Tech Socks

These have been finished (and worn) for several days/weeks now. Apologies for the dirty sock picture, but let's face it, it was this or nothing.

Pattern: Basic sock pattern

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Sport in Team Spirit Colorway from the Loopy Ewe

Needles: Chiagoo 2.75mm

Dates: December 2008-January 2 2009

Mods: none

Thoughts: Knit up very quickly. Feels a little too skinny to be "sport" weight. Hubby loves them - has declared all future socks must be knit with Lorna's Laces 'cause they are so soft. :) 

Project Ideas and a contest!

I've got more FOs to post, but tonight I need your thoughts. I really, really, really want to do the whole knit a sweater a month for a year, but that's probably just a smidge unrealistic since I have a baby who might demand some attention. I may however, still try, 'cause I'm nothing if not a follower and I have the yarn for at least 40 sweaters in my stash. Yikes. 

But, to "console" myself, I'm going to take on two other projects. For the first project I'll be pulling single balls (or two) of yarn out of the stash, matching it with projects, and bagging up 12 projects, (one for each month) to open the first of the month and knit up. I have the yarns and projects chosen for this venture. 

The second nutzo project will be 12 months of socks. I'm narrowing down my list of sock yarn, but I have too many projects in my ravelry queue to choose. So I need your input.  The yarns I'm considering are listed below. Choose one yarn and pick a sock pattern to go with it. Leave your suggestions in the comments and I'll randomly choose a winner. And no plain old socks - I knit plenty of those. I want patterns, people! Contest closes at midnight CST Friday night. Thanks for your help!

Yarns: 

Socks that Rock Lightweight - varigated

Chewy Spaghetti - varigated

Cider Moon Icicle - varigated

Colinette Jitterbug - solid

Fleece Artist - varigated

Hazel Knits - solid

Knitterly Things Vesper - striping

Koigu - varigated

Madelinetosh - solid

Malabrigo sock - solid

ShibuiKnits - solid

Wollmeise - varigated

Yartini - varigated/striping

Zen Yarn Garden - varigated

Stopping by the Woods

My last pattern for the Yarns Ewenique Sock Club, Ewenique Feet, comes out today.

Pattern: Stopping by the Woods

Yarn: Mountain Colors Bearfoot

Needles: 2.75mm

Dates: Last winter-November 22, 2008

The design features a row of candy canes at the top, then snow falling on pine trees. The foot is plain.

The sock also features a picot edge and an eye of partridge heel flap. 

I really like this pattern, though the red yarn was a PITA to photograph. It will be available here and in my Ravelry store next year. 

Second Sock Syndrome Slayed (for now)

Apologies first of all, for the tiny pictures. I tried to steal them from my flickr account, and they turned out tiny. I buckled down before bambino arrived and finished up two long-suffering pairs of socks.

Pattern: Embossed Leaves by Mona Schmidt (who is my baby twin, almost!) from Interweave Winter 2005 and Favorite Socks

Yarn: Sweet Georgia in Life Aquatic (I hoarded this yarn for a long time)

Needles: 2.75mm Chiagoo DPNs

Dates: September 2007 (cast on itis land)-August 2008. But each sock was knit super fast when I worked on them

Mods: Regular ribbing at the top, slip stitch heel

Thoughts: Love them. Can't wait to wear them! The yarn is fab - very soft and so pretty. The pattern is great - just enough to keep you interested without having to consult the chart every row. Love it!
Pattern: Child's First Sock by Nancy Bush from Knitting Vintage Socks

Yarn: Rio de la Plata Merino Sock

Needles: 2.25mm Chiagoo DPNs

Dates: June 2007-August 2008

Mods: I added a repeat to make them larger around, and eliminated the pattern on the foot due to my inability to figure out how to make it work with that extra pattern repeat. 

Thoughts: Love them too! The yarn is so nice - unbelievably soft and so nice to knit with. The pattern again here was great - just enough to keep my interest without being too complicated. 

Would you believe that I have 3 socks sitting in the heel flap and 2 nearly there? I've got to get those heels turned and end the year finishing up some socks! In my baby knitting frenzy this summer I forgot how nice plain vanilla socks are - I'm trying to remedy that now!

Socks!

