4/20/2005
My lovely secret pal struck again! I stopped off at the PO on Monday evening before heading to SnB and had a package containing the lovely items pictures above, plus a card. Though I was warned via e-mail to not open the card until the official “reveal” day as she had given her identity away inside.
She sent two skeins of the KnitPicks Sock Landscape in Spring Prairie, the Spin-Off Socks book, a nice tin of Darjeeling loose leaf tea and the awesomest little stitch markers with polymer clay sushi on the ends from Amyville!
I’m still astonished about the sushi stitch markers. Amanda had sent me the link a while back and she preferred the sweets, but I liked the sushi. I’ve been all about sushi lately as it is yummy, it fits within my new dietary restrictions pretty easily and it is a way for me to get some fish in me without making my DH ill (he’s allergic to fish and gets ill just from the smell).
Thank you so much Secret Pal!!!!!
4/19/2005
At Stitch ‘n Bitch last night, I completed my Clapotis, deciding it was about time I cleared some WIPs before adding to the list. There it is in all of its glory. Yes, I realize not all the stitches are dropped and that there are ends to be woven in. But, it’s an FO right?
NOT!
(more…)
4/18/2005
My sister gave me a book that was such a good fit that my in-laws had purchased it from my wishlist for Christmas. So, last week before I became laid up I went to Barnes & Noble and exchanged it for the new paperback edition of Meg Swansen’s A Gathering of Lace.
I don’t think I would have ever justified the purchase since the library has the hard copy edition that I could check out. That made it the perfect birthday purchase - something I wouldn’t have bought for myself. In making this purchase, I think I’ve also solved my delima of what to do with that Lorna’s Laces Helen’s Lace I picked up.
What do you think of …
The Shaped Triangle on page 20.
Made in …
Of course I *should* wrap up Clapotis and it’s coordinating shell/tank and DH’s camo socks and then I’d like to have my own pair of Spearfish socks… LOL! Well, I don’t have the proper needles for the shawl anyway, so I suppose that will stave off the startitis for a bit. It calls for a size smaller than my bamboo interchangeables go and I haven’t done much on US4s so I just don’t have those except in straights I inherited from grandma last June and short bamboo DPNs.
Once again, it is time for Stitch ‘n Bitch - 6-8pm at Catalyst Coffee TONIGHT! Be there or be square! ;-)
4/16/2005
What spinning wheel do you use? What were the selling points that made you choose that model?
Yes, a spinning wheel is in my near future. DH informed me last night that my birthday present will be a spinning wheel. He was a little disappointed that I didn’t get to try one out earlier so he could have it ordered and here for my birthday. But, the fact that it is a spinning wheel makes up for the wait. Heck, I didn’t get any presents on my actual birthday because mom took me shopping on the Internet yesterday so I’ll be having some new spring clothes arrive over the next week and two magazine subscriptions (IK and Cloth, Paper Scissors) starting with the summer issues. So, the joy is spread out :-)
4/15/2005
While DH was getting his eye’s checked yesterday I wandered Old Town in search of a button for Spring Squatty Sidekick. I went to a fabric store I heard a bunch about, but was not very impressed by their service, or their selection of buttons. So then I meandered into a couple bead shops. The woman at the one bead shop was kind of rude when I asked her if she had any buttons. She sniped, “I’m not a fabric store.” However, it seems most of the bead shops in town have some buttons because they often reclaim beads from vintage clothing and they end up with a selection of buttons as well. But, she got over herself and we started trying out some of the large beads to use a buttons. It was a hard call, as there was another bead that looked really nice and was very inexpensive (25 cents) and then there was this handmade dichroic glass bead for $12 that made me think of a leaf.
I decided with the size of the purse, my original though of perhaps needle felting a flower or something was just not going to work and that the closure would be the focal point. So, I chose the dichroic glass leaf bead. Since it had the stringing hole towards the top, it works great as a toggle button and I love the leafy quality it has - perfect for Spring!
Since I’ve gotten quite a few e-mails, I’ll post once again that this pattern is from Avant Knits. She is just starting out, so fill out her form and I’m sure she’ll get back to you with info on obtaining the pattern when it is available. And, if you are in the area, she’ll be teaching a class on it at Woolen Treasures, Saturday Mornings in May.
EDIT: Amanda’s plans have changed and the Squatty Sidekick pattern may become availble through a magazine or book in the future, but as of this time it is only available by taking the class at Woolen Treasures in Loveland, Colorado. I’m sorry!
And NO, I WILL NOT PHOTOCOPY THE PATTERN FOR YOU!
