Stitch and Pitch 2009

This was a QUICK trip to St. Louis for Stitch and Pitch. I am always amazed at how MANY knitters come out for this event! The Cardinals played the Marlins and won 11-6.I worked on my plain vanilla sock so that I could pay attention to what was going on around me (i.e. checking out what everyone else was knitting and chatting).




Pattern: Toe-Up Socks with Gusset Heel by Wendy Johnson
Yarn: Knitterly Things Vesper Sock Yarn
Colorway: Hocus Pocus
Needles: Size 1
Started: September 13, 2009



Thanks to Miss_Knotty, my Wollmeise has been revived! She also sent me the BEST mug ever! Isn't it great?!

Mourning

Wollmeise sock yarn carnage






The culprit (a.k.a. my squirrel chasing, lizard and yarn hunting, Cuqui)


My mini dilemma:

Should I

a) spend countless hair pulling hours putting the cake back together or

b) chuck it and allow the poor Wollmeise cake rest in piece

??????????????????

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Yes, it indeed has been QUITE a while since my last entry...My poor neglected blog! From here on out, I promise to visit EVERY day! Er..or at least once a week...

I have restarted organizing my knitting WIPs and stash. I have told myself(yet again) to NOT indulge on any more NEW lovelies until some of these WIPs are actually finished. This week has been devoted to finishing...a LOT easier to say than do! I have yet to count how many current WIPs I have squirreled around here and am sort of afraid to do so!

For now, I have NINE, yes, count 'em, nine projects I would love to finish before the July. As of now, I have only six photographed.



Pattern: Eastscarf by Norah Gaughan from Norah Gaughan, vol 3

Yarn used: Berroco Inca Gold in Verde Oliva (total 3 skeins)

Needles: size 7

I am surprised that I haven't finished this one up yet! It is SO much fun to knit!



Pattern: Noro Scarf by Jared Flood

Yarn used: Noro Silk Garden in 270 and 252 (total 4 skeins)

Needles: size 7

These Noro scarves are like popcorn at the movies. They are a must to knit when watching tv/movies/etc!



Pattern: Gusset Heel Basic Sock by Wendy Johnson

Needles: size 1

Yarn: Duet Skinny Sock Yarn in Cedar Swag

I must say that I have this pattern memorized down to the T. I find that this is best toe up pattern to showcase handpainted yarn and is not at all bulky for wear. Now, if I can only finish an actual PAIR of socks...



Pattern: Gusset Heel Basic Sock by

Needles: Size 1

Yarn: Noro Kureyon Sock in S164 (left) and Noro Kureyon Sock in S185 (right)

I was not a fan of the Noro Kuryon sock yarn when it first came out. I must admit, it did grow on me. I truly enjoy watching the different colours "appearing"!




Pattern: Tradition Gansey Sock by Wendy Johnson from her FANTASTIC book, Socks From the Toe Up

Needles: 1

Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy in Good Luck Jade

I will have to continue with my "to finish" list later this week. For now, I will leave you photo from my latest trip: India.



Little Loopy was ALMOST confiscated at the security checkpoint of the Taj Mahal. After MUCH cajoling...ahem...Little Loopy found his way in to see one of the great 7 wonders of the modern world.

Plurk!

Plurk, it is SO addictive!

Where everybody knows your name...

I am back from a QUICK trip in Washington DC and had a BLAST!!





My day started out in Knit Happens, an adorable LYS in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia.






It has a Cheers feeling in there. Everyone is exceptionally friendly and helpful. Thank you Rossana, Stephanie, and Holly for making feel so welcome! I started yet another Wendy Johnson Toe Up with Neighborhood Fiber Co (a DC dyer) in Capitol Hill. People were not just customers in Knit Happens but friends hanging out sharing their personal lives with one another and knitting. I'm definitely going back for a visit!




A few hours later, Amy and I were enroute to the brand new DC Nationals' stadium for Stitch and Pitch. This was the first time I have EVER seen any political statements at a BASEBALL game...



The Tim Russert tribute during game was moving. Everyone stopped to wave hats and or needles.


