Words & Wool

One Final Reminder

2007-06-01T15:06:00.000-05:00

One more reminder that my blog has moved to:

www.wordsandwool.wordpress.com

Please be sure to update your bloglines, sidebars, favorites, bookmarks, etc.

(And there's a contest running from June 1, 2007 through June 8, 2007 to celebrate my 2nd Blogiversary - Check it out!)

:)

New Post

2007-05-18T09:06:00.000-05:00

New Post over at my New Blog!

Words & Wool

Please update your bloglines, links, and favorites with the new address. :)
www.wordsandwool.wordpress.com

BLOG MOVING!

2007-05-16T13:06:00.000-05:00

I've decided to give Wordpress a try, so please change your bloglines, favorites, etc. to:

www.wordsandwool.wordpress.com

Something new on the needles

2007-05-16T07:57:00.001-05:00

Thank you to everyone for the awesome comments about Thermal! It was so nice to hear that you like it too. Happily now I can move on to my next project - Wicked.

I cast-on for Wicked Sunday night and I'm already past the division for the arms! Wow! I'm using Lion Brand Cotton Ease (50% Cotton, 50% Acrylic) in the color Lake. I'm knitting the 36-39 inch size on size 7 needles. I did go ahead and knit the neckline on 6's as other people online went down one needle size with good results.

I tried the top on last night and so far it looks like it is going to be an excellent summer top. I was worried that the blue was a little too light in color for me, but I'm starting to really like it. The Cotton Ease is knitting up very nicely and feels good.

***Knitting Group is Tonight! We meet at the new Starbucks in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Laramie, just to the west of I-94 on Lake Ave.). We start at around 6:30 and go until 8ish. Any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

It Was Like Knitting a Sock for Bigfoot

2007-05-14T17:56:00.000-05:00

Thermal
Pattern: Thermal by Laura Chau
Yarn: Knit Picks Gloss in Dusk (9 skeins for the 40 inch size)
Needles: Knit Picks circular and double points size 0 (2.0 mm)
Start Date: February 18, 2007
End Date: May 8, 2007 (89 days!!!)
Comments: Sock yarn. Size 0 needles. Waffle stitch. Sounds like a sock, doesn't it? No. Instead it is the most fabulous sweater I have ever knit. Even though the number of stitches involved is equivalent to knitting Bigfoot a pair of socks, it was all worth it. This sweater rocks! The only downside is that it's 90 degrees outside and that is just not silk/wool sweater weather. Guess this top will have to wait for an Oregon premier this winter (maybe by then I'll find a good tank top to wear under it). :)

Overall this was a wonderful pattern and a great use of a lightweight yarn. The Knit Picks Gloss knit up beautifully and I'm very happy with the color I chose. I knit the 40 inch size knowing that my 42 inch bust would be decreasing as I worked out the last couple months. Sure enough. I'm now a 39 inch bust and the sweater fits very well. No changes to the pattern. I did everything it said. After knitting with this minuscule gauge, I'm off to knit a sweater in worsted weight!

The smaller pics are close-ups of the shoulder seam/collar and the new, improved buttons.

You May Notice

2007-05-11T08:10:00.001-05:00

This post is not all about my finished Thermal. I'm having button issues. The ones I bought for it are a little too small and the only other ones I had in the house looked dumb. Hopefully I can pick up some good ones this weekend and show you a completely finished Thermal next week.

As for now I am working on a super plain and easy sock. The yarn is Meilenweit Cotton Fantasy (a wool/cotton blend). The color has the descriptive name of 803. Doesn't this sock just make you think of 803? :)

I'm knitting this sock on size 0 (2.0 mm) double points and doing a simple 2x2 ribbing with a peasant heel. I'm a couple inches past the heel already. The yarn is knitting up very nicely and, as always, the self-striping just makes me knit faster and faster. I love seeing the next stripe appear!

The Loopy Ewe Seasonal Sock Club Summer Kit

2007-05-10T07:47:00.000-05:00

Yea! The first Loopy Ewe Seasonal Sock Club kit came yesterday! It's awesome! The kit came with a Loopy Ewe Sock Club bag, a new pattern from Wildhorse Farm Designs (I love her patterns), All Things Heather Sock Yarn in Skinny Dipping (the yarn is a wool/bamboo/nylon blend - neat), a little sheep soap, a packet of lemonade Kool-Aid, and some chocolate kisses. Wow! Great kit!

March 25th

2007-05-09T07:54:00.000-05:00

March 25th. Do you know the significance of that date? It was the date I last finished knitting something. It was a pair of socks (my super awesome Yarntini Project Runway socks). Since then I've been knitting Thermal and a little bit of sock. That's it. 45 days.

I always thought I was a process knitter. I love the needles, yarn, and the actual knitting, but now that I realize it's been nearly 7 weeks since I finished something and I am bothered by this fact immensely, I'm thinking I am a product knitter after all. Maybe I'm 40% process, 60% product. How about you?

P.S. The picture is a peek at my finished Thermal! Right now it is blocking/drying. A final finished project post will be up soon. Apologies for the dark, yucky picture - Stormy spring is here. :)

Seeing Double, At Last!

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

After doing little else aside from knitting Thermal over the weekend I am thrilled to announce I've got two sleeves now! The next step is to knit the button band and pick up a bajillion (maybe a slight overestimate) stitches to knit the collar, then I'll just have to sew on the sleeves and weave in the ends.

Friday I received my first Pure Knits Yarntini Sock Club Kit and from the moment I opened it I knew the best word to describe it is "Yowza!" Included in the kit is Yarntini Sock Yarn in Pure Breeze Stripe, a coordinating Misocrafty bag, Lucy Neatby's Cool Socks, Warm Feet, some cute stitchmarkers, a sample of soak wash, and a little lip gloss! I absolutely love the color of the yarn and the bag is so cute. I'm so happy with this sock club and I am excited that there will be two more kits in my future. Yea!

Looking Forward

2007-05-04T08:01:00.000-05:00

As I draw closer to the completion of Thermal, which has occupied my time for weeks and weeks, I am busy planning my next projects. (That's Thermal's 2nd sleeve in progress to the right). I mentioned last time that I'm thinking of knitting Wicked in Cotton Ease. Well, I'm also looking at Rusted Root as well as the Summertime Tank from Interweave Knits online. I've ordered some Hemp For Knitting allhemp6 for the Tank.

Why am I ordering more yarn? I don't need to be ordering any more yarn. We are moving in 2 1/2 months and I feel like my yarn stash will need it's own truck! Therefore, until we move I'm not buying any more yarn. At all. Including sock yarn. I'm in 5(!) sock yarn clubs so that should keep me happy, right? My knitting group is planning a field trip to a yarn store in Wisconsin. I'm not going to buy anything when we go. Nope. I just don't need anymore. I have so many fantastic projects planned that will use yarn that's currently in the stash that I feel at peace with this decision. Also, with the impending homeownership, I need to save some money for house stuff like a washer and dryer, curtains, etc. Oh, and a puppy. :)

Speaking of sock clubs...I got my April Petals Collection kit yesterday and I'm ecstatic! The color is Dahlia and it is an absolutely stunning yarn (and very difficult to photograph). The pattern looks good, but it's sized pretty small so I'll have to tinker with it a bit if I end up using it. I may do a different pattern though, but for now I'm just going to leave this skein near my knitting area and pet it every day. I love this yarn!

The sleeve that would not end...

2007-05-02T08:07:00.000-05:00

I really feel like I'm in some fairy tale in which I knit on my Thermal sleeve during the day. Put it down at night and then pixies come and unravel what progress I've made. I swear I never thought I would spend so much time on a sweater! I have faith I'll love it though. Everyone's finished one's have been awesome. So, I'm on the final sleeve. Then I just attach the sleeves, pick up the neckline and knit for a couple inches. Then I'm done! In time for summer! :)

I'm starting to sense I may finish this sweater sometime in the next week or so (clearly I didn't make my April deadline). What next? I'm thinking Wicked. I need a nice quick knit and I just love that top. I even have the yarn ready to go...Cotton Ease! Kim knit one with it and it turned out great. I'm such a copy cat. :)

***Knitting Group is Tonight! We meet at the new Starbucks in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Laramie, just to the west of I-94 on Lake Ave.). We start at around 6:30 and go until 8ish. Any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

Yarntastic Day!

2007-04-30T07:50:00.000-05:00

So I mentioned on Friday that a bit of sock yarn had entered my home lately. I splurged a bit since it was my birthday. Yeah, that's the perfect excuse. :) Prepare to drool!

(Pick Up Sticks Club and Rockin' Sock Club are the last photos so as to not spoil the surprise for other members).
Duet Skinny from A Swell Yarn Shop in Sailor Girl. Absolutely love this color combination! This is the new thinner sock weight Duet.

Cascade Fixation in Denim (2608) and Chocolate (7382). Adrienne knit a pair of socks with Fixation and brought it to knitting Group. They were so fabulous I want to knit some for myself!

Meilenweit Cotton Fantasy #812 (Blue and Tan) and #803 (Pinks and Browns). This just looked like great cotton sock yarn. It's 45% cotton, 42% wool, and 13% polyamide.

Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock in Undertoe (Mediumweight).
Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock in Socktopus (Mediumweight). Absolutely love this color and the name!

Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock in Foo Foo (Mediumweight).

Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock in Footzey-Foo (Mediumweight)

2007 Rockin' Sock Club April kit color, Walking on the Wild Tide, using the new base yarn, Silkie - a silk and wool blend. Absolutely stunning color!

And last, but not least the Pick Up Sticks April Sock Club Kit with Zen Yarn Garden in Spring Garden. The perfect spring colors. :)

So, which is your favorite? ;)

Return from the left coast

2007-04-27T08:11:00.000-05:00

Oregon was fantastic (our flight was cancelled Wed. due to Chicago weather so we only got back late last night). We had a wonderful time with my Grammy and the weather was gorgeous. The big news is that we found and bought a house! It's a lovely home in a fantastic neighborhood very close to where Matt will be working. We will close in July - it's going to be hard to wait!

We got back to our two angry cats (they hate it when we travel) and a giant pile of mail rather late last night, but I did have time to see that some more yarn magically appeared in my house while we were gone. :) This picture is just a peak. Any guesses as to what yarn it is? I'll do a full post on Monday with the Rockin' Sock Club kit (Yowza!), the Pick Up Sticks Sock Club kit (Lovely!), and the other various non-club yarn. Tomorrow's my birthday and I plan on spending the whole day knitting! :)

Singular Sleeve, Shattered Dreams

2007-04-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

I think we all knew this was going to happen. Somehow I was not able to magically knit two sleeves, a collar, and block Thermal in two nights. Weird how reality steps in sometimes. I did however decide to take the sleeve (and future sleeve a.k.a yarn) with us on our trip.

Tomorrow we are off to visit my grammie and do a little house-hunting in Oregon. We haven't gotten to see Grammie for two years! As happy as I will be to hang out with her, I'm almost as excited about looking at houses. I hope we find something, but if not, we know we may need to go back one more time in a couple months. It'll be fun, no matter what.

As I will be away from my computer there will be no blogging until next week. Let's say Friday, April 27th. Maybe I'll have a finished Thermal to show off then. :)

***Knitting Group is Tonight! We meet at the new Starbucks in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Laramie, just to the west of I-94 on Lake Ave.). We start at around 6:30 and go until 8ish. Any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

The Return of My Knitting Mojo

2007-04-16T08:15:00.000-05:00

Just a few days ago you may remember I lamented the loss of my knitting passion. Well, I'm glad to report I think it's back. After a wonderful trip to The Fold on Saturday with (most of) my Knitting Group I felt ready to knit and never look back. Unfortunately I couldn't start knitting right away Saturday night as we had dinner plans with Matt's little brother, but the dinner was fantastic, so I survived. :) Yesterday I knit most of the day and night. I am now nearly finished with the first Thermal sleeve. Clearly I won't be done by Thursday when we leave for Oregon, but I do have faith that this top will be done by the end of April. Hooray!

As for my purchases from the Fold, you may be surprised at what restraint I showed while being faced with a full selection of Socks that Rock and thousands of other yarns. With future packing for our impending move looming in my brain I decided to not go crazy and just pick out a few things. On the left is Blue Moon Fiber Arts Seduction in Ms. LaRock (tencel/wool sock yarn). In the middle, two skeins of Gypsy Girl Creations sock yarn in Cattails. And finally, two balls of Heirloom Breeze yarn. These came with a pattern for the cutest baby hat (for undisclosed future baby in the immediate family). I also found some cute buttons for Thermal.

The yarn shopping was wonderful however it was not the highlight of the day. What I loved best was the laughing and chatting and smiling. I have never had very many female friends and now I know what I've been missing. Our field trip was a blast! I had such a terrific time and I can't wait for our next outing to Madison in May.

Bait and switch

2007-04-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

I know. I know. You all want to see the exciting progress on the Thermal sleeve. Well, wouldn't you rather see the gorgeous new sock yarn I got yesterday? It's Zen Yarn Garden In-Sync from The Sweet Sheep. It is so soft and beautiful. The colors are (left) Spring Bloom and (right) Speckle. I love these sock yarns that come with a coordinating bit for the toe and heel. So neat!
Tomorrow is my Knitting Group's field trip to The Fold in Marengo, Illinois. It's an awesome yarn store with sheep and Socks that Rock! :) Should be a fun day (even though it's cutting into my Thermal knitting time...hehehe).

So it goes

2007-04-12T08:50:00.000-05:00

My favorite author, Kurt Vonnegut, passed away yesterday. Thankfully his books will live on forever.

Poser Knitter

2007-04-11T08:13:00.001-05:00

I'm becoming a poser knitter. I love to look at (and buy) yarn online. I peruse patterns and knitting blogs as well. However, when I get home at night, I don't touch my needles. The last few weeks I haven't been as driven to knit and I'm not sure what it is that's changed. When I have knit a little during the past days I enjoy it and think to myself, "Hey, I should knit more." I'm not even sure I would call it a slump since I like the projects I've got on the needles. Hmmmmm...maybe I'm still missing my knitting buddy, Kilby the cat...Time to train Laska the Siamese to be my knitting companion. :)

So, here is the laughable amount of knitting I have done on the first Thermal sleeve. I haven't even gotten far enough that it looks like a sleeve and not a sock. Geez! If I really really really focus I may still get this finished by the middle of next week when we go to Oregon, but I really am not sure about that happening. Good thing we've fallen behind on all the shows we record so I've got plenty to keep me going. Online someone finished her Thermal and it looks super. I hope it looks as good on me.

One way to spark the knitting fire is to hear that someone in your immediate family is having a baby! I won't give really any details as it is still early on in the pregnancy and I'm a cautious girl when it comes to that, but I did buy the yarn for a baby blanket and sweater.

I like it so much I'm thinking about keeping it for my not-even-created future baby. It's Berroco Nostalgia and it's a cotton/acrylic/nylon blend. I had picked it out online about a month ago, but was going to wait to purchase it. Then I got the email announcing the Webs annual sale and I saw it was listed. How could I resist? It's really terrific yarn. I'm not sure you can tell from the picture, but the yarn on the right is actually a toned ombre that uses the same color as the yarn on the left. I think I'll do the blanket in the solid and the sweater in the ombre. The yarn feels good and it has this really neat shiny thread running through it. I look forward to knitting it soon.

***Knitting Group is Tonight! We meet at the new Starbucks in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Laramie, just to the west of I-94 on Lake Ave.). We start at around 6:30 and go until 8ish. Any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

March Pick Up Sticks Club Kit

2007-04-05T08:03:00.000-05:00

Hopefully I've waited long enough to not spoil this for any fellow sock club members. I received my kit Tuesday and I just can't wait any longer to share it. March's kit from the Pick Up Sticks Sock Club is the super fantastic Yarn Pirate! The color is ozone and the pattern is the perfect modern, but simple stitch pattern to go with it. Yea! I've been petting this yarn a lot. The colors and texture are just lovely. This kit may trump all plans for what sock I was going to knit next. Maybe I can finish up the Desert Flower socks this weekend though I hardly ever get any knitting time when we are away visiting family and that's what we'll be doing starting tomorrow.

I have a little bit of yarn on its way to me. Pictures soon. Some of it is even not sock yarn. Can you believe it? :)

Sleeve Ahoy!

2007-04-02T08:04:00.000-05:00

On Friday I declared I would only knit Thermal this weekend. And that's exactly what I did, however, I did not actually pick up the needles to knit until yesterday. Friday night I was so brain dead from the week that I couldn't face the itty bitty needles and then Saturday we were out and about all day. We saw Blades of Glory which, in my opinion, might even be better than Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. If you love Will Ferrell you'll love the movie. If you don't like him (!) you probably won't like the movie. But how can you not like Will Ferrell? :)

As you can see from the picture, Thermal is finally getting some attention! I finished up the body and just got a start on the first sleeve. As usual, I'm not getting a good photo of the color. I'm using Knit Picks Gloss in Dusk which is a dusty blue. Now that I've got a sleeve on the needles it really seems like I might have a chance at finishing this top in time for our trip to Oregon in a couple weeks. Wish me luck!

Here we go...

