Orchid

Pattern: Orchid Scarf by Anne Hanson
Yarn: Handmaiden SeaSilk in Straw
Needles: US sz 6

I had the chance to test knit this pattern for Anne and I'll say now what I said before...it's a great pattern! I think it would be a very nice pattern for a new lace knitter, but is still pleasurable for an experienced lace knitter, too. The yarn was luscious and it blocks beautifully. This was my first time grafting lace - it wasn't hard, just slow.

Thank you, Anne, for another really lovely knit!

Percy

Finally! A post AND something I've finished! I've been in an odd knitting mood since vacation and had to force myself to finish these socks before I cast on for anything else. In fact, I even frogged two projects yesterday. Strange.

Percy Socks
Pattern: Retro Rib from Favorite Socks
Yarn: Two Waters Fiberworks "Gryffindor"
Needles: US sz 1.5
Modifications: I worked these toe-up with a short-row heel.

I'm Home!

Hooray!! I'm home!! I slept in my very own bed last night!!

My time away was very nice. I need to get pics off my camera and put together some links, so look for a more interesting post tomorrow-ish. For now, I'm KNITTING! Didn't do much of that during the past two weeks and I have a new project!

More tomorrow!

Over and Out

Hello all...just letting you know that I'll be out of pocket for the next two weeks! The kids and I leave tomorrow for a week in Michigan and then we're heading to Missouri to visit Greg's family. I may have some email access, so if you need me you can probably get me that way.

See you when we return!

Travel Sock and some art

I'll be leaving town for two weeks on Friday and have been agonizing over what knitting to take. Enter a new Jaywalker:
You may notice that I have already done a bit...but since I'm working toe-up and really, you just never know about the Jaywalker fit, I wanted to get it started before I leave. I really wanted this yarn to be a nice, normal variegated, but I kinda like what it's doing so I think it will be ok.

Natalie created this little masterpiece last night while we waited for our dinner. She has always loved to draw but lately has been getting much more detailed and creative. Here you can see a bird with feathers, two baby birds, a very arty birdhouse with a decorated pole, a bird deck with a ladder, a flower and tree...and Greg added the 10th hole/flag because obviously, this is an upscale bird community.

For Fun

Summertime

It's summer here in the mid-South and nothing says summer quite like felted wool! Right? I've had some KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in my stash for over a year - it was intended for a felted bag project, but as it turned out, I didn't love the pattern after all. So into the stash went the yarn until I was ready for it. For all the things I've knit, I've never felted anything and I figured it was high time. Enter Anne's Bubble Bag. (click on the Knitspot Pattern Catalog - there doesn't seem to be a direct link)
Fun knit...short rows...it's single-strand worsted...big needles...FUN! I changed up the striping a bit on mine and I'm pleased with how it came out. (Note: the mural is on the side of our house up on our deck...was here when we bought the house. Not our doing.)

And just because, here's my growing-up girl. She's got her first woggley (her word for wiggley) tooth. *sob*

Feeding the Addiction

I got new yarn this week, from The Loopy Ewe. Everyone always says such nice things about ordering from them that I figured I should probably see for myself. As it turns out, everyone was right! My order came super-fast and, just as everyone says, there was a handwritten note included.

I got some Gypsy Girl Creations in Brindle:
and some Misty Mountain Farm in Mountain Mist:
and some Fleece Artist Sea Wool:
There has been very little knitting lately, what with the house stuff. It's like I've developed a very short attention span with my knitting while I work on the house. I did start a new sock this weekend, but I frogged it last night because I wasn't thrilled with the stockinette part of the fabric on those particular needles.

I did, however, knit a little baby hat! The recipient of the baby sweater I just made is, in fact, a boy, so I thought I would make him a hat, since he will be born in November. I'm not sure how I never came across this pattern, but I'm so glad I found it - I think it's adorable!
Pattern: Jewel by SockPixie
Yarn: leftover Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock and Claudia Handpainted from socks I've knit
Needles: Addi Turbo sz 2

Work

That's what I've been doing a lot of. Working. Working on the house, working on decluttering, working on cleaning...all getting ready to move. Blurgh. I did manage to put about 4 rows of stockinette on a sock late last night, but that's all the knitting that's been done since early last week.

