S & S

Socks and Scarves. I have finished things to share :) A couple weeks ago I walked into my LYS and found some fun yarn at 40% off. I'm a sucker for a deal, and it was soft... so I picked some up and decided to make a simple scarf. Well it worked up so fast during the very short camping trip last weekend, that I was able to finish it in record time... I don't think I spent more than a total of 3 hours on this sucker and it looks great!

Also in sock land, things are progressing nicely. The one in the picture is the furthest along, the second is just shortly behind getting it's heel worked... probably tomorrow.

no FOs

I'm back from camping, but our trip was cut short as my friend was feeling very under the weather. Yesterday when I got home I was feeling the need for some retail therapy since the camping trip was a bit dissapointing. So I got a new toy, a ball winder! It's so much fun, well maybe not fun, but it's amazing! It saved me from rolling 1376yards of lace weight by hand, yay! So I have no finished objects to share with you today, but I do have some new yarn.

This:


Turns this:


Into this:

WIPs

I'm finding the spring urge to cast on as many projects as possible... quite satisfying. Right now I have the following in progress:

Second pink spiral boot sock
Self striping socks(both at the same time)
Shetland Triangle Shawl from Wrap Style
Wrap with Sleeves from Rebecca
Another Odessa by Grumperina this time in red

I think I will take the three socks, and the Wrap with Sleeves on my camping trip this weekend. At the very least there will be much progress, and hopefully at least one finished project ;-)

Ideas wandering around my head right now... Sensational Knitted Socks - Knit Along, how many people would be interested in joining me?... Mariah, am I ready to take this one on? Updates after I return for what looks to be a damp weekend in the outdoors, knitting.

Best. Cartoon. Evar!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6ZjMWLqJvM

11 days later

After the shawl incident I frogged it and decided to stick with the same general pattern, but turn it into a scarf. I think it turned out lovely, and I will wear my expensive shawl-turned-scarf proudly come winter.

I was also able to finish off one of the new Spiral Boot Socks from Interweave Knits. I plan on giving these to my step sister for Christmas... a head start will make sure 'IT' never happens to me... right?

Please note that not a single one of my projects is complete without Sylus' stamp of approval. He sits on my lap while I knit and finds this to be the most entertaining way to spend his time. I can hardly blame him with all the sticks waving around for him to bat at, the yarn to sniff, oh and the pictures, what a showoff.

Shawl or lack thereof

So the purple Stole I was making out of Fleece Artist... well, I guess I should have expected this when I started out with no pattern and only an idea with some beautiful yarn at center stage... I ran out, and it's no where near long enough. Although Sylus felt that it was still beautiful and worth a quick sniff.

I am torn between leaving it as is and ripping it to try something else. Leaving it as is does make for an adorable cape... hmmm the knitting crusader (please note, husband that was taking the picture has decided I am a geek, officially). Oh let your inner nerd out, you think it's funny!

Gryfindor

I finished the Gryfindor scarf last night, washed, dried, tassled and delivered first thing this morning. It was nice to give the scarf to such a Harry Potter enthusiast since I knew he would actually wear and appreciate it. I took a picture last night, Sylus again approving of the good work. And then another picture of my coworker proudly wearing his new scarf.



It feels good to have another project finished... especially with two others on the go. I'm going to try and finish my purple shawl this weekend since it's not getting any warmer in the office and wearing winter clothing outside at this time of year just looks foolish. Between tonights lack of events, tomorrow evenings Yarn Harlot presentation and Sundays Knit Out I think it's an accomplishable goal... we'll see.

Anticipation

Today my friends was a good day.

1 - Some of the members of my S&B expressed an interest in hand dyeing, spinning, and the process of making sheep into yarn. So I called a sheep farm on Salt Spring Island, which is only a $25 ferry ride away, and inquired as to the day tour possibilties. The man was amazingly nice and said he would love to have us come out and see the whole process from start to finish. He even granted my request to allow the whole gang to pet a sheep or two, we're animal loving ladies! And the best part is that it's by donation, so needless to say when I sent an email to our group for numbers almost everyone was in for a weekend of fuzzy fun. They also have a yarn store on the premises so we can buy yarn off of the sheep we just visited... I don't know why, but this appeals to be, yes, very much so.

2 - While on the phone with farmer mentioned above he said this coming weekend was out of the question as he was attending the knit out in Victoria... whats this!? my oversized ears perk up?! Google it was and look at the wonderful instantaneous happiness I found all in one little URL

http://www.communityknitters.com/knitout/

Yarn Harlot!? In Victoria!? Be still my shaking needle fingers... yes, I'm giddy with excitement. I picked up my tickets today to see Yarn Harlot on Saturday evening. I am thrilled that my grandmother accepted my invitation to join me. She's the one that taught me to knit, so it's only fitting that she be my date for the evening :)

3 -Sunday there is the first annual knit out(see above link), which I plan on attending with my good friend Jennifer. This makes for a very, knitty, busy weekend, but I think I'm up for it.

4 - Earlier this week I emailed the marketing department at my work and asked if they would do a feature on our homepage (www.abebooks.com) on knitting books. I gave them all sorts of informtion and links galore. I even informed them that I thought Yarn Harlot would be a great person to interview perhaps. So when I found out she was in town this weekend I sent them a follow up email in case they wanted to get in touch with her now. Well... I might just tear up... they asked me if I wanted to do the interview... do I?! do I?! Yes, it would be an honour... although someone will have to help me with actual questions so that I don't take up my entire time with simply on my own interests... like can I knit part of her travelling socks? and, and, can she come yarn shopping with me cause that would make my day? So while it's an honour, I am truely scared.... don't worry over un-spilled milk though, I emailed her to request her time and have not yet heard back... so as Stephanie Pearl-McPhee once said on her own blog 'Nothing like a little anxiety to light a fire under your knitting.... ' Gryfindor scarf - almost. done.

One Glove Syndrome?

I finished the fair isle glove, and while I loved knitting the pattern... I wasn't thrilled about knitting individul fingers. Note to self: do NOT try toe socks. I think I will stick to mittens, gloves are simple not my thing. This poor lonely glove will remain single for the rest of it's life. Oh well, if knitting doesn't turn into something useful, at least it creates a wonderful learning experience.

Sylus seems to like the glove, hmmm... glove turned kitty toy...