Finished objects!

Stuff I finished this last week.

Dream Swatch Scarf


Ball band dishrag


Elegant Gauntlets

Secret Pal 9 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I like wool, alpaca, cashmere... Basically natural hair fibers. I try to stay far far away from acrylics.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I use a large 1.5 foot glass floor vase that I bought at Ikea.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I've been knitting for about 7 years. I learned the basic knit & purl stitches from my mom and taught myself the rest. I consider myself to be intermediate.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I do. I have an Amazon wish list.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)

I like Gardenia, but no other flowery scents. I mostly stick to fruit scents, except pear and kiwi scents. I LOVE grapefruit scented things.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Yes. I love chocolate, but due to a recent discovery that I'm allergic to all nuts, I have to stay away. I've been placating myself with gummy candies.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I have a drop spindle, but I'm not very good at it. As far as other crafty things, I make journals, do calligraphy, partake in a little beading, and like to fold paper into pretty birds, boxes, etc.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I like just about everything. My computer and stereo can play MP3s.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I love blues, but I like all other colors as well.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I am newly married (as of last June) and have an 8 month old puppy at home.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

All of the above. I live in MN, so it's necessary!

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

I don't really have a favorite. I tend to have at least 6 projects started or in progress at any given time.

13. What are you knitting right now?

A sweater for me, a cashmere scarf, a linen table runner, a shrug, some socks, a soon-to-be felted purse, and a beaded shawl.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Yes!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I prefer Bamboo, with the exception of Addi Turbos, and work with both straight and circular as the mood strikes me.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Yes

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

2 years? (Yikes!)

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas or Thanksgiving.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Pulp fiction novels.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

Not off the top of my head... I have a problem with buying patterns... I have a subscription to Vogue Knitting.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I need to work on fair isle and intarsia. Or knitting 2 socks at once!

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Yes. I wear a size 9.5

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

09/06.

Hot Socks Swap Questionnaire

1) What do you prefer - solid, variegated or self striping?

Variegated or solid


2) Favourite colours?


Blues and greens


3) Are you a beginner, intermediate or experienced sock knitter?


Intermediate


4) Tea, Coffee, or hot chocolate - what's your favourite? If coffee, what do you use to make it?


Coffee--french press


5) Do you have a fibre preference? (i.e. Are you a yarn snob like me?)


I am definitely a yarn snob. I hate acrylic, but like everything else.

Yarn, yarn, yarn!

I've made a few more yarn purchases this week. I went to the Roxy Yarns site and bought some King Tut for a cosmetics bag pattern, and some ArtYarns Ultramerino in color 142 for some socks.

Then, this morning I went to Mystical Creation Yarn and bought 1/2 lb. sock yarn in Raisin, 1/2 lb. of lace yarn in Reflections, and 1/2 lb. sport silk merino in Cancun . I'm going to use it to make socks, a lace scarf, and Clapotis, respectively.

Oh! I almost forgot, I ALSO went to Hello Yarn and purchased a sock yarn dye kit so I can make my own colorway for socks! Yay!

Non-knitting craft hour

I made another journal this weekend. It turned out pretty well. My main problem with making journals is a lack of patience, so I end up getting glue everywhere and making little mistakes. Must allow glue to dry before trying to glue again...

This is the beautiful paper for the next journal!

Finished object

I started and finished a scarf this weekend. The pictures suck. It's a scarf for my mom with yarn she picked out. It's a boucle, which I normally do not use because it doesn't allow for patterned knitting and looks all jumbled. But it's what my mom wanted, and actually turned out sort of pretty. I knit it lengthwise rather than widthwise so it was at least a little interesting for me.

Newly purchased yarn!

I went to Yarnzilla this weekend and picked up a bunch of yarn for 3 different projects. I got some Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride to make the monkey backpack in Stitch n Bitch, some Dale of Norway Hauk (teflon coated!) to make a wool raincoat and hoodie for Marley, and some amazing handpainted silk cashmere DK. I had to post photos because it's so beautiful. It's SOOOO soft!