4.5 Days Away Translates into…

er… 4.5 days of knitting. Yep that’s what it meant here. I just back this afternoon. Was house and dog sitting while I was away. My days basically consisted of knitting, taking the dog out, knitting, vegging out, going to knitting group with my aunt Saturday morning, talking on the phone, and relaxing. While I was gone I was able to get my aunt’s scarf done, baby booties made, the back of a baby sweater (Knitty’s Chaos) made all the way to the arm shaping, a pair of slippers, and working on my IHS. Pics are below. Left to right, the project pictures are: Baby booties from SNB Nation; Slippers; Chaos from Knitty.com; Irish Hiking Scarf; Drop stitch scarf; My parent's dog modeling the previously mentioned scarf. This is all knitting I did over 4.5 days. Exception is that I started the hiking scarf during the week, but only had 2 or 3 twists in it.

Relaxing Away

I'm off at my parents. Just me and the dog. OF course my knitting has come along too. A whole diaper bag's worth. Go figure, I don't even have kids, yet I have a diaper bag. It was originally for my computer, but became a bag for knitting. THose progress bars will be getting updated next week.

I'm having a blast. I haven't forgotten about my SP9 pal. I'm working on something for her this week. I've been gathering a few other things to put in her package. I'll be emailing her when I return from my parents. My other pal and I have been emailing each other.

So this week the only people that can reach mehas been dramatically reduced. It's nice that way. Usually I spend tons of time on the phone working on projects. Not this week. Less than 10 people can find me. The phone won't be driving me batty. Yehaa. Oh and I won't be on the computer much either.

ISE 3 Scarf in the mail

My ISE 3 scarf went in the mail today. I also got a postcard from my pal sending me a scarf today. It was showing me where my scarf spent a weekend. Pretty cool.

Playing Catch-Up Posts

Looking back I have realized that I have left a bit out of some posts.

1.) Last month I went for a search of yarn made in Ireland. Preferably wool. Just so you know I was brought up to be proud of my Irish heritage and I sill am. When I went to Ireland 9 years ago I was more at home there than I had ever been until then in the states. In face I didn't want to come back home, but I did. I'm still looking forward to the day that I return to Ireland. Well during that search I found a store in Maine called The Irish Ewe. On that site I found some Irish Aran yarn. It's even form the county my great grandmother came from and the county I visited. It's 100% wool. Well, this month I ordered a hank of it. I just had to have it. Plus I wasn't going tohave any normal dreams until I had it as the yarn was invading my deams.

2.) I've started the Irish Hiking Scarf and joined the kal for the scarf. I'm using the previously mentioned yarn for this scarf. It only seems appropriate. THis is the first time I'll be doing cables. Now that I have lace down (I think) it;s time for me to get cables down.

3.) I've decided to do the Red Scarf Project.

4.) Maybe I've mentioned this, but I have quit teaching knitting on mondays. It was getting to be too much on my schedule. I also counldn't handle the people. They just wouldn't pay attention or listen to me.

I'm DONE!!!

Yep I've finished my ISE scarf. At this very moment is blocking in my living room and Cliona has been banned for the night. I've even gone as far as to close the door to the living room when I'm not in it. Cliona's got this pitiful little look on her face since I practically never shut her out of a room. The scarf looks pretty good. Pics will be coming in a couple days.

Knitting Questonairre

Went to a blog and they had this knitting questionairre. It came from here

1. What's your worst habit relating to your knitting? I don't read patterns all the way through so sometimes I'll get partway through a project and discover thatI need or don't know something. Also my knitting bag is my purse.

2. In what specific ways does your knitting make you a better person?

3. How might you or your life be different if you were suddenly unable to knit?
I'd need something else to do with my hands. None of my other arts are easily portable or as inexpensive.

4. If money were no object, what one yarn, and what one tool or gadget would you run out and buy first? For yarn I'd be buying yarns that were from Ireland. For gadget I'd probably get the Options needle set, or a Knitting bag. My current one is a diaper bag.

