Sunday, March 30, 2008

Another Day Gone By ...

I finished the sock for the Wee Tiny Sock Swap while I was at work last night. Sometimes knitting in the middle of the night doesn't work so well. I started the sock Friday night and couldn't figure out why the heel instructions were weird and there wasn't a heel flap, but appeared to be one in the photo on the pattern.

So I did only the turning instructions thinking maybe it was because the sock was so small the heel flap was skipped ... this didn't look right, so I ripped it out and tried again ... still didn't look right. So I left it alone for the day and went back to it last night at work. Well looking closer at the instructions, there was a heel flap, I just didn't see the instructions there ... duh!! So I ripped back again and did the heel flap and viola ... it looks like a normal sock now. I will post a photo of it once its received for the swap.

Since I finished the Magic Lace Rib Socks, I started working on the Seduction Socks by Ann Budd again. I hope to finish this pair by the end of April to be eligible for the Sock Knitters Anonymous drawing.

I really like this pattern and how it is working with this yarn.




I scored tickets to Iron Maiden on Friday. I think they will be sold out if they are not already. I could only get general admisison lawn seats, so let's hope it is not raining that day. The concert is in June, so the weather will be warmer anyway.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Knitting Away

I am so loving that I can get knitting done at my part-time weekend job! I feel like I am not losing any "me time" while I am there, LOL!

I recently ordered some yarn from Amanda - NH Knitting Mama. The colorway is so cool, this photo really doesn't show it off, its called Wizard School and I can see why!



I finished socks for this month with only two days to spare! I like the lace pattern and love the yarn I chose, but I really don't like this toe, it comes out very pointy and I have long, thin feet, so this type of toe exaggerates that.



I am reading The Chronicles of Narnia right now in preparation for the next movie coming out. I have a "thing" where I have to read the book first, however, I have already read these stories many years ago. Its amazing how much imagination children have, I remember some things vividlty, but there's really not much of a description in the book ... so that was all me, LOL!!


I am UN-patiently waiting for the last season of Battlestar Gallactica to start next Friday! I can't fracking wait, LOL!!

FO: Magic Lace Rib Socks



Pattern: Magic Lace Rib Socks by Natalie Wilson

Yarn: Wildfoote by Brown Sheep Company, Color: Sonatina

Needles: Addi Turbo Size 2

Cast On: 2/3/08
Cast Off: 3/29/08

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Sunny Sunday

I finished one of the socks today that I've been working on. The pattern is Magic Lace Rib Socks by Natalie Wilson. I liked the pattern, but don't really care for the toe. If I make this one again in the future I am going to extend the lace pattern further and use a different toe.




I plan to finish up the other sock this week so that I can apply it to March for some of the groups that I belong to, then I am going to start on socks for my MIL and finish up my Seduction Socks for April.

I signed up for the Wee Tiny Sock Swap. Sign ups are still being accepted until March 27th. Its a really simple one, knit up one Wee Tiny Sock and mail it to your assigned person, ta da, that's it. Then of course you will receive one in return from someone. Use up some left over sock yarn that is stashed somewhere in your house.




Today was a very nice, sunny day with temperatures in the 50s. First time we've seen sun for two days in a row for a very long time. I can't wait to get outside and take the dog on the trails down the road (I am waiting a little while so the mud dries up).

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Knitting Progress

My obsession / addiction with sock yarn continues to be a major life problem, LOL! My local yarn store recently stocked Flat Feet. The yarn is already knit into a flat and that is how it is used to knit socks with.



I am loving Berroco Comfort Sock. MY LYS only had 4 colors left ... two of which I already have, so I got the last of this blue toned one. I really like how my Seduction Sock are coming along and want to try other patterns with this yarn.



My Magic Lace Rib socks are coming along nicely. I hope to have these done by the end of March so I can start socks for my MIL for Mother's Day. At this point I have both heels turned and gussett stitches picked up and one gussett decrease round done on each sock.



I finished one mitten in the class last night, glad to have a completed item at the end of class. Now I can make the second one myself.

FO: Feather & Fan Dishcloth

Pattern: Sugar 'N Cream
Yarn: Reynolds Saucy Mercerized Cotton
Needles: Clover Bamboo Size US 8

Cast On: Feb. 08
Cast Off: March 08

This dishcloth was made for the Defeat the Winter Doldrums Dishcloth Swap.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Is it Friday yet?

Is it Friday yet? I worked 30 hours in three days over Sat, Sun and Monday, yikes!! That might not be a lot for some who usually work 10 hour days, but I don't, LOL! And I am working for the rest of the week, but I'll have this weekend off from my part time job.

