I'm an addict!

As promised....here is what Lindy and I've been up to!  Here are the bobbins full of singles!

They kept multiplying....6 in all (maybe I need more bobbins...who would have thought!)

Then I plied them!  Here is some of the yarn wrapped on the niddy noddy (this pics is for those who don't know what a niddy noddy is...I was right with you a few months ago...but they are handy little things)

and a close up!

So the 6 bobbins turned into 6 skeins of yummy yarn!

This is in the prewashed state.  Now the yarn is drying all over my apartment :)

a close up!  It is 70% Shetland, 30% Mohair...710 yds.....14.7 ounces of yarn!  I think it turned out fairly uniform too!

This is my favorite pic with Lindy in the background.   (shhhh...this yarn is a Christmas present for a dear friend....shhhhh don't tell)

Prize!

I really couldn't believe it.  I mean who ever really thinks they are going to win a contest?  Especially on a popular blog?  I mean seriously!  Somehow my comment was # 8000 on Tiennie's blog!  How awesome is that.  She has such a lovely blog and the pictures are always so inspiring!  Look at the lovely yarn she sent me as a prize!

It is Plymouth's Happy Feet in a gorgeous green/brown.  Very soft to the touch.  I can't wait to try it out (have you used this yarn before? what do you think?)  I'm thinking a pair of Embossed Leaves socks for me!! (but that will have to wait until after Christmas knitting is complete)

Last week I also got tagged by Stacy to give you more info about myself than you really care to know!

The rules:
- Link to the person who tagged you
- Mention the rules
- Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular or random details about yourself
- Tag six other bloggers by linking to them
- Go to each person's blog and leave a comment that lets them know they've been tagged

Fun facts about me:

1. I have a twin brother.  Growing up we were highly competitive.  It got to the point that my parents hid our grade cards from each other.  Now we are super friends.
2. When alone I eat the icing on a piece of cake last. (Unfortunately I think it is rude to do this around others, but I really like to eat all the cake, then all the icing)
3. My first car was a 1986 Honda Accord Hatchback.  My favorite thing about it was that the headlights "hid" in the car.  It always felt extra fun to watch them come out of the car.
4. I never dreamed of being a mathematician.  I just wanted to teach Junior High math.
5. I played the piano for 10 years and dreamed of playing like George Winston!!!  (my dad promised me a grand piano if I did)
6. I love Christmas!  I still get so excited that I have a really hard time sleeping on Christmas Eve. (I know I'm adult and shouldn't be like that, but.....)

Tagging:  If you want to be it, then you are!!!

Silk, but not Seasilk

So Tuesday we had knit night at our LYS (we do this once a month)  They were have a 50% off sale.....I thought I could resist....I was wrong.

I picked up this beautiful Silk Noir by The Great Adirondack Yarn Co.  It is 900 yds of 100% raw silk....and very soft!  The colorway is storm.  And it will be a Clapotis!

Now please don't worry that I have given up on seasilk.  I love it!  But....I put a lot of pressure on one garment....it needed to be perfect.  Plus the color my mom and I picked out is gone and it would be a long time before I could afford it.  So I caved and think this will be great (and I stayed in budget!)

Here is my second skein of handspun!!!!

It is 4 oz of Corriedale.  It is 2-ply and 345 yds long.  I compared it to my first skein and my work has gotten much more even and thinner.  I thought I had overspun my first singles a little bit, so this time I tried not to do that.  Now I think I underspun a little bit.  Hopefully the third time is just right!  I'm super excited about it!!

and here is my new pillow in its new home!  I will be looking for a nice round button! (thank you all for your help!)

Where did yesterday go?

I had every intention of posting yesterday....pics were taken....knew what I was going to ramble about....but then it was bed time and I hadn't.  School has been intense this week (not in a bad way, in a very productive way) afterwards I just have to rest or prep for teaching.  Okay enough excuses...I refuse to feel guilty because my blog is for fun!!!

