Why I Hate Customs

So on the 13th of November, I got an email from Michelle saying that my yarn and other goodies had shipped. It arrived today. I have to admit after day 10 I was getting a bit worried. I even went on the Canadian post website in hopes of tracking the package. No such luck.

Then there was a post on the Sweet Sheep Sock Club blog about customs. Apparently, I had forgotten that Canada is indeed another country and item bought there must go through customs. I was still a bit worried though. Luckily, everything arrived today. What is everything you may ask...Well.... I got three skeins of sock yarn. Two of which (Fall Leaves and Suzanne see bottom of photo) are Mama E's. I like the feel of the sock yarn we got through the club so much I had to buy more. I also got (see the larger skein at the top of the photo) a Sweet Georgia yarn called Jet Set.

On Sunday I had "soaked" all my socks with a packet of Aqua Soak. Luckily for me I had also ordered some soak in "a scent for celebration." This scent is super yummy and reminds me a bit of cranberries. I can't wait to try it out. Just in case you were wondering I got all this great stuff from Michelle (who always writes a nice card in all my packages) here. Now if only I had all the time in the world to knit socks.

The Day After Thanksgiving

So over the past few days 11 people have been staying in a house with 3 bedrooms. Thanks goodness for the office and the knitting room. But people staying everywhere equals a lack of quiet knitting time and 11 people wanting handknitted items. So far the only person to win out is my 7 year old (almost 8) cousin Tessa. This is her in what I have decided to call the Shirley Temple hat (cause its got ringlets). Its a simple pattern and quite cute. Get a skein of Rowan babysoft. If your child has a small head cast on 72 stitches (for a larger one try 81). Work in St st for 6 inches. Start to decrease (SSK k7 continue across the round, next round k across, 3rd round SSK k6 and continue as set until SSK across the whole row). Finish the hat with curly fringe from Knitting on the Edge by Nicky Epstein. I did three of varying length. Mainly because I was too tired after completing the first one, and they got increasingly shorter (I was also playing Uker at the time and they did not have the fullest of my attention).
I've also become an ambassador of knitting. Tessa started a scarf for her rabbit (its a toy) out of Cascade 220. I've even also taught Peresie to knit and purl (she started a bookmark, no patience with that one). Emily, my brothers fiance who is becoming an occupational therapist, has told me to exercise my hands after knitting to prevent arthritis. This is something I am definitely going to do because my throwing wrist was killing me after the ringlets.
Next on the knitting list: Finish Allies's afghan and socks for Peresie.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just wanted to wish everyone a happy thanksgiving. I'm off to watch football and knit socks (imagine that). Have a good one!

Pirates and deserted islands

This is my swatch for the sweet sheep sock yarn. I'm thinking that I'm going to do this pattern from knitty. I like the idea of the stranded pattern when using a yarn inspired by a sunset. Of course, I didn't swatch in that pattern. I'll probably cast the socks on this weekend. Until then, I need to work on my socks that rock and the jaywalker revised. Peresie wants the socks that I promised last Christmas, so I'm going to cast on my other All Things Heather and get started on that (she'll be here for Thanksgiving). I'm also going to cast on the We call them pirates hat (It's a skull skullcap) for my 10 year old cousin who'll be visiting also. Overall, a very pirates/deserted island week for me.

Sweet Sheep Sock club (say that 5 times fast)

Yesterday I got this. No, not the counter top (although it is spiffy). My yarn from the Sweet Sheep Sock Club came. I'm a mixed bag on this one. I like the yarn itself. It's soft and seems to be a little smaller than Socks That Rock Lightweight. I'm not crazy about the colors. I like the blues but I'm not crazy about the peaches. I'm going to wind a ball of it tonight and swatch with it. I'm not a swatcher, but after reading the blog comments from people (Yes, there are people who have already begun swatching) I'm thinking swatching is a must on this one. I'm also torn between what sock pattern to use. So many choices... I'm going to swatch in a couple of different stitch patterns and see how they look. This might be a perfect ripple pattern sock. Time will have to tell. I'll have the swatch for your viewing pleasures tomorrow night (hopefully).

Waiting

I can not wait for my sweet sheep sock club yarn to arrive. I am really impatient and the fact that we did not get mail on Saturday or today makes me mad. I had to go to work today, so everyone else should have to also. I started my Jaywalker socks and got this far.
Yes, I didn't even finish the ribbing. Sunday is usually the day when I get all my knitting done (as I watch the Steelers and the Bills) but I had to study instead. I hate the Praxis tests. I hate that I have to spend 120 dollars (that could be spent on yarn) to tell me that I can teach. PA and NC were okay with me teaching without this stupid test, but MS of all places has a problem with it. Blah. At least after Saturday, I'll have more time for knitting.

See this picture. It was in the Commercial Appeal (Memphis's Main/Only Newspaper). Now look at the tall smiling girl in the background. That's me. Yes, I know I look odd. I was doing some crazy grammar thing at a workshop (in all seriousness the workshop rocked, if you teach grammar you should check out Grammar With a Giggle).
In knitting news, I ripped out my Jayalker cuff. The Lana Grossa Sock yarn (Meilenweit Fantasy) was just too busy. Even Nikki and Mom thought so. Plus it was to loose and the size of the socks seemed off. Instead, I'm thinking of some knitpicks yarn (same yarn as the Satan socks, different colors) . Even though the Satan socks were evil, I'm thinking the striping pattern will look nice in the Jaywalker sock. I'm going to cut down the number of stitches cast on to 56 though. I'll post progress tomorrow.