One really cool thing about this part time job is that I am able to knit while I am there, so I am really progressing on my Seduction Socks. This is the first time that I have used Comfort Sock by Berroco and I really like it. It seems like it'll wear well and be durable too since it is made from acrylic and nylon ... which also means that the socks will be machine washable. I wear a size 8 shoe and usually my foot circumference calls for 64 stitches, so that is what I did instead of the 56 that the pattern called for, I am glad I did because this sock fits snug, but very comfortable. I think if I did 56 stitches it would be a little too tight.



I splurged on some sock yarn from Dragon Fibers since I got my tax refund ... any excuse to buy more sock yarn is a good enough excuse for me, LOL! This yarn is really lovely in person, the photo doesn't do the colors justice.




I am happy to have finished my Easter cards and mailed them out already. Especially since I spent $30-$40 on supplies at my local rubber stamp store. I almost forgot that I had done them, I put them up high on a cabinet to dry so the kitty wouldn't mess with them. My boyfriend was looking for the large baking sheet and that's what I had put them on to keep them flat, LOL! Otherwise I would've found them who knows when!

Saturday, March 15, 2008

What day is it?!?!

This week flew by and now its the weekend again ... but not for long! I am working the overnight shift this weekend, which means I get next to nothing accomplished for the rest of the hours in the day that I am not working because I am sleeping ... or in a semi-conscious state.

I was debating doing it (only because of time constraints) but when I saw an article in the current issue of Knit 'N Style magazine that there was still plenty of time to sign up for Sock Wars III, I decided to give it a try ... at the very least I get a pair of socks out of it and get to try a new pattern!

I am taking a class at my LYS on Mitered Mittens. The pattern is in the Nashua Handknits Cobblestone Streets Winter 2007-2008 booklet which also featured the Cabled Earflap Hat that I took a class on recenlty. This class is only two sessions, so I hope to get my "homework" done tonight at work so I am ready for the class on Wednesday. The yarn I am using is Taos 100% Wool by Crystal Palace Yarns in color #14 Midnight Oasis. The colors are dark and hard to see in this photo, but its a variegated twist and the colors really go very well together.




These are the other things I got at my LYS ... can't help going early when I have a class to browse what's new! On Your Toes by S. R. Kertzer now makes a Bamboo/Nylon blend. There were not too many colors to choose from, I think the store only stocked a few to see how it sold. I also got another skein of Araucania Ranco because I noticed what was available has dwindled down to one bin and I wanted to grab more before it was gone. Its amazing how different colors look in the hank and then how they look when wound in a ball. I also needed another skein of Taos for the mittens and size 9 DPNs which I did not already have, so I choose to try out Comfort Zone needles (plus this size was in purple ... so I couldn't resist).



My next sock project will be with this skein of Berroco Sox. I wanted to make a pair for my MIL, she taught me how to knit and was amazed at the self striping yarns I showed her, so I wanted to make her socks for Mother's Day with some self-striping yarn.



My Magic Lace Rib Socks are coming along nicely! I have one sock on the gussett decreases and the other one started on the heel flap. I really like doing both socks at once on different needles (2 on 1 needle is too tangled up in yarn and a pain in my opinion) so that they are done about the same time.



I cast on Seduction Socks by Ann Budd for the March Sockdown on the Sock Knitters Anonymous group on Ravelry. I think this color is going to look great with this pattern. To qualify for the prize drawing I have to finish the pair by April 30th.



And now I am back to getting ready for work in a few hours! At least the shift differential is good, LOL!! I don't really have a promblem staying up all night, but when I work first shift during the week, its weird to work overnight on the weekend. I only work every other, so I have one to recuperate!

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Wahoo Weekend!

I am so glad it is the weekend. This week has been going by so slowly. I started a part time job every other weekend and I worked last weekend so I felt like I didn't get a weekend last week. Now I can actually enjoy this one.

Thanks to everyone who posted about my Cabled Earflap Hat!

For Wildflower38 regarding cables, cables in the round are just like cables in flat knitting, however, the only thing is that sometimes it is harder to keep track, so markers are necessary to keep track of where you are in the pattern.



Fearless Knitting

This was something from Knitting Daily that I wanted to post about earlier this year, yeesh, its already March!

Is there something you haven't tried because it seems Too Scary?

There are two things that I haven't tried yet that I want to - Entrelac and Faire Isle or any form of color work in the same row. Last month I did take a class at my LYS on Continental Knitting to learn how to carry the yarn in my left hand, so this would be helpful for color work.

Is there a technique you want to learn, or learn to do more skillfully?

