Pixie Purls

As I have been using so much sock yarn for Country Kiddie lately I stashed up a bit on that. I really wanted to make one from STR and I figured I needed to have the experience of waiting in line for sock yarn, everyone should. I waited 45 minutes. It was 11am when I got in line and it was already pretty picked over. I couldn't find a pink/green color-way like I wanted to but I got some other pretty stuff.

The green's look a bit gray in this photo for some reason. This yarn below knits up SO pretty! It is an angora/wool blend and is hand dyed and then hand plied (the women who does it must enjoy plying, A LOT because they had A LOT of yarn!). The booth was in the main building and had a ton of sample sweaters in the same pattern but in different colors. I can't wait to knit this up, it's really pretty and of course my favorite colors.

Now for my two favorite purchases, one is a hank of 100% cashmere. 300 yards. I am thinking about making cashmere socks. How nice would that be to wear in the winter around the house? Or even with burks on a cool spring day.

Second, something I have wanted for years. A golding spindle. This one is 1.9 ounces and perfect for long fibers like BFL and Shetland. The women working the Golding booth was so nice and helpful. I was torn between this and a butterfly 1.2 ounce one which would have been nice for merino but the truth is I spin most with Shetland, BFL and those types of wool. She had me try it out and wow it spins like a dream. I went outside today and spun up some but then it got too windy and I had to stop. I LURV it.

I did not buy any roving (oh I wanted too) but I have loads in my closet and I really think I buy to much stuff so I tried to keep my purchases small. I actually only went in one barn (to get the STR) and never walked through the rest of it, and went through the main big indoor building. I missed SO MUCH but I knew I would want to buy to much and it was best not to even look. I also got some really funny stitch markers but I still need to photograph them. I also met someone while shopping and I will tell you all about that later too!

Posted by pixie at 07:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Okay Two Swans is back in my good graces, it only took 3 days to get here, if even! I was all shocked when I went outside to check the mail and saw a fedex box up against my garage. I knew what it was though! Wow this is a pretty book. I have never gotten Simply Shetland or Jamieson's before. It's all so pretty. I'm about to photo-over-load-you. All I can hope is there isn't need for an errata, this is the bain of any knitter who decides to knit something right after the pattern comes out and before others have yet.

A very nice note apologizing again for taking longer to send it. Totally great customer service.

The book is beutiful.

But the yarn is even prettier :)

I am very pleased with my color selection, considering it was over the internet and a tad bit of a gamble. I think the contrast between the gold and the blue/green is there. We will see when I swatch!

Posted by pixie at 04:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Casey over at Ravelry.com spoke in the forums about Asio.net which is a SOLAR POWERED web host, omg!! So if your in the market for web hosting (and the word is they have $10 monthly plans) and you are "green" then you may want to try them out. What a cool idea!

(click for notes)

All I really want to do latley is buy stuff, which is a *really* bad thing to have an urge to do! I have told myself I wouldn't buy anymore knitting yarn, but I suppose crochet yarn doesn't count right?? (right?!!)

So I ran by Joann's and stocked up on supplies to crochet toys! Eyeballs, felt, noses and decorative thread. I'm nearly done with the top of the head of the octopode now, it looks like a bowl. So far so good!

Also on another note today I fit inside my Honda Element not only a large chair, an ottoman but also a freakin mattress (smaller mattress). I am astounded we could fit that much in the car! We ran out to get husbeasts car serviced, then went to lowes (I am reminded why I don't like those stores) to look at carpet, then to a car wash place to get the car cleaned out and detailed and then to pick up the furniture. It's still in the car, I think I should take a photo because it's freakin amazing that much stuff fit inside of it.

Posted by pixie at 07:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Well this morning Jen IM'd me and let me know some of the knitting gang was heading to Knitch in Atlanta. I haven't had piano because I was sick and then this week and next my teacher is on vacation so yesterday I never left the house. It sounded like a good idea. There was a few plus's to this endeavor. First would be getting my Straucht Carder to Jen as she wanted to buy it and I wanted to sell it. I love having it, I hated seeing it go but I knew I would never use it. Anything that goes into our garage pretty much rots and is forgotten about and that was where it was headed with me having to give up my craft room. So off it went to Jen.

Jen also had knit me a freakin beutiful shawl in sea silk. It happened late one night when I sent a link to Jen and she and Melissa and La went all freak shit and wanted to knit it BAD. I said well knit me one while your at it! Sure she said, if you buy us both the yarn. Um okay sure. What?? She didn't expect me to take her up on the offer, but then I didn't expect her to either. She got some purple Seasilk out of the deal, but I think in the end I got the better end of things. I mean how freakin beutiful is it? She did such a good job, she's an amazing knitter. I love how it feels on my skin. I have wanted something from seasilk for a while now and I have always wanted a lace shawl but I know better then to try to knit one. Between the dogs and my husband lace and me, we just don't work.

So i went to knit and got to see everyone and wish Claudia a happy birthday, and she helped me scope out the pattern for knitty's Trellis which I believe will be my next knit. I stashed up for it too! After Knitch I went to IHOP with my husband and the shawl went with me. Oh and at Knitch Melissa brought some of her handspun, I should have taken a photo, it was so beutiful. I have the most talanted knitting buddies! They are just some bad ass knitters/spinners!

Here is the husbeast surfing on his cell phone, which I am pretty sure he is already over his 1mb limit already this month, so excuse me while I go give him a good pinch.

