Joe came home from work today, did five minutes worth of fiddling while I was serving up dinner, and suddenly there were 80 new messages in my in-box! Our server seems to be chugging along on all fronts once more, although there were a few hours this morning when I’m pretty sure nothing at all was working. Dare I admit that the worst part was I couldn’t get on the internet and read my favorite blogs? Practically killed me.
So far, my evening has consisted of the regular dinner and bedtime routine for Julie, then a trip to the grocery store so we’d have something to eat this week – tonight’s dinner was a scrounging batch of fried rice since I didn’t get the shopping done sooner. When I got home, Sophie was asleep just long enough for me to get the groceries put away, then I nursed her and answered a few e-mails till she fell back asleep – please blame any typos or lack of capitalization on one-handed typing. Now she’s back in the crib I can go full blast responding to the e-mails and comments and maybe even have a few minutes to start talking about blankie-making instructions.
Meanwhile, I’m going to share some more questions, comments and responses with y’all.
Q: Aren’t you excited to have been mentioned on Stephanie’s blog? How did you get her to do it?
A: Yes! I’m thrilled. I am a total Stephanie fan-girl, and so not worthy of her notice. But then I remind myself that she is a very real person just like the rest of us, and if she’s anything in person like she is in her writing then I like to think that maybe we would get along well in person. I might even almost be able to hold my own in conversation with her. How did I get her to do it? Well, I asked nicely, and apparently I struck her funny bone in my naivete.
Comment: Do you know how much trouble you’re in?
A: I’m only just starting to fully appreciate that. But it’s a good kind of trouble. I’m getting the chance to e-mail with lots of interesting knitters that I otherwise would never “meet”, and I can’t wait to go back through all the e-mails and follow links to blogs and web pages. I am reading and responding to every e-mail individually, but I want to answer promptly so have not allowed myself to do any blog browsing in the process. As for all the yarn, well, it’s going to be so much fun opening all the packages, taking pictures to share with the readers, sorting through it and sharing it with those who have expressed an interest. Sounds like fun trouble to me!
Q: How about a blankie knit-along?
A: I think that’s a great idea! I’m going to be posting the instructions soon, I promise! Maybe I can even make up one of those fancy buttons and I could post a list of people who are blogging their blankies along with me. I’m thinking I’ll get right on that as soon as the instructions are up.
Q: What’s your favorite yarn shop in the Twin Cities?
A: I’m really pleasantly surprised by how many locals have contacted me because of this. I’m a little biased on this because I teach at the Yarnery, but they have one of the nicest selections of basic wools in town. We have a ton of great shops here, so it’s hard to name just a few, but I also like Needlework Unlimited, All About Yarn, Borealis Yarns, the Yarn Cafe and Amazing Threads, among others. I don’t have the freedom to explore yarn shops that I did before the kids.
Q: What is your favorite sock-knitting book?
A: Folk Socks, in particular is great for the history and the basic recipes. There’s an XRX Publications book called Socks, Socks, Socks that’s a lot of fun to look at, and Lucy Neatby’s sock book is a lot of fun. Most of the time when I knit socks, I use my own short-row toe-up pattern or the basic traditional pattern and add in details as the mood strikes. Some of my original designs have been published in Dawn Brocco’s (now defunct) sock newsletter, the Heels and Toes Gazette.
Q: Are you going to make a blanket with the extras and donate it to charity?
A: Honestly? Probably not. I’m already planning to make two couch-sized blankets – one for each of my girls. If I have the fortitude to make that many little mitered squares on size 1 needles and weave in all those ends before you all have long forgotten about me, I’m going to be very proud of myself. In fact, when I started this project, before I started begging for yarn, I said something about how I want to make sure that no matter what I make at least one square a day. If I were to go at that rate it would take me well over a year to meet that first goal. I think it’s going to come together a lot faster than that, but it’s too far out in my knitting future to promise a charity blanket. On the other hand, if some wonderful knitter wants to step up and offer to do one, I would send them the yarn so fast they wouldn’t know what hit them. I do have another idea on a cool way to do a related charity project, but that’s for another post. Brainstorming on this in the comments is welcome, snarky comments on why I’m not worthy for you to send me your yarn not so much.
Q: Will you send/e-mail me the blanket pattern?
A: Sorry, no. I haven’t typed it up yet, and it’s going to appear here first when I do (hopefully in the next day or so before I am inundated with boxes!) It is a lot easier for you to just print it out from here than for me to send out that many more e-mails. I guess you’ll just have to keep coming back for more!
Okay, it’s midnight on Wednesday night. I just got caught up on the e-mails agian. Just another reminder that if you want me to respond to you, you have to put your e-mail address in the comment, or fill it in on the little form on the commenting page! Also, I may have missed a couple people here or there through nursing-mom error, so if you were expecting a reply from me and didn’t get one, would you mind just sending me another e-mail at shellyk at shellykang dot com? Thanks.
I just can’t get over the generousity here! I know I am doing a service to many of you who just want this yarn off your hands, and that is what keeps me from feeling super-guilty about taking free yarn from strangers. That, and knowing that I’m going to share the excess with others who want it.
Now, I’m off to go take some pictures for the start of my tutorial which may or may not get posted tonight (and I’m thinking it’s the latter).
I’m sure you’ll get HEAPS of yarn! I’d send some myself but I’ve only just started sock knitting and don’t have any leftovers yet
Hi Shelly,
I’m discovering your beautiful blanket a couple years after you posted all this info.–I’m always a late bloomer. I have a huge box full of yarn from sweaters and socks I’ve knitted and I’m looking to make a patchwork–I’d love to make one like yours (especially like the way you connect one large mitered square to two smaller ones, making it even more catching to the eye). You note that we can use any weight yarn (though we should be mostly be consistent) but your square ends up 3″. What gauge did you use with your wool to get that size square? I hope you receive this note–this technological world is still a bit new to me. Thanks so much for your inspiring project.
Laura
Hi Shelly,
I’m discovering your beautiful blanket a couple years after you posted all this info.–I’m always a late bloomer. I have a huge box full of yarn from sweaters and socks I’ve knitted and I’m looking to make a patchwork–I’d love to make one like yours! I especially like the way you connect one large mitered square to two smaller ones, making it even more catching to the eye. You note that we can use any weight yarn (though we should be mostly be consistent) but your square ends up 3″. What gauge did you use with your wool to get that size square? I hope you receive this note–this technological world is still a bit new to me. Thanks so much for your inspiring project.
Laura