It is summer, and that means socks. To help me finish up some pairs, I ripped out 3 pairs that weren't working - my Solstice Slip socks - couldn't get into the pattern, my Diagonal Rib socks - again, couldn't get into the pattern, and a pair for hubbo that were turning out too big.

This week I finished one pair, and I can show you a pair I finished a few weeks ago.



Pattern: Reversai from Sock Madness
Yarn: BMFA Lightweight in Watermelon Tourmaline (my first skein of STR ever!)
Needles: 2.25 Chiagoo DPNs
Dates: March-July 2008
Mods: longer cuff (not really a mod, but most folks seemed to make the shorter one.)
Thoughts: I enjoyed the stitch pattern and the overall construction of the sock - I was just too lazy to finish it!


Pattern: Up the Down Staircase (MY pattern! for the Yarns Ewenique Sock Club)
Yarn: Claudia Hand Painted Fingering
Needles: 2.5 Chaigoo DPNs
Dates: sometime last year (to get gauge and figure out the stitch pattern) to July 2008
Mods: n/a
Thoughts: I love them, of course!

I've also managed to finish up the first sock for hubbo (2x2 ribbing may kill me), and the first sock of a plain set for me. I've got the second sock of my Child's First Sock pair through the heel, so that should be done soon, and I want to finish the second Embossed Leaves sock.

The finishing train continues to hang out here - I have a crazy goal of having 10 active WIPs by the time the baby is born (it's around 26 now) - we'll see if I can make it - I have 8 weeks!

Alive and well

I'm here! I'm not sure what happened to cause the delay in posting (well, I do know that I had dead camera batteries for part of the time), but I'll chalk it up to laziness. Why is it so hard to post these days? The baby's not even here yet! I'm going to be awful after that. I'm going to try really hard to do at least a post a week this summer to get myself into a routine, and maybe that will help.

I do have lots of finished things to show you, but I'll spread them out for the sake of blog fodder.

These two have been finished the longest, so they get to go first. In fact, they've been sitting around since the end of May, pictures taken and all, waiting to be shown off.


Pattern: Ribbons Baby Blanket by Fiber Trends
Yarn: Sublime Organic Cotton DK (LOVE!)
Needles: Sz US 8 DPNs, 16" circular and 29" circular bamboo
Dates: March-May 2008
Mods: Um, I know I did something different at the end, but I don't remember what and I don't have the pattern in front of me to check, and if I wait to post this because of that, it will be another two weeks before y'all hear from me. So just ignore this part.
Thoughts: I love this. It was a quick knit, once I actually spent time with it, though the eight rounds of purling when I got to the long rows nearly killed me. Totally worth it for the look though. I love that it is reversible, and I love the colors. I cannot say enough good things about this yarn. It is wonderfully soft, not too splitty, and did I mention the softness? Go get you some.




Pattern: generic top down sock over 72 stitches with heel flap.
Yarn: Sunshine Yarns in Peppermint (I think, I've lost the ball band)
Needles: Sz 1 Chiagoo bamboo DPNs
Mods: picot top
Thoughts: Glad these are done - not sure what took me so long, other than a lack of knitting during the first trimester, and putting them aside to work on Christmas knitting. The yarn was very nice to work with, and I love the colors. This are all ready for Christmas!


In other excitement, I've decided not to set any knitting goals for the time being - too much stress. I do want to finish up some long lingering knits though, and try to pull myself off the baby hat train (there are only so many days in a week, she doesn't really need a hat for every day, does she?). And, since the Summer of Socks starts today, and I didn't sign up, as I am a KAL failure, I do have my own personal goal - finish up some of these socks! Some may get frogged, and that's OK. But I've got two pairs with 1 1/2 socks done, two with 1 sock done, and way too many with one sock started. I need to get them cleared out. I'd also like to finish up some sweaters that are relatively close to being done, and we have a big car trip to visit my parents coming up, so I'm looking forward to some car knitting time. Must get some of this done before the baby gets here! Oh, and I'd like to finish some Christmas gifts too.

Wait, are those goals? Did I just set goals after I said I wouldn't? Oh well.

Spring Break Knits

First, thank you for all the well-wishes - we are very excited here.

We did manage to finish quite a few projects over spring break, and I'll lead with what you really care about - the knitwear.



