Shamrock Knits

SP Question 3

What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?

I'm going with the Yarn Harlot on this one. She gave an interview on one of the podcasts I listen to about stash. She said something along the lines that the "perfect" amount of stash is however much yarn you'd need to Not run out of after you retire. So when I retire, I want to be able to work on whatever project I want to.

Some of my friends make fun of me because a lot of times when I buy yarn, I buy a sweaters worth of yarn. A sweaters worth of a textured pattern, like cables, of course. :)

SP Question 2

This week's question is: As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer vacation/break/holiday?

Not having homework! When I was little, I spent at least half the summer with my grandparents in Arkansas, grandparents in Chicago, my dad in northwestern suburbs, and at camp for a couple of weeks. This gave my babysitter, who had 4 kids of her own, some time off. I started working part time when I was 15.

During high school years, I had more time for socializing with my friends. Since I home, I got to hand out with my friends more than when I was younger. One summer, I worked at Sunny Hill Beach in Wauconda. The beach next door, Phil's Beach, was in the Blues Brothers movie. They drove the car around in the sand announcing for their concert. Anyway, I got to work at the concession stand on the beach selling snacks, drinks, ice cream, etc. That was the year La Bamba came out. (A long time ago, I know.) Someone would play the sound on the jukebox, which was hooked up to outdoor speakers at least once an hour. If I never hear that song again, I'll be happy.

Knitting Retreat 2008

Last weekend, I went to the Iwannaknit Knitting Retreat in Indiana, hosted by Knitting Today. It was the 10th anniversary of the retreat and this is my 5th year attending. I had a great time as usual. We had attendees again from both coasts, midwest, and the south. Some carpool and some fly (even with their machines). It's amazing what the internet can do to bring knitters together. Of course, I didn't take many pictures. Too much having fun. Exhausting though. Why you ask? Because we knitters hang out to about 1-2am socializing, knitting, etc and get up at 7am for breakfast and classes.

I only have a couple of pictures. This is Lee-Ann, the owner of Knitting Today, opening a gift for her 10th year retreat. She's part of Ft Wayne knitting group, and they gave her a lamb with the shop name embroidered on it.

The retreat started out for machine knitters only, but the last three years, there have been classes for hand knitters as well. This year's main hand knitting teacher was Lorna Miser (founder of Lorna's Laces). I didn't take any of her classes, but I heard they were fun. She's a blast to hang out with. BIG fan of the color purple. She was very outgoing and funny.

My last picture is from one of my machine knitting classes. It was a class about converting hand knitting lace to machine knitting. I've been wanting to make a table runner with shamrocks along the border. I found a hand knitting shawl pattern with shamrocks (clovers) on them, and converted it to machine knitting. This has the proper direction of the stitches for the yarn overs and corresponding decreases. I was using almost a worsted weight yarn so I could see what I was doing. I'll probably use a smaller weight for the actual project.

All in all, a good time was had by all. Of course it took me a couple of days to catch up on my sleep. :)

SP12 Question 1

My hostess for the Secret Pal 12 swap is going to give us weekly questions to answer so our swap partners can know each other a little better. Plus, it gets us blogging more frequently. ;-p

What's my favorite summertime beverage?

That's an easy one - lemonade, any kind/flavor. I like to drink it all year round, but a lot of restaurants only serve it during the summer. I've been trying to cut down on my pop (soda) drinking. At home, I drink water, cranberry juice, lemonade, and beer. I do seem to drink beer more often in the summer for some reason. Maybe because the warm weather reminds me of festivals and outdoor parties.

I also drink hot teas. Peppermint is my favorite. I never got into cold tea. Maybe it's because most people use the plain Lipton for iced tea. I like Hazelnut flavored coffee (again, only hot). I used to drink a ton of it at work and have cut back to a couple of days a week. One of my coworkers works on Tuesdyas and Thursdays and drinks the Hazelnut with me. I only make it now on those days.

Secret Pal 12 Questionnaire

1.    What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I love most yarns (even acrylics). The only ones I don’t care to work with are scratchy wools and novelty yarns.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

My Addi circulars in the original packets. The Knit Picks Interchangeable circulars are in the Knit Picks binder. My crochet hooks are in a pencil 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’d consider myself a beginner at crochet and advanced beginner at hand and machine knitting. I started machine knitting in Jan 2004 to make a baby blanket for my nephew’s baby shower. I’ve learned a lot of techniques on the machine (LK-150 midgauge), but I haven’t made too many garments. I started hand knitting Jan 2005. I still have issues with reading (more following) patterns correctly and have continual issues with gauge. I suspect that will be a lifelong battle. J I’ve only made simple things in crochet (edgings, toys), no garments or complex patterns yet.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

