Secret Pal Surprise!

Wow!  Great gift from my secret pal!  Love the book and yarn, what could be better!!

Super Secret Pal ~

Last year I had a dud for a secret pal, probably because in 2011 I had a kindred knitting spirit that turned out to be one of our City police officers, Robert,....awkward, but wonderful....There has never been another secret pal like him (except for my knitting chica, Janis, but that is a different secret pal all together). Well, this year's secret pal program just started, and this is what I opened up today...

Yes, lovely and soft and perfect colors! Some wool, some alpaca and some blends, and no acrylic!  I am very excited about this year's secret pal...perhaps Robert and I are matched up again!

Sherlock Secret Pal ~

I remember telling you about my amazing secret pal this year.  I have been very very blessed this year and last year with pals that I know-in-my-heart to be my knitting soul mates. Last year's pal was a double surprise, as you can read here.   As I told you in my last visitation by my secret pal, she (although it could be a "he") said that the Circus had left town, and taken the lovely World Circus crazy sock yarn with it....

When, my secret pal must be Sherlock, as she (he?) caught up with said Circus and came away with another ball of crazy sock yarn!  Did I mention that during the yarn shop hop we checked all the shops, and no Circus.... so I am amazed and just a little bit curious (actually super curious) as to where she (he?) found this great crazy sock yarn!  I am excited to cast on and find out what super deluxe fraternal twins I'll get!!! Plus, can you believe that Sherlock also found Red-White-Blue for the July holiday!  How great is this!!

The circus left the LYS ~

Have I mentioned how I love my secret pal at work? This year is a different one that the fabulous pal from last year, however this one is working to keep up with last year's legend. A few months ago I received a great ball of yarn from my secret pal called World Circus. I am knitting fraternal twin socks and loving it.  Oddly, on our local yarn shop hop, I could not find Regia's World Circus yarn at any of the six shops we visited. So, I sent a message to my secret pal, through our anonymous posting board, that I could not find any other wild colors of World Circus and my other daughter was wondering why I couldn't find this yarn.

Well, my amazing secret pal gave me this lovely yarn today with a note that said, "...the circus has left my LYS so I hope these colors work to keep your daughters happy."   Goodness!!! What a great pal I have!!! Plus, my pal used the term "LYS" so I know that my pal is "one of us"  right?!!!!  This is great on so many levels!!! Hurrah!  I can't wait to cast on more socks very soon!!!

Fraternal Twins ~

On Mothers' Day, I cast on a lovely shawl for myself, out of my super deluxe handspun that I am oh-so-proud of... and I also cast on a pair of socks for my oldest daughter, as I had just cast off her Zebra Socks and needed to have some on the needles for her....never mind that her younger sister has two pair of socks on needles at this moment (these and these), and I know I need to focus on one pair of them... Well, the socks I cast on for the oldest is from the yarn that I received from my secret pal earlier this year... a lovely Regia called...World Circus...very colorful and fun....so I separated the ball into equal halves and felt very clever that I separated the yarn so that both socks would start with mint green.......

However, the stripes are not going along the same way, and I realize now that they will be fraternal twin socks instead of identical....and I've checked with oldest daughter and she is ok with fraternal twin socks, as long as I keep knitting on them so she can wear them some day soon!  Good to know!!!   I think they are very fun, and I get excited wondering what the next color on both socks will be!!!

Secret Pal surpise ~

We've started our Secret Pal program again for this year. The goal is to treat a co-worker once a month with something nice and uplifting, for good "wellness" in the work environment. Last year I had the best EVER Secret Pal, as I was sure this pal was really my knitting soul mate....It turned out to be a bit different than that, as I describe in this post....and this post.... When I arrived at work today, there was a ginormous bag on my table, and I stared at it all day...thinking that if I can get through this day, my reward will be opening this gift.... and it was a great and wonderful gift!!!! The big bag was full of balloons and colored tissues, and at the bottom of the bag was a little box...and I opened the box to find wonderfully soft and wildly colorful YARN!!! Oh YES!!!! I was so excited!!! There was also a little pattern book for Regia tucked in the little box, so I get to play with some pattern dreaming as well! Then, I see there is a rolled up magazine at the very bottom, and it is one that I've not seen yet - SCORE SCORE SCORE!!!!!!!! I can't wait until the next month's surprise!!

