Episode 5 - Enable Me!

Hello again to all my readers.  You are the reason I am continuing to do this.  I hope you keep coming back to check out my newest ventures and misadventures in my knitting.  I am so happy to say, I finally have another Finished Object to show you!  Yes, I finished my hat for my daughter.  This is the Horizontal Rib hat from the Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders book.  Now I would really love the rest of the books in this series.  I loved this pattern and the directions were so well written.  In February, just a few days away, I will be starting another KAL (no I have not yet learned after last week's post) from this book on the Sock Bunny Knit and Fit Ravelry Group.  Kim just posted the pattern choices today.  Go check them out here and join me.  I'm still not sure what pattern I will be making.  I'm leaning toward the Little Hanten baby sweater.  We have a cousin who is having a baby.  I don't know boy/girl so I'll take a chance and if I am wrong I will put it away for the next baby.  I'm going to have to go buy some yarn for this one.  Hopefully I'll be able to cast on the next week.
So I will just continue to get right down to business...everything else is still on the needles.  The Potato Chip scarf got a little love this week. Have I told you I am in love?  This is my very first time working with Malabrigo Rios, I don't ever want it to end.  Can you say super soft and smooshy?  Like butter in your hands!  I always want a skein of this, if not for knitting then just for touching.  I can squeeze it all day.  OK, enough geeking!
My monster by Rebecca Danger is on the needles as well, but I can't tell you much more than that because I have proof that Tracy is stalking my blog to see if I will slip and give her hints to what her monster will look like.  Tracy is my Monster swap partner who I am sending this monster to.  I hope she likes it.  It needs to get to her between Valentines Day and the end of February.  I'll keep you all posted and show pictures once I know it is in the proper hands. I also promised Tracy a prominent spot on this blog for the monster she is sending me!
Everything else is still a WIP.  I will not bore you with details of the unloved projects just hanging out on their needles.
February is just a couple days away and new projects will be starting.  I already mentioned the KAL from the Sock Yarn book that I will be participating in.  Just need to find the perfect yarn, easy right?  Read below for more details.
I am also casting on Feb 1 as part of the His And Hers Video Podcast group on Ravelry the FSKSG -First Sweater Knitters Support Group  the $5 In Paris sweater.  If you have never knitted a sweater and always wanted to you should check out this thread.  It looks like it's going to be a lot of fun.
The last thing I'm doing in February is through one of the local LYS here in the Boston Area, Island Yarn Company, Cast On Mania February.  This is where you cast on something new each day of the month.  I'm nuts...but I'm going to give this a try.  It does not have to be a big project.  On days I am backed up or overwhelmed, I can just cast on and knit a square for my sock yarn blanket.  You can find all the details to this on the Store Ravelry page here.  Who wants to come play with me this month?  I haven't come up with a plan yet but I have another day or two.
I would like to end my post this week with a cry for help.  Enable Me!

I know this is something we are all very good at.  We look, we shop, we share.  So what is my problem?
There is so much out there I can't sort it all straight.  I look, I listen, I learn and then I get all confused.  I need the help of all  of you.  ENABLE ME!

Starting February I will be getting a raise at work.  I am a strong supporter of Indie Arts and Music.  I have been back and forth, in and out of Etsy, Art Fire and many other websites I have discovered by clicking little banners on Ravelry here and there.  I want to support all you hand spinners and hand dyers out there.  I am looking to make at least one purchase a month from an indie artist who is trying to help support themselves with their craft.  I've been to the shops and sites and I get totally overloaded.  I love it all and I want to buy it all.  Help me, by posting comments, links, references of all kinds and tell me who you have purchased from, what have you purchased, who do you keep going back to and who should I purchase from.  If you are an indie spinner or dyer, convince me why I should buy from you.  What will separate you from the pack of people all selling the same things.  I will reward these recommended places by making purchases either for myself or to use as prizes as I continue to grow this blog.  Please post, if you know of a spinner or dyer that would like my business, please send them my way.  I need ENABLING!