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AuburnChick is a Sock Model

Posted on April 14, 2008 by auburnchick

First of all, I must ask…WHAT HAPPENED TO MY WARM WEATHER???

You probably saw the sunburn I got on Saturday when I spent the afternoon outside in the 86-degree weather. Well, here’s what it looked like when we arrived at the soccer field on Sunday morning:

And it was cold!

Now, I have to brag a bit. Being the cold-natured person that I am, I was prepared. When loading up the car for the trip, Mr. AuburnChick expressed his annoyance at my insistence that we pack a few blankets. The AuburnChick family, with the exception of your’s truly, likes to keep things real cool in the car, and I usually freeze. So, snuggling up with a blanket keeps the peace. I also packed my sweater and sweatshirt.

So, while everyone was scrambling for something warm, this girl happily sat her hiney down in her soccer chair, pressed her blanket firmly around her body, and began knitting…warm and content.

Neener, neener, boo-boo. Who’s the dumb one now?

LOL

Unfortunately, the mist in the air dampened my yarn, making it impossible to knit during warm-ups. All was okay, though, because I still had a seven-hour drive home.

That time, along with a couple of hours last night as well as about thirty minutes this afternoon during my son’s swim practice allowed me the time I needed to finish my first Monkey Sock.

Here’s where the modeling thing comes in (bet you were wondering, eh?). I’m so proud of the sock, in addition to being proud of the pictures that actually came out okay, that I’m posting several.

Oh, and here is the info for the socks. The pattern is Monkey Socks, and the yarn is Tofutsies, color #798. I used size 2 needles on two circs…sizes 16″ and 24″.

I like the following shot because it shows off the pattern real well (at least I think it does)…

This view makes my foot look real big (according to my daughter, who’s always full of compliments).

This is a close-up of the stitch and yarn. The colors are so bright and cheery. Everyone who sees the yarn just loves it.

The following picture should be an advertisement for why you block socks (although I have never done so but probably should have before posting this). I don’t know if you can tell, but I did a slip stitch heel instead of the simple stockinette in the pattern. I made several tweaks to this pattern, going back and forth between this pattern and Cat Bordhi’s book Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles.

One last little bit…

Yesterday, on the way home, I downloaded several different knitting podcasts. I’m trying to find a few I like in the hopes that I can learn something new.

Well, I have to tell you that I found a gem! My favorite, by far, is Knitting Rose. You MUST listen to Episode 10 – “What is it like to live with a knitter?” I had to chuckle. It was light, cute, and humorous. And, I must say, you will fall in love with the person she interviewed. I will definitely be keeping up with her blog and podcast!

Well, I’m off to cast on for the second sock. Wouldn’t want the one to be lonely for too long.

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , , | 6 Comments »

My Knitting Suntan

Posted on April 12, 2008 by auburnchick

That’s what happens when you spend all day out in the sun with your arms in the following position:



I spent most of the day on the soccer field. The FSU and UCF girls teams played an exhibition game. It was great to see a college game up close. Hopefully, my daughter will be one of those girls in a couple of years.

Then, my daughter’s team played against a local team. It was just a “playdate,” which meant that it didn’t really matter who wins. The most important thing is the practice.

I had to take advantage of all of this free time, so I worked on my sock. Hence, the odd tan/burn that I wound up with.

It truly was a beautiful day…86 degrees! This bird was enjoying the weather too…

I’ll be up at the crack of dawn in the morning…another day, another soccer game. Lots more time to knit in the car on the way home too!

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TGIF!!

Posted on April 11, 2008 by auburnchick

Yay! Friday finally arrived!! I am so happy, given the rough week at work. Whew! At least my paycheck will be nice with all of those extra hours!

The rest of my week proceeded with a bit less drama than the first few days. I even managed to get a bit of knitting done.

I received another blanket in the mail this week. Take a look at how Pink Princess is turning out.

