9.27.2006

Second sock on the way

I don't have any snazzy photos today, but I do have knitting news:

1. Sock #2 is well on its way to becoming a finished object. Yup. Honest. I'll show photos to prove it.

2. I spent hours organizing my printed web patterns into binders and clear plastic sleeves...I'm such a nerdy knitter! And I couldn't be happier, so there. What was really surprising was how many patterns I have accumulated, and how many of them are for things I have previously vowed never to knit (socks, scarves, shawls, wraps, capes, gloves...the list is a long one).

3. I joined the Sock Wars and have received my assignment...a woman in California who has SIZE 11 FEET!!!!!!! For those of you who haven't heard of the Sock Wars, let me just say it's basically a race to finish a pair of socks before the person assigned to me finishes the socks intended for me and my little 7.5-size feet. What are the chances I'm going to finish a pair of size 11 (eleven, people!) socks before someone does the ones for me? Zilch, I say. But I'm going to give it the old college try. I'm a little behind already because I decided to order yarn on elann instead of going to my LYS. But I bought nice, nice yarn, and it was a bargain, so I'm going to wait on the shipment. If it doesn't come by this weekend, I'll go to my LYS and use the elann yarn for myself later.

4. My knitting pal in NZ (Hi, N!) celebrated her birthday on Monday, and the parcel I sent to her sat unopened in her house until the end of the day...how does she do that? Where did she get such restraint? Why don't I have it? We have so much in common, I would have expected her to react the way I would: open that sucker the minute it arrives, baby.

5. My friend, D, whom I have known since 4th grade is coming for a visit in two weeks. Why? Besides to see me, she has requested (yes, it was her idea) a (wait for it...) KNITTING WEEKEND! Never one to disappoint my friends, I have agreed to take dear D to the local Fiber Festival. I'm such a good friend. Nothing is too good for my pal. I sacrifice so much to do what my friend wants to do...sigh. Hee hee hee. I love the Fall Fiber Festival, and love taking new converts to browse. It's just the right size for a rookie--not too big to overwhelm all of the senses, but not so small that there won't be anything to tempt even a new knitter. Fun! I don't know whether I'll be in a position to buy anything, but I'll definitely enjoy seeing the beautiful things and cooing over furry critters. Plus this year, I've got it on good authority that Bess is going to be there, and while we've corresponded by email, we've never met. I'd like to meet her and chat with her about being a librarian knitter.

And, since I'm talking about Bess, here's a quiz I took from a link on her blog. Enjoy!





You Aren't A Diva



You don't like to cause a fuss or draw attention to yourself.

You're easygoing, and you can even put up from diva behavior from others.

This makes you everyone's favorite trusty companion.

But watch out - it could also make you their favorite dormat.

Are You a Diva?

posted by Nerdy Knitter @ 8:27 PM 3 comments

9.19.2006

Sock? What sock?

Okay, so I know I swore I would finish the 2nd sock after I finished the chemo turban, but I just couldn't resist making Bobbi first. I'll do the second Pota-ma-whatsis sock next, honest (I think). He's a cutie-patootie, but he's waaaay bigger than I had expected. I didn't give anything for scale, but he's at least 18" if not 24".

Bobbi Bear (tiger-ish)

The yarn was on sale at JoAnn Fabric a long time ago; I'm not sure what it is, but there's a glittery thread running through it that makes it a very special bear/tiger. I think it's going to be a present for the big brother of the baby who's getting the blue blanket I made last month. Or, if not that, it will be a Christmas present for Nephew #3. We'll see. Or it could just be an impetuous present when I want to impress a little one...you never know.

But for now, I'm back to focusing on the sock. Oh, and trying to spin up that beautiful fiber Maia sent to me! See, Maia--I'm going to do it, honest.

posted by Nerdy Knitter @ 3:57 PM 0 comments

9.12.2006

One Finished Item...One Marvelous Finished Item...Two?

The title is my attempt at sounding like the Count from Sesame Street...but it's kinda difficult to do if you're only counting to 1.

But 1 is what I have. One what, you ask? One sock, of course!

