A prize!

DSCF0007
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

A while back, Chris at Stumbling over Chaos had a contest, and I was one of the winners!

I had sort of forgotten about it, so it was a surprise yesterday to come home to a box. A box? But from the black cat on the return address label, I knew it was from Chaos and Mayhem. Um, perhaps aided by Chris.

Inside was yarn, but also all sorts of goodies! A pair of Halloweenish socks with black cats, a cute note (signed by Chaos? or Mayhem?) with a cat swimming in a bath of tuna, a hilarious and groovin' CD of songs concerning cats, a cute tape measure (I always wanted a cute tape measure!), and of course, the most beautiful handdyed One Tree Hill sock yarn, from Yarnzilla. I do love me some small-dyer yarn. And it's so soft! I lurv it. I just want to pet it all day. But, to keep my pet in the vet's good hands, I had to go to work. (I should've slipped the skein into my purse for surreptitious petting.)

Fred (that's our cat) is feeling better, although not yet 100%. He's gone from not really enjoying the drops of antibiotic we put in his mouth, to actively fighting it, so I figure he must be improving. But while we might enjoy not having to clean his litter box, we're pretty sure it would be better for him if he actually used it. You know. What goes in, must come out. Right. TMI.

Anyway, here's a progress picture of my Mountain Stream Scarf. One repeat down, 13 or so more to go. It's really hard to photograph!



And after all that yarny and knitting news, I'm announcing another blogcation. I'll be away all of next week- no work, no Internet, just getting away for a bit. There might be a yarn shop, though. See you later!

Another prize!

DSCF0009
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

A little while ago, Brenda over at Molecular Knitting had a pre-blogiversary contest - to give her the idea for her blogiversary contest! She picked my idea, and so I won!

Here are the spoils: a yummmmmmy skein of Seacoast Handpainted merino/tencel (50/50 blend), in colorway "silver and gold", plus some almonds and raspberry hard candies! Mmm....what to make? Into the stash for marination.

In other news, I'm in talks with Nancy Finn, the dyer behind the Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks, about re-creating that yarn I love so much in a worsted-weight wool. We've picked a yarn (Gems Merino superwash worsted) and she's put it on order. Yay! So other than a delay before making the sweater (I was going to make the 18-month size anyway...) it looks like I'll get exactly what I want.

Yes, I could probably do some knitty math, but....I'm a wuss. I don't want to do it for this. I'm looking forward to doing knitty math for making a sweater fit me, but I don't want to do it for a baby sweater which shouldn't need such fussing. I admit it. I'm lazy.

What to knit in the mean time? Oh, yeah, my WIP list has 3 lacy objects in it. I'd like to eliminate one by the end of this year...

Another prize!

Harvey Farms yarn and Hogwarts stitch markers
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

A while back, Burrobird had a contest. It was easy to enter - you just had to guess what embellishments she was planning for her upcoming Seraphim shawl. She is making it with her own solar dyed yarn, purchased from Harvey Farms.

And the prize? Harvey Farms yarn, handdyed by Anna, the owner of Harvey Farms (they normally sell their yarn undyed), and a set of Hogwarts stitch markers. You should have seen the look on The Sweetie's face when I made him guess what the theme of the markers was.

Harvey Farms seems to be a special kind of place - they raise their own sheep and have been doing so for generations. Read more about Harvey Farms here. Burrobird herself spent a heavenly-sounding day there. I feel so blessed to have such a special skein of yarn given, so generously!

Thank you, Burrobird!

---

Can you stand the suspense? I'll reveal the Cal scarf tomorrow!

ECF: Yarn prize!

STR mediumweight, Fire on the Mountain
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

Christy walked for Arthritis in May, and she had a raffle for those who supported her. I won! And boy, is this a beauty! Thank you, Christy!

It's Socks that Rock, Fire on the Mountain, in the mediumweight. I see that Christy has made some rockin' knee socks with this exact colorway (and her Sockapalooza socks aren't too shabby either).

I'm hoping to finish all of the sewing up this weekend, and have 2 FOs to show you on Monday! Have a great weekend!