Knitting content:

I know many of you were shocked when I mentioned that I was giving away my ravelympics shawl (the ladies at knit night couldn't quite believe it)  That is because I have been eyeing this shawl.  Now I know it seems like everyone has made this already and it didn't appeal to me too much until I saw Woolwinder and Robin make theirs, not to mention this one!  The nice think about this shawl/scarf is that you can wear it as a scarf or a shawl--I like the versatility!  I have found the ones that I am really attracted to are make out of Handmaiden Sea Silk!  (This yarn is 70% silk and 30% seacell)  The problem is it is expensive for my grad school budget!  Robin's was out of Sea Silk, so as I was pestering her with questions about the yarn (because if I'm going to spend that much, I want to make sure I will love it)  she offered to send me the leftovers from her shawl!  (What a dear!!!  Thank you so much again!!!)  So I knitted a swatch (sort of winged it, but it was blocked and everything)

I am in LOVE with this yarn!  The drape is gorgeous!!!  It knits like a dream!  I keep wanting to pet my swatch! :)  I will spend the money (not sure when---maybe I will find a sale, or wait and put it on the Christmas list) and make this for ME!!!!   Now the problem comes to color!  I need your help!!  What color do I use?   Go here to look at my options!  I want to be able to wear it a lot so it should be a neutral?  I'm afraid ivory will get dirty quickly?  I wear a lot of color in my wardrobe (not much green though)!  Please help me decide!   Maybe we will do a poll if I can narrow down the choices!

Gustav report:

We are prepared for the hurricane. (food, water, flashlights, knitting supplies, books, homework)  It looks like it will hit early Tuesday morning (They have just canceled classes on Tuesday).  No one is really sure how bad it will be, but we are prepared to be without power for a few days.  Baton Rouge is far enough inland that evacuations really won't happen.  But if things are quite on this front that is probably why.  I will keep you updated.  For now please pray for the storm to weaken and that people remain safe!

My first handspun!

I'm so excited about my spinning I can hardly contain myself!!!  I know understand why others love it so!  (there is no wheel in my immediate future...trust me....small apartment....grad school budget....ain't happening)   Let me show you how it went!

First night of spinning at Knit Night (about 2.5 weeks ago)  N (my super teacher) sent me home with more roving to practice.

I took my spinning back the next Knit Night.  N was so pleased she sent me home with more roving and said we could ply the following week (this last Tuesday)  At this time I thought I had a lot....ha ha what was I thinking?

Now when N sent me home with more roving I naively thought it was about the same amount she had sent the time before. WRONG!  I had budgeted the same amount of time and it just never seemed to end (I kinda did a marathon spinning day on Tuesday....I wanted to ply so bad)  Here is what I got.

Then I wound it into a cake to begin plying 2 strand of it together.  Yeah!  Oh isn't the bottom of the spindle N sent home with me so cute!!!

So Tuesday we plied!!  I was so excited that last night I finished it!  I then wound it into a skein (using the backs of 2 chairs because I lack a swift....now I realize the chairs should have been further apart for a prettier skein)  and here is my yarn!!!

And a close up of the strands.  I was really pleased with how even it came out!  Now it just needs a bath!! and then I can knit with my own hand spun yarn!  (Bet you couldn't guess that I've been looking at roving online trying to decide what to spin next!)

Do you think I'm addicted?  (But I really don't want it to eat into my knitting time too much....but it sure was fun!)

Wednesday Fun

I know you were all expecting to see pics of my finished socks, but.....not yet (tomorrow)!  Yesterday I got this:

2 skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd sock in Parakeet from a contest by Robin! (Thank you!!!!!) Isn't the yellow and blue yummy!  Her blog is super and she is starting Wednesday Fun!  Last Wednesday I won this by figuring out how many unfinished projects she had pictured!  Be sure to visit her! Now I'm off.....trying to finish spinning the fiber I got last Tuesday for tonight....not sure I'll make it....but I so want to ply it tonight.....we'll see!

Good friends!

Last night I went to Knitting Night (for the 3rd time)!  I feel like I have made fast friends with some of the ladies!  (no longer the initial nerves!! Yeah!!)

I was working on my second Lace Merino sock:

and I took my spinning to show N!  I had used up all the roving she sent home with me.

