There is a plastic bag of roving on the floor near my spinning wheel.
Between one cat's obsession with wool (I'm looking at you, Pye) and the other's commitment to chewing holes in every plastic bag in my house (that would be Cosmo, of course), I've had to chase cats away from the damn bag every 10 minutes since I got up 2 hours ago.
I should just go spin the rest of it, and solve the problem.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Saturday, October 20, 2007
A little less panicked
I'm feeling a little less panicked about the Knitathon this morning. Of course, Suzanne, that does NOT mean that you aren't right - I clearly was smoking the good crack the day I committed to this.
I re-counted, and I've got 21 squares so far.
A big part of my panic was my concern that my swatch had lied, and in fact, many of the squares I'd already knit would not wash and block out to the correct 9X9 size. So, this morning, I decided to wash and block the ones I have done, so I could hopefully relax a little bit.
In fact, my swatches had not lied, not even a little, and the squares that were a scant 8X8 unwashed bloomed up and were so large, that in fact, I was smooshing a few of them into a smaller size to be the 9X9 I needed.
Here they all are, laying out to dry.
I've figured out a way to get about another 6 blocks without too much knitting time (this requires cannibalizing a WIP that I was never ever actually going to finish. That'll leave me about 20 to do from scratch.
I think I've made peace with the thought that I might not manage 50 squares at this point. Allison, if you really don't mind adding 1 or 2 squares to the pile, I'll certainly be grateful!
Now I should go get to actual knitting, instead of talking about it, eh?
I re-counted, and I've got 21 squares so far.
A big part of my panic was my concern that my swatch had lied, and in fact, many of the squares I'd already knit would not wash and block out to the correct 9X9 size. So, this morning, I decided to wash and block the ones I have done, so I could hopefully relax a little bit.
In fact, my swatches had not lied, not even a little, and the squares that were a scant 8X8 unwashed bloomed up and were so large, that in fact, I was smooshing a few of them into a smaller size to be the 9X9 I needed.
Here they all are, laying out to dry.
I've figured out a way to get about another 6 blocks without too much knitting time (this requires cannibalizing a WIP that I was never ever actually going to finish. That'll leave me about 20 to do from scratch.
I think I've made peace with the thought that I might not manage 50 squares at this point. Allison, if you really don't mind adding 1 or 2 squares to the pile, I'll certainly be grateful!
Now I should go get to actual knitting, instead of talking about it, eh?
Friday, October 19, 2007
What in the heck was I thinking?
50 squares.
50 squares?!?!?!?!
I am insane. I've got 18 done. There's like, 15 days until the event. This is never ever going to happen, and I am insane for even thinking it would.
50 squares. Yeah, right.
50 squares?!?!?!?!
I am insane. I've got 18 done. There's like, 15 days until the event. This is never ever going to happen, and I am insane for even thinking it would.
50 squares. Yeah, right.
Monday, October 08, 2007
Finally!
After having the temperature be in the 80s this weekend, we woke up this morning to cold damp downpours.
The best thing about that?
Getting to wear happy handknit socks for the first time all season!
Happy fall, everybody!
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Knit-a-thon, and a contest to go with it
I have signed up to participate in a knit-a-thon to benefit the Pine Street Inn in Boston, which is one of Boston's largest agencies providing services and shelter to the homeless population of the city. You can find out more about the event and the organization here.
I have committed to knitting 50 9x9 squares for blankets by the date of the final event, when all the knitters will come together to piece the blankets together. The blankets will then be giving to the residents of the shelters and housing units run by the Inn.
Of course, this is both a chance to knit for others who could use the warnth of a blanket, and a fund raiser for the Pine Street Inn, and that's where you come in. I need sponsors for the Knit-a-thon. We're supposed to ask for per-square donations, but I don't think it really matters. If you'd like to donate, you can do it at my online donation page. If you'd rather send Paypal or a check or something like that instead, e-mail me at siercia AT gmail DOT com, and we'll cook up a way to do that.
And please remember, every little tiny bit helps. Even if you can only swing a few dollars, it'll be a HUGE help to the residents and clients served by Pine St. Many people, each doing a small piece can move mountains.
Now, for the contest part.
I have been wildly bless in the past few years (ever since I started knitting, actually) to have won many, many, contests and raffles and the like. Now, I have a chance to turn that around too, and I am excited! So, anyone who donates any amount of money to this attempt (seriously, even a dollar helps) gets entered into a raffle.
I've got three prizes so far, and may well add more as the month goes on, and inspirations strikes.
Prize the first:
A beautiful skein of Sunshine Yarns Sock yarn, colorway Indie
Prize the second:
Two skeins of gorgeous laceweight yarn from "A Touch of Twist" in colorway Admiral
Prize the third:
Winner's choice of a set of stitchmarkers from one of my favorite etsy shops. Her shop is closed at the moment, but if you check out her sold items page, you can see how astoundingly cute her work is.
And the Grand prize? (This is where you can see that I don't really think I'm going to make my goal.) If I make my fund raising goal of $500, one lucky person is going to win a pair of handknit socks, knit by me. Color of the winner's choosing, and delivery after the fund raiser and the holiday knitting is over (so, think mid-to-late-January).