2007-03-30T08:03:00.000-05:00

The new pattern and needle size are working so much better! I am using size 2.0 (US 0) needles with Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Desert Flower and the spindle pattern from More Sensational Knitted Socks. I should be casting on for the second one in no time. (In the picture, if you look very closely about halfway down on the right side you'll see a little bit of red. That's where my peasant heel will be going).

Janet in Houston asked me what gauge I get with Inox US 0 (2.0mm) and Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock. Short answer is 9 stitches per inch. Long answer, which my knitting Group is all too familiar with, is that everyone knits differently and you have to swatch it to find out. I'm never sure how much information people want or need when it comes to sock sizing, but I'll give you the general overview of how I size my socks.

First, I figure my gauge (stitches per inch). Sometimes I swatch to find this, but I've also been keeping a list of socks yarns I've knit with in the past and what gauge I got on certain needles - no need to swatch! The most important thing to remember here is that you can't let a pattern or someone else dictate what needle size to use. Those are just suggestions. You have to be happy with the fabric. For example, Lorna's does not look good to me on US 1's. It just doesn't. I get around 8 stitches per inch on US 1's and that just doesn't look as good to me as 9 stitches per inch which I get with US 0's. Someone else might like it, or they might get 9 stitches per inch on US 1's. We all knit differently. That's what keeps things interesting. :)

Secondly, I measure around the widest part of my foot. This is pretty self-explanatory. Just measure snugly around the wide part right above your toes.

Thirdly, multiply your gauge and your foot circumference to figure out what number to cast on (or what number to increase to if you are doing toe-up). For example, in my case with Lorna's on 0's, that would be:

9 stitches per inch x 9 inches around my foot = 81.

Finally, sometimes it's good to be negative. Ok, that's dorky, but it is true. In some stitch patterns you want some negative ease. Negative ease, the way I think about it, is when the fabric hugs the foot rather than fitting perfectly around the foot. If I knit a plain stockinette sock, I usually knit with about 10% negative ease. So, if my gauge x circumference number was 81, I would probably cast on 72.

81 x 10% = 8
81 - 8 = 73, but I like even numbers, so 72.

With ribbing patterns I usually just find a good number somewhere between the gauge x circumference number and the negative ease number. Whatever works well with the pattern repeat. It makes life much easier (and balanced) if you make sure your pattern repeat divides evenly into your total stitch count.

Ok, so that was the long answer! Hope I wasn't too pedantic and I didn't confuse or bore anyone. That was just a glimpse into my knitting thought process. :)

Thermal is being neglected. I think I'll make this weekend Thermal-only knitting. I'd like to finish it before our Oregon visit in mid-April. That may be overly ambitious if I'm continually distracted with sock knitting...

A Pattern for Every Sock

2007-03-28T08:08:00.000-05:00

Monday night I happily began knitting the crosshatch lace pattern from the new More Sensational Knitted Socks (see photo to the right). For some reason I decided to knit the Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock on US 1's. I have no idea why. I know I should only ever knit Lorna's on US 0's, but for some reason I didn't this time. After about 5 inches or so I realized the following:

1) I didn't like the bigger needle size;
2) I didn't like the pattern with the yarn color (Desert Flower);
3) The yarn was pooling in a crazy way; and
4) The sock was going to be a tad too big.

So, last night I started over. Since I had to start from scratch I'm not too far yet, but I can tell already that this pattern and needle size (US 0/2.0mm) is going to work much better. I'm using the spindle pattern from More Sensational Knitted Socks. It's not showing up too well in the photo, but it looks great in person. I'll try to get a better picture once the first sock is finished (and if sunlight ever comes back to the Chicago area). I'm still getting some intense striping, but that's just how Lorna's sock yarn rolls. :)

Since I've refrained from any new yarn purchases for a couple weeks now I have no new yarn to show you. I do however have my awesome new knitting bag that I ordered this past winter in anticipation of spring. My new Offhand Designs Zelda Grand in Posey. I just love the bright cheery color. The handles are a really dark grape purple and the lining is bright pink. It's the perfect size for toting a couple sock projects to Group night. Speaking of Group...

***Knitting Group is Tonight! We meet at the new Starbucks in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Laramie, just to the west of I-94 on Lake Ave.). We start at around 6:30 and go until 8ish. Any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

My Fashionable Socks

2007-03-26T08:08:00.000-05:00

Project Socks
Pattern: My own - Toe up instructions from Knitty, peasant heel
Yarn: Yarntini fingering weight in Self-Striping Make it Work! and a shot of color Carry On!
Needles: Inox 2.0mm (US 0)
Start Date: March 14, 2007
End Date: March 25, 2007
Comments: These socks are fierce! Ok, maybe I'm watching a little too much America's Next Top Model...But I do love these socks. The awesome stripes are all thanks to the Yarntini yarn and I just had to throw in my new favorite toe and heel. The yardage was stupendous on this yarn. Even with a longer cuff, I have a ton left over of both the striped and the solid. Yea! No running out of yarn!

Right after casting off the Project Runway socks I worked on Thermal for a couple hours. I'm nearing completion of the back. If I would just stop knitting socks for a minute I'm sure I'd have it done much sooner, but I got a new sock book in the mail this weekend so I had to put Thermal down and cast on for a new pair. :)

Here is the much anticipated More Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch. I love love love her first book and this one does not disappoint. The two big differences that I've found so far are that there are many more toe and heel styles and the stitch gallery has gone from being scattered throughout the book to being collected in the back. I think it's an improvement. I've already picked out the first pattern I'm going to do. I only got through the toe last night so more details Wednesday. (The yarn is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Desert Flower).

Matchy Matchy

2007-03-21T08:03:00.000-05:00

Most of the socks I knit I really don't worry about making them identical. The only time I do is when the yarn is self-striping. Then it's part of the fun to see how close I can get. Looks good so far! (Yarn: Yarntini in Make it Work! (striping) and Carry on! (shot of solid); Pattern: None really, using magic cast-on from knitty.com and peasant heel).

And for those sock knitters looking for a challenge have you seen the 52 Pair Plunge Knitalong? The knitalong starts April 1, 2007 and ends April 1, 2008 and the challenge is to knit 52 pairs in one year. Anyone signing up? Adrienne? Claire? :)

***Knitting Group is Tonight! We meet at the new Starbucks in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Laramie, just to the west of I-94 on Lake Ave.). We start at around 6:30 and go until 8ish. Any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

Rich Tapestry

2007-03-19T08:14:00.000-05:00

Tapestry Scarf

Pattern: The scarf pattern the Yarn Harlot had on her blog
Yarn: Rowan Tapestry in Pot Pourri
Needles: KnitPicks options, size 5
Start Date: November 21, 2006
End Date: March 17, 2007
Comments: This scarf was born of the desire to do something with the (at the time) new Rowan Tapestry yarn. This yarn has soft color shift similar to Noro Kureyon and is a blend of wool and soy. The yarn has an overall interesting texture that is difficult to describe. Probably the best way would be that it feels fibrous. Once knit, this scarf has fantastic drape and sheen. I cast on 42 in order to produce a nice wide scarf and I believe I knit 4 balls, but I have to double check on that. Maybe it was only three...I've been knitting on this scarf off and on for so long I can't remember. The only drawback to the yarn is that it is a tad splitty. Granted, I was using my very sharp Knit Picks Options needles, but even with a blunter point I think this yarn would still be a little aggravating. Overall, I really enjoyed using this yarn and the pattern was super simple. The warm, but light fabric the Tapestry creates, the excellent colors, and the lovely drape more than make up for the splittiness. This scarf also receives the award for longest time to knit a scarf ever. (I think I can hear my knitting Group cheering! They've been watching me knit this thing forever).

I also finished the first Yarntini Project Runway sock! (Blurry picture due to Monday morning camera ineptitude). This sock was so much fun to knit. I love the color combination and the solid toe, heel, and cuff. I used the magic cast on from Knitty and a peasant heel. Now that the tapestry scarf is done I think I'll bring the second Project Runway sock to knit at Group this week. It's perfect easy knitting.

Thermal did receive some attention, but the progress isn't really interesting enough to take a picture. I'm working on the back section right now. It's moving along faster than before, but that really just means I went from the speed of a glacier to the speed of a snail. :)

I'm feeling better regarding Kilby. I spent the weekend cuddling with the other two cats, Laska and Nemo, and that picked up my spirits quite a bit. I do continually remember little things about her, but it's getting easier to think about them. Thanks again for all the kind words.

Life moves on

2007-03-16T12:10:00.000-05:00

Thank you to everyone for your kind words about Kilby's passing. Knowing so many people are sending good thoughts our way really does help. I took the day off work today and I've spent time just thinking about how much she meant to me and Matt. I will never have another kitty like her, but that's what made her so special.

Over the last few days I have gotten a bit of knitting done. Nothing like the calming nature of knitting.

Conifer Socks
Pattern: Conifer by Meghan Jackson from the Pick Up Sticks Sock Club
Yarn: Apple Laine Apple Pie in English Garden
Needles: Inox size 2.5mm (US 1)
Start Date: February 20, 2007
End Date: March 14, 2007
Comments: Once I figured out I should actually read the pattern, these socks knit very nicely. The pattern designer, Meghan Jackson, has outstanding attention to detail. Not only is the top of leg done in a unique stitch pattern, the leg is in a different stitch and then she carries the ribbing pattern through the heel and the toe. Pretty cool.

The Apple Laine yarn is one I don't think I would have necessarily ordered on my own so I was curious when I received it through the Pick Up Sticks Sock Club. Turns out I absolutely loved working with it. It's a wool/silk/mohair/nylon blend with a beautiful fuzz and sheen. The colors are deeply saturated and I had absolutely no pooling. I think there is a very very slight difference in the intensity of the color if you compare the two socks, but nothing too noticeable.

Wednesday night I started my next pair of socks. These are being knit in Yarntini's Project Runway colors, "Carry On!" and "Make it Work!" in fingering weight. I'm knitting toe-up to maximize the yardage and that way I can do my new favorite heel - the peasant heel (you can just see the waste yarn below the top black line). I thought I would do a 2x2 ribbing on the foot and leg, but after looking at it again last night I ripped back to the toe and started the foot over again with just plain stockinette. Much better. For the curious, I'm getting 8 stitches per inch on 0's (2.0mm).

This weekend I'm hoping to spend some good quality time with Thermal. All the socks this week have been distracting me, but I still have hopes of someday finishing Thermal and wearing it. :) Speaking of distractions, here are the new Duet Sock yarns I got earlier this week. The colors are Evening Elegance and Razzleberry. I really just can't get enough of this yarn. Maybe she'll start a sock club...I wouldn't be able to resist a Duet sock club...Are you reading this, Angela? :)

Kilby

2007-03-15T14:37:00.000-05:00

April 16, 1999 - March 15, 2007

My heart is breaking.
We just put Kilby to sleep. Her whole system was failing. I loved her so much.

Worry Wart

2007-03-14T07:54:00.000-05:00

Even the arrival of a couple colors of Duet Yarns isn't cheering me up (pictures later). Kilby (my diabetic cat) hasn't been feeling well since Monday. After she spent the day with the vet yesterday we still don't know what is wrong. So far we know it has nothing to do with her diabetes, urinary tract, kidneys, or liver. She's now on an antibiotic, but she is still not eating or drinking.

Knitting Group is tonight, but there is a good chance I'll skip so that I can hang out with Kilby. Who knows. Maybe the antibiotics will kick in by the time I get home from work.

Knitting content will resume Friday. I promise.

Yippee!

2007-03-12T08:15:00.000-05:00

I won! I won! Lori over at Yarn Beans had a little blog contest and I won a skein of Socks that Rock! I never win blog contests so I was so excited when she let me know. It's in the Little Bunny Foo Foo color and lightweight. I love it! Thank you so much, Lori!
Yesterday I finally got to the point in Thermal where something happened; I made it to the neck placket. Hooray! Tonight I will divide for the arms. Exciting, huh? :) I'm very happy with the sweater so far and can't wait to finish, but I still have a lot to knit...the upper back, the two front sections, the two arms, and then the collar. Phew!

I always feel like I should apologize for crappy dark photos. This time I'm blaming a rainy morning and the time change. Yeah, that's it. It's the time change's fault.

In super happy critter news, Kilby, our loving kitty, is officially off of insulin! Her diabetes is in remission! I think this happy day has come because we switched her to wet food earlier last week.

After a lot of research online I came to find out how unhealthy dry cat food is to our furry friends and it turns out many vets think it is the sole cause of feline diabetes. All along I never thought there was much of a difference between wet and dry cat foods, but turns out that dry food is very high in carbs unlike wet food. Cats don't need all those carbs. They need protein. If you have a cat, I hope you consider switching to wet food. It will not only help keep them healthy, but it will keep them better hydrated too therefore helping to prevent the dreaded urinary tract infection.

And be sure to take a look at Eunny's blog today. She's got some big news.

A Finished Sock

2007-03-07T08:05:00.000-06:00

Not so long ago I was knitting up 3 or 4 pairs of socks a month. Now I'm excited I finished this one sock after weeks of dawdling. This slowdown is bound to lift soon as nothing motivates sock knitting like the knowledge that your sock yarn stash is now officially out of control! I have a bit more Duet Sock yarn coming in and I joined one more sock club. That's it. I'm done buying for a long long time. I know, I know, you've all heard that before, but really really really. I'm taking a break from sock yarn buying at least until we move. I'll give myself a couple exemptions (like if the Knitting Group does decide to go to The Fold), but my sock yarn boxes just can't take anymore!

The sock to the right is the first Conifer Sock from the Pick Up Sticks Sock Club. The yarn is Apple Laine Apple Pie in English Garden. I'm using size 2.5mm (US 1) Inox double points. As you can see, the second sock has begun. The sooner I get it done, the sooner I can start on the Rockin' Sock Club kit!

***Knitting Group has moved! We'll still be meeting on Wednesdays (tonight!), but instead of the Borders we have moved a little west to the new Starbucks in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Laramie, just to the west of I-94 on Lake Ave.). We meet from 6:30 until 8ish and any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

Progress and the Rockin' Sock Club Kit!

2007-03-05T09:09:00.000-06:00

A bit of progress was made on Thermal this weekend. I'm only a few inches away from dividing for the front button placket. Hooray! As it goes on, I'm really falling into a rhythm with this pattern. Something kind of zen about knitting for hours and not always making any visible progress. Well, it's zen if I'm in a good mood otherwise it's just damn frustrating. :) As I knit I sometimes find my self singing in my head the song that Dory sings in Finding Nemo. Except instead of "swimming" I'm thinking, "Just keep knitting. Just keep knitting. Just keep knitting, knitting, knitting. What do we do? We knit, knit."

Last night I picked up the neglected Conifer Sock from the Pick Up Sticks Sock Club. I finished up the leg and got past the pretty heel. The pattern designer added a lot of unique detail to it and I actually had to pay attention while knitting! :) Some people were having trouble getting the sock over their heel so I was thrilled to find out it went over mine. It's a bit tight pulling it on, but once it's on it fits perfectly. (Needles: 2.5mm Inox; Yarn: Apple Laine Apple Pie in English Garden).

Spoiler Alert ****2007 Rockin' Sock Club Kit ****
Don't Scroll if You Don't Want to See

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And here it is. Finally! The absolutely awesome first kit from the 2007 Rockin' Sock Club. The color is Monsoon (mediumweight) and it is incredibly appropriate in light of the dismal weather we have been having lately. The pattern, Inside Out, is really different and I look forward to casting on as soon as I finish up the Conifer socks. Along with the yarn and pattern, the kit included the adorable little emergency skein key chain, a sticker, the newsletter, and a very nice custom binder (definitely a step up from last year's). I'm so happy I joined again and I am now already anxiously waiting for the next kit. :)

Ticket to Paradise

2007-03-02T07:56:00.001-06:00

One the last day of the month, the February Petals Collection kit came and it's outstanding. Just the right antidote to the stormy grey weather we've been having here. The flower this month is the Bird of Paradise and the pattern is a neat slipped stitch rib.

In Thermal news, I can't bring myself to post another boring photo of it only one inch further along. Just believe me that I am knitting it...Hopefully more progress will have been made by Monday. Oooooh, and by Monday I should have the first 2007 Rockin' Sock Club kit!

Yowza!

2007-02-28T08:00:00.000-06:00

Wow, you all sure know how to make a girl feel loved. :) Thank you to everyone that delurked and left a comment over the last couple days. I really enjoyed hearing from everyone and I'm so glad you like the blog. I never thought I would have any regular readers and it's pretty darn cool that you all take the time to read my little blog. Hope I can keep it interesting for you all. :)

Thermal is finally growing. My gosh this is a slow knit. I mean, sure, knitting a sweater on size 0 needles should have been my first clue that I would be dedicating the next several weeks to knitting at a snail's pace, but geez! Two nights of knitting and I only got through a few inches. I can however safely say I really do love the fabric and the yarn is very nice to knit. Good thing Thermal makes great American Idol knitting.

The last of my little sock yarn spree from the past couple weeks showed up on the porch the other day. Here we have 3 (!) more Duet Sock yarns from A Swell Yarn Shop (and one is by way of the Yarn Grove - free shipping!). From left to right we have Turquoise Tranquility, Mr. Roper, and Hip Chic. Love love love them! If I ever put down Thermal long enough to work on my Apple Laine socks I'll be able to cast on with some of these lovelies...And let's not forget that the first 2007 Rockin' Sock Club kit will be arriving any day now...Mmmmm, sock yarn.

