in my life:
1. YMCA - front desk and scorekeeping
2. Anthropology Museum - rebagging and writing tags for arrowheads and other random stuff
3. Law Library - shelving books and putting on labels
4. Law firm - lawyer! (also legal research monkey)
Four movies I could watch over and over.
1. Legally Blonde
2. The Sound of Music
3. Grease
4. O Brother Where Art Thou
Four places I've lived
1. Chillicothe, MO
2. Columbia, MO
3. Springfield, MO
4. Pamplona, Spain
Four TV shows I love to watch.
1. American Idol
2. Desparate Housewives
3. Seinfeld
4. Law & Order
Four places I've been on vacation.
1. Santa Fe, NM
2. Oregon
3. Hilton Head Island
4. Colorado (I could go here every summer. Love it!)
Four websites I visit daily
1. Slate
2. Bloglines
3. Google news
4. Weather.com
Four of my favorite foods
1. Dark chocolate
2. Risotto
3. Cheese dip
4. My grandma's sugar cookies
Four places I'd rather be
1. On the beach
2. At my parent's house
3. At my grandparent's farm
4. In the mountains
Four Albums I can't live without
1. REM - Green
2. Randall Goodgame - Arkadelphia
3. Garden State soundtrack
4. Dar Williams - End of the Summer
SSK (slipping both knitwise) is on the on right.
SSK Improved (slip first knitwise and second purlwise) is on the left.
I think the SSK improved does look a little better, although they really aren’t very different.
I'm not really mad at this sweater anymore, because it's just been laying bunched up in my knitting basket for quite a while. Now, I just have a good story for my first sweater. Any ideas on what I should do with this monstrosity?
Now I get to the waist decreases. I put my stitch markers in the right place, and my k2togs are looking great. A nice smooth decrease.
I am headed off to Kansas City this weekend for my husband's sister's wedding. I am in the wedding party, so I think there will be lots of waiting time (pictures, hair appointments, etc.) that should be prime knitting time. I would like to finish this sock and start the second one.
The yarn is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock. I really like how it has stayed fairly even as far as color distribution, even around the heel. (knock on wood!)
1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand?
I admit it, I am a totally yarn snob. Although, I'm currently knitting Picovoli in a cotton/synethic blend, and I really like it (and hopefully it won't stretch too much.)
2. Do you spin? Crochet?
Nope, just knittin' for this chica.
3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
An ugly paisley needle rool my mom bought for me. (At least she tried!)
4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
Intermediate. I'm mostly a self-taught knitter and so I progressed really fast at first, now I'm learning hard stuff and it's taking more time.
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yep -- here you go: Wish List
6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Ginger, rosemary, citrus. Natural but not flowery.
7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Dark chocolate. Peppermint. Or both!
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I don't really do any other crafty stuff except knitting, unless you count decorating my house.
9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
MP3's - yes! I pretty much like all kinds of music except country (except I like Dixie Chicks. Random.)
10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
I like all colors, but right now I am trying to get away with everything in red or pink and branch out to more muted colors, like dark greens and blues.
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I wear scarves, that's about it.
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
Anything in nice subtle variegated colorway. I always buy superwash sock yarn.
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Acrylic
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
Nancy Bush socks (Knitting on the Road) and trying to learn how to make a decent looking sweater!
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Scarves and hats
17. What are you knitting right now?
All stuff for me! (Post holiday entitlement, you know!) Picovoli from magknits, Cutaway sweater from Bonne Marie Burns, and Conwy socks from KOTR. Maybe a baby hat for my new friend's baby.
18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Sure, why not!
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
I like both.
20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Depends on the project, but I actually like metal most of the time.
21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Nope -- I wish!
22. How did you learn to knit?
My mom taught me to knit and purl about 3 years ago, I taught myself the rest from books.
23. How old is your oldest UFO?
About 6 months.
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Buttercup from Power Puff Girls.
25. What is your favorite holiday?
(Does my birthday count?) I'd say Easter.
26. Is there anything that you collect?
Nope.
27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
None, but I'm hoping for Interweave Knits for my b-day.
28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Plenty of books -- see Amazon wishlist.
29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Yes -- cabling without a cable needle and short rows.
30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes, I wear size 8 1/2. What other measurements do you need? (Clearly, I have not knit too many socks!)
31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
March 20.
I joined my first Secret Pal swap... I think we get our secret pals tomorrow! I'm super excited.
Zarah will be returning to her regularly scheduled blogging soon! The stomach flu is BAD. I have lots of holiday knitting to share... don't miss it!
Here's a preview:
1. Cutaway... the little sweater that could. You never knew family discord could be so productive.
2. More socks... really good yarn... yum.
3. A sexy little knit with the Sexy Knitters Club... you know you want to see!
Welcome to everyone who stopped by via the link from Pink Monkey Knits.
I've seen this pattern quite a bit, and it might finally help me overcome my fear of vareigated yarn! I give you My So-Called Scarf!
I love New Year's Day -- that feeling of a fresh beginning is great, even if it doesn't last very long. But, with that optimism that comes with a clean slate, I give you...
Zarah's 2006 Resolutions
- Read more books, watch less TV
- Knit a garment that fits the intended recipient.
- Go to a yoga class once a week (I already belong to a gym that offers them for free, so there's really no excuse)
- Learn to dye
- Take a knitting class/Learn new knitting techniques, especially "finishing" techniques that make the finished project look more finished.
- Get to know (in person) more knitters in my area (I'm looking at you, Bethany!)
