Wick Update!

Hi all! I promised you an update on the Wick!

Just cool! hehehe! Seriously! They feel really good on and I was comfortable all day at work. When I got out into the 90 degrees, I was hot for a few minutes (in the feet, as I usually am for a few minutes when first leaving sub-zero like climate to hotter than heck one!

But, once my body adjusted, very nice! Which, if I am wearing my wool/etc. socks, I would be so miserable.

Not sweaty at all!

My verdict: A winner which will be used again! Darned...I prolly should have stocked up at Webs when it was on sale! ;)

Red Dwarf Socks

Finally Done!



Red Dwarf Socks designed by Cristi
Wick yarn in Painted Daisies
US 4's in Addi and KP Options (2 circs)

Great pattern! Very easy to understand and I hope to try more yarns with this in the future! Thanks Cristi!! Look forward to more patterns from you!

Lessons learned: YARN OVER SHORT ROW HEEL!!! Squee..I just had to do that! Guess what!!! Guess how many times I knit the YOSRH for Sock 2........

Once!!


Score!!! Only once my friends...yes, I have "it" now and will use this heel a lot as the regular wrap/turn heel, I have trouble seeing those tiny wraps!

I think this is only my 2nd time knitting the PSSO's (not that they are hard, just haven't knit many!) I learned also to slip the first stitch knitwise so it didn't bump up as much on Sock 2 as it did on Sock 1.

Another lesson.....perserverance.....(remind me of this later when knitting my first lace, etc.!)




Please ignore the blinding white legs! I took at least 20 or more shots for "in action" ones and these two are the best. The pixels...not sure if it is my camera or what. Darn..if I could pixel shift like I can at work....oh well!

When I knit Sock 1, I cut a bit after the toe to try to break it up, I didn't on Sock 2, thus the larger areas...but that's ok!



Sock 1 on the left; Sock 2 on the right, that entire right ankle is green. Interesting pooling action going on! (yay for self-timers!)

Leftovers from 2 skeins of Wick! Not too bad, save for any repairs if needed.

As for knitting with the Wick, many have asked me. It's not bad, made my wrists ache a little bit on Sock 1, but that could be due to the 8 froggings of the heel and tension created in the arms, etc.

But, seriously, this yarn held up well (wonder if I should tell the company just "how" well ;)
It's pretty soft too. My hands sweat a tiny bit and it did drag at times...but mostly it was fine.

I'll wear them to work tomorrow for the "test"! To and From work, like 90+ degrees, so we'll check out the wicking action. At work...freezing due to extreme AC..we'll see.

Ode to the Turtlegirl................

Yes, this post is dedicated to Cristi aka Turtlegirl!

She created this cool sock pattern I couldn't wait to try with yarn that is perfect for down here in the South! She calmed me down while I was freaking out over the YO short row heel. I emailed her many times this week while I was trying to figure this out! I am by no means a SRH expert, but I really wanted to do it! It was taunting me, and I was so gonna get it no matter what!

I searched online, and followed instructions step-by-step, but they still left huge holes! So after about the 8th frogging (yes, I am a glutton for punishment, but the yarn is awesome, it held up very well!) after whining again to Cristi, she told me, just do a regular SRH, it'll be fine.

Well, it sat in time out for a day and when I picked it up, after telling myself it was OK to do a regular wrap/turn, I realized, I was already in the middle of the YO short row heel I had forgotten I started it again prior, so rather than frogging...I went for it.....again!


So as you can see, I was finally successful! Was it the time out for the day, was it Cristi basically telling me not to stress out over a heel that made the difference......

You really want to know what it was...........

I forgot the last YO!!!!!! yeppers! Everytime I did it, I didn't do the last one! How do I know you ask? Cause, the one time I did the last YO, thinking to myself...(eek I think I forgot this YO)...it worked, it left no hole... It may not be perfect, but I did it and about to do it again and hopefully not 9 times either!



