Howdy. I know it's been awhile. When I started this blog, I had some pretty big aspirations for it and I was rather ambitious. Then I got pregnant and pretty much focused all of my energies into my new family. I got married. I had a baby.

And now with the knitting olympics back in the picture, I realized that I finally have a little bit of time for blogging and that I miss blogging. I know I'm not the only one who has fallen off the face of the earth. It seems to me that good knitting blogs are few and far between these days. I'll admit that I only read a few right now. That and some of my favorite have also stopped posting.

As such I want to make a new, more realistic commitment to blogging. Especially since I have a baby to nurse. I'll be happy if I get a few posts a week.

Make that at least 1 post a week.

Anyhoo, here are some pics of what's been taking up all my time last year:

I've been carrying a Lexie Barnes bag as my primary knitting bag for the last two years. It's held up beautifully -it still looks brand new -even more so when I simply take a damp cloth and wipe away any dirt. This bag is my partner in crime, my constant companion and has been around the world. So I was pleased to discover that Lexie Barnes is holding a knitting event at New York's fashion week -and she's looking for your help. And she has some fabulous bonus gifts should you wish to contribute (even for as low as $10 and as hight as $1000). Think of it like your PBS fundraising drive, but you're spreading the love of knitting, and helping to promote the best knitting bags in the business (well, in my humble opinion).

Seriously, if you're already planning a spa getaway in Massachusetts - this might be a good deal for you!

Stay tuned on her site -rumor has it that she has new bags on the way... I can't wait!

Hooray for Day 2!!!!!!

I arrived at about 11:30 am and was pleased to discover that they still had plenty of room for World Record participants! I took a ticket and spent a little time perusing the Marketplace -and instantly found a good deal on a skein of Fleece Artist that someone was selling from their stash for $10, in a colorway that I wouldn't normally choose for myself.

Then I got into the World Record attempt with just moments to spare. It was great to have the Yarn Harlot as our leader in world record timing -and hilarious to apologize to the Australians who had previously held the record. I had never seen the Yarn Harlot in person, let alone hear her speak and she is heelarious. If one woman has ever earned a vacation in a sunny tropical locale, it is her. I hope she and the other organizers find some time for some much needed R&R because Sock Summit the first turned out pretty awesome.

I have photos, but of course I left the handy-dandy cord to transfer them to my lap top at home, so I'm just going to have to have a photo bonanza when I get home tomorrow.

Other highlights for me: bumping into old knit night friends, purchasing some awesome sock yarn from Kitchen Sink, getting another Tulip Jacket kit (this time for my munchkin on the way).

Here's how it went for some fellow bloggers:

Monicapdx messaged me on Ravelry to share her experience at Sock Summit. She tells about the origins of sock summit and has an interesting perspective as a local. Lotsa photos too!

Two Sock Knitters has 1000 words on Sock Summit.

It's Otembarific has a run down of their day 2. Hellooooooo photos!

I think I saw More Yarn Than Time at the summit, but didn't know who she was!

Knitting Out Loud has been blogging from the booth and showing off socks!

Flock Ewe has some awesome pictures from the World Record Knitting Attempt and some knitting celeb pics.

Nerd Knits has some pics of the line to get into the Marketplace when it opened (glad I missed that)

PDXKnitterati has their day two up too! She's got a picture with the Dansko lady (super smart those Dansko people -wish I could splurge on another pair!)

Knitting Under the Northern Lights has a picture of the antique sock knitting machine. I'm gonna need two of those after all the sock yarn I've bought.

On the Loopy Fringe has pictures of some of the awesome stuff she bought. I'm totally jealous of her red Danskos.

Photos and Day Three round up tomorrow!!!

Judging from the various tweets on the subject, lots of you are sad not to be attending Sock Summit. I hear you, especially since my only taste of Sock Summit will be the Marketplace. But I thought some of you might enjoy some Sock Summit vicariously through some of the blogs:

About.com has an excellent round up of day one, which some interesting interviews and news.

Simply Socks Yarn Co has posted about their first Sock Summit Day - with a pic preview of their booth~ Can't wait to go!

PDX Knitterati has an excellent post to give you a feel for how the classes and convention looks and feels.

More Sock Summit class goodness from It's Otrembarific. Apparently some women were sharing Knob Creek bourbon in class while they knit. Sounds like my kind of group!

The Sweet Sheep has some sock knitting action.

Stariel is another non-class taking sock summit-er! She just finished some beautiful monkey socks.

It looks like Knitgrrl has a nifty pattern to sell at the show. It looks like my kind of sock pattern, vanilla with a little extra work at the cuff.

Here's a little message from the fine folks at The Chronicles of Yarnia in case you're wanting to visit them during Sock Summit. I like people who are proactive and think ahead -they've got great options for you in case the store gets super busy.

