skittermagoo!

Sentimental porridge

OK, so this entry is just a bit delayed . . .

On Monday night I didn't knit. Didn't knit!! And why didn't I knit on Monday night?

Because I was having dinner and too much fun with these four:

That would be my Girl Dinner™ group . . . minus one who couldn't make it on Monday.

L-R: Maria (who is wearing a cuuuuute poncho), Dolores, Rebekah, and Nicki. Not pictured: Heather

What is Girl Dinner™, you ask? Well, on the surface, it is just as the name describes: a dinner eaten by girls. But it is oh, so much more than that. You see, this is a tradition that dates back for centuries more than a decade.

It all started with me and Rebekah and Heather and Dolores . . . back during the time deep in history known as "College".

We've added a few people over the years, and lost a few as well, but the core group remains (plus two).

How do we all know each other, you ask? (or not, but I'm gonna tell you . . . )
Well, that's quite a convoluted tale . . .

Heather and I met in Zoology lab; we were thrown together as lab partners, and as it turned out that we not only were both majoring in Biochem, but also worked very well together in the lab. (We went on to take almost every class and lab together from then until we graduated).

Rebekah I met the following semester in French class, we happened to sit next to each other in the first class with "Mademoiselle Kiel". The class just happened to be right before lunch, so we became friendly and started eating lunch together after class. She and I contend that this is when Girl Dinner™ really began. We took second semester French together as well

Okay, this is where it gets a little more complicated . . . the summer after French I and II, Reb and I continued to meet for lunch, and along came Dolores, who was dating Reb's brother-in-law and was at our university to do her Masters between years of law school. She has long since broken up with the brother-in-law.

Maria is married to Dolo's brother, who just happened to be my much younger sister-in-law's soccer coach in high school. She emigrated to Dallas from Montreal, and is a flight attendant for a startup airline whose name escapes me at the moment . . . I do know that they fly from here to Cancun, Cozumel, the Carribean, and Kansas City (!?).

And finally, Nicki is a good friend of mine who coincidentally went to high school with my husband. I probably know more about her than she realizes. She works in fundraising, and has lots of comprimising stories about lots of famous and semi-famous people.

Did you get all that?? There will be a quiz at the end, so I hope you took notes.

How is it that such a motley and diverse group not only collected together, but stayed the test of time and life? I can't really answer that. But we've been together through thick and thin (and in my case, back to thick again). These are the friends with whom I can share anything. They are my surrogate sisters, and best buds, and confidantes . . . collectively, they are my rock. Every time we get together (once every month or so, recently), I marvel at how lucky I am to have friends like this.

Okay, total moosh, I know. I'll get back to the knitting tomorrow, I promise!

Good mail days!

The past couple days have yielded some good mail! Alyx RAOKed me with some gorgeous Turino Silk and yummilicious homemade caramels (yummmmm!), and a certain lady who crochets sent me some kick-ass RAOK stickers! Unfortunately my camera crapped out just when I needed it the most, so no photos, darnit. Well, you wouldn't have seen a picture of the caramels anyway, since the Hub and I snarfed them up!

I also got a package today from the lovely Janet . . . I once sent her some cotton chenille yarn, and here's what she got me back with:

OK, so I'm photographically challenged yet again . . . that would be a really cool stamped card that Janet made herself (she is so talented!), and my first Halloween candy of the season, AND a skein of Cascade 220 in a luscious pumpkin shade . . . mmmm, I feel a Sophie coming on!

I'm off to put together some RAOK packages of my own . . .

All kinds of miscellany

Boyoboy, do I have a lot to show/tell today!

First off is the Sophie bag I finished ages ago . . . I can't remember if I posted a picture or not, but here she is all felted and dry and nice:

I didn't post a photo before because I wanted to wait until I made a lining. You do want to see the limealicous green lining, don't you?

I'm really pleased with the end result . . . this bag is just the right size for carrying on the weekend, when all I need is my wallet, phone, and maybe a lipstick. I'm also planning on installing a magnetic snap, just because I'm constantly spilling the contents of my bag all over my car.