Does the blanket look familiar? If you’re one of my faithful readers (and I know you’re out there!), you might remember seeing this blanket before. This is the second time I’ve worked on it, and I just sent it to the knitter who mailed it to me the first time! What fun! I used the same yarn as before and used the Diagonal Seed Stitch.

I sure was happy to see Friday, though! I left work early today so that my family could get an early start on our trip to dear daughter’s soccer games. Another seven hours in the car…each way. Hmmm…good, uninterrupted knitting time! I brought along the Monkey Socks that I started this week. I had my handy-dandy MacBook Pro with my broadband card. Thank goodness for this gadget. It sure makes long trips much more bearable.

I desperately wanted to listen to Way of the Master. This ministry has a daily broadcast that you can listen to on Sirius (FamilyNet) or even right on their website. I was really curious what they would say about the song that the American Idol contestants sang last night. Did you happen to catch it? I was floored. Their rendition of Shout to the Lord gave me chills, but at the same time I was a bit confused. I wonder how many of the singers really knew what they were singing about. Yes, they sounded amazing, but I wonder how many of them have a personal relationship with the Lord.

Sigh…

I worry about people’s salvation…

Sigh…

Ok…getting back to my trip.

After Way of the Master, I decided to listen to the Diva Knitting Podcast. Cheryl Kemp is very easy to listen to. Yesterday, I listened to her interview with Amy and Sheldon, the wonderful couple that started KnittingHelp.com. It was fascinating to learn about what goes into maintaining this amazing site. Today, I listened to the 4/9 podcast, in which she started a sock knitalong. She has some good links on her site to accompany the podcast. I highly recommend listening to this if you’ve never knitted socks before.

After listening to Cheryl’s podcast, I decided to try to figure out how to subscribe to podcasts in iTunes…to make my life a little easier (I like to stay as organized as possible). Have you ever searched for knitting podcasts in iTunes?? Oh my goodness! There are a ton! If you have a favorite, will you please let me know?

While I listened to the podcasts, I knitted and knitted and knitted. I’ve managed to finish almost five repeats of the sock pattern. Here’s my progress so far…

I am still loving this pattern. It is very easy. I am also totally loving knitting on two circular needles. I did change back from the 40″ to the 16″ after being assured that 16″ is fine and I’m not pulling my stitches too hard. Thanks for that! I appreciate it!

I plan on getting a lot of knitting done tomorrow. We’ll be watching a college soccer game and then my daughter plays a game later that afternoon. Lots of time to knit!

Oh, and I also just started reading a series of books. Have you ever read the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers? I read it several years ago but decided to check them out again when I took my daughter to the library this week. The setting is Rome during the early days of the church, shortly after Jesus died. You learn a lot about the gladiator games and persecution of Christians. Right after I read the books the first time, the movie Gladiator came out. I was fascinated by the movie. I love history, and as a Christian, I stand in awe of what the early Christians had to face. I feel very fortunate to live in a country where I can openly read a Bible and share my faith without fear of reprisal.

Have a good weekend, all! I’ll keep you posted on the progress of my socks.

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Is It Really Only Wednesday??

Posted on April 9, 2008 by auburnchick

Whew! I’ve had a week! I can’t believe that’s it’s only Wednesday too!

I am a computer tech, and one of our servers had some problems on Monday. Not good. I hoofed it to one of our field offices to give them a “back door” to our other server. I worked almost ten hours…basically pulling a double shift since I normally average five and a half hours each day. Then, on Tuesday, our email wasn’t going through. Are you kidding me? So, I spent another half a day trying to figure out why. Today, I’m playing catch-up from the last two days.

Needless to say, my brain is fried. On Monday, I didn’t even feel like knitting. But, I gave it a valiant effort, pulling out the pattern for my Lacy Bamboo Jacket. The first mistake was in reading about the gauge. Oh no. I’m not good at gauge. Then, I skimmed the rest of the instructions. It looked like blueprints for the Eiffel Tower. Nope…I cannot handle this project right now. Away goes the bamboo.

