hooowha! Crumpets!

Well, almost. I have an end or two to weave in and ribbon and straps to add, but the knitting is done!

Miss Vivienne can wear it in time for her 4th birthday.


details to follow once it's truly complete.

I'm here!

I'm officially a New Mexican! I've posted about my travels and first few days on my livejournal, and I'm poking my head in to say I've done almost NO knitting! However, I'm going to my first Albuquerque Stitch 'n Bitch next Tuesday!

Meanwhile, here's my Q & A for Secret Pal 6:

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
~I'm medium-snobby. I like Cotton-Ease, somewhat. I know it's discontinued & all. I definitely have a strong preference for natural fibers.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
~Nope & nope.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
~Cat allergies, though I live with two anyway. I despise the smell of smoke in stuff. Strong perfumes give me a headache.

4. How long have you been knitting?
~Almost two years.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
~I have an amazon one and I made a knitpicks one, but it doesn't seem to be linkable.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
~Vanilla, cinnamon, clove, lavendar.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
~Yes, but it's very snobby. I don't like any regular candy, only really good dark chocolate.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
~Hm. Magnets. I want to get back into sewing. Decoupage is fun. No scrapbooking or quilting.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
~Yes, MP3s are good. I like modern indie rock and vintage (aka 80s)"new wave", but I also like some folky guitar-based stuff, and a bunch of other stuff. I'm pretty open.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
~I love most jewel tones. I really don't like orange or yellow.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
~Married, two kids (Silas,6.5 and Vivienne, almost 4) I have two cats, Tom & Rudy and really want to get a dog soon!

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
~I'd like to find a job/ career that makes me happy and allows me to prioritize my family. I'd like to have no consumer debt. I want to travel a lot more and show my kids a good part of the world. I want to still be in love with my husband when we are old, wrinkly farts and I want to be living close by my best girlfriend forever!

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
~I love Rowan everything, I like Brown Sheep, Cascade, and most Noro.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
~Not a big fan of acrylic, or anything that feels "squeaky" on the needles.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
~No obsessions, but I am learning to knit socks.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
~Sweaters, hats & bags.

17. What are you knitting right now?
~Crumpets and socks.

18. What do you think about ponchos?
~So over. Nice wraps with a cool button or brooch are good, though.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
~I like them both.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
~Bamboo, rosewood, and Addis.

21. Are you a sock knitter?
~Just becoming one now.

22. How did you learn to knit?
~My best girl, scoutj taught me!

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
~Ummmm, about 18 months.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
~uh, what? I guess I like that Happy Bunny sarcastic little guy.

25. What is your favorite holiday?
~Christmas.

26. Is there anything that you collect?
~Not really. Yarn. haha.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
~None!

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
~Loop-d-Loop!

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another??
~Girlfriend Swing Coat Sweater

30. What are your foot measurements, and what kind of socks do you like?
I wear a U.S 7.5, which I think is a european 38. I like lacy, solid-color socks and simple, stripey socks.

amazing!!!

Over $40,000 raised at Give a Little.
How wonderful is that?!

knitters unite!

Please, if you haven't already, consider donating what you can to help victims of Katrina. If you do it via Margene, you might even win a cool prize generously donated by other knitters! She has already collected over $15,000 but obviously, so much more will continue to be needed!



Also, please read this and give it careful consideration. It's from Viggo Mortenson, and I think it's pretty damn powerful.

In the often and rightly quoted words of Bill Clinton, "There's nothing wrong with America that can't be fixed by what's right with America." We see now how individuals and groups around the country are acting in any way they can to help their fellow citizens in Louisiana, Mississippi and other devastated places near the Gulf of Mexico. They refuse to stand idly by and wait for President Bush and his morally-bankrupt, pirate administration to respond in an appropriately urgent and compassionate manner to the escalating agony and desperation of our fellow citizens. This agony and desperation was caused in large part by a near complete absence of adequate federal government funding, preparedness, and leadership. We the people will continue to help Americans and non-Americans alike, with or without the participation or approval of George W. Bush and his Neo-Conservative cohorts. While it is true that what is most important right now is to rescue, feed, house, and in any way possible care for those immediately affected by the disaster, it is equally true that in the long run those directly responsible for aggravating the tragic situation must be held accountable. The mounting evidence of the Bush administration's criminal mismanagement of the nation, as well as its consistently arrogant disregard for our planet's people and natural environments must be confronted immediately. Those who voted for Bush last year, or who have continually supported his outlaw administration in its destructively dishonest conduct, including not only extremist conservatives but also politically-calculating democrats, need not hang their heads or avert their eyes now. What they can and ought to do is join the increasing numbers of Americans who are demanding that presidential impeachment proceedings be initiated as soon as possible. Members of the Bush Administration responsible for the blatant lies and self-serving manipulations that have fanned the flames of disaster from Iraq to New Orleans must be prosecuted as our laws require. We must insist on this. Furthermore, we must not allow these disgracefully unpatriotic public servants to be pardoned by any future president as Gerald Ford did for Richard Nixon. Please call or write your government representatives and help get the scoundrels out of government and in prison where they belong. Do not allow the subject to be changed, do not be distracted. The time to act is now. Take back your country.