To knit ... oh what to knit

Oh what to knit I said to myself the other day. So I grabbed my binder of patterns and picked out Vinnland. This one was in my binder for a long time .. and oh joy, the yarn already waiting patiently in my stash. An even greater joy (since we just moved about a month ago) this particular yarn was right on top of the plastic tub when I went looking for it ... fate?!?! I would say so!



So I cast on for Vinnland. I modified a bit by using Judy's Magic Cast On for the toe, and I made two toes, then I transferred them onto two needles so that I could knit both socks at the same time, and be oh so happy when they are completed at the same time :o)

We are finally done getting all of our stuff from the place we used to live in. My mother owns it and we were renting it for the last few years, there's a buyer so we have to get everything out by this week. Its amazing how much *stuff* you can accumulate over the years. Now its all haphazardly piled in our new house with no particular place to go at the moment, LOL! We'll have to weed through it all and find homes for it, hopefully sooner rather than later. At least here we have a huge basement and attic ... so no lack of storage space!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! I finished the socks for my MIL way earlier than I anticipated so I gave them to her today instead of for Christmas. They came out really well.

I have bought about 6 sock yarns in the last few weeks, so tomorrow while its daylight out I will get pics and update my stash on Ravelry. I am waiting for 2 more from The Loopy Ewe that I ordered earlier this week, so maybe I'll get a surprise in the mail too, LOL!

I am working on some really cool socks "Jack Sparrow's Favorite Socks" when they are done I'll post photos. Its the coolest pattern for easy fair isle. I modified the sock pattern a bit and did the short row heel by Priscilla Wild, which is awesome, no wraps, no yarn overs. It can be found on youtube as a video or in written form in this pattern.

I am also working on some socks for my friend using up some leftover yarn and if it comes out succesful I will write the pattern and post it.

Its getting chilly outside!

Well I almost have one glove done. I am afraid to go back and find out when I first cast on for this project. I know I ordered the yarn back in April ...

This was an interesting pattern, its from the 1940s ... so its not very instructive, I ran into a few, "Huh? ... Wah? ..." moments, but made my way through them and I am a better knitter for it, LOL!

These are a gift for my email pal in England (we have met in person a few times too) and I am hoping to finish them for Christmas.

Amazing Knitting

I am amazed at some knitting techniques. I started this pair of socks long, long ago and the instructor at my LYS helped me start the toe of the first sock. Since then it sat in a bag with lots of other WIPs and I finally picked it back up the other day and finished a sock. I started the other one myself and was hoping I didn't run into problems and I was just amazed at how 4 stitches turn into a toe!



I successfully got the toe done and am on to the foot of the second sock. This yarn is Art Yarns Handpainted Stripes and it is lovely to knit with. It is so soft and squishy. The colors are so deep and beautiful.



Now I am off to go knit on my stocking so I am ready for the next class!

Learning new things

I'm learning a lot of new things ... some I would rather not know. Although it really hasn't been that much that's gone wrong with us trying to buy a house, but there are so many papers to collect and sign and checks to write and appointments and blah, blah, blah. This is a short sale, so at this point we've done all we can and now its up to the current mortgaging bank to approve of the sale.

Anyway, on to other learning, I am taking a class on fair isle knitting. And I'll have a new stocking to hang in my (hopefully) new house this year!!



While I was at the yarn store I picked up some of the new Harry Potter yarn, colorway "Tonks".

Sleepy Sunday

I am very tired today. I worked my third shift job this weekend and got up early today to go to a knitting class, so its 6pm now and I am so ready to crash. Sometimes when I am working at the hospital answering the switchboard overnight, when I go to the rest room down the hall it makes me think of Halloween and Michael Myers in the institution ... some days I am so tired I think, go ahead, come and get me at least then it would be over, hahahaha!!!