***Knitting Group is moving! We'll still be meeting tonight (Wednesday), but instead of the Borders we are moving a little west to the new Starbucks in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Laramie, just to the west of I-94 on Lake Ave.). We meet from 6:30 until 8ish and any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

Yarn! (And A Shameless Plea for Comments)

2007-02-26T08:08:00.000-06:00

Matt and I got back last night from 3 days in Carbondale where we were visiting family. My mom had some surgery a couple weeks ago and Matt and I went down to help out for the weekend. As there was no knitting the past few days I'll instead show you a couple recent yarn acquisitions.

Late last week I received a couple of packages in the mail. First up is my February Pick Up Sticks Sock Club Kit. This month the yarn is a gorgeous color of Spunky Eclectic Skinny Socks called Romance. The pattern is a classic ripple pattern that will show off the colors in the yarn very nicely. The white yarn is to knit the removable lace cuff detail of the pattern...I'm not so into that. All in all it's another great sock kit!

I also received my first skein of Yarn Pirate in The Loopy Ewe exclusive color, Sweet Jules. This is the 50/50 Merino/Tencel sock yarn and it has the most gorgeous shine. I love the variety of colors in the yarn. I'm going to have to think a bit on what pattern to use with this lovely lovely yarn. Any ideas?

And finally, a request for comments. Connie, the owner of Pick Up Sticks, recently asked everyone who reads her blog to delurk and just say "hi," so I'm going to copy her and do the same. I'm always curious who reads my blog and where you all are. So, whether you comment a lot or never, please leave me a comment just so I know you all are out there. And if you want, let me know where you are or how you came to find my blog or if you have a blog of your own. :)

Waffles and Apple Pie

2007-02-21T08:07:00.000-06:00

I've finally made it to the thermal part of Thermal! Please admire the little waffle stitches. It took a while even to get this much done, but I love it. I'm knitting one size smaller than my actual bust measurement as I hoping that I can get back to healthy habits now that my neck is much better. I've started working out again, so with some serious commitment to the gym I should be able to fit Thermal sometime while the weather still calls for it.

I really like knitting with the Knit Picks Gloss (Merino Silk blend). It has a gorgeous stitch definition and the dusk color is just a gorgeous shade of blue. My plan is to work on Thermal at least one hour a day while still knitting other projects. I just want to wear it now!

In other knitting, I cast on for the Pick Up Sticks Sock Club Conifer pattern last night, again. I attempted this one a few weeks ago and totally botched it up. This time around I'm taking my time and really focusing on the pattern (perfect American Idol knitting). The yarn, Apple Laine Apple Pie in English Garden, is just wonderful to knit. It's very silky with just a bit of a mohair halo. The colors are very rich. It was tough getting a good picture of this stitch pattern. Once the sock is done and washed I think it will show a lot better. The pattern has these neat cluster stitches that are really unique, but impossible to photograph!

***Knitting Group is tonight (Wednesday) at the Borders' Cafe in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Skokie). We meet from 6:30 until 8:00 and any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

Danica Complete!

2007-02-19T08:11:00.000-06:00

Danica Scarf

Pattern: Danica from Knitty (with only one yarn colorway)
Yarn: Patons SWS (Soy Wool Stripes) in Natural Green (right around 4 balls)
Needles: US 7
Start Date: February 11, 2007
End Date: February 16, 2007
Comments: What a fun knit! During the last few weeks I started to see a lot of people online knitting entrelac using Patons SWS and I couldn't resist. Entrelac is a fun technique and the scarf is just so cute. I really like the Patons SWS and it is very nice that it is in a worsted weight. I like Rowan Tapestry, which is also 70% Wool, 30% Soy, but as it is only available in a DK weight it doesn't make for a quick knit (see never-ending Tapestry scarf in the Knits in Progress list to the right). This scarf is my first entrelac, but I have this really cute Malabrigo color, Melilla, that would be perfect for this pattern. My only complaint about the SWS is that in one skein I found 3 knots! In the others one knot was the norm. This is pretty annoying especially as it would sometimes have a big color shift. Even with the knots, I'm still very pleased with the scarf and I'll wear it happily.

I got a bit of a start on Thermal yesterday, but this knit is not going to make for any exciting photos. What you see to the right is the product of 4 or so hours of knitting. It's 280 stitches done in 1x1 Twisted Rib on US1 (2.0mm) needles. I need two inches and I'm half an inch away. The Knit Picks Gloss (Dusk) is very nice to knit. It's not splitty at all and the little bit of silk in it gives it that kind of crunchy texture. Luckily I'm enjoying the yarn since this may take weeks and weeks to knit. :)

Progress and an Announcement

2007-02-16T08:01:00.000-06:00

Danica is coming along very well. I'm on the third ball. I think one more and I'll be done. The Patons SWS is becoming a favorite. Very nice to knit.

The needles have arrived so I can continue swatching for Pippa, but now I think there will be a change of plans. Along with the needles I needed I happened to order the Knit Picks Gloss (Dusk) necessary to knit Thermal. I can't resist. Pippa is being bumped and I'll be starting Thermal once I get it swatched.

And it's official, Matt and I will be moving to Oregon this summer. Matt is getting ready to defend for his PhD (probably in July) and he is about to accept an offer for a wonderful job out in the Portland area. Yea! I'll be close to some of my family as well as fields of sheep! Sorry about the abundance of exclamation points, but I'm so excited!!! I'll miss my dear knitting Group, but I have a feeling I can lure them out once I reveal that we will be within one hour's drive of Blue Moon Fiber Arts. :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

2007-02-14T07:57:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

The first three years we were together, Matt and I never got to celebrate Valentine's Day on the 14th. Matt was a waiter then and could never get the night off so we would always go out on the 13th instead. It's nice now that those days are over and we can now enjoy ourselves on Valentine's Day. I know some view it as a commercial holiday, but I'm a sucker for it. Bring on the candy hearts and flowers! Matt and I are going to go out to a little French bistro tonight and we'll exchange presents too. How are all of you celebrating?

For the curious, the yarn is Vesper Self-Striping in Ramblin' Rose, the final Sweet Sheep Sock Club yarn.

Endpaper End

2007-02-12T08:09:00.000-06:00

Endpaper Mitts

Pattern: Endpaper Mitts by Eunny Jang
Yarn: Louet Gems Merino in Indigo (dark blue) and Neptune (lighter blue)
Needles: Bamboo dpns sizes US 0 and US 3
Start Date: February 2, 2007
End Date: February 10, 2007
Comments: First of all, these Mitts would have never ever been made in a million years if it hadn't been for the fantastic (and free!) pattern from Eunny Jang. Overall, I have not been that into two-color knitting. The few projects I've done I rushed through because the process was not that pleasant. Well, I'm not rushing so much now. The pattern is so well written and simple and elegant and perfect. Thank you, Eunny!

So, the Gems Merino worked very well though it is a tad on the thinner side. The yarn is very soft and knit up with a nice give. The colors worked really well together and have a terrific contrast (colors are most true in the top picture). I plan on knitting the Anemoi Mittens sometime soon with some more Gems in the stash.

Overall, I am surprised at what I can do. I look at these mitts and I am very proud of them. Hooray for me!

Yesterday I started my first entrelac pattern. I'm using the basic pattern from Danica, but knitting it all in one yarn. The yarn is Patons SWS (Soy Wool Stripes) in Natural Green. I really like how the blocks are all knitting up in different colors. The pattern is simple enough for TV watching, but interesting enough to engage part of the brain. I have some family health stuff going on so I need a project that keeps whirring thoughts out of my head and this scarf works perfectly. This yarn is 70% Wool 30% Soy just like Rowan Tapestry. However, while the Tapestry yarn is DK, this stuff is a nice plump worsted weight so it knits up very quickly. It's a little splitty, like the Tapestry, but the end result is so nice and soft I don't mind.

Duet

2007-02-09T08:02:00.000-06:00

Duet Socks
Pattern: Modified from the pattern that came with the yarn (increased circumference to 60 stitches)
Yarn: A Swell Yarn Shop Duet Yarns in Sweet Valentine
Needles: Inox 2.5 mm
Start Date: January 31, 2007
End Date: February 7, 2007
Comments: Again I will toss out the word "love" to discuss some socks. I love these socks! Even after Angela from A Swell Yarn Shop (from whence the yarn comes) commented and told me I would have plenty of the solid color for my increased-sized heels I was unsure. Well, I ended up with about a yard leftover! That was cutting it close, but all's well that ends well. I did have plenty of the variegated left and that was with knitting for my size 10 feet and a 7 inch leg. Nice!The yarn is squishy and lovely to knit. It's taking a lot of will power to resist buying more...

These socks are so cute and happy. I think I will don them on Valentine's Day for their inaugural wearing.

In other knitting project news, I have officially swatched (and washed the swatch) for my next big project -Pippa. This cardigan is going to take a while, I know, but I think it will be worth it. Unfortunately my swatch grew a little after it's bath and I have to wait for some size 1's to arrive. The yarn is Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in Navy. Hopefully it does not turn my fingers blue like it did Claire's...It's so soft and it has such lovely stitch definition. Oh well, if I have to be a smurf, I have to be a smurf. :)

This weekend I plan on finishing up the second Endpaper Mitt. The first one is all done and ready to go - it just needs a mate. I'm surprised how much I've enjoyed two-color knitting with such tiny yarn. I think a lot of it has to do with how much I adore the finished product. (Yarn specs: Louet Gems Merino in Indigo and Neptune). If I get the Mitts done quickly enough I will also cast on for my Apple Laine socks. I've got a busy weekend ahead of me! How is everyone else going to spend the weekend?

A Rare Occurrence

2007-02-07T07:56:00.000-06:00

Rarely do I drop everything to start knitting something the moment it arrives. However, a couple weeks ago I received my latest Pick Up Sticks Sock Club kit and I actually did just that. I pulled out the swift and winder, wound up the balls, pulled the needles out of another sock, and started knitting. Unfortunately after a couple inches I realized I was knitting part of the pattern incorrectly, but I decided to continue on. Then about an inch later I made a larger mistake. So...I cast on for my Posh Yarns socks and put this new club kit away.

Well, as you know, the Posh Socks are done and now the Duet socks are nearly complete (pictures Friday!), so I will be casting on (again) for the club socks and this time around I know I will be successful. The yarn is Apple Laine Apple Pie in English Garden. It's a wool, silk, mohair blend and it's just lovely to knit. The pattern is another winner from Meghan Jackson. She designs all the patterns for the sock club and honestly they are the some of the best sock patterns I've used. They are all really unique and they go so well with club selection of yarn.

And as usual I have many more yarns waiting in the wings. I recently bought some of the new Crystal Palace Panda Cotton (left: blueberry-grape. right: painted iris). It comes in the cutest little skeins and it feels really soft. I'm going to hold off on knitting this until I actually have a need for warm weather socks, but I expect great things!

In my pursuit for more alternatives to all wool sock yarn I decided to give Regia Bamboo a shot and picked up a couple balls for a good price on ebay (the color is descriptively called Red Dot). The yarn is a bamboo and wool blend. It has a terrific shine to it and I look forward to seeing how it knits up. I'm a little dubious about how well it will wear since it feels so silky, but Regia makes some great yarn, so I'm hoping for the best.

Finally, I came across this gorgeous Lisa Souza color on a couple blogs. I've been wanting to try her yarn and when I saw that she created this color to help someone out with her medical costs associated with potential breast cancer I just couldn't resist. The colorway is named Violet's Pink Ribbon and it is simply one of the most creative and lovely sock colors I've ever seen. Some of you may already know this, but I am a huge fan of splotchy dye spots (that's what I always look for in Koigu). This yarn has both splotches and a solid section. So pretty! I recently purchased the Survivor sock pattern from Wild Horse Farms Designs and I think it will be the perfect pattern to go with this yarn.

***Knitting Group is tonight (Wednesday) at the Borders' Cafe in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Skokie). We meet from 6:30 until 8:00 and any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

Baby It's Cold Outside

2007-02-05T12:29:00.000-06:00

It's a bit chilly here in Chicagoland. The weather people are predicting a high of 6. Yikes! Good thing I just started on a project that will keep me toasty warm. I present the first nearly completed Endpaper Mitt!

I'm knitting the mitts in Louet Gems Merino in the colors Indigo and Neptune on size 2.75mm needles. I can't believe how quickly the tiny tiny yarn knits up into such a beautiful pattern. Eunny's design is just perfect. That's not a ladder running down the left side, but a tiny little purl seam. I'm hoping to finish this one today and have the pair done by next week.

I originally cast on using some Fleece Artist merino sock yarn in Moss and Louet Gems Merino in Champagne, but after I got a couple repeats in I pulled out the needles and cast on with the blues you see. Now I wish I hadn't been so hasty as Matt saw the start of the other one and said it looked great....maybe I can pick up all the stitches...

Aside from the Endpaper Mitts (which I admit are absorbing most of my time) I've made some progress on my Duet Socks. The first sock is all done except for the heel and the second one is cruising along. I'm just going to do both heels at the end as I'm a little nervous about having enough yarn to do both (I increased the size a bit from what the pattern indicated).

I checked this weekend and A Swell Yarn Shop did have more of this terrific sock yarn back in stock, but who knows how long it will last. I really really really wanted to order another set (the Dylan colorway is so cute), but I'm resisting...at least until a little destash sale of mine is over on Ebay (shameless plug).

I swatched for my next sweater project. It's a time consuming one. Tiny yarn, tiny needles, knit in pieces. Details soon. :)

Ack! Just got tagged by MLE for the 5 Secrets About Me meme.

Here you go:
1) I have to eat KitKats in layers (chocolate first then each individual wafer);
2) If I finish a book, I have to start the first chapter of the next one, even if it's 2am;
3) The colder it is, the more I want ice cream (Saturday night when it was -3 we went to Ben and Jerry's);
4) I knew I would marry Matt the night we first kissed; and
5) I went to law school on a whim - whoops!

I tag my fellow knitting Group Members (links for those that have blogs on the right hand side. Those that don't you are welcome to just leave it in a comment): Adrienne, Liz, Kathy, Jen, Lynae, Tamara, and Claire. :)

Oh and Kim - Tag you are it too!

Posh Socks

2007-02-02T08:10:00.000-06:00

Posh Yarn Toe Up Socks
Pattern: Self-designed from different sources - Magic Cast On Toe, Peasant Heel
Yarn: Posh Yarns Lucia in Passionate (From Pick Up Sticks Sock Club)
Needles: Inox 2.5mm (US 1)
Start:January 25, 2007
End: January 31, 2007
Comments: I really wasn't sure this day would ever come. The day I would post about a successfully completed pair of toe-up socks. But here I am, telling you all that the Posh Toe Up Socks are done! Hooray! First of all, the yarn was lovely to knit. It is a wool/cashmere blend and it is just so soft and spongy. The colors are deeply saturated and it knit up with no pooling. Very pleasant knitting experience.

As for the toe-up success I couldn't be happier. I am definitely going to be doing the peasant heel again and I have a feeling it will replace my default heel flap heel as my favorite. The fit is terrific and I just love how easy it is. Plus it looks great! And I never have to worry about running out of yarn. Can you tell I love this heel? :)

I've already cast on for my next pair. This yarn is the Duet sock yarn I got from A Swell Yarn Shop. (It sells out really quickly, so, if you are interested, I suggest you sign up for their newsletter to get advance notice). The sock is being displayed by Kilby who always takes a strong interest in my knitting activities.

I'm knitting this on my trusty Inox 2.5mm double points and I am getting a gauge of just shy of 7 stitches per inch. It's a very plump yarn and it's knitting up quickly. I started this sock late Wednesday night and I'm already a few inches past where the heel will go. I added a little to the circumference, but other than that I'm following the pattern that was sent with the yarn. I see more of these socks in my future (if I can get my hands on more of this yarn!).

Ah, Blog Filler....

2007-01-30T22:55:00.000-06:00

Kim had this on her blog and as I thought it was cute and I have nothing particular to post about today, here you go!

I am an
Iris

What Flower
Are You?

"You are a very sensual person. You like to experience all the sights, smells, tastes and textures the world has to offer. Ordinary be damned, because you want to do it all."

If you take this quiz, please comment with what flower you are. :)

Eureka!

2007-01-29T07:46:00.000-06:00

I finally did it! I started and finished a toe-up sock! I cast on with my Posh Yarns Lucia in the color Passionate (from the Pick Up Sticks Sock Club) Friday night using the magic cast-on from Knitty. I decided to try a peasant heel as I haven't been happy with either short-row or reverse heel flap heels. Early Sunday afternoon I finished up the sock and I love it!

I basically googled various sites for the directions so I don't have a specific source to point anyone to, but really all you do is when you are about 2 inches short of the total length of your foot knit across half of your stitches with scrap yarn then purl back with the scrap yarn. Then simply pick up your sock yarn again and carry on knitting.

