My Sockapalooza 4 Package

My Sockapalooza package arrived while I was in New Mexico. I knew it had arrived so I was excited to get home and open it. My pal Sherry definitely did not disappoint me. In fact, she spoiled me with expertly knit socks and lots of knitterly goods. My package included a whole skein of yarn that she had been thinking about using for my socks but didn't use. It also included two chocolates in Michigan related shapes: car and football, Kookaburra wool wash (which I have been meaning to try), a sock key chain/mini sock blocker kit, a card and the leftovers from the sock yarn she used for my socks.

Tchazo thought they smelled really good. It makes me wonder if Sherry has a pet. He seemed awfully interested. They fit me perfectly.

The socks are knit with Regia Stretch and are in the Mock Wave Cable Socks pattern from the Favorite Socks book.

In case you are wondering, I knit my Sockapalooza socks for Christian.

I have really enjoyed being a part of this exchange and will keep my eye out for the next round of Sockapalooza.

I swear it was broken!

You know how when your car is making a crazy noise and you bring it to your mechanic only to have it not make that noise anymore? Yeah. That was what my laptop did. It was broken until I took it to get repaired and then all of the sudden it was working fine again. I think it is holding its breath until the warranty is over and then it will break again. My fingers are crossed that it was just a freak incidence and that it will keep working forever without problems. Why? Because then I won't have to wait soooo long to update this blog that it is takes hours to catch up. Oh well. I didn't want to leave you hanging about New Mexico, I owe my sockapalooza pals a post and I've got a lot of finished things to show you. So, today I blog.

Yarn Harlot, Cumulative Action and Sheldon the Turtle

Last Thursday Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (aka The Yarn Harlot) graced the Boston area with her presence (and Canadian accent!) at the Borders bookstore. Here is her impression of the local crowd. I was not one of the underwear tossers. That is what I get for not reading Vogue Knitting. Admittedly, though, I much prefer Interweave Knits. (...as a total tangent, is anyone else in love with the sweater on the cover of the newest Interweave Knits? It is called Tilted Duster. I love it!)

An unflattering and blurry picture of Stephanie

after she recovered from being showered with underwear.

I'm a regular reader of the Stephanie's blog, but I have actually never read any of her books nor have I heard her speak before. I should get going on that book thing, I know. I really enjoyed spending the evening in the company of so many knitters and liked Stephanie's talk.

There was one particular point that Stephanie made that has stuck with me. In talking about the generosity of knitters, she brought up the term cumulative action. Her point was rooted in a story about her brother-in-law, a professional fundraiser, and a fundraising campaign she is running. Through Knitters Without Borders Stephanie has raised over $300,000 for Doctors Without Borders. Not only did she raise a huge sum of money, but she did it really quickly. Her brother-in-law wanted to know how/why/what's her magic ingredient? Stephanie cites cumulative action, the notion that a small act repeated over and over again can make a difference, as the reason for her fundraising success with knitters. Stephanie says a person needs to believe in cumulative action in order to be motivated to give and who better to understand that than knitters. Cumulative action is the essence of what knitters do...we repeat a small action (knitting a stitch) over and over again until we have made a knitted fabric. If we think of the impact a small donation makes, it doesn't amount to much. If we think of what our donations combined with the small donations made repeatedly by many people can do, that is where a difference can be made. I thought it was a pretty insightful notion both about creating change and about the patience (and faith) it takes to add your small action to that of others or to repeat your small action over and over again until it has made a difference.

It was a crowded house.

On a related note, I took a leap of faith today and entrusted my Sockapalooza package and Sheldon to the United States Postal Service. I've had knitting get lost in the mail before and that is mildly heartbreaking. I'm crossing my fingers that both packages will reach their intended people.

Sheldon the Turtle is headed to Minnesota. My sister-in-law gave birth to a baby boy last week and that calls for a knitted animal.

Sheldon is nekkid and vulnerable without his shell.

Yarn: cotton yarn from my stash

Colors: lime green and brown

Pattern: Sheldon from Knitty

Variations: Since Sheldon is intended for a baby, I decided to skip the button eyes in favor of little crocheted lumps as eyeballs.

Tchazo and Sheldon had a little cuddle before Sheldon went on his way.

As promised. It's a Biggun'.

I have been accumulating finished projects for a few weeks and it is about time I get them up here for you to see. If you are here to see Sockapalooza socks, those are at the end of this post.

Yarn: Berger du Nord - Belle

Color: 9027

Pattern: Friday from MagKnits

Variations: None except that it isn't blocked yet. I am hoping it will hold its structure better once it is blocked.

This is a going to be a present so I am just giving a little bit of a peak. This is knit with Fleece Artist yarn in Barbara Walker's Seafoam Lace stitch pattern. I haven't blocked this yet either, but I already love how the pattern and color look together.

I made this necklace with some beads that I got while bead shopping with my mom in Minneapolis. I plan to eventually make earrings with the rest of the bright green beads (in honor of my mom's tendency towards compulsively matchy-matchy jewelry!).

