The Socktoberfest 2005 prize winners are:

Sarah at Bluegarter.org wins the Fleece Artist Merino donated by Simply Socks Yarn Company!

Kristi at NeedleFingers wins the donated Opal 6-ply from Yarnzilla.com!

Anne at Knit 'Nabler wins the Woolarina hand-dyed sock yarn!

Sydney at As the Yarn Turns wins the goodie bag from DiscountYarnSale.com!

Rose at Enchanted Ewe wins the Opal Handpaint donated by Jess!

Eyeleen at Knitting by Eye wins the Mountain Colors Bearfoot donated by me!

CONGRATS!

So are you one of the lucky six??? If so, please EMAIL ME!

**If I do not hear from you within 48 hours of the time this entry posts, a new winner will by randomly selected. These prizes cannot linger

(Didn't get lucky here? there is still time to join Kira's contest–deadline is tonight at 11pm Pacific time!)

I will be updating with the remaining Socktoberfest 2005 news until there is no more news to share… but that does not mean that you can wait till Socktoberfest 2006 before you finish them!

I only finished one pair of socks this month…

…and that was technically before Socktoberfest officially started!

I do have one sock of a pair finished…

…and another one on the needles (Dublin Bay in yesterday's post)

This is a no-pressure knitalong for a reason–I didn't want pressure on myself!

That being said, there are SO MANY wonderful finished pairs I just have to share! If you don't see your name up here and you have a finished pair, let me know by leaving a comment to this post, and I will get your name up here ASAP!

Siow Chin Wanda Jan Teresa C Brooke Diane Vicki Margene Lori

Bethe Kate Christine CJ Leah Ina Anne-Ruth sUsAn Jennifer

Carola Bliss Rachel Say Elaine Jessica Anne Elspeth Kirsty

Siri Yahaira Terhi Vicki Phia Laura Amanda Jessica

Carole Esther Jane Liz Joelene Jenn Jane Ragan Mary

Tacha Yuvee Tara Brenda Wendy Anny Chelle Teri Bonne Marie

And in case you just can't stop knitting socks, here two more knitalongs you may be interested in: Anmiryam's Fuzzy Feet-along! and PixiePurls' Solid Sock KAL!

Lastly, I was tagged for this meme by my friends, Yahaira and Winnie…

What is your all time favourite yarn to knit with?

Although I found out about LB Cotton Ease in its "twilight" months (right before it got discontinued), I so enjoyed working with it. I made a pullover, and have some stash Cotton Ease for a tank, a baby knit, and another pullover or hoodie. I love the texture of it, and how easy it is to get gauge with. I also really enjoyed working with Dale of Norway Sisik yarn.

Your favourite needles?

Addi Natura circs. Great pointy tip, and sturdy bamboo. Perfect needles in my book. In terms of straights, I also like bamboo. DPNs? I like bamboo and metal for socks.

The worst thing you've ever knit?

I don't even have a picture of it because it was so bad… it was my first scarf ever… knit with LB Woolease Thich and Quick. It was a kit that we used in my first knitting class. It was an ugly color, and my gauge as so uneven… better left unseen!

Your most favorite knit pattern? (maybe you don't like wearing it…but it was the most fun to knit)

I really enjoyed making my Tempting sweater. It was a very simple ribbed pattern. I liked the yoke construction, and used this same technique for my Balmoral cardigan. However, I don't like the way Tempting wears–it has stretched so much since I made it… it is not a good fit anymore. I think I may unravel it and reknit it about 2 sizes smaller one of these days… I also loved knitting the "Kahlo" afghan for my sister's wedding present. I saw it again while in Hawaii, and I think I need one of my own!

Most valuable knitting technique?

Short rows. I have only used them on socks, but the technique is perfect for busty girls (like me) who need a little more room up top.

Best knit book or magazine?

I am consistently happy with Interweave Knits–sometimes they may only have one of two things I like, and some great articles. Other times they have a magazine full of beautiful things. I also really like Last Minute Knitted Gifts, and have one knit from that book on the needles, and another waiting in the wings.

Your favourite knit-a-long?

I have not joined too many knitalongs because I don't like the pressure to finish… however, I have started two no-pressure knitalongs myself. I don't want to "toot my own horn" but I just loved the way that Socktoberfest 2005 caught on and the inspiration I received from each and every blogger in the group. I learned SO MUCH. Little tips and techniques were so helpful. It was a great community effort. So much so that I can't wait for Socktoberfest 2006!

Your favourite knitblogs?

This is not the way I roll, girlfriends. I don't play favorites. However, I will say, I have met so many fabulous knitbloggers, my Bloglines has grown to over 300 people. It is hard to keep up with all of you!

Your favourite knitwear designer?

I find myself consistently attracted to Kim Hargreaves designs, Veronik Avery, and Teva Durham. I like many of Stef's patterns, especially the new cardi.

The knit item you wear the most? (how about a picture of it!)

Accessory: Colinette Giotto scarf (I just wore this tonight!)

