PinkPurlGrrl

Thank You Very Much!

Our mail carrier brought me two wonderful packages last week; one I was looking forward to, and one that was a complete surprise.  James from the Fibre Alive blog held a contest in December, asking commenters to nominate the worst Christmas song.  I nominated "Feliz Navidad" - specifically the Jose Feliciano version, and I won (sharing the honor with "Max the Canadian").  I just can't stand that song.  Anyway, James was kind enough to offer up prizes to the winners and his package came on Thursday!  I don't know if he is a mind-reader, but he sent me 4 skeins of mohair in lovely jewel tones.  I have been wanting to get my hands on some mohair for a couple of months.  It must be one of those little obsessions that happen to knitters (I must knit Clapotis!  I must have Socks that Rock! etc.) I just had to knit with mohair, even if I had to mortgage the house to do it.  Fortunately James saved the house and sent me some.  Being the pious woman of impeccable self control that I am, I immediately ditched all other projects and cast on for a scarf in the mohair.  It is lusciously soft and very warm.  In addition to the mohair, James sent a local treat "Pineapple Lumps".  This is an interesting confection, pineapple flavored marshmallow center covered in a thin layer of chocolate.  Somehow the pineapple flavor, when combined with the chocolate and then warmed in your mouth morphs into a strong bubble gum flavor.  I liked it - but it was weird.  Don't look for them in the photo, they didn't last that long!

In addition to James' gift, I received a package from Kim in Georgia - smack dab out of the blue!  Kim and I met through SP6, and I'm pleased to say we have built a nice little friendship through that event.  Kim (who must have spent waaay too much time reading the minutia on this blog) sent me a copy of Yarn Harlot's newest book, and some terrific froggy doo-dads.  I'm especially enamored with the millefiori style frog bracelet - it has taken up residence above my workstation and gives me the giggles, the frogs just look so friendly.  Kim included a package of squishy/sticky little rubber frogs - they even stick to the computer and BLING has grown attached to them, they keep her company during marathon sessions of SIMS play.  Last night I removed them from the mac in order to photograph them with the book - and she fussed at me.  BLING - I'll put them back tonight - I promise.  Thank you Kim - you are really thoughtful and kind!

A very (really embarrassingly very) late thank you and show off to Gwen, my SP6 Gifter.  Kim sent me some recycled sari silk yarn and the pattern for Knitty's Unbiased bag - months ago.  I had most of it completed, I tweaked the pattern to give it taller sides, I was really liking how it fell together - and then I ran out of yarn.  That's what I get for changing things up without measuring my stuff out.  I borrowed (in that "no,you won't be getting this back" kind of way) some more silk from a friend and was able to finish the handle and make up the bag.  I really quite like it, it holds a lot and has a really good shine.  This picture was taken inside and it looks like the sides don't match, they do - but the flash did wonky things with the bias pattern.

I'm still standing

FIRST THINGS FIRST:
Kim and James sent me lovely gifts - wonderful things that I really love and honestly should have posted about last week.  I have no excuse for my tardiness, but please bear with me - I'll post pictures and gushes tomorrow!

Happy Monday blogland!  I have tried awfully hard to keep from whining on my blog about being sick; I haven't been perfect about it, but at least I haven't made it a daily announcement.  So this is my official announcement that I am finally well - thanks to strong antibiotics and a good woman!  Being sick for a so long is a big part of why my updates have been irregular and less frequent than I would like, there is light at the end of the tunnel and I should be back to normal as of today.  The rest of this post will be about being sick, you are under no obligation to read it so I'm sticking it behind a cut at the end of this post.

Posts to come this week: Thank Yous to Kim and James (with pictures of the goodies, and the project started from said goodies), FO pictures of Mom's birthday socks (Trekking), and in-progress pictures of my "Princess Pink" Rib and Cable socks from Nancy Bush's pattern in IK/Fall 2005.  At the end of the week I'll have a soliloquy on why I'm knitting for the Canadians, and my "plan of attack" for completing the lace wrap during the Olympics.

