Or so says the Duck.  She tagged me, and I'm in good company.  What is this?  Just the bloggers that I read regularly!  I'm not going to point you to the obvious ones that everybody reads (such as the Harlot), but the ones I always read and enjoy.

Spinnity, who often has photos of her fabulous knitting and spinning, along with bird-watching photos.  And, check out her plug's for her sister-in-law's shows.  Hey, I just pointed out two!

KnitFlix, who is making her mark as an accomplished designed, and a prize-winning knitter.

NonaKnits, who probably has no idea who I am or that I read her blog.  It's well-written, self-depreciating, and she is extremely skilled.  I learn from her blog all the time.

CygKnit, who has not much knitting to show lately, but an adorable baby!

Mel, who manages to knit a lot despite having a new baby.

Oh yeah, and DuckKnits?  I delivered more Jewel Box in original sock yarn to Nine Rubies last weekend!

From my mother's sleep I fell into the State,
And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life,
I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.

	-- Randall Jarrell

It's been a while. Let's call the problem this:

* Teaching
* Research, although I haven't done any actual data analysis myself in WEEKS
* Visiting fellow from Malaysia here for the month - a wonderful guy who we're enjoying a lot
* K needs more help with her homework, so I'm tutoring after work
* I haven't had time to even skein the yarn I dyed two weeks ago
* Ordered 60 pounds of yarn to dye for Stitches West (am I insane?)
* Preparing for Thanksgiving with about 20 guests

So I have no photos, no real knitting news, but I give you a meme... this is from Scout.

1. How and when did you learn how to knit/crochet? Who taught you?

My mom taught me to knit when I was young, probably 10 years old.  I found it rather boring. Over my junior high and high school years, I went through needlpoint, cross-stitch, and a few other hobbies.  Knitting didn't come back until about 4 years ago.  I called my mom on the phone quite a lot for advice, and my wonderful mother-in-law lives nearby and also helped me.  That year, my mom and I went to Stitches West together - we stayed in the hotel together and had a great time!  I love sharing this hobby with her.

2. How has this craft impacted your life? (besides financially!)

I have made friends with a wonderful group of women.  I count them among my best friends, and when I don't see them I miss them a lot.  I now have something to do when I feel fidgety.  I have a place to put what little artistic skill I have.  I can't draw, I can't paint, but I love color and texture and pattern, and I'm very mathematical.  Knitting puts it all together.

3. Pick at least one person to talk about who you have met through the knit-world and why you are thankful to have met them. Feel free to get all mushy.

Ada, who is still blogless, but has a web presence with Great Knit Designs.  What can I say about Ada?  It's all her fault I knit socks.  She is a creative, fun knitter who has inspired me to try things I would not have considered before. She has been a supporter of my little yarn business, which I appreciate so very much.  She makes me laugh a lot.  She is a wonderful mother and every little bit of information I glean from her about how to raise a daughter is treasured.  If my relationship with my girls when they are in high school can be anything like hers and her daughter's, I will be blessed.  She never sweats the small stuff, keeps a sense of humor about everything, and is kind.  She is a role model, a supporter, a friend.  Thanks Ada!

I had to think about who to write about quite a bit, because I easily could write paragraphs of thankfulness about Rebecca, Mary, Saloni, Jocelyn, Lenore, Renae, Janet... and people who I've never met in person but who inspire me, like Lauren. 

4. Comment and let me know when you post this in your blog so I can read them all. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class? 

I started about a year ago.  I took a class at TKGA in summer 2005, and started the socks in fall 2005.  I think I finished them in February or March 2006. 

What was your first pair?  How have they "held up" over time? 

I used Cat Bordhi's basic pattern with some Tess Yarn I bought at TKGA.  I love them, and in fact I am wearing them today.  They are a little loose, but that's ok with me.  A photo is here, of the first one.

What would you have done differently? 

I would have made them a bit more snug.

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed? 

The Tess Yarn is nice stuff.  I really enjoyed the Mama-E yarn I used for Embossed Leaves.  I also loved the Dye-O-Rama yarn I received from Gina, which was dyed on Louet Gems Pearl.

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method? 

I knit.  I've used Magic Loops and 2 circs.  I generally prefer 2 circs, but I can do either.

Which kind of heel do you prefer?  (flap? or short-row?) 

I have done only the flap type so far.

How many pairs have you made? 

Four and a half.  I have 3 pairs of my own, one pair I gave to DH, and I'm working on the second sock of a last pair.

And now we return to our regular programming...

This site has measurements and formulae to do custom-fit knee socks.  Since knee socks are so stylish this year, you check check it out!

Back to those lecture notes...

1. I am scared of cables.  I never did a cable project until the Cable-8.  I think cables are beautiful, impressive, and wonderful, and they give me the heebie-jeebies.

2. When I first started knitting, my mom was working on two patterns from a Sirdar booklet for kids, which were intended for my kids.  I liked the patterns in the booklet. And then, after knitting about 3 months, I found some of the yarn on close-out at a shop in Santa Barbara.  That was my first buying-yarn-on-vacation experience.  I had great plans to knit kid sweaters for all my friends, until I learned how long it really takes to knit a sweater.  So, all those friends... well, no sweaters for them. And the yarn?  Well, it's still there.  I still have 3 bags.  It's acrylic.  But I can't bring myself to give it away or sell it, because I still think I'll knit something before my kids are too old for flowered sweaters that need machine-washing.

3. Until about a year ago, I absolutely, positively insisted that I had absolutely no interest in knitting socks and did not see the appeal.

4. My most productive knitting time is during conference calls at work.

5. I altered the very first pattern I ever used.  It was a baby sweater from Erika Knight's book (Simple Knits for Cherished Babies) for a friend's baby.  I purchased a worsted weight yarn but the pattern called for DK.  Of course the gauge was off. Rather than find a different yarn, I figured out that I should knit the 3-month side for width, but use the 9-month size (or 6-month, or whatever it was) for length.  I tweaked the armholes accordingly.  I've never been afraid to do some math to get a pattern to work for MY GAUGE of knitting.

6.  I am not scared of lace, but can't seem to get through a lace project because it is tedious and looks like crap until it's blocked.  Or at least that's what I hear - I've never finished anything to block.

7. I have not yet knit anything out of my own hand-dyed yarns.  I've given them away or sold them.  Huh?

8. I have never knit anything for charity.  Like January One, I'm a selfish knitter.  I want to see the item I've made adorning my or a loved one's body.

9. I bought two pairs of shoes this fall specifically because they will look cute with hand-knit socks.  But I won't buy clear plastic clogs.  You have to draw a line somewhere.

10. I want to own an alpaca.  Maybe two.

Photos from the Nine Rubies party later...