Friday, September 29, 2006

10 Knitterly Things About Me

In the spirit of Grumperina's blog and her meme, and because I have no pictures to post this week and not much progress on which to report, I'll jump in with Ten Knitterly Things About Me:

1. Knitting connects me to my mom and my sisters. We all knit, we all love to talk about knitting, and there's nothing I like more than sitting with the girls and knitting!

2. My mom wasn't able to teach me to knit. She knits the European way and knits VERY fast. So I bought a kid's knitting book when I was about 11 or 12 and taught myself from that.

3. I have a nice group of knitting buddies in my knitting group--these are women that I might not have otherwise felt close to, but knitting has definitely bonded us!

4. Knitting sometimes keeps me up at night. Last Sunday night I had all good intentions of going to sleep early, but I got a big tangle in my ball of Socks That Rock, and stayed up much too late untangling it!

5. Knitting blogs and Podcasts let me feel connected to knitting when I'm not knitting. I so look forward to reading my blogs, Yahoo list posts, and listening to my Podcasts.

6. I am beginning to be a sock yarn addict. I have 3 pairs of socks' worth of yarn right now, and am part of two sock yarn clubs that will bring me more over the coming months.

7. I mostly like to knit for myself. I like making baby gifts, but gifts for other members of my family haven't always worked out they way I've planned.

8. I have taken to scoping out knitting stores whenever I travel--whether it be for business or pleasure. I don't always get to go to them, but I always have an address ready in case I do have time to go.

9. I want to complete the TKGA Master Knitter Program, but I fear that it will take time away from my project knitting. Perhaps if I wind down from my job and have more extra time, I'll take this on.

10. I need to knit, even a little bit, each night. It's like a bedtime story for me...

10 Knitterly Things About Me

In the spirit of Grumperina's blog and her meme, and because I have no pictures to post this week and not much progress on which to report, I'll jump in with Ten Knitterly Things About Me:

1. Knitting connects me to my mom and my sisters. We all knit, we all love to talk about knitting, and there's nothing I like more than sitting with the girls and knitting!

2. My mom wasn't able to teach me to knit. She knits the European way and knits VERY fast. So I bought a kid's knitting book when I was about 11 or 12 and taught myself from that.

3. I have a nice group of knitting buddies in my knitting group--these are women that I might not have otherwise felt close to, but knitting has definitely bonded us!

4. Knitting sometimes keeps me up at night. Last Sunday night I had all good intentions of going to sleep early, but I got a big tangle in my ball of Socks That Rock, and stayed up much too late untangling it!

5. Knitting blogs and Podcasts let me feel connected to knitting when I'm not knitting. I so look forward to reading my blogs, Yahoo list posts, and listening to my Podcasts.

6. I am beginning to be a sock yarn addict. I have 3 pairs of socks' worth of yarn right now, and am part of two sock yarn clubs that will bring me more over the coming months.

7. I mostly like to knit for myself. I like making baby gifts, but gifts for other members of my family haven't always worked out they way I've planned.

8. I have taken to scoping out knitting stores whenever I travel--whether it be for business or pleasure. I don't always get to go to them, but I always have an address ready in case I do have time to go.

9. I want to complete the TKGA Master Knitter Program, but I fear that it will take time away from my project knitting. Perhaps if I wind down from my job and have more extra time, I'll take this on.

10. I need to knit, even a little bit, each night. It's like a bedtime story for me...

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Maintenance

The beginning of the school year, lots of activity at work and some family issues have kept me very busy, with little time for knitting. My saving grace has been that I have been able to take the train to some of my recent business meetings, and I've given myself permission to read or do work on the way into the City, but knit on the way home! I've been working on my Socks that Rock sock and loving it. I also received my latest STR skein, "Titania," which came with two beautiful patterns.

I've taken some time today to clean off some of the older buttons on my blog and add some new ones. I'm looking forward to participating in the Red Scarf Project again this year; I think it's a very worthwhile cause and an easy charity knitting project.

New on my needles is the Oat Couture Shawl; the picture from the pattern is here:



I am doing this in Paca Paints yarn, by the Alpaca Yarn Company, in a lovely blue and grey colorway (#404). It's very soft; the pattern isn't that interesting yet, but I think I will enjoy this project. It is the first of several shawls waiting to be made.

I did finish my Lacey Poncho; it is drying after blocking right now and I hope to post a photo soon.

Maintenance

The beginning of the school year, lots of activity at work and some family issues have kept me very busy, with little time for knitting. My saving grace has been that I have been able to take the train to some of my recent business meetings, and I've given myself permission to read or do work on the way into the City, but knit on the way home! I've been working on my Socks that Rock sock and loving it. I also received my latest STR skein, "Titania," which came with two beautiful patterns.

I've taken some time today to clean off some of the older buttons on my blog and add some new ones. I'm looking forward to participating in the Red Scarf Project again this year; I think it's a very worthwhile cause and an easy charity knitting project.

New on my needles is the Oat Couture Shawl; the picture from the pattern is here:



I am doing this in Paca Paints yarn, by the Alpaca Yarn Company, in a lovely blue and grey colorway (#404). It's very soft; the pattern isn't that interesting yet, but I think I will enjoy this project. It is the first of several shawls waiting to be made.

I did finish my Lacey Poncho; it is drying after blocking right now and I hope to post a photo soon.

Friday, September 08, 2006

Sock Update

Last Saturday, a day of torrential rain, I had ample opportunity to listen to my favorite Podcasts and finish my Maple Leaf Socks.
Here's a look at the finished product:

That very day I wound my first skein of "Socks That Rock"--yes, the one that was the MAY Sock Club offering--but better late than never. I now see what everyone is raving about with this yarn. It's springy, the colors are lovely, and it makes for wonderful knitting. I am doing the Rock & Weave Sock that came with the yarn; it's the one where you knit a cuff out of Linen Stitch, and then pick up stitches for the foot. It's different, and I hope I'll like it, but so far, the linen stitch is fun.
Here's my progress so far:


With 3 pairs of completed socks in my drawer, one on the needles and a few more on deck, I'm feeling like I may want to invest in Birkenstocks so I can show off my creations. I've never been a sock and sandal kind of girl, but hey, things change, and I do want to be able to admire my work along with feeling the warmth and comfort of hand-knitted socks!

The Lacey Poncho is also moving very quickly. I'm more than halfway, and with the gradual decreases, I bet I'll be finished in a week or so.


Next up: a series of shawls, with yarn reserved in my stash...

Sock Update

Last Saturday, a day of torrential rain, I had ample opportunity to listen to my favorite Podcasts and finish my Maple Leaf Socks.
Here's a look at the finished product:

That very day I wound my first skein of "Socks That Rock"--yes, the one that was the MAY Sock Club offering--but better late than never. I now see what everyone is raving about with this yarn. It's springy, the colors are lovely, and it makes for wonderful knitting. I am doing the Rock & Weave Sock that came with the yarn; it's the one where you knit a cuff out of Linen Stitch, and then pick up stitches for the foot. It's different, and I hope I'll like it, but so far, the linen stitch is fun.
Here's my progress so far:


With 3 pairs of completed socks in my drawer, one on the needles and a few more on deck, I'm feeling like I may want to invest in Birkenstocks so I can show off my creations. I've never been a sock and sandal kind of girl, but hey, things change, and I do want to be able to admire my work along with feeling the warmth and comfort of hand-knitted socks!

The Lacey Poncho is also moving very quickly. I'm more than halfway, and with the gradual decreases, I bet I'll be finished in a week or so.


Next up: a series of shawls, with yarn reserved in my stash...