I was out there yesterday and all I can say is I think I love it. I mean its not the most exciting house from the outside and it’s not the craftsman of my dreams but it is a whole lot nicer than I had any right to expect.  Friday we went on a huge ‘lets go pick stuff’ trip but the only really successful venture was picking the lighting. Although I am closer to making final appliance choices. Anyway back to the knitting. With any luck maybe I’ll get some done today.

1.What was I doing 10 years ago? Hmm well I was 21. Which means I Had just moved back to St. Louis from a failed relationship/move to Montreal. So I was going out a lot and looking for mr wrong. I was also working my ass off to save enough to go back to school. Fortunately I was a cocktail slugger at a casino and the high rollers loved me.  Even though at the time I didn’t care for the job the one thing that broke me of most of my shyness was being a waitress so it was a good thing.

2. What are 5 things on my To Do list today? A) Finish this blog post B) Catch up on email C) make sure all my paperwork is in order for my long separation from my husband D) Clean up the house E) Meet with builder and ask questions.

3. Snacks that I enjoy? Hummus and Puff onion paratha ( I know I’m mixing countries but its very good), Japanese Gummi, Gyoza/potstickers, Samosas, Pretzels and cream cheese

4.Things I would do if I was a billionaire: A) Start a school in the middle east for victims of ‘marriages of convenience’ (this delightful practice allows people to sell their daughters into essentially legal prostitution and most times the families do not want the girls back which leaves them limited options other than prostitution) B) Buy a huge craftsman home or build a replica of gamble house C) Buy a horse and train for eventing D) Fund a rescue for failed racehorses E) Start a business that specializes in restoring historic homes and modernizing them but keeping in the spirit of the original period.

5. Places I’ve lived: Miami, Chicago, Clarksville, St. Louis, Montreal

6. Jobs I’ve had: Waitress, Cocktail Slugger, Tech Support, Cook, Cared for an elderly woman, Dog bather, Bookstore Clerk

Animals were seen like this cashmere goat:

Fiber and yarn were fondled and bought from Fiber Denn:

Friends were met but I forgot to snap photos.

Overall it was WAY better than last year. Easily twice the size. I think the organizers deserve a great big round of virtual applause for putting that much effort and work into it. My favorite vendors this year were Fiber Denn (as usual) and Little Barn (SUPER FREAKING CHEAP). Plus it’s always nice to see folks I don’t get to see too often since I am just lazy enough to consider Nashvegas a wee bit too far to go to knitting groups there.
So we were there about 3 hours I’d say and then off to plant world we went. I know this isn’t a gardening blog but oh my god did they have gorgeous plants and lots of them! We have nothing like that here. It was almost like being at a botanical garden. I took so many pics. However I’ll only bore you with my two favorites.

Lunch was had and then we took off for home. Next post the Fiber HAUL.

So some of you know how much I have wanted an ebook device. I read more than I knit probably and I have quite a collection of ebooks, they take up much less physical space than the books I have in every room of the house (minus the bathrooms). Anyway I wanted one because its not always cozy to read on my desktop and its certainly impossible to curl up with my laptop (I’ve tried and just got a sore neck) Anyway I finally found a place to get it that allowed returns if you hated it. So I bought it. It might be the best device I have ever purchased. I’ve read one book on it and really enjoyed it. I don’t skim like I do on desktop and its so small and portable I can keep it in the kitchen and still watch dinner being made. The cover it comes with is kind of fug though so I plan on getting a black one soon. Also…although you do have to reformat a bit…HELLO DIGITAL KNITTING PATTERNS. I can keep all my current patterns in there and if I wanted to I could even type up my notes as I went along. Also can you just say fantastic battery life? Anyway on to knitting…The first sleeve is finished. YAY, GO ME, and all that. I don’t have a photo because I had very little sleep and I didn’t feel like breaking out the camera. So you’ll get an ALMOST FO shot later this week. The sleeve is a bit well ultra fitted but I figured better that than bat wings.

Out of the top 50 yarns on Ravelry (by number of projects):
Bold the ones you’ve used and would use again,
cross out the ones you’ve used and would not use again,
and italicize the ones you’ve never tried, but would like to.
Add comments as desired, and then pass the meme along to 5 knitters/crocheters.

1, Cascade 220 Wool, 11967 projects

My Favorite felting yarn ever. I have a sweater amount but haven’t used it yet.

2, Patons Classic Wool Merino, 10445 projects
3, Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted, 8421 projects

The softest yarn ever.

4, Noro Kureyon, 7947 projects

I’d use again but only for something felted. It made my finger raw.
5, Caron Simply Soft, 7914 projects

Not bad for craft store ack.

6, Lily Sugar’n Cream Solid, 6864 projects
7, Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted, 6619 projects
8, Red Heart Ltd. Super Saver Solids, 6176 projects
9, Lion Brand Wool-Ease Solid, 5554 projects
10, Noro Silk Garden, 5410 projects

I do wish it was more even.

