Socks to Be You

Renaissance

2009-09-20T08:27:00.002-04:00

Nothing like the Renaissance Festival for a rousing good time. Needless the say the jousting was the boys favorite and just like a woman, the daughter thought the shopping was her favorite.

I got to meet Queen Elizabeth the First, my hero. One boy is doing the child slingshot. Too much fun...

We now return to our regularly scheduled knitting posts next time.

Loot from Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival

2009-09-15T17:11:00.003-04:00

Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival was wonderful. The shopping was much better then I expected. The top photo shows a cute little sock project bag that my mom bought me from Briar Rose. Briar Rose had the best booth I think. Beautiful deep rich hand dyeds and very reasonable prices.

The second photo down is what I bought, the big cake in back is from Briar Rose. They sell in these huge hanks to help with dye lots and pooling since most people don't want to have to worry about dye lots. I plan on making some mittens and hat with it. The Hazel knits in that grouping is from Christine and was forgotten for the other photo.

The third photo is yarn and gifts from my mom. Yarn to make a Kitty Pie, as she just got a cute new siamese kitten and made him one. Hi, Toby cat. Then two sock yarns. and a wooly sheep bag that had a cow sticth marker inside of it. She gave a set to Christine as well. The sheep bag is for us to remember the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival and the cow stitch marker is for us to remember Wisconsin. Me being from Michigan and Christine is from Minnesota.

The bottom is a mix of gifts from Christine and destash that I bought from her. She gave me a beautiful skien of Madelintosh sock in grasshoper and HK in Europhia. The other yarns I bought. She also gave me The Joy of Sox book. Wonderful patterns for sock knitting. She gave me a Vera Bradley bag for a sock project bag. Everything was wrapped in tissue paper. I wish I was that classy to think of that.

It was a truly wonderful weekend with my mom and new friends. perhaps we can even do it again next year.

We took two Cat Bordhi classes. I thought I was a pretty good knitter, but I learned bunches and had my sock thinking completely enlarged. She really gave a us a new way to look at sock construction. I learned a new cast on, bind off and how to conceal wraps and a better way to pick up stitches. She signed my book, but best of all, she said I was an excellent knitter and should consider test knitting for someone. Now don't go taking a pin to my ego just yet, let me bask in the glow a little longer. She touch Christine's toe and Christine said she wasn't ever going to wash it again. LOL

All in all a magical time of knitting.

Stuff

2009-08-24T13:20:00.003-04:00

I love my yarn from the August Hazel Knits sock club. My second Yarn fairy helped with it. The purple is called Lavender Batik and the variegated is called Autumn Bounty. The variegated is much prettier in person. The coloring isn't right in the photo for the variegated.

I finished my first sock for me. They are actually called Socks for Christy. My wonderful friend Linda designed them for me. I love the yarn I am using for it. It is Woolen Rabbit in Dandelion. I am hoping to finish the other sock before the 31st, but I will have to be the bionic knitter for that. The pattern is available to all and Linda also sells these wonderful little bags to keep your yarn in when you are knitting. I use mine all of the time. Very handy.....and she sells them.

Quiet

2009-08-19T14:20:00.003-04:00

Sorry to have been so quiet. Life has been busy. Kidney stones make things hard. Anyway i have completed a few this. No, I didn't complete the "man", DD was just having fun taking pictures of us on the front porch. Since is cuter then me I thought his picture would be better, although in mine I am knitting.

I Love Cat Bordhi's patterns. They are always such fun and keep me entertained without being tedious. The middle socks are Philosopher's House Socks from her book New Pathways for Sock Knitters.

I knit them out Dream In Color, classy in Ruby River. The yarn was so soft and vibrant. Dream in Color has some wonderful yarns.

Since I am taking two classes with Cat this September at Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival I figured I should bone up on her work. I am so excited to be taking these classes. My mom and Ravelry friend Christine are taking them together. Christine is better known as Mapleweave on Ravelry. I am entirely too excited.

I made the baby booties for another Ravelry friend Amiee, who is having a baby this month. They are called Magic Slippers and you make them out of sock yarn. The pattern is free and fast.

Late WIP Wednesday

2009-07-30T16:08:00.003-04:00

I finally finished my Blue Beaded Band Socks. I think the color blue is my sock knitting Kryponite. It was hard to finish them. They were challenging for several reasons. First they were blue, second I knit them two at a time ML from the top down. That was a first for me. Lastly it was my first time knitting with beads. My mom showed me an easy way to put the beads on using a crochet hook. You don't string them on the yarn first you pull the stitch through right where you want the bead. The yarn is from The Painted Tiger in her base called Cub. The yarn was lovely.

The first WIP is from Cat Bordhi's book, New Pathways for Socks Knitters, the philosopher socks. They are knit on size five needles with worsted weight yarn. The yarn is DIC classy in Ruby River. A very fun pattern.

The tiny baby socks is for a friend who is having a baby boy. I need to make one more magic slipper for her little boy. Another friend gifted me with her leftover Hazelknits sock yarn in Olympic Rainforest so that is what I am knitting the slippers in. I believe Hazelknits is my new knitting crack. Great colors with a tight twist and slightly thick yarn.

Changes and some Hazel Knits

2009-07-15T12:43:00.004-04:00

My daughter was having a spa day and my son agreed to be "spa'd". He'll do anything for baby soft skin.

The other boy was trying to make me jealous by rolling in the yarn.

That is my first skein of Hazel Knits yarn, in cabbage rose. Lovely tight twist and very soft and the color is shaded. I believe a new obession has been born.

My yarn needed more light and more exposure, so I changed around the front part of my bedroom and cleaned off a book shelf to show it off. Can anyone guess what my favorite color is?

Yes, my walls are orange. If you see yarn boy further up it is one of the colors in my antique quilt.

Fun Stuff

2009-07-06T11:50:00.003-04:00

The Loopy Ewe has done it again and given us a wonderful sock club package. Wendy's pattern looks so good and the yarn is Sanguine Gryphon Bugga, 70% wool, 20% CASHMERE, and 10% nylon. It is soft you just want to roll around in it. The little Namaste buddy case is velvety. I love the color theme of the rust. It brought a very big smile to my face after a hard weekend at work.

The blue socks are a challenge for me that I am doing for both Solidsocks and SKA over at ravelry. They are my first beaded socks, my first top down two at a time socks, and I am using blue which is one of my least favorite colors. So far so good. I even asked Melissa Morgan-Oakes to join SKA so that that would qualify for the sockdown.

In bad news, I had to frog my Embonpoint as I didn't pay attention to the pattern. It was totally my fault and I even ripped the finished sock. I hope to start over again on them sometime soon, but for now I am in a time out from them.

Hmmmm

2009-06-28T08:25:00.003-04:00

See, I have been busy knitting, just not finishing. The test knit for Hunter is coming along fine. I don't think I can for yarn with Tencel in it. It has a crunchy feel, the color is great in skien but I am not in love with crunchy.

The Latvian Dances are a bit snug so I am going to stop with only one repeat on the leg. The colors are turning out better then I though they were going to.

Problem is what to knit for July. There are so many KAL's and with so many options. Any suggestions?

Finally something done

2009-06-20T07:59:00.003-04:00

See I told I was close to finishing something. These are half Van Dykes from Wendy's toe-up book and half ribbed leg. I was running out of yarn and wanted to use the rest for the ribbing. No, I haven't suddenly turned my yarn tastes upside down. They are variegated because they are house socks made out of worsted weight wool from 3 Irish Girls. The yarn was wonderful and fun and the pattern was great. It was my own fault that I ran out of yarn so that I couldn't do the pattern on the leg.

While they aren't the prettiest pair I have ever made, they accomplished what I wanted them to. I completed these two at a time with magic loop. They are my first pair done that way, so for that alone I love them.

Missing in action

2009-06-18T13:19:00.003-04:00

Isn't the boy cute!?

A little friend had thought he was going to joy ride on my daughter's bike.

I made a yarn wreath out of my leftover sock yarns. They are wrapped around 3"
inch styrofoam balls and then DH threaded some floral wire through it. Very simple and easy.

Knitting has been happening here, just not as much as I would like. Hopefully that will change in the future.

Can you hear it?

2009-06-04T19:50:00.003-04:00

It is the chorus of the frog pond! I have ripped out my last two attempted pairs of socks. I keep dreaming that I am making socks for bigfoot. Since I don't know bigfoot I had to frog. All is not lost however, as my lovely friend and great designer Hunter is having me test knit another amazing pair of socks!!! Remember the Ensnared's, these should be even better.

Higher Up and Further In!!!

Todl's Totes

2009-05-29T14:29:00.003-04:00

My mom came to visit. That can be good or bad, but in this case, it was good....it was very good. We have infected my aunt with the sock knitting bug.....well at least, the yarn buying bug. She has even earned her Loopie Groupie status in three months and burned through her $25 gift certificate already. That is all three of us knitting on the couch at my house. I am the beautiful blond on the left. ;0) My aunt is in the middle and my mom is on the end...she has almost no grey hair. I have more grey hair than she does and isn't fair!