I had a great time knitting and spinning this weekend.  I think all the talk about the knitting Olympics made me look at what I have on the needles, and what I want to have done before taking on that big project.  In my lovely Jordana Page Knitter's Bag I had two pair of socks on the needles, and the start of a lace scarf from my own hand-spun merino/silk.  One sock was my standard stockinette sock in Trekking XXL.  It is beautiful and I'll post FO pictures as soon as I get batteries back in my camera.  The other sock is the Jaywalker sock in Lorna's Laces.  The Jaywalker socks are a gift for a good friend and I should finish them in the next week or so.  The lace scarf is just a little fun pattern from Fibertrends.  The pattern is mainly simple vertical stripes made by YOs and K2Togs.  It won't be gorgeous, but it will be totally handmade, and it is in a lovely dark grape.  In addition to the knitting, I did a lot of plying and got started spinning my next batch of Coopworth.  I really love the big cabled shrug from Interweave Knits Fall 2005 (or is it Summer, I don't have it in front of me).  I'm spinning my own yarn for it, a really pretty light gray/brown Coopworth.  I love Interweave for giving us wpi for the recommended yarn, it makes it much less scary to try and spin for the projects - I'm even happier that I seem to be getting "spinning gage"!  The pattern calls for approx. 1300 yards, so far I've spun and plied about 530 yards, so I'm a fair portion into it.  I expect to spin up about 1.75lbs of wool for this project, and with luck should finish the spinning right before the Olympics.  This is my incentive - I can't start the shrug until the Estonian Garden lace wrap is finished.  I've wanted to knit the wrap for 6 months, and it's getting so close I can taste it.  I think this is a good carrot. 
During the daytime I have a nice view of my back yard and we have several different bird feeders up under our cherry tree.  All day long we have feathered visitors and sometimes I'm lucky to see something really special.  On Sunday I saw a Townsend's Warbler, he was bright yellow, black and brown.  He discovered a couple of very overgrown patches of grass that must have been full of birdy goodness because he was happily hopping up and down attacking the ground with great glee.  Along with our resident flock of chickadees and juncos, and the pair of flickers who pretty much live in the maple, that warbler made our backyard more entertaining than TV.

Decision Made

Y'all are the best, I mean it - just the absolute darn best.  I thought I really needed to rip out the wrap and cast on like a good girl during the opening games.  I was even looking forward to it - that would probably be the best part don't you think?  The excitement of waiting to start a project, the unease over your ability to complete such a big undertaking, it's all so wonderful.  Even better is joining in the fun with all the other knitters out there casting their lots together in a push for self challenge and conquering personal possibilities.  Last night in a fit of ennui I took EG out of her zip-lock bag to talk to her while I puttered around doing the nightly chores.  We cooked a little dinner (Peruvian Chicken & Sweet Potato Stew).  We watched Jeopardy together, I did better than her in the Presidential First Names category, but she came out ahead in active-verbs of Ancient Mesopotamia. She even spent a little quality time with Oly, who is always a big supporter of my knitting time (OK, he supports my left arm - that dog rarely leaves the couch).   All in all, it was a pretty nice night with the knitting.  I kept checking my blog comments, watching the tally creep up on the side of ripping all that lovely knitting back to kingdom come.  I appreciated the commenter's honesty, their attempts to remind me about the necessity of living with myself; the promise of a sound mocking if I didn't play by the rules.  These are good people who have my best interest at heart, and then there is Carry who just wants me to suffer with her.  The tide started to turn when the overnight crew hit blog land.  The hard partiers who drink from beer hats weighed in for answer B.  Why waste good knitting - it's still going to be a challenge.  I have even been accepted into team drunkenlace Canada (I promise a future post as to why I am opting to play for a Canadian team).  You lovely commenters and your wonderful support - you made my day!  I feel the love!  You don't want to see me rip 9 pattern repeats and start all over again.  Bless you and your kind hearts.

At the end of it all, I knew what was right for me.

But if I ever need to know if my favorite jeans make my ass look fat - I won't be asking the "letter A" people.

