Two skein wonder

Koigu/Claudia handpainted scarf
Originally uploaded by miminh3.

Last time I was in Ann Arbor, Knit A Round had a 20%off Koigu sale as well as a store pattern for a shawl made out of 5 skeins of Koigu.

I used the pattern for a smaller version which only requires 2 skeins and I changed yarn every two rows, alternating between Koigu KPPPM and Claudia handpainted fingering ('Jungle" colorway). Isn't it amazing that you can get such a large scarf with only two skeins? This is a present for a lady at work who commented on my knitting before. She wears a lot of greens and browns so I hope she likes these colors.

I'm not knitting holiday presents!

STR Ruby Slippers
Originally uploaded by miminh3.

That's right, I am knitting for ME ME ME.

ME ME ME Project 1: One of my resolutions is to knit a pair of socks per month so the November socks are this lovely pair made out of
Socks that rock Ruby Slippers (the pattern is Diagonal Rib Socks by Ann Budd on the Interweave website). I did not expect the yarn to stripe so evenly so that was a nice surprise. This is an old skein so it only had 325 yards - careless that I am, I knitted these cuff down but even with my large size 8 feet, I did not run out of yarn.

ME ME ME Project 2: While at the KR retreat, I cast on Sivia Harding's Diamond Fantasy Scarf with Handmaiden 2-ply cashmere. Cat Bordhi was wearing the "original" scarf (the one in the picture) at the retreat and it really motivated me to be a monogamous knitter for the first two weeks. I am only one repeat away from the end so I am hoping to have it done by the end of the year.

We exchanged Christmas presents with DH's parents during our Thanksgiving visit and I got (among other things) Knitting for Peace, 365 Knitting stitches a year and a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble (I see the Interweave Spring 07 books Lace Style and Favorite Socks in my future).

I am one happy knitter who's planning to buy some Phildar and Rowan yarns while in Paris over the holidays :)

The super-duper KR retreat

Fast knitters like Rosebyany have already finished their New Beginnings Project. Fast and perfectionist knitters like rho have already finished and then frogged their New Beginnings Project. Out-of-touch knitters like me get around to posting pictures one month after the retreat.

Picture numero uno: Clara aka Queen Bee on her throne giving audience during Show and Tell

Queen Bee on her throne
Originally uploaded by miminh3.

Picture #2: Everybody oohing-aahing in front of this freeform blanket (the colors were just gorgeous!)

KR retreat1
Originally uploaded by miminh3.

Picture #3: Forest Path stole - people were whispering with respect in front of this work of art.

KR retreat2
Originally uploaded by miminh3.

I met online friends as well as knitters who read the KR newsletter but do not post on the forums. We laughed a lot for Vi, I learned the Moebius cast-on and got to buy some lace merino from Spirit Trail. DH was his usual self (very shy) but also pretty sick so he did not meet anybody. Everyone thought I had an imaginary husband (well, even if he were imaginary, he drove me all the way to the retreat and back -- how many imaginary friends would do that for you?)

If anybody asks, I'll be at the club...

Remember this quote from Frasier? Unlike DH, I never belonged to a posh Ivy League club so I found another way to hang out with the cool crowd: sock clubs. There are many out there, like Posh yarn and Spunky eclectic but the three sock clubs I currently belong to are:
- the Rocking Sock club from Blue Moon fiber arts
- the Sweet Sheep sock club
- the Petals collection from Sundara

As Socks that rock yarn is becoming easy to get through their website, I will probably not renew my membership for 2007. I like their lightweight the most (whereas the club alternates light and medium) and can specifically pick the colors that I like.

I do not just receive yarn, I actually knit from time to time. Here are some WIPs:
- socks for my mom: one down, one to go!

Fleece artist sock
Originally uploaded by miminh3.

I bought the yarn while in Nova Scotia, it's Fleece Artist in "Baadeck summer", the pattern is "Pair of socks" by Ann Budd on the Interweave website.

- Pooling colors scarf from Interweave Fall 2004.

Schaefer Anne - Pooling colors scarf
Originally uploaded by miminh3.

The yarn is Schaefer Anne bought from the lovely Sheri at The Loopy Ewe.

