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Rowan Calmer - Shade 460 "Drift"
This is enough Calmer to knit a the XS or S "Soul" from the Rowan Calmer book (Kim Hargreaves patterns)
Price: $22 plus shipping (retail value - approx $35) SOLD
If you are interested, the first commenter who requests this item will have priority. I prefer PayPal payment in US dollars. No swaps or trades on this item please.
Will include the my unused color copy of the FREE Rebecca pattern for a pillow using three skeins of Esprit. There is also almost enough to make the baby blanket in Greetings from Knit Cafe.
If you are interested, the first commenter who requests this item will have priority. I prefer PayPal payment in US dollars. No swaps or trades on this item please.
Retail Value: approx $28 My price: $20 plus shipping OR best offer
GGH Mystik - Shade 065 - Dye Lot 201
There is enough yarn to knit up to the 38" chest size for the Honeymoon Cami on Knitty.
Price: $37 plus shipping (retail value - approx $45) SOLD
If you are interested, first commenter who requests this item will have priority. I prefer PayPal payment in US dollars. No swaps or trades on this item.
Rowan All Seasons Cotton - 5 Skeins - Shade 183 / Dye Lot 29D3
(Enough to knit the Smooch in either XS, S, or M)
Each 50g skein has 98 yards (I swatched with one of the skeins but didn't cut the yarn - will frog the swatch and re-wind the yarn)
$25 plus shipping (retail value - approx $40) SOLD
If you are interested, first commenter who requests this item will have priority. I prefer PayPal payment in US dollars. No swaps or trades on this item.
Will include the my unused color copy of the FREE Rebecca pattern for a pillow using three skeins of Esprit. There is also almost enough to make the baby blanket in Greetings from Knit Cafe.
If you are interested, the first commenter who requests this item will have priority. I prefer PayPal payment in US dollars. No swaps or trades on this item please.
Retail Value: approx $28 My price: $20 plus shipping OR best offer
Friends, I'm starting to feel a little bit overwhelmed and out of control with my luck and my ever-growing stash. I've been trying to be honest in the recording and photographing the stash but (ahem), I've realized recently that not everybody photojournals their stash.
So my secret's out -- I'm not a stashless knitter (yet). However, rather than knit it all up right this minute, I'm going to have a stash sale here on the blog (stay tuned). BUT . . . if you're on Ravelry, you can check out the "sale/trade" section for "TwistedKnitter."
For what it's worth, I'm a bit of a fanatic about updating my projects. I love the visual evidence that Ive finished over 60 things! I'm still missing photos and project notes on a couple of dozen items, so I could easily be close to 100 completed projects by the time I'm finished updating.
I can't stress it enough -- if you're not on Ravelry yet, start photographing your finished objects (and stash, if youre so inclined). For great digital photography tips, check out Lolly's Weekend Photography Workshop. My own recommendations for shooting yarn and projects include:
1. Turn off the flash - you shouldn't ever need to use it for photographing yarn
2. Use natural light but not strong sunlight (pick a spot by a sunny window)
3. Get familiar with your camera's "macro" feature and use it
Those are just the top three EASY tips for ANY type of digital camera. In the past, I've failed to do all of the above -- but now you don't have to.
I wanted to wait to post part two of the Yarn Harlot's Houston Visit because I knew that several others would end up with more entertaining stories and photos than I have (and now many of you know why I don't have a publishable photo with Stephanie). I wasn't disappointed! I've really enjoyed reading all of the accounts of her visit and viewing others' photos.
Here are a handful for your reading (and photo viewing) pleasure, in no particular order:
Twisted Yarns
Plum Texan, Post 1
Plum Texan, Post 2
Sea Anemone Knits
Twisted Texan
Big Pink Cookie (of Pointy Sticks' podcast fame)
Sweater Project
Knitivity / Knitterman
Knit RN
Everwhelming Liz
One of the highlights of her book signing at the shop was when she picked up Heather's in-progress "sweater of many stitches" (on straight needles) and started knitting -- I got a good look at her method of hooking one needle under her right arm while she knits. Although I know that many people knit this way (including Deb Stoller), I had never seen it in person.
Perhaps to some of you who don't read her blog regularly, the reaction to her visit seems a bit overblown -- I think you'll get it if you go see her when she visits your town. And to Debbie in Georgia, I just have to say that I was equally as impressed with your blog entry about her Atlanta visit and loved getting a glimpse of your yarn store and southern hospitality.
By now you've heard a bit here and there about the Yarn Harlot's visit to Houston (Spring), Texas -- hosted by Twisted Yarns. I had a great time -- Stephanie was wonderful and gracious and VERY funny. The whole night almost made me forget that I had a dentist appointment the next morning -- for what was supposed to be a routine cleaning. Yikes. Nearly two hours in the chair, nitrous oxide and many shots later (and a sore jaw today), along with a much lighter bank account, I still feel too loopy to properly post the details of Stephanie's visit. It deserves a detailed post.
I really thought she would be funny JUST about knitting - and that perhaps she'd say a lot of things about stash and yarn that were kind of funny. Wrong. She's funny about everything -- things totally unrelated to knitting. And though I would like to share those with you, I don't know how. Just do go see her if you get a chance.
