JazzKnitsa's Tapping Needles

California Dreamin' on such a winter's day

2009-05-15T20:08:00.043-05:00

That was an easy title for this post! While rainy Ohio was covered in clouds, Patrick and I got on Frontier Airline (which after all uses the slogan: "A whole different animal") Wednesday, April 29th and headed west, first stopping in Denver and then a connecting flight to San Diego where the weather was PERFECT! Our final destination? Legoland USA located in Carlsbad, California.

A short car ride north on the deadly I-5 and we reached Carlsbad around 9PM PST. It had been a long day, the normal 24 hours turning into 27 for us, but we were too excited to just crash in the hotel. We explored a bit around us, the city of Carlsbad at 9PM being more like 1AM here in Cincinnati. It was odd and I had wondered if perhaps there were a curfew that I'd missed in the tourism literature. We didn't find much that reminded us of home and it was dark, so we grabbed something to eat and headed to our room at a newer Motel 6 which was, just like the rest of Carlsbad, very nice.

Thursday morning we were up early and headed out. The time zone difference definitely an issue. It was too early to head to Legoland and during our nocturnal adventure the night before we found that we were actually fairly close to the amusement park, so we had plenty of time.

Our first stopped we decided was the ocean. As we neared the public beaches we were glad we were in the car with no one else to see how goofy we were. You'd think we'd never seen water before! There in front of us was the expanse of the Pacific Ocean and we were struck by the beauty. Parking the car and despite not being prepared for a stroll on the beach we were drawn toward it.

We walked along the beach for several minutes and watched the beach wildlife: little squirrel-like creatures, joggers, walkers, surfers, and knew that we would be back once Legoland closed in the late afternoon.

Legoland wasn't exactly a challenge for Patrick the Ride Warrior, but he had a great time. Adorned in his Diamondback First 10,000 Riders t-shirt from Kings Island he ended up in conversations with several people who apparently were into visiting various amusement parks too -- other honorary members of the Ride Warrior Brotherhood.

Patrick's favorite rides were the Volvo Driving School and the Robotic Arm. The driving school had cars that didn't ride on tracks like I'd driven when I was a kid at the amusement park. The kids drove around the town, supposedly obeying traffic laws. He went on this ride several times during our visit.

The other ride he was thrilled to take it to the maximum intensity (a 5!) and just watching him made me want to throw up.

We made Legoland and the Sealife Aquarium a two day adventure. Patrick rode everything at least once and was able to participate in the Mindstorm activities as well as be part of a live action show, which was really pretty good.

Before leaving, we made sure we visited the California Flower Fields which were gorgeous. Our visit was toward the end of the blooming season and it was an amazing sensory experience with the sights and and smells of beautiful flowers. One of my favorite moments during the trip happened after walking around the immense field of blooming flowers, we got to see some of the smaller "specialty" flowers including the rose garden.

Although the roses seemed to have already bloomed, the smell was still wonderful. I initially thought there was music being piped in so a person could sit on one of the benches in the flower garden, but it was actually a live performance of the music of Khausak. He had various traditional flutes hanging from the microphone and performed music from his CDs which he was selling. My souvenir along with a stone rounded by the tide, was his CD "The Life of the Wind" which he recommended as relaxation music.

Patrick had done a little mining for unattended toddlers too.

Legoland was nice, but for me, the best part of the trip was sitting on the beach and just watching the waves...

We had to head back to San Diego and eventually Cincinnati on Saturday, so avoiding I-5 we took the much more scenic Route 101 driving by Torrey Pines Golf Course (which was yet another nerdy thrill for someone from Ohio who has watched too much television). It was with a lot of sadness (and some sunburned skin) that we left the beaches of California and the Pacific Ocean and headed home.

Many more pictures of our latest adventure can be found on Picasa as a slideshow.

"we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains" President Barack Obama

2009-01-22T11:31:00.009-05:00

Today is the start of International Year of Natural Fibres as determined by the United Nations. I thought it was a perfect way to share with anyone who reads this blog for knitting information about my latest projects and urge you to pick up a skein of yarn made of natural fibres (I've used wool and soy based yarn) and knit for our troops who need helmetliners, scarves, watch caps and neck gaiters to stay warm this winter.

A coworker of mine and Jane's has a son who enlisted with the Marines and before Christmas he was sent to Afghanistan. She shared with us some of the hardships he and others in his group were dealing with, including the bitter cold. They don't have the furnaces and washing machines that we take for granted. These are 18, 19 and 20 year old men and in some cases women who are serving our country.

I remembered having done research on the internet about knitting a neck gaiter (a knitted tube that slides down over the head and is worn around the neck without the excess of a scarf) and had read about knitting helmetliners for members of the armed forces. I mentioned this to Jane and she got her needles out and in a short time she had a helmet liner done. It was shipped off to Afghanistan and gratefully received by our coworker's son. While it was too big to wear as a helmet liner, he was able to wear it when he slept and he reported back that the first night wearing it was the first night of good sleep he'd had. Till then it had been too cold to sleep well.

Jane immediately got to work to knit more for the other men in his group. I've just completed one and we were able to send several more over. I'll admit for a knitter of my limited skill level, it's not an easy pattern, but with practice it gets better. Also, as we learned, even if because of size issues the headpiece doesn't work as a helmetliner, it still provides our soldiers with comfort and warmth when they sleep in areas where they don't have much more to use. We're excited too, because more people in our office are interested in learning how to knit so they can also make items to send.

I've copied and pasted several links here for those people who are interested in knitting for the troops. There are requirements that wool be used and there are color requirements to follow as well. I found some Paton's SWS (a blend of mostly wool with some soy fibers) on sale in an olive green that made for a warm and softer helmetliner. Three skeins were enough for one liner and at least one neck gaiter following the pattern given on the http://www.citizensam.org/ website. That website is also featured in an article in the Winter 2008/2009 KnitSimple Magazine on newsstands now. We didn't get any pictures of the last bunch we sent over, but there are pictures on the various sites of how a finished helmetliner looks.

There are lots of causes and people that need help... the soldiers, knitting preemie caps for Save the Children, knitting blankets for the homeless (Warm-Up America) and for sick children (Project Linus) among so many others. If you've got yarn and some time, making one item means so much to someone else and it's an amazing feeling to know that you've had a positive impact on someone else.

http://www.citizensam.org/
http://www.citizensam.org/html/patterns/knitting_instructions_helmetliner.html

http://www.usmcmuseum.com/knitpattern.pdf

http://www.tropicalyarns.com/index.cfm?PID=22&ProdID=624

http://www.packagesfromhome.org/things-to-donate/knitted-helmet-liner/1-latest-news/98-knitted-helmet-liner

http://www.stitchforsenate.us/participate.html

This site has a nice picture of finished helmetliners: http://gottoknit.blogspot.com/2008/01/helmet-liner-pattern.html

I heard the bells on Christmas Day, Their old, familiar carols play... -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

2008-12-27T22:27:00.014-05:00

Amazingly in Cincinnati today we reached a high of 69 degrees. On December 27th. Given the proper warnings for unseasonably warm weather, Patrick and I had made plans. We decided an outdoor adventure would be perfect, since it's likely to be another 60-90 days before such nice weather kisses our brows!