11, Koigu Painter’s Palette Premium Merino (KPPPM), 5094 projects
12, Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, 5071 projects
13, Lion Brand Homespun, 4296 projects
14, Lion Brand Cotton-Ease, 4157 projects
15, Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock Multi, 4086 projects
16, Manos del Uruguay 100% Wool, 3989 projects
17, Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Bulky , 3927 projects
18, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, 3751 projects
19, Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock – Lightweight, 3723 projects
20, Plymouth Encore Worsted, 3573 projects
21, Cascade 220 Heathers, 3422 projects
22, Lily Sugar’n Cream Ombres & Prints, 3384 projects
23, Zitron Trekking (XXL), 3348 projects
24, Patons SWS (Soy Wool Stripes), 3243 projects
25, Rowan Kidsilk Haze, 3203 projects
26, Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, 2917 projects
27, Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing Co., Inc Peaches & Creme Ombres, 2658 projects
28, Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, 2512 projects
29, Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock – Mediumweight, 2503 projects
30, Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, 2489 projects
31, Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing Co., Inc Peaches & Creme Solids, 2476 projects
32, Cascade 220 Superwash, 2323 projects

33, Berroco Ultra Alpaca, 2286 projects

My fav basic yarn

34, Knit Picks Swish Superwash, 2226 projects
35, Knit Picks Essential, 2149 projects
36, Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Solid, 2142 projects
37, Colinette Jitterbug, 2090 projects

Some of those colors rock my err..socks

38, Lion Brand Lion Wool Solid, 2030 projects
39, Knit Picks Shine Sport, 1976 projects
40, Dale of Norway/Dalegarn Baby Ull, 1885 projects
41, Lion Brand Microspun, 1871 projects
42, Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino, 1863 projects
43, Knit Picks Palette, 1765 projects
44, South West Trading Company TOFUtsies, 1762 projects
45, Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, 1756 projects
46, Mission Falls 1824 Wool, 1725 projects
47, Rowan RYC Cashsoft DK, 1718 projects

I love cashsoft with a love that feels almost dirty.

48, Red Heart Ltd. Super Saver Multis/Ombres, 1664 projects
49, Rowan Felted Tweed, 1646 projects
50, Rowan Calmer, 1571 projects

I finished the body but I fear it might be too short. However I do expect to gain some length through the wonder and glory that is blocking. Also since it is a cardigan and I never ever shut them…it should be ok. If not I can cut off the bo edge and add some length. I was going to do the crossover rib all the way around the bottom but lacked the correct the stitch count.  So I decided a regular 2×2 rib was the way to go. The sleeves are coming along too. I have delusions of finishing one tonight. We can all enjoy a good laugh now. But it’s nice to dream…

So I’ve been on a baking spree the past few weeks. I forgot to take shots of my nicer looking cupcakes from the previous two weeks but this week I made muffins instead. I try (intermittently) to avoid carbs so I don’t tend to eat my creations too often. Anyway Justin asked me to make blueberry or banana nut muffins for his breakfast. I didn’t have that fruit in the house but I did have some strawberries. So I used the Martha Stewart recipe for Blueberry muffins and added in macerated strawberries and chocolate chips. He said they’re awesome.

After I finished spring cleaning today I needed to chill out so I went outside and shot some flower pics. There are more in flickr.  Anyway I want to vent just a tad, so last night after SNB I went to borders and decided to say what the hell and get the reader. Then I got a flash of ‘but what if I hate it” anyway so I asked about the return policy. Anyway the only way they would take it back was if it was broken. Hello not spending 300 on a device I’m not sure I’ll love and not be able to return. It was very disappointing.

Obligatory Yarn Pron above. God do I love my new camera! The D40 probably would have been ok but I really use the LCD screen on the top a lot. The only reason I sort of wish I’d gone for the 40 was so I could have had money to get the Sony Ereader I desire.  I haven’t been knitting a whole lot since I seem to want to sleep the minute I start. What I have been doing is a whole lot of reading. 20 books in the past three weeks more or less.  Anyway a while back the most fabulous Mj put me on her make my day meme list.  So in No particular order here is my list. I’m limiting the list to people I actually know at least via IM or Ravelry or have at least had an email conversation with just cause while there are plenty of bloggers who I admire well they already made tons of peoples lists.

• Mj: Cause she writes amazing patterns and is smart and she knits fast. Also I love her styro head for hats. Also she is on im and always manages to cheer me up.
• Sarkasmo: She’s knits like the wind and I always admire her dedication to the highest form of humor.
• Yarn Abuse: Her photography is gorgeous and she is one of the funniest bloggers I read.
• Kraftie: She has a stash that’s even bigger than mine. She spins in ways I can only dream of and she’s a good friend.
• Shannon: She’s fun! She never makes me feel like a dork for frogging or for my occasional odd obsessions in the knitverse! And I want to steal her last clap! Also I’m too lame to have a podcast but she does.
• Mszzzi (knit blogless): She’s my good friend from back when I lived in Chicago. I wouldn’t even knit at all if it wasn’t for her. And she always makes my day because you can’t not be happy when she’s around.
• Shortrow: She’s local. She started me off on knitting. She’s tons of fun. I envy her mini. We take fun field tribs to fiber stuff. And she constantly reminds me forcefully if necessary that not everything needs to be perfect.