I've also been knitting away at a poncho for one of my nieces (she's 7). I'm using the new Lion Brand ribbon yarn, and so far I like the results:

Hopefully it's not too blurry here . . . I'm doing the two-rectangle thing, and this is the first half. Once blocked, it will be 14"x28", and hopefully it will be long enough once assembled! If not, I can always make it longer with fringe . . .

And last -- but noooo, not least . . .

Let us please have a moment of silence for Big Boring Brown. Yep, that's right, BBB took a trip to the frog pond today.

I came to the realization that while I really like the yarn, I wasn't loving the pattern I was using, and I don't think the end result would have been very flattering. Maybe it was a bad sign, too, that I referred to it as "boring" from virtually the moment I cast on. Plus, with all the sweater-in-the-round stuff I learned on that weird sampler thing that I did, I had been having thoughts of ripping out BBB and using some of the new techniques I learned. So. Here's what the day was like for Big Boring Brown:

It started with BBB taking a nap, never suspecting what would become of the day . . .

Big Boring Brown, please meet Ms. Ballwinder:

And here is the end result:

I have to say, it was a bit liberating (and more than a little bit of fun) to attach BBB to the ballwinder and just wind away -- that's how I knew I'd made the right decision. So, Big Boring Brown is destined to be reincarnated, hopefully as something less boring!

Technology meltdown

It's been a technology meltdown kind of a day here at skittermagoo . . .

First I spent two hours trying to get my TiVo to call in to the satellite service to get programming info (I had a message that it hadn't had a successful call in over 2 weeks) . . . this involved 45 minutes on the phone with DirectTV (35 of which were "on hold" minutes, grrrr). They diagnosed the problem to be an out-of-date phone number that my TiVo was dialing. OK. So in order to get the updated list, my TiVo needed to call in to the programmed number and download the new list. OK, fine. Problem with this is that the programmed number is out of date, so TiVo can't connect to it. Hmmm. It's a catch-22, isn't it? Can't get the new number without calling the old number, can't call the old number to get the new number. ACK! So I go through the rest of my troubleshooting options for the second time. Grrr. Finally, I did get the dumb thing working . . . I can't even tell you exactly what I did to get it going.

Then I go to blogbitch about that, and my internet connection goes down. ARGH! And it's not necessarily a straightforward thing, because I have an Airport Extreme base (Apple wireless transmitter, for you PC people out there) plugged into a DSL router, so the hangup could be either one or both. I sang curse words in the general direction of all the internet equipment for a good 15 minutes, played around with settings and such to no avail, and ended up having to reset everything. But it worked, yay!

OK, so now I'm going to go for some low-tech entertainment and knit some on my niece's poncho. Yep, you read that right, I'm knitting a poncho. Film at eleven.

In other breaking news, Big Boring Brown may be making a trip to the frog pond . . .

Cabin Fever

First off, big thanks to everyone who has sent me get-well wishes!

I'm not entirely mobile yet, but at least I'm no longer flat on my back -- I'm able to sit up without too much pain. So at least I'm able to sit on the couch with my laptop and catch up on what's been going on in knitblogworld for the past couple days! And hopefully I'll be able to do some knitting today, too. I'm not back at work yet . . . hopefully tomorrow, depending on how today goes.

So for today I'm taking it a little bit at a time, trying not to go too stir-crazy . . .

Ouch

I'm defying Doctor's Orders right now . . . I pulled something in my lower back, and am supposed to be flat on my back with "bathroom privileges only" for the next two days. Lemme tellya, it's already driving me nuts (thus defying orders so that I can blog)! The big question is whether I will be able to knit while laid up on my back and under the influence of pain meds and muscle relaxers. Should be interesting to see how it affects my gauge!

But I'm not whining. No. Okay, yes, a little.

More later, possibly, and with the fun of prescription medication thrown in!

I got a Secret Pal package!

Wheeee! I am soooo excited to get mail from my secret pal! And lemme tellya, my Secret Pal is very, VERY good to me. Or better yet, why don't I show you?

After I got home from work (and the dentist), I opened my mailbox, and here's what I found inside:

Hmmmm, a package from Knit Happens! What could be inside?

Why, this!

Some Noro Silk Garden 82 (yum!) and mmmmm, some nummy hand balm, too.

Ooo, that's kind of a blurry picture. Would you like some close-ups? No? Too bad, you're getting them anyway.

