Sunday, May 15, 2011

Bag Crazy! - Day 7

Today is a whopper, really. Someone is going to get seriously lucky here! Today's prize, in addition to a copy of Teach Yourself Visually Circular Knitting we have a Lexie Barnes Lady B, the very same one-of-a-kind fabric that can be found on page 24. This is the very bag that was used in that very photo shoot.
I love the Lady B. The size is perfect, and it holds a ton. There's lots of inside pockets and such for needles, scissors, notions and an outside pocket to store your pattern. Check out "more views" on the LB website to see just how much storage there is in this bag. Love it!
The question for today - and remember you have to answer the question in the comments below to be entered to win - Do you parallel park, or do you drive around the block until a pull-in space opens up? Good Luck!!

131 comments:

Barbara said...

I learned to parallel park in a '76 Ford Gran Torino. After that, and a minivan- anything else is a piece of cake. I go for it!

Unknown said...

If there's plenty of room, I'll parallel park, but I definitely am willing to walk for a pull through!

Malia said...

After living in San Fransisco I am better at parallel parking than pull in (I tend to get to close to the car on my left). So I will always parallel park, unless I'm driving the 15 passenger van. That's a bit tricky...

Kira said...

Depends on which car I'm driving--if I'm in the minivan, I try to avoid parallel parking because the thing has a massive blind spot, but if I'm in the little toyota I'll definitely parallel park. Parallel parking is a point of pride in my family, so I had to learn to do it well.

Cybele said...

I parallel park. I'm GOOD at parallel parking. I had a bit of trouble when I got a new car that was much taller than the car I'd been driving, and for awhile, I would search for a spot at a corner, near an alley, or one that I KNEW was too big for me, just so I didn't worry about hitting the car I couldn't see. But I got used to it, and now I park that monster in some pretty tight spots!

Cathie said...

Drive around for a pull in spot for sure!!!

Lynette said...

I would drive around the corner. The last time I tried to parallel park (to go to a yarn store, no less) it ended with my passanger and a stranger on the sidewalk helping guide me into the spot, even telling me how to turn the wheel. Never again!

momsue84 said...

I parallel park. I consider it a challenge and work hard at it. So far, after driving for 45 years, I haven't scraped a single car. Now tire are another story!!

Anonymous said...

Parallel parking is not a problem for me and if I didn't I wouldn't be able to find parking spots. In Europe, we have almost exclusively parallel parking :)

Unknown said...

I consider myself an equal opportunity parker - it doesn't matter if it is parallel or pull in... but i HATE backing into a spot!

Unknown said...

Parallel park. It is a gift that living in San Francisco and NYC gave me.

Bogie said...

I'm a parallel parker and I think everyone needs to learn how. The cars that park for you will create a generation that will have no idea how to do it themselves.

Diane said...

I'm actually one of those weirdos that likes to parallel park. My dad taught me years ago and made it a game...
ditetre(at)mac(dot)com
p.s. thanks for the great contest!

GerryART said...

I will drive FOREVER to find a pull-in space. I used to be able to parallel park.
I used to be able to parallel but too many shopping mall shopping trips rather than going down town.
Wouldn't this Lexie Lady B look lovely filled with my knitting project and accessories?
hugs,
Gerry

Kirsten said...

A tricky question, since I don't know how to drive. I'm sort of holding out for the day when we get self-driving cars that can drop you off at your destination, then go park themselves.

I hope my robo-car would have the skills to parallel park, but I'd be grateful for any skills my robo-car would have.

Tipper said...

I try my very best to parallel park, which usually ends in embarrassment.

Margo said...

I will parallel park if necessary.

llamalady said...

I parallel park if there is plenty of room...not my favorite, for sure.

thepaintedsheep said...

I parallel park, though every time I do it in my minivan, I wish I had a smaller car!

Anonymous said...

Parallel park...I always love a challenge!! :)


Rene K

Erin said...

I parallel park no problem. I even once parallel parked a fourteen foot uhaul on a hill in college to help move some roommates out.

gretchen said...

