Pixie Purls

Beutiful sunset (watched while knitting!)

View from the plane.

Progress on the Classic Yarns Baby Cardi (Rowan)

On the plane and over the weekend I completed the left and right side of the front, and started a sleeve (the back was completed long ago).

Willowkins happy I am home

Toby looks placid as ushual

Update: I am getting half of the house re-floored in Dupont Real Touch Elite Laminate in walnut. I wanted the lighter, but Jesse wanted the darker. The flooring man said he felt the darker was the most realistic to hard wood. Hardwood was not an option due to the fact our house is a slab, and the glue-down hard woods don't hold up well to doggy traffic.

I wish we could have the kitchen done as well, but we have to spread out the cost, and we havn't picked out a tile yet. So I found out today they can come next week! *happy dance happy dance*

Posted by pixie at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

All day Saturday was spent at The Biltmore in North Carolina. Check out that website, it's a pretty neat place. Basically it's a castle built in the middle of the Carolina's by the Vanderbilt family, 100 years ago.

I got a really neat book that is letters from the 1900 thru 1999 and some wonderful Rose' from the Biltmore winery (mm and some smoked samon and Amish chesse!). Wine tasting is always fun! It is called "Biltmore Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc De Noir" but I can't find a link for it. SO yummy, nearly as much as that Rose' from Wolfville we loved so much.

I imagine it's very pretty in the summery with all the flowers in bloom and everything green.

I loved the view of the mountains from the balcony.

Everything felt magestic and anchient. Not something I have seen a lot in the US, normally more a feeling I have gotten when in another country.

Posted by pixie at 01:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I was unable to finish the binding on the quilt for baby nick in time for the trip today. I will finish it when I get back I guess. Nick and momma don't seem to mad :)

Nick is such a complete doll, such a very good baby.

Nothing more perfect then kntiting for babies while around babies!

Me and Nick, he fell asleep on my chest, soo sweet!

This is Nick's proud momma.

Posted by pixie at 12:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Thanks so much SP7 person. You rock, and gave me exactly what I was wanting to buy not like 2 nights ago! I finished reading the other book I got and was really wanting to get something off my wish list, hah! It's filled with loads of patterns, and color photos! I am sooo anxious to learn fair isle but I'm being a bit chicken about starting it out. Lots of research, and this will be loads of help! It's also a very pretty book, cover and photos etc. Maybe in another month I can start that fair isle vest I have the kit for.

It's really fun to get stuff off the wishlist, cause of course I'm garunteed to like it! No one has ever gotten me anything from it before which makes it extra fun/special.

THANK YOU!

Posted by pixie at 07:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Check out this amazing knitter and the beutiful and original pattern she knit up

Here is my sewing space, with Starbuck blasting itunes rave radio (wireless yay).

I am free motion quilting in the shape of a star and then repeating the quilting around it spreading out and getting larger.

I did good tonight, I am nearly done quilting it. I had to stop because the threading kept getting stuck and I began to make mistakes. Tommorow night I will finish the last 10% of quilting and then start the binding. I can stay up as late as I want too because I took Friday off! So tommorow is a Friday to meeee!

I just love filling up the bobbin nice and even, and how the thread looks all shiney. So pretty.

Posted by pixie at 01:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Update: At dinner my husband and I where talking about stuff and I brought up that he had made me change my 401k to take out 10% instead of 4% and when I got my raise for my promotion it basically nixed any additional money I would have gotten. He said "yeah, but when your retired you'll thank me, you'll be like, omg think about how much yarn I can buy!" -HAHA!!

That's my new hair cut and color. It's blonder looking in sun light but it's darker then I have previously had it.

Well last night I did not quilt, BAD pixie! Esh...

So I swatched on size US 3 needles for Salina and bleh i didn't like it at all. Something about the tension made it kinda wonky, and I don't think it was just my hands. I have noticed with the Rowan Felted tweed that on a swatch I get 5st an inch, and then 6 stitches an inch in another area. It's not as though the yarn appears thick and thin, but it kind of knits up that way. I wouldn't say its noticable visually, only under the microscope :P

I frogged the sleeve deciding to deal with it later, it frogged perfectly, wonderful yarn. I was suprised. Then I cast on for the back on US3 for the seed stitch. It seems like a good length. I am doing the XS because I got all smart last night and measured a sweater I like, and it was 16.5 wide, which is the same as the XS Salina. It was a small sized Gap sweater. So the rowan pattern just runs larger. I'm getting to be a smarter more aware knitter!

