BeverlyArmyWilliams – Page 100 – Beverly Army Williams

A Winner

Thanks to everyone who commented on my last post. Margene posted the 500th comment and will be getting something special in the mail. Notice I’m not specific about what that something is…I’ll see what comes off the sewing machine tomorrow.

I appreciate all the cashmere felting advice. I promise the sweater I’ll be felting is fugly and that I purchased it at a thrift store just so I could make some super soft accessories…pin cushions, needle cases, notions cases. I’ll let you know what works, although I think Trek’s idea would have been the most successful if the sweater didn’t already know that I wanted it to felt. You might find me with a plunger just for Cookie. We’ll see how desperate I get.

Thanks for playing! There will be another contest when I reach my 100th post, so stay tuned!

Comment, Anyone? A Contest.

I like to look at my blog stats. I’m already thinking about what to do for my 100th post, which is coming up soon. In the meantime, some lucky person will soon leave the 500th comment on this blog. Lucky, why? you may ask. On account of I’m going to send a sweet little handmade prize to my 500th commentor. Or should that be commentator?

I’ll even give you a question to answer: What’s the best way to felt cashmere? I have a few 100% cashmere sweaters that I want to recycle as the world’s softest felt. Any tips or tricks?

Stop lurking, you. Take a chance on winning my contest, willya?

The Dog Ate My…

Koigu.

Yup.

You read right. Charlie girl helped herself to a skein of koigu destined for my KSKS pal. I left it vulnerable on the bed as I worked in another room. I looked in the living room to see a spaghetti-like mess. I’ve tried unknotting the mess, but I’m just getting little bitty bits. I have another yarn that I’d planned to send her, but I’m disappointed. Not in the puppy; she’s only six months old. In myself for forgetting what thieves puppies are.

At least there is one intact skein. My pal can use it to make ankle socks, I guess.

FO August and Good News

Good news first: I found out last night that I got the teaching job. I’ll be teaching three sections of Freshman English at Westfield State College this fall. It’s a relief to have the certainty of a job for the fall. So, thanks for all the "get a job" karma from all of you–it worked!

Oh, wait, more good news: The prize I won from the Tour de Fleece, 4 oz. of llama from Leah arrived in yesterday’s mail, along with a sweet boquet of one of my favorite flowers. Thanks, Leah!

I also found a package from Scout in the mail: the prototype of this. Lucky for me, my favorite knit designer thought Scout’s first version of this was not quite right, so I was able to claim it before it even went to the shop! Thanks Scout!

You want more happy news? I have three Finished Objects to show:

Twitterpated, for my One Skein Pal. I used a wool that I bought years ago at my former LYS, lined it with fabric my sister bought for me in Provence, and finally found handles that look good with the knit. I first saw the pattern over at Carole’s blog and just fell in love with it (she has a way of knitting things that I then MUST knit!).

Heartbreakingly Cute Baby Kimono. I started this for a baby shower, didn’t get it done in time, but now the new baby has arrived, so I finished it and will pop it in the mail to Miss Jayna.

Baby Bib O’Love. Yeah. Want to know what I had left to do on this project? Cut the woven-in ends and sew on a button. I know, but it’s done now, and it will also be heading to Miss Jayna. Want to see how cute the button is?

I like UFO August. I’m building up my knitting integrity by actually finishing some of what I start.

Charlie Girl

…wants you to remember to stop and smell the flowers.

Dream Weaver

Shouldn’t we re-write the lyrics to Dream Sweater? Or Dream Knitter? Because I’ve been dreaming about Glampyre’s Simple Knitted Bodice for days on end now. I mentioned the idea of a KAL for it, and lo! Via Lime & Violet, I found one.

I have to wait to make a yarn purchase until I start to work again, but I’ll be checking out substitutes for the gorgeous but too-expensive-for-a-third-year-graduate-student Tilli Tomas. By the way, please send "PoMo get a job" thoughts my way. I had a really good interview on Monday for a part time instructor position and should hear either tomorrow or Monday next if I’m hired. And if I’m hired, I’m hoping that I’ll be given three sections as the pay is by the section. I don’t love being out of work, although I was in dire need of a rest after the academic year I had. So, I’m rested and anxious to start work again.

I won’t have benefits, though, so I’ve also been thinking of a job at Starbucks. I love indie coffee shops with all of my heart, but Starbucks offers benefits if you work 20hrs/week. And I’m getting too old to go sans health care for a long stretch. Any baristas out there willing to tell me about their Starbucks jobs?

Enough of my little worries. KSKS is coming to a close. I’m going to do some last minute angel sewing for a few much-needed kits to deserving, sad kitters as well as rework my FIRST ORIGINAL sock pattern. Because I like to dream big, I’m hoping to test it out and send it to one of the fabu online mags for publication. Anyone else want to test knit a sock?