ECF: New threads

Laceweight yarn prize
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

I came home to two yarny packages in the mail!

Before we went to Boston, I happened to win a prize over at Archives on the Edge. She and her sweetie just celebrated their 7th anniversary, and to celebrate on her blog, she offered up a yummy skein of laceweight yarn in the 7th anniversary color: off-white. It's dreamy! She also included some chocolate (ooo, green & black's, and Nestle crunch!) and some candy from Bakersfield, CA. I'm greatly amused at the path this candy is taken. But, sorry, candy, this is the end of the road for you! And the yarn is so soft, I think I'll just pet it for a while and dream of a lace shawl. Maybe I'll get it done in time for my 7th anniversary....)

I also found myself drooling several times over the Yarn Harlot's new habit. I emailed. I PayPaled. And this arrived. I'm in heaven just looking at the grosgrain ribbon.

Charity always pays

STR Fairgrounds
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk.

I knitted 3 beanies for preemies and mailed them to Julie, and she picked me to win the STR!

This colorway (Fairgrounds) is so pretty- lots of purples with green/blue and orange. It just joyfully cries "spring". Julie also included a cool notepad which has a cover which closes, like a matchbook, and a beautiful card. And I included the envelope in the photo, because she taped pictures of flowers on it and used lots of Hershey's Kiss love stamps. It greeted me when I got home from a long day of work followed by a long choir practice. I literally jumped up and down!

Thank you so much, Julie! But really - doing charitable works always gives to the giver, whether or not it results in stash enhancement!

Laceweight prize!

Laceweight
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk.

Yesterday I mentioned an addition to stash that consisted of some laceweight. A while ago, Mr. Fickleknitter had a funny post about his transformation from normal person to parent. He concluded with a clever little trivia quiz, and promised some of his wife's "white elephant" yarn as a prize. (Fickleknitter herself asked in the comments if she could get new yarn if she won.)

Well, Mr. Knits With A Silent K, a.k.a. The Sweetie, is a great movie line rememberer. It was one of his traits that I had to get used to when we were courting - references all the time to movies, or episodes of The Simpsons, or TV shows pop up in conversations all the time. I think he and his brother could have entire conversations speaking only in movie lines.

Anyway, I asked The Sweetie to try the quiz, and I added one answer that he didn't get, and we (e-)mailed it in, and we won!

I can't truly believe that this yarn is "white elephant" - she included KP Shadow in Oregon Coast, and a ball of Icelandic laceweight (in manly colors, since The Sweetie really was the one who won it), and a bonus stitch marker taped in place of the "i" in my name. What wonderful stash enhancement! I shall never again say one negative word about The Sweetie's ability to remember movie lines.

The Icelandic yarn feels a little scratchy, but I have a feeling it will soften up with washing. Anyone out there have experience with this kind of yarn? It looks like it's spun as a single. [ETA: I really do love this yarn - I'm just curious about it. But I feel very fortunate to have this stuff!]

Thank you so much, Fickleknitter family!

Springtime prize!

STR: Jewel of the Nile
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk.

Irisheyes Lynn, Kathy and Al had a contest for the Spring. BMFA STR yarn in colorway "Jewel of the Nile." The colors were so fabulous, I had to enter! These knitters are so sweet and included a note on a postcard from the Chicago area.

I'm thinking I might try out the Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I love bright colors, and these are really brilliant!

Thank you so much, Irisheyes knitters!

Winning for spring!

The girls over at Irisheyes had a contest for spring, and I won! So the most beautiful skein of STR is heading my way.... Can't wait to see it? Click here.

I won!

Beth asked advice on washing machines. I put in my 2 cents (have I ever not given advice, especially when it was asked?)

I won! Which just goes to show, no good deed goes unpunished.

The sweetie contends that acquiring sock yarn via a contest could be in violation of the Stash Bust-along. But I think it doesn't count - I didn't buy it, after all.

PS- Welcome to those of you who came over from Beth's blog. Make yourselves comfortable. Tea is on the stove.