We checked our maps, dressed appropriately, packed our lunch, grabbed Titan and headed to Loveland, Ohio. The three of us explored a part of the bike trail we would likely never get to on our bikes. The trail was full (again, to the chagrin of the Tour de France wannabees) of families walking, people jogging, people and their dogs enjoying the break in what has been a cold Ohio winter.

I don't know how far we walked. It seemed like it was many miles, though I'd be afraid to find out it wasn't even one mile. Patrick was sure he'd burned off a few hundred calories, of course, that helped balance out the few hundred calories he'd gotten from the Coke he was drinking. The headline for this blog was influenced by the bells that played in downtown Loveland. We did walk long enough to hear two songs... ironically one was "Let it Snow." I'm hoping to visit this part of the trail with my bike when spring arrives for more than 24 hours.

My knitting is sparse considering the amount of time I've spent reading instead. Alison had talked me into seeing Twilight when it came out at the end of November and I was hooked. I saw the movie again with Nancy, and I finished the last book in the Twilight Saga on Christmas morning. I'm feeling the same loss for the Cullen family that I felt at the end of the Harry Potter series. There won't be any more evenings in Forks just as there are no more new school years at Hogwarts. Now the search to find something to fill that hole. Always the danger when you get wrapped up too much in a book series.

Anyway, I was talking about knitting. This blog's greatest number of hits are usually from people looking for patterns to use their Speed Stix and I've made several afghans from the pattern posted on the Lion Brand website that is free. As noted in previous posts though, my friend Jane and I decided to forego the fringe and do "knitted row" edges. Fringe done with with Homespun isn't attractive.

In my latest afghan, a Christmas gift for one of Patrick's teachers, I did four rows knitted on each end, and then on the sides there were 4 stitches on each that were knit, whether it was a knit or purl row. I don't have the accurate Homespun color names for this one, I used a lot of yarn I had from past Christmas' where I had made these afghans and had quite a stash for more. The main colors are an olive green, red, cream and a dark blue that had a thread of red running through it, which I believe is a color that is discontinued. It made a nice Christmas afghan as you can see from the pictures, but the color scheme didn't necessarily scream "CHRISTMAS" when you see it under natural light.

I started another afghan with yarn that I had in my stash and will post pictures of those colors. I'm doing the same pattern with the same change (knitting rows to border all 4 edges). Another quickie gift. I've also taken the remnant balls of yarn from all the afghans I'd made in the past and started doing 7" squares that I'm planning on piecing together for a blanket. Despite how inexpensive Homespun is, I really like the feel and the colors. Now that I've mentioned it, I need to work on it and get it done!

For those of you who are looking for patterns to use your speed stix I found a really nice booklet at a Michaels recently, and it's available online at Amazon.com as well: Quick Knits with Speed Stix (Leisure Arts #4165). The patterns use a lot of Lion Brand Homespun, some of the Lion Brand Fur yarns, as well as Incredible (ribbon tape yarn). Patterns include a nice coat, a vest with and without a lapel type collar, some decor items, a fashionable scarf, a caplet, and more. I've not finished anything yet, I am doing a scarf to use up some Incredible and Trellis yarns left over from another project. The sizes given range from small to 2X, the clothing items tend to be more for adult women (no kids patterns). I'd love to reach a skill level where it only takes me the few hours they cite in the pattern. There's only so much time available though isn't there?

I would rather have an army of Dogs led by a Pug than an army of Pugs led by a Dog. --- Napoleon

2008-10-04T16:09:00.012-05:00

Today was PugFair 2008 and what a terrific day for an outdoor event. It was very warm in the sun and the occasional cool breeze would blow through to remind a person that autumn is here.

We'd started preparing for the event a few weeks before. I'd made some scarves and donated them for auctioning or prizes. Jo-Ann's had one of my favorite yarns, Moda Dea Ticker Tape on sale ($1.99 a skein which is $6 cheaper than the regular price!) and I found a free pattern on the internet and was able to knit up a few. One in Sunset (a variegated color scheme that is very autumnal) and one in a variegated shades of pink. I made some cute gift bags using Pug greeting cards and bows and was able to donate a couple of nice packages.

After getting the scarves done, I started working on Titan's (aka KP) costume for the costume parade and contest. Patrick and I had pondered what kind of costume we should make for him, and in my constant striving for yet another bad pun, I opted to make him a "Beer Pug." (Beer mug/beer pug, get it? Apparently neither did the judges. Or maybe they drink from steins?) Perhaps next year I'll try a coffee mug joke.

I started out with a dog "sweatshirt" pattern from one of the pattern companies (yet another $1.99 sale at Jo-Ann's!) and changed it for my needs. A beer colored fleece fabric was the body. A gray felt handle (soft sculptured) and also a strip of gray felt at the bottom (you can't see it in the picture, he's sitting on it) was meant to look like the bottom of the glass. Sherpa wool was used for the collar to look like beer foam. I opted to not use the sleeves in the pattern and just left the leg openings rough. Patrick got lots of compliments from other fair goers, but we didn't get any awards for humorous or homemade costume. I think if we had just bought the lobster costume from Target and strapped it to his back, we would have fared a lot better. Patrick was disappointed, but he doesn't stay down long and is planning on his best friend Trick-Or-Treating with him as a Beer Pug. Not sure yet what Patrick will be wearing. I could try to figure how to make Patrick a Pretzel. :)

We enjoyed the PugFair quite a bit though. It was almost surreal to be surrounded by so many pugs. I think Titan made sure his nose sniffed the butt of every single dog there. What was amazing, there was a large pen where the pugs were placed sans human companion and leash to play with each other. No snarling, no barking, no aggressive behaviors were witnessed. Pugs just seem to enjoy socializing with each other playing and butt sniffing. Those that chose to wander alone when another pug came along and invaded his solitude, he just dealt with it and there was no snapping or growling. A very interesting breed of little dogs. Oh and Titan was wonderful! He was so compliant and even happy getting into his costume and wearing it.

One of the highlights of PugFair was the almost constant performance of Dr. Dan and the Stray Dogs Band. It was fascinating to hear just how many times they could work the word pug into a song (Van Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl became Brown Eyed Pug for this audience -- it's almost worth going to the Greyhound rescue gig they have on Sunday to hear how he does that one!). I avoided the deep-fried Twinkie for diet purposes, so I can't review those... though they looked delicious as I stared at other people eating the lard soaked snack cakes on a stick.

