The one where there is yarny goodness

Yarn porn, Yarn porn!!!!


Courtesy of......The Loopy Ewe. Ohhhhhh anticipation. It is so sweet. I ripped the box open to reveal.....this.


And inside that little plastic bag?







THIS! Three........oh three is my favorite number. Oh what is behind that teasingly almost see thru tissue paper?



Lets find out, shall we?

Panda Cotton. Soooooo squishy soft.

I do believe one of these may be Monkeys. And the other....maybe Anestasia.






Louet Gems. Those are for my new Cookie patterns.

Red for this one......indigo for this one.







Another Louet Gems (on the right). For, big shocker here, another Cookie pattern.

And then....Lorna's laces. No clue what this is for. Its just sooooo beautiful I had to have it.





Next month....Knit Picks Options. I am SO excited.

Lets talk about The Loopy Ewe. Order from them. I insist. Along with that order of massively amazingly soft and beautiful yummy delish sock yarn....I got this.

It is a hand written note on my receipt (which I cleverly covered up the total on so that you would not know exactly how embarassingly much I spent on sock yarn) from Sheri along with cute little cards to keep track of my needle stash with and two sample cards of Regia sock yarn. She is a very, very enabling person, that Sheri. Those sock yarns WILL be on my next Loopy order.




I have no pictures, but rest assured my friends that there is very good progress on the sockapalooza socks. I will be taking pictures soon to share. I still love them, maybe even more so than I did before. Yes, I am in sock yarn heaven.

The one where I am in love

This.....is what I have been working on. See me and my messy desk? There is enough space cleared off for my kick butt Jitterbug sock yarn, my SIP, needles, pattern, and pen. Otherwise, its a disaster area. And I just cleaned it off!! Anyway, these are the Seize Diamondbacks for my sockapalooza pal.




Here is an up close view. Beautiful blue yarn. Beautiful SIP. I am IN LOVE!!!!!! This pattern is fantastic, and believe it or not, I would call this a very quick knit. I just cast on last night, before we went to dinner, got the ribbing done (can I just mention this quick little opinion......1x1 rib is evil. I hate it.), and this morning I started the pattern part of the sock. It is amazing, I love it, I love it, and in case I haven't mentioned. I <3 it.

Sure am glad I picked myself up my own Jitterbug yarn to make me some :) A few things to say. Jitterbug yarn. Knit with it. A lot. I LOVE IT!!!!!!! Its so soft and way fun to knit with. Minus the 1x1 rib. As far as the Diamondbacks. Buy the pattern. Make lots of copies because you will make many pairs of socks and if you write on your patterns like I do, you will want fresh copies for your next pairs. I can't say enough about this pattern. Seriously. Buy it. And encourage others to also. They will love you for it.

Moving on.....this is going around the net like crazy, so I figured I'd put it in here too. It will be a neat reference a year from now to see how much I have progressed.

Here's the key: Bold for stuff I've done, italics for stuff I plan to do one day, and normal for stuff I'm not planning on doing.

Afghan/Blanket (baby sized) (though, in progress)
I-cord (will do on the booga)
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn (HUH?)
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dyeing with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cozies…) (just joined a dishcloth KAL!)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn (Maddie got me some for Mother's Day!)
Knitting with DPNs
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dyeing yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener
BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/arm warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair (Seriously, someone has to be kidding)
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Boy I have much to do :)


And just because I can't resist showing this adorable little face. I <3 him too.....way more than to socks, though. A lot of bloggers have their kitties....I have my Wyatt.

Oh yeah....a look ahead. I will have yarn porn. And lots of it. Hopefully by Tuesday or Wednesday. Check back. You will be jealous. I CAN'T WAIT TO SHOW IT OFF!!

The one where I get tagged

I got tagged!! I was a tagging virgin until now. My awesome mommy/knitting friend tagged me. She apologized. It was really cute, but I am not at all wigged out. I think meme's are fun!!!! So here we go.

Here are the rules:
Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and need to read your blog.

7 Random Facts about me

1) I have been crocheting since I was little. Like weeeee little. My mom taught me. I don't like it as much as knitting, but I can do it.

2) My husband and I met at a truck pull. Seriously, there is such a thing as a truck pull and there was a time that we frequented them. Yep, redneck central up in my house.