When will I finish essential stripe? Probably not this weekend but the next. I plan on taking the rowan baby pattern on the plan with me. I have seen loads of baby patterns without shoulder shapping so I may just nix it because it's so wonky in the pattern.

Cause we can take knitting needles on plans now, yeah!

Posted by pixie at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Only a few more hours to sign up!

I signed up for this, I think it will be fun. I am doing it as a "beggniner" which I think is fair as I have only finished 1 pair of socks. I think it would be neat to have a pair of socks knit by someone else!

Solid Sock Knitters I have not forgotten you, I know I am a terribly host, but I promise there will be an entry to come with the winner/prize etc. I have the entry half formatted already! You are not forgotten!

Last night I had turned the heel on my trekking sock and knit a bit but then ripped the whole thing. I wasn't happy with how the new color changed all the sudden once I picked up stitches. I'll have to figure out a way around that.

I'm in one of my "I don't feel like knitting anything in particular and I'm going to mess up and rip alot" stages. Plus I am avoiding the quilt.

I cast on for the Salina sleeve to see how it knit up. Goodness thats a WIDE sleeve. I'm not really sure what to do with it. I might rip it. I don't imagine felted tweed frogs as well as some other yarns however. Alpaca never seems to frog well. Maybe I should just not worry and go for it, but it just seems to wide.

I'll have to wait till I have a weekend to work on the Essential Stripe, or a friday night. I have this friday off and I am flying to NC to see my friends new baby boy. So I am not sure if I will take it with me or not. I'll have to quilt tonight, no knitting allowed!

My Copper Moose roving finally arrived last night, it was 2lb of Blue Faced. he threw in some extra's as it took so long to arrive. A Camel/Moose blend and an BF/Alpaca blend. I am guessing 2 oz of each. Camel, how cool!

Posted by pixie at 01:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

So last night I finished that sleeve, got my sewing machine all set up to go and then turned the heel on my trekking sock. I hate picking up the stitches I always seem to do one side right and one side wrong. So then trying to get tired I decided to swatch for Salina. I was a busy girl!

Rowan Felted Tweed - Watery
US 5 Crystal Palace Bamboo Straights
5.5-6 stitches per inch

My thoughts on Rowan Felted Tweed. Very light, very delicate, and beyond easy to pull apart and break. No need for a scissor here people! I was getting 6 stitches to the inch, it calls for 5.75. So well then I tried it on #4 and it's only like one smidge smaller. I think I'm going to try with #4 on a sleeve and see how it goes.

Update: Australian knitter bitten by snake

Posted by pixie at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

It's a dreary dark day, I am so tired of rain. It has rained every night for a week. The husband is home and I finished a sleeve, sunday is the best day of the week!

Well needless to say I'm not happy with the sleeve but it's okay.

I decided on a 3/4 sleeve, but i decreased to much near the end and it puckers funny. It's not noticable if I'm wearing it and if I have it on correctly, but it looks odd if i dont wear it just so. Oh well!! I need to let go of my perfectionism sometimes. You can kinda see my new hair.

In my spare moments I worked on this to give my hands a break.

I just adore trekking. I am supposed to be quilting right now people.

Can't.
Put.
Down.
Needles.

Posted by pixie at 04:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

So my husband is actually home, first time I have seen him since sunday, well excluding when I wake up. We are watching the sci-fi friday repeats now and it's nearly 1am.

I spent my friday night getting my hair done and then figuring out how to use the two circ method on sleeves. ARNT YOU PROUD!? I figured it out without looking it up!!

I am still only 4 inches from the pitt, so I guess um.. around about 10 more inches to go. Guh.

Update saturday evening
Well some mail finally arrived, some stuff I ordered a while ago. I was motivated to get the Rowan book finally because I have wanted it a long while and I saw Bee's completed Salina. Hers knit up sooo cute I knew I had to do it with my felted tweed.

Then some of you may recognize the book to the right, it looks brand spanking new, it was last print in 1996. This is a gem of all fairisle gems. I am going to read it right now! Then on top of those is a car charger for my Razr, it's suprising how hard it is to find one of those and it also put me over $25 for the free shipping including the vintage book.

My SP7 keeps teasing me via email and says I have some stuff coming, I luv knitting! I need to slow down hah!

Posted by pixie at 12:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

So last night i sit down with my new needles and I cast on 60 stitches for a made up trekking sock. 60 stitches seemed pretty good, but I decreased by 4 stitched and it seems a bit better. Maybe if I got thinner yarn I could hit the 60-70 stitches so many sock patterns are written in.

Here is willow wearing underwear.

