I got my package from the Knitters Scavenger Hunt

Cross posted at Knitters Scavenger Hunt and Sally Comes Unraveled.

I got my package for the Knitters Scavenger Hunt on Friday. Actually, it may have been sitting in the office of my apartment complex for a couple of days before I picked it up. Normally I get a little note in my mailbox letting me know when I have a package, but I didn't get it this time. It's a good thing I checked.

My package was from Jessica.

Here is how the categories broke down, starting in the upper left corner and moving clockwise:

Something green - Beaded Stitch Markers. These had a nifty tag, but no name. I wonder who made them.
Something related to the letter 'T' - T-Pins for blocking. These are helpful, because I never seem to have enough T-Pins.
Something hard (stop giggling)- Sock blocker key chain.
Something round - Plymouth Happy Feet sock yarn in color 6. It's soft and machine washable.
Bonus - The nifty little bucket that my sock yarn came in. I had to take the yarn out of the bucket so I could photograph it.
"Spoiler's choice" - Handmade Joy Lotion Bars. I've seen bar lotion before, but I've never used it. Do you just rub it all over your body? Also, I'd like to know who made them. These is will come in handy, because my skin gets pretty dry this time of year.
Bonus - Temporary Tattoos.
Something funny - Part One - Nuts about Squirrels pattern for knitted felted squirrels, by Debbie Radtke.
Something funny - Part Two (in the center) - Brown Sheep Nature Spun Worsted in Ash (left) and Stone (right) for knitting the squirrels.
Something local - Birch and Black Walnut Knitting Needles from "A Yarn Good Idea" in Eau Claire, WI. These are US Size 8. I'd like to know more about the origin of these needles. Jessica said they were "sort of" local.

Many thanks, Jessica. If you want a closer look, go here and see the picture on Flickr. Also, you can see what I got my partner here.

I also wanted to include links for Zen String and the main Entrelac store where I got some of the gifts for my swap partner. I always like to promote local crafters.

Happy Valentine's Day (sort of)

Cross posted at Sally Comes Unraveled and Kntters Scavenger Hunt Swap.

Here's a Valentine's Day wish from my friend Ross. Click the picture to see it in a larger size. (Yes, I know they print this on t-shirts.)

While it's good to be in love on Valentine's Day, it's hard to be so far away from the person I love. It was harding seeing other people get bouquets of flowers and stuffed animals. Neither of our packages arrived on time (although mine arrived today, but Jules wasn't able to pick it up in time.) We did both remember, however. Jules even wished me an early Valentine's Day last night.

I did receive something else in the mail. Whatever could it be?

It's a skein of Malabrigo Worsted in Red Java and a pin from Art School Dropout, my prize from the Knitters Scavenger Hunt contest. Huzzah!

I'm debating what make with it. It's nice autumny color. Foliage seems to be the obvious choice, but I'm open to suggestions.

As a parting shot, here is something Jules made for me a while back, just because. He found the shell at the beach, and was inspired.

Making Progress

I'm taking a break from posting all my yarn crawl stuff to catch up on some of my other projects.

I spun this out of the Corriedale I bought at Yarnivore. Mom found some online videos about spinning with a drop spindle, and one of them talked about the "park and draft." The park and draft is where you spin the spindle, pinching point where the roving turns into yarn. Then you stop the spindle and hold it between your knees (or in my case, between my feet) and then draft, letting the twist travel up the fiber. I think I'm improving. The yarn above is what I spun last weekend.

This is the yarn I spun last night. I'm not sure if it shows up in the picture, but it's a definite improvement. I even did a little spinning and drafting at the same time last night. (Just a little.)

Mom's Niddy Noddy is getting full. There are three layers of yarn here, the first is the natural white stuff Mom let me practice on, the second is the vomity autumny Romney and the top layer is the gray Corriedale.

Meanwhile, Mom saw my blog post on the Spindolyn and went ahead and ordered one. I'm a little jealous, but hopefully I'll get to borrow it at some point.

I won some yarn on the Knitters Scavenger Hunt. I get one skein of Malabrigo Worsted in "Red Java." I told Jules about the contest, and he remembered Malabrigo from visiting Gauge and The Knitting Nest. He was impressed enough by the softness to remember the name of the yarn.

I finally started the socks I promised Mom for Christmas. I wrapped the yarn as a Christmas gift, and I promised I would use it to knit wear around the house. These are supposed to be the beaded rib socks from Sensational Knitted Socks. However, I realized early on that I screwed up in the second round of the rib pattern. I decided to just go with the uneven looking rib and call them "Mom's I Meant To Do That Socks." I'm also ignoring the wonky looking toe. (The numbers didn't seem to add up onthe short row toe.)

