Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Summer Of Socks - Week 1




With the start up of Summer of Socks back on the 21st, I put 2 OTN's right away. The first is knit in Fleece Artist Seashore in this pattern. It knits up very quickly and I had it memorized in no time at all. I'm going to get this first sock done this week too.





The second pair I started is in Lorna's Laces Sock - Vera. I'm using a pattern my sister Monica designed. You can't see the design very well in this colorway, but it is very pretty, not too complicated (but very interesting to knit), and easy to memorize too.



And on Sunday I added another sock to the mix. It is my normal plain sock (68 stitches on US1 dpn's) in Trekking color #33. I thought since the 4th is next week I should do something patriotic (and I do have the yarn...). And do you see that? in the picture? about 4" in on the leg and again just after the heel and on the foot? It's the beginning of the repeat I started the sock with!!! Trekking with a pattern repeat (I know they have some, but this is my first skein that does)!!! Be still my OCD (have to have stripes matching socks) heart!!! When things like this happen, life is good. See how little is takes to please me? I've started the second (woo hoo) and didn't have to waste a lot of yarn to get to the starting point.




And being the joiner (glutton for punishment) that I am, I signed up for the Mystery Stole 3. Here is my test swatch (in Knit Picks Gossamer - Sunrise). I have another lace yarn (Knit Picks Shadow-Sunset, not as many hanks as the one in the picture though) that I might use instead. It's more solid. Melanie used 780yds for hers...I have 880yds of the solid (I have 1760yds of the variegated). I wonder if I should press my luck. I haven't had much luck lately, so maybe I shouldn't. So here is a picture of my choices. Which do you think I should use? Both would be pretty. Oh, and it starts tomorrow with the first clue.
Well, I think I've covered everything for now. Have a great weekend! More later.
PS: Go on over to Ali's, she's having a contest that involves a prize of yarn!

Friday, June 22, 2007

This Is How We Deal...

...with the end of a horrible day.

Funnel Cake anyone!?! Cuz this is real comfort food. Mandy (dear daughter) was performing all the action shots. She is becoming a good little cook (she has perfected several ways to cook an egg and now funnel cakes).
There are a couple of shots of the 2 socks I've started for Summer of Socks 2007 in my Flikr. I'm trying to spread my time equally between the two, so the socks I had started previously are on the back burner for a bit.
Ok, you can go back to drooling on your monitors now (they were mighty tasty)! More later!

Monday, June 18, 2007

Preparations







I'm preparing this post early in the hopes I won't forget anything. I've been trying to finish up some of my SIP's so I can start new ones after Thursday and have them count for Summer Of Socks 2007. I finished my son's birthday socks on Tuesday. He's going to love these once it cools down again. Trekking XXL 188, 64 stitches, US1 dpn's. So, what am I preparing for?....




First...Summer of Socks 2007. It begins 5am on the 21st (tomorrow). I have wound my yarn, the pattern has been chosen, and the needles are waiting for the cast-on. I think I've made a good match...but only time will tell. This is Fleece Artist in the Seashore colorway. The pattern I'm going to use can be found here.





The second thing to prepare for is the Dish Rag Tag. It doesn't start until August 1st, but I thought I'd get my dishcloth mojo going. I hope I won't peak to early. It took me about 5 tries to get this started. I can join socks in the round all day long with no trouble but trying to join those 8 stitches in the center caused me a lot of grief. I'm using this pattern.
Well, that's all I can think of right now. If you happen to be getting some rain, send it our way. We need it. Have a great rest of the week and weekend. More later!

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Back To Socks




I finished the Regia Cotton Surf socks tonight. These will be gifted later this year (am I good or what?...getting something done months in advance). So, they are my standard 68 stitches on US1 dpn's and they match perfectly! (yet again).





I have also got a pair of ankle socks going for my son (he will be 22 on July 3rd). His favorite color is black so of course the yarn I'm using is black. Trekking 188 shades of black/grey. I like this yarn a lot. I've knit the 2 x 2 cuffs 1-1/2" long, the foot from heel to tip of toe is 10". These fit right in with Project Spectrum. I should have this pair done soon.



Speaking of Project Spectrum... I've resurrected my Edelweiss socks. The second sock is finally cast on but I'm making slow progress on it (I seem to have too many choices to work on right now).
And now I have more empty needles, so of course I want to cast on a new pair!
Have a great weekend! More later

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Yikes!!! More Hats


I know I promised there would be socks next, BUT, I knit 2 more hats this weekend for the Loopy Ewe challenge. This brings my total to 8 hats I will be sending in for charity. I really think I'm done with the hats this time. Both hats are knit in Caron Simply Soft Brights with 80 stitches. The yellow/turquoise hat was knit on US6 (it reminds me of the Swedish flag) and the purple/pink on US7.
In sock news (I will have pictures later this week)...I'm almost finished with my son's first ankle sock for his July 3rd birthday and the second blue stripe sock (Regia Cotton Surf) is almost to the heel flap. I'm hoping to have at least one of the pair done by the end of the week. That's all the news I have right now. Have a great week.

Friday, June 08, 2007

More Money Will Be Changing Hands


I knit the pink Squiggle hat I was commissioned to do. It is knit the same as the green one in the previous post (except color of course). Gotta love something so quick and easy to knit (and get paid for it too). Well, I need to get ready for work and get out of here. There will be socks next time. I've been busy with those too. Have a great weekend!

Friday, June 01, 2007

This One I Got Paid For


My co-worker asked me to knit a Squiggle hat for her to give to her cousin for her new baby boy. This is what I came up with: Caron Simply Soft in Limelight with Squiggle. Another cousin of hers had a little girl a couple of weeks ago and she would like another one but in pink this time. So I will start working on that one soon. She is amazed how fast I got it done, and she loves it. I really need to get back to the socks now, they have been dreadfully neglected. Have a great weekend!