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!

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
----------
tricksey lace knitting
charts and notes so confusing
I need chocolate
----------
needles not pointy
pushing knitter over edge
why do we knit lace?

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.

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!

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?

Weekend Knitting

I spent most of the weekend doing some "just for fun" knitting. Here's the evidence:

A cotton dishcloth/hot-pad for my sister, the Illini (Univ. of IL basketball) fan:







The Baby Kimono from Mason-Dixon Knitting...used Caron Simply Soft in Papaya:







And finally, the first two squares for a new baby blanket - for a friend who recently had her second son...yarn is Plymouth Encore:

The Twins

If you wondered what that faint sound in the background might be, it's probably the trumpets blasting and the angels singing Hallelujah. Why, you ask? Because these lace baby blankets are FINISHED!!! And not only are they finished, they are also in the mail, on the way to their new home!!! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it! On one hand, I never want to see them again (because of all the work and all the trouble I had with them)...and on the other, I hated to mail them off (because they were such an accomplishment). But there are two sweet baby girls who will arrive soon and will desperately need some soft, pretty blankies.

Big thanks to Lorraine, from Two Waters Fiberworks for her beautiful yarn and her willingness to work with me on a custom order. Lorraine's the best!!

And so now, I present you with two shots of blanket 2, the Chevron Lace Baby Blanket from Vogue Knitting: Baby Blankets, and a close-up of the "twins" together.

New Hair and New Yarn

I got my hair cut yesterday. Back to short hair. It's very similar to what I used to have, but I do like it and it's easy to deal with. Now I need to re-color it.


I also dyed some yarn today! The first skein was done with Kool-Aid...the orange side was 2 packs of Orange and most of one pack of Black Cherry. The blue side was 2 packs of Berry Blue and a pack of Grape. Then I left two sections white to allow for possible bleeding. (I hoped some would stay white and much of it did, so it's good.) I applied this to dry yarn, then wrapped it in saran wrap and microwaved it.





The second skein was done with Wilton's Icing Dyes. I love how it turned out, but must confess that I'm befuddled. After hearing Roberta talk about applying the icing dye like fingerpaints to dry yarn and then overdyeing it, I decided to try it for myself. Now if I looked at this yarn without knowing what I'd done, I would assume I had used many different colors. Not so. With a foam brush, I applied Copper (which is technically supposed to be a flesh tone for icing) and Brown, plus a few streaks of Royal Blue. (this was on dry yarn) Then I prepared an immersion dye with a very small amount of Royal Blue (probably 1/4 tsp) in water and vinegar...and THIS is what I got?!?!? I just don't get it! Like I said, I love the yarn, but??? Oh, and the picture of it all skeined up is actually rather washed out. In person, it's much darker, like the picture of it spread out to dry.

Amazing Lace Team Intro

Name: Julie
Age: 32
City: Nashville, TN
Likes: sunsets, long walks on the beach...oh wait, wrong list of likes. How about...lace, pretty colorways, nice yarn, cooperative needles, lifelines
Dislikes: circular needles that catch at the joins, blunt ends, splitty yarn
Strengths: determination, a fascination with long and tedious things
Weaknesses: a wandering eye when it comes to new projects




Name: Pinwheel Shawl
Age: new
City: Nashville, TN
Likes: smooth needles, a good blocking, a gentle rinse
Dislikes: hot water, dryers, moths
Strengths: a good pattern, easy to follow
Weaknesses: well, it is lace, after all...

Dye-O-Rama Meme

OK, so I'm a little behind the times...but just in case my swap pal is reading...

Questions specific to this swap:

Your favorite colors? green, autumnal colors, orange - pretty much anything

Preferred yarn weight (Fingering, Sport, DK, maybe even Worsted)? fingering

Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn? both, but I'm a sucker for multicolored

If your buddy is able to do so, would you like a variegated, self-striping, or self-patterning yarn? sure! whatever!

Would you be interested in a wool blend sock yarn (nylon, tencel, silk, acrylic, alpaca, etc.)? sure! whatever!

Imagine the perfect colorway. What would you name it? "It Goes to 11"

What was the biggest appeal to you for joining this dye-along? I've been wanting to try dyeing for a while and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.



General yarn/fiber questions:

Have you dyed yarn/fiber before? Not prior to signing up for the swap

If so, what’s your favorite dye and method? So far I've only tried Kool-Aid and Wilton's Icing Dyes.

Do you spin? No, but I wouldn't put it past me one day

Have you knit socks before? Yes

Do you use sock yarn for just socks or in other patterns too? I'll use it wherever I can!

