Monday, October 30, 2006

I'm lame

I haven't been doing too much. Still working on some lap blankets, trying to find a decent, easy pattern for a hat for my dad that will only use one skein of chunky alpaca. And I've been working a bunch of OT. So, I have nothing to share right now. I really need to go out tomorrow and get some gifts for my secret pal. I haven't sent her anything this month except a cheesy ecard. Well, it was a cute ecard.

I think I might go to the LYS and pick up a skein of fluffy yarn for her. And maybe stop by Kilwin's and get some of their candy. I'm trying to think of something that is absolutely great, yet distinctively American. Any ideas from the peanut gallery?

I really should have bought her a postcard from the Art Institute when I went last week!

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

WOOT!

I am posting this damned near everywhere. I am very proud of me! I sewed! Yup, you read it right. I sewed! AND... it involved a pattern! This is the first pattern involving thing I have sewn since junior high. I made a shark pillow then. This time... a skirt! Whoohoo! And it's not hideous!! You can even tell that it's a skirt without me trying it on!

It's not perfect. But it is sewn together, and since I'm planning on wearing it to a ritual, the mistakes don't matter too much. You can barely see them in the dim light. :-)

I have a little hand sewing to do in a few spots. And I am trying to convince my hubby to do the hemming me for me. He's a very good hemmer... always even, you can't even see the stitches. I'm not that good. OK... I'm awful and I never hem anything. That's why I married Greg!

As soon as it is done, I will post pics. I will be wearing it as I lead the Samhain ritual on Saturday, for those of you who will be there. OK... Only one person who reads this blog (out of the whopping two people... not counting secret pals!) is planning on being there. Lesa will have to vouch for me that it is indeed a skirt and even looks like I made it myself! :-)

Alright. I feel like crap. This cold is kicking my ass. I am going to bed soon. Happy crafting!

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Yippeee!!!

I am so proud of myself! I finally figured out how to add buttons! Look to the right and scroll down past the archives and such. See! There are only three of them now, but I'm on a roll. Now that I know how to add buttons, tere will be no stopping me. Look out bloggers, here I come.

OK... now I am really tired. G'nite, again. For real this time!

SP9 and other stuff

Yeah! Secret Pal 9 has begun! I have been contacted by my spoiler and I have contacted my spoilee! My spoilee is German and my spoiler is from the southern hemisphere. It's rather exciting.

The friend that I have been assigned to has Big Girl Knits listed on her Amazon wishlist. I have been told by some very good friends that this is a good book, so I might get it for her. I wonder if it comes in a German edition. Her English is pretty good, but I know I wouldn't want to follow a pattern book in a foreign language, no matter how fluent I was. I crochet to relax, not give myself a headache (although that happens from time to time as well!).

I'm also thinking of making her a sash/belt/scarf-thingie out of the recycled sari yarn that I have. It would be something cute and quick. But I'm not sure that she would wear something like that. I should ask her what kind of clothes she normally wears.

She also mentioned she likes chocolate, and I would love to send her some. But I feel kind of stupid sending American chocolate to GERMANY. I mean, they are the chocolate gods! Regardless of where chocolate originally came from, the Europeans really know what to do with the stuff. But then, I'm a chocolate snob.

I have the yarn chain letters written, I'm just waiting to get all my addresses together and get them mailed off. The first round of people just has to add their names, make copies, and send it along. They don't have to do any buying! Just receiving! I still need one more address... that is unless a certain kitchen witch doesn't want to play. You know who I'm talking about! :-)

I'm getting caught up on my lap blanket project. I've been a slacker this year, made one. So, I splurged on some Homespun and made 3 blankets this week. I'm also going through some leftovers and crocheting up small granny quares that I might join eventually. I'm great at making the granny squares. Not so great at sewing them together. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate weaving in my ends as well. It's the most tedious part of the whole process and I just hate it. But it must be done! :-)

OK... need to get to sleep. I'm starting the week from hell tomorrow. By next Sunday, I will have worked a total of 96 hours in one week. Yippee!!! I am definitely buying a dishwasher next paycheck! A nice one with lots of options!

G'nite everyone!

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

SP9 Questions

I enjoyed the One Skein Secret Pal Exchange so much, I decided to join the Secret Pal 9 exchange. The questions (like all yarn groups!) is geared towards knitters. I'll answer to the best of my abilities:

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
After years of using acrylics, I am really starting to enjoy natural fibers. I love alpaca (who doesn't) and some wool blends. I like stuff that is soft... not scratchy. As much as I like the look of them, I hate to work with novelty yarns. Maybe for trims, but that's about it.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have a small, vinyl hook case I bought a few years back. I also have a new tote I recently bought on sale at Joann's recently. It's perfect for taking my WIPs to work.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I've been crocheting for about 6 years or so. I taught myself from a how-to book. I consider myself an intermediate. I've finished some pretty complicated items, but I haven't really tried lace, and I keep learning new techniques.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Not yet. I keep telling myself I need one.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)

