Secret Pal

I got two packages from my secret pal today. They were pretty interesting and full of stuff. I have mailed my secret pal some challenges. First, I sent lace weight yarn and a lace pattern book. Next I sent sock yarn and DPNs. My final challenge to her was dishcloths. I sent cotton yarn and a pattern book.

I cannot figure out how to put the pictures in my posts anymore. I have taken lots of pictures and done lots of knitting. I have a picture of the Melon Shawl that I finished from the cover of the Victorian Lace book but I cannot post it. I also took a picture of the packages I received but ..... no pictures. I am completely hooked on lace but I think that I am going to try some cables just for fun. I, like the rest of the knitting world, always have some socks on the needle. My boys love those hand-knitted socks.

Late again

Once again, I have let loads of time go by without posting. I have been really busy knitting away on several projects from the new Victorian Lace book. I am currently working on the Melon Shawl, done unimaginatively in the exact same yarn and same color as the pattern calls for. Not too exciting, but I really liked the lime green color and I was able to buy four balls of yarn from a new LYS in Norman at the last football game.

In keeping with my lace obsession, I sent my SP9 person a lace pattern book and some lace weight yarn. I think that she is a fairly new knitter, so I am going to send a "challenge" for her each time. Obviously, the first challenge was lace. The next will be socks.

I got some interesting knitting needles from my pal. I don't think that I have ever seen dpns quite so long. Among other things, there were several sets of long dpns, including some that were huge. I'll have to keep these around for some special project.

I'll try to post some pictures next time. Maybe the melon shawl will be done by then.

Bad Secret Pal

Well, I was a little distracted this summer and did not do right by my "pal" in SP8. In fact, I never sent her anything. I intended to, I really did. I bought stuff. I bought boxes. I bought envelopes. I stacked all of this in my craft room and felt guilty about it. When I finally got my groove back--sending the oldest to college was far harder than I expected-- I put together what I considered to be a really good one time gift.

Then it got lost. And stayed lost. I started buying more stuff. I bought several things while I was in NYC, mostly at Knitty City. I had a great time in New York. Hubby had a one hour hearing that lasted two days. I had two days alone on the streets. I actually met one of my invisible friends from a list that I love. I swear, we were so compatible, you would never have believed that we had never met before.

Anyway, I digress.Today-- the box returned! Two numbers in the zip code were transposed. It went out again today, this time with receipt. The irony was that I had put together a couple of things in an evelope, not nearly enough, and addressed it (but had not sent it). I also packed a little something for my SP9 pal-- timely, I might add. I finished my scarf for the International Scarf Exchange and packed it. I am finally on the ball, at least for this week.

Sp9

Here are my answers to the SP9 questionnaire.
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? I like almost anything, but love silk. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like ? I HATE ackrylic
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have a folding, fabric holdre.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? I thought myself as a young child. Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?Definately advanced.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?no
5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.) right now it is Lavendar.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Yes Favorite candy?Chocolate-- no fruit
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Almost anything Do you spin? Not yet
8. What kind of music do you like? I really don't love music. Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) yes
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Right now it is Pink or Leopard Any colors you just can't stand? Orange
10. What is your family situation? Married with two kids Do you have any pets?Two Italian Greyhounds
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Shawls
13. What are you knitting right now? Shawls
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo circulars?
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Both
17. How old is your oldest UFO? ten years old
18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
19. Is there anything that you collect? Yarn
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 read everything.
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Sure
22. Are you a sock knitter? Yes What are your foot measurements? Size 9 shoe.
23. When is your birthday? 05/07

Summer is over already?

Well, despite my best intentions, I have let some more time pass without a post. This is against the rules in the swaps and doesn't make my swap pals very happy. I had a great SP8 pal. She is from Estonia and send tons of stuff-- mostly representative of her country. I got mitten yarn and patterns, post cards and lots of candy. Unfortunately, it was 116 thousand degrees here and some of the chocolate was not in very good condition. But man, was she generous. I was not a very good partner. My oldest son went to college this summer and my youngest spent a month at debate camp. I was really depressed, way more than I had expected to be. I kept buying stuff for my pal all summer and just couldn't get the gumption to put it in an envelope and get it mailed. How stupid is that? Anyway, I got a big package mailed to her this week and I hope it will make up for the long delay.

After the stress of the summer, we went to Cabo San Lucas for a week. The same week as Hurricane John. I have a couple of pictures from the storm that I have to put up, but am not sure where they are right now.

On a knitting front-- I finished my PI shawl that I did with the Create your own PI group. My, in keeping with my past knitting, is huge!! I think I used 6 or 7 balls of Kidsilk Haze. I'll have to look at the yardage, but the thought scares me. I am going to block it soon, then will put up a picture.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to a more relaxed fall.

Trying not to be depressed!

