The Lion and the Lamb

Broadripple Done!

I hope everyone had a nice Memorial Day weekend. Like all long weekends, it went all too quickly for me. I know I don't usually post twice in one day, but I wanted to report that I've finished my socks for the Broadripple knitalong, and here is a picture (also in the Finished Objects photo album):

Now, decisions, decisions... For the rest of the evening, I'm going to watch Pearl Harbor in honor of Memorial Day. But I'll also do my laundry and knit (how Madame DeFarge of me!). Now, what to knit? Should I make progress on the Homespun Sweater Jacket, or the too-long neglected Flickering Flame Summer Socks? Or, instead of knitting, should I crochet a couple of baby hats for Stitches from the Heart? Or should I start knitting for one of my other knitalongs? If so, which one, Everyday Cardigan, Six Sox, Shapely Tankalong or the LYS' Block of the Month? Well, I can think of plenty of worse decisions to face.

Speaking of Knitalongs, in my last post's mention of links, I neglected one I found on Susan's weblog. This is a compilation of knitalongs in 2004. I hesitate to say it includes all of them, because there may still be a few that even this webmistress does not know, and there are always new ones starting. But there are a great many on that list (at least 50) and she updates it frequently. She also has an e-mail link, in case you run (or know of) a knitalong not yet listed.

Well, off to Pearl Harbor, but not before showing you yet another quiz. Unfortunately, I've held onto this link for at least a month, and cannot remember where I first found it.

You are Merino Wool. You are very easygoing and sweet. People like to
keep you close because you are so softhearted.
You love to be comfortable and warm from your
head to your toes.

What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Open to Sharing and Cool Links

I've been up way past my bedtime, working on the Broadripple socks for the knitalong's deadline. I have finished one sock and all but the toe of the other. Before I turn in, I do want to show you a few links I have found. First of all, I would like to thank Kim for the "Open to Sharing" button and philosophy. To follow her lead as of May 14, I am adding this button to my site, with the promise that I am open to sharing anything on my blog within the following guidelines:

1. My work, pictures, blog text, instructions, patterns, etc. will be appropriately credited to me and linked to my blog. 2. I promise to appropriately credit stuff I show from other people. 3. Crafts are about community! Sharing is fun!

Speaking of community, Kim's site has also introduced me to Meetups, for those who would like to meet other knitters and crocheters in their own areas on a given day of the month (The 3rd Wednesday for knitters, and the 1st Tuesday for crocheters). Unfortunately, I cannot make either meeting in June, but I will definitely try for July!

Well, I need to get to bed, but I'll close with some more quiz results, courtesy of Annie's weblog. I've seen it on other blogs too, but Annie's was the first place I saw it, besides, we had the same results:

You're a Caramel!! You are known for your
sweetness. You are comfortable with yourself,
and help others feel the same way about
themselves. You are generally friendly to
everyone, and believe in second chances.

Which kind of candy are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

You may take this as a warning, or as something to look forward to: I'll be posting quiz results often for at least the next few weeks. As a beginning blog-reader, I found--and eagerly took--several quizzes I saw on other blogs, and there are more coming up all the time. So now I have plenty to post, but don't want to post all in one entry or to post too many quiz-only entries.

Well, good night, and I hope everyone has a good Memorial Day.

Brave New Blog Ring

I've just applied for a blog ring for knitters, such as myself, who use acrylic yarn. It is called Acrylics Anonymous. I have branched out to other materials since Two Sisters and Ewe (my LYS) opened, such as wool and cotton, and am eager to try others. But I still won't shun a yarn for having acrylic or other man-made materials (my favorites are Lion Brand Homespun and Microspun). Would any other closet acrylic users care to join me?

Are You a Knitter (Quiz)

You may not be a granny, but you've got the
mentality. Hard work and artistic vision lead
to your beautiful knitted results.

Are you a knitter?
brought to you by Quizilla

Has it been so long?

I've been a bad blogger, and neglected you for two weeks! But that doesn't mean I haven't been working on my UFOs! During those two weeks, I've finished my crochet-and-weave Summer Stripes afghan, and have pix to show you, of the "big picture," and a close-up:

I currently have 3 projects going, and am not too far on any of them. But two of these projects are socks (or pairs thereof), and one thing about socks is that even if you aren't that far along, you still don't have far to go. On my Flicker Flame socks, I was almost ready to start the first socks heel flap, when I decided my gauge was too much. So I started its mate with a smaller pair of needles (size 1), and figured I'd decide which gauge worked better and frog the other. That's one way I discovered to bypass swatch making for socks. If you are working with two (or more) skeins, simply start knitting both socks--each with a different size needle. Decide which you like better, frog the other and remake it with the "right" sized needles. If neither works, frog both and repeat with two other sizes. That way, when you've decided on a size, you're already on your way!

The reason I have two pairs of socks going is that I just joined the Broadripple Knitalong. After joining, I discovered it ends in less than two weeks! So for the last few days, I've been neglecting my other two projects to catch up with the rest of the knitalong. I'm currently on the gusset for the first sock. Unless I put my other projects completely on hold until the end of the month, I doubt I'll finish the pair by the knitalong's end, but I should have one sock to display.

This leads me to the other knitalong I just joined--Six Sox. It looks like I came into that one just in time; beginning June 1st, we are making 6 pairs of socks together over the next year. When I finish the Broadripples, or on June 1st, whichever comes later, I will begin the group's first pair of socks--The Cloaverleaf rib.

I have also received the Peace Fleece yarn to begin work for the Everyday Cardigan Knitalong. I got Baltic Blue in sport weight (appropriate for the almost seasonless San Diego), and have a picture of the original hanks. I've done the prep work (winding the skeins, making the gauge swatchs), and have been itching to get started on the sweater, but also to finish at least one Broadripple sock.

