Spincerely yours,

I like this photo the best because it makes me look way thinner than I really am.  I think it is the stripes.

I started this sweater prior to the Olympics and finished after the Olympics, but the main bulk of the knitting did indeed occur while watching the Olympics.  So I think that officially this can count as my official Unofficial Olympic sweater.

Pattern: Temptest by Ann Weaver

Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy in Punky Fuchsia.  I purchase 4 skeins and used about 2.  I overdyed 2 skeins for the darker orchid stripe.  I used less than 1 of those and just touched in to the second of the plain Punky Fuchsia.  I have probably enough to make a whole ‘nother one of these if I reversed the stripes.

Needles: Mostly size 7 Addi Turbo with some 4 for the bands and a 10.5 for binding off.

Modifications: I can not stand 3/4 length sleeves.  I just can’t. I don’t know why as most of the time I push up my sleeves, but to just have them 3/4 length to begin with drives me absolutely nuts!  To make these sleeves longer, I added 1 entire stripe plus a partial stripe.  After reading through a lot of the notes on Ravelry, I found that a common problem people had with knitting this sweater was with the sleeves being too tight.  Because of this and the fact that I always have that problem anyway, I started knitting the sleeves with the directions for my size (35), but increased up to the next size (37) for the shoulder shaping.

Issues and things I would do differently if I were to do this again: First, I would not slip the first stitch of every row especially in the shoulder shaping areas.  The pattern says that slipping makes it easier to seam, but so not so for me. I just didn’t have enough bars to use and had to sometimes go in further to seam (which I think used up precious shoulder room.) Second, I would read the pattern better!  I just now (!!!!) noticed that it recommends using a Sewn Bind Off.  That would have been very helpful had I noticed it, as the first time I bound off, it was a puckered sweater from hell.  I had to go all the way up to size 10.5 needles to get a loose enough bind off around the button bands and neckline.  I think I would have also picked up a few more stitches along the way, but it seems okay now so just a few more would be good, not too many more.

Other things to note: Seaming took an ENTIRE DAY. I’m not kidding.  Dedicate a day to stay in your jammies and watch movies.  This is also not a very photogenic inprocess sweater.  I did take photos and did intend to blog about it along the way, but really each piece just rolled up into a tube before blocking.   Can you believe that I did not own a blocking board before this sweater?

And one more thing I forgot to tell you: While this is may be my official Unofficial Olympic Sweater, I don’t think I won a Gold Medal — I would give it probably about a Bronze Minus.  I found knitting fingering yarn on size 7 needles to be very confungling!  I kept accidentally knitting into the stitch below and my stockinette was a disaster.  I spent quite a bit of time unknitting. While I think I fixed most of my mistakes, there were a few that persevered and I know that they are there.  I really thought that this would be one of those obviously hand knit sweaters, but when I wore it to work today, I didn’t get the usual, “Hey, did you make that?”  So maybe it is okay after all…  I’ll probably forget where the mistakes are in a few years anyway.  I mean, I can’t find my major Tangled Yoke mistake anymore after all.

13 buttons found at JoAnn’s Fabrics.  I consider it a streak of luck to have found the perfect color in the correct quantity on the first try!

I love the design element of the thin, slimming stripes in the middle.  So smart that designer!

The yarn is so soft and stretchy making this sweater so easy to move in.  Due to the softness of the yarn and the loose gauge, I could even wear it to work without being too hot.

I decided to just leave the ends of the sleeves as stockinette and let them curl a bit.  They do match the hem at the waist as I added a purl row where the hem folds.  I debated doing a bit of ribbing, but I do like them like this.

Yeah, I know, I wish!   Is it funny that I made my 1000th sale during the Super Bowl???

It was time for me to have a drawing and I couldn’t get anyone’s full attention!!!!  I guess it is a very blind drawing since they were all looking at the TV —

37 entries! Thanks everyone!  And the winner, in case you can’t quite read the slip, is “Phatfiberlady.”  Congrats Jessie!!!!

My 1000th customer is Rebekah from By Rebekah with Love. Thank you!  Watch for something special in your order!

I think there is some sort of significant here – a MILESTONE that should be noted – in reaching 1,000 sales.  On this day, February 5, 2010, my Etsy shop tells me that I have 990 sales.  Ten more and that is 1,000!!!!

What is the best way to mark a MILESTONE such as this in this virtual landscape of blogs and online shops?  Yes, it is  with a CONTEST!!!  A contest with a prize that sends actual fiber into your hands!

Here is the prize, a 4 ounce roving* of Lagoon in 60% superwash merino/ 30% bamboo (from Rayon)/ 10% nylon:

So, I need to tell you the rules, right?

Let’s see:

Post a comment on this post to be eligible to win.

Contest will run until the number of sales in my Etsy shop reaches 1,000.

I will then randomly draw a winner from the entries.

That’s it!  I have no idea how long this will run so it will be interesting!  And just one thing I want to note about the way Etsy marks sales; if someone buys more the one of the same item – that is only marked as one sale.  I’m not sure why, but that is the way they do it.

