"t" is for

...treat!

i have a copy of the cd/book, 50 socks/50 states, to give away to one lucky commenter. just leave me a comment on this post by wednesday, january 20th.

of course, it wouldn't hurt to tell me that "bling" is your mostest favoritest sock of the entire collection! **wink, wink** =D

we are having a kal for the sock cd/book over on the rav group, 50 socks book, . come join us! the designers will be around to help with questions and problems.

and for extra chances to win, go visit siriusknitting. she is giving away one cd/30 entrants. her deadline to enter is january 24th!

ps. don't forget to leave me a way to contact you, should you be the winner.

"e" is for

...someone ELSE is having a contest.

ok, i cheated but hey! go visit ruffled feathers who is celebrating 300 posts with a drawing! don't look at me! it's going to be a LONG while before i get there!

chance to win MORE yarn

go visit to knit and write and leave a comment telling your favorite yarn and your favorite project.

please tell her i sent you over for brownie point entries. one winner will be the person with the most entries and two more winners will be selected by a random number generator. i love blog contests.

contest ends at midnight november 23rd! hurry, hurry!!!!

the winner is

...picked. but first, i want to share some stuff i have been working on.

i finally finished the hermione cable and eyelet hat for my niece. i did a cast-on of 132 sts for 12 repeats of the cable pattern; worked a total of 4 repeats of the pattern; and followed the decreases for the crown per the pattern-ending with 6 sts instead of the 5. i hope i didn't make the hat too big. she does have a lot of hair so this might work. the closest thing i had to a model was our ice bucket!

hermione cable and eyelet hat
woolease (for the college student) 70 gms
us 5 needles

i finally got bored of miters after almost finishing the leg of the second windowpane sock. so what's a person to do? start another project! i've been wanting a pair of fingerless mitts to wear when our weather starts to get a bit chilly (soon). i wanted to use a fingering weight yarn so decided to go with these. i love cables and lace.

merletto mitts (ravelry link)

panda wool (lacquer red)
will use slightly over a skein or i could frog back one repeat on the arm
us 1.5 needles (2.5mm)
gauge: 8.5 sts/inch

i made a bunch of modifications. i am not happy with the top ribbing yet. i have done 3 different ones so far. i didn't like the pattern because it does not mirror the bottom ribbing. i may end up with a plain 1x1 ribbing which will at least match the thumb. i will post my mods when i finish the second mitt. (and no comments from the peanut gallery. yes, i am talking to you, ms d!!!)

ah, contest. i found this lovely skein of socks that rock in lightweight for the winner. isn't it purdy?! the colorway is turquoise.

before i announce the winner, i want to thank all of you for playing along. i have put some of your suggestions in my never-ending queue. thankyouverymuch!!!!

THE WINNER OF
KNITTING IN THE BELLYBUTTON OF CALIFORNIA'S
100th + POSTS CONTEST
is........

congratulations, gigi! please email me through my profile with your snail mail addy and i will get this out to you!

started something new

here is a progress shot of hermione's cable and eyelets hat (as seen in the movie "harry potter and the half-blood prince"). it will be for my niece who devoured all the harry potter books on the first night they were released...reading into the wee hours of the morning. i guess you could say she loves! harry potter. i am using a very machine washable woolease as she is now a college freshman, responsible for doing her own laundry. i am not sure who was responsible for her laundry last year but she said she was NOT responsible for shrinking the horcrux socks i made her for christmas. i have learned my lesson.

i am still working on the mitered windowpane socks. gladys has posted part 3 of her tutorial. i am not there yet. i figure that i will do maybe 6 to 7 tiers before i get to the heel.

isn't this just too cute?!

don't forget to leave a comment on my contest post if you want to be in the drawing for some socks that rock yarn!

someone else is having a contest

...and she is giving away some handspun yarn. go check jc out! she is holding a drawing every friday for the rest of october.

don't know if it is the link or blogger but here is her blog addy:

http://garnfiti.blogspot.com

i don't spin so i am in awe of anyone who does. but if i did start spinning, then i would have even less time to knit and i don't have enough time as it is.

wow! a contest!!!

where did the month go?

i did finish a pair of mismatched socks from the hurdy-gurdy and jabberwocky. it is fun to see how the pattern looks different depending on the yarn. i like both the definite stripes and the more variegated look. now to write up the pattern before tina kills me.

i hate boring knits. show me something different and i have to try it. i may not finish it (ie, the sideways socks from january '07. all the attempts have been frogged, never to be resurrected again) but i will try it. my latest challenge has been the mitered windowpane socks, a recipe by gladys of the yarn floozies.

the mitered squares are very easy and gladys has a wonderful tutorial, full of pictures. my problem was finding my "magic" number for my yarn (wanted an even number of squares).