What are some of your favorite yarns? BMFA Socks That Rock, several sellers on Etsy.com

What yarn do you totally covet? BMFA Socks That Rock, of course

Favorite patterns? you know, the standards...Jaywalker, Pomatomus, Elfine...I also really like lace

Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object? yeah, too many to list

Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)? Addi Turbos and Naturas, love the look of Brittany and Lantern Moon...I use a little of everything, though: Addi, Clover, Bryspun, straight, circular, dpn

If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be? I would likely be sock yarn, most likely Socks That Rock or something similar.


Nothing to do with knitting/yarn/fiber in any way but seemed kinda fun:

Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack? Chocolate all the way

What’s your favorite animal? I like most animals

Do you have pets? What are their species/names/ages? Yes, a dog, Maggie, a 7 yr old Schipperke mix

If you were a color what color would you be? I would be green

Describe your favorite shirt (yours or someone else’s).. right now I'd have to say my orange Illinois Basketball hoodie sweatshirt (because it's comfy)

What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature? just one?? probably the sea

Tell me the best quote you’ve ever heard or read. one of my faves, "I'm not a box. I don't have sides." -by Meryl Streep's character in Postcards from the Edge

Do you have a wishlist? I do, but it's not written down anywhere

Anything else you’d like to share with the group today? Nope!

Blanket 1 Finished

Blanket 1 is now finished and blocked! Blocking truly is a miraculous thing. It just changes the item so much! So here is baby blanket number 1...my own pattern, fingering weight yarn, size 6 needles.



Blanket 2 is now well underway - no new pictures yet. The bad Chevron Lace mojo seems to be lifted, so it's full steam ahead with that pattern. Amazing to see how much of a difference one's needle choice can make...when I originally started it, I was using Clover bamboo needles but have now switched to Addi Turbos. Soooo much easier.

In other news, I signed up for the Amazing Lace Knit-Along. Call me a lemming. Or perhaps it's just the Borg influence? Anyhoo, once I finish Blanket 2, I'll be starting on my lace project!

Socks!!

My Sockapaloooza socks arrived!! And I LOVE them!!! My pal didn't mention what the pattern was, but I love it. The yarn is Bearfoot, which I didn't know had some mohair in it...as a result, I really want to just sit around petting my socks. I love the colorway, too! I'm very, VERY pleased! And even better, my pal included chocolate!! Thanks so much, Carry - you did great!




In other news, I dyed some more yarn. It didn't go well. This time I used Wilton's icing dyes, which work very well for yarn dyeing. However, I think there is some level of skill involved in mixing colors because it didn't go AT ALL the way I intended. I ended up with a very ugly skein of yarn and then decided to give it an all-over dye the next day. The result is still not what I'd call pretty, but it might appeal to someone. I think it looks very rainforest-y. Or perhaps Oscar the Grouch. In real life, it's darker than this picture appears...the actual colors are accurate - just a bit darker. So hey, if you love it, let me know...I'd probably send it your way! (440 yds fingering weight merino sock yarn)

New Episode

For those who may be interested...Episode 2 of the CraftBorg podcast is now online. Check it out here.

Progress Report

Today is the day to mail the SockapalOOOza socks! Can't wait to see what I receive!

Here are two progress report pictures for you - my first mitered square, done in KnitPicks Shine on size 7 needles, unblocked...obviously...and also a picture of the first of the two lacey baby blankets. The pattern is my own, but the lacey stitch is called Pillar Openwork. The blanket is just about at the halfway mark, which is great...I'm just ready to be finished so I can get it in the mail and start the second one.






We got our Dye-O-Rama swap assignments yesterday, so I am eager to dye my second skein of yarn. I have a good idea of what I would like to do for my pal, but of course being a novice, I have no idea if it will turn out the way I want it to! So be on the lookout for pictures of that little experiment in the days to come...

Finally the pictures!

So first, the yarn. My first ever yarn dyeing. Kool-Aid on KnitPicks natural sock yarn. I used Lemon-Lime, Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade and Pink Lemonade - handpainted then steamed on the stovetop. Overall I'm pleased. It's pretty. Not really my colors, but pretty.



Now, pics of the kids. It's been a while. For those who may not know, Natalie is 4 and Ethan is 2.

Still no pictures

So here we are...another post without pictures. Not so fun for you, the reader, I fear. I know I prefer reading blog entries that have pictures. Breaks things up a bit. The sad thing is that I got some lovely pictures this morning and the computer won't read the disk. So I either have to fiddle with it or toss the disk and try to get new pictures. *sigh* It's really too bad, too, because two of the pictures were very lovely shots of my children and the other two were yarn.

The aforementioned yarn is actually my very first dye experiment! It was thrilling. I used Kool-Aid - figured it might be wise to not invest a lot in it, just in case I hated it or was just bad at dyeing. I learned some good lessons, which I will keep in mind when I go to dye the next skein. My finished product looks nice, but sadly, it's a bit too pastel for my taste. You'll understand when I post a picture.