Oh yeah, and I should tell you, I’m sure there will some extra treats sent out in the package to the person of the 1,000 MILESTONE sale!

(* if you are a knitter and not a spinner – please do enter anyway – we can *talk* later if your name is drawn.)

1.  The food is really yummy!  I don’t waste my time eating anything that I don’t love.

2. The graphs and charts.  I’m highly motivated by graphs and charts. I don’t know why, but I love statistical stuff.  On WW Online, I can see my entire weight graph all on one page – even data points back from when I started in March 2005. It is pretty cool.

3.  It holds your information for you so it is there when you re-enroll even after a couple of years.

4.  Set Points. These appear to be new since my last time.  There are certain foods classified as “filling foods” and after you eat a certain amount, the points for that item do not increase.  This works better with some foods than others. For example, a quarter of an avocado is 2 points and that is also the set point value so you can eat as much as you would like to feel full while being careful not to overindulge.  (There are other foods where this does not work as well. For example, eggs are 2 points each. The set point is 5 points.  I would have to eat 3 eggs for that to be worthwhile. Even when I’m not dieting, I don’t make 3 eggs for breakfast.)

5.  The cookbooks. The new Weight Watcher Cookbooks have great recipes!

6.  The choices.  This diet doesn’t tell you what you can and can not eat.  I can decide for myself what type of nutrition theory I would like to follow.  Even though it is out of favor at the moment, I’m a fan of the four food groups.  I think it is a good idea to eat a little of everything.  I’m also trying to eat more whole grains and Dave and I are now making the breads from Healthy Breads in Five Minutes a Day.

(Sharing with you a quick peek in our oven from Sunday night – 2 loaves whole grain.)

7.  My family is thinking more about what they are eating.  Dave is also doing this with me and that is a definate win-win situation. The girls are a little more reluctant.  No, don’t worry – they are not trying to lose weight, they just don’t like all the meals that involve healthy soups.  I’m not sure why as I think soup is good food.  We do, however, have quite a bit of conversation at the dinner table about healthy eating choices.

8.  It gets easier as you go along. The first days were the most difficult because I didn’t have a lot of healthy food supplies in the house, but now I have a good shopping schedule and have a lot of fresh foods and whole grain products available.  The decrease in portion size is also a shocker at the beginning.  It is amazing how much extra food I ate during the holidays!

9.  I actually lose weight doing this.  I can’t wait to fit in my old jeans!  There is a monthly fee, but usually they have specials where they wave the registration fees.  I don’t think it is too much. First, there is the extra motivation of wanting to do something that you have paid for. Second, being healthy just has so many long term benefits, how can you overlook that?  Once again – I do lose weight doing this.  I have never been able to lose weight  just trying to do it on my own.  I NEED to be accountable.

10.  The website is pretty user friendly and has definitely improved since 2005!  It doesn’t take too much time to enter points and look up recipes.  To find the time to do this, I’m just “borrowing” from my Facebook time so it is pretty much a wash.  (This is 2 New Year resolutions –  to lose weight and spend less time on Facebook — all rolled into one!)

The other day, I was gazing out my window and saw these odd little tracks in the snow.

Since it was a cold, blustery day, I thought the tracks looked rather fresh and decided to investigate further.

I put on my coat, my gloves, my scarf, and my hat (all hand-knit of course) and headed out into the wind.

The first thing I noticed was that I was being watched.

Who was that watching me?  Mr. Barred Owl?  Were these his tracks? Was he watching me or did he have his breakfast in sight?

As he quickly became rather intent on something nearby, I gathered it was his next meal.

Whatever had made those tracks better hurry and run for cover lest he become Mr. Barred’s feast of the day.

I walked around my house  closely following the odd little tracks in the snow. Finally, I discovered the creature  not-very-quickly making his get-a-way.  A new one for my yard — definitely a life-lister!

Mr. Penguin!?!  He must have been blown off-course during his annual migration to Florida.  Being stuck in Connecticut with the hungry barred owls doesn’t really look like his idea of a good time, does it?   Mr. Penguin appeared to be very frightened.  He was frozen in his spot and didn’t know what do to next.  I decided to rescue him and carried him inside for a nice hot cup of cocoa.

Mr. Penguin Project details:

Pattern: KnitWhits Stanley Softie by Sonya Philip

Yarn: Louet Riverstone

Needles: Kollage U.S. size 8 – square

Thoughts: I enjoyed knitting Mr. Penguin. I bought all his components at Stitches East.  The KnitWhits booth had kits, but I decided to buy the pattern and the yarn separately as the kits had purple yarn instead of black.  I found the yarn on sale at another booth so the pattern and 3 entire skeins of Louet Riverstone ended up costing about the same as just buying the kit.  I think I can probably make 2 or 3 Mr. Penquins if I so desire.  The square needles seemed to be the *new hot thing* at Stitches East so I treated myself.  They were very nice to knit with and you don’t really even notice that they are square.

