Holiday Weekend and.....CONTEST!

We had a nice, if mostly lazy, July 4th weekend.  On the 4th, Jim and I puttered around the house for most of the morning, and then walked over to a favorite place for lunch.  On the way, Jim spotted this beauty.

The Ace Hardware is next door to the restaurant, so we stopped on the way home and bought some little flowers for our front porch planters.  I had gotten some pretty yellow ones, but Jim apparently put too much fertilizer in one pot, and those all died.  These are the replacements.

Jim had no more than put them in than it started raining.  Fortunately, it didn't last and when it was time to walk into town for the fireworks, the sky was clear.  We met up with our son and his girlfriend, as well as ESC and her husband, and blogless Diana.  We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Sage, and then settled in to watch the pyrotechnics.  The show lasted for almost 30 minutes, and despite some debris hitting us in the head, it was a lot of fun. 

Saturday, Jim and I had planned to drive to the mountains, but the forecast wasn't so good, so we worked around the house for most of the day.  In the afternoon, we went out in search of cowboy boots, a necessity for my upcoming dude ranch trip.  The pair I bought has brown leather bottoms, and blue tops with white embroidery.  Sorry I forgot to take a photo, because they are very nice.  This week, I'm going to take a riding lesson.  Jim wisely suggested it might be better to be sore here than while on vacation, and I'm hoping to ride as much as possible between now and when I leave. 

Sunday, I went to Knitch for the weekly knitting group, and then Jim and I walked across the street to our neighbors for a party.  It was primarily for their baby's first birthday, but we enjoyed visiting with everyone, seeing the kids, eating pizza and cupcakes, and then coming home when the noise level got too loud.  All in all, it was a nice, relaxing weekend.

On the finished objects front, I have two.  First, some spinning.  The singles have been sitting on their bobbins for quite a while, but when Chickengoddess came over last Wednesday, I got to plying.  The result is 440 yds/7 ounces of about a dk weight wool. 

It's a bit more purple than my monitor shows, and is very soft and squishy.  I don't know what kind of wool it is, because the label didn't say.  It's a very rustic yarn, with a lot of white fiber among the purple.  I'm contemplating several shawl patterns for it.

I also finished the felted entrelac tote I was working on for several weeks.  After a rocky start, it became a very enjoyable project.  I don't know that I'll do much entrelac again, but I'm glad I learned the technique.

It isn't quite as vivid as my monitor shows, and still needs to have grommets attached around the top so that the drawstring can be threaded through.  It's a nice size, and should be good for carrying projects.  The bottom is very cool.

I also recently won a prize for donating to a good cause on Deb's blog.

 

Oooh, hand-dyed sock yarn! Isn't the color fabulous!  Thanks so much, Deb and Lora.

Now, the contest.  I'm been struggling to get my act together lately, and thought it would be fun to have a little summer contest.  And because I love giving away prizes, it will be very easy.  Here's the rules:

• Tell me how many PAIRS OF SOCKS you could knit from the sock yarn in your stash.  Be sure to count any that are on the needles.
• When the contest is over, I'll tell you how many I could knit with my stash.
• There will be ANOTHER PRIZE for the person who also guesses closest to how many that number is.

So, that's two numbers - yours and mine.  Leave your guesses by midnight U.S. eastern time on Friday, July 11th. 

And just because my husband was trying to show his mom recent photos of our cats, and because I haven't posted too many lately, here are Socks and Mittens.

Hanging out on the back of my chair, right before a huge crack of thunder scattered them.

Socks, looking moody.

And Socks engaging in some sleeping calisthenics.

   

 

 

Comments

[mrspao]

Your kitties are so gorgeous.

I have yarn for about 118 pairs of socks and I'm guessing you have yarn enough for 77 pairs.

[mrspao]

Your kitties are so gorgeous.

I have yarn for about 118 pairs of socks and I'm guessing you have yarn enough for 77 pairs.

[Robin]

I am a collector of sock yarn (and other yarn, too!). We're talking Rubbermaid containers fulllllll of sock yarn (and other yarn, too!). I'm going to estimate at least 112 pairs from my stash and that's not counting the yarn leftover from each skein. I'm going to guess you have at least enough to make 160 pairs! Love the kitty pictures!

[Sydney]

I feel so inadequate. :) I could make 14 socks, probably at least 16 if I combined some leftovers. For you, I'm going to say 57.

Pretty flowers and yarn. I love that picture of Socks stretched out.

[5elementknitr]

I have about 30 pairs worth. It wouldn't be so bad except that I have yet to finish a single sock. Ever.

I'm guessing your stash at about 113 pairs.

[Jen C.]

I have about 15 pairs worth, but I don't really knit socks. I like to use sock yarn for garments.

I will guess you have enough for 47 pairs.

