Christmas is over!

Things can finally settle back down to normal.

My blogging buddy has deserted me! Where oh where is Lou???

I hope to find her today at the Mad Greek Restaurant!

This is my hubby and I on Christmas day. I am wearing a Pi Shawl that I made a couple of years ago from Knit Picks Palette Rain forest Heather.

We had a decent snow for a change this week. We only get snow every few years now. When I was a kid this was a routine thing.

While we were "snowed in", we watched a few movies. I was very impressed with Julia and Julia. There were a few good laughs and it was a good story.

I think of Julie and Julia and my well intended thoughts of knitting my way through the Knitter's Almanac. I have done the Pi shawl and the Mitered Mittens. I started in July 2007 and have only finished 2 of the projects! Maybe I need to set a time limit??? It worked for Julie.

Oops! I did it again! (Thank you Knitmore Girls!)

I am a podcast junkie! I listen to them when I am working alone in my office, when I am driving, and on those rare occasions that I clean.

The Knitmore Girls are one of my favorites and they mentioned that Crown Mountain Farms is having sign ups for the fiber club. I had to check that out.

I am a relatively new spinner, and there are lots of breeds of sheep fleece that I have never spun. CMF is selling the club fibers as a different fiber every month, and they are HAND DYED! For only $15 including shipping for 4 ounces!

Needless to say, I had to order the months featuring fibers that I have never spun!

Red Heart Or Not ????

This is a universal question that has been asked by all knitters, at one time or the other, after they learn the ropes. Do I like Red Heart yarn?

As a Yarn Snob, I would immediately say NOOOOO!!! I hate it, but I have come to change my mind as of late. Let's look at this love, hate relationship of Red Heart yarn, for what it really is.

Before I knew about yarn, I used Red Heart and was really quite happy with it. Sure it was itchy and rough in the beginning, but it took a lot of trips into the washer and dryer and softened up quite nicely after a while. It became a good warm afghan knit by my grandmother, who I loved and admired for her creative gift of "cranking" out as many ripple afghans as the family needed.

Red Heart is relatively cheap, considering high end wool yarns and you get a lot of BANG for the BUCK in every skein and with the current recession in full swing, I don't know about you, but I am buying some of the "Closet Yarns" again so that I will have enough yardage and not break the bank........or go without groceries for the next few weeks, because I won't stop buying yarn.... I'm worse than a drug dealer when it comes to YARN...... And you can even get it in "Soft" now.....I guess what I am trying to say is that EVERY yarn has it's place in your stash and is "good" for something.

With that all being said, I have been such a yarn snob that I have formally refused to list my stash of Red Heart and other acrylics for that matter, on my Ralvery page. Hardly anyone does and I didn't want to be "Labeled" as Cheap !!!Then something happened that changed my mind..... Forever.....

Have you ever spent weeks or even months knitting for someone in a beautiful expensive yarn, pulling out all the stops, only for them to toss it into the washing machine and dryer, then pull out a felted MESS........ well it has happened to me....... All that work............ Ruined by someone who didn't know how to take care of wool, even after being told to gently hand wash and lay flat to dry. It is enough to make you cry and burst into fits of sorrow.................. So now I am thinking that Red Heart Yarn ........in it's place is a great thing. It can take the punishment that some folks dish out and keep on looking great.

I am confessing to the world, that I am coming out of the closet about Acrylic yarns in general. If your making a large throw and it will get "Throwed" all over the couch and floor. The kids will be dropping ice cream all over it, while cuddled up with the dog or cat, then Acrylic is right for you. Just toss it into the washer and dryer and your good to go.... Now I am not talking Red Heart for Heirloom Items...... Just every day throws and things that you need to clean a lot and don't have a lot of time to handwash and dry.

I am going to make a few of those Mason Dixon Modern Blankets out of my stash of Acrylic, including Red Heart....I know most of you have some of it stashed away where your friends can't see.....We ALL have it...If not....it wouldn't be one of the TOP Sellers in the world and sold at every Walmart in the country..... So your secret is out.... .. Is Red Heart my favorite yarn? Well No... Would I want to wear it against my face or on my head? Well No... Would I use it to let the kids lay on while watching their favorite movies or take it on a camping trip... Oh Yeah...The answer is Defiantly Yes.... How about You ???

Our FAVORITE yarn!

We were at a knitting group the first time we saw this yarn. My eyes got really big as the lady beside me pulled it out and said she was making a baby blanket. I turned to look at Lou, and her eyes were big as mine. Those who know us understand that we can get a serious case of the giggles going on, especially if we are tired, which we were. Oh boy! I didn't dare look at her the rest of the meet-up.

Why does anyone want to knit string with cotton balls on it??? (That is what we call this yarn- it is actually Pomp-A-Doodle). I can't imagine wearing this stuff! Lou can't imagine laying a baby on all those bumps.

I suspect this yarn and all the other varieties from other manufactures will be coming soon to a Big Lots near you!

Diet???? :(

Needless to say - I have a few problems. Purchasing yarn and roving, desserts, and food in general. I don't think those are such bad problems. I have no desire for cigarettes or drugs, and alcohol is a very rare thing.

I realize that obesity is more harmful to your health than smoking, but I couldn't decide between 3 layer chocolate cake or cheesecake for dessert. - What did I do? The logical thing --- I had both!

I have been severely tempted to knit at funerals! The only thing that held me back was the embarrassment my husband would have suffered! If Lou had been with me and would have pulled out her knitting with me, Oh Well!

So - I have a problem with excess. We all have our vices and I am perfectly happy with mine.

My answer to a yarn diet - NO! Not yet! Maybe later LOL

Stash Reduction ...........=(

Have you ever heard Jeff Foxworthy say " You might be a redneck if ? " Or the old saying "If the shoe fits"............ Well this cartoon says it all.............

It actually looks like that at my house. I guess I "should" start another yarn diet with Cindy. The last time we lasted for 3 months. No Yarn, No Books, No Nothing...........We went Cold turkey until SAFF. How about it Chick......... Think we can do it again ? Perhaps others can even join us ............ Nite Ya'll...........=)