Anna's Yarn Mansion

A little house blend brewing, eh?

For a good old fashioned coffee and yarn swap that is! :-D Before I go any further, allow me to post my questionnaire for my Starbucks & Yarn Swap-a-roo.

My Questionnaire Responses

   1. Full name: You already know, upstream pal!

   2. Ravelry ID: knittycent

   3. Email address: You already know, upstream pal!

   4. Blog address (if you have one): You're here! :-) 

   5. Handmade item you desire in the swap (bag, cup cozy, etc.): Cup Cozy!

   6. Starbucks item you desire (gift card, mug, beans, etc.): Gift Card would be great

   7. Favorite Starbucks beverage/bean: Tall, Vanilla, Non-Fat Latte

   8. Favorite snack food: Mmm....probably white chocolate covered (Double-Stuff'd) Oreos

   9. Favorite color(s): Hot pink (not soft pink), RHOyal blue, GlamRHOus Gold...the usual

  10. Favorite fragrance: None really, just flairs up my allergies.

  11. What types of things do you like to knit?: Socks, cute summer tops, sometimes hats

  12. Do you spin?: Yep, Ashford Joy Double-Treadle

  13. Do you dye your own yarn?: Sometimes, not too often though

  14. Favorite yarns: Brown Sheep Top of the Lamb (NOT Lamb's Pride with that Mohair that bothers me), Rowan Pure Wool DK, just about any socks yarn

  15. Favorite needles: Addi Lace Turbos

  16. Do you have any allergies?: Yep, grass, cats, perfumes.

  17. Would you be willing to prepare an angel kit if necessary?: Possibly . . . depends. Money's funny for adjuncts over the summer.

  18. Do you have any special requests?: None really

  19. Do you have any pets?: No, but I dog-sit for a basset hound that I practically call my own.

  20. Is your home smoking or non-smoking?: Definitely NON-SMOKING!

Okay, that's done...I'm back for the moment, peoples! If you hadn't noticed in my flickr feed to the left, I finished another pair of socks and got a cute pair of Sketchers to go with them. Gotta love it when your shoes ($15 when I bought 'em, but now marked down to $10.50) cost less than your sock yarn!

Anywho, here's the low down . . .

June 2008 Flat Feet-izms 

SIZE: 5 in women's

NEEDLE: size 1, Addi Turbo, 40" cable

YARN: Flat Feet Sock Yarn 

STARTED: Sunday, June 1, 2008

FINISHED: Sunday, June 29, 2008

VERDICT: The yarn is ubber soft, knits up wonderfully. Some people have had issues with the way the yarn looks while it's being knit up. I tend to hold my smaller needles with a vice grip so I didn't notice that with my knitting. Either way, it washes up great and looks like any other sock yarn after a good soak and drying. I've got another panel of this unique yarn to work with again in the near future. It's crazy to think that a panel of yarn looking like this turned into the pair of socks that it did. I have so much yarn left over, I might be able to work up some anklets, LOL.

I'm still working toward the completion of ye old Rosalind. What you need a panned out shot to see my progress? Well, exccuuuusse me! :-p Gotta love the Addi Lace needles by the way. They make the k3tog's a little bit easier. 

Anywho, I'm maybe 5 inches or so from casting off the left front. I'm trying to enjoy my last week off before working a 4 day week (for a nearly 8 hour shift, which is pretty rare in the library world . . . most shifts are only 5-6 hours) or else I'd probably have a finished shot of the left front by now.

I hope to finish it up before next week so I can sail down the home stretch for the right front panel, work my sleeves, and call it a wrap on this thing. I can't wait to wear it with a piece of RHOyal Blue ribbon going through the middle. 

I bought my buttons about a week or so ago while dog-sitting out of town. I think you guys will get a kick out of the completed object. Even on size 4 needles, this puppy is knitting up quick!

Now that I've finished my June socks, I've already started to work on my July pair. I'm actually going to work on a pattern this time! It's the Spring Forward pattern in the Summer '08 Knitty that a lot of folks are raving over. I just finished working up to the 66 stitches needed in the pattern when I took this photo. The yarn is stripping pretty nicely in this pattern thus far. I'm using Socks that Rock Lightweight in the Sherbert colorway. I love bright, cheery colors (as if you haven't noticed already).

