Yarn for Trade...

I have approximately 8 balls of the beautiful Rowan Holiday yarn (detailed specs here). I actually finished a garment with it last year. However it was the tiniest bit of too small. I could put it on but couldn't go out in public. At the time I was like, "I'll just rip it out and knit it again!" But the inspiration has long passed.



Please only reasonable offers! So no acrylic, acrylic-blends, fun fur, etc. If you're interested leave me a comment with your email addy. Or contact me at jacquieblackman AT gmail DOT com.

Treehugger talks about knitting (again)!

My favorite "one-stop shop for green news" posted about knitting again. I love these peeps! And this was before I found out they had their "own love affair with knitting." (Links to additional knitting stories at the bottom of their post.)

That's how they do it!

Brought to my attention by Ms. Snark

The Finger (A Quiz)

Taken from Purl This and Snarkland. Unfortunately I can't hang out with either of them (so says the quiz).

You Are a Pinky

You are fiercely independent, and possibly downright weird. A great communicator, you can get along with almost anyone. You are kind and sympathetic. You support all your friends - and love them for who they are. You get along well with: The Ring Finger Stay away from: The Thumb

What Finger Are You?

Summer Knitting In Review

It's been a month since I posted my summer knitting goals. I guess I should review to see where I am:

1. A-Line Top from Jo Sharp Saturday
2. Sea Mesh Wrap out of Handmaiden Seasilk
3. Sunflower Tam from Knitting Nature
4. Angora Baby Booties from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts(3 pair)
DONE 5. Magic Loop socks
DONE 6. Clapotis Cap out of Malabrigo
7. First Hat from Knit 2 Together
8. Begin Fitzgerald from Noro Knits
DONE 9. Gauge and start some sort of sweater out of Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed (probably Pimlico Shrug from Knit 2 Together)
10. Finish Toy Bear from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
DONE 11. Three baby related secret things (they're very small)
12. Dye-Versions Wrap

Looking at this list I feel I made good choices. There's only one thing that I'll scrap from the list now, as I'm not thrilled with the knit and I want to start focusing on cold weather items, is #1 the A-Line top. I've decided that trying to knit for a season I'm already in is silly since I'm such a slow knitter but if I give myself enough time to get things done than maybe I can actually wear that garment during the appropriate season.

For example, #9 I'm gauging and starting the Pimlico Shrug... even with it's 504 stitch ribbing. I'm ready for the tedium! But that is why I'm starting it now so I can put it aside for a bit and still hope to get it done by fall (so I can wear it until spring). After I finish the sleeve in the picture, I'll finish the bear (#10) and the three pairs of baby booties (#4). Then I'm going to cast on for the Sea Mesh Wrap (#2) and work on Pimlico at the same time.

Now for something completely different. The Toronto Humane Society has come out with a "new campaign to encourage pet adoption." I've watched all three ads (my favourite is below) and I've ogled the posters. They brought a tear (of joy!) to my eye and made me want to run out and adopt. Since I'm already animal tied, anyone who has been considering adoption might want to check these out. Even if you don't, you should still check them out.

Clap on! (Finished)

CLAP-O-CAP
Started: June 8th at Drunken Knitters, worked on during TTC KAL and then realized it was wrong.
Restarted: June 9th
Completed: June 19th
Pattern: The Clapotis Cap by Amy(?) over at Needles & Hooks
Pattern Modifications: none!
Yarn: Malabrigo (That Sophie gave me for my b-day last year)
Color: #237 Cuarenta
Needles: US 7/4.5mm KnitPicks Options

That's one thing off my summer to-do list....

I've been spoiled!!

I got my KTS3 package today from Sheri who spoiled the daylights outta me! The timing worked out perfectly as she got my package to her yesterday. It was almost like Christmas... but no snow or elves. Anyhoodle... lookylookylooky at what she sent me.

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Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

Starting from the top and working clockwise:
- Chocolate Necco Wafers which I haven't had in forever. (Yes, I've eaten a few of those already)
-THREE types of green tea! All in flavors I've never had before: Green Earl Grey and Tropical Green from Revolution, and Pouchong tea which is from Taiwan. I'm not sure which one I'll have tomorrow so maybe I'll just gorge myself on tea. Bwahahaah!
- A sweet note with a shot of the beautiful Pines Lake (the area she lives).
- Lu Noir Extreme biscuits (Yes, I've already torn into them. ::chomp, chomp::)
- Rosie The Riveter note cards that are too cool!
- Learn To Crochet Kit which comes with yarn, instruction (to make a belt, bag, flower necklace and hair scrunchi), beads, belt loop, tapestry needles, elastic and a crochet hook (natch!) I'm so glad she remembered that I wanted to learn and now I have the perfect excuse to start.
- Falling Water Lace Scarf Pattern (click here to download a PDF of your very own) It's such a lovely pattern and I've never seen it before. Thanks for introducing me to it!
- Two skeins of Lorna's Laces Bullfrogs & Butterflies in Tuscany. The colorway is exactly what I would have picked out for myself. GORGEOUS!
- Candied Ginger - her favorite and I'm glad she shared. And it's from Trader Joe's. One of the stores that I miss from the States.