To enter the contest, email me at siercia AT gmil DOT com and let me know that you've donated. When it's all over, I'll draw names randomly to determine the winners.
So, please, if you can spare a little (or a lot), help me meet my goal and help the Pine Street Inn keep people warm this winter. And please, post about this where ever you'd like to help get the word out!
I have committed to knitting 50 9x9 squares for blankets by the date of the final event, when all the knitters will come together to piece the blankets together. The blankets will then be giving to the residents of the shelters and housing units run by the Inn.
Of course, this is both a chance to knit for others who could use the warnth of a blanket, and a fund raiser for the Pine Street Inn, and that's where you come in. I need sponsors for the Knit-a-thon. We're supposed to ask for per-square donations, but I don't think it really matters. If you'd like to donate, you can do it at my online donation page. If you'd rather send Paypal or a check or something like that instead, e-mail me at siercia AT gmail DOT com, and we'll cook up a way to do that.
And please remember, every little tiny bit helps. Even if you can only swing a few dollars, it'll be a HUGE help to the residents and clients served by Pine St. Many people, each doing a small piece can move mountains.
Now, for the contest part.
I have been wildly bless in the past few years (ever since I started knitting, actually) to have won many, many, contests and raffles and the like. Now, I have a chance to turn that around too, and I am excited! So, anyone who donates any amount of money to this attempt (seriously, even a dollar helps) gets entered into a raffle.
I've got three prizes so far, and may well add more as the month goes on, and inspirations strikes.
Prize the first:
A beautiful skein of Sunshine Yarns Sock yarn, colorway Indie
Prize the second:
Two skeins of gorgeous laceweight yarn from "A Touch of Twist" in colorway Admiral
Prize the third:
Winner's choice of a set of stitchmarkers from one of my favorite etsy shops. Her shop is closed at the moment, but if you check out her sold items page, you can see how astoundingly cute her work is.
And the Grand prize? (This is where you can see that I don't really think I'm going to make my goal.) If I make my fund raising goal of $500, one lucky person is going to win a pair of handknit socks, knit by me. Color of the winner's choosing, and delivery after the fund raiser and the holiday knitting is over (so, think mid-to-late-January).
To enter the contest, email me at siercia AT gmil DOT com and let me know that you've donated. When it's all over, I'll draw names randomly to determine the winners.
So, please, if you can spare a little (or a lot), help me meet my goal and help the Pine Street Inn keep people warm this winter. And please, post about this where ever you'd like to help get the word out!
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Secret Pal package!
Hooray!
Yesterday was a terribly disappointing mail day - I pulled into the driveway to see three different packages on the porch, but when I went to get the mail, I discovered that two of them had been delivered to the entirely wrong address and were not mine. Boo! Hiss!
Today, on the other hand, was a wonderful mail day! Amazon delivered my copy of the Crazy Aunt Purl book, and MUCH more importantly, I got a delightful, lovely package from my Secret Pal.
Here's a picture of the lovely wrapping, albeit from AFTER we ripped everything open.
Beautiful colors, a treat to unwrap each little gift inside.
And here, a picture of what was inside - two skeins of yummy sock yarn, a beautiful mug with coffee, three handmade soaps and hand cream that feels divine on my hands (and I love the label - not tested on animals, only friends and family), a wee Italy travel guide, tex-mex trail mix that by some miracle isn't too spicy, and a card that is still making me laugh - the inside says "Swatches? We don't need no stinking swatches!" Not pictured are the two Halloween washcloths sent with the soap - when Widget saw those, she declared they had to go up to the bath RIGHT AWAY, and took them straight upstairs. I think I'll not tell her they were supposed to be for me!
Thank you, Secret Pal, for a lovely package full of wonderful presents!
Yesterday was a terribly disappointing mail day - I pulled into the driveway to see three different packages on the porch, but when I went to get the mail, I discovered that two of them had been delivered to the entirely wrong address and were not mine. Boo! Hiss!
Today, on the other hand, was a wonderful mail day! Amazon delivered my copy of the Crazy Aunt Purl book, and MUCH more importantly, I got a delightful, lovely package from my Secret Pal.
Here's a picture of the lovely wrapping, albeit from AFTER we ripped everything open.
Beautiful colors, a treat to unwrap each little gift inside.
And here, a picture of what was inside - two skeins of yummy sock yarn, a beautiful mug with coffee, three handmade soaps and hand cream that feels divine on my hands (and I love the label - not tested on animals, only friends and family), a wee Italy travel guide, tex-mex trail mix that by some miracle isn't too spicy, and a card that is still making me laugh - the inside says "Swatches? We don't need no stinking swatches!" Not pictured are the two Halloween washcloths sent with the soap - when Widget saw those, she declared they had to go up to the bath RIGHT AWAY, and took them straight upstairs. I think I'll not tell her they were supposed to be for me!
Thank you, Secret Pal, for a lovely package full of wonderful presents!
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