Yarny Goodness!

When I opened my mailbox this afternoon it had a big package in it. I opened the package and here's what I found:

I received the first package from my Secret Pal 13 swap! One skein of beautiful teal Malabrigo! I'm super excited to knit with this yarn for the first time. The pattern is perfect for me because it only requires 1 skein (which is all my short patience is likely to allow me to knit). I plan on leaving the skein laying around the house until it's knit because the colour is just so cheerful. I find myself smiling whenever I look at it. :)

Secret Pal 13 Questions

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I don't like faux fur etc. I like to try new yarns that I've never used before. I like to knit using worsted weight if I can get away with it (depends on the pattern of course). When I don't know what to knit (or want to restart after a break) I always start with a cotton dishcloth.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have a cloth needle holder that was a Christmas gift last year. I also have a small zippered pouch for stitch holders etc.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I've been knitting (on and off) for about 5 years, and I'm either an advanced beginner, or a beginning intermediate. (Make sense?) :P

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

No

5. What's your favorite scent?

Something floral.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

YES! I love sweets, anything chocolate is my favourite.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I don't spin. I used to cross-stitch, and make cards but since I've started knitting both have fallen by the way-side.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I like country, rock, and pop, but I'm not sure if my computer plays MP3. I've never tried. How can I tell?

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I tend to like a lot of blue (or mainly the darker shades of most colours). I don't like orange though.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I'm not married, I have no kids, and no pets......unless you count dust bunnies?

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Scarves yes, hats sometimes, mittens no, ponchos no, gloves YES.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Last year I went through a huge dishcloth faze. They're quick, easy, and instant gratification. I'm not sure I have a favourite right now.

13. What are you knitting right now?

Fingerless mitts for a friend's Christmas gift, dishcloth. (Also see 2 posts below for more info.)

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Yes, if the are practical or useful.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I like both straight and circulars. I have just recently become a big fan of bamboo.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

No and no.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

About a year.

18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe?

I'm definitely celebrating Christmas. As a Christian it means more to me that the gift grab the stores make it out to be! My birthday is my favourite holiday....oh wait that's not a national holiday, then Christmas is my next favourite.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Umm... maybe books? I'm trying to make my own library of "classic" books. I have Pride & Prejudge, Les Miserable, (and lots of Christian fiction, and chic lit books).

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I'm a big fan of free patterns, so ravelry is a great find for me. I don't subscribe to any magazines.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Toe-up socks, learn to knit a sweater.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I've knit my first sock, and though I love the warmth but it doesn't fit quite right. (I made it too big.) I hope to have better sizing on my toe up sock.

toe to heel - 9"; arch circumference - 8"; ankle - 8.5" I wear a size 7 shoe. (Canadian size)

23. When is your birthday? October 1st

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? juliabca

Here's looking at you kid!

I had a great weekend, but in true Julia fashion I've neglected to blog about it. I had a fun time at Taste of the City with my sister, her husband, his sister, and her finance. Ate lots of yummy food including ice cream from Marble Slab Creamery. (They just came to New Westminster, BC and our family is loving it! I just checked their website and although there are only 8 locations in all of BC, appearantly they have locations ALL OVER Texas!)

Saturday night I went to my friend M's house, where she and her husband (ok, mainly her husband) have a projection TV. The screen takes up the entire wall of their living room! She invited me to come watch Casablanca with her and some friends. I jumped at the chance! I have always wanted to see this movie, but my local Rogers doesn't have it on DVD (and I don't have VHS). It was a great movie, and I like it so much that I hope to re-watch it someday.

I receieved my yarn package today from my Ravelry yarn swap pal. Its a $30.00 swap and we were each matched up to someone from another country. I was matched with Kristine. (Her blog is all in Norwegian, but her Ravelry page has some amazing fair isle mittens. Go check it out.) She sent me 4 skeins are wool: 1 black, 1 red, and 2 blue and white mixed skeins. They are meant to be knit on 3.5mm needles. I've never knit anything with wool. Does anyone have a good pattern suggestion? (I told my sister that I would knit her a pair of slippers this winter so I think I might use some of this wool for that.)

