Knitwars

Lime and Violet is the podcast that got me into knitting podcast, and into finally understanding why an iPod is the best thing after yarn and needles. Those two ladies are hysteracally funny in my opinion, and even if I now enjoy many knitting podcasts, I aways look forward to a new L&V episode. The last thing they came up with is right up their alley: Knitwars.
Go sign up. Seriously, as they would say.
The basic idea of the game is that you get points (XP) and gold for certain activities, like finishing up a FO or doing one lace repeat. The XP brings you up to the next level (I am at 77 right now, o idea when I'll go up), while the gold has no in-game use, but it has been suggested to use it as 1 gold = $1 to control your yarn buying. Since there is a correlation between how much do you knit and how much gold you accumulate, it does make sense, like calories out, calories in.
Since I joined I finished my first Sockapalooza 4 sock (50 pieces of gold), I finished a striped hat I started before vacation (25 pieces of gold), and I casted on a Chevron scarf (1 piece of gold):



Good thing that casting on is only 1 gold!

18?

My real age is 18.4 years. I can't drink?

Mostly socks

I have been back home since last Thursday, and I am still digging my way out of emails, 54 still unread on my gmail account, 83 on yahoo, while I managed to read (notice I say "read" not "answer") all my work-related emails. Italy was beautiful as ever, and hot, so what did I knit? Mostly socks.



These are the socks for my brother that almost did not get finished thanks to the Prague airport security that decided that my plastic dpn'd were too dangerous to be allowed on the plane (my birch dpn's were ok though - go figure!)
So I got home from Prague with no US 4 dpn's - and I had none because "home" in this case is my parents' place on the beach near Roma, of course I had plenty "home" in the US. Buy another set? Easier said than done. After several days of search, I settled for 80 cm circular, and I magic-looped. Me, magic-loop. Let's just say that I am very glad that all the sliding stitches around is behind me.



These were finished on my way to Italy, thanks to several hours of delay in London. I wonder, what muggles do when they are stuck in airports? Besides yelling at the guy behind the desk, like that is going to make the bad weather go away or airplanes apparate. At least, I get socks.



Ravenclaw sock on their way to my Hogwarts Sock Swap partner, with a ball of yarn I picked up for her in Dresden, chocolate and cookies from Italy, stitch markers and needles. And I graduated to second year!

Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionnaire - Second Years

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into? Gryffindor

2. Shoe size? Foot length? Foot circumference? US 9, 9 inches, 8.5 inches

3. List your three favorite sock yarns.

a. Lorna's Laces

b. Artyarns Supermerino

c. Koigu

4. Would you like to try a new brand of sock yarn? If so, which brand? Yes, and surprise me!

5. Do you prefer variegated or solid sock yarn? Solid

6. What colors would you like to add to your sock yarn stash? White, red

7. What kind of sock patterns do you gravitate toward? Lace? Ribbed? Fair Isle? Lace

8. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, animals, etc.) No

9. Will your socks be exposed to cigarette smoke or animals as you knit them? No

10. Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal? Yes

Posting from a borrowed DSL line

Rome









Dresden









Prague