Red Dwarf Socks
Wick Yarn in Painted Daisies

Off to get the other one done!! May it go swiftly! This is a cool pattern and thank you Cristi for being so patient with me!

Saturday Fun

I saw this at Turtlegirl's today!

Zonda -- [noun]: An alien 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

You know, I have been asked how I got my name...I bet they wanted to say are you an alien???

zknitter -- [noun]: A person who has the ability to be invisible 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Yeah, sometimes I feel that way...

It's YP Friday!! I didn't forget!

Just had some lighting issues, (my pics stunk...) too tired after a week of school award ceremonies, etc...oh well you didn't want to hear my excuses didja!

100% Merino Batting Bundle from Peace Fleece
(Colors: Yellow Butterfly, Purple, Hazelnut Berry, Mint and Melon)



So very soft! And no, I'm not planning on spinning this..well I might give it a bit of a whirl who knows. It's to make felted soaps with this fall for gifts. Unless I do get a wild hair and spin it!

Heh, what is it with me and yellow lately...I really do not like it all that much! ;)

Hmm...purple ok, but Hazelnut Berry? Who cares anyways, I love hazelnuts and berries!


Interesting how the Orange is called Melon.

Thanks for the comments on my needle case. I appreciate it! The production will be starting in the coming week. I've got quite an email list going with some notes of preferences, etc. I will email when I have cases done and a variety you'll be able to choose from. I'll be trying to get box bags and small totes done as well in case you want the accessories. We'll see how everything goes! Thanks ahead for your patience though, which makes it easier for me!

Off to get the garage ready for my new washer...*cough* yarn reorganizing!

The secret is out.....

Jen contacted me a few weeks ago regarding wanting a different option to store her interchangeable needles in. So between the two of us and many emails later, this is what we've come up with! Thank you Jen for all your help, advice, and encouragement!


**Please note, this is the prototype! For viewing of what future cases will be like check out Jen's**
This was made with peltex/timtex on the lower half (FYI, the stuff in the bill of a baseball hat, makes it stiff.) I so hated this...it's just too bulky and not easily foldable, let alone sew with it!

Opened halfway!


The inner lining is made with canvas in coordinating colors and the pockets are cotton fabrics and/or canvas.

Pocket built into pocket so to speak. This holds at least 15 of those pesky endcaps. It will make a good travel case, or hold a set of interchangeable needles.

Now for the details. I've had many requests already. Yikes! (thank you!!) Now those that know me well, know I love to help everyone out, but sometimes my life gets in the way, YKWIM! ;) And it doesn't help that I'm type A and a bit too particular on my sewing stuff! I do work fulltime outside of the home and still want to do my knitting, etc... oh yeah, I do have the kids and hubby that want my attention once in a while LOL! ;) Just please be patient with me. :)

So for the time being, I'm going to make up cases with fabrics I have onhand now, then offer them here for sale. (pssst. I have some good AB fabrics and other things too!) I may look into Etsy soon also. Kind of see how it goes. As much as I love to sew, I don't want to get too burned out either. (I did previously with the circular cases I made...sigh!)

I'll be selling them for $25 plus postage. (for the needle cases only, if I do make any totes/box bags, they'll be a different cost) If you have any questions, feel free to email me at
zknitterAT gmail DOT com.

As for custom orders, I think the only kind right now would be if you were to send me the outer fabric and I'll match the inner lining, etc. to it. Otherwise, it'll be whatever combo I come up with.

I'm going to see how things go as I don't want to overwhelm myself with more sewing than knitting time LOL! Darned job gets in the way! ;)

Thanks for reading! :)

ETA: I do have a dog and a cat. FYI in case someone is allergic! I just wanted you to know!

Say Hello to.....

My new little friend!

I present Fergie, my little French Canadian Frog! Yes, I can call him French Canadian, cause that's what I am, that and Cherokee Indian.