Knitting Olympics

I have a dilemma.  I want to play with the other knitters participating in the Knitting Olympics.  I am ready for a personal challenge.  I want to knit the Estonian Garden Lace Wrap as my Olympic Event. 

But...

I had already started it, and the rules say you have to cast on during the opening ceremonies.  I have about 5" done at this point, and am not touching it until we figure this out.

I really, really, really wanna play.  I want to post the button, and I want to EARN Franklin's button when we are all done with this.

There is only one thing to do - make you decide for me. 

Here are the options:
A. Abandon care and rip it all the way back (I am getting closer to feeling amenable to this, but still...)
B. Begin the challenge the morning of day one, the day after the Opening Celebration.
C. Chuck the idea and knit 10 Dulaan hats.

Guess what, if you are reading this you have to comment!  I have a few lurkers who haven't said hello yet (yes, I mean you there in Reston, Virginia).  Don't be shy, type just the letter of your choice if you have to.

Remember - I want to earn this, vote with your heart.

A Confession

This weekend was spent in the most wonderful of ways.  Saturday we had fancy tea at a friends house, followed by grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup in front of the Seahawks game.  Saturday night I cooked a roast beef that would make you cry at its perfection.

Sunday brought a lazy morning with some spinning and a lot of hanging out with my sweetheart.  We lazed around the house playing on the computer and even napped for a while.  In the evening we packed up my spinning wheel and lots of fibery things and headed over to Ryan and TMK's house.  Don't get all excited - RYAN IS NOT LEARNING HOW TO SPIN.  Ryan's resistance to spinning is not a phase she will grow out of, it's a life-style-choice she has made and I think we need to be supportive.  However, all is not lost for them, TMK is learning how to spin.  Not only did she try her hand at spinning, she completely spun up a full ounce of cranberry merino - roughly 50 feet long after we plied it on itself.  I bet there will be photos on Wednesday.

We started around 4:30 in the afternoon, and took just a few short breaks to eat pizza and set BLING up on the PS2.  By 9:30 the wool was spun, plied, skeined, washed, rinsed, rinsed again, and ready to dry in the "miracle fiber drying closet".  It was lovely and soft, an art fiber in the best of ways - I would be happy to knit with it (but I know my place and will leave that right to Ryan).

In addition to their wonderful company, and some really rocking pizza, Ryan and TMK presented me with two beautiful ounces of merino (eggplant and rust) and my very own Chibi!  I got the giggles over that.  Now I can be like Yarn Harlot and lose all of my needles at once (did you see she commented on my last post - yes I did drag BLING over to the computer so she could see it too).

BLING had a great time visiting and watching TMK and I geek out over the spinning wheel.  She was a good sport and let us go for a couple of hours before casting her eyes to TMK's PS2.  BLING loves video games the way I love fiber.  Soon, she was blissfully lost to us for the evening.

Monday was a holiday for us and we disregarded the meaning of the day and sashayed from the house in consumeristic glory.  I won't bore you with details about shopping for new underwear (what the heck are boy panties?).  We found ourselves at the local video game store (OK, found as in compared prices on line, checked account balances, discussed, debated and eventually decided to "go see") and ended up buying what - a PS2 (and two games, the one she played at TMK's and a Simpson's car chase one I wanted).

Confessional:
Yes - BLING loves video games.  Yes - we were buying HER the PS2.  Yes - I played the damn thing all night long and have a crick in my neck and lobster claws for hands.  I'll say 6 Mossy Cottages and 4 Yarn Harlots and hope my immortal fiber soul is forgiven for absconding with her toy. 

BLING - don't you look at my spinning wheel that way, get your own.

SP 7 Questionnaire

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand?  I prefer natural fibers to acrylic and I tend to not choose novelty yarn (there are always exceptions).

2. Do you spin? Crochet? I am a new spinner, and totally obsessed.  I do not crochet.

3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have a fabric needle organizer that is open top and bottom – so everything spills out all the time.  I have a nice organizer for my circular needles.  I tend to jam everything into my knitting bag and it’s a disgrace.