Give me your hands, if we be friends... Shakespeare

2008-07-27T15:51:00.011-05:00

This is the posting I was so hoping to be able to share!

Yes, that's Patrick and Drew Carey! And if you can't tell, Patrick was beside himself (ha! bad pun not intended -- see below). For those of you who don't know this story...

Patrick had decided he was a huge fan of Drew's. Wanting to grow up to be a game show host and actor (after all, Drew did it!), he decided to take his act to the streets and was Drew Carey for Halloween, 2007. A suit, his glasses, a Carey grin and a Price is Right microphone and Patrick looked the part. Anytime Patrick orders pizza from the neighborhood Snappy Tomato, the order is entered as "Drew Carey Howard," they had enjoyed his costume and performance so much.

I'd learned that Drew Carey was making his debut performance with the Cleveland Orchestra (Doing what you might ask? Doing Shakespeare I would reply as if that were the most common role in the world for Mr. Carey!), narrating parts of Shakespeare's play (those words spoken by Puck) and one of the best orchestras in the world playing selections from Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Once tickets were on sale I immediately made sure we had the best available in the pavilion and planned a trip for July to Cleveland.

Being encouraged by several of you who might be reading this, I emailed the PR dept. of the Orchestra explaining about Patrick, sharing his pictures and asking if there were any way he would be able to meet Drew Carey. Fast forward a few months, and we were down to the week of the concert. I finally received a reply from the director of the PR Dept. and she had said she would share my email with Mr. Carey and it would be up to him. If something could be arranged, she would let me know the day of the concert.

Friday, July 25th, we excitedly embarked on our trip. Patrick had packed everything and had it waiting to go when I got home from work and we hit the road north. I'd found a nice, inexpensive hotel with a swimming pool that wasn't far from the Blossom Center where the summer outdoor concerts are held. We got a good sleep and woke up Saturday morning for our day of seeing Drew Carey's Cleveland.

Please note: while the following may seem to be stalking, we were doing it in a lime green VW Beetle, so therefore, no malicious intent was intended. Had we done so in the car wearing clown make-up, well that could qualify as malicious.

One of the more famous stories about Drew Carey available on the internet is him buying the house he grew up in when he first made it big. Not expecting success, I was easily able to find the address of a home owned by a Drew Carey using the county auditor's site. Our first stop was driving past the address on Flowerdale (which we realized Patrick is living on Lonsdale, hmmm) three times. I told Patrick that was all I was willing to do since people were starting to wonder. The house was empty, well taken care of with a large, white wooden fence around it. After that thrill had subsided we headed for the next stop on our Mecca of Carey's beginnings.

The most recent story on the internet about Mr. Carey involves him ordering 45 pizzas from his very favorite pizza parlor and having them flown to a party for the Price is Right in California. So, we had lunch at Drew's favorite pizza parlor, Antonio's Pizza in Parma. We of course listened several times to Moon over Parma from the soundtrack of the Drew Carey show as we drove. The pizza was very, very good (Drew does have terrific taste in pizza it seems!). We talked to Curtis, the guy running the place Saturday morning and Patrick was dying to tell him we came all the way from Cincinnati to eat there. Curtis burst his bubble. It seems people come from greater distances to check out Drew's favorite pizza. He did explain the process of shipping the pizzas from their store via UPS and it involved many steps that would make one wonder if the pizza really arrived as tasty as ours was. He also mentioned that a woman in Florida shells out $50 to have a pizza delivered every few months because she misses their pizza.

We never did hear from the PR Dept and with a bit of disappointment we listened to the first half of the concert. Drew came out on stage after the intermission and the hometown boy was given a rousing welcome. It seemed to take Mr. Carey a bit to relax or perhaps warm-up and the performance was very fun. I'm sure Patrick will replay the death scene without much encouragement now that he's seen Drew Carey do it. After the show, I wondered if we sort of hung around maybe there would be a chance to run into Drew (since we hadn't while we were stalking him earlier in the day). Waiting on the side of the backstage area, Patrick worked his charms on several of the women who were guarding the gates and they noted how adorable he was and that he looked like he could be Drew's son. One thing led to another, I threw around a few names from my email and while we continued to wait, a group came out of a post concert party and asked for our names. Much to Patrick's excitement we were told that our names were "on the list" and we were led back to the party.

Standing there, right in front of us was Drew. He was really nice and introduced himself to Patrick and Patrick was speechless. There was some awkwardness, I shook his hand, and told Mr. Carey about Patrick being a fan and dressing up like him for Halloween (I left out the stalking details). Drew smiled and joked around with Patrick who was still speechless. He posed with Patrick for the above picture and we thanked him and started leave. Patrick stammered, still wasn't able to talk and Drew grabbed him and gave him this huge bear hug. It was really awesome. Once we'd walked away, Patrick was able to talk again, yelling that "I'm going to savor this moment for the rest of my life."

"Spring - an experience in immortality." -- Henry D. Thoreau

2008-05-19T22:31:00.009-05:00

And feeling very immortal, Patrick and I hit the bike trail this past Sunday. It's been a while since my last entry, I think the cold winter took longer to pass this year and my fingers have finally thawed to type. There's been some knitting. Some home decorating. A few personal changes. I've even gotten out and mowed the grass a few times. But, this past Sunday was our first trip onto the bike trail in 2008.

Patrick is always anxious to head out for an adventure on our bikes, at least at first. I'm just the opposite. I dread putting the bike rack on the Mobile Lime. Despite what the manufacturer said on the package, my bike rack was not made for a VW Beetle. Also, despite that my car sits so low to the ground, I didn't want to have to lift bikes over my head to get them on the top of the car. Well... I'm not lifting over my head, but it's pretty close. Once I get the bikes on the car, and then holding my breath the short car ride to the trail praying to the Goddess of Single Moms that the bikes don't slide off and my son's prize possession doesn't end up mangled under the wheels of a Suburban, I exhale when I'm there and in park. Then I realize, I have to get the bikes off the rack.

But, the bikes come down and we get started. We review the rules of riding. We review our signals and then Patrick zooms off ahead of me forgetting all the things we'd just covered in the excitement of the open road. I've learned to go later in the afternoon, the serious cyclists training for some national cycling event have hopefully been out much earlier. There are still plenty who take their ride seriously and I try to keep both of us out of their way.

This particular day, we started further up the trail, hoping to see some previously unexplored bike path. We did go a total of 12 miles, and given the weather with threatening storm clouds and blustery winds, that was a lot, however, we never got past the point I had made it on my 20 mile ride last October. Another lesson learned, take into account the direction and the strength of the wind when determining just how far one should go before coming back. In our case, it took all we had to make the last 6 miles back to the car.

I'm sure we'll venture out again this weekend, it will be Memorial Day Weekend and perhaps I'll have forgotten the pain in my shoulders (from lifting the bikes) and the pain in my tail bone (from sitting on my, well you know...) to get back out there and maybe go a bit farther.

