Congratulations Margie (fairisle) and FelicityS (dude your so lucky you posted your Rav ID in the comments).
You have both won copies of my Baby Stars Pattern and $10 gift certificates to my shop!
Please check back on Wednesday for the next giveaway and don't forget to preorder your yarns!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Could have gone better
Well this weekend could have gone better.
First on the way to the campsite I find that my iPod shuffle did not download the last half of The Historian correctly and it was all out of order.
Then I realized that because I planned on just listening to the last 17 hours of my audiobook, that I had not packed an actual book. Epic fail.
Ben was nice and let me stop at the Rite Aid on the way to the camp site where I got my choice between bad romances, some horror and the Twilight series. I sadly ended up with High Country Bride and Eclipse, as the horror leaned towards mystery murders and I prefer werewolves and ghosts.
Then when we settled in at the camp site I realized that I did not have my book holders and therefor could not knit and read at the same time. Having forgotten my sock I settled for reading a few pages of my book and then knitting Ben's hat.
After his hat was done I got some work on the lace shawlette done and finished the country romance book. The book could have been much worse and having read some romance for the book store I use to work for it was on the decent side. Lots of story and not too much of the naughty going on. I got through 2 chapters of Eclipse which is more then the first time I tried to read it.
But I got a lot done on the lace shawlette. I'm nearing the end of the ball of yarn, I have 53 rows to go, and my gauge is a little larger then recommended, but the pattern called for 416 yards and the ball of yarn I'm using is 400 yards.
I'm knitting really quickly to see if I can beat the ball of yarn to the finish line.
I really think I can!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Yay Weekends!
This weekend I'm going camping!
I'm big on camping and though I'm a tree hugging hippy pescetarian from Santa Cruz, one of the things I'm looking forward to most is shooting!
About once a year we go shooting, and though its not a skill I have ever used in a practical way, I do enjoy being able to shoot accurately. It makes the little part of me that always wonder about the zombie wars happy to know I have skills that would allow me to fight back and live.
I will also be following tradition and making a hat. Usually I cast on on the drive down but I already have Jared Flood's Turn a Square on the needles because Ben wanted the exact one I had made for Cody, and I cast it on so that I would not forget it.
I'm also bringing a sample I'm knitting for Yarns by the Sea that I started on Saturday, grandmother's giants Sweetly Worn Shawl (pictured below, I have to finish it this weekend and block Sunday night because I see her Monday night), my Pointelle sock, and my Reunion Cowl, just in case there is not enough light to do pattern by at night.
Think I have enough for 2 days out in the wilderness and 4 hours in the car?
I'm big on camping and though I'm a tree hugging hippy pescetarian from Santa Cruz, one of the things I'm looking forward to most is shooting!
About once a year we go shooting, and though its not a skill I have ever used in a practical way, I do enjoy being able to shoot accurately. It makes the little part of me that always wonder about the zombie wars happy to know I have skills that would allow me to fight back and live.
I will also be following tradition and making a hat. Usually I cast on on the drive down but I already have Jared Flood's Turn a Square on the needles because Ben wanted the exact one I had made for Cody, and I cast it on so that I would not forget it.
I'm also bringing a sample I'm knitting for Yarns by the Sea that I started on Saturday, grandmother's giants Sweetly Worn Shawl (pictured below, I have to finish it this weekend and block Sunday night because I see her Monday night), my Pointelle sock, and my Reunion Cowl, just in case there is not enough light to do pattern by at night.
 |
| Taken at the Giants Stitch and Pitch |
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Excitement!
This month and next month are very exciting with 2 giveaways!
The first is every Wednesday from today till September 14th I will post a question, a riddle or we'll play a game. All you have to do to enter is answer the question or riddle, or participate in a game, by leaving a comment to be entered into the weekly drawing.
Prizes will include:
The first game we will play is based off the Victorian game "I Love My Love" from The Girls Own Book by Mrs Child, 1864.
The rules are simple: You fill in the blanks of your poem basing it off of the letter that follows the person that posted before you.
I love my love with a ______ love for he is ______, ______ and ______.