Today's project (at least for this morning): removing a ceiling full of glow-in-the-dark stars that were here when we bought the house - so they've been up there for at least 10 years, if not more.

I know you're jealous.

A Good Solution

Whaddya do when life gets you down?

Well, knit, of course, but in the event you need another option...pose with your favorite Klingon.

Speed and Softness

Project: "Plain Jane #172 QK" by Minnowknits (sz 6 month, but looks to be smaller than that)
Yarn: Plymouth "Oh My" in color 12
Needles: US sz 9
Buttons: don't know the brand

One of our business partners and his wife are expecting another baby in the fall, so I thought I'd whip out something quick and then just stash it away until later. This is a great little pattern and the yarn, while 100% nylon, feels just the way a baby sweater should!

Better Than

What could be better than a finished sock?
A finished sock with the start of its mate, of course. (Retro Rib pattern, worked toe-up)

And what could be better than a finished sock and the start of its mate?
New shoes, with which one could wear one's new socks, of course. Especially when said new shoes have tiny skulls and hearts on them. HEE!! (now is the point where my mother just shakes her head)

And of course, where would we be without yet another new sock?
This one's a gift, though. I intended to do the Eagle's Flight pattern, but decided to take the (ultra) easy way out and drastically shorten the cuff AND do a short-row heel AND do the foot in stockinette. The yarn is Panda Wool, in Baby Blues. Shorter than I would want for myself, but I have thick ankles. I know the recipient will like them anyway.

Two Random Things

First up, we have a picture of a sweater I purchased in Ireland many years ago. 100% wool, very cabley and very heavy. I wore it a LOT back in the day, when I lived in the Midwest and winters were really cold and actually had snow. Now I live in the MidSouth, where winters get cold, but it's a relative thing and there's rarely snow, so I haven't actually worn this sweater in years. I did give it a good wash this week, though, and am interested in hearing some opinions...I can't bring myself to give the sweater away because I'm too sentimental. However, I don't know that I'll ever wear it since it's so bulky. Should I reconsider giving it away? Or should I attempt to unravel it and repurpose the yarn? What would you do?

Second, I decided to take a picture of my sock yarn stash yesterday. It's not a great picture since I had to take it indoors with the flash, but here it is, in all its glory:
There's enough for 20 pairs of regular socks, 1 pair of worsted weight socks and 1 pair of knee-highs. I must look at this picture anytime I'm tempted to go online and order more sock yarn. If you'd like to know what anything is specifically, feel free to ask in the comments.

Green

Here's a little green for your Tuesday. We've been enjoying all the things we planted. Thought I'd share a little progress pic now that it's had a little time to grow.
Even though our holiday weekend was very quiet, I did manage to start something new with some Socks That Rock (Beryl) that's been in my stash, waiting for just the right time.

Proper Pictures

First, I finally took proper pictures of the Jacobean socks for my Sockapalooza pal. I'm quite pleased with myself.

I have also finished the Borg yarn socks. Here is Trelawney:
As you can see, Natalie got new shoes this week.

See previous entries for specifics on yarn/pattern. (sorry, I'm feeling very lazy this morning)

Itchy

I need someone to talk me down off a knitty ledge today...I'm so itchy to knit these! However, I would have to buy yarn to do so. Do I need to buy more yarn right now? Uh, no. Do I have plenty of sock yarn in my stash? Uh, yes. But I've had this great idea for colors for those aforementioned socks and I just can't get it out of my head! Waaaahhh!!

I've told myself that I need to finish the second Borg yarn sock and then pick a yarn out of the stash to knit with before I can allow myself to buy more sock yarn.

Hmph.

Borgs, Bags & Baskets

Not a lot to report here so far this week. I've been busy working around the house for a change and haven't done much knitting yet. But hey, it's only Wednesday.

I do have a new sock and its mate-in-progress...no name yet. However, the yarn is the Craftborg colorway that was dyed especially for us:
I decided to try out Rosemary's Wendelin pattern and I'm very pleased with it. Mindless knitting, but yet not totally stockinette.

Thought I would treat myself to a new handbag while I was at Target this week:
The weather has been beautiful here in Nashville and all of the plants and flowers are doing really well. Unfortunately, during the time that I was away recently, one of my hanging baskets got very dry and was mostly dead, so I replaced it with this:
Since then, however, the mostly dead variation of geranium has had second thoughts and is trying to resurrect itself:
So I keep watering it. It's gotten new leaves even in the past 24 hours. Go figure.

