One Socktoberfest sock down, 12 to go

At least.

On the ground

On the foot

The first of the Friday Harbor pair is done. The lace pattern is hard to see, due to my white as snow skin, but it's there. I'm really pleased with this first sock, and the second is already in progress! (Shocking for me to cast on the second one right away. I almost didn't, as all the new, and some old, yarns were calling. But I did the "right" thing, just to have at least one completed pair this month.)

It's a good thing it's been Socktoberfest around here, as it was unseasonably warm last week (97 - yuck), so socks were mostly all I wanted to knit. However, it has taken a chilly turn. It's only supposed to be 63 tomorrow. Wouldn't it be great to have Licorice Whip done to wear to school? Yeah, except I don't think the last 5 inches on the body and the two sleeves are going to knit themselves, and I have to teach all day and then go to a five hour inservice tonight. Socks I might be able to sneak under the table, but not a big, slightly bulky sweater. Oh well. It'll get cold again, right?

In other sock news, one of the pairs of socks decided to go AWOL this weekend. The gift socks attempted to remain in Austin (hey, I understand, it's a lot cooler to live in Austin than in Fort Worth), but refusing to get back into the knitting bag. However, the sock wranglers hotel employees wrestled it into a padded cell envelope and it is en route. Whew! I would have hated to start over again. Thank goodness for quick thinking employees!

You like me, you really really like me!

Thanks so much for all the wonderful comments on the sock picture. Hubbo and I were thrilled that y'all liked our little idea so much. I even won a prize! Woot!

Also, hubbo heard your pleas, and spent a good chunk of time yesterday doing this. Go. Shop. Give me all your money.

I don't have a whole lot of excitement to follow up that post. Please forgive me for your boredom.

We went to Austin for the weekend again because we're cool and original like that. We had a lovely, and relaxing time. We ate some good Mexican food, did a bit of shopping, visited the LBJ and watched the bats.


We managed to visit not one, but two yarn stores! (The only ones in town). The first was the Bluebonnet Yarn Shoppe which is actually located in Cedar Park, Texas, just north of Austin. It is a delightful little shop, crammed with a good variety of yarn. I managed to restrain myself to only a two purchases - some Lanett superwash in a lovely green (for socks, of course), and a skein of Misti Alpaca laceweight for the Swallowtail Shawl from the new Interweave. Very nice folks too - gave hubbo and I an excellent lunch suggestion which saved us from eating Wendy's or Sonic.




On Sunday we made it to Hill Country Weavers. Erm. Just a *bit* of stash enhancement. However, the four skeins of Artyarns are for socks for the hubbo - he picked those out.

Also on Sunday, I had a real treat. Hubbo had discovered that Jenny Hart was going to be signing copies of her new book at Book People, so we made a special point to go. Not only did I get a signed copy of her book (which is WONDERFUL), but I got a mini lesson in embroidery from the queen herself! (That's my first start there on the little bird.) It was quite a treat - she is very down-to-earth and was a sport through all of our questions. If you have any interest AT ALL in embroidery, go buy this book and get started! I can't wait to find things to stitch on!



Whew. That's about it. There has been knitting. However, there has been ripping. I'm just not in love with the dye-o-rama sock. It's not the colors or the way it was dyed, I'm just thinking it needs a different pattern (right now it's just 3x1 rib), as some parts of it are striping, and some are pooling. So for now, it's off the needles while I give it a good think.

Back to the grind. Enjoy your Monday Tuesday!

S is for

Socks in Shoes

Special assistance and photography provided by hubbo. Isn't he a sport?

ETA: You ask, you shall receive. Get your sock swag here.

Not a whole lot

I did resist the urge to cast on for a new pair yesterday. However, we are leaving for the weekend tomorrow morning, and several new balls of sock yarn and patterns were tossed in the bag. Yep. Can't resist. But I did rip out the barely started knee highs - just not loving the yarn for that project. I'll try again.


Today's sock - the Friday Harbor socks, which had the heel turned tonight after taking this picture. They fit great - thanks for all the warnings and errata. I did go up a needle size, but I usually have to, so no biggie. Stop back by for an excellent ABC-along post tomorrow!