Garment: Dale of Norway Balmoral cardigan

Tag: This is a fun and informative meme. If you liked reading my answers, and want to answer them on your blog, go for it! Consider yourself tagged by Lolly

So remember the clues I gave in my last post? All is now revealed…

Penguins

This was my view on Friday night. Nosebleed seats (hey, they were cheap!) and a little pre-season hockey action with my hubby and friends. Pittsburgh Penguins versus the Washington Capitals, baby! Kris and I are Penguins fans, but we live in the Caps city… so, when the Caps won 4-3, we were a little sad. Nevertheless, it was a great game! The official NHL season starts on Wednesday, October 5th, and we are already planning a few road trips to see some other teams in the region.

Lolly and Becca had to huddle together for warmth–brrr!

Other great things about the evening? Kris posing on the Metro (with vintage Penguins jersey) and the debut of my Trekking socks.

Crafty Bastards

I joined forces with the awesome Jenna Pink Monkey on Saturday morn for a little brunch action (we ate brunch at a biker bar(!)–it was vegan and SO good! who would have thought?) and some crafty fun in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of DC. It was time for the annual Crafty Bastards Arts and Crafts Fair!

I wanted to go last year, but didn't make it, so this year was a must. The fair was so large I felt like I could have stayed another 3 hours and still not covered it all.

The arts and crafts really ran the whole gamut. There was high end jewelry and fiber to recycled art. I got about a million ideas of things I wanna try and make myself (in my spare time–ha!). Things I want to learn more about now: sewing, making rugs, screen printing, paper making, embroidery… gosh, the list keeps going.

But the place that Jenna and I spent the most time: Woolarina!

Kate and Paula are so talented. They worked their butts off for this fair, and they had some lovely things to show for it. Handspun yarns, hand-dyed yarns, felted totes and purses, scarves, hats, accessories… and both of them have real jobs too! They deserve a big round of applause!

Jenna and I chatted with them and dug through their beautiful hanks for about 30 minutes before finally making our decisions.

Jenna samples the luscious Woolarina fare. They have some great stuff!

These babies kept on catching my eye over and over. I think it was providence. So, I got them.

1100 yards of laceweight merino lovliness. I have an idea about what I want to do, but I have to experiment before I can give any more details.

After the fair, I left DC and headed back to Maryland to meet up with Kris and his family for dinner and some birthday celebrations. It seems that everyone in his family has birthdays within a month's span, so it is better to celebrate them altogether.

Here is Kris, and our niece, M, who turns 8 on Halloween. Our other niece, K, turns 4 next week. I am planning to get them some Hawaiian dresses for their birthdays on my trip. I hope to have some knits for them in time for Christmas too.

And today? Today was a perfect day to visit my parents. We enjoyed the lovely weather, looked through my new knit books (more on that in the next entry) and watched a movie. I also managed to finish these :

Opal Magic Socks
Pattern: Variation of the FiberTrends Hellen's Socks pattern.
Yarn: Opal Magic colorway 1043
Started: September 4, 2005 / Finished: October 2, 2005
Modifications: I continued a 2 x 2 rib down the front of the sock, and made the heel slightly longer to compensate for my big feet.

These will come in so handy from here on out. Maryland is having autumn right now, and it is glorious! These socks are my second pair ever–and my first official pair for the knitalong.

Tam mentioned something in her post today about knitting socks throughout October–and that got me thinking… how many socks can I knit in a month? (Of course I have some sweater projects that will get some love too!)

Who wants to make OCTOBER into SOCKTOBER?

Case in point: I just purchased some Handpainted Bulky Wool to make this little number for that special man in my life.

This raglan zipper cardigan is from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. The Manos del Uruguay that the pattern calls for was a little too rich for my blood, but this stuff is a perfect substitute (at less than half the price!) I am quite fond of the color of it (Date Palm), and will probably start on this one in the winter. Kris will probably not wear it until it gets really cold anyway, and in Maryland, that means January and February.

Kris’s thoughts on the sweater? "Cool, but not the orange zipper". I think I can handle that. He is a man of many words.

I have had my eye on both of these books for a long time, and I finally hit the "Confirm Purchase" button. Haven’t received them yet, but I know that I will love them.

This weekend was filled with more reading of books and writing of essays. I managed to rig up a little system to read and knit at the same time…

With my feet acting as props for the book, and with the yarn placed in between my feet, I was able to read and knit a few inches on Hourglass as well. This can only be done for short amounts of time, however. It results in feet cramps! I did read two whole chapters this way though!

I just finished my second skein of Knit Picks Andean Silk. That means I have 9 more to go, and about 80% more sweater to knit. Just when I was thinking that there was no other option but a mismatched Hourglass, I got a message from sweet Sunshine Dani. Dyelot 82501? She had some leftovers from her Hourglass! and she is sending them my way!! How lucky is that? Thanks so much, Dani girl!