I live in Brooklyn! I totally parallel park!

Anonymous said...

definately a parallel parker. my new vehicle has a rear camera but i havent tried to parallel park with it yet.

pretty bag :-)

Dawn said...

I park where ever is closer. I hate walking too far. Especially when the FIL is with. He can't walk very far.

ep said...

I'll drive around for hours in an effort to avoid parallel parking. I learned to drive in a town with more parking spaces than cars, so my parallel parking skills were never really honed!

Leia said...

I parallel park. I can get our van into most spaces and I even trade spaces with my hub to do it when he isn't comfortable doing it.

Mary said...

I have parallel parked once. In driving school. It's not on the top of my list!

LizzieK8 said...

I can parallel park, but I generally choose not to. I normally don't go anywhere where it's a necessity.

baronreads said...

I "can" parallel park and will if I know that the chances of finding another spot are slim, but I prefer not to, especially if there is a lot of traffic and people are watching.

Carma said...

I drive a VW Golf so it's extremely rare that I can't find a spot to just pull into however I will parallel park if necessary depending on my passengers (I typically travel with way too many backseat drivers). :)

alcatmom said...

I will parallel park if I have no other choice, but I prefer to take the easy way whenever possible. I won't drive around any more than I need to to find an open spot.

Spikey said...

I parallel park. Not always well the first time, but I'll get it eventually.

CuriousJess said...

I live in the suburbs there really alot of places around here where I would need to parallel park I think I would try it if it looked like enough room, backing in to a space is another story all together I cannot backup for the life of me :)

Unknown said...

I will parallel park, but have driven around the block if I am really tired, I would rather walk than deal with any additional stress if when I am mentally tired after work.

Amy said...

I have never parallel parked in my life, so I'd definitely be driving around the block.

Emily said...

I totally parallel park! (even if I have to try 3 or 4 times to squeeze in).

Unknown said...

I parallel park, the way I was taught in driver's education is way faster than driving around and looking for a spot to pull in.

Terri H. said...

as a child of New York City, I do not drive.

Jillian said...

I learned to parallel park in a '66 Chevy Impala four door. It was like parking a boat! We don't actually have a car these days, although if I were to drive in the area I live in, I would definitely drive further to find a spot I wouldn't have to parallel park in. Driving and parking in the city scares me. :P

Carla said...

Of COURSE I can parallel park- do you know they don't TEACH it any more! A HORRIFIED mother of 2 teen drives who can't!

VeloCC said...

I parallel park and love to do it. I am originally from Germany and we learn it in driving school. It's almost like a puzzle, how much space do you need to fit in there. It does take some practise but if you know your car, it's really easy. And here in the US I love to find those spots to practise :) a solution for the ones that don't like it is to buy a Smart car. They are small/short enough to park them head first into these spots...

Nicole said...

If I have to I will parallel part but I am always happiest when I can just pull in.

Unknown said...

What a lovely bag! Definitely parallel park. Although it is a bit of a challenge with our Westfalia as I still haven't gotten used to the wheel position...
Thank you so much for these lovely giveaways! The questions have been fun.

Steph said...

I parallel park. Really learned when I did an internship at the Bronx Zoo & living nearby.

kim said...

I admit I am not good at parallel parking the van at all and I try to avoid it. The Accord is easy peasy.

Jenny said...

I'm perfectly happy to parallel park! The ability was taught aggressively in driving school.

sandi said...

I learned to parallel park on San Francisco hills with a manual transmission and no power steering. One of the few things I do that still impresses my 20 year old son is parallel parking!

neknitsandbeads said...

Oh I'd be the one driving around the block...then make the decision to give up eventually.

The only time I've done it was in drivers education oh so long ago.

I'll avoid parallel parking like the plague!

Rozaroni said...

Neither! I don't have a driver's license!

Melanie said...

Parallel parking is one of my claims to fame. I was actually applauded by a sidewalk table of diners following a textbook parallel parking feat.