Well, once again, I have let months go by between posts. As I say often, I HAVE A GREAT LIFE--but there is just something about writing a blog that brings out the negative side of me. Here is a list of the great things that have happened to me this summer and why I should never be depressed--ever (is that convincing)

1. My first baby has turned out to be a really fine man. He is 18 and will be attending Wake Forest in North Carolina on a debate scholarship.
2. My second baby is 15 and is also turning out well so far. He is at debate camp at the University of Michigan and is doing well--as he tells me often in text messages.
3. I got great stuff from my SP-8 pal. She lives in Estonia and sent me all the stuff to make latvian mittens. I know that there should be a picture here, but one thing at a time!
4. I saw the Yarn Harlot.
5. I learned how to do mobius knitting, and I really love it. My picture is on the web site for one of our LYS--http://www.gourmetyarnco.com/knitting-oklahoma-blog.html --scroll way down.
6. I took classes with Lucy Neatby, Lilly Chin and Cat Bordhi.
7. I have a good job.
8. I love my family and they love me.
9. I had my 25th Anniversary.
10. I went to a fabulous resort in Mexico.
11. I am going to Cabo San Lucas in 3 weeks.

OK-- I feel better now.

SP8 & A Grad-u-ate

Here are my answers to the SP 8 questions:
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? cottons and wools, but I'll knit with anything. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? Most acrylics and most novelty
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I don't really knit with straight needles. My circs are in two different circular pouches, sizes 0-7 in one and 8+ in another.
3. How long have you been knitting? about 30 + years Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? Advanced
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? None
5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) lavendar, satsuma
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Anything chocolate
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Tennis, reading, sewing, quilting. Do you spin? no
8. What kind of music do you like? Not much of a music lover, but show tunes and standards. Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? yes
9. What's your favorite color? pink, or purple, or red--I like all colors, really
10. Family situation: Husband (25 years) 15 yr old son, 18 year old son, two Italian Greyhounds, one 3 one 9
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? yes
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? shawls, carves, hats, afghans, handbags
13. What are you knitting right now? round Lily Chin shawl, cardi, mobius scarf
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? yes!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I like Circ wooden needles
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? yes
17. How did you learn to knit? I was about 9 or 10 and have always knit and crocheted
18. How old is your oldest UFO? coupla years
19. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
20. Is there anything that you collect? beads, fabric, craft supplies
21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Not really
22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? anything and everything
23. Are you a sock knitter? Yes, but I don't really wear socks. I make them for my husband and his golf buddies.
24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) May 7

I know we are supposed to be anonymous, but I had to post a picture of my family at tonight's graduation. My baby is graduated and ready for college. He is going to Wake Forest and we couldn't be more proud.

My How Time Flys

I always intend to post all kinds of things here on this little portion of what seems like outer space to me, but somehow I rarely get around to actually doing it. This picture on the side is the Flower Basket Shawl that I did in a cotton and sent out for a shawl exchange. Below is my Kiri Shawl that I did in Kidsilk Haze.





My life has been a little crazy over the last year since I am the mother of an unhappy child, but.......... (I don't want to say this too loud) I think we are over the hump and he has started regaining some of his formerly personable self. We have had much strife over the college selection process with our older boy. He is a talented debater and is leaving tomorrow for the National Tournament of Champions in Lexington, Ky. Only the best 72 teams in the country are included in the tournament.

As a result of his debate success, he recieved scholarship offers to both Wake Forest and the University of Texas at Austin. Although both schools are great, the cost difference between the two is huge. Also, UT has an enrollment of 50,000, while Wake has 4200 students. He was awarded a Presidential Scholarship for Special Distinction at Wake, but that still left 30k a year to be paid by us. UT would require under 10k. At the last minute, Wake came through with a pretty good academic scholarship that evened out the disparity-- so he chose Wake. What a relief to have that over with.


This is what life is like at my house right now! The pool is heated and we are proceeding like it is summer. Hopefully, I'll post again soon.

Pictures?

Maybe I found them? This is the Crazy Eight that I did a month or two ago. Given the bulky nature of the yarn, two strands of some very nice cotton held together, I decided that I had to make it much longer to suit my ample personage. I am not quite as fat as this picture makes me look and the sweater is very nice.


Kiri-- Easy lace, wonderful fun.














I did this scarf for the International Scarf Exchange. It is the multidirectional scarf from the Yahoo Group out of Noro Silk Garden. It turned out well.

And Now it is March.

Well, I have no excuse. I compulsively read blogs everyday. I would list them, but then I would have to learn how to link to them. I have been really knitting alot lately, but I cannot find my pictures. I am the biggest idiot on the planet. I have Kodak software and cannot find the fucking pictures. I finally knit a sweater that fit-- and took a picture. I knit the Cable Eight from IK, but I knit it at least twice as long for my ample personage and..... it actually looks good. But I can't find where the pictures are stored. I also knit Kiri in a fushia Kidsilk Haze and who knows what else-- its all in the pictures. Maybe someday I will figure out where the heck they are. On my previous computer, I knew how to post them, but not now.