Look at all the knitting bags she made for us. Mine are on the left side of the chair and my aunt's are on the right. She is going to make one for my Grandmother in coffee motif fabrics. We had a great time yarn shopping and knitting together and visiting!!!

Kai-Mei's

2009-05-27T10:38:00.003-04:00

Another yarn fairy has come into my life. She knows how much I love the color green. She bought me some KP Kettle Dyed in Grasshopper and some Araucania Itata in Pear. I love green...glorious green!

I finished my Kai-Mei's. I still hate the kitchner stitch and suck at it!! Love the yarn though. It is Oceanwind Knits sock merino in Shiraz. I think it is an older version, because the yarn didn't feel the same to me, but the color is so lovely. She does beautiful colors.

Stuff

2009-05-12T14:02:00.003-04:00

The top is my dd etsy yarn shop. She has great colors if only we could transfer them into actual yarn colors. She wants me to write patterns for for her sock designs. If only I could. Maybe if I had a brain like Hunter.

The next is my Loopy ewe sock club kit. The pattern looks fun and the yarn is lovely but it looks like it will stripe so I might use it for a different pattern. The bag is awesome and the pen is fun.

The third picture is my DD's vest which my aunt knit for her. My aunt recently returned to knitting. She has been bitten by the sock bug though. It is contagious as my mom, aka yarn fairy, also has it. My aunt is Michigangirl on Ravelry and my mom is Todlli on Ravelry. Stop by and say hi. ;0) It will torture my aunt and my mom loves people.

The last is my attempt to master 2@time on magic loop. The socks will be Kai Mei's from Cookie A's book, Sock Innovation. Hopefully this technique will stick.

Esnared and Enraptured

2009-05-06T12:56:00.003-04:00

Lovely aren't they? Modest I am not! Well, they really are only lovely, because the pattern was fantastic and such a fun knit. Notice on the bottom photo how the gusset is on the top of the foot. The torque around the ankle was very interesting also, as you had to go under the stitches and pull them out to make that lattice pattern. Unfortunately, if you aren't on Ravelry I have no idea how you can access this pattern. It is called, Ensnared, and a new knitting friend of mine from Ravelry, Hunter, designed it and I was lucky enough to test knit it. The yarn is some I won earlier this year from SKA over at Ravelry. It has CASHMERE. String Theory Caper sock in Cactus. Frankly, if you knit and aren't on Ravelry you are missing the "biggest and best boat."

The Trade

2009-04-28T12:40:00.004-04:00

I finished the Loopy Laces by Wendy Knits. You can get the pattern from the Loopy Ewe. Yarn chef Minestrone was used in Berry Twinkle color. The top photo shows the color beautifully. She just had an update at her etsy shop in which I snagged a self striping called April Showers. I have never tried her striping and I though it would be entertaining to knit it while I try to master two at a time to make it my usual way to knit socks.

The bracelet next to the socks is what I am trading them for. The picture isn't that great, but at Heather's shop you can better photos of her work. Heather is a lovely homeschool mom I met online. We will be using the same curriculum next year and we both caft. Hers just requires 2000 degrees of heat and mine involves string and sticks. Mine is safer. ;0) You can visit her shop if you check a few blog spots down. (Yup, it's true I am too lazy to put in a link and I am tired of my blog not working out the way I want it to or at least the link things)

Eye Candy Friday

2009-04-24T15:42:00.001-04:00

Wash Day!

Birthday cake and WIP

2009-04-19T08:32:00.003-04:00

For my aunt who does not know knitter slang WIP stands for, works in progress.

The purple sock is Loopy Laces by Wendy of Wendy Knits. I had bought the pattern over a year ago from the Loopy Ewe. You can click on the Loopy Ewe badge on the side to visit the store. Fabulous sock yarn store if I do say so myself. The yarn is from Yarn chef. I am trading these socks when they are done for a bracelet from this store, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6630724 I have become friends with this lovely woman through shared homeschooling interests. Finding out that we are both crafters and homeschoolers led us to trade. Aren't those beads beautiful and she is having a sale? Perhaps we can get her to make stitch markers.

The green sock is a test knit, called Ensnared. The gusset is on the top of the foot and the band has a very interesting woven look that was fun to execute. The yarn is from String Theory, called Caper sock, which has yummy cashmere in it, in a color called cactus. Here is where you can find this fabulous yarn. http://www.stringtheoryyarn.com/home.php?

The last picture isn't very good but it is the birthday cake I made my DH. It is a Boston Cream Cake. It was an intentsive cake as tempering eggs without curdling them is hard, but I succeeded here. He choose the recipe. Today he is 41 years young. Happy Birthday to my best friend!!!

You can't have.......

2009-04-14T14:53:00.002-04:00

my relatives!!!! My aunt gave me some Knit Picks Imagination yarn in Munchkin and Wicked Witch. My mom made me a cool knitting bag. The outside has pockets and it is quilted. She was also kind enough to include some of my favorite yarn, DIC smooshy in butter Peeps. Aren't they generous knitting buddies?

I don't have much knitting to show yet. Those pesky kids and time eating homeschooling seems to eating into my knitting time.

Contest

2009-04-08T07:57:00.001-04:00

My dear knitting friend, Linda, who makes those cute little bags. Bags like my new Cookie bag which she sent to me. She is having a contest to give away a bag and some stitch markers. Hurry on over and post a comment. http://lindaknittingblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/lets-celebrate.html

You know your a sock zealot when.....

2009-04-08T07:32:00.003-04:00

you have to buy shoes just to show off your socks. Some how my dd seems to think her little foot needs to make its own appearance. Anyway, these are Keen shoes. My first time trying out this brand and I will be a repeat customer. They are so cushy. The sales person to always order a size up for them as they run small. The color of the shoe is called Rum Raisin.

I am also working a really fun test knit which I will share soon.

Lookie what I got!

2009-04-03T12:10:00.003-04:00

You all wish you had crafty friends like I do! LOL My wonderful friend, http://lindaknittingblog.blogspot.com/ sent me one of her Cookie bags to with my Cookie book with some lovely YARN!!!! It is some dark purple Cascade Heritage. There is a cute little knitting charm on the zipper and the bag is lined. If you have seen my other works in progress, you have perhaps seen my little bag she sent me last in our swap package. It keeps your cakes of yarn very well until your project is finish. Check out her blog for more information and links to she new etsy shop.

Under the Sea

2009-03-30T12:58:00.004-04:00

These are my Under the Sea socks from my Loopy Ewe sock club. It was a lovely toe up pattern with a fairly simple lace pattern. The yarn was Hand Maiden Casbah in the colorway Ocean Currents. The yarn was 80% merino wool, 10% cashmere and 10% nylon. All I can say is, wow. It was so soft. This was my first sock club and has been so fun.

Stash enlargement

2009-03-26T18:43:00.002-04:00

I have some lovely aquisitions to add to my stash and the best part is, I only bought one.

The top is DIC smooshy in spring tickle from my aunt. She is trying to get Loopy Groupy status. She also got me the next one which is Colinette Jitterbug in apricot smoothy. I love the soft orange color.

The bottom is Yarnchef minestrone, berry twinkle.

The blinding orange is Wollmiese from my mom, but I think I may have already showed you that one.

I think my hair dye is affecting my memory.

Seaweed

2009-03-15T08:24:00.004-04:00

I just couldn't stop working these. A record time of two weeks to finish. They are Ocean Toes from New Pathways for Sock Knitters, by Cat Bordhi. The instructions were very clear and the concept was so clever and that it just drove me on. I knit them up in DIC smooshy in go go grassy color. I was a little disappointed with the yarn this time. It was a touch splitty and then fuzzed where ever it did that. Over all a very fun knit and one I would recomment to others to try.

Yarn from Heaven

2009-03-11T19:38:00.004-04:00

Don't you love my new green yarn!!!??? It is my winning yarn from SKA January sockdown on Ravelry. I haven't always entered regularly but I had hoped one time I would win and I finally did. I was so surprised. Anyway, this is from String Theoryhttp://stringtheoryyarn.com. It is Caper sock which has some lovely cashmere in it. I choose the color cactus. Green, glorious Green.

Next is my Loopy Ewe sock club offering for March. I am, In Like Flint. (it is a movie reference) The yarn is Hand Maiden Casbah in colorway Ocean currents. So soft I could roll in it. We also got little tape measure/pens and a cute sock needle gauge/key chain. My mom or better known the yarn fairy, got me this club as a Christmas/Birthday present and the best part is she is in it too. The yarn is already wound and will be cast on this weekend hopefully.

The pressure is on

2009-03-07T08:35:00.002-05:00

As you can see from my added buttons my few computer skills are expanding. How many peopple can say that their 62 year old mother has helped them with the computer? Usually it is the younger helping the older.