Sock-istory

When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?
I taught myself using the book Knit Socks in March of 2005.

What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?My first pair can be seen here. Made with Lion Brand Wool-Ease on size 3 dpns. They don't get worn much, but when it's really cold, or I feel yucky I pull them out. They are warm! They have held up fine, since they are house socks that rarely get worn.

What would you have done differently?Nothing, besides use sock weight yarn instead of worsted. They actually turned out quite well.

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?I
love the Trekking, I enjoyed the Schaefer Anne I used for my sockpal socks, Koigu, Regia Surf, and I like the Knitpicks (it's very soft, even if it does start to felt after a bit). I'm looking forward to using my birthday yarns which include Lorna's Laces, Socks that Rock and Scout's Swag. Also marinating in the stash is some Vesper I can't wait to use, Step, Fleece Artist, Artyarns, CTH and the Regia silk and bamboo. I'd also love to get my mitts on some Sundara yarn, Sweet Georgia and Lisa Souza. I have some Hill Country on order (if it ever gets here), that I am excited to try too.

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method? I'm a 5 double pointed needles gal all the way. I like the Susan Bates Silvalume for all of my "fancy" socks (especially lacey socks), but I love my Chiagoo 5" bamboos for plain socks.

Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?) I'm a heel flap gal myself. I tried a short row heel once that just wasn't pretty. I also always knit cuff down. No particular reason. I did try a toe up sock a few months ago and I liked it, but it was too big. Perhaps I'll try again someday.

How many pairs have you made?
I've finished 14 pair - you can see them all here (I've started and half finished and ripped a few more). 3 pairs were for Sockapal2za and Sockapaloooza, two pairs were for hubbo, one for my One Skein pal, one for a gift, and 6 for me. I also have *cough* 9 pairs on the needles. Let's hope some of them get done this month!


Today's sock is the second green sock for the hubbo (anniversary socks) - it's to the heel flap, cross your fingers that it gets done by Monday!

Getting things off my needles

I know it's shocking, but I actually have some FOs for you. Nothing major, but actually finished objects. You may need to sit down.


I finished a birthday gift for my dear, apparently hatless, friend who lives in Massachusetts. When I made this hat for my sister, Jules requested one. Hers looks exactly the same, which is good, since I forgot to take a picture of it.



I also finished up another set of "special order" dishcloths. Time for some for me!




I finished and felted Sophie and a felted hat.



Pattern: Sophie from Magknits by Julie Anderson.
Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Coal - 2 skeins
Needles: Sz 10 1/2 DPNS and circ - both Clover bamboo
Dates: mid/early September to late September.
Mods: None.
Thoughts: Great basic pattern. I love the way the Knitpicks felts - it's very sturdy and not too hairy.




Pattern: My own, based on a basic hat pattern.
Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Coal (one skein), Mist and Red (just a bit of read and less than 1/2 a skein of Mist.
Needles: Sz 10 1/2 DPNS - Clover Bamboo.
Dates: late September to September 30.
Mods: None.
Thoughts: Was a bit too big the first round of felting and a bit too small the second. Hubbo and I did some massive stretching and it's OK. Not perfect, but wearable and warm. More modifications to the pattern are necessary before I do another.


Today's post brought to you by a new Socktoberfest sock. Birthday Lorna's Laces (in Daffodil) in the P-word socks from Knitty. Loved this pattern the first time I knit it (for my Sockapaloooza pal), and I'm excited to have a pair of my own.

I'll try not to cast on a new pair tonight. No promises.

I'm a real knitter now!

With the last bit of my September "allowance" I ordered this lovely wonder (with a lovely 50% coupon from JoAnn.com it was only $29.99!!!!).


We only wound a bit of the sock yarn. I didn't want to wind it all at once and then have to order more just to have something to wind!


Today's Socktoberfest sock is the second green and pink Trekking sock. Apologies for the blurry photo.

I have plans to do a bit of "sock-istory" this month, a la Lolly's post of today. Stay tuned!