He's a new Kritter Case I've seen around the blogs. I knew I'd probably never find it around here, so when Scout had them for sale, I snapped it up as soon as I could!



See, he's opening his mouth for you!


See what I can hold for that crazy knitting lady that owns me so far! Hehe! The only thing I can't include for travel is a spare dpn and crochet hook, so that will have to go into the project bag.

Hey, here's some knitting! Another pair of Magic 28 socks! 2 down 26 more to go! (hey, I have a while to do so!)


Lamb's Pride Worsted in Chianti
Size US 5 KP Options, Magic Loop

Done, one pair that was OTN! Now to get the other 4 pairs done so when my Sockapalooza 4 pal's yarn arrives, I'll have a needle free to knit them! Still deciding on a pattern. So I'm stalking her blog hoping to get ideas!

Sewing....not Knitting

Heh! So you thought I was going to show you...well, not today! Suffice it to say, knitting has taken a back seat this weekend. I had a commission to create something with my other fiber addiction, and you'll have to be patient! :)

Since the sewing bug bit me really bad this weekend, I figured, what's one more night. I got this idea from Trek!

My swift is different, it's a table top and I've been all over town looking for a mailing tube to put this in! Well the legs make it a bit difficult to find the perfect size.


So I thought I was cool and put 2 buttonholes to insert the cording...well my sewing machine does them quite well, and I was proud...that was until I tried to thread the red cording! I had made the buttonhole through both thicknesses of fabric. It should have only been 1 layer. Oh well! So much for a quick project!

A save was made and about 10 minutes later and a tiny opening made in another location.

Swift bag.....done! (hehe I love it when Gordon Ramsey say's that!)

Nosy, little feline sniffing it out!

I've been tagged...

It was a matter of time. By Anna.

The rules are :List 7 random things about yourself. Tag 7 others, direct them to your site to get the rules.

1. I used to play the drums in high school. I carried the big, bass drum for a parade and got one of the mallets caught in the folded down roof of a convertible (how, I have no clue!) and it flew out of my hand. Some nice standerby picked it up and ran it down to me.

2. I used to play the cymbals in same said band when I wasn't needed for #1. Ahem..leather handle strap to said cymbal came off during a very important time! Um..er..can you say Star Spangled Banner time....(eeek!)

3. I love the smell of fresh cut grass! I even had a candle that smelled like it once.

4. I miss Maine, so very much! Even more so, now that I've met a few fellow bloggers who live there. Little do they know how much I enjoy seeing the Maine around them...

What's worse is my family is going to be there in July and I can't be...I'm on/call, my coworker is on vacation, and as my son so eloquently put it "why would a hospital have only 2 people that know how to operate/take care of certain types of xray exams!!!" Search me! Sigh......I'll miss my 20+ year College reunion too...OMG, did I just say I've been out for 20 yrs...I am way too young..just way too young. ;)

5. I miss Country Kitchen Chocolate sugared doughnuts. Hoping family will bring me home from said trip.

6. In college, I used to type (yes, with a real electric typewriter, no computers then!) research, etc. papers for the soccer players and other students. It was not unusual to find me on a Sat. or Sun. out in the front of my dorm room (ours was 1 story, opening to the outside world for the upperclassmen) with my typewriter on my ironing board, typing away. Ahh..those gorgeous soccer players just smiling for me and offering me bottles of kahlua for payment. Heh, they never did ask me out though! Losers!

7. After I had my son, I kinda went crazy. Long, acrylic nails with snake skin, rings and a Z on them. I had one Doc stop his surgery to check them out..I was like hey, lemme get my gloves on and get your xray! Dirty looks from the staff! heh!

Short, very short, like 1 1/2" hair that was very red! I'll try to find a picture. You see, after being brought up very strict and not allowed to "live free" ahem..well hubby has had to go through it with me!! Hey, 22 yrs later, he isn't gone yet! ;) Although, he did recently comment about the yarn corner/other storage area..eek..um..