Karen said...

I parallel park. My dad taught me how before I took drivers' ed as a teen.

Jaye said...

I learned to parallel park a one ton flatbed in construction area's I'll park anywhere now.

Unknown said...

I can parallel if there isn't too much traffic. I would also see if there was another spot before I tried it though.

Natasha said...

I can parallel park and will do so if there is no traffic behind me. It is virtually impossible in the city, because people don't understand that you're trying to parallel park and will pull up behind you and blow their horn. Thanks for the chance to win.

Rebecca said...

I think I have to admid that parallel parking isn't my kind of thing. When there's a lot of space even I can parallel park, but if not... I just need to drive around for a better parking place.

Anonymous said...

I drive until I find a way to avoid parallel parking :) I'll walk as far as I have to!

Kristi said...

My dad taught me how to parallel park while I had my permit many moons ago. In the resort village I grew up in, there is really no way to avoid doing it if you want to park! I am proud to say I have not lost my skills.

Unknown said...

I could parallel park when I was much younger. I learned how with my father's Fleetwood Cadillac - it was huge! The last time I took the driving test for my driver's license, I asked the instructor if I could still pass the test if I failed the parallel parking portion. He said yes, but to go ahead and try anyway. Well, I tried and hit both of the boundary poles! Nowadays, I'll try to parallel park once or twice, then start driving around looking for a post where I can just pull in. This was a fun question! :)

izzybellarina said...

takes me 3 hours, but I parallel. Sure is more diffficult with a longer car...

Cate said...

I parallel park. And I saw a commercial yesterday for some new car that claims to be able to parallel park itself, and I hurt my eyes from rolling them so hard.

jcoz1701 said...

I avoid parallel parking at all cost! I will drive around until I find a regular space.

BunnyKnut said...

Definitely parallel park. My dad had me practice over and over and over and over and over in a variety of vehicle. I wasn't happy at the time, but years later I can still whip into the tightest spots going.

BunnyKnut said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Liz said...

I don't have a license (oh, the trauma of failing your test at sixteen), but when I was learning to drive, I was terrified of parallel parking.

Janet said...

If the spot is long enough and I have my sedan, I will try to park there but prefer the first or last spot on the block! If I have the SUV, I can parallel park almost anywhere thanks to the rear-view camera and on-screen parking grid!

mzcat said...

Since I got my license in the city, parallel parking or public transportation were the options. My depth perception may suck when I need to hit a baseball, but give me an inch or two on either end of the car, and I'm in that space.

Tracy said...

Neither. i would pull my tonka truck up on the nearest grassy spot, preferably having to drive over curbs and push other cars out my way.

Christine said...

I definitely parallel park :) I learned to parallel park when I was in university. My roommates taught me the tricks on how to parallel park perfectly every time :)

Northside Knitter said...

Parallel parking! I had to learn in front of a police station with police cars on either side of the opening; terrifying to learn, but I am very comfortable doing it as a result.

Lauraline said...

I go for parallel, unless there is a lot of traffic, then I might do a circle around a bit.

SilverWings said...

If there's room, I'll give it a try. If not, I'll circle around.

Sarah said...

I can parallel park, but it takes me a long time in my new car. So it depends on whether I have a patient passenger!

Annie in the Round said...

Parallel park- even in my mini van.

Ann said...

I can parellel park if I absolutely have to but I prefer not to have to.

noallatin said...

I will parallel park if I have to. My brothers made fun of me if I didn't do it right . I used to be good at it until I moved to FL.

Michelle said...

Parallel; it is a very satisfying feat!

RubyC said...

Blogger is giving me fits. I learned to parallel drive before dad would let me drive further than around the block to do it again until he was satisfied. If hubby is doing taxi service, I get out at the front door. When I am driving I go for the closest parking spot near where I am going. Walking can be a challenge some days.

Ruby - mzcruse(at)gmail(dot)com

ohdessa said...

