But wait there's more...

Today I got another box of yarn-- the not-yet-available super brand new addition to SWTC's Vickie Howell Collection-- to whip up something quick for TNNA. No time to ship since the good people at SWTC are going to Columbus today, so it will ride along with me on the drive down.

Never a dull moment! I think I crave a fair amount of excitement in my life. Need to do laundry so I can pack too, luckily we just grabbed a pizza for dinner.

(It's pretty yarn, BTW).

Done!!

Well, I didn't think it was possible, but I knit an entire top in a single weekend. Now to collapse before overnighting it tomorrow. Wish I could show you (well, I think I will after TNNA, just not now. The yarn is still secret, after all).

Good night!!

Emergency Knitting Mode

I just got some more yarn from SWTC for a last-minute, knit all weekend project for them to show at TNNA. I also got some neat stuff in the mail this week (planning to actually SEW something soon- it's been a while!) so time permitting I'll show that later. Off I go to spend a rainy Saturday glued to my needles with a pile of movies from Netflix to watch!!

Monkey socks, or how I learned to love Magic Loop

Despite being a diehard double-point woman all my life, I finally learned to appreciate Magic Loop. All it took was finally getting my hands on a pair of the new Addi lace needles. I was one of those who wrote to Skacel last year pining for an Addi with a sharper tip, but little did I know that as a bonus the cables would be sooooooo wonderful. It's easy enough to knit Magic Loop with any old Addis, but with these it's a dream. I got an email from Karin Skacel the other day telling me there would be larger sizes coming next year, I can't wait! (Not that I need to buy a bunch more Addis, but I probably will). These, incidentally, are size US1 in the 32" length- just right for socks. Yarn, as I previously mentioned, is Yarn Pirate.
P.S. I'm liking the Monkey pattern- easy and fun.

Okay...

I've been tagged by Marj to tell 7 random facts about myself, so here goes:

1. In high school I did a number of poetry readings under the pseudonym "Juanita Pinecone." Mostly limericks, stream of consciousness stuff, and several musical numbers.

2. My (now) husband and I have been together since I was 16. We first met when I was not quite 15.

3. In a previous life, I was a preschool teacher, factory worker, "Sandwich Artist", and toy store clerk.

4. I love how hardware stores smell, but I don't really like hardware.

5. I am a hopeless housekeeper and have a black thumb in the garden.

6. If I'm home, I will come up with something to mail just so I can watch for that flag to go down to signal the new mail.

7. I hate driving with a passion. When we went to Toronto I was delighted by all the public transportation- I would love to live like that (I suppose here in the Motor City we have to be good little consumers and drive cars).

I tag Dana and Amby!

Watch carefully

Look here to see a news clip of SWTC- if you watch carefully, you can see the little blue sailor sweater I designed for Purls Forever.

In Your Face

Since most of the people I work with don't believe that you can knit things with soy, I thought I'd prove it-- I whipped up another One Skein Wonder with some leftover SWTC Phoenix I had from another project. I love how nice this yarn is to work with! I also love how useful this pattern is when you have barely any yarn!

Attention those going to TNNA

The Top Secret Project will be featured in the fashion show!

Just the news I needed to brighten my day.

(And brace yourselves..."regular" finished objects, as in knit for me, appearing soon! I know, oh so many startlements!!)

Top Secret project finished!!

And just in time, too. It was a lot of knitting (tunic length sweater with matching cloche and bag in sport weight yarn) but I love how it turned out. Very jazzy. Not bad for time either- even with working full time and doing some other knitting it took exactly 4 weeks. It's off to SWTC tomorrow, in plenty of time for TNNA.

Now to unravel Hubbo's socks and start again toe up and 2 at a time (nervous about how much yarn I have) and continue on my Monkey socks in the Dogwood Yarn Pirate Sonya gave me for my birthday. And that shawl project, for which I'm doing my own pattern rather than settle. It will be a gift for my mom when it's done (the pattern will be available somewhere too, but I'm not telling where or when, just yet).

Mother's Day

From my first grader:

 

Seems I've slimmed down and gotten a bit younger, but the rest is spot on. Thanks Emma!

From Grandma

I've got some old knitting/crochet tools that I'm proud to own, given to me by my Grandma (they originally belonged to either her mother, I believe, though some pieces may have been her grandmother's). I realized I've never shown them off so I thought I would.



First, the old sewing basket. I keep this in my knitting room shelf and store all the tools inside. (Pardon the dustiness!)



Next, an old-school circular (I have a few). I would hate to have to knit with this-the cable is braided wire and they joins fray and catch your yarn!



And last, some bone (I believe, I don't think they're ivory) crochet hooks (I have one more in my sock bag) and another little tool I can't identify. Any ideas?

Yarny Goodness

 

Look what Sonya got me from Scout! Isn't it pretty?

P.S. The Top Secret sweater is done-- wish I could show you. I can say it is in SWTC's new yarns Yin and Yang (they revealed the yarns' existence in their latest newsletter) but since they didn't say what they were, I won't either. Yet. But they're nice.

Idea

As soon as I finish the Top Secret Project, I think I'm going to start the Swallowtail Shawl from the Fall 2006 Interweave Knits in the single skein of Seasilk I bought-- I saw some nice ones on other blogs. I like the Flower Basket Shawl a bit better, but at some point I cut up that issue of IK and don't have the pattern anymore-- oh well!

ETA: On second thought, forget that plan. I'm going to work up something totally original with this skein...and look for the pattern before long, okay? (Wink)

Closer and closer

MAJOR progress was achieved on the Top Secret Project last night at SnB (as well as over our Toronto weekend). I now have a front, back, and two sleeves. Just a bit more work and the sweater part of the project (it's a set) will be complete!!