So You Think You can Knit?

A Break

The last two weeks of August are always tough for me. I can't wait for the summer to be over, now that it is clear it will, and for Fall to begin. I want the schedule to be back to normal. All the components of the puzzle that is my life neatly back in place, and to be able to wear hand knit socks again. I am going to take a short break from blogging, blog hopping and all cyber activities for a while, and try to catch up with my life here. I desperately need this time. If you don't see my comments on your blog, you'll know why. I'll probably be back to cyber life Labor day weekend. I will be knitting, so I hope to have some lovely stuff to show; and you'll be knitting, so I hope to have some lovely stuff to see! Miss ya' already!

You can never spoil your camper too much!

So here I am in camp (for real!) battling the mosquitoes so I can knit in peace and wondering what will happen tomorrow when I finish the socks and run out of yarn and wouldn't you know it if I should be so lucky as to recive a care package from Dixie (AKA timiat on Ravelry and flickr.) Dixie studied my stash and queue and got me the most fantastic stuff! A gorgeous skein of sKNITches Syncopation yarn in Red Baron, and a soft as a cloud lace yarn, Fa Re Baruffa Cashwool Decatito for the Hanami stole in my queue. All my fav colors. Reds and grays and browns. And some yummy snacks and a good tea. (you KNOW that regular camp tea is like dirty water...). It is so great to do a Ravelry swap cause you can "see" into your pal's stash and queue and from the groups, you can have an idea what they might like! So, if you have not signed up yet- go and do it now!

THANKS Dixie!!! I love it all and I am off to cuddle up with the yarn and drink a cup of the lovely Assam tea (just perfect for a coolish rainy afternoon) while I finish reading my book! I am one spoiled camper- and I LOVE IT!

NYC magic

This photograph was taken with the camera held in my hand at the time the photo was taken. A little NYC magic! It is a wonderful little court yard in the heart of midtown. A great place to escape the heat and sit and knit for a little while, if you have time. Especially lovely with some ice tea or ice coffee in the summer... Get it?

Rocking!

Wow! I was nominated for the Rockin' Girl Blogger by both Annie and Kath!
Wow, thanks ladies, I needed a little moral boosting!!!So here is my badge!

And I nominate the following cool bloggers:
Rain- frog in knots
Aija- sock prøn
Mary- Mary, Mary Quite Contrary
Lori- from the wool room
Astrid- Astrid knits her way out

Are you wondering why I picked these fab people? Well I think they Rock! so go read their blogs, if you are no already a follower!

ECF- Serenity

Serenity- I desperately need some!

And for some fun facts. I recived the Five Star badge from the ISE4! Wow. I was so surprised. I had a wonderful time knitting the scarf and this was a bonus.

And - the socks fit my pal from sockapalooza! Until I saw them on her feet- Teresa from Knitting the Blues I was worried. She likes blue- but wanted to try something different. I have not received mine yet, but I am sure soon. I am in two swaps now on Ravelry, but I think I have to take a break from swaps after this, and focus on more FO. My queue is getting out of hand!

kim hargreaves- pin stripe

kim hargreaves- pin stripe from Rowan Book # 12. Knit in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes "stream" on Addi circs us5. See the inspiration here. It was a very nice knit. I started it for Project Spectrum in March, and it was in my knitting basket by the sofa ready to be my TV knitting when serious concentration was not needed. I still need to get buttons. No matter how many I have in my button stash, the "right" ones are not in there. Does that happen to you? It took 3 days to dry while blocking- it has been unbelievably humid here in NYC. I can see this being my snuggle up cardi once the weather gets cooler. And it will. Something to look forward to.

Once

The postman had to only ring once on Saturday and I was downstairs like a light to accept my package from Knit-Picks. The missing yarn was never found in my house and I had to order another. Wool of the Andes in Stream. Sure I hated to pay for the shipping (it was more than the yarn) but I had to get that skein! I have been up late the past 2 nights pushing to finish it, and I am at the last bit. Weave in the ends and block!!! So here are the- ends!

Thanks everybody for your support on the helmet liner. I hope you get to make one or two. Your kind compliments got to my head, and I think I'll make one for myself- for my bike helmet. Perhaps with a finer yarn. I have also been working daily on my Freeform knitting daily project. Its an interesting challenge. View it as a slide show. its fun.