I'm also trying to ignore the hole in the heel. (I'll probably try to sew that hole up at some point.)

Of course, I giving the socks full of mistakes to one of the few recipients who can see the mistakes.

The last thing I want to mention is the Westminster Dog Show. I don't care which dog won. But the leads on these wire stories make me want to hurl. Start dancin', Snoopy. You're out of the Westminster doghouse. and America has a new Snoop doggie. were a couple I found from AP. These are the type headlines my former editors wanted. Reading these stories make me both queasy and nauseous at the same time. *shudder*

Thoughts on Limitations and a Contest Entry

Cross posted at Sally Comes Unraveled and Kntters Scavenger Hunt Swap.

The Knitters Scavenger Hunt is having a contest (swap participants only, sorry.) All I have to do is answer 2 questions. But they aren't easy questions to answer.

#1 - If your knitting skill and the money to purchase the necessary yarn were no issue, what one pattern would you knit? (link & photo if you have one, so we can all ogle!)

This is a hard one. I know this sounds conceited (or maybe delusional), but in my mind I have no limitations related to my knitting skills. There are just new skills I haven't learned yet. I don't think I have this type of confidence in any other area of my life, which is one of the reasons why I love knitting so much.

So that leaves limitations of resources and time. It's hard to pick one pattern. The closest I can get is Morrigan, which I will knit eventually. Buying $300 worth of Rowan Calmer will be difficult, and I'm still trying other candidates.

Rather than a specific pattern, most of my seemingly unattainable project ideas are centered around specific yarns. I wish I could afford an entire sweater out of Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb, or entire sweater out of my own handspun. (The handspun is the part where my skills fail me.)

#2 - What is your favorite blog ?(doesn't need to be knitting related)

I'm not going to pick an all time favorite, but I will say at the moment I'm most interested in Yarn Pirate's blog, because she's due to go into labor at any moment. Also, I love seeing all her baby knits.

Knitters Scavenger Hunt Questionnaire

I now present my questionnaire for the Knitters Scavenger Hunt. I pick my swaps carefully to avoid getting overwhelmed. I liked the theme for this one. I'll have fun picking out "something local."

As of this writing, there are five spots left. If you want to sign up, you better hurry.

On with the questionnaire:

1) Do you knit, crochet or both? How long have you been doing it?

I learned both around age 9, in the third grade. There was a long break where I didn't do much of either. I crocheted here and there. Then I picked it up seriously again in early 2005.

2) What is on your needles/hook right now?

Back to Basics Socks

3) What is the most frequently used tool in your knitting bag?

besides the knitting itself, probably the row counters I use.

4) What are your 3 favorite yarns (fiber type or brand)? What are your 3 least favorite?

As of now my favorites are:
Berroco Ultra Alpaca
Hill Country Yarns Instant Gratification Sock Yarn
Misti Alpaca Chunky

There's none I really dislike, but some least favorites are:

Yarns with lots of Mohair (I can deal with a little)
Eyelash Yarn (I'm over it for now.)
Boucle Yarn (what do you do with it, other than garter stitch?)

5) What is your favorite color?

blues and purples or Rainbow Colors

6) If you had a 5 minute shopping spree in your LYS, how would you plan your attack?

Depending on which LYS (I frequent four of them), I'd get some lace weight, hand dyed sock yarn, Ultra Alpaca and a sweater's worth of something nice.

7) What is your favorite FO and why? (post a pic if you have it!)













My Cherry Bomb tank. I can actually wear it!


8) What are your favorite things to knit/crochet?

Smaller things and my own designs. (I spend more time on hats, socks, scarves, etc than on entire garments.)

9) Do you collect anything?

Yarn? (Also My Little Ponies)

10) What are your five favorite things (not necessarily knitting related)?

The first that come to mind:

My Boyfriend
Long Baths
Pizza
The J-Walk Blog
Comedy Central

11) Are you on Ravelry? What is your ID?

I'm sallyunraveled on Ravelry.

12) Do you drink tea/coffee/cocoa?

Tea and cocoa, but never coffee

13) Favorite Sweets?

Umm...all of them? Right now I could go for some ice cream.

14) Any allergies?

None that should affect the swap.

15) Do you have pets? kids?

Just Bunny Foo-Foo













I need to take some more recent pictures of her.