Unbiased... the bag

I managed to finish up my Unbiased bag from Knitty.com yesterday. Over at Knit the Classics we were challenged to knit something that tied into the current book selection, Woman at the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy. Our project could tie into any character, theme, or tone of the novel. After reviewing the stash, I decided to work with several skeins of recycled sari silk yarn. Some of it I had received in swaps, and some was part of a gift I had received from another Knit the Classics member, Stephanie, as part of a Knit the Classics swap. As the book is about a woman who has a connection to a future utopia that included a very "earth friendly" ethic, I thought using recycled material would fit in. This future utopia also is a model of acceptance of the "other" and a place where prejudice and bias have no home, so I saw a connection with the name of the bag on Knitty.com that used recycled sari silk, "Unbiased." There are more connections with the book that I go into on my post over at Knit the Classics. Now the making of the bag was rather quick, but I've found recycled sari silk as not the easiest yarn to use. It sheds quite a bit. I'm finding bits of the stuff even upstairs even though I knit the bag in my downstairs living room. It's not that easy on the hands either. I developed a rather sore spot on my fingers of my right hand. There are some twigs and things I found in some of the skeins that I pulled out along the way. The finished product though is worth it. I like how the colors come together, and I like the scrappy look of the final bag. Since I used sari silk from two totally different sources, one half of the bag has more of a magenta hue, and the other half is more of a brick red, but I think that just adds to the overall look. After working with this yarn, I'm not sure that I'd make a garment or something that will be worn with it. It is perfect for a bag though! I also received a prize that I won over at Jess's blog for her one year blogiversary. She sent me some lovely sock yarn in her signature colors, and some cute magnets and notepapaer. I'm getting to be quite the sock yarn addict, so the prize is perfect! Thanks Jess! Next up for me is working on my Project Spectrum/Angelica KAL. I've started it last night and have already had to go up several needle sizes to get gauge. I also have plans to start my sockpal's socks. I was very pleased to see that the pattern I've chosen uses size 3 needles! Yay! No toothpicks for these socks!

Music and knitting

Well, you all had very good suggestions for good music/entertainment to listen to while knitting. Here is a list of what you all came up with: Single songs: "Love Shack" by the B52's (Tin Roof!! Rusted.) "Layla" by Eric Clapton "Shout to the Lord" "Hey Mama" by the Black Eyed Peas "Explosive" by Bond (and all women string quartet, very cool) "Pagan Poetry" by Bjork "Bizarre Love Triangle" cover by Frente! (Love the original, must check this out) "Combat Baby" by Metric "H" by Tool "Even Cowgirls get the Blues" by EmmyLou Harris (Love her!) "Jive Talkin" by the BeeGee's (I hummed this song the rest of the day after I read this.) "Where the Streets Have No Name" by U2 "Supposed to be" by Jack Johnson "Under African Skies" by Paul Simon (I haven't listened to this in a long time. I forgot how beautiful it is) "Closing Time" by Semisonic "One Love" by Bob Marley "Trip Through Your Wires" by U2 "Come Away with Me" by Norah Jones "Losing my Religion" by REM "Sweater song" by Weezer CD's The Last Samurai Soundtrack Peaceful Praise by Gary Prim Any album by Coldplay (I love them too!) Canyon Trilogy by R. Carlos Nakai (Native American Flute Music, very relaxing!) Memory of Trees by Enya Anything by The Knitters (how cool is that name!) Kathleen Battle sings Mozart Teresa Deng (I am in the process of checking her out right now. I love exploring new music!) Benedictine Monk Chant (Love this for meditiation actually) Anything by Death Cab for Cutie (I've got to check them out. I"m intrigued by the name.) Garden State Soundtrack Shimmering Warm and Bright by Bel Canto Space Flower, the Wild Swans and Deep by Peter Murphy ( I love Peter Murphy) Infinity by Trout Fishing in America Non music selections Cast On podcast with Brenda Dayne (Knit, knit like the wind!) I'd have to include all knitting podcasts actually. Speaking about podcasts, I have to thank all the people who have sent kind words about my interview on Whit's podcast. I had lots of fun and was much relieved that I didn't sound like a dork. Good editing, Whit! I got so many music tips, I'm not going to lack music for my Ipod shuffle! As far as music I enjoy while knitting, I've been listening to podcasts, and the new music by Train. And now for our winner... I used a random number generator and Mary Ann aka "Mom" won the Tropical Handpaint! Congratulations! I will be sending her the winnings this coming week. I hope she enjoys it!