So, probably more boring stuff about me than you wanted to know huh! Well I won't tag anyone, go for it whomever wants to! I know it's not the same..but I have a knack for picking peeps that don't like them at all...

YPF-Another taste of Yellow

I know this may look like a repeat, but it's not! May I present "Penguin March" by Spunky Eclectic.


Amidst my lovely azaleas before the frost got them...


My daughter, she loves penguins. So when I showed her this colorway, naturally she said yes.


The best part other than it being sportweight, she only likes plain socks!! Yes, it is always good to have just an easy knit, no pattern needed (well for me, still perfecting the short row heel, so I sometimes have to look at a pattern.) These socks will be started as soon as I get her Gryffindor's done. Great car and appointment knitting!

PS: These were purchased from Woolgirl, a new online LYS. I love online LYS's, as I don't have easy access to one, and due to being on call most of the time, can't go. Each one I visit and purchase from has so many different things to offer. Which, come to think of it..can be bad LOL!

I think Amy is planning an update sometime in June. As for knitting, mainly working on some socks! Yikes, I have 3 pairs OTN actively working and 1 other pair waiting to be finished. As for pink petal blanket...hopefully this weekend!!

Z's Green Thumb???

Or not? We'll see!! I spent a little time this weekend brightening up the porch area of the house. Can you say pollen is gone!! I've even started the yearly dandelion popping! What's that you ask? Weed Popper tool is how! I mean, I get out there and it's addicting...I seek, find, and "pop" them outta there! Still have part of the side yard and back to do. Plus a ton of weeding of the flower beds to do!

On to the flower pr0n!

I like Petunia's a lot. These are the Wave kind...hoping for some good wild growing here!

More Petunia's, an Impatiens (we'll see if it lasts, my porch gets a lot of sun) and a Zinnia.

More Wave Petunia's in my old ice cream bucket. I love petunia's when they start trailing out and blooming, I just think the effect is pretty! I really love Bougainvilla's, but finding them around here is hard, plus they are usually pretty expensive. And you know...sometimes my thumb's aren't green. Sigh!

My attempt at one of those container gardens. Geranium in the center with some ivy on the sides and stick grass.

Ahhhh! One of my favorite flowers....a Zinnia...wonder why? ;)

So, we'll see how these do! When I got home today, already the Zinnia's and the pink Petunia's were a bit droopy. Gah, why do they say full sun if they get parched and droopy?? I used some good potting soil...we'll see just how green Z's thumb can be!

Happy Weekend!

Hi! Hope everyone had a nice weekend, whatever you ended up doing!

What you see below is what hubby/kids got me for Mother's Day. Yeah, I know some would call it a kitchen item. But, I seriously doubt it will get much kitchen use LOL!



A perfectly divided skein of Colinette Jitterbug in the Toscana colorway. From what my pal Cpurl just experienced knitting with it, I better make these toe ups for sure! I have size 8 feet! Yikes. I showed hubby how I took the previously wound cake of yarn, wound up half of the total weight, cut, then wound up the rest, placed both on scale, and voila! He walked off, shaking his head, he had no idea why I really wanted it. He knew I was going to use it with knitting, but he didn't know how.

Z SPOILER! YOU ROCK!
I was so surprised that my Spring Fling pal informed me of another package! I got this yesterday and due to extreme thunderstorms and iffy internet access yesterday and part of today, I couldn't post. Dark Milk Chocolate bar, both my favorites in one bar! How cool is that! Project Bag, CTH sock yarn in Country Garden, and Rocket launcher with extra rockets. (is that a hint?) My son has been eyeing them. I've kept him away so far!

A close up of the project sock bag(what I call it! ;) Fabulous fabric!! I just love it! It has the hook clasp so I can hang anywhere!

I love the lining as well!! Awesome colors! Inside are the
Red Dwarf Socks from Turtlegirl! Check that pattern out!

