tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2463997599607208892011-09-28T12:31:49.621-04:00While doing the following in my pajamas, I sometimes have thoughts: knitting, spinning wool, beading, soap-making, playing World of Warcraft, and just drinking SBC coffee. I mean to holler about them right here.Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.comBlogger1061100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-67527521266742014402010-06-19T07:35:00.000-04:002010-06-19T07:35:04.221-04:00

There was that first time I tried sewing sleeves onto a blouse-to-be.  You know, progressing from flat garments to three dimensional ones.  I kept thinking, as I re-read and followed the directions, "There's no way this is going to work."  As I kept easing that rounded sleeve cap into that square-ish armhole, and pinning it to stay put long enough to sew it into place, I also thought, "Who thunk

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-18270864942307635312010-06-17T19:01:00.003-04:002010-06-18T22:08:12.150-04:00

My books came in, at the Yarn Haven, so I swung by there last Thursday on my way home from work and picked them up and set aside some more roving and a skein of Noro's Yaiyo blend #20.  The books were Thinking Outside the Sox and Elements of Style.  Avery's latest, Knitting 24/7, is on back order so it was a no-go.  The roving was something different from the BFL I've been doing; this time I got

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-58633124665926979542010-06-10T22:13:00.000-04:002010-06-10T22:13:26.680-04:00

Aren't these some very happy lookin' people?  Check out Mom & Babe, just knittin' and noddin'.  Kristine has her Baby Longlegs as a pattern up on the Knit Picks site - congratulations!  Doesn't Pat make that lace dead sexy?  She had a bamboo tape yarn going into a kimono.  And meet Diane, who brought some wool socks to her first KiP with us.   Raeus and Debra are both doing Ten Stitch Blankets.

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-61826040076306848522010-05-31T10:20:00.026-04:002010-05-31T11:42:28.857-04:00

So, um, my plans changed. They just had to. I was already having a very hard time acting like a grown-up, last Friday at work, knowing that the very next morning was when I could finally go get my wheel. Phyllis from R & M Yarns in Georgetown called me around 2:30pm to tell me it had arrived in her store intact, and added the teasing remark, "Ya know, if you left right now, you could make it

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-82589691378879381222010-05-27T18:44:00.023-04:002010-05-27T21:01:30.466-04:00

Regardless of what the calendar says, I know summer’s been here for a week already. Last week, my local grocery stores had Grainger County tomatoes and Vidalia onions for sale! And if that ain’t proof enough for ya, I got eat up by a hateful skeeter this morning.Ironic that today was also Wax Day at the dermatology clinic where I work, in which we employees enjoy the perk of having our eyebrows

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-48777668649964839172010-05-17T20:14:00.009-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.649-04:00

I am really over having cold feet, so I have this dream of a drawer that’s overflowing with thick house socks! To see this dream made real before next winter, I need a pattern that’s really fast, really mindless, and that doesn’t have features that piss me off. You know, a stock, go-to pattern.The part of the name, version 1.3, is due to it taking trials of three different short row techniques

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-88626301123274084192010-05-14T23:42:00.017-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.650-04:00

I’m on Twitter, and have a few of the folks I follow set so that their tweets come through my cell phone as text messages. I keep up with my two hobbies, knitting and the game Warcraft, thataway while I’m out and about. So yesterday, I’m on a break at work, and I get the following tweet from ‘Violet’ of the Lime ‘n Violet knitting podcast fame: “justellim: G'bye Lime & Violet. http://

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-6465568487863911102010-05-09T07:45:00.015-04:002010-05-21T20:53:51.045-04:00

So, about two weeks ago, I was jonesing for a petting fix. Work is a bit tough in Coder Land lately, and during one of those shifts, I got the undeniable urge for some fiber therapy at my local yarn shop. There are yarns there that I hadn’t petted in quite a while, and they called out to me from across town. I’ve said for years that yarn is noisy.So I swung by the Yarn Haven on my way home that

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-4968282769957438942010-04-22T18:16:00.008-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.651-04:00

I sat down to blog a bit, but you know, prowled around on Ravelry first. Just to see what genius occurred there today while I was at work. Found two surprises, one tragic and one hilarious. Funny how life is balanced that way, huh?Rachel Wattenbarger was killed in the recent Parkwest Hospital shooting. I saw a post on the boards from The Yarn Haven that described her as having just started to

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-37424448342825058362010-04-14T18:46:00.009-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.652-04:00

Before we even get to this past Sunday's knitting and the weekend gaming, let me tell you that I worked some overtime for the first time in this new job. Well, is it still new after seven and half months? Anyway, I did. Last Thursday I stayed over. Friday I went in early and stayed over. Then I came in on Saturday.The coding was behind due to some 'puter server snafus and my cohort's hand surgery

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-89602612767491421332010-04-01T19:44:00.011-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.652-04:00

Aw c’mon! You didn’t really believe that our great state of Tennessee would tax our yarn shopping with an entertainment tax, did ya?Growing up around these here parts, the Heartland Series was part of my landscape, and it had a tradition of airing joke episodes about this time of year, every year. Not just on the day of April’s Fools, but they started a few days leading up to it. They’d show us

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-20068766770627837772010-03-27T15:58:00.014-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.653-04:00

Okay, so I've been playing WoW more than is admittedly reasonable. Not so much that I'm uber leet or nuthin', but enough that other things aren't gettin' done (blush). I've also been listening to the audiobook version of the newest WoW book, Stormrage, and it's got me in a right elven druidy mood, hence I've been playing this alt toon, Dovewing (the photo capture caught her with the fishing pole

