Let's Go to Vegas!

Luck is a man. He's hot, and he's dancing with me. I wonder if the Knight would like to skip work and scoot to Charlestown? He's a natural card shark, and Luck is with me.

PHEW. That's me, breathing a sigh of relief. Amanda got her socks, and they fit! It was a great little pattern, and I'll be doing it again when ankle socks seem in season. It does my heart good to know that the second pair of socks made for someone else fits. That means that statistically (did I mention before that I love statistics, the math concept?), I should stop fretting over the Monkey socks for my Sock it pal. They fit me, and I wear very "average" socks, and pal says she does too. The wicked Knight suggested I should keep them, but I won't. With a little luck, by week's end, both my Sock it pal's package and my Tea pal's package will head in their directions.

And speaking of Sock it to Me, guess what?! I hereby renounce my right to pout out loud that I never win anything. Contest #2 simply required me to gush about my favorite yarn. In return, I've won gift certificates to here and here! Thank you, thank you!!


There's really not a lot to report here, but what else to do in the middle of the night when sleep is elusive? Monkey #1 will be done Tuesday evening, and my search continues for just the right things to send with them. I bought the ribbon for my Mandy's Candy Bag Monday night. Those of you who scrap or sew already know you can buy ribbon with ANYTHING on it, but I was still filled with toddleresque glee when I spotted it. No, you can't see, but you'll get a finished object photo soon enough, maybe even in the next day or two!

Dishcloth Square Blocks

Meet Dishcloth Square Blocks. Or at least, that's what I'm calling him. He's #2 in what seems to be a weekly series of dishcloth patterns, being designed by Anne. He's done in Lion Cotton Red, with #7 straight needles, in my very Continental method. You can find the pattern here, but be sure to note the contest rules for both cloths.



And don't worry. He's not going to live on the tree. The Knight has already claimed him as his own, and I suspect that before the sun sets, DSB will have been called into action.



I was impressed with the Lion Cotton. It was soft! I'll have to see if I can't find some more, since I don't recall where I picked up this ball, but I do remember that it was the only color they offered...



Now, what next?? You're not going to get to see Amanda's socks while she's on vacation. That just doesn't feel right. If she was here to taunt - er, make that see them herself - that might be different, but since she's out in the middle of the ocean enjoying some alone time with her beloved, I think the socks will just quietly head north on Monday, and you can pop over to her blog for a shot of the finished pair. I *NEED* to start on my Sock it to Me pal's socks, but her yarn won't be here until next week. I am going to send my pal a little package next week too, but the socks obviously won't be included. I guess that forces me to figure out what I'm going to knit for my tea swap pal, huh?

Mandy's Candy Bag

If you're looking for a cute way to present your latest small item, or a few swap treats, here's your bag. NH Knitting Mama has released her first pattern, and I couldn't wait to try it out. The only change I made was I skipped the i-cord (Anne?) and created my first crocheted chain! (Don't look too closely.) I am in love with Peaches & Creme's Sea Mist colorway, despite how much coarser it is than the Cotton Rich. This bag might be used to present a new baby (mom's more than ready for you to come out - it's hot!) his first pair of booties, *IF* indeed it is a boy. Mom doesn't care much for pink or pastels, so I need a back-up plan, because I know someone else who is sure to love these colors.

Why are you still here?! Scoot over and tell NH Knitting Mama how much you like her pattern, and then make one of your own! She has a contest going too, so be sure to enter.

Downward Facing Wick

So, there it is. The yoga sock done in Wick. (That's color #9 on the site.) You can find the pattern here. I can't say enough about the yarn. It's a bit like chenille, but it stretches, so while I might never knit with chenille again, I love this stuff and will be ordering some to make Christmas presents. No, I don't know how practical the socks are, as my toes are generally what gets cold first, but check back with me after the temperature drops, because I've slipped into my sad version of Lotus more than once, just to get my feet off of the cold even through the mat floor!

