1 Black Stripe, 1 Red Stripe....

Socks are done, fini, finished!!!

1 Black Stripe, 1 Red Stripe Colorway Custom dyed by Heather as specifically requested by DD!

Generic Sock Pattern from Knitting Rules by Yarn Harlot

Size 2 addis/inox express circs

And it is about time according to my darling daughter!! I first cast on for these in May and tried with 2 circs, but it didn't work and of course other projects got in the way ;) Of course I had to model as she's sleeping, she's had a rough week...the start of the braces odyssey. Maybe I'll go put them on her while she's asleep... :)

So I recast on (at least 4 times for sock 1) and finally got a move on with them. I ended up using magic loop as the 2 circ method for me wasn't working?? I am really glad I can use a few different methods. The best part was knitting them both simultaneously. Meaning, cuff done sock 1, cuff done sock 2, etc...it really helped me with the dreaded SSS! Thanks Jen for that hint! (btw, the inox express's just glided along..so smooth! The cord is a bit of a pain, but the needles are really nice!)

And done in the nick of time for my August socks for the Sock-a-Month KAL Part 2!
and...um..er..next month's will be done sooooooooo much sooner!! ;)

The next pair is for my Mystery Sock KAL, stay tuned...

1st Blogstalking assignment!

Ok, So I've been stalking fellow Knittyheads blogs for the past few weeks, seeing their assignments and experiments. I finally joined the crew!

My first assignment...Feet


Feet at work in action posing with my first handknit socks!











See, told ya I had a few pairs of these LOL! These were the only ones that matched the socks. You know..gotta match the socks to the shoes :) ETA: um 4 pairs of faux crocs (hehe meaning cheap LOL!) I also have a fluorescent pink and green pair one day will pose with socks!


Feet, patiently awaiting the rest of the socks.............. ;) ETA: This is self-striping sock yarn! ;) a custom order from Heather. Requested by DD!

Red.......should be....

My signature color! (remember Designing Women! LOL dating myself for sure now!) And for being a red lover I should like have so much more things in my life red shouldn't I??

Well, take a look here...




Except for Cotton-Ease and a few skeins of sock yarn (very few!) My red stash! which will be used for making....

A few of these! And you can find out more by going Here !

Since the deadline is January, I should be good to go! And what doesn't get done can go for Dulaan 2007! I have some nice, soft cotton coming for those who may be allergic to wool.

So if you feel inclined to, go ahead and knit 1 or 2 or more! Just check the website out for more info! Thanks! :)

PS.-does anyone know why when I type around pictures the font gets smaller???
trying to fix it though?? Hehehe..fixed it!! LOL Sorry Sandra! :)

Felted....

Better, much better! I only had to make one trip to the washer with the Lambs Pride, but 2 with this. It happens! :) Although it took 4 trips with LP for my hobo chic bag..hmm..

Arcuania Nature Wool Chunky in Purple Variegated for my One-Skein SP, in her favorite color! She'll soon find out who I am and will probably be sick of the color purple! I decided to make this rather than the scrubby and bath mitt as I am sure she would like her last package before next year LOL!

Off to knit and sew some more! :)
The 1 Red Stripe, 1 Black Stripe socks are going pretty good! The one on the dpn's looks smaller, but it is the same, just how I had to flatten it for a picture. About 3 or so inches on both before the heel flap. I hope to be done by this time next week or sooner! ;)

A Miscellaneous few days!

Ok everyone!! What about this gray!! I am going to try new colors for a bit. Now I liked the first gray, however, you, the readers count as you are the ones viewing it! Nothing more irritating I am sure than a blog that is hard to read! Stay tuned, going to white/cream tomorrow!

I've been busy with all sorts, school starting for the kids, and trying to get everything I need to do, done! Slow but sure!

Felted Bowl using

Arucuania Nature Wool Chunky in a varigated purple. I should have doubled this, and was not too happy with the finished bowl, you could see through it, so back to the washing machine it went and is drying now!

Updated picture tomorrow!