3) I have a huge phobia of meeting people for the first time. I am always afraid that I won't know what to talk about or will look stupid to them. Thusly, I don't do well in large crowds. Especially if it is a large crowd of people that I don't know well. By large, I mean more than three people all together. I totally wig out.

4) You can't make me eat a carrot, I just won't do it. Just thinking of eating a carrot or squash....it makes me queasy. YUCK!

5) I passed the real estate licensing exam when I was 18 years old.

6) I type 110 words per minute.

7) The only way I eat peas is a) Leseur peas and b) they have to be mixed in my mashed potatoes. Otherwise, won't touch a pea.

Now....do I know seven people to tag? Probably not. I guess it wouldn't be good for me to tag people like Cookie, Stephanie, Kathy, Wendy, or Vickie.....oh well. I'll see who I can come up with and I'll edit later.

I, however, will NOT be posting on knitting progress. Cause I have none. No booga progress, no sock progress, nothing. I've been working and napping as much as I can because Mr. Wyatt is on a strict no sleeping policy these days. I was up with him from 10 last night until 2:30 or 3. Then he was up at 7. I'm sooooooooooooooooo sleepy!

And to my super cool sockapalooza pal....read my comments a few posts back. I answered you, I just didn't see your post until today :(

The one where I jump on the bandwagon

So I was reading my super way cool knitting mommy friend's blog and saw her yet again doing 10 on Tuesday. This week is of particular interest, so I figure, what the heck. So here we go:

Ten songs that make you sad:

1. That's My Job - Conway Twitty. My dad died when I was ten. This song reminds me of him. I bawl like a baby EVERY time.

2. Hurt - Christina Aguilera. This song says exactly what I would want to say to my dad if ever given the chance.

3. You'll Never Walk Alone - The Righteous Brothers. Jordin sang it on American Idol this year and I just cried and cried. It was amazing.

4. In My Daughter's Eyes - Martina McBride. This song is so amazing, and with three little girls of my own, it truly hits home. My oldest loves that I cry when I hear that song.

5. Go Rest High on the Mountain - Vince Gill. I sang this song at a very close friend's funeral.

6. Love Can Build A Bridge - The Judds. I've often thought of sending this song to my brother one day.

7. God Blessed The Broken Road - Rascal Flatts. This song is definitely for me and my hubby.

8. Baby Girl - Sugarland. One line in there does it every time....."This time I'm gonna make our dreams come true. Well I love you more than anything in the world. Love, Your Baby Girl." I know I feel that way about my mom and I just hope my little girls will always feel that way.

9. You'll Always Be My Baby - Sara Evans. I really believe if you are a daddy's girl, a believer, and/or you have a son, there is NO way this song can leave you unaffected. It's amazing.

10. What Hurts The Most - Rascal Flatts. See #1.

The one where there is #2

Fuzzy socks. Yummy. They don't match. I didn't even try to make them match. This was my second sock ever, but I had only finished one. So I pulled it back out and I think it was very happy that I did. So the sock started a year ago finally has a mate. It is funny how much my knitting has changed in a year. I learned how to bind off looser (the first sock can be tricky getting on with the tight bind off) and my kitchener has improved. A non-knitter will appreciate these socks!






Obviously Maddie likes them.










Although she has a bit of an unconvential way in appreciating them.





She is strange. A tween. What can you do with them? Apparently make them socks to play with. No, you can't have them. My feet need knitted socks right now Mad. Yours are coming.





And in booga news. This is how far I have gotten. The bottom is done, stitches picked up, and I am on row 5/64. Can I say....I LOVE THIS COLORWAY?!?!?!?!?! Its amazing.

So now, I work on booga, and I start sockapalooza pal socks. Lots to do, and I want to do it all NOW!

Oh.....and I went to Chris' mom's house this weekend. We passed a sheep farm who has a yarn store on premesis, makes sense right? Their sign said open M-Sat 10-5. It was Sat. So we went up to the door, opened it, and stepped inside the door to the most amazing wool heaven EVER. No one was there. I had to leave all of that store unshopped. Talk about disappointing. But I did learn that I can leave yarn behind, unloved, uncuddled, untouched, and not have a heart attack. Only a minor panic attack. MUST. SEE. THAT. STORE.

The one about sock yarn

This will be a rambling post. I can tell. Its an effort to get my sock yarn thoughts on paper, because obviously I am going to drive myself bonkers until I get it down.

