I got my Scarf Too!

It was a banner week - not only did I get my tote from the Tote Exchange but I got my scarf from the International Scarf Exchange! Christy knit me the most beautiful purple scarf - my favorite color! It's a really cool stitch and it is warm, soft and snuggly. I love it. She also included postcards of the various places my scarf went to visit before it came to me - what a cool idea? She also sent along some other goodies including some yummy chocolate drink mix and a magnet and card she made herself. She's a stamper too! Thank you, thank you Christy - I love my new scarf and I feel so spoiled this week!

Tote Received!

Thank you so much to Tabitha for my tote from the International Tote Exchange II! It arrived this week and I am so excited to finally see what it looks like. Tabitha has been knitting less than a year but she did a great job. I love the yarn and the colors - they are perfect for fall. She wrote me the sweetest note about how she tried many different patterns and yarns trying to find just the right one. I am so touched Tabitha that you spent some much effort on the tote for me. The bag has a really great pin to hold it closed. She also sent me a beautiful cotton and lace handkerchief style bag with a dragonfly on it. It's very delicate and beautiful. Also a cool notebook and some peppermint tea. I really appreciate all of her efforts.

When Yarn Finds Its Calling

It's a beautiful thing. Some yarn is clearly meant to be something basic. For instance cotton is usually a blanket, dishcloth or sweater. Cascade 220, as much as I love it, is usually a felted bag or maybe a sweater or scarf. But some yarns are just beautiful works of art waiting to break free. I hear that some sculptors will stare at a block of rock for days trying to determine the sculpture waiting to come forth from the rock. My purple yarn is one of those rocks. I bought this yarn to make my scarf for the ISE but it was definitely too thick for the Matthew scarf. I tried several other patterns but nothing was quite right. I couldn't bring myself to return the yarn as I loved it too much so I bought the Koigu for my Matthew scarf. Then one night surfing the web I found a description of the turkish lace stitch. It said it was lace for the lace impaired. That is definitely the truth. Well I tried it out and viola - mu Turkish Delight Scarf was born! I believe I have found the true calling of my purple skeins of yarn. I am so happy with this scarf which is destined to be a Christmas present. However I love it so much I'm making one for myself!

It Takes a Village (or at least Mom)

I'm done - I'm finally done! At long last my Berroco suede tote is finished! It was the August Oh Bag Me KAL project and come October it is finally finished. I finished knitting it in August but it has taken this long to do all the finishing. And I must admit that I haven't done most of the finishing - my wonderful and talented mother has done it. She sewed it up for me and put in the lining and the rest. Isn't she great? THANKS MOM - you are wonderful. Now I can use my bag with pride. I'm so excited that it's done.

The Definition of Insanity

I once read that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result. I think I can be declared officially insane. I continue to think I'll just "quickly knit up a baby blanket" but of course that is NEVER the case. The very first thing I knit was a blanket for my son but despite the fact that it was just garter stitch it took me 7 months! I seem to have a passion for knitting baby blankets. Not that there's anything wrong with that - just that it takes so darn long. I think the excitement of a new baby causes me to take leave of my senses and think that I can become Super Knitter and knit up a blanket in a jiffy. Maybe if I used thicker yarn or a simpler pattern but no - I usually am using yarn on a size 6 or 8 needle and a more complex pattern. I once again have taken leave of my senses and decided to make a baby blanket for a friend who is adopting a baby girl from China later this year. Never mind I still am not even half way through the other baby blanket I'm working on and have a dozen UFOs! I think I can be declared officially insane but hey - there will be lots of time to knit at the funny farm!