Thank you so much Z Spoiler!! I see both packages have different mailing addresses...hmmm trying to confuse me! (well I guess it's my turn, since I do it to others LOL!)

As for knitting, the cotton blankie was put on rest orders...or should I say I was self put on rest orders. I needed it, the wrists and the area between the thumb and first digit (oops I mean the pointer finger were so sore!)

I had a difficult case at work on Friday and due to the extreme cotton knitting, I had to soak the hand before the case. I survived the case fine, but my hands were sore. In my job I scrub in and assist the Dr. with wires and catheters, etc. (don't want to bore or gross you out!) so suffice it to say, they just weren't as flexible as I like! **note to self: Duh!! when you KNOW you have a difficult case coming up, lay off the cotton!** /end note to self!

So, I cast on a Magic 28 sock. I'm halfway done sock 1. I couldn't work on my Red Dwarf''s either, nor my Gryffindor's due to daughter being home all weekend, nor the 2 bibs. Sigh, well tomorrow is another day! I'll show you pics of something else I did this weekend!

Have a great week everyone!

PS: Hi to my Sockapalooza Pal!! Thanks for visiting!! I hope you have fun knitting my socks!

YPF-The Soft Collection

Yes, this yarn is as soft as it looks!!


Merino, silk, and cashmere. The color on your left is Clove, on the right is Sage.









They will grow up to be baby knits! Yay for non-baby colors! I'm still deciding on 2 patterns, most likely they will be baby cardi's. More on those when the are OTN!


And for your knitting news!! Check this out below!
Folks.....we have petal separation!! Yes, the lower right corner is the first petal tip to be knit. The rest of them are being held by my 60" knitpicks cable. Who knew that sucker would be so handy! ;)


We'll see, but hoping this baby will be blocking by the end of the weekend!

A day of SP's, WIP's and Charmed Knits

I want to thank my Knitty Spring Fling Pal--Z spoiler!! I received this today! Awesome or what! 2 new Lamb's Pride Bulky colors I've never seen--Kiwi and Brown Bear! A skein of Trekking Pro Natura in Blue, very pretty! And..like how did you know I've been itching to do some dyeing??? reading my mind huh? I was just taking stock of my Wilton's food colors and checking out other local dyes on Friday! Love those buttons! They are so me!! My favorite scent of Soak too!

Fabulous stitchmarkers! So light and perfect for socks and small needle knitting, like the tons of baby stuff I have yet to do!

Thank you for all my goodies and my gift certificate to the Loopy Ewe, which is about to be used very soon!! (impatiently awaiting an update on a certain item!) I appreciate it all! :)


The petal baby blanket is progressing, slow but sure! About to start the 3rd skein of yarn and about 3 more inches since last week. Would have been at least 2 more..but..um..it's had a bit of frogging action!! Sigh, what doesn't now a days! ;) Saw the Momma today, she's still hanging on!! About 14 or so rows until petal separation!! I was kind of nervous as each petal is outlined in garter stitch. I thought after I finished all the petals, I'd have to pick up stitches and knit it all around...but alas, that is not the case...did you all hear the sigh of relief I made?

I finally received my Charmed Knits today! I see quite a few things I want and DD does too! She even liked one of the bags! She thought Mrs. Weasley's sweater with those huge sleeves looked cool, asked me if I was going to knit them for me...um..nope, not anytime soon! Now granted others may love them and they will look cute/cool/awesome with them..just not me! ;) You'll be seeing some hats from here in the near future and DD has already placed an order for her own Errol! Phew, so glad she didn't want a cloak! She did love the Invisibility Shawl, and Quidditch Socks...

So, off I go into pink petalness for the evening....it's so hard cause I really want to knit on these! (psst...I did finish a toe today though) Cristi, it's all your fault for a cool pattern! Oh and this yarn is awesome...

YPF :)

This weeks installment-- Handpaints by Artsygal!