[Helen]

Okay, I could knit 54 pairs of socks with the yarn in my stash.
OMG, I had no idea!! Perhaps I WILL slow down on the sock yarn acquisition.
.
.
.
.
Nah....
I'm going to guess.... oh .... 75 pairs for you.
(And what a fun contest. I may have to hold a similar one)

[brenda]

usually lurking, but like this idea!

me= 111

you= 256!

[Zoe]

I could knit 3 pairs of socks.

Hmmmm... I think you could knit 47.

[Zoe]

I could knit 3 pairs of socks.

Hmmmm... I think you could knit 47.

[Zoe]

I could knit 3 pairs of socks.

Hmmmm... I think you could knit 47.

[TJ]

I generally buy with a specific project in mind so I just have a couple of sock-capable yarns.

It sounds to me that you are the stash queen and I'll guess 81 pairs from your stash.

[Suzanne V. (Yarnhog)]

I could knit nine pairs (but it would take me the rest of my life). I'm guessing you could knit 33 pairs.

[Lynn]

LOVE the shots of the kitties. Socks was the one at the vet right? She looks pretty good now! Let's see, I could make 60 pairs of socks from my stash. You??? I think you could probably knit up another 72 pairs before you would run out of yarn!

[limedragon :-: Harriet]

Luckily, I just updated my stash spreadsheet today... I have enough sock yarn for 98 pair!

For you... I will guess 75 pair. : )

[Karen]

I amde an entrelac bag a few years ago and didn't like the technique either. I did like the bag and still use it though.

80 pairs of socks for me...(blush)
I'd guess 90 for you.

[Heide]

I can knit 12 pairs, 14 if I make some funky striped ones out of the left overs. Because I don't really have a "stash" compared to most knitters I'm going to guess that you're in the normal range and that you could make 30 pairs.

[Robyn]

Hi! Found you via the Contest Blog - I've never seen your stash, but I'll guess that you could do 68 pairs of socks.

From my personal stash, I could probably knit about 125+ pairs of socks. (Is that bad? LOL) I collect sock yarn - LOL.

From my shop - I could probably knit over 400-500 pairs of socks! LOL (www.robynsnest.ca) but I'm not allowed touching that yarn - hee hee!

[Annie]

Ooo, I'm pitiful - five pairs.

I think that you could do 78

[Elizabeth Hartsell]

Thank You! Your contest was the "kick in the butt" I needed to organize my sock yarn stash. I've come to realize that the last thing I need is more sock yarn - I clearly have an addiction! Although in my defense, I am stocking up for retirement!
Me - 419 pairs
You - 51 ?

[Marsha]

My socks: 12 pairs.
Your socks: Um...50 pairs?

[purple]

My knitting friends here at work think I've got a real problem. I don't particularly knit socks, although I do sometimes, but I have oodles of yarn and always NEED more. In terms of sock yarn, I probably have only enough for 8 or 9 pair but in other weights - well don't ask.

My guess for your sock yarn stash: 88 pair

I just did a quicky estimate of what that's worth. Probably close to $2,000 YIKES! I'd hate to figure out what my stash cost given the amount of Noro, Colinette, Indie hand-dyed. Oh moan.

[Bianca]

I think I have enough yarn at home to knit at least 30 pairs.

For you, my guess is 88...

[blogless in NJ]

Love the flower photos; they're really beautiful!

I am relatively new to sock knitting and have only enough for 4 pair.

I'm guessing you have enough for 79 pair based on absolutely nothing which, I suppose, is what a guess is all about!

[sprite]

I went on a sock yarn diet at the beginning of the summer when I discovered I could knit 50 pairs of socks from my stash. I've started a bunch since then, but haven't finished any, so that number still stands.

For you I guess 66.

Congratulations on finishing the bag. I love the colors, and the bottom of the bag really is cool!

[Paula]

I have enough for 25 pairs, I'm guessing you probably have 89.

[Elaine]

I'm having a hard time dealing with these numbers. I have enough for maybe 9 or 10 pair BUT, they will likely be used to make a sweater.

The numbers that everyone else are guessing are ... OK, OK, enough.

My guess is 209 pair.

Tell me that no one can have that much.

[bean]

I am new to knitting so:
Me: I can knit 2 pairs
You: 83

[Emily]

I have enough sock yarn to knit 29 pairs. I think you have enough sock yarn to knit 50 pairs?

[Becky]

Impressive sock yarn stashes abound! I have 20 pairs worth of sock yarn. That seems just right to me since I only do 2 or 3 pairs a year even though I try to do more.

You are still adding to your stash, so I'd say you have about 73 pairs worth. I know this is rather low, but you really do make a lot!

[Jill]

Me: 21 (19 plus 2WIP unless we count the possible 4 pairs from the leftovers which we won't!). You, being THE Baroness and having a deep, serious fiber problem, I am going with 236 pairs.

