Birthday flowers from Travis - all the more special because he doesn’t really send flowers.

Have a great weekend. I’ll have lots of knitting stuff to tell you about next week.

I tend to be pretty open about things on this here blog. I obviously share all my knitting triumphs and defeats (and we all know there are a lot of both around here), but I also tend to share a lot about my life. Maybe I’m too trusting, but whatever. That’s just the way I am. So, when it came time to identify 10 knitting things you might not know about me, I struggled. I saw this meme over at Grumperina’s and I thought I’d give it a whirl. The only rule is that the 10 things must relate to knitting.

1. I learned to knit when I was a kid. I can’t remember exactly how old I was, but my mom puts my age somewhere around 10. My mom and grandma didn’t know how to knit, so one of the neighbor ranch ladies taught me. I learned to knit and my sister learned to crochet. I remember knitting some red acrylic slippers and a mauve and gray sweater that I entered in the county fair. I actually think I still have the pattern book in my old knitting stuff. I’ll have to find it and share a picture. I have no idea what happened to the sweater, but I remember it didn’t fit very well and wasn’t very much fun to knit. Needless to say, there were no blue ribbons for that particular piece. Ah, the good ol’ days.

2. About the time high school rolled around I quit knitting and didn’t pick it back up until sometime around law school. I saw an article in Martha Stewart and thought about my knitting for the first time in years. The article recommended Knitting In Plain English as a good book to teach yourself to knit. I bought the book, dug out my old needles and bought some yarn at Walmart and I was off and running. I read the book and realized there were 2 “ways” to knit - English or American and Continental or European (I think those are the terms used in the book). I had absolutely no recollection of how I’d learned to knit, so I tried them both and decided the Continental method was a lot easier, and that’s what I went with. I still don’t know if it was easier because that’s the way I’d originally learned or if that’s just what clicked at the time. I bought a book of dishcloth patterns and some cotton yarn and practiced my stitches making dishcloths. I still have all of those first attempts. I knit off and on through law school, but it really wasn’t a passion until October of 2003. That’s when I found the internet knitting community.

3. Everything I know about knitting I’ve learned (or relearned - I can’t remember those early knitting lessons) from a book or from you guys and the internet. I don’t really like knitting classes. I prefer to read how to do something and work through it step-by-step until I figure it out. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a class, but that just isn’t the way I learn.

4. I don’t consider myself a fabulous knitter, but I do think I can knit just about anything I want to knit given enough time and unlimited access to my knitting pals (um, that would be you guys). Don’t get me wrong, I get nervous and have some nail biting moments, but there’s nothing as satisfying as tackling a tough or scary project and figuring it out.

5. I like to think that I don’t have a yarn stash because I am so organized and practical. But, the reality is that I do have a stash. It isn’t huge, but I have enough yarn for 2 sweaters (and I know what those sweaters are) and enough sock yarn for … well, let’s just say a lot of socks. In fact, I have sock yarn in my stash I’d forgotten about. I was looking at my sock yarn last night and was surprised at what was there. I’d forgotten about the Brook’s Farm sock yarn I bought at Estes Park and the Mountain Colors Bearfoot. This is not good people. Those are yummy yarns - too yummy to be forgotten about. This problem must be remedied this winter. It’s time to knit more socks.

6. The online knitting community and knit bloggers in particular have made me a better knitter. I honestly believe I would still be knitting with acrylic yarn and making eyelash scarves if it wasn’t for you guys. Seriously, my knitting growth is something I’m very proud of, but I have you to thank. There are so many wonderful ideas and resources to be found on the internet - sometimes it’s overwhelming, but it’s always wonderful.

7. I taught my mom and mother-in-law to knit. I think they both knit because I love to knit, not because they love it too. I know they aren’t obsessed with it like I am. They are both good knitters, but I’m not sure they’d stick with it if I quit knitting (luckily, that will never happen). I actually really enjoy teaching people to knit - isn’t that interesting considering I don’t like to be taught anything (see #3). I wonder what that says about my personality.

8. I have no problem knitting in public. It’s a great way to pass the time and since I don’t wait well, it keeps me busy.

9. I used to commute to work with 2 friends and I had lots of knitting time. Almost an hour each way and I loved the weeks when I didn’t have to drive - I got so much knitting accomplished and the time to and from work flew by. Now, my friends have abandoned me and I drive by myself every day. The loss of those 2 hours a day is playing serious hell on my knitting progress. I really need to find a new carpool.

10. I love knitting socks. There’s just something wondeful about the combination of the fine yarn and the dpns. Socks just make me happy. I love all kinds of socks - top down, toe up, short-rows, heel flaps, whatever. If it’s a sock, I like it. And I like dpns and magic loop and 2 circulars. I really need to get some socks on the needles. Stay tuned.

Look at the wonderful goodies I got for my birthday (and no, there will be no embarrassing baby pictures here today).

Dale Ara yarn from my friend Ashley. She brought it back from Norway for me. Isn’t it great? She did good for a muggle! I think it would be perfect for a scarf and maybe a hat.

Margene sent me a lovely handmade card

I also received some hilarious e-cards - thanks guys! Travis, my mom, and the in-laws are taking me out to dinner on Friday, so today is going to be pretty low key. Knitting content will resume tomorrow. Have a great day.

I was finally rescued from sleeve island late Saturday night. The Kimono Sweater saw some serious knitting action this weekend and I am happy to report that I am rapidly approaching the finish line.

I hope that I can finish the knitting tomorrow so then I can get it blocked and seamed before the weekend (because, as you all know, I’m behind on this project). As soon as this sweater is done, I’m on to some socks with a couple of wedding squares and some Butterfly thrown in to keep life interesting. Maybe some Jaywalkers (yes, I know I really am the last person on the planet to knit these lovely socks) or maybe some lovely cabled socks. I saw a great Nancy Bush pattern in the Fall Vogue Knitting. I was drooling - that woman is a genius. Then there are the knee socks sweeping blogland. I have plans for some of those too. So many socks, so much cold weather. I can’t wait.

I had a nice weekend, even though “fall” showed herself with snow and freezing temperatures. I worked at the yarn store on Saturday and had a great day. I just love knitters who are excited about their next projects. Yesterday was some knitting and some flyball - Riley had a great time … again. I can’t believe it’s already Monday. The weekends just go too fast. But, I think this will be a good week.

I had a brilliant moment on the way home last night. I don’t have those moments very often, so I try to pay attention when they happen. I had just used the last mint in my little Icebreakers Sours container and I was going to throw it away.

Then it dawned on me that it might have another use. Look at what needs a little organization

And look at how organized those little stitch markers are in their new case.

The great thing is that the lid snaps shut so you don’t have to worry about the stitch markers spilling. The lid also flips open and it’s easy to get your fingers in there and get a stitch marker. Plus, it’s small and thin enough to fit nicely into my little notions bag.

Best of all, it was cheap.