Sock, the first

It's the Pomatomus pattern from Knitty, and it's done in Regia cotton sock yarn in the color 'Surf.' I'm taking a break from doing the second sock because I need to make a chemo turban for a colleague. I figure this break will make me more interested in completing Sock #2. Yes, it's true--I suffer from (dum-da-dum dum dummmm) Second Sock Syndrome. So a break between socks might be a good idea. Plus the chemo turban is 4x4 rib for 40" which is going to drive me absolutely batty. By the time I'm done with that, I'll be ready for a more challenging pattern.

I really liked knitting a lace sock; I haven't done one before. The only thing I would have liked to figure out is how to shorten the leg. But the pattern was new to me, and I wasn't quite sure how the lace pattern would work if I omitted any of the repeats. Maybe once I've made this pair I'll understand how the leg pattern matches up with the foot, and I'll be able to make modifications. We'll see.

Here's a close-up shot of the leg pattern, which I love, love, love!

Sock, the first, leg


And now, I'm going to get back to my thrill-a-minute 4x4 rectangle, which will someday (soon, I hope) become the Chemo Turban. I'm using Elann's yarn in a really beautiful color (I think it's Grand Canyon) that I think the recipient will enjoy wearing.

Happy Tuesday!

posted by Nerdy Knitter @ 2:36 PM 1 comments

9.11.2006

Wahoo!

Lookat me!


I'm a Mazda RX-8!



You're sporty, yet practical, and you have a

style of your own. You like to have fun, and you

like to bring friends along for the ride, but when

it comes time for everyday chores, you're

willing to do your part.


Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.


posted by Nerdy Knitter @ 6:36 PM 0 comments

9.06.2006

Wowee-wow-wow-wow!

My bounty

What is this lovely photo, you ask? If you guessed "the amazing prezzies sent by my pal, Maia (aka Mizzem)," you are correct! Maia made a beautiful bag just for me (she even designed the pattern!), plus she sent all kinds of goodies, including handmade soaps for me AND my mother, who was visiting when we thought the package was due to arrive. Now wasn't that thoughtful?! There was also a chocolate bar made by my very favorite brand (Green & Black's), chockfull of almonds. Yum! Why isn't it in the photo, you ask? Well...maybe because the wrapping has already been removed, and some of the bar already devoured...maybe, just maybe. AND (I seem to be saying 'AND' a lot in this entry, don't I? It's because there's so much to describe) she sent 4 little wads of stunning fleece for me to use with my drop spindle. Gulp! I'm still a spinning rookie, but she said that I am supposed to just spin it, not wait until I feel up to using the fancy stuff. It's so beautiful, I'm tempted to jump right in, which is what she said I should do. Maybe even this weekend (Nerdy Hubby is going to be away Sat/Sun).

And there were some treats for the Pooch Child. He was very pleased as well. In fact, he was also very interested in the yummy smells coming from the soaps, so they've been sealed up in a baggy until we decide which flavor to use first.

Thank you, Maia, for being such a fantastic pal! I hope you'll leave a comment so I know where to find your blog (and, if you want, what your last name might be)...oh--and I have a question for you: did you spin the yarn you used for my bag?

Here's a better (still not great) photo of the bag, which is the superstar of the prezzies:


A felted bag designed just for little old me

The photo doesn't do the bag justice; it has this great, chubby, round shape on the bottom, then narrows and almost flares at the top. It's really cool. It looks like the bottom was made using triangles that were done kind of like the multidirectional scarf, but I don't know for sure. Maia? Want to pipe in here?

Phew--My little fingers are exhausted from all of the typing required to describe just how spoiled I am! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Maia!

posted by Nerdy Knitter @ 3:04 PM 1 comments

9.05.2006

I'm mohair!




What kind of yarn are you?




You are Mohair.You are a warm and fuzzy type who works well with others, doing your share without being too weighty. You can be stubborn and absolutely refuse to change your position once it is set, but that's okay since you are good at covering up your mistakes.
Take this quiz!





I took this quiz once before, and I was something different (I'm something else, no?)...this is better than my first one. Fun, too!

posted by Nerdy Knitter @ 7:09 PM 0 comments