Ok, who doesn't want to get organized? hehe I was tired of what you see on the left bags, totes, and just a plain ole mess! This is my WIP's (and yarns needed for them), SP goodies pile, and fabrics to be used in the near future.

As you see to the right AHHHH! Bottom tan one, has neatly folded fabrics for future needle cases, totes, purses, sockfishes, etc. the top green one has WIP yarns and about to be swatched yarns! The top blue is the WIP's (well the ones I let in the house, we won't talk about the 3 somewhere else ;)
The bottom blue is the dishcloth cottons. A couple of cones, a great buy of 16oz. of mill end whites for $2.50 (will be a bath mat one day!) and my stash of sugar/peaches and creams for my future dishclothes...yeah, one day...

Finally, A blast from my past!! I used to wear these all the time as a teenager! Well I still feel like a teenager so there! ;) So far I have this pair and a brown (faux) pair. Red...green...blue...not sure what is next..

Gratuitous knitted ankle sock below (eek, need to make the ribbing taller)! Off to knit more socks for these puppies!!

New look!

Hiya! What do you think of my new look! I am still trying to get the banner the full space of the header, any hints. I am still so new to code and stuff, so this was a bit interesting to get here, and don't ask how I did it LOL! (don't worry I saved a copy to my files! :)

Thanks to a few people--Jen-for creating a beautiful banner! Deb and Turtlegirl76 for the template (Deb gave me the site that T-girl had mentioned)(eek! sorry it looks kinda like yours), and finally Heather, who encouraged me to give blogging a whirl...look at me now, less than 1 year and over 100 posts! Um..where's me cake ;)

I actually started something and finished it today, it is drying and pics will have to wait until tomorrow. I..um..spent too much time on this, and off to sewing I must go!

More later..........

OK it is later! Do you think it is too pink Gray?? I'm experimenting with the background colors!! The pink...I love it, but just too pink...um...just trying to make it a bit different! whatcha think now!?!
:)

My top 10

Elspeth who was my Knit Sock Kit Swap pal tagged me with my top ten yarns! I am going to divide them into....Sock yarns and Wool, cotton, misc.

Sock Yarns

1. All Things Heather (did you know I have one of her first skeins :)
2. Sunshine Yarns
3. Socks that Rock
4. Fleece Artist
5. Lorna's Laces


All Others
1. Lamb's Pride Worsted and Bulky
2. Patons Classic Merino
3. Dale of Norway Svale
4. Cascade 220
5. Cotton Fleece

There are so many others that I have not listed. Some of these I like are about to be knits, some are currently being used, some have been used before. I think I first judge a yarn (well sock yarn) on it's colors, then softness, must be superwash if at all possible, and now weight. Um..I'm more into sport weight now. (Can you say not knitting on toothpicks LOL!) I have too much fingering...which takes me a while. So almost any new purchases lately (and futurely) will be sport weight=bigger needles :)

As for the wools, etc....Color is important, but softness, look of final product, cost, and yardage.
I love my Lamb's pride, mainly for hat/scarf making as I love the look of the stitches. I love the non-plied, looking like straight from the sheep look. (well I think of it that way LOL!) Felting is ok, but takes longer, but I do love the hairyness of it from the mohair after felting too. Patons is awesome for felting, as in lickity split in my front loader, and it is local and I can use my coupons! Now they have some neat varigated's. I've a few skeins for a felted purse for a friend, so far I've behaved. I'll let you know on the Svale yarn..hopefully swatching this weekend..that is my goal...'

The aloo scrubby is growing..almost 1/2 done..yikes. Gotta get crackin on that and my red/black socks! Pics sometime this weekend on the progress!
:)

Oh and anyone who wants to be tagged....well tag..you are it! :)

Can't keep a knitter down!

Ok, spent last nite recovering from my ill fitting brown gable!! Not in misery..just plumb worn out. Didn't even knit a stitch...have 2 socks in progress...but..just didn't have the energy.