I was really impressed with the amount of sock knitters in the vicinity. There were folks doing toe up and cuff down socks on both sides and behind me!





Guess who else was enjoying the game??? At about the 6th or 7th inning, I hear, "That's my yarn!" At the end of the row, is Karida Collins of Neighborhood Fiber Co. She dyes fantastic colourways and names them after neighborhoods in DC. I could not pass on the oppurtunity of snapping a photo of sock in progress with the person who had dyed it! If you are not in DC/Alexandria area, don't fret. You too can get your hands on Karida's lovely creations SOON at the Loopy Ewe.

Speaking of the Loopy Ewe....someone please help me from buying something this week please!

Meme

I don't usually do these things (I'm kind of shy) but it looked kind of fun. I was tagged by Amy (fellow Spring Flinger).

The rules:

Rules of the game are posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.



1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

A: I came home to the US to live and work.

2.What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order)?

A: Laundry, book my flight to DC, shower, start another pair of socks from my stash, read

3. Snacks I enjoy?

A: Grapes, celery, carrots, raisins, almonds, and sunflower seeds

4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire?

A: Nothing different from what I am doing now: traveling and knitting.

5. Places I have lived?

A: Houston, TX, Albuquerque, NM, Limeira, SP, Brazil, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil, Salvador, BA, Brazil

6. Jobs I've had?

A: I've waited tables, taught English, worked LOTS of retail and worked as an interpreter of Spanish and Portuguese.

7. Peeps I want to know more about?

A: Claire,Sarah, Lynda,Kellie, Carmen, Mo, Stacy

Really, is it June??

May was a busy, busy month. New Orleans was a GREAT time. As always, Stevie Wonder puts on a spectacular show.




Stevie and his daughter, Aisha before the show started...and it POURED...The rain did not stop me from dancing and singing along for the duration of the show!

The next day, I ran around the French Quarter for a cup of coffee and the Quarter Stitch. I can't just GO somewhere and NOT buy some fiber-goodness!



The Quarter Stitch is an adorable knitting store a block from Jackson Square. The ladies that own in are rather friendly and helpful.



Every purchase you make is wrapped in bright tissue and ribbon as such:



These are a couple skeins of worsted Malabrigo in violetas that I bought for my swap partner in Portugal. Hopefully, she likes it...

Because the flights were so full going to and from New Orleans, I chose to drive (actually be a passenger because I hate driving). So, I managed to finish one toe up-no purl Monkey.



Now, if only I can finish its partner...

At the end of the month, I went to St. Louis for Stitch and Pitch. I had planned to revisit Sheri at the Loopy Ewe and do a yarn crawl around St. Louis before the game.
Unfortunately, my buddy, Greg and I had a falling out of sorts. So, that left me on my own, carless. The falling out aside, I had a great time. My name was entered in a drawing to go on the field during batting practice and I WON!






This would be Tony LaRussa (the Cardinals' manager) and Mike Shannon interviewing him.




I started the mate of some toe ups by Wendy Johnson.



Knitters to left, knitters to the right...It was BLISS!




I was running up to grab a beer and ran into Jennifer (who used to frequent the Houston Stitch and Bitch and lives in St. Louis).




I finished the my toe ups a couple of weeks ago. I used a size 1, Duets' Sock Yarn Middy in Aubergine Willow

I started 2 more pairs of Wendy Johnson's plain toe up socks with gusset heel. Good ole stockinette is the best for watching movies, baseball, work....




This is Claudia Handpaints Purple Earth worked on a size 1.



This is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Jungle Stripe. Now, since I have a BUNCH (i.e. 3 skeins), I decided to make knee highs. We'll see how the shaping goes for the calf... Oh, the cute bag you see was acquired from SewBendy. Actually, I wound up with two of these adorable bags in a matter of two weeks. I love the fact that I can stand in line anywhere, knit, and not have to fiddle with yarn and notions falling out. Thanks Staci for the recommendation!

Tomorrow, I am off for Stitch and Pitch in Washington DC. Off to pack...