A ticket for Jaywalking

I wonder if anyone has actually gotten a ticket for Jaywalking? I've never heard of it happening, and yet, the few times I've done it, I'm always checking for cops. I don't want to see that fine. As you've probably guessed, I've completed the pansy Jaywalkers. The Sock Garden in Pansy is a very striking colorway. My first sock took a very traditional turn, striping in a nice predictable fashion. The second sock did some very interesting pooling. I like it! I think one of the fun things about working with a variegated yarn is seeing how the colors develop in a sock. This pattern is perfect to show off variegated sock yarn to its best advantage. I used size 1 DPNs which I am finally getting rather comfortable using. They no longer feel ridiculously thin. The finished sock is very warm and cozy. Many knitters had some problem with sizing with the Jaywalker around the ankle region. I have to say that getting these socks on is a little more snug than I like, but I can get them on no problem. Now my sock plate is ready for my Sockapaloooza socks! Project Specs: Pattern: Jaywalker pattern by Grumperina Yarn: Knitpicks Sock Garden in Pansy Needles: Brittany Size 1 DPNs Time to complete: About a month? I think? Comments: I like them! I think I'll be making more for gifts. I enjoyed using the Sock Garden, and may try out some of their other colorways. I've heard that Sock Garden also felts, so I'm thinking of using the leftover yarn to make my Ipod Shuffle a cozy. In other blog news, Whit who has both a blog and a podcast, About Time, interviewed me for her latest episode. I read a poem that I wrote for Laura's blogiversary and talk about knitting and beading. There are a lot of great things featured in this episode like a very funny song, and a really touching poem written during WWI about knitting. Whit's podcast is great, so if you haven't already checked it out, you'll enjoy it! Thank you to all who wish us good health! With the help of pharmacology, we are feeling much better and almost back into the swing of things. Good thing too! I've got to get my sari silk project done before the end of the month!

Anitbiotics, and the weather is fine

Yep, three of us are on antibiotics. Remember that cold I told you about 2 weeks ago? Remember how I said that we were all getting better? I'm here to tell you that I am no health professional. SWB got and ear infection. RM and I have sinus infections. Only PQL seems to have almost kicked the ick. Oh yeah, we're a sad bunch. I have been getting some knitting done though. I am up to the toe decreases on my second Jaywalker. FO pics and stats soon! Plus I can finally get that "F" for the sock a month KAL. I am also up to the final piece of the recycled sari silk project I'm doing for Knit the Classics. Sari silk sheds like crazy. I'm finding little bits of the stuff everywhere. It's in my knitting notions bag, inside the socks I'm wearing, in my kid's toy box, on the cats. It could be a great CSI clue illustrating the notion of fiber transfer. I've told myself that I need to get these two things off the needles by the end of the month so I can start Angelica, my Socksapaloooza socks and a project I'm designing. I feel on target so far, barring any more illnesses. There's still time to get in your favorite music to knit by. Leave a comment or send me an email! The suggestions have been wonderful so far! Oh, and to distract you from the fact that I have no picture of yarn and/or knitting, have a camel. ;)

