Tuesday, April 10, 2007 by shetalkstostrangers
…Local Yarn Shop as we know it…and I don’t feel fine. In the midst of the second horrible cold I’ve had this year, I “celebrated” the end of Sweet Stitch with many local knitters (and spinners).
That Saturday (4/1/07) was spent working on the CTH Brights socks (done as of Monday morning, with a shortened toe since I was so antsy).
That Sunday, I spun 2 oz of merino/mohair/tussah silk (70/20/10) blend for the “turquoise project”.
I did finish spinning all 2 ounces, and plied…note the (probably) overspun single. Hopefully it’ll all be okay when it’s set!
I started on some merino roving I bought from Heidi at The Artful Ewe, but didn’t finish the first third. I think I’m going to ply it with some Socka reinforcing thread so I can get a pair of socks from it…why does roving never go as far as I think it will? I think I need to learn to spin a lace-weight thread like Spring…
With the closure of Sweet Stitch, I’m going to miss a lot of things…things I probably don’t even realize right now. Here are a few I’ve thought of, though:
- I’m going to be out-of-the-loop for all the new yarns (especially Rowan) and am going to feel yarn identifier stupid (when you look at someone’s project and ID the yarn maker and sometimes the colorway).
- I’m going to have to go to Spring’s house to eat awesome cupcakes.
- I’m going to miss being amazed by how fast Terry can finish her projects. (I have Japanese class during the Thursday night knitting gathering at Ceasar’s).
- I’m going to have to drive more than 3 miles to buy yarn.
- I think most of all, I’ll miss being able to stop by the shop to chat with Julie any time the ”Open” sign is lit.
…and as for all that eyelash yarn I bought as the last ever sale at Sweet Stitch? Lots of skein mixes…wanna help, Julie?
Posted in Finished!, Knitting, Spinning | 2 Comments »
Friday, March 9, 2007 by shetalkstostrangers
My latest “conversation” with a stranger was a result of a woman in Colorado who specified my email address to friends, an email list and a shopping account (and who knows what else)…and people wonder how identity theft can happen! This is crazy! I thought it was spam, but was worried someone had stolen my info for an account. I logged into the account (you can have the password sent to the email on file) and all the info was included for this other person. Everything was there! It’s so insane! I’m still in shock. I called the woman, and left a message, but she still hasn’t fixed her problem. I even emailed her friend who emailed. Imagine what could happen if I didn’t talk to strangers…
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Sunday, February 25, 2007 by shetalkstostrangers
Given our wet winter NW weather, there was no horseback riding, but there was knitting (and frogging). I went to Seaview, WA with a knitting friend for a getaway weekend. Allen and Michal at The Lion’s Paw Inn were wonderful (despite our late evening arrival). The food and conversations were great. I think it would be hard to go back without staying there! Stella will come with me next time. I think she’ll get along very well with the Millers’ three dogs. Here’s a picture of Taz’s favorite place inside…
We went to the World Kite Museum, the Tapestry Rose Yarn Shop, Full Circle Cafe (next to the Tapestry Rose), Heron & Beaver Pub and The Port Bistro. While having lunch in the Cafe, I found a mistake in the socks I’ve been working on…thought it was just on one side of one sock. I was not looking forward to dropping 3 stitches to correct in each of the 7 repeats. Back at the Inn, I found another error even further back in both socks and ripped out 8 rounds on each. As of this morning, I caught up. Here are some more pics from the weekend…
The top sock is frogged, the bottom shows the mistake (a slight shift by doing row 2 instead of row 4). I don’t like leaving mistakes. The other sides of the socks are cooler colors, but they seem to blending more now. Cherry Tree HillSupersocks yarn in Brights colorway, Central Air Pattern from Blue Moon Fiber Arts on size 1, 47″ Addi Turbo needle:
The beach about 100 yards from Tapestry Rose & Full Circle Cafe:
Tetrahedron kite:
Framed antique crocheted lace (see the peacock feathers?) from the Boston Commons room:
On the way home, many rainbows…several were doubles, but the photos weren’t so clear with the rain and windshield:
Posted in Knitting, Ramblings, Strangers, Travels, UFOs | 6 Comments »
Friday, February 23, 2007 by shetalkstostrangers
I promise to post on Sunday, including pictures. Work has been a bit crazy this week - switching bosses, offices, job functions all two weeks earlier than what I was originally told. Seems like it’ll be good eventually, even if the transition is a bit rough.