Hey, look! They aren't green. How 'bout that!? Pink and brown, and although you can't really see it, there is some sage-ish green in there too, along with the cream and some - get this, Sharon! - purple. If you're looking for non-wool fibers, give Wick a try. Yet another soy love affair happening here.

This is also a good time for a little book review. Devon sent me a copy of this for my birthday last month. Sue told me early in our swap-born friendship that Interweave published the best books, and this certainly makes a good case for that argument. Have a problem? (Like needing to cast on 22 stitches in mid-yoga sock?) Just flip to the index in the back, and viola! There it is, with pictures and gooblette-proof text. Even at 10pm, I was able to make it work, rather successfully, if I may say so myself! Now that I have a nice, roomy tote (thanks, Stacey!), this book will go wherever my knitting and I go, unless I am 100% positive there's no way I'll need it.

Of course, there are many more books to review, but Mugsy says it's time to sit together on the sofa and talk about our day, which for him, included escaping into the great room to hang out with Fred. He'd been baby-gated in our room, which is adjacent to the great room, so that they could see each other, but Mugsy couldn't bother Fred the sore grump and provoke a fight. Evidently, Mugsy knew Dr. Nancy would insist that Fred isn't as bad off as we thought... Thanks for all the kind wishes. He's mending, slowly but surely. He's still a rather old basset with a very bad back, but it seems he's going to be around a while longer.

Still Green

Friends, I think I'm in a rut. It's a lovely cloth in a cotton-linen blend, but it's a sage green. Green. It's all I seem to be able to reach for these days, but that will change. It must! I'm going to knit a little something for my KVVS pal, so unless she's really into green, there will be a different colored finished object soon enough. I love this pattern. It's in a booklet the awesome Anne gave me, and it's called "Soft Texture." Indeed. I think Mark wants it for his own, but no dice. I also must announce that I care not the least to knit with linen or linen blends. Ick, yuck, and almost yuck yarn worthy. Scratchy. I will do a linen face cloth for Mark (and let's all hope he doesn't adore it and want more), and mostly likely, he'll get a twin to this one too, just because I've got the yarn, and it's good to keep the Knitter's Knight happy.

I did find the link for the Petal Dishcloth (pictured a couple of posts before this). In a true gooblette moment, when I unfolded the page, which was merely folded in half, there was the link, across the bottom of the page. Imagine...

I also shoved the Sockza socks on blockers. Follow the link to note that you've knitted your socks, sent your socks (tomorrow, for me!) and again when you receive your socks. Maybe all of y'all knew to do that, but I needed my dear Devon to point that out, so I'm returning the favor. I really do love that pattern, but there are so many others I want to do that it will probably be a while before I knit the same pattern twice again. I'm pretty sure the June Tofutsies Sock Club is next for the needles, and yes folks, that will be a return to the two circs. method. I like dpns a lot, but they wore out their welcome (snapping, poking in the palm, etc.) with that last effort. The yoga socks in Wick remain on the needles in a fancy Ziploc bag, but when Mugsy isn't sleeping on said bag, I am picking them up once in a while, because I love the Wick.

Thanks for all the Fred good wishes. He's better, but not much, so I'll call Dr. Nancy in the morning, and either tomorrow or Tuesday, the big boy will go see her. It's heartbreaking, but I still have hope...

There's still time to sign up for the tea swap. We're rounding up some nice prizes, and the first contest isn't far off, so don't wait until the last minute to sign up or to post your questionnaire!

Owl Post

While I live in an area more like the Forbidden Forest than Hogwarts Castle, the owl still had no trouble finding me. After a bit of confusion brought on by my lousy attempt at sleuthing, Kit, my REAL Hogwarts Sock Swap pal, sent me the most wonderful Ravenclaw sock kit. That great silver thing in the center is a great Gargoyle bottle opener, who will be permanently placed on the deck, where he can guard the house from any creatures trying to sneak in from the woods, and so he can also open a chilled adult beverage as needed. (Or an old fashioned Coke in a green bottle.)