I am not going to go into a lot of detail but the top are my harika's and middle is ocean toes and the bottom ones are Froot Loops.

As they are finished I will put in a lot more details.

My Loopy Ewe sock club came yesterday and it was wonderful and if my sock yarn from my win over at SKA comes to today I plan to make another entry of much yarny goodness. if not I still may make another entry of update stash.

Denmarks

2009-03-04T07:43:00.003-05:00

Denmarks are done. Actually, they were done a few weeks ago and I had started a blog post but didn't like it and so deleted it and then wondered if I should continue to blog at all. Well, you know how big my readership is, so I decided to continue.

That is the beach and lighthouse about two miles from my home, on Lake Michigan. Beauitful isn't it. DH loves to take pictures with the new camera. Maybe I start eye candy Friday like some other bloggers.

When my mom comes over for her next visit, she will show me how to make my blog better so that should be a huge plus, so suffer with me until then.

The Denmarks were fun and I knit them halfway two at a time until the heels. The yarn is Lorna's Laces sportweight in Growth, since there is snow underneath them, there is no growth going on. The pattern is from Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush, the ultimate sock diva. I have always wanted to make these ever since I saw Pat's, http://www.patsknittingandquilting.com/2007/completed/denmarksocks.html . Imitation being the best from of flattery, I had to make them in the same yarn. Although I thought the yarn had a bit of fuzz to it.

WIP's and Books

2009-02-11T13:42:00.004-05:00

I seem to have been infected with startitis.

The top socks are Denmarks by Nancy Bush from her book, Knitting on the Road. More importantly though with these socks, I am learning to knit socks two at a time. Something I have been wanting to accomplish for quite awhile now.

The second ones are going to be Jeweled Steps, by Cat Bordhi, from her book New Pathways for Sock Knitters. The toe was very interesting and a little challenging.

The last sock picture is of my Harika's, from the Twist Collective, an online knitting magazine. I am farther then that on them, but learning two at a time has been taking precendence.

The last photo is of my knitting books. I actually have two more knitting books coming when they are published in April. It has been coming about that my two internet knitting buddies, Linda, http://lindaknittingblog.blogspot.com/ and Pat, http://www.patsknittingandquilting.com/ will have most of the same sock knitting books. I suspect will be enjoying many KAL's together. I would have to say at least of of my knitting books are sock knitting books. I dare anyone to take a photo of their knitting books.

One thing that I have been doing with my knitting books is, on the inside cover, I have been putting the date of when I got them and where I got them and price or maybe who from if it is a gift. As I was checking my books, I realized my yarn fairy has increased my knitting library by seven books. Since the yarn fairy happens to be my mom, I have been putting in the a little blurb that says, because she loves me. Two of my books I got last year for Christmas. Anyway, it gives me a warm fuzzy. I like warm fuzzies.

Hoping for Spring

2009-02-09T08:06:00.002-05:00

Well, if spring won't some to me, I'll come to it. These are my finally finished Spring Forwards. They are knitted up in Oceanwind Knits Merino Sock, in Jardin colorway. You can't really tell, but the skeins that I had were slightly different colored. I don't mind. Another boo boo I made was on the leg, one is only 2 1/2 repeats, and not a full three like the other sock. Children can distract one. Because of this I am diligently trying to learn to knit two at a time so that they can at least look the same and have the same errors.

As much as I love them and desire to keep them. I am giving them as a gift to a woman who has greatly blessed me in the area of homeschooling. The Lord gave me an almost immediate answer to prayer on Friday in a very unexpected way. So as a way of saying thank you I will be gifting these to her.

Books

2009-02-04T20:11:00.003-05:00

The first picture is just cool. That was taken ten feet from our back door. He actually got down on the ground and was walking around our van looking for the sparrows that like to get under there to get warm. He left empty clawed today, but last winter we saw a hawk catch a red squirrel and then a dove. With the dove he stayed to eat it in our yard. There was blood and feathers everywhere. The children thought it was great. Our yard is 56 x 100 and we don't live in the country. The wildlife just comes to us.

The yarn fairy strikes again! My collection of Nancy Bush socks is now complete. My yarn fairy even took a class with Nancy Bush and she got my Folk Knitting in Estonia signed. I really need to start knitting from my shelves now.

OH wait, yarn fairy also pre-ordered me Sock Innovation, by Cookie A. and as my Christmas present to myself, I per-ordered Wendy Knits, From the Toe-Up sock knitting book. What can I say Life is GOOD!

Wine anyone?

2009-01-28T12:59:00.002-05:00

Well, I have finished under the wire for January Solidsocks group at Ravelry. These are the lovely Bacchus socks for my mother, aka the yarn fairy. I knit them on size 1 KP circulars needles using DIC smooshy, In Vino Veritas.

I have cast on for the Spring Forwards and more recently Harika's from the Twist Collective online knitting magazine, Sorry, no links, but just google it.

Nothing but air

2009-01-12T20:30:00.003-05:00

Sledding in western Michigan can be quite thrilling and dangerous. Luckily hubby and I are prepared with hospital co-pays just in case. We didn't need them this time. Believe it or not, that man is my father, all 67 years of him. How many of you are that brave? Speak up, don't be shy. I know the rest of you are chicken....or maybe I should say smart. You didn't see me going down did you? That's because I am smart and don't enjoy visits to the hospital. It slows down the knitting. Ahh, to be young with bones made of rubber or old and crazy. ;0)

A tisket, a tasket and yarn full in the basket

2009-01-07T20:43:00.002-05:00

Hubby is kindly modeling my swirls hat that I made with some Knit Picks yarn in a purple heather, blue heather and some Ella Rae white. It is the Swirls Hat pattern. I was inspired by Pat's hat, http://www.patsknittingandquilting.com/2008/november/12_swirlshat.html Isn't hers beautiful?

The middle is my Knit Picks sock yarn sampler in tropics. I don't really have any blue yarn, because well.....it isn't a favorite color of mine so this sampler will help me broaden my color palette. There is a pattern I already have picked out for it though and I know the Essential multis pool quite a bit, but I have some two color socks planned for those.

Doesn't that basket just look beautiful? There is nothing but sock yarn in it. Of course, since it is almost over flowing, no new yarn can be purchased until at least three pairs of socks are made. I know I said in my resolutions to diet, but I am weak. (sheepish grin)

The end

2009-01-02T15:25:00.004-05:00

It has been a lovely year of knitting. Despite what the picture shows, I knit 13 pairs of socks, but gave away 7 pairs. These are the six I have left. What was I thinking?! Sorry mom, but you need to start knitting your own and then give a few pairs to me. LOL (I, probably ,can be bought though) Anyway, I learned so much and made some wonderful knitting friends, http://lindaknittingblog.blogspot.com/ and http://www.patsknittingandquilting.com/. They have both inspired me and really helped me out. I learned to knit socks on two circulars which has really increased my speed. A new camera has helped with better photos.

My knitting resolutions for the new year.

1. Learn to knit two socks at once, both magic loop style and two circulars style.

2. Knit from my shelf and free patterns. No more books that I buy, except the Wendy Knits Toe-Up book that I pre-ordered and if my mom, I mean yarn fairy chooses to bless me.

3. Knit from stash, except in event of gift money or yarn fairy also blesses me. I do have a Knits Picks sock sampler coming though. What can I say, it was Christmas money.

4. Knit a sweater that fits me. I am going to try the Acer. More details on that later.

Happy New Year to all.

Finished

2008-12-29T13:05:00.004-05:00

I finished these finally. They only took me two weeks. This was some of the best yarn I have ever used, YarnChef, Minestrone in the colorway, Cricket Frogs. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5066487&show_panel=true The yarn was soft and not splitty at all. The pattern is Embossed Leaves from Favorite Socks book, put out by Interweave Knits.

Now I am just waiting for the first so that I can cast on for some really hard socks, Harika from Twist Collective and Bacchus from Fall 2008 Interweave Knits.

Forgotten

2008-12-18T12:16:00.002-05:00

I have been playing around with our new camera and thought it would take some btter photos and then I realized that I forgot to show my finished Mad Color Weaves, too.

The top photo is some Oceanwinds Knits sock yarn that I bought from someone who was destashing on ravelry. I think they might become some, Spring Forwards, http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer08/PATTspringforward.html

The next is a more true to life colors for the yarn that I bought for the Latvian Dances socks.

The last is my finished Mad Color Weaves. The pattern is free, but you need to be on ravelry to access it. I used Jewbal yarn for it. She has an etsy shop for her yarn, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5164701 The pattern was quite fun.

Merry Christmas as I am pretty sure I won't be posting again until after Christmas. May we all remember that Jesus is the reason for the season and may His peace rest in your heart.

Accumulation.

2008-12-15T18:13:00.002-05:00

The top photograph doesn't really capture the details of my DD new knitting design business. It might really help if she knew how to knit.. ;0) She has some great ideas though.