(the cat really likes to help with the spinning!)  N thought I had done a super job and enabler that she is...sent me home with this:

so I could keep going!  Next week we are going to ply it! (twist two strands of it together so it will be ready to work with!)

N was also destashing some yarn, so I got to come home with some new cotton sock yarn to try!

It is a love navy and white twisted together!  

I've also concluded I need a better project to take to knit night.  I like to talk (haha) an listen to all the conversations and that make my usual pattern knitting (which keeps me from getting bored) not the best!  So I think next week I will start a plain sock (I have some yarn that will be perfect) to work on at knit night in the future!

My Story: 

So July 26th, 2000 I had successful brain surgery to remove the AVM! (Now you know why the contest was July 10-26th)  At the last minute my parents had been given the option of doing radiation instead (I was completely unaware) as tough as the decision was they felt the surgery was still the best option!  Praise God they made that decision!  The doctors found out during the surgery that the AVM had begun to clot and radiation wouldn't have taken care of that!  God is so good!  

I woke from surgery and could move every part of my body (PTL!!) and was able to go home after 3 days. (I think)  God was definitely blessing me through out the whole process....the surgeon let me keep my hair because he thought it helped patients feel better (sure does!) and he washed out my hair himself (something the nurses normally do)....I got the VIP room at the hospital (who even knew such things existed?) it felt more like a hotel room than a hospital!  Even more than all these physical blessings, I got to walk closely with the Lord and knew His peace through the whole process!  Yeah God!!

Check in tomorrow to see what else the Lord taught me in this time!

Ravelympics 2008

How could I have forgotten?  In yesterday's post I showed you all my lovely knitpicks goodies and forgot one!!!

Here is it:

Some white/cream (I don't know the color...it's called bare) laceweight to make my own swallowtail!  If you remember I made one in a lovely gray that my mom is in love with....I think I will make mine a little bit bigger too (do 5 extra repeats of the budding lace part)  Anyway, I decide this project would be the perfect project for Ravelympics 2008!

The idea is you cast on during the opening ceremonies and must cast off by the closing ceremonies!  (oh and it should be a challenge!) It was hard to pick from so many fun categories!

Events:

Afghan Marathon
Amigurumi-n-Toys Toss
Baby Dressage
Bag-n-Tote Backstroke
Cable Steeplechase
Colorwork Cross-Country
Cowl Jump
Designers Discus
Fantasy DecKnitathalon
Felted Freestyle
Free-For-All Freestyle
Fleece to Finished Fencing
Glove Decathlon
Gift Knits Pentathlon
Hand-Dyed Hurdles
Handspun Heptathalon
Hat Dash
Holiday Handball
Home-Stuff Hammerthrow
Itsy Bitsy Bikini Breaststroke
Laceweight Long Jump
Mitten Medley
Scarf Stroke
Shawl Relay
Sock Put
Sweater Sprint
Synchronized Flirty Skirts
Stitching Springboard
Vest Vault
WIPs Wrestling

While I debated long and hard between the Sock Put and the Shawl Relay, I've decided to sign up under Team Baton Rouge Red Sticks for the Shawl Relay!  Let the training begin!!!

My Story:

So let's see where we left off....God worked mightily in my life 8 years ago....I had seizures....was diagnosed with an AVM....learned to really depend on God....went to see the neurosurgeon....okay I think that is where we are!   

I desperately wanted this AVM to miraculously disappear!  I prayed that when the final test to decide if surgery was safe happened, they wouldn't see anything.  That didn't happen!  At first I was crestfallen!  Had my faith not been good enough?  had I not really been believing?  Then God showed me that while His Word has many promises of healing (some I shared yesterday) He doesn't promise how or when that healing will occur!  

The doctors concluded that surgery was a safe option (Praise the Lord!) With my age and the size of the AVM it seemed the better option than radiation!  So I prepared for brain surgery on July 26th!   At first glance this doesn't seem good.  Who wants brain surgery?  But in reality many people with AVM's have no warning signs....eventually they have an aneurysm (bleeding in the brain) and die!  I'm very thankful the seizures alerted doctors to this situation so it could be dealt with!!!

I love packages!

