Freeform Knitting Swap

I was wandering around Barnes and Noble the other day and picked up a book on freeform knitting. After reading just a couple of pages, I was hooked. I am now collecting little bits and pieces of yarn to try my first freeform project. I'm especially looking for bits of handspun, or hand-dyed, or anything with texture. Since I have a limited about of leftovers in my own stash, I was thinking about organizing a free form knitting swap. We could all look in our stashes to see what we could spare a few yards of, and exchange away. So, here's a plea to my fellow knitters - if you have a yard or two of leftover yarn that you don't know what to do with, please let me know!

In other news, I ordered some laceweight yarn from handpaintedyarn.com, and it's finally here! I ordered Pagoda, which turned out to be a wonderful deep wine color, and Verdeazule, which while darker than the picture on their website, is still a beautiful blend of dark blues and greens. It reminds me of the colors of black watch plaid. This is my first time using this yarn, so I am anxious to see how it knits up!

Branching Out Completed!

Finding a good place to block a finished object is always a challenge. Of course, in an effort to make sure my Branching Out scarf was long enough, I did a couple of extra repeats. Well, maybe more than a couple - consciously ignoring the fact that the darn thing would block out to be significantly longer. (Note to self - 35 repeats / 8 blocked feet is LONG ENOUGH) The only place with enough space I could shut off from my ever present feline friend is my guest bedroom. My cat has a fit any time he can't see where I am, so when I shut the door to block my scarf, he went into little angry hysterics, convinced that a mere moment alone would just kill him.

So, there I am trying to block my first real lace project while listening to an especially emotional kitty symphony. As fast as I could while in OCD mode, I pinned and re-pinned in an ultimately unsuccesful attempt at making the center line exactly straight - all the while trying to avoid the paws that kept poking under the door desperate to get in. Nonetheless, it's done, it's drying, and I'm moving on. And Toc will be glad to hear that the next project on the needles is socks - no blocking required.

It's Been A Long Time...

It took a whole lot of waiting, and even more bitching, but it finally happened. Players took the ice today in the first game of the 2005 National Hockey League season. Go Coyotes!!!!! 'Nuff said.

Channeling Toc

What a delight it was to come home yesterday to a package in my mailbox from my Secret Pal!! I don't think there is any way my Pal could have known that the adorable kitten seen on the front of the card she sent (above) would grow up to look like this! That's Tocchet (at right) pictured with a toy also sent by my Secret Pal. Like most Maine Coon cats, Toc is a biter, and absolutely everything goes into his mouth (yarn, pens, fingers, etc.). This picture was taken just moments before the toy was thoroughly tested out via a proper chewing session. Clearly, we were both equally excited about the goodies we received!

Along with kitty treats, other fun stuff in the box included sock yarn (two projects worth!) and a pretty bag to put it in, gorgeous beaded stitch markers, and yummy sour candies. Many thanks to my Secret Pal for putting together such a special, thoughtful gift!!