Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Plugging Along

No FO's since my last entry, but I'm plugging along on several things. I started a new sock, actually, and I'm sort of making up my own pattern. I used Rosemary's Gilderoy sock as a basic concept and went from there. Mine is broken rib, too, but a bit different. Pics soon! It's a toe-up sock and I've just started into the cuff.

I realized as I listened to the new episode of CraftBorg that there are a few things that have not received any attention this week...Ribby Cardi, my new Tiger Eye shawl and Wobbly Circles. The only excuse for not touching Ribby is the aformentioned new sock that I've been distracted with. The Tiger Eye shawl is lace and therefore, tricky. I can't work on it when the kids are around - it takes too much concentration. Wobbly Circles...well...no excuse there, either. Must pick it up again this week.

I've also been putting more rounds on the first Illini Jaywalker and it's close to being ready to start the toe.

I'm trying to figure out what to do for my KSKS pal. I know what yarn I'll be giving her - it's one I have in my stash. I love it, but when am I really going to wear pastel socks? This is what I'll be sending my pal. Now the question is, what else?? I don't feel like I have any sort of grasp on what she would like in a sock bag or what her style is. Maybe I need to look at her questionnaire again...

Friday, June 23, 2006

Another FO





It took a while, but here is my first sock named Fawkes. The pattern is River Rapids, by SockBug. The first picture shows the color more accurately. I'm not sure when sock number 2 will come along...by fall, I think. Right now, I've been working on getting some things out of the WIP basket!

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Amazing Lace Challenge: Poetry

For my Amazing Lace Challenge entry, I have chosen to do haiku. A trio, if you will.

baby alpaca
you want to become my lace
I must knit you now
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tricksey lace knitting
charts and notes so confusing
I need chocolate
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needles not pointy
pushing knitter over edge
why do we knit lace?

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Picture Time!

Time to share some pics of what I did while I was out of town last week. In no particular order, you will see the start of the Wobbly Circles Tote (to be felted), the start of ChicKnits' Ribby Cardi (my first sweater), the Illini Jaywalker-in-progress, the start of a Mock Croc Sock, a completed Chameleon sock and the finished Moderne Baby Blanket.

















I'll provide more details on all of these, but for now I wanted to get the pictures up.

Monday, June 19, 2006

KSKS Questionnaire

What are your favorite colors? I like most colors, actually! I'm not a big pastel person, though. I gravitate toward autumnal shades, but I'm open to just about anything.

Are you a new sock knitter? How long have you been knitting socks? I'm not really a new sock knitter - I tackled socks fairly soon after I learned to knit. That being said, I've only been knitting for less than a year.

Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn? I like both. I only have one solid (orange), everything else I've bought is multi/variegated - so I'm open to whatever you'd like to send!

What fibers do you prefer in sock yarn? wool - superwash is great, but not a requirement

Where do you usually knit socks? everywhere

How do you usually carry/store small projects? Ziploc bags

What are your favorite sock knitting patterns? Jaywalker, Pomatomus, the Sock Bug patterns...so hard to pick!

What are your favorite sock knitting techniques? not sure...I like top-down, toe-up, using dpn's, using magic loop...

What new techniques would you like to try? don't know

Do you prefer circulars or dpns for sock knitting? I like them both!

What are some of your favorite yarns? I'm not that picky, LOL! I DO NOT like Sockotta and I'm not all that excited about Cascade Fixation either.

What yarn do you totally covet? Socks That Rock and Lorna's Laces

Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object? doesn't really apply...if I want to do it badly enough, I'd do it!

Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)? I do love Addi Turbos (already have sz 1 and 2). Most of my dpns are Clover brand, which is fine, but I do have some Inox dpns and the short Bryspuns. I'd love to have some Lantern Moon needles!

If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be? I'd most likely be Socks That Rock.

Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack? I love chocolate, but it's not great for mailing in the summer! I do love Starbursts. Surprise me! Just no coconut, please!

What’s your favorite animal? I love most animals - no particular favorites!

Do you have pets? What are their species/names/ages? I have a dog, Maggie. She's a Schipperke mix, age: almost 8.

If you were a color what color would you be? orange! if not orange, then green.

Describe your favorite shirt (yours or someone else’s).. ???

What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature? the Calla lily

Tell me the best quote you’ve ever heard or read. "There is some crap, up with which, I will not put."

Do you have a wishlist? only a mental one, not one that's recorded anywhere

Anything else you’d like to share with the group today? nope! but feel free to ask questions if you have any!

Friday, June 09, 2006

I'm Still Here

I really am still here...just haven't posted this week. Still knitting. Almost finished with the Moderne Baby Blanket from Mason-Dixon Knitting. Good pattern, great gift, just wish I hadn't messed up (interpreted "garter ridges" as rows, so blanket isn't as big as it should be)...it's fine, though. I'm picking up stitches for the final "block" and then I just have a small border to do. I was hoping to be finished with it before I leave town, but I'm not sure that will happen since I do need to clean and pack and stuff.

Yes, leaving town...the kids and I are going to visit my parents for just over a week! Should be fun. Not terribly relaxing for me since my parents can't be total grandparents (they are raising twin girls, age 6, my cousin's children...very long story), but it will be good. I really need a change of scenery right now and this will be just the thing!

Of course the biggest dilemma now is what knitting to take. This is a new problem for me since I was still a very new knitter the last time I traveled (at Christmas). I know the Pinwheel Shawl will be coming, as well as some socks...but what else?? I'm thinking it's time for the Wobbly Circles Tote. It's a good chunk of yarn to bring along, though. But wouldn't it be great if I could do it start-to-finish next week?? Hmm...so many choices. The good news is that since my parents are coming to get us (and bring us back - we only have one working vehicle right now), I should have plenty of knitting time in the car since it's a 6-hour drive from door to door.

So yeah...I'm open to suggestion on what to take knitting-wise. Like I said, Pinwheel and socks definitely. Other options would be stuff for more mitered squares...cotton for dishcloths...more sock yarn to play with designing my own pattern...oh yeah, and the Wobbly Tote.

Thoughts?