1/2 way there!

Today I finished 1 side of the Gothic Spire socks that I’m knitting for my secret pal. It was a long road. But I’m pretty happy with it. Since my calves don’t fit in these socks, I had my neighbor Riki model them for me. The pattern isn’t that complicated, it’s just reeeeaaaallllly slow.

My So Called Scarf #2

I needed a break before knitting the other side, so I cast on my 2nd My So Called Scarf using Wollmeise worsted weight yarn in Dani colorway (medium). It is fun to knit something that goes so fast! I decided to cast on 36 stitches (instead of 30) and this one is going to be a regular scarf length. Because I only had 1 skein of the Lorna’s Laces yarn, the other scarf ended up being a little short. Enough to use, of course, but usually you want it to be a little longer. I got 2 skeins so we’ll see how it goes.

I have been on a yarn buying binge. Yep. That’s all I gotta say. Blue Moon Fiber got in more mediumweight yarns and I didn’t go too crazy. I’ve been wanting to make one of those chevron scarves that everyone is making. And I also picked up the fair isle book that they publish. I can’t wait to get their yarns!!!

My downstream pal received her package and she loved it. It makes me so happy when someone really treasures the gift that you give them. I think I get more enjoyment out of hearing that someone really liked something I gave them, than me receiving something myself. Unless of course it’s Socks that Rock! Just kidding… I don’t know if I told you but she is also in Germany so I’m trying to make the packages as un-German as possible. And also I save a lot on shipping! DPD delivers to her overnight - that’s really good to know. I thought the package wasn’t going to make it until after her birthday (being the Easter holiday and all), but it arrived today!

I frogged the pattern part of the Gothic Spire socks that I was knitting because I really didn’t like the way it was too tight with the yarn wraps. So it had bands of “tightness” and then regular the rest of the sock. It irritated me so much. I knitted maybe 2.5 pattern repeats, so it wasn’t that much to frog and I even considered just letting it go. But since I am doing this for someone else, I really don’t want to give them something that I knew I could’ve done better. So, frogged it down to the ribbing and started over. Last night and today I am almost back where I was (completed 2 pattern repeats), and it’s so much nicer now that I didn’t pull the yarn wraps tight. I am really happy that I decided to do it over. Also, this yarn doesn’t have any kind of pooling, no stripes, no real pattern, which is strange to me. Or maybe since the colors are similar, I can’t see it as well. Anyways, so if anyone out there is planning to cast on the Gothic Spire, remember to not pull the yarn wraps too tight!

I also got hooked on listening to Lime ‘n Violet’s podcast. I usually don’t listen to podcasts at all, but just out of curiosity, I downloaded the file. They are h.i.l.a.r.i.o.u.s!!! I really enjoyed listening to them talk about whatever and the stories are too funny. I got the serious urge to buy more yarn and it kinda made me crazy to buy EVERYTHING that they ooooohhhed and aaaaahed over. I thought it was just me doing this but I talked to d.knit at SNB today and she said that she had to stop listening to them because it made her go crazy with wanting to buy so much yarn. Wow, I’m glad it’s not just me!!! I guess when somebody talks about something and it’s like the best thing in the world, you just gotta have it. So, needless to say, I bought some Trekking XXL and some Fleece Artist. I still would like to buy some Socks that Rock (any color, they are all good), Mountain Colors, Colinette Jitterbug, and Cascade 220. My poor parents will have their suitcases full of yarn when they visit!!!

Now to the Secret Pal questions:
1) How old were you when you learned how to knit?
I was 20 years old and working for the Space Sciences Lab at UC Berkeley. I was just a lowly old “Principal Clerk” doing various administration tasks like answering phones, making copies, typing email, letters, faxes, etc. One of the women who worked there (Kath) was my idol. She was really smart and nice and worked her way into a programming job from an administrative position. She had 2 boys who were the most well behaved and smart boys I ever met, and basically I just wanted to be her. I tried my best. Now, 16 years later (gasp!) I also got a programming job at Microsoft, although now I’m a stay-at-home-mom of 2 year old twin BOYS! I don’t have her beautiful blond hair, blue eyes, fair skin, and thinness though. Damn. I hear cosmetic surgery is coming along though. Look at what they’ve done with Michael Jackson! ;)

Anyways, she brought in her knitting one day. I remember exactly what she was making. She was making afghan squares for a friend and it was of various San Francisco landmarks. I particularly remember one of the Golden Gate Bridge. I thought it was really neat and I liked watching her knit, it was mesmerising. Do I sound like a stalker yet?

That didn’t get me to start knitting though. Another day, she brought in some dishcloths or maybe I saw it at her house. I thought they were the coolest thing ever. I don’t know why. They were just dishcloths. She had a huge pile of them and she always gave them as Christmas presents. Well, that just made me squeal with delight and I immediately bought a book, yarn, needles, whatever and started to learn how to knit.

I got really serious about knitting then and hammered out a sweater in a week. I was quite impressed with myself. I still knit the dishcloths though and give them as Christmas presents. A lot of the people I knit them for usually has raggedy earlier versions of ones I gave them and felt too bad to ask for more. That makes me happy! I like useful knitting.

2) Who taught you?
You would think that my friend and idol Kath taught me. But really, I learned from a book. But Kath did correct some of my stitches. I was crossing some. I didn’t want to look like an idiot in front of my idol, so I had to teach myself.

