I never win anything. Just not that sort of lucky, I guess. So, what a surprise it was to win Jenn's Secret Pal 8 Mini-Questionnaire contest! And the prize? A hank of Socks that Rock yarn!
I chose the Crazy Lace Agate colorway, since it just looks happy to me (and it has my favorite color - orange - in it). I've never tried this yarn before, but I've heard wonderful things about it. Can't wait to see (ahem...fondle) it in person! Thanks, Jenn!!
Here we are at about halfway through the SP8 round. My hostess, Jenn, has asked her group to participate in the below mini-questionnaire as a way for our pals to further get to know us. So, here goes...
1. What is your favorite season of the year and why?
Autumn, by far. I love the cool, crisp weather (well, this happens in most parts of the country, I hear), and the promise of the holidays still to come bringing with them good food, family and celebratory traditions.
2. Summer is hot. What do you knit in the summer?
It's hot here all year round, so I knit the same things in the summer that I do the rest of the year. I just glisten a little more. Oh, and I stay away from single ply wool, since it felts in my hands in the warmer weather.
3. If money was no object.....what would you buy at the LYS?
On a large scale - an 8 harness floor loom. On a more manageable scale - more books (since I currently have more yarn than I have patterns).Unless, of course, we're saying that my LYS carries Koigu....
4. What are some activities that have become family traditions for your family?
Hmmm...most of our current traditions center around food - holiday dinners, trying new restaurants, etc. I think once we have a child, we'll be more focused on building traditions as a family.
5. What is the weather right now?
Hot. Yesterday was 114 degrees. Which was cooler than the day before.
An incredible package arrived yesterday from my knittyboard.com Secret Pal. In a true understanding of what my life is about right now, she focused on two areas: Knitting and Motherhood. Cradled in skeins of beautiful merino yarn, treasures supporting the theme of a belated "Mother's Day" filled the box. As such, I thought it was only appropriate to post about them on my adoption blog. So, head over here to check it out!
Secret Pal, here's a very big THANK YOU for such an amazing gift!
One of the best things about taking a vacation is checking out new yarn stores. My ever patient hubby, and very enthusiastic mother in law agreed to accompany me to two yarn stores on our recent trip to Chicago/Iowa. Now, there seem to be a gazillion yarn stores in the Chicago metro area, so choosing just two to visit was a difficult task (made infinitely easier by aforementioned hubby pointing out where we were going on the map and saying "make them close").
Our first stop was String Theory Yarn Company in Glen Ellyn, IL. By the time we made it through Chicago rush hour traffic to the shop, it was a half hour before closing time. Still, our salesperson was incredibly friendly, talkative and more than willing to peruse books in search of yarn/pattern combinations for me. I picked up a hank of Schaefer Laurel in the Rachel Carson colorway, which is slated to become the perfect lemon-lime toddler sweater.
Next stop was Loopy Yarns in downtown Chicago. Since I didn't check store hours before we went, we spent a bit of time sitting on the front stoop of the store listening to the trains go by waiting for the store to open. Our salesclerk was decidedly less friendly than we had experienced at String Theory (well, really, than we had experienced pretty much anywhere), but the selection of yarn was incredible. Lots of yarns that I've only read about within reach to see and fondle in person. I immediately threw my promise to myself of "I'll only buy yarn I need" out the window and selected a skein of the most gorgeous laceweight I have seen in a while. I have enough lace patterns lined up to last a lifetime (even if I knit them full time!), so choosing just one to suit this beautiful yarn will be difficult.
I also finally found a pattern for a toddler cardigan that will work with the Inca natural cotton yarn I bought at a show recently. Still isn't the hoodie pattern I was hoping to find, but I think it will do. All in all, it was a great trip!!
it was to win Jenn's Secret Pal 8 Mini-Questionnaire contest! And the prize? A hank of Socks that Rock yarn! 