Posted by pixie at 07:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Well saturday was extermly busy. I was woken up at 7:00am by a dear friend telling me she had gotten engaged the night before, then a yard guy never showed up or called about 8am, piano lesson at noon and then I ran to Cast on Cottage to grab some pink yarn, after that was dinner with Family and after that the husbeast wanted to go see Spiderman 3, which really wasn't bad like the reviews said, but #2 was still better.

Check out the pretty in pink Plymouth Heaven yarn for a cute "baby bunting". The little bolero/cardigan I think would be really cute in the Plymouth Baby Alpaca one of my favorite yarns (and not to badly prices with it's yardage either!), it's actually the first yarn I ever knit with.

Sunday has been a day of rest, knitting, cleaning and now I'm cooking some cupcakes! I actually slept most of the day sleeping, I woke up at 10am, and fell back asleep around 1pm (I think?) and then woke up at 6pm!

Wish me luck with the cupcakes, I don't have a blender and the mix was looking a little lumpy tonight!

Posted by pixie at 08:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Or that's what I like to tell myself, because I can, I did! Well I figured ya know I finished the whole back of that baby cardi and after 4 months of no knitting and no yarn puchases it would be alright if I enhcanced my stash a bit, with a focus on baby knits of course.

I got a cute Lantern Moon bag in a pretty greenish color that actually matches my purse so I can stick my knits in my purse and not have it get tangled with my keys.

Starting from the left; I got what I thought was italian yarn and maybe it is but apparently Plymouth sells it, the label tricked me! Filati Bertagna - Torrione which is a 100% cotton ribbon yarn. The colors caught my eye and it's fiber content made me think of baby knits. I got 2 balls to experiment with and I thought it would make a cute baby hat. I really like the tank in that link, except for the "artsy holes". It's I think in the same color yarn I purchased. I believe it's a new spring yarn and it's really soft! I'm not a ribbon yarn fan but I really liked it.

The large amount of pretty pale teal is more "Oh My!" (Plymouth) so I can make another hooded cardi.

Last but not least is "Tofutsies" yarn made from superwash merino, soysilk and get this, chitin (something to do with crab shells). Wacky! It's very soft and comes in neat colors. I was thinking the EZ baby suprise jacket might work in this yarn, if not some sort of baby sweater would be cute, and if there is enough yarn maybe a matching hat and tiny socks.

Posted by pixie at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Well so here are the last of the photos from day 3 at The Mountain:

That above is the view from our room, at the very wee hours of the morning. Below is a little lake with loads of snow and ice on it. That's all the snow this southern girl will get to see this year. Temps have gone back up into the 60's here and I have to say I'm not sad about it! I am so ready for spring!

So today my husband and I got into a very silly fight because I reminded him for the second time not to use our leather ottoman as a table (he likes to use it while he plays Gears of War on XBOX 360) and I suppose in his job stressed state he decided to be a butt-head (enough said!) so I left the house and decided to finally spend the $50 credit I had at Joann's. I had on a whim a few months ago purchase a bunch of Lion Wool for a crochet sweater, and then promptly realized I would not ever finish a full size crochet sweater, so I returned it a few weeks later for a store credit. I also felt $50 was way to much for a Lions Wool sweater.

I wanted to make a kids quilt, preferably unisex. Normally however Joann's doesn't do it for me as far as fabric goes, and while I did find something very cute, it was clearly meant for a girl.

So I have a pregnant friend at work and if hers turns out to be a girl she will get this quilt (if I ever finish it!).

I got loads of toys at Joann's, I sorta splurged and went well over the $50 credit I had. The coolest thing I got was a blocking board! It's something I can use for knitting and quilting which to me is just double the fun. It's technically for blocking and ironing quilt blocks but it also doubles if I need to pin block sweater pieces. I got a basting gun, it's a a lot like those tag guns if you ever worked at a clothing store. It was a true splurge and looks like lots of fun to use. I got a block tool to make those Qbert-ish looking quilts, a new rotary cutter (the original purpose of the trip), a neat chalk tool with loads of colors, a nifty 1/4 inch marking tool and some super fun variegated thread in some of my favorite colors (blue, green, yellow) and then lastly I got the fabric, some quilting magazines and I ran by Barnes & Noble on the way back home and got an Australia book. I am hoping to plan at-least a 1 day excursion to someplace weird and fun, possibly a banana farm!

Posted by pixie at 08:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

This Saturday our SnB ran over to Woodstock, GA to the lovely "Whole Nine Yarns" for our monthly fieldtrip. I of course wasn't intending to buy any yarn but I find it hard to walk into a yarn store and NOT buy yarn. I have always wanted to try Louisa Harding and she has a lovely new book out that is just my style.

It's called "Modern Classics" and while I think most of us knitters who had some "balls" could probably write these patterns up fairly easily, it is nice to not *have* to. I got this on a whim, knowing full well I didn't need it.

I thought the Fitted Textured Sweater was very pretty (doesn't look that fitted to me...) and the yarn really caught my eye. I got it in the same color (08) of "Impression" that is in the photo. To me it's the color of "Tigerseye" stones, I love it.

Impressions is a superfine strand of kid mohair, wrapped around a very soft ribboned yarn. It's extremly soft and fluffy. I'm anxious to swatch but I think I'll save it for a little later.

I'm still working on my bolero, nice and slow like a turtle!

Posted by pixie at 08:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

So on this MLK day I had to go to work, however the highlight is very little traffic. So I went to the LYS for lunch because I knew it wouldn't take to long to drive. My eyes got caught on this funky-curly-cotton, Manos Cotton Stria. It's soo soft. I don't normally like knitting with cotton, or curly yarn. I did get to see a swatch knit in it and I liked it.

