If Found, Please Return to Owner

The first challenge of the Amazing Lace is to provide an introduction of yourself and your team member. Sounds easy enough. Yeah, right! Me? I am present and accounted for. Ready to intro myself away. However, my teammate, a shawl of my own design, is on holiday, trekking through Nepal, or on a mission to save alpacas worldwide. Your guess is as good as mine. Personally, I am betting on the alpacas.

Not only is my teammate nowhere to be found, she has left quite a mess. Several swatches, books, and graph paper litter my dining room table. I also notice that at least two bottles of wine have gone missing.



We first met many months ago at my LYS. It was during one of my lace classes. I am hoping to find her there, waiting for me, at my next lesson.

In the event that a search party is required, I am listing a few key traits that will help with identification of my partner.

1) She is round. Very, very round. She and I share a fondness for lace knitted in circles. This keeps that nasty purling to a minimum.

2) My teammate is a third cousin of the Peacock Feathers Shawl. This shawl is the inspiration that keeps us going when the weaker minded would quit.

3) She may also be related to the Spanish Merino. Genetics testing is still underway. It is possible that an Alpaca or a Silkworm may also claim paternity.

4) My partner sports our team colors inspired by the Palawan Pheasant at all times.


If you see my teammate in the mountains of Nepal in your part of the world, will you kindly tell her the race has started and she's wanted at home.

Sockless in the Suburbs

I do not own a pair of hand knit socks. I suppose that is because for the past seven years of my knitting career, I've concentrated on scarves and hats for my portable projects.

This year, though, has an added sense of adventure. I've tried lace for the first time and many times since. I've completed my first set of socks and moved right on to a second pair. I have even managed to avoid second sock syndrome or SSS.

I have decided that since I don't own a pair of hand knit socks, that I should hire someone to knit a pair for me knit myself a set. I therefore have promptly cast on for the potato, pomegranate, pomatomus socks. I have subsequently frogged said popover, hippopotamus pomatomus socks. They are too big and the colors are pooling.

I'm not against pooling. In fact, I usually prefer it. But, see the skein's varied goodness? That is what I want in a pair of socks knit up with this colorway of Koigu. It wasn't happening. The blues and greens were keeping to themselves and ostracizing the reds, pinks and yellows. Or maybe it was the other way around.

I could move down a size from US1's to US0's. That would certainly make the sock smaller and possibly force the colors to be more social with each other. However, zeros might not be small enough. The sock was huge, almost hippopotamus sized, on my foot. I am slowly reconciling myself to the knowledge that this yarn is not meant to become the possum, tomato, pomatomus socks.

Emma tells me she is knitting Crusoe socks. I think I'll give those a try. That pattern would fit right in with the adventurous theme that is prevailing this year.

Catch of the Day

Brook Trout
Rainbow Trout
Sock TroutPattern: Fancy Gentleman's Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush, with modifications
Yarn: Louet Gem Opal, hand dyed in Trout Colorway
Needle: US2 DPN

What is left after knitting Sock Trout.

A Fin Away From Finished

I have left you in suspense. It has probably been so long that you cannot even recall what is causing you to cross your fingers for me. I sincerely apologize for the delay in reporting my knitting progress. I would like it noted, however, that if these Trout socks were for me I would be finished by now.

I have three repeats of the 2 x 2 ribbing pattern before the toe decrease. There appears to be enough yarn to complete the second sock. However, I am aware that looks can be deceiving. After all, each turn of the ball has less yarn than the turn before it. Plus, I have to worry about the unusual length of my husband's toes.

My husband never lets his feet see the light of day wears socks all the time and in all seasons. As such, I have only seen his bare feet twice before this not so little knitting project. I was completely unprepared for his long skinny toes. They measure two and 3/4 inches. Is it me or does that equal really long toes?

I promise that you won't have to keep your fingers crossed for too much longer. We should know the answer to "have enough or not have enough yarn" very soon.

Curiosity Grows A Turtle

Courtesy of my green swap with Becca, I have been growing a turtle. My husband wanted to plunk it into water as soon as the package was opened. I, however, made him wait until I could be home for more than one day to witness this miracle of an expanding turtle as well.

According to the package, it only takes three days. Its about to come out of it's shell and we are only at day two.




Work has really kept me on my toes the past few weeks. Inspite of the lack of blog fodder, there has been knitting. Friday is a holiday for me and I hope to have pictures then.

E'Nupp is E'Nupp

The 5-stitch nupp is the latest technique I've learned during my lace class. This week I only had to knit one swatch. The pattern is Lily of the Valley. A really easy knit, except for the nupps.

