Here Goes...

*Edited to add stats on Picovoli...and to note that the new MagKnits is up and there are some cute things this time around!!

In no particular order:

1. Spindling laceweight soy silk? Why don't you just hang yourself with the roving? Trust me, it's much quicker than the slow death you'll experience otherwise. I caved on that effort after about three yards (in six inch pieces that I had to keep twisting back together).

2. Behold! My latest single - I haven't set the twist yet, but Travis wrangled this wire hanger (which we hate, don't we?) into a good little holding place for the stuff in the meantime.



I'm going to leave it a single - it's a merino/silk blend, and I LOVE it. It's also Screaming Eagles colours (Travis' high school alma mater and the school where his sister just began her freshman year,) so it will probably become a beanie for her.



And there will be plenty more yarn - I have what seems like a TON of this roving to spin up, but I was anxious to...

3. Start spinning the roving my no-longer-secret Pal Vicki sent me! She sent two well-coordinated colors and suggested plying them together. Since I've been chickening and only spinning singles so far, I figured that sounded like a good idea (and will probably be beautiful, if I don't muck it up). I'd love to show you all the roving....but I already spun up one color. You'll see more of what's kickin' a little further down.



4. I signed up for SP9. "But Alyson, didn't you say you weren't going to do SP during the holidays?" Why yes, Reader, I did. But I also lie frequently. Stop paying such close attention to what I say I'm going to do. That way, it won't seem like I lie so much.

5. I upgraded to a fancy new Samsung cell phone. It has nifty Voice Command (and some other stuff like MP3 and TV capability) and is meant for a technophile, which I'm really not...but I really needed a phone that would use voice recognition to allow me to speak my text messages and send them to my chosen recipient without my having to type anything. (Yes, I am aware that this process sounds suspiciously similar to MAKING A PHONE CALL. I see that. But I don't like making phone calls. I like texting. So if I can text without texting AND without calling.....Brilliance.)

6. Despite all our efforts thus far, the Samsung has yet to accomplish the daunting task of passing along the gift of Voice Command to my spindle. So no matter how many times I firmly declare "Spin yarn!" to my spindle, it just lies there. Worthless thing.

7. My Picovoli has been modeled:



This is after I wore it all day at work. It wears great! I just wish I'd knit a size smaller - it's a bit baggier than I'd like. But comfy!!



(Necia asked what yarn I used and I realized that I hadn't given any details on the project! For shame!)

The Stats:
Yarn - Debbie Bliss Cathay in something like teal (I forgot to look at the colour, and yes I did use the yarn the pattern called for - crazy!)
Pattern - Picovoli in the 36" size (yep, shoulda knit the 32)
Needles - Size 4 Addi Natura 24"
Start - Not sure...cast on and knit about 1.5 inches ages ago, tossed in WIP basket and forgot about it...picked up again August 18.
Finish - August 26
Notes: I didn't really make any changes. Were I to knit it again - and it could happen - I'd knit the smaller size, lengthen the waist (two inches between decrease and increase wasn't enough for my long torso, turns out, and makes me look a little squat) and use any yarn other than Cathay. I LOVE the finished fabric, but there is ZERO twist to the stuff - knitting with it was sort of a pain.

8. I got a haircut.



9. We're upgrading faucets. When I say "we", of course I mean "Travis". I am occasionally called in to hold or fetch something, but I spend the entire time squirming and griping that Brodie is probably chewing on my spindle/needles/yarn/book and Travis eventually releases me. Still....the new faucets are super. (Unfortunately, now we have to upgrade some things in the master bathroom, as it is now way too blah for the spiffy new faucets. And I'd have photos of our spiffy faucets, but the work areas are, um, still in some disarray. So...later.)

10. Last but never ever least: MY PAL!!! Here's my goodies, in extreme detail. (Well, except for that roving. Sorry. I was antsy.) I heard some really scary tales of Secret Pal tomfoolery and let-downs, but I LOVED this whole experience. My spoilee was fun to shop for, and my spoiler was so good to me and indulged me so many ways! (Hence my inability to resist immediately signing up for the next round!)



Look - MALABRIGO!!! And in a colourway I haven't seen before, I don't think. Very ocean-y...I love it!! And Soak (which I'm so so curious about...I almost mail-ordered some a while back, so I'm antsy to try it.) An adorable keychain (in case I get trapped in my vehicle...I will always have knitting available!) and a knitting book to have on me at all times, and a poncho pattern (a coworker asked for a handknit poncho today, ironically.)

And now I'm off to finish what I started yesterday....I'm so anxious to spin up the rest and ply it - it's gonna be great!