On Amazon, it’s under Heather Reagan, Woodridge, IL

5. What's your favorite scent?

I prefer clean scents (what you’d normally use in bathrooms), vanilla, and mint scents.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

I like the sweet and tarty candies like SweetTarts, Nerds, Lemonheads. I’m not a huge chocolate person, but I do eat it with peanuts or caramels. I don’t dark chocolate.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I don’t spin. My other hobbies are machine knitting, crochet, and beading.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I have an iPod and CD players. I like classic and hard rock, pop, smooth jazz. I don't care for rap and grunge rock. Some of my recent purchases have been Three Doors Down and Best of Ottmar Liebert.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I love blues and greens. I don’t care for oranges or yellows.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I’m single and have 2 cats.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Scarves – yes, hats – sometimes, mittens – I prefer gloves, ponchos – I prefer other types of wraps instead.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

For machine knitting, blankets. For hand knitting, sweaters/tops. For crochet, toys/amigurumi.

13. What are you knitting right now?

I’m hand knitting the Drop Stitch Tank from Fitted Knits. On the machine, I’d like to start a lace shamrock table runner. For crochet, my nephew has placed an order for several amigurumi animals.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Who wouldn’t? All gifts are great.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I prefer circular needles. I have a few straights, but not many. I don’t have DPN because I use magic loop on circulars. I prefer metal needles.

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

Both

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

I felted a poinsettia wreath for my mom almost a year ago, but I haven’t sewn them together yet.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas, Christmas, Christmas.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Way too much. Signed 1^st edition hardcovers, movies (DVDs), and of course 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?

I have subscriptions to Interweave Knits and Knitwords magazines, and 2008 Twist and Turns Newsletter (Janet Szabo). I don’t have a lace books. I also want The Cable Knitting Handbook by Annie Maloney or any books/old newsletters by Janet Szabo.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Learning how to make a garment that fits in the first attempt. It currently takes 2-3 attempts.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I’ve made one pair recently. I wear a size 7 ½ shoe.

23. When is your birthday?

May 16th

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?

Yes! ShamrockKnitsIL

Knitting Time-Out and Charity Updates

It seems I can't work on a project unless I've started it three times. I've been trying to work on the Lacy Little Top, but I kept making it too big. I've officially given this project a time-out because I've frogged it now three times. It's got bad mo-jo around it right now. I'm a loose knitter and I've been knitting on size 1 needles because I felt the size 0 looked too tight. Kathy thinks I might knit looser during the project than I do for the gauge swatch. I guess she has done in the past. It's one possibility. Doree said that I seem to think I'm a bigger size than I am. That's a very likely possibility. I think there was discussion about ease with this pattern on Knitting Daily. I'll have to check that out before I start this project - again.

I've finally been catching up on the knitting podcasts that I listen to. Both WEBS and Stash and Burn mentioned donating to The House that Yarn Built. This is a team sponsored house in Brad Pitt's Make It Right organization for rebuilding a section of New Orleans. It takes around $150K to build an eco-friendly home. I've been buying a lot of yarn at the WEBS anniversary sale, that I figured I could at least donate $20 to the cause.

I also received an email from the Books For Soldiers group that I support the troops through. They've had difficulties raising funds this year, so they may have to end the site this year. They were also the target of a major cyber attack. The IT resources used alot of funds defending the website. I usually just send packages and forget to donate for the site maintenance, so I did that as well. It makes me mad though that they were specifically targeted. There's not enough fighting and hatred already?

First Quilt

Last weekend, my Thursday night knitting group met at Kathy's house for a quilting demonstration. We had two working machines (mine was working so well) and four people making small quilts. I added extra fabric at the top so it can be hung on the wall. This wall quilt will go to my niece, Ava, for her bedroom. Or, if my sister doesn't like it, then it'll go to my stepmother for her my niece's (same Ava) bedroom there. The grandparent's house is her home-away-from-home. :)

I think it came out pretty good for my first time. It's my first finished sewing project as well, come to think of it. I attempted to sew straight "X" lines through each square and the border is folded over and mitered. I'm pretty happy with it. Kathy took pictures of everyone's finished project, so hopefully she'll either post them or give us the pictures. I forgot to recharge my camera before I went to her house. Oops!

Anyway, thanks again Kathy and Betty for showing us how to make a quilt and for letting us take over your house for the day!

