Knitting, sewing, cross stitching, my life in general.





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These questions were asked recently on the knitlist, and I figured I would post my answers here:
1. What sparked your interest in knitting?
My grandmother was always looking for ways to keep me from "being bored".
2. Did you leave it and come back years later? Why?
Yup. I lost interest in it and didn't really come back to it until I was in graduate school. I was really into beading and wanted to take a class on beaded knitting at a local bead shop (making those tiny amulet bags on 0000 needles).
3. What inspires you to begin a project?
Usually a great pattern, but sometimes a great yarn.
4. NOT counting famous/published designers, who is your PERSONAL knitting 'hero'?
My grandmother & my mother.
5. What is your "specialty"?
Socks.
6. If you could teach one technique, what would it be?
Beginning knitting. Does that count as "a technique"?
7. What is the most recent special technique you learned? Where did you learn it?
The right way to do intarsia (from Nancy Wiseman at tkga).
8. What technique has been your worst bug-a-boo or met with the most resistance?
Intarsia. Maybe that will change now that I took the class.
9. What technique would you dearly LOVE to learn next?
2-handed fair isle
10. Who was the last stranger you met because you (or they) were knitting in public?
um, I don't remember--some stranger on an airplaine.
posted by Stephanie at 1:35 PM

 
Yesterday I did a few rows on the peace shawl and I worked on my sister's purple socks. Nothing too exciting. Tonight is UFO night on the ample-knitters list and I think I will join in. Now to decide which UFO to work on? Maybe my Manos de Uruguay shawl or my Feb socks from the sock calendar.
posted by Stephanie at 9:14 AM

 
Ah, another gorgeous weekend in San Diego. We spent a lot of yesterday out and about so I think I'm going to hang around the house today. There's supposedly a knitting get-together at a bar this afternoon, which sounds like fun, but I really want to get some things done (like housework) and then I can work on my peace shawl.

Speaking of the peace shawl, I took a pic of it. Of course it doesn't look like much of anything yet, but take my word for it--when you stretch it out you can see the stars.

Oh, and here is a pic of my baby on his eight birthday (yesterday). Hee
posted by Stephanie at 1:25 PM

 
YAY, I started the Peace Shawl this morning. Finally! I know I'm really strange, but I like following the written instructions rather than the charted ones. Well, maybe that will change as the shawl gets larger and larger.

Yesterday I had a crummy day at work so I left early and made a stop at the LYS. I needed some more stitch markers and a new size 4 circ for the shawl. I also picked up some stitch markers for my sister and 2 balls of Sockotta and more dpns for me. I haven't tried to Sockotta yet and I'm interested to see if I like it as much at the Regia cotton blend.

I'm off to make a sugar-free cheesecake and work on my shawl. If the cheesecake turns out, I will post the recipe.
posted by Stephanie at 8:56 AM

 
Yay, I went to S'nB last night. Ok, there were only 2 of us--but I still had a great soy cappuccino, good conversation, and I finished the second Opal sock! Um, but I forgot to take a picture before I packaged them up to send to my sister (D'OH)! To make up for it, here is a pic of the goodies I bought while in Seattle. This morning I cast on for a basic ribbed sock using the dark purple Heirloom Easy Care 8 that my sister picked out. I do not like this yarn--it's 100% wool, but it's been treated in such a way that it's kind of slippery and quite splitty.
posted by Stephanie at 7:30 AM

 
Ooooh, check out elann--they listed a great deal on sock yarn today (yes, I ordered one of each color).
posted by Stephanie at 12:11 PM

 
Well, I didn't do any knitting last night. I did get a package of Regia sock yarn, though (um yes, I do need more sock yarn, ahem). Tonight I'm going to a new Stitch 'n Bitch so that should be fun.
posted by Stephanie at 10:52 AM

 
I have to get back to blogging daily--I've just been feeling a bit out of sorts lately. Maybe it's all this travelling and excitement LOL. I am trying to finish up the Opal socks that I worked on during my trip so I can send them to my sister. It will be a nice suprise for her since she saw me knitting them and really liked them but thought they were for me. I have cast on a few times for my sister's other socks (using the dark purple Heirloom Easy Care 8 that she picked out), but nothing seems right and I must admit that I am not particularly fond of this yarn. I think it will just have to be a pair of plain old ribbed socks. I am dying to start a new lace project, but I haven't gotten up the courage. I've pretty much decided I want to use the pale yellow Zephyr I bought in Seattle to make the Peace shawl. No time like the present for that pattern, eh?
posted by Stephanie at 1:21 PM

 
Whew, I'm back! I had a nice little vacation but it was very tiring. Knitting: I visited 2 yarn shops! One in Bellingham called the Wool Connection and one in Seattle called Acorn Street (they have a website, but I'm just too lazy to look it up right now). I picked up a few odds and ends--sock yarn, stuff for washcloths, Jaggerspun Zephyr, a pattern, a needle. I'll try to post a pic of all the goodies later.

