"New Post"

What's that? I actually have SEVERAL posts I could write today so instead, I'm going to write one LONG one and load it up with pictures.

I first have to say that being on Ravelry is SOOOO fun. I used to spend lots of time getting swallowed up into a homeschooling board, but now I find myself losing track of time on Ravelry. If you aren't a member yet, you should DEFINITELY get on the waiting list!

This first picture is of the beloved Wollmeise yarn which a lot of knitters literally almost FIGHT over. Try getting some of this at The Loopy Ewe and it is worse than Black Friday at Walmart! I traded some American yarn for these with a wonderful person in Germany. It so happens that Wollmeise is very plentiful in Germany. My package consisted of the two LARGE skeins of Wollmeise, some German chocolate that will KNOCK your socks off, and a little candy heart.



I've been keeping a secret.....I've decided to try my hand at spinning with a drop spindle. I bought this inexpensive spindle to start with. It is a top whorl Louet. Isn't it cute with the little sheep heads? (sorry for the blur)




I bought some VERY pretty roving called Brick House from this Etsy dealer. I can't wait to get started spinning.




And, finally, a work in progress. This is Hedera by Cookie A. I've been wanting to knit these for some time now and I had just the push I needed as I'm a member of a group on Ravelry called Sock Knitters Anonymous. Some are knitting Cookie A. designs so I decided to go along with the crowd. These look purplish on my monitor but they are really black with reddish/burgandy tint. The yarn is Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock in Raven-Lenore. I LOVE the look of this yarn!

You Make My Day....

I've read about this on a few blogs and thought I'd like to share the love.



The idea behind this is "Give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on."

My list consists of: Zoomom,Beth, KathyJo, Carolyn,Rosemary, JenniferTiennie, GailV, Ree, and Lolly. This list is not exhaustive by any means!

ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK

Do not scroll down any further if you don't want to see. I received my first Socks That Rock 2008 kit on Monday. Go no further if you don't want to see any pictures. I love the yarn....not sure about the pattern though.

What I've been up to

Here is what I've been working on the past few days. (I don't know WHAT is up with my pictures! When I download them from the camera, they look fine (for the most part) until I upload them here. I know I'm not a good photographer though, but you get the drift.)


I have some All Things Heather that went from this




to this (This is up for sale or trade if you're interested)



This yarn is on its way to becoming Hedera. This is Socks That Rock Lightweight in the Raven color Lenore. It has burgandyish tones within the black.



I'm reknitting the foot and toes on the Monkey socks to fit myself since Sweet Pea 2 has decided he doesn't want them.



I wound Yarn Pirate's Killer Bees to get ready to cast on for little boy footie socks.



And knit a few rows on the longest lasting project in the world, the Chevron Scarf. I'm almost half way there. There are no intentions of finishing this for this winter. It is my carry-along, no-brainer project.



There was more stash acquistion from my trades on Ravelry.

Socks That Rock Lagoon




MadelineTosh Damp (this is up for sell or trade)




and ShiBuiKnits

New Stash Acquistion

I'm addicted....to the In Search Of/Destash group on Ravelry. I decided to go through my yarn stash to see what I just didn't love any more and trade it for other yarn I do love. Here are the newest members of the Stash family.



This is Yarn Pirate Killer Bees. I loved this yarn at first and then decided to trade it (again) for something else. Then Sweet Peas 1 and 2 saw it and now they want socks made from this. Cool.




(Sorry for the blurry picture) This is Cherry Tree Hill (I think). The person I trade with lives locally. I really like this as it has a purple-y tone to the dark parts.



This is from one of the sock clubs I'm in this year. It is from the Harmony semi-solid yarn club from Zen Yarn Garden. It is the Down by the Bay colorway. It is very green/blue/greyish and hard to capture on the camera. Very soft. It is merino, bamboo and nylon. I can't wait to see how it knits up.



I've been DYING to get my hands on some Dream in Color Smooshy and I have some now! This is Cocoa Kisses. It looks brown, but in real life, there are variations from brown to dark grey but staying toward the brown family. Very lovely and VERY soft and smooshy. ;)

More to come as soon as my Socks That Rock Club yarn arrives in the next few days!