Willow happy not to be in her crate and playing with a new rope toy.

So then after I cast on for the sock well mainly just to test out how many stitches I would need for a sock to fit on the size 0 needles, I found it hard to stop! Trekking is sooo beutiful and fast to knit with.

So then I finally made myself pick up the sweater and I pulled out the new #6 needles and I am looking at them and thinking, gee these don't seem any longer then the ones I already have. So long story short I get all mad because I realize I meant to buy 36" and yet I wound up with 26" and I try to smash them back into the package and get a bit pissy and go back to the sock and then get into bed.

While laying in bed my brain suddently decides to "compute" and I realize, oh duh they didn't have 36" so I just got the same size so I could try the two circular method... Needles to say I went to bed after that!

I have been tagged by Jade of Bee Knits. This isthe first time I actually got tagged for a meme so here it goes!

Four jobs you have had in your life:
GAK Patrol for Nickelodeon (At a theme park - this included pie-ing people and sliming them as well! ROCK!)
Stock girl @ GAP
Web Developer
Web Designer
and now.. Information Architect

Four (random) movies you could watch over and over:
Chaplin
Anne of Green Gables
Adventures in Babysitting
The Last Unicorn

Four places you have lived:
California (born!)
Virginia (Raised!)
Georgia (College and onward)

Four TV shows you love to watch:
Battlestar Galactica
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The girls next door (hugh hefner and his gf's on E!)
Nanny 911

Four places you have been on vacation:
Australia
Nova Scotia
Savanah, GA
Skiing in some big place in PA I can't remember

Four websites you visit daily:
Bloglines.com
cnn.com

Four of your favorite foods:
Pasta
Potatos
Sushi
Mexican

Four places you would rather be right now:
At home knitting
At home sleeping
At a warm beach
Playing in snow (we never get snow)

Posted by pixie at 10:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I am hoping eating apples is good for my gums and teeth

Here on top of my project notes is the pretty blue antibiotics I am on, I just love the blue color of them, but hate swalloing them. I have to take one every 6 hours.

So I ran out to walmart and then to pick up some new knitting needles. They didn't have any size 0 circulars except on clearance. I got them half off, because what basically happend is Crystal Palace had a surge in needle sales (go knitters, we shall take over the universe!) and so they started using faster drying glue. This glue basically SUCKED! So you can take the needle right out of it's little slip. So she glued it back in, right in front of me because one fell out after she told me about it and tested them. This will stink I guess because I like when the wood can spin inside the little joins. Then I got another pair of #6 with the "new design" which I already have, on the new ones it can spin inside the join and it doesn't fall out (yet!).

I got these because knitting on the sleeve last night I only got 1 freakin inch done. I have a 26" and it's just to short and contraining me. I am going to for the first time try the two circ method. I can't imagine it's any harder then magic loop. I hope I can go faster!!

Wow what an educational lunch break! So then I got the second gift set for my SP7. I already sent them one thing that I ordered off the internet. I really regret it to because in total it came to $16 with shipping and then I saw the item a week later in a store half off. MADE ME SO MAD! And really I shouldn't have spent $16 on one item. So I think I will dive into my stash and add that to some of the presents beyond the $50. I am happy with this next present though (well its more several things) so I am going to be smart and find little cute things they will like to give it more bang for the buck. I see other people get gifts from their SP's and I think, how can they spend under $50? If you know the SP tricks, please share lol!

Posted by pixie at 03:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

No more u-l-t-r-a-m for this girl, I slept horrible and felt like ASS today. My neck is no better, well not by enough to be worth it anyway.

So willow went into heat! Ahhh!!! My breeder reccomended letting her go into heat once before spaying her. It's totally arguable either way if it's healthy or not and when it comes down to it I have never had a girl dog before so I wasn't thinking about it to much. So I guess as soon as it's "over" I'll have her "done", sooner then I was expecting, but right on time as far as her age.

I had no idea what it was like for girl dogs, but I saw my cat go into it a few times before I had her fixed (back then it was a money issue). I never really saw anything, but physically it was very clear she was "in the mood" cause she just well.. lets say... got friendly with the floor.

Willow seems fine, but I think my instincts on that sunday disaster day are correct and I felt some dogs smelled her and the barking got really intense and she seemed freaked. I wonder if that had anything to do with it, well it may not but I think it did somehow. Anyways, dogs apparently arn't like cats and when they have it, it's just like a human. Poor little girl, I wonder if she has cramps?

She hates her crate, but she's stuck there till hubby comes home with diapers. What a good hubby! He won't be home till 11 probably so Willow is very pissy I put her in there. She will actually dig and dig at the crate and throw the towel all around. I gave her a bone, it's only slightly keeping her attention.

