ARDIRI

Not-So-Secret Pal

Frack!  I accidentally gave away my identity on my Secret Pal's (SP11) website.  I am now the not-so-secret secret pal--blargh!

Single Sockitis Strikes!

Single Sockitis is a dangerous disease that is indeed very contagious and possibly dangerous.  Careful!  It might infect you, as it has befallen quite nefariously and without warning upon me.  Behold, the single socks:

Carolina, Last Queen of Naples from Socktopia, Koigu P 117 (from my Secret Pal Beth of Numerical Knitting), Size 1 needles, Modeled on my wicked-looking high-arched foot

For my Sockapalooza Pal a Pattern of My Own, Koigu P206 (from my Sockret Pal Hope of Procrastiknitter), Size 2 needles, Modeled on E. Zimmerman's Knitter's Almanac 

And the incipient symptoms of further infection of Single Sockitis (not the cat, but the yarn--Cascade Fixation and Koigu):

Be aware!  Watch out for the warning symptoms: trolling Ebay for more sock yarn when you already have plenty (and then buying it!), surfing the 'net for patterns, constant loss and re-discovery of needles and stitch markers, casting on multiple socks but not in pairs.

Perhaps a cure for Single Sockitis could be found by a quick dunk in cold, chlorinated water?  If so, then perhaps Single Sockitis could simply be termed a hot weather disease?  I could and would let you know, if the following weren't the case with the damn local pool (currently undergoing *%#&*#& refurbishment--AARGH!):

It is simply fracking incredibly hot up here in Big Creek.  Brlah!  I shall just have to knit another sock with this pattern--Socktopia's Eleanor--to distract myself!

Backpacking and Sockapalooza Knitting

Here's a taste of the beauty I encountered while backpacking in Yosemite, enhanced by the beginnings of a Sockapalooza sock!

My Rockin' Sockret Pal's Big Reveal

My Sockret Pal, Hope of Procrastiknitter, rocked the big reveal package by spoiling me ten times over any of my biggest expectations!

My package arrived in this humongous box with another box inside:

Contained in the cute little lamb basket were the lovely socks she made for me (her first pair)!  They fit rather well and are more muted colorwise in person:

She also sent me a copy of one of her favorite books with an explanation as to why it is a fave, as well as a cool bookmarker:

And--yum--chocolate (said in a Homer Simpson-ish voice):

And, YARN, YARN, and MORE YARN!  Bu-bu-bu-bundles of Yarn!!!

Did I mention that my Sockret Pal, Hope of Procrastiknitter, rocks?!  She spoiled me rotten!

SPOILED AGAIN by My Sockret Pal!

As an apology (and a totally unnecessary one!) for sending out my socks late, my sockret pal sent me MORE KOIGU!  I may just be koigu crazy and she is feeding my addiction.  Here's a pic of the latest treat (Colorway P206):

Thank you a gazillion-million-squared times, my dear Sockret Pal!

Sockret Pal Socks--Done!

Finally finished my Sockret Pal Socks last night while watching some of Season 1 of Lost (I just have to say that I LOVE that Jack uses a metal knitting needle to release pressure in Boone's lung in episode 20--"Do No Harm".  Knitting needles as surgical tools--who would of figured?!).  I am actually completely loving this show despite the fact that I figured it'd be pretty lame.  It has such a Twilight Zone feeling to it; scaring me almost sleepless at times with the best fear--the fear of the unknown.

Here's my Sockret Pal's Socks--they are a little bit wet from blocking and so will go out in a few days or so.  I used my own handpainted yarn--colorway "Elle Woods" and did the contrast toe with Knitpicks Ambrosia in Lavender on size 2 needles. 

Selfish-Knitting Time!

Time for some ME-knitting!  Finally finished the third multi-directional scarf last night.  Started to knit a kid's sweater for Afghans for Afghans, but decided I needed a break from knitting for others.

I've cast on for the Peekaboo Mittens featured in this month's Magknits.  I am using Koigu KPPPM from my Sockret Pal in the colorway P137. 

Edited on 02/22/07: I originally cast on 48 stitches using a size #3 needle and did the cuff in k2,p2 ribbing for 1.5  inches and then switched to stockinette.  I found that that many stitches on a size #3 needle in Koigu KPPPM was way too loose so I had to frog it back and reconsider.  I have now used size #3 needles to do the cast on of 40 stitches.  After joining in the round on size #3 needles, I have switched to size #2 needles for the k2, p2 ribbing pattern.  I am planning to switch back up to size #3 for the rest of the mitten when I am finished with the K2, P2 ribbing; that is, for the stockinette part of the pattern. 