So Cookie A. has all of her awesome patterns, and I am going to purchase five, yes I said five, of them. I want Flicker, Gothic Spire, Mona, Thelonious, and Twisted Flower. Now, that isn't to say I don't want the others. But. The others. They are knee socks, my friends. No knee socks yet. I gotta see how I do with the regular socks first. Knee socks, well, they scare me. But, I want some eventually so I will work up to those. With these patterns, I'm going with the suggested yarn. And I'm getting it from the Loopy Ewe. Free shipping after 75 bucks. Why not? We won't even get started talking about all of her patterns on Knitty. Those are on the must do list also. I'm a Cookie Groupie. I'll admit it now and we can move on.

I have tried Sassy Stripes, and that leads to a discussion on self-striping yarn. I'm kinda over it. I thought I would like it, but these daggone Horcrux socks that I did, really convinced me that I'm over it. The stripes just really mess up any semblance of seeing the pattern. So, note to self. Self-striping yarns are nice, just use them for non-fancy patterned socks. And, don't fall back into the Moda Dea Sassy Stripes trap again.

I have to try Cat Borhdi's Coriolis socks that she did on Knitty Gritty. That uses Austerman Step, one I am DYING to try. But, it is self-striping. I know. But she is so awesome, she takes care of that by double stranding. I love it. No stripes in site. That rocks my world. And, I'll also get to try out two circulars, which I am wanting to do. That will rock!

I am doing an order from knit picks and I am going to hook myself up with some Gloss. That will be interesting. Going to use that for Thermal though. I have three different colors of essentials, but not sure I love it as sock yarn. I also have dancing, parade, and simply stripes from Knit Picks too. None of which I have tried yet. I know, I'm a loser.

I am dying to test out the Jitterbug and the Cherry Tree Hill I just got yesterday. I also want to try out some Lorna's Laces, Koigu, Claudia Handpainted, and Panda Cotton. I have some Opal and Regia in my stash already, just one color of each.

So, that is my feeling on sock yarn. Now I feel more organized in my head.

The one where there are two

Here are the Horcrux socks, cute baby for effect.







Here is what irritates me. Two rows shy of being perfect matches. Next time I will count rows from the heel. It urks me. To no end.





Chris said they were ugly. Well, he didn't SAY it. But he *said* it.

The shorter sock decided to console the bigger one.

I'm ready to move on.




So I got myself this little goody. WOOOOHOOOO!!!!!!

The first pattern may well be Anniversary Socks by Nancy Bush. This may well make it so that I require Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush also.

And now.....YARN PORN!






This is for my booga bag! Noro Kureyon #148. Too beautiful. Now my awesome friend and I can start on our KAL.








And this, my friends, is Cherry Tree Hill Super Glitz DK weight, Tropical Storm colorway. Need I say more? Its freaking AWESOME! All those specks? Glitter my friends. Glitter. Glittered socks. I am a princess. Its official.







Colinette Jitterbug, for Seize Diamondbacks. On the left, Lagoon colorway for ME! On the right, Blue Parrot colorway for my super secret sockapalooza pal. Yeah buddy, all the best for her. She likes blue. But not pastel blue. So, I thought this was PERFECT. I will be starting after I purchase the pattern, probably tomorrow!

The one where I'm SO EXCITED!

Did you see it? Did you read my comments? My sockapalooza pal left me a message. The sneaky one *they* are. Is it a he? Is it a she? Local? Far away? It is so exciting! My Palooza buddy is making ME socks! Isn't that great? If you didn't join, :( but.....this is Sockapalooza 4, so I am SURE there will be more opportunity after this one. In the meantime, watch and see all the fun. I'm so excited. And....I commented to MY pal too! I have to pick a pattern, pick some yarn. I may need help. I want to do THIS pattern cause it is beautiful. But. I'm scared. I'm afraid the magical stuff you need to do to make those diamonds is too tough for me. We'll see. I have until August 2nd. That is plenty of time, right?

Meanwhile back on the farm, I have completed my one Horcrux sock.




















I started another one in a solid color because I wanted to see the pattern better. Waiting on yarn for my booga bag.





And just to show off, I will leave you with this picture, cause its pretty. I took that at my MIL's house last spring. Just pulled it off the cam. Talk about procrastination, huh?