random knitting thoughts

Well, I broke down and just bought another skein of yarn for my pie shawl from the shop I had originally ordered the rest from. (Lambikin's Hideaway, if you are wondering. It's the closest yarn shop I have found to my in-laws, although I have yet to be able to sneak in a trip there on our visits.) The have Lite-Lopi for 3.25 a skein, so the body of the shawl has cost me $19.50 (minus shipping)for all 6 skeins. I have picked up some yarn for the edging at my LYS. The color match is not perfect, but close enough for me. It's 2 ply Shetland Spindrift. I'm hoping 2 skeins of the will be enough. (If so the shawl will be under 30 bucks, which I'm pretty happy about.) It doesn't look like it will be finished by Olympic stime, so I have decided to finish what I can and when the yarn arrives, take a break from my Rogue to finish my shawl. Just to add a bit more pressure.

I still haven't decided on my socks for my sockpal. I want to go with a more textured sock, but I'm not sure the patterns I have been looking at will be a comfortable fit, or if I'll have to modify the pattern.

I've also picked up some yarn today for my corrected baby bonnet pattern, so I can test knit it and put it up here. (Especially for Ann. See, I haven't forgotten.)

I have the back of my sweater I'm designing. But I think I'll be ripping it out and starting over. I had an idea of what I'd like to do differently while I was about two thirds through the back. I had thought about submitting it, but I think i'll just post here when I finish it.

I bought some yarn to make a Odessa today as well.

I have also been tweaking a couple of other patterns I had requests for, so hopefully I'll have those up soon.

Ruh-roh

The yarn I chose for my sockpal has arrived.

Pretty huh? It's Shelridge Farms, Crocus. I'm still trying to decide on a pattern. Among those I'm consodering:

Embossed leaves (IK winter '05)
Jaywalker
Almost argyles

There are a few others I'm contemplating.

I'm trying to finish my Perfect Pie before the Olympics start. I'm almost to the halfway point of the third wedge. I think I may have a problem. It looks like I might be a half of a skein shy for this project. I know exactly why. I went up to a size 11 for this shawl, because I liked it much better than when I was using the reccommended size 10s. The only problem is when I ordered this yarn, I only ordered 5 skeins, and although my LYS carried Lite Lopi, they do not have this color. My only hope, other than placing another order is to check out the yarn shop in Highland.

Hahahaha!

Look what was in my inbox this morning. (My time stamp is off, and for some reason I can't change it.)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ecard-pickup/35736-97750-7487/002-3887590-0280810

It made me laugh my tookus off.


So, after poking around on my sockpal's site, I've gone and ordered my yarn, and I'm in the process of narrowing my pattern choices. I have a few days before the yarn arrives to hear back from her and make up my mind.

My wrist is still bothering me a bit, so I have no real progress to show. Sorry to disappoint.

Sock Sistah

Sockapaloooza officailly kicked off today. I voluntered to be a "sock sistah" to help with the KAL updates and such.

I've got my pal and I am now trying to figure out what to make her.

Also, it's a small small knitblogging world, as I just found out that Susie is in my sock sistah group. I met Susie last May in Kalamazoo when stephanie was there on her Harlot tour.

My sock pal has emailed me a few questions that I thought I would answer here.

I hope you're as excited to knit socks for your sock pal as I am to
knit socks for you! Because you're an experienced sock knitter, I
thought I'd ask you a few questions so I could use the answers to make
something special for you (I know you don't like alpaca).

Did I write alpaca? I probably did but I meant angora, as I'm a little sensitive to it. I actually love alpaca.

1. Please name at least one sock yarn you've never used, but would like to try.

hmm...well, there's fleece artist, kroy, opal, cherry tree hill, lana grossa, and that's all I can think of right now.


2. True or false: Variegated yarns are beautiful in the skein, but you
have to choose carefully, because they can pool, flash or stripe in
unexpected ways, and that's annoying.

Actually flashing and pooling doesn't really bother me at all. It's all part of the charm I think.

3. You're shipwrecked on a desert island with a trunk full of one kind
of sock yarn. What yarn would you want to find in the trunk?

Ooo...this is hard but I have to go with koigu.

4. You are at Stitches Midwest in Illinois. A fight has broken out
between Nancy Bush (cabled, striped and more traditional socks; author
of Knitting on the Road) and Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer (lacy,
feminine socks, author of The Sock Calendar) over who's the better
designer. Who are you rooting for and why?

Ha haha, oh man, i like them both, but I'd have to go with Nancy Bush. She's amazing.

5. Which statement is most appropriate for you?

a. I would wear hand knit socks every day if I could, so I don't mind
more muted colors and patterns that don't stand out at work or more
formal situations.

b. I wear hand knit socks mostly on the weekends, so I like wild and
crazy patterns and colors that are eye-catching and fun.

c. I would wear hand knit socks every day if I could, and I like
bright colors and patterns for any occasion, even at work.

Well, since I have no work or formal occasions then I'd have to go with C

6. What color do you see most in your closet? Is that a good thing or
a bad thing? Would that color be one of your favorites?

Hmm, Brows, blues, dark reds, and lately a lot of green. Green is one of my favorite colors

7. Do you like surprises?

I LOVE surprises.

Thanks, Erin - I'm looking forward to your answers, either here or on
your blog!

Thanks, Sockpal for taking the time to get to know me bit better, giving me a laugh, and a bit of blog fodder.