I've been Found!

How exciting! I just checked email and discovered my SP11 has found me and made her/his self known. I wasn't sure about joining the secret pal thing but thought - what the heck. I need a little excitement in my life that isn't work or PWM (parents without memory).

It's late and time to hit the hay but I just had to post to say - YEAH! It's gonna be a fun few months planning for my SP and waiting to see what I end up with. Life needs excitement of the happy kind!!!

You can get all the presents you want as long as I get something too! - Bert

Random Facts

I've been reading Harry Potter - 7 this past weekend and doing a little knitting. Today was "deal with Mom's bills" day. So I'm not being very creative in the post department. So today we're going to fall back to the random facts type posting. Notice I don't say 100 things about me because, quite frankly, I don't think we'll end up with that many!

1. We'll start simple - I have 2 cats (DUH!) Chief and Bert. Ragdoll & British Shorthair.
2. This is the first time I got "designer" cats. I usually get cats from the Humane Society.
3. I've been knitting since about 3rd grade.
4. Grandma taught me to knit but not to purl.
5. I made a lot of Barbie doll scarves in garter stitch (see #4).
6. In college I started knitting again because Mom saw an afghan my cousin knit at my Aunt's at Thanksgiving and liked it. (knit and purl blocks)
7. Mom got the afghan for Christmas that year. ( I learned how to purl)
8. I knit Dad one pair of Elizabeth Zimmerman's woolman's socks every Christmas for the past 15 years.
9. Mom washes wool socks with the rest of the laundry.
10. Dad owns several pair of very small socks.
11. Dad learned to wash wool socks about 13 years ago.
12. I owned my own store for 5 years - knitting, knitting machines, sewing, quilting, sewing machines.
13. I have a very large cookbook collection.
14. I have a very knitting knitting book/magazine collection.
15. I have a very large quilting book/magazine collection.
16. I collect books.
17. I tend to go through crafts every 3-4 years.
18. I just came off a 5 year quilt binge leaving several quilt tops done but not put together as quilts.
19. My friend (with MS) and I took stained glass classes because she thought it was something she could do.
20. MS and stained glass don't always go together well.
21. If you make a stained glass nativity and have shaky hands from MS, Joseph may end up anatomically correct from excess solder. (Joseph was "fixed")
22. I love electronic stuff - TV, computers, cameras, knitting machines, computerized sewing machines...
23. I can changed out a water heater and do several of home care things.
24. I love London and the test of Great Britain and miss the fact I haven't been there for a few years.
25. My favorite museum is the Victoria & Albert in London. It's filled with crafts instead of paintings on walls.
26. On Netflix I have rated 1599 movies.
27. I hate buying clothes.
28. I used to make all my own clothes including jeans.
29. I can talk to most people about most topics except sports.
30. In 6th grade my friends and I had to research parabolic intersections of dimension to dimension because Mr. Spock mentioned that on Star Trek.
31. The summer between 7th and 8th grade my friend on I read "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" all the way through on a bet.
32. I still remember the name of the guy who tried to kill Hitler on July 20,1944 (friend's brother was born the same day so I remember the date because of that).
33. I remember bizarre random facts easily but I'm lousy at remembering names and faces. It's a terrible flaw.
34. I don't watch much reality TV. Seeing 5 minutes is more than I can take on most shows.
35. I have a big scar on my heel from having multiple heel spurs removed. I still can't walk stairs well from this.

Guess 35 is enough for now. Are you bored yet? We'll try for some knitting stuff tomorrow.

Yarn and Plastic and Cats

Well, I'm not in Chicago. I didn't think I would be when I asked if anyone wanted to go. I mean really. I wouldn't take me up on something like that with 2 minutes notice. But - I had to try.
What I did do today was go to my LYS (Amazing Threads). I got a couple skeins of wool to start a pair of fair isle mittens, the latest Interweave Knits mag, and some of the Clover coil knitting needle holders. These little guys are great. They keep your double points from rolling around getting lost.

I also just got a box from KnitPicks. 2 hanks of merino wool fingerweight, 2 clearance merino fingerweight (memories - hurry only 2 color left at $2.99 a hank) and last but not least - a got the basic set of dye. Oh - looks like Chief is close by.
He spots the yarn but - wait - there's something else even better for him….
PLASTIC! There isn't a piece of plastic in this house that hasn't been inspected (chewed) by Chief.
I finished the Suri Dreams scarf but the butt-cheap batteries I bought pooped out and I have no more umph in my camera. The picture will have to wait.