So, when I got home this evening, a package revealed my Dale of Norway Svale yarn had arrived! In blue to make Ribby Shell from Chic Knits. I've had the pattern for almost a year..and wanted to use my SWTC bamboo for it, but was advised it may not work. So in walks this yarn....I wanted to use it for Sizzle but way too much yardage needed..yikes...story of my life! I'm also wondering if I should make the flat panel front or go all out for ribbing?

So swatching will commence in the next few days..BTW: need to use a US 6 x 29" Can't find my denise tips in that size (in an WIP somewhere LOL!) So I plan to use my 24" knitpicks ones, or could I use the 32" ones? The dilemma...5" less of cord, scrunched up stitches....or 3" too much of cord, possible stretched out stitches..what to do...what to do... ;)

Here's the progress on my One-Skein Pal's gift. I've been torn between a felted bowl or this scrubby made from Aloo Yarn

.

It smells a bit...but not too bad to knit. Kinda weird though, like I am knitting thread with hunks of fiber. I need to knit 23" of this and then the icord and voila a scrubby. The bath mitt is crocheted...should be interesting :) I figure if it fails...I have backup...I have wool and I know how to use it! :)

The Final Verdict.........

Is.....well see for yourself! What I had feared slightly has happened. It is too BIG! It is soft but feels like a shift, not the least bit form fitting and slides off the shoulders for strap showing (which I cannot stand whatsoever!!!) I thought I could wear it for a bit and see, but the shoulders keep falling off. ;(

Yeah, I'm trying to make it work!

Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Truffle 3 1/4 skeins

Multiple needles, sizes US 6 and 8 (got gauge with 8's!) Tried out my new pair of Knitpicks interchangeables on the ribbing...sweet, just whisked through that. Yeah sometimes I change needles...this was knit on addi turbos and naturas and Denises also. ETA, my stitch gauge always stayed the same...5 sts per inch with either needle. Sometimes I have to change needles to move the knitting along due to the weather...or ?? just know I need to.

Look Ma...its falling off me shoulders!!!

I mean, look at the arms!!! I could fit my other one in there!

Yes I want it form fitting, but not tight. This is the XL! I am sad, I admit, all that work and I cannot wear it. However, one has to have winners and losers or how else would we learn. This was my first top-down sweater/top and my first real finished one. I was warned to frog it last week during my meltdown, but I really needed to do this, I really needed to see what will work and not work, I think without finishing it, I would have had doubt, did I do the right thing? Is the new one going to be too small?? EEEKKK!

So...sizing...an issue, a BIG one! This pattern was for 40"-XL...I even thought it would be too small as I have a 46" bust. So riddle me this...why...I thought it was 6" of negative ease by making the 40" bust size. I admit, I have no shoulders...I feel like a rectangle. So I have future tops in the almost swatching stage. What do I do? Is it just this pattern, being a raglan top down or......... hmmmm what to do.. I do want to do this again, I can be better at it...so should I go down to the size 38 or 36??? The best thing about knitting a top rather than sewing....I can frog and reknit...can't..um...pick out seams and resew something too small LOL! Too big, yeah, but too small, nope!

On a happier note, sock knitting is underway again. That and swatching, and sewing...frogging possibly happening soon too...

Thank you everyone for your kind comments and cheering me on! I appreciate and I'm sure I'll still need it in the future! One of these days...the verdict will be.....COOL!!! It FITS!!

not sure what year or millenium...but it WILL happen LOL!

ETA: Hey, look down to my post from 8 August! See the neckline there and now today...some difference..yes?? Did I block too much? Should I wet it and place in the dryer?? I've gotten some great ideas on possible fixes...YAY this could be salvaged!

Um..what's this??

Finally!!! Brown Gable is done!!! Drying as you can see!! I am so glad it is over with!! Modeling pictures and lessons learned tomorrow!! Just wanted everyone to see and thank you all for your encouragement at various times during this loooooong knit (well only cause I am easily distracted...)

I gotta FO...I gotta FO..... ;)

Still going...and going...and going

Happy Friday (well almost, 58 minutes to go! LOL!)

All is going well with Brown Gable....I tried it on tonite and still want about 2 more inches before the ribbing. Fingers crossed this weekend it'll be done..I am so done knitting this, I want something else to do..
;) Which..um..I have plenty to do thank you very much!

