I just haven't been good about posting them here. I **am** sorry. Please head on over to the main blog to read the last six months of posts..... That's a total of 11 or 12 posts, so it won't take that long.  :o)

Merry Christmas!
This entry was originally posted at http://helenkosings.dreamwidth.org/16547.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

It is July 9th, and just as promised, I have done the drawing for the giveaway! Just so's ya know, we had 33 entrants, with 6 of you entering twice & 5 folks entered 3 times. That makes a total of 44 entries. I assigned each entry a number, I went on over to www.randomnumbergenerator.com ,put in ze numbers and voila!

Here is the result:

go to Kim who won the drawing!

Many thanks to each one of you who participated; I will be doing giveaways more frequently 'cos they're so much fun!

This entry was originally posted at http://helenkosings.dreamwidth.org/16252.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

Hope it was lovely. I spent some time showering in cold water (water heater still broken), trying sort out & clean things in the master bedroom, sweating, doing large amounts of laundry, sweating, taking photos of the garden before it goes all crispy, sweating, taking more crappy phone pictures of a finished project, a work in progress, and some recent stash enhancement, and sweating. Did I mention it is hot?

I'll save the garden stuff for the next post, and I still have some serious catching up to do (I can hardly WAIT to share my much belated "Mothers' Day" present pics with you, many yarn crimes have been tagged for sharing and yes Virginia, there IS a podcast), but there is some actual knitting /yarn content here for you.

Just before we get to that, I made a rather eclectic Spotify playlist for today, and if you wanna get all patriotic and stuff, you can find it here:

....................................................................

I'm trying to make this more exciting with the animations. Is it working?

Finished Object

Well, mostly. A few ends to weave in here and there and perhaps some blocking.....



Unfortunately I couldn't get the right color in the picture. One ply is a raspberry red and the other ply is bright orange. It's a yummy combo. Here's the Ravelry link, and even tho' it's really hot, Boris was *still* willing to model it for me:



He's so purty.

Work In Progress

I have begun the afghan for Mom & Dad and I'm having fun with it.



So much fun to see how each color looks next to the others - I'm neglecting things I really need to get done. And now the fun stuff!

Stash Enhancements

Lana Grossa Divino -

75% cotton, 25% viscose, RL = approx 120yd/110m/50g

I got this because I'm really curious to see what it looks like knitted up, and to see if my hands can take it. I have a hard time knitting cotton... And it would be such a pretty summer shawlette....

A new book! (this actually came in the mail).

I wanna see if this will be useful in chart reading.

My friend Sarah M. gave me the Knit Picks interchangeables (top) to play with, and I'm not quite sure why I got the bamboo ones (bottom) now..... It might have been to start on this beautiful thing:



Rav link: 'Venus' by Karen Bradley

I've been itching to start a shawl, and I do so love the look of this one. After consulting with the yarn enabling salespeople at Yarn Expressions, I decided on this yarn.

Lang - Mille Colori

75% superwash wool, 25% nylon; 400 metres (437 yards.)

It feels so yummy in the skein. But then I looked around some more and saw these:

The Alpaca Yarn company - PacaPeds

Colorway - Paccachino

65% Superwash Merino, 15% Nylon, 20% Alpaca
about 100 grams
360 yd / 329.2 m

I could make 2 of them, right? Yup, I can.

Then, like a fool, I started looking at the Madelinetosh yarns

I found that the one I'd left behind last time was still waiting for me:

Tosh Lace in Flashdance!

100% superwash merino wool

950 yards / 868 meters

I couldn't leave it behind again....I just couldn't.


I'm not certain what happened to me next - perhaps the fiber fumes made me a little woozy, because I got this one too:

Prairie - another Madeleinetosh laceweight!

100% superwash merino wool

840 yards / 768 meters

The color, which is called "Fathom", is very different from the picture; it is deeper and more tinged with black.

(Go and see their picture on their website - it's WAY better than mine)

Yep, I was-

• in too deep -


• way over my head -


• out of my depth -


• drowning -


• going overboard -


• sinking...ok, I'll stop. :)

Alas - once more into the fray... I mean, I'm already in BIG trouble here, so why not? Let's make the spousal displeasure & subsequent scolding REALLY worthwhile......