I also got my sister excited about knitting. I think it's because knitting is "hip" right now plus she lives in a cold, damp, windy climate. I bought her a skein of Brown Sheep bulky wool and a circular needle and she started on a ribbed hat. She wants to wear it on a trip she's going on next month--she will be on a ship in the middle of the ocean near Alaska for 4 weeks. It will be pretty cold and they were told to bring lots of wool and very little cotton. Not only is wool warmer, but cotton gets heavy when wet and never dries. I am going to try to finish a few pairs of socks for her before she leaves. I asked her if she wanted wool underwear, but she declined. LOL

Oh, last night I was standing near baggage claim in the San Diego airport waiting for my luggage. DH noticed that a little girl was looking at us and pointing but we didn't know why. Then as we passed the father said "my daughter recognized you from the plane as the knitter". Tee hee!
posted by Stephanie at 5:01 PM

 
I was up at 4am this morning cuz I couldn't sleep--oh well, at least I got a few rows done on my Opal sock! Busy day today--meeting Karen for lunch (yay!!), then meetings all afternoon. I have an acupuncture appointment at 5 and then tonight I have to pack. Tomorrow morning I fly to Seattle to visit my sister who lives in Bellingham. It should be great fun to have a mini-vacation and hang out with her. Naturally, I am thinking about what knitting to bring and whether I want to try to knit on the plane. I'll probably just bring my Opal socks and one extra ball of sock yarn *just in case*. My sister even asked around and found a yarn store in the area that she can take me to. Yay! I might not blog again until 3/24, just so ya know.
posted by Stephanie at 6:34 AM

 
Off-topic

Stephanie's Banana Bread

1 c oat flour
3/4 c whole wheat pastry flour
2/3 c splenda
2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
2 ripe bananas, mashed
1/3 c margarine
2 T soymilk
2 eggs
1 c walnuts or pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and oil a loaf pan. Put all ingredients except nuts into a large bowl and mix with an electric mixer until well blended. Stir in the nuts with a rubber spatula and transfer mixture to loaf pan. Bake 55-60 minutes. Cool 10 minutes on a wire rack and then remove from pan. Allow bread to cool thorougly on a wire rack.


posted by Stephanie at 11:41 AM

 
Ok, here are some pics! My regia cotton socks, my copper wire necklace, and most of what I bought at the tkga market.
posted by Stephanie at 3:50 PM

 
Too much fun! I have lots to talk about today and I will try to post pics of everything tonight. First, I finished my regia cotton jacquard socks and I am wearing them today. They are so comfy--I absolutely love this blend.

Saturday afternoon I drove up to the tkga convention in Burbank. The first thing I did was do some power shopping at the market. I got bamboo yarn, cotton chenille yarn, a small felting kit to make a coin purse, 2 sets of needles, Myrna Stahman's Shawls and Scarves, a skein of bubbles, and a port-a-pocket (I think that's everything). Then I had dinner with Song and Karen and we sat and watched tv and knitted all night (Iron Chef on the big screen tv--woooo)!

Sunday we had breakfast and headed to the convention for a full day of classes. In the morning Karen and I had Knitting with Copper Wire with Nancy Wiseman. It was a blast and we each finished a necklace with beads. Then it was lunchtime and another quick run through the market. This time I got a big skein of 100% merino wool laceweight in a gorgeous pastel pink color. My afternoon class was intarsia basics with Nancy Wiseman. It was a very good class and I learned a lot. I still don't think I like intarsia, though! Oh well, that's ok I think.

Oh, I also started some new socks yesterday. They're Opal and I think maybe from the Southwest collection.
posted by Stephanie at 10:44 AM

 
I am starting to get excited about the tkga convention this weekend. I am going to drive up tomorrow afternoon so I can meet up with Karen and Song and do some shopping at the market! I think I deserve some stash enhancement right now. I also heard that Habu is going to be there so I will hopefully be able to score some bamboo yarn! I'm going to crash with Karen Saturday night and then Sunday I will be in classes all day (knitting with copper wire & intarsia). Wheeeee!!!!
posted by Stephanie at 2:10 PM

 
Not a lot of knitting going on. Last night I worked on another cross stitch piece for a round robin. I did pick up my organic cotton dishcloth and knit a few rows (the Pachuko organic cotton from elann is heavenly--if they have any left go snap some up)!

OT: Not only is DH having terrible back problems, but I am having some health problems as well. Don't worry--nothing life-threatening, but definitely life-changing. *sigh* (noooo, I'm not pregnant)!
posted by Stephanie at 10:52 AM

 
Well, I got the new issue of FCEK and I can honestly say that there wasn't anything in there that interested me. Well, I liked some of the crocheted items, but I can't crochet worth a darn!!