I am taking a 2 socks on 2 circulars class. I took this before but tried it on one long circular and it didn't work out so well, the yarn kept getting tangled, I kept knitting the sock inside out and twisting it, etc. So I wanted to give it another try, I am a better knitter in general now so I think that will help. The 2 circulars instead of one makes a HUGE difference too.



I got a better picture of the Hypnosis pattern from The Eclectic Sole.



I started the gloves my friend wanted and got a lot done this weekend, but noticed that the thumb gussett increases threw the pattern stitch off, so I ripped it back and took it with me today for help. The instructor suggested something that I am going to try and see if that works better. In the pattern you cannot see the gussett so its unclear how they worked around it or if it looked bad there too!

Busy, busy, busy

I've been very busy working extra hours and doing other stuff to save up money to move. We met with the agent we work with to see houses to list out mobile home to get more exposure and hopefully sell it soon, selling it will make up the difference of what we need to move. My mom owns it, but hasn't lived here for years and doesn't want to, so she'll give us any money from the sale.

On the knitting front, I think I am going to rip out the Rivendell socks that I started, I do not like the yarn for this pattern, its obscuring it too much ... and what's the point of a lovely pattern if you cannot see it?!?! So I started another sock in the Eclectic Sole book with some other yarn and I think that's working out great.

The yarn is Ranco by Araucania in Multi. I originally got this because I liked the colors and had something else for the Hypnosis pattern, but while I was going through my stash, I though this would work very well for this pattern.

So far so good. Here's a close up of the leg, hard to see the pattern stitches without blocking, but its coming out good.

I think I am going to take a sock class at my local yarn store that starts tomorrow. I took two socks on one circular before and just never got the hang of it, they are doing that class again, but I am going to try two socks on two circulars this time and see if it works out better. I am not sure what pattern and yarn I am going to use so I am going to bring a few things with me and see what I feel like tomorrow.

I am woring on some gloves for my friend and had trouble with the thumb. The pattern stitch is a 2x2 offset so the stitches look like they are going diagonal. When I get to the thumb increases it throws the pattern stitches off on the thumb ... don't know how they got it to work and its an old pattern from the 40's so there is little in the way of instruction or notes. I am going to bring that with me tomorrow and see if I can get some help.

First Firestarter

This is my frist Firestarter, I chose this yarn specifically for this pattern. I like this yarn, not sure if its the yarn or how it was wound (because I know the lady at the store was new and had a lot of trouble with the swift) but I keeps tangling in the ball and I have to cut and attach a new strand - after getting frustrated enough to cut once I try to untangle for several minutes.

Other than that, I am loving this pattern. Its a little confusing at times and I've had to un-knit a few rows and start again two or three times, but I think the second sock will go really well.

I was worried the sock may be a little loose, but the gauge averages correctly and I think once the leg is done with ribbing it'll hold up on my leg and take up the slack in the heel that's there now.

I did Judy's Magic Cast On for the toe instead of the provisional cast on called for in the pattern. I like this toe alot, its very clean and looks much nicer.

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.

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!

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.

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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!

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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.

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!!

Back and Forth ...

That's what Stockinette flat knitting feels like ... back and forth ... back and forth

I don't know why I procrastinate some projects. This child's sweater is actually a very quick knit if you sit down and do it. I finished the last 4" and shaping on the front and an entire sleeve last night. I cast this sweater on 1/7/08. I need to finish it by 2/16/08 for a birthday party.


It is coming out quite nicely. This is my first sweater with shaping and increasing. This will also be my first sweater that I have to seam all of the pieces together. I did a sweater for this same boy last year, but it was one piece and only had side seams.


I started these socks 2/3/08 when my Monkey socks ran out of yarn. I had to rip back to the cuff the other night and start over again for the pattern. I should know by now if something seems difficult or weird, I'm probably not doing it right.

One of the yarn overs in this pattern is done off a purl so its kind of backwards, when you knit it on the next round it seems like you are knitting in the back loop (but the pattern didn't say to ktbl so I didn't want to do that if it was wrong), so I was doing it through the front loop and wasn't getting a hole where the yarn over should be, so in the ribbing there were holes only on one side and what looked like purls on the other because I was twisting the yarn over and closing up the hole.



