Ebony Elite Swap Package and Other Mail

Ebony Elite Scarf Swap Package

I participated in a swap with my Ravelry and yahoo group sistahfriends, Ebony Elite. Its a group for African American crafters.... knitters, crocheters, jewelry designers, etc. I was shocked there was such a group because I'm the only Black knitter in my city that I know of. lol Anyway, Kinkycoils was very good to me. She's a wonderful spoiler. Look what I got:

Knitting needle point protectors, a knitting thimble(how did she know that I signed up to take a class in stranding at my LYS in March), hot chocolate and gingersnap biscuits(yum!!!) and a pretty compact mirror(I'll have to hide it... I have friends who'll want it). Last but not least is the beautiful crocheted scarf Kinkycoils knitted for me using sock yarn. I love it!!! :-) It's her own design and just beautiful. My pictures don't do it justice. I'm going to find out if she has the pattern for sell and link it here. THANK YOU SO MUCH K!!!!!!

****Edited: I forgot about the Lana Grossa sock pattern book. I already have picked out patterns I want to knit from it. The spiral eyelet socks are pretty.

My EESS Downstream pal's scarf

This is the only picture I took of the scarf I made my EESS downstream pal's scarf before I mailed it off with the books, yarns, stitchmarkers and goodies I sent her. The scarf is the Lacy V by Pegg Thomas. The pattern calls for wool ease yarn, but I made it instead with Patons 100% merino wool one of my favorite worsted yarns. I wet blocked the scarf to a finished size of 8 inches wide by 36 inches in length.

More Fearless Fibers sock yarn plus some Jaggerspun Maineline

I bought another skein of the Blue Violet because I loved it so much. I still knitting the Bluebell rib socks with the first skein I have of it. I'll post pictures after I finish them and send the package off to the Sock It to Me Twice downstream pal. The second skein of Fearless Fibers yarn is the purple-ish red Lust, the first sock yarn this year in her series of the 7 deadly sins.

The cinnebar is JaggerSpun Mainline 2/20, a light fingering weight(in between laceweight and fingeringweight) that I want to use to make the Orchid Pi shawl. I'm planning on making it around May. The second cone is JaggerSpun Maineline 2/8 fingeringweight yarn in natural. I'll use it to make the Adamas Shawl for one of my aunts for Mother's Day. I'm adding 4 repeats to chart 2 of the pattern because my aunt is a tall woman. I may have to order another cone of the natural because I want to use it to make the Mystic Light Shawl for my other aunt. I'm making the Adamas Shawl for the first Ebony Elite KCal of 2008. The purpose of the KCal is to challenge ourselves.

Sock Bags

If you haven't bought a sock bag from StuckinIllinois' etsy shop, hurry up and do so! She's putting up new stock as I write this. They're only $10 shipping included and she ships priority so you'll get it in about 2 to 3 days. The sock bags are part of the SockItToMe swap package I'm putting together. My theme for the package is Hearts.

Long Time No See

I'm still alive. I survived the bad cold I had after Christmas. I was really sick. In fact when I was running a fever my eyeballs felt hot. I felt so bad all I could do was sleep and play Ravelry games the limited amount of time I was awake. Over the past week, I started knitting again and I even have a few FOs.

Lace Ribbed Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks


These are my first toe up socks. I knit the for a buddy, C. I used Judy Becker's Magic cast on. I watched the Cat Bordhi video on youtube to learn the technique. I also conquered short row heels using Kathleen Taylor's no wrap short row heel technique. Yay!!!! I used EZ's sewn bind off for the first time also. I don't know if I'll make another pair of toe up socks, but at least I know I can do them successfully. The sock yarn I used is Madeline Tosh's Somewhat solid in vermillion. It's wonderful. If you can get your hands on some, buy it!

Foliage Hats



The Foliage hat pattern featured in the Fall 2007 knitty is so easy. I'd never made a hat from the crown down but it's easy and a quick knit. I made version 2 and modified the pattern by increasing the hat body from 3 repeats to 4 and the ribbed brim from 7 rows to 10. I used EZ sewn bind off. The purple one I made in December and promptly started wearing it. The red one(I'm sorry for the bad pic. It's been raining and darkly overcast here.) is for a friend, L.

Sock yarn buys



I bought 2 purpley skeins of sock yarn from Fearlessfibers. The one on the right is Imagine; it's a grapey purple with navy blue. The left one is Blue violet. I'm using it to the Bluebell Rib socks from SKS. The socks are for a swap I'm doing.

Oops! A Couple More Things

I forgot to post the sock book Vegasangelbrat sent me.

I'm sorry. It's Christmas crazy around here. I'm packing, running errands, entertaining visitors, etc. I'm all over the place. I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Please put God and love your hearts. Pray for peace in the world. Take care and I'll see you next year....

Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap Package: I'm Speechless!!!!

Thank you so much!!! Vegasangelbrat was so very generous with her gifts to me.



My Loot:
2 skeins of Knitpicks Memories Rocky Mountain Dusk (I was calling it Rocky Mountain Spotted fever)
2 skeins of Knitpicks Memories Yukon
2 skeins Filati Cervinia Genova
A sampler gift set from Starbucks with 2 kinds of coffee, gourmet hot chocolate, a chocolate biscotti, Tazo tea and 2 coffee mugs
A winter snowflake card making kit
Winter pencil, stationary and envelopes
A vanilla spice candle
A pound of Starbucks Christmas blend coffee
Stitchmarkers, crocheted stitchmaker holder and row counter bracelet from Vegasangelbrat's etsy store,BlumesAccessories
A gift box of Belgian Chocolate Truffles (I didn't open it because I'm taking it home with me to Victoria for Christmas)


WOW!!! Where do I go to nominate her for best spoiler of the swap? Vegasanglebrat is the best!

Christmas Knitting/SITM2x Topic of the Week

The screams you might have heard Wednesday morning/Tuesday night were mine. I was screaming because I ran out of yarn binding off the ONLY Christmas gift I'm knitting this year! I researched the project and 2 skeins of Cascade Eco Wool is suppose to be enough to knit the Hemlock Ring Blanket. I used a felted join to combine the two skeins together. I'm not a loose knitter. I'm a medium to tight knitter. I made/making the blanket using the extended chart in which there's 121 rows and 600 stitches on the needles. And I still ran out of yarn! I'm upset. I ordered more yarn and after I finish it and give it to the recipient, I'll post pictures. :-(

WWCS Topic of the Week

What would be the perfect vacation during the Winter Season? Would rather you head to the beach, to escape all the cold weather or want to pack your ski's and head to the mountains.

I've always wanted to go to Paris and see the Eiffel Tower, sit in a cafe on the Champs Elysees and people watch, go to the Louvre,etc. Check out the Eiffel Tower webcam. I want to go on one of those 10day see everything tours.

Lagniappe

My wonderful SP11 secret pal gave a me terrific lagniappe. BUTTERFLY SOCK BLOCKERS! The seller even included a pretty daisy stitchmaker. A lagniappe is a Cajun term referring to something extra someone receives in addition to normal service.