My life

Robin tagged me in a recent meme last Saturday. It's taken me this long to think of something. This is 10 things I've done that others may have not. I was trying to think of things in terms of that "mass amounts of people might not have done". LOL

Here goes:

1) I'm a CPA and MBA. I feel like I've been a perpetual student sometimes. I'm always taking classes to learn new knitting techniques. Maybe that's why I've felt in the past that I haven't made many FO's.

2) I've worked at the same company for 18 years. I started as a part-time teller for a bank, when I was in college. I then moved on to Assistant Manager, Trainer/Internal Auditor, Staff Accountant, Branch Operations Manager, back to Accounting for Instore branches, then Consumer Lending Functional, and now I'm back to Retail Reporting. I can't remember when I became a Vice President, but I know it was by 30.

3) I'm a collector. Over the years, I've collected shot glasses, glass paperweights, nutcrackers, tea pots, and first edition, signed hardcover fiction. Some collections are now gone or dwindled. I only continuing on the signed hardcovers now. Since I've been knitting, you could say that I'm collecting yarn and knitting books as well, because my stash seems to be ever growing. :)

4) I a machine knit, hand knit, crochet, and sometimes bead. I haven't done as much machine knitting lately, so I need to try to do more of that. I also want to try some chain metal bracelets. I bought a book at Michael's recently and there's a bead store in Lisle that has some gorgeous metal jewelry. They have classes there, so I'll probably sign up for one soon. (see, perpetual student)

5) I have a tattoo. One of my sisters gave us a family cruise right after her divorce was final. She got her belly button pierced and I got my tattoo. I'd been thinking about one since I was in college, but the opportunity never presented itself. I have a small shamrock, of course, that cannot be seen even if I have a bathing suit on.

6) I'm a clutz and bruise easily. Not a good combination. When I was little, the doctors used to question my mom about every bruise. I've vowed to have a party the day I don't have a bruise somewhere on my body. It hasn't happened yet.

7) I've had lasik surgery. Without my contacts, I was blind. Now I can see the clock in the morning, go snorkeling or swimming without worrying, etc. It's great. The surgery was a little freaky, but I'm so glad I did it.

8) I'm getting invisible braces. I just had the molds done and now waiting to get the braces made. Even though I'm 38, I want to get them for myself. Hopefully, they'll help with my TMJ a little.

9) I have a 300-disc DVD player. My original intention was to put all of my DVDs and all my CDs in there. When I put my DVDs in there, there were 100 (including the extra DVDs that come with some movies). I decided I'd see if I can fill it up entirely with DVDs. There are about 250. I don't buy as many as I used to, but I'm going to take the supplemental discs out of there and see how many are just movies. I guess you can say I collect movies as well!

10) I send care packages to deployed soldiers. I've been doing this through Books for Soldiers for about 3 years now. During the holidays, I try to send more care packages and hold drives at work. I try to send a couple care packages a month.

Happy New Year!

May the next year be happy and healthy for you and yours. Happy 2008 everyone!

I came across these felted fortune cookies here and thought they were really cute. I made them for my Thursday night knitting group. I had the hardest time with the ribbon for the fortunes. Every pen I used either bled too much on the ribbon or it was too difficult to write on it. I ended up using scrapbooking paper for the fortunes.

I used various scrap wool I had in my stash.  I made the larger size of the pattern. I had crocheted one, but ripped it out because I was running out of yarn. Of course I forgot to bring my camera, so Kathy and Betty were kind enough to take a picture for me. Thanks!

Knit Out at Cathy's

Lisa had asked for a picture of the reversible cable throw after it was fixed. I just took a picture of the nasty cable area. Kathy was so nice in helping me that day. Thanks again Kathy!The problem cable is the middle one in the picture.

I've also worked a little more on the Cozy V Pullover. I've joined and started knitting in the round. I haven't tried it on yet, so I'll probably do that before I go any further.

Also in the picture are a snowman and tree stitch markers. I couldn't get a close up picture that was in focus. I need to get a new camera soon. Cathy made them for me on a recent knit-out we had at her house. Here she is giving Kathy a spinning demonstration.

The spinning wheel (and the handspun!) was so pretty, I took a closer picture. I have no intention of learning how to spin by wheel or drop spindel, but I can admire.

This picture is Doree and Lucia watching the demonstration. Betty was taking pictures herself at the time, so she's not in the picture. The crochet ripple afghan is a gift that Kathy made and brought in for show and tell.

I'm sure Lucia made the sweater she's wearing, which was lovely. We were all admiring her crochet hat that she bought. We were trying to figure out the pattern so we can do it ourselves. Kathy said it looked like mosiac crochet. I think that basically means that you carry the yarn and work it in througout the rows. There were three colors, so it makes for a thick and sturdy hat.