The green is softer and paler then this photo and the blue is actually a bit more blue. Very pretty, kettle-dyed colors.

So here is my current knit from Debbie Bliss "Simply Soft"

I don't normally knit in such large yarn, but it certainly goes faster! Lets hope I can finish it before global warming takes over early spring. It was freakin beutiful out today, around 70 degrees. Tommorow has a high of 45! Talk about weather that will make people sick, it's colder inside my building right now then it is outside.

Posted by pixie at 01:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Well saturday was fun, our SnB went to Main Street Yarn near Athens GA for our weekly gathering. I had loads of fun, have I told you how much I love my SnB? They are all just the most wonderful women (and men!) ever.

Spinning
Here is my November Spunky Eclectic all spun up and 2 ply. There is still another 2 half bobbins left to ply.

I finished plying it this morning before we went out.

Knitting Fun
Main Street has loads of couches in the back and the wonderful Ruth (owner) has coffee and treats availible to nibble on. They also have spinning and weaving stuff too!

After seaming up the sides and shoulders on the baby cardi I am working on the hood.

Stash Expansion

Some Tussah/Merino roving in a fun burgundy and gray mix, and because *everything* in the store was 20% off I got this Denise needle set, $5 goes to Breast Cancer research. It was only $40!

Then I got some of those coil-less safety pins to seam in the sleeves on the baby cardi, an adorable sheep, and one skein of Alchemy Synchronicity to take a go at Knitty's "Fetching" gloves.

Posted by pixie at 08:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

So this was our first full weekend home in over a month! Saturday I slept in until noon which was wonderful, and then made my way to SnB which was also wonderful. Friday night durring SciFi Friday I spun up some SAFF merino in the dark with some corona (not a good idea my friends).

It's under-plyed amungst other things. I don't like it. I might have a good home for it, we'll see. It was really dark when i drove home from SnB. Or rather, it was by the time I got home around 6pm. Look at how bright the moon was!

After waking up on Sunday we had a nice lunch with the husbeasts mom and step-dad.

Bad news, the husbeast is going to be going out of town again sometime very soon for a few days. Bleh. Just when things seemed to be returning to normal! it's only for a few days though and then hopefully he will be back home through the holiday season.

One of the little stores in Dahlonega was selling some "all natural" dog toys and it turned out they where all felted wool!! No stuffing, just felted wool.

After we got home from that (nearly dark again!) I got him to put together my Target $30 yarn shelf. I feel really good to know this is the majority of my yarn! Of course there is more yarn spread through out the house so I am proabably delusional.

I also realize I have more yarn I don't want but it seems like I should sell it or swap it or something. Looking at that shelf above is so yummy though, click on it for project notes.

I had some stuff come in the mail durring all the time I was away. Copper Moose 100% cotton in "Lupin" a very pretty slate blue.

Superwash Faulkland from Spunky Eclectic (Fiber of the Month Club) in a halloween color-way (a bit late huh?). I havn't tried Faulkland before and I like the feel of it.

This below is the crown jewl of all my stash latley. It nearly exactly matches those socks I am knitting in my fav sock yarn from Europe. This stuff is a Merino/BFL blend ("Glacial") and it even came with a wonderful little color-card pack. I took a gamble and bid on it on ebay I think before I even left for vegas. I know while I was there I "won" it because no one else bid against me. It was $12 with shipping and is 4oz.

Wow that was picture heavy huh? Excuse my while I go kick back a corona and cook some Au Gratin for the husbeast and I (shhh just cause it comes in a box doesn't mean I didn't "cook").

Posted by pixie at 06:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

After mentioning my love of Shetland on my last podcast, and how I was wishing I could find some lovely Shetland in the US, I got a very sweet e-mail from Sarah of Spiderweb Specialties. A small parcel came in the mail today, which my husband brought to me while I was in the bath. "Oh that's the Shetland!" I exclaimed. I had no idea it was raw Shetland, I didn't remember that was what she was sending me a sample of. I have never seen a raw shetland fleece before and wow is it soft! The husband looked at me real cute and implied that I should blend shetland sheep with my shetland sheepdogs fur. What a genius husband I have!

This fleece is from a very sturdy looking ram named "Greyside Willoughby" and I love it. I need to hurry up and spin through some of my shetland so that I can order some. It smelled clean, like it had been washed already.

Now for what you really came here for, my SAFF acquisitions. I'm proud I didn't buy any yarn, because I already have way to much.

Alpaca/Mohair blend, Finn and a Shetland/Mohair blend. Silk Hankies in the front (1oz). Notice the tiny little sheepy Jen got to go on my spinning basket.

Oh yeah, the spinning basket(s);

To the far left is some Super-wash Merino, and directly to the right of that is some mohair I am going to blend in so I can spin up some yarn specifically to make SOCKS! Mohair is supposed to add durability. To the right of that is a tiny little basket meant to rest on any hooks available on your spinning wheel. The colored stuff to the right is some "jade" merino that I think I saw at-least 3 other people walk off with, 8-oz will make a nice big scarf. In front of that is some morrit merino that just looked lovely and natural.

What's that big thing behind all the wool? Thats a trappers basket, but for spinners! It's a neat basket you can actually wear like a backpack, so I can more easily take stuff to SnB or to fiber fests. I just think it's cool.

