Winners!

Ok...here are the list of the winners from my stitch marker contest! The answer to the first question, what is the provincial flower for New Brunswick?, is the purple violet. The winner of the colourful set of stitch markers goes to:

Lisa

The answer to the second question, the name of the actor I have a crush on, is Matthew McConaughey (I can never spell that guy's last name). Yum! OK, back to the post...the winner of the shiny purply set of stitch markers goes to:

Michele

And, the bonus stitch markers (for someone listing that person as the source for finding my blog), goes to:

Heddy

Congrats to all the winners (ladies, please email me your addresses and I'll get them sent out to you). Thanks to everyone for playing!

I'll be back later with more to post!

Progress Report

Well, I thought it high time I make another post on here! So, I thought that I would show you how my Sockapalooza socks are coming along.

As you can see, I've changed yarn and patterns. This one is coming along much better than the previous one...I will actually have enough yarn! The last one didn't look like there was going to be enough yarn so I decided to cut my losses while I still had time to get my pal's socks finished. I have just another repeat (maybe two) left and then I start the toe decreases. This is still the first sock, but it is coming along quickly.

Here's a picture of the pattern...does anyone recognize it? It's a little blurry in the picture - I must learn how to take close-ups with this camera so that they don't turn out blurry. I had the macro setting on, but it doesn't allow for a good close-up, and if I zoom in any and try to take it it still doesn't work too well. Sigh...

Keep posting your entries to my contest. You've got until tomorrow, Friday July 13 to get the entries in and I will do the drawing for it sometime on Saturday (so, if you don't see a post telling who won and it is Saturday, you still might be able to get an entry in). Do not post your entries on this post - only entries on the actual post will be entered into the draw.

Also, Kimberly over at Woven ~n~ Spun is having a little contest game. She's hosting a Knitting Bingo! She has 25 words listed and you choose 15 of those words and email them to her (you have until 6:00pm central time on Sunday to get your words emailed). Then, starting Monday, she will post a couple of words each day until someone emails her to tell her they have Bingo! Once she confirms that all your words have been called, you win the prize. She hasn't said what the prize will be yet, but I'm sure it's something good! Also, I don't think you'd need a blog to participate (there is nothing saying you need one) - I'm sure if you have access to email and read her blog each day to find out the words, you could play. So, why not head over to Kimberly's and take part in the Bingo.

Well, off I go to surf a few blogs and work on my Socapalooza socks. I'm hoping to get this first sock done tonight! Happy knitting!

Craziness And A Little Contest

Hang in until the end of the post...something good awaits you!

Well, I am really afraid that I am going to run out of yarn for the Fluted Banister socks. I'm not done the first one yet...still have a few inches to go before I even start to decrease for the toe, and I'm looking at the ball of yarn and to me it doesn't look like there will be enough for the second sock.

I cast on for a different pair with different yarn (Paton's Kroy). I only started this last night after I felt like I was going crazy and might start hyperventilating or something (not really, but I was getting a little freaked out). I'm about to start the leg of this pattern, which is one from Sensational Knitted Socks.

I really don't know what to do. I waited for some time after ordering yarn for my pal's socks for said yarn to arrive...only to find out after choosing the pattern that I'd need 3 skeins of this particular yarn (Panda Wool). So, I choose some yarn (the Louet Gems) and a different pattern because said pal requested cuff down socks (which is how I typically make socks anyway) so starting a pair toe-up was out of the question. And now I'm worried about not having enough yarn for this. That's why the new pair. I've used this yarn for a pair of socks for myself before and have always had some left over (my foot length is 9", my pal's is 10") so I know there should be enough left over for an extra inch of the pattern. However, I don't know if the new pattern will use up a lot of the yarn and thus cause me not to have enough for the foot. As well, I don't know if I should just do the pattern on the leg and keep the foot plain stocking stitch, or continue the pattern on the top of the foot as well.

What also worries me is that I won't get these socks done in time to send out to my pal on August 2nd. I'm sure if I explained everything that has gone wrong and ask if she mind if they are a little late, that she wouldn't be too upset (so long as she gets them). However, it hasn't come to that yet. I've put the baby sweater I was working on at work to the back burner, and the socks are in top priority. I'll work on them during breaks at work as well as at home. I am determined to get them done on time...that is providing everything works out for me! Who would have thought that joining a fun swap would be so stressful - all I can say is I'd better not be getting any grey hair from this; I have enough of that already!