My other fun news is that I got to see Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, the Yarn Harlot, last night! She was at Threaded Bliss and it was great! Sheila, kudos to you for coordinating two great book signings so close together! The Yarn Harlot really is as entertaining in person as she is on her blog. AND, I got to see (and touch) the Olympic sweater!! WOW. For those who don't know, Stephanie knit one of those Norwegian, very intricate skiing sweaters in 16 days for the Knitting Olympics. Even she admits she was insane for trying it. Oh, and Sock...I got to touch Sock, too!

That about sums it up for now...still hard at work on lace baby blanket #1. I'm on my third pattern now and this one is actually working, so I'm sticking with it. Pray for speedy needles for me. I'm ready to be done and I still have another blanket to make.

Excited!

Today's the day!! I get to go see the Mason-Dixon Girls tonight! Rumor has it there will be RC Cola, Moon Pies and Whoopie Pies aplenty. I've agonized over what to wear, since in theory, I could end up in a picture in their blog (yikes!), even if I'm just in the background...and more importantly, I've agonized over what knitting to bring!! Heaven forbid I'd show up at this booksigning with nothing in my hands!! It needed to be something fairly simple, since I didn't want to have to keep referring to the pattern - so the lace baby blanket was out, as was my Fawkes sock or any other new lacey pattern. In an effort to keep things very simple, I started a new sock, using the Mock Croc Socks pattern. Very simple and easy to remember. I'll probably stick a few other projects in my bag, too, because it looks like we'll have the chance to sit around and knit with Ann and Kay after the event is over!! Can you stand it??? I think Nashville is the last stop on their book tour before they start the second leg and they commented that they haven't had time to just sit and knit with people, so being the accommodating sort of folks that we are (ok, I had nothing to do with it), we're obliging.

So that's the big news from here! I really haven't been knitting much this week. Rosemary and I have a new episode of CraftBorg up, so go listen and give us some feedback! We're still working on the sound quality issues, but it's a good episode.

SockapalOOOza Finished!

My SockapalOOOza socks are finished!! Again, the pattern is Lava Flow, by SockBug - done on size 2 needles in Plymouth Sockotta. Lookit all the psychidelic sunshiney zigzagginess!

Picture Time!

I know, it's been a while with the pictures. Mostly due to the fact that I need to use Greg's computer to upload them and now that he's moved into his new office, it's not quite as convenient. But here you go. A picture fix. Since Blogger always seems to have odd formatting, I'll just list what the pictures are here:

1&2: SockapalOOOza socks! erm...sock! (the 2nd one is just past the heel, but no pic of it today) This is the Lava Flow pattern by SockBug, worked in Plymouth Sockotta yarn. There's a lot of stripey goodness on the bottom of the foot, so I'm hoping to get a good pic of that when both socks are finished.
3: My new summer bag. Rosemary requested a picture.
4. My newest yarn! Laceweight from HandpaintedYarn.com in Citrus. I have 2 skeins and will be making a large stole soon.
5. Finally...Hatmione!! It's very difficult to take a good pic of a hat when it's on your own head. Cascade 220 yarn. And you know, since this is a picture that I took of myself, I do believe it qualifies for Self-Portrait Sunday (of which I've been a total slacker)!

One foot down, one to go

Today I finished one of my Sockapaloooza socks! Sorry, no pic as of yet. Perhaps tomorrow. I haven't started the second one yet. We have a friend staying with us tonight - unfortunately he gave us very short notice and our house is a pit, so I'm spending my time cleaning. My hope is that I can get the house mostly in order, or at the very least, not scary - and I can start sock #2 later this evening. Thankfully, said friend doesn't land at the airport until 10:30 tonight.

In other knitty news, I ordered a new sock yarn and my first real laceweight! Also ordered a lace shawl & stole pattern. No linkies today, my dears...just don't have time. Anyhoo, I'm eager to get started on those. 'Course that means I've gotta slog my way through some more things on my WIP list first. *sigh* (makes mental note to mail chemo caps to Roberta tomorrow)

Hope you enjoyed Episode 0 of CraftBorg. We know it was a little rough...that's what an episode 0 is for, right? Rose and I are eager to get started on Episode 1.

Talked with an acquaintance about photography last night...she's a pretty good amateur, like I am, and has actually entered several photos in local contests (and won!), so I was curious to learn if she has taken any classes. Nope. She just experiments like I do! Apparently she picks a spot to visit (parks or local areas of interest) some weekend afternoons and goes just to take pictures...I asked her to call me the next time she does that. I'd love to join her.

Back to my cleaning...