It's Not Easy Being Green

That phrase is often associated, at least in my mind, with the famous Muppet - Kermit the Frog. While Kermit may be the most well known, he certainly wasn't the only green muppet associated with the Muppet Show.

According to this character guide green Muppets also extended to Kermit's fellow frogmates Robin, Ms. Appleby, and Norman. There were muppets that were alligators, birds, and turtles. The show also included Lenny the Lizard, and the Gill Brothers - four fish who sang harmony. Besides animal muppets there were food muppets such as an Avocado and Green Grapes.

There are other muppets who might claim that it's not easy to be a muppet never mind green. There was Banananose Maldenado - an Italian muppet with a banana for a nose, Deadear Dick - a pirate with a patch over his ear, Tom, Dick, and Harry - a monster with three heads, and Droop - a depressed long nosed monster.

However, Becca, my color swap partner, made green really easy. She even sent it in a green package.


Inside was so much green goodness as unique as any muppet could be! Green tea lotions, a kaleidoscope, a mint scented pencil, a turtle to grow, a note pad, mints, buttons, cards, a small change purse, and of course, yarn. She sent along Rowan Kidsilk Haze and Farmhouse spun yarn. The Kidsilk will be perfect for all the lace I've been doing.



All this was a wonderful surprise to come home to after a hectic day of work. Thank you so very much, Becca!

I Followed All The Clues.

They led to . . .



The first clue would be my sudden impulse to sign up for a 4 month lace class. Little did I know this was going to be my training for the big event.

Next, an email from Marji sending me the link. She didn't stop there. She publicly outted me as a possible contender.

The third clue would be from Sarah. She is writing a book of knitting patterns. (How cool is that?) I get to be test knitter for one of her projects. You guessed it - it's lace.

The final clue, that I could not ignore, was receiving the latest edition of IK. Every single project is lace. Every. Page. Is. Lace.

I have to choose a partner. I'm really leaning towards a shawl of my own design. The table doily swatch I did for tomorrow's class has really frustrated captivated me. It was designed for lace weight and a finished size of about 28 inches across. With a little fiddling though, I could turn it into a circular shawl of adult proportions.

This swatch is only 2 of the 4 patterns that make the doily. You can start to see the third pattern in between the leaf points.

Strange Conversations

My foray into the world of blogging has generated some interesting conversations between my husband and I. The most recent was yesterday.

DH: All the yarn is green.
Me: Yes, that's this month's color.
DH: You are sending a box full of green yarn and stuff?
Me: Yes, and I'll be receiving a box full of green stuff. That's the way the swap works.
DH: I'm jealous. Nobody ever sends me a box of green stuff.

Then there was the conversation about Stitches Midwest.

Me: I'm going to meet Marji at the Stitches convention.
DH: Is that your friend from high school?
Me: No, that's Meri. Marji is a blogger. I've haven't met her in person.
DH: You plan on meeting a total stranger?
Me: It's the same as you meeting "strangers" for fishing trips.
DH: That's different. They are friends of friends and it's fishing!
Me: Yes, you are right. Agreeing to meet unknown persons in the middle of the woods for fishing is much safer than agreeing to meet them in a crowded convention center. I really should be careful of anyone who has a passion for sticks and strings.
DH: Exactly!

How about the times I try to help him keep all of my new friends straight? I sound like I'm describing a soap opera plot.

Me: Donni's going to shave her head to raise money for cancer research.
DH: She's the one in Australia you sent the scarf too, right?
Me: No that's Sharon.
DH: I thought Sharon was the one in Canada?
Me: Are you thinking of Sarah - my SP spoilee or Peggy - my scarf maker?
DH: I thought your SP partner was from Georgia?
Me: That's Lisa. She was my SP spoiler.
DH: Oh. So Donni's shaving her head?

All of this has made me very aware of how many doors I have been given the chance to open to discover new ideas, places, and friends. It wasn't very long ago that I felt very alone in my passion for knitting. I knew people that knit but for them it was a way to pass time when nothing more pressing was happening. Not that every blogger I have come across knits. However, the fact that we choose to publicly talk about our knitting, sewing, or other crafts indicates a passion that I can't find in my immediate circle of local friends.

I'm very blessed that I have been given the chance to carry on strange conversations with my husband.

