wrapSTYLE review

I was greatly anticipating getting my hands on Wrap Style, especially after previewing Scarf Style a few weeks ago. I received the notice in my email from the library that it was on hold for me & at 10am I promptly drove to the library to pick it up. With a little bounce in my step, I approached the library doors only to find the "closed" sign on it. Huh? It's 10am! Not only is my library closed on Friday and Sunday, but it also doesn't open until noon on Tuesday & Thursday. shit.

I returned to the library at 1pm (after dropping some money at Nordstrom, Sephora & Macy's). As soon as it was in my hands, I was flipping through the pages & practically ran back to my car to find that "must knit item" which would necessitate a trip to the LYS. As I reached the end of the book, I must have had a look on my face that said "huh?". I flipped through the pages again. I looked at the front cover thinking I'd picked up the wrong book. The cover says "innovative to traditional, 24 inspirational shawls, ponchos, and capelets to knit and crochet. Shawls? Isn't that plural? Where are the shawls? All I see is the Shetland Triangle shawl. The other 23 patterns are ponchos and capelets. For the record, I dislike very much capelets & ponchos. They are not my thing, if they are your thing then great, but you won't catch me wearing one (unless it's a dare or a bribe that involves yarn or chocolate).

If you haven't seen the Shetland Triangle shawl, you must look at the version from the Brooklyn Tweed Blog. If seeing those photos doesn't make you want to knit this, then ... I can't help you. I know I'm going to hell for photocopying the Shetland Triangle pattern without buying the book, but I just can't justify paying $15 for one pattern. If you haven't had a chance to preview this book yet, and you like capelets & ponchos, then you better go grab yourself a copy of this book, but if you're looking for a variety of wraps including many shawls .. it isn't here!

Woodland Gloss Leaves Socks

Pattern: Embossed Leaves Socks by Mona Schmidt in

Interweave Knits Winter 2005
Yarn: KnitPicks Gloss (2 skeins) Woodland colorway
Needles: (2) KnitPicks Classic circular size 2US (size 24" cable)
Modifications: I did an extra pattern repeat on the leg

NOTES:
Pattern: The pattern was easy to follow & produced beautiful results. The fit of the sock is also perfect for my size 8 foot. If I had one wish though, it would be to have someone write a supplement to the pattern to make them toe-up. I had so much yarn leftover, that had I known, I would have down 2 extra pattern repeats instead of just one.
Yarn: For the price, this yarn is a dream! My only complaint is I would like a larger & better color palette to choose from.
Needles: I thought I'd never use anything other than Addis Turbos, but the points on these needles are perfect for sock knitting. I'm a convert!

I will knit this pattern again, I will use the yarn again & I will use these needles until something better comes my way. Currently, these are my FAVORITE socks. (Don't tell my Socks That Rock RPM's though, ... they think they're my favorite).

By the way, I just counted & these are the 7th pair of socks I've knitted since March. Looks like I'm at around one pair a month! Not bad!

Twilight Zone Winner

Something's going on. Something from another dimension. I think I may have entered the twilight zone & I hope it doesn't end. (Reminder to self ... buy lotto ticket!)

I just won my second contest!! Didn't I say I never win anything? (Liar liar pants on fire!)

I've been following the Good To Be Girl blog for awhile (anyone who lives in Seattle HAS to be awesome) and she had a contest recently to figure out how many episodes of Grey's Anatomy she could watch over the weekend, and I won! She has the cutest stitch markers. You must check out her online store. I've attached a photo of the iPod sitch marker that she's working on now .. isn't it adorable? I wonder what stitch markers she'll choose to send me.

I've also entered another blog contest at the Yarn Pirate blog. (Thank you Heather for the link!) The yarn Pirate is giving away a skein of her hand dyed yarn, some piratey things & maybe some chocolate. Yarn AND chocolate! What more could a girl want! The contest runs through midnight tonight, so if you haven't entered the contest, what are you waiting for? By the way, the photo is an example of some of the yarn she sells (drool, drool)

T.G.I.F.

Look what the mailman brought me yesterday!! I entered a contest from The Purly Gate and since I won, she sent me some of this Vesper Sock Yarn. It might be hard to see in the photo, but it's a handpaint lime colorway called Crew. The best part is it's 100% Merino Wool & I LOVE merino wool! Now, I just have to figure out the right pattern to use. Maybe I could knit some cute socks for my neices for Christmas?

In other knitting news, I have been knitting something other than socks & scarves (get your chin up off the floor). I'm knitting the Fetching fingerless gloves. When I finish the second one I'll give you more details.

I'm also knitting a pair of socks (of course). The pattern is from Judy's freebies section named Tangled Up In Blue Socks. Sorry the picture is so dark, I just couldn't get a decent photo of it today for some reason. The yarn is from KnitPicks Essential Tweed & it's okay, but not my first choice. Am I becoming a sock yarn snob? (please don't answer that Jillian). Actually, I can honestly answer that question with a "no" since I'm in love with the KnitPicks Gloss yarn & just ordered another 2 skeins of it! I do love the pattern though. I've always wanted to do toe-up socks (so I can use up ALL the yarn) on two circulars and not only is the pattern written very clearly (thank you Judy), but they are also a perfect fit so far!