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-39210850566802712472010-03-17T19:11:00.026-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.653-04:00

So how did everybody do with the recent time change? For me, the usual difficulty waking up an hour earlier than I have all winter long. And with my WoW guild friends, it's been downright confusing since we're all in different time zones already. But, it's a sure sign of spring to come, even if it doesn't much look very springy outside just now. Not at just a glance. But if ya look really close

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-84102551382342546992010-03-08T20:53:00.006-05:002010-05-21T20:50:58.654-04:00

For as long as I could remember, Daddy would take my brother and me fishing. We’ve fished stocked ponds, learning how to pick up catfish without getting stung by their whiskers. We’ve fished from docks, and when we were a bit older he got his first boat. That’s when the serious fishing began. He really wanted the bass, and got pretty good at catching ‘em too when he didn’t have us kids underfoot.

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-68236955954502508442010-03-01T19:33:00.020-05:002010-05-21T20:50:58.654-04:00

After an epic battle of wills, I finally got my computer back into a very healthy state. Better even than when it was new! All for the want of a stupid .NET Framework file that hung up everything. Well, that booger is finally in, after much shoe-horning on my part. I'm pretty certain that the cliched 'mark of the beast' is the Microsoft logo, and that Gates is actually Satan Junior hisself.Anyhoo

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-54625447176993708692010-02-22T20:12:00.005-05:002010-05-21T20:50:58.655-04:00

Pardon me a bit, whilst I play with this new software that lets me manipulate photos . . . We had a really good turn out at last Sunday's knitting group, our Fertile Turtles. Jane, Pat, Lynda, and Luna made it back - yay!Lynda knitted gloves, despite packing in some purple and black roving of alpaca and silk. The stuff is gasp-worthy, for sure. Luna had some thrummed mitts going, ala the Yarn

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-19010077570121502332010-02-15T19:44:00.011-05:002010-05-21T20:50:58.656-04:00

First up, sorry it took me so long to post. I've had a new distraction for which the Internet Angel spanked me. Um, I've been playing the Auction House a lot this past week, in the World of Warcraft game. It's the virtual economy, and to be honest it's fascinated me more than is reasonable. Reckon it's my inner goblin showin'.Then, my 'puter got a hateful hijacking somethin' or other in it,

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-51931643031232548452010-02-06T08:04:00.005-05:002010-05-21T20:50:58.656-04:00

I've missed the last two weekends of our knitting group, due to remodeling the craft room and a blizzard or two. Angelika and some made it to the last one, and she left the following synopsis on my facebook wall:" . . . Nichole is doing baby socks ;) Barbra is learning nasty words ;) and Mary Beth is gonna knit nasty coverings ;) And Mary Beth bless her helped me finish a head band ;) Thank Gawd

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-33946976587672943632010-02-04T19:29:00.006-05:002010-05-21T20:50:58.657-04:00

The Grape Ape socks have the first completed, and I just turned the heel on its mate this morning. And it's tough showing off your sock knitting without a model or some blockers to help out. So, um, blockers are on my shopping list now, to avoid this bending-over-to-shoot thing again.My dear friend in Indianna is now a proud Gramma, and the wee one's new hat is currently en route to him.I've also

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-60585323568078643772010-01-19T18:13:00.018-05:002010-05-21T20:50:58.657-04:00

Ravelry is gobbling up my life. While at work, I confess my thoughts often turn to yarn, colors, and stitches, and this especially happens during my, ahem, smoke breaks. Sitting alone, my inner eye goes to my stash, or to patterns I’ve recently seen, or to colorways, or to those ‘what if?’ ideas. You know the ones.Like these two wafted through my head at different times this week. If hand painted

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-44927732854051426662010-01-13T18:49:00.002-05:002010-05-21T20:50:58.658-04:00

Thought of a new name for them purple socks - one I like loads better than Mal Monkey. Remember the old Hanna-Barbera cartoons? Remember the purple gorilla?Yup, my socks will henceforth be called Grape Apes.Thank you , Glenda, for helping me remember what that gorilla's name was! (blush)

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-74382295773126226252009-12-31T16:58:00.034-05:002010-05-21T20:50:58.659-04:00

So frogging those two pair of mistake-riddled socks, you know the ones, turned out to actually be fun! That's right, this vehemently anti-frogger giggled her way through it. Why? 'Cause of that swift and ball-winder my folks got me for Christmas, that's why. In fact, it was so much fun, I started lookin' around the house to see what else I could find that could be wound! I frogged the socks that

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-90328425732781386352009-12-26T12:35:00.065-05:002010-05-21T20:50:58.659-04:00

What a wonderfully weird couple of weeks, this holiday season has been! Having my parents and brother with us at our house for Christmas dinner went very well - so much so, I want to do it again. Soon. I'm thinking a chimichanga night, what do you think? With all the holiday foods we've had at work for the past month, I was already craving chimichangas and hamburger helper and something with

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-44554374298384121492009-12-21T17:50:00.024-05:002010-05-21T20:50:58.660-04:00

Brrrrrrrrrr! I've been cold all day. Just one of them days when I lust for more handknit socks and Calorimetries. Got the space heater practically underneath my desk chair, at the moment!But alas, I have so many UFOs on my needles (unfinished objects) right now, that I've come to realize, even to speak it outloud, that they're holding me back. It's a good thing that they're holding me back from

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-75897770310242847472009-12-13T14:55:00.014-05:002010-05-21T20:50:58.661-04:00

