Friday, February 24, 2006

A Yarn Adventurer, am I!

I just came across this quiz via Sheryl's blog, and am pleased with the results! Oh, I yearn to be a Knitting Goddess, but this does give me hope that one day I will make it there!

Knitting Adventurer
You appear to be a Knitting Adventurer.
You are through those knitting growing pains and
feeling more adventurous. You can follow a
standard pattern if it's not too complicated
and know where to go to get help. Maybe
you've started to experiment with different
fibers and you might be eyeing a book with a
cool technique you've never tried. Perhaps
you prefer to stick to other people's
patterns but you are trying to challenge
yourself more. Regardless of your preference,
you are continually trying to grow as a
knitter, and as well you should since your
non-knitting friends are probably dropping
some serious hints, these days.
http://marniemaclean.com


What Kind of Knitter Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

It's been a very satisfying, if busy, week! I've started TaeKwonDo with the rest of my family, and am wonderfully surprised at how much I love it! Oh, I do feel pretty ridiculous most classes: after about 30 years of knowing my right from my left, suddenly I can't remember which is which. I own my own ghee now, look pretty silly in it, and can't tie my own belt. The forms are totally foreign to me, and I don't have a truly agressive bone in my body. BUT the instructors are wonderful, genuine people, and I've already made friends that I am so truly grateful to know! And my family is proud of me, which means a lot. (As one instructor said, "The family that kicks together sticks together." Gotta love that.)

I finished Katie's Irish Hiking Scarf (photo to come) and started the Better Than Booties socks for my cousin Marcy's baby, due in July (surely I can finish before then!)I've taken my mother's sweater-to-be out and contemplated working on it... a small step in the right direction!

Most bestest of all, I got to help knit up some swatches for Yarntopia! Amy and Sheryl's shop is just over 0.7 miles from my front door, and I'm so excited! They have yarns I've never even heard of, despite far too much time (and money) spent cruising the 'net. (AND the nicest two women in the whole wide world own the shop. I don't know Sheryl that well yet, but I DO know that she's intelligent, kind and creative-- and Amy has that almost-never-seen mix of business sense and caring in addition to a passion for fiber and a desire to share it. Between the yarn and the personalities, I don't see how Yarntopia could be anything other than an incredible success!)

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Another Needle Exchange!

Catherine has organized another Needle Exchange, and I am delighted to be included! Here are my answers for my NE Pal; I hope they're helpful for you to "know" me a little better. Please feel free to use what is helpful, but I will be delighted with whatever you send!

1. What do you like to knit or crochet? (socks, sweaters, etc.)
I am almost exclusively into knitting, although I've done a little crochet (edging and the like). I've had some fun with socks lately, and I've got some mitten/glove patterns I'd like to try. My FRANK sweater (Frank, not Vince, as I referred to it in an earlier blog entry!) will one day be lovely, but it's slowed the enthusiasm for sweater knitting!

2. What fibers do you like?
I prefer natural fibers, but I'm not adverse to any yarn! I've enjoyed petting the alpaca lately, and have a skein of angora waiting to be formed into something lovely. I've enjoyed trying out different sock yarns lately, too.

3. What type of needles do you use most often?
DPNS lately (for socks), and I really like my circulars.

4. Do you like to knit in the round?
Yep.

5. Do you use a magic loop method or any other we should know about? Are you interested in learning a new method?
I've tried the magic loop method, but I seem to have the attention span of a flea when it comes to learning new methods lately. I'd love to learn to crochet more (I can do a ruffle and a ring, and I am so proud of myself for figuring that out!). I enjoy an occasional challenge when knitting!

7. Do you have a favorite place that you shop online? (knitpicks.com, knitpixie.com, jimmybeanswool.com....)?
I love Jimmy Beans, think Missa and and Jessica over at kpixie are brilliant and fun, and have placed orders with Yarn Market, Elann, Herrschners, and Morehouse Farm, and been pleased with all! (oh, yes, I love yarn and yarn paraphernalia!)

8. Do you want to be surprised? then erase all your answers above and write surprise me!!!
I ALWAYS love surprises-- getting the box in the mail is always fun!