Lookee! Kit made not one, but TWO bags for me. In bag number one, we have the can't wait to be tried Knitpicks dpns, standing at attention in their own little compartment. Clever, eh? Hiding in the bag are more treats! Just look! See the stamp? Something from the Phoenix Gallery? Hmmmm.... I love Fawkes the phoenix, but I also adore Phoenix, AZ, so all Phoenix connotations are appreciated. And see those, there on the right? Those are the cutest, best designed travel scissors I've seen. Hubby will be so happy! He rolls his eyes when my knitting travels, because I don't carry my "good" very sharp scissors with me. THIS pair will travel with us and the sock on Wednesday for more road time knitting!

Bet you're wondering what's in the brown Phoenix paper, huh? The soap is incredible. (I'm a soap and smell-good potions and lotions kind of girl.) It's made from ground sunflower seeds and more, and I can't wait to try it. I like lavender a lot too, so it's just a great fit, all the way around. Ravenclawish soap. Bronzish sunflower, blue-ish lavender, and paperwork to read too. Yup. I'm a gooblette as Anne calls me. I actually read the whole thing.

Wanna know what's in the other bag? Can't tell. Then, you'd want me to share, and I don't want to. Lookee there. A sack full of Ravenclawed Lindt truffles. Oh my. (Ravenclaw tip: Chocolate is a nutritional supplement. Antioxidants and everything. It will have its own place in the food pyramid next time, especially if there are women rebuilding that pyramid.) I've already sampled one of each, because... I could. Since we are doing the whole virtual/electronic bit here, I can be gracious. Have one. (But just one, just in case I've under estimated your powers.)

Last, but hardly least, I'll get around to showing why it is called the SOCK KIT swap. Everything needed to whip out a pair of socks, including a pattern and some stitch markers. Love that pattern. Learning to cable has been on my knitting to do list since about January (as in, almost since I reconnected with my inner childhood knitter). Now, I *MUST*. After all, Kit sent this whole package, and it would be rude not to use the pattern she selected, right? Right. (Never mind that Kit is a delightful, understanding soul who would certainly be okay with me using the contents within as I see fit. Peer pressure works! I will cable before SoS is over!) That pattern is perfect. I see great socks I'll be able to wear with my favorite jeans and my brown clogs all winter long... Did I mention that I was thinking I wanted some simple, dangly stitch markers? Well, there they are. Some are plain, and some have a great little moon on them. Perfect, because I require stitch marker variety so that I don't get them all confused. (The end of row marker must be different from the others.)

So, thank you again Kit, for a Ravenclaw sock kit fit for a princess. I'm having a very hard time not casting on RIGHT NOW. I once was silly enough to think that I'd never have more than one project in the works at a time. Then came the spring and baby blankie stress happened. Then came socks, and I knew my knitting life would be empty without a sock to travel along on my travels. Now, I'm trying to keep myself in check and avoid starting twenty different projects at once! What's that Ravenclaw yarn? Shhhh... Of course I hear you. Just promise me my friends, that when I'm locked away because of the voices in my head, you'll smuggle in yarn and needles.

Fellow Knitters

I have found so much more friendship and support than I could have ever imagined via the online knitting community, so it is time to attempt to return the favor.

The ever so awesome Michelle has released her first design! Because she's so kind and generous, the pattern is here and free. Be sure to leave her a comment if you're going to use it, and I'd love to see your finished cloths, and I'm sure Michelle would too.

The second shout out is for a knitter I don't know, but Anne took a couple of classes from her earlier this year, and I've been hooked on her blog for months. Annie Modesitt is further along in her pattern designing and in her knitting fame than Michelle, but this unbelievable pattern can be yours for a song, or for a very generous donation, with proceeds being used to help Annie's family through a very difficult time. It's a lovely pattern, and that my purchase can make a ripple in the pool for another knitter is a nice bonus.

Lastly, Stephanie, aka: The Yarn Harlot, is having a birthday, so drop in and wish her a great one.