Stitches West 2006, the experience

Last year I went to Stitches West with my mom. We went only to shop. It was fabulous, and we decided that we had to go again. This year we eagerly made plans to go. In order to get a more full experience I signed up for a class and we had originally planned to stay the night. Well staying there didn't work out which is just as well since my son's cold turned into an ear infection, but I did end up making Stitches a two day event nevertheless. Mom and I shopped on Saturday in the Market, and then I went back this morning to take my class on Intarsia with Sally Melville. First I must tell you about the Stitches Market. I think the Market is even bigger than it was last year. There must have been about 9 long rows of booths that took up a lion share of a huge room at the convention center. Lots of Bay Area LYS's were there as well as smaller, independent yarn retailers, designers, and some larger stores like WEBS. I spent most of my time combing the booths for new yarns that I couldn't get or even see at my LYS. I spent some time at the Blue Moon Fiber Arts booth, and picked up some lovely STR in the Yosemite colorway. Their stuff is fantastic! The colorways are even more brilliant in person than online. I also spent some time at Tess Designer Yarns, and yes Yahaira, I did pick up a skein of their sock yarn. Lovely stuff. I also found a really interesting yarn company called Just our Yarn. I bought a skein of yarn called Caravan that is a mix of wool and camel down in a gorgeous red colorway. Their yarns are beautiful and worth looking at. I also really enjoyed spending time, and money at Philosopher's Wool. I bought a kit called Color Your Own in the Night Sky colorway. It's a beautiful Fair Isle sweater kit with really pretty buttons. I guess I'm going to have to learn how to cut my own knitting to make her. Scary! I also visited a local artisan, Lisa Souza. Her colorways are gorgeous. I got a skein of lovely purple sock yarn for a really reasonable price too. I also picked up a ball of Lana Grossa Mega Boot Stretch that I'm interested in playing around with. The class I took with Sally Melville was also a lot of fun. Marianne, a LYS owner that I know was in the same class, so it was fun to learn something new with someone I know. I also met some very nice knitter's in the class. Sally signed my copy of ther color book too which I'm over the moon about. She's a really good teacher. She's patient and helpful, and I came away from the experience with some good tips and tricks to make intarsia not so intimidating. She brought many of the sweaters that are featured in the color book as well. I have to say that the final sweaters are beautiful. The pictures in the book don't show just how stunning the designs are. She also taught us a cool trick to help design our own sweaters using intarsia. I also got to meet two Bay Area knitbloggers, Sharlene and Lu. I enjoyed meeting them. They are both very sweet. I wish I could have met more knitbloggers, but the weekend was crazy! All in all, I enjoyed myself and got to learn the ins and outs of a knitting technique new to me. I highly recommend making the trip to a Stitches event if you're able. Remember to leave a comment or email me at the address in the previous post to enter my blogiversary contest! There have been some great songs to knit by suggestions so far!

Your mission should you choose to accept it

Tomorrow marks this blog's one year anniversary. I can't believe I've been blogging for a year. When I started this blog, we had just moved into our new home, my youngest had just turned 6 months, and I was getting sleep and into the swing of things. I was beginning to feel a bit more like myself. As I came out of the haze of my youngest's early infancy, and had waded through the last of the real estate stuff, it began to sink in that I was now a SAHM. I had left my teaching position at the end of the previous school year, but between 3rd trimester pregnancy, selling and buying a house, and no sleep due to round the clock feedings, I hadn't really given much thought to it. Now I began to think about it. Some things that I realized that I needed were a sense of community, and something that would get my thoughts down on paper. Anyone who knows me, knows that I always like having things to do. I'm not a good idle person, although lately I'm beginning to see the charm of a lazy afternoon. Knitting really helped with this as it gave me a relaxing task to do when I had a moment. Knitting at home gave me the something to do, but didn't give me the community aspect. I had been reading blogs for some time and enjoying them. The thought occured to me that I could blog too, and thus maybe be a small part of a larger community that I enjoyed. I could participate in the conversation as it were. So I signed up for a blogger account and started writing. A year later I've made some friends, and expanded my blog reading. I enjoy updating my blog and adding to the sidebar. I join (too many) KAL's and swaps. I really feel like I craft and create along with all of you. Now my off line life has gotten significantly busier due to my children's school commitments. I can only imagine that life will continue to be busy. In a few years I plan to return to the classroom as well. I feel at home in front of a classroom of teenagers. Strange but true, I know. But I think I will always carry this experience of blogging, both writing and reading, as a charmed part of my life, even if I decide one day to stop blogging and write in a journal instead or join a local knitting group. Well enough about my musings on my last blogging year, onto the contest!! In celebration of this blog's first year anniversary, I thought we'd brainstorm a little about good music to listen to while knitting. Now I have very eclectic musical tastes. I can and will listen to all genres from folk to reggae, country to heavy metal, rap to alternative. What I listen to often changes with my mood, or what I'm doing. I can listen to Metallica when I go out running, but Bach is better when I'm trying to relax with a glass of wine. So what 3 songs do you think would be perfect to knit to? Send your three song nominations for "the best songs to knit to" to craftylilly AT hotmail DOT com by next Friday, February 24th 7PM PST. I will pick a winner randomly. The winner will receive 2 skeins (400 yds total) of Treasure Island Cotton Handpaint by White Lies Designs (87% cotton, 10% nylon, 3% rayon) in a lovely tropical color mix. I will also compile all the responses and make a posting of all the songs suggested. Dig into those music collections!