SPS

Haven't done a self-portrait in a while and thought I'd shake things up a bit...b&w AND sans glasses. I'm so far out on the edge, I just might fall off.

This is a test

Test knitting, that is. I just had the privilege of test-knitting Anne's new Orchid Scarf and I must say, it is a very lovely knit. Simple, yet still interesting. An easy lace pattern, but not so easy that you're bored to tears. And oh yeah, I'm using Sea Silk. *swoon* As you can see, I'm not terribly far into the scarf, but this was all that was required to confirm that the pattern is good to go. Now I can finish it at my leisure. I don't think Anne has officially put the pattern up for sale yet, but watch her blog for details.
In other news, I am about to finish the last three rounds of ribbing on my second Sockapalooza socks and then I will be finished!! I can smell new sock knitting on the horizon...

Jacobean

It looks like the sock pattern is good to go, so without further ado, here it is:

Jacobean Sock Pattern

Requirements: approx. 350 yds fingering weight, US sz 1.5 circular needle for Magic Loop
Gauge: 8 sts per inch (32 sts over 4"), to fit standard women's US sz 7-9
Notes: This is a toe-up, Magic Loop pattern and assumes familiarity with these techniques.

Please note, this has not been test-knit! If anyone would like to do so, please leave me a comment or drop me an email (my email address is in the sidebar).

Slow and Steady

Progress continues on the 2nd Sockapalooza sock - just not as quickly as the first sock went. Seeing as how the deadline isn't until August, I don't think I have anything to worry about. I am, however, very eager to get the sock finished so I can delve into my sock yarn stash again.

Several of you requested that I make the Sockapalooza sock pattern available, so I am working on that! Thanks for your interest! I've got it written up, but need to tweak the format and see if I can add a picture or two - so look for it in the next day or so.

Before I started the Sockapalooza knitting, though, I did dabble a bit with some lace design swatching and since I don't really have any other knitting progress to show you, I'll give you pics of that instead. Once I get a few other things finished, I plan to knit this and write up the pattern. The question will be, do I leave it as I've swatched it here, with a basic garter stitch border? or do I branch out and attempt a lace border? Thoughts?

Pardon the scary pin job - I didn't want to steam block it.

Sockapalooza: One Down

One Sockapalooza sock down, one to go! I finished the first sock on Friday night and started the next one Saturday morning. It seems strange to have started the second sock so quickly, since I am usually prone to distraction...which leads to Second Sock Syndrome...which leads to several single socks with no mates. However, that is not an option in Sockapalooza, so I am being diligent.

Here we have the completed sock. If anyone shows any interest in the comments or by emailing me, I would be willing to write up the pattern.
A close-up:
And proof that I have started the second sock:

Socks, Soxie and Not Socks At All

I started my Sockapalooza pal's socks this week. Panda Wool plus a pattern of my own design equals hours of entertainment. I consorted with dear Barbara Walker to find a stitch pattern combo and am very pleased with how the sock is turning out! Toe-up, short-row heel, magic loop...perfect.
I also got some new yarn this week...really had no intention of buying new yarn, but I think we all know how that usually turns out. Here is Great Adirondack Soxie in the color Nightshades. It's very hard to get an accurate picture of this - I think it looks brighter in this pic than it really is:
I also started some new lace this week...the Hanami shawl, which will be for my sister. Since she has wool issues, I'm using Conjoined Creations Pastimes laceweight soy silk, which is just absolutely heavenly!! I can't even express how much I am loving this yarn. I don't know if it is just because of the fiber content or what, but it doesn't even really need to be blocked! I will anyway, of course, but you can see in these pictures...it just lays flat and does exactly what it's supposed to do. I have not steamed this and it is not stretched or held taut. It is laying in it's relaxed state.

Crazy, huh?

Poor, Poor Roddy...

A few days ago we had a heavy rain. I went out later in the day to get the mail and check on my flowers and realized the snails and slugs were back on the porch again. So of course I ran for the camera!

We are big fans of the movie Flushed Away (well, all the stuff Aardman does, really) and now anytime I see the snails and slugs outside, all I can think of is the slugs singing, "Poor, poor Roddy...flushed down his own potty..."