Yarn Haul..........Part Two

I mailed the Sockapalooza Socks on Monday, I know they aren't supposed to be mailed until tomorrow but I wanted them in the post, they should arrive on Saturday. My sock pal emailed to let me know that my socks are finished and will be mailed this week, I should have them soon......it's very exciting.

As promised the second part of the yarn haul, summer sock clubs are arriving. This wonderful confection is from Tsarina, an ice cream cone sock.

You could choose your flavors of ice cream, I chose lemon, raspberry and blueberry. Notice the cone pattern in the flavors and the waffle design in the cone. The yarn comes from Van Calcar Farms in New York State.

The first installment of the Harry Potter Sock Club from Sunshine Yarns. Dani dyed up Not Another Weasley, I really like the colours and will be looking for a pattern that would suite Mrs. Weasley's taste.

Pick Up Sticks club arrived on Saturday, I think this is my favorite pattern yet, a wonderful cable and a yarn that I love to use in a colour I would not have choosen but really like (will wait to post, don't want to be the spoiler).

To my great suprise Rowan 42 arrived by UPS yesterday (one day before the UK store release). This is the earliest I have ever received the magazine, I normally wait two to three weeks after the rowanettes in the UK have received theirs. Rowan asked for our input earlier in the year, what did we want to see and they really listened, not only did they reduce the membership price, they now offer two free patterns a month, extended membership discounts, more detailed pictures in the magazine and expidited delivery service. I know that it arrived in New Zealand, Denmark and Belgium today, which is astounding. If you were ever thinking of joining Rowan this would be the time, they have truly taken customer feedback to heart and delivered on almost all counts. The autumn/winter edition of the magazine is always my favorite, I am very pleased with the patterns in 42 they are wearable fashions for a variety of body types, and the colours flow from one design section into the next, there is also a few new yarns, Cocoon is a wool/mohair blend and the patterns for this yarn are exceptional. The concensis from the rowanettes who have received theirs has been highly positive, this is a winner.

Sockapaloooza Socks

Socapalooza Socks:

Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug Alizarine

Pattern: Saucy from Cider Moon

Eye of Partridge Heel

Leg Detail

A few extras for the package.

Knitting Ewe Socapalooza Bag

Soak samples

Stitch Markers

Row Counter Bracelet

Two skeins of Mama-E's Fiber Sock Yarn

the colourway is Nettie and it was an exclusive dye

for Pick Up Sticks.

This was the first time I had used Jitterbug, it's very nice and feels great when you are using it, bouncy and smooth. I moved down from a 3mm to a 1.5 mm needle, shortened the leg repeat from 7 to 5 and even then only had about six inches of yarn left after grafting. You would need two skeins if you were knitting for a larger foot size, at $21.00 a skein that is a little expensive. When I blocked them they bled quite a bit of pink, I hope that was a one off and they now fixed themselves.

My sock pal likes bright colours, cables and lace, I hope she likes the socks. I will pack them up and have them in the mail on the 2nd. This has been a lot fun, even thought I fretted about the yarn and pattern, and actually knit two other pairs besides these.

Yarn Haul....Part One

Yarntini sent an email last week, she has taken the plunge and set up her own online shop, not Esty, but an actual stocked store. She was uploaded skeins of semi-solid yarn throught the day and depending on when you logged on you might or might not be one of the lucky ones. I check on and off most of the morning and finally mangaged to buy a skein of Port, I also wanted Merlot but sad to say "all gone".


I checked back from time and time and kept looking Maraschino, I am not a red girl, really never have been, but I thought it would make a wonderful exchange gift. I managed to put it in my basket, and felt quite happy that I had managed to score two skeins. The yarn arrived in two days (truth be told Yarntini lives about 20 minutes from me), and I was overjoyed and a little disappointed. Overjoyed that the yarn is amazing in the feel and colour department and disappointed that I had not ordered two the Maraschino, as I am planning on keeping this one and will not be including it in any exchange gifts. The Port is lovely shades of purple, but the Maraschino is a sumptuious colours of red, more cherry cordial with the sun shining through the glass. I cannot wait to see it knitted into a simple cable as I think it will be stunning.

I bought this yarn from Yarnahoy, through her Esty shop, the colour called Indigg, but I think it looks more like summer ices. This would have been my choice for sockopalooza except for the orange. It's 100% Superwash Merino. Yarnahoy is also available on Woolgirl, as are many other terrific indi sock yarns, including Yarntini, when it's in stock. This yarn may be my next pair of socks.


The red snowman is Briar Rose Fibers Angel Face (lace weight) colour is 2018. I have been looking at this for sometime on Pick Up Sticks, I am not a lace knitter but this just seemed to call to me. I took the advantage of it being on sale (really good value) and Connie (that wonderful woman, who is actually going to open a reality store in September, but still maintain the virual one), kindly transferred 2286 mts into two large balls and one little one, just like a really hot snowman.