New knitting for the new year

I've finished my first two projects of 2008. I'm itching to get back to socks now though.



This is Jack. Jack is wearing a cat sweater that I knit for him. I did my first steeking on this sweater for the paw holes. He is singing the praises of his "Mama" for such a great job!



Another shot of Jack in his sweater. He doesn't mind putting the sweater on too much, but he knows exactly how to get out of it as soon as he can get away. It was nice to put some acrylic and extra yarn to use.




This is another coffee cup cozy from the pattern in Interweave Knits Holiday Knits. I used Paton's SWS Soy/Wool which is the same yarn I used down below for Popeye's cozy.

The end and the beginning

When I look back at my knitting for 2007, it seems that it was the year of "a little bit of everything".

I finished knitting:
2 hats
2 cat beds
5 mug/cup cozys
1 shawl
2 pair of socks
1 dishcloth
1 shrug

WIP still going on:
1 scarf
2 pair of socks
1 pair of finished socks to be made longer for me (ds didn't want them)
1 shawl

It also seems that I was unmotivated for whatever reason. I had a big list of "to do" projects and they didn't get done. I seemed to go for the projects that were calling to me at the time.

I think I like that feeling....the feeling of what is calling to me. I think I'll continue that into 2008. The last few months I've been semi-monogamous to my projects. I like keeping a sock going and "something else". Right now, I have two "something else's" going but in a day or two I'll pick up a sock and continue with one "something else".

I've decided to knit more for others in 2008. My immediate family doesn't want socks but that doesn't mean I can't knit a pair for my sister-in-law or my brother just because. I was thinking I needed an occasion, but I don't. They live far enough north that knitting a hat or scarf or socks is a great idea.

One of my failings this year was not keeping up with the Socks that Rock Club packages as they came in. I have one skein of yarn from one month's package on the needles now but I'm using a different pattern. I'm using another skein of yarn with some stash yarn for a scarf. I feel good about using that versus just letting it sit in my stash.

I decided to join the Socks That Rock club again this year. My goal this year is to finish a pair before the next pair arrives. That gives me two months between pair. I can do that if I put my mind to it.

I'd like to set some other goals for the new year.

* Finish what I start. It really bugs me to have two socks in progress while I still have 4 skeins of STR yarn club yarn simmering away and a new skein that will be here in just a few weeks. (Not to mention all the OTHER sock yarn in my stash.)

* Knit 6 projects from books or magazines I haven't knit from yet. I have one pair of socks started from Knitting Vintage Socks. When I finish those, I'll have 5 more projects to do from the books and magazines I own. Knitting books are beautiful. I love ALL books, and having so many great books at my fingertips gives great inspiration, so I don't often stop myself from buying a book. However, I want to knit more projects from them in the coming year. There are so many great patterns in books and for free, but since I've spent the money on the books, I SHOULD use them.

* Knit more socks. I knit 2 pair last year. Let's make 6 a goal for this year. That will cover the STR club socks. If I knit more socks than that, then that's good.

* No deadline gift knitting. I've been good the past two years, so this is just a reminder for myself. If I want to knit for gifts, I need to allot PLENTY of time. I might even start a gift drawer so when projects for others are finished, they can wait in there until the right time. I actually do BETTER with a deadline although it adds to the stress.

* Knit for others. I think I've put off knitting for others because there are not many people in my life who would appreciate the time, effort, love (and expense) that goes into hand-crafted items. But I CAN knit for the few who know would appreciate it.

Are you cozy?

Here is what I've been up to the last few days


This is the Garter Mug Cozy from Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts magazine.


Bottom view:


I had to take this pattern and add many more increases (the pattern tells you how to make this customized to the size mug you own). I am planning on getting some eyelash yarn to jazz this up a bit for my friend who has a HUGE mug and is quite the pizazz princess.

I knit this with Lion Brand 100% Wool in the color Rose. The yarn is on the rough side but I didn't block it to see if it softens up. Double points size 7.


