contest #3

Let's see - I tried a new coffee today - Spring Valley - it was a darker roast - didn't really enjoy it - tasted almost burnt. I wanted to try something new - but it was not one I think I will try again. I will stick to either the Candlelight Blend or the Gingerbread....

My favorite project - I would have to say it was Fetching from Knitty. I like this project for a couple of reasons...1) it was my first try at gloves of any kind, 2) it was my first cabling project, 3)they were so easy - I altered the pattern for my own pair to be cabled all the way up my arm, 4) they were a quick knit - I could crank out a pair in a weekend. All in all, I love this pattern - maybe I need to cast on a pair soon...hmmmmm. Here is my pair in Noro Kureyon...

Contest #3

Dare to try a new coffee.

Hrm. Well.. I did. My husband and I spent about 8 hours in the car today - 4 there and 4 back - and needed a little pick-me-up to make sure we stayed awake on the return trip. The only coffee place we could find in the unfamiliar mass of a city we were in was the Starbucks in a Barnes & Noble. I normally am not terribly fond of Starbucks, but spied a drink I'd not noticed on their menu before: an Orange Mocha.

It was.. well, it *smelled* amazing, but the taste was definitely missing something. I think orange cocoa would be better - there just isn't enough chocolate in a mocha to really balance the orange and the coffee gives it sort of a funky undertone. It was good, just not as amazing as it smelled. *shrug* And it was too sweet to be something that I would choose to drink often, but then I feel that way about most frou-frou coffee drinks, so that's nothing surprising.

Share your favorite knitting/crochet project.

That's a hard one. I guess I generally like lace shawls and the like, and cabled sweaters. Something with a little bit of thought involved, but that has a pattern and/or repeats that make sense as you knit them up. I loved Rogue and am really looking forward to the the Celtic themed hoodie in Inspired Cable Knits.

In terms of who I usually knit for, I guess I tend to split 50/50 between gift knitting and knitting for me. I've cut back a bit on gift knitting this year, but even so am doing a lace shawl, at least one pair of socks, a couple pairs of felt slippers, a scarf, and a sweater.

My favorite yarn varies depending on the project. The shawl I'm currently knitting is in Jaggerspun Zephyr, which is a silk/wool blend that I really like. For socks, I generally prefer something smooshy - so wool or a mostly-wool blend. I'm learning that I'm more picky about sweaters, too - I generally don't like "soft" yarns that end up pilling so much that they look sloppy all the time. I have a sweater made from KnitPicks Merino Style that I *love*, but tend to wear when I would otherwise wear a sweatshirt because it pills so badly that I feel self-conscious wearing it to work or more formal settings. :/

Contest #3

Yesterday, I tried a new drink, a Gingerbread White Mocha, from Cornerstone Coffee. I usually find flavored drinks too sweet, so I asked for 1/2 the syrup. I don't know if she forgot, or if it would normally be even sweeter, but it was very sweet. It was good, but I ended up adding a little black coffee to it when I got back to work.

I'll probably stick to drinks with only one flavor in the future, or specify even less syrup if I get it again.

Favorite project:
The best thing I've ever knit was Sherwood, from Knitty. This pattern is very well written, and it looks really impressive.

Toddler sweaters are great because they get a little longer wear than baby things, but still work up very fast.

I knit this in Rowan Wool Cotton, in Elf, which is a lovely yarn. The wool content gives an elastic quality often missing in cotton yarns. I was lucky to get this from the huge Knit Happens sale this past spring. I would definitely use this yarn again.

Contest #3

Dare to try a new coffee.
My parents came to visit this weekend - so I was with my father the Dunkin Donuts junkie. I decided to try the chocolate iced latte that he raves about all the time. While I love their coffee - this one is not a do again. Way too sweet for me.


Share your favorite knitting/crochet project.
My favorite knitting project is probably socks - it's so flexible: it's repeatable, but can be different everytime if you want, it can be easy or hard, quick or time consuming, portable and the very best part is the handdyed yarn! I love color so sock yarn is probably the most motivating factor for me.

Contest #3

- Dare to try a new coffee.