So I was driving my son to his job, very early this morning, and it was all foggy with some drizzling rain and not much daylight yet to speak of. Being so early on a Sunday, we pretty much had the roads to ourselves.And you know, a crazed squirrel dashed across the road in front of us, and you know that all squirrels are crazed. They're the only animals that do that funny back and forth thing

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-15656800683218280922009-12-12T21:11:00.013-05:002010-05-21T20:50:58.661-04:00

Right up front, it's World of Warcraft's fault that I'm late posting this week. Patch 3.3 came out, and with it a little fix that's gotten no media attention, and I listen to a lot of WoW podcasts. They gave us a little line of code to add to one of the game files that enables us XP users to actually get some of the graphics. What does that mean to me? Well, the virtual city of Dalaran has been

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-25331846381900686072009-12-07T18:24:00.002-05:002010-05-21T20:50:58.662-04:00

I haven't forgotten to write, and I promise to post really soon. That, and my sidebars here need updating, don't they? Hmmm . . . .

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-88910470289923905732009-11-30T19:13:00.008-05:002010-05-21T20:50:58.663-04:00

Did everybody have a happy Thanksgiving? I hope so. This year, dinner was at my parents' home - Christmas dinner will be here at my table, so declared my mom.The morning after, Black Friday morning, my day started very early. While prolonging the pajama/coffee time, I finished up the Pilgrim meta-achievement for my level 80 priest toon, Granni. For you non-gamers out there, this is my World

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-33099544570944371042009-11-22T16:52:00.004-05:002010-05-21T20:53:51.045-04:00

This morning, I got to our knit-together a smidge earlier than I usually do, and found only four of us there, me making the fifth. It was a rainy, grey day and downright chilly, perfect for knitting in coffee shops, so I dunno why the small turnout. But there we few were, sitting at the 8 - 10 tables pushed together in anticipation of our usual numbers. Maybe more will show later, we all thought

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-71952284183688610952009-11-16T19:56:00.016-05:002010-05-21T20:50:58.664-04:00

Yes, it was Sunday yesterday, and we all gathered to knit together at the Borders cafe . . . . 'cept Ginger didn't bring her knitting this week. Ahem, she was too busy browsing the wedding magazines! You should see the gown she's chosen! They have an April date planned. Does the future Mr. Ginger know about us Fertile Turtles?Brooke finished these felted purses, and used the felting machine over

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-86607025533657006392009-11-09T19:07:00.007-05:002010-05-21T20:49:37.111-04:00

The Sunday after SAFF, a lot of us played hooky from the knitting group from shear, I mean sheer, exhaustion. The Sunday after that, last week, the men in my family lost their minds for a few days and my mother meddled madly. I understand that the planet Mars was doing something wonky along about then, and lots of us women found our men-folk a bit odd. True or not, let’s just go ahead and blame

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-25083200983228919032009-10-25T13:46:00.024-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.664-04:00

So I made it to my first fiber festival and back home again in one piece; exhausted, broke, and deliriously happy! I'm already kinda plannin' ahead for next year's festival!Yesterday morning, my alarm clock started me off at 4am. The car had already been cleaned up the night before, my purse was packed with a portable knitting project and a balanced check book, and the programmable coffee pot was

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-23387267142324391842009-10-22T20:06:00.002-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.665-04:00

This just in! Our local yarn store, thus Tennessee, won this year's Yarn Bowl Challenge! Combined with the originators in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Serendipity), a grand total of 4,909 preemie hats were knitted up and will be divided between the two areas' childrens' hospitals. Can you even imagine that many tiny, itty, bitty little heads in all them hats??? Just trying to envision it really

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-50963545780073419342009-10-19T19:35:00.013-04:002010-05-21T20:49:17.502-04:00

Yesterday, Sunday, was a busy one for me, and I knew it was going to be. So I started early and did my grocery shopping before the knitting group instead of on my way home from it. All I wanna know is this: has there always been a run on Count Choccula cereal every year and this is just the first time I missed out? Seriously – three grocery stores have big holes on the shelves where it used to be

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-66652087792419127812009-10-12T18:53:00.003-04:002010-05-21T20:50:24.811-04:00

This week brought no injuries or illnesses to me or mine, thank goodness. I’ve just been awfully sleepy for no apparent reason. I did finish a blue Calorimetry the week before and a smaller one this past week that I’m calling Calorimetry Redux. Yeah, I’m kinda lovin’ those things.I am, however, failing miserably at saving any extra cash for the upcoming SAFF, and it’s all due to a new (to me)

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-79737501627102253372009-10-06T18:41:00.002-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.666-04:00

Mary Beth found some info on charities that accept single sock donations for amputees and for folks who wear two different sizes. She went to the Amputee Coalition of America, searched their web boards, and found the following."The One Shoe Crew’s purpose is to provide shoes for amputees and others who wear one shoe or different size shoes. All services are free for U.S. veterans. There is a

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-88220063939329050652009-10-04T20:39:00.009-04:002010-05-21T20:49:17.504-04:00

About last week. I had declared that that Sunday would be a Pajama Day, as I hadn’t had one in a very long time. And so it was.I did my first Russian join, using the Malabrigo worsted weight in that scarf – and wow! How have I played with yarn for over 30 years without learning that maneuver before now? That will see lots of use in the years yet to come, no doubt.I did indeed acquire some better

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-66609947932444943502009-09-20T17:16:00.011-04:002010-05-21T20:50:24.812-04:00