I feel so spoiled and I'm absolutely THRILLED! Everything is perfect. It's like I shopped for myself. Thanks for being such a fantastic swapper, Sheri. You are awesome!! And I can't wait to make the scarf. But first I have to roll around in my yarn.

My KTS pal received her package...

and she liked it. She really liked it. Weee!

I got photos in the new Knitty...

Thanks to Rocketbride and her beautiful sock design, 'Vog on! A big "I'm not worthy!" goes out to Michelle who test knit AND photographed the Tequila Phoenix (the toe-up version of the socks). These two ladies totally rock!

I'm loving the summer issue and not just because I've got my photos in there. They have a lovely sock pattern that uses Schaefer Anne called Sweetpea, which is so convenient considering I just won some!

TTC Knit-A-Long == the Awesome!

The Great TTC Knit-A-Long was this past Saturday, and boy, was it a success! The weather was perfect (unlike last time) for this semi-annual yarn crawl that took over 60 knitters to 8 yarn stores around the GTA. I even had a working camera (unlike last time). I co-captained The Central Committee with the illustrious co-creator of the KAL and original fibre floozy, Beryl. We started at Alterknit for waffles, made our way to Knitomatic (where we waited and HAD to knit while waiting for them to open but it was our fault for not comfirming when they'd open), then popped over to Lettuce Knit (where I bought these), ate lunch at King's Cafe (Oh, the Enoki Mushroom Balls! How you haunt my dreams!), walked slowly over to Americo, stopped for a coffee break and finally settled in for the long streetcar ride out to The Naked Sheep for a great sale and prizes(!).

Honestly the day is a bit of a blur and I didn't meet as many people as I would have liked. I mean I did talk to a lot of people, but didn't get to really know them. Besides being clearly antisocial, I did have a lot of fun. Plus I took lots of photos. (Seriously. Like over 200.) And I give a lot of credit to Miss Hell for that, as we had some sort of weird "shooting from some part of the body contest." I withheld many of the photos because they're too silly or incriminating to post. Thankfully with all the camera tomfoolery I did get too distracted to actually buy a lot of yarn (unlike last time). Weeeellll, it was dangerous for a moment in Americo but I was pulled out of it just in time.

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Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

I want to give a huuuuuuuuuge shout out to Sandi and Lisa The Lung (captains of the West Team. Go Team West!), Peggy and Lisa The Goth (captains of the North Team. Go Team North!), Sophie (for rockin' the registration) and Katherine (who helped with too many things to name and as far as I can tell is blogless). Without their help there would not have been a TTC Knit-A-Long. You gals are totally boss!

Looking forward to seeing all of ya'll in the Fall.

What I won from KTS3

The yarn I won from the Knitters Tea Swap arrived last week and I've been hugging and squeezing and calling it George since it arrived. The colourway is Jane Addams. How cool is that?!

Many thanks to Allison at Simply Yarn Sock Company and Suzie at Knitters Tea Swap!

What I did this weekend...

A wee memento from our evening of bloody hilarity.

Magic Loop Socks are done!

MAGIC LOOP SOCKS
Started: May 9th (1st sock), May 25th (2nd sock) 2007
Completed: May 20th (1st sock), June 3rd (2nd sock) 2007
Pattern: Adult Basic: Socks by Ann Norling
Pattern Modifications: I did Magic Loop instead of DPNs. Also didn't really fix any mistakes (like untwisting picked up stitches) because I think I'll only be wearing these around the house and I just wanted to try Magic Loop.
Yarn: Lana Grossa Meilenweit Cotton Multiringel
Color: #2213
Needles: US 1/2.25mm KnitPicks 32" Circs

I found this rocking flickr tool used in The Hook and I's blog. Seemed pretty neat so I thought I would give it a test run here. What do you think? (If you'd like to try it for yourself click on "info" and follow the instructions.)

toronto.com mentions the TTC KAL

Yup, the TTC Knit-A-Long has been posted on toronto.com. W00t!

EDIT: And the Toronto Craft Alert gave us a shout out too!