The finn and alpaca I got about I think 1.5 pounds, so I can get sweaters out of that. I bought more fiber then I wanted to, and right about now I feel that I have all the yarn and fiber a girl could ever want. I'm ready to hibernate for winter or something.

Posted by pixie at 10:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

So my husband was in Detroit last week and mentioned they had a yarn store across the street from his work. I promptly looked them up on the web, and found out they carried Diakato yarns.

So I sent him in and he called me and I told him I wanted Diakato Diamusee and he would simply have to make the color selection. As if by miracle he selected the perfect color for me and also very much in vogue right now, very faded and earthy tones, not too much color.

I also said "pick me up 1 small surprise" well by that I meant stitch markers or something. Instead I got 1 ball of yarn, some how also by miracle 200 yards which means I can make something out of it. I got Filatura di Crosa Multicolor Mohair. It's nearly worsted gauge so 200 yards could probably get me a very pretty thin and long lacy scarf!

Is it just me or does my yarn have a belly button??

And while my husband was away I ordered TiVO which has been amazingly hard to set up! I should be editing my podcast and not desperately trying to record "The Girls Next Door" on E!.

Posted by pixie at 09:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

The last few weeks have been a bit stressful for me. My schedule is all changed around and my husband has had to work way to much and that and a few other things have me fairly cranky and miserable. Things aren't that bad, but it's enough to make me more moody then usual because things aren't how we prefer them around here.

I have received from two very kind souls, what I suppose you could call knitters/spinners gold!

Lovely Alpaca Locks, straight off the alpaca. They smell of lilacs (at-least that's what I think it is) and I love to stick my nose right into the middle of them and feel the softness against my cheeks. It's simply wonderful and I can't wait to try carding it myself, if those carders ever get here! - Thanks Silver!

Next up, from another lovely lady is, ohhhh something I have wanted but hadn't allowed myself to go after just yet. An Ebony Vixen straight from Knitch. I have lusted after this for a while now, and seen a few others get one, which only made me lust after it more! It's soooo neat in person, I can't explain what it is about the vixen but it's simply the neatest little spindle I have ever spun with and the ebony one is just so nice. I nearly completely freaked out when I was told it was mine. I gasped out loud and went, "omg no way!" right while I was sitting in my little cube at work. It certainly brightened my day, and I was just like, wow no way!

I had Knitch send me the last of the Luxe semi solid merino top with the spindle, it's the last of the luxe they had, but rumor has it they are going to get more. I can't even find that stuff on Luxe's site. It's neat roving, and great to spin. It looks like egg yoke.

I wanted to send a big thank you to both of these ladies. There are some amazingly thoughtful people out there in the world, including these two lovely ladies.

(ps, if it's okay to link to you let me know!)

Posted by pixie at 06:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

I have been extremely good about not buying yarn lately as I have gotten plenty on more recent SnB outings. I am really anxious to start my next tank top but I have been way to busy and have loads of things around the house that need fixing. The Dish Network broke (and I hate them now after their crappy customer service, they wanted to charge me money to come out and fix my dish outside), my iPod broke (yup indeed, the center button is pushed in and won't push out so it drains the battery over and over) and well our air broke but that is sort of fixed now.

I could list more things that broke but it's too depressing. I need to record a podcast and well I need to do about 10 other things! I have decided to skip SnB next Saturday so I can take care of stuff that needs taking care of.

So here is my part 2 of the "Plying the Arts" adventure. We met up with Mouse, Sandy and Jane (Quiddity)! It was nice to see them but of course I was stuck in class all day and didn't really get to socialize that much.

There I am with my new spindle, which was wonderful and affordable, $20 and made of polymer clay with a neat stamp in it.

It is an LHF Lady Spindle and hand made, with a nice wooden shaft. It spun really well. I walked over to another vendor to try some more espensive wooden ones and they didn’t like me. As mouse said, I have found the perfect weight for how I spin. I like from 3/4ths to 7/8th of an ounce.

We got nice little back pack type bags, with some free dale patterns and orifice hook.

So here is the stash. The big bag in the back is a pound of something I can't remember and didn't come with a tag. I have emailed the shop owner to ask. The "Ball" is pure merino in a wonderful "blue jeans" color-way (1 pound). It also has some brown in it and it's very pretty. Down front is a color-way called "Monet" and it is silk, angora and merino. To the right, the brighter green stuff is from LHF and just was some very affordable "wool" of no particular origin.

Last but not least are these wonderful little booklets and a tiny handy niddy noddy that comes apart easily to travel with.

After the whole day was over Claudia and I ran over to a Sushi place and she had a yummy Cosmopolitan while I had my favorite, a Shirley Temple.

Posted by pixie at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I'm so happy its sunday and yet I still have 2 days left to do whatever we want! Last night we went to see Superman and I was very pleasantly suprised that they kept it simple and good. We both enjoyed it.

Prior to that I went out with some ladies to go on a yarn crawl of Roswell/Buckhead in Atlanta. First stop, Cast on Cottage for that hempathy and pattern book I wanted;

After that we hit Stings & Strands where I was terribly bad and got some Debbie Bliss pure silk for a tank top. I only did it because Claudia did it (hehehe!!!) and plus I wanted to support Strings & Stands which has recently moved to a new location. Stop by and check them out, it's INSANE how much yarn they have.

The one thing that struck me was that all 3 yarn stores we went to (also Why Knot Knit but I was good and didn't get anything) had Katia Jamaica, every single one! Before this summer I had never even seen this yarn before so I can only guess it is new. It's actually decent yardage so after taking that into consisderation the price wasn't that horrible.