Bert now begging for attention so - it's off to rub a tummy and scritch and ear.

Throwing it out into the Universe

I thought of something crazy this afternoon and have been debating posting it. If you throw something out into the universe, the universe may throw it right back at you. So here goes.....

Stitches in Chicago this weekend -

Anyone want to take a quick and totally unplanned trip from Mpls. to Chicago this weekend to go to Stitches? I'm thinking about going early Saturday morning and coming back Sunday night. If you've read my blogs at all you know I drive to the southern parts of Iowa a lot for work. Chicago mileage isn't much further and - well - I need to do something totally crazy just for me. If anyone is interested - email me (jillsknitATaolDOTcom) and we'll make quick plans. If no one answers - fine - like I said- I'm just throwing it out there to see what happens.

Christmas Knitting

I decided to start Christmas knitting because I always get caught with my needles full. So this is the year of the mohair scarf, at least for a few friends. This is the start of a diagonal scarf using KnitPicks Suri Dreams - color Wildflowers.

They say to use size 11 needles but I had 13 sitting around so that's what I used. The diagonal scarf uses a lot of short rows and increases to obtain "the look" but after to knit a full "section" it is 20 stitches wide. Once I'm done I'm going to add some bead fringe, maybe. We'll see what it looks like.

Hide-n-Seek


The Boys decided to play hide-n-seek tonight.

Chief hid behind the computer. He was easy to find. Note- I was taking pictures of the scarf so that's why he got snapped.
Bert was a bit more clever. Problem with Bert is, all you have to do is call his name and he comes in a flash. No patience to stay hiding!

My computer is being goofy and not letting me fix the fonts and spacing - oh well.....

Why I Don't Enter Things at the State Fair, anymore

Looks like the boys were busy today. When I left the house this morning the hall was empty. When I got home the evidence of their day was in the hall.



I got the next EZ Surprise jacket done. This baby is due in October but I decided the way babies are popping at work I need to get ahead of the game. Adding the "gold" stripe took the sweater away from Christmasy and gave the edge a nice frame. Now all I have to do is hunt up some buttons. Oh - some of the yarn way Woolease, some was - I have no clue. All worsted weight.



Now into the Why I Don't Enter Things in the State Fair Anymore...
Back a long time ago I used to enter 1 or 2 things every year. Every year I'd get a ribbon or two (not blue) and the little piece of paper telling me what I did wrong according to the judge. Oh, they'd tell me how nice the things was but somewhere in it was the reason for not giving me the blue ribbon. After a while, I switched over to entering weaving items - more ribbons - no blue ribbons. More reasons for the ribbon not being blue. I'm competitive and don't take criticism well. But each year I would try again. One of the knitting years I entered a grandma doll. I got second place I reasons for not getting first were my color choice. Silly me, I used dusty blue and dusty rose. Who would ever choose these colors? Two years later the only colors you could find were, you guessed it, dusty blue and dusty rose. The lesson I learned from this was, knit for yourself and enjoy what you make. Enter into the Fair if you want but take the criticism with a grain of salt. I've opted to knit and enjoy and forget the State Fair. Now I enjoy going to see what other people have made without the pressure of wondering if my knitting (or quilting or weaving) is better. (told you I was competitive!)

So - here's the Grandma doll. She is all natural fibers. Her body, hat, shawl, and dress are Bernat's Germantown wool. The hair is a mohair. Stockings are a dark navy wool but I don't remember which one. Apron - white with blue flecks cotton. She has a pair of pantaloons that are a natural color cotton- I wove these and sew them by hand.

SP11 "Homework"

I got homework today. I joined the Secret Pal 11 and we have been asked to answer the following questions. You may be interested or not. But - here they are…..

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Favorite yarns are comfortable yarns that are all or mostly natural fibers. I do not like acrylics that are hard on the hands or natural fibers that are hard on the hands. With this said lately I've been knitting with Cascade 220, cottons, KnitPicks merino wool, I got some bamboo but haven't tried it yet.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Two things. I made a case that's the size of a 3-ring notebook out of denim several years ago. It's got plastic pockets and a zipper around the whole thing. That holds my huge collection of my old straights and my Grandmas straights. The circular and dpn have been living in a hinged metal box because I haven't gotten around to getting something better.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn?
Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I started knitting about 1964. Grandma taught me and I made a ton of Barbie doll scarves. I quit until college and took it up again in the late 70s. I'd consider myself advanced. I've gotten ribbons at the State Fair, taught classes, wrote for a few magazines (machine knitting) and last decade I owned my own shop for 5 years.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Nope.

