Bad bad blogger

I'm here...just being lazy!!

I'm getting an Original Lendrum DT wheel this Monday! I can't wait, even though I'm very very very bad at it. As in, can't join the roving to the leader bad. :( I'll practice though!

I've gotten lots of nice yarn since my last post, but I don't feel like posting pictures right now. Even you're really dying to see anything recent, check out KH and look for my KH blog.

Hope everyone is doing well! I'll be busy for the next few weeks trying to get ready for Christmas.

I'm back, and in a funk...

I'm home from Alabama. It was so nice to spend time with Angelia and all her kitties (including my beloved Ursula). We went to Yarn Expressions in Huntsville while we were there. What an awesome store! I did just a little damage. I got a hank of Cascade Pastaza in this gorgeous purple color---I've been eyeing this one for months! I also got some Rowan Felted Tweed (purple for Knucks for me and a "handsome" gray for a hat for Chris, hence the "handsome" description! :) ). I also got yarn called Mira Mira. It's black with some gold specks in it and is a wool blend. It reminded me of my Alma Mater, Purdue, so I had to get it. Plus, it was on sale! :) We also stopped at a yarn shop in Brentwood, TN, on the way home from picking me up from the Nashville airport. What a cute little shop that was! I bought a hank of Schaefer Yarns Esperanza in the "Shirley Chisholm" colorway. I'm having a wee bit of buyer's remorse on this. They had it knitted up in a gorgeous Brioche Ribbed scarf in the shop, so I bought it (at $39.75 for the hank...now the most expensive yarn I've ever bought). I started the pattern and it's not pretty AT ALL. And the sides of the scarf look really weird. Grrrr. While I was at Angelia's house, she surprised me with a hank of Lisa Souza's sock yarn in Petroglyph...which is gorgeous and reminded me both of Purdue AND Ursula!

Now I'm home and I've already bought MORE yarn. My LYS is having a sale today only, so I stopped by and picked up 3 balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran for future Fetchings. Teehee.

Now I have so many WsIP, it's really getting out of control. I am going to work on my Knucks primarily though, because I want to start wearing those at work ASAP!

Excuse the crap quality of the photos, I think it's time for a REAL digital camera. My little Aldi cam isn't cutting it anymore!






I miss you, Ursula.

Bad news...I like it

I took my first spinning lesson yesterday at The Fold. I loved it! We spent the hour using hand carders and a top whirl drop spindle. I got the hang of it there, but I definitely need some practice with it! Toni is awesome though, she let me take home the hand carders, the spindle, and a bunch of the fleece we used. I also bought 4 oz. each of some sparkly purple roving and 4 oz. of some alpaca blend. Hey, I'm visiting Angelia next week, so I have to be prepared! I also picked up a little surprise for her because she is being a sweetheart and making me a Bad JuJu! :)



I'm just about done with my Austermann sock (1 of 2). That'll give me (3) 1 of 2 pairs of different socks. Sigh. I am also going to cast on for my sister's Christmas present. I'm hoping that's a quick knit! And I'm not saying what it is because I haven't decided if I'm going to give her this address to look at my stuff.

I might end up felting those mittens today. Yeah right.

The next time I write, it'll probably be post-Alabama...I'll probably have the blues :(

Finally, some semi-F O's!

It's 5 in the morning, I can't sleep (again), so I decided to update my blog! Our water heater broke/leaked all over the basement on Halloween night. That's been a big PITA. We cleaned up the water, then while I was at court yesterday (that I couldn't get out of, and of course, it was continued...I didn't even write the report, but since my name is mentioned in the first line, I get dragged into it!), Chris started cleaning up our basement. When we first moved in, we basically just threw boxes down there with no rhyme or reason knowing eventually we would finish it. It's been over 3 years since I've been here and the junk has just been piling up. It's embarrassing! So having the water heater guy be our inspiration, we started cleaning up a little bit. I refuse to take any pictures because it's so embarrassing, but someday, if we ever finish the basement, I'll take pictures ;)

In knitting related news, I've finished my first Lime and Violet Broadripple sock! My plan was to cast on for the second right away, but then I started working on the Austermann sock. Hopefully I can finish that in a few days (weeks?). Then I'll have 3 single socks finished, with no pairs. I also finished up my Patons SWS mittens, which I love! The colors are so pretty! Once we get our water heater installed and I get a few loads of laundry done (a showers for me and Chris!), I'll felt them. But of course, I'm notorious for stalling my felting so we'll see. I also felted and needle felted the eyes and nose, then stuffed my hedgehog. I love him, his name is Iggy, named after the Swedish word for hedgehog, "Igelkott" (named by a Swedish KHer, Anna!)

Here's some pics!

Meeeeeeeeeeeme

48 Things You Could Care Less About

1. FIRST NAME? Andrea

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? I was named after my dad's dad, Andrew.

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? I cried a couple weeks ago...I don't remember why now.

