Monday, January 24, 2011

In which I give away a digital scale and give TMI on various family members

If you know me, you know I love gadgets. My niece once told me her mom said I have every kitchen gadget ever made. This from a woman who thinks Hamburger Helper is gourmet if you use organic meat. Whatever. This happens not to be true--I've been jonesing for one of those little blowtorches you use for creme brulee absolutely forever and nobody has taken the hint. I have no idea why. It's not as if I can't be trusted with open flames. Really.

One gadget I do have that gets plenty of use is this:


I don't know how you cook without one of these, but that's not my main use for it. It's great for weighing yarn. As you sock knitters know, I like mine two-at-a-time and most of my favorite sock yarns come in hanks big enough for a pair. That means I end up dividing them in half. That's where the scale comes in. Weighing is much more accurate than eyeballing.

It's also been handy with my latest obsession project--scarves knit sideways with a single skein of yarn. If you've made this scarf, you've seen the clever diagram she uses. It shows the percentage of yarn used for the increase, even, and decrease sections. Very clever! I've designed two scarves, with a third one in the works, using this method. It keeps me from running out of yarn, a knitter's worst nightmare, and makes writing the pattern a bit easier--I know when to start each new section based on how much yarn I've used. It will also make it easier to substitute yarns and to use a different gauge. I'm betting you've already thought of a bunch of ways to use a scale like this.

Here's a photo of the second scarf in my planned series of three:


I made increases until I was happy with the width, then I weighed the yarn and figured out how much I'd have left for the center. Easy peasy.

If you've dropped hints for a digital scale and those hints have fallen on deaf ears, then let me possibly make your day. I'm giving away this scale as part of my blogoversary that I've really been hyping lately. Yeah, I crack me up too.

But wait--there's more! If you're one of my blog followers and the lucky number generator picks YOU, I'll throw in a skein of Cascade Heritage sock yarn, in the very yummy shade of raspberry, color number 5617. If you don't knit or don't want the yarn or aren't a follower, the second number picked will receive the yarn.

There will be more giveaways before the end of January, or at least the details will be released before then. DH is getting a colonoscopy at the end of the month, and this is just my little way of not only celebrating, but reminding you to get yours. Helluva segue, isn't it?

To enter the digital scale giveaway, just leave a comment about digital scales (and/or colonoscopies) ON THIS POST. If I've remembered my hormone patch and I'm in a good mood, I'll move your comment here if you inadvertently leave it on another post. You're taking chances if you don't leave it here, however. Just sayin'...

This giveaway closes at midnight, Mountain Time, January 31, 2011, which is when I'll draw the winner(s).

28 comments:

  1. Sock yarn - yum! I don't need the scale (though it is a brilliant giveaway) since i have recently stolen my husband's digital postage scale. Knowing how much yarn is in a partial skein is a huge help, compared to my previous guessing strategy which often required buying a new skein to supplement the leftover amount in order to finish the alleged "stash-busting" project.

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  2. Nice! I've been wanting a scale just for this reason. I have a few sideways scarves queued up and have no good way of measuring out exactly half!

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  3. I would love to have a kitchen scale. I am currently using a dollar store scale which may be extrememly accurate, but I somehow doubt it. I am a follower, and a knitter.

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  4. I tend to have a lot of kitchen gadgets too but I don't have a digital scale (of course it would never be used for kitchen stuff) despite the hints I've dropped (something similar to "I need a digital kitchen scale to weigh my yarn."

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  5. A digital scale haiku

    Digital scale, Oh
    How I've been shopping for you
    Weighing the Options

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  6. Ok I like the abobe digital scale haiku from sophanne. Very nice!

    And what a nice giveaway.

    And yay for you for promoting colonoscopies.

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  7. Ooo! That is a wonderful giveaway. I almost bought a food scale a few weeks ago off of Amazon because I'm always using my USPS one to measure meat portions, etc. Which is kind of tricky because I need it for weighing my packages for my web site and it makes my forehead crinkle when I get food on it. :(

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  8. I NEED that scale. And food will never touch its surfaces! YARN! And sophanne stole that haiku from me - let's see, what other diabolical devices can I employ .... oh, yes! Well, no. I'm sure that no one wants to read hindy haiku!

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  9. Kirsten doesn't cook without a digital scale. I've never used one, but it's on my "list". Great give away.