Today’s Fertile Turtle knit-together at our local Borders’ coffee shop felt like Christmas; Brooke brought me circular needles that she was unable to use, and Mary Beth brought me two shirts of that illusive shade of blue I needed. And I hadn’t even sat down yet at that point!Brooke was tinking back half a row of Icarus, and Carol was frogging mohair when I arrived. Tink is ‘knit’ spelled

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-76333813095657292942009-09-13T18:33:00.014-04:002010-05-21T20:50:24.813-04:00

Oh my goodness I was in some dire need of today’s Fertile Turtles knitting group! My computer locked up so bad earlier this week that there wasn’t nuthin’ for it but to restore it to its factory settings. Putting the ‘puter’s brains back together again has gobbled up all free time this week. So very little knitting and next to no WoW at all for me lately. The poor 'puter still ain't right, but

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-51427626828251805402009-09-07T09:26:00.005-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.666-04:00

Better late than never, huh? A couple of weeks ago during the knitting group, the subject of homemade house cleaning solutions came up in conversation, and I said I'd post mine.Disclaimer here: I'm no chemist. These came from trial and error as I used recipes found in books, and tweaked them over the years to something I liked. So far, my favorite book for cleaner recipes is Green Up your

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-38897080123239991282009-09-06T17:38:00.026-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.667-04:00

First off, check these out! David L. brought these to us during his visit, and all I wanna know is how I've lived this long without ever having one of these canolis before now? In trying to convey just how heavenly these were, words fail me. I say 'were,' because they didn't last long.Now that I have my first week of full-time employment in my new field under my belt, let's reflect on that.

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-19705983702997820662009-08-30T15:51:00.018-04:002010-05-21T20:48:49.956-04:00

One of my guildmates from the World of Warcraft came to town to meet a friend he's made in the game, and to visit with us both. You know him already (clicky clicky). Welcome to Knoxville, David!The two of them swung by our knitting group this morning for some how-are-yas, before heading out to see a movie, whilst the rest of us knitted. Dig Raeus' finished shawl! Dig the close up too! 'Puter

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-73625793486303664022009-08-26T11:48:00.004-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.667-04:00

About a week and a half ago, Jami & I went out to pick up her car, and she treated me to dinner at a Chinese restaurant. My fortune cookie said, "A pleasant surprise is in store for you soon."Now I normally don't think much of those things. They get their due giggles, and that's about it. But I kept that one. Stuck it in my purse and have been totin' it around with me ever since.Any of you

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-91337300730538207742009-08-24T12:18:00.014-04:002010-05-21T20:48:49.957-04:00

Ravelry is definitely the means by which we knitters are taking over the world; two new folks found our knitting group and came by yesterday. Patterns that come up in conversation during the get-together, get linked on our group's Ravelry boards that afternoon. And we all know which LYS carries what line of products, since our group is spread amongst the three shops in our region, 'cause we're

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-21321161043072879622009-08-21T14:36:00.026-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.668-04:00

So yesterday morning, very early morning, our son was banging around in the house at 2:30 am, which woke up Hubby. His leaping out of bed to tell him to quieten down woke me up in turn. By 3:00 am, they were both sound asleep, leaving me buggy-eyed awake! Thanks a lot guys. I was late anyway going to sleep due to being really nervous about a job interview, something I haven't had to do in ages.

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-42122314531241853502009-08-17T08:47:00.008-04:002010-05-21T20:48:49.958-04:00

Okay, so them 12" circular needles I've been waiting on, to do the FLS sleeves ain't workin' out. I mean, they'll work, but it isn't comfortable. If they were made so that there was an inch less needle and instead an inch more cable, they'd be great. But as is, I'm having to white-knuckle grip 'em to make the lacey rounds. They do better on the plain knit rounds, though. So I tried the two long

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-53160089248504754712009-08-15T10:13:00.008-04:002010-05-21T20:50:24.814-04:00

Update time!the 12" circs arrived for the FLS's sleeves - yay!while at the LYS picking up them needles, I scored another skein of the Malabrigo in the same color for some fingerless gloves to match the half done scarf and the finished Calorimetry. Yeah, I did another one, and this one's for me! I also fondled every skein of every thing Sandy carries there, three times each.Also picked up two

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-19618515015458901532009-08-10T06:29:00.002-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.669-04:00

I had to leave our knit-together yesterday an hour early to pick up my son, and took Jami with me so we could grab a bite during her lunch break (she still works there at Borders). This is where my normal Sunday evening routine went wonky, but it was all for the good.Tennessee enjoys a weekend every late summer or early fall that's a sales tax-free weekend for certain items that relate to the

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-12834811890669940592009-08-09T16:54:00.009-04:002010-05-21T20:50:24.814-04:00

Got some of the romney singles plied up. It's really crazy how I can't stop sniffing freshly washed wool (blush).And I got some more of the Angel wool plied up. When I added these two to my bag of homespun, it hit me just how much homespun I've accumulated . . . there's actually enough in there to make something! Wow . . . And I got to thinking that my Mom's birthday is coming up in a

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-20045443773531453902009-08-04T07:20:00.003-04:002010-05-21T20:50:03.104-04:00

Okay, so I was listening to some podcasts yesterday while folding that hiney-deep pile of laundry. One WoW podcast, several knitting podcasts, and getting caught up on the president's weekly podcasts. Had some random thoughts and one distinct reaction that I thought I'd share.Why do so many knitters treat summer as a difficult season? I hear lots of 'em bemoan that it's too hot to knit with their