I can't drive, so I don't do either. But I'd probably drive around for a pull through if I could because I failed the parallel parking part of my road test which is why I don't drive.

Karen said...

I drive around. I don't mind walking and it takes me too long to parallel park.

Good Question though.

Melissa said...

I am the queen of parallel parking! I've had my friends make me switch seats with them and park their cars because they couldn't. I pride myself on parking my minivan in spots that other people pass up. :)

Karen G. said...

I'll parallel park if I have to, but I prefer to drive around the block.

I think parallel parking was much easier with the older, boxier cars, but with today's curved sides, when you're only 5'2" it's hard to guesstimate where the car really is.

SeattleAmy said...

Totally parallel park! I learned as a senior in high school that if I wanted a parking space, I parallel park! I had it down to squeezing into a space about 6inches bigger than my car.

Mind you, I can also back up for a huge distance straight, around a corner, or through a curve...something else that has been extremely useful!

dizzyknitter said...

It depends on how much space there is. If there's plenty of room, I'll parallel park, if there's just room for one car, I look for almost anything else before attempting. I'm terrible at gauging the distances there.

MicheleinMaine said...

I love to parallel park! Where I live in rural/coastal Maine I don't get many opportunities, but I try to maintain my skills whenever I get the chance!

Clumsy Knitter said...

I learned how to drive in a 15-seater Ford Club van. I can parallel park ANYTHING. It's a good thing, too, because I live in a large city where that's your only option.

sigh said...

I'll usually just go ahead and parallel park. Unless I'm having a really really bad or otherwise uncoordinated day then I'll drive around until a space opens up.

pugfish said...

I love the efficiency of movements in parallel parking. I have gotten quite smooth with it. I measure the back by making sure I can see the whole license plate of the person behind me so they can get out. I would hate to come out and find I was stuck between two cars.

Unknown said...

I only parallel park if I'm desperate. And I can't remember the last time really!

Unknown said...

I'll do either one, depends on my mood I guess-whether I'm up for a challenge or need to reassure myself that I can still parallel park.

Sharripie said...

If I'm actually driving, I parallel park, but most of the time I'm on the bus, so it drops me at the corner.

Anonymous said...

Sadly I've never been good or comfortable at parallel parking. I think the last time I actually parallel parked was for my driving test! LOL I'm one of those drivers that will go around the block until I can find a space to pull into.

Darcy said...

I parallel park. I have a CDL license and had to know how to parallel park a large dump truck when I took my driving test. Cars are easy.

agilitygrrls said...

Parallel park! I love to parallel park, I can park anything that way off the left or right side.

jenfer said...

Like others have said, I parallel if there is plenty of room! Where I live, we have lots of one way streets and it is very difficult to find parking without making a loop around a dozen times or knowing how to parallel. I have a backup beeper on my trucks so that helps alot!! Aren't those new vehicle that parallel park themselves a great idea!!

Leslie said...

If I have to parallel park I can - it's no problem. If I'm in a mall or shopping center it's not an option normally, so I'll either pull through or back in to a space -- I have a real bug about backing out into traffic.

carrie said...

If traffic isn't bad, I parallel park properly. If it is a bit crazy, then I drive around the block a few times!

Deb said...

I do not parallel park unless I can pull in to a space with no car in front or behind. I have managed to avoid for 40 years, and plan to continue to avoid it!

Rebecca said...

I totally drive around until a space opens up...I have poor depth perception, and parallel parking is not exactly my friend!

Jane said...

I hate to admit it but I drive around and around to find pull-in parking.

Megan said...

I usually attempt the parallel parking then give up and look elsewhere. Thanks for the opportunity to win!

Kristen said...

I actually got out of my car once to let Toby parallel park. That answers it I guess! :)

cindy c. said...

I drive around the block until a pull-in space opens up. It is sad but true. I never really learned how to parallel park and nearly failed driver's ed.

Debbi said...

