Desert Knitter

Sunday, January 30, 2005

Secret Pal 4 Questions and Answers!

Here are my replies to the Secret Pal 4 questions. This should be fun!

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high- end/natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

Nope, I don't feel like I'm a yarn snob though I do prefer natural fibers that are NOT scratchy. I'm a sucker for soft yarn.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

I know how to crochet though I haven't done it in years. As for spinning, I keep reading other blogs about the authors learning how to spin and I've wandered the web window shopping different wheels and looking at all the lovely roving that is out there... so..... I would LOVE to learn how to spin and I want to get a good wheel that doesn't break the bank.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)

I'm allergic to most trees and grasses, including HEMP. I found that out the hard way and wound up covered in hives. Smoke bothers the heck out of me and I don't like perfumes as I usually wind up with a headache from them.

4. How long have you been knitting?

Off and on since I was around 9.

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

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

Citrus and Cinnamon (Spice)

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

Ohohohoh, Chocolate and Coconut, Chocolate covered cherries, Reeces Peanutbutter cups, Godiva's Chocolate dipped fruit. Oh, and, did I mention that I like Chocolate?

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

I enjoy learning how to maintain my computer; to install components myself to upgrade it. I also have been learning how to do Kumihimo, a Japanese form of braiding. I even made my own Maru Dai.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I can play mp3's on my computer. I like almost all forms of music except Acid Rock, Twangie Country, Rap and any music where you can't understand the words.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer?

Purple, Teal, Ruby Red, Sapphire Blue, Emerald Green... Jewel tones. I look horrible in pastels. Brown is rather blah on me, too.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I'm single, no kids, and I share my home with my 82 year old Mom. No pets. :( I do have 2 niece dogs, though. One day, I'll have a dog and possibly a cat but that will have to wait.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)

Oooohhhh, life dreams. I don't need a man to support me financially because I have a good job but I sure would like to have someone special in my life.... of the male persuasion. hehehehe

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

Anything that is soft and that behaves when I knit it.... does not give me any problems when I want it to become something.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

Anything that is itchy/scratchy.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

Hhuuummm, I can't say that I have a current knitting obsession. I usually have at least one mindless or very simple project to carry around or to have for the evenings when I want super relaxing knitting. Then I try to have a project that is more complicated that needs some concentration to knit the pattern.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

I love socks. Easily portable and I love wearing hand knit socks! I also like pullover tops... v-necked or scoop-necked with short sleeves. I'm rather warm natured so prefer short sleeves.

17. What are you knitting right now?

Socks ::grin::

18. What do you think about ponchos?

I think little kids look great in them. I'm afraid I don't like the looseness and find it difficult to figure out what to do with my purse when wearing a poncho. I actually started one for myself that has some really pretty cabling in the pattern but think it will turn into a really nice lap afghan instead.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

I use Circular needles for everything I possibly can.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I have a set of Denise interchangeable needles that I really like and I have a lot of Addi Turbo circular needles. I have yet to find any bamboo needles that have smooth joins. I would like to try ebony or rosewood needles one day.

21. Are you a sock knitter?

Sock knitter and wearer of hand knit socks... I love them.

22. How did you learn to knit?

I don't know what made me want to learn to knit since my Mom didn't know how but there was a yarn store... actually the porch and front room of a house in the town I grew up in and they gave lessons. My very first project was a v-necked shell in bittersweet colored wool. Not bad for a 9 year old. The only problem was that the darned thing was scratchy. :(

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

I think it's almost a year old.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

Most any animated character by Disney but my all time favorite would have to be Eeyore. Favorite animal.... Dogs :)

25. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas is a favorite holiday since that is the one holiday my very small family always gets together for.

26. Is there anything that you collect?

Does it count that I collect yarn? I also collect dragons.

posted at 1/30/2005 07:58:00 PM by Jan

Saturday, January 29, 2005

Matching hat for the scarf!

I'm working away on the spiral hat to go with the scarf that I finished a little bit ago. I do love this yarn. The colors are so pretty, the yarn is soft and has an even weave. Yes, Diakeito is more expensive than similar Noro but I do find it to be softer and haven't found a single bit of straw or twigs in it and the spin is very even.

Now, I'm already thinking of what to knit next. More than likely, I'll finish one or both of the pairs of socks I have on the needles. These will be great, small projects to take along with me on my camping trip over President's Weekend in February. As always, I'll be taking extra yarn along with me since you never know how much free time there will be for knitting but I refuse to be without an assortment of yarn to enjoy. hehehehe

After reading other blogs on the net, it seems that a lot of the knitting world are starting to spin their own yarn. They are making it so very tempting for me. I love the colors of the different rovings that I have seen on the net. I'll have to think seriously on what type of wheel to get. Single treadle, double? Which wheel is the best for the price? There is so much to learn but it looks like so much fun!

