SP13 Questions

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love wools. Scumptious, soft wools. I'm also a sucker for Rowan and Debbie Bliss yarns. I hate novelty yarns and acrylics

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have my DPNs in a roll up case, my Harmonies are in the zipper pouch, my Options are in a Binder and my Addi's are in a circular needle case. My Straights are in a vase. Why yes, I do have a needle obsessions.......why do you ask?

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I have been obsessively knitting for 2 years now. I have learned when I was about 10 but I only knew the knit stitch. I didn't know how to cast off or purl. I never picked up a needle again until I was pregnant with my 2nd baby,

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? No, but I am hoping to get one soon so hubby might have some clue this x-mas

5. What's your favorite scent? I love fresh, clean scent. Like fresh linens or cotton. Also, I love baby powder scent.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I don't really have a big sweet tooth. However, I love milk chocolates with Almonds.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I know how to crochet but don't really like it. I just started doing some stitch markers.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I like the typical top 40 and yes, my stereo can play mp3

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?I love neutral or soft pastel colours. I don't like black or too dark colours since I have a hard time finding the stitches on my needles.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I have been married for 5 years. I have a 4 year old daughter and a 2 year old son. We don't have any pets.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I wear Scarves, hats and mittens. I can't wear ponchos. It makes me look like I am wearing hand-dyed potato sack.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I love knitting sweaters for my kids. It's still a committment but still gives me gratifications since it is a lot smaller.

13. What are you knitting right now? Well, this is waay to embarassing to admit. BUT..... I have 5 socks, Sweater for Hubby, 2 sweater for my daughter, hat for my son, x-mas stockings, 2 sweater for myself, a stole and 1 scarf.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Absolutely

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I am all about the circular needles. I love metals - especially Addi's

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

17. How old is your oldest UFO? 2 years

18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe? I love Christmas. It gives me the excuse to shop. I am not really a religious person but we do observe Christmas. I love decorating the house, making cookies, presents, etc.

19. Is there anything that you collect? Aside from my unhealthy desire to own every yarn every made? I can't seem to own too much knitting books and magazine.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I really want the Stitchionary by Vogue Series. I have Stitchionary 3 and would like 1 & 2. Also, the Harmony series look nice too. I love magazines but surprising the only subscription that I ever got was the Rowan Magazine.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? One of these days I would like to have the guts to try Steeking.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yes, I love socks and just recently discovered them. I have been buying sock yarns for years but never really knitted them until now. I love knitting Basic Socks. My husband and I carpool so I do my knitting in the car. My foot size is 7 .

23. When is your birthday? October 5th

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

Secrets Pals

I had just signed up to participate in Secret Pal 13 swaps. I had a blasted in the last swap that I participated in so I am hoping for the same experience this round. I figure, by joing a swap, I can have guilt-free shopping spree. I get to buy all the goodies that I have been wanting but since it is not for me, it doesn't count.

The weather has gotten a bit nippy and it's time to pull out all the hats and mitten. However, I realized that all of the kids' hat doesn't fit them anymore so I've put everything aside and cast on the Snowflake Inca Hat from Ittsy Bittsy Hat. I loooovve how the Noro colors knitted up but it sure feels like Brillo Pad. Even after I soaked it in SOAK for half an hour, it will still be too itchy for Aliana to wear.

I went out and bought some fleece to line the hat. Now, you're talking about a woman who will throw away a perfectly good shirt because she can't be bother to sew on one stinking buttons. Since this is for my little girl and my need to show off my knitted items, I sucked it up and whipped out my sewing needle. Just to emphasize how much I hate to sew, I had to search the house for about 30 mins looking for a sewing needle. I was able to produced one needle located at a bottom of a forgotten craft basket. Hard to believe that this same woman owns approximately 3 set of interchangeable knitting needles, 20 set of dpns, 25 pairs of straights in various materials and length. Let's not mention my collection of Chibi needles, but I digress.....

The hat came out just right. By "just right" I meant, the right size and not crooked. What can I say? I have low standards.

Currently I am working on a Girl's Smocked Jacket by Blue Sky Alpacas. I'm knitting this up in Rowan Big Wool in color Whoosh:

I don't have any pictures yet since I've been knitting this at night after the kids goes to bed and the lighting is horrible. I have knitted the body and finished the left front this morning. Since this is knitted in super big needles and even bigger wool, I am hoping to finish this up in a couple of days.

This pattern is written out with the goal to confused the hell out of the knitter. There are mistakes everywhere. The written pattern and charts are completely wrong. Needless to say, it took about 3 frogging session to realize that it wasn't me. Anyway, I am not completely following the pattern and only knitting this how I "think" it should be knitted.

A yearly trek

Every year in Mid September in Waterloo, a knitter's dream come true. A bunch of local vendors will get together and put on an awesome fair dedicated to the knitted obsessive. I have been anticipating this day for months.

My woke up really early and snucked out of the house before anyone can catch me and drive over an hour to line up at the door. All this for yarns - only a true knitter will understand.

