NO SPOILERS! Reading and Knitting

Hi! I've been away for a bit. Here's why. It all started here:(Harry Potter block party)

Buying my copy of Harry Potter at midnight (my awesome sister came with me so i didn't feel so conspicuous around all those tweeners). I wore my awesome Hogwarts Socks which arrived at my doorstep just in the nick of time.I read solid until I was done - there's me getting a manicure for my birthday while my sister holds the book for me. OK, Ok. We staged that. I didn't really read during the manicure . . . that would have been rude.


Look what I finished. It's my third (i think) Noro scarf. (Scarf 1, Scarf 2)It is such a fast, easy knit and I think they're gorgeous. This time, I cast on 30 stitches hoping to make it longer and a bit thinner. I like the results.

So the pattern is (EASY) - size 9 US needles using Noro Silk Garden (two skeins).

With first skein CO 30
row 1 K1, P1 to end of row
change skeins
row 2 and 3 - K1, P1 to end of row
Change skeins
row 4 and 5 - K1,P1 to end of row
continue this way until you run out of yarn.

NO SPOILERS!

Can't talk.

Busy Reading Book 7.

Back on Wednesday

with NO spoilers.

Shopping Spree

I had the funniest morning. I went to our local yarn store Coldwater Collaborative, for their sale and ran into two other bloggies. We had never met! Guinifer (who has just recovered from a self-imposed 'no new yarn' diet), and a new friend from Wound Too Tight. What a laugh. We missed Lorraine!

Anyway, so I managed to buy too much yarn, but what can I say. We knitters are like kids in a candy store. And the candy was 30% off. Let's take a peek in my bag of goodies and see what we find . . .

First, some yummy yummy yarn that I may turn into an EZ February baby sweater. It's from Wool in the Woods and it's a Cotton/Rayon mix (reminds me of Rowan Summer Tweed).

I am fascinated by the way some yarn is spun. Look at these close-ups. I wonder if it will look as cool once it's knit. I'll admit - sometimes I like the yarn best at this stage. So much potential!

There was the problem of not being able to decide between two colors . . . so I bought both.

Noro was on sale! YES, you heard correct! This is some I've never tried before. It reminds me of the bracelets we used to make out of embroidery floss back in my FREE TO BE YOU AND ME days. I have no idea what to do this this. It was just too lovely (and on sale).



Finally, I found the yarn I'll use for my Hogwarts Sock Swap II. It's actually not as pink as this picture conveys, but it's the true Scarlet of Gryffindor! That's the house my secret pal is in. She may check my blog, so I'll have to keep this fairly vague.

Only 32 1/2 hours until I start reading the Last Harry Potter Book!!!!! - yes, I'm picking up my copy at 12:01 AM - I also preordered a book from Amazon, but it may not be delivered until Saturday afternoon! Precious reading time would be lost!

See you on MONDAY!!!

Rockin' Girl Blog Award

I was so graciously tagged with this award and now I will pass it on.

Here is a list of SOME of my favorite blogs. If you have time, check them out!

1. Saartje - this was my first blog I found about knitting. I was actually Googling "Snow Lantern". I was so inspired by this blog to pick my sticks up again and start moving from squares and rectangles to mittens and socks.

2. Of Faith and Fiber. I met her in person at our daughters dance school. She was KNITTING! And we hit it off. She taught me, guided me, helped me out and she is funny and smart and creative and I check her blog daily.

3. Halfway Down the Stairs - So funny and another blog I check every day. She lives within a few miles, but we've never met. Very fun blog loaded with lots of enabling links and ideas and patterns. Another talented lady who has helped me out. She also has the worlds 2nd cutest dog in the world (strangely enough, I own the world 1st cutest dog).

4. On the Needles - my newest find - a blogger from Norway. It's just fun to see another world so far away.

5. I'm grouping these Knitting Iris, Whimsy, Soulemama. They are full of eye candy and inspiration.

Honorable mention: We Heart Yarn - I'm new to this site, too and I love love love it!

Unrelated to knitting, but important nonetheless - Lumpy caught his first walleye - A goal he had set for this summer. Here is the before and the after.

Just some business.

I sent off my Secret Hogwarts Sock Swap package to my secret pal. It was so fun. To see pictures, click here.

I finished knitting Lunker's kool-aid dyed socks. They're a bit big, but room to grow can't be too bad. Only one pair left to knit. I think I'll make stockings with the last ball of yarn - for my youngest. She wanted dark pink, but we got a lot of red.
And I've been honored with this fun award by Guinifer:If you're awarded, you're to name 5 more blogs that you love. I'll do this on Wednesday because this blog is getting long and my kids are hungry. (Bad mom!)