Deadlines in Knitting

Most of us have taken up knitting as a way of relaxing and taking a break from our high pressured lives. It is rythmic and takes your mind off a multitude of problems. So why is it that we find ourselves taking on knitting projects with deadlines? A baby hat or blanket for a baby on the way? A holiday present we decide to make 2 weeks before the holiday arrives? A scarf exchange? Well I'm no exception and constantly find myself with at least one item of deadline knitting in my bag. Currently it is both my tote exchange bag and my International Scarf Exchange Scarf - both of which are due this month! Pictured here is my scarf on the way to completion. It is the Matthew scarf and I have really enjoyed making it. I'm using two strands of Koigu Painter's Palette held together. I've finished the 8 repeats up one side, the ribbing that goes round the neck and now I've come down the other side and have only 2 repeats and the edging to do. My goal is to finish and mail it off this weekend. I'll actually be ahead of schedule - imagine that!

Manos del eBay

Why is it that if something is for sale in an auction we automatically think it must be a good deal? We start bidding low and then keep going as we get out bid and decide that if someone else wants it then we must have it! I think that is the secret of eBay's success. They concept behind eBay is that it is an on-line auction where you can get good deals or find hard to find items but there are lots of things for sale that are no cheaper than if you bought them in the store. Some of them are even more expensive! But I fell for it and bought some Manos del Uruguay yarn. It seemed like a good price - $4.50 for a skein. But then of course there is $6.00 of shipping! But that $6 stays the same if you buy 2 items so I bought 2 skeins . . . Now all in all I think I did get a good deal because for $15 I got two skeins of Manos delivered to me but unfortunatley the color is not at all the same as it was in the photo. On eBay this yarn is a very deep dark purple. However in real life it is this light motled purple. It's still pretty but not what I thought I was buying. So is it still a bargain? I suppose that depends on what I decide to make out of it. Any suggestions?

My Epic Novel

Have you ever noticed how knitting is like an epic novel? At first, you meet the players - the yarn, the pattern, the new stitch on the block. Then we do a little character development - how does the yarn look off the skein, knit in the pattern? What's the gauge? Do you understand the pattern's motivation? Then the story begins and goes along swimmingly at first, you're turning pages like there's no tomorrow and then IT HAPPENS. There has to be a plot twist. A heart wrenching turn of events. If there isn't then you don't really have a good story do you? You need an epic battle or an evil villan to make it more interesting. We must slay the dragons to come out victorious. Then of course we have to finish up with a happy ending or else you won't recommend the book to your friends now would you? Well I believe I am approaching my epic battle in figuring out the next section of my tote for the International Tote Exchange but I am hoping that I will emerge the heroine and it will all have a happy ending. Stay tuned for future installments.

I Love Surprises!

I came home from work the other day to a great surprise. My friend Bonnie had sent me a package. In it was a Knit It! magazine she thought I'd like and some Lions Brand Cotton Ease and some Cotton Fleece. She'd been telling me about these yarns and how much she likes them. I've never knit with them before and so I'm really looking forward to trying them out. What is even more special is that she sent me a purple skein of each. Both Bonnie and I love purple and apparently they don't make these yarns anymore. So for her to part with the purple skeins was extra special. Many thanks to Bonnie - this was so sweet. I can't wait to make lots of purple things!!

Why is it so hard to knit for someone else?

I don't think I've ever gone to a yarn store and left without some yarn. Even when I've gone for a specific purpose like handles or a pattern - there is always something that calls to me - some yarn just begging to be knit. Now maybe I've just publicly admitted that I have absolutely no self restraint (fine - I'll admit that) but my point is that when I go to the LYS looking for yarn for someone else I find that nothing is "quite right." Why is that? I have joined the International Scarf Exchange again and have been assigned my pal. I've read her likes 3 or 4 times and set off to the yarn store. I walked around and around. Nothing seemed to work. Too thick, too thin, not soft enough, not the right colors and finally I settled on some nice yarn and bought 3 skeins (I'm always afraid I will run out). Then I kept looking at the yarn, showing it to my SP8 pal Brooke and worrying that one of the colors that ran through it might not appeal to my pal. So I returned the yarn and got some yummy soft yarn that seemed perfect. I knit a swatch and quickly realized it was way too think for the pattern I had chosen. Even if I cut back some stitches each side was going to be about 10 inches wide! So then I had to decide - a different pattern or different yarn. I had my heart set on the Matthew scarf so off I went to a different yarn store. I walked around for about 45 minutes (it's not that big!) once again finding nothing that was quite right. I found LOTS of yarn I wanted, but for some reason nothing seemed quite right for my pal. Finally I found some Koigu that seemed like the perfect color. I'd heard that people love Koigu and that to knit thicker things you just put 2 strands together. So I got it. Now I'm making the scarf with the Koigu Painters Palette and I do love the colors - they remind me of a Monet painting. But I'm worried that it is not a soft and snuggly yarn! It's funny because at the Yarn Harlot event I was talking to a nice woman in line behind me and she asked what I liked to knit. I told her I was doing some exchanges and she said, "Really? Don't people just knit up crappy stuff and send it?" I had to laugh - if only she knew the stress and trauma we all go through in these exchanges! Maybe I should just go knit something for myself - I know I have some yarn . . . .