Secret Pal 8 Questionnaire

I had so much fun with my first Secret Pal exchange, I'm trying it again.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I like Merino wool and alpaca (who doesn't like alpaca?). Rowan Cashsoft is nice and so is Koigu. I'm not a fan of stiff yarns or squeaky yarns like acrylic.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have several quilted rolls that store my DPN, circulars and straights. My mother made them and a knitting tote to match.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? 7+ years I've been knitting. I am an intermediate knitter on most days. Though my lace class can make me feel real beginnerish. :)

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? I have an amazon wish list and a knitpicks wish list, but I don't know how to link to them.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) Earthy scents like vanilla, coffee, and hazelnut. Or light fruity scents like pear, apple, and cucumber.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Dark chocolate, raspberry, and raspberry with dark chocolate. Oh, and cheesecake. Real cheesecake - the kind that after 2 bites you are stuffed full. Not that I am expecting a cheesecake, just saying that cheesecake is good eats!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? You mean there is something other than knitting? I know how to sew, but do so mainly for functional reasons not enjoyment. I know how to crochet, but use it mostly for finishing knitting projects. I don't know how to spin, but I own a drop spindle. Eventually, I am going to sign up for a class to learn how to use it.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Everything but rap and elevator music. I listen to country usually, but if I want background music without distraction I like to listen to techno.

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? Blues, greens, dark reds - autumn and winter colors. I usually don't choose pastels. I really don't like bright neon colors.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I am married to a fisherman and live with 2 cats, Cleopatra and Caesar.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I wear all but the mittens. I'm more of a glove person.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Socks, scarves, and sweaters are the usual projects of choice. I try to avoid afghans because I get bored with them about a third of the way in and then it takes two three years to finish them.

13. What are you knitting right now? Trout colored socks for my husband.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Of course, who doesn't?

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I prefer circular needles. My wrists don't tire as quickly. I like needles that have a quick surface, usually aluminum. Although, I've found a few bamboo needles that work nicely too.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes, both. I was so happy when I no longer had to wind by hand.

17. How did you learn to knit? I taught myself from books. Though, I have taken classes to improve my techniques. Currently I am taking a lace class that is teaching me how to design my own lace pattern.

18. How old is your oldest UFO? Oh my oldest UFO that still has a chance of becoming an FO, is 4+ years old. Now that I've written that I feel very bad about it. Maybe I'll go dig it out and work on it today.

19. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Halloween for the make-believe. Thanksgiving for the Turkey and greenbean casserole. Christmas for the giving.

20. Is there anything that you collect? Yarn, stitchmarkers, more stitchmarkers, more yarn, and more stitchmarkers. The yarn is probably obvious, but I have a real obsession for stitchmarkers.

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I am absolutely in love with Fiddlesticks Peacock Feathers shawl. Whenever I come across one in blogland, I could sit and stare at it for hours. I currently have a subscription to Interweave Knits and Vogue Knitting.

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? The Cat Bordhi moebius technique. I have seen some projects that use that technique that I really want to try.

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I love sock knitting, though I've only started this year. My foot is a 6.5 medium US.

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) July 30

Sunny Saturday

I was supposed to work today, but at the eleventh hour the mold I was supposed to evaluate wasn't going to be able to run after all. So, Caesar and I took advantage of the sunny day. I will never cease to be amazed at how cats can be comfortable in the strangest of positions.

I realize some of you may be wondering if the drama of the Trout socks has reached it's peak. Sadly, not yet. I don't mean to leave you hanging, but I realized that my next lace class is less than a week away and I have to knit my swatch.

This is the wonkiest oddest* swatch I've knit. It is from a table doily pattern meant to be knit in the round. Most lace patterns have a center. The left side is a mirror image of the right. That is true with this pattern, except the center keeps shifting. Thus, the chart I made from the written instructions doesn't exactly match with my knitting. I have to keep finding the true beginning of each row. It took me awhile to figure that out. At first I thought it was me, but I realize now that the instructions assume the knitter just knows where to start. It never mentioned once that the beginning of the round moves.



My outdoor knitting startled a chipmunk. The amazing thing is that he/she didn't move for 20 minutes from this pose.





*I looked up wonky, a word I use often. As I discovered I have been using it incorrectly.

The Race Is On

I have been blogging for six months. I was all set to wax philosophical about the joys of blogging, the friends I'm making, the new ideas I'm learning. Except that I am distracted by this...

This is all the yarn I have for my hubby's Trout socks. Can you see it? The cliff I am doomed to knit right over? The total lack of yardage?!? In my defense there is plenty of yarn for my feet, which is what I originally intended. I am most definitely blaming this impending disaster on my husband's unwillingness to accept shorter socks or shrink his feet.

I confirmed my suspicions by visiting my LYS. We agreed that the three skeins in my possession would last me, at best, through the second sock's gusset. They had half a skein of the colorway I'm using. I think it will be a race to the very last stitch of the second toe between me and the trout. I hope to win by a gill.