As for knitting, I've just finished a poncho for a friend of a friend. Some people look great in ponchos, others, well they look like camping tents that sleep a family of four. This particular poncho is knitted with one strand of Lion Brand Incredible in "Accent on Black" (a variegated black gray color) and a strand of Lion Brand's Trellis in a lime and turquoise color. I happened to have enough yarn in my stash and the Trellis was perfect for adding a dash of color to the monotone Incredible. Incredible is similar to Ticker Tape, which I'd used for a previous poncho. My friend will take an extra skein of the Trellis and make fringe. I suspect it will terrific on the person who will be getting it, just because it luckily happened to be colors that compliment her own coloring.

I have plenty of projects on deck, including curtains for my bedroom and a snuggly afghan made from a variegated brown, pink and cream that I just love.

“Those of you who feel knitting has changed your life, welcome to the club. I can think of no better occupation to reveal your own creativity.”

2008-02-09T12:17:00.000-05:00

The above quote has been attributed to Kaffe Fassett.

Learning to knit did change my life in good and bad ways. I spend too much money on yarn, books and needles, but I have a way to unwind in the evenings, a way to express my creativity, and a new appreciation for textiles. I learned to knit a few years ago when my friend Jane showed me how to cast on and how to do the knit stitch. She suffered through the days it took me to grasp the Purl stitch and now she deals with all the goofy knitting things I find on the internet and am driven to share with someone!

Two of those goofy things I'm including pictures of here that Jane had made. The sock monkey hat I've mentioned before (the pattern can be found here) and is being worn by the lucky recipient just this past Christmas.

The other pictures are of Patrick wearing his R2D2 beanie Jane knitted. Patrick is performing in the talent show at his school and since his selected piece is the Main Theme to Star Wars, we decided on the costume shown here. Jane quickly came to the rescue and made the beanie since I wasn't able to find a really nice R2D2 costume for a preteen/teen to wear and it needed to be open enough for him to play the piano.

I'm still waiting to see if she makes the chenille breast or Elvis wig.

By the way, the R2D2 Tshirt can be purchased online at 80sTees.

“O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?” -- Percy Bysshe Shelley

2008-01-21T21:06:00.000-05:00

We've been lucky so far. What little cold weather we've had here in Cincinnati so far this winter, when it was cold it was really cold!

And only a true friend would model some of my knitting on Fountain Square in a wind chill that was probably in the single digits! My friend Nancy is wearing one of my first projects, a poncho made with Mode Dea Ticker Tape. The yarn was on sale and I was excited about working with the elastic ribbon yarn. I gave the finished project to Nancy knowing how fabulous it would look on her. She gave it her own touch and trimmed the fringe which really enhanced the look. She's also wearing the Booda Bag I knitted using Noro Kureyon yarn. She loved the Booda Bag and again it was perfect for her.

Knitting the Booda Bag was a real adventure. I'd found the pattern on the internet but, couldn't figure out exactly how to do the base and knitting around it. It was more searching and finding many blogging knitters with advice that I finally was successful! I picked up the Noro Kureyon at my favorite LYS, Fiberge, though I can't remember what color it was. I probably should have felted it a little bit longer, and the felted I-chord straps were still stretchy, so more felting might have helped with that. I would also suggest cutting a piece of plastic canvas, covering it in a matching fabric and stitching it to the inside bottom of the bag for support. Nancy liked it as is, so this one didn't have a flat bottom.

Currently I've finished everything I've been working on with the exception of the baby kimono. I've got some projects I'm prepping though, and am anxious to find something else that doesn't take a lot of concentration. I'd found a "reading shawl" that I can't seem to stop thinking about, as well as a mobius shawl that I bought in a kit. I'd also gotten a skein of recycled silk from sarongs and would like to make something for me from it, so I'm looking for the right project.

But when we're through this New Year, you'll see, will be, Just fine.

2008-01-02T00:03:00.000-05:00

Wow... I've been away for 2 months and not much to show for it. A few gifts were finished and got away without pictures. And Jane made an incredible Sock Monkey Hat a picture of which she promised to share so I could post it here.

I finished a very quick but delicious afghan. Using the Speed Stix pattern, I avoided using Homespun and instead used some yarns I found on sale and were colors I was dying to use. I've really come to like the "Neapolitan" colors (chocolate, strawberry and vanilla) that seem to be in vogue. I'd found at Hobby Lobby Yarn Bee "Frosting" in Barely Iced which was a pale pink and Creme Plus which was a variegated pink/brown/cream/blue. I used 2 skeins of each, then added one skein each of "I Love This Yarn" in a coffee and a cream. This help added bulk to the afghan and the "Frosting" yarns made the afghan incredibly soft. All the yarns are washable and dry at home in a dryer. It was the 6-Hour Throw free pattern on Lion Brand using Speed Stix. but again I didn't add fringe and this time no border (honestly, I forgot... I started the project at the last minute while I took Patrick to see a movie that I'd already seen). It will be nice enough, though if I were to do it over, I'd definitely add the border like the other ones and I'd make it a bit wider. The pattern calls for 34 stitches cast on, using these yarns I'd probably do at least 40.

It's a gift for a friend in the hospital who has a long rehab ahead of her. I'm hoping the softness of the yarn is pleasant to her touch, like hugging a favorite stuffed animal.

I also finished the baby blankie mentioned back in November, and a baby hat. I'm still working on the kimono and probably will have to give that to the baby's proud "Nana" later.

And finally, I'm finishing up something that while should have been so simple has been incredibly frustrating! I purchased at a post Thanksgiving yarn sale at Fiberge, my favorite LYS, two skeins of Karabella Yarn: Gossamer. The yarn is a fine, very fine thread which was a dark brown color that had copper metallic strands woven into at intermittent spots. I'd seen a completed stole on display and thought it was the perfect gift for one of my friends. It's so delicate and light, it is just beautiful. Working with the yarn for me however was a nightmare because it was fine and delicate. It was a basic stockinette stitch, I used bamboo 15 (everyone in the store who had already made one said 15s were preferable over the specified 17, which was convenient since I didn't have bamboo 17s and they were out of them as well, but had lots of 15! Fortuitous! Also, the women there recommended since I was using 15s, I should probably cast on 70 stitches which I did (I think the pattern called for 50). As simple as this should have been, I started this project 3 times before really liking my work and continuing beyond the the first 5 inches. It just took me an incredible amount of time to get the right tension for working with such a fine yarn. I'm determined to use all two skeins before calling it done and at this time, there's not a lot left. Hopefully this weekend will be the date and I can start on something new.

Perhaps I'll get a chance for a picture of her wearing it, so the real beauty of the stole and the wearer can be fully seen. It's really a gorgeous accessory, perfect for wearing over a black or brown turtleneck I think.