If you take your husband to Lowes

He'll want to buy a new screen door.



While he's in the door aisle, he'll decide he wants to get a door for your bathroom.



Talking about bathrooms will make him want to get a new toilet.



And on your way out, he'll grab a programmable thermostat. (Not yet installed).


Maybe I should take him every weekend?


Today's post brought to you by the new Socktoberfest sock - Friday Harbor in All Things Heather sport weight.


And can I just tell you how funny it is to have your 8 year old ask you how Socktoberfest is going when you pick her up after school? Just how much do I talk about this stuff anyway?

Socktober!

Socktoberfest is officially upon us, and what better way to kick it off than looking at what's on the needles?


Same old pile of socks. Some progress since last time - the purple sock got to the heel flap this weekend, and the green sock is nearly to it's heel flap too. The green socks had better get done soon - they are for the hubbo's anniversary gift, and our anniversary is next week! Yikes!


And what's waiting to be knit up?


Just over 50 pairs of socks sitting in the stash. Where has all the knitting time gone? Must get busy. Must knit faster.

I'll admit - I pulled a few skeins from the stash in preparations for the festivities. I want to cast on a new pair, but I should finish some first, right?

And to wrap up:
September Goals
1. Finish Baltic Sea Stole. DONE
2. Finish Mom's shrug/bolero. DONE
3. Finish Sophie (special "order"). DONE
4. Finish second dishcloth set (special "order). DONE
5. Start felted hat (special "order"). DONE
6. Finish hubbo's anniversary socks. second started
7. Finish green & pink trekking socks. One done!
8. Finish purple cotton socks. One done and second to the heel flap
9. Work on gift socks. working on leg of 1st
10. Birthday gift #1 started and finished. DONE
11. Birthday gift #2 started and finished. DONE
12. Start Green Cabled Hoodie. 1/2 way up the back
13. Start Licorice Whip. sleeves on holders, working on body
14. Start and finish dinosaur (special "order"). nope
15. Work on Leaf Lace. 4 repeats to go
16. Restart Clapotis. not done
17. Work on hubbo's xmas sweater. not done
18. Start hubbo's xmas socks. not done
19. Start gift socks #2. not done
20. Some progress on grey socks and dye-o-rama socks. not done
21. Work on Log Cabin if time allows. not done

October Goals:
1. Start and finish dinosaur.
2. Finish green socks.
3. Finish Trekking socks.
4. Finish purple socks.
5. Back of Central Park Hoodie done.
6. Body of Licorice Whip done.
7. Work on Leaf Lace.
8. Finish gift socks #1.
9. Work on grey socks, dye-o-rama socks, Lacy Scallops socks
10. Start gift socks #2.
11. Start hubbo's xmas socks.
12. Start socks with All Things Heather Yarn.
13. Start socks with some of birthday yarn before hubbo takes it away (he's threatening).
14. Work on dye-o-rama socks
15. Work on Lacy Scallops socks

So, finish an old pair, or start a new pair? What would you do?

Y(e)arn

Ahhh. New sock yarn. Like little vials of crack (or so I assume, as I do not do the drugs).



Regia Bamboo and Regia Silk. In gorgeous colors. Cannot wait to knit this up! Will most likey be cast on very soon. I am powerless to resist. If only I had 50 pairs of needles to knit all the sock yarn in the stash at the same time. (And that's a rough estimate - I may even have more than 50 pairs worth. Yikes.)




This is how much sock you can knit in fits and starts (when you're not doing group activities) under the table at an 8 hour inservice. Not too much, but hey, it's that much more done. And I got to talk about the knitting with some other teachers - they don't knit but were intrigued. And the inservice wasn't the worst I've ever had - so not a bad day, all in all.


And finally, a lovely shot of my outfit today. I was taking pictures for the "Model your socks" contest (Hurry and get your entries in tomorrow night!), and wanted to show off my mad matching skillz. Yep. My socks and shirt matched today. Wicked awesome.