I love when the postman comes bearing packages....it feels like Christmas, even if I order them...something about waiting for the package, opening it up.... So the last of my b-day money was spent on a knitpicks order!

1. Yarn for Gertrude the Giraffe!  (I thought she needed a purple dress instead of green)

2. Some lovely brown yarn to make a pair of fingerless gloves for my pops!  He requested (yes requested) his first handknit!  Mom reports that he is really excited!  

3.  A couple new books that I've been drooling over (40% off books made this order happen!!!)  I've flipped through both books and can't wait!  New sock patterns and an adorable baby sweater!!!

4.  Some wool wash I've been wanting to try!

Thank you all for sharing your favorite verses last week!  What an encouragement they are to me!!  Now the verses that got me through in 2000!  (one of which was already mentioned) :)

My Story:

Psalms 91:

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

I think the part about angels making sure I wouldn't stub my toe meant the most to me.  If my toe is going to be okay surely my brain will be too!

Ephesians 6:1-3:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

I know this seems like an odd verse to have as a favorite.  My parents quoted it to me all the time growing up....I didn't like it then....not easy to follow as a kid....but at one time the Lord prompted me to read verse 3.  This is a commandment to children with a promise!!!  I clung to the promise...it would be well with me! and I would live long on the earth!!!

God is so good and faithful!

Wow!

I am truly amazed at the response from yesterday's post!  Thank you!  I feel honored that you all want to hear my story....it can't be told in a day....but then it didn't happen in a day....but before all of that....some yarny goodness!

Recently I purchased some yarn (used up some B-day $) from Michelle (boringknitter on Ravelry)!  It came when I was in Seattle and then there was so much to talk about.....

Dream in Color Smooshy in Cool Fire...yummy pink with a little purple!

Austermannstep....can't wait to see how the aloe is.  I bet it keeps your feet soft (wouldn't that be nice!)

Lorna's Laces in Amethyst Stripe (okay....I had no hope to resist this one....I'm a complete sucker for purple)

Lang Yarn Jawoll Cotton.  A new cotton blend yarn to try!  I love the pink/brown/orange combo!

So now I need to get busy knitting!  Michelle has more yarn she is trying to destash (it is gorgeous!!!)  So if you are interested, go check it out!

Now....some of my story...or maybe we should say the back story!   I think you all need a little context for what I will be sharing in the coming days, so here it is:

Back story:

I was so fortunate to grow up in a Christian home....I don't remember not knowing the gospel and it seemed Jesus had always been my Lord.  I understood my need for His saving grace....I had a debt I could not pay and He payed a debt He did not owe (for me!!!...and you!!!)  While all of this was wonderful, I was jealous of those around me who had amazing testimonies!!  Their lives had been horrible...they got saved....God worked in their lives!  I knew I shouldn't be jealous of this, but why didn't I have a testimony?  (now I realize that I did....while I didn't remember a specific moment, I could still testify of how God was at work in my life) But at the time, I prayed for a testimony!  I never dreamed God would answer in the way He did!

Now go ahead and leave a comment to enter the contest....it's easy and painless!

Yarn!

Thank you all for the lovely comments on the swallowtail shawl.  I mentioned that it might be screaming to go "live" with someone else.  Well last night I talked with my mom about the shawl:

Leah: Have you seen the finished shawl?

Mom:  Yes

L: Well I was kinda thinking it was screaming you.  Have you seen it blocked?

M: no, but you should keep some things for yourself! 

(mom gets on computer)

M: OH!!!!  That definitely screams me!  How did you ever doubt that?  We could "share" it.  (ie-I use it and when I die you could inherit it)

M: (laugh)

I proceeded to tell her we would see.  I might wear it a couple of times and see what I think.  I also think I have some cream lace yarn in my stash and I could make one for myself.  The cream would be a better color for me (and I would make it a little bigger by doing 5 extra repeats of the budding lace part).  Plus gray is my mom's color!  