• i started off with some cth sockitome in blueberry hill, my addis 2.5mm, and 13 stitch squares: 8 squares too small, 10 squares too big.
  
• same yarn, knitpicks 2.5mm, 11 stitch squares: 10 squares too small.
• same yarn, addis 2.5mm 11 stitch squares: decide i don't like the color because there is not enough variation.
• new yarn: cth supersock in river run, addis 2.5mm, 13 sts squares: same as first attempt.
• supersock, knitpicks 2.5mm, 13 stitch squares: 10 squares is perfect. did two tiers with miters facing the same direction. didn't like them facing the same direction.
• supersock, knitpicks 2.5mm, 13 stitch squares, 10 squares, alternating directions: FINALLY!

so, here is the beginning of my mitered windowpane socks:


i don't know if it is just me, but i find that i knit to a smaller gauge with my knitpicks 2.5mm as opposed to my addis 2.5mm. i measured both and the knitpicks seem just a little bit thinner. anyone else notice this?! or am i weird all by myself? (and no, debi, don't go there!)

we still have a few more spaces open for the carefree holiday (or not) kal. here's a chance to win some yarn just for knitting and you might even get a few of your holiday gifts out of the way. we cap at 100 people so if you are interested, please go on over and sign up. the kal ends november 30th.

so, about that contest to celebrate my belated 100th post! i may be convinced to dig into my stash of socks that rock to find a nice prize there. let me think (which can be very dangerous!). leave me a comment on this post about a project that you find intriguing or a project that you really want to knit. i would love a link! as you know, i am a sucker for brownie points. so, extra entry for posting about my contest on your blog (again, leave a comment on here) and extra entries for you if someone says you sent them over.

deadline for drawing is whenever i get up on tuesday, october 14th. that gives you a week! let the game begin!

edited to help those who can't think of anything intriguing. grin!

the shop is open!

i signed up to open a shop on ravelry many months ago but have been procrastinating. one reason was i needed to spiff up my patterns, add pictures, and turn them into pdf's. a second reason was i told myself that it would be hard to upload the pdf's onto ravelry and get all the little stuff up. and finally, i really didn't know how much to charge for a pattern. i was almost ready to give my patterns away to anyone who expressed interest in them instead of putting them up on ravelry.

yesterday (after some nudging by a potential customer, hi tunie), i finally got my butt in gear and uploaded my first "for sale" pattern. it was already in pdf; although i did a little spiffing up on it before letting her make her debut!

" 'round robyn's house" is now available for purchase through ravelry. you don't have to be a member of ravelry to purchase this. hopefully, i will be able to set up a link in my sidebar. my knowledge in that area is zilch! now to get some of my other patterns up. "zen garden" is next and then "margaritaville".

and what do modern day scotsmen wear under their kilts?! these guys wore basketball shorts and black undies (hey, the guy was highland flinging and his kilt was flying!). i can' t say for sure about all of them but these were two i could see. much disappointment here in the bellybutton of california.

i haven't forgotten about my "100+ posts" contest. i'm still procrasti... oops! thinking!

to distract you

...from noticing that my last post WAS my 100th (it depends on what list you are looking at. my dashboard says i have 96 posts but my sidebar adds up to 100 -d"OH!), i want to direct you over to rita at keeping knit simple. she is celebrating a late blogiversary and is giving away some yarn and a cd. go check it out and tell her i sent ya. yes, it's another brownie point drawing.

thank you so much. i will be back with a contest soon. i promise. it will just be more than 100 posts.

oh! went to the scottish highland games over the weekend and i found out what scotsmen wear under their kilts. ya wanna know? come on back later and i'll tell ya!

happy! happy! joy! joy!

where has this month gone? i don't know that i have accomplished much this month. i definitely haven't been posting, but i have been winning some contests out in blogsville.

first, from tonya at theshizknit: i received these a while back but never got around to taking a photo.

