Fairy Door

I've seen the journal at Sweetwaters and read an article in the A2 Observer, but never realized there was actually one of these doors the coffee shop. Lynne found it last night and before I left Knit In, I took my newly finished (!) sock over to it and took a photo.

I logged an entry into the creator's journal, as well, so I thought it would be a good idea to title this entry "Fairy Door" in case he comes a-lookin'.

Now I have to find a tiny sock pattern to make a pair for the fairies, as promised.

Last night was a good night for knitters at Knit In. We had the "Borders group" -- a knitting group that usually meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month at Borders Arborland -- join us, and a slew of new knitters came along as well. There were well over a dozen of us takin' over the back room of Sweetwaters! Very cool.

Ingrid came with a bunch of yarn in an attempt to purge her stash. I couldn't believe she was giving away a whole bag of Schachenmayr Nomotto Softwool (well, 7 skeins) in a lovely eggplant color. I snagged that for myself in a flash of pure greed, given my yarn diet of the last 6 months. For that, I publicly apologize to all my fellow Knit In members (but I'm still keeping the yarn).

Ingrid had a ton more to give away (gasp!) so no one went home empty handed. I held back on taking anything more than the 7 skeins, which was noble, I think. Ha.

So, if Blogger's photo program works, there should be a photo to the right that shows Lynne, Jen (in her dashing hat), Emily, and the generous Ingrid. And on the chair, my now-warm right foot propped up on my bag o'stash.

I'm thinking I may have enough for Sally Melville's Favorite Summer Sweater...Ingrid had a lovely swatch of ribbing in the bag, but the softness of garter stitch seems perfect for this yarn.

Lovely Ladies and The Sock That Sucks

Before you get all impressed with my current sock obsession, please note that the following is supposed to be for a newborn:


Le sock
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

Tess is three. On the plus side, she said it was comfortable and "warm!" However, not to distract you from the fact that these are waaaay too big, may it also be noted that she has freakishly large feet for a 3 year-old. Hmm...where did she get those from? :D

Now, watch out, I have The World's Ugliest Couch, also tied for first place as The Most Distracting Background for a Photo, Ever:


Le sock wearer
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

Looks thrilled, doesn't she? I had to promise to read her that book she's holding in order to get her to put on the sock. Last night we were at poker, and our hosts threatened their (6 yo) son with "no more books!" if he didn't get back in bed rightnow. I like to think we're raising our kids right (except for the "playing-poker-in-front-of-'em" escape clause). Behave, or no books!

This sock is from the same pattern as The Hat (that I've made about 15 of) (kidding, more like 5). I was so thrilled to figure out heel turning last week at Knit-In, that I wanted to get a quicky project done in between the 6 inches I have to go on my sock until I get to the toe.

So be forewarned, A2Knit-In members, here I come with The Kitchener Stitch Question on Tuesday...


Merci ladies 1
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

In other creative news, I finally realized the value of card swaps. I get a stash of cards for my own use (and to learn new techniques from). Alas, they are not my cards, but they are handmade cards, good to go. All I have to do in exchange is make 6-10 of the same card (which is rhythmic, and soothing) and send them out to Omi.

We always do a French-themed swap, and try to use stamps from Fran (although those I used here are from Jody Poesy and Cow Town). Last month's challenge was "Black and White." This month we are focusing on techniques, so I choose Packing Tape Transfers. It's a good way to use up some retired Close To My Heart papers and show other stampers the technique.

Basically, you put clear packing tape over patterned paper or laser-printed/photocopied photos (not inkjet prints), soak it in warm water, then peel off the back. The image (of the pattern or photo) is left, somewhat transparent, then you can stamp over it with Stazon or some other solvent-based ink for non-porous surfaces.

Belive me, if you're a stamper, those directions make sense. Now, for her close-up:


Merci ladies 2
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

The packing tape makes a glossy surface. Pretty cool.

Finally, in The Land of Good Knitting News:


Back of Yarn Girls sweater
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

The back of my Yarn Girls sweater is done! Yay me.

My Big Fat Foot

I didn't realize how badly I needed to go knitting Tuesday night until, well, until I went. It was a stressful day, so a bit of knitting and chit-chat was just what I needed.


Heel 1
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

Kim (looking pensive in the background there) assured me that no, indeed, those heel turning directions (my first) were correct and yes, that was short-row shaping (something that dawned on me while dreaming over those directions the night after I read them, having gone to bed thinking, WTF?!)


Heel 2
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

Elisha supplied the pictures and took a couple, just to be safe. Too bad you can't see the lovely disco-ball glitter effect of silver thread running through the sock yarn.

I had to run off, unfortunately, to a parenting meeting, otherwise I could have sat and worked on my gusset well into the evening. I started on the "wrong" side of the heel (according to directions..."HA" I say, to directions) when picking up stitches (props to Elisha again, for helping me do that for the first time), but managed to figure it out (I just switched the directions around until the decreases made sense, one on each side of the instep).

Kim was burning to talk about HPVI, but none of the rest of us have read/finished it yet, so I was inspired after my parenting meeting to run out to The Dark Side -- Barnes & Noble (from which we had just received a $50 gift card) -- to pick up a copy. E and I are having a side-by-side race to finish it first.

Sockapalooza

sockapalooza
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

Must be the perfect summer project. Four of us got together on Tuesday at Sweetwaters and we all had socks in our bags. And Elisha had a lovely red shoe (two of them, actually).

Clockwise from top: Elisha's lovely Opal pastel socks, Lynne's gorgeous candy-colored socks, my preppy-disco socks (thar's glitter in 'em!), and Kim's not-enough-patterning blue Fortissima so-I'll-make'em-anklets anklet.

my fave coffee drink
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

I had possibly the BEST Dragon's Eye drink I've ever been served at Sweetwaters -- this drink made me realize what's in Thai Iced Tea that makes me love that drink so much: sweetened condensed milk. Do you know how WRONG that is? I mean, really. Sweetened condensed milk. May as well have a cup of sugar with heavy cream. But mixed with fresh decaf coffee and put over ice, it makes a devious "Dragon's Eye" - the coffee drink I can't resist. Tuesday's version had extra sweetened condensed milk, which made it even more evilly delicious than usual...

Knitting in the Park

Knitting in the Park
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

At Gallup Park, after taking a paddleboat out on the Huron River Saturday. I wanted to try and get a picture of my sock out on the water, but it was tangled up in its skein at the bottom of my backpack. For shame.

And yes, that's E and Tess out on the tire swing. I like the composition of this shot. Good thing I was in the shade, and used my flash.

MIT Survey

You know I've got a soft spot for engineers and scientists.



With props to Kim.