a dillydallyknitter: January 2007

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Finally Catching Up to Promises Made

I've been promising my sister a pair of fingerless gloves for months now so I started out knitting some Fetchings with a leftover ball of Rowan but then screwed up (forgot the cable twist at the thumb). I was going to rip and start over but realized I wouldn't have enough yarn left to re-make them so.........



....I made a second attempt 2 using Paton's SWS Soy Wool Stripes but I didn't like how the top part came out so...

for attempt three, I dashed over to a LYS and bought two skeins of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino aran and had enough to make the Fetchings:



And a matching Calorimetry!

I liked it so much and want to hang with the cool girls like Turtlegirl,Zknitter, LadyLungDoc, Domestic Overlord and Bezzie and Cooknknit that I made one for me with yarn my former secret pal PrincesRach sent me:

This is Twilleys of Stamford freedom spirit 100% wool
The head close up:
Could Caliorimetry be the first Clapotis-like must knit item of '07?

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Thursday, January 25, 2007

Yarn Pr0n Friday in the Winter Sun

I posted a peek of this yarn the other day for Valkryie but can't resist a full frontal:

Socks That Rock soaking up a few rays.


The colorway is Chapman Springs:





This little beauty is a skein of yarn I ordered off Etsy from Sophie's Toes Sock Yarn in Electric Blue. It's the prettiest deep blue I've seen and I just couldn't get the color right on the camera.






Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Procrasti-blocking

After a few weeks of being tossed over a chair, I finally blocked my Flower Basket Shawl last Sunday. Since this was my very first lace shawl, I decided to record the process for posterity.

Wash:


Salad Spinner dry (glad to finally put my kitchen tools to good use):

Blocking on the Bed. (This little maneuver got someone kicked out of the bedroom):

Drying in the afternoon sun:

Not a very elegant shot, but the blocked shawl in full glory (Agan, Mika pulls a Ripple):

Close up 1:

Close up 2
This was knit in dk weight yarn. It was a good practice shawl and I believe I'm ready for a lace-weight project now.


p.s. I don't know what's going on with my blogger template other than blogger seems to hate me right now, won't let me switch to the new blogger and now my template's a bit jacked. sigh.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

New Order


Sitting of the sofa for most of two football games Sunday afternoon (with the the New Order technobeat an earworm in my head) I had plenty of time to finish my first socks of 2007: Blue Monday socks for Soctopia.

I chose a skein of TOFUtsies sock yarn by Southwest Trading Company. I thought a "healthy" dose of soy would be a great way to start out the new year and if I slack in my diet, at least my feet can be comfy. 50% Superwash wool, 25% Soysilk, 22.5% cotton and 2.5% Chitin. According to the label, chitin is a fiber made from shrimp and crab shells and naturally antibacterial.

So it's back to work Monday blues but when I get home I'll have new socks to slip into.

Saturday, January 20, 2007

It's All About Valkryie

----We interrupt our normal program for a special Sock Exchange Post for Valkyrie-----

Hi Valkrie,
I went thru the Stash and came up with a few selections for ya. Hopefully you'll like one of these!!

1. Fyberspates from theUK: Pink and Mauve colourway: (the photo looks a little more purple-y than it does IRL, it's more of a dark pink swirl). This was a gift from the fabulous Carolyn.


2. Koigu: Blend of soft pinks, mauves, light blue grey, soft gold. (I bought this when I went to see the Yarn Harlot so I"m sure it's full of good mojo)

3. All Things Heather: Raspberry Truffle. Yummy swirl of pinks & browns. Makes me want to run over to Godiva.

4. Socks That Rock: Chapman Springs. Two part shot because the colors change so dramatically: electric teals, deep purples and greens.



5. Socks That Rock: Rolling Stone: Dark purple, green, bronwn and burgundies.


Friday, January 19, 2007

Identity of My Cheap@$$ Secret Pal Revealed!!

Today I received the coolest package from my CASP with a 10-clue reveal!!

Clue number one was written on a card that I forgot to photograph because I'm so forgetful which incidentally, was

Clue # 2: She's forgetful - some cute goodies she forgot to include in my b-day gift pack:


Clue #3: She's at the Bridesmaid age and has lots of shiny gifts to regift:

Clue #4: She has another obsession besides knitting (that's Mika's butt in the corner):


Clue #5: She loves all things crafty, you could say it's a fetish

Clue #6: She's originally from:

Clue #7: She moved to (Kentucky, state of chocolate covered treats):

Clue #8: Someday she hopes to visit:

Clue #9: She plays Bunco (easier than Poker when one is hammered):

Clue #10: The Big Reveal!


It's Sarah from craftfetish!!! Knitter!!Crafter!!Businesswoman!! Check out her cafepress shop here.



Thank you SO very much Sarah for all the fun email and packages!! I just love your sense of humor and how clever you are!

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Yarn Pr0n Friday

Well, I'm off to a slow start for the new year's yarn posting, but here's my first Fiber Friday post -- a skein of Lisa Souza Violet's Pink Ribbon yarn:







You know, it's been a long week at work and I'm brain dead. I can't think of a single thing to say but I hope you enjoy the yummy yarn!

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Lookie What I Won!

I won a prize recently in little contest hosted by the knittilicious Carmen of Sweet Knittilicious Spot and I received it in the mail yesterday, yay!

She's got business going too!

Grey's Anatomy Marathon in my future! And she made me a House music CD-get my blood pumpin' on the way to work and..



This set of sweet little stitch markers. Monday night, and I swear this is true, I was was poking thru my box of stitch markers looking for an itty bitty one and the very next day look at what else was in the prize package! It's that knitty magic.

Thank you Carmen! You Rock!

Monday, January 15, 2007

Blue Monday

Last night I finished my first blue sock for Socktopia's January theme. Of the three theme possiblities, I chose the Blue Monday theme. This morning I woke up and kitchnered the toe. Not being a sharp morning person, this is a very dangerous activity.
One reason today is a Blue Monday? We didn't get the day off as a holiday from work so here I am at my desk, sneaking in the cast on for blue sock two.


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Stop! In the Name of Blog!

Not being one for generating very many original ideas I was a little lost as to what I could post about after the ABC along finished last year. But then I read about the Do You Have One of These? hosted by Stacie of the mommymoshpit over on Bezzie's blog and I was saved!

The first assignment is easy: Post the Stop Sign nearest your house:

Stop Sign, 10:15 PM, 13-Jan-2007

This was taken with my camera phone as I drove by so it looks even creepier.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Order in My Knitting Universe Restored

I cast on a sock last night, phew. And I finally get to see what all the STR fuss is about!

Also I had a little better luck practicing spinning. Baby steps. Baby steps.


But had to give up my practice session because someone found my bag of fleece to be oh so comfy:




"You can't look at a sleeping cat and be tense." - Jane Pauley