A few weeks ago when I visited home, I found this blanket in my mothers car;

Turns out is was my grandmothers, so I promptly looked for a label because it looked hand made.

And so it was! I wonder if the fiber was handspun as well, from the looks of it I would say yes. Turns out Clifden Connemara is a place.

This link has an old guide from 1960 which lists Millar's in it as having handwoven tweed. That was about all I could find on the internet about them. I can only guess that around that time my Grandmother was there, or someone in her family was and purchased the blanket. It's so pretty, has a few small holes from moths. It's fairly rough too and the ends look felted. I'll treasure it always. I love how it has my favorite colors in it.

------------- funny quote -------------

From E! Naomi Cambell special, a reporter talking about a story about her; "I thought the readers would be more sympathetic of that angel, rather then that she been stuffing half of columbia up her nose". My husband and I could not stop laughing, he said it in such a nice british accent.

Posted by pixie at 01:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

S. Charles Collezione
Spring 2006 Collection ($14)

The Kit - Way to expensive if you ask me!

Stacy Charles - Muse Yarn ($9 x10 = $90)
Fiber Content: 65% rayon, 25% cotton & 10% nylon
Ball Weight: 50g
Yardage: 163 yds.
Yarn Weight: DK
Gauge: 20
Needle Sizes: 6 U.S. (4.25mm)

Yarn Substitution, nearly half the cost!

Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy ($5-6 x 10 = $60)
Fiber Content: 41% Cotton, 34% Hemp, 25% Modal
Ball weight: 50 g
Yardage: 154
Yarn Weight: DK
Gauge: 22
Needle size: 5 (U.S)

It's 4 colors and a base, I was thinking of doine the white/cream as a base, and then Sage, Turqiuse, Blue and Sand. I'll have to see it in person, I may want go to with the darker brown to get more contrast (and then I think I would swap out the Sand for Citrine). I think it would be a challange for me because I have not knit anything with any complex patterns. Not a bad challange, a good challange!

Any feedback on colors is welcome. I am still brainstorming and wouldn't be buying the yarn until I was able to run by Cast on Cottage (probably the saturday after next).

Posted by pixie at 12:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Phildar Eponge is a lovely cotton-mix boucle yarn that is very elastic and light. I would like to hear if any of you have used it and if you liked it. I might knit up a loose fitting tunic for it that I have the pattern for.

Posted by pixie at 04:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Wow, so I finished my Sockapaloooza socks today and while this photo hides the problem fairly well, it's a doosey. I can't even bring myself to type it. However they are wearable and I am going to send them to my pal, with some sock yarn included. I do hope she likes them, even with their wee problem.

This came in the mail yesterday, it was meant to be my reward for finishing these socks. The gold is for me, and the pink is for a pregnant friend who loves pink. When my sister was preggers, I would always make a point of giving HER something, because well once the little one is born, ya don't get to many presents for yourself anymore. This friend LOVES pink. I hope I can finish them some time before the baby is born, and I hope I don't mess them up.

100% Merino and Washable.

Wish me luck, I am a determined women!

Posted by pixie at 02:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

I am 12 comments away from having over 1,000 comments :)

I have a lot of yarn at home, and few patterns with which to knit them so I stash enhanced with this Phildar magazine:

Knit n tyme is the only place I know to get phildar easily to the US, or any English versions of the pattern for that matter.

I want to think of what to knit next. I'm feeling "eh" about my somewhat cowl kit, I'm not sure I'm in the mood for the neck on it. I have my Silky Wool and then the Rowan Natural Silk, I would love to knit something with either of those.

I might be in the mood for a snug fitting vest, or maybe a ChicKami in the wool/cotton.

Posted by pixie at 01:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Last night I got lots of work done on my sock, only about 1 inch to go and then I can turn the heel. I wish this sock yarn photographed better. You can't really see all the pretty deep aqua, it just doesn't photograph that color correctly, but the brown-gold looks about right.

Meet Waldo!

My husband got me an iPod! I have an old shuffle and it doesn't do very well with audio books. I'm going to give my shuffle to the friend I am staying with in Maryland. I think she will like it! I call him Waldo because engraved on the back is "nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm" which is a Ralph Waldo Emerson Quote.

A big motivating factor in getting waldo is to keep myself more amused durring workouts. I was at the gym 1.5 hours yesterday, and I feel great! I do get extra grumpy around 11pm on workout days because my body says, GO TO SLEEP, but my mind says BLOG BLOG BLOG!

Sea Silk with freakin vitamin E!! I followed a few blog links to here and simply didn't have the willpower to say no. I could not be expected to resist yarn in a color-way called "Nova Scotia".

You can buy it here for a wee $33.

Oh and guess which long-time-knitting-blogger just got engaged?

Posted by pixie at 01:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Well 2 weeks was more then long enough don't you think? I have wanted to get some yarn for my Tubey and I have seen several people knit a solid one from Cascade 220 and Only Ewe and Cotton Too has plenty of the Cascade yarns. They are having a big sale this Saturday; it's their 1 year, customer appreciation type deal.

Cascade Pastaza - Llama/Wool blend

My goal in going was to get some yarn for a toddlers sweater for my sisters oldest. I got somy Plymouth Dreambaby in sage green. Psst.. Don’t tell anyone but she was nice and gave me a secret discount on the Cascade! I could NOT resist! It was a very good discount. I do love that place, the owner is beyond nice and helpful and Brian the boy knitter is so sweet. I think it is the friendliest shop in Atlanta. They have added some new yarns and I like the changes they are making in the store. I think she is the only knitting shop owner that remembers me, even though I have been in the others more then enough times for them to remember me.

