Saturday Stash Giveaway!

I'm in the midst of decluttering my stash, my house, my life. This means cutting back on some of the stuff I know I'm not going to use, including some lovely yarns! The first person that expresses interest in this small stash giveaway can have it all, free of charge! I need more space and less stuff in 2009...so on to the good stuff!!

Here's a group shot:

2 balls Filatura di Crosa Cambridge (black with pink and orange)

2 skeins (one rolled up) Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille Solid (light pink)

1 skein (rolled up) silk ribbon (pink, pale yellow, and mint variegated)

1 cake random boucle yarn (fuschia, teal, and purple)

These were all gifted to me, but I've been on a wool kick lately and will probably never use them. If you want them, please leave a comment and let me know! Happy Saturday!

Inspired

Although winter is a fantastic time to sit indoors, watch some Dog the Bounty Hunter reruns, sip hot chocolate, and knit to your heart's content, I find that my knitting time is so limited now. Sad! When it gets particularly chilly, I bring Wally indoors and he sleeps in his crate in the living room. This requires me to get up even earlier than normal (normal being 4:30) to take him back over to my parents' house before I go to work. So in the pursuit of 7 to 8 hours of sleep, I have been going to bed lately between 7:30 and 8:30. Uber early!! But it helps when the alarm goes off at 3:30 and I have to take an excited yellow lab out for his morning walk that I've actually slept.



So, knitting time is less than normal. Yet, inspiration and desire to knit is skyrocketing! Lately, as I peruse other people's blogs and Ravelry, I see scads of patterns I'm dying to get to work on. As evidence, I present to you my list of inspirational knits I've spyed on my travels. It takes some serious willpower not to A) run off to the nearest website and buy new yarn, or B) cast on RIGHT NOW!


1) Carole's Furrow Mittens (pattern by Kirsten Kapur)

2) Erin's Bella's Mittens (pattern by Subliminal Rabbit)

3) Sarah's February Lady Sweater (pattern by Pamela Wynne)

4) Owls by Kate Davies

5) Happy College Knitter's Wham Bam Thank You Lamb (pattern by Insaknitty)

6) Twist Collective's Vivian


I wish I could invent a machine that would instantly pack more knitting hours into the day! That'd be an investment for sure! For now, bit by bit, piece by piece, I'll start on my projects. Hopefully soon I'll have some FOs to show you!

On Mondays

Ah, back to work. I don't really mind Mondays that much. It's just the getting up so early that bothers me. I think I can still hear my warm bed calling my name.

I've discovered a fabulous new (to me) website this morning called Library Thing. I don't know how many of you have heard of it, but it's fantastic! You can catalog your entire collection of books online in a virtual library (and for me, there are a lot!) and you can read reviews, get recommendations on other books to read, connect with other readers locally and from afar. I think the list-y nature of it appeals to me most. Having a nice list of all the books I own...wow. In addition, one of the biggest pluses about this site is that they allow you to read and review books prior to their being published and available for purchase. How awesome is that??

As for the obligatory weather report, it's still crazy here. Calling for wintry mix today, but high in the 60s on Wednesday. That's what I get for living in the South. But I can't complain. I'm warm and snug in my office, waiting for the first signs of spring.

Wally wishes everyone a brilliant Monday! His grandma snapped this adorable shot of him during Raleigh's Great Snowstorm of 2009.

Back from Oblivion...

Welcome back! I know most of you thought I'd never post again, and I'll admit, blogging is hard for me. I'm not good with adding new things into my routine, but I've been in a finishing flurry lately and felt like sharing it with y'all!

First, I finally finished the Dragon Scarf. This pattern was so hard on my hands and although it was a good idea in theory, it didn't turn out the way I expected. My dragon is way too short to be a scarf, so it'll probably hang in the closet forever. Sad, because I was so looking forward to wearing it! I love unique scarves, hats, etc., that no one else will be wearing.

Next, I'm halfway done with the Mosey legwarmers from Knitty. I don't think I'll ever be an avid knitter of things that come in pairs. I get bored when I'm knitting the same thing twice. Maybe not mittens, but I haven't made a pair yet. Anyway, I'm working on the second legwarmer, but not really excited about it. There's too much other cool stuff floating around on Ravelry and in the blog world that I want to knit!

