Knitting in pink

I received yesterday my Special Swap package from now-blogless Susan. Special Swap is organized by Lynne and lasts a whole year. Every other month we get a new swap pal to swap with. Each swap is over two months and has a different theme. This time around, the theme was "Picnic". My Swap Pal sent me a suitcase full of goodies:

Along with the Picnic theme my pal went for a Cherry Pink theme. She got me a cute set of Watermelon picnic items, some pink lemonade tea bags, a cherry vanilla candle, a magazine full of amazing recipes and the lovely Lisa Souza Sock! Merino in Pink with a box of silver crystal beads. And all this in the cute cardboard suitcase. Not shown on the picture are a bag of pecans, a bag of dried cherries and some bite-size Toblerones... yum!!

She also sent me via email a recipe for Cherry Pecan cookies, to go with the pecans and dried cherries and a pattern for the Cherry Blossom socks by Sivia Harding to go with the yarn and the beads she sent.



I've never knit with beads yet but I intend to try and this might just be the best excuse to try it! Now I just have to get my hands on a dental floss threader (whatever that is) or a big-eye beading needle!

To continue the pink theme, here is my latest pair of socks.



They're the Serpentine socks from the Sockamania KAL July pattern. Sadly, they're the least favorite socks that I've knit. Not because of the lovely pattern but by my execution. I started the pattern a little to early on the toes and one of the cables bothers my little toe (I'm very sensitive like that!). They're a little on the short side so they'll remain house socks I think. You can see another shot with a great view on the cables here.

Stats
Sock #1 was knit between July 25 and August 2, 2007. Sock #2 was knit between August 25 and September 4, 2007.
Yarn: Louet Gems Fingering hand-dyed by me for the main color, Louet Gems Fingering in Pink Panther for the contrasting yarn. I used a dark pink reinforcing thread in the toe and heel area.
Pattern:Serpentine socks by Anni Design for the Sockamania KAL
Mods: Toe-up and short-row heel with contrasting yarn for toes, heels and cuff.

In the last couple of days I have received 4 package. 2 of those were purchases but the other 2 were very special packages from 2 very special ladies.

First I received the second package from my Secret Pal 10. Once again she hit it right on target with what she got me.

The loot was, from left to right: Lindt Chocolate bar, Clover tapestry needles, Hazelnut Truffle solid perfume, cute pink stitch markers in a little pink pouch, pretty flower stickers and last but not least, Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn in Winterberry. I've been wanting to get my hands on some Cherry Tree Hill for a while, and now I have some!

You can see a close up on the extremely pretty stitch markers here and the yarn here.

Thank you Toni! What! How come I know who she is! Isn't she supposed to be my Secret Pal or something? Well, this is what happened: Both of us won a contest over on Sweet Pea's blog a couple weeks back and the name she uses to write to me was there, listed as a winner along side mine! What was the chance of that happening? So that's how I found out who she was. And I'm really glad, because now I get to read her blog too! : )

The second package I received was from my Special Swap pal. This swap is not a "secret pal" type of swap so we each know who the other is. Your pal changes every other month. My pal was Sue from "For the Love of Knit" and she had me discover her state of Wisconsin.



Sue got me some pretty sock yarn from Joslyn's Fiber Farm. The yarn is called Twinkle Toes in the color Cotton Candy and is a wool/mohair blend, another thing I've wanted to try too (Closeup here). She also got me some pretty pink Merino top for me to spin from another farm in Wisconsin Mielke's Farm Fiber Arts. There was also some sweets (brownies, chocolate and jams) and some sample coffee from the Swiss Colony. She also sent some cute pencils and a cow magnet (already on the fridge), some nice smelling soap and some postcards representative of Wisconsin.

Thank you Sue for a trip to Wisconsin. I don't know that I'll ever get to travel there physically but I was there in spirit with your package.

My other 2 packages were some books from Amazon, and some pretty roving bought on Etsy. More on those later...

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Contest winner will be announced tomorrow!

I signed up for Secret Pal 9. Here is my questionnaire. I will also link it in the sidebar.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I like to knit with wool and wool mixes, especially mixed with alpaca or silk. I like cotton blends. I do not like acrylics, and most of the funky stuff. I havent worked with mohair yet but own some. I dont think that I'd like more quite yet.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
My circulars and dpns each have a special case. My straights are currently held in my knitting basket and I am looking for an alternative. I'd love a matching case with little gnomes like my other two. Added 10/10/06: I just ordered a matching straight knitting needle case from the same etsy shop I bought the other cases from)

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I started knitting almost a year ago. I dont think that I am still a beginner but I dont know if I can say intermediate yet.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes, Amazon wishlist in sidebar

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
Warm vanilla, brown sugar, chocolate.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Love chocolate, but not with fruits or mint. Especially love Swiss chocolate.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
Own a spindle, but havent spun in a couple months. Enjoy quilting too.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Current love is Il Divo. Love that kind of music. My computer can play MP3s.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Love pinks and reds. Enjoy some blues and greens. Dont 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?
I love scarves, hats and mittens. No ponchos though.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I enjoy socks, and baby items, even if I dont have any babies to give them to.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Socks, socks and socks

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yeah, most of the time.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I am beginning to really enjoy my circular needles, especially in aluminium

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

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
4 months old, that's it!

18. What is your favorite holiday?
I like Christmas time a lot, and my birthday! : )

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Not really, except yarn!

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
For books that I'd love to have you can check my Amazon wish list, it is kept updated. I dont have any magazine subscriptions but would love to get IK. I am dying to get my hands on some Socks That Rocks, especially Mist and Apple Valley Rd. Any other color would do.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I'd like to learn so fair-isle. 2 socks on one circular and more lace.

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? (mm/dd)
May 28

I am a very lucky girl...
Yesterday I received my Project Colorswap package from Lu over at Maglia!. She sent me an assortment of her favorites:
one of her favorite "indie" yarn, one of her favorite chocolates, and one of her favorite hand lotions. She also sent me some of her yarn that she sells on her Etsy shop.

From left to right:
Lulu's Yarns in Lilla, 55%Alpaca, 23% Silk and 22% Merino (so extremely soft), Burt's shea butter hand repair creme, 3 hanks of Inspirations Yarn in Foam, 86% Mohair 13% Nylon and 2 bars of Trader Joes organic 73% super dark chocolate. Yummy! And I'm not only talking about the chocolate.
Today I received my Project Spectrum postcard from Diane from Knitting Zeal.

She made me a felted flower pin! Isn't it pretty!!
I will have some knitting content next monday, I should have a few things to show.