KIPed at the acupunturist today while waiting for my appointment--I haven't figured out how to knit during the appointment, but that may defeat the purpose. LOL
posted by Stephanie at 1:17 PM

 
Well, I had to take a personal day yesterday to babysit DH (who was drugged up and could hardly move because of his back). I didn't get much knitting done--just a few rows on a garter stitch dishcloth (I was trying to practice knitting without looking, but this particular cotton is quite splitty). I'm not sure what I did all day but I know it included cross stitch and napping. Oooh, I did get a cone of fine Euroflax linen from Darilyn--I've been wanting to try it out.

This weekend is the big TKGA convention in Burbank. I am excited although I'm a bit anxious about driving up there myself (me driving + L.A. = trouble, usually).
posted by Stephanie at 2:43 PM

 
Well, I spent last night in the emergency room because DH threw his back out. Luckily I threw my sock-in-progress in my bag on our way out the door!
posted by Stephanie at 8:19 AM

 
I actually did go to the knit-together yeaterday and I'm glad. The weather was beautiful and it was good to get out of the house and talk to other knitters. Heather brought lots of goodies that she bought at Stitches West--my favorite was the yarn made from bamboo!! And it was really soft--it felt sort of like silk. I definitely see some in my future (here's the website for the company that sells it).

My knitting: at the knit-together I worked on my Regia sock and I'm to the gusset decreases. I am continuing on my braids cardigan and I am really loving it. It starts from the bottom up and it's in 3 separate pieces right now because it has 5 inch side slits. I'm not sure how much knitting time I will get in today since I have a bunch of cross stitch that needs to get done (not to mention cooking and cleaning)!
posted by Stephanie at 5:36 AM

 
TGIF! I'm so glad it's almost the weekend. Tomorrow morning is the Knit Together in Balboa park so I plan to go if it's nice out (and it usually is). The rest of the weekend I plan to relax, cook, knit, sew, and cross stitch. Weekends need to be longer!!
posted by Stephanie at 11:19 AM

 
Warning: the following rant in not knitting-related. Ever have one of those days where everything goes wrong? First, I overslept so I didn't have time for breakfast or even coffee. Then I was piling all my crap into my car to go to work and my lunch (in a gladware container) opened and part of it spilled on the floor of my nice clean car (DH spent all of last Saturday cleaning it). Then I get to work and try to clean up the mess in the car. While getting out of the car, the damn lunch container falls on the ground and more of it is lost on the pavement. Then I get in to work to find out that a compound that I made (2 months behind schedule) and sent to another company is apparently crap. Mind you, the first batch I sent them was crap as well. My boss will not be happy, and of course this comes right while he is in the middle of doing annual reviews. Then, I'm in the lab, and my coworker has a little "accident" and splashes some chemicals on me (I was halfway across the room). And it's not even lunchtime yet! I really want to go home and crawl back into bed. Oh, and to top it all off, we just had a company meeting and found out that we aren't getting raises this year--just 2% cost of living increases. grrrrrrrrrr
posted by Stephanie at 11:58 AM

 
New project! Yesterday I was reading some knit blogs and noticing that people are cranking out awesome sweaters left and right! It seems like I haven't finished anything in a million years other than dishcloths. Luckily, my elann order came last night containing 2 big cones of Naturelle 8/8 (recycled cotton). One in bark (dk brown) and one in a denim blue. I've been dying to do the braids cardigan from cabin fever (a knit-a-long on the ample knitters list), so I swatched and cast on using the brown. So far I am really loving it. And the great thing about this sweater is that it's done all in one piece with no sewing! I think I need to pick up a 40" needle, though, cuz I don't think my 29" is going to cut it.
posted by Stephanie at 10:43 AM

 
I received some fun yarn from eBay--a cone of pale yellow 100% cotton (my favorite color)! It's only 800 yards so I'm thinking that I might be able to eek out Bonne Marie's uCan2 shell. Otherwise, I've just been knitting dishcloths!
posted by Stephanie at 3:37 AM

 
Have you seen the spring edition of knitty? It's awesome! I just printed out Bob and I'm going to go swatch right this minute.
posted by Stephanie at 8:57 PM

 
Not a lot of exciting knitting going on here. During the week I work on my cotton knitting bag on my lunch hours. I am also continuing on my second regia cotton plus sock (mindless knitting). I can't decide if I want to start something else. I'm thinking about the peace shawl or a cotton top. I also have some cross stitch to do for exchanges and some sewing I would like to do. I got some great organic cotton flannel from eBay and I want to make a pair of pants. Oh, and I have a vegan chocolate cake in the oven and frosting chilling in the fridge. I'm planning to go to an EarthSave potluck tonight. Have a good weekend!
posted by Stephanie at 2:27 PM