4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?  I have been knitting for about 5 years and am a solid intermediate – with more potential.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?  I have an amazon whish list, linked from the sidebar.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) I like pine and citrus – and anything herbal.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I love toffee, soft or hard.  My sweet tooth has gotten stronger as I have gotten older.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? I pretty much stick to knitting and spinning.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)  I can play MP3s and CDs - I don't have a tape player anymore.  My music tastes are eclectic, I like Ben Taylor and Jamie Cullem, I like the Beatles better than Elvis – but am learning to appreciate the jumpsuited one.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? I love earth tones and natural colors.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?  I have a partner of 8 years, we have 4 dogs and 2 cats (and a good vacuum).

12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?  Ponchos don’t flatter full figured girls like me, I love scarves, hats, and mittens.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? Currently I am in love with all things Noro, and I want to play more with naturally fuzzy yarns.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?  Overstimulating novelty yarn.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? I really want to knit Eris or Rogue.  I want to know what a chibi is.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?  Socks!

17. What are you knitting right now?  Two pairs of socks, a lace wrap and soon a lace scarf.

18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? YES!

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?  Circular

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?  Addis or bamboo

21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?  No, and I can really see them being helpful with all the spinning I’ve been up to.

22. How did you learn to knit?  I learned from a book.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?  3 or 4 years, but it will be frogged soon.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?  I like strange things like warthogs and sloths, I have a soft spot for Grover.

25. What is your favorite holiday?  Halloween.

26. Is there anything that you collect?  I have an unintentional collection of snow globes – they are kinda fun.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?  None at the moment, I usually pick up Interweave and may add Vogue Knits to the list.

28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? Patterns: Eris, Books: Vintage socks.

29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?  I think I should work on colorwork, I like fair isle but stranding neatly seems to escape me.

30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?  I am a sock knitter and wear a size 9, I think my foot is 9” long – I don’t know the width.

31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) 08/20

Fresh off the wheel

I am falling deeper and deeper into a fiber lined hole.  This is probably not a bad thing.
There is something about the winter in western Washington, something about 22 (or is it 24 now) days of rain.  Every thing is sodden, especially the dogs.  We call this mud season, you can tell if it is mud season by looking at the kitchen floor, in front of the back door (and the surrounding 20 or so feet).  It's wet, it's more cold than not, there is little natural light to be had.  It is a good time to sit and spin and sit and knit - and drink lots of coffee.  BLING and I finished listening to The Historian and are well into Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, I am also keeping up with Cast On and have noticed that a new Knit Cast is up.  Much of life is lived (right now) in the tips of my fingers and inside my ears, I am at great peace.  I may have never enjoyed a winter as much as this one.
Having finished up the amethyst merino, I set about spinning some beautiful merino/silk in a colorway called Concord Grape.  I wanted to see if I could spin reliable lace weight, and I think I succeeded.  I spun the end on Sunday and processed it, today it is dry and the nice ladies at Weaving Works let me use their swift and ball winder to wind it up.  It's a bit over-spun (mostly on purpose) and I didn't want to hand wind it - it would have been a mess.  On the Niddy-Noddy (on the 2x2 piece of wood with 2 nails 30" apart) the  skein came out to 583 yards.  On the fancy yarn scale thingy it came out to 460.  The truth has to be somewhere in the middle.  My spinning is still a little thick-n-thin, and I bet I was pulling too hard when I originally skeined it off the bobbin.  I bet I have around 500 yards.  I am thinking about two different patterns here and here, feel free to leave your suggestion of what this should be made into.

I know the nicest people - thanks for the lovely comments y'all and look for an email from me in the next day or two.

Fibery goodness abounds at Casa de Pinkpurl.  I have been spinning like a madwoman, working up the lovely merino BLING gave me for christmas.  I have one last evening worth of roving to spin up tonight and I should be able to ply it all tomorrow.  When done I bet I'll have somewhere between 150 and 200 yards of dk weight yarn, in lovely shades of amethyst.  Any suggestions on what it should be?  I'm thinking typing toasties with longer cuffs...but I'm more than open to suggestion.

