Moi

Hello All,

I'm Dawn and I'm thrilled to be taking part in this knit-along (my first ever!). Thank you to Kala for providing me with the enticement and courage to introduce myself.

I've only been knitting for about a year now. I taught myself how to knit using a knitter's self-help CD made by sweetheart yarn. It is pretty hokey but actually quite good at demonstrating the basics. Unfortunately, I only watched it once or twice and ended up twisting all of my knit stitches for six-months, until a new knitting friend figured out what was happening. As some of you may already be foreshadowing, I'll be the village idiot who asks all the dumb questions and rarely has anything significant to offer. C'mon, every knit-along has to have one.

My first finished object was one mitten (knit by a winter campfire) and it would be perfect for an orangutan monkey. So, if anyone knows of a needy orangutan, I have a scratchy, acrylic mitten just perfect for him or her. I've since made many cotton wash clothes, which I tried to love but hate using. I made one wool:( cardigan, but I have yet to block it and/or sew it together. I also completed two socks on two circular needles and it has been a love affair ever since.

I don't have a favorite yarn yet because I can't find much good quality, vegan, yarn in my area. There are three local yarn stores in my vicinity but none of them have a robust non-wool, sock yarn inventory.
Yesterday, I went out in search of sock yarn, for this KAL, and ended up taking home the last dusty skein of Scholler-Stahl Sockina Cotton (55% Cotton, 25% Nylon, 20% Acrylic). It isn't my favorite in terms of colorway (browns and oranges) for socks but when there is only one skein left what is a knitter to do. We'll see how it knits up. Interestingly, the yarn store person mentioned that for "unknown reasons, this particular line of yarn flew off the shelves in two or three days." I didn't want to appear rude, so I just said "hmmm...interesting, maybe you should order some more, it appears to be a good seller." I did roll my eyes, just a bit. I did that only because she rolled her eyes (just a bit) when I told her that I no longer knit with animal fibers, any at all, not even a small percentage.

I'm hesitant to buy yarn on-line because it is so ghastly expensive and I feel uncomfortable buying something sight un-felt.

At this time, I can only claim to be vegetarian (and no, I don't consider fish or seafood a vegetable, so I don't eat them either). I am trying hard to convert to veganism. I happily and easily left behind milk and eggs. It is that darn cheese that gets me down! Hey, I'm from Wisconsin (the cheese-head state), we consider it one of the four food groups. I'm disgusted by my own weakness but I just can't find a happy alternative. So for now, I limit myself. Any suggestions (other than "just quit eating it") will be most welcome.

I look forward to seeing every one's sock progress and learning more about sock knitting secrets and quality vegan yarn!