Take care everyone! :)

Terrific Tuesday!!

Well you can kind of tell by the title that I may be a little happy! And look below to see why!! :))))))))))))

See what happens when you decrease S-L-O-W-L-Y, as in 1 row every 6-8 rows...um..er..not every other row!

I am really happy and about 4-6 inches from the ribbing. I do want it to fall about hip level for me so it won't ride up and show..areas that do not need to see the light of day!! LOL! I am about to start and increase section for the lower waist/upper belly area. I am sure I'll try it on again, this next time with jeans. In the picture I pinned the undersides of the sleeves. Other than the slight rolling of the lace part which I hope can be blocked into submission. Not bad. I got this decrease/increase advice from the GGKAL, phew is all I can say.

It really looks not bad to me. I have learned a lot and will make another one, which I would love it to be long sleeved too. But I need to move on...sew much to do hehe!

Thank you everyone for your support. I did get a lot of good advice for future projects and even to start over. As you can see..um..not this one..it may not be perfect, but it is my first top down top and not the last...short rows may be in my future too! :)

I wanted to put it away, far, far away and forget about it. But I couldn't, didn't want to knit anything else, and I am sure not lacking for projects LOL! I wanted to conquer it...which reminds me of one of our fellow Knitwhits! She usually crochets and learned knitting years ago continental and is now relearning on the same basketweave baby blanket for weeks, frogged at least 10 times..we've all helped her, threatened to hide it on her, begged her to start something new (which she wouldn't) as we kept telling her, knitting should be fun and relaxing (yeah it can get a little hairy and stressful at times) but all in all, one should enjoy it (shouldn't they? ;) It was not going to get the best of her, she stated, she would conquer it no matter what...

You know what....I understand now why she is still trying to conquer it and couldn't do anything else...and I'll tell her my story so she can now pick on me... :)

Frogging and frogging and frogging

Ok, not the whole thing, but I feel like I've been treading water for a few days. I frogged back about 5 rows and was all ready to decrease. So I started decreasing....

On every other row for 10 total rows.....

Are you getting the picture...

Of what it would look like??

Toes.......

Yep, the sides of toes........

Nice job on them sides of toes, but I don't think my top was made to have little toes on the sides of them...kind of like jodhupers on the waist instead of the hips...

So, guess what...frogged again..it is in time out right now...darned brown gable....

So, don't know when it'll be finished. I need a break from it. I need to learn more on my sizing. How to fix it, sure wished I had a class I could go to. I've asked questions of experienced top knitters and trying to understand and use the help they are giving me. I am off to read the GG KAL blog for more ideas and maybe asking around there. But most people have been finished for so long, they don't ever come back. Yep, I am disappointed. I know I have to start somewhere to learn how to adapt to my um...chest...then re adapt to the rest of my torso. There always has to be a "first" test project. Just wished it wasn't this.

So I am going to knit on DD's socks, my one-skein knit project, and swatch for the ballet cami as I have the KP shine in the stash. But that probably won't fit either. Want to make this but there you go....sizing dilemma.....I mean what yarn can I use that won't cost me big $$$ I really like this pattern and do want it in a tweed too. But looking at it...wonder if I should bother..sizing...will I ever get it?? Certainly don't with sewing. Yes folks, even you recipients of my sewing skills...I cannot sew clothing for me.. pj pants, not a problem..tops, same problem there.

Off I go, bummed and wondering if I'll ever....get....it.....

Well, I can't give it up!!! I searched the GG KAL and found a decrease I think will work...so far have done 1 set and about to do another set. (with more than 1 row between them. hehe!) I will try it on after I finish and go from there. Yes I am going to finish it regardless. I need to learn to adapt patterns to myself and understand that not everything "works" the first time! And I do know that it may even be frogged, but I HAVE to finish. Only then will I find out if the shirt bunches up at the armpit, etc. Maybe I can get at least 1 picture before that happens...or find someone to wear it LOL! Thanks for listening!!

knitting, and knitting, and knitting!!