- a simple K2P2 rib cowl made out of Handmaiden 2-ply cashmere.

Handmaiden 2-ply cashmere cowl
Originally uploaded by miminh3.

I'm making this long enough to either fold it in two (like a turtleneck) or to put it over my head and cover my ears. This yarn is just wonderful to work with -- if I had enough money, I would make a sweater out of it!

Knitters Rock!

I am always amazed at the generosity of my fellow knitters and am glad to report that 11 packages are gone! The only thing left is the Vesper sock yarn in Aquamelon.

Added on 9/24: everything is gone, thanks everybody for supporting KR and Dulaan!

Want some sock yarn?

I have too much sock yarn and not enough time to knit it (unless I learn to knit with my toes...)
so I am giving away some yummy sock yarn. Just PM me on KR with your mailing address and your color preferences.

The catch? You have to fulfill one of the following conditions:
1 - you promise to make a donation of at least $10 to Knitter's Review
2 - OR you promise to use this yarn for the Dulaan Project

You can also nominate another knitter if this person has been having a tough time/can't afford sock yarn and needs some fibery affection :)

I will post pictures of the sock yarn later tonight but I promise it will be wonderful handpainted yarn in fingering or sport weight. I'm starting with 12 packages (each with enough yarn for one pair of adult socks) and we'll see if more people are interested!

Edited to add: Here's a list of the 12 packages.
- Vesper sock yarn in aquamelon
- Vesper sock yarn in Strange little mama
- Sunshine yarns in Denim
- Sunshine yarns in Blue Lake
- Sunshine yarns in Iris
- Sweetgeorgia in Stillwater
- Lorna's laces (1 skein charcoal, 1 skein pinstripe)
- Koigu KPPPM ( 1 skein purple, 1 skein yellow/purple)
- No no kitty yarn in Fuschia
- London wul farm merino (1 skein blue, 1 skein green)
- Spirit Trail Fiberworks (2 skeins in teal/turquoise)
- Sundara sock yarn in stormy

You can see pictures here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29646114@N00/sets/72157594295705174/


--Minh

Addiction to Knitter's Review + requests for pictures => Knitting Blog

I put this off until today. I had the day off but KR is down so what is a knitter to do?? Even if no one visits this blog, it should be a nice way for me to keep track of my progress/failures/success stories when it comes to knitting.

First, I totally forgot to send Lin (aka Busyhands) a picture of the socks made from her yarn.
As part of the KR Round Robin, Lin sent me yarn that she kool-aid dyed along with matching solid turquoise sock yarn. Thanks so much Lin! Here's the final product:

[The picture doesn't show the deep turquoise (probably because of the flash) but until I get comfortable with the idea of my neighbors thinking I'm a lunatic and take knitting pictures outside, that's the best I can do :) ]

Since we're on the topic of socks, here's Nautilus (pattern by Anna Bell) made out of Nature's Palette in mallard and Hedera (pattern on Knitty by Cookie A.) made out of Sweetgeorgia superwash.

There's actually a pair of each (I knit both socks at once using the Magic Loop). "What's that purple thing lurking in the back?", you ask. It's my latest FO, the Charlotte's Web shawl made out of Koigu (no, the shawl is not sweating, I'm a low-tech blocker!).

This shot should give you a better idea of the lace pattern (I changed the skpsso into an ssk) :

This is a good first lace project since you start with 7 stitches and increase every other round. No never-ending cast on! However, the pattern is misleading when it talks about "mirror image" so you should be careful to have the decreases slanting in the right direction.

I also promised my friend mangokiwi two pictures. The first one is the wonderful Branching out scarf she knitted for me out of Fiesta La Luz. She knits socks and lace among other things, can you believe she's been knitting for less than a year??

The second picture is a scarf-sized Clapotis. It should remind you of Jane's full size clapotis :) I bought some Sundara DK silk-merino and then saw Jane's beautiful knitting. Since I'm short, I decided to go with a smaller version but otherwise, I totally copied her! (so thanks Jane!)

That's about it for today, I will add links on the sidebar and scare everyone by taking a picture of all my sock yarn another day!