Pattern: Zombie Socks from Sock Madness
Yarn: Socks that Rock Lightweight in Lenore
Needles: Chiagoo DPNs 2.75mm
Dates: Thursday March 13-Thursday March 20
Mods: none
Thoughts: very stretchy sock. Even though my gauge was perfect, these are a little big. But they turned out fine besides that, and I'll still wear them. The yarn bled all over my needles and my fingers, so I'll be careful washing them.


Pattern: Log Cabin Blanket
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in 5 colors
Needles: Sz 8 Susan Bates Circulars
Dates: Um, August 2006-March 2008. Yikes
Mods: none
Thoughts: This didn't turn out as big as I had originally envisioned, but I just needed it to be done. It was gifted to The Girl for her 10th birthday on Friday, and she seems to really like it, so that's good.


Pattern: Devon from Magknits
Yarn: Rowan Cotton Glace - 1.5 balls in white, purple and green and just over 2.5 balls in brown
Needles: Sz 3 Susan Bates Circulars
Dates: September? 2007-March 2008
Thoughts: This has been mostly done since the end of January - I ran out of brown and kept forgetting to buy another ball, and then I had to spend 3 hours weaving in ends. Ugh. But it fits great, and I really like the colors, so overall a winner.

I did get a bit of other knitting progress made, but I'll save that fodder for another day!

Ketchup

I really have been knitting! Need proof?


Pattern: My generic 72 st sock with heel flap and gusset.
Needles: Chiagoo sz 2.25 mm DPNs
Yarn: Scout's Swag in Zuluknitty.
Dates: Um, September 2007-February 1, 2008.
Mods: none
Thoughts: I love these socks. I love the colors. I love how they sort-of stripe. I LOVE the base yarn. I've worn them twice and it'd be more if I did more laundry. Love. Go get some yarn people. Run! Now I really want to knit up my other two skeins of Scouty-goodness. Yum.



Pattern: Improvised hat - basic hat pattern with garter border.
Yarn: Mission Falls 1824 Superwash wool in the new tricolor.
Needles: Sz 7 or 8 Clover bamboo DPNs
Dates: January 2008-February 1, 2008.
Mods: Hubby really wanted an earflap hat, so that was the original intent. However, after I'd finished the hat part, and was going to go back and add the flaps, he decided he liked it the way it was. Voila!
Thoughts: Love this yarn too - so squishy!



Pattern: Fingerless gloves from Weekend Knitting - Ann Budd
Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Mist - about 1.5 skeins
Needles: Sz 7 or 8 Clover bamboo circulars
Dates: January 2008-February 1, 2008
Mods: None!
Thoughts: He seems to really like them and has worn them on the few cold days we've had.


Pattern: 1x1 ribbed scarf, inspired by all the other ones in the world.
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden, and I can't remember the two colors.
Needles: Sz 8 Clover Bamboo
Dates: October 2007-February 25, 2008
Mods: None
Thoughts: Don't know why it took me so long to finish, but I love it. My only complaint was with one ball of Silk Garden that kept pulling apart, leaving me with way too many extra ends. Wore it today and got tons of compliments. It really is pretty.


OK! Now that I'm all caught up with FOs, I wanted to share some fun with you. My LYS is having a retreat this weekend. All knitting, all the time. I'm really hoping to come home with some more finished objects. But a little wager has arisen. Apparently there is a pool to see how many projects I will bring. Funny, right?

In keeping with all fairness, I think y'all should get a shot at a prize too. So, you are invited to take your own guess, and the winner will receive a little goodie from the stash. To keep it fair, let me tell you that I currently have 40 WIPs. I hope to finish up two of those before we leave, but no promises. However, there is always the possibility that I will start new projects (at least I can admit this, right?).

TO PLAY:
EMAIL your guess to knitnlit AT gmail DOT com, with the subject line CONTEST. I will not open those emails until I get home on Sunday night. The contest will close at 4 pm CDT Sunday afternoon. Please do not leave guesses in the comments - I will see those, and I don't want to be swayed! :) And, if you know me IRL, you are welcome to play along too.

I think this post is long enough, perhaps I'll be back tomorrow to show you some of the new projects I've started recently, but it'll more likely be next week. Until then, happy guessing!