I tried a new coffee called Cafe del Sol that I received from an awesome swap pal! I loved that it was fair trade and organic, but I have to say its lack of aftertaste just completely threw me off. To me, that's part of what makes coffee coffee. It's so smooth that I don't even really feel like I'm drinking coffee.

Apologies to the swap pal that sent me the coffee - the sentiment was appreciated!

- Share your favorite knitting/crochet project.

My favorite projects are cardigans and sweaters for myself, knit with a nice soft cotton. I like things with long stretches of straight mindless knitting that are also practical. And of course, I like getting to wear things I made myself.

Contest #3

I went to the Commisary the other day in search for some goodies. I found a really good coffee. I think its by Millhouse. It's called Chocolate Truffle. It is really good. It makes my whole house smell wonderful!!! I will definitly be buying this often. I got the whole beans that way I can grind it fresh. Mmmmm I think that I will go brew a pot now.

As for my favorite knitting project, I would have to say socks socks and more socks. Especially the Penllyn pattern by Wildhorse Farms Designs. Here is a picture of a finished pair. One for me and one for my baby daughter.

PS Kim keep your eyes peeled. I mailed your package yesterday. Hope that all is well with you and your family!

Contest #3

I dared, too. Yesterday I picked up this at the local Starbucks. Ummm.....first cup was really good. Second cup, not so good. Maybe it needs sugar instead of Equal. ;-)

My favorite thing to crochet. Well, until recently I only crocheted bereavement items for babies that are taken too soon. Just in the last few weeks I've started doing some dishcloths. I really like how quick they work up and trying new stitches. They'll be on the list of Christmas gifts.

Contest #3

Try a New Coffee: I tried a pumpkin Spice Latte at my local coffee shop (The Higher Ground) and it was a bit too sweet for my taste. I think I'll stick with the Starbucks version for now.

I (like so many others) love to knit socks. It's really an addiction. One of these days I might find a way to get the sock yarn stash down to a manageable size, but with the new raven series coming out this week from STR, it won't be anytime soon. I love socks for their portable nature and the magic of the heel turn. They're also something that I get to wear. Mississippi's hat and scarf season is fairly short, but I can get away with handknit socks for much longer.

Contest #3

I tried Henry's Blend by Seattle's Best Coffee. I loved it! It was a nice, medium to dark roast, a very full flavor. I would definitely get it again.

My favorite thing to knit is probably socks, because they're nice and portable, though I do struggle with Second Sock Syndrome. I like to knit them for myself and my family. My most recent pair is the Spiral Boot Sock from IW knits, summer 2007. I've actually finished this sock, but I haven't taken a finished picture yet.

Contest #3

- Dare to try a new coffee.

I dared trying New England Blueberry Cobbler Coffee. I was a little worried at first, but I got hooked! Next, I want to try their Eggnog flavor, but I haven't found it in my local grocery store yet... ;-)


- Share your favorite knitting/crochet project.

One of my best knits, was the Beaudelaire socks. It was my first experience with lacy socks, and I was thrilled to see the results. Read and see more photos in my blog...

Isabelle aka Tricotine

Contest #3

We're big fans of Trader Joe's and they were out of my usual blend when I swung by this week. That being said, I went for a can of their Moka Java. It felt a bit like splurging since our usual bean is a Colombian blend, but it turned out to be lovely! A very warm and rich flavor - I'd say it's almost too good for that first morning cup. Would I buy it again? Sure! Will it become the standard? Probably not - or at least not for the morning cup.

Ok, now for "favorite knitting project". Hands down, it has to be socks. They're portable, functional and have almost endless variety. They knit up in a jiffy (not so for sweaters!) and are so easy to make "fit". For the most part, there's little need for math (just put the darn thing on and check) but they can also be amazingly complex. Cables, picot edges, lace insets .. to rib or not to rib ... what's not to love? Best of all, it's one big circle so no finishing!