Secret Pal Surprise ~

Our Secret Pal program ended this past week with a "revealing lunch" when we all get to reveal to our Secret Pals who was giving them special treasures...and find out who had been our Secret Pal. After getting all the wonderful knitting goodies each month, I had visions of exactly who my Secret Pal would be...not by name, but by sight.....She would come to our lunch wearing a cabled cardigan, and a light weight summer scarf, perhaps out of some Shibui Cloud.... or perhaps a summer shawl....I knew she was my kindred spirit, as who else would buy me beaded ArtYarn.....really....who else would? I had used the message board to send Thank You's to my Pal, even sending the YouTube of the Flashmob where I danced with the ArtYarn...I knew she would know how much I loved all these gifts, and that we were kindred spirits....Well, at the lunch there were transportation engineers, life guards, recreation leaders, police officers, police dispatchers, city planners, and even the Chief of Police.....which was my kindred spirit? Who bought the beaded ArtYarn just for me? A police officer....OH MY GOSH....there was no way....All I could say was, "You must have had help!" "You could not have walked into a knitting shop and purchased beaded ArtYarns" His reply, "This was super fun, and your reactions were a hoot - and you really took that yarn to Portland?" Live and learn.... and I hope he is my Secret Pal next year...look at the darling gift he gave me at lunch - even a knitting travel case...I love this guy!

More Secret Pal Delight ~

Have I mentioned about my out-of-this-world secret pal? This kindred spirit that gives me beaded mohair ArtYarn (yes, that yarn! Can you believe it?), and cable knitting books that I get out of the library every time I visit (yes, that book! Can you believe it?) Well, last week's gift was very cool, indeed, as it was a knitting book I've not seen before.I'm thinking of casting on the last pattern in the book - Ha'Penny loop cowl...it is so lovely! I can't wait to meet my kindred spirit secret pal soon!

Sock Summit Flash mob ~

If you are a sock knitter, chances are you have already heard about the amazing Flash mob at Sock Summit. There were practice videos here. We practiced on opening night and at the 1980's dance here. Then we really blew the socks off Portland on Saturday, when we all did the Flash mob at the Portland Convention Center. Check it out on YouTube, as we were amazing! (Sorry I don't have any pictures, as I was dancing with my skein of Artyarns Beaded Mohair from my Secret Pal!)

Dear Secret Pal ~

Tuesday: I just opened this very sweet little bag that was on my desk this morning….
My phone was ringing when I walked in this morning, so the bag went off my desk as my day raced into action…. And I just came back from my 4th (or 5th?) meeting, and I saw it sitting sweetly on the floor…. So I picked it up, thinking how light it was… must be a gift card? Or a sweet poem…then noticed the bag, “Renaissance Yarns” and my heart started beating a little faster…as a FIBER gift card is really something to get a bit jazzed about……then I opened the bag and was blinded by sequins and beads and fuzzy soft mohair…and SILK…..OMG……I think I stopped breathing………..I was afraid to reach into the bag, as I was sure, SURE it was a mirage!!!!! Who in the world would give their secret pal the most luscious combination of mohair, beads, sequins and SILK???? In the softest colors that would cause the most relaxing experience for the lucky recipient…… who in the world???? How lucky am I to have the greatest Secret Pal of all times? (Extremely Lucky!!!) One with knitting savvy and amazing taste in yarn, and perfect color sense for me….How did I get so lucky??!!!
P.S. Once I started breathing again, I noticed the cute pattern for a scarf! Ooooh la la! I think I will be casting on tonight (after my night meeting!!!) Hurrah for you!! You are the Best Best Best Secret Pal, EVER!!!!!!!! Can I have you next year, and the next year??Dear Secret Pal,
I wanted you to know that since Tuesday, I have been carrying this amazing yarn home and then back again each day, just in case it might vaporize and truly be a dream…. As I look to my left, I can see the silky sparkles peeking out of the bag… I took a picture of it with my phone, and sent it to my knitting friends – and they are wondering how could I be so lucky to have such an extraordinary secret pal (I don’t know the answer to that, but I am so happy about how lucky I am). Today two of us were, again, marveling at how lovely this yarn is…. My co-worker said I could just wrap the skein around my neck to have a ready made necklace that I could view all the time…. I want you to know how much your gift is appreciated, and all the joy it has already brought me before I’ve even cast on one stitch!!!! Perhaps, if I can bear to wind it, I will cast on a project this weekend….. Again, so many many thank you’s to you – you are so fabulous!!!!!!!!

