Mikknit

I got a package from my KSKS pal the other day, and it was filled with a bunch of really cool stuff!

She made the bag from some recycled, felted sweaters, so cool! I neglected to take a picture of the back (and my camera batteries are dead now), but it’s got a snowboarder and a couple of snowflakes on it, which I love. You can see that little ruffle on the top of the flap - that’s crocheted right into the fabric.

What you see there is the following: two skeins of Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sport in Tuscany, a copy of Sockbug’s River Rapids pattern (PDF alert), a handy dandy notebook, a nice pen, a pair of scissors, a tape measure (with keyring attached!), a couple of coilless pins, a couple of stitch markers, a little mirror that’s backed with fabric and velcroed onto the bag (great idea!). She put a velcro closure on the bag, which has already given way - the stick-on velcro doesn’t stay stuck for very long, unfortunately, so I’m considering my options on that. I’m not a big fan of velcro for closures, since it tends to accumulate hair and lint, both of which are in no short supply around my house. Not sure what would work though.

I just love everything! The yarn colorway is not one that I would’ve bought for myself, it’s just not the colors I usually think of myself wearing when I buy yarn. That said, I absolutely love it! It’s fun to see someone else’s interpretation of my preferences (from the questionnaire) - sometimes it seems like they can figure me out better from that than I can! I also have this pattern saved to my hard drive for “someday”, so she definitely has my number there, too.

She linked me to her blog, which I haven’t had much chance to look at yet. But what I’ve seen looks great - she’s a spinner as well. She’s also got some better pictures of the stuff she sent me - you can see the back of the bag over there.

Thank you, Christina!

Finally, the pictures I promised a few days ago. I think I’ve been jolted out of my knitting blahs, but we’ll see if it lasts.

First off, the finished Opal Rainforest Parrot socks. These are going into the Christmas gift box, along with several dishcloths.

Next up, my Japanese Feather socks. I was researching lace patterns for my KSKS socks, and fell in love with this pattern as I was swatching it. Whipped out this lime green Koigu that I’d fallen in love with (I’m not a Koigu person, I just don’t think it’s so exciting that it’s worth that price, generally) and cast on. I charted out the lace and I’ll post the pattern once I finish writing it up (and once my KSKS pal gets her package!)

I’m on the heel flap at the moment - Eye of Partridge once again. I love that!

Lastly, the secret project I mentioned earlier - a log cabin pillow cover. I’m planning to make three of these for the living room. I’m currently stuck trying to decide if I’m going to continue the log cabin pattern to the edge or if I should do a mitered border. If this were quilting, I’d definitely do the border, but I’m kind of stuck on whether or not to knit it. DH is no help, either - he has no opinion on the subject other than he likes the square so far.

I’m not sure which color I’d use for the border, but I’m planning to use the charcoal for a corded edging and for the back. Our couch and chair are tan, so I don’t think I’d use the tan for the border (not to mention that I don’t like light-colored borders on quilts/quilt-like objects). So that leaves the red and the green. Hmm. And no matter which I used, I’d have to do another round of log cabin before the border so I don’t have the same colors together (anal? Me?). So here it sits. If anyone’s got a suggestion, I’d love to hear it!

Okay, off to work on the heel for a bit!

I received a package from my Secret Pal the other day, which absolutely made my day.

She’s got my number - I got another package of wintergreen Lifesavers, yum!

Two felted bowls, one of which was filled with the Lifesavers, and the other one held three sample-sized packets of a wool wash I’ve never heard of. I’m looking forward to trying it out! There are also some sweater-shaped DPN holders, and that white thing is a card with a knitter on it - I didn’t notice the glare until just now and the camera batteries are dead. Oy.

Also, check this out -

She sent a red silk Lantern Moon bag that’s the perfect size for a sock project. Excellent! I had to put it to use immediately - it’s holding my Japanese Feather sock (picture forthcoming). You see the bags hanging on the opposite doorknob? All of the doorknobs in this house, I swear, have at least one cloth bag hanging on them. Some of them are just my grocery bags, but several have knitting in them.

Thanks, Secret Pal! You rock!

I received my package a few days ago, but I’ve been a terrible Secret Pal and haven’t yet blogged about it. I’ll go line up for my flogging in a bit…

My secret pal is pretty swell! She sent me a July 4th-themed package!

A red, white, & blue beach ball, matching Uncle Sam rubber duckies for the beasties, a US flag pen, some stickers, and red, white, and blue sock yarn! One of my favorite brands, too!

I decided I had to do this tonight as I’m about to rip into the sock yarn. I’m not finished with my second spiral rib sock, but I can’t find the first one to make sure I make the cuff the same length. I don’t know where it could’ve gone off to - it’s not under the couch or my chair or in one of the 92367 bags of assorted knitting stuff formerly hanging on the dining room chairs. Dangit, I knew I shouldn’t have cleaned!