Although, the pattern calls for size #4 needles, I have switched down to size #2 & #3 needles to accommodate for using a different yarn and for my smaller hands.  In swatching (by gods, I actually swatched!) I found that on size #3 needles I get a 3 inch by 3 inch gauge swatch instead of the pattern's 4 inch by 4 inch swatch.  My hand's circumference at their biggest point around the fingers (not counting the thumb) is 6 inches, while my wrist circumference is a little less than 5 inches. The pattern lists the finished circumference as 8 inches (but I am not sure whether that includes the thumb?)--so, here's to (hopefully) good luck accompanied by great hope that they'll work.   {Note to self: I'll have to gradually add in 8 stitches--in sets of twos--before I reach the stockinette}

I am thinking that this colorway of  KPPPM--that I am using for my Peekaboo mittens--will go great with a scarf made out of this yarn (that B. gave to me):

And, if I continue the road to recovery from this hellacious sinus infection (and thus have some energy to do something besides sleep or knit while watching movies/tv), I will pull out the sewing machine and sew up some blankets for Cyrano's Creature Comforts Drive!

Illness? Schmillness! I've some more Koigu KPPPM!

Up early, or at least early in my opinion, to take my antibiotic at its scheduled time along with a probiotic to restock the good microbial flora in my stomach (which the antibiotic destroys along with the bad stuff).   

Turns out my brain was fooling me--I don't have an ear infection, but instead have a sinus infection.  The trigeminal nerve on the right side of my face which runs along the sinuses and to the ear (along with two other main areas--thus the "tri" in trigeminal) and was--or actually is-- shooting pain straight to my ear.  And to the brow of my eye.  Ow!  And ow a million times over!

Spent yesterday lying in bed bemoaning the fate that my sinuses had delivered unto me.  I felt as if a plague had descended upon my right face as I downed excedrin, tylenol with codeine, and pseudophedrine in a desperate attempt to quell the throbbing, sometimes stabbing, pain.  Nothing worked for the majority of the day.  Finally around eight o'clock in the evening, I could make the short walk to the bathroom without feeling as if my brain were about to explode out of my right ear and eye.  This morning--cross my fingers and toes--not too much pain.  Perhaps I'll accomplish something besides lying in bed all day in a darkened room with a heating pad on my face. 

Luckily, if I do indeed have to stay in bed, I have two wondermous items to contemplate:

1. What to buy with a Barnes and Noble gift certificate that my super-duper Sockret Pal gifted me. 
2. This.  Oh my, oh my, do I have an addiction and my awesome Sockret Pal is an enabler.  Yep,  that's two skeins of Koigu KPPPM.  YUM...

Koigu KPPPM...Divine!

Yummity-yum-yum-yum!  I have decided that Koigu KPPPM is my FAVORITE sock yarn in the whole wide world.  Maybe the entire galaxy.  And look what my Secret Pal 9 sent me:

• Two skeins in the most gorgeous colorway of Koigu KPPPM (dye code p117, dye lot 318).
• Three lovely little stitch markers: two blue and gold ones that sort of remind me of peacock feathers and a little sock!

Thank you Secret Pal 9--You are the sugar on my cereal; and boy, oh boy, do I LOVE sugar!

A Scarf for Sheila's Shawls

Instead of sending two scarves to the Red Scarf Project, I've decided to send one to the Red Scarf Project and one to Sheila's Shawls.  The scarf pictured above will be going to Sheila's Shawls.

Sheila's shawls is a project set up by Janet Hagberg (cofounder and director of Silent Witness National Initiative--a center for domestic violence prevention) in memoriam of  her friends Sheila and Paul Wellstone (a Minnesotan Senator) who were killed in a plane crash on October 25, 2002.  Both Sheila and Paul were advocates against domestic violence and for general "public well-being" (Knitting for Peace--such a wonderful book.  Thanks to my Secret Pal 9!).  The scarves and shawls donated to Sheila's Shawls are given to those affected by domestic violence--survivors, as well as those who have lost a loved one to domestic violence.  The men who have lost a loved one to domestic violence get scarves--"Paul's scarves," rather than "Sheila's Shawls".