5. What knitting technique or project type are you most afraid of (if any)? What, specifically, do you fear will happen when you try it? Fairisle. I can get easily confused so I just think that working with a chart and mutiple colors can be a bit intimidating. Felting I've survived as well as lace.

6. Who is/are your knitting hero(es), and why? I'm not really sure

7. Do you consider knitting, for you personally, a mostly social activity, or a mostly solitary activity?
I consider it a good mix of both. I do a good bit of knitting alone at home. Yet, I do a good abount of knitting out during the week while socalizing. It's a pretty even mix.

8. Is there a particular regional tradition in knitting that you feel strongly drawn toward (e.g., Fair Isle, Scandinavian, Celtic, Orenburg lace)? I'm always drawn to the Irish Sweaters yet I haven't done any cableing or any of the stitches that go into the Irish Fisherman Sweaters yet. I do want to make some one of these years.

10. Some statistics:
(a) How many years have passed since you FIRST learned to knit? 1

(b) How many total years have you been actively, regularly knitting (i.e., they don't have to have been in a row)? 1

(c) how many people have you taught to knit? Successfuly taught 2 and attempted to teach a few others.

11. How often do you KIP (knit in public)? Multiple times a week. My landlady owns a store that I kip in a few days a week. Then tere are the busses and another place I am each week.

12. If a genie granted you one hour to stitch-n-bitch with any one knitter, living or dead, who would you choose and why? My Great-grandmother. I've hard such incredible things about how she knit when she was alive and got to see some of her work that I grew up admiring.

13. What aspect or task in knitting makes you most impatient?
Casting on and Making up.

15. Describe how and where you most often do your knitting - where do you sit, what is going on around you, what tools do you use and how are they (dis)organized? At the shop I have everything I need set on the table in front of me and I sit in a chair with my yarn ball on the chair next to me or on the table. THe goal is to take up as little space as possible and be ready to move if a customer comes in and needs the spot. At home I sit in a comfy blue recliner with my yarn ball in the kitty condo sitting on the floor next to the chair. THe condo doubles as a coffee table. All my things are in a bag on the shelf in the condo.

16. Which one person is the recipient of more of your knitting than any other?
Me. Igive my family in general the majority of the knitting though.

17. What's the oddest thing about your knitting, or yourself as a knitter?
My favorite needles are the ones that are older than me. THey were my Step-great-grandmothers

18. What do you see yourself knitting - if anything - twenty years from now?
An O'Shea Clan Irish Sweater

19. If you were stranded on a deserted island and could have only ONE SKEIN of yarn, which yarn would it be and what would you do with it?
A really long skein of wool that I could just frog and reknitting.

20. If you were allowed to own only one knitting-related book, which would it be? (you'd be free to browse others, but you couldn't keep them)
I really don't know yet. I don't have too many. Of the ones I do have: The big book of Knitting.

21. Is knitting the new yoga? Why or why not?
No. Knitting has been around for centuries. Yoga is exercise.

EDIT: This last question added by Caroline:
22. What important thing are you trying to put off doing whenever you knit? It changes from day to day.

10 Knittery Things You Didn't Know About Me

1. Egg donor and her mom tried to teach me how to knit when I was a child, but drove me away with all the screaming they did at me for making the slightest wrong move.

2. I was obsessed with a skein of wool yarn.

3. I finally learned how to knit from my (step)mom and aunt.

4. DPN's and I do not agree.

5. I want to learn how to spin.

6. I can't get the hang of reading charts

7. I've have yet to knit a sweater

8. I prefer circular needles to straights

9. While moving last spring mom went to get my clothes to bring over to the new apartment and I insisted that I have my yarn and knitting go first.

10. One place I frequent wonders if I'm ok If i don't have knitting in hand.

Have I Lost It?

One guy that works in downtown had a unique evening this evening. Before I go on I usually don't talk about guys since most guys my age in my area are one way or another immature, rude, or in some other way not my type. This guy though was different. I know it's a long story, but I'm just trying to lay the groundwork so you understand the whole story. Here's the story.