I was HOPING to go to bed at 10 or so, but now well I will probably have to be waking up or getting up when he comes home to figure out what to do with her. I NEED SLEEP PEOPLE!! RESTFUL SLEEP!

Upate: I just found out from the breeder we got her from that it lasts 20 days, AHHHH!!

Posted by pixie at 09:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I feel all fuzzy but the picture looks good. (I took an ultram and I be fizzuzle zizzle)

I am a LIGHT WEIGHT so any sort of drug just totally messes me up, I have also never had to take anything for pain that was presecription, and ultram is actually a muscle relaxer. Ahhh my neck isn't hurting for the first time in well over a week. AHHH!!

Okay yeah, about this sweater. I'm all out of it but ECK I didn't like how it looked in the mirror, I would for sure have not purchased a sweater of this variated pattern. But then I look at this photo above and I think.. ehh not to bad. I'll give it a chanse. I wish I woulda done it about an inch longer, and I also fuzzed up and did 1" of ribbing and it was supposed to be 1.5, so should I do the sleeves in 1" as well or 1.5??

I'm about to take the stitches off the holder for a sleeve, wish me luck on the underarm, it makes me nervouse.

I normally don't like to post if at all tipsy or out of it, but well DAMN I have to celebrate casting off!

Posted by pixie at 08:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Side Note: Check out this really cool Steeking Info on See Eunny Knit's blog >>

Now that is about the rarest site there ever was. I dragged the cat into the bed with me around 11:30 when I was trying to get sleepy, but also trying to get to the first k1p1 row of the end of the Essential Stripe Sweater. Then willow came over and I thought a fight was assured, but instead willow put her head down and looked longingly at Tala. Tala was fine with the whole thing, but of course left shortly there after.

So by 12:05am I was two rows into the ribbing and finally felt far along enough to put it down and go to sleep. I brought it to work today because I am going to see the doc for what I think is a sinus infection so yay, I will get to hopefully finish out the ribbing then and cast off at home tonight (because casting off requires some patience because I always cast off to tight and get really mad).

Basically I have an infection in my gums. It's nothing truly gross cause you can't tell to look at me, my teeth are primo, no cavities and my breath, well I brush at least 3 times a day and I am very careful not to have stinky breath because OMG nothing grosses me out more. I have these issues with my mouth from not flossing, and I think it was stress related. Lots of people have health problems from stress. The only problems I have ever had is getting sick cause the immune system goes down, or a sore neck.

So well I knew my gums had issues but I kind of forgot about it for a year, so here I am. Going to have to have a "deep cleaning" in 2 weeks. Did you know that your dentist will tell you not to get pregnant during these issues? It's very common to have preemies born to people with any sort of infection in the teeth/mouth. So well not that I am going to get prego right now, but well maybe in 8 months or something. So well now I REALLY got to do something about it. But I digress, I think the infection as it is, has given me these mock sinus infections. My glands will get sore, and then my ear hurts. But I don't often go to a doc for it, a lot of the time it's subtle and I wait for it to go away.

Why am I telling you all this? I have no idea, I want to complain and whine about it I guess. It's just a real pain in the rear. While I may be a slight bit of a hypochondriac, when I truly really have issues, I find it highly annoying.

Posted by pixie at 12:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

So the Yarn Harlot is holding the Knitting Olympics and I am very excited! She said not to set yourself up to fail, but to have a challange. I have decided to start Dale Chamonix because it's a project I already have that I would love to work on or finish and it's related to the Winter Olympics because it's a Dale sweater and it's a ski sweater. I know entering this endevour the chanse that I actually finish it is slim to none, but my real goal is to have something to help motivate me to work on it. Maybe this time around I'll get gauge.

Dale Chamonix

At the time this pattern was out, you could actually buy the sweater for $150 on Amazon.com, the yarn cost under $70.

The Yarn is Daletta because I wanted to be able to wash it easily.

Tonight while watching the Golden Globes

Posted by pixie at 06:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Ahhhhhh save me from the miles of stockinette! Actually I don't mind it too much, it just seems it should go faster.

There it is up against a Gap sweater to see about the length. The pattern calls for a 19.5 inch length, but that gap sweater is more like 23 inches. I'm going to see if I can go to 21 inches. I hate short sweaters so I better pay attention and not rush myself just because I am near the end.

The husbeast just did the dishes and I am SOOO happy! i did them twice this week already and was at the point when I refuse to do them again until he does.