I hate my love with a ______ hate for he is ______, ______ and ______.
I'll start off with an example using A:
I love my love with an awesome love for he is articulate, attractive and ambitious.
I hate my love with an awful hate for he is aging, arrogant and asinine.
Now check the the comments and see what the last letter a person used was. Winners will be announced on Sunday the 14th!
Second giveaway is in anticipation of the next dye day!
I'm currently gearing up for not only my next big dye day and school, but also for Phat Fibers and Christmas orders from shops. I'm a little worried because I can currently afford to only order 10 skeins each of Sparkle Lace and Sparkle sock yarns, but it sounds like most of my knit group will claim that yarn. I want to be able to fill not only my online store but also my local yarn stores with this yarn! So...
The first is every Wednesday from today till September 14th I will post a question, a riddle or we'll play a game. All you have to do to enter is answer the question or riddle, or participate in a game, by leaving a comment to be entered into the weekly drawing.
Prizes will include:
Stitch Markers
Kits
Patterns
Gift Certificates to My Shop
I'll announce winners on the following Sunday at 7pm, so please check back to claim your prize!
I'll announce winners on the following Sunday at 7pm, so please check back to claim your prize!
The first game we will play is based off the Victorian game "I Love My Love" from The Girls Own Book by Mrs Child, 1864.
The rules are simple: You fill in the blanks of your poem basing it off of the letter that follows the person that posted before you.
I love my love with a ______ love for he is ______, ______ and ______.
I hate my love with a ______ hate for he is ______, ______ and ______.
I'll start off with an example using A:
I love my love with an awesome love for he is articulate, attractive and ambitious.
I hate my love with an awful hate for he is aging, arrogant and asinine.
Now check the the comments and see what the last letter a person used was. Winners will be announced on Sunday the 14th!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Second giveaway is in anticipation of the next dye day!
I'm currently gearing up for not only my next big dye day and school, but also for Phat Fibers and Christmas orders from shops. I'm a little worried because I can currently afford to only order 10 skeins each of Sparkle Lace and Sparkle sock yarns, but it sounds like most of my knit group will claim that yarn. I want to be able to fill not only my online store but also my local yarn stores with this yarn! So...
My goal is to raise $1,000 in presales for the next dye day in 28 days. That's roughly 40 skeins of my yarns. This will allow me to triple my sparkle yarn order and that means 30 skeins of Sparkle Sock weight and 30 skeins of Sparkle Lace weight!
What does it mean for you?
*Custom dyed yarns at a 16%-20% discounted price
*Free shipping on orders of $100 or more
*10% coupon off your next order
*Entry into weekly contests for:
Custom Dyed Merino Sock Yarns
*Free shipping on orders of $100 or more
*10% coupon off your next order
*Entry into weekly contests for:
Custom Dyed Merino Sock Yarns
Stitch Markers
Kits
Sock Project Bags
A Turkish Drop Spindle with 4oz of Fiber
And once we hit our goal a grand winner will get:
A September Phat Fiber Box
2 Skeins of Custom Dyed Merino Sock Yarn
A Wrist Knit Bag
and....
my Wine Sock kit that will not be released to the public till mid November!
Winners for this give away will be announced by their Etsy name every Wednesday from August 17th to September 7th at 7pm PST here on the blog, and all prizes will shipped with yarn orders on September 24th.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Søndager er Spinne, a Pattern, and Being Domestic
I have been very busy spinning this:
It's 62 yards of my dyed corriedale with fawn alpaca. I've done a Navajo ply with a very thin single. I plan on spinning up the rest so I can start thinking up a project. I'm starting to lean towards mittens. There are a pair in Knit & Spin that take only 160 yards...
Oh and there was much excitement this week as my Baby Stars pattern is now up on Ravelry:
Its on sale at Ravelry for $2! Great way to use leftover sock yarn!