So then I pull out the lovely purple yarn that I bought in Vegas. I think I’ll start on the Lily of the Valley Shawl that I found in a book in Vegas. The yarn I want to use is a heavier weight, but the lady at the yarn store assured me that I could adjust the pattern. In the excitement of the moment (remember how much yarn I bought in Vegas?), I let her talk me into it.

Well, I already know that I can’t do math. Trying to adjust the pattern just wasn’t happening. I had all the tools too…pencil, paper, calculator…to no avail. Drats. I put away the yarn and pattern. I’ll just order the lace yarn that the pattern calls for and not worry about adjustments.

So, I finally decide to start on a pair of socks. I bought this book back in February.

You might recall that I recently knit my first pair of two-at-a-time magic loop socks. So, I’m game to try something new…despite my lack of brain cells at the moment

I’m using this yarn (the pink one on the left…another Vegas purchase).

So, I get the socks cast on. I’m going to make the famous Monkey Socks that everyone seems to be knitting these days. I easily complete the ribbing and put things up for the evening. Last night, after another trying day at work, I decide to “relax” by working on my socks. I get one pattern repeat completed and eagerly start on the next one. Uh oh…something strikes me as being odd. The socks look fine, but upon looking at the pattern (I’m using a chart), I realize that I’ve totally messed up the easiest rows.

Grrr…what’s a knitter to do. I could let it go. Nobody but me will know. However, I can’t. I remember reading a posting by ArtLady on KnittingHelp.com (she is the knitting guru, by the way). She said that she frogs until she gets something just right. Her work is simply gorgeous. If you’re on Ravelry, look her up (by the same name). No wonder her work is so stunning. She does not accept anything less than perfection.

So, I rip and rip. I took the whole thing apart and started over, determined to finish the ribbing on the cuff before retiring for the night. Two hours of work…and I’m right back where I started.

Isn’t that pathetic?

Despite all of this, I’m learning stuff. First of all, don’t try to knit socks on two circulars using a 16″ needle. I tried using one 24″ and one 16″, per some bone-head thing I read on the internet when I was researching this. The 16″ is way too short. I moved those stitches to a 40″, which is way, way too long, but it’s all I have. I think that either two 24″ or a 24″ and a 32″ would be perfect. I read that two different sizes are recommended so that you don’t get your needles confused. When I have a little more $$, I’ll order some 32″ needles.

I’ve also discovered that I really like Tofutsies yarn. It is wonderful to work with. I’m happy that I have another skein to use later.

Oh, and just so you don’t think I’m totally grr’ed out from this week, I have good stuff to say.

First of all, I gave my co-worker the Drop Stitch Scarf (see previous post) today. I left it in a gift bag on her chair. All of a sudden, my email pops up with the happiest thank you note I’ve ever seen. I went down to take a look, and she was wearing it, almost speechless. She couldn’t believe that I gave it to her. It looks so awesome on her too! That was a great feeling.

Then, when I arrived home, I had another baby blanket waiting for me. When I opened the box, I found a couple of gifts. One was a bar of soap…smells so good!!! The other thing…well, look at the picture below…

These are just adorable! They fit perfectly, despite my huge feet, and they are so soft!!! I’m a happy gal, yes indeed!

Friday cannot come soon enough!

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , | 1 Comment »

Drop Stitch Scarf

Posted on April 7, 2008 by auburnchick

Yippee! I finished the Drop Stitch Scarf I cast on for on the way home from my daughter’s soccer games a couple of weeks ago

Some of you may remember that I received this yarn from a friend.

When she bought me the yarn, she got the pattern for a Drop Stitch Scarf. The yarn store had a sample knitted up, and she loved it.

She also bought me these bamboo needles, which proved a blessing. I tried knitting this on my Options, but it was very frustrating. The yarn kept sliding off of the needles. So, I switched needles, and work progressed much faster.

