Kyle joins the cause (Howdy Y'all!)

Thanks Jodie for adding me to this fun - here's my questionnaire filled out - I can't wait to get the blanket and add to it - I'm very excited!

you can see my blog at www.kyleknits.blogspot.com to know lots more about me - I'm also on ravelry.com as kunnecke :)


What are your Favorite Colors? - I love fall colors - anything "natural" or

Do you prefer Solid or Multi Colored Yarns? I prefer multi colored yarns (hand dyed or patterned yarns are my favorite; I seem to always knit with brown/blue or green yarns that are hand dyed)

What fibers do you prefer? I prefer natural fibers; wool, alpaca, angora, etc.

Any Allergies? - not really - I even have had yarn spun out of my cat and dog's hair (thanks to www.vipfibers.com) :)

What do you enjoy knitting the most? (socks, mittens, sweaters, etc.) I love knitting sweaters - I have never tried mittens or gloves, and I'm still scared of socks (although I KNOW that I don't need to be scared; it's not that hard!)

What are your favorite yarns? I love handspun or hand dyed yarns - I also love Debbie Bliss - and Noro Silk Garden (working on a blanket of Noro) - weight wise, I have been using lots of dk or sport weight lately - maybe it's just because it's summer :)

What do you enjoy doing outside of knitting? I love playing with my cats and doggies- I have 2 rescue cats - one is missing a leg, the other is missing an eye - both were at rescue groups for months before I got them - I took them home because noone else wanted them - they're the most wonderful pets I have ever owned! I also have 3 dogs - 1 is a rescue (she has issues but we love her) and 2 others that have been in the family for a few years... I love antiquing, I love painting and decorating - and working to help out others - either through charities or just with friends - although I don't do as much of it as I'd like...

Favorite foods or candies? chocolate is yummy - I love peanut butter - I'm not really picky - :)

Art or Music you enjoy? I love experimental and installation art - music wise, I love musicals, country music, pop, 80's, bluegrass, etc. - really almost anything except hard rock or funky 60's bands...


What inspires you? the triumph over struggle, folks who overcome adversity, broken and lost objects that somehow find a new purpose, the restoration efforts of individuals who work to renovate historic properties, the stories and history behind any craft or a person's journey through life and how they came to be who they are - (did any of that make sense?)

Anything else you want to share? if there's anything else you want to know, just email me :) I live in the Los Angeles, CA area - I work full time.... my family is from the south (Indiana/Kentucky area)... I guess that's all for now..

Arrival!

The blanket arrived today and I have to say that Carolyn totally went crazy on the gifts for me! What a thoughtful and wonderful package of goodies for me, including some super funny balloons that say "Just Married." I'll take a photo later but I have to tell you those bobbles are quite awesome in person and I am just planning my next move now.

Jodie's Questionnaire

I realized I hadn't answered my own questionaire! The blanket looks awesome, and I know it will make a great addition to the rooms that the kiddos spend so much time in . We are about halfway through our list of destinations!

Here's the Questionnaire to get to know your swap partner better.

What are your Favorite Colors?
Purple and Green. I tend to like earthy colors and like to expand my spectrum.

Do you prefer Solid or Multi Colored Yarns?
I like both for different projects. If it's multi colored I prefer only slight variations.

What fibers do you prefer? Any Allergies?
I like and use everything.

What do you enjoy knitting the most? (socks, mittens, sweaters, etc.)
I always have a pair of socks on the needles, usually some lace, and at least one sweater. I have also really enjoyed doing mittens, hats and scarves, but they haven't been my main focus.

What are your favorite yarns?
So many! I love Lorna's Laces, Socks that Rock, Malebrigo, Ultra Alpaca, and anything unique. I definitely like traditional yarns more than novelty.

What do you enjoy doing outside of knitting?
I love my job as a violin teacher, kayaking, camping, riding my awesome bike, reading, and drinking coffee.

Favorite foods or candies?
Anything with chocolate, especially dark.

Art or Music you enjoy?
I'm a huge Rufus Wainwright fan. I like celtic music, classical, jazz, and Pink Martini.