Secret Pal ~

At work we have a Secret Pal seven month program as part of our Wellness Program. Each of us that chooses to be part of the Secret Pal program lists likes/dislikes, hobbies, favorite colors with our name and office/department. All these information sheets go into a hat, and each of us picks our "Secret Pal" and from February to August we agree to provide a surprise, support and fun to our Secret Pal once a month. There are about 20 of us this year, and we picked names last Friday. On Tuesday I came to work to find this on my office chair - a red backpack of sorts...I was excited already, knowing that my Secret Pal had already struck!


Here is what the note said: Hey Secret Pal! Let's Get this Party Started! Am I a Husky or a Coug?? Knit me something and I'll let you know in August if I'll wear it!!! This is going to be fun.. Your Secret Pal


There is purple and yellow/gold yarn, in case my Pal is a Husky from University of Washington and crimson and grey in case my Pal is a Coug from Washington State.... Plus a book of hats, scarves and mittens..in case I need pattern inspiration.... Do I love this Pal or what? Do I love the Secret Pal program or what? Do I love getting to work and having yarn on my office chair, or what? Even if it is acrylic, it is still yarn at work.... I'm casting on a hat this weekend... which one should I start with???

Christmas wishes ~

I received a package in the mail, from my secret knitting chica from several years ago... although she's not a secret anymore.... and she's the only secret knitting pal I've ever had... as I decided that since she was the perfect pal in my first secret pal experience, why would I want to try again.... I had to open it early, as of all the possibilities that could have been in these packages.... there is a great chance that there might just be some yarn inside.


Check out this Christmas sock yarn with the tinsel built right in! How fun is this!

Now if I could only knit a pair of socks by Christmas....(perhaps that's why the yarn's name is "marathon")

She's BAAAACK!!!!!!!!

I am proud to announce that my wonderfully clever friend is back blogging! She tells great stories and is a great knitter! She was my knitting secret pal from a few years ago, and I am so blessed our paths crossed through the secret pal program. Welcome Back!!

(I found this cartoon on the MSN homepage)

check out her blog at: http://knittherapy.wordpress.com/

Sneak in another 2008 Cast On ~

Before 2008 is complete, I have cast on a new hat..... destined to be a black & hot pink one for rockin10, but..... turned out the Frog Tree Alpaca yarn is sport weight, and the hot pink is worsted weight and they did not work together in the stripes of the hat. So, since I had 3 inches of the brim knit out of the black, I pulled out the other Frog Tree Alpaca yarn (from our wonderful Birch Bay weekend) and started a hat out of my Hats: A Knitter's Dozen Birthday Book of hat patterns. The yarn is heaven to work with ~ and the little Yarn Lady in the picture came from my sweet knitting secret pal yesterday! Cute, eh!!!

Here is the hat, now completed at almost midnight!!!!! Whoo Hoo!!!!

I can feel the love ~

As we wait for a Big Snow Storm to hit our area, I dig in my sock drawer for The Socks That Janis Knit For Me ~ yes, she knit them For Me ~ SHE KNIT THEM....for me.... They are exactly where I left them last season, peeking out over the beloved Jitterbugs and delightful Alpacas. I smile as I see them, green wool with purple embroidery on the sides. I think they are smiling too, as they know snow must be near and it is time to play. I put them on ~ there is the love ~ I can feel the love in every stitch, in the perfection of the heel turn, the exact perfect shaping on my foot and the cozy ribbing that hugs me. I think they are two years old now, is this our second or third winter together? They have worn well and continue to keep my feet & heart cozy warm and twinkling with the love in every stitch.

P.S. For those of you that have not met Janis, she is the amazing woman at this blog. I am so blessed that our paths crossed as Knitting Secret Pals.