Happy knitting!

contest #3

I've had a lot of adventure here the last 6 months, and to mess with the caffeine system isn't a good thing, since I am trying to somewhat limit my intake... We keep kosher and don't live so close to the kosher Dunkin' Donuts or I would have tried a seasonal beverage... maybe I'll take a trip next week...so I added some spices to my coffee press here at home - a little cinnamon, a little allspice, a little nutmeg... and it was... well... drinkable, but I wouldn't be so quick to repeat! Maybe it was the fact that I use a coffee press - don't know - I have thrown cinnamon into the grinds in a regular coffeemaker before and it was tasty.. Maybe this was just too many flavors.

My favorite knitting project is actually similar to my favorite crochet project. I like making baby sweaters. They go quickly and I get to use bulky weight yarn and they work up relatively quickly, however, I haven't been knitting all that long, and I want to learn how to knit socks, so we'll see if baby sweaters stay my faves! I also like being able to try yarns that are more expensive and not have to buy many skeins of them - usually one or two make a perfect sweater.

Usually I make them for baby gifts. I want to start making hats for myself (more in my blog on that.) I don't have a specific yarn for the sweaters, but the more interesting texture usually the better. I will try to post the pictures later on this... I guess I am into the more "instant gratification" type of projects.

Contest #3

- Dare to try a new coffee.



Recently a co-worker gave me a couple of boxes of coffee from Gevalia to try. My new favorite is the Limited Edition Whole Bean Coffee HARRAR from Ethiopia. The description reads, "Grown on small family farms, this rare coffee is harvested from high mountain valleys in the exceptionally fertile Harrar region of Ethiopia. Harrar is considered a 'wild coffee' because the beans are dried in the coffee fruit, giving them a full-bodied richness with soft tones of dark chocolate, cinnamon, and cardamom. The beans provide a tantalizing flavor with pleasant tangy notes and a captivating aroma. Complex and distinctive, Ethiopia Harrar is one of the most sought after coffees in the world." With the dark chocolate and cinnamon undertones, what's not to like?!

- Share your favorite knitting/crochet project.


I love to knit sweaters, even though I've only been knitting for just over a year. My Secret Pal, Robin recently gave me enough of the Cascade Pastaza yarn to knit the Cozy V-neck sweater from Fitted Knits. This one has been my favorite sweater so far. It's top-down construction is super easy to follow too!

Thanks for the wonderful contests!

Contest 3: I dared to try a new coffee

I've been trying to be a better coffee drinker. I'm branching out a bit and giving other brands a go. Last week I found a new coffee to try. It's Newman's Own French Roast. It's an organic line of coffee provided by Green Mountain Coffee Roasters . I liked this coffee. I think it would be a good addition to my coffee bar and might just replace my usual Starbucks coffee. I think their breakfast blend is next on my list to try.

My favorite knitting project is lace scarves. Odd. I really have to think when I work on lace otherwise it ends up bad. So no TV and very little conversation. I love the challenge of a good lace scarf. Scarves are a good sized project to try out a new lace pattern on without a whole lot of commitment such as a shawl would require. At this point I make hardly anything for myself mostly for others. I have tons of yarn for my own scarf I just need to get on that...at some point.

My favorite type of yarn to use for the lace scarf is Artyarns ultra merino. It's just a little bit more than lace weight and durable enough to be an every day wearable scarf. And what's the point of a great lace scarf if you won't wear it for fear of it getting ruined?

Contest #3

- Dare to try a new coffee.

This was a great contest as I had run out of my good coffee and had to resort to store bought while waiting for the mailman, but this contest inspired me to take a trip to Starbucks where I learned something new about coffee!

What did I learn? The lighter the coffee the more caffine! I did not know this. It has something to do with the roasting process, the longer the bean is roasted the more caffine leaks out of the bean.

What did I try? I had planned to try Sumatra (not sure if that is the correct spelling, sorry) but since I only have coffee in the morning, and I really wanted the caffine, the Starbuck's man suggested their Breakfast Blend (which was his favorite).

Do I like it? Oh yeah! I am sipping it now and it is very good! Not as good as the Gevalia the mailman will bring to my door, but most certainly a good coffee to keep me from attacking the mailman when I see him start to walk up the driveway.

