A Pair of Monkeys

I have FINALLY finished the Monkey socks. I had both socks complete except for the toes last Thursday, but ran into a snag when I couldn't clarify something about the pattern with Zoomom. I finished them up tonight and they are comfy!



Let's see if I can remember any details about these. I got the pattern from Knitty.com. I knit these on 2 circulars using Knit Picks Options size 1. The yarn is Claudia Hand Painted Yarn in Ink. I enjoyed knitting with this yarn very much.

DING!

That was the timer. Did you hear it ring?

Kitty Pi is DONE and is loved by all the furry babies around here as you'll see below.



This is Jack. He loved the Kitty Pi even before it was cooked (felted). He slept on it quite a bit last night.





Kitty Pi all "baked".





Jack enjoying his Kitty Pi.





Cheerio enjoys a slice of the Pi.





Jack wanting the Pi all to himself





Jazz seeing if he can fit


Looks like more Kitty Pi is in my future!

As for the details, I don't have many. I don't remember the name or brand of the yarn I used. Just some bulky wool something I got online. It wasn't plied so was more like maybe a navajo ply? Really thick in some places and really thin in others. I used size 11 circular for knitting and used the pattern from here. This was my brainless project that traveled around in my purse/knitting bag. The eyelash yarn is Lionbrand.

I didn't MEAN to!!!

Do you remember a post not so long ago where I said, "No more sock yarn purchases."?

Well...I bought more yarn, but it will be delivered incrementally. I really didn't think I would get in....

You see, when I heard about the big uproar with the Blue Moon Fiber ladies and the bank not approving their credit card receipts, I figured I would put my name on the waiting list for the Socks That Rock Club. I didn't think I would get in since I read online that there was such a huge waiting list.

But I got in.



I was SHOCKED when I received an email stating that I could join! So I did. I like their yarn. A LOT!

I received my first package from them.



You get this really cool binder with a welcome letter called the Dyer's Notes; notes and cool info about feet (called Footnotes); a log to list family and friend shoe sizes, foot length and foot width; hints and charts to measure and size their feet; and a pattern in a durable page protector. Also included was a brochure about a Rockin' Sock Camp, a sticker (NSK-Notorious Sock Knitters), and a 10% off coupon on your next order. Oh, and lest I forget....the YARN!!!

This is called Monsoon.



And isn't THIS just too cute! Emergency sock yarn!



I think this is going to be fun! (as she rubs her hands together in anticipation)

In the mail

Lookie, lookie!

I could resist no longer!



I can hardly wait to get finished with the Kitty Pi and Monkey socks to get started on something in Lace Style! You just gotta wait and see what it is!

The hat

It's complete! This is Sweet Pea #1s cap he wanted me to knit him. He decided he didn't like the hat I knit for him two Falls ago, so I knit this one for him...just in time for Spring! ;)

Sweet Pea #2 says he doesn't want a hat, so I'll put off knitting his until late summer/early fall.

This is the same pattern I used before for Popeye's hat. It is called Knit Shortie. I used Cotton Fleece (80% Cotton, 20% Merino Wool) by Brown Sheep Wool in Black Forest CW-145.

It's SPRING!

LOOK what just arrived at my house!!!!!!





I'm not normally one for oranges and yellows and greens, but I REALLY like this! After knitting with black and more black, this will be fun!

Just a bigger blob

That is what the Kitty Pi looks like.




And the current progress on the Monkey socks is here. I'm about half finished with the heel flaps.





You can see the pattern much better in this picture.

Yarn for sale

I don't make a habit out of posting yarn for sale on my blog, but I'm ready to be released from this yarn. It is easier to post pictures here than on



Cascade Fixation
#947 Carnival - one ball - $4 postage paid by me

Nothing new to say....

The Monkey socks and Kitty Pi are just longer/bigger. I've been knitting a little more than when I was sick and not knitting anything though. I ended up with bronchitis and now I'm almost fully well. More to report later, hopefully.

Pictures as promised

I'm sort of unofficially following along with Project Spectrum. It just so happens that two of my current projects fall within the color categories: blue and grey.

Kitty Pi



I don't know the name of this yarn NOR where I purchased it. I could probably scrounge around and find it in my Favorites, but you really don't want any. Originally, I bought this yarn to use to knit a bag. (What IS it with me and these bags???) I needed bulky yarn. I loved the colors so I purchased some (I don't know how much since they hanks don't really resemble hanks.). The bag never came about, so I thought this would be good use of the stash to knit a kitty bed. The pattern calls for bulky yarn. This yarn goes from bulky to almost DK or fingering weight! Thank GOODNESS this bed will be felted. I couldn't imagine knitting anything with this yarn that wouldn't be.