This is another version of the same cozy. I made this one for Popeye to go with his new navy blue mug. I used Paton's SWS yarn (70% Wool, 30% Soy) in the Natural Navy colorway. This yarn is VERY soft and was okay to work with. The twist leaves very easily, but it wasn't hard to work with.



I made these cozies for my friend who loves Starbucks. I found the pattern here while I was looking for something else. The original pattern makes the Grande size. I modified the pattern to make one for the Tall size. I plan to make the Venti size for myself. I used Noro Kureyon #188. (Double points size 7)

Time to WAKE up! The Snooze is over...

I finished the Snooze socks for Sweet Pea 2 tonight.





I used a pattern created by Zoomom. The yarn is Southwest Trading Companies Tofutsie in the "Footsteps" colorway. I knit these both at one time on two circulars (a first for me doing socks with heel flaps on two circs.)using size 1 Knitpicks Options.

New Stash Enhancement

This arrived in the mail today. Isn't it GORGEOUS!!!! I LOVE it!




This latest stash enhancement is brought to you by Socks That Rock. This is my last installment for 2007's STR Club. I love the pattern AND the yarn! I think this yarn (called Bella Coola) and last month's yarn (from the Raven series) and my two favorites of the year. The pattern is written by Cat Bordhi! An extra plus if you ask me!

Flaps Down....Snooze Socks

FINALLY, I have a family member who wants socks! My darling little Sweet Pea #2 wants socks to match his friend's socks. Zoomom made these socks for one of her little Monkeys and he just happens to be friends with my little guy. Legs and heel flaps are done and I'll be turning the heels probably tomorrow night (no knitting time before then).

I'm finished, I'm finished, I'm finished...Oh Darlin' Clementine

She is finished and blocked. I finished this shawlette a few days after Thanksgiving. I can't remember exactly right now but I recorded the date in Ravelry. But it seems that they are doing some maintenance over the right now so I can't fetch the exact date.

Here are some pictures of the old girl blocking. (Notice my little supervisor)




And here she is posing for you in our local yarn store.





I'm thinking about blocking it again, but not so tightly this time. I sort of like the look from the magazine (you can see some of it preblocking below). Any thoughts on this?

The stats.....The pattern is from Interweave Knits Spring 2007. I used Blue Sky's Alpaca & Silk in Silk Spring. It ended up being longer even before I blocked it than called for in the pattern, but I'm fine with that.

What's come over me....

I just wanted to let you know that I'm diligently working on Darlin' Clementine. I just want to FIN.ISH.

And in other news.....I received my next kit from Socks that Rock and I'm DYING to start these socks! But I won't let myself as long as Clementine is hanging around. I can't have more than two active projects going at the same time (although I CAN have a few simmering in my UFO basket).

Yes, the yarn in this picture IS that dark. It has a lovely shade of maroon in it, and black....black has become one of my new favorite colors. I'm not sure why. I think Popeye (dh for those who don't read my other blog) has rubbed off on me over the years. The pattern is BEAUTIFUL if you can't tell from the picture and very lacy.

Oh, my daaarrrrlin' Clementine

You were lost and gone forever; Dreadful sorry, Clementine......

I had almost given up on the old girl, but somehow she made the love flow again. Enough so that even though I had planned to put her away until mid-winter to finish, I decided to work a little each night and dedicate Saturdays only to her. I've completed one side of the shawl (on the right) and the left side is getting there...sssslllloooowwwlllyyy. We're close....only 31 repeats left. Then comes the the Kitchener to join them. I'm NOT looking forward to THAT. AND this will be my FIRST time to block something (other than just laying out a pair of socks to dry).





A closer view of the pattern...very nice I think.




And ALSO on the needles......

Chevron Scarf




I'm using a skein of Socks That Rock (on the right) and a skein of Cherry Tree Hill. Older son helped me pick out the color combo and I'm very happy with it. He has now claimed himself my official "knitting assistant".

Hark! What is that I'm starting to feel......could it be the CALL of socks?????? Oh yeah, baby! ESPECIALLY after seeing Zoomom's Hope socks.

