From the Mouth of Babes*

*A recurring feature at the Chronicles

Me: "Girls!! Who left all the library DVDs out of their cases on this shelf?"

Girls: ...

Me: "Girrrrrls! How many TIMES has mommy told you that we can NOT leave DVDs out to get all scratched up!? If we get them all scratched up, then other little children will NOT be able to ENJOY them!!"

Girls: ...

Me: "Well????!" What do you have to say?!"

Adachi: "Um, mommy....ummm...on behalf of my sister and myself, um... I would just like to say - oops."

Me: ...

(*sigh* How do they DO that?)

No SSS Here

Second Sock Syndrome is powerful. It can grip you but good...mostly because you've just been through all that it takes to make the first sock, AND you know the utter uselessness of a single sock. How's that for a sock and a furry place?

As promised, I did cast on for #2 this week. Mom saw #1 last night and told me that I should open a store and sell my knitting. *Sigh* Gotta love mom.

I'm also working hard on my other knit goal, which is to finish my Central Park Hoodie before my next trip to Jersey. I have visions of wearing it to the office on casual Friday. "Why yes, yes I did knit this....oh thank you, yes, it was nothing really". (giggle)



Send some productivity vibes my way and I'll bounce some right backatchya!
Enjoy your weekend!

How In The...

Stash busting, Stash and Burn, Knit from your Stash, Year of the Stash
Sense a theme here? The time to tame the stash is upon us...well me anyway. So, what does one do when one wants to get a handle on just how much yarn one has been able to acquire in one's short short fiber journey?

We count. We count yards, we count skeins, balls, hanks, and even scraps.
Yes, we even count the itty bitty leftover bits that still have tags, though they have no apparent usefulness.

I have spent at least 4 lunch hours this week neck deep in my stash; fondling, organizing, winding, un-knotting, and counting...mostly counting. I created a spreadsheet after hearing Nicole & Jenny talk about it a long time back. With much toil, I now have a view of my stash by Brand, Yarn Name, Fiber Content, Yardage, Skein Count, Gauge, recommended needle size, and notes.

Where do I stand?

Current Stash Yardage = 37,735.5 yards
Total Number of Balls/Skeins = 209.5 (see, I even counted the little bits)

Not included in the count are Wally World acrylics - these will either be donated or they will be crocheted into charity pet beds and play mats for the kids. Translation: ignore those.

Strangely enough, this does not frighten me (yet). I haven't decided whether or not this is a completely unmanageable number (it is). I really enjoyed the review of where, when, and why I bought these yarns. I even thought about how many things I've been wanting to make from my stash yarns(for the gazillionth time). It's all good (send help). I can totally get this down in time for Stitches Midwest in August so that I can shop guilt-free (you can stop laughing now).
Have you counted? Where do you stand? Ankle deep, knee deep, up to your eyeballs? I'd love to know! I know, some of you dear readers are not knitters or crocheters; I imagine you are standing fiber-free on the sidelines shaking your heads at the insanity of the yarn obsessed. Don't pity us darlings, just keep telling us how much you love handmade afghans;).

Sangria Sock Solo Shots

One is the loneliest number, and when that refers to socks, it's a special kind of singular-ness. The kind that screams "Will there ever be another like me??"

Pattern: Garter Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks
Yarn: Sangria from Cherry Blossom Fibers; a super giftie from my NY Knit Buddy
Yardage - 450yds + (the label has been stashed in my knitting scrapbook)
Needles - Knit Picks circulars, size 1 (2.5mm)




I really love the pattern options in this book, and I'm so thrilled to be done with this sock. I vow to cast on its mate before this week is out (mental note - must learn to knit 2 socks at once).

So far I'm most proud of the kitchener toe. I have struggled with the concept of this for sooooo long. I've seen so many explanations of how it's to be done and the book pictures I scoured were not making ANY sense to me. Finally to the rescue? None other than Amy's video over at Knitting Help. This makes Kitchener seem SO EASY! Gotta love that.




