The place is here; the time is now

That's right folks, my charity fundraiser/raffle will be coming to a close in exactly ONE WEEK. The walk is next Saturday, June 5, so I will be accepting donations/raffle entries through Friday, June 4. So don't forget to DONATE.

If you've been thinking, "oh, I've got plenty of time, I'll donate later," well, stop doing that! There is no more later. The time is now!

The place is here.

And for everyone who has donated, I know have not written a personal acknowledgement to each and every one of you just yet, but rest assured I have all your names and you'll be hearing from me next weekend (maybe just to say thank you, but hopefully to tell you you've won a terrific prize!). And in the meantime, THANK YOU! My family and I really appreciate all of your support.

Now, I hope everyone has a lovely, sunny, loooooong Memorial Day weekend (at least in the states) and on Tuesday I'll tell you about this cuteness:

Promises, promises

I promised you guys a few posts ago that I would catch up on my FOs. And here they are!


Pattern: Every Way Wrap
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted in olive, 3ish skeins
Rav link (lots mo' photos--including the cute buttons)
Techniques: Cabling without a cable needle


Pattern: Tweed Baby Blanket by the awesome Jared Flood
Yarn: KnitPicks City Tweed DK in, er, purple and gray (I'm sure they actually have much more creative names than that), 4 main color, 1.5 contrast (I think)
Rav link
Techniques: iCord trim

Pattern: Springtime Bandit by Kate Gagnon Osborn

Yarn: Dream in Color Classy in gold experience, 1.25 skeins

Rav link

Techniques: none

Pattern: Aestlight Shawl by Gudrun Johnston

Yarn: Shivaya Naturals fingering weight in yellow

Rav link

Techniques: knit on edging, shetland construction--this whole thing was a new experience! I may actually do a separate post on this one . . . maybe . . .

So that's right, FOUR finished objects for you guys! Unbelievable. I've been churning FOs out left and right, and it's really a great feeling. Having a hobby is all well and good, but having something to show for it at the end of the day really makes it seem worthwhile.

Now, the bad news: the Delphine I've been working on since last year is, sadly, way too small--too tight, too short, just totally off and un-fixable. As I recall, I didn't do a gauge swatch, and look where it got me! Sigh. So I've hidden it away in a basket, hopefully when I've recovered from the heartbreak I can look at it again and decide what to do. I just adore that top, but do I have the wherewithall to reknit the whole thing? Doubtful.

But, I've got a new summer top on the needles, as well as a new baby blanket and baby shrug. So many babies these days. Fortunately none of them are mine! Oh, I'm also working on socks for dad for Father's Day, the Gansey Socks from Wendy Johnson's Socks from the Toe Up. Busy, busy, busy . . .

Don't forget, time is running out to enter the raffle. Last day to donate is JUNE 4. Your chances of winning are pretty darn good, so pry open that wallet and donate!

SP15 Refreshed questionnaire

What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? wool, alpaca, anything natural

What fibers do you absolutely not like? synthetics and rough cottons, yuck

What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? i have a needle roll for my DPNs, and a binder for my interchangeables, but my circs are a jumbled mess in my knitting bag

How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? i started in january 2007, i taught myself with Knitting for Dummies and Stitch n Bitch. i would say intermediate.

Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? yes, links are in the sidebar!

What’s your favorite scent? hmmm, that's tough. i love lilac.

Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? i love anything milk chocolate, and really almost any candy--but no gummy candies, they aren't vegetarian.

What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? not much. i'd like to learn crochet, maybe dyeing and spinning, but for now, it's just knitting.

Do you spin? Dye? nope.

What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD): i have somewhat odd taste in music. my iPod has everything from the Beatles, to the Killers, to Mana to Miles Davis to Bing Crosby. i like just about everything except country.

What’s your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can’t stand? i love blues and greens (darker shades) and really just don't like super bright colors, especially orange.

Do you have any pets? Are you allergic to any pets? i have 2 cats, and no pet allergies

Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? all but ponchos!

What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? hmmm, i love doing cowls, mittens, socks, shawls, sweaters . . . i get a little bored with scarves and i'm definitely not a dishcloth knitter.

What is on your needles right now? too much. a baby shrug, a baby blanket, a summer tank top, a cowl, and i'm about to start some socks.

Do you read knitting books? What kind of books i.e. technique, pattern, fiction? i love pattern books, and am also starting to collect stitch dictionaries in the hope that someday i'll be a designer!

Do you like to receive handmade gifts? of course!

Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? circulars, either bamboo or aluminum

Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? both

How old is your oldest UFO? last month i tried to finish a few, but i've still got a pair of socks that must be 2 years old.

What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe? Christmas to both!

Is there anything that you collect? Russian nesting dolls, Beatles albums, yarn . . .

Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? love to get some more knit picks harmonies bamboo DPNs and needle tips, and any brooklyn tweed patterns, they're great.

What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? just interweave. i like yarn forward, but too pricey.

Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn? steeking, colorwork

Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? i am a sock knitter, though a slow one. foot measurements . . . um, i wear a 7.5 shoe. i don't know how helpful that is, but i'm not whipping out a ruler at the office to measure my foot, sorry ;)

When is your birthday? Oct 15

Are you on Ravelry? If so, what’s your ID? angel101580

Are you on KnitPicks Knitting Community? What’s your username? technically i'm signed up, but i don't use it at all.

wool and sweat do not mix

So, Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival . . . yeah.


I would go again. On two conditions:


1. I can go early Sunday morning, when it's supposedly less crowded.
2. It's not 90 degrees.


My goodness, it was HOT at the festival. Hot hot hot. Spaces in the shade were at a premium. People were sweaty. Wool seemed almost distasteful.


And it was crowded. Exhibition halls were jam-packed. I couldn't even squeeze into the main hall, let alone do any shopping.


Frankly, it wasn't that fun.


I did stop by the handknits and handspun yarn competition:




(Love that yummy looking brown/gold stuff in the front!)


And I saw lambies:



And alpacas:

(I also watched the sheep herding demo, but the video doesn't want to upload onto Blogger)

But I never would've dreamed a Sheep and Wool show could be so popular in central Maryland in 90 degree weather:


I didn't stay long. Maybe 2 hours. I did stop at Victoria Gastro Pub for lunch and a cerveza bien heladita (ice cold beer . . . or two), highly recommend to all on your next visit to the Columbia, MD area.


But I bought only two skeins of yarn. TWO SKEINS!!


And one of them is for you guys:

This is a lovely skein of Creatively Dyed Calypso yarn in the Saturn colorway. How can you get it? Donate a measily $5 to my fundraiser, and you'll be entered to win this skein of yarn, or some other lovely prizes. Just $5. And for every $5 you donate, you get another entry! $25 = 5 raffle entries. Do it today! Tell your friends! Only ONE MONTH TO GO!!