Huh?

I don't know............

You are The Star

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Star is one of the great cards of faith, dreams realised

The Star is a card that looks to the future. It does not predict any immediate or powerful change, but it does predict hope and healing. This card suggests clarity of vision, spiritual insight. And, most importantly, that unexpected help will be coming, with water to quench your thirst, with a guiding light to the future. They might say you're a dreamer, but you're not the only one.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Lots to report - Socktoberfest, part 1.

I realize I'm a little late on this one, but why should my blog be any different from my behavior in normal life (I'm always late)? Needless to say, I didn't really need Socktoberfest to be inspired to knit some socks, but I was. It was pretty obvious to me and, well, everyone else around me that my "sock bug" was in full effect during the month of October. I'm not sure how this is different from any other month, but whatever. I knit a lot of socks. Wanna see 'em? Okay. I'll preface all this by saying I didn't knit the entire lot in October...some of them were started a long time ago, and some of them got started in October, and well, you get the idea.

I'm going to start by celebrating the pairs of socks I finished. That's right - you heard it here first - PAIRS! I feel very accomplished. And might I add, it's very fulfilling to actually finish entire projectS. Yes, with an "s", because I finished more than one, and am reaping the benefits by actually being able to wear my handknit socks regularly! Enough, here are the are the PAIRS:



Here is a pair I knit from my basic sock pattern using All Things Heather sportweight in "Vacation". These things are soft as shit.

Here's a closeup:



And another, because I like you:



And the fully monty:



Here is a pair that, prior to taking the picture, had been washed about 4 times. It was made with the basic sock pattern using Fleece Artist merino in "Pinata":



I love the yarn, but the dye job was a little whack. I still think they're marvelous, though, even if I DID make them.

Here's my favorite pair I've ever made, knit with Schaeffer Anne in "Hot Stuff (?)":



And a closeup:



That's it for the pairs, but come on people...that's quite an accomplishment for me, considering my horrid case of SSS. I've come a long way. So, now, I will show you the single socks, so we maintain a theme for this blog. First up is another basic sock knit up with Black Bunny Fibers (you can find it on etsy.com) "Eat Your Veggies":



I LOVE this yarn. Really. You can't get any better, people.

Here's one done in Socks That Rock "Farmhouse":



I love me some Socks That Rock, but I've gotta say this skein wasn't as shiny as some I had knit with before. Hrm. Here's a closeup:



That's all of the single socks, so now we'll move on to the WIPs. Here's one in the works, knit with the custom Simply Socks Sock Yarn colorway of Fleece Artist merino:



Here's another one in Fleece Artist merino, in the "Tiger" colorway:



And a closeup of the yarn in the ball, because it makes me hot (not really):



Here's one that's allllllmost done using Knitty's RPM pattern and Koigu KPPPM:



That yarn looks prettier in the skein. It's so unfortunate.

Here's a fun PAIR. That's right - I'm trying a new technique with this one, in which I knit both at once, using magic loop. So far, it isn't bad, except that I have to stop every ten minutes and untangle the yarn. It is obnoxious. Also, I'm not exactly sure how this is going to work once I get to the heep flaps. That is, when and if I ever get that far. Mreh. Here 'tis:



And a closeup:



Here's one using a ripple stitch from a new book I found that I'll tell you about later in this post:



This was knit with some yarn I found on etsy.com from a vendor called Lavender Sheep. I realize I haven't gotten very far. I have a short attention span, apparently. We'll call it S.A.D.D. (Sock Attention Defecit Disorder).

I've actually finished this one, since I took this picture, and it is marvelous. It has to be one of my favorites. I knit it with Addi size 0s, and cast on 88(!) stitches:



I thought I was going to run out of yarn, but I ended up having just enough. This is Lorna's Laces in "Lorikeet", though I call it the Fuddrucker's colorway. And a closeup:



Here's another one I've since finished, using another lovely, lovely skein of Schaeffer Anne:



Love, love, love the striping.

Here's one that's barely started using the "Breathmint" colorway of the Syncopation line from the sKNITches online shop:



Next up is some more show and tell. I have added to my sock knitting library. Here are some Nancy Bush classics:



The Knitter's Magazine sock pattern books and a ripple and wave stitch book, which I ADORE:



And I won an auction on eBay for a huge lot of vintage patterns. Primarily, I wanted these:



Very nice. Here is one of my favorite pages:



I will definitely be making this one someday:



I'm about sock-ed out for now. I hope you enjoyed this calamity.

The shape of things to come.

This looks pretty good, I must say. I wasn't at all impressed with the Fall 2006 issue. This one will be out on newsstands on December 12th.

Also.

How cool is this???