Have a sneak peel at the Crazy Monkey Creations Booth.

Three Irish Girls post about their summit.

For me, it was pretty cool wandering around Portland and seeing knitters in action, supportive spouses sporting sock summit shirts, and happy knitters with gorgeous knitting bags at KnitPurl. 

If you happen to see me at Sock Summit, say hello, show me your sock knitting and I'll post it on Knit Luck!

So I was one of those goofy people who bought airfare before getting classes at Sock Summit. Then I didn't get into any classes. So I went to Sock Summit today hoping to attend the marketplace (and get that out of the way so I could check out other things in Portland), when I discovered that the Marketplace didn't open until 4:30 and was only available to Sock Summit students. It was rather disappointing and I'm sure the information was buried in the web site, but it was a bit of a let down to get there to be disappointed. All the more so because I'm already predisposed to crankiness. 

But DH and I got over it and we explored Portland, walking all the way from the Convention Center across the Burnside Bridge over to Powell's Books. FYI fellow Sock Summiters: it's a long walk in a seedy neighborhood that makes SF's Tenderloin district seem like Nob Hill. 

Powell's Books is an excellent place to start exploring Portland -they have a nifty map of downtown availalbe FOR FREE that is quite useful and can be found at the register. Then we went to Whole Foods for lunch, then Buffalo Exchange for a spot of shopping, and then Mio Gelato for gelato and coffee (wish we had found them first to have their soups and Paninis). 

Then we took the street car down the street until I saw a shop with yarn in the windows (really it's only one stop away) and commanded that DH and I should hop off to settle my yarn fix. Knit Purl was excellent. I have long been searching for a silky yarn in a golden hue for my upcoming wedding and Knit Purl had Handmaiden's Sea Silk in Straw and a Gardiner Yarn Works pattern. The ladies at Knit Purl were super sweet and helpful -and clued me into some of the excellent Sock Summit events they're putting on. I'm super tempted to call up and get on the Wine and Cheese party list. 

Anyhoo I've got some video and some photos which I will post tomorrow morning! I'll probably miss the world record attempt, but I'm hoping that everyone will be knitting while I'm visiting the marketplace. Then DH and I are planning to visit Bunk Sandwiches and the Hawthorne District.

Hope to see you at Sock Summit!

Oh, and if you're hoping to go to Sock Summit and you need a hotel to stay at, The Red Lion Inn at Jantzen Beach still has rooms. It's a 20 min streetcar ride from the convention center. 

Kaleidoscope Yarns is having an enormous sale online. Colinette Jitterbug for around $15 a skein.

I know it's only a week before Sock Summit, but some of these deals are too good to ignore. No matter how mountainous the yarn stash ;).

And for those of you keeping track, I've finally regained my pre-pregnancy energy and have been inspired to re-up KnitLuck. My apologies to those who have missed it, especially as we were going at such a break-neck pace in the beginning.

Honestly I was never so happy as when I found the calling and the audience to blog. I have the sneaking suspicion that it was this happiness that lead me to this present condition.

Anyhoo, happy shopping!

I've been in a funny space lately. There's something in my life that sucked all of my energy away and has frankly left me feeling kinda sick most of the time. So tired and sick that I literally haven't had the energy to blog or knit much of anything. Before I tell you a little bit about the cause of all of this energy suck I wanted to address the craziness around Sock Summit.

Let me just say that I was one of the people who didn't get into any classes at Sock Summit. No classes, no events, nada. And I already bought plane tickets and booked hotels rooms. But you know what, it's ok. Portland is a beeeeeeautiful city that I have been eager to explore. If I don't learn 6 new ways to do a short-row toe, no biggy. Hopefully, I can find a way inside the market for some sock knitting goodness.

Which is why it makes me a little sad that the Yarn Harlot has to even think about writing a post like this.

Perhaps this will spur some people to create some Sock Summit side-events. Obviously the market is out there. I'll be interested to see what happens out here.

In the meantime, here's the cause of the serious lack of KnitLuck goodness.

Yep. I'm pregnant. Baby's due around New Year's.

I was remembering a pattern from the Stitch N Bitch Nation book -that Ramone's knitting pattern and it got me to thinking. What other celebrities can you shape in yarn?

Marie Claire, UK has a collection of interesting links on the subject.

ElitAlice has clued me into a whole book of knitted celebrity patterns.

Just for the heck of it, here's a link to a picture of Kristin Davis knitting.

and here's a little Coraline info for those people into cinematic knitting.

Also on the cinematic knitting, I found myself watching You've Got Mail (for the zillionth time) and couldn't help but notice all of the beautiful sweaters.