a dillydallyknitter: April 2008

Friday, April 25, 2008

Friday!

Some people cram into a phonebooth:

Some knitters cram into a knitting room:

Our knitting group has been meeting in the small room in our LYS because of classes in the main room but it was still a lot of fun.

Last Sunday I picked up a ball of Noro Matsuri 87% cotton, 13% wool.


Our 3-Day team, Unraveled, channeling our inner 5th graders, spontaneously decided that we'd make matching Dream Swatches

We may not be the fastest walkers out there, but we'll be the cutest.

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Wednesday, April 23, 2008

WIP Wednesday

When I first started keeping a blog, I wanted to name it ProcrastiKnitter because Procrastination could be my middle name. Case in point, I signed up for the Sea Socks Cruise MONTHS ago but last week I suddenly decided that I needed a black stole. I even sent a panic email to Trillian42 for some advice on easy stoles.

So I thought about Cozy but I want to make Cozy while I'm on the cruse using some frogged yarn I have and instead, I'm making the Gale stole the pattern description describes it as "reminiscent of gusting ocean breezes" so I think it will be perfect for an ocean liner. I'm a little over 1/3 done. I'm using Stash Yarn (yay me!), Newton's Yarn Country 60% cashmere and 40% merino fingering weight




In fitness news, I captured my very first training step for my 3Day walk wearing some dusty old Avia shoes I bought a long time ago on sale. 3 miles later, my feet were complaining by developing blisters.


so on Monday I went to the local running store (LRS?) and got some spiffy new shoes. They got a trial walk on the treadmill last night and today they'll go out for a 4-mile training walk.



And thank-you for my lovely donors! I'm 20% towards my goal, yay!


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Saturday, April 19, 2008

Wish Me Luck Contest!!

So what does an overweight, out of shape, couch potato Knitter do for fun on a Friday night? She joins her healthier, fitter and crazy Knitter pals and signs up for the Breast Cancer 3-Day walk.


"Bwah, hahahaha oh boy that's a good one!!"



"Oh. I think she's serious"

Our LYS owner’s daughter had this idea about forming a team to do the 3-Day and we all said “Wow, that’s a great idea” and Team Unraveled was born. So now all I have to do is raise a lot of money and figure out how I’m going to walk 60 miles in 3 days…

To to get me through this, I’m having a lo pressure, no purchase necessary, give-away and what I need is your encouragement because I'm really out of shape. There are 20 weeks until I have to do this and I’ll need lots of moral support—and some free publicity! Just leave me a comment on this post and I’ll enter your name into a drawing for some yarny stuff from my stash. If you link this post to your blog, I add another entry (just let me know you did)! To keep me going, I'll do this once a month* until the big day!

For the first drawing, May 2, how about some Wollmeise Sockenwolle Superwash in the "Red Hot Chili" colorway:

And, of course, I'd love any support you can give to my fundraising efforts, just click on the pink 3Day widget in the right hand column or go to my personal webpage.

"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending."--Carl Bard

P.S. Our walking team, "Unraveled" is setting up our own web site with what we hope will be some fun fundraising so stay tuned for updates! (or pleading)

*monthly drawings: 5/2/08, 6/2/08, 7/2/08, 8/2/08, 9/2/08 (each month, I'll empty the hat and add a new post for comments)

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Sunday, April 13, 2008

A Roadtrip and a RAK!

After surviving my cancelled flight in Minnesota, I hit the road again but this time it was for some fun with my Knit Night Homegirls!

Here we are fueling up at Marie Callendar's for our final destination: Filati Fine Yarns in Rocklin.


We're wearing crowns on our head because it was Bett's (lovely woman in white jacket) birthday month as well! LCK is on the left and sitting next to her in the pink is Knitting Psycho and then we have (rav names) Sunbny, Mama C, Txbelle, Tassel Queen and Josie!

Filati was once an LYS but the owner moved to Rocklin but it's definitely worthy of a pilgrimage. Even though we were there for several hours and they have a huge "sale" corner and a ginormous stock room, I forgot to take photos!

I describe Filati as a "knitter's store" because everyone there is an accomplished technical knitter who can offer expert advice (there was a local man there knitting the most delicate lace). They have an amazing inventory but the treat for me is that the stalk yarns I can't find in the bay area including Dale of Norway:


After the cruise, I really want to knit a Norwegian sweater. Ok, I can dream, can't I?

After the yarn shop experience, we shared some healthy snacks and champagne.

We then went out for a delicious dinner and then we changed into our pajamas for a PJ party. I can't post any of those photos because I'd probably be banned from Knit Night.

On the way out of the hotel parking lot, we saw a lime green car with a huge spoiler with his H.S. tassel hanging from the rear view mirror.


I try not to judge, but Dude, 10 years? Let the past go.....


When I came home (btw, it was 95degrees here today!!) I found a RAK package from our favorite Alaskan, Bezzie!

It's an All-Alaskan Sea Socks extravaganza! She made me a notebook covered with a vintage Alaskan map (check out the U.S.S.R.) Inside she wrote secret Alaskan insider tips --I could share with my fellow Sea Sockers but I prefer to lord it over them.

She also gave me a packet of "Forgetme Nots", the official state flower of Alaska, a bar of lovely scented "Alaskan Rain" soap (made with real Alaskan rain), a skein of super soft, super pretty Alaskan spun yarn, Rabbit Ridge Designs, 100% alpaca in the "Juneau Nights" colorway:

And the best--an Alaskan Sock bag sewn by the Bezz herself!! Check out this adorable fabric featuring famous Alaskan icons:

Thank you Bezzie, you made my day!!

p.s. on the way home from Rocklin, we spotted an IKEA and had to pull over for some cheap fun and cinnamon rolls. I spent $6.99 on a kitty tent and they love it!

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Flash Your Stash 2008

As with many other things Chez Cpurl, I just couldn't get it together this year but I did use the day to reflect on my very first Stash post in 2006.

Sad to say, 90% of this yarn is still in my house. A lot of it was purchased under the newbie- knitter-not- sure- what- I'm- doing- cloud. Ever sadder to say, this stash was amassed before I learned how to knit socks. Or lace. Or before Malabrigo. Or the 2 more trips to Stitches. So it's grown a little since then. Enough that my Dad wanted me to watch the Oprah episode on Hoarders.

It's kind of a cute stash actually. So young and innocent.

FYS 2006
But I think it's time to let these young'uns go out into the world and find a new home. In other words, I should get myself organized for a De-stash!!

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