Back from Chicago!

And we had a great time. I'll upload photos eventually- they're almost finished. What I do have to show, however, is the cute gift my Secret Pal sent me while I was gone:

Gorgeous! Thanks a lot, pal!

More on this later:

Well, now there's too many

I have cast on too many projects. It happened so fast! I found a ball of red Wool-ease and realized I promised my sister I would make her a devil hat. So I knit the hat, but I need to put on the horns. My friend saw me knitting the hat, and somehow I agreed to knit some children's hats for the women's shelter in Ann Arbor. Then I agreed to test knit Stefanie Japel's new pattern. And my poor Jaywalkers might as well be in that bin with all the sweaters that need their ends woven in.

It's bad. Damn you, Ravelry. I blame Ravelry. Yeah... Ravelry.

Behind the times

No, the blog is up to date, but my taste in projects is way, way behind.

Observe:

I'm taking today for me, so I might just have a finished sock by the end of the weekend!

Finally Raveling

Here. Stop by if you want to- I really want to know who reads the blog!

Holy cow- I won something!

Yeah, so I am the winner of Craft's little birthday contest. How cool is that? I get a t-shirt and an issue of the magazine. Neat!

The play is finally, finally done. Put to bed. The postmortem was last night, and I filled up on pizza and candy and Lenny's lemon punch. We didn't stay late or go out because the girls were spayed yesterday and we wanted to keep an eye on them (read: we wanted to watch them wobble around high as kites). They each have little tattoos now. It's official- I'm less hip than my dogs.

I'm really glad that I threw my record shots in an album, because the photographer never showed with the "official" photos. After a lot of post-processing, these are a few of the pics:

Socks are forth-coming, as is Ravelry and new yarn.

Here we go again!

Hello, Secret Pal! Here's the questionnaire. You might want to flip through the old one, too, if you want to see what I wrote last round (I swear I haven't changed that much). If I may just whisper in your ear a single word to describe my current knitting obsession: socks. That is all.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

Right now, superwash wool sock yarn. I am in love! For regular-style knitting, I also like Noro, for the color, and Mission Falls wool, for the hand. Paton's wool for felting. I am open to trying a lot of things, but I shy away from mohair (allergy).

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have a couple of needle rolls, and a vase for my straight needles. My circulars are on a hook, and they fall down. A lot.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

It's been a while, a few years? I'm a middle-of-the-road knitter. I fear colorwork, but I can do lace no problem.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Amazon and etsy are in the sidebar.

5. What's your favorite scent?

Right now I'm on an essential oil kick. I desperately want soap/lotion that's all natural with EO scents. I really like the combination of grapefruit and mint, as well as ginger.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

CHOCOLATE. I love it. All kinds. I especially like Vosges chocolate with hot pepper in it.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I like crochet, photography, candle making. I would like to learn to spin, but I have no equipment and have no idea what I'm doing. :)

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

At the moment: Gogol Bordello, Magnetic Fields, Scissor Sisters, ohmygod. I love mp3s, and I love discovering new music. Bring it on!

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

Green, orange, brown. I don't like pink and blue together, and thus avoid all sock yarn and Noro like that (unless it's RED, blue (aqua), and pink, and then it's my kitchen!).

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I have a husband.



And some monsters.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

No ponchos. It's like drawing a knitted arrow to my (ample) ass.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

SOCKS. I never thought I'd say it, but there you go. I also love top down raglans- no seaming. Yay!

13. What are you knitting right now?

um, SOCKS. :)

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Yes please.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I prefer cheap ol' aluminum and plastic. Seriously. A big box of grandma's hand-me-downs gives me shivers. I knit mostly with circulars and dpns. I think I could learn to love bamboo, though.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Sadly, no.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Ugh. Too old. And it predates my knitting career.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween- costumes + candy = bliss. Also, Christmas for the family whirlwind. I don't generally like my birthday because I don't like being the center of attention, and I don't like Thanksgiving because I'm vegetarian.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

White milkglass vases. Someday I'll photograph what I have. It's nothing special- mostly from the Sally Ann, but I like it.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

Fitted knits. Knitting Nature. Vintage Socks. Socks That Rock. Hell, any sock yarn, especially handpainted stuff. I have no subscriptions.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Colorwork.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I'm a size 9-9.5. My foot is 9" around at the ball and 9" long. Surprisingly, my feet got smaller when I lost weight. Weird.

23. When is your birthday?

June 10

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?

I wish. Soon, my pretties. I've already begun the stash organization.

Finished: First Socks

Well, well, well. I told myself that tech week would see the end of these socks, and the recent dearth of reports to edit has left me with enough free time to actually finish them up. Of course, the compulsion to wear them immediately after the ends were woven in didn't last long- it's 95 freaking degrees outside.

No drinking and no smoking makes Veronica knit socks, I guess.

There's even enough left over for a matching pair of wee tiny socks... should we have a use for them around here.

Fleece Artist Nova sock, using the pattern on the ball band
8 stitches=1 inch on Boye size 0 needles (I love love love aluminum needles)

It does not stop because I'm tired.

Oh, August. It's the busiest time of year for me. And here I am, in the middle of tech week for Bye Bye Birdie. It's been going deceptively well- I didn't cry myself to sleep last night, which is a first for a Tuesday of tech. Actually, I have been sleeping in quite a bit lately, and Dan has been kind enough not to disturb me, even if I fall asleep in the middle of conversations or stay asleep till noon and he has to deal with the morning dog mayhem alone. (Un)fortunately, the training for Fusia is only in the evenings this week, so Mike and I are missing it. Oh, well. It's not like we've never waited tables before. It takes a little pressure off, though, knowing I don't have to deal with that this week, and if I were a betting girl, I'd say the official opening is going to get pushed back again, probably for the menu. But I don't know.

I weighed myself this morning: I hit the original goal weight I set for myself. That's 25 pounds in exactly 4 months. I am quite proud of myself, and as soon as the play is over, I am going to get started on weight training and cardio. The treadmill is calling (blecch!). Walking the dogs will also provide some of the exercise I desperately need- I'm a little... doughy.

The socks are almost finished. I have about an inch of foot and then the toe to do. I'll have something to show by the end of the week. It's official- I am a Sock Knitter.