FO! Surprise Birthday Scarf!

Pattern: Snowy Triangle Scarf by Iris Schreier in Handknit Holidays
Needles: 6.5mm Bamboo Straights
Yarn: Frabjous Fibers in Teal



Sister loved, loved, loved her present! Granted she had seen my friend A. wear the exact same thing in Orange over Easter. But she didn't think I was paying that much attention. Yeah right! Gush over a knitted product that my friend made? Yeah I paid as much attention as my dogs do over steak dinners!

And! My secret pal went and purchased my very first shawl pattern for me!! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!! Icarus Shawl by Miriam Felton. It's was published in Interweave Knits Summer 2006 and when I started to see the finished shawls I knew I had to have one!

I had planned on using my Fino to make this but the recommended yardage would be cutting it close. I searched Ravelry (thank God for Ravelry) for people who have finished Icarus. And lo and behold someone has knit Icarus with Fino! She said that she left out a pattern repeat and had a quarter of a skein left. So I'm debating.

Should I go ahead and start the shawl (when a few of the other projects are completed of course... the shawl will be my reward) with the Fino or should I order something else with more yardage?

Actual Knitting Content!

Staying up all hours of the night + Company = Sick

Meh, husband has given me his cold which really started to kick my rear yesterday. Luckily for me I had already cast on a sock. "Embossed Leaves" from Favorite Socks.



I'm using the Fleece Artist that my Secret Pal sent to me (see this post). The yarn is mostly a cranberry color with browns tinted with green and a small bit of gold (I love these colors together!) Gender-neutral socks were going to be made because husband really likes the colors as well, and neutral socks were cast on. I hated the pattern. They were frogged.

Then I started seeing all of the Embossed Leaves socks that were finished on Ravelry and figured I'd make them Autumn Leaves Socks. I think these are going to be my favorite socks ever! I'm debating adding a repeat at the top because I like my socks tall (and then I can wear them with boots too).

Anyway, today also marked the beginning of wool washing. I'm starting out with just a tiny bit of wool, using hose, Dawn, the bathtub and the thermometer from the fish tank (it was cleaned) to wash the wool and a huge screen that husband used to use on his back porch to keep out the sun to dry it. Cross your fingers for me!

Oh Fibery Goodness! +Question

WARNING! Photo Heavy Post Ahead!

Packages arrived today! In record time I might add! My package from my Secret Pal came as well as my order from KPixie (which seriously I ordered it Saturday night at like 11 p.m. and it arrives Monday, and the post office is closed on Sunday... how does that happen?!?).


LOOKIE LOOKIE!!

Dudes I was so excited that I had to sit outside, with the presents inside, until husband came home. I felt it was only fair to him to share the opening of my first ever Secret Pal package. Good thing I knew he was only 2 minutes max from home. Any longer than that and he would have been SOL. And then I was so excited that I couldn't open the package right away because I was too bouncy...

Clockwise from top. 1) Beautiful Fairy Card and Envelope, 2) Fleece Artist Nova Sock Yarn (my FIRST Fleece Artist experience)!! 3) Smarties and Coffee Crisp which were shortly thereafter consumed, 4) And Knitting Rules by the Harlot! A very Canadian package from my Canadian Secret Pal!!!!!

A close-up of the envelope and card, just beautiful!



And TWO outdoor shots of the beautiful Fleece Artist (and husband's Japanese Maple Bonsai... sorry the second one is just because I love husband's artwork!!)



THANK YOU SECRET PAL!

And now my KPixie order! I mentioned yesterday night that I ordered Lorna's Laces in Daffodil as well as a needle holder for my tapestry needles. This is also my first experience with Lorna's Laces... This yarn is so much prettier than in the pictures!! Again, there are two pictures of the yarn, because I couldn't decide which one I like better, so I posted both! Enjoy!



Actually I think I may like the one with the bamboo better. The needle case is also shown. Unfortunately I couldn't get a close-up in focus of just the case.

QUESTION

There was an overexcited puppy (yes he was excited because I was excited even though he didn't know why everyone was excited). Overexcited puppy figured it was about the funny things that mommy was holding in her arms so naturally he wanted to find out what exactly those things were... and in the process got his dirty (think MUDDY) nose all over one hank of Lorna's Laces. :(

So here's the question - I really need to wash the hank before I knit with it. I have never washed a hank, just already knit projects. Do I unwind it and wash it in the shower? Do I keep it twisted and wash it? I normally use a tiny bit of Woolite to wash finished projects... Okay, so that's more than one question. To sum it up...

How do I wash a hank of yarn?

It may be a stupid question, but I don't want to mess up this beautiful yarn. :)

That OTHER One

He was sitting there. Staring at me from across the room. There was disdain written all over him...

He is husband's scarf.

"The OTHER scarf got its own post! I've been with you the longest and yet I get no attention, no appreciation! You think I like being the one that you turn to when there is nothing else to do, no one else to work on?"

Geez. Sometimes it really makes me just want to turn him into a rather gigantic potholder. Just because he was the very first thing I ever started knitting, he thinks that he should be top priority!

He just doesn't understand that while the simple garter stitch is wonderful for movies or conversations, that it can also be boring and sometimes tedious. Sometimes I just want something more spicy! Something more passionate, like lace! And his texture! Yes, Paton's Classic Merino Wool is wonderful for husband's work socks... but I chose him before I knew how deliciously wonderful blends are, before my eye ever wandered to silk! Sigh.

No matter how much trouble this scarf may cause me, when he is finished it will be so worth it. Husband still really loves him, even in his imperfection (seriously, he was my first ever knitting! Think lots of random YOs and random increases at the beginning). As long as husband loves him, he will not be turned into work socks.

