Happy Holidays

Well... that C word has caught up with me. I tried. I really did. But half the stuff I wanted to get done I didn't. Oh well.

I'm long over due posting pictures from the Autumn Coffee swap, but I don't have my memory card from my camera near by and I have to get to bed soon. After Christmas I will post a bunch of pictures.

But right now I have to post the questionnaire for another swap!! I love swapping because I love trying to come up with fun stuff for my pals. So without further ado:

The Warm Ewe Up Winter Yarn Swap Questionnaire:

Do you knit or crochet, or both? How long have you been at the craft?

I knit. I've been knitting regularly since about 2005, but learned when I was 10. The very first post on this blog has a little background for you. I would like to learn to crochet, the Babette blanket is calling to me, but haven't been able to get the hang of it so far.

Do you spin?

"Yes"... I have a wheel and have spun a couple skeins (and has some still on the bobbin!), but knitting has taken back over for the past several months. I'd love to get back into it though.

What yarns/fibers are your favorites?

Alpaca! I love alpaca... it's so soft! I also like sock yarn, but I have a lot of it.

What yarns/fibers do you not like?

I have become somewhat of a yarn snob in that I don't care for a lot of the man-made yarns (that's part of the reason I haven't finished an afghan I started a while ago--it's made out of Red Heart). I also am not a fan of yarns with a lot of halo (ie most mohair)... it's just not my style.

What yarns/fibers would you like to try but haven’t?

I have to admit I've tried a lot of what I would like to. I'm always open to new indie dyers though, I haven't tried many of those.

What are your favorite colors? Colors that you don’t like?

I love love love deep red. I am also really into blues and greens lately. As far as what I don't like... I would prefer to stay away from pinks and purples. They can be OK in combination with other colors, or in muted tones, but I'm really not a fan.

What are your favorite types of projects to knit/crochet?

I've been knitting a lot of shawls and socks lately. I like socks because they're easy to take around, and I like shawls because I like the complexity and following the charts. I really like to knit just about anything though!

What are you currently working on?

Christmas projects! Haha... umm... a couple shawls, a couple scarves, hats, a cardigan, etc etc.

What is your favorite FO? (Please post a picture if you have one.)

My favorite FO so far is the Icarus Shawl I knit for my Grandma last Christmas (look in my Ravelry projects for pictures!)

Are there any techniques that you want to learn?

I want to knit mittens! I bought myself a kit and a few patterns.... it's what is next on the docket for 2009. I also would love to learn how to knit continental.. I just can't get the hang of it.

Do you have a yarn winder and/or swift?

I am lucky enough to have both!

How do you store your needles/hooks?

I have KnitPicks Options that came in their own binder. My DPNs are in a little case that I sewed myself, as are the few straights that I have.

Do you collect anything?

When I lived in Germany I picked up the cardboard coasters that each bar/brewery had... I have quite a large collection of them. I also like butterflies a lot.

Do you like sweets?

Hahahah........ YES. Milk chocolate is a weakness of mine-- especially with hazelnuts.

What are your favorite scents?

I like the spicy scents (cinnamon, etc) and clean scents (cucumber melon, "rain", etc)

Are you having a birthday during this swap?

I am! February 24. I'll be having a quarter-life crisis.

Do you have any online wish lists? (Amazon, Loopy Ewe, etc.) Please include a link for your pal.

Not that I've updated recently.

What is your living situation (Are you married? Do you have kids, pets, or both?)

I live with my boyfriend and 2 cats.

Are you allergic to anything?

No, but I'm not a fan of cigarette smoke.

Is there anything else that you would like your pal to know?

Just that I'm looking forward to the swap and am excited to chat with you! Also I am trying to get my stash under control, so no need to send excessive amount of yarn (but some is still fine :o))

Hope you all have very happy holidays and good times with friends and family!

Mobile blogging!

>

> I got a new toy this past weekend. And then I got sick for a couple
> days. But I've been having fun playing with it. I got my Amazing
> Autumn Coffee Swap package on Monday. It was a nice suprise because
> that was a day I stayed home sick. I'll blog about it more later
> when I can include photos. Have a great day!
>

ETA: hahaha..... I sent it to the wrong email address at first, and then had to forward it to avoid retyping and it got all screwed up! Ahh.. the wonders of technology.

The C Word

Chr... Chris...........Ch... Christmas.

The word that every knitter/crafter loves and loathes at the same time.

You get excited because of all the fabulous things that you plan on making for people, and then you realize that you only have 45 days left to complete this giant list you've made. Ah!