Yo! Turtlegirl!! I'm knitting as fast as I can!!! ;)

I think I am in need of some fast decreasing however!! I think it will be alright, looks a bit baggy in the armpit area, however, that still needs seaming and ribbing. I may frog back about 3-4 rows and start some decreases...not sure! I don't want it too tight, but if it does bloom..eeeek!
Any ideas, or do you need to see a better picture! I am knitting the XL, and according to the pattern would still need about 3 more inches before decreases are started. I didn't want to knit the L, but..um..maybe I should have for some negative ease??? I want to finish this already. The idea of reknitting in a smaller size.....well I am bored of it as it is....what to do????

thoughts...suggestions...anything.... :)

Another FO...and...KSKS!

Warning, picture heavy post! :)
First up is a hat and scarf in Lotus Pink....um....in my fav. wool! Any guesses what kind? hehe!The hat is the Dulaan Zud Hat and the scarf is garter stitch width-wise about 5" high and 150 or so stitches! Made for the cutest 11 yr old summer exchange visitor from Belarus. She was sponsored by the church of a coworker to visit for 6 weeks. She is so energetic and funny and loves the color pink. I was told it is very cold there and she has a family of 7 with her father working far away! So I thought, she needs a warm hat/scarf for the winter. Some of you may have seen the prior pointed hat picture in the first hat version. This one turned out a lot better and she loved it! Fits her perfectly!

I got home after running a few errands in the nice weather that we are having ;) to this package! It was from my KSKS pal Kelly! This swap consisted of sock yarn (of course!) a pattern(s), and a bag/tote that you had to make yourself! As you can see other various goodies were included! I've been wanting the Sensational Knitted Socks book for a while and even had it my my shopping cart from Amazon yesterday! But realized I had spent my allowance this paycheck, so quickly removed it. So glad I did! She even highlighted 2 types of patterns that can use for my yarn to showcase it! I also received a measuring tape, jelly bellies!! 2 hanks of gorgeous yarns and some chocolate mint tea! I love it all! Thanks again!

A close up of the booga bag made with Malabrigo in hollyhock and earth colorways! I saw this bag in progress from the swap blog and loved it. But I didn't want to get attached as I would see lovely bags and yarns all over and hope they were for me...so I would stop hoping and look what happened!

The cutest stitchmarkers! Today I got the 2 on the left-pink/white sheep. I got the black/pink ones as a thank you gift. From Pink Sheep, I now have my own flock of sheep! :)

This is the yarn, hand spun merino sock yarn from my pal! Isn't it gorgeous! Check out her blog, she does some beautiful spinning! This is what my yarn looked like before she spun it up. Spinning still amazes me. These puffs of quilt batting looking wools, etc. turn into lovely yarns. Spinning..a thing I'll do when I am retired and raising some sheep! ;)

This is superwash merino she also hand-dyed for me!

Whew, are you tired yet? I am! Well I am off to knit on my brown gable!!!! I just received the yarn for my KSKS pal and have to sew her bag this weekend. You see if I KNIT it, it would be like next year before she got it!...well I sew faster ;)! My SP participation is about to wind down! I have one more month of my CASP2 and One-skein to go! Whew, it was hard keeping them all straight! All of my SP's have been great! I am very lucky and thank you to all of them! :)

OSSP

I want to thank my OneSkeinSecretPal for my latest package! I was worried as the outside box was crushed! But she packed it so well, nothing was damaged! Phew!

The yarn was protected in this cute little takeout box! Great idea for packaging!

Also included are some notepads and magnets...now who doesn't always need these things around? :)

The yarn is Chinese Red Silk Haze from NuMei. It is so soft...It sits beside me and is petted often. Lovely!

Thank you again!!

question regarding wool fingering weight socks. I wore my sock garden sockettes today, was a tiny bit hot and my feet sweated a tiny bit...take them off, the bottoms are slightly felted. Does this happen with all 100% wool socks?? EEEK good thing I do all I can now to make sure I get superwash. All that work and they felt...urghhh!