One more thing. I don't have cable, so I heard this from my mom. There are knitting shows on tv! Knitty Gritty (with some fun scarf ideas) and Knit One Purl One. Both on DIY network.

I have been on the wait list for Nancy Bush's Vintage Socks from the library. I've heard so many references to this book from other bloggy friends. So anyway, I'm perusing through, looking at the lovely photos of even lovelier socks when I begin to notice that every pattern is either on a size 1 or size 0 needle. Is she kidding me?! Not so lovely any more, huh? In fact - there is even a pattern for a size 00 needle. (For those of you who don't knit and have actually read this far - size 00 needles means that you knit with toothpicks).I don't care how much a person loves another person. That other person will NEVER appreciate handmade socks make on size 00 needles and this sucker is NEVER about to make them. Hmph.
I think those vintage socks with lopi and huge needles are beginning to look very nice.

I've Got A Golden Ticket!

Despite my often-pessemistic outlook on our human race, there is the occaisional reminder that people (most people) are really, truly, decent people. This is especially true with knitty people.

For no more reason other than to be nice, Lorraine stopped by and dropped off these!She had read that I didn't have stitch markers and I was using safety pins. She made these! Isn't that the nicest thing? I am so touched! I absolutely love them. AND Lori, I had to use them last night on Chocosocks! They matched with the brown and raspberry. I LOVE THEM THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!

Looky looky at Project Spectrum installment #2. AAAAAhhhhh! It's going to be like knitting with banana butter. It's called Golden Ticket and I absolutely love it. It's sitting on my nightstand with Vampire and Brady Bunch (won that in a contest).
And whenever I hold it in my arms, I hear Charlie Bucket singing, "I have the the Golden Ticket" and I begin to whistle. My husband is beginning to think there might be a problem. I think that my good, enabling, bloggy friends will concur that this is normal behavior for an obsessive knitter.



Also, I joined this Woolgirl sock club (haven't told husband yet - might hide this one in the closet). There is still time to sign up. Guinifer, help me!

I'm a 2nd Year! YEAH!!!!!!

I just couldn't bear it! I had to sign up again for the Hogwarts Sock Swap! It is so much fun! If you'd like to sign up - CHECK IT OUT! (You do have to be a knitter, though)

If you are not involved in the sock swap, you can just happily ignore the following:

Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionnaire

Second Years

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into?

Gryffindor

2. Shoe size? Foot length? Foot circumference?

Shoe size US 9 women - Foot length 9 - 9.5 " - Wide 8"

3. List your three favorite sock yarns.

Anything wooly or wooly blend - self-striping or hand dyed.

4. Would you like to try a new brand of sock yarn? If so, which brand?

Up for anything

5. Do you prefer variegated or solid sock yarn?

Surprise me!

6. What colors would you like to add to your sock yarn stash?

I'm not afraid of any colors!

7. What kind of sock patterns do you gravitate toward? Lace? Ribbed? Fair Isle?

Not fair isle . . . yet. I'm sort of intermediate level.

8. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, animals, etc.)

nope

9. Will your socks be exposed to cigarette smoke or animals as you knit them?

Yes - a labrador retriever

10. Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal?

Sure

Very Vintage!

Just when I thought I could knit no further . . .

At the very moment I looked at my husband and said, "I'm not going to knit another stitch on your stupid chocosocks and I'm never using size 1 needles ever again!" (Here I must insert: Husband never asked for any socks and has no idea what a size 1 needle is.)

I happen to glance down into my husbands open sock drawer and found this sticking out.Guess what it is. No don't guess, I'll tell you. It is a vintage pair of Icelandic ski socks knit with something like Lopi and nice size 6 or 7 needles probably 30-40 years old. It was like a message from my Icelandic ancestors from the not-so-distant past telling me to get over myself and keep on a-knittin'. Look at these!There awesome! A labor of love. Real vintage stockings from Iceland. Holding them in my hands I'm realizing that when K's grandmother was my age, she knit these stockings. These very stitches ran through her fingers. Back in a day when these weren't just quaint socks, but actually used - purposeful knitting. K remembers wearing these skiing and being teased (here in the US) but wearing them anyway because he was always dry and warm.

I dove back into K's sock drawer and found these as well. All knit by K's Icelandic Amma. And last of all - I then found these, which have never been worn and I believe were brought over from Iceland by my uncle Jon in the 60's. Knitter unknown. Aren't they gorgeous? I don't know the official name of these, but my Icelandic gramps always called them mukluks. I had a pair as a kid that went all the way up to my knees. (Where did they go? Must call mom) I don't think mukluk is an Icelandic word - maybe Inuit? They're knit more like a moccasin. Of course, I'll never wear them other than to take pictures and admire them. Sigh.