Cool bag. Glad you stuck with it and finished that one, once again I bow at your awesome talent. I don't want to ever grow up, but if I must, I want to have your knitting fairy dust sprinkled my way so I can master the stick-to-it if nothing else. Oh, and the sock Baroness title would be cool too. lol

[Phyllis]

My stats are as follows:

I have enough sock yarn to knit 222 pairs of socks, including the
4 pair I have on the needles.
(No comments on this, please...I realize that I have a problem.)

For YOU, Jane, my guess is.......192.

[La Verna]

From my stash-52.
From yours-I will guess 123 pairs.

[Kristen]

I'm a relatively new knitter so I only have 2 skeins of sock yarn in my stash. Thus, I can make 2 pairs of socks. I'm going to guess that you can make 53 pair from your stash.

[Rachel O]

I'm also new to sock knitting. I have enough for about 9 pairs, I think. I'm guessing you have enough for 99 pairs.

[OhAmy]

Goregeous Kitties!

Well, I just started knitting socks so I've stocked up on tons of sock yarn, I've also decided I like Kool aid dying so I both 10 white hanks of 306yrds light sportsweight yarn to dye up. Pluse I just bought 4 balls from Simply Sock (for a great price) 459yrs each. I also have a few odds and ends from other project tht I fully in tend to but to use...

So I came up with 27 pairs of socks all addult size can be made from my sock stash. I'm going to give a wild gues and say you caould do 89 pairs wtih you sock stash yarn.

Thanks for the Contest, I'm OhAmy on Ravelry if you want to check out my "attempts" at sock knitting. :)

[Jersey Jessie]

Love the photos.

Now I feel like sort of a jerk. I have enough for about 10 pairs of socks and thought that was alot! Boy was I misguided!

I was going to guess 44 pairs for you, but now I also feel stupid guessing that when I look at the other guesses, but I'll stick to my guns and guess 44.

The moral to this story is that I have to enter more contests and win more sock yarn :-)

[Tanya]

Hmmm, had to go and count but not so bad really. Most i admit are from yarn i have dyed and i love to knit with others yarns so... i could knit 27 pair from my current sock yarn stash. For you, hmmm....i want to say really high but am going to stay with a conservative (smile) 113 pair!

[Debbi]

Me probably 50, you 116.

[Josiane]

I could knit 6 pairs of socks from what I have in my stash right now, but only 4 of them really belong to me as I've bought 2 of those skeins as a gift to my grandmother who mentioned to me lately that she'd like to learn how to knit again so that she could make socks for her great-grandchildren (her birthday is coming soon, so these aren't going to stay in my stash much longer now).
As for your stash, now... my guess is that you've got enough sock yarn for 74 pair of socks.

[Kitten with a Whiplash]

I'm not a sock knitter... yet. I do have little sock yarn, 5 pairs worth. I'll guess you have enough for 102 pairs.

[KSee]

I have enough for 12 pair of socks. I will guess that you can make 72 pair.
Love the bag & glad your husband had you post the kitties. Pretty.

[Diana]

Great looking bag and cute kitties! Thanks again for making my Fourth fun. I was a bit flummoxed when I counted the number of possible pairs of socks (fingering weight only) in MY stash, the thought of yours is mind boggling. Well, here goes:

Me-48 (and yet I crave more...)
You-144 (after all, you are the Baroness and must have at least three times what I have!)

[Stacey]

Oh this is hard!

75 pair of socks from my stash. (phew! Don't let my husband see this!!!)

I would say you have enough yarn to knit 152 pair of socks.

[Phyllis]

Now I'm not all that embarrassed about my sock yarn stash. I have to organize it now, do the count, and post the figure. I'm trying to guess what YOU have, and I'll have to mentally picture your stash, knowing your luv for knitting socks.

LOVE your cat pix - gorgeous!

[taelixev]

I would say 42 from your stash.

104 from my stash, including what's on the needles.

[Chris]

I love upside down kitties! The cuteness distracted me from the eleventy other comments I needed to make. I remember that there were many pretty things. :)

Um.... you could probably knit 88 pairs of socks and I could probably knit 117 pairs. Roughly. Thereabouts. I'll mention this Thursday, if it's ok. :)

[Denebir]

Me: 124 pairs
You: 120 pairs

:)

[evilsciencechick]

hmm...what about pending orders? :D

OK, this is tricky, because not all the sock yarn I have is slated for socks!

so REALLY, 8 pair. (pitiful!)

if you count pending orders, 9 (yay knitpicks!)

if you count sock yarn that is going to be something else rather than socks, 13.

I am looking forward to hearing your number and laaaaaughing! ;)

[Samantha]

That entrelac bag is GORGEOUS.