Mountain Lake Colorway
100% superwash merino
Fingering weight (yes, peeps, sometimes it's all about the color, not the yarn weight!)
I have size 0's and 1's and I know how to use them ;)



Her Lace Yarns are beautiful, but I'm not a lace person and when I found out she would be selling sock yarns...well I was there!



I saw yarn posed like this from an online store, I thought it was a cool idea!

Happy Weekend everyone!

Fry....why can't I!!!

I need severe help in the frying department!!

Case in point...tonite, trying to fry schnitzel (pork tenderloin pounded thin) and breaded with crumbs. I love my cast iron skillet and I put it on high, then turn down to med. high...put meat in..turn when light brown..

Result...burned spots in various places, not fully cooked in other places. (note to self, pound them a bit thinner!)

I've tried so many different ways...please help me not to burn the outside, but cook the inside!

Chicken is a whole nother problem...but we usually oven fry that now..same taste, hardly any fat. I use these Breaders!

We eat deep fried food like this, maybe once a month if that. The rest is oven frying or baking. I have a deep fat fryer, but when I do these, not the same taste..sigh...

I kid the boys on needing barbeque lessons-re: charcoal chicken, steak and ribs...

They are nice with me, they don't point out the burnt, spotted coating and not fully cooked meat...I guess they don't want me to stop cooking!! :P

More blanket knitting for me tonite!! I want to knit my socks, but...must...knit...blanket!

So Comfy!

Well these socks (see post below) are just plain comfortable. In the upper 90 degree heat we have today..Yeah..May 2, and I want summer to be over already!!

They are so soft and so far the ribbing at the arch isn't bothering me at all.

However, I fear that I have turned off a lot of people from using this yarn. Now that I've worn them, I can look past the splitty factor. I really can as the wear factor just makes it worth it to me. So if you are given a chance to try it, I say go for it! I do have some left of this colorway that would make little baby socks I think. I may try to do both with 1 skein on the next pair.

I have enough for 2 pairs, so I'll be using it again. I won't order more as I do have other cottons to work with right now.

I'm very far behind on my blog reading! The sock madness to finish before the end of the month kept me pretty busy. Plus, I've gotta get that blanket done by next week! Eeeek I saw pregnant friend today, she's about ready to burst! (I seriously thought I had til the end of June! gah!)

Later! :)

Ssssocks!

Yippee, yahoo, these are done!!!


Socktopia April Challenge socks: Fanny
Crystal Palace Panda Cotton in Faded Jeans-I like how the colors turned out.
US 1- sock 1 on ML, sock 2 on 2 Circs. Done simultaneously. That is a good way for me to beat SSS! Whether I use DPN's/ML/2 circs...to accomplish this, as long as the needles are the same size I go for it. I attempted 2 on 2 circs...but the yarns twisting, blech..spent too much time untangling than knitting!

This pattern called for 1 x 1 rib on the arch! I'll let you know more about that when I wear them! I do like the pattern and if the ribbing works ok with my feet, I am anxious to try a few different yarns...sportweight being #1 on my list ;)

The yarn: I know a lot of people want to hear about it. Yes it is splitty!! It is basically 4 strands of thread together. Frogging does not help this yarn at all LOL! (ask me how I know!) The pattern calls for a Short Row Heel and toe...well, luckily the designer sent us the alternative heel and I did a regular toe, yeah, cause I was chicken. I can handle a toe up SRT, with this yarn, I was so not going to even go there!!

Will I use this yarn again....yes, I have 2 pairs worth to knit...it really is so much softer than Fixation. But, the fixation isn't splitty. Sigh..not for a while...I need a tiny break from fingering weight!!



A better idea on the arch ribbed support.

Squeee!! I just got a comment on my last post from my Sockapalooza pal!! Yeah! Now to wait to see who I have...could be one of you that reads my blog...then again, maybe not LOL!