Yes, we have no pictures

There has been knitting here this week, just no pictures, and very little blogging. I've finished birthday gift number 2, and it has been gifted, yet in my genius moments Wednesday morning as I was up at 5 (and to bed at 1 - ah the insommnia has returned), doing three loads of laundry, handwashing my socks, hemming my pants, ironing, making lunch, and addressing packages, I forgot to take a picture. I'll tell you more about it soon - when it has been received.

I've finished the Sophie bag, yet without sunlight it would appear as a big black blob. It's waiting to be felted with the felted hat, which has been restarted now twice.

I'm halfway through the third washcloth of a set. I started a red scarf. I put the sleeves of Licorice Whip on holders and I'm knitting the body.

And yes, I bought more yarn. This allowance thing is really bad. My four huge rubbermaid tubs are bursting (literally - I cannot snap the lids on them). And my knitting time isn't looking to increase anytime soon, so what am I doing?

Pictures soon. Must cast on second sock of either purple pair or green and pink so that I have something to knit during my 8 hour inservice tomorrow. What fun.

One is the loneliest number

Waiting patiently for a mate. I've got high hopes for Socktoberfest - finish off the three pairs that need a mate (this one, purple sock and hubbo's anniversary green socks), try to finish another gift pair, work on the other 4! pairs that are started and perhaps start another gift pair. We all know my knitting brain works faster than my hands can, so we'll see if I can do it. In the meantime, I'm cranking out a bunch of smaller things that need just a bit of attention to be finished, and I'm going to try to start and finish two more small items before Socktoberfest officially arrives. (Really, I missed out last year, so I think I'm just trying to make up for my shortcomings here. After all, we all know that I can't knitalong, so we'll see how this goes.)

Oh, and the water bottle? It's by Knit One Crochet Too, and can be seen here. I couldn't find a place that sells them online, but if your LYS carries K1CT products they can probably order it. Or give my LYS - Yarns Ewenique a call and they can get it to you.

Stash enhancement ain't just yarn

So I have been buying a few things here and there, since I have an "allowance" now with this new job and all. Yay for yarn!


This lovely Elann Quechua will be the cute Tulips cardigan from the fall Knitscene. It's really a bit more green than this picture shows.


And some lovely Silky Wool for Somewhat Cowl. LOVE this color - it's exactly what I wanted and it was on sale at one of my LYS!

And, because I don't have time to knit all the yarn I could buy, I bought some knitting related goodies.


An oh-so-cute sheepy water bottle, which says "Feeling unraveled? Knit!" Also, a cute new tape measure (I broke one this week) and some lovely little stitchmarkers, perfect for socks!

Some more yarn might be on it's way. But it's not all for me. Promise.

Oh, and the cute sock blocker keychain? I think this is where my one skein pal got it.

Fall into (your) knitting

(But please don't poke your eyes out.)

It's fall. I love fall. I got married in the fall because I love it so much. It's a bit different down here in Texas than it was growing up in Indiana. Last year it was still 100 degrees for much of September and in the high 90s in October. Blech. This year, thankfully, it's been much cooler already, and we are loving it. We've also heard rumors that this will be a "wet" winter, and we're already seeing evidence of that - we have green growing grass again! After a summer of having a brown yard, hubbo is complaining that he's going to have to mow again. But it's purty.

What does fall mean in knitting land? Sweater weather! I started two sweaters over Labor Day weekend that haven't seen the blog "for real" yet, so it's time to rectify that.


This lovely brown number will grow up to be licorice whip. I'm knitting it out of Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton in Chocolate(?). Yum. Lovely yarn. One warning though - If you downloaded the pattern some time ago you might go back and redownload it. There are several errors in the first pdf. So far, so good. I'm nearly ready to put the sleeves on waste yarn and continue on the body. It's knitting up rather quickly, but I did have to go up to a size 10 needle to get gauge, and even then it wasn't quite right, so I'm knitting it with the maths. Let's cross our fingers that the maths work again.