But first, I’m going to pick up Charlie girl, the six-month-old lab I’m dogsitting for one of my best girlies. For ten days. I am so excited. Oh, and she’ll be kept on leash when I walk her.

One Skein Swap

Granted, the Reeses peanut butter cups and candied ginger (yum!) are not in the picture, and I wasn’t able to get a bright, clear detail of this bee-yoo-tif-ul button scarf (gorgeous handspun beaded yarn, soft, bright fiber, lovely knitting, fantastic button), but trust me, this was the best One Skein Swap package EVAH! The talented Yvonne from Lavender Sheep was my secret pal, and she spoiled me something silly. There’s a waterproof bag, there’s 4 oz. of her own hand dyed superwash (she’s been quite encouraging in my quest to spin for socks), there are bookplates. There is wool wash. There is In Sheep’s Clothing, a wonderful reference book that I’ve already enjoyed perusing.

Thank you for all of your generosity, Yvonne. You’ve been an amazing swap pal–mawuah!

Up Jumps the Whale

Saturday, my last day with my sister before she took her kids back to TN, was spent just outside of Gloucester Port.

We saw tails.

We saw mouths.

I knit Sock Two for my Summer of Socks/Cascade Fixation/UFO August projects.

This was my third whale watch, the first in over 20 years, and the best ever. The weather was perfect, the whales were delightful (I’m sure just for us), and the naturalist on the boat was excited by the cooperative feeding going on among four whales.

Plus my sister and I had an excuse (not really, but we pretended) to sing "Brandy", my very favorite song. Go on. Sing a few lyrics just for me. I’ll hear you through blogland.

My love, my life and my lady is the sea. Dit-dooda-dit-dooda-dit.

Package and UFO pictures later.

Funky Scarf Swap Q & A

Before I answer the FSS questions, let me just say that I had a spec. tac. u. lar. package today. I"ll take pictures in the morning and share some lovely goodness with you.

Here goes:

Let’s get the allergy part out of the way. Are you allergic to any fibers? Not that I know…although I do have smoke issues (but, hey, I can hang a smokey scarf out to air, really!)

Do you prefer any fibers over others? Truly? Cashmere always wows me, but anything soft and squishy next to my skin makes me a happy girl. Fun fur gives me the shivers, but in a bad way.

Thinking back to Scout’s post about what funky means to you, post an image of something that you think is funky! I need to think about this some more…

Would you prefer funky yarn or a funky pattern? No preference. Getchyer funk out however you like!

What are your favorite colors? Black, pink and green have been exciting me lately, as well as pink and chocolate brown.

What is your favorite piece of art? The Poet’s Garden is my current favorite painting. I’m a big fan of Jackson Pollack, although I’m tired of defending his work to certain people I live with who think they could produce the same thing. Don’t even get me started.

What colors would you never have up close to your pretty face? Peach. Beige. Yellow. When this ravishing tan I have going on right now fades, I will be a pale, lightly freckled brunette. Blues and pinks and greens and blacks (yes, there are shades of black as far as I’m concerned) are better for me.

Would you prefer an actual scarf or a cowl? Your choice. I’m back in the land of cold, so cowls are just as wonderful to me.

When you wear a scarf do you prefer a wider/shorter scarf or a thin/long scarf? Different scarves for different purposes. My favorite scarf is my pashmina…wide enough to be a blanket, light enough to be a belt (really). I have a lot of heavier winter scarves, so something thinner, lighter might be fun.

What is the climate like where you live? Hot and frickin’ humid in the summer, coooollllddd in the winter (I’m in Connecticut).

Would you prefer a functional scarf (to keep you warm) or one just to funk-up your wardrobe? Funk me up, baby!

Sewing and a KAL?

My KSKS notions case. Again, not the perfect needle/notions case yet, but each one I make I learn a little more about improving my design. As I’ve mentioned before, I want to sell these, so each one gets me a little closer to having a product that I can get behind. I think the flap is key for keeping items from sliding out of the bag.

I also made this coin purse from SplitYarn. I have to get my tush to a fabric store to pick up snaps for closures, but I’m pleased with the simplicity and elegance of the design.

The button is on my sidebar, but I didn’t mention the KAL I joined: the Muff Along. Never fear, my knitting of a muff will not interfere with UFO August. And Mona, stop your giggling.

I purchased the pattern, the lovely Glampyre pattern. I know there are lots of other people in love with this baby, too–just look at the Craftster thread if you don’t believe me. So, would anyone be interested in a September-start KAL?

I’m off to vacuum up dog fur and pack for my week at the beach.

Author: BeverlyArmyWilliams