Also, Ben and I have been busy cleaning the house today and last night's and tonight's dinner is this:
We also cleaned up the third bedroom and Ben is currently running out to get a dresser he told me I could put yarn in! I was shocked when he pitched the idea and had to make sure he was serious. He was and I just about melted into a puddle. I think I might cook something special next weekend for him!
 |
| The yarn is fairly fuzzy! |
It's 62 yards of my dyed corriedale with fawn alpaca. I've done a Navajo ply with a very thin single. I plan on spinning up the rest so I can start thinking up a project. I'm starting to lean towards mittens. There are a pair in Knit & Spin that take only 160 yards...
Oh and there was much excitement this week as my Baby Stars pattern is now up on Ravelry:
Its on sale at Ravelry for $2! Great way to use leftover sock yarn!
Also, Ben and I have been busy cleaning the house today and last night's and tonight's dinner is this:
 |
| Beer and cheddar soup with fresh made bread |
Friday, August 5, 2011
12
12 seems to be a very interesting number:
12 makes a dozen
12 is how many months are in a year
12 is a semiperfect number
The Western and Chinese Zodiac's have 12 symbols each
There are 12 hours in the am and the pm
There are 12 Function keys on most computers
There are 12 Cylon human models as well as 12 lords of Kobol in BSG
And it seems to be my average posts per month. Take a look ->
I credit this to there being about 4 weeks in a month and I try to post at least 3 times a week. It seems I'm hitting my goal then :)
This week has been a rather exciting and busy one. Its the third week in a row where I've been gone most nights with friends and knit night and the house is starting to show it.
The dining room table is covered in yarn, skeiners, and fiber, there is stuff piled in front of the third bedroom/storage room that need to go in but you can't get into the room because Ben and I have been taking stuff out since we went camping and then we put the excise bike in the doorway so you could move through the hall easily, and my dye stuff is still in the backyard all set up like I'm about to dye.
First off I've got no more fiber to dye. Its all dyed and I'm right now in the process of buying a little over 20 lbs total of corriedale, silk, alpaca, and angelina (sparkly stuff is all you need to know). Its for the Phat Fiber sample boxes in September. The theme is Enchanted Forest and I have plan for not only my samples but about 30 other bats as well. So the sooner I get the third bedroom organized the sooner I can relax about the huge wool order I'm placing next week.
Second, once I get the third bedroom cleaned I can put all the current fiber stuff in there and in a place I can get to it.
Third, I just need to clean the damn backyard. My next big dye day is September 17th with Caren, Meghan and a guest. I'll be doing one dye dye on August 19th, but that's just for fleeces and its a very relaxing dye process that will only require 5 colors for the sample bats. I just need to get the corriedale cleaned by then and the plan is to get a few crock pots, set them all up with fiber in them and then toss the dye in. It'll take one day for the dyeing and one day for the rinsing. Then I'll have 2 weeks to get all the bats blended. Currently I'm just keeping an eye out for crock pots for dyeing (they can't be used for food afterwards). I have a mini one that can do 1 bat or 1 skein at a time, but I'm looking for 4 regular/large size ones so let me know if you see any at a good price.
Lastly, I got the spinning wheel up and running! Pictures to come on Sunday of what I'm spinning!
12 makes a dozen
12 is how many months are in a year
12 is a semiperfect number
The Western and Chinese Zodiac's have 12 symbols each
There are 12 hours in the am and the pm
There are 12 Function keys on most computers
There are 12 Cylon human models as well as 12 lords of Kobol in BSG
And it seems to be my average posts per month. Take a look ->
I credit this to there being about 4 weeks in a month and I try to post at least 3 times a week. It seems I'm hitting my goal then :)
This week has been a rather exciting and busy one. Its the third week in a row where I've been gone most nights with friends and knit night and the house is starting to show it.
The dining room table is covered in yarn, skeiners, and fiber, there is stuff piled in front of the third bedroom/storage room that need to go in but you can't get into the room because Ben and I have been taking stuff out since we went camping and then we put the excise bike in the doorway so you could move through the hall easily, and my dye stuff is still in the backyard all set up like I'm about to dye.
First off I've got no more fiber to dye. Its all dyed and I'm right now in the process of buying a little over 20 lbs total of corriedale, silk, alpaca, and angelina (sparkly stuff is all you need to know). Its for the Phat Fiber sample boxes in September. The theme is Enchanted Forest and I have plan for not only my samples but about 30 other bats as well. So the sooner I get the third bedroom organized the sooner I can relax about the huge wool order I'm placing next week.