Lucky him!

Perhaps another non-picture post.

There may be a random picture added when I get home this evening. Lord knows that I love lots of pictures in blogs and I wouldn't want to deprive you of pictures for too long.

So... SP10.

I joined and am way more excited than most people think I should be (of course said people are non-knitters so they wouldn't understand). I'm also sorta nervous about the whole thing. Come on, I'm a brand-spankin-new knitter with little yarn experience other than what you can get at Michael's or Jo-Ann's so I'm slightly apprehensive about what to get for my secret pal. Granted I went through all her blog archives and I've figured out a bunch of little non-knitting related things to add in, but other than that I'm somewhat stumped. It was actually extremely amusing to husband because he was playing on the XBox while I was doing this and I kept randomly saying things... things my pal likes, other interests, things she hates... anything that could help me be the bestest secret pal ever, and he kept looking up to see if I was talking to him, or if it was extremely odd he would chuckle to himself.

I guess what I'm trying to get to is this. If you are reading this and have participated in a SP or something similar do you have any advice? Was there something that a secret pal did for you that just blew you away? Or feel free to let me know what your favorite yarn is... or if you're really up to it, all three! The more the merrier!

On another totally different note (well it's still knitting related, so not too different) I began teaching a former co-worker how to knit last night. Just casting on and the knit stitch. I know she's reading this so all I have to say is... I THINK THAT I HAVE ADDED ANOTHER ONE TO OUR FOLD! :)

Edited @ 9.48 p.m. to add Flowers from Husband.

Short Post on the Horizon!

Yay! SP10 pals were sent out! Color me extremely excited!

And now I'm off to prepare for date-night with husband! :)

That is all.

SP10 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I have little experience with different types of yarn as the selection at the craft stores are limited. I am pretty much open to trying any and every type of yarn.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have an "Eagle Good to Go" knitting bag that holds needles as well as I have a silk case that a friend gave me. Edited (3.10) - I also picked up a Lantern Moon small needle case for my DPNs, hooks and other misc stuff.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I have been knitting for about 3 months. One of my friends taught me and holds craft night at her house once a month. I think that I would be an advanced beginner. I am comfortable with more than just knitting and purling, but I haven't created anything except for scarves, hats and basic socks.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? No.

5. What's your favorite scent? Anything but vanilla and jasmine. I do like woodsy smells though.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Raspberry and Dark Chocolate... the only way chocolate should be.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I guess renovating a house wouldn't really be helpful here. Once in a blue moon I cross-stitch and I would eventually like to learn how to spin but haven't gotten around to it yet.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD). I lean towards music like Poe and Natalie Merchant, although the WB had some great soundtracks to Smallville and the Gilmore Girls. And yes, my computer and stereo play MP3s.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I love, love, love deep reds as well as natural colors (white, creme, taupe). I very much dislike orange.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I live in a house full of boys. I have a husband as well as 3 dogs, a Rottie (my baby), a Lab (his baby), and a Pit/Chesapeake Bay mix (our baby)... who are all boys. I have been withholding posts about them for long, non-knitting spells which I'm certain are bound to happen sooner or later.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Hmm... well living in Florida the weather is not at all conducive to wearing any of the above on a regular basis. If I lived somewhere where it was cold enough to wear scarves and hats for a few months out of the year I would.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I really enjoyed socks, but I would like to try my hand at lace (I have Branching Out from Knitty.com on my list and have yarn picked out), and I would also like to try some simple cables.

13. What are you knitting right now? A scarf for my dad and a hat for my husband.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Of course!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Bamboo straights, unless there is some magical brand of circulars that the cord doesn't get all twisted and funky.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? No and no. That's what I have a husband for. :)

17. How old is your oldest UFO? My first ever knitting project, a scarf for husband. All garter stitch. Only 1/2 way done with that one. Although I guess I should finish it.

18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas, mainly because Florida weather is just getting nice around December.

19. Is there anything that you collect? Not really. My husband has all the collections in the house. Although we have started a pretty cool chopstick collection... (Don't ask... I donno where it came from).

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 would really like to try the Birch Shawl or the Icarus Shawl which I don't know where either comes from (nor do I know how difficult they would be for a beginner). I don't have any subscriptions yet, but with my new job means spending money so suggestions on magazines is always welcome and appreciated.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I only know one cast on and one bind off (I think the cast on is the long tail). Also I would like to try cabling.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I have knit one pair of socks and enjoyed them extremely. I don't know what my measurements are (nor do I really know where to measure to get said numbers) however I wear a US size 10 in women's so ... I have no idea if that helps.

23. When is your birthday? July 20

To Knit or Not to Knit

What a stupid question. There is nothing new on the knitting front here. The scarf for dad is taking forever! I don't know why I find it tedious and boring. Try as I might, there is usually only 3 or 4 rows worth of progress each time I sit down to work on it.

I will be leaving for Atlanta however for a business trip for the whole of next week, and hopefully it will see some substantial progress while I'm away from husband. Granted that means that I shouldn't take any socks, or any other project for that matter, because I know it will be cast aside in favor of some more entertaining knitting. Heaven forbid that I also be only two (TWO!) blocks away from a yarn store in Atlanta...

Maybe it will be closed by the time all the meetings end. (Yeah right! It looks like the universe is against me finishing the scarf in the near future.)

In other news I'm planning on joining SP10. I figured it would be a good way to meet other knitters and I will be forced to stop lurking on so many blogs. I will need all the help I can get!