Hectic Knitting

The evil, crazy boss is in Hawaii this week so I am gonna slack for a few minutes and update my blog! :)

It has been a weekend of frantic knitting, but it has paid off. I finally finished the first sleeve for Torgeir, am 1/3 of the way through the 2nd sleeve, and got another 15 rows done on the front.

In addition, I started a pair of socks for Kris out of Mountain Colors Bearfoot in Pheasant on Tuesday. I was able to finish the 8" cuff, turn the heel, & knit the gusset while he was out & about. I will probably finish the foot tomorrow at knitting! Whee!

Oh.. we watched the show Weeds for the first time this weekend (love that "on demand" thang). Too funny. I think I might be addicted.

Ok.. probably should do some work now.

No Time Blog, Must Knit!

First off - Props & Kudos go to Denise and Joanne for finishing Nano! You guys rock!!

Just over 3 weeks to xmas and not a single gift got! Hoping to rectify that tonight at midnight madness downtown Ann Arbor.

Almost done with the knit gift for sis... done knitting it, just need to do the finishing stuff.

~4" to go on sleeve #1 for dad's sweater.. whee!

Had to rip out the kimono shawl cause I screwed up the second lace repeat.. grrr

thinking of making hubby some sox for xmas, but EVERYONE is out of Mountain Colors Barefoot locally... double grrrrr!

Nothing much else to relate. Have to finish up SP6 gifty & get that out this week.


Ok.. gotta go knit...

Baby Alpaca Scarf

I finished the scarf! Here are the pics & specs! The color is truer in these pics than in the previous post.

1 skein Plymouth Yarns Baby Alpaca Grande (approx. 110 yds) in color 2213.
Size 11 needles

Cast-on 15 sts. Worked in garter stitch until I ran out of yarn. When casting off, drop every 3rd st. (4 sts dropped altogether).

Scarf before dropping sts.

Scarf after dropping sts,
before stretching.

Finished scarf.

Kate, thank you soooooo much for the yarn! It was so nice to work with & will keep my neck nice and warm this winter!! :)

SP6 Finale Gift! XD

Lookie what I got!!

My super wonderful Secret Pal Kate sent me my finale gift!

It all arrived in this spiffy metal pail



ain't it purty!!
Detailed contents:
Sugar-free candy

Cute Notecards

Yummy Key Lime Passion Fruit Lip Sorbet & Lavender Hand Cream

Super cute mitten pin

Wonderful note & hat pattern

OMG soft Baby Alpaca!

The color is actually a bright purple, but my camera seems to be having problems capturing it properly.

The Baby Alpaca was soooo yummy I couldn't resist knitting with it right away!!

Its a simple garter stitch scarf. It is sooo yummy! I just want to wrap up in it!! :)

Even the shipping box was put to good use!

Thank you, thank you, thank you Kate!! You are the best!

Oh, and lest you think I've totally been slacking on the present knitting...


First sleeve for Torgeir, about 10" left. I'm about 1/2 way through. Whee!

Holiday Meme

Happy Turkey Day!!

Denise posted this & I thought it looke fun! :)

Go to Google & do an image search on:

1. The name of the town where you were born: Wayne, Michigan

Picture of the Comet Hale-Bopp taken in 1997 from Wayne. Much nicer than any pics of the area!

2. The name of the town where you live now: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Nice view of the town from the Belltower Inn.

3. Your name: Kimberly
Ok. Apparently there are a lot of sluty Kimberlys out there. I was really scared until I found this one!


awwwwww!

4. Your grandmother's name (just pick one): Marie


This is actually very appropriate as my grandma was very Catholic. She was a very dear, sweet woman.

5. Your favorite food: Cheese

mmmmmmmmmmmmm

6. Your favorite drink: Green Tea

field of green tea plants.. bliss!

7. Your favorite song: Blackbird by the Beatles


This was actually very difficult. I don't really have an all-time favorite song. But I guess this is close enough.

8. Your favorite smell: Cucumber



So, that's it. Fun! :)

Oh.. started knitting another project for the holidays (like I don't have enough anxiety about finishing the sweater!).


Its the Kimono Shawl from Folk Shawls by Cheryl Oberle. I am making it out of Alpaca Cloud from Knit Picks in Smoke. I am double stranding it and knitting on size 4s instead of 5s. I will post some pics when I get further along. :)

Contest Winner!

Ok. Dude. I totally suck! Here the contest ended like 5 days ago & I am just now announcing the winner!!

Now, I did try to do this a few times, but my internet connection keeps dropping (grrrr).

Anywho.. without further ado, the winning name is Ellette (little elf). The name was submitted by the lurvly Emily, who will be receiving a total of 3.6 oz of handspun merino. There is approx. 175yds total, and the yarn is sport wght.


Also, an honorable mention goes to Jenn for shear number of entries. She will be receiving this 2.4oz skein of handspun merino. There is approx. 75 yds. and the yarn is about worsted weight.