And, because I have been wanting a new cardigan (because clearly, the 20 or so I already have aren't enough), I cast on for the Central Park Hoodie from the fall 06 Knitscene in some lovely leafy green Ella Rae Classic. LOVE. THIS. YARN. It has wonderful stitch definition, the cables look great, and it is really soft for a 100% wool. Plus it comes in an amazing array of colors. I'm already plotting more sweaters with it. Yum. Oh, and it's cheaper than Cascade 220 and Lamb's Pride (which we know I hate because of the mohair. Yuck.). If your LYS isn't carrying this, they should. It's lovely.


There are a few other sweaters on the needles - Kyoto, and Pullover Flair (which I also cast on for over Labor Day weekend), but they're not seeing much action these days, and hubbo's xmas sweater, which is in semi-permanent stall, since I can't work on it in front of him.

In other excitement, I cleaned up the stash today, and pulled all my red yarn. I'm not a "true" red person (though I do have some red yarn for Bristow and I'm wanting some reddish socks), but somehow I have acculumated a few balls here and there of red yarn. It will all be knit into red scarves. Go make one. I'm also gathering skeins for Dulaan knitting projects. Grab your needles - they're aiming to sign up 2007 knitters to each knit 5 items, resulting in over 10,000! knitted necessities for these kiddos.

Thank you for listening to this public service announcement. We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

I just can't knitalong

I've said it before, I'll say it again. I'm not a knitalonger. I always start with the best of intentions, and end up falling flat on my face. However, I do love to lurk and watch others KAL, so it's not a total loss.

I joined the Summer of Socks KAL with just these hopes - I would be knitting a lot of socks, as it was a) summer and b) Texas. Not a lot of large heavy sweater knitting going on here. Unfortunately, as it is wont to do, life got in the way. So much so that the only finished pair of socks I knit both of during the summer were my One Skein Pal's Cabled Footies. Yikes. And really, do those count, since they were worsted weight yarn? Anywho, I did whip up a few single socks for you.


First, a wee one. I received the kit to make these cute socks for your keychain sock blocker from my One Skein Pal, and last week, in a fit of "I need to finish something NOW!", I pulled it out. Hmmm. No gauge listed. OK. I'll just go for it. Um yeah. So small that I can barely pull it over the toe. Okey dokey then - an ornament for the tree! We never got one last year (I was bored with them before I got to our tree), so now we have a knitted ornament! Yea! I shall try again to make one the correct size for my keyring. Note to self: You almost always have to go up a needle size. Go up a needle size.


And one finished "full" sized sock! Thanks to my new commute (grrr), I have more sock knitting time (yea!). Hubbo drives me to school every day as his school is about one mile away. Just a few minutes here and there in the car twice a day really add up! I lovelovelove this sock. It is soooooooo soft. I want the other one finished RIGHTNOW so that I can wear them. Yum. However, I have decided to finish one of the pink and green socks first. A few more days of going back and forth to school should do it and then I'll have one of each pair done. We'll see if this helps combat or increase second sock syndrome. I'll let you know.

Even more knitting has been happening (I know, can you believe it?) and there has been a wee bit of stash enhancement. Just a wee bit, really.

Happy Birthday Mommy!

Wish my momma a happy birthday! She is 29 years old and holding. ;)

She received a special knitted gift (of course!).



Some lovely, though way-too-big (pre)felted clogs. (Chapstick for scale)

Pattern: Felted Clogs from Fiber Trends
Yarn: Patons Classic Merino in purple and red (very nearly 2 full skeins of purple, and half of red).
Needles: Sz 13 Clover Bamboo Circulars
Dates: Started about 2 weeks ago, finished Saturday September 16.
Mods: I did the "bumper" in the contrasting color for a little spice.
Thoughts: Great! I did get sick of the doubled yarn and big needles, but it went quickly. The hubbo has already started pestering me about "when do I get my pair."

I gave them pre-felted, as momma has smaller feet than me, and I wanted them to fit perfectly. She promises a post-felting picture when she gets them all felt up! ;) (Imagine the google searches for that!)

The wedding was lovely, though I have no pictures of the shawl in its 'natural' habitat as the bride wasn't chilly enough to wear it. Ah well. It's pretty. Even if everyone who saw it thought it was a blanket.

I did get many compliments on my handknit socks - one of the perks of going to Colorado is that I can wear them every day! Woot!