3 skeins of rowan denim
a cute pattern written by tonya
AND chocolate candy

i've never knit with denim yarn. it will be a different experience knitting to allow for shrinkage. i am not sure what i want to make with this yet. i saw a pattern for a cute tote bag but that took 4 skeins. i was thinking of making the bag a bit smaller or i can let the yarn age until i find the right project. any suggestions?

i was most surprised to win the addi lace needles and these cute handmade cupcake buttons (from south africa) from stephanie. you can't blame me. i did tell you about her contest! see blog entry from july 22!

my first pair of addi lace needles! i have signed up for all those shawl/stole mystery kals so these little babies will be used A LOT. i did test-drive these needles at stitches west a couple of years ago. they are very nice. the buttons are even cuter in person. i will be saving these for some very special baby. or maybe i will start making sweaters that just need ONE button. thank you, stephanie (who sent these all the way from the uk. they arrived within a week. pretty good, hey?!)

i have also been doing some olympic knitting while watching our athletes and their erratic results (i am still shaking my head over that baton pass in the relays, DOH!). i finished a pair of socks for olympicsox2008. it was a very hang-loose "competition". i wanted to see how "margaritaville" would knit up in a different stripey yarn.

"margaritaville"

red heart "heart & sole" in watercolor stripes
needles: us 1.5 (2.5mm) for the leg & us 1 (2.25mm) for the foot
gauge: 9 sts/inch in stockinette using 2.25mm needle
made for my niece who felted her panda wool "horcrux" socks
(she claimed that someone in her household washed her socks wrong)

this pattern is perfect for stripes. i LOVE it. it is a fun pattern, even if i say so myself. the yarn is actually pretty nice. i am not that into aloe soaked yarn but liked these colors. i even managed to make identical socks. happy! happy! joy! joy! now, if my niece can stop shrinking her socks. she just started college and will now really be responsible for her own laundry.

and check out these cute little babies. we went to the california state fair on opening day. uc davis vet school brought over some animals that were due to deliver during the week. we could actually watch the delivery if our timing was right (or wrong, as the case may be. did you ever watch city slickers when billy crystal's character helps deliver a calf? would major gross some kids out).

newborn long horn sheep
less than 24 hours old

we also saw piglets and a bullcalf. my camera batteries were getting low so no pixs.

i won one more thing but i haven't had a chance to take a picture yet. i just received it yesterday.

i am slowly approaching my 100th post and i have been lucky to be on the winning end of some wonderful blog contests. seems a good time to start thinking about "sharing the wealth" again. stay tuned. i'm thinking.

**DANGER, WILL ROBINSON, DANGER**

i'm almost finished

...with my swallowtail shawl. i just need to weave in the ends and give it a bath and a stretch. i was getting bored with the shawl for some reason. maybe the nupps (yes, i did the nupps) were subtly driving me nuts. photos after i block it.

i also finished a market bag for my mil. i gave it to her before taking a pix. all market bags basically look the same and it is a boring beige so you aren't missing much. she did comment that it didn't look very big but my hubby, in turn, asked her how much can she carry at one time anyway! she doesn't know how much that bag is going to stretch!

CONTEST ALERT:

well, how would you like to win some flat feet yarn? go visit darcy and leave her a comment. if you would be so kind as to mention that you were referred by me, i would greatly appreciate it. yes, brownie point entries here. contest ends august 8th at midnight her time. of course, if you win, you send the yarn to me. (yeah, right!)

and dr laura is hosting a olympic sox competiton of sorts. she has prizes. go check it out!

wanna win some addi lace needles?

go here:

http://domestic-miss.blogspot.com/2008/07/knitting-give-away.html

contest ends july 31st, uk time.

as far as knitting goes, i am finally down to the border of my swallowtail shawl. i am missing a stitch! i dropped a yarn-over on the last row of the lov #2. sigh! the nupps weren't that bad once i figured out a way to purl 5. my first set is kinda wonky because i was trying different ways of doing it.

looks like theknitter's july sotm club kits are arriving on doorsteps. i should be able to show you the sock next week. i really had fun with this one.

the secret word is

...malabrigo!

cinnamongirl93 is celebrating spring by giving away some malabrigo. you have until tuesday, march 25th, 7 pm central to enter. and of course, if you would be so kind as to mention my name when you post! BROWNIE POINT ENTRIES are always cool.

it's hatched!

it's finally undergone its transformation from mystery stole 3 to "swan lake"! and it only took 8 months almost to the day (actually finished binding off friday night)!! sad but true. but it is finished. i am anxious to see the shawl blocked and in all its glory. i did miss one of the beads on the edging so am trying to decide if i should just leave it or figure out a way to add one now. being me, i will probably try to figure out how to add it on.

in other news, i have a new sock pattern available for your knitting pleasure over at crystal palace yarns. "kilauea" has just been posted. go on over and take a look. i want to thank barbara for knitting a sample in panda silk (so you can see the stitch better). she told me it was "total torture" having to knit with the yarn (she loved every minute of it!!!!)