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-86974063350804937982009-08-03T10:22:00.016-04:002010-05-21T20:50:24.815-04:00

The February Lady Sweater's body is complete, and it now awaits those 12" circs to arrive so that I can do the sleeves. I think those will go quick. This is my first top-down sweater, and I'm really digging this way of making sweaters! Yup, this pattern will see more use, I'm sure of it.And them 12" circs, US size 8? Those will probably see a few hats on 'em, after I do the sleeves on this

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-31997619019894595622009-07-28T13:21:00.005-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.669-04:00

Okay, so I was on that end of town today. Needed 12" size 8 circulars for the sleeves of the February Lady Sweater, and that's the part of town where I might find the needle bag I mentioned in the last post, at Dick's Sporting Goods.I know I don't need 12" circs, and that DPNs would work just fine. But I'd rather chew on my own eyeballs than do something that big around on DPNs. Besides, I could

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-81436015589937344572009-07-26T14:51:00.005-04:002010-05-21T20:50:24.816-04:00

I've been both really bad this week and really good. Visa up'd my credit limit, and the little girl in me was jumping up and down to just go ahead and order the spinning wheel right-the-hell-now. However, the grown up in me was saying wait and keep that as motivation to return to the world of gainful employment -- order it then. The grown up won that battle, but it wasn't easy, lemme tell ya.

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-70131571093896572392009-07-20T07:14:00.019-04:002010-05-21T20:49:54.293-04:00

I finished another dishcloth and a mitered hanging towel for the kitchen. With the unusually cool and drier air we've enjoyed (downright weird for July), I'm in a premature autmun mood - so I've been eyeballin' them vest and cardigan patterns. Hmmm . . . Haven't gone so far as to cast on for any yet, though. But they're on my mind, along with pumpkins, the scent of fallen leaves and sleepy soil,

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-83338648622592873982009-07-18T13:09:00.005-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.670-04:00

She's nine years old, and has never ever done this until today! We think she learned from Lou. And yeah, she's a standard poodle, one of the tall ones. That means 65 pounds of curls and all clown.Awwwww, she just wanted to connect with Daddy! And he's just tryin' like hell to see the TV, lol.

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-24352227416026151222009-07-12T16:37:00.027-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.671-04:00

A bunch of us friends who play the World of Warcraft together hived off into our own guild this week. It was tough to break from our old guild, but it had to be done. There were personality conflicts and policy disagreements, and , ahem, that's as civil as I can put it. We're now more of a family guild that does 10-mans and 5-man instances. The difference this week has made in our enjoyment

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-1291394252676650072009-07-06T07:31:00.009-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.671-04:00

Remember little Lou, my friend's chihuahua that absolutely won me over? So much so, that I just had to knit for her?Well, her mommy and I have started a new thing in which she comes over to my house to watch True Blood with me once a week . . . and she brings her dog. I'm happy to report that Lou and my own girly dog, Miss Belle, were much better together last night then they have been.Last week,

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-12143777974352560772009-07-05T15:27:00.015-04:002010-05-21T20:49:17.506-04:00

Them 2-at-a-time Jaywalker socks? Frogged ‘em. It was much too easy a pattern for them to have as many mistakes as they had, so to the frog pond I went with ‘em. I recast with the same yarn, but this time just one sock and on those wonderful little 9” needles that I adore so much.Ya know, the whole reason for the two-at-a-time method was to have them both done when you’re done, and for them to

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-33518183810052163472009-06-21T15:21:00.016-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.672-04:00

Personal updates: My WoW alt toon dinged level 70, and I sooo can't wait to raid with her when she hits 80. She's a dual-spec'd priest, leveling with the DPS spec of course. The only healing I've attemtped was when questing with a friend. One target is no problem. I've yet to run her in a team of players as a healer, so that's my next goal with all those instances in the Northrend zone. But

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-50081663330110620342009-06-14T16:50:00.023-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.672-04:00

This has been a stormy week in Knoxville, and ya know, overcast skies with crisp winds and a bit of lazy rolling thunder is some of the best ear candy in the world for knitting. The Feb Lady Sweater had my attention most of this week, when I wasn't online playing WoW.By the way, my alt toon Granni is now a 68 and is in Northrend, which pleases me more than it probably should. With her new levels,

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-38641340470510420192009-06-10T07:57:00.002-04:002010-05-21T20:50:03.105-04:00

Yeah, I’m equally obsessed with knitting and playing the World of Warcraft. So you know that when I stumbled upon Knit Wars! my inner geek squeaked!Turns out, Knit Wars! isn’t another game, but a really nifty pat-on-the-back, validating thing. I’m a fairly good representation of the average knitter, with multiple projects cast on, intermediate skill level, a respectable stash in the closet,

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-15099134525043165212009-06-07T15:26:00.022-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.673-04:00

I had the very best time this past week, with my guildies in Aiken SC. We all stayed in Oz & Nellan’s home, and they spoiled us rotten the entire time! I think I gained at least 15 pounds this week, and it was worth every one of them.I just got back last night and didn’t even unpack. I just pounced on my husband, cuddled with my dog, and slept my hiney off. This morning, the unpacking began and

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-79891936542041435722009-06-01T07:52:00.004-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.674-04:00

Early in the morning I head out for Aiken, South Carolina for a friend’s graduation. This simple marker in his life has turned into a crazy sort of WoW guild mini-convention centering around his house, where a lot of us who’ve played online together for two years or more will finally get to meet in person.And that means today is Crazy Day. I’ve the following to get done before I can close my eyes