I walked pass Herschener's booth and they had some really great price on Addi Turbos. Since I have found a new love with 2 circular needle to knit socks, I wanted to stock up. I had tried knitting with Hiya Hiya. Even though it was a great needle, I think the tips are too pointy and the coating is too rough. I much prefer the Addis
And these beautiful stitchmarkers

Also, I was passing through one booth who had the Pattern Tamers on sale for $20. I finally got the chance take a reallly good look at them and they are basically magnet clued on ribbons. I really appreciate the idea but I think I am going to shamelessly steal the idea and make my own for a bout $1

Over all - I think I did really well. I was able to scored some Noro Socks for $11 and completed

In other news, I finished my plain vanilla socks knitted with 2 circular. It is STR Sedona. It is now being blocked after 15 min of emersing in Soak - The Sweet Sheep scent. A new scent that I picked up at the festival.

Bad, bad knitter

Ok, so it's been a REALLY long time since I posted on here. Ever since I've been on Ravelry, I have been ignoring this blog all year. It seems that Ravelry has everything I can ever wanted from knitting. I have documented all my wip (more than I care to admitted), my FOs and all my upcoming projects that I want to cast on soon (or in this lifetime)

Ravelry is such a great site - kind of make me wish that I came up with the idea first.

The Reveal

Finally, the reveal of my secret pal! I have been particpating in Secret Pal since August and today I received my last package from my Pal. She's no other than Lesley. She has been spoiling me since September with thoughtful gift and wonderful yarns. Here's my last packageLindt Chocolates (how did you know????), hand cream, lip balm, pampered foot and leg cream (I drafted my hubby to massage it in), ornaments, Beads and DB yarn for a hat pattern. (I must admit, the dental floss threw me off until I read the instructions for them) LOL and cute and wonderul stitch markers.

and my absolute fave:

Personalized stitch markers! I ADORE them! I have an obsession about stitch markers lately and this was the icing cake! Oh thank you!

I can't wait to get to know my pal a bit more. However, the family is off to a ski chalet for Christmas week and we're leaving this Friday. I would not have any access to the net for a while - how primitive!!! LOL.

Mommy's Little Helper

This weekend had flew by. It was filled with putting up the Christmas tree, decorating it, putting up Christmas lights and shopping. Good thing I had my two little elves to help me:

While shopping for additional ornaments for the tree, the knitter in me can't resist this

Of course, in a perfect world, these ornaments would be knitted by yours truly, but instant gratification won the vote on this one. Decorating the tree with a toddler and pre-schooler took longer than expected but it truly bought out the magic of the holidays. Complete with broken ornaments, screaming toddler and frazzled mom. However, the finished product ain't half bad.After putting the kids to bed, I started this sweater for a friend who's wife will be delivering in February. This original designed is by Anny Purl. I volunteer to test-knit the Hickery Dickery Dot in size 3 months. I am knitting this in a simple cotton from Cottontot. The front is done and I am finishing up the back. I'm hoping to have this finish by next week.

Winter Wonderland

Over the past few days, we officially had our first snow. Like every other city in North America that ever experienced the first snow of the season - no one knew how to drive, everyone and their brothers stocked up on bread and milk, we all ran to Home Depot panicking that the last snow shovel might be sold out. When I tuned into the weather channel and they announce a winter storm watch, the whole city braced for a gruesome .....1/2 day of storm. Yep, we're a paranoid bunch!

The snow was beautiful, well, at least from the inside anyway. Since this was the first snow and Aliana is a bit obsessed about Frosty the Snowman lately, Max took her out to build one.

I can't even take credit for this snowman because I didn't go out at all. My little boy, who's future looks promising as a couch potato, opted to stay in with a bowl of popcorn and an episode of Blue's Clue. I had no choice but to sit with him, right?

Awwww - he sures takes after his mommy when it comes to his laziness! (notice the hand movement from bowl to mouth!)

While Hubby and Aliana was out playing, I stayed in and made Beef Stew. They both came in red cheeked and I sat them down for a nice hearty meal. My goodness, all I was missing was a film crew since it really felt like another Campbell Soup commercial.

I've made some progress on the Fleece Artist Northumberland sweater. I must admit, knitting in the round with just ribbing of K4, P4... my brain was slipping into comatose. I'm sure eventually I will finish this sweater. My goal would be Winter 2010!

Since I developed this love for the Continental method, I decide to knit Max a yoke sweater. This one is knitted from Dream in Color in Dusky Aurora. I figure I'll keep knitting this up to the arm hole and I'll figure out a texture stitch for the yoke later. That's me - knitting on the fly. I can barely follow a pattern so I'm not sure what possess me to knit this sweater without one. As with all handpainted yarn, they always recommended that I use 2 balls and alternate between rows so the color all blend together. It says it on all the label, my LYS had mentioned it when I bought it, all the blogs I read had talked about it.

Since I think that I am always the exception to the rules and that the knitting gods is smiling on

me, I proceed to knit this using one ball at a time. I guess I shouldn't whine as much since it was expected. There's a HUGE color difference halfway up the sweater. Oh well, if my Hubby mentions it, I will tell him it's an artistic intention.