Posted by pixie at 01:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Saturday, May 6th, 1:30 PM
By the Stage, close to the Main Exhibition Hall.

Posted by pixie at 03:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

WENDY OMG - I can not stop laughing and thinking how cool of a husband she must have to have taken that photo for her.

April Fools day! Maybe I am a fool for BUYING all this dang yarn! I think it is a good idea to be truley aware of your stash so I thought it would be fun to participate to have a record.

Knitting Storage

Clicky for massive notes! Can you spot the roving that came in the mail today?

Stash in waiting

I love this container, a comforter came in it.

Roving in boxes

This is my knitting corner and it has two balls of roving in it, you can see Salina in her waiting spot. I think the rest of the rowan is in that pile. That's quilt batting on top of the blue basket. Not much over here really. Can you spot the Anne of Green Gables DVD?

Flash Your Stash 2005 Website

I just remembered I have a contianer under the bed but I am far too lazy to go pull it out.

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

Well today my sister had her 2nd baby boy! They had not settled on a name as of 1am this morning and I have yet to talk to her. But it's a boy and he's 6 pounds even though he was 3 weeks early! Everything seems fine however, I guess he was just ready to come out!

I didn't knit a stitch last night as I decided to give my hands a break.

Here is my "iPod Shuffle" meme:

1. Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc
2. Death Cab for Cuttie - Soul Meets Body
3. She Wants Revenge - Tear Your Apart
4. BT - Shame
5. Modest Mouse - Float On
6. Cascada - Everytime We Touch

Update:

It's a perfect day when you get Spinoff! and yarn in the mail :) I got some phildar de-stash from mygomi for a good price, go check out her cute new haircut :)

I plan on making a stripey essential-stripe with this one day, probably next fall.

Posted by pixie at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

What's a girl to do when she gets an FO? Stash Enhance of course!

The Somewhat Cowl Kit - from kpixie.com

By Knit and Tonic

Blue Sky Alpacas

Alpaca & Silk i27 Dark Faded Blue

I love this yummy faded blue. Everything I have right now is kind of a bright shade of green or blue so this will be a nice change.

Check out Amanda's FO Cowl that had me all inspired to make it! Lisa has a really good picture of it here.

Posted by pixie at 03:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I love getting things in the mail, so much fun! This is the last of my bonus stash enhancment.

Debbie Bliss Simply Soft from Supercrafty

Cashmerino Chunky from The Cucumber Patch

I plan on making that oh-so-pretty bolero on the cover! As luck would have it (and I am half Irish after all! Yes you heard it, a Jewish-Catholic which my mom likes to call me a Cashew!) the book and the yarn came in the mailbox the same day!

Oddly enough I saw it in person at my LYS when I went to go get the 12mm needles. I did not like it in person but it was in a much larger size then I would wear. I am crossing my fingers it was the size and yarn color that turned me off, because it looks so pretty in the book. I put it away in my stashbox, not allowed to be touched till I finish something else! Also I began to read the pattern and there is some really weird stuff in there I have never seen before. I hate reading patterns!

Posted by pixie at 01:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

So far I have 30 people subscribed to my podcast via iTunes, and 2 from some other place. That is sooo wild! In 24 hours over 2 dozen people around the country listen to my dorky self! To celebrate (and ehem.. this is why doing a podcast is BAD it makes you want to buy yarn!) I went to Cast on Cottage today. I had a reason to go you know, last night I spent over an HOUR cleaning up my craft room and organizing my stash and the motivation was I wanted to find my Colinette Wayfarer book so I could get needles for the jacket.

Oh before I digress by talking about yarn, I plan on talking about spinning in my podcast for sure, and I will talk about it in my next podcast which I have planned to create this weekend.

I nearly tore the room up and finally found it under a stack of fabric in my sewing cabinet. Size 12mm, US 17, wowza! I only have to cast on 37 stitches for the back heh! I just had a Caramel Macchiato Short from Starbucks (a very rare event that I drink coffee) and I think I might start bouncing into things!

So I found the magazine, and headed to the LYS to get some Daisy’s. Don't loose faith in me, I looked them up online last night hoping to avoid the LYS because I have no self control. The shipping in most places was the same PRICE AS THE NEEDLE! ($5) So if you know a good source of Crystal Palace needles with free shipping I would love to know about it. So well I HAD to go in you see?? When I went in I walked around the whole store, and then I passed the Dalegarn section. Svale just wouldn't leave me the hell alone! So I bought some in 7432 (50% Cotton/ 40% Viscose/10% Silk).

I had to see, cause in 2004 I got this wonderful book, Dalegarn No. 123


It has loads of very classic and modern summer knits. I am going to knit this:

Cast on Cottage actually still had a copy in the store which was surprising. It’s hard to find online.

Posted by pixie at 02:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I think I prefer the center button. Gives it a little spark and contrast. I want to keep it conservative cause thats my sisters tastes, do you think the middle button is too funky?

Whats this?? Yup, I did...
Well I heard about our bonus last week, and I just could not STOP myself from hitting the "add to cart" button.

Colinette Point 5 - Velvet Damson

This is a very hard color to get! I have 6 skeins on their way from Europe some place. These came from NY so they cost a tad bit more but still I think a good price considering no one has this color-way. It's not nearly as bright in person, but just as rich. Looooooooooove it. It's knit on size 12mm needles. Can you say "quick knit"?