My vice - an iced latte. Mmmmm. Jealous? I ran out of milk so I had to use 1/2 & 1/2. This is what I look forward to every damn hot day.

So last night, we sat down to watch a movie and I just knew I'd get a ton of knitting done on my chocosocks (cursed socks for husband). The movie was Volver and guess what - it was in subtitles. How much knitting do you think I got done? Yeah.

So. The socks aren't done, but I am happy to say that after all your VERY helpful and generous advice, there are no holes in the joint of the gusset! I love my knitty friends. (The movie was great.)
The boys are away for the week, so little Belly and I will dye her own yarn. We'll use the kool-aid like we did for the boys. Check here to see how it's done!

Check out Woolgirl blog to see some funky yarn and a link to a gorgeous (and free) sock pattern!!!

Big Foot

(These are kool-aid dyed socks on worsted weight wool, using size 6 needles @ 5 stitches per inch - co 40.)

NO! I have not finished Chocosocks. But they are coming along. I took a break from monotonous-size-1-brown-wool knitting to finish one of Lunker's sock. Despite being only 8 years old, he wears a size 4. It reminds me of our friends who bought a "cockapoo" from a disreputable breeder. The tiny black puppy had paws the size of saucers. It turned into more of a cockaNEWFY. (a bit larger than expected). Lunker will be a very big man someday.

Hope all had a good 4th of July! We spend the day at this beach with family and friends.

HA HA HA! I got this comment today suggesting the best idea for my yarn (that I won in a contest).

Lorraine said:

"oh, oh, oh! I have a thought for the yarn. Do you remember dickies? The little turtlenecks with just a flap in front and back that you wore under another sweater. So weird! Oh my goodness, wouldn't that be a hoot!

'kay, maybe not."

Happy July! See you on Monday.

Happy 4th of July!!

Kathleen asked me what dreams I had for my new yarn that I won. Did I mention that I won a contest? Well, to answer her question, I'd like to knit up one of these snazzy outfits, but there isn't enough yarn. But what I really envision is a pair of knee-highs I can wear with a short miniskirt and a pair of Mary Janes. Just like Jan and Marsha (ok, and myself back in 1976). Again, there's not enough yarn and I don't own a mini-skirt. I will take suggestions. It's such lovely, lovely yarn. sigh. Would you like to see another picture of the yarn I won? I won it in a contest. Did I say that already? Came in 4th.Brady Bunch yarn by White Oak (I won it on Woolgirl!)

Happy 4th of July! Happy Independence Day! Be back on Friday!!

(Fireworks Carnage)

Winning My First Contest

I'm an honest person, so I will tell you that I prewrote my blog on Friday, expecting to be done with Chocosocks (cursed brown socks for Hubby). Here's what I wrote:

"When the husband is away, the wife knits all day. And look what I've accomplished. (insert picture of completed cursed-chocosocks) I'm going to treat myself to something nice for FINALLY finishing these socks! He's not even home yet to try them on, but blind optimism has it's rewards. They will fit . . . even if they don't. And he will smile and love them, even if he doesn't."

But instead of knitting up the socks, the sun was shining, the kids wanted to swim and somehow, knitting with brown wool at the beach was not very enticing. I did make some progress (the yarn is Meilenweit Bosco #3514 - US #1 Jaywalker pattern, (thanks Guinifer) CO 84): The BIG news is thus: A few weeks back, I entered a yarn naming contest at Woolgirl (blog). One had to come up with a name and color combo for yarn based on a favorite tv show. I instantly thought of "Brady Bunch" with yummy 70's greens and oranges and yellows. Well, I WON! (actually, I think I came in 3rd or 4th, but I think that was a typo or something because my name was really outstanding).

Anyway, we dragged our sandy, grouchy bodies back from the beach and I found a package in the mail from Woolgirl (store). (insert school-girl scream) I ripped it open (that's a lie - I waited until my camera battery was recharged so that I could take a picture and share the joy) and was overjoyed to find an kick-ass bundle of yarn called "BRADY BUNCH"! And here it is in all it's glory. Attached to my lovely package was an even more lovely note and a fancy stitch marker (my first one - I have been using bobby pins and pieces of yarn). That's not all - a sample of wool washing soap called "Soak". Aren't knitters just the coolest people ever?! We really are a strange and wonderful group of people. The yarn is currently at my bedside table so that it's the last thing I see when I go to sleep and the first thing I see in the morning. I know some of you can relate. . . admit it. I'll try to post Wed, but you know. 4th of July and everything.