Sockret Pal Questionaire

The basics:
How long have you been knitting? 2 years
Do you consider yourself a beginning sock knitter, an intermediate, or have you been doing this so long you could probably knit a pair in your sleep? I would say intermediate

The measurements:
While your pal may ask for some additional info to ensure a great fit, please provide your shoe size, or any other fitting related info you think is pertinent.
Shoe size is between a 10 and a 11 depending on the shoe. :) My foot is 10.5 inches long if that helps.

(fiber related) Favorites:
What colors do you love? Pink or bright colors
Do you prefer solids or variegated? Variegated
What fibers do you most love to knit with? Wool
Who do you consider your favorite yarn vendors? Blue Moon Fiber Arts
What projects (other than socks, of course*S*) do you most enjoy knitting? Sweaters

(fiber related) Dislikes:
What fibers can you not stand to knit with? To wear? Acrylic
What colors would you never wear? Umm.....can't really think of any

The Tools:
Plastic or Metal? Bamboo or wood? Metal
Circs or Straights? Circs
DPNs or Magic Loop? CPNs
Are there any knitting accessories you don't have in your collection but would like? Not really but I can always use more tape measures

The Extras:
Do you have a wish list? If so, please share the link! I don't have one right now.
Do you like sweet, sour or salty? (or all of the above? *S*) Sweet and salty
Do you have any allergies your pal should know about? (Certain foods, smoke, pet hair, etc) Smoke and pets (cats and dogs)
Favorite scents? Jasmine, Lilac, Rose
Scents you can't stand? Ummm....can't really think of anything. I don't like things that are really musky smelling.
Do you collect anything (other than yarn and knitting toys of course)? No
When is your birthday? (month and day is fine!) May 12
Do you spin? Dye your own yarn? Nope
Your favorite author/band/vacation spot, anything you think will help your pal know you better...
Ummm....well to get to know me better I am a busy college student and a single mom. My favorite author is Francine Rivers. My favorite band is well, that changes frequently. I love Christian music though, especially modern worship such as Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Jeff Deyo, Third Day, Jeramy Camp, Todd Agnew, Casting Crowns, ect. I like to travel all over so I can't say I have a favorite vacation spot. When I travel though it is for missions work and not for vacation. I guess if I was going to take a relaxing non stressful vacation I would probably go somewhere on the Oregon Coast since it wouldn't be a long drive and I've already seen everything so I could just look out over the beach and knit. :)

Knitty is Up, Knitty is Up, KNITTY IS UP!!!!!

I hate posting too soon after I post another post (yeah that made sense) because then I don't get as many comments on the last post and I want people to read it....but I have to post because KNITTY IS UP!!!!! I love the patterns. I just had to share with all of you who are possibly under a rock and don't know it is up. :)

Don't you just love Viveka. The first pictures kinda doesn't do the girl justice but the pics later on are great!! I love it!!

And what about Lucie. I love it too!!!! I wouuld prefer to do it in a solid color way though because I think that the multi color isn't flattering. It would even be really cool with the crocheted edging done in another color.

Ivy is great as well. I'm not sure how a wrap around sweater would look on me as I've never tried it but now that I live somewhere that gets a little colder than the coast it might be fabulous!

I just love Intolerable Cruelty, but that is one that must wait until I'm really skinny so that the ribbon in the back doesn't make my butt look enormous. :)

When I'm looking for some comlicated socks that may make me poke my eyes out but would give me a challenge...I think I'll try Cable Net. I really do love them and I know that other knitters would be amazed at them....the rest of the world would probably go....neat. :)

Now why would anyone want to knit socks on two straights and then have to sew them up (yuck sewing!!!) when it's just as easy to knit them circularly. I think it's just a lack of courage or something crazy, but to those who want to do it that way they can make it more work on themselves and try Sox on 2 Stix.

I don't make dishcloths typically but what a great idea Back to School is. They would make such a great gift! You could change the words to anything really.

