Lotus Seed Pod & New Contest & Squares

This a seed pod of a lotus. The seeds are edible, and they taste clean, hardy, immaculate. These lotus blooms are from my parents' pond in Texas. They have a few ponds throughout their property. The lotus pond is my favorite. This photo was taken with my old camera. Guess who placed an order for new camera? Yep yep yep. I'm so excited. It will be here Thursday.

Here's a NEW CONTEST for you folks:

As you might know, I'm currently testing out various yarn bases to develop Woolly Boully BIG BOULLY, a dk weight sock yarn.

My questions for you are: a.) Which of my colorways would you like to see in a dk weight?; and b.) Which two of my colorways do you like the best?

Sheri has a nice gallery of my sold-out skeins here, or you can browse the sold items at my etsy shop.

The winner, which will be chosen by a random number generator, will win a skein of my yarn in the colorway and yarn base of their choice. If you want to enter, just leave me a comment to this post with your answers to my questions by midnight on Tuesday, July 3.

Squares and an Extension

I've heard from some of you that there are squares on their way to me. I'm extending the postmark deadline to June 30th, so get those squares in the mail. I'll be doing the prize drawings shortly after that.

Here are some squares that were waiting for me upon my return to Brooklyn.

Senora Fuerte of Mommy, Look What I Made, sent in four lovely squares. Thank you, Senora. The browns and blues are so lovely together.


Kabira sent in these three beautiful squares. They are in honor of her mother, a cancer survivor, and in memory of her father and dear friend Sura. Thank you so much, Kabira, for sharing these with us.


Jessica sent in the a box of ten (!) squares. Wow. Thank you so much, Jessica, for your overwhelming generosity. Your squares are delightful.


Kathy of 3 Grrrls Knit sent in these squares with a touching note.

Kathy's note said: "My squares are for everyone who has been touched by cancer. My mother died of cancer, my husband had melanoma. (We were lucky and caught it early.) There are also the people like you and me who don't have cancer but love someone who does/die. So, my two squares are for all the people who are affected." I was so touched by Kathy's note that I wanted to share it with everyone. Thank you, Kathy.

Oh, and what do you know? Mims, who sent in squares throughout the contest, writes a knitting blog for the Orgeonian. Wow.

A Blue Square

Some of you have asked if I'm alright. I haven't posted in a while for several reasons. This is the time of the semester when it's impossible to stay sane or calm. I've also been having a great time fulfilling my first big dyeing order, which will be finished and shipped out by the middle of next week.

I'm okay, but I haven't quite been myself lately either. I'm withdrawn and distracted these days and a bit sad. I realize that I've reached out to you all in the knitting community to knit squares for cancer patients, but at the same time, I haven't been fair to all of you who have been so generous and giving. I've been keeping a secret because there's a part of me that believes that everything will be okay as long as I be secretive about it.

I've started knitting a square for my father, who was diagnosed with cancer last summer. He's starting chemotherapy tomorrow. This square is for you, daddy. I love you. I am here for you, and I'm always, always thinking of you. It's blue, because I know that's your favorite color.

* * *

I got more squares from Jody and Joanna and Mims. Mims made her squares in honor of her cousin Katherine who is a survivor.


Thank you so much, girls. Your squares are so beautiful, and you all are really making this blanket drive happen.

* * *

I started the Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts that everyone is making. I know now why everyone is making this scarf. It's fun and foolproof. I think that any unusual color combination looks great in this pattern.


This scarf will be for my mother. A very late Mother's Day gift.

* * *

Oh, I lugged something home from the post office today. Originally, I was supposed to get this to celebrate finishing my first big dyeing order, but I kind of had a hard time with that line of reasoning.


What you're seeing is the wheel of a Louet S17 spinning wheel that that ordered from Adrian of Hello Yarn. I decided to go with a Louet S17 because I think I really did want a wooden wheel, and I really like the look of Louet wheels. You can't beat Adrian's prices, either. The wheel came with half a pound of luscious roving. I can't wait to get this thing polished and put together.

p.s. I'm planning on doing April's prize drawing soon. I just need to collect the names of some lovely ladies who sent some squares to Mom J. Hopefully I get those soon.

Red Robin Socks; Dance Dance Revolution Socks; A Square and an Afghan; A Lovely Surprise

Red Robin Socks


When I first started my Red Robin sock, I just couldn't put it down. Perhaps I was so delighted in working with something that I made, or maybe it was the Crystal Palace dpns. I just loved making this sock.


Dance Dance Revolution Socks

I made the cuff of the Red Robin sock, and then I forced myself to finish my "Dance Dance Revolution" socks for March's Socktopia.



Here are the specs for these socks:

Yarn: Yarn Pirate's "Culture Club"
Pattern: Modified version of the RPM Socks
Two inch cuff over 64 stitches on size 0 dpns.
RMP pattern for 3.5 inches on the leg over 63 inches
Switch to stockinette for 1.5 inches
Heel flap and gusset, decreasing to 64 stitches

The heels and toes are made of good ole Opal black sock yarn. The record is actually a classical recording that I found on the curb one garbage day.