As for the rest of this summer, I'm planning to just relax, at least a little, and try to feel halfway normal. As I write this, I'm still pretty tired most of the time, which is something I plan to chat up my doc about when I do my annual physical in August. Maybe see about a hysterectomy while we're at it. Hey, I'm tired of going through the motions every month (especially when I have cramps strong enough to nauseate me)! :-p

Seen any good movies lately? Sex and the City was pretty hilarious...I was pretty mad about it taking Samantha so long to come to her senses though. That dog of hers was too cute! ;-)

I'm really looking forward to seeing Hancock sometime this week/weekend. Gotta love another Will Smith summer blockbuster. 

If you haven't already, check out Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns on DVD. That movie is sooo good. Angela Basset kills it every time. Such a touching story, with a little dose of Madea in there to move it along.

10,000 B.C. was pretty good, too. The disc I received was a little scratchy, but the plotline moved right along and kept with the time period in which it was filmed/meant to depict. Two thumbs up for that.

I've got Vantage Point sitting here at home waiting to be watched. I'm thinking it'll be really good too. We'll have to wait and see!

I'm off to get to knitting traveling scarves . . . oh yeah, I joined another round. Mailed it off the other day. It's another double-knit/double-sided, charted by moi sensation. :-p This time, the mocha colored-side will be the right side. With a new traveling scarf comes a new scrapbook, this time it's a 6x6" beauty. Gotta love it!

Whew, now I finally believe that is all from moi. And I'm off to get back to knitting!

Happy knitting, scrapbooking, spinning, crocheting, and crafting in general! ;-)

knitz everywhere!

When one doesn't have to worry about getting up for work, a mere 4-5 hours having getting home from the last thankless job with no benefits, life is good! :-D

Howdy people! How's the summer been treating you? Well, me, I've been on a knitting spree. I finished this Little Lamb Cardigan for a student flying back to South Carolina (if she hasn't already) to greet her forthcoming grandson. I used some Cascade 220 Superwash that I had sitting in my stash, less than one skein for the cardi. Size 10 needles. Be on the look out for a little type sportin' this sweater, Vera, LOL!

I'm ashamed to admit that I knit this back in March, but didn't get around to sewing the buttons on until a few weeks ago. Either way, the person that received it was gushing for a good 5-10 minutes about it . . . I give you Clementine's Popcorn Hoodie. For a project that is sooo quick and easy, you wouldn't believe how people looove this pattern. Even my mom had to stop and pet the yarn and admire this thing. 

I got the pattern from the Baby Sweater Yahoo Group ions ago, saved it and realized recently that the pattern writer took it down. I've got the address for where one would have to send a check - yeah, no paypal/downloading as far as I can tell - to get the pattern, plus about 29 others by the young lady that made this ubber cute pattern. The baby I knit it for lives over in Spokane, Washington so I'm sure she'll get plenty of use out of it. I used Debbie Bliss Merino Chunky (sadly another fantastic yarn that's been discontinued) and size 10.5 needles for this one. 

Last but not least, I've finished my plain jane, May '08 Sock a Month KAL 5 socks about 4 hours before May was up on the 31st.  They fit so nice and comfy! The yarn is nice and soft with a little bit of sproing to it, perfect to keep my toes toasty . . . plus, they add a little personality to my Doc Marten Mary Janes for work! ;-)

Out with the old business, in with the new!

I'd been saving this until I finished the back portion, but here's the completed back panel of my forthcoming Rosalind. Everybody ahhh and oooh at the same time, LOL. I'm using Elann Sonata's Inca Gold yarn to knit this and I have to say it's a satisfying knit. I've read some bad comments about this yarn on Ravelry, but I'm happy with it. I've only found one small knot out of the two skeins that I've knit with so far. The yarn doesn't hurt my hands and at $1.98/ball, you can't beat a top that's gonna cost you less than $20 to knit, including shipping! Anywho, I'm knitting the 36.5" bust size, we'll see how things shape up this go 'round. The proof is in the puddin', or should I say the fitting? ;-)

Either way, look at the detail on this thing. Ya gotta love it. The leaf pattern requires a tough k3tog, so I had to pull out the big guns of the Addi Lace needles to work with it for fear of puncturing a major blood vessel in my left finger with the knit picks needle I was using before. Safety first! LOL

Anywho, among other things, I've been writing to penpals lately. Yep, still on that kick. Used my old Smith Corona typewriter to type up a few since I've been behind on that with school and everything. I've got a very-overdue-for-a-response letter from a fellow knitter on the east coast that I'm hoping to respond to very soon as well. :-) It just brightened my day to read your letter and see the different patterns you suggested for me, loved it! :-D

I even joined the . It's a really neat group with a tagline of plura scriptum epistola = "write more letters." Plus the organizer is a knitter and has a group on Ravelry, too! :-)

I'm about an inch and a half away from starting the slip stitch heel on my latest pair of socks in progress. Yep, those Flat Feet socks! Sorry, I tried to doctor up the photo as much as I could, but sometimes, there's no substitute for regular old sunlight! I'll get a better shot of 'em once I've turned the heel and started the home stretch of the leg on the sock. It's working up really nice though. :-)

Let's see, what else do you want to know? 