This necklace was made to satisfy my non-chunky, simple necklace day need. I've already worn it a few times. It was made using stuff from my bead stash, which rivals my yarn stash. I'm not sure which stash wins at this point.

SOCKAPALOOZA 4!!

Here they are! They are done. Never have I knit a project with so much hype attached to it. It has been great fun reading about and seeing everyone's projects on the pligg. I can't wait to send these on to my pal and, of course, to get my package.

Yarn: Fleece Artist Merino

Color: Sea Storm

Pattern: Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch using Slipped Stitch Rib

These socks were knit in planes, trains and automobiles. In Minnesota, Massachusetts, Wisconsin and in many places in between. In front of the TV while watching Colonial House and in front of the campfire while watching the flames.

I am sending out my package with the socks, extra yarn from the skein, stitch markers and a card that I made. I wasn't able to find out a lot of personal information about my sockpal so these extras will have to do.

Here is a little close-up of the beaded stitch markers and the quilted card.

What are my socks on? I was thinking about buying some sock blockers, when I came across this website that tells you how to make your own sock blockers. My grandma, who can no longer do many of the crafts that she used to do including tatting lace and quilting, has been satisfying her need to create by crocheting around coat hangers. My extended family regularly gives her supplies and she churns these out in massive quantities. They are actually great for hanging shirts that slip off of hangers and tank tops. I realized that they would also make fabulous sock blockers as they would help prevent rusting and would soften the effects of the narrow edge of the hangers. I came up with these on my first try.

They are the right size for my feet but my sock pals feet are a little longer than mine. Hence, the loose toes in the first photo. They are definitely an affordable alternative to fancy schmancy ones like these. Although, I wouldn't mind having a set of those too!

Happy and speedy knitting to all of the Sockapalooza knitters who are working to meet that deadline.

A Series of Mommas

Yesterday I enjoyed the company of many fine ladies and a few distinguished gentlemen.

I've been staying at my sister's place in uptown (2 blocks from the Wedge! I totally heart the Wedge!) and have witnessed her sixth sense when it comes to being a ferret mom. One of her four (4!) ferrets is sick. She is one dedicated momma, giving him medicine every 8 hours, hand feeding him and watching for any inkling of something being not right with him. That is some serious animal loving.

This is my favorite (shhh! don't tell Jessy I am playing favorites!) of her ferrets. He sleeps a lot and one of his favorite resting places is on top of his pompoms. My not-favorite ferret is the one that sneaks up on me and nips me with his tiny, sharp as spikes teeth. Not cool, ferret. Not cool.

After spending time with the ferret momma, I went to visit a momma of 2 young men. Christa is doing an amazing job with her two energetic little boys. One of which is at the "Why? Why? Why?" stage. She very skillfully reroutes that question so he finds himself explaining why. Smooth move Christa!

Later that day, I joined a friend who has a job supporting mommas...notice the momma theme. Our plan was to go to a park in St. Paul to play disc golf. Jerri, my self-declared biggest blog fan, had written down directions to the park. We followed the directions and got to the park without any problem except that it wasn't the right park. At that point, something happened that I decided was indicative of our personalities. Jerri is (I am totally simplifying a complex person here) an outgoing, charismatic, friendly, emotions-on-her-sleeve kind of gal. In short, she is a people person. Her solution to our Wrong Park Dilemma was to think of who she could call who might know how to get us to the right park. I am nowhere near the people person that Jerri is so while she was listing off who we could call, my problem-solving self, starting thinking about the information we had available that we could use to figure out our problem. I asked Jerri if she had a map. She did have a map and it got us to the right park. Had we not had a map, I am sure Jerri could have called someone who could have solved our problem. She's got people.

With all of this airport, hanging out, bus riding time I have finished my Sockapalooza pal's first sock. I need to make one of those sock blocker things so that the shape of the sock looks a little more sock-like. It looks a bit deformed in these pictures. But, I am really happy with the colors: manly, but not boring.

335 Zombies

A healthy relationship requires understanding and acceptance. Well... the truth is that there are some things that Paul and I accept about each other that neither of us has a chance in hell of really, truly understanding. Let me give you specifics:

I cannot understand why Paul would spend hours and hours playing a video game in which you hunt and kill zombies. He has killed 335 of them so far. That seems like quite a time investment to me. But, I accept that he gets enjoyment out of it, so I leave it be.

From his perspective, he cannot understand why I would invest hours and hours of time to knit a pair of socks. It probably seems unfathomable to him why I would want to spend that much time creating something that you could buy from a store for cheaper than it costs to make it. But, he accepts that I get enjoyment out of it, so he leaves it be.

Lucky in love for both of us.

I'm going to go spend some more hours making a sock so I can have some great pictures to show you all tomorrow.

