Twisty socks

With the momentum from having finished one of the items on my goals list, I immediately started on the next project that didn't involve me having to buy yarn (I'm waiting until next month when I'll get to go somewhere super secret).

I've been wanting to knit a pair of Skew socks for a while now because the construction of the pattern fascinates me.  Even better, they are knit toe-up!

Here's what my first sock looks like as of now:

Mmmmm rainbow-y

I bought the yarn while visiting Lisa last summer, which is great because we always end up buying way too much yarn (we help each other justify it because that's what good knitting friends do, right?).

This is Crystal Palace Yarns Mini-Mochi, which I have been wanting to try for a while now.  It certainly has not been a disappointment and looks so neat with the pattern so far.  The color is beyond my photography skills to accurately capture, so here's a photo in a different light just to confuse you.

--> Skew is on my list of fiber goals for 2013

I want to truly thank everyone who commented on my last post with words of support on my life philosophy.  This is first time I have revealed this about myself, outside of my immediate family and humanist/atheist social support group, without being met with some kind of open fear and animosity.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.  This means so incredibly much to me. 

Five things about me (because all the cool people are doing it)

I've been tagged by Ness (Bunnies and Bettas) and Tanya (Tanya Today) to tell you all five things about myself.  I don't usually take part in memes like this, but I think it is a fun way of getting to know people better!

1. I was unschooled (not homeschooled, there is a difference!) until high school, when I left home and went 1,260 miles away to Maryland to go to boarding school.  I didn't like it for the reasons all boarders complain about: bad food, having your math teacher living right down the hall to make sure you aren't talking during study hall, having to call your mother to get permission to leave campus, and no boys.  But I received a great education and am so grateful I had the opportunity to go.

2. My favorite thing in the world has to be lavender, I love everything having to do with it.  The scent, the color, how beautiful the plants are, baked goods made of it.  I daydream about having a garden with only lavender.

3. I absolutely love film, getting to go to the little independent theatre down the street is always a highlight of the week.  My favorite directors are: Wes Anderson, David Lynch, Park Chan-Wook, the Coen brothers, Hayao Miyazaki, and Stanley Kubrick.

4. I identify as a secular humanist, I realize this might put some people off, but it is such a huge part of my identity that it is worth mentioning.  I think that most of the controversy is due to lack of understanding, you'll find that in general we are very nice, normal people just like everyone else.

5. I have been vegetarian (ovo-lacto) for almost four years now, after two years of only eating free-range, grass fed meat.  I love veggies and fruit so much that I don't miss meat, except for bacon, but they make "fakon" (fake bacon) which is dangerously good.

I wish I could tag everyone because I really want to know more about all of you (just say that I linked you and write a post anyway?  Please?).  So I just picked the people who came to mind.

1. Lisa (Wicked Artsy)
2. Julie (Julie Rose Sews)
3. Sue (Granny's World)
4. Lou lou (Creatingwithwool)
5. Sava (Sava Stitch)

Now I'll reward you for sticking with me with a photo of "dead kitty":

She looks harmless enough with a cute pose and fluffy belly exposed, but note the tail movement.  It's a trap, the second you walk by she attacks, runs away, and then promptly falls asleep.  I wish I knew what was going on in her head.

Evergreen sweater

Finally I have finished my self-designed Evergreen sweater!  It has been a rocky road with this project too, considering every time I've mentioned it here it has been with frustration.  But I was looking for a challenge and I got one.

One of the biggest things I struggled with was deciding how I wanted the neckline to look.  Now I wonder why I didn't ask my knitting friends for advice earlier, they all gave me the confidence to keep going with it.  Once I finished the neckline I realized the sleeves were too tiny, but I've been in good company with Audry, somehow it always makes it easier when you know a friend is going through the same mess.

It isn't the most perfect sweater I've ever made, but it is definitely special because I knit it without a pattern (I still cannot believe I get to type this).  This was a huge step for me personally, but I'm not sure if I'll do it again any time soon, I think I prefer following a pattern.  I also wish that I had more of the brown yarn because I would have liked to do more colorwork.

This sweater was knitted in Berroco Ultra Alpaca, one of my all time favorite yarns.  I had been coveting the green colorway for a while and I love it even more knit up.  I also find it hilarious that I finished this alpaca/wool blend knit just in time for spring!  But it snowed here in North Carolina yesterday, so perhaps I'm not too late after all.

Gleefully I get to cross off one of my goals for 2013: Finish Self-Designed Sweater!

Now on to another item on the list...