Whenever you want to, go back and pick up all the stitches that are on the waste yarn. I picked them all up before I took out the waste yarn just to be on the safe side. I picked up all of one side on one needle and all of the other on a second needle. Then start knitting the heel with your sock yarn (or a contrasting colored yarn would be cute), picking up 2 or 3 stitches on the ends between the two needles just to prevent holes (so you'll probably pick up a total of 4 or 6 stitches). You'll want to knit the heel on 3 or 4 needles.

From that point simply treat the heel as you would a cuff down wedge toe, decreasing 4 stitches total one round, knitting plain the next, over and over, until you get down to however wide you would like your heel to be (I decreased down to 12 on each needle, but next time I'll decrease down to 10 or 8 I think). Then just kitchener stitch it shut and voila! You have an incredible nifty looking and nifty fitting heel.

This heel technique opens up a world of toe-up sock possibility. Hooray! I'm already on the leg of the second sock. These knit up in no time.

FYI: The peasant heel is often times mistakenly called an afterthought heel, but there is a difference. A peasant heel uses waste yarn to mark where the heel will be (and that may make it easier to pick up the stitches). An afterthought heel, specifically that found in Elizabeth Zimmerman books, involves just knitting straight through without using any waste yarn and then coming back and snipping the yarn where you want the heel to be. I can see that going horribly horribly wrong for me, so that's why I chose the peasant heel.

One more note...please ignore any laddering you may see in the photo. I was too excited about this sock to wash and block it before I took the photo!

Restructuring

2007-01-26T07:57:00.000-06:00

In order to get around this ennui I've been having with regards to my knitting I'm overhauling my whole project list process. In the past I have kept a large list of future projects broken into categories (e.g., sweaters, scarves) and then listed the projects with no particular priority. I also have my giant sock list with patterns and yarns all matched up. Then, I had a month by month goal list with projects assigned to each month. (My god this sounds geeky!)

Not anymore. I'm redoing the whole list and the way I'm doing it is by project type and then priority. (Yeah, sometimes I have a lot of free time). So, here's yet another revised list of what I'll be knitting in the future. I'll try to be working on something from each group at any one time, but I don't think I will restrict myself by monthly goals anymore. Also, these lists come with the disclaimer that I will rearrange, add, and remove things on random whims.

Scarf/Hat Projects:
1) Endpaper Mitts (Blues)
2) Coronet Hat and Here & There Cables Scarf in Malabrigo Brown Berries with Anemoi Mittens
3) Patons SWS Entrelac Scarf and Ribbed Hat
4) Wide Ribbed Scarf and Hat for Matt (Brooks Farm Duet)
5) Fake Isle Hat in Noro #148
6) Endpaper Mitts (Greens)

Socks:
1) Posh Yarns - another toe-up attempt.
2) Duet Socks from A Swell Yarn Shop
3) Project Runway Socks - Yarn from Yarntini
4) Philosopher’s Stone Socks for Matt (again)
5) Stillwater Lorna's Laces Desert Flower Socks

Sweaters:
1) Pippa Cardigan
2) Wicked
3) Knitting Pure & Simple Top Down Shaped Neck Cardigan
4) T-Twist in Green/Brown Brooks Farm
5) Shaped Neck Tee in Red/Brown Brooks Farm

And there you have it! Now, on to some actual knitting....

Marmalade Citrine Socks
Pattern: Marmalade
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock in mediumweight Citrine
Needles: Inox 2.5mm (US 1)
Start Date: January 15, 2007
End Date: January 24, 2007
Comments: These may be the most cheerful socks I've ever knit. I love the combination of pattern and color. They knit up quickly and I did not change a thing. Not much else to say about them.

Great Pattern + Great Yarn + Great Needles = Wonderful Socks

Fake Isle, Real Happy

2007-01-24T08:07:00.000-06:00

I present to you the first official non-sock finished project of 2007:

Fake Isle Hat
Pattern: Fake Isle Hat by Amy King
Yarn: Noro Kureyon #150 and Patons Classic Merino in Black
Needles: Size 5 Denise circulars and size 5 KnitPicks dpns
Start Date: January 22, 2007
End Date: January 23, 2007
Comments: Monday I printed out the pattern, looked through the yarn stash, and started knitting. Tuesday night I finished. What a fantastic pattern! I knit the medium/large size and it fits pretty well. It's a tad too long so I'll just flip the rim up a little when I wear it. Matt assures me it looks cute that way. Unstretched the hat is 21 or so inches and my head is 22 inches around. (That sounds big when I type it). No modeled pictures as it is drying from it's bath last night. I already have plans for more of these hats. It's the perfect project to use up the occasional single ball of Kureyon. The hat took a full skein of Kureyon and only around half a ball of Patons Classic Merino.

Monday I received a little order from A Swell Yarn Shop. They are starting to sell their own line of sock yarn and I couldn't resist the new Duet sock yarn sets. The Duet sets are unique because they come with a little solid coordinating color yarn for the toe and heel. I contained myself and only ordered one color, Sweet Valentine. When it arrived I had no idea it would be so soft. It's just lovely yarn. Apparently they sell out within 24 hours of posting these sets, so if you are interested, you might want to sign up for their email list.

The Marmalade Citrine Socks are nearing the finish line. Pictures Friday!

***Knitting Group is tonight (Wednesday) at the Borders' Cafe in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Skokie). We meet from 6:30 until 8:00 and any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

Monday Already?

2007-01-22T08:01:00.001-06:00

This weekend went by a little too quickly and here we are at Monday morning already. Well, only 5 days until the weekend! :)

I didn't knit too much this weekend since we went to see Pan's Labyrinth at the theater on Saturday (it was fantastic!) and then yesterday I spent most of the day reading. I started The Terror by Dan Simmons the other night and I'm totally engrossed. It combines naval historical fiction with a supernatural thriller. Great combination for a cold wintry weekend read.

As for the knitting, I did finish the first Marmalade Citrine sock and I'm already on the foot of the second one. The mediumweight Socks that Rock just flies off the needles! I did knit a little on the Phoebe sweater, but I'm just not sure if I'll continue. I'm unsure whether it is the yarn or what, but I'm not really into the project. I think I may stick with knitting a few winter accessories for a while. And socks. I do love to knit socks... :)

Hooray for Friday!

2007-01-19T09:19:00.000-06:00

This has been one very long week and I'm very happy the weekend is nearly here. Work has been somewhat busier than usual so I'm looking forward to a couple days away from the office.

I'm now in the gusset decreases of the first Marmalade Citrine Sock (Socks that Rock mediumweight in Citrine, Marmalade pattern). The heel flap looks terrific! The slipped stitch pattern is knit over the whole flap. Pretty nifty.

I'm in love all over again with the yarn. I am pretty sure this was the first Socks that Rock I ever bought and even though at first I thought the colors were too cheery for mid-January knitting, turns out they are perfect to brighten my mood. Oh, and why do I ever knit with any other yarn? I just love the mediumweight Socks that Rock so so much (I use the word "love" a lot when I talk about this stuff, don't I?).

Wednesday night we had a terrific Group knitting night. It was one of the first times in over a month that almost everybody could make it. One new person as well as six regulars were able to attend! Welcome to the group, Tamra (hope I'm spelling that right - I'm bad at names and spelling them). I'm so happy we were all able to make it. I had almost forgotten how much fun it is to be with all those wonderful women. Plus Lynae brought her daughter's Girl Scout Cookie order sheet - I love those cookies! :)

To celebrate getting through a month of neck problems I did treat myself to a new bag. I'm normally not one to go for Vera Bradley patterns. They just aren't my style (though I do like the one Liz brings to group). Well, I saw that there were some new prints and I was immediately taken with Pink Elephants. It's the breast cancer awareness pattern for the year so 10% of proceeds will go to the Vera Bradley Breast Cancer Foundation for breast cancer research. And it has pink elephants! Love it!

I got the bucket tote which is just the perfect size for the Phoebe sweater I've started (Not much to show on that one. I've completed the bottom ribbing and an inch of stockinette. Pictures to come when there's something to see). I'm so tempted to get all the little matching accessories with the elephant pattern, but I really need more knitting accoutrement like I need a hole in my head (I have another Offhand Designs bag on special order...). I had almost ordered a Lexie Barnes Flo bag the other day, but then I decided I would really like have a bag that was a little less conspicuous as a knitting bag so this Vera bag fit the bill! (And it has pink elephants!)

In neck pain news, I saw the neurosurgeon yesterday and the good news is that I don't need surgery. Yea! I do need to do 6 weeks of physical therapy, but I kind of expected that. The doctor said that I need to stop participating in any sport that causes jarring, so no more bowling for me. :( I'm pretty bummed about that since I really like to bowl (I'm a good Midwestern girl). Oh well. I'm also not supposed to ever run or jog unless I'm on an elliptical or treadmill. He said I was doing well though and I really do feel better. Bummer that our bodies fall apart. :(

Getting into the swing of things

2007-01-17T09:02:00.000-06:00

With the holidays and the neck problem I just haven't been knitting nearly as much. Well, I have been knitting, but I haven't been enthusiastic about it. Perhaps I have a lingering fear that the knitting is what caused the slipped disc though according to the doctor that is unlikely. Whatever it is, I've just not been as into it lately, but I think that time is ending.

I liked those Jingle Bell Socks I knit. And then I saw a cute sweater pattern on Knit Picks and went ahead and ordered it. It's the Phoebe sweater. I really like it. So, the other night I decided it was time to do some spontaneous project knitting and I made my swatch. The pattern calls for Knit Picks Andean Silk (which is lovely), but I had some Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Evergreen languishing in the stash so I'm going to give that a go. Last night I only got an inch of the ribbing done, but I have a feeling this sweater will go pretty quickly once I get going.

The Marmalade Citrine sock is coming along nicely. I have almost finished the leg of the first sock. Looking forward in the pattern I see that the heel flap will have a slipped stitch pattern that matches the leg. Should be fun. I'm very happy with how this pattern looks with the yarn (Socks that Rock in Citrine mediumweight). The color is so light and airy. It makes me think of lemons and cantaloupe. :)

Happily, I'm feeling up to going to Knitting Group tonight. I haven't been able to go since before the holidays! Who all is going tonight?

***Knitting Group is tonight (Wednesday) at the Borders' Cafe in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Skokie). We meet from 6:30 until 8:00 and any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

Jingle

2007-01-15T08:13:00.001-06:00

Jingle Bell Rock Agate Bay Socks
Pattern: Agate Bay from Northern Sunshine Designs (modified to add a repeat for sizing)
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Jingle Bell Rock (lightweight)
Needles: KnitPicks double points US size 0 (2.0 mm) - 9 stitches per inch
Start Date: January 7, 2007
End Date: January 14, 2007
Comments: I'm very happy with how this pair came out. Originally I had planned on just knitting 2x2 rib for the whole sock, but I'm glad I used the Agate Bay pattern. It adds a little pizazz, don't you think? The lightweight Socks that Rock knit up very well and I really like how the colors spiraled on the foot. As with the Philosopher's Stone socks that I'll have to rip out due to yarn shortage, these Jingle Bell Socks were a close call. Luckily I had my little scale to reassure me, but it was still close, even with a short leg. I'm just not sure how much more Socks that Rock in lightweight I'll use since I can't get a longer leg out of it like I can with the mediumweight. These socks do make me smile!

Next up is some Socks that Rock in Citrine (mediumweight). This yarn wasn't on my January knitting goal list. It wasn't on the revised goal list either. I'm clearly ignoring my list! I'm still contemplating what pattern to use. I'm leaning towards Marmalade from Northern Sunshine Designs. Anyone else have an idea? I'll be casting on tonight.

The Demise of the Philosopher's Stone Socks

2007-01-12T08:07:00.000-06:00

Today I had hoped to show you the finished Philosopher's Stone Socks for Matt. However, my little orange kitchen scale arrived a few days again and confirmed my fear - I did not have enough yarn to finish the second sock. I told Matt I would need a little time before ripping them out and starting over. He's bummed and so am I.

For posterity I will record that I was knitting the Garter Rib Stitch from Sensational Knitted Socks using lightweight Socks that Rock in Philosopher's Stone. I knit a 6 inch cuff and a 10 1/2 inch foot for the first sock and apparently that took too much yarn and did not leave enough for the second sock. I think when I redo them I may use a different pattern. Any suggestions?

The good news is that the first Jingle Bell Rock sock is finished. Yea! That's the first Socks that Rock Jingle Bell Rock (lightweight) sock. I'm using the Agate Bay pattern and size 2.0mm needles (KnitPicks US 0). I'm absolutely thrilled with the colors and it's pretty cool how I got a little bit of a spiral on the foot.

In nerdy news, I revised my list of projects for the next 6 months. I decided to take the pace down a notch and give myself a little more time for certain projects. The revised goal list for January is as follows:
1) Lichen Socks - FINISHED!
2)~~Garter Rib Socks (Matt)(STR Philosopher’s Stone)~~ Back to the drawing board...
3) Jingle Bell Agate Bay Socks
4) Tapestry Scarf (and if anything left over maybe a hat?)
5) Moss Sea Stitch Scarf - not too sure about this...I swatched and I wasn't in love with it...
6) Finish Trinket Scarf

I'll now leave you with a random picture of the Jingle Bell Rock socks gusset. I love the gusset decrease.What's your favorite part of a sock?

Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock

2007-01-10T08:00:00.000-06:00

Jingle Bells in January? Yep! I started on my Socks that Rock lightweight Jingle Bell Rock socks on Sunday night and they are flying off the needles. I had wound this skein in mid-December, hoping to knit it over holiday break, but the silly neck pain thing changed those plans (in yesterday's post I revealed the solution to the neck pain mystery - a slipped disc!). So, Sunday night, as I was feeling better, I could resist the call of this brightly colored and festive sock yarn no longer. Who cares if it's the middle of January!

I only knit an inch or so of 2x2 ribbing on Sunday night so on Monday I decided to use the Agate Bay Sock Pattern (the pattern starts with 1x1 ribbing, so pretty close). I had to modify the Agate Bay pattern by adding a repeat just to be sure the sizing would be correct. This pattern is knitting up very quickly and I'm already at the gusset decreases. Ah, how I love Socks that Rock.

The pattern is very unique and I really like that it's just on the leg. The pattern writing itself could be a little better. Firstly, why oh why is there no chart? I used to hate charts, now I almost feel lost without one. A chart would make me so happy...Secondly, in the written instructions, the pattern writer uses dashes/hyphens when it would have been better to use a) nothing or b) commas. Oh well, I love the design and it was cheap so I'm not going to complain too loudly. :)

I'm afraid I'm going to have to miss knitting Group again tonight. :( I am unable to drive yet due to the neck (and the medication) and Matt has to work so he can't chauffeur me. I'll miss you all! It seems like so long since my last Group night...I'm going to do my best to make it next week. For those yarn enthusiasts without injury or excuse, you are welcome to join our little knitting Group at the Border's in Wilmette at the corner of Lake and Skokie. We meet every Wednesday from 6:30pm until 8:00pm. Happy Knitting!

Mystery Solved

2007-01-09T08:53:00.000-06:00

For those of you following my continuing saga of neck pain, the MRI results are in as of late last night. (My doctor was nice enough to call me at 9:00pm last night when she received the results). So, the neck pain is being caused by a slipped disc. Disc C6 in my cervical spine to be exact. I'll go see a neurosurgeon for a real quick routine check to be on the safe side before beginning some light physical therapy. I should be fine within a few weeks of continued treatment. Yea! Mystery solved! I'm just glad to know what the heck is going on so that now I know how to make it better.

Back to your regularly scheduled knitting blog tomorrow. :)

First Socks of 2007

2007-01-08T07:55:00.000-06:00

Lichen Socks

Pattern: Lichen by Meghan Jackson from the Pick Up Sticks Sock of the Month Club
Yarn: VvS Painted Yarn in Art Nouveau
Needles: Inox 2.5 mm (gauge of approx. 7 stitches per inch)
Start Date: January 2, 2007
End Date: January 7, 2007
Comments: The moment I unwrapped the VvS Painted Yarn I was taken with its similarity to Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock mediumweight. Once I started knitting with it I was surprised it knit up the same as well. Nice! As you all may have noticed, I'm a bit of a fan of Socks that Rock (STR), so to find another yarn in lovely colors that has similar properties is a real bonus. I'm so glad I'm in the Pick Up Sticks Sock of the Month Club otherwise I don't know if I would have ever tried this yarn in the first place.

So, if you've knit with STR in the mediumweight you'll know what it's like to knit with VvS Painted. The colors of the VvS yarn are a bit more subtle than STR's tend to be and they have an unusual overlaying of colors. It's difficult to describe, but, for example, in one of the longer cream sections there will be a haze of pink as a top layer. I really can't describe it very well, but I assure you it is very pretty.

The pattern is a club pattern and I really enjoyed knitting it. (I think it's very similar to the Monkey sock pattern in the Winter Knitty). I'm sure I'll knit it again as it will be perfect for some STR I have. Plus, it knits up very quickly and held my interest. I love that the pattern is carried on down the heel flap. A very nice detail.

Saturday I got my third shipment from the Sweet Sheep Sock Club. This month's yarn is an absolutely stunning All Things Heather Sock Yarn in the color Winterberry. I have been keeping this by the computer so that I can pet it off and on all weekend. The depth and variety of colors is so gorgeous. Just the perfect color for winter sock knitting! I'm so sad that there is only one more shipment in the club.

