It Came, It Came, It Came

I had to stop at the grocery on my way home from work tonight. When I got done bringing in the bags I looked into the family room and saw a package sitting on the floor in front of the couch where I knit. I have to admit (with only 2 days left in the month) I had given up hope of getting my 2nd package in the SockretPal swap (sorry pal). I was so delighted to see it, I really needed this pick-me-up. So this is what she sent me: 1 ball of Sari Silk (it is so beautiful), 2 skeins of Knit Picks Peruvian Wool in the Blue Bonnet colorway (for some reason my husband thinks this should be a hat for him?), 1 skein of Cleckheaton Studio 8-ply Mohair (simply gorgeous), a little tub of vitamin E creme (my hands are going to love this) and a bottle of Oceanus eau de toilette. Thank you so much Pal, you are the best. You've brightened up my day so much.

A few people have asked about the sock and hat pattern I used for the baby stuff so here is what I did. I used leftover sock yarn,for the hat I cast on 100 stitches on a size US1 16" circular needle, I knit for 4-1/2" beyond the roll (that naturally occurs with stockinette) and started my decreases (which Monica figured out for me). They are as follows: k18, k2tog around. Knit 1 round even. k17, k2tog around. Knit 1 round even. k16, k2tog around. Knit 1 round even. k15, k2tog around. Knit 1 round even. continue in this manner until you get to the k9, k2tog around, do not knit 1 round even anymore and just do the decrease rounds till you end with k2tog around. then just thread the yarn end onto a tapestry needle and bind off the remaining stitches and weave in the ends. you will need to switch to dpns at some point in the decreases. For the socks I used this pattern for a reference (as you can see I didn't change yarn for the heels and toes). I hope the hat instructions make sense to everyone, if not I'll try to help in any way I can. If I can't, I'll ask Monica for clarification.

Some Gifts Done

I have finished 2 gifts from my list for this year. YIPEE!! First up are the socks for Lauren (her birthday is in August). I finished these last night. They are the Roman Rib Stitch socks knit in Regia Cotton Surf #5415. 56 stitches on size US1's.

And next, I finished the baby socks to complete the set (for Mandy's English teacher who is due in March). I ended up not having enough yarn to make a pair of mitts but that's ok. I'm also going to make some burp cloths for her.

So, that's it for now. More later!

I claim both for:

Presents From Monica...

...and a few other things. But first my Christmas presents Monica gave me Monday. She knit me a wonderful pair of socks out of 6 different leftover Koigu yarns. They are gorgeous and feel so wonderful on my feet (yes, of course I've worn them already), also a skein of Louet Gems Sport weight yarn in sage (we are too funny, I just gave her a pair of sage socks I knit for her), and the "Scarf Style" book. I have so many projects picked out that I want to knit (maybe even something for her). Thanks Monica! **Edited**

Monica also knit me some clog slippers. Aren't they

great!

This is the sock I've started for C.J. It's the Railway Stitch pattern from "Knitting Vintage Socks" by Nancy Bush. I'm knitting them in Trekking XXL 102 (shades of grey, so I'm getting a jump on Project Spectrum. hope that's ok?) The pattern is hard to see, but it has a nice texture to it.

Monica, don't let Lauren see this...

And this is my Celebrate sock for Socktopia. It's also going to be a pair of socks for my niece for her birthday (in August, see what a head start I'm getting on gifts already this year?). I'm knitting the Roman Rib Stitch pattern in Regia Cotton Surf (not sure of the number right now, but I will find it and post it later). Just another 1/2" or so and I will start the toe!

So that's it for now. More later!

Year of the Dragon?

When Ben (my nephew) saw the dragon t-shirt I had embroidered for Camden he said he would like to have one too. So, being a good auntie I went out and got some t-shirts for him. My sister and her kids are on their way over to spend the day with us (we haven't had our Christmas yet), it's the only day that her kids and Mandy have the same school day off. So here are the shirts I embroidered for Ben: I think he will like them.

And since there is no chance of her peeking I will post a picture of the socks I knit for Monica.

Here it is modeled on my foot to show the cables and then just a regular shot of the pair.

This is the "Foot Cozy"pattern in Lorna's Sport Sage. I also embroidered a sweatshirt

for her with "I heart Knitting" on it.

More show and tell later. Have a great week!

Edited: Carole tagged me with the 6 weird things meme. I will just direct you to this post
if you want to read about my weirdness again. Goodnight!

ABC Meme

I found this one at Rachel's blog and it looked like fun. Besides I'm just sitting here doing nothing between thread changes on my sewing/embroidery machine... so here it comes....

