novamade

sharing is caring

So here's the thing, my sources (and by sources, I mean this blog) tell me that I have a blogiversary coming up.  This is a nice something to think about and celebrate in the midst of my efforts to teach Little Sir the merits of sharing.  Right now his favorite word is "mine,"  thank you day care.  My feelings about Little Sir's possessiveness aside, here's something else to consider:

During a "it's my birthday and I'm worth it" buying frenzy last May, I bought myself some Wollmeise sock yarn (the green skein is pretty fantastic too).  This colorway is Poison No. 5 (dark).  Usually when I buy yarn I have a project in mind (I know it's hard to believe, but it's true).  When I saw this yarn, I just liked it.  Yes, I know there is some pink in here; and no I just don't care.  I loved this yarn when I saw it on screen and I love it more now (never discount the "pet" factor--the sniff factor is pretty high too.  I am not sure what she uses to wash the yarn after dyeing, but it's pretty yummy as wool washes go). 

The problem is this:  I have no idea what to do with this yarn.  It wants to become something magnificent.  It wants to become something where the colors and the artistry that is the dyeing can be showcased.  It wants to be a finished object of very little pooling (no pooling at all would be good, but let's be practical).  It wants to be used in a project with a minimum amount of waste (there's 574 yards of fingering-weight knitting to be had here).

I have a few ideas, but nothing definite.  So here it is, what do you think I should do with this yarn and why?

If I go with your idea/suggestion and line of reasoning, I will treat you to your very own skein of Wollmeise Sockenwolle.  Any colorway and intensity you like (picking out the colors is part of the fun, after all).

If I don't use a suggestion offered,  a name from the suggestions most relevant will be drawn by Little Sir.  If I go with something that many of you suggest, Little Sir will pick a name from the pool of relevant suggesters (no, I don't think it's a word either) out of a hat/box/bag or what have you (my kid will learn the concept of sharing yet, and it's kind of fun that you can help in this endeavor). 

So how is that?  You share an idea, and Little Sir and I just might share some yarn with you (I am sure other things will likely find their way into the box as well, it is a celebration after all).  Offer your suggestion (one per person please, let's not be greedy--the lesson here is sharing, ahem) in the comments of this post by Tuesday, August 28th, 11:59 p.m. EST.  I will announce the winner on my blogiversary at the end of the month.

mail call

I love receiving mail.  I think my love more getting real mail (as opposed to "fake" mail...bills don't count) is part of what fuels my fondness for letter writing.  That said, I like getting packages in the mail.  Especially when the packages hold things like knitted socks.

My Sockapalooza 4 socks arrived while I was in St. Louis, they are perfect.  Perfect, I say!  Thanks so much Teej!  She used a great colorway (reds!!) and an absolutely gorgeous pattern.  I was considering knitting the pattern (in red) for myself at some point; but, now I can just count myself lucky to already own a pair.  I love them.  Teej also sent over some great gifts to keep the socks company on their voyage from her to me.  All goodies will be used, loved, appreciated quite a bit...particularly the Nutella (I think some crepes may be in my future).

I was also a winner in Beth's recent mystery sock contest.  She selected and sent me some really grogeous greeny goodness from her stash.  The yardage in this hank is no joke.

I also received a huge shipment from Webs.  I will spare you the gorey details.  Here is a representation of what America's Yarn Store sent to me:

sweet and innocent looking, isn't it.  Yeah, these two guys are representative  of four sweaters' worth of yarn (different colors, of course).  What can I say?  The sale was just too good to pass up.  And I do want to knit some sweaters with the yarn, afterall.  Eventually.  Some day (I am totally owning up to my shortcomings and my slowness as a knitter.  We can't all knit as fast as Tiennie...but a girl can dream, right?).

And then there was my Hello Yarn order from Adrian.  I think Mandy said it best, Adrian has some "stupid good colors."  I used a gift certificate that Special K gave me for our wedding anniversary back in May.  He said to "buy wool."  So that is what I did.

At first, I thought this yarn would make good man socks...but no, I think they will make good me socks.

And then of course there was this fibery goodness that I could not pass up...

This gorgeousness really begs for answers for some questions that I have been thinking about lately*, chief of which:  any suggestions for a good beginner's wheel (and when I say "beginner" I mean a wheel that will likely be my main wheel for a really, really, really long time)?  My research has led me to suspect that a Lendrum double treadle would be best for my needs (wants, desires, whatever), though I like the aesthetics of the Kromski Minstrel (ooh, dark mahogany!) more.  But I am going for function here.  Thoughts?

My next blog post isn't just going to be about knitting, it'll be a finished object.  I know, right?!

*No Elli, you are not the only one.  I am thinking about Christmas too....