Posted by pixie at 08:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Back durring the super bowl (hey it wasn't *that long ago*!) I won Scout's Superbowl Knitting Challange. I am not one to normally ya know, do that. The knitting Olympics are a great example of the fact I hate deadlines. But the Superbowl challange was just plain fun, and I have to say I think i got more done in that weekend of knitting then I have in a long time. I knit a hat from my handspun and I finished out all the pieces for the baby cardi (and blocked!).

So a week or so later I got this lovely package in the mail:

My favorite thing has to be the stitch markers, I am super picky about them and I just love these and I promptly used them on my husbands Dale Chamonix sweater. They will be in use for a while cause that sweater is prolly going to take a year! I got some very neat yarn I have never seen before, and I lot of it! My husband liked the color (he loooves when I wear purples). I wonder if it's enough to make a tank top. It also came with a cute card, needle case (yay!) and one of those really cool knitting magnets! Thanks Scout, this was soooooooooooo sweet of you and I can't believe I actually won a knitting challange!

Scout's is also another one of those bloggers that I keep up with and can remember! Right now her and Cara are being evil pushers and tempting me with Socks That Rock. I am NOT ALLOWED to join the club, but man would I love to! Luckily though my SP just sent me some nice sock yarn so I CAN RESIST!

Posted by pixie at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Mygomi of Two Left Needles sent me this lovely yarn probably over a week ago and I had yet to photograph it and post an official thank you. Check out her blog, she's having fun dying and spinning some lovely chashmere! She is one of my favorite bloggers, and the way to know what is because I acutually remember who she is! I have like... 300 knitting blogs in my bloglines but only about a dozen of them if you said there name could I remember what they are knitting. She's also knitting that cute norgi pirates hat from hello yarn that I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO KNIT I even have the yarn, BUT I SUCK at 2 color knitting.

I love it gomi, thanks so much! I wonder if I can get a shawl out of 500 yards?

Posted by pixie at 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Tala likes to watch all things yarn:

Rowan Yorkshire Tweed 4-ply arrives from the UK:

I got this whole lot for a bit more then $40. I love good sale yarn!

Cute Chibi-like case from kpixie.com:

This thing isn't all it's knocked up to be, very tiny (as in won't fit the chibi needles!) and not as nice looking as I imagined. I wouldn't spend $7 on it.

I worked several rows on the collar and MY HANDS HURT! Bed time, but here be pics...

Mid-Seaming up the button band:

All proud I seamed it and it looks good!

2 button bands later, complete with button holes:

Posted by pixie at 09:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

"ba-ba-ba-baaaaaaaaaaaaad"

Well last night i got very depressed after looking in my checking account. After several large unexpected bills I didn't have nearly as much saved up as I had meant to. I was going to help my husband pay for the flooring, but he told me not to worry about it. So I had $300 left last night, but today I knew was pay day.

So what did I do last night? I cast on for the Kitty Pi bed (aka knitting on nothing) and did a few rows. Put that down, realized I left my Dale book at work and wrote myself an email to remember to bring it home because tonight.

Okay so how was I bad? Well after I realized I didn't have my Chamonix pattern and I couldn't swatch or anything useful, and plus I was very tired I decided to do a little shopping.

Oh yeah and how the shopping spree started was on the kpixie site, I ran across something I had seen in Spin Off and wanted for a while now. All you orange chibi owners can drool over this :)

I can't show you the one I got because they removed it from the website. I am wondering if I bought the last one. Once you go to the buy pages the colored ones are gone. I got one with little blue butterflies engraved on it.

So then I spoted some beutiful salmon mohair lace weight yarn they had, and then I started looking for a simple begginer lace pattern that I liked. Birch seemed to be the easiest and much to my taste. So that led me to just get Kidsilk Haze because I wanted to make sure it looked just as pretty as everyone elses and you know I'm a chicken about substituting yarn.

Kidsilk Haze Trance #582

Isn't that the prettiest color? LOVE it. I have wanted to try a big lace project for a while. Hey Sarah you out there reading this? You should get this kit too! We could knit it together!

Then of course I had to get Rowan #34 for the pattern

Sweet Georgia's Birch
Knitting Doc's Birch
Escape's Birch

I wanted to show you yarn harlots green one because I love it in the green but I can't access it from here (the word harlot probably lol) so I'll show you Fiberspaces's instead, It's just as pretty but not completed in this photo.

Is anyone else not impressed by the newest Rowan #39?

Also I am super excited because one of the places i called in Maggie Valley called me back today about a pet friendly cabin near the Chataloochee ski area. It works out perfect because it's a weekend I have a friday off for a knitting class in Atlanta. Way cheaper then going to telluride and just what the doctor ordered!

Posted by pixie at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

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)

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)

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)

On this 4th day of Chanukah I recieved a gift from my friend Sue!

Apparently she knows me very well because I got all kinds of good things from her:

The Hounds Tooth pattern Vera Bradley coin purse to go with my latest vera (I had wanted this for weeks now but wasn't allowing myself to buy it, she was with me when I got the purse), "Zen and the Art of Knitting" and a box of Bigelow Tea. I love each present on it's own, let alone all together! I also liked the Chanukah wrapping paper and the cute card :)

I got her a pair of fuzzy pink slippers and a Anne Tailor gift card (her favorite place to shop) It was lots of fun, THANKS SUE!