Lesson learned, sock looks good now and its much easier to knit this way, LOL!! Some how I was able to rip back and pick up the stitches on size 1 needles from the ribbing on the cuff. Usually I get really frustrated with this, but this yarn seemed to hold the stitches well and they were easy to pick up, many I had to re-position so that they were not twisted, but that's much quicker than starting over and knitting ribbing for 1 1/2" again!

Yummy - Socks that Rock!

Is this yummy or what?!?! No, not my skinny and excessivley long foot, LOL! This is Socks that Rock in colorway Fire on the Mountain that I have had in my stash since October ... fondling it, but never wanting to use it because I couldn't find the right or perfect pattern. Well I saw several other people make Monkeys out of Socks that Rock and they looked awesome, so I decided to do the same.

This pattern is addictive, another reason why its named after the monkey on your back! I haven't been able to put it down. It could also be the luscious yarn, that if it was edible I would gorge myself on.

At first I was a little worried about the gauge since I was coming out with something more like 7-7.5 sts per inch as opposed to the required 8 sts per inch, but seeing this picture and having tried the sock on, I think it'll work out just fine.

I did 5 repeats of the leg instead of 6 and I had to do less rows for the heel flap so that it would come out the right length. I really do hope I don't run out of yarn. This is not a whole skein because I split it with a woman at the yarn store who only needed it for one more sock - she was getting three socks out of a skein - so she weighed out 1/3 for herself. But I think it'll work out OK, doesn't seem like I used too much so far ... and I always am amazed at how much I am left over with when making socks anyway!

Cleaning up the WIPs!

Starting is good, starting is fun ... but if you keep starting, things never get DONE!!

I am determined to clean up all my WIPs fairly early this year so that later on I can work on gifts and such. I took photos of most of my WIPs ... some don't even have needles because I needed them for something else and had to put the project on stitch holders or waste yarn ... how sad is that?!?!

These are listed in no particular order, but I would like to finish them up before starting anything else! I also have a sweater I am working on for a friend's child, he will turn one mid-February. Another one not pictured here is an afghan that was the first project I started in Sept. 2006 that is also a UFO.

Project: Ted's Scarf
Recipient: For boyfriend
Yarn: Encore DK, Ultra Alpaca Light & Jo Sharp DK
Pattern: Odd Ball Knitting (book)
Notes: My boyfriend wanted a Dr. Who type scarf and I found this pattern, which uses several different colors and length stripes, but also has a stitch pattern on it, which I wanted to break up any monotony. Finishing this up would also help clean up some stash since this uses 12 kinds of yarn, LOL!




Project: Reversible Cable Scarf
Recipient: Self
Yarn: Ultra Alpaca (3 skeins)
Pattern: Cables Untangled (book)
Notes: This was originally for my boyfriend, but he preferred the one above, so I will keep this one myself (I love alpaca anyway).




Project: Peppermint Twist Socks
Recipient: Self
Yarn: Tofutsies
Pattern: Knit 'N Style Magazine
Notes: I started this sock to try socks on two circular needles. Its a fine pattern and I like the yarn, but it was put aside while I started other projects.




Project: Menehune Socks
Recipient: Self
Yarn: Crystal Palace Panda Cotton
Pattern: Crystal Palace (website)
Notes: I got this yarn in a recent swap and wanted to start using it right away, so I went on to the Crystal Palace website and found a pattern.




Project: Monkey Socks
Recipient: Self
Yarn: Socks that Rock
Pattern: Cookie A.
Notes: I have had this yarn in my stash since Oct. 2007 and was looking for the perfect pattern for it - I really need to stop that otherwise I never use my sock yarn - I did see many people have used STR for Monkey socks and so that's what I am doing now!