I'm doing okay health wise. Allergies and asthma are in check. The only thing that's really bugging me is this darn iron-deficiency anemia. Boy will it tire you out! I've had it off and on since high school, and I swear I can never get it right. Either I weigh too much for the doctors to be comfortable with that or I'm in a good weight range for my height, but I'm beginning to become anemic. What gives? sheesh I don't like to eat nuts and I can only stomach so many burgers or sandwiches with meat in 'em. I'm tempted to start drinking protein shakes cause I've noticed that I'm sleeping later and consistently feeling tired when I should be fairly well rested. 

I'm fighting the good fight . . . checking in on my fellow knitsters, and enjoying sending along and getting scarves in the Traveling Scarves Group on Ravelry. My scarf consists of this double-sided/double-knit design. Two halves of a coin! ;-) The first side is really a gold color in person. I used Rowan Pure Wool DK to knit my sample. Very yummy yarn! 

This photo infused post is filled to the brim. Thanks so much for stopping by and continuing to stop by. I look forward to decompressing further, eating right/better, and having fun this summer. Stay tuned for updates!

Happy knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, and general craftiness!!! ;-)

i finished something REALLY cute!

wanna see it? Here it goes!

Crocus Cardigan

Started: Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Finished: Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Yarn: Dale Stork (took just over 2 skeins of yarn)
Needle Size: 2, 3 Knit Picks Fixed Circs and Addi Turbos *explained later
Pattern: Crocus Cardigan by Oak Couture
Size: 6 months
Verdict: Well worth the knitting. And the weaving in of ends. Once work and classes cool down for a minute, I figure I'll knit another one to enter into the local county or possibly state fair. It's that time of year again! Aside from the lace knitting and funky rib pattern up top, most of it was just plain old stockinette. Follow the Yarn Harlot's motto and just pop in a movie and knit. Worked well enough for me.

Sorry my peoples, had to get that in first. TypePad has created some funky new interface for composing posts that seems to run really slow so this post probably won't be long. I'm fighting the good fight in organic chem.

In more recent news, since I'm writing this post, my flight back and forth to California for sorority regionals went well enough. Virgin America's mood lighting definitely works. I had the smoothest flight ever on the way down to California. The flight back was definitely one of the worst, turbulence wise.. Said my prayers a couple of times! Back to the knitting, shall we? Only another knitter could understand the agony of defeat. I was one stinking sleeve away from finishing my  mini-sweater. I couldn't afford to take a day off from work before flying out, so I was too much of a mess and tired to knit anymore in order to have the thing ready in time. Oh well, maybe in time for one of the community projects that I'm working on before the year is out.

Anywho, as a whole, the event was great. First time that western regionals sold out, so it was pretty packed for most of the sessions. Learned a lot about my organization and I'm saving my pennies to go to Boule in July. Which means another plane trip to Detroit this time. I only plan to go for the weekend session to see a few major events that are suppose to go on.

More on that later!

Anywho, while in the midst of knitting the crocus cardigan, I got angry about not having enough of all the needle sizes, so I purchased size 2 - 9 KnitPicks fixed circulars. First off, the size 16" cable takes some getting use to. Even with my little hands, it felt odd to work with needles this small in diameter. Once I got use to them, it was smooth sailing. Great buy if I say so myself!

With that said, I joined the Traveling Scarves Group on Ravelry. To celebrate (or to show much I am into crafting), I made myself a 3"x3" Mini Scrapbook to travel along with my scarf as knitters from all over the place add their stitches to the eclectic garment. Can't wait to see what comes back to me. :-)

Aside from my anticipation over a certain movie coming out tomorrow, that's about it from me. Well unless you count the socks that go on forever. I cast these on during the turbulent flight back from LAX. I had to put them down while working on the Crocus Cardigan, but I've knit on them here and there. We'll see if I finished them for the knick of time on May 31st (for the Sock a Month KAL5 blog).