I would like to be more comfortable reading charts. I havne't done much knitting from charts, hence I am not very skilled at reading them. I did take a class on the Cabled Earflap hat recently and that helped because we discussed reading charts in that class.

Is there something that stumps you?

Shaping eludes me at times, only because I haven't done it. I don't like patterns that tell you to do mirror images without actual instructions or make 1 or decreases without telling you what kind of stitch to use.

Is there something that you are dying to try, in your secret knitter's heart, but haven't dared because you think you're not a good enough knitter?

No, just not enough hours in a day, LOL!

Are you always knitting The Same Old Things, and you'd like to try something new?

I would love to make an adult sweater, I am working on one for myself. There are so many great patterns out there, but I am afraid to spend over $100 on yarn and mess it up. The one I am working on now only cost about $30 to make. So if this one is a success then maybe I will invest in a more expensive project!


Do you always knit for others, and never for yourself? Or perhaps you only knit yourself accessories, but never a lovely cardigan or pullover to wear?

I usually knit for others, but always have a few things on the needles for myself ... that don't get finished because I am knitting for others, LOL!


I think I might actually have a pair of socks for myself soon. I don't really like knitting two socks at once on one long needle, I get sick of untangling the yarn and its not very portable. I do want to be done the pair at the same time though! I've seen many people make socks at the same time, but on different needles, so I got a second needle set and tried that out myself.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

FO: Cabled Earflap Hat

The cabled earflap hat is done!! I finished it today, the last 7 rows! After trying it on all I could think of is I will call it my Faery Elfkin Hat, LOL!! I'm not sure how much I will wear it, the size in the pattern is 16" which is smaller than a regular adult. It fits on my head, but a little tight, especially since I have a lot of hair to stuff under there.









Pattern: Cabled Earflap Hat; Nashua Handknits Cobblestone Streets Winter 2007/2008
Yarn: Patons Soy Wool Solids; Natural Rasin
Needles: Clover Bamboo Size 7, 16" Circular and Size 7 Double Pointed Needles
Cast on: February 13, 2008

Completed: March 4, 2008


Sunday, March 2, 2008

Dishcloth Swap Package


I received my package from Karin for the Defeat the Winter Doldrums dishcloth swap. She made a dishcloth in the perfect colors to match my kitchen :o) She sent me 2 skeins of Sugar 'N Cream Twists and 2 skeins of Sugar 'N Cream Stripes (which I have really wanted to try but can't find around here). She also sent some yummy smelling soaps, chocolate, Oolong tea (which I haven't tried before, but hear a lot of people like it), and some stitch markers and needle holders.

Thanks Karin!!

To Rip or Not to Rip ...

Is that the question? Friday night while I was working the overnnight shift, I started working on a scarf that I started a while ago. Well since I hadn't picked it up in so long, I wasn't readily familiar with the pattern ... so I made a nasty mistake ... it didn't look right to me at the time, but since I was tired, I thought maybe my gauge was off and that's why it looked different. No ... its that I made a glaring mistake, LOL!


The scarf is a reversible cable pattern, what I did was do a cable twist on the wrong side, so that one side had a much longer space between cables and it stood out ... maybe other people wouldn't notice, but I did. So later that day after I got home and slept for a few hours, I ripped back to the cable twist before the mistake so that I knew where I was in the patern, its too hard to count the rows with the twists. Now it looks much better and I am happy. It was really sticking in the back of my mind!!


I am still working on the Menehune sock, this is the first sock. I really like the pattern and yarn, but it is really slow going for some reason. I learned something new from Cat Bordhi about knitting the knit round of the SSK decrease on the gussett by knitting through the back loop so that the SSK look as neat as the K2tog, its working very well. Actually my SSKs look better than the K2tog now, LOL!!
When I was at my LYS last week I picked up some Berocco Comfort for my boyfriend, he really liked the feel of it from the other skein I got so I picked up some in a color better suited to him.

And last, but not least, the progress on the Cabled Ear Flap hat that I was taking the class on. This pattern is in the Winter 07/08 Nashua Handknits Cobblestone Streets booklet.

I think this is the first class project that will actually get finished, LOL!! I didn't have time to complete it in the last class, but am glad that the instructor had us stop and do the finishing in the last hour. So all the ends are woven in and the picot crochet edge is done, all I have left are 7 rounds of decreases for the crown and this baby is done!


I am really going to make an effort to finish any UFOs or WIPs before I cast on any new projects. Whether or not that works, I don't know, but I am going to try, LOL!! I'll make it easy on myself and plan to complete any UFOs that are on the needles as of today by the end of 2008 ... I think that's reasonable, LOL!!