Hilton's Yarn Aboard Box (No, really, it belongs to Hilton)

I joined Yarn Aboard in a moment of obsession, but I'm so glad I did! My box arrived yesterday and immediately it was loved by cats and humans alike.

Hilton's Box (No, really, it belongs to Hilton)
Originally uploaded by bluelemonegg.

Could it be? It is, it is! It's the Yarn Aboard Box arrived here from far away Boston! Now if only I can get the cat to let me have it...

Yarn Aboard
Originally uploaded by bluelemonegg.

There it is, what could be inside?

Yarn Aboard Box Opened
Originally uploaded by bluelemonegg.

Delicious treats await me, all with a Boston theme. Jo did such a wonderful job finding things I love. JP Licks Coffee Roasters House Blend coffee (Best of Boston, no less!), Harbor Sweets handmade chocolates (wait a sec while I sneak one) and even sweeter Sherbet Sunshine Yarn. I love this color!

Cafe Fiore
Originally uploaded by bluelemonegg.

So I took my yarn out to see the sights of northern Ballard (where I live.) First we stopped at Caffe Fiore for a latté and a bagel. This yarn is magic, and snagged us a great table outside

Sunset Hill
Originally uploaded by bluelemonegg.

Then we showed the yarn the viewpoint at Sunset Hill. She was quite amazed at the lovely view of Puget Sound and the Olympics.

sunset hill
Originally uploaded by bluelemonegg.

The yarn is so magical that it influenced Nature to give us this beautiful sunset, too. See how the colors are influenced by my magic yarn?


Thank you so much to Jo, who created this great box for me. I'm touched. It really made my day.

I'll be sending it on to the next person this week.

Mushrooms take over!

Mushrooms

The family homestead (aka my parent's house) has been visited by a huge crop of killer mushrooms! Well, I don't know if they're killer, or even what kind of mushrooms they are. But there are around 30 of these monsters. And they are BIG. Like 6-8 inches across. It certainly seemed blogworthy. Plus, I now have photographic proof that there are giant (potentially murderous) mushrooms in the back yard, if anyone thought that I was exaggerating.

have I mentioned that I'm addicted to tarot decks?

Here are a few amazing ones to look at:

http://www.alchemywebsite.com/tarot/art_tarot06.html
http://www.abyssaltarot.com/

I have a collection of decks I own, too. Maybe I'll feel like posting about them here.

Right now I'm babysitting mom, though.

another post for the sock obsessed

These are my Flu Socks. I knitted them while I had the flu, and couldn't do much more than watch Lost, CSI and knit socks. They were going to be a birthday gift for my mom, but they're a little too small, so they're now for me. Don't worry, I'll make her a different pair. Eventually. Don't they look spiffy on top of that lovely plaid?

Couldn't go wrong, really. The yarn is Vesper Twist, the color is called Jungle Twist, I think, and I just knit around and around until they were done. I LOVE Vesper yarn. I'm not giving you a link because I want it all for myself. I stalk her web store, 'tis true.

Since I'm being all socknerdly, here's my sock history in honor of Socktoberfest:

When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?

I started making socks in 2001, after 9-11. Why then? I'm not sure, but I know I was thinking a lot about taking more time to pay attention to the details in life instead of just blazing through. A friend of mine was having a good time knitting socks, and I vaguely remembered that I used to enjoy knitting when I was younger. It was like riding a bicycle to remember how to knit. Socks just seemed like IT to me, because I've had this addiction to collecting socks for a long time. Not just any socks, either, they had to be nice, good fabric, not acrylic, not saggy, not itchy. Finding the perfect socks has always been difficult, so why not learn how to make my own? They could be whatever colors I wanted, whatever patterns I liked. I quickly became addicted. Seriously addicted. Now I knit other things too, but mostly socks.

What was your first pair?  How have they "held up" over time?
What would you have done differently?

My first pair was made out of wool that felted, (meaning they shrinked and fuzzed and basically became something thick and heavy instead of soft and flexible like socks SHOULD be) when I washed them, so now they're super small slipper-like socks. Yes, they've held up well, but I can't really wear them except as slippers. I learned that when wool says "hand wash," it usually means it. They were really fun and rewarding to make, though, so I don't know if I would have done anything differently.

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?

I really had a soft spot for Opal for the first few years of knitting socks, but lately I've been more obsessed with hand dyed yarns, either randomly dyed or self striping. I'm in love with Socks that Rock, Vesper, Knitterly Things. I love poking around and have many from small business yarn creators on my wish list. Right now it's not getting much better than Vesper sock yarn though. YUM.

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?

Just 5 DPNs for me and I'm set. That other stuff is too fancy for me.

Which kind of heel do you prefer?  (flap? or short-row?)

Flap, but only because it's what I know right now.

How many pairs have you made?

25? I'm not sure. At least 25. Yeah. Something like that. :)

OK, next post will have something to do with something that ISN'T socks, I promise. Please don't be scared away by all the sockishness.

OK, fine. Enough with the peer pressure already.

This came in the mail Friday:


It's Sundara sock yarn, for you yarn nerds out there.

So I guess I'm all ready for...



Which is great, because you might remember that I had this crazy new year's resolution to do a pair of socks a month. I've been bogged down on that plan by this pair I'm knitting for my husband, because he has Big Feet, and his pair is taking over a month by far. So a little Socktoberfest kick in the butt might be in order.