I have no pictures because I still don't have a digital camera. I think I'm getting closer to buying one though. My brother got a $350.00 digital camera and it's soooo nice. Nothing like a little jealousy to get you motivated into saving up for one of your own huh?

Monday evening I went to the Vancouver Knitting Meetup. I got to see fellow blogger Monica there, and meet some new knitters too. I enjoying seeing what other people are knitting. It usually inspires me to keep knitting (are start knitting again, as the case may be!)

I have finally corrected the socks. Yuck! Next time remind me not to mess up in the first place. :) I've ripped back, picked up the stitches, and re-counted everything. I'm now on track to start knitting again. It looks a little messier since the rip back but hopefully once I've knit a couple more rows it'll look better.

Anyway, I'm signing off because Friends is on TV and its seems like the perfect knitting time.

Swap update

So my great and patient swap pal has resent the package. She mailed on an overnight, but because it's going from the States to Canada it's supposed to take 3-5 days. So I should received by Friday, Monday or Tuesday. Here is what the US postal service website said has happened to it.

International Dispatch, March 26, 2008, 1:39 pm, MIAMI
Processed, March 26, 2008, 9:23 am, MIAMI, FL 33112
Processed, March 25, 2008, 5:11 pm, MEMPHIS, TN 38101
Acceptance, March 25, 2008, 12:33 pm, MEMPHIS, TN 38122

My package has come from Memphis and has already traveled to Miami! I'm exicited to get a package from so far away! I've never been to either to those places myself yet.

Tonight I went for a run. I ran at a slower pace than I usually run at and it felt great. I ran for 20 mins, walked 1 min, ran 15, walked, 1, ran 10, then walked 5. I came home, had a hot shower, and now feel like I can concur the world!

My poor swap pal

A couple of weeks ago I joined the Longing for Spring Swap. The deadline for sending your packages has come and gone. 13 days ago I got an email from my swap pal saying that she had mailed the package to me. 3 days later I mailed the package to my down stream pal in the States. The package I mailed was later received by swap pal. (Quite quickly too!) I still have not received the package from my pal. Who appearently was quite worried, because I received an email from the swap co-ordinator asking if I had received it yet. I decided not to worry because I know that mail in Canada can be quite slow sometimes. (I get jealous of the UK sometimes!) Now the Easter long weekend is here, it will probably hold up the process even more. I'm holding out hope that it will arrive on Tuesday, right after the long weekend. Please keep your fingers crossed for me!

I have no new knitting news. Due to the rotten cold I caught last week I have not been knitting at all! I do plan on picking up the needles tonight though to work on another bib for my sister and her baby that is due in only 8 more weeks!!!

New Swap

So it's already been 2 weeks since my last post. Yikes time sure flies. I finished the dishcloth with white Sugar and Cream yarn, and I have now started another cloth with Bernant cotton yarn. I plan on giving these as a gift to my secret prayer pal from church. Maybe I'll get a picture up here one day. It's a little hard 'cause I don't have a digital camera myself.

I'm signing up for the Longing for Spring Swap. Here is my questionaire:


Do you knit or crochet? How long have you been at your craft? I have been knitting for about 3 or 4 years.

What are your favorite yarns/fibers? What are your least favorite yarns/fibers? I like to knit dishcloths so cotton is good, but I'm open to suggestions of other good stuff.

What are your favorite colors? What are your least favorite colors? I like blues and greens and dislike oranges.

What ‘warm weather’ project are you looking forward to making this year? I'm tossing around the idea of making a tank top or similar.

What are you favorite scents? Least favorite? I've never really thought about favourite scents before... I so like the smell of almond flavouring. Does that count?

What is your favorite flower? Gerberras and roses.

What are you favorite spring time hobbies/activities? Walking on the dyke/seawall.

Do you have a garden? If you do, tell us a little about it. Do you like to plant flowers or vegetables? The tomatoes I tried to plant last year didn't do to well. I might try some herbs this year. I life in an apartment to space is very limited.

What are your favorite sweets? Anything chocolate!

Do you collect anything? No

Do you have any allergies? No

Do you have any pets? No

This will be my second swap and I'm looking forward to it. If you want to join go here. http://longingforspringswap.blogspot.com/ Signups last until February 14 or until 40 are reached.