Here is the finished scarf. I plan to give this to a gal in my office who, upon seeing the yarn, fell in love with it. I think the scarf will look great on her. Her skin tone is perfect for it. Plus, she has no idea that I’m going to give it to her. That’s the best part!

This is a close-up of the stitch…

I think I’m going to cast on for another booga bag. We have to travel this weekend, so it will be mindless knitting for the car ride. I would also like to cast on the the Lacy Bamboo Jacket with the yarn I bought in Vegas. I’ll post pictures…stay tuned!

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Blankets, Blankets Everywhere!

Posted on April 6, 2008 by auburnchick

When it rains, it pours!

If you had walked into my house last week, you would have seen blankets and yarn lying all over the place. I hear you asking, “Why?” Well, it’s because I am involved with the Oddball Baby Blankets – two charity projects started on KnittingHelp.com. We even have a group now on Ravelry.

My venture with charity knitting started last summer when I signed up to work on Oddball Blanket #5. This blanket will be a king-size blanket that will get donated somewhere…I’m not quite sure where yet. When I received the blanket in the mail, I nearly cried. To hold something that others have worked on was just an amazing feeling.

So, with that experience in my heart, when I saw a notice on the Charity Knitting forum on KH, I had to sign up. The thing about this project is that it’s like trying to eat one chip out of a Lays bag. You cannot stop at one. The taste is so good!

Working on the blankets is a lot less fattening than eating a bag of chips. Well, maybe not. Your heart swells with joy as you see pictures posted of “your” blankets’ progress to completion, as each knitter is pretty faithful to share news of its journey.

Last week, I received three blankets. So, I put aside the Drop Stitch Scarf I had started and proceeded to get to work.

This is a picture of Summer Fun. This blanket uses worsted weight yarn. This is the site that keeps up with the worsted weight baby blankets. I used Caron Simply Soft, and the colorway is Mango. The pattern is called “Loop Pattern,” from the book knit & purl. I chose the orange because it reminds me of summer and the warmth of the sun.

This blanket is called Citrus Punch. It is a preemie blanket. This is the website where Shandeh (from KH) keeps track of the lighter weight blankets.

I really struggled with what color to use, even considering a green (limes are citrus, right?). In the end, I went with the yarn Baby Soft, colorway Yellow. The stitch is Woven Horizontal Herringbone, from the same book as mentioned above.

The third blanket I worked on is called Happy Bluebirds. Of the three from this week, this one is my favorite. I used I Love This Yarn, and the colorway is White. The stitch is called Vertical Weave from a little booklet that someone sent me with the first charity blanket I worked on. You can also find the stitch on this site, a great resource for various stitches!

I am supposed to be receiving another blanket in the mail this week. Until then, I’ve resumed work on the scarf. I will post a picture and details when I’m done.

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Greenaway Fingerless Gloves!

Posted on March 27, 2008 by auburnchick

What a great project! I’ve been in love with these Greenaway Fingerless Gloves since I found the pattern for my Winter Wonderland swap partner. Of course, I couldn’t afford the yarn the pattern calls for…until it went on sale a few weeks ago. I got this yarn from purlsoho.com and only paid $15! That was 40% off!!!! In fact, the yarn is still on sale…I just looked.

I’m so glad I waited for the yarn to go on sale. I’m pretty bad at substituting yarn, so I usually buy what the pattern calls for.

It is Alchemy Sanctuary (30% silk, 70% wool). The colorway is Spruce. It is so soft and easy to work with. Wow! What a joy.

I have never made gloves of any kind, so the thumb gusset had me nervous. As someone on KH always says…”Trust the pattern.” I did, and only made one boo-boo. I only cast off nine of the 10 stitches for the gusset. It’s a wee bit snug. I figured this out when I made the second glove (the right way). Oh well.

If you look real closely, you might be able to see the eyelet row right below the bind off (below the knuckles).

Ok…on to the pictures!

I have already started my next project. I’m making a Cash Vero Cabled Tam. It is a pattern I got from Gail Knits, the big yarn store in Las Vegas. I might have it done in time to wear it to my daughter’s early soccer game on Sunday! We’ll see.