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  10. First, Congratulations on your blog anniversary. I think that is wonderful. It takes a lot of time and commitment into keeping a blog going. I have truly enjoyed your blog!
    You know by now, that I have a pharmaceutical background and that I couldn't survive without my kitchen scale. Mine weighs, cups, grams ounces and pounds. I love it.

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  11. I have never cooked with a digital scale... does that mean, that i have never cooked? I'd love to win!

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  12. Don't enter me for the scale, because I have one . . . . but I wanted to comment anyway. As a knitter, a kitchen scale is essential for weighting yarn!! And as a Type 1 diabetic, a kitchen scale is essential for weighting food portions to calculate carb grams. So yes, my scale sees lots of action. :D

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  13. I got a yarn scale for Christmas - but only because it was on my list. (No-one in my family would have come up with that idea on their own - they live "inside the box" in that way, especially when it comes to knitting.) But I could also use a kitchen scale - I have found myself dragging out an old relic of a Weight Watchers scale from 1982 to weigh things for cooking - and no, it's not very accurate.....

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  14. I had a little digital scale at one time ... and they are great for splitting my skeins evenly so I can do my socks two at a time ... I would count myself lucky if I were to be picked!! And I've been wanting to try the Heritage yarn!! :)

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  15. Hey Phoenix! Welcome to my crazy little blog. Be sure to check back here for the drawing, since I don't know how to contact you.

    Everybody, I'm enjoying your comments. Did everybody see Sophanne's haiku? Love it!

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  16. I think I have that same scale!
    Which means I don't need one.
    And I've come to terms with probably not needing more yarn.
    Basically I wanted to taunt you by letting you know we DO have a blow torch for creme brulee. But since my husband is the creme brulee maker he didn't settle for one of those cute little glorified lighters (like I wanted). No he's got a wee tank with the torch attached to the top. It's at least as big as a bottle of Pellegrino.
    We also have more ramekins than you can shake a stick at.

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  17. What did knitters do before there were kitchen scales? And I'm so glad I've discovered your blog!

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  18. A scale is always a good thing to have!!! Thanks for entering my giveaway and inviting me to enter yours!!!

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  19. Came to you from KC's blog mostly self taught . You have a lovely blog and I love your laundry man! Mine does laundry too. My kids have done their own laundry since I read Martha Beck, national writer for Oprah and author of Expecting ADAM, teaches her Downs Syndrome child to do laundry and anything he is capable of doing as soon as he is able. If her son, Adam, could do laundry, mine certainly could. THis allowed me much more knit time!

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  20. I cannot imagine life without a digital scale! I was given one as a wedding present 22 years ago and it has moved all over the world with me. The best part is that I can weigh in either grams or ounces which has been perfect for my multi-cultural lifestyle. Sadly the scale is looking a little old now and doesn't always display properly, so I'm in the market for a new one. It's also looking a little grubby which is not good when I'm weighing sock yarn!

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  21. I need to be a convert too or at least be bi-skilled with the scale. It's been on my list of things to research and buy. But, you know, there's just so many things to do.

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  22. OOOOH, I'd like the scale. I'm new to blogging so I haven't been a follower. But I can tell I will enjoy reading your blogs in the future. A friend of mine was just telling me the joys of a kitchen scale used for yarn projects. She wanted to make sure she had enough yarn to do a three stitch I-cord bind-off on a moebius scarf. She would knit three rounds then weigh the scarf then another three and weigh again. She knew the average grms for three rounds allowed that plue a little extra. Do you know she finished her scarf with only 5 grms of yarn left!

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  23. Karezybear--ha! I'll go your friend one better. I finished my last scarf with an amount of yarn so small my scale showed ZERO grams. I don't recommend cutting things thisclose, but when you use a scale, it's certainly possible.

    Good luck everybody! And don't forget--if you don't list an email address with Blogger (or Wordpress, etc) check back here after midnight tomorrow, to find out if YOU are the winner.

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  24. Lovely prize. I have longed for a scale. My wish fairy does not seem to get it. And, yarn for followers...yay! Thanks! avennett AT verizon DOT net

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  25. Oh how I need a scale. Seriously!

    dcloster@citytel.net

    Deb

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  26. I only have a honking big countertop analog (is that the word for scales with a dial???) scale. The digital looks so pretty and of course, easy to use! I'd never have thought to divide yarn by weight rather than measure...it is a "duh" moment to read your post! Thanks!
    brettastar1 {at} windstream (dot) net

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