How incredibly gorgeous are those colors??!! Well, even better than in the photo, my friends. And soft? Oh yeah.

And here's an adorable tin of hand balm (how did my SP know that my hands are horribly scaly dry right now?):

Mmmmmm, balmy. And it smells great, too -- I can't quite place the aroma, because in my haste to get it open I accidentally ripped the label off the back (duh!), but it is absolutely delicious.

Thank you, Secret Pal!
(My Secret Pal is the Best Secret Pal EVER!)

Teeth

Taking a quick break at work to tell y'all to go make an appointment with your dentist, right now. Yes, now. Or if you'd rather, call my dentist -- he's really nice.

Seriously, though . . . I just got back from yet another visit with my dentist, to get two last fillings. Yep, you read that right. In the last month, I've had a total of . . . well, more than two. And it's not because I don't brush and floss -- I do both of those things very regularly. Nope, it's not enough just to brush 2-3 times a day and floss every day . . . No, this is because I avoided going to the dentist for several years, and didn't have regular preventative maintenance done. Teeth are like a car, you gotta get the oil changed regularly (or in this case, the oil-change-equivalent). Big difference, though: you only get one set of teeth, whereas cars are technically replaceable.

Okay, so admittedly, I have rather non-strong teeth to begin with -- I seem to be genetically predisposed to having problems with them. But I betcha I could have avoided the present situation if I'd gone to the dentist more frequently!

Stay tuned for actual knitting content . . . and if you haven't already, make that appointment!!

I have been knitting, really!

Ok, so I haven't only been obsessing over the organization of all my yarn . . . I've also been doing some knitting!

Yesterday I finished the back of Big Boring Brown:

Isn't it boring?!

The yarn isn't completely monotone, though . . . it is brown, but also has flecks of green, and a bit of red, etc. Not sure if you'll be able to see it, but here's a picture anyway.

And . . . I finished yet another Umbilical Cord hat, this one in variegated Bernat Cottontots. I think this makes UC hat #6 (this one is for a coworker who is due to have her first boy in about 3 weeks or so)

I'm really pleased with how the variegated yarn looks knitted up in this pattern!

I seem to be having a bit of trouble getting started on a couple of projects . . .

There's the DNA scarf for the DNA-Along; I started the swatch at Stitch-n-Bitch* today, but it's in seed stitch and I got distracted and mucked it up. So I have to re-swatch. But the yarn is in my knitting bag, so that's a start!

Next up in the stalled lane is my Noro Retroprep . . . I've had the yarn for a while now, and have swatched and everything, but haven't actually cast on for it yet. I think it's because I have a need to get further on Big Boring Brown before I start another sweater.

And there's the Mom Cardigan . . . again, I have the yarn, have the pattern, yada yada.

And a bunch of other stuff, not the least of which is two ponchos for my nieces. One of which is to be a holiday gift, the other is "just because". I haven't quite decided what pattern to use, if any, for these. I have really cool ribbon yarn for both, and am just not sure what I'm doing yet.

There are tons more "in the queue", as it were, but thinking about it makes my head hurt. So I'm going to go and practice my continental knitting and purling on Big Boring Brown. Yawn.

*We had a record number of knitters at Stitch-n-Bitch today! I counted 22, which is about 10 more than our previous record. Wow!

I'm exhausted. And obsessive-compulsive, possibly.

Because I just spent over an hour organizing my yarn stash (and a little bit of fabric and other craft stuff, too). And I had no idea that I had that much yarn!

Here's what I did: First I opened up the "hobby closet" in our den/computer room (it's a shallow closet, floor-to-ceiling shelves of the coated metal wire type), and three skeins of random yarn fell on my head. Thank goodness I don't collect bricks! Anyway, the Falling Yarn is one of the reasons I started this little project. The other is because I just got my new-to-me-but-really-a-hand-me-down sewing machine back from the repair place, and I needed to make room for it in the hobby closet.

Anyway.