And on to the FO.

Pattern: I found the pattern on flickr and added it to my standard toe/heel combo
Yarn: Str Lightweight in Lenore
Needles: Kp size 1’s
Size: My foot 64 sts around.
Pattern Notes: I hated these until I finished them. The only reason I didn’t frog was I was shocked I hadn’t had any pooling. I think on the foot they look nice but off the foot they look like ass. I was also not thrilled with how the colorway knit up. It was the one colorway from the club I really thought I loved and for some reason it’s not that great. Perhaps it was a case of expecting too much.
Would I knit it again? Probably not. Maybe though in a semi solid.

Jada

Quincy

Mountains

Anyway there are loads more and if you’re bored and want to see them go here.

1. Improved Spinning

2. A finished Single Sock…Charade knit in Shibui

I learned that I think an inch of ribbing at the top is more than enough so I came *this* close to ripping but decided not to since no one but me will see that sock top. I’m half way through the foot of the 2nd sock now. I should have it finished in time. Thermal has a finished sleeve so I do have a slight chance of finishing it by the time real life has to resume (jan 6th). I hope you got lots of phat loot and had a good holiday.

Sarkasmo wrote:

OK, if money were no object, I’d be more of a process knitter than I am even now. I think I’d get a wheel and a friend who owns sheep so that I could create my own yarn from scratch. If not a wheel, then a wider collection of spindles. Anyway, I’d be happy to dye my own yarn and spin it myself while at the same time sampling other yarns to try to emulate them. Yeah, I’d love to knit a cashmere sweater someday, but it would mean more to me if I’m the one that spun the cashmere. That way it’s more “check me out, I was confident enough to spin cashmere fiber into a yarn for this project” than “check me out, I can afford a sweater’s worth of cashmere”. It’s probably along the lines of that “Give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day; teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime” saying. The money invested in learning to spin that yarn would cost more than a sweater’s worth of cashmere at first, but then I could do a lot more with those skills. And besides, ever since I saw that $90 skein of crap yarn in the LYS that closed after 6 months in Cincinnati, I’ve been less likely to believe that expensive yarn is automatically quality yarn.

This was an awesome question!

Kraftie had this to say:

If money were no limit… there wouldn’t be any acrylic in my stash.
(well… there wouldn’t be since I know what good yarns are now).

Most of my yarn stash would be filled with nice handdyed sock yarns
and rovings. Heck… if money weren’t a limit I’d also probably have
a scary amount of fiber tools as well, like another wheel or two, a
loom and a drum carder… I’d probably also have purchased all sorts
of dyeing supplies so that I could just make the yarn/roving colors I
REALLY want.

Alex Offered:

If money were no object, would it change my knitting? Well, short answer,
yes.

I wouldn’t knit cashmere sweaters per se, because of the bad things I’ve
read about the demand for it. (In fact I haven’t bought any yarn with
even the smallest cashmere content for months, and have been destashing
some of the stuff I already had.) But I think I’d try to knit more
“green,” since organic stuff is almost as costly as the luxury stuff,
though organic prices are coming down, while the luxury yarns are going
up.

I suppose in some cases I would be more relaxed about knitting. If
something wasn’t working, I could destash it for cheap (since I don’t need
the money), and go work on something else that caught my fancy. I don’t
think I would do that often, with the perfectionist in me, but it’s
something to think about.

Now for my answer. I’m not sure it would change how I craft. Oh maybe I’d buy more expensive yarn for certain projects like a sweaters worth of sundara or something but I am not really sure I would. My favorite yarn yet is fairly inexpensive at 7 something for over 200 yards (ultra alpaca by berroco) I hate paying full price, I always have so I would probably be as much a sale shopper as I am now. The one thing I believe in is buying good quality tools. Even if I have to save for them and do without them for the moment I have never regretted buying any of my high end kitchen gear because I know it will last me a lot longer than something that isn’t as well constructed. However I always still try and find a good deal. That’s why even though I wasn’t 100% sure I’d totally be into spinning on the wheel I still got a majacraft. I figured if I didn’t love it I can always resell it and if I did in a year or two I wouldn’t be going but now I want a new wheel, had I bought a babe or something less versatile. As for the cashmere question I actually own a cashmere sweater (11 bucks at tjmaxx) and I never wear it. Its way too warm for this climate. However I wear the hell out of my cheapo thin merino cardis. Even though I consider myself a process knitter, my goals with crafting/knitting are to create items I would buy if I saw them in stores. The only thing I am completely sure would change if I was more flush (actually it would change even if we had a larger home) is that I would have my own studio. For all my crafting pursuits with lots of space, light, a comfy chair, a desk, a sink and heat source for dyeing. Sometimes on the weekend when Justin is playing a game there is nothing I want more than a place where the sound of said game is not permeating the air. So for now I go into the living room but it would be nice to have my own room. Someday I’ll get it. Actually I thought of something else that would change, I would knit more. Instead of feeling guilty about the housework I’d just hire a cleaning service and then I could knit more.