Monkey socks



Yes, they are mostly black with a hint of grey. (That qualifies, right?) This is Claudia Hand Painted Yarn in Ink. I LOVE this yarn! Granted, I have not washed anything knit with this yet, so I'm hoping it holds up as well as my fav Lorna's Laces does. If it does, then it will be HIGH on my list of favorite sock yarns.

UFO frogged

Keeping my promise, I frogged another project. :) I guess the half finished dishcloth for Jan would count as a UFO. It would have sat around and languished anyway. It wasn't fun.

But tonight, my UFO for February was done.

Presenting before:



and After:



Once upon a time, this was going to be a Booga Bag. The yarn is Noro Kureyon. It isn't very soft to knit with so I will probably try to sell it. A Booga Bag isn't in my future for this year. I don't really care to have one so who knows if I'll ever make one.

Why I like to knit socks....

I'm entering the contest that Christine is organizing at her Pointy Sticks site. She wants to know what we think about knitting socks and anything related to that.

Why I love to knit socks: I love to knit socks because they are a small enough project that it doesn't take me a long, long time to completed. I also like socks because they can sometimes be almost as complex as some sweater designs I've seen. They are small and portable which makes them great to throw into my purse.

What sock yarn or patterns I love: I like many sock patterns from Knitty. I'm working on a pair of Monkey socks now. And there are the Diamante socks which I'd like to get to this year as well. I really love the patterns in Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks book.

I've been knitting with different sock yarns lately to add to my favorites. My favorite sock yarn is Lorna's Laces. The Monkey socks are being knit with Claudia Hand Painted Yarn and it is very nice too! Ranks up there closely to the Lorna's Laces. I have some other yarns which I've purchased to try out soon.

My favorite sock method is doing two socks on two circulars. I'd like to work it down to only Magic Loop one of these days, but for now, I enjoy two circulars much more than doing one sock in bamboo dpns. I have knit top down only on the dpns, so the Monkey socks will be the first pair top down on two circulars. I've knit one pair toe up on two circs and they were pretty fun. I won't discount that method of short row toes and short row heels....I'm just not sure I'd pick that method to do all the time.

I'll post some pictures of the Monkey socks soon as well as other WIP.

Okay...Panic Attack eased

I was in a panic. After thinking about it and emailing Basebal Knitter, I realized that I am doing Project Spectrum without realizing it. How's that for working out?

The new sock on the needles contains grey. The colors for Project Spectrum for February and March are blue, white and grey. So, new socks contain grey (and black) and the new cat bed that will soon be cast on is blue (with some green). I'm doing it and not even realizing it!

Pictures to come soon. :)

I need to stop and think....

I get all excited with all these PLANS, but then I start to feel enslaved. Enslavement in the name of Project Spectrum. I quit. :) I want to knit what color I want, when I want. I'm pretty organized and thought Project Spectrum would bring some organization to my knitting, but I've decided my new rule about knitting is THERE ARE NO RULES.

Gosh, I feel better!

Now on to knit things that make me happy.

I frogged a dishcloth today. It felt good! I was trying a cable...my first ever cable. It went nicely. I was about half way finished with the dishcloth and had the hang of the cable. Knitting the cloth was making me feel like I was burdened. So I frogged it. I was only doing it to learn the technique. I feel pretty good about it and now I won't be afraid of cables....at least not simple cables.

Like Zoomom, I'm putting the French Silk Socks from Vintage Sock Knitting aside. I was putting of knitting on them because I was not having fun. Now, I'm looking toward a new sock for the time being. I'll probably come back to the French socks next time....we'll see. I see to be ADDING to the UFOs instead of diminishing them...Oh, well, I have a year!

A way to achieve finishing those UFOs

I ran across this link from Pixie Purls podcast. I think it is a great way to help me work on those UFOs (Unfinished Objects). To be fair I only have a baby blanket, a pair of socks, and a hat to finish up....I think.

UFO Resurrection Challenge 2007
Because I clearly do not have enough to do...

A while back, I mentioned that I was going to try to pull out and work on or frog a UFO per month in 2007. People seemed interested, so I thought I'd officially open sign-ups.