Update
I did another load of dishes after he did, then I vacumed, took down the tree and put it on the back patio and cleaned up my little knitting pile (took out the items I need to rip) that sits on my cofee table. No spinning this weekend still, I am very focused on finishing this sweater, after all it requires NO seaming, so I have no excuse to stop like with other sweaters I have started.

Today I also attempted to take Willow to petsmart. It went *very* badly. She flipped all out from the noise and the wind and I couldnt get her INTO petsmart, actually had to ask a man to carry her back to the car as I was afraid she was going to get away from me. Then right after he got her in the car and I sat down in the drivers seat, I smelled a very putrid smell. I think it was some sort of pee, but the most putred pee in existence. I couldn't really find the source of it (as in if it got anyplace other then the dogs crotch) but I couldn't find any wet spots except a smudge on the seat. I was soooo exhausted after the whole ordeal I threw them in the house and sat in the tub to start reading "Prep" by Curtis Sittendfield.

It's been an overall crappy weekend overall with frustrating things happening, but hopefully next weekend will be better. Now we are going to have to focus on socializing willow, but she's not spayed yet and really, walking her in the neighborhood would be the best first step. So now I'll have to get her spayed... and I have no vet I like and REALLY having a dog go through surgery right now is NOT a stress I want to endure.

Posted by pixie at 11:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

I knit about 4 inches last night, and a bit more today at the dentist.

Here is a close up of the pooling, it's changed a bit. I'm not sure if I like that it changed but DUH I should have realized it would.

It's not at all orange, even though it photographs that way.

Why men have no brains
My father calls me this morning and says "Hey, did you get our message yesterday".

Well he knew damn well if I had, I would have called last night. Course I didn't check my voicemail after 6 last night. Apprently at 5am mom and dad had to, well you know. I don't want to try cry so I can't type it. Anways..

So I say no, then he tells me very matter of factly. SEE it happend at 5am, mom didn't call me till 5pm cause she knows better then to call a person IN THE MORNING while they are at work and tell them this.

So well, morning didn't go well. I cried but only in the car. I had a dentist apt so that was good timing. So I just did it in the car. Well I'm not going to say anymore i still have 2 hours left in the day and don't want to cry. Men are dumb.

Posted by pixie at 02:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

Well I broke my rule and knit past midnight, but HOW COULD I STOP? When I was just 1 row away from being able to put the sleeves on a holder and join in the round. How hard can it be to knit and place some stuff on a holder? I even increased in the armpit and kept the tension good! I didn't have to look have to look anything up!

Sorry for the b00b shot, and for your having to see our half painted bathroom!

Update:
I know all durring lunch at my desk, I can't stop. My left hands index finger hurts now! Tonight I'm gonna make lots of progress on this!

Update on Macgyver:
Mom has decided it's time to put him to sleep. The vet agreed to come over Friday. I don't really want to talk about it but figured I owed you all an update.

Posted by pixie at 12:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Jelly Yarn - No it's not edible.

Still purling away on the Essential Stripe. Meh! 1 inch from the join BAYBEE!! No spinnig tonight cause I stubbed my toe.

Posted by pixie at 09:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Well my co-workers know how to keep me spoiled! I had some delayed holiday gifts delivered today!

A book from my Amazon Wishlist, some handmade soap, and a ADORABLE sheep from, IKEA?! WTH!

This was how things looked driving to work this morning:

Right now, however it looks like California outside, sunny and bright and warm!

I spun for 3 hours last night! I am about half done with the last 1/2 pound of burgandy roving! I think I'll spin the yellow/orange roving after I finish with the Burgandy!

Posted by pixie at 05:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Well my yarn arrived in the mail, and I forgot to mention I got some roving at the Distaff Day thang.

Ebay Coopworth

Distaff day Merino (My first Merino!)

I am still waiting on the Blue Face Leciester(sp?) from CopperMoose... hrmm...

Oh and a shot of the sweater, all these purling rows are killing my hands! I'm out of practice.

So um, yeah. I'm not allowed to buy anymore roving or yarn :)

Posted by pixie at 06:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Best Knitting Blogs - only a few here I had not seen before.

Distaff Day

Pictured here from left to right Jen, Jane, Hockey Mom, Mouse, Pixie & Melissa (photo taken by Janice). Desiree was also there, I'll update this with a link to her blog later tonight when I am at home with my email.

Here is Melissa trying out my Lendrum. She near filled up half a bobbin and was a complete natural! She has used a drop spindle before but never a wheel. Hopefully she will post some photos to her blog of her wonderful spinning!