The most difficult parts of making Mr. Penguin are sewing on his feet and his making his eyes.  I think his eyes came out okay though I do think he looks a bit worried. But then, who wouldn’t be worried with Mr. Barred watching your every step!

After a few rounds of hot cocoa he is back on his journey south. If you see him, add a splash of Kahlua to his drink to keep him warm — he likes it that way.

This December, I participated in a Secret Santa Swap among Phat Fiber Contributors.  I was absolutely and completely spoiled by my Secret Santa Roo, of Moonwood Farm!!!!  Roo is an amazing fiber artist and exceptional alpaca farmer. I spent some time today at both her Etsy shop and website and if you have a chance to go visit them, they are well worth the time.   It is amazing how much the package that Roo sent me is just so, well, just so me! I have to confess that it arrived a few days ago, but as the days are passing in a blur, I haven’t been able to post about it yet. Anyway, the day it arrived, I opened it with Agent K and even she was like “oh my goodness, Mom, she really KNOWS you!!!” Everything was wrapped beautifully and labeled with care. Roo  sent a letter describing her choosing and shopping process.  Roo’s son even contributed part of the gift!

I’m not sure that these photos are really going to show these items in all their glory, but I hope they will show a little of the joy that was found in my box:

From top left:
a bag of ultra soft first shearing baby alpaca from Hercules who was a rescue from Texas (seriously soft!)
Moonbeams Holiday Pudding, 45% alpaca, 25% milk, 25% bamboo, 5% merino, and angelina (I love these colors!)
“Tamara” handpainted combed bamboo top (This is the one that is really, really, really me!)
“Snickerdoodle” handpainted Milk Protein Fiber  (I’ve never had any milk fiber before and I’m very excited about spinning this!)

These are some of the non-fiber items.
A water bottle with a butterfly on the front and a caterpillar on the back which I love!
A “real” Cadbury Milk Chocolate bar from England (!!!!!)(Yum!!!!!)
A hand painted stone by her son  in green, purple, and gold for my garden
A book on Composting (and yes, Roo, I do compost!)

My only problem now is that I want to have time to SPIN!!!!  One more week right?  And then there will be time?  I know. Who am I kidding?   I going to have so much to catch up on after Christmas. Where does all the time go?

Thank you so much Roo for these splendid gifts!

1.)  Ornamental grass like this:

2.)  A Cricut die-cut machine

3.)  A vacation home somewhere warm and sunny with little traffic and nice friendly neighbors who like to knit and scrapbook and have fun

4.)  A dragonfly waterbottle like this one:

5.) A housekeeper who excels at washing floors

6.)  A new lens for my camera

7.) A purple garden hose

8.)  A really cool camera bag like this one

9.)  New bedroom furniture

10.)  New dishes – well, these I would buy for myself, I just have not found the ones that I want yet

Wow, coming up with 10 things was really much easier than I thought it was going to be and this was even without thinking too much!  I thought to help push me back into the land of habitual blogging, it might be good to try to follow a few memes.   Ten on Tuesday seems like a good one. Any other suggestions out there? Perhaps I can find one for everyday.  Which does remind me that after the holidays, I am going to go back to Finish or Frog Fridays for the winter and see what else I can get done.  I still have that apron pending from July 2007…

Oh yes, I have more!

Here is my Damson:

Pattern:  Damson by Ysolda Teague,  I purchased it as a Ravelry download, however.

My Ravelry link:  Here

Yarn:  Superwash Blue Faced Leicester, fingering weight

Needles: U.S.  Size 4,  I believe

Colorway:  Hand-dyed Grape Goddess, a Spincerely yours colorway

Thoughts:  This was a great pattern to knit.  I love patterns where the designer “spells out” for you how many stitches you should have on each row. That being said, I do have to admit that I was always off, so just stopped counting after a while.  I started over a few times, but then just gave up.  I just knit until I had the correct number of stitches to start the lace section.  Oh yes, and how can I forget?  I LOVE the clever way this shawls starts out.  It is super-nifty.

So, tomorrow is Thanksgiving. It is so hard to believe as November has passed so swiftly this year.  I guess that is what happens when one is not home for an entire month of Saturdays (and this Saturday I have to work at the library).  We are gathering at my parents this year and my sister (Llamafarmgirl) and my BIL are also coming.  They decided at the last minute so it is an extra-special treat.  The girls were so excited when we told them.

My Thankful List:

I am thankful for:

- An incredible husband who takes care of us ferociously and supports me in everything that I do.

- Three lovely and healthy daughters who are kind, loving, and try their best in everything they do.

- My mom and dad who call me every morning to wish me a happy day.

- My sister and her husband who are strong, supportive, fun, loving, and generous.

- My house – even though it is a ton of work, it keeps us warm and dry.

- My job which gets me out of my house and into the world where I get to practice being with people and feeling more confident in myself.

- My Etsy shop which lets me be creative with color and fiber and share it with the world.

- My friends who I never get to see enough but love dearly.

- My cat Snickerdoodle because he brings good cheer to my family and he is orange and he is soft.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Enjoy your day!