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2-at-a-time Socks!

Posted on March 23, 2008 by auburnchick

Easter Sunday was a good day. Of course, I started the day by attending church with my family. I loved the sermon this morning. It went beyond the traditional Easter message and really challenged believers to heed Jesus’ call to serve Him. Very thought-provoking…

Here is a picture of the flowers I picked up yesterday while grocery shopping. They are so bright and cheery. They reminded me of Easter and God’s promise of new life in Him.

Since Lent was officially over, I treated myself to a small amount of chocolate and a caffeine-free Coke. Yum!

Sundays are, in our family, a day of rest. I try really hard not to make my children do chores and try to refrain from them myself. So, I spent most of the day knitting. I finally finished my 2-at-a-time, Magic Loop socks.

I used Trampoline Stretch yarn by Skacel. The colorway is #229. It is a wool/nylon blend. I chose the color because it reminded me of tigers. Since I’m an Auburn fan, I figured this was appropriate. They are a great fit!

I used the Varsity pattern from the 2-at-a-time socks book (author is Melissa Morgan-Oakes). The pattern is supposed to be for striped socks, but I used it because of the ribbing. It seemed simple for my first pair of magic loop socks. Turns out that AuburnChick can follow directions! It helps that this book has pictures!

The socks really did not take me too long to knit. I had several breaks in this project because I’ve been working on Oddball Baby Blankets with the group on Knitting Help. Here’s a picture of the last couple of blankets I’ve had the privilege of working on:

This is Angel Wings. I used Caron Simply Soft, colorway Baby Bright Ombre. The yarn was rough, which was surprising. I’ve used this brand before and found it a pleasure to work with. I will not knit with this colorway again, if I can help it. I sent it back to the organizer of the project. Since I was the last knitter, all she needs to do is add a border! Then it’s off to the gal who is taking all of our blankets to a certain hospital.

The next picture is the Neon Fun Oddball Blanket. I used Caron Simply Soft. The colorway is Mango. I love this yarn! It’s so soft, and the color is fabulous! I opted for a simple stitch…twisted stockinette.

My next project will be the Greenaway Fingerless Gloves! I am so excited!!!

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AuburnChick Wins the Jackpot

Posted on March 15, 2008 by auburnchick

Folks, Las Vegas has redeemed herself in AuburnChick’s eyes!

No, I didn’t win at the slot machines. Nothing as exciting as that (winning money is always a thrill, eh?). I won a jackpot of a different kind. But more on that later.

First of all, I feel the need to apologize. My previous post was a bit negative. I have learned that you should never blog when you’re tired and, hence, grumpy. Apparently, waking up at 3:30 in the morning and then flying across country, changing time zones three times, can leave one a bit less than 100%. I think that the fatigue, combined with the bright lights and noise of the slot machines, left me feeling overwhelmed. Plus, I was a bit disappointed with the hotel. Hence, my less-than-impressive first impression.

It’s amazing what a good night’s sleep can do for you. Friday, I woke up bright-eyed and busy-tailed, ready to take on this town. I had already found a couple of knitting stores through MapMuse.com. I had called Wooly Wonders the afternoon before to ensure they had the good yarn. My original plan was to visit this store because it was close to the hotel. However, I got up so early that I was eager to get started on my adventure. So, I decided to brave the road, and I headed for the other store, which was further away. Boy am I glad I did!

Warning: The following pictures are not for the faint of heart.

But first…pictures of my trip there. Look at the car we rented! I like this car! I felt sporty, like a hot young mama (one can have their delusions…it is Vegas, after all!).

Here’s the view I had as I drove:

I was thrilled to find two good Christian radio channels. I was singing, enjoying the scenery, and anticipating what was to come. Would my expectations be met???

Here’s the first store I went to — Gail Knits.