So, Christmas is almost over. So many more things to make and not enough time, but a New Year to do it all in!

"A baby's an inestimable blessing and bother." -- Mark Twain

2007-11-01T22:26:00.000-05:00

I wonder if Twain knitted... probably not. But he had a point. You have absolutely no idea how difficult this knitting for baby project has been! I initially had planned on doing a hat, a sweater and a blanket using the free patterns from the Lion Brand website. There was a set of patterns, all called "Glamour-Baby" and the yarn called for was Lion Cashmere Blend. I didn't want to use the yarn called for. It's not easy to find, it's expensive and the recommended care doesn't allow for machine drying and the last thing a new mother needs is infant wear and accessories that isn't easy to clean. I tried the hat, and I really did try to match the gauge but it was a disaster. I tried a second time and still no success. I gave up on the hat, and decided to work on the blanket. The pattern Glamour-Baby 's First Blankie is easy and very attractive. I'm still concerned about the completed size. I've gotten about half of it done and it doesn't seem very wide, though I think it will match the dimensions listed in the pattern which is 18" x 24". I like the pattern created by "blocks" of knit stitches alternating with "blocks" of purl stitches.

I'm using the Caron Simply Soft Baby shown in the picture with the half that's completed. The color "Soft Yellow" is very pretty and a nice alternative to the solid pink I'd started with and so far I've used 2 skeins. The yarn is truly soft and totally washable according to the care instructions. It's also working out well as a substitute to the yarn called for in the pattern. I'm using bamboo US 10.5 needles.

I will finish this soon and the question still remains, will I make a hat and sweater to go with it? I really love some of the cute kimono patterns out there for babies. The kimono would be a nice sweater (and very easy!) to put on a baby.

I have also started on some Christmas presents. So much to do and so little time!

An A-Mazing October Day

2007-10-21T20:14:00.000-05:00

No, sorry... no misadventures on a bike for this Sunday. Oh no... against my better judgment, I let Patrick talk me into our annual disaster of a corn maze. Patrick, me and corn mazes are just not something that should usually be mentioned in the same sentence... until today! WooHoo!!!!!!!!

We spent the 80+ degree, late October Sunday (we're in Southwest Ohio... can you say "Global Warming"?) at Tom's Maze and had a pretty good time of it. It was not nearly as difficult as the other mazes we had tried in past years, so it was actually fun. No exhausted mom, no overly stimulated kid, no frustrated map readers desperately looking for a boy scout group to slip into just to find the exit. The maze, which according to the website has the distinction of actually being grown in the configuration rather than cut, is 8 acres of inedible corn (Patrick had to ask one of the workers and they explained that the corn grown for corn mazes is special maize). Broken into 12 sections, each section is outlined in a different colored plastic tape (and no, no tape was yellow and black with "Crime Scene" stamped on it!). Also each section contains a mailbox that held a piece of a puzzle. We were to find the mailbox, get our puzzle piece, tape it onto the appropriate section of the "playing card" we were given when we bought our ticket and then move on to find the next puzzle piece.

The most challenging part of the maze, well other than dealing with obnoxious children and the parents who paid little attention to their rude little beasts, was finding the exit. Called "Victory Bridge" it towered over the maze, but finding the right path required using the completed puzzle and a lot of luck for those of us who are directionally challenged and unable to find a boy scout troop to mix in with. But, we did it! And happily enough, we didn't follow anyone! We used more logic than map reading but, hey, we got out! And whole thing only took about an hour.

Afterwards we basked in the combination of our successful finish AND the summer-like October afternoon sun.

We also watched Tom, who is apparently the Tom of Tom's Maze, operate the hourly firing of the Chunkin' Punkin' Cannon -- some sort of old fire truck outfitted with an air compressor, large tank and a very long "nozzle". With great anticipation, Tom puts a small pumpkin in a chamber in the nozzle, turns on the air compressor for several minutes, whereby the large chamber fills and when released, the pumpkin sails high and far into the air, ultimately crashing to earth in a smattering of seeds and pulp Washington Irving's Headless Horseman would envy.

It was a very nice day. One in which my legs ached instead of my bottom.

Covered in Cat Hair

2007-10-20T16:29:00.001-05:00

I've found a book that has changed my life. OK, a little dramatic, but it really has made an impact: Crazy Aunt Purl's Drunk, Divorced, and Covered in Cat Hair: The True-Life Misadventures of a 30-Something Who Learned to Knit After He Split. Yes it's a knitting book... there are some really cute patterns in it, which I will get to in more detail later, but it's so much more than a book about knitting. The author, Laurie Perry relates her experiences of her divorce and dealing with the end of the relationship. Being all too familiar with a lot of those feelings, a book of just 198 pages of text (a chunk of the book is patterns and projects, and a few pages are provided with book club discussion topics), spoke volumes to me. I've recommended it to several friends who are dealing with similar situations. Sadly, there are way too many of us out there.

The book does include patterns for a few cute hats, a few scarves, some small bags and one huge cat toy. I laughed and I cried with the author, who, btw has her blog: Crazy Aunt Purl. Quite funny and inspirational.

Posterity and Escape

2007-10-14T23:49:00.000-05:00

The success or failure of a life, as far as posterity goes, seems to lie in the more or less luck of seizing the right moment of escape” -- Alice James

I seemed to have seized some sort of escape Sunday and now my posterior is in failure... Another visit to the bike trail, this time alone and I'm not sure I'll survive to pedal such folly again. I rode 10 miles one way, which meant to get back to my waiting citrus fruit and make my way home, I needed to ride another 10 miles.

There's my bike, and the 44 mile marker. I started at the 54 mile marker. The ride took me a little more than 2 hours. Along the way I took some pictures:

Not as hot as last week's ride, it was a gorgeous autumn day. I started out thinking some sad thoughts, but it wasn't long before my focus was on distance and pain. I passed some people on the trail, but more often was passed by "real" cyclists. Maybe I should look into getting real cyclist clothes, though my bike isn't anything like theirs either. I did get a compliment about my basket. She was a mom too -- I've got a "mom" kind of bike. Lots of dads out jogging, pushing their little slackers in those jogging strollers. Many people rollerblading, several people just out walking, lots of squirrels playing in the fallen leaves, a large vulture and one chipmunk also all shared the trail with me. This time Patrick wasn't with me, I missed his friendly greeting each person that passed us slow enough for him to wish them a terrific day. I was able to keep going, with fewer stops though since he weren't with me, and I did end up doing 20 miles.

My weekend was one of quiet, one that I did pretty much only what I wanted to do: sleep, knit, watch movies ("For the Love of the Game" and "Working Girl" to note a few of several) . I was going to upload a picture of the baby blanket I'm working on, but I think I'm still struggling with gauge and am not sure this is going to end up being big enough for a human baby... the yarn is wonderful. It's just lovely and soft, but I'm half done and I don't think it will be the right size. More to come on that.