Stay tuned....and I PROMISE to try to blog and update with pictures more often.

Showing off

Here is the promise to show off my stash. After Carolyn and ZooMom showed, off I promised I would. Better late than never.

I counted and there are FORTY skeins....I couldn't believe it!


In this picture is all Lorna's Laces except for the pink varigated (Regia Bamboo), the two brownish cakes to the right (can't remember the name but it is a "famous" yarn), and one skein of Sundara's Handpainted yarn.




Starting from the top left (left to right) , multicolored Cascade Fixation cotton, Sundara yarn Semi-solid, three skeins of Socks That Rock, two skeins and a cake of Fleece Artist. 2nd row: Light and dark pink Tofutsies, three skeins Cherry Tree Hill, four skeins and two balls of Lorna's Laces, and one cake of Fleece Artist.





And I almost forgot these 3 yarns that are in progress but resting for awhile. ;) (left to right) Socks that Rock and 4 cakes of Lorna's Laces.




Now that doesn't equal forty......that is only 30.


Here are the ones that I'm just not in love with any more or I have yarn that is a close enough match that I really don't need that color anymore. I can always buy it again if I decide I need it.

Lorna's Laces Brick, KnitPicks S'Mores, Sundara Yarns Bird of Paradise, Zen Yarn Garden Pink Passion, Regia Cotton (varigated, solid blue and solid green), KPs Essentials black, KPs Sock Garden HollyBerry, KP Landscape Mesa





Leave me a comment if you want any of these unloved yarns and we'll work out a deal. ;)

EDITING: The 6 skeins of Regia SOLD.

I'm tired of socks

GASP!!!!!!!!

I've gotten bored with socks. Imagine that! So I decided I would knit this (scroll down to the Clementine Shawlette).

Now you see it


I really love the stitch detail in this, as simple as it is.



Now you don't.....sigh


You see, I'm so used to knitting socks and following charts for IN THE ROUND knitting....that I didn't even think about my nice little shawlette needing to be knit back and forth and reading my chart right to left, then left to right. That explains why my edges were rolling! (rolling eyes here) I kept thinking...I sure hope this blocks out okay! THEN I took a closer look at the picture (it helped that I saw an episode on Knitty Gritty about reading charts!)

And I was half way finished with the second chart! Waaaaahhhhhhh!

Luckily, it is fun to knit. Just easy enough but with enough variety that I'm not getting bored.

I'm off to start back again....

Repairing the blog.....

Plymouth Yarn Jelli Beans
Partial skein
1.3 oz
Color 133

Price: $3 with US shipping included (Int'l shipping? email me)
Terms: Paypal only (let me know if paying with credit card)
Posted by: Pensguys
If you're interested, email me.



Plymouth Yarn
Partial skein
2.2 oz
Lost ball band - Coordinates with Jelli Beans

Price: $3 with US shipping included (Int'l shipping? email me)
Terms: Paypal only (let me know if paying with credit card)
Posted by: Pensguys
If you're interested, email me.





Plymouth Yarn Jelli Beans
Partial skein
1.4 oz

Price: $3 with US shipping included (Int'l shipping? email me)
Terms: Paypal only (let me know if paying with credit card)
Posted by: Pensguys
If you're interested, email me.




Plymouth Yarn
Partial skein -Lime
2.4 oz
Lost ball band - coordinates with Jelli beans above

Price: $3 with US shipping included (Int'l shipping? email me)
Terms: Paypal only (let me know if paying with credit card)
Posted by: Pensguys
If you're interested, email me.




Plymouth Yarn
Partial skein - Red
3.2 oz
Lost ball band

Price: $3 with US shipping included (Int'l shipping? email me)
Terms: Paypal only (let me know if paying with credit card)
Posted by: Pensguys
If you're interested, email me.





The Knitting Experience: The Purl Stitch by Sally Melville


Amazon Price: 13.57
Price: $12 with US shipping included (Int'l shipping? email me)
Terms: Paypal only (let me know if paying with credit card)
Posted by: Pensguys
If you're interested, email me.