On the blog, I've also put together a photo album of my works in progress, and will try to update that at least a couple of times a week. That way, anyone who would like to see my latest progress can check it out there. I'm also working on one for my finished objects, and will put that on my sidebar when it's ready.

Another addition I've made to my side bar is a list of quizzes, mostly gathered from other blogs. Some have to do with yarn crafts, others don't. The reason for this is that I'll often come across a quiz in someone's weblog, but won't have time to take it right then. By the time I am in a position to take the quiz, I've forgotten where I found it! I've now taken to writing down the URL of the quiz, and the blog URL and date where I've found it. So whenever I take a quiz, I will also put a link to it in my sidebar. That way if someone finds a quiz they like on my blog, but can't take it right then, they can find it later.

I'm also working on other revampings for my weblog, and hope you'll all stay tuned.

In honor of the "Friends" finale

I took a quiz at Tickle.com entitled "Which Friend are You?" Here are my results

Melanie, you've got a little bit of Rachel going on!

She's everybody's sweetheart, despite some (mostly) endearing quirks. And it looks like you too, have a little Rachel Green inside you. (If you're lucky, you might share her good looks too).

At first, I was rather surprised; I've always seen myself more as a female version of Ross. But the description is rather flattering, and the more extensive one (on the site) sounds like me (except the part about the looks). One a possibly related note, I also took the "Celebrity Matchmaker" quiz from the same site--and it set me up with Jennifer Aniston's husband, Brad Pitt!

I don't think either Jennifer has much to worry about from me, however, nor does Rachel! :)

Happy Friends Finale to my fellow fans?

Christening the Cat Bed

Just wanted to report an update on my finished cat bed. Booger has now christened it! Here is its, uh her, uh, their picture:

I think Scarlett's a little jealous (even though she already claims two cat beds as her own). But here she is possessively guarding my, I mean her, felted slippers. You can barely see them, but one is peaking out to the right of her head:

Cat beds and experiments

Well, I finished the Stitch n Bitch cat bed over the weekend, and have a picture here.



The bed is made of one strand of Lion Brand Wool-Ease held together with one strand of Fun Fur (also by Lion Brand). The bottom is white Fun Fur and Wool-Ease, with the side from Colonial Blue Wool-Ease and Sapphire Fun-Fur (instead of the Hot Pint Fun Fur and Fuschia Wool-Ease in the original pattern).

Getting Booger to sleep in it may be another story. While I was working on it, I tried, much to her bewilderment, to pet her with the pieces in progress. And if Scarlett climbed into my lap while I was working on it, I'd be careful not to let it touch her. Still, Booger seems to be shying away from it so far. Maybe, for now, a picture of her in the same entry will suffice:

After I finished the bed, I tried a mix-n-match experiment. I knitted a small swatch (about 10 stitches by 10 rows) of white Wool-Ease and blue Fun-Fur held together, and another of blue Wool-Ease and white Fun-Fur. Here are the results:

I like the result of the white-on-blue (white Fun-Fur, that is), and can easily see white Fun-Fur with red or green Wool-Ease in a Christmas scarf or sweater. The blue-on-white, I don't like as well, but maybe it will grow on me.

Unfortunately, today I didn't get nearly as much work done as I'd hoped. I didn't get much sleep last night due to a migraine. I finally took some medicine around 3:30, and the headache went away around 4. So I better cut this entry short and toddle off to bed. Good night, all!

Oh Lucky Day

I've finished my Little Lola socks, which should keep my feet toasty warm (though that may not be such a good thing this time of year :)). I've also finished the knitting part of the cat bed, and need only to sew it together. I slowed down the Summer Stripes afghan, however, when I hit somewhat of a snag: I was running out of the main color, Homespun Hepplewhite. I don't know if I underbought based on previous experience with Annie's Attic (I usually have at least 1 untouched skein when I finish a pattern). Or maybe I misread the amount it required, or maybe I bought as much as the pattern said, but due to my gauge, it wasn't enough. At any rate, I didn't have enough. When I realized this, I checked 2 Michael's (the one near my home and the one near my work), and a Joann's, and all were out of the color. I was resigned to ordering from the company, putting the pattern on hold until I received the yarn, and doing some adjusting to best disguise my dye lot faux pas.

This brings me to Lucky Friday. After work, I ran a few errands, which took me past another Michael's. On impulse, I stopped in, and lo and bold, they had Homespun Hepplewhite! I eagerly took it to the checkstand, and when they rung me up, I discovered I'd left my wallet in the car. I did have $5.00 in the bottom of my purse, but it was a few cents short. But the kind and quick-thinking cashier found and scanned a coupon, so I did end up having enough (without going back to the car). When I did get back to the car (and tucked my wallet safely into my purse for future errands), I checked the dye lot of the new yarn against the yarn with which I was already working. They matched! Yay!

After Michael's, I stopped in at Office Depot for some blank, decorative business cards (to print my name and attach them to Stitches from the Heart donations, since my penmanship isn't the greatest). There, I found a digital camera on sale at a very reasonable price! So, I should now be able to show you my works in progress, as they, well, progress. Here are a couple of pictures of my newly-finished socks:

An aerial view of my feet in the socks (click either photo for a closer view)

and a closer side view of one of the socks.

I have also received back the roll of photos I've had going since I started this blog. I am slowly, but surely, integrating them. I started with the pictures of my kitties, and here they are:

Here is Scarlett, showing off her short, Munchkin legs




And here is Booger.

I've also added links to these pictures on my "About Me" page. I will eventually work in similar links for the projects that were in the roll.