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes I do.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Salami

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I think so

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? I wrote A LOT in high school and a little bit in college, but stopped when I got a job after college.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? No, lost those in high school.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No, never, but I have sky dived (and I'll never do that again!)...

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Right now, any flavor of Frosted Mini Wheats

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? My work boots, yes. Any other shoes, no.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Not particularly, but I hope to think I could find your pressure points and knock you on your butt.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Mint Chocolate Chip.

14. SHOE SIZE? 8

15. RED OR PINK? Pink.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I'll do the vain thing and pick my nose and forehead.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My estranged sister.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? No, but I love reading them on other blogs!

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Grey sweatpants and gray teeshirt, with my felted clogs.

20. LAST THING YOU ATE? Just ate a bagel with cream cheese.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Listening to Howard Stern on the internet.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Purple.

23. FAVORITE SMELL? I love lilacs.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? DH. He stalks me on his way to work. :)

25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Eyes

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from? The most recent one I've read is on Amber's blog. And I like her :)

27. FAVORITE DRINK? Pepsi. Alcoholic? Michelob Ultra.

28. FAVORITE SPORT? To watch? Nascar, which I've watched hardly any of this year.

29. EYE COLOR? Blue...nearly gray.

30. HAT SIZE? ???

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yes...unless I'm lazy.

32. FAVORITE FOOD? Hmmmm...I like a lot of different things. I'm going to go with my Mom's dumplings and sour kraut.

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings.

34. IF YOU COULD LIVE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHERE WOULD THAT BE? London maybe?

35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter.

36. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs.

37. FAVORITE DESSERT? Cheesecake.

38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Whoever wants to.

39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Whoever doesn't read this or any blogs.

40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? I'm in between books. Very in between. Too much knitting going on!

41. WHAT’S ON YOUR MOUSE Pad? A sleeping puppy.

42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? The Unit, Law and Order SVU.

43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? I'm not sure.

44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? My favorite band ever--The Beatles.

45. THE FURTHEST YOU’VE BEEN FROM HOME? Germany.

46. WHAT’S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? I can't think of any :( How boring. I can ride a motorcycle and knit, which seems very odd to me.

47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Illinois...still here

48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? I copied Amber, as usual.

Step One in my Spinning Journey

I got my Top whirl spindle and some roving from annie may on ebay!


I'm bringing it to Angelia's house in November and we're going to spin together! I may end up waiting to try it until then anyway. I'll have my first spinning class at The Fold by then, but that'll be on a wheel. Ang said there a spinning supply shop right by her house! We are going to have soooooooo much fun!!!

Thanks to Amber, I'm coveting this pattern. I DON'T NEED ANYTHING ELSE ON MY TO DO LIST!!! But I really want it!

This post should be underneath the following one!

SOCK STASH!!!!! See the following post for the reason I'm posting this!

This is my Knit Picks yarn, which I haven't tried yet.


Lorna's Laces (Black Purl, I loooove this stuff), Socks That Rock in Cobalt Bloom (cannot wait to use this either!!), and Cherry Tree Hill in Java (can't wait to use this either!)


KPPPM in an unknown color, unknown yarn, and some Regia Bamboo


Here's 1 of 2 Lorna's Lace. I LOVE this yarn!


Here's the WIP of the Austermann...I love this yarn!


My other Austermann...love this (nice flash) and some other brown yarn I won in an auction at my guild meeting.



I think that's it. I loooooove my sock yarn, I just have to get better at doing socks. That little tiny yarn drives me crazy sometimes!!

Sockoberfest is under way!!!

Silly me didn't know there was a Socktoberfest questionnaire, so here is mine!

When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?
I learned in a 2 part guild meeting in Fall '05. The VP in the guild is a fantastic knitter and took the time to teach a bunch of us.

•What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?
My 1st completed pair was on worsted weight (Malabrigo to be more exact!) I made these in late Spring this year and they are WARM! I finished them in a couple days. I've worn them only once (to work, with my big combat boots), and I did notice that they seem to be felting on the bottom...I think I must have some MAJOR sweat going on down there!

• What would you have done differently?
I loved the worsted weight pattern (It was a Knitting Pure and Simple pattern), and as much as I love Malabrigo, the nect time I make them, it'll definitely be a different yarn so they are more comfortable (sweat wise!)

• What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?
I really haven't worked with too many yarns, but I have quite a bit of sock yarn stash. In the few socks I do have either one pair completed or on the needles, I like Opal and Lisa Souza's quite a bit!



•Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?
I started with DPNs, and I did like it, except for the ladders. Then my KH friend told me a great tip with DPNs (knitting the first two stitches of the next needle with the needle you just worked...then starting with the new empty needle). I bought the Cat Bordhi 2 circs book and a little Magic Loop book, and now I have 2 different socks on 2 different 2 circs. Heehee. I've never tried to crochet socks!

•Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)
I think I've only done a short-row...I don't know enough about socks to know what any other heels are called!

•How many pairs have you made?
One pair, one without a partner, and 3 on the needles. Oh my.

For some reason, not all my pictures will not post in here, so I'll have to use another post :(