Yarn Delivery

2007-01-05T08:14:00.001-06:00

The first of my Petals Collection Sock Club kits arrived! Well, it actually tried to be delivered on the 24th, but as we were out of town and with the numerous postal holidays it wasn't until yesterday that I actually got the package. It was worth the wait.

Here's a shot of the lovely wrapped kit. I waited until this morning to unwrap it since I was hoping for some sunlight, but that didn't work out so well...

And here's what was inside: A skein of gorgeous sock yarn in the color Lenten Rose, a picture of Lenten Roses (Christmas Rose or Hellebores to some of us), a pattern to use with the yarn, and a little welcome note. I am very happy with this kit. All my expectations were met. The subtle color shifts in the sock yarn are just lovely. And, purple just happens to me a favorite color of mine. :) The sock pattern is very lacy so I'm not so sure I'll be using it. I tend to like more solid patterns, but you never know. Maybe as I see other club members knit it I'll be inspired.

In knitting news, I finished the first Lichen sock and I hope to cast on for the next one tonight. Those socks really knit up quickly!

Here's a final close-up of the beautiful Lenten Rose yarn. Yea!

Out With the Old

2007-01-03T08:13:00.000-06:00

Monday I was feeling up to knitting finally and as I perused my current works in progress I just didn't really want to work on any of them. Then I did something I've never done before. I intentionally ripped the needles out of a perfectly good nearly finished sock. The Pure Fall socks are now officially off the needles. Someday (maybe next fall?) I'll start them again. I was just getting aggravated with the whole toe-up heel flap nonsense.

As for the Socks that Rock Philosopher's Stone socks for Matt? Well, I'm really not sure I have enough yarn to finish the second sock. So rather than continuing on blindly, I am awaiting delivery of a small kitchen scale which will give me the cold hard facts.

That leaves the Rowan Tapestry scarf all alone in my knitting bag. Once I picked it up, I decided to just knit it for a little while and I ended up making some real progress. I may actually finish it some time soon!

Yesterday was my last day off before heading back to work so I decided to cast on for some unscheduled spontaneously chosen socks. I decided to knit one of the Pick Up Sticks Sock Club Kits. This is the VvS Painted Yarn in the color Art Nouveau and the Lichen pattern. I believe it is the 4 ply. The sock is knitting up very quickly due to the larger gauge and great pattern. I do feel like I may have knit a bit too much the last couple days as well as doing other daily things like washing dishes, sorting bills, etc. as my neck is feeling not so good. I just hope being back at work today doesn't make it worse.

Knitting Group is tonight at the Border's in Wilmette (the corner of Skokie and Lake) at 6:30pm. As always, all yarn enthusiasts are welcome. I'm hoping to make it, but it really depends on how I'm feeling by the end of the day. I just hate to miss a meeting with all my knitting buddies!

In the year 2007

2007-01-01T00:24:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday season. We had a great time in Carbondale though the visit was too short, as always. The stupid neck pain I've been dealing with did prevent me from knitting the last couple weeks, but I have high hopes for 2007. Once I get my MRI done on Friday we'll know for sure what's causing the pain and I'm sure I'll be back in knitting business. :) At least I've been able to catch up on some reading!

Here's my little knitting wrap up of 2006 and my goal for 2007:

2006

I did alright knitting from the stash, but I know I added a bit too much to it as well.
I knit my first lace project (the Baltic Sea Stole) and loved it!
I received a Gold Medal in the Knitting Olympics.
I attended Stitches Midwest again and had an excellent time.
I knit much more for myself and Matt.
I became a more consistent blogger. Thanks to everyone who reads this blog!

2007

Only one goal: Keep the stash from growing! As we will most likely be moving by the end of this summer I am motivated to minimize packing by knitting through the stash. :)

January 2007 Knitting Goals - all of the following projects are somewhat tentative as I need to finish up a couple items from December while taking care of my silly neck...

1) Cheesylove sweater from Knitty2) Forbes Forest Scarf from Scarf Style
3) Socks in Yarntini 4-8-15-16-23-42
4) Finish the Trinket Scarf!!! (my oldest work in progress)

Happy Holidays!

2006-12-22T13:26:00.000-06:00

We leave for our hometown soon (yea!), but I am unsure whether there will be any knitting time at all as our schedule is packed (we have four sets of parents plus other friends to visit). Also, we are cutting this year's visit a little short since Matt just can't be away from the labs for long. Regardless, I am bringing along a full knitting bag with hopes that I'll have some free time here and there. I'm going to take along the Philosopher's Stone Socks that Rock socks and finish them, I hope. I also will take along the long neglected Yarntini Pure Falls Socks and then maybe a little more sock yarn...

Yesterday I received my Pick Up Sticks Sock Club Kit. This month Connie sent out the most stunning sock yarn - Posh Yarns Lucia in the color Passionale! The yarn is 30% cashmere and 70% merino wool - so soft! I can't stop petting it. :)

In stupid neck pain news: First of all, thanks for all the nice comments. It always cheers me up. :) As the week has gone on, I had thought my neck was all better, but then Thursday morning I relapsed. This time I went to the doctor and she prescribed a few different drugs and recommended I get some x-rays and an MRI. Hopefully we can figure out what the heck is going on. It's feeling much better today, but I'm sure the pills are doing most of that. I don't care so long as I feel good for the holidays!

I'll be taking a little break from blogging for the next week or so. I'll try to sneak one or two more posts in before the new year later next week. Until then, I wish everyone a fabulous holiday time whether you celebrate the solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa - oh, you get the point!

Have a fabulous winter celebration!

Rockin' Around

2006-12-18T15:01:00.001-06:00

Quick, non-knitting report: At around 5:30am on Saturday morning I woke up with the worst searing pain. No matter which way I turned my neck it was intensely painful. Even putting my head on the pillow hurt! Geez! Since then it has slowly gotten better, but man, it hurts! No idea what I did, but we figured I must have pinched a nerve at some point. Ugh! What a way to spend a weekend. :(

As you can imagine, very little knitting happened over the last few days. I only today felt I could pick up the needles, but even then it was just to finish the toe to the first Socks that Rocks Philosopher's Stone sock. I'm going to take it easy on the knitting for a while until my neck is back to normal. I really like how this sock turned out. I used the garter rib pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks. The lightweight Socks that Rock knit up into a very nice, dense fabric and I just love the combination of colors. Now, to cast on for sock number 2...

In happy cheery news I received the final 2006 Rockin' Sock Club kit today (I'm staying home from work due to the neck pain). The kit included two colors! On the left is Rare Gems in mediumweight. Rare Gems is created when there are dying mistakes. Have you ever seen such a gorgeous mistake? On the right is the official December color - Mustang Sally in lightweight! I absolutely love both of these. The pattern for Mustang Sally is very pretty, but it involves beads...not sure about the beads...The color reminds me of another Blue Moon Fiber Arts color - Cherries Jubilee (I used that color in their cotton sock yarn, Sock Candy this summer). I just love the intense pinky reds. Yea!

So, not sure what knitting will happen in the next few days. Kind of depends on the whole stupid neck thing. Ugh.

Good news is that I did finish Durrow on Friday (I have a feeling the hours of finishing may be what killed my neck). More details on the sweater once it is gifted to the recipient next week. :)

Uninspired Friday Post

2006-12-15T08:00:00.001-06:00

Nothing really to report here. I've made some progress on the Socks that Rock Philosopher's Stone sock. I really like the simple garter rib pattern (Sensational Knitted Socks book). I couldn't get the colors to really come out well in this photo. There's no pink. It's all navy, forest green, brown, and grey.

I've been in a bit of a blah mood lately. Not sure why, but I'm hoping the fact that I have a staff potluck at lunch today after which we are free to leave for the rest of the afternoon might brighten my mood. Yea! Afternoon off! Maybe, just maybe, I'll tackle the neck to Durrow. I still haven't heard back from the designer about the neck shaping directions so my plan is to simply knit the front the same as I did the back - genius! :) I'd heard online that a lot of people felt the neck came out too large anyway so this way it should create a higher crew neck. Wish me luck!

Up, Up and Away

2006-12-13T08:11:00.000-06:00

Interlocking Balloons

Pattern: Interlocking Balloons from Scarf Style
Yarn: Knit Picks Merino Style in Dusk - almost exactly 5 skeins (approx. 600 yards)
Needles: Size 5 (Denise Set)
Start Date: December 4, 2006
End Date: December 12, 2006
Comments: I had been looking at this pattern for a long time. I always thought it would make a gorgeous scarf, but the chart made my head hurt just looking at it. Don't get me wrong. I love a good chart, but for some reason, this one, with all the little dots, caused me a bit of anxiety. So, with my trusty chart keeper and highlighter tape I began and before I knew it I made it I was through the first repeat.

The Knit Picks Merino Style was perfect for this pattern, allowing for stitch definition, but incredible soft squishiness too. While this isn't a quick knit by any stretch of the imagination, it was a fun knit and I'll be happy to knit another one for myself. (This one is a gift for an undisclosed recipient).

I wasn't able to make it to the end of the the 10th repeat as I started running out of yarn, so I did a total of 9 repeats and 12 rows into the next. The scarf is 9 inches wide (as the pattern predicted), but 72 inches long! Perfect for the tall recipient! The scarf as written was supposed to be 62 inches so I was excited to get such length out the yarn even though I didn't finish the last repeat. I guess my row gauge was totally different (I rarely check that when knitting a scarf).

That leads us to the final gift knitting project of the season - a pair of socks (I totally bailed on knitting a stocking for my nephew. I've promised to do it for his birthday in April or, at the latest, next Christmas. He's 20 months old. I don't think he'll even notice.). These socks will be knit in Socks that Rock Philosopher's Stone (lightweight) using the Garter Rib pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks. They are another top secret project with an undisclosed recipient (Well, I actually asked the undisclosed recipient if he liked the color just to be sure, so it's not a total surprise, but I'm keeping it quiet anyway - shhh!).

***Knitting Group is tonight (Wednesday) at the Borders' Cafe in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Skokie). We meet from 6:30 until 8:00 and any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

Why Are Weekends So Short?

2006-12-11T08:37:00.000-06:00

I am a really strong advocate for a five day weekend and a two day work week. This weekend just flew by! I was able to put in some serious time with the Interlocking Balloons scarf (from the Scarf Style book) and I am very happy with its progress. I knit part of Friday night, Saturday afternoon, and as much as I could on Sunday. I have now completed 7 of the 10 repeats. The end is near!

The Knit Picks Merino Style is such a pleasure to knit. It feels so soft and has a great sponginess when it's knit up. I have more of this yarn in a different color set aside in my stash to knit an Interlocking Balloons of my very own (who knows when that will happen though...). I will warn you that the chart for this scarf can make you go cross-eyed. If I didn't have my chart keeper and my highlighter tape I would be hopelessly lost. Those are two very valuable tools that I highly recommend. Some bloggers reported the pattern becoming more intuitive as they went along. Well, not for me. I mean, in some parts yes, but overall I need to refer to the chart continually.

I'm finally working on the Yarntini Pure Fall Toe-up socks again. I kind of have been avoiding them since I new I'd be in trouble once I finished the foot. You see, I had plans to use the directions for the toe-up with heel flap construction in the Sensational Knitted Socks book, but when I read ahead it said to knit the foot until a certain length based on measurements that you can look up in the front of the book. I turned to the pages the pattern indicated and there was no chart! Well, I was a bit bummed and I've been poking about the internet looking for alternative ways to do a reverse heel flap when I came across another blogger who got hung up in the exact same way. She ended up finding the Generic Pattern for the "You're Putting Me On" Socks which is toe-up with a reverse heel flap! Hooray! So that's what I've just started. I'll let you know how it goes.

This weekend I also received my second mailing from the Sweet Sheep Sock Club. This month's yarn is Sweet Socks in the color The comforts of Home. Sweet Socks is the house brand of the store that is hosting this sock club. It's a lovely mix of colors - perfect for this time of year. The yarn is very soft and reminds me a lot of the texture of Sunshine Yarns. The content is 75% superwash wool and 25% nylon so it will make a nice pair of low maintenance socks. Man, I love getting surprise yarn in the mail!

Let it Snow!

2006-12-08T08:14:00.000-06:00

Brown and Blue Hat, Scarf, and Mittens

Pattern: Hat and Mittens: Ann Budd's Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns. Scarf: Sideways garter stitch (cast on a good amount and knit away!)
Yarn: Ebay seller 100purewool - 3 skeins of 218 yards each
Needles: Hat and Mittens: Size 6 Scarf: Size 8
Start Date: November 1, 2006
End Date: December 7, 2006
Comments: The only thing wrong with the hat, scarf, and mittens is that they are still drying! I would love to wear them today, but as they are a bit damp I'm afraid they would freeze the second the -8 degree wind chill hit. Thanks to everyone who commented regarding my mitten dilemma. As you may notice, I decided to go ahead and knit the mittens and just use what was left to finish the scarf. I think it worked out very well. I can't say enough good things about the yarn or the Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns. These warmth-giving items would not be here today without their help. :)

We've got two holiday parties this weekend, but I'm hoping that on Sunday I can put in some time with the Interlocking Balloon scarf. Thank you to everyone for their reassurances regarding the color. I'm glad everyone agrees it is a good blue. I'm hoping to finish it sometime this week, but I have a long way to go.

I love to knit

2006-12-06T09:24:00.000-06:00

You know what? I love to knit. There's no hiding the fact. I enjoy the process and the product. I think it's so neat I can whip up a hat in one evening or knit a complicated scarf that will take days and days all with a couple sticks and some yarn. I can't get enough of the textures and colors and the patterns.

Monday night I started another gift scarf. It's the Interlocking Balloons pattern from Scarf Style. The yarn is KnitPicks Merino Style in Dusk and it is lovely and squishy. I've only done two of the 10 repeats, but it's moving along pretty well now. It was slow going in the beginning as I had to adjust to the complicated looking chart, but it is getting easier and the result is so cool. I love the undulating lines of ribbing.

I'd read the yardage requirement may be a bit off in the pattern so I made sure I bought a couple extra skeins as the person this is for likes long scarves (who doesn't?). So far, one skein got me 15 inches in and just over two repeats. I have 4 skeins left - Looking good! (It irks me to ask such a sexist question, but here goes, the color is ok for a guy, right? It's an intense, but dark blue.)

So, last night after knitting the scarf for a little while I decided to make a hat to go with a scarf I started (but haven't finished) last month. I haven't blogged about the scarf since I only worked on it at a couple knitting group nights and then it got shoved off to the side. The yarn is from the ebay seller 100purewool and it feels like Malabrigo. It's from Uruguay (as is Malabrigo) and comes in fantastic colors (like Malabrigo). It's sold at a very very good price and knits up wonderfully so it's a favorite of mine. :)

The scarf is just a sideways garter stitch. I kind of just cast on lots and lots (maybe around 240?) and started knitting in garter stitch. I put it on hold when I came to the end of the first of three balls since I wanted to be sure I had enough to make a hat and maybe mittens too.

The hat took nearly a whole ball - probably around 160 yards (each ball is 218 yards). I'm debating whether to go ahead and knit the mittens and risk having a narrow scarf or just tossing the mitten idea and finishing the scarf making it really wide. What do you all think? (I think I'm leaning towards mittens...)

Here are the details on the hat:
Pattern: Based on the hat pattern in Ann Budd's Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns (I added a little more slope to the decreases at the crown)
Yarn: From Ebay Seller 100purewool
Needles: Size 6 (denise set) with a gauge of 5 stitches per inch

Date Knit: December 5, 2006

***Knitting Group is tonight (Wednesday) at the Borders' Cafe in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Skokie). We meet from 6:30 until 8:00 and any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

One Down...

2006-12-04T08:07:00.000-06:00

Misty Garden I

Pattern: Misty Garden from Scarf Style
Yarn: Artful Yarns Portrait in Fazio's Mistress (#114)
Needles: Size US 7 bamboo straight(!)
Start Date: November 29, 2006
End Date:December 3, 2006
Comments: First off, sorry for the blob picture. Winter light and mohair just don't mix. :) As for the scarf itself, I'm very pleased. I'm not normally one for the feather and fan lace pattern, but it just looks so pretty with a lightly variegated mohair. This scarf is a gift for someone and I do hope they like it. I didn't make it my usual length (height of the person wearing it) as it seemed to be a dressier scarf. The total length is right around 60 inches and the width is 7 1/2 inches. The Artful Yarns Portrait was interesting to work with as it is slightly different than a lot of other mohair yarns. Instead of dying the center, core thread the same color as the mohair fluff, the thread is black. This creates a lot of depth when you see the scarf in person (as opposed to my less than good photo). I used right around a skein and a half.

Today I had hoped to announce the official finishing of Durrow, the sweater I'm knitting for Matt. Instead of working on my Tapestry scarf this weekend I decided to finish knitting the sweater. Unfortunately as I neared the end of it yesterday afternoon I hit a snag. I am knitting the front piece (the last piece I have left) and I got to the neck shaping. At that point I got lost. I've read and reread the instructions and it makes absolutely no sense to me. I'm sure I'm missing something really obvious, but I don't know what. I've emailed the designer and I hope to hear back from her soon. Until I get some clarification I'm afraid his sweater is just going to be in a pitiful pile.