These are stirring autumn days... amid the rustle of leaves like migrating finches

2007-10-07T16:37:00.000-05:00

Today the thermometer read 94 degrees and I am sure I just awoke from the kind of nap that follows a sunburn. Patrick and I spent a few hours on a bike trail today. Yes, the bike rack made it onto the car and I have proof for the doubters in my peer group!

And, we made it onto a bike trail! 13 miles on the Terrace Park/Milford portion of the Little Miami Scenic Trail.

It's a gorgeous bike path and we entered it on Rt. 50 just beyond the turn for Newtown and took the trail all the way up to the little carryout in Miamiville.

Saturday I found Biking Ohio's Rail-Trails: Where to Go, What to Expect, How to Get There at Half Price Books and we're anxious to do a lot more exploring. Of course, I need to figure out how to make the bikes a bit more secure on the bike rack which is precariously hanging on the sloped rear of a lime on wheels. They tend to teeter too much for me, even with the addition of some of those bungie thingies. Now that we've done it once, the next time should be easier. I'm looking forward to time spent on the bike as well without Patrick... He's a bit too impetuous for a relaxed ride yet, but his enthusiasm scores points. I don't even want to consider trying to put Mickey in the basket and expect him to stay in it. He would look good in one of those baskets that Margaret Hamilton had Toto in as she cycled away with him to the Sheriff. Heck, he'd be perfect in that exact basket!

OK, just a quick blog to assure my friends that we finally made it out on a major bike ride (13 miles is no lark ya' know!). I know, I'm slow in adding more knitting stuff. I'm slow to do any knitting right now, but Christmas is fast approaching. I've gotten another step closer to felting my Booda Bag, so I think my next pictures and post will be a before and after. The colors are perfect for autumn, I just need to find what box it ended up in during the move. The baby layette items are still WIP. I've experienced my first quandary with gauge issues, so I've had to start over and starting over anything throws me for a loop!

An Awesome New Knitting Book!

2007-09-06T07:46:00.000-05:00

For those of us who get excited about new knitting books, this post is dedicated to you!

Despite my knitting activity which is relatively busy I'm still struggling with moving beyond simple rectangular-type projects. Scarfs, hats, blankets and afghans, a lap top cover, a nice little soap sack, a purse here and there... several more scarves, a few more hats... I've looked longingly at sock patterns, I've admired sweaters, but so far, I've not gone there.

With a yen to do more (ok, bad pun, but I would have been remiss to not even try), I saw KNIT KIMONO by Vicki Square on Amazon. I patiently waited for it to move beyond pre-order status, and when it was finally released, I splurged on a treat for myself and bought a copy. I'm so glad I did!

I found the history information about the kimono really fascinating, and the projects are wonderful! A kimono is basically just rectangles, so it's perfect for knitters like me. A variety of styles in this book, the author provides simple instructions for those who are bold enough to go out on their own and design their own versions, as well as pretty and practical projects for the less adventuresome of us who want something that will look darn close to the picture accompanying the pattern. I can focus on learning new stitches and knit my rectangles! There's one gorgeous pattern I think I'm going to try first. Keep your fingers crossed for me and hopefully I'll be posting a completed kimono variation here very soon!

The drawback is several of the projects are oversized or long... this means lots of yarn and lots of yarn can be expensive. This has its upside too. For those of us with very limited yarn budgets, it does force us to be more creative and less lazy. Can't just rely on the pattern. We've got to work to come up with more frugle yarn options, perhaps changing a design, carrying a "yarn needed list" around with us when we happen across the perfect sale. But I'm excited about the possibilities this book brings to my knitting future. I've only felt this way about one other book: Mason-Dixon Knitting by Kay Gardiner and Ann Meador Shayne.

Long Over Due

2007-09-04T21:33:00.000-05:00

OK, I'm out of my funk and getting back to doing fun things, getting back to being productive again. I finished the prayer shawl and gave it to my friend for her birthday. The color was perfect for her, and I'm hoping the shawl brings her some comfort in the coming months of autumn.

I knitted it using a Feather and Fan stitch, 3 skeins of Homespun "Waterfall" and US 11 bamboo needles. I loved the feather and fan pattern, especially how nice the scalloped ends of the shawl were without me even needing to be aware that's what was happening. I found the free pattern on the internet.

Once I finished the shawl, I went back to an afghan that I had started before last Christmas and never finished. I had decided to donate a completed afghan we're having at work for a fundraiser so, it was now or never to complete it. I ended up taking most of the stitches out and starting over, but today it was completed, almost two weeks before the fundraiser. There's a first for me!

The afghan was knitted with 2 skeins each of Homespun colors Gothic (kind of a black & purple), Quartz, Bubble Gum and Lavender Sachet. I used Speed Stix needles (US 50, or perhaps pointy broom handles!) and a Lion Brand 6 Hour Afghan . Instead of only 3 colors, I used 4 and I decided to go without the fringe. The other afghans using this pattern that I had made (and I've made several of these for Christmas presents last year) had the fringe and it was messy. My friend Jane had improvised on the pattern and we decided to go without fringe and make a border for the ends and sides. It's a much better afghan! (Thank you Jane!!!).

I'm starting on a baby set, a gift for a friend's new granddaughter. There's a hat, a blanket and (drum roll...) a sweater! Yes, I'm going to try a sweater. It's a baby sweater, but it's still something that is more than a rectangle. Keep your fingers crossed for me! Of course, pictures will be posted when I'm done. I'll also post more about the patterns.

"I have always imagined that Paradise...

2007-08-13T11:55:00.000-05:00

will be a kind of library." Jorge Luis Borges

Borges is right in my opinion. Another quote that seems particularly apt in my situation right now, but this one appears to be unattributable to anyone: "A library is a hospital for the mind."

I had finished the 13th Stephanie Plum novel and took up Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Not able to put it down, I devoured it and reluctantly left Rowling's wizarding world to revisit the court of Henry the VIII for the next group of headless romps with The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory. First, I was so sad to leave Harry. Another ending to deal with, and one that had the realization, we'll never see Hogwarts again or never start the school year again with a trip on the Hogwart's Express. We're stuck with starting the school year shopping at Walmart or Target. I certainly won't ruin the book for those who have yet to read it, but if you haven't read the series, you should. The movies are just glimpses of the books. But, on to the continuing saga of the Tudor pursuit for a son!

The story telling technique in The Boleyn Inheritance for me, leaves a little to be desired. I'm having trouble moving with a fluid reading manner because the author is telling the story from the perspective of three women at court, each woman getting a chapter in turns. I've got a friend who told me to hang in there... The Queen's Fool would be next and it's her favorite. So, another book for the queue!

