I was in Annapolis yesterday for a meeting, so I headed over to 'The Yarn Garden' to see what was going on. I had not been to this store since the first time I had visited it over four years ago when I first started knitting.

Since I was there I asked if they carried any Frog Tree Merino. (If you don't know why, see previous post) I was told by a very nice woman that they had the alpaca, but not the merino. Hey, it was worth a shot. So as I'm looking around the shop, what do I come across? Frog Tree Merino. Not the color I am looking for of course, but this is no longer the point. There were about 15 skeins of it sitting in it's own little spot, not even hiding amongst other yarns. Hummmmm. Curious.

I forgave the major flaw of not knowing your own stock due to the fact that the color I needed was not present, and the fact that they were very friendly during my visit. Since no Frog Tree Merino was coming home with me I adopted two skeins of 'Happy Feet' in red, and they are currently enjoying their new home.

Happy Knitting!

SO.........

Once upon a time there was this gal we'll call Storm Moon Knits. This gal knitted a really cool hat we'll call, let's say, 'The Greenery Hat'.

Alrighty.

Like the little follower I am I say, "I want to knit that hat." I go and get the yarn (Frog Tree Merino in Cream) and begin knitting this hat.

All is right with the world. The yarn- yummy. The cables- yummy. The happy knitting mojo- super.

Then reality comes crashing in! I quickly am running out of yummy yarn with lots of hat left to go. "I'll make it," I lie to myself. (Denial just ain't a river in Egypt my friends!)

Then it happens. Just when I am about to start my decreases at the crown of the hat, I run out of yarn. Off to the yarn store which sold me the yummy yarn.

Enter once again the gal we'll call Storm Moon. She happens to be working at said crack house, I mean yarn store. I quickly run to the yarn and clutch my heart. No more yarn in my color!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Storm Moon mocks me as I put the unfinished hat on my head with the end of the yarn dangling in my face. Not funny from my perspective, but I can perhaps in twelve years see hers.

I tell her this is all her fault. She giggles, not even trying to deny it. I tell her that "Something Wicked This Way Walks" and it's name is Storm Moon. She giggles again. No guilt this one, must not have been raised Catholic.

"How will I finish this hat before the spring thaw?" I wail. Unmoved, she stares at me and says, "I could swear I put that I used over a skein of yarn on my blog when I posted about that hat." OK, yeah. Like I can read the fine print like yarn requirements when staring at awesome finished cabled hats.

As for the hat, it's now living in a corner of my house somewhere. I can't see it without shedding a tear.


I'm weak. I'm going to go fondle some sock yarn to make me feel better.

Ok, we are back to pixel flickr! Why, oh why?

Today was both Knitting for Me Monday and The 25th of the Month Pre-Christmas Knitting Day. I satred my day off by finishing my Storm Moon Twilight Socks in the "I Kissed A Girl" colorway. The heel is the Criminy Jicket's Band Heel. This particular heel is worked so that no decreases are done after the gusset stitches are picked up. The result is a weird square box on your heel. It looks funky, I'll have to let you know how it feels when I'm walking around on it.

The second half of the day was supposed to be used finishing the flower washcloth I started last month on the 25th. I found the project, but can't find the right needles to finish it. Augh! I might have found the needles if the ENTIRE second half of the day had not been all about my son's homework. Why is my enitre life revolving around my son and his homework???? How do other kids get their homework, and sports, and church groups, etc done? He can't even get homework done. I am sooooooooo frustrated. I can't even imagine how he feels. Six years of this has drained every ounce of energy out of me. Every night is a struggle. EVERY NIGHT! Th last two months have been the worst by far. I have no time to knit anymore. Just me and the middle school homework issue. AAUUGGHH!!!!!!

I'm done venting. I wish I could knit.

Hey, my flickr is working today!

We took some time out this evening to paint pottery while the guys went off to some Monster Truck event. My daughter loves to paint pottery, and she mangaed to finish three pieces while I only got one done. This is my margarita glass in progress. Picture it with more dots and swirls, and you've got the picture.


The lovely pear plate was Javajem's work of art. Is there anything this gal can't do?

Last night's sit 'n knit at the Lakeside Cafe was just Tink Knitz and myself, and we ended up having such a lovely night. Thanks for the great night Tink!!!

Don't forget that Monday is the 25th of the month. This means it's time to find the corner you kicked that Christmas present you worked on last month. Let's dust off our projects and try getting some Christmas 2008 knitting done. Where did my project go?????

Happy Knitting!

Why are some of my flickr photos fine, and others are all pixeled out?

Anyway, this is my mother's finished cross stitch neck warmer. However, you can't see it. The same thing happened with her finished socks. Maybe it's just the stuff I knit for my mother that we can't see.

Guild is cancelled tonight, so maybe I can get moving on that Greenery hat that has been half finished for a week now. Here's hoping!

Remember, this Monday is the 25th of the month which means it's time to work on our Christmas knitting. It is also Knitting for Me Monday. Looks like we have some decisions to make. Hummmmmm.

Happy Knitting!

Sunday afternoon was spent in Baltimore at the National Aquarium where I managed to get some knitting in during the dolphin show.

Later in the day, we headed over to Large Marge's Daytona 500 knitting party. Since I have never been a race fan, I was going for the knitting and the food. To my surprise, I got into the race. Early on, I decided to pick a random car to support to make it more fun, and my car ended up winning! Go Randy Newman! I must admit, I picked him because of the blue car. I later come to find out that he has an engineering masters degree from Purdue. Go Big 10!!!!!!! Perhaps I'm going to have to kill the time between football Sundays with a little go fast, turn left knitting.