I got my lovely yarn from Red Bird Knits. They are even having a sale right now on this yarn, http://www.redbirdknits.com/ It is for the Latvian Dances pattern. My mom and a few of my Ravelry friends have the yarn and pattern and I have caved to peer pressure. Although I did choose a different variegated color.

The bottom is my new swift that I got for my birthday from Knitting Notions, http://www.knittingnotionsonline.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=1. It works beautifully and is quite lovely to look at. They had it here in three days. I ordered on a Tuesday and got it on Thursday. Not bad.

I LOVE WINTER

2008-12-13T14:50:00.003-05:00

I am serious, I really do love winter. We took the children sledding this morning at a dune park near where we live. Scott hasn't figured out how to do the panoramic part of the new camera. He did manage to get one of the boys flying down the big hill. It was so beautiful out there and then the bald eagles came. They were magnificent. We saw three at once, but they kept coming back to the area to ride the updrafts from the dunes. We also walked down to Lake Michigan and watched the massive waves in the stormy blue-green water. We may live in a very economically depressed area, but you can surpass the beauty here.

I also finished a dumpling bag from Interweave Knits Fall 2008 magazine. The embellishments are terrible, so I turned that area away from the camera. I will try to make another some time soon though.

Christmas Gifts DONE!! Yay!

2008-12-07T13:06:00.003-05:00

I am finally done with my Christmas Knitting. These were my last. They are, of course, Fiber Trends Felted Clogs. They are knitted with Knit Picks, Wool of the Andes. This is a really great yarn for these and quite frugal too. Each pair of clogs took took 5 skeins of yarn and I still a bit left over. The yellow ones for my MIL and she really doesn't have a favorite color so I choose the colors of her living room in which to make these. The bluish purple ones are for Grandmother and I wasn't sure about colors for her either but these should do nicely.

As much as I like the pattern, it needs to be awhile before I make another pair.

Happy Birthday to Me..... a little early

2008-12-04T19:20:00.004-05:00

My mom sent me a wonderful birthday package. The great part is that we share the same birthday, December 7, a day that will live in infamy forever. Anyway, she sent me a lovely sock kit from sweetpaprika designs, http://www.sweetpaprikadesigns.com/ and some patterns and some yarn, Beyond Basics Knits in Funyun and a little sweater key chain and a mini sock change purse kit and swirly hat pattern. Thanks to my mom, my yarn fairy!!!

My sock yarn stash

2008-12-04T13:08:00.001-05:00

I think it needs to grow, don't you? We will call this the pre-Christmas enhancement photos.

5 down and two more to go

2008-11-22T10:32:00.003-05:00

My last pair of socks for Christmas is done. These are for my MIL. They are a pattern from Wendy Knits blog that I won the summer of 2007 for guessing the right number of socks she would knit that summer. She knit an astonishing 19 pairs. I was dually impressed. The pattern is called Lacy Rib and the yarn Knit Picks Essential Tweed in Inca Gold. MIL picked out the yarn as she wanted a brown.

I know have to knit and felt two pairs of clogs. Hubby also wants me to knit a garland of mini socks, all before Christmas. Thank goodness for sock left overs.

Toe-up

2008-11-16T14:01:00.002-05:00

Toe up socks make the nicest toe, in my humble opinion. The top sock has a kitchner toe and although the detail of the join is fuzzy, due to my camera being "ill", you can perhaps see that it isn't very pretty. The next two pictures of the brown socks are knit toe-up using Judy's Magic Cast on. There aren't any gaps and the whole toe looks smooth. Here is a youtube video to help show the magic cast on. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhBIS0AhhQY&feature=related Hopefully when I have a better camera I show how the toe-up method of using a a gusset and heel flap can look very nice adn very smooth. Many people like to use a short row heel with the toe-up, but I really think it isn't the best choice for fit or for finish and over all look.

The bottom sock is one half of my Mad Color Weave socks for Ravelry's SKA knit along. This month's challenge is Wendy pattern, (she only has toe-up patterns), slip stitches or mosaic stitches. The brown socks are actually a Wendy pattern that I won in the summer of 2007 for guessing how many socks she would knit that summer. The I knit the color weave socks in is from this etsy dyer, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5164701 The color is called Georgia Peach.

Lazy Blogger Strikes Again

2008-11-04T14:51:00.002-05:00

Sorry about lack of blogging. Not that I have a big readership.

Don't you just love the top photo? I can bicycle to that park. It has a great walkway over the dunes and Lake Michigan is so beautiful. We were taking family photos there.

I finished my Insomnia socks in time for the SolidSocks KAL over at Ravelry. October's color was brown. They have a short row heels which I find to be a bit sloppy and if I wasn't so lazy I would have figured out how to put in a heel flap and a gusset.

In the bottom photo are Shrek's missing slippers. There are my first Fiber Trend Clogs. Very fast and fun to knit. They turned out to be too long for my feet, but I think they will be great for my aunt as a Christmas present. Now I need to make two more pairs and more. They will make great Christmas gifts I think.

Doings!

2008-10-13T13:50:00.003-04:00

I just spent a lovely weekend with my mom, who is on the left, and her friend Jill. In the picture we are at my mom's house eating pizza and drinking some very good red wine. They invited me over to show them making bread, whole wheat bread ground from wheat berries, and to help them with their sock knitting. I have a fabulous time. Her friend Jill was very easy to get to know and so much fun. It was the best time I have ever had with my mother, wonderful talks and so much fun.

We took, or at least for me one class worth, class of fiber trend's clogs. It was my first knitting class ever and I thoroughly enjoyed it. (There aren't any knitting shops near me, the closest is 45 minutes away and my limited budget won't allow it.) My mom was incredibly generous in giving me some yarn spending money and paying for my class. The clogs are quite fun.

We ate some seriuosly good food. That was one of my favorite parts, along with swimming in my mom's whirlpool tub until I emerged a prune, nothing like being a white raisin. ;0) I returned home feeling very refreshed and ready to resume homeschooling and loving on my family is increased vigor.

The bottom sock is my Insomnia sock, or at least one of them. I'll share more about them when they are done.

Swap with My Knitting Buddy! WOW!

2008-09-25T10:57:00.003-04:00

My knitting buddy and I decided to swap yarn and do a pattern together. My knitting friend is Linda of,

http://lindaknittingblog.blogspot.com/ . We both have a hard time giving our socks away, so we decided that perhaps buying yarn for each other and knitting a pattern together would be more to our taste. (Frankly, this helps me out a lot, because she can always help me with my technical issues when we knit the same pattern) . We decided on ShiBui knits for the yarn, as neither one of us have ever tried it. The bottom picture is ShiBui knits in Honey which she choose for me. We will be knitting the Francie pattern. You can find the pattern here or buy it through Ravelry. http://bowerbirdknits.blogspot.com/2008/02/francie_29.html Doesn't that pattern look fun?!

Well, she decided to include some more yarn and goodies, like my own personal sock club kits. How clever was that of her? The second photo down is my Apollo and Artemis kit to knit in ShiBui Wasabi, she called it my woods kit.

The next photo is my Tea kit with Cherry Tree Hill in apricot. There is tea, a votive holder, beautiful tea stitch markers, a crochet hook for fixing sock errors (something I so need), a large needle, tape measure and look at all the lovely pouches she MADE. She is going to design a pattern for the yarn, just for me. Ahhh, it is good to have talented friends!

Did you see the sock blockers in the big picture and skipbo for the children? There is even a magic loop needle for me to try to convert to the dark side. All you magic loopers are insidious.

She truly has a generous heart. I am overwhelmed at her thoughtfulness. Check out her blog for her free patterns. Also check out the post below this one to what else the UPS man brought on the same day.

Yarn Fairy

2008-09-25T10:50:00.004-04:00

My mom has become my knitting fairy Godmother. Just because she loves me, she sent me two skeins of yarn, Knitting Notions in Dark Rose and ONline supersocke 100 in wellness. She also sent a knitting magazine, a Biblical Archaeology Review, a Cake decorating book (my children are now demanding fun cakes), Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawerence, and Bibical CD. The UPS guy looks vaguely like the Yarn Fairy I think.

Spring Pools

2008-09-22T14:36:00.003-04:00

I finished my test knitting for Linda. Aren't these lovely? The pattern was so fun. Something to do every row. She wrote a beautiful pattern. You can knit them if you want now, as she posted the pattern for FREE on her blog, http://lindaknittingblog.blogspot.com/ . We are having a KAL of at SolidSocks on ravelry. Anyone is welcome to join.

The pattern calls for sport weight yarn. I used meduim weight from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. You won't find this lovely color in their collection, because I over dyed one of the spirit yarns. A terrible thing to do to such a lovely yarn company, I know. You can yell at me later.

What to do?