So, on to a little contest. I've made a couple sets of stitch markers and thought I'd give those as prizes. First up is a colourful set of 5 stitch markers. All you have to do is leave me a comment and tell me what the provincial flower of New Brunswick is.

Next up is a shiny set of 5 stitch markers. All you need to do is leave a comment telling me the name of the actor I have a crush on. I'll give you a little clue...he's really hot! 'Nuff said.

I will draw for each set of stitch markers from the list of names - or if someone tells me where I can access one of those random number generators online, I'll use that. You can enter one or both of the draws, the choice is yours; however, you can only enter once for each. If you don't know the answers to the questions, just take a guess and you'll be entered into the draw.

And, here's an even sweeter deal! Tell your friends, post about it on your blogs and let them know that they should also include the name of the person/blog who sent them here. If they tell me, and that person wins, you as the referrer will win a surprise set of stitch markers (yet to be made, hence the surprise part of it), one for each draw. So for example, if Jane leaves a comment and says that Billy Sue from Billy Sue Knits sent her, then Jane wins a set of stitch markers and Billy Sue would win the bonus stitch markers.

Now, you know what to do....oh, and contest closes Friday July 13, 2007!

Sockapalooza Update

Ok, so I finally have the pattern and yarn chosen for my Sockapalooza socks. And, I have begun to knit! Well, ok I'm past the "begun" stage now. I started the socks last Thursday, after I ripped out what I started before. They were going to be too big, so I ripped it out and cast on 64 stitches.
This is what I had as of early Saturday afternoon. I have a lot more done on it now, and in fact I am on the foot portion and I am really liking the look of this sock! It's the Fluted Bannister Sock, and it is a very easy pattern - a 4 row repeat that is easily memorized. I'll post another picture of the sock when it's completed. I'm really praying through this that I'll have enough yarn to complete the second sock. I don't know what I'll do if I don't have enough. I have to mail these socks out on August 2nd, so there wouldn't be enough time to get more of the yarn in.

I'm using Louet Gems 100% Merino wool, a fine/sport weight yarn in the colour Shamrock (it's really a little lighter than the picture is showing). It is thicker than I normally use for socks (I usually use a sockweight yarn), and the sock is nice and thick and should be very warm on my Sockapalooza pal's feet.

I also started a cardigan sweater (sized for a 1 year old) to knit on while at work on breaks and is coming along nicely. I started with the back and it is to be knit 11 1/2" long; I'm already up to about 8 1/2" so far, maybe a bit more. I don't have a picture yet, but when I get one I promise to post it. I was a little unsure of the colourscheme - even though in the picture on the pattern it looked nice. The colours are a tad different in reality, though not a whole lot. I must say, though, that I think they look good together. I'm so terrible at putting colours together so I tend to go (whenever possible) with what is in the pictures - or keep it solid. I suppose I should branch out and experiment with the colours...or get my colourwheel out (from my scrapbooking/card making supplies) and utilize it with my knitting as well.

Well, I had better get this posted and get cracking on the sock again so that I can finish them up and - heaven forbid - should I run out of yarn, I'd still have some time to pull something from my stash and knit up a different pair. My pal (the one knitting socks for me) posted a comment and said my pair is already finished, and they're purple! I can't wait to get them (and yes, I'll post a picture of them, too)! The sock is calling, so I really should go. Happy Knitting!

Birthday Meme & Quiz

Robyn, my awesome secret pal, tagged me with the following meme. Go to Wikipedia and type in your birthday (month and day) - mine is January 20. Next, post 3 events, 2 births and 1 holiday and tag five other people. So, for tagging, anyone who feels like taking part can do so. Let me know if you do and I'll go read your answers!

Events
- 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome
- 1841 - Hong Kong Island occupied by the British
- 1986 - Martin Luther King, Jr., day was celebrated as a federal holiday for the first time

Births
- 1896 - George Burns, American actor, comedian (d. 1996)
- 1965 - Sophie, The Countess of Wessex, the wife of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex

"Holiday" (there really isn't a holiday per se listed)
- Presidential Inauguration Day in the United States (since 1937).

Robyn also had a little quiz on her blog and I decided to take it...I think I may have a problem...

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