Either way, I look forward to posting more once class is done in another few weeks. Working between 3 counties isn't fun, but a girl's gotta get her TIAA-Cref account fattened up somehow!

Back to studying...and spying wistfully at blogs during one of my free moments at work.

Happy knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, and crafting in general!

*gasp* She lives!

LOL, you know I'm just playing with you guys!

Organic chem has been kicking my behind, but I'm finally kind of feeling like I kinda understand where the class is going. Cool beans.

Anywho, I finished something and wanted to share with you guys. Nevermind that I meant to finish it in March, it's all complete now! :-)

Welt Fantastic Socks

PATTERN: Welt Fantastic from Sensational Knitted Socks

YARN: Socks that Rock - Lightweight - Rockstar

NEEDLE: 1, Addi Turbo, 40" cable (magic loop)

STARTED: Way back on the tail end of February 2008

FINISHED: April 30, 2008

Just under the wire for the SAM KAL 5 April deadline! Anywho, I won't be knitting from any patterns until the quarter's over. Straight stockinette from now until about June 8th. Seems sooooo far away!

What else has been up with me? Nothing much. I am flying out/down to Los Angeles tomorrow morning (should arrive by about 12:30pm) for my sorority's western regionals. It should be a lot of fun meeting sorors all up and down the west coast corridor.

Boule will be even better! Sorors from all over the globe will be there! :-D

I am kinda scared of my flight, but with my knitting to keep me company, and all of the unique features on the Virgin America planes, I should be good to go! Keep an eye on the left hand bar or my flickr photostream for pics that I plan to upload at night or early in the morning. I'll be back in the Seattle area by Sunday evening. Tired, but excited and happy to have been a part of all this.

Here's hoping my ears "pop" back into place and I'm not in tears and feeling like my throat is going to close up during the final moments of the descent like I was 6 years ago on my last (short) flight!

Thanks again for all the love that I've been continuing to receive. The IMs, emails, Ravelry messages, etc. I swear, starting a knitting blog is on the top 10 list of things that I have never regretted doing! It's truly a Blessing how people so far away geographically can feel so close to your heart. I should write tacky holiday cards, shouldn't I? :-p

I'm off to finish packing, try to get a shower, and a few hours of sleep before getting up super early in the morning.

Happy knitting, spinning, scrappin', etc.!

howdy, friend!

First off, let me start by saying thank you. To each one of you that's stopped by my blog to say, "stay strong," or "how are you?" or just sent a good thought my way. I've really needed it the past few months!

I guess you could say that I've been moving through a quarter-life crisis of sorts. It's typically when I've been through the lowest of the low moments in my life (typically in quiet solitude) that I feel more and more like, "Well, I made it through this major obstacle on my own, without anyone's help or shoulder to cry on. When x-y-z happens, why should I bother or care if I have people in my corner or not cause I've made it through just fine through z-y-x with no one's help." Just knowing people care is sometimes enough to make people feel like opening up and being more trusting in general.

So again, thanks to all of you once again. Whether through the blog, Ravelry, an email, etc. Taking a moment out of your life to let someone else know that you care is working more wonders than you think that it possibly can! If I'm ever in a position to do the same in the future, I definitely will.

Just because I haven't made many comments lately, it doesn't mean that I haven't been peeking in on different blogs to see what's going on. I've been missing you guys and can't believe it's been over a month since my last post! :-O

Okay, enough of the mushy stuff. Okay, maybe not quite yet. Thank you to Vera for mailing this HK goody to me from South Carolina! I've seen some of these (limited edition Hello Kitty figurines) online and was wondering if I'd ever buy or receive one. That all got taken care of the other day in the mail!

Also some more thanks are in order to Spring. Excuse the grainy shot, but she brought back some goodies from her recent trip to the ATL. I got some Hello Kitty deco tape that I've been searching for for ages (and will never be used since it was so hard to find), eraser, and some color change stickers. All of which has been properly stowed away to make sure my deco tape stays in tack!!!

I'll probably be the little old lady in the nursing home that's entertained for hours when her kids swing buy with a $10 purchase from the Sanrio store full of Hello Kitty goodies. :-p

Let's get to the dirt.

What did I do during spring break?

Nothing too exciting. Relaxed. Got in quite a bit of running. Didn't knit too much. Just tried to vegetate and get my mind back for a little bit before going back to the usual schedule of work, class, come home for homework.

While prepping for finals, I found myself spinning quite a bit of yarn. At first, it was my usual