I am going to ramble about a guy. A good looking one at that. To give him more points he's about my age!!! It all started Tuesday evening. I went to get a grinder and long story short, the guy working at Subway gave me a sanwich for free because the first 2 I asked for they were out of the meat and he didn't see me go into the store and left me waiting for a minute or so. I was with my neice today coming back from the marina whin I got this undeniable urge to go back and get another grinder. I walked in and there he was working again today. Still hot looking. I got my grinder and while we were talking in introduced to my neice. I called him the coolest guy that works there right to his face. Somewhere in the conversation he told me he had to show me his socks. When he came around the counter he slipped his shoes off and he had the coolest mismatched socks on. One was white and black checked socks and the other was green and black checked. He likes to wear mismatched socks. It was great. I just wanted to hug him right then and there, but didn't. I don't know why, but a guy that cares about socks is just so cool in my eyes. Didn't really realize it till a couple weeks ago though. Maybe it's the knitting??? I looked at him and said to him, "Finally I've met a guy that cares about socks." My 9 year old neice looked at me like I was nuts. I got the greatest idea then (and I still think it's a good one). Surreal_rebirth please check my sanity level please. I told him, "I'm a knitter and please keep that in mind please to understand where the next question would be coming. But could I please make you a pair of socks?" I told him it may take me a little time, but I will make him a pair. He told me he doesn't have a pair of toe socks and would really love a pair. I told him I'll try to find a pattern. I've found 2, but haven't looked them over. He told me he'll give me a free sandwich if I do. I even asked his shoe size. I can't wait to see him again. I may give him my phone number. BY the way, I've never knit socks before!!!

Yes I did change the screen name from relaxing knitter to Knitting Mause. I had a heck of a time remembering the first one and needed something easier.

Great Day/Technology Is Wonderful

This week is off to a great start. It's only monday and I've already accomplished quite a bit. I've managed to: quit teaching knitting, get the printer working again, freak my therapist/group leader out, find out that the place I wanted to work is no longer hiring, have the printer print 3 hours worth of knitting patterns, and reorganise my knitting patterns.

I wish I could have kept teaching knitting, but I just couldn't. Mondays have been my errand day and has been for years now. WHen you have a routine to your week and your week is filled up it just doesn't wrk to take a 2 hour block in the middle of the afternoon to go and teach. Maybe it would have been easier if I had a car, but I don't. I rely on the oh so wonderful bus system we have here. Yeah right with the busses. Can't complain though. At least there are busses. THen there is the fact that the people I'm teaching act like tey know what they are doing and don't wnat to listen or I just can't communicate with them.

As for freaking my therapist out, i had called her yesterday because a friend/groupmate hadn''t been heard form for several days. Quite unusal for the person. A few of us were getting worried so I called my theapist to let her kow about our concern. WHy is it that I'm usually the person that does the speaking up??? All is well the person is ok.

My printer was being a pain and didn't want the refilled ink cartridge and I had to breakdown and buy a new one. That got it to work again. I've been finding patterns galore to rpint and when all was said and done ti took 3 hours to get them all printed (only 3 months worth). I finally got the past years worth of patterns sorted too. Thank goodness for file folders.

So now tomorrow I can get knitting again.

Back To the Pond It Went

Yep had a frogging fest this evening. Cliona was one heck of a happy cat with all the yarn that was on the living room floor after all of the frogging I did. I had already done half of Embrace on knitty and half way done with the other half when i realized that the guage was off between the 2. Considering I have done Embrace 2 other times in as many months and 3/4 of it again I have made the decision th go wiht a different scarf this time around for my aunt. I am just not up for that much tockinette at once again this soon.