I pulled every bit of yarn, fabric, and other craft-related stuff out of my side of the closet (yes, the Hub and I have it divided down the middle. He has lots of hobbies). I sorted all the non-knitting stuff first (start small, right?). Then I sorted all the yarn into piles like this:

1. remnants/partial skeins
2. sock yarn
3. novelty/ribbon/"weird" yarn
4. sport/dk weight
5. worsted weight
6. bulky
7. super-bulky

It was amazing to see all that yarn . . . it looked like a yarn store barfed in my den! This wasn't helped at all by the Hub asking, innocently and with no malice whatsoever, "Do you think you'll be able to knit all that yarn within your lifetime?". Heh, little does he know.

(I'm not going to show you photos of the piles on my floor. Firstly, I was afraid my camera would break with the effort. Secondly, I am a bit embarassed about the huge amount of yarn that I found in there)

Some of the yarn was already in bags of "x" number of skeins of the same thing; these I left alone and just chunked them in the general direction of the appropriate piles. Then I took ziploc bags and separated out 3-or-more of the same yarn (you know, things I either bought for specific projects or that were on clearance so I bought every skein available).

Part of my big pile-making effort included emptying plastic bins that already had yarn in them; when I was done emptying and sorting, I had a number of empty containers to put my newly sorted yarn back into. Yes, I do realize they have medications for this sort of behavior.

So. I ended up with this:

(no photo, sorry. There's stuff that's slated for gifts in there, and I don't want any of the recipients to see it!)

The final inventory*:

2 shoebox-sized containers of novelty yarn
2 shoebox-sized containers of sock yarn
1 big bin of remnants
2 big bins of worsted weight and bulky yarn (grouped together due to lack of enough containers)
many, many other big bags and ziploc bags of yarn (where I had multiples of the same kind).

So now when I open my yarn closet, I'm no longer in danger of having a skein or three of yarn fall on my head. Nope. Instead, I am in danger of having a whole bag of yarn fall on me! (again, good that I don't collect bricks or rocks)

I do apologize for the lack of pictures . . . and as usual for my long-windedness. I promise I will post some other photos soon! Pictures of parts of big, boring things that are brown, and maybe some non-boring things, too.

*Okay, "inventory" may not be completely accurate. I did not document how much of each yarn I had, then construct a database with my yarn inventory. I admit, though, that I did actually consider it. Again, I am aware that medications for my condition do exist.

New Knitty!

Wahoo! The new Knitty is here! (Thanks, Pamelalala, for the heads-up)

I've only had time for a cursory glance at the patterns, but it looks like a good one, y'all! I can't wait to go back and really read it . . .

Continental knitting, a small experiment (but not a small post)

First let me just apologize for the length of this post . . . it kind of got away from me!

Okay, so some of y'all know that in my day job, I'm a scientist. I see your eyes glazing over . . . I promise I'm not going to actually talk about it here. But we'll get to the science bit in a minute -- just keep the random fact that I'm a scientist in the back of your mind for now.

I very recently (as in 2 days ago or so) learned how to knit with the yarn held in my left hand instead of my right. A very proud achievement here at skittermagoo! And actually I took to it pretty quickly. Anyway, I started thinking about whether I could also learn how to purl this way. I'd watched Blogless Petra do it, and it made my head hurt just to look at how she was waving those needles around. But, I have a reputation to uphold for being stubborn, so of course I had to try.

It sucked.

But I perservered, and managed to very very slowly continental-purl some rows on a little swatch. It was so slow it hurt, not to mention awkward, and I kept thinking, "now why can't I just continental-knit one row and throw-purl the next?". Why, indeed! Nobody ever told me I couldn't, but surely there had to be a reason (otherwise everyone would do it this way, right?)

And then I decided to do a little experiment (that's the science part). You see, my usual throwing style of knitting results in, if I don't say so myself, pretty darn even stitches. Really even, if you will. And I'm not so terribly confident in my newfound "Continentability".

So here's what I did: I made a swatch of stockinette, each section being 18 stitches by 15 rows (I would have done more than 15 rows, but I got bored). Section "A" I did completely continentally . . . those dang purl rows took me forever! I didn't look (blind experiment and all), and moved on to Section "B", which I did completely in my usual throwing style. This was the control for the experiment. Section "C" was done in alternating rows: Continental knit followed by throwing purl.

Then I compared the gauge on all the swatches, along with general appearance. I won't post a picture, because my camera won't let me get close enough to show that kind of stitch detail (note to self: must save money to buy new camera). But you can trust me when I tell you I was very, very meticulous about my inspection.

