06-29-07_2327.jpg June 29, 2007
06-29-07_2327.jpg
Originally uploaded by Girlontherocks.
Not real new york
The secret is out June 27, 2007
Finally after months of secrecy, I can reveal my knitting group’s secret project:
A Blanket for Debbie! Debbie has been in our knitting group for years, and when she announced that she was getting married, we wanted to make something for her. The idea of a blanket was tossed around and I vehemently opposed. I really hated seaming together the baby blanket that we knit as a gift a long time ago. Then Abby stepped up and took charge. After a few weeks of pumping Debbie for color and yarn information, we were knitting blue squares.
The blanket is made of Plymouth Encore (superwash wool acrylic blend) and is the combined knitting efforts of Abby, Carmen, Ingrid, Sarah, Sarah B, Wenonah, B, Gen, Mary and myself. The square pattern is from Fun Knits. We added a double crochet border, and Abby hand embroidered a tag. (Peek here if you want to see us piecing it together.)
I think she likes it!
Winners June 25, 2007
I am back from vacation. More on that later. Today’s order of business is announcing the contest winners! I printed out everyone’s name and did a very random drawing
There were so many entrants that I decided to also draw a second prize winner.
The GRAND PRIZE WINNER is ….
Julia!! Her comment was even about carders. Perfect!
And the lucky second place winner is
Debbi! I was thinking Debbi might enjoy a skein of handspun
Color totally misrepresented in this photo. It is shades of red, pink and white.
(Here’s the proof of the winners. I went a little overboard with the cameraphone.)
I thoroughly enjoyed reading everyone’s comments (sorry if I didn’t reply to all of them!). Some tools that I love to use that were mentioned were post-it notes and sheet protectors. And the dental floss suggestion… cassandra is genius! It seems like many knitters would be a total loss without their swifts and ball winders. Speaking of ball winders…. look what I found at Value Village:
That’s right baby. $2.50. Hells yeah I bought it! It is a Toyota. As much as I love thrift stores, I thought finds like this were just a myth (along with finding Le Creuset at goodwill). But now, I am living the dream. Colleen is right - Thrift stores are an awesome resource for knitters and crafters alike.
Thanks for all of the helpful carder info. I have been pretty lucky with the Kitchener stitch markers over at the Loopy Ewe (currently sold out!), so I might have one before you know it. I wonder what Sheri would think if I named it Loopy?
Almost home June 20, 2007
I am not quite done with my vacation in Alaska. It seems I overestimated Alaska’s cooperation with roaming cell phone users from the “lower 48.” I can’t send pictures via my phone. But I posted a few on flickr for the curious.
When you see me, beware because I have acquired many new and dangerous skills.
Airport booze June 12, 2007
Flickr posted most of this for me, isn’t that sweet?
My vacation starts now. Tragically, it is only a week long. I could tell you what I am going to do, but instead I will shock you with pictures instead.
06-12-07_1800.jpg
Originally uploaded by Girlontherocks.
I plan to try out lots of geeky gadgets on this trip. If it works, you can see what I am up to on my Vacation Page
.
I just got distracted by a man sporting a cowboy hat, fantastic moustache, and boots holding a game of “Texas hold ‘em.” I could hang out at the airport all day.
The big time June 10, 2007
I am very excited about a recent “Kitchener Stitch Marker” development… They are now available at the Loopy Ewe! This set includes a special “Loopy” the sheep stitch marker for Loopy Ewe fans. Hurry before they are gone!
The Loopy Ewe carries all kinds of amazing knitting products, and the gorgeous selection of sock yarns is what has always caught my eye. Sheri know how to treat you right - She has incentives for frequent shoppers, and a special club (The Loopy Groupies) for those that have placed six or more orders. So head over there and get some sock yarn and stitch markers, all in the same order!
Do you even knit anymore?
It seems like it has been a long time since I even showed you any knitting. But I am working on a few projects.