Anyway there are my unsolicited views on some of my favorite patterns from the Fall 2006 Knitty (well other than the Sox on 2 Stix, that's my least favorite). I alwyas wonder after a issue comes out how many KAL will be started. :) I'd love to start one....we could call it the super slow I'm in college no time to knit cuz I'm a single mom too KAL. But somehow I just don't think it would catch on. :)

Long Post but Lots of Pictures :)

Okay....get ready for a long post...at least it will be long because of all the pictures. :) First of all, I must thank my SP8 (yes I'm even putting thanking her above the Yarn Harlot). Debra was my secret pal. It was aweomse because she is a Christian and was able to bless me more than just with yarn and knitting goodies (yes I know it's hard to believe their is more to life but I am here to tell you there is). She prayed for me and was awesome!!! Okay so I know you are all dying to know what I got in my reveal package...so here it goes. :)

I know the picture is upside down...not sure why. I was going to fix it but I thought that it made it unique. :) Just like mistakes in our knitting...sometimes they are design elements. Anyway, can you notice the common theme. I think she caught on that I love pink!!! :) I recieved a big felted bag that I just need to find handles for. Handles that were too small for the bag to use on another bag. Left over pink yarn from the bag. Two skiens of Lion Brand microspun which is very soft and I was shocked when I saw it was Lion Brand. I think I'm going to make the shawl on the label. Two different skiens of cascade fixation, the book Fabulous Felted Knits, and a great bag of recycled pink yarn that I just love!!! But best of all I recieved......are you ready...it's pretty amazing.....A GREAT NEW FRIEND!!!! :)

Okay so I must put something between the two great things (SP and Yarn Harlot). So has a filler so that too much greatness doesn't like catch your comptuer on fire (I dunno I thought it sounded good), I will show you my one finished Basketweave Sock.

Yes I know that this pictures is also wierd. :) I love this pattern. It is so simple and I love the way it looks. The yarn I picked makes it hard to see the pattern but I love it and I can see it and that's all that matters. :)

Here is a close up of the sock. You can see the pattern a little better.

Okay....so....are you ready for my yarn harlot pictures!!! :) It was so great. I talked to Chrissy about whether she thought I should bring Ben and she said I should and that I could sit near her. So I saw her right away when I got there...well actually she recgonized me as well. :) So I sat right behind her and her friends, Katrina and Amanda. Now I would never brag about how good my son ended up being...of course not...not this mom. :) But I will direct you to the comments on my last post and each of the aforementioned ladies sites where you will find the praises of my son. :) Seriously, (I know how can I use that word when talking about the Yarn Harlot) it was great to get out and meet a few knitterly type people in my new town. Oh...and the Yarn Harlot was great too. :) She was hilarious and it was a great time had by all. I do think however that Powell's had to be the least informed bookstore ever. I mean I know that most bookstores underestimate the draw of Stephanie but I think that they really underestimated it. I mean they put us in thier smallest store and shoved us all in the middle. By the time we started every inch of that store was covered in knitters. Not only that but they had her start at 7:30 and seriously thought that we would be done listening to her and getting autographs, ect by 9pm when they closed. Well, they were wrong...and try to get 100 knitters out of the store. Those pointy needles can be deadly. :) Okay so enough rambling....let's get on to the pictures.







The view of the crowd from my seat...while I am seated.



Ben having a great time playing with his cars.



The famous sock.



And I will end with the great picture of Ben and me and the Yarn Harlot!

School, Yarn, and Secret Pals

Well yesterday was offically my first day of school. It's so crazy to be going back. It was the first time I'd really left Ben and it was hard but I know it will be good for him. He is getting less dependent on me which is great. I'm still his mommy but at least he'll play with other kids now. :) I just had one class yesterday. It was geography. I know this year will be tough but I have such peace about it. God is good.

Last week I went and checked out Unraveled Fine Yarns in Vancouver, WA. I loved it. The store is organized well and there were a few people just sitting and knitting around the table in the middle of the store. They were very friendly. The owner said the table is always open anytime I want to knit and even told me about her daughters coffee and pastry shop that is supposed to be amazing. I haven't made it there yet. I'm planning on going while Ben is with his dad and doing some studying there. :) Anyway, the store was having a sale so I bought some Rowan Yorkshire Tweed (which is discontinued) in some great fall colors. The brown and red are for my friends who are missionaries in....well I can't remember the country now but it is a cold European country. The white is for me. I'm going to make long ribbed scarfs. Super easy and mindless knitting. :) This yarn is so beautiful though that I didn't want to ruin it with a complicated pattern.



I also got my package from my secret pal!!!! But I'll post more about that laer since I have to run and get to work. :) Gonna go see the Yarn Harlot tonight at Powell's!!!! I'm so excited!!!