So, about that more blogging thing

Kinda fell off the horse on that one. But I do have two FOs for you today!



Pattern: Monkey by Cookie A.
Yarn: BMFA Socks that Rock Silkie - Sock Club yarn
Needles: Chiagoo DPNS 2.75mm
Dates: um, summer/fallish to January 22, 2008
Mods: none
Thoughts: Love the yarn. Love the colors. Love the pattern. I can see why this has been so popular! I did have some gauge issues, and then some pooling issues with other yarn, but this has been a winner. Glad to have new socks this week, since it's been cold.


And now, I can finally reveal one of the secret projects I've been working on. My LYS, Yarns Ewenique, is having a sock club, and I was flattered to be chosen as one of the pattern designers. It has been an interesting experience for me (and it's not over yet!) The first pattern was "released" on Friday, so now I can show it to you!


Pattern: Loopy Laces by me!
Yarn: Louet Gems fingering weight yarn
Needles: Chiagoo DPNs 2.75mm
Mods: I knit the sample socks with the fine/sport weight yarn, so mine feel a bit different from the others, but the gauge worked out the same for me, so it's all good.
The pattern is exclusive to the club for one year, but after that it will be available here for you! (It will be available next year through the shop and here as a downloadable pdf.)

I really do hope to make some progress on a few other things this last week of January, so stay tuned!

Holiday wrap-up

Happy Thursday! Hopefully by now, you have all recovered from your turkey/pie/gift/mess comas. I was lucky enough to finish all of my holiday knitting in time! Very quickly, I have some less-than-stellar photos to share with you.



Pattern: Generic sock over 72 stitches.
Yarn: Lana Grossa Bosco, not sure of the color number.
Needles: Size 2.25mm ChiaGoo DPNs
Mods: none
Dates: late November to Monday December 24.
Thoughts: I did not really enjoy the yarn. But the socks fit great!



Pattern: Seaman's Cap by Brenda Zuk at Needle Beetle.
Yarn: Mission Falls 1824 Wool - 1.5 balls
Needles: Sz US 7 Circular and DPNs
Mods: only 2" of ribbing, brim does not fold up.
Dates: mid December to Sunday December 23.
Thoughts: love the yarn. Glad this one fits.


Hubbo's sweater is also done - buttons and collar and all. Hopefully we'll get a FO shot for you this weekend in Washington, D.C.! We're off in the morning for a quick trip with lots of dorky museum and National Archives, and Library of Congress visiting. I'll have more on that and a bit of year-end wrap up coming soon!

Um, so not a gift

In lieu of any exciting progress pictures ('cause there isn't much progress to see), allow me to present a long hidden WIP - a sock for me!


I started these this fall, in an effort to get them finished for xmas. Ain't gonna happen though. But they're pretty, and they'll be finished maybe for Valentines Day!


Mittens not your thing? Need some scarf ideas? Why not try My So-Called scarf, a Noro scarf, or the One Row Scarf. Lovely, easy options. And someday I'll knit them all!

To aid your knitting tonight, there are quite a few options, Snowglobe, A Hobo's Christmas, A Dad for Christmas, Christmas in Paradise, and the Saturday Night Live Christmas. Plus a lot of other movies. Pretty exciting, eh? I *might* have tivoed Holiday in Handcuffs earlier today, so I'll report on that tomorrow. If I tivoed it.

I won't be knitting again tonight, since I have my xmas party to attend. But I'm almost done with the first sleeve, so hopefully I can finish it tomorrow and start the second. Send good thoughts!

One down

One more to go.


Just a quickie again tonight, since I forgot we had the holiday program at school and I (again) wouldn't be home until late. But let's not forget the babies on our list! Try the Baby Surprise Jacket, Saartjes Bootees, a bib, or a cap. All super cute!

And now that I missed my knitting group tonight, I'm three more hours behind on my sleeve. Double crap.

2 weeks!

It's not time to panic - yet. There is still hope (there had better be, or I'm screwed!). 14 days is a long time. Hopefully I can finish my MIL socks before then, but it may be close.