My Central Park Hoodie has a completed back, and I am working on one of the front pieces.
I accepted the fact that I am not a sock designer and ripped out this single sock that I designed myself.
It was too small for even me, and I somehow made the pattern almost impossible to size (and sock patterns without a S, M, and L size are one of my pet peeves). So the lovely STR will be reincarnated as a better fitting sock.
And I compeleted exactly half of a project by casting off one lonely sock.
Regia Canadian color #4733; 3 x 1 rib - my own pattern
And I do think the casting off was the best part. Why didn’t anyone tell me about the picot bind off featured in knitty? As a toe-up knitter, I was pretty happy to find these instructions and make a cute little bind off on these socks.
There. I have been knitting. Don’t forget about my contest - Midnight Pacific time tonight (sat june 10) is the cut off, so please tell me about your favorite knitting/crafting tool/material. I love reading all of the comments!
Knit in Public June 4, 2007
Saturday June 9th is World-wide knit in public day. I knit in public at least once a week, but I am still excited to join the crew assembled by Kimchi in Berkeley. The Berkeley Knit-out is happening on the west lawn of the UC Campus (see a freaky-good pic of the lawn from Google’s new street view - and you can still zoom in more), just a few blocks from my house, so I will be sure to stop by.
How freaky is that picture? Seriously. Wow google, you have outdone yourself. For example, here is my neighbor working on his motorcycle. Here is my little car on the street. The resolution on the Bay Area street pictures is much better than the New York ones. i am totally fascinated by this and keep looking around zooming in to see if I can recognize anyone. I am weird.
Don’t forget about the contest… Leave me a comment telling me your opinion on drum carders OR your favorite knitting/crafting tool/material and you could win a prize. I am truly enjoying reading all of the comments and discovering new webpages!
What’s Your favorite: a contest June 1, 2007
If you are not a spinner, just hang in there. There is something for you at the end
I have had this nagging in the bag of my head telling me that I want a drum carder. I have looked into it a few times but never bought one. I want one primarily for blending merino wools with fine fibers. It should be able to handle the slightly coarser wools that I like - Romney and wensleydale for instance. And it should be able to handle the occasional fleece. Ultimately I would like to be able to make blends with soy silk and camel down and other finer fibers. I think the one that might be right for me is a Strauch Petite. I like the petite-ness (studio apartment) and the fine cloth. The only complaints that I was that when processing fleeces on the fine cloth, the second cuts didn’t get separated but that seems preferable to not being able to card fine fibers. And I shouldn’t forget to mention that the comparatively low price is a major factor.
Here’s where you come in… What do you think? Do you know anything about carders or own one that you have an opinion about? Leave me a comment and let me know! You will be eligible to win a prize from me if you do.
Don’t worry if you don’t know anything about drum carders, you can still be eligible to win a prize. Just leave me a comment and tell me about your favorite knitting/ crafting material or tool. For instance, you might tell me that you you couldn’t survive without medium-weight Socks that Rock. Or that your Bernina is your most dear possession. Or that you cannot resist alpaca yarn. I want to hear about what you like!
The contest will be open until next Saturday, June 9th when the winner will be selected at random. I’ll send you some sock yarn, and a sock knitter’s needle case. If a non-knitter ends up as the winner, and doesn’t want the prize we’ll figure something out.
Want to see the prizes?
The red yarn was dyed by me, but never made it into my etsy shop. I dubbed it “unphotographable red” and had to screw with the photo in photoshop to get it to look kinda normal. The colors go from a red-orange to a medium red and it si a superwash wool nylon blend. The Needle case was hand sewn by me in the style of the ones in my shop. Perfect for circulars, DPN’s and crochet hooks. I threw in a little crochet hook that I got at Daiso - you’ll get that too. Finally I added two skeins of Brown Sheep Handpainted yarn. Nice traditional wooly sock yarn. So get commenting!