Red and Pink

Valentine's day colors are so wonderful. I just love red and pink. You can throw my favorite color of purple in there to. I love all the hearts, roses, chocolate, and mushy sentiments. I've always liked it. I see it as more than a romantic love holiday. It's a day to celebrate the love you have for anyone you may care about. That's why I was so touched to receive a Valentine's card from my son that he made for RM and I at one of his schools. Look at his little hand prints. Love it! This is just a short post to wish you all a happy Valentine's day with the people you care about. I also want to thank everyone for the kind words about my Cranberry Twist. Those of you going to Stitches West this weekend may see it in the fiber! Which, by the way, if anyone wants to meet up at Stitches, send me an email, or leave a comment! My one year blogiversary is this Saturday, prime Stitches Day, so I will making a special post on Friday with the details on a contest in celebration of this humble blog's birthday.

Cranberry Juice Twister

I like the Tropicana Juice Twisters. They're full of sugar, I'm sure, but the mixture of fruit juices is quite yummy. I think there are also alcoholic beverages that also use cranberry juice and call themselves a Twister, but I digress. This meandering post beginning is just a clunky way of saying... Twist is complete! I. Love. This. Sweater. Even though I've knit other sweaters, this one seems like my first really complete sweater making experience. First, there's quite a bit of seaming, as the sweater is knit in five pieces. Second, the cable panels on the front are some of the more complicated cables I've knit to date. Third, this is the first sweater where I really feel like I did a good job on the buttonholes. They're even and look professional. I used a method that I learned from Annie Modesitt's book, Confessions of a Knitting Heretic. I'm here to tell you, the method works! I didn't modify the pattern at all. Bonne Marie Burns write a clear, concise pattern. Project Specs: Pattern: Twist by Bonne Marie Burns for Chicknits Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Cranberry (9.5 skeins) It was a squeaker as I only had 10 balls of the stuff. I really like working with the WOA. Nice stuff! Needles: I had to go up to size 9's to get gauge. Usually I can get gauge spot on, but I've been a bit stressed lately and have been taking it out on the knitting. Mods: None. Things I've learned: Well, like I've stated, the buttonhole method in Confessions of a Knitting Heretic. Thanks for the suggestions on a more flexible DPN. I think I'll hit a LYS and check out my options. I did contact Brittany, and hope for a replacement needle. Until then, I've had to take a needle from another set so that I can get to the second Jaywalker.

I will watch anything when I knit

Well, maybe not anything. I've sunk pretty low in the past though. Every once in a while we will rent a wretched film. Movies like The Fantastic Four, The Ring 2, Alien vs. Predator, there are others, but I'm working on a mental block. It's times like these that I am thankful I have my knitting to distract me from the train wreck on the TV. Last night, RM and I offended our movie sensibilities yet again. We sat through... Doom. I wish I could erase that almost 2 hour horror show from my memory. It was truly horrible. I really wish Karl Urban, the guy who played Eomer Eadig in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy would pick some better movies. Yikes. On the positive side, I got a lot done on my Twist collar. I should be able to finish up today. I did manage to finish up one Jaywalker yesterday. I like the look of the Sock Garden and it is quite comfy. Getting the sock on is a little tight, but it's manageable. Once the sock is on, it's comfortable and warm. I need hurry up and cast on for the second one so that I can have a pair of socks soon. One of my Brittany size 1 DPNs bit the dust while making the jaywalker. It broke totally. I like working with bamboo, but I'm wondering if I should use sturdier DPNs for sock work. I'm not a big fan of aluminum DPNs though. Any suggestions? In other sock news I got the yarn that I'm going to use for my sockapaloooza pal's socks yesterday. I'm planning on using Cascade Fixation in the Harlequin colorway. I'm excited to get started on them, but I think I'll get the second Jaywalker out of the way first. I also want to send a huge thank-you to my Felted SP! I got the package a couple of days ago and am just thrilled with everything. She sent me 3 skeins of Malabrigo in three lovely colorways. I'm dreaming of hats and mittens! She also sent me one of the new orange Chibi's, a knitting diary, and the yarn estimator card. I love everything! Thanks to everyone who sent us good health vibes. SWB feels a lot better. PQL is still feeling a bit down, but is improving. My symptoms have turned into just a cold. Enough to make me feel a little sluggish and sick, but not enough to knock me out, thank goodness. RM feels about like I do. I'm just hoping to kick it before Stitches next weekend!

