For year's end, a contest

Okay- the other day I went yarn shopping (I know, I didn't need to) but I got some neat stuff. (I also ended up being asked to autograph the shop's copies of Knitter's, but that's a long and embarrassing story.) Anyway, while sorting and rearranging my stash, I realized that the count I had been keeping was WAY off (oops.) So now, a CONTEST. Answer me these questions 2- the closest guess in each category gets a swell prize of 6 skeins of yarn, either Cotton Ease or miscellaneous from the LYS- no garbage or partial skeins, don't worry. The first winner to get back to me gets first pick. I'll announce the winners by the end of the day on January 1st, so get your answers in before then, okay?
1. How many skeins do I have in my stash?
2. How many knitting projects did I finish in 2005?

Good luck!

Apres-Christmas Report

Well, Santa didn't stop at the yarn store (how odd...) but that's okay. My husband ordered me the new Jordana Paige bag but they haven't come in yet, so I got a picture of it to open. Emma got too many toys as usual, so now the task is to make room for them. Yesterday we just laid around in our pajamas watching DVDs, eating junk food, and knitting (well I knit, at least.) It was very decadent and nice. I finished the swatches for the Great Wall of Yarn, which I will mail today, and made some headway on that scarf for the knitted gifts magazine. I have also been entirely off my diet for the past few days and am TRYING to get back on track starting today (wish me luck.) Now, off to get a hair cut and to Barnes and Noble to blow my gift card on knitting books!

Secret Pal Strikes Again

My final SP 6 gift arrived today- I was being spoiled by Elizabeth. Thanks Elizabeth!

Reason #602 for naming this blog as I did

This yarn. I got a ball of it for making a Great Wall of Yarn swatch, and I can't leave it alone (if it could sue me for harrassment, I'm sure it would.) It's an upcoming yarn called "Yin" from Interlacements. It is so soft I can't stand it- 50% merino, 50% silk. It has this beautiful sheen from the silk that I'm sure you can't tell from the picture. It even comes in a big honking ball of 218 yards. If only you could reach into the screen and see for yourself.

Anyway, I've gotten pretty distracted by the swatches in general, so who knows if I'll get one more gift knitted or not. When I went through my pile of stuff to wrap I discovered something else I forgot I made awhile back so I think I'm done, anyway. Today the UPS man is bringing the Karaoke for that project I'm doing for that quick gifts magazine, so you know what will happen then.

Enjoy your solstice-related festivities (or not, as the case may be.) Cross your fingers that Santa is stopping at the yarn shop!

Instant legwarmers! (almost)

I finished my legwarmers (I may make more, who knows?) for the Cover Your Ankles knitalong. These were super quick and just took an evening to finish. I used leftover SWTC Karaoke that I had in my stash, one strand each of Intensity and Bloom held together on size 10 needles. I made these quite a bit smaller (only about 12" long) than the pair I did last year (for wearing under pants), which were out of Kureyon and came halfway up my thigh (great for wearing under skirts when I take my class out to recess in the winter, I'm telling you.)

Xmas FOs and other stuff

Look, I finished some presents (don't worry, intended receipients do not read this as far as I know):

Cute little mittens in Cascade 128. I made it up as I went along, quick and used only 1/2 a skein.


Cabley wrist warmers in Karabella Aurora 8. Only takes 1 ball! I am so in love with this yarn. Found the pattern here. It was very quick and easy- perfect for a last minute gift.

The other thing I want to finish is something out of the single skein of La Luz silk I have in my stash-- either the lavender eye mask from Handknit Holidays or the little hat from Alterknits. I'm still debating...

Look what appeared on my porch this morning!

My yarns to swatch for the Great Wall of Yarn at TNNA next month. Basically, PDKG members have an opportunity to swatch for the show and get to play with new yarns and new colors- fun! (Plus there's always leftovers...) In the summer I got yarns from Rowan and Moda Dea, this time I got yarns from Colinette (have never bought since SO EXPENSIVE), Trendsetter, Interlacements, and Skacel. You make swatches and send them back with your business card attached and all the yarn info on the back. At the TNNA show they are all displayed for the store owners and such to peruse.

Yay!

I got a phone call last night letting me know that my submission (a scarf)for the much-discussed on the Knit Design list "Quick to Knit Gifts" magazine was accepted! I know some of those on the list felt the offered fee was a bit low (yes, less than "regular" knitting magazines but still way more than any online mags) but c'mon people, they want simple, quick projects- not a huge investment of design, knitting, or pattern writing time. Anyway, for those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, look for it next year at your grocery store checkout.

In other yay-worthy news, school is out for Winter Break! I have to work today to finish some loose ends from the big move, but after that...no papers to grade, lessons to plan, meetings to attend, or getting up early for 2 whole weeks!!

Knitting-wise: Determined to finish front and back of Level 3 Aran ASAP. Plugging along on the Christmas knitting (scaled WAY back this year- just 2 projects.) No "paid" knitting going on this week or next (time for my own stuff!)- some things on the horizon though.

New books! Alterknits and Knitting Vintage Socks- thanks Barnes and Noble gift card!

Knitting Lair Meme

I learned from Lolly that Scout is looking to see where we all knit. So I oblige:

I got this fabulous chair from my grandma a few weeks ago- it doesn't match her new furniture. Not bad, eh? It comes complete with my two lazy boys, all my knitting books, the requisite can of Diet Coke, my Ott Lite, and the little hat I'm whipping off today out of Lamb's Pride (yes, I'm using up stash yarn. Go me!) Not shown is the scary closet full of yarn, the computer which I mostly use to watch DVDs while I knit, and my other toys, both yarn-related and non-yarn-related.
If you're reading this, consider yourself tagged-- expose your lairs!

SNOW DAY!

I love being a teacher. Tonight I'm doing a tap performance, so now I have time to practice (good thing!) and finish up a few design submissions.
P.S. Thanks Secret Pal! I especially like the Hello Kitty notebooks.

Like it or not...

Winter Knitter's is here. Yes, I feel special (page 86, baby!) Rosalie is proud of me too.

She loves it, enough said

I mentioned the other day that South West Trading asked me to take a dress they had made and use it as a basis for creating a new sample with a pattern. I ended up changing a few things-made it a top down raglan, took out some crochet, and changed colors less frequently-but of course used the fuzzy and very soft SWTC Pagoda yarn they were after. Now, I'll admit that using this yarn for a dress would not have occured to me independently, but look at my daughter's face while trying on the sample (they just happened to want it in her size):



She didn't want to me to pack it up. I guess I'll have to make another one of these days.