Also, I just signed up for Soctoberfest 2006. With all the sock knitting I've been doing, it seemed like the perfect thing for me. Anyone else going to join in?

Did you notice on my progress bars that the Cardigan is gone? I haven't worked on it for a very long time anyway & when I pulled the pathetic thing out of it's plastic container the other day, I hated it. Relationship O-V-E-R! It was cheap $3 yarn anyway, so really it was no financial loss, just a major loss of time. Does this happen to anyone else? Do you start a project that you think you'll love only to realize that it was a dud? (please say it's not just me).

He's Trekking now!

Pattern: Father and Son Socks by Mona Schmidt
Interweave Knits Fall 2006 magazine
Yarn: Trekking XXL color 101
Needles: Addis Turbos circulars size 2US
Notes: Don't knit this pattern with self patterning yarn.

If I had these to knit over again, I wouldn't use this yarn with this pattern. I really do love the pattern & I'm thinking of making a pair of these for each of my grandsons for Christmas. I don't know if I'd use this yarn again though. I like it, I just don't love it. Yes, it's less expensive than other sock yarns that I love, but not by enough. I should also figure out how to do calf shaping for DH since he has skinny ankles, but muscular calves (although it doesn't look that way in the photo). I think for these, I may have to weave some elastic in the top ribbing. Has anyone else done this before?

5 years

The anniversary of 9/11 had me pondering what my life was like 5 years ago & where it is today. What I realized is, a lot can happen in 5 years!

Back then I was a Sales Manager travelling all over the US making quite a large sum of money for someone my age, but I was alone. In fact, I was a divorcee, & the dating pool had a lot of bottom-feeders and sharks! The future career-wise looked bright, but my personal life was really in the toilet. I was travelling about 2 weeks out of each month (minimum) going from city to city making deals & being propositioned by clients. I'm sure to outsiders my career looked great, and financially it was, and I was physically in the best condition of my life so I was fairly attractive, but getting hit on by almost every Tom, Dick & Harry was infuriating! Sure they enjoyed the conversation, but really all they wanted was to get into my pants. I was tolerating it, but I knew I couldn't sustain it forever ... and I didn't.

Now, I'm happily married, in the worst shape of my life & I have no career... but I'm happy! I don't have the best looking body anymore, but DH still loves me. I have no career & no money at present, but DH says that he knows I'll work when I'm ready & he'll support us until then. I have no children (nor will I), but I have a wonderful step-daughter, son-in-law, 2 beautiful grandsons & a great friendship with my step-daughters mom (DH's ex-wife).

5 years later, I can honestly say, I'm happier than I've been in a long time! I can't wait to see what the next 5 years brings!

*The photo is of Grandma (me), Nana (DH's ex-wife) and the Grandkids at Disneyland on Sunday for Grandparents Day.

Just in time for fall*

Pattern: Backyard Leaves by Annie Modesitt in ScarfStyle
Yarn: Berocco Pure Merino in Cabernet
Needles: Clover Bamboo in size 7 US

Only in Southern California will you find a girl photographing herself in a tank top modeling a wool scarf! This scarf is one of my favorite knitted items because:

1. The chart pattern was difficult, so it held my attention
2. The yarn is yummy yummy soft, easy to work with, & didn't split
3. It was a fairly quick knit, so I received instant gratification
4. This is the first scarf I've ever knitted for myself
5. I LOVE the color! If I were to pick a "signature" color for myself...this is about as close as it gets!

*although there's no "fall" in Southern California, I'm willing to take a quickie road trip to search out cooler climates worthy of my scarf. Any suggestions?

Back to socks!

Have I told you all lately how wonderful you are for leaving me comments? No? Really? (head bowed down with embarassment) Well ... YOU'RE WONDERFUL!!

Since everyone seems to be doing 'back to school', I've decided to do 'back to socks'. I took a quickie break & knitted the Moebius scarf & started work on the Backyard Leaves scarf, but I'm missing socks. Yes, it's true.

When I first started reading blogs, I kept seeing these fabulous socks called Embossed Leaves. I figured I better learn how to knit socks before attempting them though. After I saw this photo though from Sassenach, I knew it was finally time to knit these! The pattern is from Interweave Knits Winter 2005 issue & the pattern is called Embossed Leaves Socks. I've been coveting these since I first saw them before I even started knitting socks.

For needles, I'm using the new KnitPicks circular needles (size 2 US). They are as good as everyone (or at least MOST everyone) says & I especially love the pointy tips. I swatched with both the size 1 & the size 2's, but now I'm thinking I should've used size 1. Oh well, I'm not about to start over. I LOVE the yarn! It's KnitPicks Gloss yarn in the woodland colorway. It extremely soft, easy to work with, I've had no splitting problems & for the price you MUST buy some!!! This pair of socks is only going to cost me $8 & I think I'll like them just as well as my Socks That Rock RPM's and they cost me over $20.

Then again, maybe the Socks That Rock yarn was cheaper since I just filled a KnitPicks shopping cart with more sock yarn & needles.