Knitting in pink

I received today my last package from my pal for Secret Pal 10. My pal was Fat Chick Crafts. I had found out pretty early who she was as we both had won on the same contest and I recognized her moniker. She's been a great pal and we've enjoyed writing back and forth. Every package from her was such a treat and once again she picked some great things for me.

In the top picture you can see two balls of merino rovings, a very awesome book that I've wanted to get for quite some time and the most amazing piece of stitchery I've ever seen. My Pal stitched me this beautiful scissors fob. I've never seen anything like this before. She's a very talented stitcher, you can see what she's been working on lately on her blog. If you click on the middle picture you'll be able to see all the details of that little cushion. She even stitched both our initials on the back with the year it was made.
The bottom picture is of goodies from Minnesota where my pal is from. The jam looks extremely yummy, I can't wait to taste it : )

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I've been working on a lot of socks lately. I finished my first Sockapalooza sock and cast on yesterday for the second one.



I've also reached the ribbing on my plain Yarntini socks. I'm doing my first twisted 1x1 rib and I find it really pretty so far. I'm hoping it will fit me as well as a regular 2x2 ribbing.



The third sock I am currently working on is the store's August Sock Club sock. I'll just show you a detail...



I'll be working on/finishing these socks on vacation next week on Sanibel Island in Florida. I'll probably be the only one knitting socks on the beach but that's fine with me! The Yo Yo and I are planning to get together in Tampa on Thursday so if you'll be around just give us a shout out!

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I know, this is getting long, but just one more thing:

You might want to close your eyes if you're extra sensitive, because this is going to hurt.



This is a picture of the underarm of my new Fitted Tank after I wore it for the second time. My new deodorant seems to have bleaching effects...What you see is the inside, but the outside is just as bad. The other armhole isn't bleached quite as bad but still. I wanted to scream when I saw that. Now I'm not quite sure if there is something I can do about it. Any suggestions?

Read - ing

I just finished reading this book this morning. It was a very quick read, I started to read 2 nights ago and read and read some more. I enjoyed this book quite a bit, although it reminded me a lot of another book I read a couple months ago, The Friday Night Knitting Club.

Knitt - ing



I've been knitting away on my secret knitting. If you like what you see, sign ups for our June Sock Club are still open! : )

Join - ing

In the last 24 hours I signed up for 2 more sock related knitalongs: Sockamania and Sockapalooza 4.

Sockamania is organized by Anni of Confessions of a Yarn Addict. Starting in May, participants will get a sock pattern by Anni which we will knit. Hopefully the patterns will match in some way Socktopia themes! : )

The sign ups for Sockapalooza 4 opened sometimes between late last night and this morning. I've been debating the last few days whether or not to sign up for it. My main concern is knitting socks for someone's else's feet. I can't try them on as I go, what if they don't fit? But I decided that I would try my best and that it shouldn't be too hard to do! So I signed up. Also, send off are in August, so I have plenty of time to knit a pair of socks that will fit!

Participat - ing



My Secret Pal 10 hostess has asked our group to post a picture of either the ugliest thing we've ever knit or the ugliest yarn we have. And since I had one of each I decided to post both.

On top is my second scarf ever. I knit it for my husband out of some Lion's Brand chunky acrylic yarn. Not only was the scarf too short but it was too stiff and thick, we called it the "Neck Brace". I have to admit that I tossed it a few months back. No need to keep something so horrible around. I can't say that the second scarf I knit for my husband was a better success... We call that one "The Rope".

On the bottom is some yarn I received at Christmas... As a joke, thankfully. But I still have to keep it. I keep threatening the giver that I will knit him a hat out of it. But I can't even get myself to do that! lol!

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Hopefully within the next day or two I will be able to resume my usual knitting and show you either the beginnings of a sleeve or the beginnings of another Child's First sock.

2 days ago I went to the post office. In the mail box were 3 little cards promising 3 packages. Much to my surprise there actually were 5 packages!

First I got my first package from my Secret Pal:

Look at it all! Isn't it awesome? In the middle is some sock yarn that she dyed herself with kool aid and 2 balls of Rowan Tweed 4 ply. In the beautiful hand knit red bag were the buttons, the beads and the lip balm. She also got me some candles, soap, little notebook, chocolate bars, sticky notepad and a little kit with tape measure, safety pins, mini emery boards and some salve. I wish you could have seen the box when I opened it, everything was wrapped in pink tissue paper with pink ribbons. I am a really lucky girl to have such a great Secret Pal. I do hope that she has one too! Thank you!

The second package was my special order from Vespers' Julia:


AquaMelon, Strange Little Mama and Astro
Now I don't have to be worried at missing her next update! I got the 3 colors I wanted!

The third package was my order from Piddleloop. Go and give them some business, they are really awesome! They make these really pretty small project pouches perfect for a sock or 2. I also ordered a matching zippered pouch for my knitting accessories. My order came with some extra goodies; 2 stitch markers, some cute little sheepy tags and some matching note cards.



I also received a package from Amazon with some books on spinning and a package from someone that I traded with from Knitty with some Patagonia Nature Cotton.

The next day, I went back to the Post Office to mail something and I had 2 more packages waiting for me! 3 balls of Cascade 220 in a beautiful reddish pink color and some more Mission Falls for my Ripple Afghan!

I haven't been to the post office today... But I am expecting at least one more package! Lol! What a week! I love receiving packages!

Here are my answers to the Secret Pal 10 Questionnaire. Some of the answers are different than for SP9 so I decided to republish it.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I love sock yarns of all types, but mostly the handpainted type. I love tweedy yarns too. I don’t like mohair, it would drive me nuts if I had to knit with it. I also don’t like novelty yarns for the most part.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a matching rolling fabric case for my DPNS, circulars and my straight needles. I have the Options Needle set that I keep in its own case.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I learned a little over a year ago. I would consider myself intermediate now I think.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yup, in my side bar and kept up to date.

5. What's your favorite scent?
Vanilla, brown sugar

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Love dark and milk chocolate. Love Toblerone and Lindt and Godiva chocolates

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I like to quilt but rarely do it. I started spinning in May 07.

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 Soft Rock, music like Il Divo, Andrea Boccelli and Josh Groban

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Love pinks and reds. Enjoy some blues and greens. Don’t like yellows and oranges on their own, but will stand them mixed in with colors I love.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Married, no children no pets.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes to scarves, hats and mittens, No to ponchos

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Socks of course! : )

13. What are you knitting right now?
Socks

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Love my circulars, got the Knit Picks Options set and couldn’t be happier. I can always use more Addis in the lowest sizes in 32" or 40”.

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

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
about a month

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas I think

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Besides yarn and knitting books, nothing really

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Would love any of the books on my amazon wish list. Just subscribed to IK for 2 years.
Would also love any of the sock yarns listed in my sidebar.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Lace and more stranded knitting

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I am a sock knitter. Foot measurements are 7 1/2" at ball of foot, 8 1/2" long foot. Shoe size 5 1/2-6

23. When is your birthday?
May 28