So instead of writing about my evening with the Harlot, I'm watching funny movies trying to get back in a writing and knitting mood. I emailed two people yesterday who I knew would get a laugh out of the one photo that managed to turn out okay of me and Stephanie (taken while she was signing my book). And I can't post it. (But if you're nice and I know you and you have a wicked sense of humor . . . leave a comment and we'll see).
Monday night I was really tired and my seven-year old son asked me to teach him how to knit so he could knit ME some socks. For me. From him. Soft socks, he said. I cast on some scrap yarn on huge needles and was sweating profusely trying to show him how to do a knit stitch. He ended up transferring stitches from one needle to another without wrapping them first. Because I was tired, I promised him I would teach him soon and help him, but it seemed difficult for me to figure out a way that he could grasp the idea of knitting -- because he REALLY wants to knit me some socks. All day Tuesday while he was at school, I agonized over it and he mentioned it again in the car on the way home from school. But I had to leave him ALL NIGHT to go see Stephanie speak. And you know . . . in the middle of the funny, she gave me the answer (and it's in Knitting Rules too). You teach a beginner to knit by casting on for a hat and YOU knit several rounds before handing them the needles so they can knit. By the time they're tired of knitting, it might be really close to time for decreasing. She doesn't mention purling -- instead it's "the opposite of knitting" (perhaps paraphrased). And I thought it was brilliant. So in case he brought it up again, I thought I'd have a hat "ready" for him to knit. I cast on last night at the boys' bedtime. My oldest son just wanted to be tucked in and my seven-year old was still a bit too wiggly. He sat up in my bed and watched me cast on and yawned and said, "I still want to learn how to knit," and fell asleep.
Here are the photos I've uploaded so far -- in slideshow format.
I'm in the knitting doldrums and since I have no progress to show in spite of doing what feels like a lot of knitting (Habu scarf, Fleece Artist sock, swatching for a Renee Baby Blanket), I'm going to share some belated thanks for a wonderful gift I received from Nora last week:
I was so humbled to receive it -- I had already admired this very scarf on Nora's Flickr so I was very surprised when I opened the package. The details, the fabric, and the texture are so difficult to describe, but she has generously posted instructions so that you can make your own.
For those of you who might be wondering if I'm working on logging my 5400 minutes, yes, I am:
I've been averaging more than 30 minutes a day because my goal is to be able to FINISH what I've started during a given block of time. Beading and jewelry is a perfect thing to do during a 30- to 45-minute session. It won't replace knitting, but I'll have actual results to show for the time I spend. I've been making bracelets and chandelier earrings -- once the items are gifted, I can share more photos. My "practice" earrings in the photo above are in L.A. right now but I already have plans for more of them -- each pair different than the ones preceding.
And for the local knitters, I'm sure you've heard who's coming to town next Tuesday, right? Stephanie Pearl-McPhee -- the Yarn Harlot. My co-workers and I will all be working Tuesday during the event, helping things run smoothly and assisting with the book signing afterward. Please say hello if you're one of my readers! I'll be taking photos before and after and might be juggling a few cameras, so I might want to take YOUR photo too. AND after this event is over, I'm going to have to figure out a way to go see Laurie in mid-October! Wanna go with?
Listening: WOXY Vintage on itunes
Oh, I know I already bragged shamelessly mentioned that I won some gorgeous Fleece Artist Somoko, but I had to show it to you:
And, along with the yarn and a sweet card, I also received a package of smoked almonds and strawberry drops in a tin. Equally as exciting was winning the pattern for Anne's Orchid Lace Scarf. It's the same pattern that Staci knit when she won my red Malabrigo Laceweight yarn. And now I have a chance to knit this wonderful scarf as well. It's come full circle, don't you think? Thank you so much, Brenda.
Some of you might remember a previous post in which I asked for recommendations for new blogs to add to my sidebar. You all shared some wonderful blogs and I've been slowly reading and adding some of your favorites. I added your names to a drawing for a book I'm giving away -- The Crafter's Companion. Felicia of Fluffy Flowers was my winner! I also chose one more winner to receive a Knit Whits felted flower kit -- Kim of Chronic Ennui.
Congratulations Felicia and Kim!! I'll be contacting you via email to get your addresses.
(Comments closed due to SPAM - if you have any questions, contact me via the link on my blog sidebar)
It feels like I posted blog entries since last week, but I guess I only wrote them in my head.
I have some overdue thanks to post and one of them is for an impromptu Back2School swap I joined at the last minute. My swap partner was Stacey of Crimson Purl. Even though this swap was open to anybody (not just knitters), I was glad to be paired with a knitter anyway. I had a great time picking "supplies" for her and was delighted with what she chose for me:
She included a cute hand-stamped card and everything was packed inside a plastic pencil box with a lime green lid -- there were yellow and orange star-shaped Post-it® notes, Post-it® tape flags, orange highlighter tape (knitters -- are you using this tape?), mini mechanical pencils, highlighters, a spiral-bound notepad and a book cover. I love the thoughtful touch of her having color-coordinated everything. Thank you, Miss Stacey!
