Knittin' with Roadkill!!!

This summer, I was reading Bekka's blog, and she was starting a gift for a family member with possum yarn. I couldn't believe it! She said that it was very soft and warm, so I was on a mission to find some. I check my favorite LYS's and found some at Woolbearers. I love this LYS because they have the most gorgeous wool that they spin and dye on the premises. So I am working on more Christmas knitting - neckwarmers!
I love the pattern - it knits up really fast, and it is so pretty. The yarn is soft! It's a little fuzzy, too. Before you say "Ee-www!!" let me tell you, it is fun to joke about knitting roadkill, but this yarn is a merino-possum mix from Down Under, and should not really be confused with that piney delicacy, opossum. From what I understand they are a completely different animal. But this is really nice yarn! I can't believe that Cherry Tree Hill has discontinued it! The colorways are little on the expensive side ($15.95 for a 50 g skein), but the solids are about half that price. I think it is worth it for a little something special.

Still alive!

Still no socks in the mail for me! I guess my assassin is still putting the finishing touches on her dissertation, LOL!

I mailed my second target her socks, but haven't heard that she received them, and haven't seen her posting her death on the Sock Wars forum. She should be dead by now, though!


I've been busy working on projects for other people. I am working on a *** for ***. I'll fill in the blanks later, after I give it to her ;) This will be felted, and it will be interesting to see how the linen stitch felts. The pattern calls for every other row to be twisted, and I kinda like the texture. I think it would be fun to have something knit like this that wasn't being felted. I have some bulky blue and green wool that I was thinking about using for a cardie, maybe I'll give this a try!


I'm also working on a *** for *** for Christmas. I'm using Takhi Donegal Tweed, and the color is gorgeous! It is a little washed out in the photo, because it is really sunny today. The pips of turquoise and lavendar are really pretty, and the yarn shows off the cables nicely.

Foiled by Columbus Day!!!

My Box o' Death was ready to be mailed! Filled with black tissue paper, some yummy green socks, a note, the leftover yarn with the ball band, and some Perugina chocolate to comfort the mourners, my Priority box sat happily on the passenger seat as I zoomed toward the post office yesterday morning. I zipped into the post office parking lot, turning on two wheels, ala Cruela DeVil, and screeched to a halt only to find a "Closed for Columbus Day" sign on the door. NNnnoooooooooooo!! It can't be!!!!

But wait ... that means no mailman for me today! YES!!! I will live to fight another day!

It's beginning to look like Halloween!!

When I got home Friday night, TRHM told me he bought me a surprise. He handed me a box of pumpkin stake lights. I grinned and told him that I bought him a surprise, too, and handed him a light-up witch decoration. It was pretty funny because we have been doing this sort of thing since we first met, and often will surprise each other with a similar thing on the same day.

This weekend I took a little break from knitting to do some decorating. My 6 year old nephew came over to spend the night, and Saturday morning, we got out the bins of decorations. He put together some edging that looks like a gothic fence with spiders. We put orange and purple lights on the bushes, then covered the whole thing with cobwebs. He put togther the pumpkin stake lights that TRHM bought for me, and pushed them into the ground. He helped me put all of the other decorations together and found a place for them. He even helped me make a wreath for the front door.

Socktober Fest

Well, you all know by now that I am a joiner. Not necessarily a finisher ... but I'll join in on the fun any day of the week! LOL!! Well, after I assassinated Lisa in the Sock Wars, I read her blog and saw the cutest button for Socktoberfest. And I have lots of socks to knit, so I decided to join. I love, love, love Halloween! It is my favorite holiday of the year, and symbolizes the start of the holiday season for me. So the halloweeny witch button really got me! The first week is an introduction, and there are a few questions to be answered:

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

I was taught to knit by the uber-talented Jenn. We worked together at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. She made the most amazing Fair Isle sweaters as bridesmaid gifts, and brought one in to show me. I was completely in awe, and decided to learn to knit. Jenn is a wonderful teacher, and embraces my "jump in with both feet" attitude. Lesson one was a scarf that I made for my daughter for Christmas. Lesson two was a hat on DPNs. From there it was easy to go on to socks.

What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?

My first pair was a pair of house socks made with Red Heart varigated yarn in worsted weight. They were featured on my blog here. They have held up wonderfully, possibly because I haven't worn them. I remember being completely amazed that they actually fit me, and it was fun to watch them materialize.

What would you have done differently?

Absolutely nothing. They fit, and I will use them this winter.

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?

I have used Trekking, Cascade Fixation, Bollicino (100% superwash merino), and Cotton Comfort. I really like the Trekking, even though it can be tricky to match the stripes. I really like identical socks, and I'm not so crazy about fraternals, unless the striping pattern changes so frequently that it isn't that noticible. I really like self-striping sock yarn. I didn't like the Cascade socks that much. The Bollicino made wonderfully soft socks, that is what I used to assassinate Lisa. I am going to knit a pair for myself. The Cotton Comfort was the yarn she was using to make the socks for her target, and I finished them. I liked the colorway a lot, and I think they would wear really well.

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

I knit my socks. Up until I took over Lisa's socks, I had only used DPNs to knit them. She was using the Magic Loop, and so I gave it a try. I liked it a lot, and I'll use it again. I want to try the 2 socks on 2 circs method. I recently read an article on Knitty about using a double knitting method to knit two socks at the same time - one inside the other. How cool is that??

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

Hands down - heel flap! I especially like the eye of the partridge heel. I think it gives the sock a lot of character. I was never a clog wearer, until I knitted my socks and wanted to show them off! I think that an attactive heel is key.

How many pairs have you made?

I have made three pairs for myself, one pair for Cindy,one of the Knit Chicks, for pollyana last year, a pair for Lisa, and a third of a pair for Lisa's target, also named Lisa. I currently have two pair on the needles - my red white and blue trekking socks that I started for Trek Along With Me, and a gorgeous pair of mauve varigated. TRHM's oldest requested a pair of socks after he saw my Sock Wars socks, so I will have to start a pair for him, too.

How much do you pay for gas??

Recently, I've noticed a big difference in gas prices between where I live and where I work. As you know, I live in The Blueberry Capitol of THE WORLD!!!!!!! (you have to read that in the Ringmaster Voice). And gas has been dropping like a rock! We paid $1.94 at the WaWa gas station. I drive about an hour and 15 minutes to work, and I noticed that gas prices slowly increase as I approach the Princeton area. I go over the Scudder Falls Bridge into Pennsylvania, and gas skyrockets - it is still about $2.25 there, and you have to pump it yourself! In NJ, it is illegal to pump your own gas, and I kinda like that. TRHM reported that he paid $1.89 for gas on his way to work in Atlantic City last week! So leave me a comment, and tell me what you are paying for gas.