I picked up some new yarn at Discontinued Brand Name Yarn and it came!  Here are some pics:

Cherry tree Hill Supersock in Island Red.  (a nice red that isn't too bright, nice and subdued)

Cherry tree Hill Supersock in Dove (almost grey, but has some green tones in it too...a hard color to describe, but very nice)

Cherry tree Hill Supersock DK in a purple blend (so I love this color and this was the reason I really placed the order, but I didn't notice the DK, so it is a little thicker than I thought, but I saw on Ravelry that many people have made lovely socks out of this yarn)

Louet Gems fingering weight (this yarn is to dye myself...I think I'm going to use Koolaid....I used this base for my May socks and really liked it, so this should be a fun project!)

May Socks!

These socks just flew off the needles! I'm so pleased with how these turned out! and now my May socks are done too. I really like how stretchy the pattern is too--it makes me worry less about a good fit! Here are the details:

Pattern: Waving Lace Socks from Favorite Socks
Yarn: Louet Gems, color Terra Cotta, 2 skeins, purchased at Knit-wit in Olathe KS
Needles: Knitpicks Harmony DPN size 2.5mm
Modifications: I did the ribbing option for the cuff.

This was a new yarn for me! I loved the color, but was a little concerned that the yarn might be too thin or scratchy, but I was completely wrong. I love how it knit up and it produced a thin sock (but not too thin) and feels very soft! I was pleasantly surprised! Now I'm ready to start some socks for me using my new STR! Sunday we (DH, Knox and I) leave for KS to visit the families and see my SIL graduate college (Woohoo!) So posts will be a little more sporadic, but I will try to keep in touch!

Packages!

Yesterday I got two packages (I love getting mail)! But I was only expecting one! Here is my lovely knitpicks order!

(Had to get sock yarn to teach mom--always a good excuse) and the rest is some early birthday presents from B & A and DH. B & A = twin brother and sister-in-law. My DH laughed at my brother and I as we discussed our respective B-day presents:

B: Hey sis! do you know what you are getting me for my b-day?

L (me): Nope!

B: Well, I'm placing a book order Monday and there is this book...it costs...I can order it all to save on shipping...

L: sounds super! do you know what you are getting me?

B: Nope!

L: Well, I'm placing this yarn order. Do you want to put the same amount towards my yarn?

B: Sure!

L: Okay, we're even. Happy B-Day!

B: Happy B-day!

I guess you've got to be a twin (or we're just weird) because DH didn't get this...he just laughs (in a horrified manner). So thanks for the B-day present brother and sis! You "picked" out just what a wanted!

I've never tried Knitpicks Palette yarn. It is fingering weight, so I wanted to try it, but it may be a little scratchy, but for the price I wanted to see what it was like! Oh and I love the purplish gloss yarn! So much to knit....so little time!

The other package.....

an unexpected thank you from Starbucks! I have one of their credit cards....it's how I feed my habit. See they give you rewards in terms of a Starbucks gift card that they automatically load for you. I rarely pay for Starbucks (so expensive), but I love it. So it is my special treat with my rewards. Anyway...I guess they had some issues 2 weeks back where you couldn't access your rewards (I didn't notice) but they sent my 1lb of coffee for the inconvenience! I can't complain!

Thanks!

Last week I won a contest on Abigail's blog! ( I was commenter of the month) And look at the gorgeous yarn she sent me! It is Socks that Rock - Thistle colorway! and so yummy! I can't wait to try it out! I've never used this type of yarn before (in fact never even touched it) So to say I'm excited would be an understatement. Now this may be a naive questions, but I've only been making socks for under a year and have a limited yarn budget (mainly birthday and Christmas) Do I divide the large hank in to two equal balls, then make socks? If so how do you go about this without a scale? Or do you just wing it and do both socks from the same ball and hope not to run out? suggestions welcome!

Generous Abigail is having another contest this month....go check it out!

Look...she even made a cute little "button" for it!

On to some knitting content, though yarn definitely counts...here is the sock progress from this weekend (and yesterday)

I guess it looks about the same as last time, except that is the second sock! Yep, second sock! These socks are just flying off the needles! I appears they may be done by this weekend, so I can take a new project on the road with me when I go to KS (and get to teach my mom how to make socks!)

In the background you see evidence that this is indeed the second sock! Woohoo!