Helmet Liner

Ravelry charity KAL. There is strength in numbers. Helmet Liner is a very easy pattern, knit in the round (there are also instructions for crochet). It takes only one skein of Cascade 220. Black. Be sure to get the superwash. Actually- less than one skein. Knit with US6 and 8.
Some people may not understand the fact that a person who dislikes wars is knitting for soldiers, but to me, its one and the same. I am pro- people. Soldiers are sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, grandparents, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, best friends, etc. Most of them would much rather be home with their family. I feel the sadness of all mothers whose children are out there. I wish for them to all come home, safely, soon!

aaaaaahhh!

I am ready to PU for the collar and Looking for the last skein, or do I have 2 left? what might I do with the extra skein if I have it? I have looked in all the obvious places, but its not here. The Trolls! they took it. Well. I had to order another skein, BUT- nothing else! I'm in an August challenge- "shop the stash." is it here yet?

The Tale of the Tweed Tea Cosy

Miter and garter with Rowan Scottish Tweed and Jo Sharp's Silkroad DK Tweed. Love these yarns together. For a tea cosy KAL on Revelry. Naturally I am in the tea group.

Recent acquisitions.

OK- so that thing you saw last week, it is a Sidewinder. A sock by Nona. We did a KAL, Sit N Knit NYC. I am glad we did it together. I finished the one sock. It is brilliant construction. I did a 3 needle bindoff for the leg part (garter) and grafted the rest. Look at this under the toe grafting. Cool ha?

However, I did not feel connected to this design. The second sock may take time. I do love the yarn by nickerjack. And Rain, I too had to do some very acrobatic maneuvers to get this shot...

I have not told you everything. Its true. Here are some lovelies
from Astrid: Regia Kaffe Fassett, Trekking Bamboo solids, and a cool needle holder. Astrid also sent me a set of fab DPN us0. How did she know I was thinking of a very intricate glove? Have I been thinking out loud? Thanks, A! It was super fast service. Also found its way to my mail box, a lone skein of Sundara's sock yarn in Stormy. I am working away to finish this cardi, and I ran out of yarn for the collar! Its Knit-Picks yarn, so I hope to have no trouble finding it. I finished the the seaming and I got a new blocking board (thanks for a tip on Ravelry I got it for 50% from Joanne.com, and the shipping was free.) but now I have to wait to get the yarn. I may "have" to buy some extra yarn to get free shipping... And speaking of Ravelry, I am managing my time much better! I have been working on a tea cosy. Joined a summer camp swap. Joined a Mystery Sock KAL, for the fall, and over all having a grand old time meeting more knitters from all over and adding items to my queue... At least it is all in one place!

ECF- The visit

Rorschach inkblot test

What do YOU see?

Rorschach inkblot test

Blog? What's a blog?

Some of you may have wondered where I might have been lately. I've been on The Rav. Or Ravelry as it is officially known. And if you are not on yet, and have not yet put your name on the waiting list- than there is still a chance- RUN AWAY! Just kidding, but, Yes my dear, I am here to warn you- The Rav is addicting!! We even started a ravelholics anonymous group! Its an awesome site and when it is open to all members, (its still in beta testing) it will revolutionize the knitting world as we know it. What is it? its a place to track your knitting, your stash, your other pursuits (like spinning) and to conncet to a huge data base of patterns ideas, stash uses, examples of things you could do with your stash, creating a queue for all your future knitting, connect with knitters like you (readers, movies buffs, bakers, NYC folks etc.) But mostly- its a place for the Global Knitting Community to get together! And well- it has taken all my time. I did do a little knitting this week, The Gothic Leaf Stole got one pattern repeat, and I have been adding to my 365 days Freeform knitting project. I got the box for my sockapalooza pal ready to go- just waiting the last touch- Commemorative Sockapalooza 4 Sock Project Bag that Allena is making. They are very cute. Of course I had to get one for me as well... cause they don't have to be just for sockapalooza...
But mostly I have been on The Rav! So now- I MUST get back to my sidewinder. Next week is the grafting party and I am still in Act II. Will I make it? Stay tuned!