Extravayarnza

There are some points in life when you have to grow up a whole bunch all at once. I fear I've hit one of those points head on & seem unable to let go. Most of whats going on in life now is stuff that's too personal for the blog. I think that's a big part of why blogging has been so umm.. sparse... rare... nonexistent... lately. That and the fact that the big computer at home experienced SMEF (Spontaneous Massive Existence Failure, bonus points to those of you who know what this is a reference to...) and our switch to a new phone company at work was a little rocky leaving me with out internet access anywhere for a few weeks.

I've also been entrenched in the process of purchasing a building for the shop to move to this winter. The commercial loan process is a scary thing and very slow moving. I feel a little at a loss in the whole thing, but am still confident that we will emerge triumphant in the end.

Actually I need to be successful in the whole loan thing because I will be living above the shop & lets just say my current living arrangements will be no longer viable sometime in the next year.

A member of my immediate family is also getting married & moving half way across the country. I'm extremely happy for this (and no it's not me), but it's a little scary too.

This is really just the tip of the iceberg, but I hope you'll all understand my lack of blogging lately. I can't say when more regular blogging will happen again, but I'll keep doing the best I can. Currently I'm going to be aiming for once a week and we'll see how that goes. I have however been keeping up my ravelry account, so you can always see what I'm up to there. I also am hosting a group for my shop (Friends of Rae's Yarn Boutique), so if you live in the area & have managed to get a Ravelry account please join us there.

A lack of blogging however has not meant a lack of knitting. In fact when I get stressed out knitting happens in great abundance. Lets try to catch up...

Scarves
I finished up a cute little scarf that we have the kit for at the shop right now. It's a Shetland lambswool and cashmere blend & a very quick knit.
The scarf itself is ascot like & softens up a whole bunch when washed in Eucalan.

I also am working away on my Ravelry scarf exchange scarf. I had a bunch of false starts on this project and have finally found something that I know will work. The scarf is done in double knitting with Debbie Bliss Rialto Aran & will have a Diamond motif at each end. I'm a bit further than the photo (since I took these photos last week you'll hear that a bunch today).

Socks
I've finished 4 pairs of socks in the last couple of weeks. The first 2 pair though were super quick knits (each pair taking between 4 & 6 hours!).
These are knit in Nashua Snowbird and are so warm. I'll be pretty much living in these this winter. I liked how these came out so much that I wrote up the pattern & it's available free with purchase of the yarn here at the shop. Pretty much everyone on my holiday gift list will probably be getting a pair of these this winter.


I also finished a couple of pairs of fingering weight socks.
This pair is simply my basic sock pattern knit in STR waterlily.

I also finished up my test for my redesign of my Slinky sock pattern. That was my first published design and I really hated a few things I did in it. I love the new version so much more. This photo is from last week, I still need to wait for the weather to cooperate for a real photo shoot for these, and to get the pattern rewritten. (oh, and the yarn for these is JoJoLand Melody)

I'm currently just about done with the first of the "summer of love" socks from the last installment of the STR club. The new kit should arrive sometime this week, so I'm attempting to catch up a bit.

Sweaters
I also knit 2 sweaters in about 3 weeks. (like a said... a little stressed out lately = lots of knitting).
The first is a long hoodie cardigan out of Mirasol Miski.

This sweater was knit in the round with seamless set-in sleeves then steeked down the front. The baby Llama is super soft and warm. I know this sweater will get lots of wear this winter.

I also knit a Bohus like sweater (much bigger gauge than a real bohus). This is the Lite Lopi pullover from the Best of Interweave Knits.



I'm rather enamored with this sweater. It of course has been in the 70's since I finished it, but I'm really looking forward to wearing it. It fits pretty well (maybe a little oversized) and I just love the lime green hems. I also altered the colorwork a little at the top to bring it back to the reds & purple rather than more orange at the neck.

I'm also sadly overdue posting this questionnaire up for the No More Humdrum Mitten Swap. Sorry Pal!

1. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn?
I learned to knit from my Grandma the one time she came to visit us. I was in 4th grade and she taught me during my brother's swimming classes.
2. Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
Advanced
3. What are your favorite colors? Any you dislike?
Depending on the combination I can like almost any color. I don't like things to be too neon or electric. I prefer Fall tones, especially greens and purples.
4. Do you like Latvian type patterns? If so, what are your favorite patterns?
I do like them, but I don't know them well enough to point to any specific pattern.
5. Do you desire mittens for yourself, your "special someone else" or your child?
I totally desire mittens for myself. I did a mitten swap last winter and the mittens were awful and had to be donated to charity, I'd really like a nice pair of mittens to wear this winter though. It gets cold here!
6. What other things do you enjoy knitting?
Everything?! I can like just about every type of project, just depends on my mood. Socks are always a good bet though.
7. What sort of needles do you enjoy working with? (straights vs circs, bamboo vs aluminum)
bamboo circs
8. What’s one project you’ve not yet tried but are dying to make?
I'm a big impulse knitter, so I don't yearn over any particular project for long, either I knit it or I forget about it I suppose. I've recently been finding my eyes wandering toward Clapotis and oddly enough knit pillow covers. Thicker socks have also been finding their way onto my needles lately.
9. What’s one yarn you’ve not yet tried but are dying to work with?
I always am drooling over sock yarn from lots of the indie dyers out there.
10. What other hobbies do you have? Do you spin? Sew? Garden? Cook?
Spin, Sew, pastel painting...
11. Besides yarn, do you collect anything?
books, I love books! I think my next obsession with books is going to be Disc World series, or maybe to finish up the Harry Potter thing (only have books 1 & 2). I will often read a novel in a night if the mood catches me right.
12. What kind of goodies do you enjoy? Sweets? Salty? Anything you hate or are allergic to?
I'm allergic to almonds. I am addicted to chocolate. Usually white or milk chocolate, but dark chocolate mint holds a dear place in my heart.

and because it's not mentioned earlier and I hope you'll take this into account. I'm severely allergic to acrylic yarn. Even 20% acrylic will make me break out in hives.

13. Do you have any kids? Pets?
No kids, but I have a kitty, Trent, and a Sheltie, Robin.
14. What is your favorite part of Winter?
Snow, the fresh fluffy white kind, not the brown slushy type we usually have.
15. What is your least favorite part of Winter?
Brown slushy snow and wet feet