2008-09-19T13:22:00.002-04:00

As you can see the shoulder seam will be off by about three inches. I don't know what to do. I am thinking of frogging the whole project and trying something a little easier. This is one of the reason I don't like knitting sweaters. Lots of effort and if it doesn't turn out, a major waste of time. I suppose I could reknit the front but I really don't want. That is one of the reasons I haven't knit on it. Any suggestions?

I am not sharing!

2008-09-15T15:06:00.002-04:00

my mother, that is! I am not sharing my mother. Look at what books she bought me just, because she thought I would like them. How awesome is that! Now I really need to get knitting. My mother seems to have been bitten by the knitting bug. I hear once bitten it is contagious. Can you hear me snickering?

The yarn is from Yarn Chef over at etsy. The yarn base is called minestrone and the colorway is Cricket Frogs. I love green and this is a lovely soft shaded green yarn, which is destined to become some embossed leaves.

It's okay you can be green with envy if you want over my mother. LOL I look forward to knitting with her.

Pools

2008-09-10T08:06:00.003-04:00

These are Pools, a test knit pattern from my friend Linda from http://lindaknittingblog.blogspot.com/ . I can't believe she trusted me to test knit for her. The pattern is quite fun with stuff to do every row. No sleeping on the job here. The yarn is BMFA in Meduim weight. It WAS one of their new Spirit colors but the green really didn't show through, so I over dyed it. Probably sacrilegious to the fans of BMFA. The sock is a little big because I photographed it on my DD foot. These will be a gift for a friend.

Cleaned off the needles

2008-08-31T10:20:00.003-04:00

Yup! I cleaned all of the socks off of my needles! No more single lonely socks. These are my Journey Cable socks by Sivia Harding. They done in Punky Fushia from Dream in Color. The first sock was done on DPN"S, while the second was done on circulars. Circulars are sooo much faster. Doesn't the yarn really show off the pattern? I believe my favorite sock yarn is Dream in Color Smooshy. The bottom photo is the true to color one.

They are done just in time to start my orange socks for the September KAL over at Ravelry in my group called Solid Socks.

Help! I'm melting....

2008-08-20T08:49:00.004-04:00

Actually my popsicles are melting right off of my feet. The whole idea of these socks enchanted me right from the beginning. It was my first time knitting with Socks that Rock meduim weight from Blue Moon Fiber Arts, in Tanzinite. They are so soft, the yarn has a wonderful "hand" to it when knitting. I love the color of my grape popsicles, but they could be just a touch less stripey. I shouldn't be so picky.

I didn't realize Summer of Socks ends on September 1. I thought it ended on the 21st. My goals were met in completing at least 4 pairs, but if it would have continued, I would have exceeded my goal. Oh well, I am happy never the less. Next summer, I'll push even harder. My friend, Linda, over at http://lindaknittingblog.blogspot.com/ really spurred me on. She is a fabulous knitter and has inspired me to knit harder and more complicated patterns. That was probably my favorite thing about SOS 08, knitting with a friend.

Loot

2008-08-14T18:24:00.003-04:00

The camera is dying. Sorry, it has good days and bad. No new camera until most likely.

Anyway, I got a great new sock book New Pathways for Socks Knitters, by Cat Bordhi. This book is so clever. I am totally enchanted.

The next is some new yarn from http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5164701 She is a new etsy store owner. Lovely semi-solids and she just started a monthly sock club that I quite interested. The yarn is called Georgia Peach. I plan to use it something from the new book.

I have a few socks on the needles that I am looking to finish up soon. The one pair is so neat that I want to show both socks at the sametime.

New England in the Summer

2008-08-11T19:51:00.003-04:00

Yes, these are New England's by Nancy Bush from her book ,Knitting on the Road. They are done Arcuania semi solid. The color is Limon which I purchased from the Loopy Ewe.

They took awhile because in between I had learned to knit socks on circulars and then I had to buy the right size to finish these. They went much faster with metal circulars then with bamboo DPN"S.

I have actually finished 3 pairs of socks in two months. For some of you that is nothing but for me, that is pretty darn speedy. I am even one sock down from a pair again. so it could 4 pairs. I will have more then met my goal for Summer of Socks 2008. And no...you can't watch me do my happy dance! ;0)

Clever

2008-08-06T10:36:00.004-04:00

Aren't these cute?! I bought myself a new book from Knit Picks,http://www.knitpicks.com/ because I finally couldn't resist their 40% off sale, which by the way ends August 8. So get thyself there and get your own.

The little is called Little Sky Sock from the book, New Pathways for Sock Knitters, by Cat Bordhi. She has a bunch if different sock architectures, which is basicly different areas of the sock to do the increases and decreases that are normally down in the gusset area. It is all very clever and I like clever. I learned some new techniques the FIRST time I tried them with this book. That says a lot for me because I usually make a mess of things.

Finished something

2008-07-29T09:14:00.004-04:00

I finished these, Friday Harbors by Nancy Bush from Knitting on the Road. The yarn is a Norwegian yarn that I bought on sale at LYS while on a mini vacation. I dyed it with Kool Aid in grape and black cherry.....several times because the colors never blended well. Then I was afraid unwind it because the last time I unwound yarn for over dyeing it got tangled and I ended up tossing it out. It was good yarn too, not cheap. These are a gift for someone in my family. Shhh don't tell. The pattern was a little difficult, because on the cuff you needed to move the stitches around to make everything line up right. The toe is odd too so I just modified a little.

I cast on for Grapevine socks from More Sensational Knitted Sock by Charlene Schurch but there isn't enough knitting be worth a picture.

Since starting to use two circulars when knitting socks, I find I am enjoying knitting even more. With the up coming advent of HOMEschool starting again, my knitting time will decrease as well as my computer time. I have a friend whose time decreased because her children were home for the summer. I will have to suffer from the opposite problem I guess.

She cooks too

2008-07-25T15:11:00.003-04:00

I haven't been knitting as much this week because I have been cooking. Those are the Meaty Manicotti for my MIL's sevenieth birthday party tomorrow. She is a wonderful woman and I can only hope be as nice as she is when I grow up. What you don't see is the Honey Glazed Snack mix and homemade chocolate syrup I made also. Oh don't forget three loaves of bread.

Blogger is crazy and won't let me delete these letters. loatesch tay

STR and one done

2008-07-24T13:00:00.002-04:00

Yup, we really need to improve our photo skills. Like my toes in the top photo? Anyhoo, that is my first skein of Socks That Rock, it is Tanzanite, in medium weight. A lovely shade of purple if I do say so myself.

The one sock done. I seem to have acquired second sock syndrome. Although I will cast on for the next Friday Harbor today. I dyed this yarn myself. DH says it looks like a bruise. What do you think? The toe is lighter then the top. Dyeing is harder then it looks.

The beach and socks

2008-07-18T13:43:00.003-04:00

The top sos 08 socks are done!!!!!! Not my favorite pattern but I value it for all that I have learned with it. I learned knitting socks on two curiculars, toe up with gusset heel, and magic cast on. These are going to be a gift.

I just started Wollmeise pattern from the Loopy Ewe but it a free pattern. As you have guessed the yarn isn't Wollmeise but Knit Picks, Memories, in Redwood colorway. For being a cheaper yarn I am surprised at how nice it is in feel and twist. No issues with splitting and it is quite soft.

Friday Harbors have been cast on a ripped four to five times and the pattern is now in a time out so that my ego can recover. Hopefully I will cast on again for it in a week or two.

I just wanted to share our beach with everyone. We live within walking distance of this beach on Lake Michigan. Yesterday the water was like bath water it was so warm. The water is clear with a sandy bottom. We feel so bless to live this close to it. it is nothing for DH to come from work and for us to just put on our suits and go for a quick dip. The beach is wide and nothing but sugar sand. I sent a note one time to the Dream in Color ladies that they need to make a colorway that resembles my beach, tan with slight shadings of green and blue. Hubby tattoo is an eagle with the intials USMC which stands for United States Marine Corp.

I wish I knew my camera better so that I could change the date. Perhaps I am passive agressive with technology. I want to know it but I don't want to take the time to learn it.

One down and one to go

2008-07-12T18:25:00.001-04:00

You know what I love most about these socks.....all that I have learned in making them. They are the first toe up gusset heels I have worked (successfully), the first time I have made socks on two curicular needles, and the most successful magic cast on. The pattern itself is okay, but great for this violently colored yarn. It is Claudia's Handpainted in Carousel that accompanied my earning Loopy Groupie status. Not a colorway I would have chosen for myself. They will be a gift.

Now I am waiting on some needles from Knit Picks so that I can fly through some more socks.

Oh Me! Oh My!

2008-07-07T13:24:00.001-04:00

No pictures for this one.....sorry.

I am just so excited that I had to share. I finally took the plunge and learned to knit socks on two curriculars. What speed....what ease....what fun! It was so easy to learn. I was trying Judy's magic cast on for toe up socks and on the DPN's I knit so tight that it took me a half hour just to get 4 rows done. With the curriculars like 5 mintues to get that far. As soon as I finish the two current pairs I am working on, I am going to start two at once on two curriculars.