Dream in Color Smooshy with Cashmere

"Cranberry Melt"

100% merino superwash wool
400 yds. This entry was originally posted at http://helenkosings.dreamwidth.org/15525.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

First off, let me say that I love all the comments!!!! And secondly, I wish to apologize that my replies aren't lining up with each comment I'm replying to (making for some confusing reading fo sho). I've spent several hours trying to fix it and no dice so far. Please be patient with me!

So....a very good friend of mine who is recuperating from surgery said that she wants to learn to knit! So I wandered on down to my LYS - you know, just to get a few things to start my friend off right - and spent WAY more $ than I had planned. I don't have time to photo this afternoon; tomorrow looks pretty good!

Thanks for all the comments and a big smiley welcome to all the new folks.

This entry was originally posted at http://helenkosings.dreamwidth.org/16039.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

So Wednesday's post contained the give away and I asked for comments. I had something else to do in the evening so I went out & I came back several hours - no comments. I was a little surprised, but it was OK....

Yesterday, I checked in the afternoon....and no comments. I was starting to feel like the Universe was ganging up on me, that nobody loved me and worm soufflé was in the cards for dinner.

THEN I REMEMBERED.....BING!

I have to approve the comments if'n ya haven't commented here before. Lo! And behold! There y'all are. I feel a little stupider than usual..... All that being said, this what your comments do to me:

I don't even care if yer just here for the giveaway, I still wanna do this:

Even though I really look a lot more like this:

but not quite as hip.

I love it - keep the comments coming! And make sure you dance today.

This entry was originally posted at http://helenkosings.dreamwidth.org/15732.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

The Toyota needed a new radiator, the water heater is on the fritz and the washing machine is on its last legs.....

....so of course, I've bought yarn. And books.

Because we ain't got enough of either 'round here, right? ::::::sadly shaking my head at my continuing folly:::::

OK, enough whingeing - on with the show!+ BTW, I didn't get all of this TODAY; it's been a few weeks....



Madelinetosh

Tosh Merino Light

Baltic



Frog Tree

Pediboo

Zombie



Twisted Fiber Art

Self-striping yarn in Kabam!

Lagoon

(The itty bitty skein is a sample of their MCN yarn,Tasty, in the Maple colorway. YUM!)



Dream in Color

Smooshy

Starless Sky



Another sock book! But really, I'll probably buy anything written by Stephanie van der Linden - even if it's in German!



I'm not a complete yarn snob!

Yarn Bee (Hobby Lobby)

Walk Away sock yarn

Heel to Toe



Interweave Knits' Summer 2012 Jane Austen Knits Magazine; I didn't like the things in the first Jane Austen Knits collection to buy it, but I just had to get this one!!

and Cascade

Alpaca Lace

Thistle - this yarn is an incredible buy!

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614"] Sorry about the blur, but you can still see how complex this colorway is. I'm itchin to cast on a shawl!![/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] May get paired with "Zombie" for a freaky pair of socks for British comedian....[/caption]

Red Heart

Heart & Sole with Aloe

Blackjack

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614"] Or maybe this will go with "Zombie"........[/caption]

Pigeon Roof Studios

High Twist sock superwash Merino

Cockleshell

Again I love the complexity of this colorway....though the pictures are rather brighter than in person.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614"] Cockleshell up CLOSE!![/caption]



These were both on clearance at a store that rhymes with 'flobby bobby'. They're being added to the living room scrap afghan project....It needed these colors, I think......

I Love This Yarn

in Summer Happens (green ombre) & Perpetual Sunshine (yellow ombre)

****

I've been thinking about an afghan fer Mom & Pops. I have 75% of a Klimt-inspired Babette done for them, but Ma wanted more BROWN. Once I finish that, I can give it to a friend who ADORES yellow, so that's good.... Then this caught my eye:



OH YEAH! No brown but I could add some right? But Mum didna want wool - even if it was washable, so I'm going with Knit Picks Brava Worsted - a delicious 100% acrylic...YES> ACRYLIC. Then, after I went thru the color card and made my substitutions for the original yarn, I saw all their browns and everything and decided to order every color they had!



...Except Cream. I meant to order cream...but I forgot. I will order it from them soon enough, but in the meantime....

AIN'T IT PURTY?

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614"] Sorry for the blur[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614"] The column on the left (plus the orange & yellow in the middle) has the color substitutions I came up with for the original.[/caption]

Last but CERTAINLY not LEAST is this:



I have really been looking forward to this book. THIS IS A USEFUL BOOK. I am in LOVE with this book. LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! So much good information, excellent pictures, swatches - the whole enchilada. You NEED this book....