I had great fun at Distaff day and was so thrilled to meet so many cool bloggin knitters! Mouse and Melissa pulled me out of my corner and helped me carey my wheel and chair over so I could sit with them. Everyone was just so nice, I am motivated to have a knitting day at my house with some Wine and Chesse and lots of yarn!

Now for the SP7 questions!

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand?

Sadly yes I am. I love soft soft yarn. I have no allergies but I get super itchy if its not soft. It's not about price though. I don't like noro yarns very much and they are fairly pricey. I love Plymouth Alpaca's, Dale, Rowan, Debbie Bliss, Trekking, Koigu and many others. I am not a huge fan of varieted yarns. I do like them but I am picky. Arn't I a pain? Honestly I will be happy with anything I recieve as a gift, because I love suprises!

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I would love to learn to crochet more then one stitch, I know just one and I have an afgan I have been working on for 2 years with that one stitch!

Yes I spin!! I am a newbie spinner and I just love it. I have a Lendrum DT.

3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I store my circs in a cute cloth case I got at my LYS, and I store my sticks in a container that is rubber so it doesn't hurt the tips of the needles. I love Bamboo, and Addi Natura's are my all time favorite. I only own those in 7's.

4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have been knitting sence 2004. I am intermediate I think would be fair to say.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
tp://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/1ZVDSNP5O7MFH

6. What's your favorite scent?
Vanilla, Cookies, Apples. Anything that is like food makes the best candles!

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I am not a huge candy junky. I am a sucker for those Godiva starfish filled with rasberry. That is my worlds favorite sweet snack. I'm realy not big into candy though, I am big into Earl Gray Tea as wel as Chamomile.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Quilting!!

9. What kind of music do you like?
Not sure what to say for this one.

10. What's your favorite color?
Blues and Greens, but never Navy. I don't like reds or blacks. I like unique shades od blue, pretty faded out turquise or teals.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
2 dogs and one kitty!

12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I rarely wear anything around my neck really. I'm not real big into jewlery or accessories. I have never worn a poncho but I have been tempted to knit one!

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
Soft Wools of any sort. Alpaca is to die for, and Alpaca/Silk blends are beyond wonderful. Rowan Felted Tweed, Rowan Calmer are two I do not indulge in often but I love. I am super picky about sock yarn and have always wanted some Lorna's Laces solids but can't find them any place out here. Trekking is the best sock yarn on earth.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Cottons, they dry my hands out, Calmer is one of the few I like. Noro has knots in it, which is not cool considering the priace. Tape yarns or frilly fuzzy yarns are not something I am big into.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession's?
Hrmm.. I have no idea! I want to WEAR something I knit, that's my obessesion. It's hard to get there though!

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I honestly don't think I have finished enough to say.

17. What are you knitting right now?
Some socks in trekking, a top down sweater in Plymouth Encore Worsted, something small in art yarns and oh on the back burner a baby sweater in Baby Cashsoft (omg love that yarn!) and a sweater in Noro Silk garden I started 2 years ago.

18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Don't really care.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Either. I don't like purling 200 stitches in a row, but I don't mind k2p2 for 200 stitches in a row, if that makes sence.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Bamboo, and addi natura's (bamboo or some kind of wood).

21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I have a ball winder, swifts are terribly expensive :(

22. How did you learn to knit?
Took what I thought was a crochet class haha!

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
2 years (The Noro Sweater)

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Horses, Dogs & Foxes

25. What is your favorite holiday?
The holidays. XMAS & Chanukah.

26. Is there anything that you collect?
Pin Coushions in blue's and greens.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I have a sub to Spin Off!

28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?Last Minute Knitted Gifts, Saturday Sweaters: Easy to Knit, Easy to Wear, Holiday Knits: 25 Great Gifts From Stockings To Sweaters, In Sheep's Clothing : A Handspinner's Guide to Wool, Knit Ponchos, Wraps & Scarves and the Vintage Socks Book that everyone loves

29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I want to freakin learn to Fair Isle on something small so I can knit that snowflakes and arrows kit I got from knitpicks. I don't own a fair isle book. That one good one was out of print. MEH! I really wanna do some fairisle!

30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Humm.. I wear a size 6 to 7 shoe!?

31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
Not durring this SP :)

Posted by pixie at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Ah... for a great many, well YEARS now I have wanted some rowan felted tweed. Did you know it's a Merino and Alpaca blend? Beyond yummy!! Today Jesse and I went out and I indulged myself.