In other news, my oldest boy has been accepted at the University of Texas at Austin, which we were really sweating. They only admitted 4% out of state freshman last year and you know that included all sports. Debate is not really a priority. We can actually afford UT, so it made it easier to let him consider to consider Wake Forest. We are set to visit on March 19, as he is a finalist for a Presidential Scholarship for Special Distinction. Younger son is really getting into debate, but he will have big shoes to fill.

I have been compulsively reading blogs lately. I wish that I lived closer to some of the great women that share their lives with all of us. I don't have a SNB locally or anything like it. Every group that I know of in the general area is made up of "newbies" (does anyone else hate that word like I do?) who just want help knitting novelty scarves. Oh well, I am healthy, reasonably weathy (if you consider yarn options owned) and wise enough to stay away from these groups. Maybe someday I will venture to one of the Stitches venues or other fiber venue. I can only hope.

How can it be February?

I would love to be a smart, witty blogger that everyone read everyday, but I have decided that it will never happen. I love to read blogs and waste much time doing so. I can't figure out how to use blog lines so I just jump randomly all over the planet. Time can sure get away when I do this. I mostly write for a living-- as a lawyer-- and of course I think that the Great American Novel is inside me somewhere. But I won't be a great blogger.

Today, things are good with me. My kids are at a debate tournament in Norman. My youngest son is a novice, freshman. My oldest son has already qualified for the National Tournament of Champions, to be held in Kentucky in May. His school has really been concentrating on the national debate circuit and ignoring the local in-state tournments. Consequently, neither of them have qualified for the State Tournament. The oldest will have no problem, but the youngest, is working hard to get there. Because he was the Oklahoma State debate champion last year, we are really hopeful that he can repeat.

I am knitting like a fiend lately. I wait to blog until after I take pictures, but then I don't take the pictures, so I don't blog-- got that? Really, I just knit and work, with a game of tennis here and there. I am working on my hat for the International Scarf Exchange. I did the scarf several months ago, but couldn't decide on the hat. I have finally completed about half the hat, now I cannot find the second ball of yarn necessary to complete the thing. I will be late, I guess I am always late. I did send secret pal gifts out on time this month, although I cheated and ordered stuff to be sent directly. This counts, I believe.

I am going to see the Hornets play the Lakers tonight and am thinking about wearing my newly completed Cable-Eight Top from the Spring Knits. I love this top. I made one or two repeats longer to balance the bulk-- inevitable in my size-- and I think that it turned out well. Picture? Maybe tomorrow.

Secret Pal 7

Days of Yarn & Roses
I have signed up for Secret Pal 7. Here are my answers to the questionaire!
1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Actually, I am kind of a yarn snob. I buy yarns like Red Heart occassionally when I need a quick fix, or when I feel cheap, but then when I start to knit with them, I just cannot do it. These yarns have their place, but not often with me.
2. Do you spin? Nope, but I have purchased a drop spindle. Crochet: Yest, but don't really enjoy it anymore?
3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?I generally only use circulars or DPNs. I have two needle pouches that I use. One has needles under size 6 and the others are over size 6.
4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I have knit since I was a child. I consider myself fairly advanced. There is not much I cannot do, but I am currently stumped by how to pick up all the gusset stitches on the two socks I have on two Circs. Just trying to learn that technique.
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Nope.
6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) I really like lavender and vanilla right now.
7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Oh yeah!!! Favorite candy? Anything with sugar in it.
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? I like just about every craft. I quilt, sew, do needlepoint. I also like stained glass.
9. What kind of music do you like? I occassionally listen to opera, but don't really listen to music. I am a Audible book lover. Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) yes
10. What's your favorite color? Purple Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Pastels. Any colors you just can't stand?
11. What is your family situation? Married, 25 years, two kids, boys, ages 14 and 18. Do you have any pets? Yes, two Italian Greyhounds.
12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes.
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? Right now I am hooked on laceweight and socks. I really like varigated yarns.
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? Acrylic.
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? Lace
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Lace shawls and socks
17. What are you knitting right now? Two socks on two Circs, two different lace shawls.
18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Who doesn't?
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Circulars20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? No preference
21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes.
22. How did you learn to knit? Taught myself out of a Family Circle Magazine.
23. How old is your oldest UFO? One year... maybe?
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird? Tazmanian Devil
25. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween
26. Is there anything that you collect?Craft supplies
27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? None, but I buy most of them--OK, all of them.
28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? Silk laceweight29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I trying to learn 2 socks on 2 circ. I was doing OK until time to pick up the second gussets. Maybe tommorrow.
30. Are you a sock knitter? Yes. What are your foot measurements? I wear a size 9 fat.
31. When is your birthday? May 7
Well, I should be more wordy, but not much time today. Maybe more next time.