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-34859386612280747372009-05-31T17:07:00.002-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.674-04:00

I got to our knitting group around noon, and I made the seventh one there. Apparently, folks want to do outdoor things in the spring. Crazy huh? Carol shared the news that she now has an email addy, and is on Ravelry! Woo-hoo! Y’all go tag the PsychoSister as your own friend.And she brought with her some more of that Ty-Dy cotton yarn that makes me weak in the knees every time I see it. I want

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-9114048681658932812009-05-30T08:45:00.007-04:002010-05-21T20:50:24.819-04:00

Time for another Saturday update. Right up front, I haven’t played WoW much at all. When I first took it up two years ago, it took a big chunk out of my knitting time. The past few weeks, it seems to be that my knitting is taking a big chunk out of my WoW time. Reckon the planets have just aligned in some knitting mojo for me or some such, I dunno. Or maybe it’s knowing that my stay-at-home days

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-58615856136420513292009-05-29T07:16:00.008-04:002009-05-29T07:55:27.372-04:00

The perfect thing happened yesterday evening to get me away from the ‘puter and my mind on less heavy things.My Indie Dyer order arrived!!! I mighta worried the UPS driver when I shot out my front door announcing, “I’ve been waiting on you!”So much for cleaning the kitchen – it was straight to the printer for the Jaywalker pattern, and then a squat on the couch for some ball winding. A few years

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-29165249885253948022009-05-28T10:53:00.012-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.675-04:00

I searched all Ravelry forums with the tag word ‘keystone.’ Found a bunch of boards, and started grouping them. Two patterns emerged: chatter about it stopped after September 2008, and a lot of people were confused.Two camps were small but notable: the outraged and the ones who just shrugged it off as ‘normal business.’ Everybody else’s posts sounded a lot like I’m feeling today, concerned and

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-71132782133460802482009-05-28T08:29:00.005-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.675-04:00

Still listening to the old episodes of LnV, and got to #12 yesterday, which first ‘aired’ in September 2006. In it, the girls got serious and then livid as they shared the then-breaking news about keystone pricing in yarn. I grew livid as I listened.During that year, I was discovering a lot of new sites, books, yarns, designers, and some podcasts, and the information was a bit of an overload. The

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-22007283129139786752009-05-27T13:42:00.004-04:002010-05-21T20:49:28.132-04:00

They survived the laundering just fine (whew!). I put all the hats in a lingerie bag, and that in with a medium load of towels . . . just mimicking what all they might go through out there in the cruel, cruel world, that's all. Then into the dryer set on medium heat. Proof? Here's the before picture . . . . . . and the afterwards picture - see? Can't hardly see the difference! I only thought I

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-652919242177926802009-05-27T08:41:00.002-04:002010-05-21T20:49:28.132-04:00

Them orange and white preemie hats? The plaid one and the one I’m doing now (spiraling stripes) that’s only about 20 minutes worth of knitting from being done? Yeah, them. It was just, oh so gently, pointed out to me (hugs and thanks to Beadntat) that I just committed a really dumb boo-boo.I mixed the fibers!For you nonknitters out there, the white yarn is acrylic and very machine washable. The

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-53716545947798118642009-05-26T11:11:00.003-04:002010-05-21T20:50:03.105-04:00

I’m a new LnV fan, and in between their podcast episodes, I’ve been going to the old ones starting all the way back to the beginning. According to iTunes, their first one was in June 2006. It was really cool hearing them squee over Brenda Dayne’s podcast, just like I was doing (and am still doing) during that time. And ya know, I kinda remember Brenda mentioning new and upcoming knitting

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-16772513536734666362009-05-24T17:01:00.022-04:002009-05-24T18:16:06.594-04:00

Preemie IV CoverIV ain’t the Roman numeral 4, but for intravenous access as preemies get their little IVs inserted into their little heads. I know, but it is the best place for it, and it is where they’ll go. I wanted a cap that would allow that, and it ended up with the bonus of needing a button – yay! Something to decorate with, while we’re at it! And this wee little button will go right in the

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-16425143402097083152009-05-23T09:10:00.011-04:002010-05-21T20:50:24.819-04:00

I ended up with 5 hats out of that one little skein of Reynolds Baby Utopia, for the preemie cap charity drive. I’ve gotten so that I can nearly finish one in just one sitting, in just a couple of hours, like over the course of a movie. So for about three bucks worth of yarn, and nearly no effort (if you wore pajamas when you did it, it had to be effortless, right?), five families are going to

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-27338750240673784342009-05-22T07:52:00.004-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.676-04:00

You don’t have to be totally round to be a big girl, and none of us really are totally round. Even the roundest of us have curves that are unique to them. Girly curves, ya know? And those of us who aren’t very large but just curvy have trouble too finding clothes that flatter. Some of it is our own modesty or insecurity. A lot of it is the garment industry catering to the very rare few who have

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-60001543531212000962009-05-21T07:30:00.004-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.677-04:00

There’s an expression in southern Appalachia that goes, “it’s time for a come-to-Jesus meeting,” and it means that somebody has had enough. No more waiting for the target to come to their senses, and it has been allowed to continue for too long already. Such a meeting is one of those in which something will decidedly end today and the new thing begins. It’s a very final thing, with no room for ‘

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-18359680615819194802009-05-20T07:41:00.002-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.678-04:00