In other news, we have a new family member. Meet Wally:

His official name is Wally the Six-Legged Tako, but since we’re pretty informal here he goes by Wally or Wally the Octopus. Nevermind the six-legged business (that’s all that would fit)… I think he turned out pretty great. He was for Arlo, but Arlo isn’t exactly into playing with stuffed critters that are smaller than him (he prefers to play with a large stuffed leopard and a 4′ long snake from IKEA), so Grace has claimed it. I designed him myself and have a little proofing to do on the pattern. I’ll put it up if there’s interest.

I’ve been suffereng from a bit of disinterest in stuff lately. I can’t be bothered to get out the spinning wheel though I’m in the middle of plying some great apple-green wool. I can’t be bothered to finish sorting and washing my giant fleece. I can’t find the dang spiral rib sock so I can finish its mate. I had to rip out the cotton tank dress I’d started for Grace because I don’t remember what I did on the first two straps and I wasn’t able to figure it out by looking at the fabric (take notes next time, dummy!). I’ve neared the top of the second chopper liner for my grandpa, but I want to have him try the first one on before I finish the second one. I already need to fix the thumb on #1 but I don’t want to have to fix more than I have to.

Obviously, the answer to all this is to start more projects. I dyed yarn for a secret baby gift for a friend, I’ll be working on that project this weekend. I also got the pattern for a Mother Bear Project bear, thanks to Chris. It looks simple enough and will be a good use for the bins full of acrylic yarn I have taking up space in the attic (the bears need to be washable). Add that to the weekend’s list. Plus, I have to start a sock! Must always have socks in progress. Right?

Goodness, it’s late. I suppose maybe if I got some sleep I wouldn’t be so apathetic about it all. Maybe?

I’ve joined the Knit Sock Kit Swap hosted by Scout and Bev! My answers to the questionnaire can be found here - I put them on a separate page so as not to bore you all with my answers. Of course, if you want to read it you should feel free.

I’m enjoying thinking about what sort of bag I’ll make for my swap partner and what kind of yarn she’ll be receiving. Not to mention I get to come up with a pattern for her! Excellent!

I am going to go get out the wheel now. I’ve got some minty-green wool on it right now and it’s quite fun to work with, a far cry from the lumpy bumpy yarn I made with the last batch.

As promised, I’ve got a few pictures to share.

First of all, a pair of soaker shorts for Arlo made with the Blackberry Ridge Kaleidoscope in Tropical Fish that I bought at Shepherd’s Harvest. I just need to treat it with lanolin (which means I need to *find* the lanolin) and they’ll be ready to wear. I used the Little Turtle Knits Picky Pants pattern for this, with a size 6 needle.

Next, some handspun yarn that’ll be sent off to my Secret Pal tomorrow. This is from the Spinner’s Web fiber I mentioned the other day. It’s a blend of wool, kid mohair, llama, and silk. There’s about 6.4 oz, ~320 yards, which puts it somewhere between aran and bulky weight. I’m going to have a hard time sending this off, but I know if it stayed here it’d just be eye candy instead of getting used.

Lastly, some sockiness. These are for my mom, since it’s been a while since I made her a pair. And she was the first one to speak up when I asked who wanted the next pair! The yarn is Opal something-or-other (the ball band is buried in my sock yarn stash) and I’m using US 0 needles instead of my usual US 1’s - I found that the fabric in my last pair of Opal socks loosened/softened significantly after washing and it feels too sleazy for my liking. I think these’ll be better. Sadly, I have not worked one stitch since I took the picture this morning. Bleh.

Oh, and can you tell I finally figured out that my camera has a macro setting? I’ve been using this thing for over 4 years and I just figured it out. I still want a new camera, but I might be satisfied with a point-and-shoot model rather than a digital SLR if it has a macro setting. I was window shopping for digital SLR cameras and I guess I didn’t realize just how expensive lenses can be. Wow!

Maybe I’ll go knit a little bit while it’s quiet here. For once, there’s a kid napping and one playing quietly instead of whining at me. I could get used to this!

All right! I got a great package in the mail yesterday from my Secret Pal. She sent some cool stuff - Knitting Rules! by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, the Yarn Harlot herself; a package of WintOGreen Lifesavers, some Choxie double dark truffles (so. good.), a handknit birthday cupcake, and a birthday card.

I was so pleased to receive this! Thank you so much!

Grace hovered over me the entire time I was opening the package. “Is that a birthday present? Who is it for? Can I open it? Can I have some chocolate? What’s that?” She’s so funny when it comes to presents.

I think I’m going to have a truffle with my morning coffee. Mmmmm!

Well, they actually got here on Thursday, but between not being able to find the camera cable and a hectic weekend, this is the first I’ve gotten to post about them.

My Sockpal was none other than FluffyKnitterDeb, whose blog I read regularly. Imagine my surprise when I opened the package and it was someone who I read - it’d be like getting a package from the author of a favorite book. The yarn is Twinkletoes Handpaint by Over the Rainbow Yarns, I don’t know if this is a commercial pattern or one she made up. I’m betting on the latter, she’s a pretty creative knitter! The pattern is Lacy Scallops (PDF) from Sockbug. I just love the colors and the lace pattern, which totally doesn’t show up in my picture. She took a much better picture of them before she sent them to me.

Here is the obligatory modeling shot, though!

Thanks so much, Debi!