The beads are feeling neglected

The yarn gets a lot of love on the old blog and at home. Knitting is just more reasonable to do with young children. First, there's the choking hazard presented by beads. Second, the set up and take down of my beading workstation is quite labor intensive. Third, setting down a bead project is a bit harder to do as beads by nature are quite fiddly. I will be doing a bit more beading the next few weeks as I have a special order of stitch markers to make, and a peyote stitch cuff that has been burning up my idea notebook. I also seem to feel more motivated to bead when it starts looking more like spring outside. I can't believe I already see buds on the trees. Today, I thought I'd share with you one of my first beading projects that I designed myself. This is an amulet bag that I made using the circular peyote stitch technique. This technique uses a beading stitch in the round. How you do this with beads is work the off loom bead weaving while holding your beadwork on a wood dowel, to stabilize the beads and to provide a surface to work the stitch. I used 11/0 seed beads for the project and designed the bead pattern myself. I'm quite proud of it the results, though I hardly have the opportunity to wear the piece. Well, this will be a short post as SWB and PQL have been battling really bad colds this week. I feel the virus sinking it's meaty claws into me as well. Before I go though a preview of coming events. I've seamed up Twist and am in the final stages of knitting on the button band and collar. The Jaywalkers have been shown some love lately, and I hope to have the first Jaywalker to show soon. If I'm not in bed coughing up a lung by the weekend I hope to have some FO's for you soon!

Unfortunate names

I'm sure you've all had experiences where you've seen a billboard, or a store name, or a person's name and thought to yourself, "Why would someone want to do this to their (store, child, business). I had one of these experiences today, my friends. There's some construction going on next to my local Costco, and my eye was caught by the signage in front of the site. The sign publicizes the name of the construction company working on the site. Now, this company is named after a person, the owner of the construction company, I'm sure. What is this person's last name? Manlove. I'll let it sit with you a minute. Now, if that was my last name, I think I'd change it. When I saw this unfortunate surname, I was reminded of the name of a TV and stereo repair shop that was on a main street of Vallejo, when I lived there. This store was also named after it's owner, a Mr. Harry Butts. I mean, really. Or how about this one, Polly Esther Sheets. Not cool, not cool. I finished up the Hermione Mittens for my mitten swap pal, and will be sending them along in a couple of days after then finish blocking. I'm quite proud of them! I think I finally mastered the bobble. Now, I know that bobbles aren't to terribly difficult for most people, but they always seem a bit fiddly to me. I usually avoid them for that reason, but they really add to the mitten, so I had to add them. I love this pattern and will be making many more. The Hermione mittens I received from my pal, is making giving away these mittens a little easier. I hope my pal likes them! Project specs: Pattern: Hermione Mittens from Atypically Knit Yarn: Cascade 220 in a kind of teal/turquiose heather (still can't find the ball band. Rats!) Time: These mittens took about 2 weeks to complete. That's really quick for life at Chez Craftylilly. What I learned: I think I've got a handle on bobbles, and now thumb gussets don't scare me! Now, before I post my last pic for you today, I should touch upon the reference to Annie's post and my trepidation to post the lovely mittens that Karen knit me for the mitten swap. After reading Annie's post (scroll down and hit the link in my previous post if you're interested), I began to worry about how people were perceiving me posting the gifts and swaps I've received from various secret pal exchanges and swaps I've been involved in. I sat and pondered whether or not the posting of these gifts/swaps are in bad taste, and might make someone feel excluded from the knitblog community. After some discussions with my family, friends, and other concerned knitbloggers, I've decided that writing about these swaps and exchanges are, for me, not in bad taste. I feel that an appropriate thank you sometimes includes a more public thank-you on my blog. After all, these swaps and exchanges are organized and executed online. Plus all the swaps and exchanges I've been involved with are open to everyone, and are not exclusionary. I hope that if you are a reader of my blog, whether new or have been reading for a while, that you experience my posts in the spirit with which they are written, a little humor, some exasperation with the trials and tribulations of life, a whole lot of enthusiasm about knitting and beading, and a sharing of the experience of knitting and life. SO, in that spirit, I want to share with you what Stephanie sent me as part of the Romance Book Swap for Knit the Classics. She has spoiled me with two fantastic romance reads, Age of Innocence by Wharton, and Anna Karenina. She also is feeding my sock obsession with Koigu, and Over the Rainbow sock yarn(Woohoo! Have been wanting to try this out for some time!). There's some recycled silk in there too, and a few other goodies. One of the awesome parts about Knit the Classics, other than the great discussions, great reads, and fun knitting related contests, and knitting projects, are the book swaps. I encourage any of you who love to read and to knit, join us over at Knit the Classics. Well, I think I've blabbed enough for the day. Have a good week everyone! (Edited to add: I don't think Annie's post is meant to criticize all knitblogs, nor that her commenters are picking on everyone. Her post just brought this idea to the forefront for me and caused me to think more about what I blog and why I blog.)

