Playing with Ravelry

Wow! I've finally been able to spend some time on Ravelry and I can see that it is a really great resource. My username is knittingbythesea if you'd like to add me as a friend or check out my area. I'm still learning about it and haven't been able to load pictures since I'm not at my computer although I wonder if I can get pictures from here and use them. Like I said, there is a lot for me to learn. I have added some projects and put some in my queue. It's neat the way there is so much already in the database and it's all linked together. I also don't have a Flickr account and wonder if I need to sign up for one of those?

Also, don't forget to leave a comment for the contest in the last post. Thanks to those who have already entered - I've been looking around for some other fun monkey stuff to include in the package. While I have been in NJ, I was able to stop by some knitting stores - Stix-n-Stitches had a sign up offering a discount on red yarn purchased for use in the Red Scarf Project. It's great to see the support of such a worthy program. I have already started my scarf using some yarn from my stash (yeah for me!!) and this fun pattern.

So, go cast on for a red scarf and leave a comment for the Monkey contest. And have fun!

My Memory is not so Good

Bonne Marie really made my day (maybe even my week) when I received an email from her telling me that I had won some STR in Alina from a random drawing on her blog. Actually, to let you know how bad my memory is, the email was titled something like "Chicknits Sock Yarn" and my first thought was "I didn't know she was coming out with sock yarn. I better go and check this out." I was so happy when I saw that I had won. Thank you Bonne Marie!!

I had been thinking that it was time to give something away on this blog also - so here is the contest. Since it is the Summer of Socks and I (along with everyone else in blogland) enjoyed knitting up my Monkey socks soooo much, I am going to give away a Monkey package. Some sock yarn from the stash along with some monkey paraphernalia. Sounds good? What do you have to do to win such a prize? All you have to do is leave me a comment letting me know why you would like to knit Monkey socks - this can be the first pair you knit or the fourth. It's open to anyone that wants to knit Monkeys. I will pick a winner sometime around Labor Day weekend. I will be in and out a lot over the next few weeks so I may not be able to reply to comments or even post too often, but rest assured that if I receive your comment, you will be entered (even if I can't reply).

Come join the fun and leave a comment! Good luck!

Feelin' the Love

You know that certain feeling you get - when the yarn and the pattern just come together. You just feel the love for the whole project. I felt that way about the Monkey socks and didn't quite feel it with the two socks that are on the needles now. One sock is almost ready to start the toe and the other is close to starting the heel. This means they both need to be tried on every couple of rows to know just when to start the change. Yesterday I had to fly down to DC for the day (work stuff) and I just wasn't comfortable trying on the sock while I was in the airport or on the plane. This meant I needed to bring something else and instead of bringing something already on the needles, I started a new pair of socks. And the yarn/pattern combination is perfect - I can feel the love.

Dream in Color Smooshy yarn in Beach Fog that I purchased from Twisted. And the pattern is Loksins from Too Much Wool. I love this pattern - it moves along quickly and is fun to knit. And the yarn - well - it's fabulous. The feel, the color and look how it shows off those stitches. Thank you to Emily and Shannon at Twisted for their great online service - I've ordered several things from them already and they are always so helpful. They just opened their store in Portland and I wish I lived closer so I could visit. And thank you to Cassie for this great pattern!

Grrlfriends

One thing that can definitely make you feel better is a get together with your grrlfriends. Throw in some good food, cosmopolitans and knitting (or whatever craft you wish) and it's guaranteed to be a great time. I had to start a new sock - the above combination called for a mindless stockinette, although the day after this lunch, I discovered where I had split a stitch and had ended up with an extra stitch, so I ripped out about two inches - so much for mindless.

Here is Bandit showing off my two socks in progress. This heat has really decreased my energy level and there has not been much knitting going on but the cable sock is almost ready for a toe.

One last shot of the grrls. We really need to do this more often!

Remembering

Today is my Mom's birthday. Maybe I should say it would have been or it was her birthday, but I will always think of today as her birthday. Mom, I love you and miss you.

Eye Candy For You

Eye candy and mouth candy for me. One thing I am so glad I did was to plant blueberry bushes when we moved into the house. It's great to be able to step out into the backyard and pick fresh blueberries.

Enjoy your weekend!

A Gift Tutorial

I meant to write this at the end of the school year to show the last minute gifts I made for my daughter's teachers, but since these gifts would be appropriate for many others besides teachers, I'm giving it to you now. I needed something nice and easy and this is what I came up with:

1. Order some wonderful soap from here. When you open the package, you will be amazed at the awesome smells and the beautiful soaps. Make sure you order some for yourself, because it will be hard to give them all away.

2. Go through your stash and find some cotton appropriate for washcloths.

3. Knit up a washcloth. I chose the Mason Dixon Washcloth from Mason Dixon Knitting.

4. Thread a ribbon through the eyelets and place the soap inside.

5. Wrap the gift in tissue and present to the deserving recipient.