...and I have an EXTRA one to GIVE AWAY!

So here are the deets:

Both the Dreamwidth & the LiveJournal blogs are "mirror blogs". To enter the give away, go here.


I would love it if you would tell other knitterly types who like to read blogs about the give away. Thanks! This entry was originally posted at http://helenkosings.dreamwidth.org/15272.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

Friends & neighbors,

in my long experience in knitting, crocheting, etc., there are a few words that almost always signal a yarn crime has taken place and another will take place if you follow this pattern or whatever to make that thing. I'm sharing my experience with you, gentle readers (all 5 of you), as a kind of public service. I think that a certain format might be useful. With a nod of thanks to Jeff Foxworthy, here goes!

Try saying this phrase out loud and fill in the blank with each word below.

"When you see the word '______', you might commit a yarn crime."

Got it? OK. And I would love for folks to give me some funny captions in the comments.

frilly

 

eyelash yarn

 

 

beer can

loopy

necklace

or bracelet

"So, you think that there's a real market for D.I.Y. jewelry that looks like cat entrails huh?

 

capelet

designer

balloon

pom-pom

If you are:

• not currently serving as a cheerleader


• not going to a fancy dress party


• not 'pharmaceutically enhanced'


• are potty trained


• and can read

then pom poms are NOT for you.

headband

This is especially true if the words 'easy' or 'beginner' or 'bulky'
appear anywhere in the description.

 

cute owl

If you have to tell people the owl is cute...it ISN'T.

 

..... and sometimes just the word 'crochet' can be enough.

______________________________________________________

There are those that go beyond this little word thing. I give you these as proof:



I mean this snake sock is ****beautifully made****....but WHY?!?!?!

OK, back to your life now. :o) This entry was originally posted at http://helenkosings.dreamwidth.org/14919.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

......I guess "soon" in comparison to geologic times. Truly I am collecting many photos of various crimes against yarn for your horror/enjoyment or whatever. MY problem is my calendar; it has ganged up on me somehow (I think they must mate/reproduce in the corner when we're away or asleep). For the last six weeks I've been extraORDINARily busy; I feel like my calendar took me outside the joint and worked me over until I'm barely breathing!

Still, I have a new keyboard and that definitely helps.

AND if you happen to be anywhere near Chicago this Memorial Day weekend, you should absolutely come and hear this concert:

A skein of Wollmeise to anyone who can spot me in the above picture!*

I hope to take just a little time whilst in Chicago to visit a yarn store........maybe. Oh yeah and I'll be doing a groovy thing in June in Nashville on June 2nd. Stay tuned.

Yarn crimes....SOON.

___________________

*That's a joke, y'all. No Wollmeise giveaways here. :o)

This entry was originally posted at http://helenkosings.dreamwidth.org/14768.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

My 'puter isn't running very smoothly today, & I have an annoying head cold so I have even less patience than usual. And now the cat wants my attention and is shedding buckets full of her fine fluffy fur. Yay.

I had planned to write a proper post about my newest socks but since the Universe is conspiring against me today, I'll post a few pics (crappy phone pictures no less) of my latest yarn acquisition.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Lovely merino/cashmere/nylon sock yarn"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Same skein, different view"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Same skein, different view. I especially love that wine colored bit...."][/caption]

This entry was originally posted at http://helenkosings.dreamwidth.org/14362.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

Sorry I've been so quiet. There's lots of reasons.....but I won't bore you with all that. Just file it under "Depressive Episode" I guess and we'll move on.

TODAY is a lovely day and I got YARN in de mail. Wanna see? I have some crappy phone pictures for you...... :o)



The yarn is from Knit Picks and it is their new 100% acrylic line called "Brava"  This is the bulky weight - I'm making a baby blankey; yes,  another one!  The lighter green is 'peapod' and the darker one is called 'Dublin'.  I also got this:

This is....sock yarn!  Quelle surprise, n'est-ce pas? It is their Stroll Hand-Painted  in the now-discontinued color of "Nevermore".  I couldn't pass it up - I have a little Edgar Allen Poe thing...... I *did* take another, much better picture but I couldn't seem to get it up loaded.

All for now!

This entry was originally posted at http://helenkosings.dreamwidth.org/14328.html. Please comment there using OpenID.