Results:
Section A gauge: 5 stitches/inch, 6 rows/inch
Section B gauge: 5 stitches/inch, 6 rows/inch
Section C gauge: 5 stitches/inch, 6 rows/inch

So, the gauge of each section matched perfectly! YAY!

The problem came in looking in detail at the stitches . . . in "A", there was a definite and systematic difference between the knit rows and the purl rows -- the knit rows were much more "relaxed" looking, while the purl rows looked a bit, well, uptight. Probably because of my discomfort with those stupid purls.

Section "B" (control) looked nice and even and smooth, with one knit row looking a bit looser, but I think it may have been a thick area of yarn.

Section "C" definitely looked better than "A"; the rows were much more even. It didn't come up to the standard of Section "B", but was more like the average between the two. In any case, the difference was noticable to me.

Conclusion: I need more practice purling continental before using it "in real life" . . . and swapping technique also wasn't really that acceptable (plus it drove me nuts switching the yarn from one side of me to the other). So, until I master that Continental Purl (and master it I will . . . see above note about my stubborn streak), I will limit my Continetal to knit stitches only (thus garter stitch or knitting in the round). And forget rib for now, too -- I can't seem to figure out how to switch the yarn from front to back (or vice versa) while I have yarn wrapped around my left index finger without completely dropping it and getting myself all tangled up.

Okay, enough with the Knitting Science Experiment #1 . . .

I got a cryptic iCard from my Secret Pal today! It said, "Thinking about cool weather knitting? I'm working up something cozy for you." Heehee! And it was an Apple iCard . . . does this mean my SP is a Mac user like me? Or does it mean that they know that I use a Mac? Ohhh, the suspense! Part of me wants to try and figure out the mystery, and the other part of me wants to just sit back and enjoy the secret-ness of it all. I think because I am a good sport, I will go with the latter.

And speaking of Secret Pals, I sent a leetle something off in the mail today . . .

A finished thing, knitting lessons, and some shopping!

Woop, I have a lot to show y'all tonight!

First off, I finished the weird goofy sweater sampler thing from the Sweater Workshop book:

That's a front view, and it's mighty strange, eh?

I learned a TON from making this, and I highly recommend the book to anyone who wants to make sweaters in-the-round and maybe doesn't know how to do a lot of the techniques.

Here's what I learned (some of it I already knew):
cable cast-on
twisted p1k1 rib
how to make a jogless stripe in k2p2 rib
short rows
a cool kangaroo pocket technique
two-color knitting (fair isle style)
how to make a row of eyelet for lacing
lace cast-off
afterthought pocket
a couple of cool raised stripes
etc.

Here's quite possibly one of the coolest things I learned:

That's the inside hem of the top of the thing . . . how cool is that?

And I also learned something that I've attemped before and failed . . . (my SnB girl Petra will be quite proud):

Continental Knitting!

Thus far I've been a dedicated thrower of yarn . . . now I know how to knit "the other way", too! Woot! I'm not terribly coordinated or fast at it, but it's no longer impossible. Whee!

And as promised, here is evidence of my LYS trip on Saturday . . .

I went in looking for yarn for the DNA scarf that I'm knitting along on (well, I have yet to start, actually), and look what I walked out with:

A couple of these:

Schachenmayr Goa, color 30, sooo soft

And a bunch of these (which will make a great poncho for my niece):

Grif color 316, ribbony goodness

And a few of these (which are for the DNA scarf that started it all):

Katia Diana, mmmm

Okay, so the first two were in the clearance section, so they were 50% off . . .

I also picked up a little something for my secret pal (recipient) -- I can't wait to send it off tomorrow! I hope she likes it . . .

Which reminds me, I got an email from my secret pal (sender) today! Yay! I love the whole mystery of it all . . .

Discosox, delayed

Okay, so the Discosox have been finished for over a week now . . . but I was searching for just the right photo . . . (yeah, right. Actually I was just being lazy).

Here they are, in all their stripey sparkle-y glory:

The photo was generously taken by Pamelalala, with the tiniest digital camera I think I've ever seen (I forgot what kind it is, but it's adorable!).