I started and completed Grumperina's Tretta Hat for a friend at work that wanted a nice, soft, and warm head covering for Raleigh's abnormally chilly winter. I love the finished product! I almost kept it for myself. I thought this pattern was pretty simple and extremely well written, can't wait to make one for myself. Maybe in a beautiful lime green!

To continue the FO parade, with the extra time I had on Tuesday during Raleigh's unusual snowfall, I finished my Fish Hat from the latest edition of Knitty. I used some random worsted stash wools in a variety of fishy colors. I LOVE this hat and have gotten several double takes, compliments, and requests for one of their own from friends, family, and coworkers. I am definitely going to make one for my mom and another for a one-year old nephew of a friend. I'm not sure how to make one to fit him, but I'm thinking if I go down a needle size or two, it should be of a size where he could at least grow into it.

A note on Ravelry: I am completely addicted!!! At first, I didn't really see the allure. Another knitting website? Not for me. But once I got on, I realized it's a knitter's heaven!! I am an unrepentent list maker and Ravelry is the best (and most exciting) way for me to keep track of all the little details, glories and tragedies of my knitting. Plus, it puts every pattern under the sun practically right at your fingertips! You can check and see which yarn people have been using, modifications they've made, errata, etc. Ravelry is my new best friend!!

Right now, there's a million patterns I can't wait to start on, but a few in the beginning/planning stages include: Wendy's Dream Swatch Head Wrap (I've got some Madil Eden Print that's burning a hole in my stash), the Chevalier mittens, a Lumpy Bumpy Tea Cozy for my baby sis, and the Meandering Lattice Hat for me! Not to mention, I want to knit my first sweater this year, no excuses! And maybe do some Fair Isle or stranded knitting as well, but we'll see how ambitious I get & how much time I have!

Have a brilliant weekend!

Better Late than Never!

How true! I've been trying to finish this Odessa hat by Grumperina forever, but studying really stopped me in my tracks. I'm soooo glad the test is over, at least for now! I can revel in my yarn again and not feel guilty! So without further ado, I present my latest FO:

I made this for a sweet lady at work who requested one back when it was cold enough to wear it. Sadly, I'm a slow knitter and spent the winter buried under textbooks, so she didn't get it until it's warm enough to wear short sleeves here. Alas! At least there's always next winter!

That's it for now, stayed tuned for more knitting content in the near future! The Horcrux socks are nearing completion and want to be photographed!!

The sock catches a breeze...

Springtime, Raindrops & Stardust

So I've just finished my third day in a row of "marathon" PE studying...marathon being 2 or 3 hour stretches of studying at a time. After a long day at work, even though I do enjoy my job most days, coming home and studying does NOT appeal to me. However, I desperately want to pass this test on the first try. But the studying is still turning my brain to mush and cutting into precious sleep hours. At least I get to walk Wally everyday and spend some much needed time outdoors. Even though it was misty and gray (it's raining steadily now, what a relaxing sound!), it was so nice to breathe fresh air and walk with my pup. It really is my meditation time. Check out yesterday's walk...the weather was gorgeous!!

Although the weather here in NC is up and down, warm one day, bordering on hot, then cold the next, it's definitely springtime! I love it! It was strange though when I was walking Wally last weekend and wore my winter coat, but could smell the fresh cut grass from the ambitious neighbors that cut the grass on the 80 degree day previous. Oddness!


One more quick note on studying: did I mention I can't study if it's too quiet? I get bored and antsy, then have trouble sitting still. Back when I was a full-time student, five years or so ago, I really contemplated being a student professionally. I've always enjoyed school and studying and learning. I still do. But after working for a while, I've lost my ability to sit and study diligently without some background noise. So for the past few evenings, I've been playing "Stardust" in the DVD player while I study. I love this movie, but it might be time for a break! I was humming the theme song all day today and wouldn't be surprised if I start dreaming about fallen stars and babylon candles!! If you haven't seen it though, you definitely should! It's romantic, funny, adventurous and exciting! It's going on my list of all time favorites!


Well, better get off to sleep, I want to read my devotional and a few pages of Tom Brokaw's "The Greatest Generation" before I hit the pillow! Wally says happy almost Friday everyone!



P.S...I promise this is still a knitting blog! Knitting in general will resume after the test next Friday! Wish me luck!

Sending out a smile

Just wanted to send out a happy Easter smile to all those who might be in need of one!!

And also, the beginning of special knitting...this one may take me awhile!!

The early stages of Knitty's Wild Stripes!