What a fabulous store!!! The outside is very deceptive. Here’s what I saw when I entered…

I thought I’d died and gone to heaven! I felt like a two-year old at Disney World! A gal came up and asked if she could help me. I could barely talk, blubbering like some crazy lady. I slowed down and calmly explained that I was AuburnChick from Podunk, U.S.A., and that I had never seen such a marvelous array of yarn before! She invited me to pet the yarn. I did the mad dash. However, she tried to explain all about how some of the yarns were spun, etc.

“Lady,” I wanted to say, “Let me be…not enough time and so much to see.” But I didn’t. I politely listened until she saw the glazed look in my eyes and wandered off, allowing me the freedom to wander. What a marvelous, stupendous place! I saw yarns I’d only seen online. Cascade, Tofutsies, Rowan…I could go on and on…

Now, here’s where the practical side of me came out. If I’m going to buy yarn, I must know what I’m going to make. So undecided…I finally called over another lady, who wound up being the owner. She chuckled at my enthusiasm and patiently answered all of my questions. I’m sure I must have sounded and acted like the country bumpkin I am. I was overwhelmed, but this time the words “cheesy” do not come to mind. Glorious is more like it.

So, on to the good stuff. Here’s what I walked out with.

Bamboo!!! Oh my! I’ve heard about the stuff but have never touched it! It is some of the softest stuff I’ve ever had the privilege of touching.

I’m going to make the Bamboo Lacy Jacket. It’s an in-house pattern.

This is some Cascade yarn. It’s green. The picture does not do it justice. I’m going to make a beret to match the fingerless gloves in my queue.

This is more Cascade yarn. Sorry I can’t be more specific on the color, but I’m sitting on the soccer field as I type this. I think I’m going to make a hat out of this as well.

Here are a couple of skeins of Tofutsies.

A funny story…I was eyeing the bamboo and the three skeins of Tofutsies on the shelves. There wasn’t enough of the bamboo for the project, so I was debating whether or not to purchase it. Plus, Gail didn’t have a color of Tofutsies that I liked. However, I stayed so long that she got in a delivery. You guessed it…more bamboo and Tofutsies yarn. I heard God speak…”Nathalie, this yarn was meant for you…” <giggle>

So, I walked out of the store quite a bit poorer but floating on air. What a great start to the day! But the day was only just beginning…

I decided I had spent enough money, and I proceeded to head back toward the hotel. Conveniently, the Las Vegas Strip was on my way. Having missed the fun the night before, I decided to take a drive. Here are the photos I took, from the window of my car. I have to say that the strip is impressive. It’s amazing how big and ornate these hotels are.

So, after driving down the strip, I realized that I still had plenty of time before I had to go the soccer fields. Mustn’t let an opportunity like this go to waste. I punched the address to Wooly Wonders into the GPS.

What a find! The yarn selection was not as big as Gail Knits, but it was a cozy place with the nicest gals!

Here’s what I bought at this store…

Noro, for a friend. I’m going to make her a booga bag.

I can’t remember the name of this yarn, but it’s just gorgeous! It’s deep blue with a hint of purple in it. I’m going to make a shawl/wrap thing from a lace book I purchased at the store.

Here’s some reading material for the plane.

Now, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the soccer aspect of this trip. Just look at these gorgeous fields…

The mountains provide a backdrop that is simple awe-inspiring. God’s handiwork is something to behold.

Here’s a picture of “Stitch,” a dog that someone on another team brought to the game. I’m throwing it in cause I thought you might enjoy it.

The girls won their game, beating the Nevada state champs! We’re playing the #2 team from California (my hands are freezing as I type this), and we’ll play the Colorado state champs this afternoon. Wish us luck!

Filed under: Knitting, Vacation | Tagged: , , , , , , | 6 Comments »

AuburnChick Knits At 38,000 Feet

Posted on March 13, 2008 by auburnchick

Well, we are officially in Las Vegas!