I had wanted to write about those knitting and wine nights, and had that on my mind when I stumbled upon the book Pints & Purls. It was during one of those virtual window shopping moments, lol. Its description was of projects that are both portable and simple, so as to be appropriate things to take to those knitting groups that meet in bars.Yes, those do exist . . . or so I’ve heard . . . the

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-85567505008252198582009-05-19T13:37:00.006-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.678-04:00

I went down there and got me some of them 9" circulars in US sizes 5 and 6. Come to find out, the reason I thought they didn't come any bigger than a 3, was that HiyaHiyas don't come any bigger than a 3 . . . . oh but wait! They're not the only ones in this great big world making these itty bitty needles . . . I didn't know there were other brands, hence my ignorance that a herd of them was in

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-18800429578284740092009-05-19T07:29:00.009-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.679-04:00

First, and right at the top of the page, lemme spread the word that June 13th is this year's World Wide Knit in Public Day, which is a Saturday.Which leads to this collection of local knitting groups I want to share. In pulling together this list, I had three criteria: 1) they gotta be in Knoxville, 2) they gotta be free, and 3) they gotta be open to the public. For a more inclusive list of

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-31661866352309662322009-05-18T07:40:00.002-04:002010-05-21T20:53:51.046-04:00

I’m putting this out there ‘cause it’s been on my mind, and to help keep me honest. I really need to sort my fiber stash and rediscover what all’s in that closet. I am not one of those oddballs that only buys the yarn they need for that one lone project they’re going to work to completion before buying the next bag o’ yarn. But I wouldn’t go so far as to label myself a yarn collector either. I’m

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-90856812318099579292009-05-17T17:29:00.006-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.680-04:00

We had a really good turn out this morning of about 8 folks, and a surprise visit from Jan of the Yarn Patch in Crossville. Sadly, I don’t make it to Crossville very often. But one of these days, I’ll make it there. Possibly on September 25, 2010. Why? I learned today that there’s a fiber festival in Crossville, and that’s when it comes back around again.Carol was wearing her gorgeous turquoise

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-2908597809261743882009-05-16T08:03:00.006-04:002010-05-21T20:50:24.820-04:00

The shawl, sweater, and blanket have been patiently waiting for me to finish up that bag and some preemie caps. Now they emerge once again to watch TV with me. Okay, I did indulge in some spinning last night with the aforementioned drop spindle.I’m really jones-ing to get my WoW alt up to 80 so I can raid with her. Granni is closing on 65, lol. I gotta hurry her to 67 so she can wear her new

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-9700722232883199282009-05-15T11:05:00.000-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.681-04:00

These are the DVDs I play over and over, while knitting. They’re grouped together on the shelf, as my ‘knitting set.’ Here lately, I’ve been rewatching True Blood (via the on-demand feature). Since I now know those stories, they’ve been promoted to ‘ear candy.’ When the next season starts, I’ll watch the new ones buggy-eyed and sans knitting, lol.What do you watch or listen to while knitting?

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-68477455993589967272009-05-14T09:34:00.002-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.681-04:00

My status as 'designer' on Ravelry came through this morning (happy dance)!Ya know, I have found Ravelry to be so inspiring and empowering and exciting, like I can do anything with my knitting. I've always loved it, but have recently been more motivated to stretch new muscles, because of Ravelry and the folks I've found there. They've certainly blessed this knitter, and I thank them.

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-50294931654712658532009-05-14T08:48:00.004-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.682-04:00

Things I hear while knitting . . .PodcastsBigRedKittyBlizzcastCast OnKnit ScienceLimenviolet’s PodcastPresident Obama’s Weekly Radio AddressReady Set KnitSpotlight on HealthcareThe InstanceThe Journal of Medical Practice ManagementWorld of WarcastWoW InsiderCurrent Spring Knitting play listFeel Like Makin' Love . . . Hayseed DixieMess Around . . . Ray CharlesGypsy Queen (Barndance) . . . John

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-38253648606061396702009-05-13T07:19:00.002-04:002010-05-21T20:48:28.268-04:00

It’s rare that I just sit and knit, despite all the meditation books out there that suggest doing just that. I only know a rare few who do. Most of us, to be honest, gotta be entertained while we knit.We were curious enough to learn it, once upon a time, and we all quickly figured out that our already-in-place TV routines were the perfect times to pick up the knitting. Over the years, I’ve

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-7380414854878294742009-05-12T08:39:00.004-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.683-04:00

Ya know those traditional job interview questions, “What’s your biggest weakness?” and “What’s your biggest strength?” Well my answers to those two questions are really tied together, as one sprang from the other. I’m forgetful as hell, and not as a result of mashed-taters-for-brains or anything like that. It’s because I’m perpetually distracted by my noisy mind. While I’m knitting, I’m listening

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-80675211058193789372009-05-11T08:05:00.012-04:002009-05-11T08:35:51.814-04:00

Hybrid BagI looked at and knitted up several patterns for shopping bags, only once following the pattern as written. And none of them were exactly what I wanted. This one is the hybrid that I like the best, and is the first one I reach for while shopping. I kept the features I liked with tweaks, and eliminated the ones I didn’t (it’s Frankensteined, lol). It has the longer handle that doesn’t

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-86460040508253157622009-05-10T14:52:00.002-04:002010-05-21T20:48:49.965-04:00

Happy Mothers Day!I hope everyone has at least phoned their mom, if not gifted her with yarn, needles, and a fresh pineapple like my guys did me. I have a skein each of April's WoW colors in the happy feet blend and three sets of the HiyaHiya 9” steel needles enroute via UPS. I’ll be all squirmy until they get here!After a pot and half of coffee, here at home in my pajamas in front of the ‘