Any and all hints and tips on this are greatly appreciated!

posted at 1/29/2005 04:34:00 PM by Jan

Monday, January 17, 2005

Color!

I love the colors though I wish it had had more blue. Nice and soft, the Diakeito knitted like a dream. I would love to see more of this yarn in person instead of having to order if offline. I still have 2 skeins left and think I'll make a cap to go with the scarf. It might be another spiral since I think the colors will work very well.

HHuummm, after the cap... what next? Maybe finish a couple of pair of socks that I have on the needles. I have some new sock yarn to work with, too, but I need to finish the ones on the needles first. Socks are a great small project to take along while camping and I think it will be safer than taking the Alpaca/merino wool/cashmere yarn project.

Back to knitting!

posted at 1/17/2005 08:24:00 PM by Jan

Thursday, January 13, 2005

Yippppppiiiiiiiieeeeeeeee!!!!

I did it! I have another finished project! This is the spiral hat I was working on. Actually turned out rather nice and the pattern was super easy. It wasn't totally mindless knitting as you had to remember which row to increase/decrease on and when to change the stitch direction. The cap is very comfortable and will come in hand now that we have had a few days of cold weather.

Of course, here in New Mexico..... wait 5 minutes and the weather will change. You never know what we will have and we can have 30 degree weather one day and 50 degree weather the next.

I like this pattern enough that I would happily make it again. I think I would like the yarn to be a brighter color, though. I love bright colors and I think this pattern will look good in something like Noro or Diakeito yarn with their longer color changes.

I started a scarf for myself out of the Diakeito last night and will have a picture when I have a bit more done. So far, I really like working with the yarn... soft and bright colors. I just wish it wasn't so expensive.... sigh

The Cold is still with me but seems to be fading. I really do hate being sick! It's a waste of time off... cause I missed a few days knitting because of not feeling good.

Hope you all stay well!

posted at 1/13/2005 04:13:00 PM by Jan

Monday, January 10, 2005

So many projects so little free time....

Currently, I'm knitting a spiral cap that I purchased from Knitting To Go. Very nice soft wool yarn and I'm on my way to 16 inches... currently at 12 inches done. Once that is done, I just need to join the cast on and cast off edges to create the spiral and sew the top closed. This is an interesting pattern and I hope to use it again as the spiral is really pretty. I think I would like it with longer color changes like the Diakeito and Noro yarn have.

After this is done.. hhuummmmm, the scarf and hat set out of the Diakeito yarn? Maybe the v-necked short sleeved pullover out of the baby alpaca.... so many projects.... so little free time... isn't that always the way it is?

I even have some UFO's that need completing but they aren't inspiring me right now. I think I have New-Start-itis.... not Complete-itis.

Oh... have I mentioned I hate being sick?? I'm a nurse and nurses are NOT supposed to be sick even if it's a cold... it's a waste of my free time! ::grumble whine:: I was a good nurse... I wore a mask all day long. Would have loved not going in to work but we were super busy and we are very understaffed with no backups. I finally got to leave about 30 minutes early. :) Home to take drugs and relax at the computer and then with my knitting.

I have found when you have a cold and have a nasty coughing fit.... stitches easily slide off the needles! I've had to be very careful recently. As soon as I feel a coughing fit coming on, I have to put my knitting down till it's over.

HHuummm, I wonder if I can run an anvi-viral scan on myself and get rid of this virus.... heheheeh

posted at 1/10/2005 04:23:00 PM by Jan

Monday, January 03, 2005

Happy New Year... a few days late heheheehhe

Yes, I've been knitting. I have finished 2 more scarves but forgot to take pictures of them before sending them off to their new owner.

I treated myself to some of the Diakeito Diamusse yarn in colorway 38. This will be for me. Probably a scarf and possibly a hat. It has the long color areas like Noro but is smoother... it seems to be a more regular spin... it doesn't have thick and thin areas. I think it actually feels softer, too.

I've been wearing my hand knit socks a lot recently so think I'll need to get back into knitting more. I already have a commission for a pair of Plain Kilt Hose in Black. I'm just waiting for the measurements to arrive so I can get started on them. Would like to have them done by Estrella which is a big SCA camping over President's weekend in February.

Now that Holiday knitting is done... what are you all working on??? Something for yourself? Other gifts for other people?

posted at 1/03/2005 08:24:00 PM by Jan