Now I’m off to the beach for some knitting and horseback riding…I’m sure to meet some strangers on the way!
Posted in Ramblings | Leave a Comment »
Tuesday, February 13, 2007 by shetalkstostrangers
Just have to share…while waiting for friends to meet me for lunch, a stranger of the child-kind decided to sit in the booth with me at Subway. I’m telling you, I have a gift for this! She was so cute asking a ton of questions, “What are you eating?” “Chips, do you want one?” “No. What are you drinking?” “Raspberry iced tea. It’s the one on the left.” “What’s this one (as she points to each dispenser)?” The entire time, her sister and friend are waiting for their sandwiches, oblivious to those talking to strangers…
In the next 30 minutes, I saw three people I know, including a knitting friend who almost didn’t recognize me since I wasn’t knitting…
Posted in Strangers | 3 Comments »
Monday, February 12, 2007 by shetalkstostrangers
Isn’t it funny how you can take a picture and you think you know what’s going to be in it, then when you look at it, notice something amazing? On my way to the knitting meet-up on Sunday, I saw an amazingly brilliant rainbow in my rear view mirror. I had my camera out (hoping to catch a good shot of something for this blog) but driving and taking a photo of a subject in the rear view was impossible. However, when I turned to the left to go through Gorst, I could snap some random shots out of my window.
It wasn’t until I finally looked at the picture on my computer today that I realized this shot has a double rainbow. None of the other ones captured it…the angle was making me nauseous, so I had to rotate the shot…please ignore the reflection of my blue striped shirt in the window.
Of course, I totally forgot to take any pics of my knitting (socks in Cherry Tree Hill Brights colorway – quite like a rainbow).
Although I’ve been here two years, it still makes me happy and excited to see the rainbows we get here…guess it makes the rainy season a bit more tolerable.
Posted in Knitting, Ramblings | 3 Comments »
Saturday, February 10, 2007 by shetalkstostrangers
I started knitting in 2004 – not counting the time when I was little when my maternal grandma taught me (I still have the pink metal needles I used). The resurge was fueled by reading the needlecraft mystery series by Monica Ferris. 2004 was a stressful year (trying to end a failed 3+ year relationship, get a new job, prepare to move 3,000 miles), and the lead character in the series would knit when stressed about the murder she was trying to solve. I picked up the needles to help relieve my stress. It’s worked and on a rare occasion, has also become the stressor ;)
My first project was a garter stitch scarf out of a soft yarn bought at Michaels (probably a wool/acrylic blend) on size 17 needles. I still have it. I couldn’t give it away. I thought it had a hole, but haven’t found it since. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so I ripped it back a lot – from lots of added stitches. I just tried to find it to snap a quick photo and it’s not where I though it was. I swear, I did unpack it! Maybe I’ll add a photo when I find it to prove that!
Posted in Knitting | 4 Comments »
Friday, February 9, 2007 by shetalkstostrangers
Yes, I don’t always follow the advice of our parents – I talk to strangers. I’ve gotten teased about it as an adult, but it’s lead to (mostly) positive experiences. When I worked at The Historic Michie Tavern in college, I was picked on for my ability to strike up a conversation with nearly everyone. Silly for people to tease, since it meant I sold more tour tickets that way, which meant possible bonuses! I met a great family on a WSDOT ferry while visiting Seattle (I was still living in VA). They invited me to use one of their passes to the Seattle Aquarium. Then, there was the time I met Kari while shopping for glass beadmaking supplies at Frantz Art Glass. She ended up meeting up with me that night to go to the International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB) Gathering in Portland. Seven months later, I rented a room (the dining room 
) from her family while I house-hunted for my new house in the Pacific NW. I talk to everyone who comes into the yarn shop I frequent, Sweet Stitch.
Just think, everyone is a stranger until you talk to them…
***the disclaimer – I do not condone putting yourself in an unsafe condition while talking to strangers. I do not take responsibility for any bad experiences you might have while talking to strangers. You talk to strangers at your own risk. Thanks for listening.***
Posted in Ramblings | 2 Comments »