I am soooo excited with my skill. (it doesn't take much to entertain me does it?)

Bah Humbug

2008-07-03T14:08:00.001-04:00

Another little wee sock is done. The yarn is from Wool in the Woods but I don't remember the name since I had it before the year 2000. Another Christmas ornament.

I finished the first sock of my New England's. Nice pattern but I got tired of hauling the book around everywhere so that I could stay on pattern. The heel is quite narrow also.

The bottom one is Summer of Socks 08 pattern. I have altered the pattern to do ssk then k2tog just because I wanted to. Not sure if I am going to keep going on this as the color is already pooling and I think I choose a size too big. Probably as a backlash from the NE's which are a bit snug. Finding a good pattern to go with heavily variegated yarn is hard.

Summer of Socks 08

2008-06-23T13:38:00.000-04:00

Summer of Socks has begun!!!!!!

My goal, should I choose to accept it, is the complete for pairs before the beginning of Fall. I already have my first three pairs planned. If I succeed I plan to buy my self some more yarn. Until then I am putting myself on a yarn diet. My basket is overflowing.

1. New England's by Nancy Bush from Knitting on the Road
2. Summer of Socks pattern by WendyKnits
3. Friday Harbor by Nancy Bush from Knitting on the Road

A lovely interent friend and I are knitting these together. Lovely Linda and her work can be found here http://lindaknittingblog.blogspot.com/ Personally, I think I get the better end of the bargain because she is a better knitter and I plan to learn from her. She has knit some great socks.

Anyway, those are the New England's that I started in Araucania. I didn't get the cast on quite right but hey, I can be a lazy knitter and think it looks okay.

New...New...New

2008-06-23T13:29:00.000-04:00

First off, I frogged Devilishly Handsome socks. I just didn't like them and my knitting time is too valuable to knit something I don't like. Someone on Ravelry expressed interest in the yarn and I gave it to them. They done and gone.

I have had some stash acquisitions lately.

The top two are Elann's sock it to me, in claret and oasis. The next is Araucania Ranco in Limon color. The last one is Artyarns Ultramerino 4 in and number color but I prefer to call it sunshine.

I also purchased some sport weight which I am dyeing. I have already dyed it 3 seperate time but I am still not happy with it and I think I am actually going to dye it again this upcoming weekend. Dyeing is just not for me. I don't have the right equipment or enough space to play with it. I will post about it when it is finally done.

Vest update

2008-06-12T09:14:00.001-04:00

Not exciting but I have gotten farther along on this. I am hoping to finish this before Christmas this year, but after June 21st, it will be nothing but socks until Sept. 22, then vest again. I am taking part in Summer of Socks 08 and I really want to push myself to complete 4 or more pairs. If I get 4 pairs done I want to reward myself with something....like more sock yarn. Perhaps there will be new colors out to try.

My first pair of socks for SOS08 will be New England's from Nancy Bush' Knitting on the Road. Let's see if I can finish the right side of the vest before then so that I can knit with good conscience on all of the socks.

In Progress

2008-06-05T12:57:00.001-04:00

I am working on Handsome Devil socks by Terry Morris from the 3 sox knitalong from yahoogroups. They are bright enough to blind you but they will be a gift for someone in my family but I am not sure yet who. They are a bit slow going with the purl round. I am hoping to finish them by June 21 but I am sure if I can do it.

In better news, I am starting a KAL with a new online friend for New England socks, by Nancy Bush, from her book, Knitting on the Road, over at Ravelry. Since I know a lot of people read here. ;0) Join at Knitting Alone group on Rav. It will be in the summer KAL sticky thread.

6 quirky things about me

2008-06-02T14:05:00.000-04:00

This sounded like fun so I thought I would do it.

1. I don't like store bought baked goods, unless they come from a bakery. I mean a real bakery, not a chain store one. Don't bring it to my house. If you can't make dessert, I will make it but no Sara Lee pies or anything of that sort. I can smell and taste the chemicals from miles away. Although, I am fond of Little Debbie Nutty Bars.

2. As an only child growing up, I lacked the ability to play well with others, and still do. I am not fond of groups, unless I am leading it.

3. I love classical music, with Beethoven's 9th as my favorite, and Mozart's, Magic Flute opera, as a close second.

4. I am not sure if this is quirky or not but, my husband is truly my best friend and we don't fight....ever. I can't remember the last disagreement. We just take turns being crazy.

5. My father took me to see Jaws at the tender age of thirteen and I now refuse to swim in salt water and I don't like boats. I also like pretty much on the coast of Lake Michigan. I can swim in the lake but not the ocean. I even used to be afraid to swim in the lake.

6. I can remember most everything I have ever read, IF it was well written, and it was important to me. Since having children and homeschooling I don't read as much. I can also skim a large novel in a few hours and actually do well on a test for it. This was very helpful in college.

Now that you have seen into my mind, you can run screaming the other way if you want.

Just in Time

2008-06-01T15:44:00.001-04:00

Now, you knew you wanted to see two of the same picture.

I am so please that I met my goal of finishing these before the start of June and I did it with 2 hours to spare. They are the Uptown Boot Socks by Jennifer Appleby in the Favorite Socks book. I knit them on size 2 DPN's and in Pistachio colorway from Claudia Handpainted Yarns. I made a mistake on one but you can't really see it. I could of had these done faster if I didn't have children and a husband, but since I love them, I guess I will settle for being slow.

The hard part is deciding which socks to cast on for next. Do I knit what I want to knit or should I start in on my Christmas socks or finish the other Journey Cable sock? So much to knit and so little time. Any ideas?

Almost done

2008-05-24T12:40:00.000-04:00

The top picture is more true to the color and the pattern is more evident there also. I am almost done with its mate but I have to work this weekend and my mother is here to visit from out of state and I am busy every night this week. WE are the T-ball coaches for our son's baseball team. What were we thinking?!

Working something

2008-05-19T08:48:00.001-04:00

I am working on Uptown Boot Socks from the book, Favorite Socks. The yarn is Claudia Hand Painted in Pistachio. The socks are quite quick and easy. I will be done with the first sock tonight. That will be my fastest sock yet. I believe a little over a weeksince I started it. It would have been done last night but my eyes were tired.

I also joined Summer of Socks 2008 in order to provide some much need motivation and pressure to work on Christmas sock knitting. My goals are to finish 4 pairs in three months. For me that is a stretch.

I want to put the button on my blog for it but I don't know how to take just an image and put it on. I hang my head in shame for lack of computer knowledge.

FO's

2008-05-09T09:03:00.000-04:00

I finally finished the Matrix Mittens, actually it only took me a week and a half. They are done in Knit Picks, wool of the andes, Hollyberry and snicker doodle. I have yarn left over too, which makes these mittens less then $5 to make. The pattern was my first fair isle or stranded mittens and my second pair of mittens. Keeping the tension at the joins on my DPN's even, was hard. They turned out bigger then I thought they would but they are still snug on the hand, to the point where they are almost too snug. The pattern in free from http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter07/PATTmatrix.html.

I also am starting some new socks. The Uptown Boot socks from Favorite Socks in Pistachio by Claudia Handpainted Yarn.

I am joining Summer of Socks in order to boost my sock production this summer. Hopefully I will be able to figure how to put a button for on the blog but don't hold your breath.

Doing the Dishes

2008-05-06T16:39:00.001-04:00

Yup! You guessed it. It is a dish cloth. Made from Sugar and Creme cotton yarn. I know you are as thrilled about it as I am. I should be done with some mittens soon.

Good use of my time

2008-04-23T10:26:00.001-04:00

Yup! That is a mini sock. I finished it in about 2 hours but it could have been less without children interupting me. The yarn is from an etsy shop called Fiber Arts in various forms, the yarn color is called Melon Fields.

Hopefully I will something more productive to show soon.

Long time, no hear or see

2008-04-14T14:17:00.001-04:00

I have been focusing on my priorities, so that means less time for knitting. On the up-side, my children have had more then me and so has the house. Don't worry, I would never neglect hubby, he gets all of me. 80) Also, cables are slower then easier patterns. This is only the FIRST, Journey Cable sock, in punky fushia from Dream In Color Yarns. That means I have have a whole other one to go. Amiee was kind enough to send me this lovely pattern, which I like but takes me awhile. I warned you I was a slow knitter.

Now that things have settled down a bit, I am hoping for more knitting time. I have started back on my vest, which is cabled. When I finish the front side I will post a picture of it...maybe.

At the rate I am going I might want to start any Christmas knitting I am planning on. Perhaps this year I will focus on food gifts.

