Mandi Knits   » Knitting, spinning, crafts, and being a geek.

I’ve been bad about doing these, so I guess I better start!  This week’s Secret Pal 12 questions are:

1) What yarn (that you don’t have/haven’t used) would make your stash “complete”?

I’d love to try Hazel Knits.  I’ve had their Etsy shop bookmarked for quite some time and keep meaning to buy some.  I think Sheri at The Loopy Ewe said she’s going to start stocking it, so maybe I’ll order some then.  I’d also like to try Koigu one of these days.  Also Sanguine Gryphon and The Dyeing Arts, because I’ve spun rovings from both of those dyers (and love them!), but have yet to try their yarns.

2) What yarn do you never want to be without?

How do I narrow it down!?  Of course, I love my Wollmeise.  (As Miss V. says, it’s a collection, not stash.)  I also have recently begun a love-affair with Malabrigo (both the worsted and the lace, and I can’t wait for their sock yarn to become available).  Plymouth Encore Worsted is one of my favorites because it wears so well and comes in so many colors.  (I used it to knit my Harry Potter scarf, which is the best scarf ever!!)

LOOK!  I haz Nanners!

Pattern: Nanner Socks by Wendy Johnson of Wendy Knits
Yarn: ShibuiKnits Sock in “Jonquil” (2 skeins)
Needles: two KnitPicks US size 1 circulars (one 16″, one 24″)

Ok, well really I have the beginnings of Nanners.  This actually marks my first pair of socks cast on for Summer of Socks — only several weeks behind.  *ahem*

This is actually my first time knitting one of Wendy’s patterns, though I have almost a dozen of her patterns in my stash.  I’ve been avoiding them because I’m a bit intimidated by toe-up socks.  But now that I’ve started knitting this one, I don’t want to knit anything but her patterns!  I’m also really enjoying the Shibui yarn, which is new to me.  It has a nice twist to it (but is still very soft) and has great stitch definition.  I will definitely add more of it to my stash once I knit some of the rest down.

Finally, I have to tell ya’ll (’cause I’m SO excited) … I’m going home!  I got the time off from work approved this morning and booked my flight.  I’m going home for an entire week next month.  I’m so thrilled.  My grandparents aren’t doing very well, and I just feel like home is where I need to be, if only for a week.  I can’t even tell you how much I’m looking forward to it.  Trust me, if it wasn’t a big deal, there’s no way you’d get me on a plane again.  I’m not fond of flying.  I’m staying focused on the fact that the flight and layover time (in Detroit) will give me plenty of uninterrupted knitting time.  So now I need to plan what knitting I’m going to pack…