How do I keep my tush in front of the wheel for so long?  Why Pod-casts and Audio-books of course!  I have become totally addicted to Cast-On, she is witty and urbane - I check for updates every day even though I know she's aiming for once a week.  Her show only covers 30 minutes to an hour, and therefor must be supplemented with audio-books.  This is a new realm for BLING and I.  It started with Harry Potter (book 5 I think) and has grown from there.  Currently we are listening to The Historian, a truly fantastic story about Dracula - not gory, but very suspenseful.  I will sit and spin for hours just to keep listening to the story.  A good friend is lending us Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and I can't wait to get into that as well.  Our home is quite a site, me on the wheel and BLING on the computer, 4 dogs spread across the room and the two cats fighting epic battles in between the sprawled pups.  The rest of the house is covered in cobwebs from disuse (and an unfortunate population explosion of little teeny eensy spiders). 

In addition to the spinning I have completed a stocking cap from my homespun, have made great progress on the Trekking socks (Carry - I found it at Weaving Works, but they sell out fast.  Tell me what colors you favor and I'll grab a skein if I see one).  The Jaywalker socks are a bit lonely in my project bag, but I'll dive back into them over the weekend.  I'll try to pull myself away from the wheel (and story time) long enough to snap a picture tonight.

New Year Reflections

The past three months have brought many new people into my life, primarily through this blog.  I found Mossy Cottage and met Ryan and TMK, two women boldly navigating the world on their terms.  The burgeoning friendship BLING and I share with them is a gift, one we intend to nurture.

Through Ryan’s work on Dulaan we also met Linda K: a spinner, knitter, and currently a world traveler.  Her quiet observations of the new world around her are expanding my own horizons.  I am looking forward to her return, to enjoy her company in person again.

Also through Ryan, this time her blog, I found Libby – a quick-witted woman with a true sense of the absurd, and she is as sharp as a razor.  Through her posts it is clear she is a woman on a journey of self-discovery, testing boundaries – often her own.   

Following links on Libby’s blog I found Carry’s blog.  Carry and I have yet to meet, outside of comments on each others blogs – but I think the new year will help remedy this.  Village Yarn and Tea some Saturday?

In addition to all the wonderful knitters I have been meeting (or at least lurking on their blogs – Rabbitch, Norma, Margene, Lisa, and a few others) I met two special women through Secret Pal 6.

Recently (and I am late in posting this, for which I offer my apologies) my SP6 gifter revealed herself to me.  Her name is Gwen and she lives in San Jose.  Gwen is a graduate student in Educational Technology – a very interesting sounding track.  She also takes care of her mother.  After 14 years of taking care of my Dad, I have a warm spot in my heart for anybody who can step up to the challenge.  Gwen was a great spoiler, sending me lots of yarn and treats; I also got a couple of great patterns from her!  This picture is of the final SP6 package where she sent hanks of a yarn I haven seen before “Beez Yarn” and some lovely brown DK – which will be made into the felted bears she sent a pattern for.  She included snowmen goodies and needle holders.  The Christmas 1976 CD is a compilation of great Christmas hits from that year – Gwen is that your family on the cover?  Thank you so much for spoiling me during SP6, you have perfect timing with your gifts. (Side note, Gwen did not send the cat – Simon wanted to play Vanna White and could not be dissuaded from the table long enough to take a picture.)

Lastly, but by no means least(ly), Kim – my SP6 giftee – sent me a gift! I was so surprised to receive a gift from her (and on Christmas Eve to boot!)  This box was full of treasures, 4 balls of Rowan Linen Drape, a copy of the Mary Frances Knitting and Crocheting Book, note cards, candle, magnet – and the most amazing teacup and saucer!  I have been developing a taste for tea (thanks to my local LYS which specializes in both goodies), but I did not have a teacup!  Thanks Kim, I have enjoyed getting to know you – you have many unexpected facets.

Last New Years I was happy to have survived the year, and just ready for it to be over and have a fresh start.  This year has brought peace to my life, and more recently brought wonderful people to share it with.  I find myself starting the New Year renewed and excited about what the next 12 months will bring. 

Cyber hugs to all you wonderful knit-bloggers, including the ones I haven’t met yet.