Project: Jaywalker Socks
Recipient: Self
Yarn: Opal
Pattern: Grumperina
Notes: I jumped on the Jaywalker bandwagon once I saw someone else used this Opal stripe yarn for that pattern. I love the pattern and the yarn is nice, not sure why these went into the UFO box.




Project: Hoodie Scarf
Recipient: Mom
Yarn: Patons Shetland Chunky
Pattern: Knit Simple Magazine
Notes: This is a Christmas gift for my mom. I bought the yarn in December and told her it wouldn't be done by Christmas. I want to finish it up my March.




Project: Drawstring Bag
Recipient: Self
Yarn: Skacel Meditation
Pattern: Creative Knitting Magazine
Notes: This was one of the first knitting in the round projects that I started. The yarn is Meditaiton which is infused with lavendar, so its really cool to knit with.




Project: Art Yarns Socks
Recipient: Self
Yarn: Art Yarns Handpaint
Pattern: Art Yarns (comes with yarn purchase)
Notes: This yarn is just delicious. It is so soft and squishy. These are toe up socks and the pattern is provided with the yarn.




Project: Alpaca Matrix Scarf
Recipient: Self
Yarn: Frog Tree Alpaca & Bernat Matrix
Pattern: Seen at LYS
Notes: I saw this scarf at my LYS and wanted to make one myself. I haven't worked on it in a while ...




I also wanted to update my Sock Yarn Stash List since I added to it recently.

1. Knit Picks Essentials - Dusk
2. Knit Picks Essentials - Pine
3. Knit Picks Essentials - Meadow Multi
4. Knit Picks Essentials - Peacock Multi
5. Knit Picks Essentials - Carbon Twist
6. Knit Picks Essentials - Volcano Twist, Black and KP Palette White (for Bucanneer Booty)
7. TV Yarn - Medium
8. TV Yarn - Bride of Frankenstein (Bellatrix)
9. Cherry Tree Hill - Maple Sugar (Fawkes)
10. Knit Picks Palette - Sky
11. Knit Picks Memories - Rocky Mountain Dusk
12. Trekking XXL
13. Berroco Sox #1476 (Marion Socks)
14. Berroco Sox #1474
15. J. Knits - Kansas (Firestarter)
16. On Your Toes
17. Wisdom Yarns - New York
18. Alpaca Socks - Fruit Salad (Purls and Lace Socks)
19. Tofutsies - #801
20. Sockotta #505
21. Regia Jacquard
22. Regia Spirit Socks that Rock - Fire on the Mountain
23. Crystal Palace Maizy - Iguana
24. Pattons Classic Wool - Harvest (Winter Socks)
25. Sunshine Yarns - Wildflower
26. Ranco Multy
27. Wildfoote - Sonatina
28. Clown - Pastel Blue/Pink/Green
29. Koigu

On the needles:

1. Socks that Rock - Monkey Socks
2. Panda Cotton - Menehune Socks
4. Jaywalkers - Opal
5. Artyarns Toe Up - Art Yarns Hand Paint
6. Peppermint Twist - Tofutsies

Toasty Fingers ...

Are what I hope to have soon. Like I need another WIP at the moment, but I couldn't help myself. I found this technique to make personalized fit mittens in the December 2007 Issue of Knit 'N Style magazine. I am now working on Part 1 (of 2) "Make Your Own Mittens" and Part 2 is found in the next issue.

Here's my first mitten. I am using Pattons Classic Wool (not my first color choice, but I didn't have much of a choice at the store I went to). I am using my Knit Picks Harmony DPNs and I LOVE them. They are a little longer (8") than I am used to, but they work great and the colors are lovely.

I cast on 6 stitches and have been increasing from there, I am using size 5 needles (the yarn ball band suggests 7, but for mittens and socks where you want a tight knit fabric you go down a few sizes, I am a tight knitter anyway and have done worsted weight socks on size 5 so this should work well for me).

Since there is no pattern to follow I am not sure yet what I am going to do for the cuff or if I am going to try a pattern stitch on the hand. At this point all I have to work on is increasing until the size is right and then continuing down to the thumb.

