When I have a little time (very little!) I’m working on the “Perfect Sweater.” I got the pattern on ravelry, but you can also get it on Mason Dixon’s site. If you’re a member, I’m jkay on ravelry. Drop me a note and say hello. I’m also working on the toe up socks from the summer Interweave. I’m not sure that I like the heel though. Any tips for a different toe-up heel?

I have a short story submitted, and I’m waiting to hear how that goes. I’ll keep you posted.

We have fleas. Well, by “we” I mean the pets, not my husband and me (yet). This year appears to be particularly bad for them, and the usual flea treatments aren’t working very well. Tonight, my husband bathed two dogs, one rabbit and two cats. No, he didn’t need a trip to the emergency room afterward, but the cats did draw some blood. Everyone seems happier now.

I’m still reworking the novel. Things are going slowly, but they are going, thank goodness.

I finally got my invite to ravelry, and I’ve been browsing patterns. I also ordered a box of yarn from knitpicks. I promise to do better about taking photos in the future. I’ve got some socks, scarves and a lace stole on the needles right now.

Expect some more blog updates coming soon. I have several posts in the works that will be coming up shortly, including the promised one on markets.

I think I’m camera challenged. I know these pics aren’t great, but you should have seen the first ones I took.

It’s a little blurry, but the colors came out well. She sent four skeins of this, and it’s a beautiful mix of autumn reds and oranges. I can’t wait to make something out of it!

The roving is wonderfully soft, and very pretty. I can’t wait to spin well enough to not be scared to spin it . The one in the foreground is a very pretty mix of brown and beige. Behind is, I think, uncarded fleece. I love the curliness! I think I may keep that one just as it is.

And these are a very nice tan and beige; I think the same colors as are mixed in the first roving. Very nice! I can’t wait to get started on them. I haven’t had the time to practice spinning like I would have wanted lately, but these are sure to motivate me to keep at it. These are way too nice for practice spinning though.

Christina did a fantastic job. This was my first SP exchange, and she really made it a blast. Every package was like a mini-Christmas. She makes some pretty things, so check out her blog!!

By the way, the well-used afghan is one I crocheted for my husband a couple years ago. I don’t know how many times it’s been washed, and it shows, doesn’t it?!

I occasionally knit at appointments, and since my mom had a doctor’s visit yesterday, a scarf I’ve been working on went along with us. The man in the waiting room with us watched the entire time. I wonder if he’d ever seen anyone knit before.

If you’d prefer, many local organizations collect knitted/crocheted items for those in need.

I finished my husband’s socks and put another set on the needles the same night. I really enjoy knitting socks, and I have plans for the pair I’m working on now. I wasn’t sure about the colors in the skein, but they’ve knitted up really pretty.

I’m reading a terrific knitting book that I just have to recommend, Sweater Design in Plain English. The book gives great insight into how certain yarns and knit patterns will behave once they’re knit up into a sweater. Don’t be put off by the outdated patterns in the back, the knowledge you’ll pick up is well worth the price of the book!

I’ve been wanting to start sweater knitting, but finding patterns to fit any of us is a challenge. We’re not exactly skinny. Most patterns that fit me are too long, or the sleeves reach past my fingers, so I know I have to alter the patterns. I think I’d rather learn to develop my own patterns rather than tweak someone else’s. This book may just give me the confidence to cast on and give it a try!

The goodies were packed in a cute knit basket.

Unfortunately, the digital camera needs batteries, and I don’t have any at home, so I’m stuck using the camera phone tonight. The basket is tan, although it looks pinkish here. The trim is a brick red. It has some very pretty, subtle color work on the sides as well. The basket is bigger than it looks too; in this picture it’s holding two skeins of Regia, two of handspun and a small spindle. The mobius handle is a really cute touch.

The handspun is the skein on the left. There are two of them, and the picture really doesn’t do it justice. It was much more neatly wound, but I, of course, had to take it out and play with it, so it’s not nearly as neat now. The colors are a rich, earthy brown mixed with an off-white. This stuff is practically screaming to be knit up!

The Regia (bottom) is a mix of rich blues. My husband has been eyeing this, so I’m probably going to turn it into some socks for him. Again, two balls, and very pretty colors.

The teddy bear you see is the top of a small spindle. I’ve been toying with the idea of learning to spin, so Chris is tempting me! Every time I look at her handspun, I get the urge to make some of my own. I wonder how many messes I’ll have to make before I get something that looks even close to as great as hers? I don’t want to think about that…

She also sent Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitter’s Almanac. Ive had my eye on this book for a while, and I’m pleased as I can be to add it to my knitting library. I’ve been thumbing through already, and a couple of the patterns are looking mighty interesting.