Here is where I was the last time I took some pictures:

Mozzarella and The King

I got a haircut today, which only tends to happen twice a year. A big day, it was. While I was heading to my appointment, it was once again confirmed to me that there is snobbery against Somerville amongst residents from other areas of Boston. In this case, presumably, a resident of the neighborhood in which I was walking, the South End. Here is what I overheard:


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Stocky Sidekick: "Ewww! That sign says the mozzarella cheese was made in Somerville."

Tall Transvestite: "Huh?!" (obviously not one bit of interested in what her sidekick has to say)

Stocky Sidekick: "That sign says the cheese was made in Somerville. Who would want cheese made in Somerville. That is like eating cheese that was made in shit. Yuck."

Tall Transvestite: "Hi!!!!" (waving to person in tanning salon)


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Why they gotta be dissing on my Somerville?!

Now, to The King. The owners of the hair salon that I go to are presumably obsessed with Elvis. Here I have only partially documented their insane devotion...in the form of Elvis dioramas and altars in the bathroom:

Also, the courtyard of the Boston Public Library is a great place to knit. I started my Sockapalooza pal's socks there today.

Two test socks and a skein of Fleece Artist

Dear Sockpal (who won't likely read this until after the socks have been received, but oh well!),

I want to knit you a pair of socks that will fit your feet and your style perfectly. I think I have found the right yarn for your hand-painted, natural fiber taste. How could I be sure that the yarn is good enough for you? Knit a pair for myself first, of course! A big sacrifice, I know. And now I have these socks for myself.

Yarn: Fleece Artist Merino Sock Yarn

Color: Mermaid

Pattern: From Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch

Four-Stitch Ribbing Patterns - Elongated Corded Rib

Variation: stockinette stitch on foot

This yarn is fabulous and the yardage per skein in totally impressive. I made these socks and have enough yarn left to make a short, lacy scarf. I especially liked the heel details in this pattern. Notice the 3 garters stitches edging the heel flap?

I think this yarn will please you. Here is the color I have chosen for you:

It is called Sea Storm.

My plan is to knit your socks in the Slipped-Stitch Rib from Schurch's book. I think it will be subtle enough that the colors of the yarn will show through but a little more exciting than a regular ribbed sock.

The Neverending Sleeve

I've been holding off on posting because I wanted to finish the purple sweater and post a whole bunch of finished projects. But the sweater just keeps going on and on and on. Not the whole sweater so much as the last sleeve. I am a few inches away so it won't be long until I can post that too. In the meantime, I have finished a few things.

Before felting...

After felting...

Felted (Fulled) Mittens - Nancy Lindberg pattern

Brown Sheep - Nature Spun Yarn

Felted Bowl

Araucania - Nature Wool Chunky

Doesn't this bowl needs some beads on it?! Some springy spans of beads...or maybe loopy strands...or maybe sporadically placed beads here and there. I guess this doesn't qualify as completely finished yet. I am using it until I can decide what to do with the beads. I had originally planned to do some needle felting on the sides but that idea has fallen away for the moment.

Maybe the reason I have beads on the brain is because I went bead shopping in Minneapolis and got all of these fantastic beads. I had also placed a big order from Fire Mountain Gems before I left on the trip. The box was waiting when I got home. If only I had more time in the day...

There is always something on my to-do list that doesn't get done. Speaking of which, if you hear me coming a mile away, it is because one of the things on my to-do list (fix hole in muffler) has been being continually sacrificed for the sake of all of the other to-do list items.

One of the things on my to-do list includes getting yarn and deciding on a pattern for Sockapalooza 4. The pairing has been assigned and I found out that my recipient is a somewhat big-footed male....I better get started! I am thinking of hand-dyed yarn in something grey, blue, and brown. I'm looking forward to scouring a few yarn stores this weekend to see if I can find yarn that matches the vision in my mind.

Sockapalooza 4, Bonnie B-day and Purty

I just signed up for Sockapalooza 4!

It reminds me of those chain mail letters that I used to get from friends. I always considered participating in those things and thought about how much fun it would be to have my mailbox fill up with envelopes stuffed with dollar bills or brand new underwear (right Jamie?!). All I needed to do was just send a dollar or a pair of underwear to the first five people on the list and a mailbox full of underwear and money could be all mine! Yeah, right. Or, as every character on Grey's Anatomy would put it, "Seriously."

Well, I have greater faith in this exchange than the chain mail letters of decades past. In this exchange, I will get a pal and knit him/her a pair of socks while someone else is doing the same for me. We all release our socks (over 850 participants thus far! 1700 socks!) into the world (via the postal system) on the same day and they travel to their new owners. I have images of sock packages criss-crossing the world on their way to surprise knitters. That sounds like good stuff to me.


On another note, It was Bonnie's birthday yesterday and since she has newly pierced ears, what better gift to give her than handmade earrings.
Happy Birthday Bonnie!







Lastly, a little something purty from my house for your Friday.

My next post will be about the alpaca field trip. I hope it'll be sunny so I can get some decent pictures of all the fibery goodness. I am struggling to get to know my new digital camera. It seems to be picky about lighting.