I rarely mention music here despite that I have it at the top of the blog page. Music is important to me, just as much as words. At times when things seem overwhelming, burying myself in a book with music in the background makes sadness seem so far away, though I know ultimately it's a momentary escape. Anyway, I've turned Patrick onto Vince Guaraldi. Yes, my 10 year old enjoys this jazz pianist who died way too soon and left behind wonderful music beyond just the soundtracks for the Peanuts cartoons. As a treat, I got Patrick a copy of this album:

He loved the caricature of Guaraldi. While the music is all Peanuts related, it is very good. A nice album to sit and listen to. As someone who grew up at the time the Peanuts cartoons were being shown (for the first time, not repeats!) there are some moments that remind me of the cartoons, but just some. A few if the pieces were recorded live and "live" jazz is always a treat. I'd initially looked over this album in gathering my collection of Guaraldi's work. I'm glad I didn't totally miss it. Besides, the album ends with "Cast Your Fate to the Wind." What a wonderful song to listen to and feel your soul a little more free.

The Ebb and Flow of Life

2007-08-12T07:51:00.000-05:00

I sit here in Cincinnati, thinking about what it must be like to sit on a beach and watch the true ebb and flow of the tides. The water rushing in, wiping out the marks in the sand, making it a blank slate, and then receding back into the ocean, leaving momentarily so new footprints can be left on the beach before rushing back in to erase the evidence that someone once walked there.

This past week, I've felt my life was like that...

Yesterday my son and I emptied the apartment we'd been living in for the last three years and turned in the keys. We'll never be driving back up that hill, we'll never be climbing the three flights of steps with our laundry or groceries, I'll never sit there in the dark and quiet of the apartment at 3AM and hear the variety of bird sounds that the surrounding woods and nearby river attracted. We've moved into our house, he's enrolled in school and is excitedly looking forward to starting in about a week. There's so much to do, so much to put away and a good deal of "maintenance" type things that I've got to figure out how to do and would normally rely on a male to be more capable of handling. I should be happy. I set out to buy this house and now, well, my first payment book showed up in the mail yesterday. I was successful in the first phase of home ownership. Today I have to figure out how to work the electric lawnmower, I have to decipher the instructions for installing the trim line in my weed trimmer, and I've got to figure out which cabinets in my kitchen will be used for what.

In the midst of all this change... I had two VERY important people in my life tell me things that remind me of that tide flowing back out, that make me wonder about whether footsteps will reappear in the sand of my life. One friend is dealing with something that I can't fix, something I don't know how adequately comfort them for. All I know to do is give this friend something that I hope as a symbol of my feelings will comfort them when they need it physically and emotionally. I've put getting our new home in order on hold a bit so I can finish it.

The other person... I started writing this because I thought I knew what I would say, that if I wrote things down I'd feel better, and now, I'm just at a loss for words. I think of this person in my life and I picture one of those little heart necklaces. The kind where the heart is split zigzag down the center. Together, it is a complete, familiar object. Apart, and the half I hold doesn't look recognizable as anything familiar. This person who was my best friend for the last four years of my life needs to go away. They need to pursue other things, go places they don't think I can't go. They'll follow that setting sun on the horizon over the sea and I'm trying to find the strength to stand on the beach and watch them, wish them well, hope they find the happiness they seek. I watched them leave with the water that just wiped out our footsteps in the sand, my fantasy always was to be with them when they set out, to share those adventures, but now, I have to go forward leaving just my prints. I'll never knit that person gifts again; they needn't worry about dealing with the ill fitting sweater or wearing a funky pair of variegated socks. I can't fix this situation either. I can't work harder to make the outcome one I want. Right now I can't seem to bear to rip out the pattern I've spent so much time working on to start over, but at some point will need to be done.

Please bear with me while I try to find the strength to take that first step, to leave that first footprint in the sand. I have an idea for a window treatment I want to knit for my bedroom. I'm looking forward to sharing that here...

Summer has set in with its usual severity.

2007-07-22T22:02:00.000-05:00

The ever upbeat Coleridge said that about summer and I must agree with him. Now I wait for the calm after the storms... that time when things slow down, when life settles into a peaceful ebb and flow. I've neglected my blog for too long, maybe because I didn't have any finished project to report, but mostly do to lack of time. I've started a new job, continued working on my old job to help a friend get started in my previous position, and we've bought a house.

In my little down time I've been adding to the prayer shawl I started and I've been reading. Going from James Rollins' Black Order, then taking on Brad Metzler's The Book of Fate, and now, enjoying the bodice ripping of King Henry VIII's attempts at breeding in The Other Boleyn Sister by Philippa Gregory. And yes, I succumbed to the Harry Potter mania and bought the last book which is calling to me. I've heard so many good things about it, but am careful to avoid any details... ABSOLUTELY ANY!!!

I will post a picture of the prayer shawl in the next few days. I think I'll have to bind it off well before I finish knitting the third ball of Homespun the pattern recommended. At this point it would end up being an afghan for a twin size bed! I still have goal to work on socks, but I keep putting it off. I've found what is supposed to be the perfect sweater for a beginner to knit in a picot cotton (I'm using periwinkle colored yarn). And, as the dog days of summer fast approach, I know that too soon Mickey will be needing a sweater to wear outside, so I'm going to give that a try as well before I get back on track with socks.

I did get my July package into the mail for my yarn swap pal. She should get it early this week. I'm hoping she enjoys the yarn, I'd splurged on yarn that was made from recycled sarongs, a portion of the money going back to the women who made the yarn to help them. I'd like to get a skein for myself some day and make something from it, but I have no idea what. I'll watch for something that is just right. Right now, my spending money is going to buy items needed for the house. I'm in the hunt for the perfect chair to sit in for knitting!

Baa Baa Black Sheep have you any...

2007-06-07T13:52:00.000-05:00

My secret pal's delivery came in the mail yesterday. Thank you so much whoever you are!!! I can hardly wait to "meet" this person. She's a lot of fun. She actually sent me 3 skeins each of pink and grey of a braided ribbon yarn. It's wide and flat and I love the colors. I'll post a picture of the skeins later this evening. Now I've got to figure out what to do with it.

The knitter who I'm secret pal to should get her yarn soon. This is fun. I picked a lovely, deep purple skein of the yarn made from corn fibers. It's just amazing the materials that are out there to use! I already know what my July pick is going to be for her. Stay tuned. I hope if she makes something with it she'll forward a picture. I love seeing how creative people are.

I know I've been telling people my next project is going to be socks. I've been collecting information, how-to, various patterns, a few skeins of yarn... however, the skein I was going to start with, when I tried to roll it into a ball, carefully removing the center strand, did not want to unwind easily and now I've got a pile of wool/acrylic blend mess. I'm sorting through it and trying to get it wound into a ball (sadly, this skein for socks has 440 yards!). I've heard of these nightmare skeins that just don't want to seem to play fair. Anyway, while I try to piddle with that, I decided to try another go at doing a prayer shawl for our local group Knit 1 Heal 2. The pattern I settled on utilizes the Feather & Fan pattern and I think it will be pretty when finished using the LionBrand Homespun I had on hand for a prayer shawl. More to come on that project!