I am working on a pretty big WIP list at the moment:

1. Winter Blah Buster Buddy - for the Hot Cocoa Swap. I started something and have 3 more pieces to complete before I can put it together.
2. Derek's Socks - I want to complete these by the end of the month (for Jan. Gift List - Year Long Gift-A-Long and December Cuff Down Sock for Sock Knitters Anonymous Group). These will also work for my January Sock a Month 5 and Socks from Stash groups too!
3. Hoodie Scarf for Mom - I purchased the yarn for her Christmas gift and knew that the actual knitting would not be done in time, but told her I would make it for her after.
4. Panda Cotton Socks - for myself.
5. Dishcloth - not picked out yet but I will need one for the Defeat the Winter Doldrums Dishcloth swap.
6. Color Block Sweater - Size 1 year for Anthony. I want to complete this by February - he's turning 1 year and also will be able to get some use out of it for the rest of Winter and Spring.

There are of course many, many other things started or that I have yarn for, but these are the things I am focusing on at the moment :o)

We went to see "I Am Legend" today - it was EXCELLENT! I think Will Smith is such a fantastic actor, he really makes me feel whatever his character is feeling at the time. The special effects were fantastic as well. It was a bit depressing at the end, but that's just how this particular movie ended. Otherwise I LOVED it.

I took Monday off from work and signed up for a Continental Knitting Class at my LYS. Also, it worked out well because I have applied for a part time job and they called me this week to come in for an interview, so I am doing that in the afternoon Monday, so I already am free from my full time job to get there! I love when things work out like that.

Productive Knitting

Here is an update on the Color Block Sweater I am making. I have been working on it a few times this week and am happy to see so much progress. I want to finish this by February and I think it'll actually be possible! The yarn is Cotton Ease by Lion Brand and it is so soft, perfect for a child's sweater.

This is the back of the sweater, which is now complete. There were a few techniques that I conquered well on this project. The first was the color changes in each row, I was worried about keeping the tension uniform and making sure that there were no gaps between the colors. The second thing was binding off. I usually use a needle size larger to bind off to ensure that I don't do it too tight. Since this yarn is so stretchy and soft I didn't want to do that and have it too loose. So I just made sure to pay attention and go slowly and the bind off came out well.

This will be my first seaming project as well. I have made a child's sweater before, but all in one piece were only the side seams are sewn together and it was in a yarn that didn't make it very noticable. This one will have to be seamed with mattress stitch including the sleeves. I am glad I recently took a class on seaming!

January is for Knitting!

It is again unseasonably warm here in New England. I took the opportunity to wash my truck today and get all of that nasty sand and salt off ... even though it is forecast for snow again tomorrow. I wasn't the only one with this idea, but luckily when I pulled up to the car wash it appeared extremely busy, but most people where using the vacuums and not the wash bays.

I really enjoy when I run errands or get things done and don't have to wait, it makes me happy :o) I'm sure the fact that it was 45 degrees out helped a lot too! Though I later noticed when I got home that I then ran other errands after the car wash with dirt on my face from the spray gun, LOL!!!

Here is more progress on the color block sweater. I am really pleased with how this is coming out. I was a little worried about keeping the color changes uniform and consistent with my knitting tension. So far so good. This is the back and once the top sections are the same length as the bottom it'll be time to bind off. This is my first experience with Cotton Ease and I can see how it would make wonderful washcloths, it is so soft and comfy to touch.

I finished a sock yesterday while watching our beloved Patriots win the game for a 17-0 season so far! This sock is from the Magic Loop Booklet "Winter Socks" and I am making them with Pattons Classic Wool, which I really like, its nicely priced and the color is great for this project. Oliver decided that he wanted to join the shot, so I let him model the sock.

I am excited for a new show to start up on Fox - Terminator the Sarah Connor Chronicles airs tonight and tomorrow night. Also Prison Break starts back up tomorrow. Friday night I watched Monk and taped Psych for later viewing.

