Now for some (obligatory) knitting content....

Just kidding. My posts are almost all knitting related. But in order to fulfill SP10 hostess request, I am now going to write about my favorite knitting accessory...

I am pretty darn low maintenance. I don't use fancy counters or gadgets very often. About the only things I use are crochet hooks, chibi needles, scissors, cable needles, and plain plastic stitch markers. I don't like heavy and very dangly stitch markers. A swap pal (see below) just sent some nice, small, single bead stitch markers for making socks with so that is an exception. I will say about the neatest thing I have bought and am actually using in terms of a knitting accessory is the Knit Picks magnetic chart board. It folds in half and closes on itself to protect your charts while travelling, the magnets ACTUALLY stick to the board (unlike another board I have purchased), and it can be folded in a way that it props itself up. It is a much better buy at $10 than the plain magnetic boards I have seen selling for $6-$7. So I highly recommend it to anyone that wants to follow a chart or carry their knitting patterns around in a protected way.

My "April Fools The Jokes on You" swap pal Cindi in Orlando sent me a kickin' swap package. Ooh, sorry, I forgot to include the mug and candy in the picture. Anyway, it included a Mountain Colors sock pattern and Joslyn's Fiber Farm sock yarn in Mocaw colorway. I was thinking this morning that the sock yarn has orange and blue in it, the UF gator colors, so I will definitely be able to use this sock yarn. In fact, DH will love it as he is the gator. Somehow she knew I was another chocolate and coffee nut. I guess we all can just sense each other.

And the alpaca yarn from my mom has finally made its way down from Alaska. She told me to tell her what to buy more of....since my mom has already claimed the brown for herself, I am thinking that I need more brown for me! Now I just need to go sit down and figure out how much more of each color that I want.

Now I know you all are jealous of my alpaca yarn. Especially the brown and black.

And I purchased some bamboo yarn to make the Dream Swatch. I love the colors in this yarn, much more brilliant than even those in SWTC's bamboo. So, even though it looks a bit splitty, I will throw myself into using this yarn by sacrificing my sanity to the splittiness just to get cool colors! I really wanted the original yarn used in the pattern because I love and wear those colors, but I have no such luck. So I think this is a fairly good compromise!

Pattern (to be used): Dream Swatch

Yarn: Madil Eden Pring Color 039
Source: Rebelle
Needle: TBD

I went to a really cool little yarn shop right off of the UK campus in Lexington called ReBelle. They carried quite a few sock yarns, and quite a bit of alternative yarns (corn, soy, bamboo, etc..) and many colors of malabrigo. I was so jonesin' for the malabrigo, as they had colors that I cannot get locally. But I held off. I really want to save SOME money to go to Maryland Sheep and Wool. Anyway, I knew I was home when the girl behind the counter sat there, quietly working in frustration on her socks! Thank goodness they had late hours on Wednesday, the day we drove in. Because I did not have any other time on this trip to go yarn shopping. Boohoo! So, ReBelle, you were my salvation! :)

I also did not get much knitting done, but I have been driving to the hoop on my goal to finish my Clapotis. I only have one more repeat in the middle section! And then I get to start decreasing! I am so excited. I will post pictures later this week.

SP 10 Questionairre

Sorry, I did not know before now to post this to my blog by the end of February. So here it is!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I love merino wool of any kind. I do not like acrylic, unless it is in a blend with a natural fiber.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Needle roll, jars/vases.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I have been knitting for four years. I learned mostly from books. I consider myself to be an intermediate level knitter.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yes. But it is not up to date. :P I do have a knitting wishlist on my blog too.
5. What's your favorite scent? Vanilla, Lavender, watermelon.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Yes, but not horribly. I love chocolate, raspberry flavored things, peanut butter, and hot tamales.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I quilt, applique and bead. I haven't learned to spin yet but want to.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I like all kinds of music. I have an ipod and can play MP3s.
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? My favorite color is green. I can't wear yellow, and I am not huge into pink unless it is used with other colors as contrast.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? No pets, trying to start a family.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? It is warm here, so I mostly wear scarves, an occasional beanie hat, fingerless mitts.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Socks, shawls, sweaters.
13. What are you knitting right now? Socks, Clapotis, Lizard Ridge, and a sweater.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes.
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Circular, bamboo or high quality metal.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes.
17. How old is your oldest UFO? Umm, 18 months I think.
18. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween. I love seeing the little kids have fun.
19. Is there anything that you collect? Bear stuff, and Felix the Cat stuff (but not actively..don't go broke trying to find Felix the Cat stuff).
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I subscribe to Interweave Knits. I would like to buy some of Cookie's sock patterns this year.
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I am trying to learn dying and sock and sweater design this year.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yes! I wear a size 6 1/2 shoe.
23. When is your birthday? 11-29.