Second, once I get the third bedroom cleaned I can put all the current fiber stuff in there and in a place I can get to it.
Third, I just need to clean the damn backyard. My next big dye day is September 17th with Caren, Meghan and a guest. I'll be doing one dye dye on August 19th, but that's just for fleeces and its a very relaxing dye process that will only require 5 colors for the sample bats. I just need to get the corriedale cleaned by then and the plan is to get a few crock pots, set them all up with fiber in them and then toss the dye in. It'll take one day for the dyeing and one day for the rinsing. Then I'll have 2 weeks to get all the bats blended. Currently I'm just keeping an eye out for crock pots for dyeing (they can't be used for food afterwards). I have a mini one that can do 1 bat or 1 skein at a time, but I'm looking for 4 regular/large size ones so let me know if you see any at a good price.
Lastly, I got the spinning wheel up and running! Pictures to come on Sunday of what I'm spinning!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Knit Night and a Book
Last night was that night I look forward to all week. Knit night.
I had brought my drumcarder with its new drive band to show everyone how it worked and to get fiber prepared for today when my new spinning stuff is suppose to arrive. On my last dye day I'd sectioned off some of my corriedale roving that my good friend Jeanne Marie had given me a couple years ago and dyed it in a bunch of colors.Then last night I blended each individual color with some fawn colored alpaca and my plan is to spin it all up tonight into a lace weight for a colorful shawlette!
I also have 4 more ounces of the grey corriedale that I'm going to blend with some black dyed alpaca for Ramble On mittens for Jay who gave me the wheel and carder. He's the kind of man that will not wear color on his hands. Sigh.
Also, Caren and Meghan gave me the best gift ever! A signed and personalized copy of The Secret Life of a Knitter, by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. I was so excited and touched by the gift I felt a little sick. I really cannot convey how much she has helped me.
When I got home last night I sent her an email thanking her for signing and personalizing the book and thanking her for all she had done for me.
Really if it was not for her I would not have the friendship I do with Caren or Meghan, I would not have a weekly knit night group to look forward to, and I most likely would not have my business. I would not have these friendships because I had not met very many people that love wool and fibers as much as I do. Jeanne Marie was one of the few who really got me before I got into knitting and when I checked my email this morning I think Stephanie hit the nail on the head when she wrote:
"You're a wool person, and there's no stopping that. If it hadn't have been me, it would have been someone else to help you to your destiny! "
And its true. You would have thought that all the wool around me would have tipped me off.
I had brought my drumcarder with its new drive band to show everyone how it worked and to get fiber prepared for today when my new spinning stuff is suppose to arrive. On my last dye day I'd sectioned off some of my corriedale roving that my good friend Jeanne Marie had given me a couple years ago and dyed it in a bunch of colors.Then last night I blended each individual color with some fawn colored alpaca and my plan is to spin it all up tonight into a lace weight for a colorful shawlette!
I also have 4 more ounces of the grey corriedale that I'm going to blend with some black dyed alpaca for Ramble On mittens for Jay who gave me the wheel and carder. He's the kind of man that will not wear color on his hands. Sigh.
Also, Caren and Meghan gave me the best gift ever! A signed and personalized copy of The Secret Life of a Knitter, by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. I was so excited and touched by the gift I felt a little sick. I really cannot convey how much she has helped me.
When I got home last night I sent her an email thanking her for signing and personalizing the book and thanking her for all she had done for me.
Really if it was not for her I would not have the friendship I do with Caren or Meghan, I would not have a weekly knit night group to look forward to, and I most likely would not have my business. I would not have these friendships because I had not met very many people that love wool and fibers as much as I do. Jeanne Marie was one of the few who really got me before I got into knitting and when I checked my email this morning I think Stephanie hit the nail on the head when she wrote:
"You're a wool person, and there's no stopping that. If it hadn't have been me, it would have been someone else to help you to your destiny! "
And its true. You would have thought that all the wool around me would have tipped me off.
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