Tonight's stashalong-related project is to start tracking all my yarn yardage...I've got it all laid out on the guest bed, spreadsheet is made and the entries are going in. I'm already in the 4 digit range for total yards and I have barely skimmed the pile. Le sigh.

Well Hello Spring

We had a surprise visit from grandpa today...always nice for the kiddies, and a very good excuse to putter around the yard on my lunch break. Here is what's coming up in our neck of the woods:

Now comes the season with sunshine to spare...I sure hope the thermometer is as pleasing in your corner of the world by now too.

Next time, Sangria sock shots! (Uh huh, I've been knitting)

Stash Buster's Log: Month 3

Warning: This post was shamelessly stolen from my StashAlong post and out of sheer laziness was not edited in any way to fit the context of this blog...but I thought I'd keep you guys up on what's happening in the House of Fiber.

So I'm in for another 2 months as I mentioned in my last post, and this time I'm allowing myself one free day - that has now been used. In the last 2 weeks, I found 3 new yarn stores within driving distance of my company's HQ. But I've got it out of my system, and I found that 2 of those store have Knit Nights, so I can go and meet some new knitters and start working on some finishing, instead of stash enhancement. Another new fixation I've found though? Patterns!! *Sigh* I'm a stockpiler, what can I say....

Posting some quick pics here of a finished project that was a completely random choice (the multicolored Homespun shawl) and another project that has been the favorite lately, my Sangria socks. The shawl was knit with 2 yarns held together, and that allowed me to use up nearly all of 2 skeins. Homespun is not much of a fiber favorite, but All.Stash.Must. Go. One way or the other. Since the photo, the sock is now 4" from being finished, and it will need a mate, which I will start immediately after finishing the first (the only way to make sure there is actually a mate).

Next time, 3 yarn shops and some fabulous tea - and in Jersey no less!

Location, location, location

I've been working for this company in Jersey now for 4 months, and in that time, I have never managed to actually check out any of the local yarn stores...a first for me, as that is usually the primary non-business stop on any of my trips. The challenge has been finding one that I can get to over lunch, or one that opens late enough that I can stop in after work. No luck in the immediate vicinity...but I was not deterred!

Thursday night, Cindy and I met at Stix and Stitches in Montclair, NJ. Though we weren't so sure about what adventure awaited us in this south Jersey township, they did have a knit night until 9pm, so it looked promising. Not to mention that we haven't ever actually knit together in the 8 months since we met (and still haven't), we thought this might be good. Quaint little shop, small town, maybe we'd find a nice local restaurant to refuel in after our browsing...boy did we underestimate this adventure!

After 2 hours of strolling through the shop, jaw dropped, I managed to grab these at closing time

Mountain Colors Bearfoot handpainted sock yarns in "Sierra" and "Larkspur"

60 % Superwash Wool, 25 % Mohair, 15 % Nylon

There was just so much to see, and not just the skeins of loveliness on the walls; the ladies at Knit Night were working on some beautiful projects in lace, Fair Isle, and more!

We thought the night couldn't get much better. Wrong again...we stepped out into the freezing night air and realized we hadn't settled on a place to eat. Sheila (the store owner) was VERY helpful with this as well. She suggested an Ethiopian restaurant in walking distance, and we headed over. Masob (/mah sohb'/) was it's name and I was in love from walking in.










First time with Ethiopian cuisine for Cindy (she's such a trooper!)and a 3rd for me. Service was great, and the food was soooooo good. We both had Kemem shai tea (cardamon, cinnamon, mint, and about 3 other ingredients) and shared a sampler plate of spicy meats, veggies and injira.






I'm already looking forward to going back. Cindy and I have had pretty good luck with finding great new fiber and food stops. Who knows, one of these days instead of filling our stashes and feeding our tummies, we may actually just sit somewhere and knit together. But for now, why mess with a good thing?