I forgot to mention that Secret Pal 10 is underway and I’ve heard from both my upstream and downstream pals. I am really excited and revved up for this one and I will spoil my SP rotten! My downstream pal (the person I’m sending stuff to) might be a little disappointed that she received someone from the same country as herself, so I’m trying to make my packages as international as possible. It’s a bit of a bummer that I can’t really post about the projects that I’m making for her (or the stuff that I’m going to send). And it’s hard for me to not sign my emails with my name. I know it will slip sometime soon. Of course, she may not “search” for me, so it might not matter. I try to keep myself in the dark about who is spoiling me because I think it makes it that much better to receive things from someone you don’t know. And then at the end to find out who it is, is really fun. This is only my 2nd secret pal, but I would like to do these all the time.

Ingrid has tagged me (just means that she did something - usually a post about themselves - and now has told me to do it). And it’s a hard one!!! Made full use of thesaurus.reference.com, and some of them are technically duplicates but what can you do???

Adventurous - Always up for any adventure. It usually means leaving the kids at home (going to London) or taking them somewhere by myself (plane ride from Hawaii to Munich ALONE!)
Bend it Like Beckham - One of my all time favorite movies
Cat lover - even though we don’t currently have cats, I love them, especially orange tabbies!
Disorderly - I let things get to a really bad point before I clean it up really nicely. It stays like that for a day or less. My desk is usually the one that is last to clean up. Everything gets put on it. Michael dumps his junk on it as well until I dump it back onto his desk.
Even tempered - I’m pretty mellow most of the times, even during tantrums, that is the ultimate test. But it’s interesting that little things will set me off, but I’m usually calm through the big things.
Fatigued - most of the time!!!
Grateful to have my health, a wonderful family and really great friends.
80’s Hair - Yep, I had it. In the 80’s and a little in the 90’s.
Internet-a-holic - I am so addicted to the net. I don’t think a day goes by without me checking my mail.
Jolly Ranchers - I forgot about these, do they still exist? They were THE candy at doctor’s offices (obviously not dentist) and other places where you do business.
Knitter - especially as of late!
Lazy - I really am a super lazy person. Really, really lazy.
Mom of twin boys, Rowan and Elijah
Noodles - Love ‘em! Asian, pasta, you name it!
Open minded - I like to think that I am tolerant of most things
Picky eater - I am so weird when it comes to food. I eat only “normal” food - beef, chicken and sometimes pork. I rarely like gourmet food, and if I do try it, it most likely has to be vegetarian.
Quiet - I used to think that I was loud, but compared to my husband, I’m quite the quiet one.
Resourceful - I am pretty good at doing internet research and can usually find the things or info that I want.
Stubborn - very!
TV watcher - omg, I am so addicted to TV (now iTunes). My favorite shows are Heroes, Lost, Desperate Housewives, Prison Break, 24, Bones, Numb3rs, and more if I could afford it.
Ulm - I have to go there one day for 2 things - a yarn store that shows promise that they have imported yarn as well as the big baby store (jako-o).
Value - Always on the lookout for the most bang for my euro.
Writer wanna-be - I wish I could write as well as my husband. He has a real talent when he’s not writing about technical climbing.
Xtreme - Not exactly an X word, but we like to do things outside of “normal” boundaries. Not crazy, just normal to the extreme - rock climbing, paragliding, moving to europe, you know, stuff like that
Yarn-a-holic - How many addictions do I have? Geez.
Zealot - for anything that I’m interested in at the moment! Is there any other z word???

So that was probably more than you ever wanted to know about me! Don’t know too many knitterly people to tag, so just going for a broad group. I’m tagging michelle, michael, and the Pagaragans

Hey folks, I am officially signed up to do SP10! Here is the questionnaire that we are all required to fill out.

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

I love Lorna’s Laces and Mission Falls yarns. I do not like acrylic yarns at all!

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

I have a set of Knitpicks options that I keep in the case, and then I have needles kind of all over the place in various locations, some known, some not known.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I started knitting in 1991, so it’s been gosh, 16 years! But it’s been an on and off thing for me. I learned from a knitting book and a friend of mine corrected my stitches since I was twisting them. I would say that I am an advanced knitter, but now I only knit quick and easy things due to price and time commitment!

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

Yes, I have a kaboodle list!

5. What’s your favorite scent?

Hmmm…that’s a tough one. I like pretty much anything that’s not overpowering and too flowery.

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

Uh, do you even have to ask? Chocolate, of course!

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

I sew and would like to learn how to dye yarn and spin with a drop spindle

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

I’m not too particular with music, mostly listen to pop and rock

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

I like dark colors, I’m not a fan of very bright colors

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

Married with twin boys who are 2. No pets.

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

I wear scarves, hats and gloves, no ponchos

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

I like to knit kids stuff, hats and as of late, socks!

13. What are you knitting right now?

A pair of socks for my husband - From the book ‘Socks soar on two circulars’ the Bavarian twisted stitch sock in Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock Blackwatch colorway.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Of course! Who doesn’t?

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

Depends on the project. I generally prefer straight but since I knit socks, I love circulars. I am a huge fan of Knit picks and addi needles!

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

Yep, ever since I started knitting!

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Ahem. I have no (cough! sputter!) UFOs.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

My birthday! Does that count? Second would be Mother’s day.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Fabric and yarn. But I didn’t buy them because I’m a collector, more like a person who has and idea of what to do with it and then doesn’t and it just sits there and collects.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I have some books on my kaboodle list. As for yarns, I just can’t get enough of Lorna’s Laces and I would like to try some Posh Yarns. Dee has some great colorways!

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

Not so much for knitting, but I would love to learn how to dye yarns and spin.

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

YES! My SP8 spoilee made it look so fun, I decided to give it a try and I made 4 pairs of socks since then!

23. When is your birthday?

In April, email me for more specifics