Connie included a special little surprise, 5 lace markers by Crimson Orchid just to get me started. I am not sure what I will be doing with it but am looking through lace patterns and may pick one in A Gathering of Lace.

Part two tomorrow.....................................or the next day, and by then I should have my finished Sockopalooza Socks to show.

20-17-2007

The day of anticipation started early. I waited in line at Borders for about an hour to receive my orange wrist band, putting me in the first group to receive the midnight book.
The postman brought a wonderful surprise, my first day issue stamps from the Royal Mail. I thought I would have to wait at least a week for them to arrive, but they were in my hand on day of issues.

I ordered three different packages. There are several different issues, I choose all seven books covers (British editions), and the house emblems franked, they are on postcard size envelopes imprinted with my name and address, the post mark is Broom. I also choose a mint edition of the seven book covers (unfranked) and the Presentation Packet (which should arrive today). I am planning on framing them, either individually or one large grouping, haven't decided yet

What we waited for!

They ran out of deluxe editions, I should have a copy by Wednesday. Bill bought me all three versions of the gift cards as a souvenir and with one of them I purchased this copy.

Being interviewed by Rita Skeeter.

Begining the long three hour wait!

It was a fun party, the last 30 minutes was a mass of confusion, with lots of screaming and missinformation. Bill (the wonder boy), found a shorter queu (in the music department), we were about 20th in line. At midnight they passed out the books, and by 12:13 am we were in the car driving home. I ran into a few former students, so much fun to see them and catch up on what they are up to now. I managed to read the first two chapters before falling asleep, and have booked this afternoon for serious chapter turning.

Socks, Socks, Socks, and oh yes, Socks

I love knitting socks, really love it. There are so many things I like about knitting socks. The fact that from a skein of yarn you can knit not one but two garments. Finding the perfect pattern to suit the yarn and the colourway. The amazing turn of the heel and begining of the foot gusset. The siblime wonder of the kitchener stitch toe graft. A finished garment with only two ends to weave in, the cuff and the toe, perfection. I say this after having knitted, so far, four pairs of socks this month.


The first pair, knee high Gryffindor (for tomorrows book release party). Knitted using Lorna's Laces, Shepherd Sock in Flames. I really wanted knee highs and used a combination of patterns to achieve it. I started with 96 stitches, 40 rows of rib, 40 rows of stockinette before I reached the decrease. I achieved this by decreasing two stitches every five rows. I was down to 60 stitches by the begining of the heel flap. The striping turned out fairly uniform. I think these twins are closer to being identical rather than fraternal. I really like the slip stitch toe. The length of the socks made it a little boring after awhile, but all in all they turned out well.

The Eye of Partridge Heel.

These really are nice, and will be great winter socks. The colours are a combination of all the Gryffindor golds, reds, and burgundy.





I am also working of socks for Sockopalooza 4. Are these the socks I ask. All Things Heather in Valentine, pattern is Uptown Boot Socks from Favorite Socks. If you are knitting the socks from this invaluable book, there is a KAL to join, it's really interesting to see is the patterns in different colours and yarns.

I checked out my sock pals blog and the first thing that caught me was the use of various pink yarns on her blog banner. She likes vivid colours, no pale or pastel girl is she. Laces and cables seemed to be an interest in her sock preference. The only colour choice that did not seem to be on the wheel was orange (have I said to much). Do you know how many sock yarns have the colour orange in them? More often than not I would find the most vibrant, vivid colourway only to find that it had a streak of orange running through it. If I wasn't such a neurotic I would have picked a pattern, yarn and got down to it. No, not me, I have to ponder and puddle and drive myself loony, I have always wished that I could be one of those people who float through life and seem in effortless fashion to always pull it off.




The pattern is a nice little running cable. The heel is a slip stitch the toe plain and simple.

Are these the Sockopalooza Socks. Sunshine Yarn's by Dani Frisbie, 100% Superwash Merino in Wildflowers. The pattern is Saucy from Cider Moon, a super free pdf to download.




I really like Dani's yarns, she had a real eye for colour. Her first sock club just finished and her second one (Harry Potter themed) is just starting.

My new favorite toe, the Slip Stitch.

Cable leg

The Eye of Partridge Heel

Or is this the Sockopalooza Sock. Colinette JitterBug in Alizarine also following the Saucy pattern. This is what they say about the colourway:
This pink lipped passion makes all the girlies whirl. Definitely not a shrinking violet stuck on the shelf; this flower flaunts itself. If you’ve got it – get to it !

I really think this might be the one. Should we take a vote?

At least I am on the list

I found out this morning that I could check and see where I was on the Ravelry list.

This is what it said:

Patiently awaiting your invite?