In addition to what you see in the pictures, she also sent a very cool looking crystal, some lemon handmade soap (which smells absolutely delicious!) and chocolate. I’ll let you wonder about why the chocolate never made it to the pictures.

She did a terrific job wrapping everything up, and I had a blast going through everything. Thanks, Chris!

I have no finished object to report, but I am about half-finished with my husband’s second sock. That’s an accomplishment in itself.

Sorry for the crappy photo, but I was too lazy to get the real camera.

Yes, I’m knitting in bed. Yes, that is the dog’s butt on the right side of the photo.

I thought that I’d be able to get right back on schedule. Yeah, right. I’m winning the lottery and getting elected President too.

My mom is still not quite well, but certainly better than she was. I’ve missed more work in the last month or so than I care to think about; thank goodness I had lots and lots of vacation time to use. My boss is really good about those things too, so I’m lucky there as well.

The house is an absolute disaster, despite my husband’s attempts to help me keep up with things. Things are slowly getting better, but it’ll take a while. When you’re exhausted, sleep-deprived, and stressed, something has to give. Housework is one of those “somethings.”

Unfortunately blogging and writing have also taken a back seat, and that’s been a source of stress as well. I’m TRYING to edit the novel, but things are going at a crawl.

To add to the difficulty, I’ve been dealing with a difficult coworker. When I get home, I desperately need to de-stress before I can think or do anything. How do I do that? Knitting! I thought you might enjoy seeing a couple of the things I’ve been doing.

This sock picture is horrible, but I took it with my camera phone, at night, so what do you expect. It does give you a good idea of the size of the sock. Note the laptop in the background (and no, it’s not one of the new, ultra-small laptops). I’m just now working the toe decreases, so the sock is still not quite complete.

No, my feet are not that big. (Okay, they’re big, but not THAT big.) These are for my husband, Mr. Size 13-wide. I think I have as many stitches in this sock as a sweater would have. Can you tell I’ve been working off a lot of stress?

We did manage to get out last weekend, for the first time in a few weeks. We’ve gotten a lot of snow, and here’s a couple pictures of the snow melt. These were also taken with my camera phone, so they’re not great. I never seem to have the “real” camera with me.

And, to wind up, I give you a picture of my wildflowers from last spring. I can’t wait till it warms up!

As a part of the exchange, everyone posts answers to these questions, so here goes.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I like just about anything, except the fun fur, baubled, novelty yarns.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
This makes me sound so unorganized, but they’re just loose in one of my yarn drawers.

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 about two years. I learned some basics in a craft store class, and I’ve picked up other techniques from books and web sites. I’d consider myself intermediate, barely!

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes, but listing it will give away my name….I’m not sure if that’s “allowed.”

5. What’s your favorite scent?
Citrus and lavender, but not necessarily together.

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

Sweet tooth? Oh yeah, I have one! Chocolate is my favorite, in just about any form as long as there are no nuts.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I crochet, but I find I don’t like it as much as knitting. I want to learn to spin this year, but I haven’t gotten started or tried anything yet.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
My tastes in music are pretty eclectic. Oldies are a good choice for me.

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

I like yellow, orange, greens, browns. Anything that is reminiscent of fall foliage. Any colors are okay though.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Married, no kids. We have two dogs, two cats, one guinea pig and one rabbit.

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

I wear everything but the ponchos.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I’ve done scarves and socks so far, and I really enjoy doing socks. I want to do my first sweater this year, but I’m trying to work up my courage for that.

13. What are you knitting right now?
A pair of self-striping socks for my husband. It’s my own “pattern,” which is really the sock template from Knitting Rules. His feet are 13 wides, so he’s excited to get a pair of socks that actually fit!

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Oh, yeah. Who doesn’t?

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I use both straight and circular, and I don’t have a preference either way. Bamboo are my favorite, but I’ll knit on anything.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Neither, unless you count my husband.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
About two years old. It’s a sweater I started and then chickened out on.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Halloween.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I buy tons of books (fiction mostly, but some knitting as well.) I also like gargoyles. Weird, I know.

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 don’t have any magazine subscriptions; I just pick up whatever at the bookstore looks interesting. As for books, I have Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Knitting Without Tears and really like it, so anything by her is great.

21. Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn?
Knitting from the top down. Color work (so far, I haven’t tried working in multiple colors). Following charts (haven’t tried that yet either). Lace shawls.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I love knitting socks.  I’m not sure about the measurements, but I wear a woman’s 8 1/2 regular width.

23. When is your birthday?

May 6