A Square & an Afghan


I continue to be amazed by how generous knitters are. Larissa of Stitch Marker made this beautiful square using her leftover Socks that Rock yarn. I haven't ever seen this yarn in the flesh, so to speak, so it was a real treat to get some eye candy. It's such a beautiful square, Larissa, and I know it was hard for you to give up. Thank you so much. It's gorgeous!


Leslie of The Silver Fork Saga sent in an beautiful afghan. Wow! I'm amazed at her crochet skills and her ability to make something like this. Leslie made this afghan in memory of her grandfather, Aubrey Vernon. In addition to sending in the afghan, she also sent me a bag of chocolate (!) and a prize contribution, which is the sock yarn you're seeing in the picture. Thank you so much, Leslie. You are so thoughtful!

A Lovely Surprise

My doorbell rang this week. I got a package with this sweet, little card:


In case the photo is blurry, the note says, "Jenny, Congratulations on the successful launch of Woolly Boully. Enjoy the bag. I thought it would go nicely with your Neapolitan yarn! Love, Mom J."


The package contained the best tote ever! I got a Lexie Barnes Mezzo tote in Bubblegum. I've already loaded it up. Thanks so much, Mom J! I love how the tote's straps are non-slip. I mean, they really don't slip. With so much pockets and a magnetic closure, this tote makes for a great knitting bag and purse. I love it.

p.s. Thanks, ADD Knitter, for pointing out that I forgot to post the picture of the bag! Oops!

Lightning Strikes & Squares & Shop Update & February's Winner

Lightning Strikes

Apparently airplanes get hit by lightning. Apparently the chances of this happening to any one airplane is once per year. Some airplanes get hit more than others and some not at all. Apparently this isn't dangerous, but it is very frightning. My plane got struck by lightning on my way down to Atlanta on Thursday, the day when twisters were roaring all through the south. I did not accomplish much knitting on that flight.

Squares

Before I left, a very nice somebody gave me eight squares. Some were knit and some were crocheted. They are so bright and cheery, and they make me want to pull out a crochet hook and get cranking on some crocheted squares myself.


These squares are in memory of Frances Berger.

Mims also sent more squares my way. She used a variety of stitches to make these beautiful squares.


These squares are in memory of Chris and in honor of her friend Brianne, who is a survivor.

The A.D.D. Knitter and her church group knit these lovely squares. Some of these were made by beginning knitters--what an awesome way to learn some basic knitting skills and produce something that will give someone comfort.


The A.D.D. Knitter also threw in some yarny goodness for me and Mom J--I mean, these are some lovely, lovely skeins of yarn and I don't know how the A.D.D. Knitter was able to part with these. They will be loved. They are already getting some heavy loving from me. Thanks so much, A.D.D. Knitter! You're too awesome and too thoughtful.

Shop Update

As much as I loved the thought of Lone Knitter Yarns for a shop name, I kind of happened upon another shop name that was too catchy to resist. For those of you who know me personally, you'll know that I have a last name that is quite unusual and also rhymes with woolly. So, my etsy shop will be called: Woolly Boully. I'm dyeing two skeins of sock yarn today. I have about ten total that I want to do before stocking them in the store.

February's Winner

Last night, I asked Manly to draw a name out of my raffle bag. He drew Natalie of Mommy, Look What I Made. Congrats, Natalie. You'll be receiving a copy of Big-Needle Knit Afghans.

If your name was not picked for February's raffle, remember that your entries stay in the raffle bag for the duration of the contest. Thanks so much, everyone! You guys are awesome. My pile of squares is getting taller, and that is a good thing, a very very good thing.

Box-of-Chocolate Socks; More Squares; In Other News

Box-of-Chocolate Socks


Today looks dreadful and snow-threatened. It was sunny and warm just a few hours ago. I've been so busy these last few weeks that I've had little time to update my blog. Of course, I'm never too busy to knit, so I do have a finished object.

These are my second socks for February's Socktopia. The theme for this pair is "life is like a box of chocolates." I wanted to work with a pattern that might suggest little chocolate treats, so I chose a baby rib from Sensational Knitted Socks.



Box-of-Chocolate socks:
Yarn: Spunky Eclectic Napoleon
Pattern: 2x2 2" cuff over 64 stitches on size 1 dpns, leg and foot done in a baby (mock) rib
Timeline: cast on February 12 and finished on February 24
Recipient: these socks are for me

I'm not sure if the pooling was caused by the baby rib pattern or the yarn itself, but I really loved this yarn and don't really mind the pooling. Spunky Eclectic's yarn is superbly fluffy & springy.

More Squares


Natalie of Mommy, Look What I Made sent in two squares, one in memory of Virginia Nell Strong and one in memory of C. Bradley Mulholland, who passed away last week. Thank you so much, Natalie. Your squares are beautiful, and I'm happy that you found some comfort in making them. Your notes really touched me. Thank you.

In Other News

I finally got my hair cut after seven months. The last time I had it cut was this summer at my cousin's salon in Bangkok. I got a curly girl cut, and I loved loved loved it. I will never go straight again.

Manly and I get to go to Atlanta on Thursday for a conference. Perhaps one day there will be conference in some city that's actually romantic.

I live on a block of brownstones. This means that there is always some construction or renovation being done and that there are always strange vans and men cussing on their cell phones and spitting. I suppose this is part of the charm of brownstone living?