The Day the Harlot Came to Town

Tonight the Yarn Harlot came and spoke at my LYS. I have been so excited to see and hear her and she did not disappoint. She spoke for an entire hour and was hilarious the whole time. I know from reading her blog that she is nervous speaking in front of large crowds but she sure doesn't show it. There were over 300 people there and she seemed as calm as could be. Afterwards I got some books autographed and she even held my Tote Exchange tote (together with the infamous sock!) for a photo op. Hopefully my downstream pal will think it's a cool as I do that her bag has been fondled and photo'd with the Harlot. She knew instantly that it was Malabrigo yarn. That really surprised me because there are so many yarns in the world but she recognized it right away. I told her it was my "first time" with Malabrigo and she said, "beware - it won't be your last!" Another really great part of the evening was that I got to meet my SP8 Upstream pal in person. Brooke drove over 4 hours to see the Harlot and it was so fun to meet her. Since I don't know how she feels about photos of her on blogs I took one from the back. She is very nice and I really enjoyed getting to meet her and spend some time with her. All in all a fabulous evening!

Crossing the Finish Line

They say that finishing the last 10% of any project is the hardest part. Anyone who has remodeled a house or tried to lose those last 10 pounds knows what I am talking about. Well the same holds true for knitting. We are actually all yarn harlots at heart - we are so excited to purchase the yarn, find the pattern, cast-on the project. Then we knit away, loving the yarn, loving the pattern, loving the fill-in-the-blank. But then something happens. We become fickle. We put down that project before finishing it and pick up a new love. We'll get back to the other project - truly we will. I once read that if you can count how many projects you have on the needles you don't have enough! I definitely don't have any issues there. But then ultimately we remember our earlier love, pick it back up and "finish" it. But do we really? Yes we finish knitting it, we cast off and say "it's done". But did we bury the ends? Sew on the buttons? Attach the handles? Well I have several projects in the "finished but not done" state so this weekend I devoted myself to finishing them. First was my runabout purse for the Bag KAL. I finished knitting and felting it in July but it still needed something. The yarn was very pretty by itself and flecked with multiple colors before felting but afterwards it was just sort of solid purple and needed "something". So this weekend I sewed on two cute dragonfly buttons (they are more colorful than the photo shows) and put in the snap. Now it is truly done and ready for use. Then I finished knitting the bag I started in Oregon and I felted it. I'm very happy with how it turned out. It still needs the snap but what can I say. I figure that now that those two are basically done it's time to start a new project. So the yarn above is to begin the bag for my International Tote Exchange II partner. It's wonderful, soft Malabrigo which I've never used before. Now if only I can finish it . . . . .