I learned to parallel from by Dad. He was a Driver's Education Teacher. He made me park between two orange traffic cones on both side until I could do it perfectly......then he moved the cones closer together. Because of this I can spin a car, truck or van on a dime and get into just about any size parking spot. I NEVER circle the block. And I have NEVER hit another car.....while parking.

Emmy said...

I parallel park all the time. It's the only way to get a parking space downtown most of the time, unless you want to pay extra at the garage or find a public lot.

Annie in the Round said...

parallel park - even with my mini van

momtomany said...

I will parallel but it takes me a while to do it...hahaha

Beki said...

Parallel. After learning to drive in a "wood" paneled station wagon by my dad (the cop), there is no challenge I cannot overcome! I WILL TRIUMPH! :D

justjodi said...

I drive around and find a better spot...no parallel for me

knitfriendly said...

My father would not let me get my drivers license until I could show him that I could parrallel park. He gave me tricks that I still use today. I am known as the queen of parallel parking. :-)

Christine Lima said...

I most definitely drive around until I find a spot! Fortunately, I live in an area that does not demand the ability to parallel park often ;)

Diane said...

I definitely parallel park. I live in the San Francisco Bay area, so I either figured it out, or stopped driving. Fun question....

ola said...

Parallel. But had to get a special lesson a few years back from a friend who felt sorry for my multiple try technique. Now I'm good on the first try.

Karen said...

Parallel. As long as it isn't on the left side of the road (as in a one way street). I find those too difficult and will drive on by!

Jen said...

I'll parallel park if there's enough room. But if I'm gonna end up going back and forth a bazillion times bit by bit...I'll find somewhere else to park.

Jen

mjknits said...

I will drive around 'til I'm dizzy to find a pull-in space and not have to parallel park. I am that bad at it:(

Judy said...

Since I drive a Prius, which will turn on a dime, I will parallel park if necessary. Most of my shoping is done at stores with huge parking lots. I need to parallel park when visiting some of my friends, and have never had a problem

Kelly said...

I love to walk and hate to back in to spots, so I will drive around until I find a parking spot, even if it means having to walk for a few blocks.

ChelleC said...

Agree that if there's plenty of room I'll parallel, otherwise drive around.

jillian.vantuyle said...

I live close to Chicago, so I have to parellell periodically. I always get very nervous though. I will look like an idiot for a good spot! Sometimes I ask a passerby to help me by guiding me into the spot :)

ikkinlala said...

Neither - I don't drive.

I am working on it.

Anonymous said...

I parallel park & can get my Honda into any spot.

esea on Ravelry

ddstrazzy said...

I will parallel park if I absolutely have to, but would definitley prefer a pull in.

Tart said...

Parallel all the way! I drive a VW Beetle, and it's super easy to zip into parallel spaces. I love being able topark anywhere rather than hving to find a pull-in spot and hike to my destination.

Gina said...

Sometimes, it depends on which is closer! LOL I have no problems parallel parking... that was one of the things my trainer made me do with a tractor and 40' trailer!!! So, any size car is no sweat. LOL

cajuncrochet said...

I don't have to parallel park very often so it takes me a time or two to get it right but if the spots a close one then everyone watch out cause I'm gonna get it sooner or later!! :)

ME215 said...

I'll parallel park if the space isn't too tight. It's easier now that I have a smaller car.

TuttleDB said...

The only time I've ever parallel parked was in Driver's Ed way back in high school! I'll drive around and park and walk a few blocks to avoid parallel parking!

Bgstoner said...

I can and will parallel park. I have gotten better at it having moved up by D.C. where sometimes that is the only parking spaces available.

Diane (djuseless) said...

I hate parallel parking and I will drive around until I find an easier spot to get into.

Anonymous said...

I do try to avoid parallel parking, not quite at all costs but prefer walking farther and not having to parallel park.

Kimley said...

I parallel park, although I do look for easier parks. I also prefer to parallel park when I won't be holding up traffic (or have other drivers witness my embarrassment if I stuff it up). And when I succeed, I still let out a little whoop. Yes..yes, I do...And I have been driving for over 10 years.