What inspires you?
I get inspired by the world around me. I really like imitating nature in my knitting (the reason I'm a huge Norah Gaughn fan) and older fashsions made contemporary.

Anything else you want to share?
Thanks for helping make this blanket. If you need more info on me, my blog is the best place to check.

My story, thus far

No doubt, some are wondering what I've been up to. Friends, I cannot tell you how many times I have frogged my square(s). My "multicolored bobble extravaganza" was not, repeat not, a smashing success. (It turns out that a gazillion bobbles may look okay on a wall hanging, or on the hat of a person with strange taste in clothing, but for a blanket...well, it just doesn't work. Totally.)

So...(sniff, whimper) - back to the drawing board. (Whatever could I do??) I tried diagonals. No good. Intarsia. No...still looks bad...OMG, the clock is ticking!

Finally I knew that I had to stop fussing with this, or Jodie will come over here and yank it out of my busy, busy hands.

So. Now. As the last rays of sunset gently illuminate our yard...I think I almost have enough time for a quick photo of Our Blanket, as it is today. Behold, and click to enlarge:



It's Yikes, Stripes, in Mission Falls 1824 superwash merino. And on one end, a little row of...you guessed it. A few bobbles! They look like little mulberries.

Dear Bon, I'm sorry I've kept this so long. (Although I notice that you are enormously busy with other things now!)

And you know what? I wish I could add another piece to this blanket. But I've already kept it for weeks. It is long past time for it to move on.

Let's take a look...

I wanted to post earlier, but sadly, my computer fell ill last night. (Guess I forgot to feed the elves inside.) We're up and running again today, so we're ready for our close-up, Mr. DeMille!


Approximate dimensions as follows:
Center black garter-stitch strip: 4" x 45" (4 cm x 115 cm); Penny's lovely log cabin rectangle, also garter stitch, 7 1/2" x 13" (19 cm x 33 cm); Abehappy's green/gold square, 10 1/2" x 9" (27 cm x 23 cm); Fyberduck's black/green garter-stitch stripes, 10 1/2" x 12" (27 cm x 32 cm). At its widest part, it is now about 21 inches (about 55 cm). The cat wants to sit on it...Shoo!

There's lots of room to grow, here. On close inspection, I discern that there is not enough red in this blanket. Also...not enough bobbles.

My task is clear.

Special Delivery

It's here...live, from New York! Oh, Penny, thank you!!

My friends, I wish that you could see and feel this beautiful work-in-progress. The squares have been made with so much love, so much care. It's incredibly soft. And there are at least a dozen places where I could add my own square.

Needless to say, now that it's my turn...I am terrified.

And what's this...some goodies for me, too! Some colorful rainbow-type yarn, for my Inner Circus Clown (yes, that's me all right!) Enough for socks and a hat and a scarf! And popcorn, too (Penny, how did you know my secret love?? Is the popcorn from Coney Island?? I heart New York!)

But I have to work tonight (don't ask), so I will post some photos tomorrow. And I have to figure out what to add. (I do not want my Inner Circus Clown to take over my project and knit a crazy square, now, do I!?)

Done!

I finally finished my part of the blanket. I'm nervous as I totally bonked picking up stitches and made it up as I went along. Jodie (who is awesome) had charged us with being creative, so I tried. It is based on MDK's log cabin stuff and my meandering through Coney Island the week before I bought yarn. I might chicken out and crochet over some of the horridness I left in my wake. You'll see how I slowly learned how to pick up and join the stitches. It's funny as I was doing this I realized I had never done that sort of thing before. Shawls and socks don't have many seams ... I hope to get it out Friday. I would say tomorrow, but I'm realistic and feel guilty for holding onto it for so long. I have no box yet with which to mail. I haven't even gotten together what I want to send to Carolyn yet.

The blanket traveled a small bit with me. It went to Coney Island and up to Montrèal with us this past weekend. It saw sun and let me get sunburnt (we talked after that). I hope you like it and I don't look too newbie-ish.. I'm not completely sure what happened. I think nerves because Jodie, Sara, and Abe-hap are such awesome knitters. I hope I don't flip out tonight after posting this and rip it out and redo it!!!

(much of this post was pulled from what I wrote on my site.)