There was other knitting on the trip - I think I might actually have a bit of knitting progress to show for the next few days!

Must go be kneaded by the kitty. She is a bit put out that we left her for 4 whole days, and she keeps telling me about it. Time for my nightly cuddle (with the cat!). It's good to be home!

WIP Round up

There are *ahem* quite a few projects on the needles these days. Some of which I haven't even had a chance to show you. Let's take a look, shall we?


The sock pile. Left to right - the pink lemondae lacy scallops sock, the green and pink trekking sock, the cuff of the straight-laced grey sock below it, a barely started pink knee high (not sure this is going to work out - it's an experiment), with the cuff of my dye-o-rama socks below, the purple Regia surf sock (which I LOVE!), a gift sock, and the cuff of one and one finished hubbo anniversary socks. Whew!


The miscellaneous pile. A Sophie purse (with a secret gift below, the beginnings of another gift below, the log cabin sock blanket below that, at the top a wee beginning of Branching Out, 2 of 3 dishcloths complete, and Leaf Lace. I'm also still working on The Girl's Log Cabin Blanket, but it looks exactly the same.


Sweaters: Central Park Hoodie (green), Licorice Whip (brown), Kyoto (pink) Pullover Flair (white) and the hubbo's xmas sweater (dk. green). Yikes.



And the "Waiting in the Wings" pile. 2 sweaters, four more pairs of socks, Clapotis and Icarus. Must. Not. Cast. On.


What's in your WIP pile?


We're off to Colorado for the wedding - my baby sister! I'm sure I'll have no blogging time, so I'll see y'all on Monday! Have a great weekend! I'll be back with pictures of the shawl with it's reciepient!

R is for Recycling

We recycle A LOT. Lucky for us, our city provides recycling containers and picks up our recycling each week as part of our water/garbage bill. We have the smallest trash can they provide, and usually have no more than two bags of trash (less if we were planning to stay here and had started a compost pile already!), but our (rather large) recycling container is FULL every week.




I am a little sad that there are still things I can't recycle (egg cartons, juice boxes, pizza boxes), but I am grateful that I don't have to lug it around town like my momma does!




P.S. Thank y'all so much for all your wonderful words regarding the shawl! Blocking it was enough to really inspire me to knit more lace, so I've been working away on Leaf Lace. Pictures of her soon!

The Amazing Lace

Finally. It's done. Just in time, as the wedding is this weekend!



Pattern: Baltic Sea Stole by Fibertrends
Yarn: Knitpicks Merino Style in Dusk - 9 balls
Needles: Sz 8 Clover Bamboo Circulars
Dates: March-September 2006 (on and off)
Mods: I did not use mohair as the pattern called for - didn't want the bride to be itchy!
Thoughts: Bored to tears by the pattern at several points. However, loosing the chart really helped me finish it up - I discovered that I had the repeats memorized, and it was much faster to work from memory than look at the chart every row. I was really worried that it would be too "thick" - too heavy, but blocking worked a MIRACLE on this pattern. It's lighter, it drapes, it's really nice. I hope the bride likes it!

Lace Swap goodies!

I am a bad bad blogger/swapper. I received my lovely lace swap goodies last Saturday, and I'm just now getting around to showing you the treats!


My treats came all the way from Sweden. Aren't these stamps cool? I love that the package just has stamps on it - none of that barcode business many of our packages have.


And inside were some lovely treats. Candles, napkins, soap, and a notepad, all from Sweden, a cute address book with a black kitty (just like Cocoa) on the front, and handmade stitchmarkers (the first fancy stitchmarkers I've ever had made for me!).

But the real treats are the yarn and patterns, of course! ~1200 yards of a lovely 100% laceweight Finnish wool, and ~600 meters of the yummy reddish Swedish laceweight wool. And the topper is the book of patterns - Estonian lace charts! My swapper was kind enough to provide a translation of the chart symbols, but I think it'll take some major concentration on my part to decide what to make from this!

My swapper was the wonderful Marika! Thanks Marika! I love everything and can't wait to decide what to make!