Snowy Day, Misty Garden

2006-12-01T08:11:00.000-06:00

How perfect to wake up on the first day of December to a beautiful snowy world! I couldn't resist a picture of the Misty Garden scarf I just started with the snow in the background. Kilby had to be involved too. :)

So, November was busy with trying to balance workout time with knitting time, but I think I've got the hang of it now. Most of my November goals were met (just need to finish up a couple scarves for myself, no rush) so now it's on to December in which I will try to knit some for others (and me!).

December Goals:
1) Misty Garden Scarf x2 (one for me or someone else and one definitely for someone else)
2) Stocking (for someone else)
3) Cedar Bark Socks in Sunshine Yarns Hungarian Horntail Dragon (for someone else)
4) Jingle Bell Rock Isosceles Socks (mine, all mine)
5) Interlocking Balloons Scarf (for someone else)
6) 2x2 Rib Pure Fall Socks - started in November (me me me)

The Yarntini Pure Fall socks are moving along. As you know, I started them in November, so no matter what, I'm ahead of schedule. :) I plan on using the toe-up heel flap instructions in Sensational Knitted Socks and if it works it will open up a whole new world of toe-up socks! I'll be done with the first heel soon. I may put off knitting the second sock for a little while to work on holiday gifts, but I don't know. I hate not finishing a pair...

The other night I cast on for one of the Misty Garden Scarves (that's the picture at the top of this entry) and it's really knitting up quickly. I'm using Artful Yarns Portrait in Fazio's Mistress. So far so good! This one's a gift and I really hope the recipient likes the colors. (The close-up is a pretty good representation of the color - a variety of shades of pink as well as a hint of orange).

This weekend I plan on working on my Rowan Tapestry Yarn Harlot Scarf. I haven't made too much progress so no picture today. Saturday night we'll be at the opera, but other than that I'll be knitting all weekend. :)

What's everyone else going to do this weekend?

Hat Ahoy!

2006-11-29T08:21:00.000-06:00

An encore performance...

We Call Them Pirates Hat

Pattern: We Call Them Pirates Hat
Yarn: KnitPicks Merino Style in Coal and Vanilla
Needles: KnitPicks Options, size 5 for hat, size 2 for lining
Start Date: November 20, 2006
End Date: November 27, 2006
Comments: I made this hat for Matt in August. He loved it. Loved it so much he started wearing it the second it started turning cooler here. Somewhere between Career Services and the Tech Building the hat disappeared from Matt's coat pocket. I think it was an act of piracy. We may never know. I will tell you though, if I see anyone wearing that hat on this campus, I will get the hat back! But, until that happens, I went ahead and knit another one. I love Matt and the hat is pretty fun to knit so I didn't mind too much.

Other than the hat, very little knitting progress is being made. This may shock some of you, but I didn't even knit at all yesterday. I developed a neck ache yesterday morning and, coupled with post-holiday travel fatigue, I just sat on the couch last night like a lump. I think I may put some of my current projects on hold and start on the few holiday presents I have planned for people. That way I am sure they are done in time and who can argue with the allure of casting on for a new project. Silly me missing a whole evening of knitting time just before the holidays! ;)

***Knitting Group is tonight (Wednesday) at the Borders' Cafe in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Skokie). We meet from 6:30 until 8:00 and any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

We drove, we visited, we ate turkey!

2006-11-27T07:59:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Matt and I had a great time in Carbondale for the long weekend. There was lots of family time, a vast quantity of great food, and a little bowling.:)

Was there time for knitting? Not really. I think I did about an inch of my Tapestry Harlot Scarf (yarn: Rowan Tapestry in Pot Pourri; pattern from the Yarn Harlot). I have a long way to go and since it looks exactly like it did last time, no new picture...

Aside from the scarf, I did make some progress with the Yarntini Pure Fall socks last night after we got home. I've restarted them on size 0 and it's knitting up much nicer. I am really enjoying the self-striping action as well as the soft yarn. Toe-up seems to go faster for some reason...

I'm also almost finished with Matt's new pirate hat.

I did want to let people know that if you are interested in getting an Offhand Designs knitting bag, be sure to check out the fundraiser they are having right now. All proceeds go to helping a young lady purchase a new wheelchair. So, go donate some money and get yourself a new knitting bag at a good price with a side order of good karma. (I'm not going on record that I bought another Zelda, but don't be surprised if in the spring my workout incentive is another bag...I'm just saying...)

My incentive to keep to my workout schedule in December and part of January is to officially rejoin the Rockin' Sock Club. I know I don't want to miss out on that so I have to meet every scheduled workout between now and when the invoice arrives. The only viable excuse to missing a workout and still remaining eligible for my reward is if I'm sick and Matt confirms that I'm not faking. :) So as to avoid setting myself up for failure, I am going to lighten the workout schedule a little through the holiday week, especially while we are visiting family. I will try to at least get a few walks in during that time.

I'm a Dodo-Head

2006-11-22T08:01:00.000-06:00

Ever since I knit Widdershins I have been wanting to do another toe-up with heel-flap sock, but the measurements for Widdershins are just too small using my preferred sock yarns and needles. Then I saw someone mention on her blog that she used the toe-up heel-flap instructions from Sensational Knitted Socks when she knit her socks. Doh! I never realized there were instructions in there for a toe-up heel-flap! I love that book and peruse the patterns often, but I never noticed that in the twelve stitch pattern section it sets out the customizable pattern for a toe-up with heel flap sock! Yea! So, now I can use the fabulously easy toe cast-on from Knitty and the heel flap instructions from the book.

And so last night I cast on for my newest pair of socks using Yarntini in the Pure Fall self-striping colorway. There would be a picture here except that even though I swatched the sock it was knitting up a bit too big so I had to frog back the 3 or 4 inches I got done last night...Oh well...Instead here's a picture of the scarf I cast on yesterday. It's Rowan Tapestry Pot Pourri and I'm using the scarf pattern the Yarn Harlot blogged on October 12th.

Here's a picture of all the knitting that's going along on holiday: the Pure Fall socks, a replacement We Call Them Pirates Hat (I'll explain that one later), and the tapestry harlot scarf. I figured I would need a variety of projects to work on while spending the Thanksgiving holiday with family. (You may notice the new bag - I reached my workout goal for the past month so the Zelda Tote is all mine!)

I'm also taking along my latest read, The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. I'm just 80 pages in, but it's hard to put down and I expect to finish it quickly. So I'm taking a back-up book as I do not want to be left stranded without reading material. I think I'll bring along a short story book by Alice Sheldon a.k.a. James Tiptree (a sci-fi writer).

What is everyone going to be working on over the long weekend?

***Knitting Group is tonight (Wednesday) at the Borders' Cafe in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Skokie). We meet from 6:30 until 8:00 and any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

Due to the holiday, I'll be taking a little break from blogging until Monday, November 27th. I hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving Day!

Kneevember!

2006-11-20T08:02:00.000-06:00

Nodding Violet Knee Socks

Pattern: Customizable Knee Sock Pattern
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock lightweight in Nodding Violet - 2 skeins
Needles and Gauge: KnitPicks dpns, size 0 (2.0mm) with a gauge of 8.5 stitches per inch
Start Date: November 12, 2006
End Date: November 19, 2006
Comments: I cannot believe how much I love these socks. I had been admiring the Nodding Violet color for months. I had been looking fondly upon other people's lovely knee socks. I could not be happier with the combination. The Knee Sock Pattern worked out wonderfully. It takes a little math, but even if you are math-phobic I don't think it would be too difficult. These socks fit so well and I can't wait to wear them on Thanksgiving Day. Even though in the picture one sock looks taller, they are the same. I just have very limited photo capability on a Monday morning before work. I also will not be wearing them with my jeans rolled up to my knees. :)

These socks were another quick knit, but it's mainly due to the fact that I was home sick all day on Wednesday and that gave me a lotof knitting time. Also, I just can't put down the needles when I'm knitting with Socks that Rock. This was the first time I used the lightweight and I was incredibly happy. It has the same texture and twist that the mediumweight has and it creates a lovely, slightly thinner, but still very warm fabric.

Regarding yardage - I almost ran out. I was very nervous when I was knitting the toe on the first sock. I really wasn't sure I would have enough. I think I had about 3 or 4 yards left. That's cutting it close! Just to give a rough estimate in case others are interested, my calf circumference is a little less than 16 inches around, it's 13 inches from the narrowest part of my ankle to my knee, and my foot is right around 10 inches long. Each skein has 360 yards and I had maybe 10 yards left in the end.

Moving on to new things, the second Pick Up Sticks Club kit arrived a couple days ago. Another winner. The yarn is VvS Painted Yarns, a small Canadian company, and the color is Art Nouveau. The yarn itself reminds a lot of Socks that Rock mediumweight. It's a very similar look and feel though the colors are more subdued. Very elegant. The pattern is another stunning creation. I am currently reorganizing my sock knitting list so that I can cast on for this one soon.

Can't Type, Must Knit

2006-11-17T08:03:00.000-06:00

Knee Sock* #1 is finished! Love it. Awesome fit. Second one already cruising. Turkey Day goal is possible!

No time to type more, must knit.

*Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock lightweight in Nodding Violet. Knee Sock pattern here.

Sock and Stash

2006-11-15T14:49:00.000-06:00

The knee sock is growing bit by bit. Due to my being home sick today, there's even a chance I'll finish the first one tonight! Knitting custom sized knee socks sure makes you aware of the size of your calf. Let's just say I have very shapely calves - Moo! :) I'm still enjoying the colors to no end. The variety of purples and greens are so lovely together. (Just a reminder that this is Socks that Rock lightweight in Nodding Violet on size 0's. The pattern can be found here). I'm really hoping to have these done in time to wear to Turkey Day dinner. We'll see, we'll see.

A new skein of sock yarn showed up at my door recently (how does that happen?). Here is the first Sweet Sheep Sock Club mailing. It's lovely C*EYE*BER Fiber Yarn by Mama-E. I joined this sock club because I hadn't tried three of the four featured yarns. This is one of the new-to-me yarns and I was a little worried I wouldn't like it, but let me tell you, this is some soft and luscious yarn. At first glance, I was a little thrown off by the colors. They are not my usual, but after reading the dyer's note about the colors being representative of a sunset I looked at it in a different light. By the next morning I was quite taken with the colors:) I'm very happy and look forward to knitting with it. Now I just have to pick a pattern...

A couple days ago, Ava asked where I got the purple stitch holders I use to keep my double points together. It is a Stitchkeeper by Rollie. The site has all the info and you just email her to order. I absolutely adore these things and highly recommend getting a few. They make dpn sock project incredibly portable - no worry that your stitches will slide off in transit!

Socks and Violets

2006-11-13T07:58:00.000-06:00

Marble Arches

Pattern: Marble Arches from the October Rockin' Sock Club, medium size
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Pink Granite mediumweight (Rockin' Sock Club color)
Needles/Gauge: KnitPicks dpns size 1, approx. 8 stitches/inch
Start Date: November 6, 2006
End Date: November 10, 2006
Comments: So I knew I knit these quickly, but until I was typing out my start and end dates I didn't realize how quickly. Yowza! I guess it's just further proof that I am absolutely smitten with Socks that Rock (STR). I simply can't put the needles down when I'm knitting with this stuff. I love the density of the yarn and the soft and smooth fabric it creates. And the colors? Love the colors! Yea!
These socks also mark the first time I've used one of the Rockin' Sock Club patterns. So far I haven't been too keen on any of them, but this one is a big winner. I will definitely be using it again. Possibly in a few weeks with some more STR that just arrived at my house:)
(Oh, and someone asked me where I got my sock blockers - found them on ebay, of course! Just go here and check them out. I really think they are great.)

Here's a little picture of my latest Socks that Rock acquisitions. On the left are two Nodding Violets (lightweight) for my knee socks, then we have a mediumweight Downpour and a lightweight Jingle Bell Rock.

Since the Marble Arches socks were all done, I was able to cast on for my long desired Knee Socks in Socks that Rock lightweight Nodding Violets. I'm using the pattern found here. Jen has is almost finished with a pair using this pattern and they look amazing (Jen - please post a picture of your rockin' knee socks)! So far, so good. The lightweight goes a bit slower than the mediumweight, but it's creating a lovely fabric. The colors are even more beautiful knit up. Hands down, these are my favorite colors. I cannot wait to wear them! (Not sure if I'll wear them with a skirt or not...Am I that brave?)

(The colors of this yarn go from a very dark emerald green to an intense purple. I could not get my camera to behave this morning and this is the best I could do. )

faster than a speeding train...

2006-11-09T08:08:00.000-06:00

The Marble Arches pattern from October's Rockin' Sock Club kit is addicting and fun. I cast on for the first sock Monday night and here it is on Thursday morning and the second sock is already underway! I love the colors of the Pink Granite Socks that Rock. It's funny how it striped around the leg, but for the foot it did some really intense pooling (there is a stitch count change from the leg to the foot). Luckily I love striping as well as pooling - that's why I knit with hand dyed sock yarn:) Having knit a few socks with non-socks that rock lately, I had nearly forgotten how much I love to knit with this stuff. The colors, texture, and substance are all outstanding. I'm hoping to finish these up before I get a little shipment I'm expecting from Blue Moon that will include the yarn necessary to knit some knee highs. Yea!

Fastest Sweater EVER (and more socks)!

2006-11-07T08:09:00.000-06:00

Rosedale United
Pattern: Rosedale United (knitty) (medium/42 inch size)
Yarn: Noro Kureyon #157
Needles: KnitPicks Options Size 6(US)
Start Date: October 24, 2006
Finish Date: November 3, 2006
Comments: This sweater was a lot of fun; both the colors and the pattern. It's a great way to use Noro Kureyon to its full advantage, showing off all the lovely color changes. I didn't realize until I got to the instructions for the intarsia rectangle that the majority of this sweater is knit back and forth, not in the round as I had assumed. Luckily, Kureyon on size 6 knits up fairly quickly, even when knitting and purling. I almost left out the little intarsia rectangle on the upper back and I kind of wish I had now. It puckers a little even though I made every effort to not strand to tightly at that spot. Oh well, it blocked out pretty well and it may even out more as I wear it. I really love this sweater and I think it may be the one that gets the most use out of my handknit sweater collection. I can just imagine wearing it throughout the winter whenever I need a color pick-me-up:)

Dublin Dragonfly Bay Socks
Pattern: Dublin Bay (pdf link here)
Yarn: Sunshine Yarns Dragonfly
Needles: KnitPicks dpns sizes 1 and 0 (9 stitches per inch on 0's)
Start Date: October 19, 2006
End Date: November 6, 2006
Comments:These are the first pair of Sunshine Yarns I've knit using her new superwash sock yarn. Overall, I'm very happy with the result. The texture of the yarn is rather soft. I did feel the yarn is a tad bit thin and the spin is a little splitty, but the colors more than make up for any lack of enthusiasm I may feel for the actual yarn. Dani of Sunshine Yarns just knows how to pick colors and dye some beautiful yarn. From intense burgundy to soft pale blue, this yarn absolutely reminds me of a dragonfly. I'm glad I have more of this yarn, in a variety of colors, in my stash. :)

And here's what I cast on last night - That's the new Socks that Rock Rockin' Sock Club color Pink Granite using the pattern that came with it (Marble Arches). It has the adorable ruffly cuff. Love it!

***Knitting Group is tomorrow night (Wednesday) at the Borders' Cafe in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Skokie). We meet from 6:30pm until 8:00pm and any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

Incentive

2006-11-03T08:05:00.000-06:00

I'm a self-indulgent creature. I have very little self-control when it comes to shopping or eating, hence the large yarn stash and the large Alyssa:) I often give myself incentives to finish tasks I don't like. Usually, since I enjoy knitting, I don't have to give myself too large of an incentive other than "finish something and you get to cast on for a new project" or "finish some socks, buy more sock yarn." Currently it's finish the Dragonfly socks so that you can cast on with that new Pink Granite Socks that Rock!

With my health I find the need to bribe myself with large tangible rewards to get me to make positive changes. When it comes to losing weight the motivation part is easy. I lose weight, I get to buy more clothes (I like clothes shopping). But being healthy is more than losing excess weight. I have to exercise. Good for the heart and body. I hate (HATE!) working out. Therefore, I had to create a system of rewards.

The first prize is tiny. Every time I complete a scheduled workout I have Matt award me a sticker for that day (This is definitely a throw back to when stickers were the common reward for doing well at school. Hmmm, I went from being an A+ student to a slacker in the short time between getting stickers on tests and not getting them. Coincidence?)

The next phase of the plan is that for every two week period where I stick to my workout schedule I get a little reward like going to a movie and getting a small popcorn or Matt will buy me flowers, etc. You get the idea.

So the final step in ~~forcing me~~ encouraging me to workout (which I'm not sure I mentioned before, but I HATE TO WORKOUT!!!!) is to come up with a large enough incentive that I will not miss any workouts for a month. You know what that could be? This glorious bag. It's an Offhand Designs Zelda Tote in Forest Stripe. It's been living in the box it came in and there it will stay until November 21st which will be the completion of a four week period wherein my goal is to not skip any of my 20 scheduled workouts. I want that bag so badly (i hate working out).