Now that we've got the kids taken care of, what about the furry babies in your life? Surely they deserve a handknit gift too! I love the snuggly Kitty Pi, which hopefully I'll get to after the holidays. Also of note is Penny for the canine babies in your life. And my kitties love catnip mice! (so much so that I had to hide their presents in the tip top of the closet!)
The TV offerings are a bit slim, but hopefully you'll find something you enjoy! Shrek the Halls, Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too!, Miracle on 34th Street, Disney Holiday Magic, Billy and Mandy Save Christmas, Meet the Santas, and Holiday in Handcuffs (again!)

I had intended to write more, but I have a terrible sinus headache, so I"m going to beg off. We had a good time at the party last night, though I didn't get much knitting done! Time to make up for lost time!

TGIF

Oy vey. Am I glad it's Friday.

Not much excitement today either - I'm just glad I survived the week with all of the members of my class still alive.

Today's project is a sock for hubbo - I started it several weeks ago, but I haven't gotten beyond the cuff. It isn't a high-stress gift, and probably won't be done in time for Christmas, but that's OK. I'm slightly irritated that the yarn is pooling, but I'm hoping it will stop after the cuff. We'll see.

I have the first pair of Felted Clogs ready for seaming and felting, so hopefully a FO tomorrow.

Tanks too cold for you? (Not here, were it was over 80 today. Sheesh.) How 'bout a vest? A ribwarmer would make a great gift, as would a Boogie vest, and for simplicity a leftovers vest is so cute!

On TV tonight we have Grandma got run over by a Reindeer, All I Want for Christmas, The Polar Express, and Elf. I think we're settled in for a long night of knitting. Woo Hoo!

Better late than never

Sorry it's so late tonight - I completely forgot that I wouldn't be home until after knitting. So a quickie -



My MIL's sock. Stuck in the heel flap. While this is nothing new for me, I have to get over it and get 'er done.

So a quick list - you're running out of time! You need a knit gift! Agh! You still have time for a tank - try Orangina for those of you who have lots of time, the Razor Cami for some pretty lace, and Sizzle for a little va-va-voom!

No movies tonight, since they're mostly over (but I'm watching the end of Christmas Vacation - one of my all-time favorites!).

More excitement tomorrow!

Thanksgiving socks

Pattern: Generic top-down sock over 72 stitches
Needles: ChiaGoo sz 2.25mm dpns
Yarn: Trekking XXL
Mods: none
Thoughts: love the colors. The perfect fall socks!


Just in time for 34 degree temps, sleet and snow! I'm all bundled up in my new fall socks and my orange hourglass.

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving - we did, and I'm looking forward to some snuggly knitting this weekend!

Single Sock Club

I have a problem. When I knit socks, I get stuck in the gusset. For some reason, all those extra stitches slow me down considerably. I had several pairs stuck here, so I spent last Sunday trying to get them all through the heel flap and turn, and most through the gusset. That allowed me to finish two single socks since then. Woo Hoo!



Plain sock - must finish second for Thanksgiving - according to hubbo.



Monkey sock. Nothing new to see here.


Now if I only had the motivation to knit the second one.

Just in time

The high today is 55. Good thing I have new socks to wear!


Pattern: Generic top-down over 64 stitches
Yarn: ONline cotton
Needles: 2.5mm Brittany DPNs
Dates: June-October 2007
Mods: none
Thoughts: Very soft, not very splitty for a cotton yarn. Love the colors.



Plus, they go perfectly with my new shoes!


I'm on a finishing kick this week - stay tuned to see what manages to get done!

Anniversary Socks

By some miracle, I managed to finish these up before bed on our anniversary Tuesday. Whew!



Pattern: Generic stockinette sock - top down, over 80 stitches.
Yarn: Trekking XXL
Needles: Chiagoo DPNs sz 2.25 mm
Dates: June-October 2007
Mods: n/a
Thoughts: Again, much love for the Trekking. But hubbo's socks seem to tak so much longer than mine! He's worth it though.

I did have to start another pair right away (couldn't leave those needles empty for long!), but I don't have a picture yet. Hopefully soon.

That's one pair down for socktoberfest. Way too many more to go.

Socktoberfest!

Just a quick peek at what's on the needles sock-wise. I've got two single socks, and about 5 pairs of half done single socks. There are also two pairs in hiding somewhere I'm going to try to dig up. My goal for the month is three finished pairs. I think this is doable.

First up - finishing those grey socks for Hubbo's anniversary present!