Remember, this Wed. night is the Central Maryland Knitting Guild meeting at 7pm. Hope to see you there.

Happy Knitting!

Knitting around DC.

With out of town guests visiting this weekend, it was off to Washington DC on Saturday. Being President's Day weekend I thought it appropriate that I add the pictures of the Lincoln Memorial, as well as the Storm Moon sock I am working on visiting the Washington Monument.

The best part about traveling around DC is the metro. Tons of knitting can get done while traveling on the metro, and we ran into others knitting as well. (Further proving to my non-kntting friends that knitters are taking over the world)

While in Dupont Circle, I discovered the bead store 'Beadazzled'. I had been to their store in Baltimore with no idea that they had a location in DC. How lucky for me! I popped in and picked up some lovely beads for stitch markers.

Another stop in Dupont Circle was a wonderful book store where I picked up my copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I joined the Ravelry group that will being reading 19th century books every other month and knitting items related to the books. I'm so thrilled to be getting in to this group at the start. I had heard of similar type reading groups, and now have one of my own!

My last bit of knitting news is the arrival of my very first copy of Cast On. I have just become a member of TKGA this year, and so I was exceited to find out four copies of the magazine Cast On was included in the membership.

My next post will show me knitting around Baltimore.

Happy Knitting!

Free the Grapes!

The above link takes you to a website promoting Maryland Bills supporting legal, regulated wine shipping which will be voted on Mon. Feb.18th.

What does this mean to you? If it passes, it means a much better selection of wines to sit at home and knit with. Good, Yes? Then head on over to the site so that you can let your representatives know that you want a better selection of sit 'n knit wines available in Maryland.

Wine and knitting go hand in hand. Free the Grapes!

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you , whether you are a couple or a single. Today is a celebration of all types of love!

My Valentine's Day socks are not finished yet due to the kids being home for two days this week. I thought I would make up knitting time with my car going into the shop for some repairs, but no such luck. My daughter did make me matching earings for the socks, however. She loved the Storm Moon colorway I'm working on, and whipped me up some awesome earings to match.

By the way, those repairs have put a huge dent in the yarn fund my Uncle Sam sent me. DRAT.

I have non-knitters visiting me this weekend. I'm going to have to explain that dusting is something only non-knitter do, and if she wanted to visit a clean home- she would need to give me back that awesome hat that I knit for her this past fall. Those who knit awesome things have no time to do such things as clean!

Happy Knitting to you all!

Sock Wars 3 is upon us!

Sign ups begin Feb. 14th for the battle which begins May 9th. This year's battle is being sponsered by South West Trading Company Tofutsie Sock Yarn. I'm not sure why we need a two and a half month sign up period, but at least the battle date has been set!!!!

Happy Election Day to all of you in the Potomic Region. I got my sticker, did you?

Much fun was had on Saturday when Miss Cathy, Large Marge and myself took off for Hampden for a visit to Lovelyarns.

As soon as we entered we were greeted by fresh baked goodies. Now that's a welcome! I blame their hospitality for making me fall off the stash appreciation wagon and purchasing some sock yarn and a t-shirt. The sock yarn was a must, it was called 'Opening Day' and was an Orioles colorway. (Hello training camp!) I also found the long sought after Berrocco sock yarn in purple and red for my mother, who thinks the Red Hat Society is a hoot.

Men and women filled the shop, and it was great to see so many guy knitters! The shop is adorable and it gave me lots of inspiration to knit my bedroom decor. All in all, a great trip.

Later in the day I got a chance to show Storm Moon how her 'I kissed a girl' sock yarn is knitting up, and she loved it. Turns out the girl never gets to see her stuff knit up. I'm using her yarn for my February Sock Knitters Annonomous socks. This month's socks are to use a new heel turn, and I chose to try out the Band Heel. When you are finished turning the heel and picking up your stitches, there are no decreases to be worked. It's very cool, and I'm so glad that CrackRavelry has paid off for me and I found this group!

I'm also working on my Greenery Hat and loving it as well. Hope to have finished item photos soon.

Happy Knitting for Me Monday!

A great idea came to me last night...

Yarn Pawn Shops!

Ok really, stick with me here.

You are two days out from just having *really* overspent at the local yarn shop sale or big fiber festival. Yarn fumes took over your wallet and now you cannot afford Oodles of Noodles. (Don't lie to me- you've been there!) There seem to be a couple of impulse purchases you are regretting.

Now what?

The Yarn Pawn Shop, of course!

You get rid of said yarn below cost, and can eat! Someone else loves that crappy yarn, and buys it for a steal. Win, win!

It's like a permanent yarn swap, for a price of course.

Brilliant!

Happy Knitting!

CrackRavelry is taking over my life. The dozens of Avenues you can be sucked down by just searching for one innocent little thing is amazing!!!!!!

I have, however, found the most amazing knitting manger scene pattern by Jean Greenhowe that I can't wait to get started on for next Christmas! Just what I needed... another project.

Today is Fat Tuesday, so live it up! Tomorrow (Ash Wednesday) starts the stash appreciation lenten season. Of course, after hitting up all the sales this weekend, my pocketbook is applauding the lenten season's arrival.

Happy Knitting!

Congratulations to the New Jersey Giants on defeating that evil, cheating New England team that shall not be named.

Let's not forget 'Knitting For Me Monday' tomorrow. Make time for you and your knitting!

You have won... I am officially on Ravelry.

I tried to hold out as long as I could. I have limited time to knit as it is, and I am still using dial up for my internet connection. In a moment of weakness, Bunnysquirrel pounced, and now I have even less time to knit, and my interent connection is still just as slow.

You can find me at NittanyKnits. Leave me a message and I'll be sure to get back to you.

Happy Knitting!