Post 35

Another death, but not mine, two down, now who's next? I made a list of the sock warriors before and after me and have an idea on who is dead and who is not. I sent and e-mail out to the people after me informing of my second kill to figure out where everyone is at, let's hope this works, I'll be bummed if not. At this point I don't care about winning, or even getting to the end, I made a pair of socks, now where are mine???

Post 35

FINALLy, those damn Sock War socks are done. I ran of time on saturday to mail them, got my haircut, so out they went today. If the mail goddess is with me they might actually make it to the Netherlands in the 4-7 time frame they promised, I sent them cheap. I can only hope that the postal system is better there than here, I've been waiting 12 days for my Hyacinth flower bulbs I ordered on ebay. I guess if I never get them I can figure out next spring which neighbor swiped them, for all I know landlord has them upstairs on his counter, idiot.
I had a pretty lazy weekend. Roommate is gone until wednesday so was able to lazy away the whole weekend and just knit knit knit! I made a pair of Mrs. Beeton's wristlest, but with mine I added a hand covering. Boy are they warm, and the double row of lacy made a nice cushion when typing on the computer at work. I was able to stash dive for the mohair, Rowan Kidsilk, and instead of the MC yarn in the pattern I used Rowan Tapestry. Fast, easy-peasy. Now I'm down to two projects, the hemp socks and the Candle Flame Scarf. Secret Pal 9 is off and running, I can't say what I'm doing for my person, but it's way cool. Sock Wars is at a stalemate right now, trying to figure where I stand and who is dead is a royal pain. I have two dead under my belt and I'm still alive. I wouldn't mind dying though, it's getting cold in my office and warm thick socks whould be nice, no not really, I want to win.

Secret Pal 9

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

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a zipper pouch for my crochet hooks, a box I painted for some of my needles and plastic brush tubes for my double points.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have been knitting for 12 years, I learned when I was young from my mother and had abasic refresher from a college teacher and then I took knitwear design in art school. I would consider myself advanced.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No. I like to buy my books at a great used bookstore in the neighborhood or from LYS's or knitting websites.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
For bath I like magnolia or rose, but right now is the season for spices.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I love dark chocolate, the darker the better, the more foreign the better. My current addiction is Vosges Naga Bar. Ummmmm curry and chocolate...

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I knit, crochet, spin, dye, sew, embroidery, bead work, needlepoint....lots of everything.

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 a little bit of everything from Miles Davis to David Gray to Hildehard Von Bingen.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I have a new fascination with green, I never liked it before, but now, wow. It's not so much the color but the hue, I hate pastels.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have a siamese cat and an italian greyhound. I also have a roommate and she has a cat.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Not ponches, never, don't want to look fatter. I love scarves, hats and mittens especially finger-less gloves, it's cold in my office.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I am always doing socks but right now I'm getting into lace.

13. What are you knitting right now?
A pair of socks for Sock Wars, a pair of socks for myself and a lace stole.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Um sometimes, I'm a bit of a critic, but I like it when people handmake things.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Both. I prefer bamboo, never metal unless they're addi's.

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

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
It was 4+years, but I just frogged it.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Does Festivus count? I love thanksgiving, all the spirit of x-mas with out the pressure and build up.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Dud, yarn! I was collecting thimbles but that was years ago.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I don't have a single magazine subscription, I enjoy going to the bookstores or LYS for them. I would love to collect some Zimmerman books and lace books.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Not really, I think I have a good grasp on things, if not I'm really good at figuring it out.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes, size 8.5, with thick ankles.

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
4/4

Post 34

I love the fact that I have a real computer at work. Unlike my previous employment, I can now check my e-mail and listen to itunes. I've been catching up on back episodes of Cast On. When knitting podcast first blew onto the scene I enjoyed Knit Cast, but wasn't so sure about Cast On, but now I love it. It's like discovering a new author and then finding out that they've already written dozens of books, all the better! So I'm slowly making my way thru the old episodes, I'm finding it very inspirational. I've done it, I frogged the Evil Rowan Sweater! It's been sitting around for ever now, I started it years ago, never like the way they wrote it, and almost finished the last piece. I find that I no longer love the pattern, it's nice, but it's no longer love. The yarn is really lovely and I can't wait to find the perfect next thing for it, maybe the Rogue Cardigan?? Other news, I made the Ribbi Cardi last year but I never bought the zipper. I used to like the colors, pumpkin orange for the body and Burgundy for the sleeves, but eh, no more. So I will take my fondness for Kool Aid dying and try dying the whole garment, plum should be nice, I then imagine a little embroidery....I will be much happier, especially since I'm working in more of a jeans and sweaters place than a hose and heels. On the Sock Wars front, my victims, victims socks are not going so well. They will be finished tonight or tomorrow and will be mailed to the Netherlands as promised but the yarn sucks, am not inspired, oh and ran out...on the foot of the second sock. If I knew this before I would done it differently and more creatively, but since I didn't buy the yarn what can I do. I want to have at least two victims under my belt before I'm dead. It just so happens that the yarn choice was actually two different yarns knitted together and that one of them is a white angora blend, which luckily enough, if you can believe it I can match. This must mean the stash has finally redeemed itself. I bought a sweater at the Salvation Army and am frogging it for the yarn and it's a match. I can't match the other yarn that was knitted with it, so the foot will be white, but don't blame me. At least it's angora and not acrylic!

Post 33

I am so about to quit this Sock War shit. My package is lost! I am so pissed. Do I reknit a whole other pair of socks for my victims' victim, or go postal on the postal system, the latter I think. Wait until tomorrow, and it was overnight too!

Post 32

So, earlier this year I went on a tour/buying visit to Lorna's Laces and came away with some good deals. I bought this skein with the idea to make a dog sweater for Bella. Well, funky fall weather has come to Chicago, one week it's warm, the next cool, and right now a BIG thunder/Tornado storm. With the soon to permently cold approaching I thought it would be nice to get started on the promised dog sweater, it will be the first I knitted for her, not one she inherited from Mona. After a second look I no longer like the color of the yarn, so I thought, Kool Aid! I love kool aid dying, its so easy, and talk about instant gratification. The yarn is Lorna's Laces, superwash bulky.
Before

After

I couldn't tell you what colors/flavors I used, I just bought a bunch of packets and played with it. I turns out some yarn takes to the dye better than others, and this one did beautifully. The color's not quite solid, but has this unusual multi-layered color thing happening, it kinda looks like plied Manos. It took to the dye so well that after the initial nooking in the microwave, I could just dip it in a bowl with really hot water and the color would slowly go from the water to the yarn. This is it all balled up, getting alot of attention from the Piewacket.

Just enough to do a fast sweater with no thrills, no turtle neck collar and no sleeves, its a quicky dog sweater.

I love this method so much, and overdying already purchased dyed yarn opens up the possibilites. I've seen several little articles about Kool Aid dying, but I think a really indepth book with techniques and extensive color wheel would be great....I wonder

Post 31

Look at my first video! Yea I know it's sideways, but I'm learning.