What motivates you in life or knitting?

November

2006-11-01T09:08:00.000-06:00

November Goals
So, October is over and with it numerous projects are complete. Ivy took a little bit longer than I expected so that pushed back the time I had allotted for Rosedale United. Now, with both of these gorgeous sweaters nearly finished (Rosedale should be done by the end of the week), I can focus on this month's goals. I had originally planned on knitting another sweater, but I've decided after doing two back to back that I'll just focus on some smaller projects this month.

1) Socks that Rock Knee Highs (Jen is knitting some and they are great!)
2) Rowan Tapestry Scarf, Mitts, Hat
3) ~~Pure Fall Plain Socks~~ October Rockin' Socks in Socks that Rock Pink Granite (I may get around to the Pure Fall socks sometime this month, but the new Rockin' Sock pattern and yarn are too irresistible to ignore)
4) Dublin Bay socks (pdf) in Sunshine Yarns Dragonfly
5) Another We Call Them Pirates Hat (after the tragic misplacement of the first one)
6) Basic scarf using 100purewool

November is all about portable, easy projects. I didn't get a progress shot of my Dublin Dragonfly socks, but trust me, they are moving along. I started them at the end of October hoping to squeeze them in as a third pair for Socktober, but I got incredibly distracted by Rosedale so that didn't happen. I'm just finishing the first sock. I don't think I'll have any trouble finishing these up sometime over the weekend. Once these are off the needles I'll be starting my first pair of knee socks in the long-coveted Nodding Violets colorway of Socks that Rock (assuming my order gets here soon). Gorgeous!

What's everyone going to be working on this month?

***Knitting Group is tonight (Wednesday) at the Borders' Cafe in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Skokie). We meet from 6:30 until 8:00 and any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

A Rockin' End to Socktober

2006-10-31T08:11:00.000-06:00

The Arrival of the Penultimate Socks That Rock Rockin' Sock Kit
Yowza! This kit is hands down my favorite so far. I thought I loved Titania the most, but then Pink Granite was delivered and stole my heart. And the pattern? Awesome!

Occasionally I have pondered whether I really needto join the 2007 Rockin' Sock Club. Who am I kidding? Of course I'm going to rejoin. I've even been doing a bit of ebay destashing to raise a some cash and free up room in the sock yarn stash. I love Socks that Rock, sock clubs, packages in the mail, the exclusivity (is that a real word?), the excitiment, the drama - Ok, you get the point:)

Are you going to have Rockin' Socks in 2007?

Lovely Ivy

2006-10-29T15:32:00.000-06:00

Ivy

Pattern: Ivy (from Knitty), 40 inch size
Yarn: Elann Peruvian Highland Silk in Autumn Purple
Needles: KnitPicks circular size US #2
Start Date: October 1, 2006
End Date: October 28, 2006
Comments: Ivy was a challenging and fun project. The pattern is incredibly well-written. The author was very careful to give the knitter a heads up whenever there was simultaneous shaping which I really appreciated. She also wrote out the pattern for both the left and right fronts rather than simply saying "work right front as you did left. Reverse shaping." I also really liked how the larger decrease sections were hidden in the cable ribbing. Very clever and it looks fantastic! The neck edging was very carefully created. Overall, Ivy is probably one of the best patterns I've ever worked from. While it was an incredible challenging project the author did such a great job in the pattern writing that I never felt lost.

As for the yarn, I really enjoyed working with the Elann Peruvian Highland Silk and boy is it warm! This sweater will keep me toasty all winter, I'm sure. While knitting it I did not notice any pilling. The rich intense color is amazing. I can't believe the price on this stuff!

Changing Colors

2006-10-27T08:10:00.000-05:00

I cannot think of a more perfect project to be knitting during the fall season than Rosedale United. The yarn's soft shifts of autumnal hues are reflective of the changing colors of late October leaves. There has been a fabulous show of colors this fall. It is the last burst of vibrancy before a long dark winter. I'm nearly finished with the sleeves and then it's on to the body. I'll begin the finishing of Ivy tomorrow.

Finishing, Beginning, Continuing, Informing, & Canceling

2006-10-25T09:13:00.000-05:00

Ivy is finished! Well, all the knitting is done (except for a little bit of the neck band that you finish once you seam everything together). The sleeves are now blocking and I think I'll assemble it sometime this weekend. I don't ever like to be tired or rushed when sewing seams as I tend to get a little sloppy. So, pictures Monday!?!?

With Ivy off the needles, I officially began Rosedale United. I'm using some Noro Kureyon (#157) that I picked up on a fantastic deal from Web's at Stitches Midwest this fall. I'm knitting the Medium size (42 inch) on size 5 needles. For the sleeve, which you can see the beginning of to the right, I have to use double points and I totally forgot all I have in size 5 double points are some old Lion Brand plastic ones. Oh well. They aren't too horrible. And size 5 knits up much much faster than size 2 (Ivy!). I highly doubt I'll finish it in October, which was the original goal, but it is likely I can complete it within the first week of November. Good thing we get that extra hour this weekend!

And since I always have to have some socks going I've started on some Dublin Bay socks using Sunshine Yarns in Dragonfly. Stunning colors! These socks are going to fly off the needles (get it? Fly? Dragonfly?). Maybe I'll hit three pairs to celebrate Socktober!

Oh, I almost forgot! Aija at sock pr0n has posted the greatest tutorial for weaving in your ends while you knit!!! I tried it last night when I was finishing up the last Ivy sleeve and it works fantastically. Go check it out here!

***Knitting Group is cancelled for tonight (Oct. 25th) due to the planned absence of numerous members. We will resume our regular meetings at the regular place (Border's Cafe in Wilmette) on the regular day (Wednesday - Nov. 1st) at the regular time (6:30pm) next week.***

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2006-10-23T08:10:00.000-05:00

Ivy is nearing completion. I've finished the back and two front pieces as well as the first sleeve. I'm halfway through the second sleeve and I am working on the miles of 1x1 ribbed tie. I decided to go ahead and block the first few pieces now in anticipation of finishing Ivy (hopefully) sometime towards the end of this week. Yea!

The Arrival of My First Pick Up Sticks Kit
It took me all of 24 hours to sign up for the sock club at Pick Up Sticks. After a couple quick emails with Connie, the friendly owner, I decided to join. Connie offers such a neat selection of hand painted sock yarns that I thought this was a great way to sample them along with getting a new sock pattern every month. (You know I like to knit socks, right?) I am not disappointed with my first kit. In fact, I'm ecstatic. The yarn is Claudia Hand Painted in Twilight. This is a color that I absolutely love, but I'm not sure I would have picked out on my own. The depth of color is amazing with a variety of blues and pinks. Gorgeous. And look at this pattern! Wow! It has a cabled cuff and heel with a lovely lace panel on either side of the leg. I have been dying to cast on for it, but since I already have a sock on the needles I'm resisting, for now.

Chocolate Cherry Stillwater Socks

2006-10-20T08:10:00.000-05:00

Chocolate Cherry Stillwater Socks

Pattern: Stillwater from Wildhorse Farm Designs
Yarn: Claudia Hand Painted in Chocolate Cherry
Needles: KnitPicks DPNS US 1
Start Date: October 9, 2006
End Date: October 19, 2006
Comments: I love love love love love these socks! First of all, the yarn is fantastic. Not a single complaint aside from my usual size 10 desire for more yardage. The spin and texture are identical (at least to me) to Koigu (and the label says Gems so I think we've got a match!). The different browns, reds, and pinks were just so lovely to knit. As for the pattern - wow! Wildhorse Farm Designs' patterns are really nice because they come with written as well as charted pattern instructions. Also, two sizing options are given (determined by gauge) which is a really nice feature for those of us with slightly larger than average footsies. There are even additional instructions if you want to knit these using sportweight. I will absolutely be using this pattern again in the future.

I am also very happy that my fabulous new sock blockers arrived in time for this photo shoot. I've been eyeing these on ebay for ages and finally ordered them because they make the perfect Socktober present (for myself). I really doubt I'll block my socks regularly, but these blockers sure help show of the stitch pattern nicely for blog photos. When I opened the box I thought they looked way too big (I had ordered the large size which is for ladies 10 and up), but my socks all fit them really well. I guess I never realized my foot would look so huge if it was flattened:)

Meme

2006-10-19T10:42:00.000-05:00

48 Things You Could Care Less About (found at Inky Knits)

1. FIRST NAME? Alyssa

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My mom's college friend.

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? A few weeks ago when I received some sad news about my nephew. (He has been diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome - a genetic defect).

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Most of the time. It's a bit sloppy, but it has character.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Bologna.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Sure, we would have lots in common.

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Not really aside from this blog.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yep.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Probably not. It's just not something I feel a strong desire to do.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Grape Nuts with raisins.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Not usually. I strive to only buy shoes I can slip on and off.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? I'm not weak, but I'm by no means strong. Strong-willed? Yes! (Except when around sock yarn.)

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Peanut Butter and Chocolate

14. SHOE SIZE? US 10

5. RED OR PINK? Pink.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My weight.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My mom. I live too far from her.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? It would be fun to see everyone's answers.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Blue jeans, dark grey shirt, black docs.

20. LAST THING YOU ATE? South Beach Diet Peanut Butter Breakfast Bar and V8.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Nothing.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Navy.

23. FAVORITE SMELL? Honeysuckle.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My friend Alice.

25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Their smile.

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from? Yes.

27. FAVORITE DRINK? Coffee.

28. FAVORITE SPORT? Golf

29. EYE COLOR? Blue

30. HAT SIZE? No idea. I don't really wear fitted hats.

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yep.

32. FAVORITE FOOD? Pizza

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Scary!

35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter. I strongly dislike summer (not a fan of sweat and sunburns).

36. HUGS OR KISSES? Both!

37. FAVORITE DESSERT? Sticky Toffee Pudding.

38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? It will be a surprise.

39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? No idea.

40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOUR CURRENTLY READING? Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, World War Z, and the Prestige.

41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE Pad? Dell (I'm at work).

42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Lost, Biggest Loser, and Ghost Hunters.

43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? The Ocean.

44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? Beatles.

45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Germany.

46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? Knitting and the ability to remember a lot of useless trivia.

47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Vancouver, Washington.

48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Found at Inky Knits.

A little midweek progress report

2006-10-18T08:48:00.000-05:00

Ivy is coming along incredibly well. I've now finished the back, the left front piece, and I'm more than halfway through the right front. That just leaves the sleeves and the extremely long tie (over 100 inches!). As I complete each piece I become more anxious to finish it. The Elann Peruvian Highland Silk is knitting up so beautifully- this is going to be one gorgeous sweater! I hope to finish the knitting by the end of this coming weekend. (That will leave only a week in October so I am thinking that my second sweater of the month- Rosedale United - may spill over into November).

The Stillwater Chocolate Cherry Socks are 75% complete. I just need to finish up the foot and toe of the second sock and voila! Another finished pair in Socktober! :) Since I always like to have socks on the needles I may go ahead and cast on for the first pair I have planned for November. I'll be using Sunshine Yarns in Dragonfly to knit my favorite pattern, Dublin Bay (see sidebar for link). The yarn is rather variegated so I think the simplicity of the Dublin Bay lace panel will look fantastic.

Recently on one of the knitting boards I read there was a discussion about how in one's knitting it is usually best to only highlight one of the following: color, texture, or the pattern. In some cases you can have two of these characteristics, such as a lace pattern with a softly variegated yarn or a cable in a silky yarn, but generally you want to emphasize just one. I guess I tend to agree with this thinking for most of my knitting. What do you think?

***Knitting Group is tonight (Wednesday) at the Borders' Cafe in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Skokie). We meet from 6:30 until 8:00 and any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

In Celebration of Socktober: Why I Love to Knit Socks

2006-10-16T08:14:00.000-05:00

Why I Love to Knit Socks

The yarn. I love love love sock yarn. It's a wonderful indulgence. So many colors and textures!

The variety of patterns. Toe-up? Cuff down? Lace? Rib? Cables?

The freedom to try any color (if it's not "your" color you can always wear boots).

Socks are portable.

They feel great on my feet.

Matt loves wearing them too.

I love knitting with tiny double point needles.

Why do you love to knit socks?

Knit, Swatch, Knit, Stash

2006-10-13T08:47:00.000-05:00

Ivy is moving along. Not the fastest knit, but so enjoyable.
Swatching is happening for the next big project, Rosedale United. However, if Ivy keeps going at its current pace, Rosedale might be bumped to November. But isn't the Noro Kureyon pretty?The Stillwater Chocolate Cherry socks are knitting up so quickly. Great yarn (Claudia Hand Painted) plus a great pattern (Stillwater from Wildhorse Farm Designs) equals happy knitting.And here's further proof I have no willpower when it comes to sock yarn. The latest from Sunshine Yarns. On the top is Olive and on the bottom is Westwood. So pretty. (I've also joined a couple more sock clubs, so there will be more pretty yarns arriving at my house throughout the winter).
Oh, and I've said it a few times. I have a list of all my sock yarn and what pattern I will use with each yarn. Here's a screenshot of what's coming up in the next year or so. I'm a nerd.

Disco Socks!

2006-10-10T08:03:00.000-05:00

Schoeller & Stahl Fortissima Mexiko Disco Socks

Pattern: Basic sock pattern of my own creation
Yarn: Schoeller & Stahl Mexiko Disco Socks color #9051 Durango
Needles: KnitPicks dpns - US 1
Start Date: October 2, 2006
End Date: October 9, 2006
Comments: Ah, the first pair of Socktober 2006 socks. Even though we were out of town this weekend, I found some time to knit a bit and by the time we got home this evening all I had left were the toes. While these socks had a bit of a rough start (I got all the way through the gusset decreases the first go around only to realize the sock was huge) in the end I am very happy with them. The little sparkles in the yarn are a lot of fun and they are the perfect color to wear with jeans.

As my brain was numb from traveling all day, I decided to cast on for another pair of socks rather than work on Ivy. So, here is the beginning of a sock using Claudia Hand Painted in Chocolate Cherry. The pattern is Stillwater from Wildhorse Farm Designs. I really love how it is working with the yarn. The yarn itself is wonderful. The colors are vibrant and rich. I'm almost positive this is the same base yarn as Koigu. It feels fantastic:)

Shiny

2006-10-05T08:12:00.000-05:00

What is it about shiny things that is so appealing? I like shiny yarn. I like shiny cars. I like shiny diamonds. I like shiny pens. I like shiny nail polish. If it's shiny, I like it. So, it goes without saying, I like Schoeller & Stahl Mexiko Disco yarn. I'm just cruising through this pair of socks (color #9051 Durango). This yarn knits up a lot like Opal, so I am hoping it does soften a bit when washed like Opal does. I'm just doing my plain sock pattern that has been gleaned from different sources. Nothing fancy here, just letting the shininess do all the work.

Ivy is progressing as well. It is a slower knit than I expected, but now that I'm through the large cabled section on the back I'm picking up speed. The Elann Peruvian Highland Silk is lovely to work with and I'm so pleased with the autumn purple color. The stitch definition is very good - the cables really pop. I really like the contrast between the cabled section and the smooth stockinette. Pretty pretty pretty.

We have decided to visit family over the weekend so I don't expect a lot of knitting to get done, but you never know. Silly family getting in the way of yarn time:)

Socktober Questions

2006-10-03T12:31:00.000-05:00

Lolly has posted some questions on her blog in celebration of Socktober. Here are my answers:

When did you start making socks?
I knit my very first pair in May 2005

Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?
I taught myself from Ann Budd's Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns.

What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?
My first pair was knit with KnitPicks Simple Stripes in Snapdragon using the Ann Budd book. They have held up very well actually. No pilling or holes!

What would you have done differently?
Absolutely nothing.

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?
I love love love Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock, Sunshine Yarns, and Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock.

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?
I always knit them using DPNs. I prefer the KnitPicks double points or most types of bamboo. The pointier the needle the better!

Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)
I really prefer a heel flap. It just seems to fit better. I love the Eye of Partridge heel.

How many pairs have you made?
I've made 24 pairs so far. Socks are by far my favorite knit project!

Here's a picture of my first socks:

October Goals

2006-10-02T08:12:00.000-05:00

Crisp air, rustling leaves, shorter days - it must be October. Last month I came very close to meeting my goals. I failed to finish up the Trinket Scarf, but I'll be sure to work on it over the next couple months (and I've abandoned the Elizabeth lace scarf). I did finish my wonderful Silk Shrug, two pairs of socks, and a cabled scarf. So what's up for October?