A- Available or single? no
B- Best Friend? Monica
C- Cake or Pie? Either it depends on the flavor... Chocolate for cake and either Pumpkin or Lemon Meringue for pie.
D- Drink of Choice? Water (I know boring)
E- Essential Item? My knitting. Computer.
F- Favorite Color? Yellow
G- Gummi Bears or Worms? Bears (but only the clear and red please!)
H- Hometown? Fort Knox, Ky
I- Indulgence? Yarn and chocolate
J- January or February? What's the difference, except the number of days of cold and dreariness.
K- Kids and Names? 2 - Curtis and Amanda
L- Life is Incomplete Without? My kids
M- Marriage Date? 5/7/83
N- Number of Siblings? 6 (5 still living)
O- Oranges or Apples? Oranges
P- Phobias/Fears? Heights/being poor.
Q- Favorite Quote? Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ, which gives me strength"
R- Reason to Smile? My kids
S- Season? Spring
T- Tag 3 People! Monica, Shelley, and Rebecca
U- Unknown Fact about Me? I have revealed so much lately with all these meme's. I guess it would have to be that I've gotten very lazy about doing housework and cooking the last couple of years.
V- Vegetables you Hate? Brussel Sprouts, Okra
W- Worst Habit? Eating too much chocolate
X- X-Ray's I've had? Dental, Gallbladder, Mammo's every year, CAT scan of my left knee, my right foot when I had a broken little toe, head when I was having chronic migraines, ok, I can't think of anymore but that sure is enough. Well, unless sonograms count too. I should be glowing in the dark.
Y- Your favorite food? That's a tough one. I love steak and baked potato. But I like a good cheeseburger too. And lemon pepper chicken. And of course there is always CHOCOLATE!!
Z- Zodiac? Scorpion

So there you have it, more information about little ole me.
On the knitting, I've started another sock for my son. I'm knitting it in Trekking XXL 102 using the Railway Stitch Pattern from Knit Vintage Socks. I am about to turn the heel on the first sock of the pair. Pictures later.

Second FO of 2007

I finished the socks for my SockretPal!!! I'm sorry I can't show them just yet. I will mail them out sometime in February, so until I do that they will remain in hiding. They turned out so nice (IMHO), it will be hard to part with them. You see, my Pal and I wear the same size shoe. I think I will have to start a new pair from some of my birthday yarn (I have that itch that must be scratched). It's something I've wanted to do for some time now...but I had to finish Christmas items and my Pal's socks first.
More later and with pictures... I promise!!

When A UFO Loses Its U Status

My January UFO is now a FO!! I of course chose the easiest and fastest to complete (although I did rip it twice... I didn't like the way it looked being knitted on the size 4 addi so I switched to a a 1 and reknit). Mandy says her English teacher is due in March but has been experiencing premature labor so she is on bed rest. One baby hat done. Opal Petticoat (leftover from Mandy's socks) 100 stitches on size 1 Addi Turbo. I'm making a pair of socks to match and if I have enough yarn I might even make some little mitts. Have you ever seen anything so cute? I love the swirly top (thanks Monica for your calculations).
I am making progress on my Sockret pal's second sock also, I'm to the heel flap. I hope to get it done by the end of the week. Well, I'm off to bed. More later.

2006 Final Tally... and Some UFO's Spotted

It seems I didn't show much diversity in my 2006 knitting... final count...

adult socks: 28 pair (2 for Monica, 4 for Mandy, 1 for C.J., 1 for hubby, and the rest (20) for me)
baby socks: 36 pair (all to charity)
dish cloths: 1
scarves: 1

I have joined a couple of groups already this year to help me a little in getting things completed and on time. First... UFO Resurrection 2007 (see sidebar for link)... and here are the things I will be finishing this year:
1. C.J.'s sweater (this will be an ongoing project)
2. Arctic Diamonds Stole
3. 2 Multi-directional scarves (started in 2005 for gifts.. the green/blue one is further along. I just need to figure out where I am in the pattern for each of them)
4. 2 dishcloths (I can't seem to find the ballband dishcloth right now but I will)
5. My Edelweiss Socks
6. My SockretPals socks (one down, one to go. not pictured)
7. Buttonhole Bag (just need to get some yarn to finish the bottom and then felt it)
8. Mandy's blue Teseo scarf (I'm going to rip what I've started and do a different pattern)
9. Opal Petticoat baby hat (baby is due in April... I think)
10. Navy blue WoolEase house socks for C.J. (not pictured).
I think that's everything (it's everything I could find anyway).
Well, that should keep me busy for a while.
The second group is Holiday Headstart (some of the UFO's will also apply to this group because some of them will be gifts).

Plus, I do plan to knit at least 1 pair of socks a month (whether for myself or someone else).