Dishcloth Diversions

First of all, many apologies for being so invisible lately; I'm going to Korea on a tour next week with an orchestra, and the rehearsals are keeping me waaaaay busy.

Meanwhile, you can see my current obsession piled atop the Lozenge Socks pattern. (I'm not UFO-ing those socks, but I needed to knit something fast on bigger needles. Mental thing.)


A friend of mine collects all things Squirrel. The famous Ballband (middle one) is from this book, but I added extra sts on the sides and did a couple rounds of crochet on the edge.

My friend's baby has started eating solid food, and my poor friend shows up to work with splotches of stuff on her shirts. I'm hoping these bibs will help, but I may have to make a burp cloth as well.

A pair of really orange dishcloths. I saw the music notes one on Hakucho's blog, and had to have one too!

Eye Candy Friday (belated)

Squeaky Clean after Bath

I hate all things size Zero...!

Pathetic progress report on the Lozenge socks here...turned the heel and went a teeny bit further...

I am totally never going to knit anything on size 0's again! I would much rather do some algebra and move it up to tolerable size 1's or ideal size 2's or even ultimate fantasy size 3's. I'm having the worst time keeping my tension even with these size 0's - a problem I've never had before. Also, my hand totally cramps up with minimal knitting, so progress is incredible slow. Argh! Is there anything I can do to make this last stretch of sock go faster? Any advice from you wonderful sock knitters out there?

...and the winner is...

First of all, thank you everyone for your wonderful vacation suggestions (and links!) My bf and I really appreciate the ideas you gave us; there are enough potential vacations in there for several years!

I also had a great time visiting all your blogs; some new ones there that I'm happy to know about! I've been swamped with work this week, but I promise to visit and comment on your blogs soon!

Here is the hat with the names on the papers...

To make it as fair as possible, I enlisted the help of my lovely assistant...

...and the name he pulled out...

Dipsy, of Dipsy Doodle!

Congratulations!!!!! Please send me your name and snail mail address so I can send you your prize!!! (my email is violiknit@yahoo.com)


(p.s. to answer "Ladybird" about what's in the Matzia: it's 2 sheets of matzah cracked into bits, you add some water, and when when the matzah bits are soft, squeeze out the water. Add 2 eggs, a pinch of salt, and mix. Add oil to a pan and spread mix into the pan like you would an omelette. I'm told it's traditionally served with apple sauce, and is also called matza brai.)

Thank you all for playing!!! I have a blogiversary in a couple of months, and will be giving away some prizes for that as well.

Contest Time!

Okay, here it is:

I need a vacation. I have been working like mad for several months. The thing is, I haven't been on many vacations...so I need your help! Please leave a comment in this post telling me one of your favorite vacation spots, and what you liked most about it.

The contest ends on Tuesday April 17th at midnight. On Wednesday, I'll put everyone's name in a hat, and randomly choose a winner.

The prize: 2 skeins of Regia Cotton Color (#5407) 41% superwash wool, 34% cotton and 25% polyamide. Perfect for warm weather sock knitting!

Thanks, and Good Luck!

Eye Candy Friday

Edible Eye Candy: I woke up this morning and my bf had made me this "Matzia" for breakfast. It's topped with Dulce de Leche...I love that stuff...yum...


The impossible can be possible: I managed to score one skein of Yarn Pirate sock yarn!!! Once her store is updated, the yarn sells out in a couple of seconds, so I would rate Yarn Pirate yarns as difficult to obtain as Vesper yarns. I'm hoping to one day get some Yarntini as well...it's also pretty hard to come by.

Since everyone seems to like these new Lace Addi's so much, I thought I'd give them a try too. I'm planning on knitting socks with the size 2 47" ones; I'm curious how comfortable they'll be...
Oh, and...
My next post will have a contest! Details soon! (as I promised, it won't be music-related)

Do I have a problem?

...yeah, so I bought some yarn recently...

Okay, I'm bad, I know! It is all sock yarn, so I'm not breaking the rules, but I think I've been using it as an excuse to buy truckloads more sock yarn than I need or will ever use-! Also, I've noticed I shop more when work gets busier (7 operas, 2 rehearsals and one recording session in the last 6 days...)

Going clockwise from the top: those 3 variegated skeins are Wool Dancer, from Australia, followed by Mountain Colors Bearfoot in the "Steelhead" colorway, a skein of A Piece of Vermont, Opal, more Opal, 2 skeins of Fearless Fibers (like the colors, but the yarn was damp when it arrived). In the center is a cotton/elastic yarn from Greenwood Fiberworks flanked on either side by some Lorna's Laces.

Good thing these books arrived, so I can attempt to make a dent in my mammoth sock yarn stash.

I finished the Broadripple socks! They fit my friend perfectly. (Side note: this same friend once came over to my apartment and saw my gigantic tower of a yarn collection. It was taller than her. She was speechless with shock for about a week. I think the experience has scarred her, because she's never been able to look at me the same again.)