Monday, May 26, 2008

Crochet and Knit Giveaway Winner Announcement

I want to thank everyone who left a comment on my blog for the Crochet and Knit Giveaway. I know that was the most comments I've ever gotten! The Winner was:

Katie O

Let's give her a congrats on her blog! Everyone likes comments!!

Friday, May 23, 2008

Instant Gratification...It's not all that it's cracked up to be

The Yarn Harlot's new book (Things I've Learned from Knitting Whether I wanted to or Not)sounds great. I do love her writings. She reminds me of Erma Bombeck.......For those too young to remember her, she writes about life with in a typical American Family. Hilarious Stuff!!!

Anyway....I was listening to Stash and Burn Podcast Episode 53: Wooly Spring. And Nicole and Jenny were talking about all the comments on their site about what others have learned from knitting. It really made me think about what knitting has taught me.

I'm an impatient sort of person. I like things to get done quickly. I love doing big projects but I think I should be able to get them done in a week or so. I once thought I could crochet an entire Queen size bedspread in size 10 crochet cotton in a few weeks. Ha!!!!! This is my neurosis. I constantly have to work to keep this in check, and I am not always very good at it.

So, when it came to making socks, a tiny project in my mind, I felt I should be able to complete a drawer full in a couple weeks. I was a bit frustrated when it took me 3 days to make it to the heel of my first sock. Nevermind that this was my first sock, and I was knitting with Fingering weight yarn on size 1 needles. Hey, I was only doing the sock in Stockinette (2 socks in 2 days, right? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA....) Well, as you can imagine, the senario in my mind did not actually occur as I had envisioned it. But, I was learning that if i just keep going, 1 stitch at a time, keep going, keep going. I will finish a sock and then the draw full of socks.

I think in the world today, so many people do not ever "DO" anything because they don't have to. Everything is so readily done for them, Everything is already made and can be purchased. Viola....Instant Gratification! Well, I'm learning that Instant Gratification isn't all it's cracked up to be. I think I'll just keep knitting.

Friday, May 09, 2008

Crochet and Knit Giveaway

I love the idea that Brianna and Marly had about a centralized blog to post giveaways. I'm joining in.
Giveaway Item(s):
Knit and Crochet May Giveaway

Knit and Crochet Giveaway 2

This is some of my early handspun yarn (Corridale, of course). It is a heavy worsted weight (to slightly bulky). It is a 2 ply yarn that is spun fairly tightly. I did it on a hand spindle, not a wheel. There is about 150 yards total - 75 to 100 yds in each (1 skein, 1 ball). In addition, I am included some left over Classic Elite Miracle yarn (did I mention this yarn is soft as butter.) There is only about 25 yds of the Miracle, but I thought it would be a nice edging for something knit with his handspun.


How the winner will be chosen: www.random.org/integers/

Giveaway Begins: May 9, 2008 Time: As soon as I get this post up.

Giveaway Ends: May 25,2008 8:00 PM

Winner will be notified by: May 27, 2008 - via e-mail & post on my blog. I will also attempt to comment on your blog

Rules: No duplicate entries/comments. No spamming. Giveaway is open to everyone. Winner MUST respond within five days, otherwise they forfeit their winnings, and a new winner will be announced. This giveaway is restricted to US participants only. I'm just not sure how the shipping would work out if I had to send it overseas.

How to Enter: Leave me a comment about your spinning experiences. Do you use a drop spindle or wheel. What got you into it? Do you like it better than knitting? How do you fit it into your knitting time.

I'm asking these questions because I spun this yarn on a drop spindle, and plyed it on my drop spindle. I liked doing very much but I haven't really gone back to it. I'm not sure why. I wouldn't say it was hard or even awkward. It seemed to come very naturally to me. So I don't think that's it. I'm just curious if others have had this experience. I think I just like knitting so much that I'm just not ready to put it down for something else yet.

Also, I completed a hat in this yarn and I think it knits up well. It always helps me to see something knit with the yarn I am looking at. (Sorry, Hat not included in the Giveaway)
Vita with Handspun

I did not use the Classic Elite in this hat. I used some other handspun in cream, but I did not have any left to include in this giveaway.

Happy Knitting