Talents and yarn

2008-03-14T13:21:00.000-04:00

I won a lovely blog contest from doglover's yarn http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5013806 . I had a choice whether I wanted her to dye in variegated or semi-solid. Of course, I choose semi-solid in golden greens because we need to some green around here. The yarn is beautiful. There is still snow on the ground.

One of my seven year old sons drew Fred Flintstone from a book. Didn't he do great? I certainly didn't help him because I can't draw and hubby was at work, so he did it all by himeself. The boy has some skills.

Finished

2008-03-08T09:16:00.000-05:00

I finally finished a pair of socks for the sockdown on Ravelry. Hubby says these are my best yet. They are Eleanors by the late Monkey Toes, knit in J. Knits, Washington colorway. The pattern was quite easy and I love the subtle color variations in this semi solid.

A few things

2008-03-03T14:46:00.000-05:00

Just a few things. I was able to score some DIC Flamingo Pie, Sock Soak citrus, and a pattern by Wendy called Loopy Laces. All this from Loopy Ewe. I am going to use the Flamingo Pie for the Loopy Lace pattern. Is it really stash enhancement if you already now what your going to make with your yarn?

One down and old to show

2008-02-25T14:50:00.001-05:00

This is my Eleanor sock, which actually went quite quickly. I just need to cast on for the next sock. When I am finished with both I will take better photos so that the pattern will show more. The yarn is J. Knit in Washington colorway. I love the subtle semi-solid colorway. The sock is gorgeous in person.

This is a tank top I made from recycled yarn from a previous project. It is Ibiza by Plymouth/Adriafil, I can not remember the colorway. The pattern is from Knitter's Magazine issue 55, summer 1999. Back when they had wearable patterns. Originally I had knit Directional Point, which was a sweater vest but the fit was too wide across the chest. This tank top is called tank top trio by Kathleen Power Johnson. I blocked this and did a mattress seam finish. The first time I did either and it really made a difference in how nice it looks. The problem is, again it is too wide across the chest. Maybe if I wear a tank top under it it will be better.

Alright, I can't seem to stay away

2008-02-17T10:09:00.000-05:00

Hey, I think I figured out how to seperate my pictures. These little computer victories keep me going. Recently, I even learned how to post a picture into a thread at Ravelry. Will my skills ever cease? I know my few and I mean few readers, will know what an achievement this has been for me. Anyway, I bought this beautiful skien from the Yarn Chef over at etsy in her minestrone line, which is 75% wool and 25% nylon. It is very soft and the colorway is called, Fruity.

This Dream In Color smooshy, called Go Go Grassy. I might have to make it my mission to collect all the colorways of this magnificent yarn.

Well I don't seem to be able to stay away. If figure if your willing to look at it, I am willing to post it.

I started a new sock called Eleanor by Monkey Toes. The designer recently passed away and I have prayed for her family. Over at ravelry for the sock down they are allowing us to use her patterns in memorial for her. This is the only one I had of hers. I am knitting in J. Knits, Washington colorway. The sutble color tones are great. I am knitting them on size 1 DP's. Perhaps I should think about branching out and learning how to use circulars or even knitting 2 at the same time.

Well by now you have figured out that I am still learning how to move a few things around but the blog is still out of order. Oh well always more to learn. I am off to tend sick children and then off to work to tend sick elderly.

The End

2008-02-07T15:28:00.000-05:00

I finished the Flame Waves and I just finished another I-pod sock for my husband co-worker.

I have decided to end my blog because Ravelry pretty much meets my needs and my computer skills aren't enough to make this blog interesting. In other news, I need to pull back from the time I spend on the computer. This isn't the season of life for me to spend so much time here. Someone needs to educate the kiddies. Besides it isn't like many people read this blog and those who do, can find me at ravelry. I will leave my blog up for awhile yet.

Loopy Loot

2008-01-31T14:46:00.001-05:00

Well, I finally obtained Groupie status with the Loopy Ewe. Was it worth it you ask? You betcha! Look at the cool tote bag and Claudia Hand Painted sock yarn in carousel colorway that I got for free. Sheri is the best.

Over on Ravelry in the Loopy Groupie Group they are showing pictures of their sock yarn stashes and telling how many pairs of socks they can make from it. For a little perspective I thought I would put in a picture of my stash, which pathetic by comparsion. I can only make 16 pairs of socks. Some over there have an upwards of 150 pairs they can knit. Although I must admit I like my starage container for my sock yarn. Actually I will be able to make 17 pairs as I am alost finished with my Flame Waves and I have a skien coming to me from an Esty dyer.

Now I just need to figure out how to put my stash picture in a link over at ravelry. This computer stuff is just too much for me. Eventually my dd will be taking over as she already can run the remotes for the TV downstairs better then I can.

I almost forgot to mention that the little pole things which you see some yarn cakes on, my hubby made for me. He is also working on some sock blockers in different sizes. He finished the large sized one. That is probably a hint for me to knit him some socks.

I forgot to add that the yarn did all the striping work in the tote bag I knitted and fulled. You thought I was clever enough to do that myself? Just remember I am blond! ;0)

Blast from the past

2008-01-30T13:23:00.000-05:00

I knit these almost 8 years ago. They are from Family Circle knitting. I will have to look up the patterns. The blue green one was my first sweater and it shows. I really was quite proud of the cream colored one. I knit these for my daughter when she was about two. It just goes to show you what you can find when you clean out your closet.

I don't have much esle because I have been feeling under the weather.

Something Finished

2008-01-21T12:27:00.000-05:00

Rumor has it that Flock of Seagulls, that lovely techno pop group from the 1980's, is reuniting for a tour. I was able to get a picture of the new drummer. LOL

In other news I finished a tote bag. It was the Jan. 1 pattern from the calendar, Pattern A Day. I changed it just a little. I added i-cord handles hoping they would be firmer. I used Knit Picks Bulky Wool of the Andes in Fly Fishing for it. Hubby works in shipping so we can get some nice sized cardboard and it makes for a great blocking board. The tote bag would have blended in with the rug for the picture otherwise. I might try and felt the bag one more time to make it tighter.

Half done and something new started

2008-01-14T11:35:00.000-05:00

I finished one of the Flame Wave socks from Favorite Socks. It is knit in sport weight yarn and calls for starting with size 5 needles and then decreasing to to size 4. It was huge and I frogged the sock and knit the whole thing on size 3. Maybe I need to start making gauge swatches for socks. Does anyone else make gauge swatches for socks. I really need to get a better camera for pictures because you can't really see the pattern here. I also will need to buy another skien of Claudia's hand Painted yarn in short sport, sea dreams to finsih the other sock.

While I am waiting, I am going to start a very simple project with my Wool of the Andes Bulky, in fly fishing. I try to have now more then two projects going at once. It helps me to get things done then.

Finally....

2008-01-10T13:12:00.000-05:00

It finally has all arrived, my order from Knit Picks. I bought some Wool of the Andes for two pairs of mittens, Wool of the Andes bulky for a felted tote bag, Bare Peruvian wool for a two color project, and last Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush. She is a great sock designer.

Ticky, the cat, seems to think she ought to be in pictures. What do you think?

Been busy

2008-01-07T13:12:00.000-05:00

I finished the Turkish Patterned Hat from Hats On by Charlene Schurch. It turned out smaller then I wanted, but it fits a boy's head so I don't mind. Quite fun to knit and the Kool Aid dyed yarn that I made turned out beautifully. I have enough yarn left over that I might make some mittens out of it or felted slippers.

Some of my Christmas stuff came, Favorite Socks and some yarn. The red yarn is J. Knits in the colorway of Washington and the other is Claudia Hand Painted in short sport, colorway Sea Dreams. I bought the yarn from http://www.theloopyewe.com/. That was my fourth order and I have only two more to go before I am a Loopy Groupie. Being a Loopy Groupie mean I get to find out when sneaks ups are coming, which is so important in gaining those coveted yarns.

I couldn't wait to start so I started Flame wave socks from the Favorite Socks book. I have only been knitting on the sock for three days, (that is short for me you fast knitters) and I have already turned the heel. Sport weight knits up quick.

Hopefully my order from Knit Picks will show up this week with the rest of my yarn stuff.

Winnings

2008-01-03T15:34:00.000-05:00

Kathleen over at http://kathleen-dakotadreams.blogspot.com/ has been incredibly generous with her contest offerings. I won the secret contest at the end which no one ever knew she was going to hold. These are the books I won. God is so good because Yarns to Dye For was in my cart at Amazon and now its mine. She even signed all of them.

I am not into felting but the felting book is great and I forsee some Christmas presents coming from there and my daughter has already asked me for some slippers from it. Now that I think about it, I might actually have some yarn that I could make her some slippers from.

Go over and check out her blog. She is funny and has quite a number of free patterns. Her stranded knitting is quite impressive!

Christmas doings

2007-12-30T15:35:00.000-05:00

My computer skills haven't increased during my time away from the blog, as you can see by the way my pictures are only at the top. We won't even try to talk about putting buttons on the blog. :0/

I made the Santa panckaes for the children. They were so easy and fun.