- Share your favorite knitting/crochet project.

Tough question! But I think my favorite thing would have to be anything felted. I just love to felt! My local LYS is out of the mitten pattern I want, but they should have it soon. I had seen the pattern many times and had just looked past it, but they had a sample knitted up the last time I was in and I really liked the fit. I have also made a couple of bags, slippers, snowmen and am looking forward to a hat soon, too.

Thanks for this great contest!

Contest #3

After hearing all the talk of the seasonal drinks at Starbucks I eagerly went into a Starbucks last night ... to discover this isn't a 'season' here in Switzerland. Oops! So I ordered a decaf mocha. I was excited to have 'remembered' about decaf coffee (it's not so popular here) that I could drink at night. The beverage was pretty disappointing--it didn't really taste that chocolatey, but I haven't had a mocha in 10 years so I didn't know what to expect. The real downside? All that phlegm-inducing-milk, 15 minutes before choir practice.

My favorite knitting projects are new ones! Ha ha--I have startitis and a VERY short attention span, so I like making little whimsies--toys, or knitted objects. I've made a lot of hats. I have trouble with mittens (the second one) and I've made exactly 1.5 socks in my life, oddly enough. The second sock problem, but also I can't imagine wearing handknit socks because I envision them vaporizing under the pressure of my (as I've been told) odd gait, which destroys commericial socks and the soles of my shoes. I not only poke holes in my socks, I even poked a hole in the top of a *leather shoe* once with my toe! I'd have to knit my socks out of kevlar yarn or something!

(p.s. sorry if this shows up twice. blogger is having a tantrum just now)

Contest #3

The most recent new coffee I've tried is a Maple Spice Latte, made by me using Monin's Maple Spice syrup and Just Coffee's espresso beans. The verdict? Mmmmmm, yummy! I've become slightly addicted to it, and have been adding it to my regular old joe when I work. It's sweet, mapley, and slightly spiced. A taste of autumn in a cup!

My favorite knitting projects? Hats. I love making hats. I've made them for my husband, myself, my four kids, nephews, and the Dulaan Project. I've used all kinds of yarns- for the kids I use Bernat Softee-Chunky a lot; it's warm and washable, as well as Lion Brand Wool-Ease. I made a darling hat last year out of a yarn made from a thin strip of polar fleece- warm and cute!

For my husband and myself, I've used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino- squishy, soft and washable, and Manos del Uruguay, with it's fabulous colorways.

I plan on making many, many more hats. They're fun, quick, and can be personalized in so many ways!

Here's my Sophie modeling my latest creation-

-Gretchen

Contest #3

I am generally not a fan of flavored coffees - I like regular, black, plain-jane coffee. So I figured with this contest I should try a flavored coffee. I tried Autumn Spice at Espresso Royale, which is described as having cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. What did it taste like to me? Kind of like someone threw a circus peanut in my coffee. And I'm actually a fan of circus peanuts (in moderation!) but not in my coffee. I cannot explain why Autumn Spice would taste that way, but it did. So, umm, no, I will not be having that again!

My favorite knitting project overall would have to be toys. I have a stash of every color or the rainbow (and then some) of worsted weight washable wool and wool blends like Plymouth Encore and Wool-Ease and a bunch that lost their labels long ago. From these I have created kittens, turtles, robots and even a seahorse and a nautiloid. I get inspiration from the Knitted Toys KAL and the many awesome toy patterns that show up on Knitty. Mostly I knit toys for my own kids and the joy they take in them once they are done I know comes in part from it being a handmade object, and that they can pick the colors or suggest changes they would like. I love to knit them because I know they are loved. A couple of the first toys I knit were robots for my son while he was learning his colors, so I did one in primaries and one in secondary colors.

Contest #3

I tried the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Steep & Brew. I liked the "spicyness", but I'm not a big latte fan. To tell the truth, it was my first real latte. I prefer flavored black coffee.

My favorite knitting project is socks. They are so nice and quick. I love making socks for myself, because I know they will fit. I also love to dye my own sock yarn, I am partial to using easter egg dye because it's so cheap the day after easter!