I love sandalwood, citrus-y scents, and very light floral scents. Nothing heavy.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

I love sweets. I love chocolate, especially dark chocolate. I'm not sure I have an absolute favorite candy. I do love Ghiradelli squares. Mint and caramel.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I've owned a drop spindle for a little over a year. I still haven't figured out how to use it. I don't really do many other crafts. Crocheting is all for me. Unless you count gardening.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I like all sorts of music. Rock, indie, alternative, emo, blues.... you name it. Not much country, but there are a few. My play list is long and varied. Currently, I have an obsession with a few indie English bands and with some club music.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

My favorite colors are green and pink. I also really like blue. There really aren't any colors that I don't like. I rarely wear orange or yellow because they don't look good on me.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I have been married for a bit over 9 years. My husband knits. We have three furdren (cats).

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Yes, yes, yes, and yes. I have made all of the above as well (except the mittens. I have trouble with the shaping)

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

My favorite items to crochet are those that don't take very long. I'm an instant gratification sort of gal. I make a lot of lap blankets (which a group of us donate to local nursing homes), and since I am at "that age" I find myself making a lot of baby items.

13. What are you knitting right now?

Currently I am crocheting some baby booties. Then I need to get to work on some lap blankets. I also have some patterns for a shawl and some fingerless gloves that I want to make.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Of course!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I prefer aluminum hooks over plastic. I haven't tried bamboo yet.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

I wish.... I roll the most lopsided balls of yarn. It's pitiful. At least I finally learned how to wind a center-pull ball of yarn!

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Let's see.... I've been crocheting for about 6 years, so.... um... 6 years old. :-)

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween (aka Samhain for us Pagans)

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Books. Mirrors. Apparently yarn, although I'm going to use it all someday. Really.

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 can't think of any books that I want at this time. Unless there is a really good book on spinning that I can follow. I would like to try using bamboo hooks. I have one that claims to bamboo, but it feels like regular wood and isn't properly sanded. There is a pattern for a shawl that I saw online that has a Goddess symbol crocheted into it that I love.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Maybe one day I'll learn to knit. I really want to learn filet crochet and lace-making.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I don't even crochet socks. I'm planning on it someday, though. I wear a women's size 9 shoe. I don't know how many inches that would be, though.

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

May 11, 1975

Chain Mail

I forgot to mention it in my last post, but I am thinking of starting a yarn chain letter. I was inspired by a sock letter I received earlier this year. The way it works is that I send out 6 chain letters to 6 friends. They add their name to the letter, and forward it on. The next group sends one skein of yarn to the first name on the list. They then move the second name on the list to the first spot, and add their names to the second spot and forward the letter. If it works out well, each person should receive 36 skeins of yarn. I might even make a blog or LJ community so that people can see the yarns and post the who, what, where, etc of their chain letter.

Anyone interested?

Lots and lots of pics (in no particular order)

I tried to post some of this last week. But there was some error with Blogger, and everything was lost. So, I gave up and decided to try again later. This is now later. :-)

The first pic is of the skirt I was working on this summer. I got the pattern from the SnB: Happy Hooker book. I don't think it turned out too badly. I would definitely recommend using cotton. Lion's Microspun is a PITA to work with. I don't know what I'm going to wear with it. I might have to make a tank top. :-)


Here is the felted purse I made for my Secret Pal. I'm so proud of myself. It's an easy pattern, but I designed it myself. And I am so glad the felting thing worked! I've had quite a few compliments on it from coworkers. I just hope that my Secret Pal liked it, too!


And these are some dishcloths I have finished. I started carrying small balls of cotton yarn in my purse to work on these while waiting or riding as a passenger anywhere.



Morganna didn't want to pass up a photo opportunity. Cats and crocheting just seem to go together!


I made this hat and the following blanket for my cousin. She is having a baby girl in November, and I saw this patten in the Happy Hooker book (it's the bestest book ever!) and thought it would suit her tastes perfectly. It reminds me of Neopolitan ice cream. Cat is not included.



And since I never got around to posting it: Here are the goodies from my One Skein Secret Pal! I love the blank book. The little flowers and the butterfly aren't actually on the cover. Those are little extras she sent with. I think I might use it as a scrapbok for the Sabbat rituals I perform at church.


Morganna loves the little purse as much as I do. You would think there was catnip or something it it. The truth is that she just loves to rub against yarn... when she's not busy squishing it.


And I love this card. I think I am going to frame it and hang it in my meditation room, as soon as it's finished. In front of it is a lovely little sculpture. It looks like a group of people helping each other up. It's going on my altar. It makes me think of a well-run coven. :-)


I almost forgot. Here's a little hat I made for some friends who are expecting a baby any day now. They are having a little boy, and Dad used to be in the Marines. I'm working on a pair of matching booties, using the easiest booties in the world pattern.


Well, I hope I have made all two of my readers happy! I now need to go and do some laundry and then maybe pop in a video and work on my current WIPs. Later!