Our trip got off to a good start, even though we had to be at the airport at o’dark-thirty, as we’re fond of calling any hour before daybreak. I don’t know how I’ve managed to keep my eyes open given the long day (and it ain’t even over yet!). I’m so glad I packed my knitting stuff last night! And boy did I pack. I had to take my laptop, of course. Wouldn’t want to let my faithful readers (or should I say reader, as in singular?) down. But the yarn…what to take??? What projects do I think I’ll actually get to??? I was conservative. I only took three…no make that four…skeins of yarn. But I had to take all of my needles…my entire KnitPicks case, in fact. My laptop bag must have weighed 50 lbs!

So, we took off in the dark on a teeny, tiny plane. Row 7 was almost to the back. Here’s a photo I took looking out our window:

What a pretty view!

Now, I must say a few good words about the flight (second leg, I mean). We flew Delta, and when we got on, one of the attendants explained that the plan had just been renovated. Every seat had its own TV. We were able to watch satellite TV channels and movies. We could control the music, lights, and attendant light via the touch screen. Now, to be fair, the movies cost extra, as did the headphones, but the headphones were good ones…not the ear buds that hurt.

The food was delicious, although you did have to pay for the meals (which you ordered from a nice selection on a professional menu). Peanuts and crackers were free, as were non-alcoholic drinks. The plane was huge too! Seats were comfy, and there was a bit more leg room than the other planes we’ve been on recently.

Oh, and just so you know, I’m receiving no compensation for the above endorsement. Rats…

Despite the fact that I had to get up so early, I didn’t want to waste any precious knitting time. Here’s what I finished on the first leg of our journey…which lasted all of 35 minutes (as you know, every flight must go through Atlanta):

I used I Love This Yarn, and the color is Red. I really like the pattern. It’s called Basket Rib I from the knit & purl book.

We had a three-hour layover, so I actually did some work (as in $$ work). But I had my needles in my hand as we boarded plane #2. Here’s what I knit up during the second leg of our trip:

Same yarn as the other one. The pattern is called Vertical Bar Lines from the same book. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it at first, but the more I knit, the more it grows on me. Here’s a close-up:

These squares will be sent to a gal on KH for the NIU Charity Blanket KAL. I’m going to try to get a few more squares done before I leave.

My impressions, thus far, of Vegas…

What a shock! I was surprised to find slot machines right in the airport…as soon as we got off the plane!!!! The lobby was lit up like the strip too! Wow! Granted, I’ve lived in big cities before. In fact, I lived in Miami for two years and ventured (albeit bravely) over to South Beach and Coral Gables a few times. But this was different! This city is definitely a money machine.

We’re not staying at one of the bigger hotels. No MGM Grand for us. We’re just soccer fanatics…not wealthy enough to stay at such fancy places. But, our hotel does have a casino in it. When we arrived, we had to walk through the casino to get to the reservations desk. I miss Florida’s “No Smoking law.” Why, oh why, do they have you walk through a smoke-filled haze just to get to your rooms?

Money.

When you have allergies, like my family, this isn’t good. Oh well. And I felt sorry for the cocktail waitresses. Everything just seems kind of cheesy. Not at all what I expected. I guess I’ve been somewhat sheltered. I kind of like that.

That said, the scenery (as in outside landscape) is beautiful. Wow! The mountains are gorgeous! I can’t wait to see what the soccer fields are like!

Yep…I guess this is proof positive that I’ve gotten older…when I can’t wait to see the soccer fields instead of the casino. Or maybe it’s not that I’m older…maybe just wiser.

P.S. I’ve already mapped my way to the nearest yarn store. In fact, I even called them first:

“Hello, this is country bumpkin from Hicktown, U.S.A. What kind of yarn do you sell?”

I’m praying they don’t say the standard Bernat, Lion Brand, or any other yarn that I can find at Michaels or Hobby Lobby, which are the only stores I have at home.

“We carry Cascade, Noro…”

“Say no more…I’ll see you tomorrow.”

AuburnChick is going shopping!

Filed under: Knitting, Vacation | Tagged: , , , | 2 Comments »

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