Again, a huge thank you to my Secret Pal! She's pretty terrific and I look forward to hearing from her some more.

Two in one day? YES!

2007-06-03T18:45:00.000-05:00

When it rains it pours they say... and the skies here in Ohio are dark and stormy today. I've got more pictures (yes I've been knitting my fingers to the bone!). I promised the baby blanket and soap bag pictures, so here they are.

As with most of my recent projects, there's been a lot of improvising done on the baby blanket. Knitted with Bernat Baby Lash on US 8 bamboo circulars, the blanket is soft and very heavy. I used 6 skeins of Baby Blue and 2 skeins of Soft N' Sunny. I'm concerned that it's not very big, but as heavy as it turned out, maybe that's a good thing. Perfect for laying a baby on, or maybe as a cover while baby is in a car seat that isn't going to be kicked off easily. Perhaps it will become a treasured security blanket.

The soap bag was a quickie project (and already has some soap in it waiting to be used on some lucky back!). The pattern is from the knitting page at About.com (here) and I used Sugar 'n Cream, the color was "salt & pepper print". I used US 6 bamboo needles, and mine doesn't look exactly like the one on About.com... I didn't quite understand the instruction about knit each stitch then wrap the yarn twice around the needle. I think mine turned out okay though and will make more. Would be a nice addition to a gift basket.

Isn't this Cozy?

2007-06-03T13:16:00.000-05:00

A friend recently flipped through a book I had that showed a laptop cover. They'd recently bought a new laptop and mentioned how neat it would be to have a waterproof cover. Ever one to rise to a challenge, I surfed the net and found that Dale of Norway makes a teflon coated yarn called Hauk that repels water. So... 6 skeins later and one water test, I had a laptop cover made to order! I chose barn red and the charcoal colors and doubled it and used US 11 needles. One strand wasn't quite bulky enough. I also chose to use the stockinette stitch, thinking that the right side would help in keeping water away from the laptop. My friend seemed pleased with the finished product. It was slightly bigger than the laptop and afforded room for the power cord, rather than having to knit an additional pouch.

While I had no trouble with the stitch, I did have my first attempt at making a buttonhole (will need a lot more practice on that!). I also learned a valuable lesson about decreasing when doing the triangular foldover part. I like to think my errors lend a rustic look to it, which compliments the color scheme.

Once that was done I made a baby blanket for a friend's baby. Those pictures will be posted soon. Now I'm working on a neat cover for a bar of soap and learning a new stitch in the process. I keep procrastinating on the sock thing, but it should be next.

2007-05-19T16:34:00.000-05:00

I am slow getting my blog up and running, sorry. I've spent most of my spare time knitting there's just not enough time in the day! I do admire the blogs that so many knitters have done, and have found them useful for sharing information -- new patterns, tips, technique how-tos, yarn characteristics and books reviews. One of my most recent knitting experiences was a Booga Bag made with Noro and I would have never finished it if it weren't for the help I found in various blogs.

Anyway, now that I've thanked the academy ... I've got to get right down to business. I signed up for the "No Sheep For You Swap" being run by Interweave Press. To get to know me, my secret pal asked me to post the answers to some questions in my blog. From there, she (or he) will pick out two skeins of yarn to send me, one in June and one in July. Sounds like fun?

Coming up next I'll post some pictures of some finished projects, including the laptop "cozy" I mention below.

Here are the questions and answers...

* What is your favorite all time non-wool fiber to knit with? I don't think I've had enough experience to be able to answer this question well. I do know I will never use LionBrand's Homespun for fringe again. What a mess. But when not frayed it really is soft and maintains a nice appearance even after washing. I found that I liked the feel of Plymouth's Encore which I think was a nice blend of acrylic and wool while I was knitting with it. I also liked Moda Dea's Ticker Tape. I'm curious about some of the fibers that are made from plants (bamboo, banana, sea weed, etc.).

* What is your least favorite fiber to knit with? I don't have a least favorite, yet.

* Any yarn or other allergies or aversions? I've not found any yarns that bother me. I am allergic to cats, dogs, rabbits, horses, etc. and had some concerns about wool, but so far no issues. I read a recent blog post where they discussed having dog hair spun into yarn and during the process it removes the allergens from the finished yarn. That sounds interesting.

* Do you look for patterns calling for non-wools or do you substitute? I'm just now at the stage were I feel more comfortable substituting yarns in patterns, but that isn't whether it's wool specific or not. Has more to do with cost and availability. I'm also concerned about long term care of the item I'm making, so I won't use a delicate fiber for a project that will be used by a child or is for a man and will require special handling for washing.

* Have you ever experienced poor customer service in a yarn store when asking for non-wools? Or do you have a yarn shop to brag about because of its wonderful selection of alternative fibers? My only bad experiences in yarn stores so far has been people being too helpful when all I want to do is browse and think of projects that I can do so I can buy the yarn. There is one shop in my "area" that seems to carry a nice variety of non-wools, but it's far enough away I seldom get to visit. I'm guessing that I'll resort to more online purchasing.

* What is your favorite yarn color? In general I like bright colors (greens, yellow, brighter blues) and I like variegated yarns.

* Are you a sock knitter? Lace knitter? I'm currently finishing up a laptop cover for a friend (made with the Teflon coated Hauk from Dale of Norway), then need to make a quick baby gift for another friend, and THEN... I've got everything I need to attempt my first pair of socks. I like to take projects with me for those moments when I'm waiting for my son or a quiet lunch break at work, and socks would be perfect for those times. I can't see myself knitting lace, right now.

* Do you own a copy of Amy Singer's new book "No Sheep For You"? Any of her other books? Which ones? I don't own the No Sheep For You book yet, it's on my list. I do have several others though, and I think that if I were only given one knitting book from my bookshelf to keep, it would be Mason-Dixon Knitting: The Curious Knitters' Guide: Stories, Patterns, Advice, Opinions, Questions, Answers, Jokes, and Pictures. I really like the projects and at this time in my knitting experience I hope to do them.

* Who is you favorite knit designer? I don't have a favorite designer yet either. I do like many of the designs Berroco has, but I've not gained the expertise or confidence to try any of them yet.

* Is there anything else I should know about you? I'm a real newbie to this knitting. I learned about a year ago, a friend taught me and let me hold the needles the way it was comfortable to me. She got me started and I keep trying to build on that foundation by learning new techniques on my own or taking classes and asking questions at the local yarn shops. I started out getting my yarn at Walmart or the fabric stores, mostly LionBrand. Then I slowly started buying yarn from the local specialty shops and am now buying online, so I'm really just getting experience with different types of yarn and manufacturers.