I must make one - perhaps over a very long period of time with leftover sock yarn? I have GOT to find this pattern...I had the pleasure of seeing Jennifer's blanket in person at the last Stitch 'n Bitch at Threaded Bliss last Thursday. Jennifer, I've got to say...it's soooo much more impressive in person!

Oh, BOY.

Have you guys seen the new etsy??

I'm pretty sure I can blame this site for why I have a problem with buying too much sock yarn, I think.

I don't have an accent? Tell that to everyone I know except my immediate family.

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The West
The South
The Inland North
Philadelphia
Boston
North Central
The Northeast
What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes

Christmas is coming...

I asked for one of these:



And one of these:



And one of these:



Or one of these:



And some of this, of course:



Oh, boy!

In one year...

I haven't done a non-knitting post in a while. I feel it is time. That's right, time for a list. I used to have another journal that has long since been deleted, but I would, from time to time post informative, yet humorous (I thought so, anyway), lists, as my posts. I did one a few months ago, as you can see in the archives, and I'd like to keep the trend alive.

I have been known to say that I don't think I've changed at all since I was a teenager. I think, personality-wise, I really haven't, that much. When I was a freshman at MTSU, I remember going back to my high school English class with a bunch of other kids I had graduated with, to talk about college life with that year's seniors. One of the questions they asked was, "So, does anyone notice anything different about any of your classmates?" and almost immediately, two of my peers said, "I think Erin has matured." At the time, I didn't notice a change, but perhaps it was true. In high school, I was what I would have called a focused, yet laid-back class clown. Or maybe I was just a goof, I don't know. But, looking back, my tone and the way I carried myself had changed, in just less than a year, for sure.

I guess I don't normally notice the changes myself. Maybe they have to be pointed-out to me. I think now, though, I'm definitely noticing how I've changed, within just one year's time. Here are some of the changes I have noticed:

1. I have entered into a wonderful romantic relationship. The changes from this abound in the following ways:

1a. Work is not as much of a priority as it used to be, or in other words, my priorities have shifted.

1b. I now live with a loving, considerate, and wonderful companion (sorry if this is cheesing you out, JC), in a house.

1c. I no longer drive to work (we are carpooling), which is also wonderful.

1d. I have learned that anything that's truly worth it, isn't ever easy.

2. I have owned up to my love of shopping. I make no bones about it. I adore the activity, and I like to spend money.

3. I have found a niche within my hobby, knitting. I am a sock knitter. I find it immensely satifsying and fun.

4. I lost a friend and learned that this isn't always a bad thing. Letting go was bittersweet, but I think it was ultimately the best decision for me.

5. As a follow-up to #4, I have told myself that I will no longer tolerate or maintain relationships with friends that are abusive, friends who harm or attempt to harm relationships with other potential friends, and friends who I just, if I'm honest, do not like. I have no desire and also have no time to deal with that kind of drama.

6. As a follow-up to #5, I find myself being drawn to friends who are severely low-maintenance, and can be counted-on for being this way. With this kind of friend, you always know exactly where you stand. Friends I had previously paid not as much attention to, are now coming to the forefront.

5. I say the phrases, "Buck, BUCK!" and "Wassup?!" more regularly.

6. I find myself really looking forward to family events and holidays.

7. I'm a little more "go with the flow", as it relates to work, but find myself still at the same level of stress. I'm not entirely sure how that's possible, but whatever.

That's all I can think of right now.

I'm not an addict, it's cool

So, I was just about to check my e-mail, and found this article on Yahoo. It's an article on Internet addiction and they site the following as symptoms to watch out for:

1. Lying about how much time is spent online.
2. General decrease of physical activity and social life.
3. Neglecting obligations at home, work, or school to spend time online.
4. Spending too much money on computer equipment or Internet activities.
5. Feeling a constant desire to be online when they're away from the computer.
6. Going online to escape real world problems.
7. Disregarding the emotional or physical consequences of being in front of a computer all day.
8. Denial of the problem.

So, I started thinking...aren't these questions you could ask when trying to decide if you're addicted to anything? Even, knitting, perhaps?? So, out of curiousity, I replaced "online" and "Internet" with "knitting" and could answer or partially answer "yes" to several of the questions.

The article also referenced a Net Addiction Test, which again, I feel could be applied to any addiction. I took the test and had this result:

"50 -79 points: You are experiencing occasional or frequent problems because of the Internet [knitting]. You should consider their full impact on your life."

I'm not sure you can even really taste this test and apply it to knitting or anything else, but I think it's possible.

Now, I don't really think I'm addicted. Is it even possible to be addicted to knitting, anyway? It's something to think about, though, for sure.

I enjoy knitting immensely, but I don't want it to get in the way of my life. Ever.