Thanks to everyone who entered, you all submitted some great names and it was very difficult to decide!! XD


btw- HP4 totally kicked ass! The best movie so far.. definitely!

Rambling bits

I've been meaning to update for several days, but I keep getting distracted. So now you all get a long rambling post with lots of pictures! hee hee

First off.. I want to thank everyone for the name suggestions! Such wonderful names, it will be hard to choose! The submission deadline is tomorrow at 5 pm est. If you are interested, just pop me an email at knitwhimsies@yahoo.com. Btw- here is a glimpse of the prize...

It is still being spun, but will be finished soon. This is absolutely yummy, Salmon colored 100% merino. So softy & lustorous that I was repeatedly asked at Spinners Flock if it was a silk blend! There is 4oz, and the weight will probably be dk/sport once it is plyed. I will give all the specifics once it is done! XD

BTW- if you want to enter, but are allergic to wool LET ME KNOW! I have other fibers (silk, ingeo, angora) that I can do if you win!! :)

Next! I went to the Spinners Flock meeting this Saturday. I believe I will finally join next time I go. I had a wonderful time. Lynne , Jillian, & Carla were there..and I finally got to meet Heather! She is just so adorable! Seriously, about the cutest thing you ever saw! And very sweet! I am so glad I got to meet you!! Yippie!

Here are a few pics from the meeting. Alas, I wasn't able to get any of Heather....

Jillian with the funky green!

Lynne knitting her capelet

fellow spinsters

Carla spining the most gorgeous tencel blend!

In knitting news, I mentioned before I finished the back of Torgeir and have started on the front. Here are a couple pics of my progress.

Windle is doing the faux shy pose
over the back

Current state of the front

I am also over half finished with the (bleep) for my sister Dawn. Wheee!

Oh! And I may have someone locally who wants to buy my Louet! She hasn't been knitting very long, and she has never spun before. If she is able to come to knitting tomorrow I am going to bring it & some fluffy bits for her to try out. I hope she wants it.. I sooo don't want to disassemble it & deal with ebay!!

OH! And I've got my tix for HP on Friday! How about you?? XD

Name That Wheel!

Ok. Time for my first ever contest! (Aren't you excited?!)

My beautiful new baby needs a name!

The prize: A skein (or two) of handspun yarn!

How to enter: send me an email at knitwhimsies@yahoo.com with your suggested name. I will choose my favorite name. If there are multiple enteries with the same suggested name, the winner will be chosen at random. You may send me as many names as you wish!

Deadline: All enteries must be received by 5 p.m. est on Thursday, November 18th.

Choosing a name is a difficult task. Here is a little background info on her to help you out.

1. Yes, she is a SHE.
2. She is Canadian.
3. Her previous mother informed me that she is Jewish.
4. She extudes personality! Seriously!
5. She appears to be a "cat magnet". Much more so than the Louet ever was.

That's all I really have for you right now. I haven't had a lot of time to pick up on more of her quirks. I know you brilliant people will come up with the perfect name for her.... and maybe get a little yarn in return! :)

And, just in case you forgot what she looks like...

Wanna See My New Baby?

Sorry to make you wait. I know I promised these on Saturday, but.. ya know.. shit happens & stuff...

Anyways. First, I shall show the miscellany. Here we have 2 Niddy Noddys, Fast Flyer and Flyer for the plying head, Lazy Kate (btw- those bobbins came prefilled!), and Plying Head.







Look at the size of that bobbin! XD


Alright.. you've waited long enough! Here she is!

Aint she gorgeous?! I love her!!!

Oh.. and if all this spinny stuff is boring you, I FINALLY finished the back of my dad's sweater!! I even got 15 rows into the front! At this rate I may actually get the sucker done by xmas! :)

Fiber Feast

This is going to be a picture heavy post. I certainly got my money's worth & more on this deal!

First off there are a few books: The Weaving, Spinning, and Dyeing Book by Rachel Brown; Carding, Spinning, Dyeing by Elisabeth Hoppe; and The Handspun Project Book. Spinning & Weaving with Wool by Paula Simmons is still on the way. :)

Now.. onto the plethora of fiber! I shall start off tame here (build up the suspence)

Blue-face Leicester in White & Brown

An abundance of Merino is yummy colors

Super soft Fawn Alpaca

BUNNY! Angora in grey & white... mmmmm

White Soy Silk

Ingeo in 2 beautiful blues

Sparklies in Raspberry & Opal

Oh yeah, & this...Cashmere & Merino Blend! (sorry, drooling a bit)

Keely said there is another bag on its way too! Apparently there is a little more fiber & a bunch of Gaywool and Jacquard dyes!

Very overwhelmed. I will let you all absorb this & post pics of the baby tomorrow. Btw- the Lendrum needs a name.. I am thinking of doing a contest with the prize being a skein or two of handspun.. any interest?