My beloved socks are growing so big. This is the second Opal sock, and the first Fixation sock (can you see the little diagonal ribs?) Both of them saw a little action while riding the train this weekend.

Now for a little more reading before I head off to class this afternoon… I will curl up on the couch with these girls and finally finish these last chapters! (I caught Bella mid-yawn! hehe)

One sock down, one more to go. This yarn is quite nice to work with–Opal Magic–and I will definitely use it again in the future. I am particularly intrigued by their Rainforest line. (Look at the Chameleon colorway!) I did not think it was possible to become more addicted to knitting… but this whole sock knitting thing has me head over HEELS in love!

I am already thinking about my next pair of socks. I discovered the subscriber-only content for Interweave Knits, and I quite like some of those patterns. Perhaps one of those will be next. The yarn I will use? No idea yet… I have a few sock yarns in my stash to choose from.

Although I am loving the socks, my other knitting projects saw a little sunshine too. Take my Hourglass, for instance:

A few inches in and I am quite happy with the way she is shaping up. However, I am a little bit nervous. I saw the errata sheet for the Last Minute Knitted Gifts book, and she states that many knitters have run out of yarn.

I bought my KnitPicks Andean Silk many months ago, so my dyelot is long gone. What should I do? I do have one extra skein, but I have a sneaky suspicion that this will not be enough. I know several people have made Hourglass–did you run out of yarn? I guess I could always do the ol’ 3/4 length sleeve…

Becca’s Hourglass is coming along quite nicely as well. Hers is also knit in KnitPicks yarn. I am almost tempted to buy some more of these two colors because I really like how they look beside each other!

KnitPicks Andean Silk in Lettuce and Sangria

The knitting and the history homework were set aside for a little while… my little baby sister was in town!

She came up for the weekend to visit the fam. She just started her freshmen year of college, and it was great to see her and hear more about her classes. It is still so hard for me to believe that she is in college, and that my other sister is married and living half way around the world. Things change so fast…

A good portion of this weekend has been spent on finishing up a book and an essay due tomorrow for my Historiography class… but I did fit in a little time for a movie and some knitting. On Friday night, we got Sahara, and I turned the heel on my socky sock.

I call this photograph Juxtaposition. In the background we have many of my school books for this semester; in front, my Opal Magic sock. This picture symbolizes what I need to do (read all of those books!) versus what I want to do (knit knit knit!)

Remember the Klaralund frenzy that took over the blog world last fall? Well, I loved the sweater way back then… and I know I am a little late in the game, but I finally acquired the goods to make my own:

Noro Silk Garden in colorway 201. I love these nice fall/winter colors. This sweater will look so great with jeans. I probably won’t start it until later this year… but I am already thinking ahead!

…and a big THANK YOU to Amy Boogie for the great bag! I received it in the mail on Friday, and it is already the home of the Opal sock!

This was a donation giveaway from Amy to the Give A Little blog (over $82,000 as of today!) I was the first winner and received this lovely gift. I have never had a real knitting bag before! So, if you want a lovely knitting bag handmade by a talented seamstress (and an experienced knitter who knows what a knitting bag should be) go visit Amy’s store, Spunky Eclectic. She will hook you up!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

We took the dog girls out to a nearby lake on Labor Day. While the water was too dirty for a swim, they did enjoy running around in the fields next to the lake. We packed a picnic and had a great time. Bella is the ebony and Jen Jen is the ivory (with ebony spots) and of course, you know Kris and me by now…

Our holiday weekend was very nice: we went to a family get-together with Kris’s folks, we helped my BFF Becca move into her new apartment, and I even managed to fit in a little knitting amongst the readings for school.

Becca and I finally got the chance to cast on for our Hourglass sweaters…

I am about 15 rows in, preparing to start the waist shaping. I am using Knit Picks Andean Silk in Lettuce. So far, I really am happy with the yarn. Becca is using the same brand, in colorway Sangria.

…and I couldn’t help myself…

I am using the same pattern as I used for my Trekking socks–just switched the ribbing to 2 x 2. I will try another sock pattern soon… I thank you for all of your suggestions for patterns last week! I am using Opal Magic yarn, from Eilene.

My Secret Pal 4, Cheryl, sent me these pink Pony Pearl DPNs, and I am really liking them! The point is a blunter than other DPNs, but so far, I have not had any problems with yarn-splitting or dropped stitches.

Isn’t it amazing that over $72,000 has been raised in one week from the knitting community for Hurricane Katrina relief? I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful generous community. There is so much we can accomplish when we come together. However, the need continues, and will for many more months and years.

Many thanks to Margene and Susan, and all of the people that donated lovely gifts. My big surprise this weekend was an email from Margene telling me that I won the first prize from the Give A Little blog.

I won this lovely knitting bag handmade by the uber-talented Amy Boogie. It is a sushi bag! Thank you so much, ladies, for making this possible.

Update: New Knitty is up! What caught my eye? I am lovin’ the accessories in this issue: Flora, Edgar, and Ella.