What are you going to make with that Rowan Felted Tweed Pixie? Why I am hopefully going to make another Essential Stripe sweater if I like how the first one turns out. The Strings and Strands owner told me I should be knitting size 36" [ sweaters, not 34" so now I am worried. I am just going to finish it though and see how it fits.

Oh I have dreamed of this colorway of Rowan Felted Tweed for sooo long ohh yay! I believe it's the "Watery" colorway which is more vibrant in real life then in most photos.

In sad news, when I was in Strings and Strands I was mentioning to the owner how a long time ago when I first came in there it was her mother who found my knit stitch was twiseted (I was wrapped backwards) and "saved" my knitting. She looked at me perplexed for a moment (probably because it may have been 2 years ago) and said, "Oh, my mother passed a month ago". I am guessing she had not been in the store probably for a while. I felt awful, but I said well your mom saved my knitting and if it wasn't for her I would probably still be knitting wrong, and she smiled and I think that made her happy.

Tomorrow is Distaff day for the Peachtree Handspinners Guild. Desiree is going to be there, Melissa and mouse, and Ruth from the Yahoo! Spinning list will also be there with some friends and hopefully Greta from my Knitting Meetup.

Posted by pixie at 07:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Jesse and I love Sci Fi Fridays!! Tonight was the season premiers!! Ahh... 3 hours of sci-fi goodness!!

I continued working on the neck/shoulders of the essential stripe sweater. I adore this yarn and how it knits up. I hope I like the final product.

We got fairly drunk, but I think Jesse was a bit far gone...

After the shows he lay on the carpet like this for about 10 minutes, until my complaining that he misplaced the remote got him up. Hah! Pissy drunk man!!

Oh and I created a Yahoo group for the Knit and Tonic Essential Stripe Sweater. Feel free to join up if you are knitting this.

Posted by pixie at 01:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Greta teaches Tammy how to cast on for the first time.

On the table you can see something I am knitting, but I won't say anythiing about cause I am hoping I actually finish it.

Posted by pixie at 09:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

My swatch is 5st = 1" and the pattern calls for 4.75 = 1". I like how it knits up and I don't want to go up a needle size, so I'll go up a sweater size, and to think in middle school I didn't think there as any use for math. So I went to "Only Ewe & Cotton Too" today durring lunch and got size #6 and #7. I got the 7's just in case. I think I will knit up the size 34, which maybe will wind up a size 33" or 32" with the .25 higher stitch count.

I got some Crystal Palace as they didn't have Naturas (mmm I love Naturas) and they have a sticker on them saying "New Design!". Apparently they improved the joins.

I knit some last night, then did that swatch and then spun up some more burgandy corriedale. I am nearly through the 8oz bag, I am trying to get it to fit on one bobbin. Then I can take the other 8oz back I bought and spin it, and ply it all and make a hat! I am excited about that, the only frustrating thing is the thiness/thickness of my spun yarn kind of varies from night to night. I'm sure I will get consistant with time.

Posted by pixie at 05:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

MacGyver is still alive, the vets can't say enough how sweet he is and how suprised they are he is still moving around. He has a very high threshhold for pain. He just seems mildly uncomfortable.

My mother is extremly torn, if she should just go ahead and put him to sleep or not. I told her if his tale will still wage then not to put him to sleep yet, or to wait till she DOES know what to do and do it. As in if you are not sure, then just keep thinking. It's such a hard thing. To take a life, but to put something "out of it's misery". I don't feel right, making the call to end someone or somethings life. Doesn't seem right, but of course there is empathy and pain for not only the dog but for my mother as well.

God I Love That Dog. I don't want him to die.

I am the "queen of repression" as my husband likes to call me, so I'll talk about something else.

I created a Flickr "Handspun" group for us spinners to post photographs of our handspun to. If you use flickr and spin, feel free to add your photos.

Update
I spoke with my mother this afternoon on the way home and she has decided not to do anything with him, he seems to be okay (as okay as can be). She sounded MUCH better, and MacGyver sounded like he was having a good day.

Posted by pixie at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

This Sunday I am going to the annual Distaff Day celebration at the Peachtree Handspinners Guild. I will probably be all shy at first, and I even have atleast 2 or 3 people who I 'know" from email lists and blog land, but have never met! So that will be fun.

So last night I knit for a while and then decided to get back onto the wheel. For the first 20 minutes I thought the wheel was broken, everything seemed wrong. I sorta futzed with stuff, and spun up some of the crap roving, and then moved back to the corriedal and I think everything is back to normal. I seem to have a need to be in some kind of zone, or to warm up. Only then do I get a nice and even yarn. It's okay though, a formula for success is still success!