I have quite an extensive list this year, with no real likelihood of completion unless I spend hours a day working on projects and knit through Thanksgiving (despite having relatives coming here this year). I always see something that is "perfect" for someone though... and this year I want to knit a sweater for MYSELF too. Now is not the time to be "selfish" I suppose, but I would love to be able to wear a handknit sweater for Christmas.

From my list, I have only promised a few of the gifts, and those are the ones I would like to make sure I get done. I am going to post my list here, and before any comments are made: yes, I know this is incredibly ambitious of me, and yes, I know there is no chance I will get it all done. But I like to think I can make gifts for all the people I love (and am acquaintances with apparently).

To "for sure" complete:
-Alpaca Neckwarmer for my Mom (just need to sew in ends and add buttons!)
-Simple Silk Scarf for my Mom
-Hat/Scarf for my Dad (half way through the hat)
-Slippers for Caleb
-Pajama Pants (sewn) for Caleb
-Shawl for my Great Aunt (I promised her this last year and haven't done it yet!)
-I Spy Pillows (sewn) for my cousin's son and daughter
-Baby Blanket for another cousin's baby who is due Christmas day
-My February Lady Sweater

There is also a list of things I would love to complete:
-Shawls for Jennie and Kelly (I started them for their weddings and neither is complete yet)
-Mancala board for Caleb's Niece and Nephew
-Business Card holders (sewn) for my boss and another coworker
-Pig Stuffed animal for my sister
-Socks for Caleb's Mom (I'm almost done with the first one)
-Socks for Caleb

Hmmm.. it seems my list of stuff I "have to" complete is longer than I thought. Sigh. I'll try to surface once a weekand post updates. I hope to sew the buttons on my mom's neckwarmer this week and get an FO picture. The weather's just been so crappy that there hasn't been any good light for pictures.

Oh, just an FYI for those of you in the US. Michael's has Paton's SWS on sale 2/$3. It's normally $6/ball... that means it's 75% off right now!! Go! Go get some!!

Coffee Topic #3

I have a post about the knitter's "C word" in the works, but I'll get this post up first to keep you entertained!


This morning I sit here sipping a fresh cup with a bit of cream and some sweetener.. and the first sip makes the morning seem just a bit better than it was before. I love the smell, the warm feel of the cup in my hand, the taste - just everything! What is it that you love about your first cup of the day? Are you a daily drinker? How do you take yours? Tell us how you love to enjoy your first cup!

I'm an almost daily drinker... depends on if I get up in time to get the pot going. The smell of coffee is really what does it for me though. Just smelling the pot brewing can get me going in the morning. I love the warm feeling of the cup in my hand -- but I usually have to wait for it to cool down a bit. I have a sensitive mouth I guess :o). I take my coffee with a good amount of sugar and flavored cream. I have a pretty big sweet tooth, haha.

November!

Well, first here's my answer to the topic of the week for the Amazing Autumn Coffee Swap:

With Halloween coming up this Friday, tell us what you think of when you think Halloween! Do you love it? Hate it? See it as a sign of Fall? Are you a total sucker for candy and little kids in cute costumes?

Well, I don't get all gung ho about it... I typically don't dress up or do much decorating... but I am a total sucker for the candy and little kids in cute costumes. We carved a pumpkin and turned on the light and waited and waited for trick or treaters to come by. Alas no one did. Oh well, more candy for me I suppose. Here's our pumpkin:


Otherwise this weekend has been one for casting on. Before I show you what I've started this weekend though, I'll give you a poorly lit FO shot of the socks I finished a couple weeks ago. I started these sometime around when I moved back from Germany and the first sock sat in my knitting pile all alone. About a year later I decided I should really knit the second sock so that I didn't have to worry about my gauge changing. Luckily it hadn't and I know have a wonderful pair of socks.


Ooh... it's really blurry too when the picture is bigger. I need to take another one when I have natural light. You can't tell how pretty the Wollmeise color is!

Anyways, on to what I've cast on. Reading some knitting blogs lately I came across one discussing NaKniSweMo -- National Knit a Sweater Month. I read on and decided to join in. So at midnight on November 1st I cast on for the February Lady Sweater and hope to finish it by the end of November (or at least in time for Christmas).


I've gotten reasonably far -- I'm just about to separate out the sleeve stitches-- and am excited about how it's going. I'm a little nervous that it may be too small, but I won't be able to tell until I separate offthe sleeves.

I also cast on a cute little neckwarmer for my mom out of Misti Alpaca chunky.


It's turning out so dense and soft and I absolutely love the pattern. I make have to make one for myself too!

So that's all I've been up to for now. Hopefully there will be a lot more FOs in the coming weeks. After all, Christmas is less than 2 months away and as always I have big plans as far as knitting and crafting goes.