Thanks, Vicki! You are AWESOME!!

Pal, Pal, Pal!!!!!!!!!

Aww, I got my last package...I was sad but that didn't stop me from tearing it open the minute I got a chance. (I would say "the minute I got home", but Travis was tearing apart the bathroom replacing faucets, and he needed several things right that second...you know how it goes.)

And it was a WONDERFUL last package! Some of my favorite things, some new things...I haven't taken any pictures yet, though. I know, I suck - I'm wearing my Picovoli to work today, and I wound off some really nice handspun yesterday, AND there's all those goodies - and I've photographed nothing. But there was all SORTS of fabulous things...some of which will not be photographed in their original state. (There might have been some fiber in there that didn't stay unspun for long.)

So yeah, basically I was so excited about spindling up my new fiber that I didn't drag out the camera yesterday. Even though I was home all day hiding from Ernesto. (Not really - but the good ol' US of A did give me the day off for my safety.) I got a new cell phone too, and spent part of my day playing with that.

So anyway, I'm rambling and the point is to tell Vicki that she is a FANTASTIC pal!!! And I LOVED my package! And I'm so glad I had you to make my first Secret Pal experience so great! And I will post a big gushy photo post very soon!

Now, I gotta go read her blog!

Unemployment Is Fun!

Well, it is when it's temporary...Travis is on a "vacation", having left his job on Friday and starting his new one next Wednesday. So he's got ten days to do stuff! Yesterday's "doing stuff" was mostly coming up to my office, bringing me two dozen roses and taking me to lunch, then grilling up some swordfish and veggie skewers for dinner.

And there was this:



(Heh - he melted down some chocolate chips with a bit of cinnamon and dipped strawberries in it....yum!)

On to knit stuff:

Rooster feels strongly about his yarn:



Look at him, licking his lips - told you he thought it was almost as pretty as he is. (Or he's sticking his tongue out at me, frustrated that I would even TRY to find something as pretty as him. I'm not sure which.)



There's that shelf I've been going on about! It's system is sort of wacked and messy, but I assure you there is a system in place here.

I might have a sock yarn problem:



Been working on the same pair for six weeks. Think I'll ever get through all this stuff? Sigh.

Psst! Lookit:



(Model shots come later.)

Rejoicing In Discombobulatedness

(The title is nipped from Necia's comment the other day - it made me laugh...I've made it my own personal motto.)

Zee FO, she is still blocking. Or rather, lying around in humid air, languishing, dying to be worn to work. I'm a bit nervous about that idea, too - wearing a handknit for the first time to work sounds frightening. What if it droops? What if it sags? What if it stretches during the day and ends up somewhere around my knees, with my bosoms hanging out?! I'll bring an extra blouse, just in case.

I have no real reason for posting...mainly I just wanted to acknowledge my SP, who left a comment I forgot to email a response to - so, SP (er, Vicki) - I'm so excited, but sad it's almost over. You've been such a great spoiler, and I've enjoyed our time together. And, to be fair, I'll avoid visiting your blog until after I get the reveal package. (It's killing me, just so you know. But I'm making an effort just for you. And to be completely honest, I did glance at it on Saturday. But I decided not to read anything until later, really!)

I owe so many pictures...the FO, the shelves Travis built, Rooster examining his cat-matching yarn...soon, my pretties, soon.

And in today's happy "Travis Is The Greatest Knitting Widower Ever" story - I love that at 2:00 a.m., when I finally whipped my shirt off the needles and slipped it on, he just stared and stared at me for the longest time - and when I finally said, "Well? Are you gonna tell me what you think?", he just quietly said, "I can't get over it. You MADE that. It's incredible." Awww. I guess I should knit him a sweater.

If I ever finish his socks.

I Accomplished Something.

And frankly, I'm not sure how I feel about it.

Then again, it's 2:00 a.m. and I just wrapped up, after tearing up my gauge swatch because I ran out of yarn with 15 bind-off stitches to go. I don't think I'm expected to be in love with it right at the moment.

Photos to follow.

PS: Today's party at the LYS was a blast! And can I just say that I LOVE going to the big yarn shop party with Travis, having him make charming conversation with the knit ladies, carry my stuff around the store without complaining - nay, having even OFFERED to do so! - help clean up when a lady spilled her drink, and then - THEN! - when I cashed out (cotton yarns 30% off, sock yarns 20% off, books 10% off!!), he jumped in front of me with a, "No, let me get it." Five women within earshot nearly swooned. It's the knight in shining armor we all dream of.

PPS: Hurry, there's some Sea Silk on Destash. I already got one - grab the other!!