This burgandy roving will be a hat for my husband

The spinning book has a pattern for a nice ribbed hat made in handspun and I can say it's decreases do not make a pinwheel and will not be femanine hah. So my husband is waiting on his hat, but knowing me it may be summer before he gets it :)

I'll be putting together an entry about this weekend with photo's the final information!

Posted by pixie at 08:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Books Picked up from the LYS (2)
The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook - Lynne Vogel
Hands On Spinning - Lee Raven

So I finally decided on a good use for the Encrore Worsted Colorspun - Knit & Tonics Essential Stripe Sweater

It seems wise for me to knit something that doesn't require seaming, after all I did finish that tank top and it's the only top finished to date. I have just enough yarn for the long sleeve version of this sweater and it's a cute pattern. I was torn between that and the cowl, but I think it will be cute in the sweater, and warmer in this cold weather. I'll save the cowl for when spring comes and I'll do it in alpaca for fun (MAYBE some of my own I spun up ONE DAY?!).

Do you know like 8oz of Alpaca roving costs like freakin $30?? *cry* I was not allowed to get any when I got the books, I am not allowed to spent THAT much on roving when I have so much more coming to me. I am so anxious to get that color roving, but it's best that I run through my dark teal and get better at getting a thinner yarn so I can create some worsted weight yarns.

Speaking of spinning here is my ball of that blue stuff I spun up:

I am going to visit a friend in NC the end of this month and if I could get it figured out onto the right needle size I could turn it into a baby hat maybe...

That's willow looking striken because we had lightning and hail and she was sooo worried! Oddly enough she went out in it, my husband thought it would be good to build her confidence, heh.

Oh yeah and tonight is the knitting meetup at starbucks, yay!

Posted by pixie at 03:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Work gave us today off, yay!

Well I don't think I should be allowed to buy anymore roving until I spin all the other stuff up, I also got some dark teal and some burgandy Correidal on Sunday from the same place I got the aqua stuff a year ago. So I think all together I spent $60 on roving including the web stuff. I have already spun up one bobbin of the teal. Maybe today I can spin all of it! I need to practice right? Spinning is so fun to practice. I don't feel any of the pressure with it that I feel with knitting. When I knit I can't mess up a stitch or the pattern can be ruined. I know I am far to uptight about it, it's just the way I am about it. Knitting is not zen for me, but then in some ways it is. Maybe I should say, sometimes it is.

Spinning on the other hand is instant zen (I have been reading "Zen & The Art of Knitting"). When I spin I focus on my hands and how I am drafting, and minutes fly by like leaves in the wind. I like to listen to music while I spin, and I find myself often singing. I am not clear from the book if zen is a place you think about things or you don't. I think you're supposed to clear your mind of everything, so that is spinning for me. One of my favorite things to do is take a bath, but in the bath I think LOTS, or I read. My mind is very busy and I find it's a great time to think about things I need to think about. So I guess that's not Zen, so I wonder what it is? Meditation maybe? Are you supposed to think about stuff when meditating?

I'll be running to Quilted Hearts to get a spinning book, as Barnes & Noble doesn't have any in stock and I don't want to wait a week and pay shipping, and double my order just to get free shipping etc. Plus I want to look through them before I buy them.

Everyone wish me luck in resisting buying any Alpaca Roving!

Posted by pixie at 11:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Tonights work

The color in this photo is more true to the yarn

Detail of second skein

So being all pleased with myself I was allowed to order some new roving:

Blue Face Leicester 2lb Roving -Extrafine Exclusive

Coopworth Swirl Rov 8 oz Scotish Thistle (jjfarm)

This one is the real winner to me, loooove the colorway, hope it doesn't suck in real life!

100% Coopworth Swirl Roving 8 oz in Mermaid (jjfarm)

100% Coopworth Swirl Roving 8oz in Flame (jjfarm)

Posted by pixie at 08:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

This is the 2005 Rowan Birch knit a-long.

Please post a comment to this blog entry if you would like your name added to the participant list. I just started this so for right now it's just me. I am knitting it in Kidsilk Haze Trance.

Please DOWNLOAD these buttons to your own computer and blog if you wish to use them. Do not link to my server or I will have to remove them, thanks!

Recommended Retailer - Knitting Garden
Kidsilk Haze
Rowan #34

You will need 3 balls (227 yards each) to complete the scarf. I have read about people running out of yarn, and people having atleast half a ball left of yarn. Check your gauge before you start.

Knit-alongers:
Femiknits
Fig and Plum

Posted by pixie at 03:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)