I've recovered from my dental assault yesterday (a big thanks to my well-wishers); I think my LYS trip today really helped . . . I can't really show you what I got, because it's all slated for gifts and whatnot for people who may visit here. Don't want to spoil any surprises.

And speaking of surprises . . .

I just got word that the Secret Pal 3 assignments are complete! I got mine the other day, and I can't wait to start mailing some goodies.

There's a questionnaire involved, and if you are my secret pal (or if you are just curious), you can click on the "read more" thingy to see it.

Secret Pal 3 quiz

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high-end/natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
I don’t really consider myself a yarn snob . . . I do really like the high-end stuff, but I’m not adverse to most of the Lion Brand yarns, especially the ones that are natural fiber blends. Red heart conjures up images of the scratchy scary sweaters that were made for me as a kid, but if there’s a RH yarn out there that is soft, I wouldn’t turn my nose up at it!

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I would love to learn to spin! I don’t crochet, yet.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
Not really, but the smell of smoke kind of bothers me.

4. How long have you been knitting?
Almost 7 months (since Feb 2004)

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No, but maybe I should . . . !

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I really like citrus scents, or something herbal.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Oh, my, yes. Especially chocolate.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Mainly knitting, but I also like the idea of doing things with beads and with fabric.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if you want to make her a CD)
I’m mad for ‘80s punk/new wave. And I’m MP3-compatible.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer?
I love autumn colors and muted tones. And orange.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Married, 2 cats.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
I would love to someday be able to do my own knitwear design. And to have a paper published in either Science or Nature.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
Right now I’m totally in love with Noro Kureyon (I’ve heard that Silk Garden is equally nice, but haven’t tried it. Yet.)

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Hmmmm. I’m not terribly fond of yarn with a high mohair content (a little bit is ok, like in Lamb’s Pride, but “mostly mohair” makes me itch). And maybe dog hair yarn (I’ve heard it exists).

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
Noro, Noro, and more Noro. I’m also obsessed with getting my hands on some GGH Java, and Rowan Calmer. I also want to learn cables really badly.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Oh, just about anything and everything . . . I’m in a felted bag stage right now, as well as sweaters, sweaters, sweaters (too bad winters here aren’t colder!)

17. What are you knitting right now?
The sweater sampler from “Sweater Workshop”, a Big Boring Brown sweater, and I have been ready to cast on for a sweater made of Noro Kureyon for about a month now . . .

18. What do you think about ponchos? (this is really a curiousity question for us)
I think they are really cute, especially on girls who are young and/or trendy. I’m not sure I would wear one myself (I’m not young or trendy), but I want to knit some for my nieces.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Circular!

20. How did you learn to knit?
From the Stitch-n-Bitch book by Debbie Stoller. My mom tried to teach me a while back, but it didn’t stick.

21. How old is your oldest UFO?
I think I started BBB in July . . .

22. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Favorite animated characters: Pepe LePew, Domo-kun, Chococat.
Favorite animals: cats, sheep, llamas/alpacas (I can’t really tell the difference, I’m a city girl!).

23. What is your favorite holiday?
Halloween. Definitely Halloween.

24. Is there anything that you collect?
Weird Japanese toys, and of course knitting stuff.

Numb

I just got back from the dentist . . . two fillings, ugh. I hate going to the dentist, with a bloody, bloody passion.

This was my first time going to this particular dentist, and I have to say, he was really good (considering that he was using an apparatus that had attachments suspiciously similar to the bits that came with my Dremel tool). It can't hurt that he told me repeatedly that I was a wonderful patient, and that I was doing really well. Oh, and he numbed me up something great -- I still can't feel the right side of my jaw. Better more numb than not numb enough, right?

In actual knitting news, I finished yet another Umbilical Cord Hat (from Stitch-n-Bitch) for yet another impending baby. Will have a photo tonight, along with a picture of the Discosocks! Yep, they're done . . . have been for about a week or so, actually. I've been slacking on the blog thang, I know.

I may even have a finished sweater sampler thingy to show by the end of the weekend . . .

OK, I'm off to go drink a milkshake or something. Probably will dribble it all down my front, but that's really no different than on a regular day when I haven't been shot full of novocaine.