If you've added your name to the invite request list on our front page then you can use this form to check your place in line.-insert email here.

Found you!
You signed up on June 8, 2007
You are #7775 on the list.
1927 people are ahead of you in line.
9913 people are behind you in line.
32% of the list has been invited so far

It could be a while!
If you don't know what Ravelry is and want to, check it out.

1st Birthday

YIKES!! I AM ONE YEAR OLD TODAY

WAS I EVER THIS SMALL!

I LOVE PLAYING SPORTS

I LOVE BEING GIRLY, SOMETIMES

BUT SOMETIMES I DON'T








I LOVE PLAYING WITH MY TOYS

BUT MOSTLY I LOVE MY MUM AND DAD, MY TWO DOG BROTHERS AND ONE DOG SISTER, BUT NOT THE CAT.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Just returned from seeing Harry Potter, and I loved it! Yes, they do leave out loads, but it's hard include every detail from an almost 800 page book into a 2 hour and 18 minute film. The film is grown up, dark, mysterious, and a great ride all round. I saw it with WH and a cinema of children (some dressed in costume), they applauded at the opening and ending credits (love that, just like seeing the Saturday matinee at the Sacred Heart Church with Father Jaconelli marching up and down the isle, and we were Presbyterian). I am not sure I would take very small children to see it, as it does have a few touch and go scary moments. This may be my favorite of all the films, although it is not my favorite book, Half Blood Prince is, however, that might change next week. I am still working on my other Gryfindoor sock, haven't turned the heel yet, to tell the truth, hopefully they will be blocking this weekend, I have my hat, my outfit and my socks, Professor McGonigal shall be ready to attend the Grand Hallows Ball.

Exchange Received and Exchange Sent

My Rowan Exchange gift arrived in the post on Saturday. It is always so thrilling to see what wonderful item has been knitted for you by someone you may never meet. The beauty of the exchange is that you are not knitting for the same person who is knitting for you. The exchange mums do a wonderful job of matching us up and provide us with an extensive questionnaire as to likes, dislikes, ability etc. It happens every summer and this year's theme was "seasons", my season is Autumn as those are my favorite colours, I think Amelia did a great job in picking out yarns that I would have choosen myself.

Amelia Jones, of London, England, knitted these beautiful socks in Fleece Artist Sea Wool, I think the colour might be Origin, (Amelia let me know that it is Vintage). This is a beautiful yarn, I have two skeins in the sock stash but as yet have not knitted it, how nice to see it in finished socks. Extremely soft and silky, Amelia used the pattern that came with the yarn. As any avid sock knitter know the experience of having someone else knit you socks is joyous.


Along with the socks came TWO skeins of Colinette JitterBug Castagna. It's a superwash 100% merino, 291 yds should make a pair of shorter socks, two skeins will make a longer pair.



The extra treats are to keep me relaxed while knitting. A bag of M&S, (a British staple for all your shopping needs, and the best bras and knickers in the world), Rhubarb and Custard boiled sweets and from Bond Street a box of Charbonnel et Walker Pink Champagne Truffles.


My Exchange Gift arriving spurred me to finish mine and pop it in the post (July 11th is the final mailing date). The knitted items you have already seen, I added stitch markers, a skein of STR in Tanzanite, a sock blocker key chain and some Hershey treats (living in Pennsylvania I had to send the home grown product). I mailed it this morning and all things being equal it should arrive at it's final destination in about 7-10 days.

Happy 140th Birthday Canada

Canada Day marks the creation of the Dominion of Canada with the British North America Act on July 1, 1867, (140 years ago today) it united three British colonies—the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Canada. The three colonies united to form one country divided into four provinces. The Province of Canada became Ontario and Quebec.

The name was officially changed to Canada Day on October 27, 1982. However, many Canadians had already been informally referring to the holiday as "Canada Day" for a number of years before the official name change.

Think you know Canada, take the test:
http://www.cbc.ca/cgi-bin/quiz/quiz.cgi?quiz=quiz070701

The Maple Leaf

The current flag of Canada was approved by the House of Commons on December 15, 1964. The flag was later approved by Queen Elizabeth II, an order which took effect on February 15, 1965. In 1921, King George V proclaimed the official colours of Canada as red, from the Saint George's Cross, and white, from the French royal emblem since King Charles VII.
As early as 1700, the maple leaf served as a symbol celebrating the nature and environment of what is now Canada. The number of points on the leaf has no significance; they do not, for instance, represent the ten provinces plus one point for the territories. In fact, some of the very first Canadian flags made had maple leaves of variously 13 and 15 points or more. The points of the maple leaf were determined by taking various designs and putting them in a wind tunnel to see what looks the best while moving. It is easily one of the most recognized flags in the world, next to the Union Jack and the Star Spangled Banner.

HAPPY 140th CANADA DAY!!