1) ~~Marissa pullover from Adrienne Vittadini volume 20~~ (Forgot I moved Marissa to November:) ) Rosedale United
2) Ivy
3) Plain Socks in Schoeller & Stahl Mexiko Disco #9051 Durango
4) Stillwater socks in Claudia Hand Painted Chocolate Cherry
I was so excited about knitting Ivy that I already started and so far I have a couple inches of the back done. I am knitting the 40 inch size on size 2 needles. I decided not to go with the recommended yarn since none of the colors really appealed to me. Instead I picked out the Autumn Purple color in the Elann Peruvian Highland Silk. Elann indicates it is the same weight and gauge as the recommended yarn, but it creates a very firm fabric when I knit to the pattern gauge (though it did soften considerably when I washed the swatch). The density of the yarn does allow the cables to really pop though which is always a good thing. The yarn is beautiful and you can't beat the price (total cost of sweater with just-in-case-extra ball of yarn $57). I've also joined the Ivy Knitalong. It is a lot of fun to see everyone's different Ivy sweaters. The pattern is very well written and I am enjoying knitting this a lot. I love purple!

As for socks, I cast on for a pair of simple stockinette socks using Schoeller & Stahl Mexiko Disco (color #9051 Durango). Since this yarn has little sparkles it's not exactly plain so I think stockinette is the way to go. I have always loved shiny things (My mom is convinced I was a raccoon in a past life) so when I saw this yarn at Elann last year I bought a bunch. As I've come to learn, I knit self-patterning yarns more quickly than monochromatic or handpainted yarns since I like to see the next repetition of the pattern. I had a false start on them this weekend, which you can see to the right. I got past the heel and gusset decreases before I realized these socks weren't just loose, they were full out baggy. Oh well, these socks (once frogged and restarted) should still go very quickly which is good since I'm dying to cast on with the Claudia Hand Painted. October is Socktoberfest time after all!

This weekend I also knit up a cute little hat using Olympus Make Make yarn and a free pattern that came with it from KPixie. I absolutely love this hat and it matches my hard to match coat perfectly! The yarn was very nice to work with (it's wool with a little mohair) and I like the tone on tone color shifts. I finished the hat using the pattern as written and found it to be more of a beanie length than a hat so I undid the top and added a couple inches to the plain stockinette section at the top. Much better now. The yarn is a little spendy ($18 for 3 balls - you need 2 for the hat, but it comes in bags of 3), but, really, less than $20 for a cute hat that knits up in a day? That's not bad at all...now, do I need to make more of these in other colors? ;)

And a little sidenote...The opera was wonderful! We had an incredible time. I can't wait to see our next one in November:)

Koigu Socks

2006-09-30T13:23:00.000-05:00

Koigu (Autumn Leaves) Socks
Pattern: Basic Sock Pattern using Ann Budd's Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns
Yarn:Koigu KPPPM P704
Needles: KnitPicks double points, 1's and 0's
Start Date: September 11, 2006
End Date: September 28, 2006
Comments: These are the first socks I've knit with Koigu and overall I am very happy. The spin of the yarn and the depth of color is fantastic. I was a little bummed about the yardage (175 yards - For comparison, Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock has 215 yards). I nearly ran out of yarn on my first sock. I ended up shortening the foot length by half an inch just to be safe and good thing I did. The picture to the right shows you what I had left over from both socks. Normally I knit 8 1/4 inches from the heel to the start of the toe decreases, but this time I stopped at 7 3/4 inches. It definitely still fits, but it is a little short. I'm just glad I wasn't doing ribbing or a cable as I would have had to frog the sock for sure! Oh well, I'm sure I'll still knit some more socks with Koigu, as it is so lovely, but I'll be very aware of the yardage.

Returning to the positive - While knitting I stopped repeatedly just to look at the lovely fabric the Koigu created. I'm not sure if it's because of the spotty coloring or what, but I just absolutely loved knitting these socks.

And here's a few pictures of me modeling the Silk Shrug (I could not get a good picture to save my life. These are the best I could do...). I am very happy with this shrug and I'm sure I'll get a lot of use out of it. I was tempted to knit it in a pretty light blue, but I'm glad I went with a neutral brown since it will go with practically everything. It is a tad more snug than I wanted. The pattern didn't provide much in the way of sizing (I knit the M/L size). Fortunately, I have recently reapplied myself to eating well and exercising again so I think this shrug will fit perfectly within a month or two:) (Full details about the Silk Shrug are in my September 24th post).

I finished the second sleeve for Matt's sweater this week as well so I just need to finish the back and knit the front sometime before the winter solstice. Much better than last year's frantic holiday knitting schedule. No picture now, but I'll give you another peek as we get closer to the winter holidays.

Tonight Matt and I are going to our first opera at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. We'll be seeing Turandot and I am so excited! (My Mom gave us tickets to four of the operas this season as an early winter solstice gift). Yea! I bought a pretty dress last weekend and we've been reviewing the music and libretto all week. We're ready:)

Besotted Scarf

2006-09-28T08:08:00.000-05:00

Besotted Scarf
Pattern: Besotted Scarf
Yarn: K1C2 Paint Box in Walnut Plum #10
Needles: KnitPicks Options US 5/3.75 mm
Start Date: September 5, 2006
End Date: September 27, 2006
Comments: Not much to say on this one. The yarn was very nice. Similar to Noro Kureyon, but a little more consistency on the thickness. The pattern is very pretty and I would absolutely knit it again. Great practice for cabling without a cable needle.

I got a few inches more done on the Elizabeth I scarf, but I really don't like the fabric I'm getting with the KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud. It's just doesn't have enough substance. It's definitely more of a cobweb weight rather than a lace weight. I think I might scrap this project for the time being.

Silk Shrug

2006-09-24T15:00:00.000-05:00

Silk Shrug
Pattern: Silk Shrug
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpaca & Silk in Mocha
Needles: KnitPicks circular Size 2 and 6
Start Date: September 7, 2006
End Date: September 23, 2006
Comments: Tiny needles. Endless stockinette. Picking up 300 stitches. Expensive yarn. These are the reasons I should dislike this shrug. However, these things are outweighed by the following: Beautiful stitches, shimmering yarn, elegantly simple design, silk & alpaca. As soon as it is dry I'll be sure to post a picture of me wearing it, but for now all I've got is the boring drying-in-progress shot (I think this photo kind of makes the shrug look like the little green guy on the cover of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy).

The pattern was very simple and easy to follow. Perfect mindless TV watching knitting. I really have nothing bad to say about it. The yarn was a pleasure to work with and I would knit with it again in a heartbeat. The only complaint I have about it is that it is a little splitty, but the end result more than makes up for that.

The Besotted Scarf and Elizabeth I lace scarf will now get a bit more attention. Hopefully I can finish these to meet my September goals. (I have doubts I'll get around to finishing the Trinket scarf...we'll see.) The Koigu socks are going very well so I am sure they'll be done by the end of the week. Here's a group photo of all my works in progress:)

Oh, and for super socky fun, check out Northern Sunshine Designs for some fabulous sock patterns. I've already bought a few (Marmalade, Cedar Bark, and Agate Bay) and they are very well done. The designs are fun, they are written in a very user friendly format, and they are a great price. What more can you want?

And if you truly love knitting socks, be sure to sign up for Lolly's Socktoberfest which celebrates all things about handknit socks! Feel the socktacular love:)

Nearly Knit

2006-09-20T08:09:00.000-05:00

Would you like to see my nearly finished Silk Shrug in all it's unblocked and almost-finished glory? Of course you do:) Here it is. I'm a day or two away from completing the knitting and there is really no finishing aside from weaving in ends (and I've been doing that as I've knit). Happily, autumn has arrived in the Chicago area so I should be able to put this shrug to use right away. It's always nice when you knit something and can use it right away. The Blue Sky Alpaca & Silk is absolutely the loveliest yarn I've knit with so far. The stitch definition, the color, the sheen, the texture - all lovely. I can't quite capture it in this photo. I have to get used to shooting in low autumn light again.

The Koigu socks are progressing. The shrug is taking up the majority of my time, but I've been making sure that every day I have a little Koigu time:) I'm so in love with these socks. I find myself looking at Koigu colors online a lot lately, but nothing beats seeing a wall full of koigu like at Three Bags Full. I have a feeling I'll be heading there again soon. I decided to do my favorite Eye of Partridge heel flap, but with these spotty colors I'm not sure if it really stands out. Oh well, I still adore these socks and can't wait to get them on my feet.

In the meantime, I have received more sock yarn (good thing I knit socks all the time). This time I ordered from a new sock yarn online store called Pick Up Sticks. It's a great Canadian store specializing in handpainted sock and lace yarns. I tried to keep from going completely crazy and ordering one of everything. Instead I picked out two Claudia Hand Painted colors (rumor has it that the base yarn is the same as Koigu - sure looks and feels the same) and a skein of Sweet Georgia's Speed Demon in Velvet Underground (Left). The Sweet Georgia feels amazing. The Claudia Hand Painted colors are Begonia (Middle) and Pink Dot (Right). I am seriously tempted by the Posh Yarns and the Apple Laine yarns. I'm not sure how long I can resist:) Oh, and the shipping from Canada was fast! I ordered late afternoon on Wednesday and it was on my doorstep Monday evening. Nice:)

The other day I received the needles I needed to start on the Elizabeth I scarf, but I'm just not very enthusiastic about the project right now...I may push this one off for a little while. A birthday present can easily become a holiday gift when the recipient doesn't even know what they are getting, right? ;)

***Knitting GROUP is tonight (Wednesday) at the Borders' Cafe in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Skokie). We meet from 6:30 until 8:00 and any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

The Arrival of the September Socks that Rock Rockin' Sock Kit

2006-09-17T10:55:00.000-05:00

Hooray! The September Rockin' Sock Club Socks kit came yesterday! I didn't expect to see it until next week so it was quite a surprise to come home to find it waiting. Yea! The color is Titania and it is simply stunning. The kit came with an emergency sock yarn keychain and two patterns. The Titania's Revenge pattern (written specifically for the colorway) is absolutely not my taste (meshy lace with a slanted cable across the foot), but I really like the Central Air pattern. I think it's similar to a lacy one in the Sensational Knitted Socks book that I had already wanted to knit - perfect! Right now I have quite a bit on the needles, so for now I will just admire Titania in the skein:) The two smaller photos are each end of the hank. Lovely variety of fall colors.

And look what arrived from Sunshine Yarns - Here we have Welsh Green Dragon, Swedish Short Snout Dragon, and Brick (The first two complete my collection of the Harry Potter Dragon colors that Dani has created). Since it was Sunshine Yarns' anniversary, Dani included a very nice set of Inox needles and a cute little button with her logo. I just love her yarn! The Brick is perfect for the new Diamante pattern at Knitty.

The weekend with my Mom and Step-Dad was fantastic. We had a great time at the King Tut exhibit and then Saturday we made it up to Wisconsin to tour the Jelly Belly distribution center (Love those jelly bellies!). Then we spent the whole afternoon at the Chicago Botanic Garden. We had so much fun there we purchased a membership so we can go back whenever we want. I look forward to visiting the Garden throughout the different seasons. Ok, time to get some weekend knitting done before the weekend is over!

Knit knit knit

2006-09-13T08:14:00.000-05:00

Just a little midweek status report...
Currently on the needles I have my Silk Shrug. This project is not the most exciting knitting, as the photo may indicate (I'm just starting the part that is straight stockinette with no increases or decreases for 29 inches!), but the yarn more than makes up for any boredom. The Blue Sky Alpaca & Silk is absolutely wonderful to knit though it is a tad splitty. I've had to ladder down to correct a split stitch every once in a while. It's going to be perfect for chilly fall weather.

I swatched for the Town & Country scarf from the Elizabeth I lace scarf set. I'm using KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud in Midnight and unfortunately, yet again, I had to order a smaller needle size. The Alpaca Cloud is so fine that the fabric looked best knit on size 1 needles. Of course, the only size 1's I have aside from double points is a 16 inch circular. I cannot knit 60 inches of lace on a 16 inch circular without severe hand cramps, so I've ordered a longer size 1. Maybe by the time it gets here I'll be finished with a project or two (the Besotted Scarf is coming along nicely, but I've been neglecting it for other projects...).

Finally we have my current socks. I decided to knit them at the same time for absolutely no reason. I guess I kind of wanted to get casting on and those first few rows out of the way. That is my least favorite part of a sock so it is nice getting it all out of the way early on. The yarn is some Koigu KPPPM (P704) that I picked up on my recent first visit to Three Bags Full in Northbrook. I say first visit since I know I'll be back (Lots of lovely yarns to paw). This is the first time I'm knitting with Koigu and now I understand what everyone (Jen) is raving about. I really didn't think the yarn was going to be that wonderful when I just touched it in the hank, but once you start knitting - nice! It has a lovely texture, the drape of the fabric is gorgeous and just while knitting I can feel the warmth of the wool.

The pattern is just my plain old sock based off the template in Ann Budd's Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns. I thought about doing a more exciting pattern. I even knit a few inches into one, but this yarn just calls for stockinette, so stockinette it is. The colors make me think of late afternoon sunlight falling on autumn leaves. I can almost hear the leaves rustling.

And how about the new Knitty? I've already ordered the yarn to knit Ivy. So pretty. Oh, and I signed up for the second half of Sundara's Petals Collection. I really went back and forth on whether to do it, but in the end I couldn't resist. I'll just stay away from buying any Socks that Rock for a while:) I just can't get over how elegant and wonderful the kits have been from the earlier mailings. I can't wait until my first kit comes in December!

My Mom and Step-Dad are visiting this weekend so there may be less knitting and probably no blogging for a few days. I'm so excited that they are visiting! I'm taking a couple vacation days so that we can go do touristy Chicago things. We're going to go to the new King Tut exhibit at the Field Museum and I think we may also go out to the Chicago Botanic Garden if the weather is nice.

***Knitting GROUP is tonight (Wednesday) at the Borders' Cafe in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Skokie). We meet from 6:30 until 8:00 and any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

Pssst!

2006-09-11T08:15:00.000-05:00

You wanna see what I've been knitting for Matt's winter solstice gift? Here's a sneakpeek of what I have gotten done so far. It's Durrow from Magknits in Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed (#119 Licorice). (Photographing cables in black tweed on a stormy day may not have been the best idea). I think he's going to love it.

Recently Heather of the Yarn Liberation Front and the Mothlady asked me a couple questions:

Roughly how much time per day do you spend knitting??
and
Are you knitting anything else at the same time, or are you a one project at a time kinda girl?

Ok, I get asked the first one a lot. The answer is some days not at all (really!) and on other days up to 8 hours. Most work days I average somewhere around 3 hours. This is when I get home from work, knit for an episode of The Simpsons, cook dinner, play with the cats, then settle in for knitting for the night. I have a lot of time to knit since a) we have no kids and b) my husband is in graduate school working in the labs a lot. On weekends I knit as much as possible, usually around 5 or 6 hours a day, but it really depends on if we have other plans. I do not knit in public except for when I'm at my knitting group. I am told I am a speedy knitter so I think that contributes to the amount of finished projects I produce.

As for how many projects I knit at any given time, this may be the one area of my life that I have shown any level of discipline. I really try to control how much is on the needles and for the most part I succeed. My knitting project philosophy is to always have the following on the needles, no more, no less:

1) A complicated project such as a cabled sweater or lace shawl;
2) Socks - Always one pair at a time. I attempt to never cast on for a new pair until the old pair is finished; and
3) A simple project to knit at group night or when my brain is tired and I don't want to think (often this doubles as my sock knitting, but this may also be a simple sweater or scarf).

At any given time I try not to have more than 5 things going. This number comes from projects being in various stages, i.e., swatching, knitting, and finishing. (The picture above is going to be my next pair of socks. The yarn is Koigu KPPPM #P704. Sorry for the bad photo. Dreary weather here.)

So, was that more information than you ever needed about my knitting habits? :)

How about all of you? How much do you knit a day?

Widdershins!

2006-09-07T08:15:00.000-05:00

Widdershins

Pattern: Widdershins from Knitty
Yarn: Hill Country Yarns Sweet Feet Self-Striping in Honey Butter
Needles: KnitPicks size 1 (2.5 mm) dpns, gauge of 7 stitches per inch
Start Date: September 1, 2006
End Date: September 6, 2006
Comments: My first pair of toe-up socks! Excellent pattern from Knitty. The magic cast-on linked to in the pattern (also on Knitty) was incredibly simple to do and looks fantastic. I am very happy I now have a trusty alternative to my normal cuff-down socks. The reverse heel flap was a cinch and it was a nice change to not have to pick up stitches at the gusset.

As for the yarn, I am quite pleased. The best characteristic of this yarn is the texture. It is a very soft merino wool that just feels so silky while you knit. It has a very nice stitch definition, but on the softer side compared to Socks That Rock or Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock. The self-striping dying was very well done with absolutely no white/undyed spots. Consistent striping action was also a bonus for those that like their socks to match perfectly (I do what I can, but I don't get to upset when they don't).

As I'm still waiting on my needles to start the Alpaca & Silk Shrug I went ahead and cast on for the Besotted Scarf. The K1C2 Paint Box (Color #10 Walnut Plum) is knitting up with the nicest wide striping which works really well with the XOXO cable pattern. Paint Box feels a lot like Noro Kureyon, but with a more consistent thickness. The texture is pretty rough right now, but I'm sure it will soften considerably once it's washed.

I forgot how satisfying it was to knit something on bigger needles with a simple pattern. I'm already through one ball with only two more to go. I am cabling without a cable needle as the little 4 stitch cables would drive me nuts if I was using one. It's working out very nicely.