Posted by pixie at 02:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

OMG do my eyes decieve me? I think that says it's going to possible arrive tommorow! :)

I am so tempted to name it Lenny but that's way to cliche. What to name it? I named the laptop Starbuck, I was thinking of maybe connecting it to that, all my special toys with BSG named. I suppose I need to decide which gender it is first hah!

So I searched for the last 3 days online for a good laptop case. I wanted something relaxed, something slightly girly and somethign that didn't scream "I am a laptop, steal me please!"

I settled on a Crumpler from Australia (they have a NY location as well)

I ordered it from Bagyou.com so it would ship right away. The open photo is of the olive colored one but it shows how its set up. It was fairly expensive but my little starbuck is going to go every place with us and I want her to last as long as possible! Plus again, it's for my husbands business so it's a write-off. Once again we spent loads of money, without even meaning to. Atleast I have some checks to deposite. I actually got a Hanukkah check from my Aunt so I actually didn't have to pay one penny for the spinning wheel!!

Posted by pixie at 02:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So this weekend I picked up a new book:

It's a really wonderful book! It's a fantasy books and comes in three volumnes. For some odd reason I am reading it far slower then I normally read books, but I don't mind at all because I don't want it to stop!

I also got some more trekking in the mail, but I won't tell you from who because I am mad! I ordered it over the phone and the lady said half the time Skacel only sent half an order anyways and it was hard to stock.

It's darker in this photo but it reminds me of candy xmas candy canes, kinda more pastel and lighter and faded in greens and redish pinks!

Well they only sent me one skein, the other color wasn't in the package and they said in the invoice it's backordered. They should not have let me buy it over the phone when it was out of stock, BASTARDS!!

I also recieved Sensational Knitted socks from amazon, and the 3rs season of smallville on DVD for my mom's Hanukah present!

In other news, I have a 100 degree temprature! I am damn tired of getting sick this year, even after that stupid flu spray.

Posted by pixie at 09:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

... allow me to order out of stock yarn.

I got a confirmation email from knit picks today. Everyone just says they are the best but this is my second order from them and I'm not impressed. Here is the email:

> Items Shipped
> --------------------
> 2 [23692] Fawn Essential @ $2.99/ea = $5.98
> 2 [23699] Pumpkin Essential @ $2.99/ea = $5.98
> 1 [23418] Color Your Own - Natural @ $3.49/ea = $3.49
> 1 [23724] Sky Palette @ $1.79/ea = $1.79
> 1 [23723] Pool Palette @ $1.79/ea = $1.79
> 1 [50386] Snowflakes & Arrows Vest @ $1.99/ea = $1.99
> 2 [23698] Burgundy Essential @ $2.99/ea = $5.98
>
> Shipping $0.00
> Sales Tax $0.00
> TOTAL $27.00
>
> Backordered Items*
> 3 [23729] Black Palette @ $1.79/ea = $5.37
> 1 [23722] Blue Palette @ $1.79/ea = $1.79
>
> Discontinued Items**
> 0 [23729] Black Palette @ $1.79/ea = $5.37
> 0 [23722] Blue Palette @ $1.79/ea = $1.79
>

Why does it say discontinued?? That scares me... also... they know knitters right, clearly I ordered the Snow Flakes and Arrows Kit, I used the Kit link to order it. Why send me HALF the yarn for it?? What if it IS discontinued, I CERTAINLY would not want the KIT if that was the case. Also it took nearly two days to send out, but I suppose that's acceptable. I just know other sites that get it out faster.

The last page of the Crochet Magazine has an article by Annie Modisett (ribbed corset designer). It talks about your "grandmother's knitting" and mainly how, all generations have their moments of bad taste, and it's leaving a lot out to just write off any "old" patterns and "old" craftsters. I agree of course, however stereotypes often come into place because more then one person exhibites the same behavior. I'm not justifying it, I'm just saying.

For example I was at a knitting group a few weeks ago and the women (most with kids nearly my age) where talking about how XMAS sweaters can be very tacky. MAN could I agree, but then the one lady said "I just like to keep it simple, a nice green sweater, with the christmas tree in the center" and they all agree'd, that was not tacky. Which sweater did they mean are tackY?? Because to me an XMAS tree in the center of a forest green sweater, is well... pretty tacky. HOWEVER I know a few people who wear them and they look very cute, but to me it's got a bit of cheesey/tackyness to it, for my taste. I do hope I am not offending anyone, but I am allowed to say my thoughts here on my dumb little blog!! hehe!

The husband came and for me at work today because he wanted to go to Media Play. I was bad. I am not allowed to spend ANY money on knitting stuff this weekend!!

Posted by pixie at 05:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I don't know why there are white dots on my face, I think it was my husbands camera, or maybe... GHOSTS!!!

I spent Halloween afternoon in a bead shop learning how to create stitch markers, then I came home. I grabbed an old black wig, and the black velour bathrobe the husband had given me last XMAS and BAM I'm a witch! The funny part was when I walked around the front yard with a tiki torch. I got a "COOL FIRE!" comment a few times, and even a "Nice costume!". Hah, yay for last minute creativity!

A not so clear photo of my new beads

Posted by pixie at 08:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Being fairly pissy with my crap sock yarn I decided to indulge myself in something fancy

It's not solid but I can't let a good knitting internet fad pass me by now can I? I am thinking though I will get some Lorna's Lace one day for solid socks, or maybe some of the Knit Picks cheaper stuff. I need to find a good solid sock yarn that I LIKE!

I also ordered the Magic Loop Booklet so I can learn how to do that tricksy sock knitting stuff.

Posted by pixie at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)