The Rules
1. Each month in 2007, find a UFO (unfinished object). This makes a total of twelve (12) for the year. You do not need to have a list of all twelve at the beginning of the year - you can go month by month if you'd like. (I plan to.)
2. You have two options for that UFO:
a. Work on it. You don't have to finish it that month, if it's something big, but it must be added into your rotation of "active" projects. A token row or two does not count. ;-)
b. Frog it. If you don't want to work on it anymore, rip it out and move on.
3. Post on your blog each month (or comment if you don't have a blog) about the project you're resurrecting.
4. Everyone who finishes will be entered into a prize drawing. And even if you don't win anything, you'll have twelve fewer languishing projects making you feel guilty!

Dishcloth of the month

(Sorry it is kind of dark.)

These are nice projects to take around in my new knitting bag.

Look! Look! Look!

I'm so excited!







I've transferred my purse stuff over and now I'll just have to throw my knitting in there when I start to leave to go somewhere!

First completed project of 2007

I finished Popeye's cap tonight. I started it last night and got about half way finished, then had time to finish it up tonight.


I love this swirly design in the crown where I decreased.



The model was asleep so I had to pose.



Stats for the project include:

Pattern is Knit 'Shortie'.

Yarn is from my stash....Cascade 220 in Charcoal Gray.

Modifications: I made it a little longer by adding in about 3 extra rows before the decreases. I also did one extra row of decreases at the end leaving 4 stitches befoer I brought tail yarn through and sewed in the end. I did not change to the size 8 dpns, but knit it in size 7 circular until it was hard to knit, then changed to size 6 dpns.

I'll be using the same pattern for the caps for the boys. It will be longer on them, which is what they want.

Knit from your Stash 2007 and my knitting goals

1. No more sock yarn purchases. Exceptions: yarn for Sweet Pea #1’s socks that I’ve promised him and if I wish to knit socks as a gift and don’t have appropriate color

2. I will knit each boy at least one pair of socks. If they take care of these, then I will knit them at least another pair.

3. I will knit each boy and Popeye a skull cap. Popeye’s head is getting cold at night, so he needs a cap. The hats I knit last year for the boys are fine, but they have decided they look like girls, so they want “boy” hats now.

4. I will knit two shawls. The yarn is just waiting for me to start knitting.

5. If I take a class at my local yarn store, then I will be allowed to purchase the yarn for that project, so I can be supportive of my local retailer.

6. I want to knit a sweater for myself and if that goes well, then I will allow myself the yarn for ONE other sweater. I MAY even knit a sweater for the Sweet Peas…..or maybe Popeye…the boys grow so fast and time is limited. At least dh will stay relatively the same size. Yarn purchases for this will be allowed since it is a “gift”.

7. I am allowed to buy yarn to knit items for gifts. I will first check my stash to see if there is anything that will work before buying.

8. I have much cotton yarn for dishcloths that I plan to knit with at least once per month.

9. I can buy yarn on out of town trips to not-so-local yarn stores. We don’t go out of town but a few times per year, so this won’t be excessive.

10. I will finish the UFOs that I have started (baby blanket for friend, Sideways socks for myself). I usually stay pretty monogamous to my projects, but I got bored with the blanket and procrastinated on the socks because they are difficult.)

It's raining yarn!

All of my current procurements are coming in at once!

First there was an order from Elann.



Both of these yarns will be shawls sometime in the new year. The cranberry/brownish yarn is Peruvian Baby Silk in Oxblood. The purple one is Peruvian Baby Cashmere in Mulled Grape.

Then there came a package from Angelika's Yarn Store



This is all Lorna's Laces and the colors are (left to right) Cranberry, Black Pearl, Pewter and Brick.

Lo, and behold, there came THE package. THIS is the surprise I had been waiting for from the Sundara Petals Collection.




Isn't that just like a perfect gift? All fancy with tissue paper, clear bags, and patterns on NICE heavyweight cardstock.



The flower is a Lenten Rose, also known by the Latin name for the genus, Helleborus, and is sometimes called Christmas Rose. They bloom in the depths of winter.

After my trip this weekend, of which I've previous shared my yarn purchases, I was greeted with this package. I will blame Baseball Knitter for this purchase since she linked me to a website with a nice sale going on. ;)




(Left to right) Lorna's Laces Pioneer, Chinablue, Mineshaft
J.Knits Hand-dyed Tampa and West Virginia

I think sock yarn shopping has now officially come to a halt (with one exception for Sweet Pea #1's sock yarn). I will ONLY buy more sock yarn in 2007 if I intend to make a pair of socks as a gift and I don't have a colorway I think that person will like.

I had intended to purchase the yarn for the sweater I want to knit this year before 2007, but I will give myself permission to buy that yarn when I get ready for the sweater. I'm afraid I may change my mind on the color when that time gets here. For now, I'm writing my knitting project list and will post it soon.