Do you like the two socks I started then ripped? Well, I actually started three and ripped the third one. It seems I am cursed for sock knitting lately, so I started a hat. The hat is going well and it is from Hats On by Charlene Schurch, called Turkish Patterned Hat. The yarn is Patons Classic Merino in black and white. I dyed the white with Kool Aid. I really like the look of semi solids so this is my attempt at one. If you look at the skein you can see the subtle variegation in the yarn.

As for the socks, the bottom one was a jigsaw sock in which I was distracted my children and lost count and still couldn't fix it after many attempts. The next one up is Razor Shells and I didn't really care for the pattern, nor for the striping that the yarn was doing. That poor yarn has just been through it all. The yarn is by Gypsy Knits in the colorway called Storybook. I bought it from www.loopyewe.com. I have decided to save that yarn for a hat in some kind of fair isle.

I did complete something. Hubby's sock for his Ipod. I just used some leftover Lorna's Laces sock yarn in a colorway I don't remember but it is purple and green. I change the hem on it from picot to just plain. It is more manly that way. ;0) The man has to have a manly sock for his ipod now doesn't he?

I actually did complete some children's socks but some how my children's feet grew and the socks were too small. They still wore them but the toe opened up on one.

We were blessed at Christmas with some extra money, hence the ipod and some knitting enhancement for me. I will post pictures of stuff when I have it all together. I also won a contest which I will post more about when it arrives.

Happy New Year and many Blessing from the Lord!

Happy Birthday to Me

2007-12-09T14:31:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday to Me! Happy Birthday to Me! Actually my birthday was Friday and my Hubby made it very memorable. He even rubbed lotion into my feet while I knit on the Jigsaw socks. I had a few issues with the Jigsaw socks. I frogged and ripped twice before I figured out what was wrong. What was wrong you may ask....well, I was! If I had just used a stich marker instead of assuming the stitches and repeats wouldn't move around the needles I could have saved myself trouble. Under all the hair dye I must truly be blond. ;0)

Duncan was duly impressed with my knitting skills. Doesn't he look impressed?

Another crazy child's sock that needs an equally crazy mate. I am running out of the gray and will probably make the next one with burgundy and other assorted leftovers.

Since most of my Christmas commitments are over hopefully more knitting time will appear.

Lots of stuff and past projects

2007-12-03T14:04:00.000-05:00

Let's see... the first picture is of some Patons Classic wool that I dye with Kool Aid and I am knitting my dd the Foilage hat from Knitty http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall07/PATTfoliage.html

Picture two is of some more dyed with Kool-Aid yarn. I want to get some black yarn then knit a hat out of my new book, HATS ON by Charlene Schurch! Early Christmas for me!

The third picture is of some stash enhancement from the Loopy EWE http://www.theloopyewe.com/

It is called Storybook by GypsyKnits and I plan to knit this pattern http://pinkmonkeyknits.blogspot.com/2007/05/jigsaw-socks-pattern.html for the Sockknitters Anonymous challenge for December. The group is over at Ravelry. The jigsaw pattern I thought would be great for varigated yarn. The sock challenge for December is either a mimknits pattern or cuff down. I am going with cuff down.

The next picture is a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt pattern that I did by hand for Christmas many years ago. It took me a looooooooong time but I am proud that I did it.

The next is more yarn for the stash. Dream in Color, Chinatown Apple. I have heard everyone talk about this yarn and wanted to try it. Now for the perfect pattern, something that won't be obscured by the deep color but still have some interest. I will think on it for awhile.

Yup, that's me in the last picture. I am normally not so pale but it is snowy where I live. I knit that sweater about seven years ago with a yarn that was yummy, which I can not remember the name of, nor of the pattern but it was from Family Circle Knitting Magazine. The collar or neck is suppose to be a roll neck but I bound off too early and then the sides were bulky, so I washed it. What was I thinking! :0/ At least now I filled out more so it fits better. ;0)

More past knitting

2007-11-30T07:43:00.000-05:00

This a sweater I started for my dd shortly before my twins were born and I finished it. Actually she probably did most of it because when you have twins if you aren't caring for them, your sleeping or trying to. The yarn is Cotton Fleece and the pattern is from a Knitter's magazine that I no longer have. I just loved it when I saw it. The sweater has been through the wash several times and my dd out grewer it years ago but in its prime, it was beautiful. My friend did a great job.

One of my sons made me a Lego ball winder. He was kind enough to demostrate it for us. I have no idea where his dark eye circles came from.

Past knitting and my idea

2007-11-28T11:44:00.000-05:00

The first picture is of my brilliant idea to help my knit my cable vest better and faster without so much confusion on my part. Did I mention that I am blond? I haven't had time to knit on it lately, so that I haven't tried it out.

The next pictures are of my sock from Folk Socks by Nancy Bush called Merike's Sock. I didn't do the heel right which makes for a lump under the heel. Not the best for walking on and then I did a regular but the kitchner stitch, which I am never any good at, didn't come out right earlier. I made this sock pre-2000 before I figured out that I could alter patterns to suit myself.

Stash busting and WIP

2007-11-27T12:59:00.000-05:00

Finally I am back to knitting. I am stash busting to make Christmas socks for my children at hubby's suggestion. We live in the cold north, which I love. Since my stash is quite small, it fills a rubbermaid tub, maybe a one square yard, and I wanted to make them wool socks and don't have a ton of worsted weight wool, these should be interesting. I just wanted to make warm play socks that I wouldn't care if they wore holes in them. After I finished the blue one, I ran out of blue yarn and moved on to my gray. Patons Classic Merino is a very nice yarn. That is the gray color. I think the red is Lopi and the blue is Knit Picks, Wool of the Andes. I have two more pairs to make. The color combos should be interesting.

I also decided to work on my vest. Cabling is slower then I thought, I also need to highlight parts of my pattern to make it easier to see what I need to do. Since the yarn is dark and I can be lazy I didn't fix some small errors in the lower portion. Perhaps I'll be done by next Christmas as I am really itching to knit some regular socks.

Trials and something finished

2007-11-21T16:49:00.000-05:00

This is a reading shawl I made for my Grandmother out of fleece and fabric. It coordinates with her slippers that I knit her. The project reminded me of why I am no longer a quilter. I accidently cut some fabric in the wrong place and when fabric is cut...it is cut. Yarn can be frogged and then reknit but fabric can not be made whole again. I managed to work it out but then I forgot how to make a bias binding and that took some doing. Seam allowances also reared their ugly heads and as I forgot about those to. Hanging my head in shame, I am going back to knitting.

I started a sock with the Crusoe pattern from Knitty but I didn't take a good picture of it so I didn't put it up. I have visited the frog pond of knitting more times then I care to think of lately.

I have some past issues of Knitter's Magazine over at eBay for auction. The issues I put up are OOP so you may want to check.

Turkey is calling my name and thy name is...troubled knitter.

Defeated but not beaten

2007-11-16T17:11:00.000-05:00

I had to give up on the November Mystery Socks by Mona over at http://knitstricken.blogspot.com/ I had to frog again and my knitting joy is gone. My ego has taken a blow as the pattern is written for intermediate to advanced knitters and I consider myself intermediate and I hoped to learn more but it won't be with this project. Knitting is suppose to reduce stress, not cause it.

My vest is needing some attention so perhaps I'll work on that. Of course, I'll have to start another sock.

No pictures this week because hubby took the camera hunting with him. I hope he has something to photograph.;0)

Finished

2007-11-11T17:27:00.000-05:00

Seven days to finish my hat, actually it a hat for hubby. My first two color project and it was so fun and easy. I held the yarns in my right hand and it wasn't difficult.

Yarn: Wool of the Andes

Colors: Coal and Cerulean

Needles: size 6

Pattern from Hats On by Charlene Schurch

I really need to start work on my vest again but I engrossed in November Mystery Socks.

So much knitting and so little time

WIP

2007-11-07T08:13:00.000-05:00

Here is just a quick look at the hat I am working on. I loved Pats hat over at http://www.patsknittingandquilting.com/ that I had to make one of my own. I add more details when I finish which hopefully will this week.

Finished Objects and Football

2007-11-04T16:02:00.000-05:00

I love football. I get to sit and knit and be with my hubby. Detriot is currently shutting out the Denver Broncos and I finished two projects. It doesn't get much better then that, except maybe for catching my husband trying out my recently completed hat and I catch it with a camera. Of course, the hat looks cuter on my dautgher.

I also finished some socks. I have had the yarn for yarns and had already knit a pair of socks out of it before. The yarn seemed endless. The pattern is Slipped Rib Stitch from SKS by Charlene Schurch. The yarn is a Stahl yarn of which I no longer have the band. Less you think those hairy legs belong to me, my DH is modeling those socks because their intended person has larger feet.

Now on to November Mystery socks and My DH's hat.