"kilauea"

CONTEST ALERT!!! secret word is "malabrigo." i have touched it and it is soft. i want some! (i don't know why i am telling you. it may lessen my chances for winning.) head on over to mariknits who is celebrating a blogiversary. leave her a link to your first post. i get "brownie points" if you let her know i sent cha over. (i knew there was a reason why i would tell you!)

"pms" contest

nope, it ain't me! and it's not "that" kind of "PMS".

nh knitting mama is having a contest to promote her esty shop. she has some very pretty hand-dyed yarns. make sure you let her know that i sent ya! yep! she has extra entries! you can win some of her beautiful yarn. of course, if you win, you have to send it to me.

i am still working on my "serendipitys". i 've frogged the second sock about 3 or 4 times trying to get the striping to match up. yes, i am totally anal! i think i have the leg pretty close right now. one time, i was knitting too loose so the stripes were getting too wide. i have kinda learned how to control the "pooling" and "striping" to a certain extent.

i am also working on new designs for theknitter and robyn's nest. hair pulling out time; especially when i can't find a pattern that works with the yarn. am i bald yet?!

another contest

so many contests, so many chances to win MORE yarn! yippee!

go visit nancy. she is celebrating 300 posts! that seems like a lot to me. she has many ways to get brownie point entries. one is linking to her blog. and the other is to tell her that i sent cha over. deadline for entering is saturday, feb 22nd, 12 midnite est. wow! that's 10 more days.

happy chinese new year!

gung hay fat choy!

happy year of the rat!

took this picture of the lion heads in sf chinatown this summer
when my hubby and i decided to play tourists.

chinese consider RED a lucky color. so i proclaim RED to be the color of the month because i recently won two blog contests and guess what i won! YARN!!!!!!!

i received two balls of magic garden buttons in RED from gloria who lives in canada (i am so sorry but i didn't keep her blog addy...i am so embarrassed). we had to guess a number between 1 and 500. she was all excited about having 184 posts under her belt. so, what's a person to do? guess "184." she was going to give away 3 prizes. my guess came in just under the wire and she had 4 people guess her number of "184!" she generously gifted all of us with a prize. oh, what will these grow up to be?!

then monica who "knits a lot" had another contest where we had to guess how many pairs of socks she had in "ONE" of her sock drawers.
i reread her blog entry later and yes, it did read "ONE" of her sock

drawers which would imply that she has more than "ONE" drawer. i guessed "48 pairs of socks" and .....I WON this lovely skein of cherry tree hills supersock in RED, purple, and dark blue or black. love the colors. can you imagine 48 pairs of socks? that's a whole lotta socks and that's not all she has.

thank you, gloria and monica for your generous prizes.

my wayward "zen garden" has been frogged and reknit to the gusset. it is being timed out for now. i am having so much more fun with my new panda silk sock. i think i want to start my "serendipity" socks in honor of chinese new year. it is a fast knit. there are lots of people who had already finished their pair before the kit even arrived in the uk. unbelievable!

and i should just finish my swan lake (ms3). i think i only have less than 20 rows to go on it.

we can both be winners!

go on over to the shizknit who is having an unusual contest to celebrate her upcoming post #100. you just need to leave her a comment that i sent you over and if she draws your comment, we both win a yarny prize. what could be easier than that?

i am almost finished with my ms3-swan lake (tortoise version). i am down to the last 12 rows or so. YIPPEE!!!!! then i can ponder which mystery kal shawl/stole i want to start next. i am soooooooo behind; but i can only concentrate on one big lace project at a time.

socks are another matter! and no, i don't know how many pairs i have going. i do have a LOT of needles!

another contest

here's another contest for you to enter:

kris is celebrating her 2nd blogiversary, so go on over and wish her well.

once again, brownie points are at stake. tell her i sent ya over.

my bad. i still haven't drawn my winners. i have to emergency work today so will really try to get to it tomorrow!

"TOMORROW! TOMORROW! I'LL LOVE YA TOMORROW! TOMORROW'S JUST A DAY AWAY......"

brownie point post

yeah, i know i should be posting the winners to my contest but what am i doing? i am earning brownie points for someone else's contest! lol!

go over to:

http://knitmetotheendoftime.blogspot.com/

and wish her a happy one year blogiversary. tell her i sent cha over, will ya? i gotta try and maintain my stash count...same coming as going out. ;o} silly, huh?!

probably won't get to drawing names until tomorrow. my bad!