SP9 Questionairre Answers

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I've worked mostly with acrylic, polyester, nylon, some cotton, and wool. Wool has become my favorite. I feel that I haven't been going long (only been knitting for a year) enough to have one to despise yet. I like to stay open to other experiences. I've also pretty much worked with the same yarns and not really gotten to work with new yarns until the last few months.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? The great majority are in a needle case. The rest are in a big sewing box.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? My aunt and mom (step) taught me how to knit last October after I tried to teach myself to no avail. I consider myself an intermediate knitter.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yep, I have a wishlist at Amazon and Wists.com

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.) ? I like light scents and also fruity scents. I'm not too fond of the very strong overpowering scents.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Definitely a sweet tooth here. Fave candy is white chocolate. Nothing with tropical friuts though please. I'm severely allergic.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I don't spin as of yet. As for other crafts I: make stained glass, dichoric glass pendants, beaded jewlery. I also paint (acrylics or watercolors) and draw. Also I hang out in a paint your own pottery studio and besides helping to pour the pottery and all, I paint a fair bit of pottery.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) My musical interests are pretty open. I listen to a lot of Country, Musical Soundtracks (i.e. "Phantom of The Opera" and "Rent"). Also like Classic Rock and New Age (Yanni & Enya). I tend to shy away from Rap, Heavy Metal. My computer plays cd's and MP3's. I do have a CD player and as right now I don't have a Ipod or other type of MP3 player like it, but hope to be getting one from family soon.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I like purples and pinks. I tend to stay away from white since I'm one of those people that manages to spill somthing on themselves always. Can't realy think of any colors I can't stand. Not too fond of black, but do have uses for it. Looking around I pretty much have not flashy or really bright colors around, but bubbly/friendly colors. Not cheerleader bubbly/friendly though, normal bubbly.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I have 1 cat who is spoiled rotten. I call my step-mom mom and see my dad and mom often. My apartment is a great one withan awesome landlord and landlady. They (landlord & lady) tear me like one of the family as do their kids and grandkids. I call them my extended family. I've disowned half of my family and that is the "Egg Donor" and all of her relations. Egg donor is waht i call my dad's first wife. I give her no maternal credit. Yes there are a lot of hard feelings towards that woman that is also called my mother.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I wear scarves, hats, mittens and gloves, shawls, but not ponchos. I cannot stand ponchos. Ponchos bring back memories I'd prefer not to have.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I've done lots of hats and scarves. I like to do shawls and am working on my first sweater. I also have taken to lace.

13. What are you knitting right now? I'm knitting slippers for my dad; scarf for my great aunt; scarf the my ISE3 pal; and Chaos for my cousin due in March.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Anytime. I think handmade is always better than storebought. The great majority of gifts I give are handmade and I always live to get handmade.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Definitely don't like plasticor acrylic needles though. I usualy use aluminum needles, but I am starting to use bamboo. I usualy prefer my aluminum needles unless the yarn is slippery then I like the bamboo needles. I'm also starting to prefer circulars over straight needles. Ohand if I have the option to use circulars or DPN's I'll go for the circulars anytime. That's the main reason I haven't learned socks yet...DPN's.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Don't have either yet. Haven't really needed a swift yet and have been doing well without a winder.

17. How old is your oldest UFO? A baby sweater that's 3 months old. Baby's not here yet though.

18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas. Most all my fond holiday memories are centered around Christmas time. Just keep snow out of the picture. Despite my having lived in an area that gets snow I cannot stand it. Snow is a 4 letter word in my family.

19. Is there anything that you collect? Starting to collect antique knitting needles & patterns. I also collect things having to do with my heritage (Southwest Ireland), dolphins, Phantom Of The Opera, and American Thread Company items. I guess one could say I collect books since I don't give up any of the books I get.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What
knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Magazine Subscription to Creative Knitting. I have: SnB, Snb Nation, & Snb Journal; Knitting Rules; Zen & The Art of Knitting; and Secret Life of A Knitter. I have been looking at the Folk Shawl book and books on Aran knitting. As I get books I'll update this spot.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Intarsia, Cables, Fair Isle, Socks

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I'm not a sock knitter yet. Hope to soon. Measurements (I hope I did this right, never did it before): Ankle Circumference: 26.5 cm Toe to heel: 26 cm Width: 4 cm

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) December 13