5. What's your favorite scent?
I don't like heavy smells. I never wear perfume but in candles I like natural smells if they're light. Rose, lavender, other floral, and light fruit smells such as citrus.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Give me chocolate or give me death! My sweet tooth is expensive. I'm not big on Hershey's candy bars (but I won't turn them down). Lately I've been into Lindt's Lindor dark chocolate truffles. YUM! I also like but can't find Aero bars from England. But - if it's chocolate, I'm happy.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
Spinning is the one fiber thing I haven't tried, yet. I have a 4 heddle loom, quilt, do stained glass, I'm sewing a lot of stuff for my "new" house (moved this winter). Crafts are pretty much- if it exists I'll try it at some point. (hey, I even sew my own undies)

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like classical, christian contemporary, light rock, new age. I have several MP3 players.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
If you look in my wardrobe you see a lot of navy and black pants and tops of many colors including blues-roses-teals. The house is mostly dusty blues and roses but heading toward Tuscany type colors. I really don't enjoy oranges.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
If you spend any time on my blog you know I am owned by 2 cats - Chief (a Ragdoll) and Bert (a British Shorthair).

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I live in Minnesota - do the math! However - no ponchos.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
My favorites are things out of yarn. It's hard to narrow down favorite things - I knit sweaters, vests, shawls, socks, scarves, hats, gloves, mittens, baby stuff, afghans, dish cloths, dolls, you get the picture.

13. What are you knitting right now?
A cable sweater, a mitered vest from the last Knitters, socks, Mystery Shawl, silk cardigan, and various small projects for charity

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yup!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I'm building a new collection of Addi turbo and lace circular. I just got a pair of KnitPicks circ but haven't had a chance to try them to see how they feel.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Both. Leftovers from when I owned my shop.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
I just found a Christmas socking I think I started about 20 years ago.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas. The whole family including extended family gets together.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Hundred dollar bills! (sorry, had to try) Lilliput Lane Cottages. Angels that are "adult" - I don't collect cutesy angels. Jim Shore angels. Local cookbooks.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Not having to deal with a husband gives me the chance to buy most books I want. But - I haven't tried too many sock yarns yet. I like to try yarns that other people have tried and like. I'm working on my Addi circular needle collection (I have 24"-6; 32"-2,4,8,9) my other circular have the stiff cables like Boye and I find them hard to knit with. One book I'd like is Starmore's Tudor collection but it's impossible to find and from what I hear very expensive.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I'm always trying new and strange techniques. I taught people how to knit 3-D faces (machine knitting) and have decided to play around with realistic looking cats next.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yup. Women's size 10 with thick ankle. I like short sock legs.

23. When is your birthday?
Nov. 6

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
Nope.

Sorry. This got a lot longer than I thought it would.

Time out to Remember

Last night on the way to supper with several friends I heard breaking news on the radio that the 35W bridge crossing the Mississippi had collapsed in both directions. There was no more information at that point. I had to think fast - was anyone coming from the south side of town? Would they have taken 35W? It felt like a long time until we all met but it was only 10 minutes. Only one other couple had heard the news. What was supposed to be a surprise birthday gathering turned into all of us half talking, half straining our necks to see the TV in the bar area. It's amazing how fast everything can change.

First off, I am well as are all my friends and family. The place where I work has done a check of employees and so far we are not aware of anyone that was a part of the disaster. We're all very lucky.

I'm sure you've listened to the news and know as much as I do. 35W is the freeway that cuts the Twin Cities in half and it's the main way into Mpls. from the northeast. I've driven across this bridge many times and would have been going across it tomorrow to an appointment. This is going to make life in the area very different for a while. The divers are having trouble going into the water to recover the missing people until the bridge has been made safe. So there are many families who can do nothing but wait. In the meantime, the rest of us try to go about business as normal but the conversation keeps coming back to "the bridge". At work we pulled up the local news on the Internet, talked about places we've been near there, how often we used to cross the bridge, where we were when it happened. Yup, life will be strange for a while.

In the middle of all this, I have been reminded often of the amazing spirit that comes out in total strangers when something happens. I have heard many stories of people coming from the neighborhood to jump into the river to help save others. The Twin Cities will take a long time to heal from this, the missing bridge will long be a reminder of this tragic. I pray the friends and families of those still missing will feel the love and care of all those around who are praying for them.