I found that putting the cable of inexpensive Susan Bates circular needles over the steam from my teapot does in fact make them more manageable! Definitely not as nice as Addi Turbo or Knit Picks, but much easier to work with.

Weekend Update

Here is a quick update on my current WIPs. I want to take time at some point in the near future to photo all of my current UFOs or WIPs, not quite sure what they are at this point, LOL! I want to update my blog for the new year and hopefully set time to finish some of the things I started in 2007.

Here are the Winter Socks from the Magic Loop book from Fibre Trends. I am making these for my boyfriend to wear around the house. I really like the pattern stitch with this yarn. I cast these on in December.

I recently got this yarn in the Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap, the pattern is Menehune from the Crystal Palace website. I have never used this yarn before or any cotton blend, I love it. It feels like they will be really warm too. I cast these on 1/2/08.

This is a color block sweater for my friends boy who will turn 1 year old this February. I wanted to make this sweater to try color changes and so far so good. I am wrapping the working yarns in the back and it seems to be coming out fine. The pattern is from Knit Simple Magazine. This was cast on 1/7/08.

Here's an update on the November Mystery Sock from the group on Ravelry. I love this pattern and want to finish these up soon, I had put them on hold to finish up some holiday knitting.

And here are some new additions to my sock yarn stash ... yeah I know, why do I need more sock yarn?!?! I am on a mission to try them ALL! I have not yet tried Wildfoote or Clown. These are some of the less expensive yarns, but still good quality. I wanted to try Clown moreso after the experience I had with the Panda Cotton, and this is another cotton blend.

I was curious where other people keep their WIPs (because mine are all over the house), if you're reading this, please post a comment with where or in what you keep your WIPs (Works In Progress).

My Sock Yarn Stash

I've been wanting to do this for a while and figured the New Year was a good time to get motivated. I went through my yarn stash and pulled out all of the sock yarn (at least I hope there are not any skeins hiding anywhere around the house!). Here's a photo of the stash laid out. I got a new camera too, so had to try it out anyway! There are also some socks on the needles at the moment, so there's more to this. I have some patterns picked out for specific yarns, but sometimes I find later that something else will work better, so this isn't set in stone.

Here's my updated list:

1. Knit Picks Essentials - Dusk
2. Knit Picks Essentials - Pine
3. Knit Picks Essentials - Meadow Multi
4. Knit Picks Essentials - Peacock Multi
5. Knit Picks Essentials - Carbon Twist
6. Knit Picks Essentials - Volcano Twist, Black and KP Palette White (for Bucanneer Booty)
7. TV Yarn - Medium
8. TV Yarn - Bride of Frankenstein (Bellatrix)
9. Cherry Tree Hill - Maple Sugar (Fawkes)
10. Knit Picks Palette - Sky
11. Knit Picks Memories - Rocky Mountain Dusk
12. Trekking XXL
13. Berroco Sox #1476 (Marion Socks)
14. Berroco Sox #1474
15. J. Knits - Kansas (Firestarter)
16. On Your Toes
17. Wisdom Yarns - New York
18. Alpaca Socks - Fruit Salad (Purls and Lace Socks)
19. Tofutsies - #801
20. Sockotta #505
21. Regia Jacquard
22. Regia Spirit
23. Socks that Rock - Fire on the Mountain
24. Crystal Palace Maizy - Iguana
25. Pattons Classic Wool - Harvest (Winter Socks)

I have decided to hopefully motivate me to use up this stash to place it in a place where I can see it instead of in storage in a plastic container! So I found this nice basket in my storage (stuck a towel inside to keep any yarn from snagging on the wood) and placed it in my bedroom on the bureau.

Some on the needles:

1. Crystal Palace Panda Cotton - Roses
2. Opal - Jaywalkers
3. Tofutsies - Peppermint Twist
4. Pattons Classic Wool - Winter Socks