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-31180124570995446492009-05-09T08:56:00.028-04:002010-05-21T20:50:24.821-04:00

School is done (for now) and I got all As. Now it’s time to focus on preparing for the professional exam, so I can be a CCS-P when I grow up ("Moon Grows Up" take 3). Oooooooooh, the shopping I will do, once I’m employed again (cue the evil laughter)!The tornadoes that tore through east Tennessee went all around our county and hit everybody but us Knoxvillians. Sometimes, I think there’s an

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-11291462291623772722009-05-08T16:25:00.007-04:002009-05-11T13:54:44.631-04:00

The world won't end if I post twice in one day will it?Didn't think so. Hope not.I just found this, and made that SQUEEE! noise -- you know the one. Apparently WoW colors are in someone else's head too, lol. Check out the WoW Inspired Yarn of the month, from this indie dyer (clicky, clicky).That would be No ERP for Me on the left, and the three on the right are Not Your Average DK. I have so

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-58206534415794474002009-05-08T07:04:00.011-04:002009-05-08T11:25:24.326-04:00

Ya know, art is everywhere, so I reckon we’ll find it where ever it is we’re lookin’. I play WoW a lot, so I see that virtual world almost daily. And it’s happened again. Maybe because I posted about Netherstorm’s colors the other day, and WoW’s palette was just on my mind. For whatever the reason, I’ve been struck again by colors while playing.The game has holidays in it that closely mimic real

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-88569902476837530202009-05-07T07:58:00.004-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.683-04:00

Growing our WoW toons is a lot like a knitted piece of work. Choices are made from the beginning as to what class and race your virtual ‘character’ will be, it’s named, and off you go. There are now 80 levels of growth that the game marks, but nearly infinite ways of measuring your toon, dictated by how you play.Choices like, will you PvP with it or PvE? Player vs. Player toons are set up

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-9314237497128364172009-05-06T07:41:00.006-04:002010-05-21T20:49:28.134-04:00

I gotta confession to make. I feel really guilty about this, because the knitters who are the most vocal (writers and podcasters) kinda make it sound like we all always have something on the needles for charity. Other mortal knitters, the quiet majority, will recognize themselves in my guilt, I think.I’ve always meant to knit for charity, really I have. I just, well, haven’t yet (insert long

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-39963436017340369862009-05-05T08:17:00.004-04:002010-05-21T20:50:03.106-04:00

The other morning, I read on a Ravelry board someone’s post bemoaning the conservatism found in NC, contrasting it to the hippy artsy culture that’s there too. I replied something to the effect that that very difference is a source of strength. I recently posted here on how the diversity of our knitting group is its biggest strength too.This morning, I wanna look at dichotomy. Polar opposites.

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-4478174782990333842009-05-04T07:17:00.005-04:002010-05-21T20:49:03.715-04:00

My guildmates in WoW are very tolerant of my fiber devotion, or just amused by it. It’s a running joke for us that the raids are moving waaaaaay too slow, when ‘Rona’ has time to knit during a raid, lol. They might not get it, but they mostly get me and what yarn means to me – how cool is that? Have I mentioned lately how much I love my guildies?My knitting friends, meanwhile, might not get my

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-79375897528013420272009-05-03T19:11:00.005-04:002010-05-21T20:48:49.966-04:00

Back in the fall of 2006, on another egroup far far away (nonknitting), I shared a link to a pattern for a witch’s hat. A bunch of people offered me all sorts of money and candy bars to knit it for them. I responded that I don’t knit for pay, but will be happy to teach ‘em to knit for free, and then we can make one together. I thought maybe one or two might want to learn, and that would be

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-79056737697242125802009-05-02T14:05:00.005-04:002010-05-21T20:50:24.821-04:00

The shawl was shown some love when I worked on it during class the other night. It was the last class of this semester, and now just two more finals to go. Then it’s on to that professional certification test.I’m still on the lacey part of the sweater’s body.The blanket is still in pieces.I resisted casting on for some socks, but did cast on for a reusable shopping bag. It’s for a free design I’m

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-71086528119222059872009-05-01T08:06:00.003-04:002009-05-01T08:32:46.005-04:00

Since I seem to be on a kick about categories and types of knitters, let’s go ahead and talk about not just the one, but the two big ol’ elephants in the room with us. Well, I’ll mention both, but I’ve really got the one on my mind today.Box stores vs. LYS . . . and . . . acrylics vs. natural fibers.No, they’re not the same subject at all, but one often flavors any discussion of the other. Box

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-4748481385205610132009-04-30T07:38:00.002-04:002010-05-21T20:50:58.684-04:00

I had heard about this and sort of remember when it was in the media. But I wasn’t playing WoW at that time, so it’s eyebrow raising to read this article today. WoW now has 12 million players, so this with the recent swine flu will really catch folks attention these days. Go read it.Online 'blood plague' offers lessons for pandemics

Moon Torbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06399951338716132359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246399759960720889.post-62450604214311418762009-04-29T07:16:00.002-04:002010-05-21T20:49:03.715-04:00

A few years ago, I got a non-iPod MP3 player and discovered the Knit Cast podcast by Marie Irshad – gasp! A new addiction, just what I needed. I put her on CDs so I could take her with me when I drove. I plugged her into my ears to keep me company while I did housework. And of course, she talked to me while I knitted. And when I had finally gotten all caught up on her archived episodes, and for

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