Superbowl Sunday... Woop Woop!

Although neither of the teams in the Superbowl are the "family team," I always enjoy a good football game. I think this one will be entertaining. Both teams are good ones and should make for some great knitting time (children willing... yeah, right, who am I kidding?). Speaking of things to watch while knitting, the movie watching has continued here at Chez Craftylilly. We just haven't seen much that warrants a review on this blog. I have to tip 5 DPNs to the film Lord of War, which has been the best movie we've seen in the past couple of months by far. Interesting story, good acting, and a very well executed starting credits where a bullet is followed from its creation to its use. I also should give 3 DPNs to Mean Girls (cute, terrifiying because of the threads of truth), and The Island (entertaining enough, great first half, and hey, Ewan McGregor). I've seen a lot of other movies, but none worth mentioning. For the most part though, I've been knitting through TV shows that we have on DVD, the Sopranos, The Wire, CSI, and of course Project Runway. Now where are the results of knitting while watching said movies and shows? Well, I finished up the last sleeve of Twist last night while watching The Island. You can see that I've started blocking it today. I could fit everything but one sleeve on my blocking board, which bums me out. I figure I'll block the second sleeve once the rest is dry. It's just annoying I can't get the whole thing blocked so I can seam it all. I want to get to the button band and collar! ARGH! I also received my mittens from the mitten swap I've been involved in through the knittyboard. They are gorgeous! Karen knit them for me out of FleeceArtist Blue Face Leicester Aran in lovely blue, purple, and green colorway. She also used the Hermione Pattern which is fabulous since I was thinking about how hard it's going to be to mail off the Hermione Mittens that I'm knitting for my pal. After reading Annie's last post about some people feeling put off by the posting of gifts and goodies received on knitting blogs, I've been waffling back and forth about whether or not I should talk about these lovely mittens, but the beauty of them, in the knitting, and the yarn just needed to be written about. Thanks Karen for both the lovely mittens but the lai see for the kidlets.

Dumplings and Bao

If you are into Chinese cooking, Martin Yan's Quick and Easy Cookbook is pretty good. We've liked almost everything I've made from it, especially this sweet and spicy Shrimp dish. Yummy! Well, in honor the Year of the Dog, I made a recipe called Monday Night Dumpling Soup. I made it on a Tuesday, but hey it tastes good any day of the week! Now being that this soup is from a book called *Quick and Easy* I used store bought frozen dumplings. The end result was quite delicious. Also, since most meals I make need to be *Quick and Easy* I also steamed up some frozen Cha Sui Bao (Sweet Pork Buns) to have with it. Now, those fans of Dim Sum know that Cha Sui Bao is some fantastic stuff. RM could eat these things all day. Both SWB (my picky eater) and Little Girl (who'll eat anything) scarfed these babies down. You must try one if you haven't. Speaking of Little Girl, seeing as she's a bit too young to pick her own blog alias, I have decided to name her myself. Can't have the whole family have cool aliases and hers be the plain one, now can I? I am dubbing her Princess of Quite a Lot (Englebreit reference), PQL for short. I think anyone who has a little daughter, or a little niece understands the reference. I got my sock pal match yesterday as well. I'm very excited! The door seems to be wide open design wise, but I do have a rather big constraint. My sock pal doesn't want any socks made with wool, even a little bit of wool. That really narrows the field of sock yarns I can use. Plotting has commenced. Oh, and I'm one sleeve away from coming home off of sleeve island. My brain is weary, but I look forward to the blocking and seaming so I can get the button bands and collar on Twist.