What's Growin' On

Awhile ago I posted about planting my vegetable garden in Transcendental Vegitation. I cleared the weeds, tilled the ground, planted the veggies and watered and fertilized them. Now you can see some fruits of that labor. This bowl of tomatoes represents a mere fraction of my harvest but I had to show it off along with my wonderful new Schaefer yarn called Marjaana . Wouldn't it be totally cool if I could plant a yarn bush? I guess that is sort of what a sheep, llama or alpaca is but they are a lot harder to care for than a tomatoes! I bought it in a color called Toni Morrison. Apparently all their Marjaana yarn is named after famous women. Pretty neat actually. Also, just to make sure I was not alone, I talked my friend Bonnie in to buying a skein as well. We have now decided to both make the faux cable scarf from the recent scarf insert in the Fall 2006 Interweave Knits magazine. I now realize that this is very similar to planting my vegetables. I planted the seed of the yarn, sent my money to the till, picked the pattern plant and now all I need to do is water and fertilize it and next thing you know I'll have a scarf crop. Hopefully it will be just as yummy as the tomatoes. I wish you all a healthy crop of knitting this holiday weekend!

No Impulse Buy Goes Unpunished

When we last left our heroine she had gone in to the yarn store merely to look for handles and had left with not one but TWO sets of Touch Me yarn and Mohair to make scarfs she neither had the time nor need for. Alas the poor lass was sucked in to the beauty of the scarf. So soft, so compelling. So putting aside all other projects that she had started she began knitting the first scarf. It was coming along well, it was soft, it was beautiful and then - tradgedy stuck! She ran out of yarn when the scarf was only half way done! What to do, what to do. Gathering all her strength and bravery she returned to the yarn store with the second set of gorgeous, deep red Touch Me and Mohair and - now you may want to look away - this is not for the faint of heart - she RETURNED IT! Yes, she had decided that was the only thing she could do. Return the luxurious red Touch Me,M the soft strains of red mohair for more of the pink and green mohair so that she could at least finish one scarf. She could not justify two scarfs with those needy yarn requirements. She would have to live with just one. Through these courageous efforts our heroine will live to knit another day and maybe even have a few pennies left for a Starbucks.

Thank You's and a Shout Out to Lynae

First of all a big thank you to Joanna who sent me this fabulous bag for the Tote Exchange. It came all the way from POLAND!!!! How cool is that??? I just love it and I have since she first posted a photo of it on the Exchange. At that point I didn't know it was for me and I was just drewling over it. I even went to her blog to get the pattern (yes - she designed it herself!) and hoped to make it one day. Luckily I am so far behind on my "to do" list of knitting that there was little chance I would ever get to it before it arrived. It is a beautiful red with yellow and orange and this really cool flower and twisty cords that she made. I think she is so amazingly talented. It came with some wonderful treats as well including a beautiful candle, some yummy tea and this great polish milk candy that it is oh so sweet. Many thanks to you Joanna for my wonderful bag and all the goodies.

Next a big thank you to my Secret Pal 8 pal Brooke. Brooke has done a wonderful job of stringing me along with little hints here and there as to her true identity. This package was the big reveal and it is so fun to learn more about her. She sent me this wonderful big jean bag that is so fun, some amazingly soft Baby Alpaca yarn and these really great lighted knitting needles. Now there is no excuse not to knit! Brooke you are the greatest secret pal and you have sent me such wonderful things. It has really been fun being spoiled by you. Also the really exciting part - Brooke is coming to my town to see the Yarn Harlot in about 2 weeks so we are going to get to meet in person. Isn't that great? I'm very excited to meet her.

Last but certainly not least a big WELCOME to my SP 8 spoilee Lynae. I have had such fun spoiling her as part of this exchange and now she knows my true identity. I hope she will visit often and that we'll stay in touch.

So all in all - a big THANK YOU to Joanna, Brooke and Lynae and thanks for making my knitting world fun.

Saving the World One Skein at a time

I recently bought a bunch of Sari Silk from an auction site. I really don't need any more yarn but I found myself compelled to bid on these skeins. Now I HAVE shared them, I gave one to my Mom, sent one to my secret pal and I have kept the rest. I am justifying my purchase because I understand it is created by women's co-ops in Nepal. So you see - I'm really doing a good thing for the world by purchasing this yarn! In addition, I have some Manos de Uruguay yarn. Manos is made by "crafts people working together in Uruguay make this yarn which sustains their community" - once again - I think you can justify the yarn as an attempt to help others in the world. I also often hear about Malabrigo yarn which is made by "a small family owned yarn company in Uruguay working with a cooperative of women." I have never purchased any Malabrigo but I think if I did I could feel good about it. So here I am, changing the world one skein at a time. Save the world - BUY YARN!

Stop and Smell the Yarn

I was exchanging e-mail with my friend Bonnie the other night and we were listing all of the projects we have on the needles. In addition I listed the projects I've finished but not totally FINISHED. Then came the list of projects for which I have purchased yarn and not yet started. My first thought is that I need to knit more, faster, harder and then it dawned on me - isn't knitting supposed to be my relaxation? My release from my normal overly scheduled Type A life? Why is it that we knitters fall in to the trap of wanting to knit more, knit faster, get it done? So I am reminded to stop and smell the yarn. Feel the yarn. Enjoy the yarn. Enjoy the projects I am currently working on (there are plenty to enjoy!) Enjoy the process not just strive for the result. My mother used to always tell me that "patience is a virtue" to which I would respond, "that I don't have!" But I vow to try to be more patient with my knitting, enjoy each row and the growth of the project rather than just counting how many stitches, rows, inches until I'm done. Now I need to go and do some knitting!

Just when I thought it was safe to go in to the Yarn Store

I went to my LYS the other day with definite plans to ONLY look for handles for the Berroco suede knitting tote that I am making (photos of that soon). I have a TON of yarn and I really don't need any more. I have way too many projects on the needles and don't need to start anything new. All was going well, I walked past the wall of Cascade 220 in wonderful colors and ignored it, past the cotton, past the cashmere, past everything. I was feeling good. I got to the rack of handles and unfortunately they didn't have what I needed. Oh well, that's OK. I'm not anywhere close to needing them yet anyway. I was on my way out - feet from the door - when I saw it. A gorgeous scarf in process on the table near the door. It was a combination of the oh so soft Touch Me yarn and some mohair. I don't even like mohair (what is mohair anyway?) But it was simple. It was elegant. It was oh so beautiful. It called to me. It sang to me. I had to have it. Really, truly, I tried to resist but it was of no use. Next thing I knew I was leaving the store with yarn for not one but TWO of these wonderful scarves. I've started the one on the left in a very soft pink Touch Me and a multicolored green mohair. The photo doesn't really do it justice. Why is it that yarn is so appealing? Why is it that we suspend all logic and restraint when it calls to us? I've heard the fables of sirens in the sea that would sing to sailors and enchant them. They would follow the sounds until their ships crash upon the rocks. I think yarn is like that - it sings to us, we can not resist and we follow it - right in to bankruptcy! Next time I will wear ear plugs!

A life of Leisure

I got another great package from my wonderful SP8. She sent me this great gift basket of relaxing bath items. I'm looking forward to taking a long and luxurious bath and enjoying them. Thank you so much Brooke - you are the greatest! I can't wait for the big reveal later this month when I'll find out who she really is. On the knitting front I bought this great 127 yarn at Gossamer in Bend and I just love the color. It is a deep burgundy color with other colors mixed in here and there. I'm making another felted bag. This one has an oval bottom and flares out at the top. They had a sample at the store so I got the pattern and I'm excited to see how it works out. It has a little ridge around the bottom to help it stand up. On the simply glorious front there is this incredible garden down the street. An organic farmer grows flowers and vegetables. He mainly sells them to the local grocery stores but he also sells some on the corner. I just have to share these photos with you - I hope you like them as much as I do.

Cotton good for Pickin'

From the amount of cotton I have purchased on this vacation you would think that California is devoid of cotton. Well to some extent that may be true. The stores near me never have Sugar & Cream or Peaches & Cream and the Lions Brand cotton can't be found in many colors. NOT the case in Oregon however and thus I have gone a little wild. You see I want to make some of those "warsh rags" from the Mason Dixon book. I hear they are addicting and I want to be prepared. Ummmm - maybe I'm a bit too prepared? What you see in the photo isn't even all the cotton I purchased. Hmmmm - anyone got any good patterns using cotton???