WIP it OUT!

A prequel to tomorrows FYS!

Without further adieu... May I present...my WIP's...(please no applause until the end of the post ;) Thanks to Elspeth for this idea...stop by her place and check out more WIPer's!

My oldest WIP..deserves to be the first shown off! It is the Scoop du Jour from Chic Knits! Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Ice Blue. So far the back is complete...been that way...well since Sept.. 1/2 of one side done, and 4 rows of ribbing on the other....one day :) Just too much to knit.. I get distracted easy...see I should already be on the next picture..
My next oldest WIP...Fall 2005 IK Weekend Getaway Satchel...aka Mary Poppins Bag. This almost didn't happen...I was still a little new to knitting and thought all that $$, luckily I found good subs at Knitpicks and for about 1/2 off... My goal is to finish by the fall...hmmm.. You can see the back is finished...the front, on the needles is waiting for the first colors..intarsia..never tried it..like just jumping in headfirst don't I....

The rest are not in any chronological order..kind of mixed up actually...
Left- 1 finished Voodoo wristwarmer and one..well a couple of rows. Using DB Baby Cashmerino and Plassard lazer yarn. Will finish...soon ;)
Center- Start of one skein sockettes in KP's Sock Garden in Pansy..about 8 rows in, needed a little change..yeah right size US 1 needles...eek!
Right- 1 Neopolitan sock completed, one getting there! Yarn hand dyed by my friend Heather


Clapotis in Noro Silk Garden #87... I am making it scarf sized so will only do 5 total increase sections...hmmm 1 increase section completed :)


Kyoto For DD, in KP shine.. 4 rows done :) Not too bad yarn...just a little bit of a pain for me to keep the tension..


Left-Odessa. Using the recommended yarn... Rowan Cashsoft DK in Sage...sooo soft...and feels like I am knitting worsted...supposed to be finished by the 5th of April for the KAL...sockbug bit me bad...waiting for a needle..supposed to be here...so winging it so far with ML..Right-Yorick! I really tried to finish this by our XRay Technologist Week...1 side done...the other..sadly 2 rows..using Patons Classic Merino in Aran.



Noni Bag in Cascade 220 and Lamb's Pride (that felting combo should prove to be interesting...What can I say..I like a challenge :)
Look, I have casted on....

TEN!! People...that is 10 WIP's....not as bad as I thought...however...must finish these before anything else is casted on...I must....stay tuned for tomorrow...

ETA: Ahem....FYI there will be no frogging allowed! hehe so if some of ya were looking for a trade..sorry :) Not allowed to have startitis...for a while anyways!
Later this evening....Odessa was frogged...yes people..due to inability to chat at knit nite and count and yarn over..etc...so therefore, it will be on the needles afresh tomorrow...my new circ arrived today too :)

Just talking about....

um...er...SOCKS and look what happened to my the noodle part of my dinner!


I was on the Knittyboardstm discussing our sock addictions...whether it be collecting yarn, patterns, books, needles...and knitting them or not...well I got a little side tracked. The sizzling should have let me know...but this sock madness...almost claimed dinner...at at Chez Z...that is a bad, bad, thing ;) (well sometimes I can do 2 things at once!!)

I did rescue most of it...it is sitting in another pan oozing with butter, parsley, onions, and parmesan cheese, waiting to be eaten along with the rest of the dinner I can proudly say, survived :)

The pan is soaking as we speak...dunno if it'll ever be free of spaghetti!

Knitting news tomorrow... :)

I like buttons.... :)

The lovely Elspeth has challenged us to show our WIP's...the day before FYS! Whew what a lifesaver for me...won't bore you all with 1 big, heck of a big..who am I kidding, probably not as big as others...post on Saturday...WHEW! T-4 days and a few more hours hehe!

As for the two below...well yeah, I like the idea...have ordered the book and hope to put those lone skeins to either swap or good use...

On the knitting front...still socking along...waiting for a set of circs to finish Odessa...2 socks on the needles....ha..you'll see...just what I have in store for you on Friday people! Stay tuned or stay away LOL!!!!!

Thuja is finally

finished sock pair! DD is very happy with them! A little scratchy and she is modeling them over white sport socks too. Yikes, I can see what looks like laddering on the front, but it isn't. This yarn does not show good stitch definition either. One heel is correct, one is not, but I have learned so much from knitting these. As from my prior post, many more of these in the queue for myself, hubby and DD. Thanks to Jen who assured me I could make these when I was working on my first pair ever. :)

Thuja From Knittytm done in LB woolease, charcoal gray. Only 1 skein.


Sapphire wanted to get some attention and actually sat still for the picture.

So Phew! I have completed my March socks and hope to get the Neo sock part deux done too. Oh I almost forgot...I won the February drawing for completed socks at the Sock a month KAL. My yarn arrived yesterday from Abigail who generously donated the prize.


Gorgeous Mountain Colors HP Yarn in Wilderness...so my colors! hmm what will this become??? what socks?? (did you think I would knit something else? HA!

Thuja-ing along :)

Well, well, well....learn something new! As I was knitting the heel flap last night on my 2nd Thuja sock...I was wondering why it wasn't as tight and thick (and driving me crazy to knit) as the 1st one was... Well I figured it out!! I was supposed to only Slip the 1st stitch of the purl row!!!! I was doing Sl 1 and P 1 the entire row!!! Why..I will never know!! GRR...maybe that's why it didn't fit my poor hubby. Daughter is very happy, she's still getting them!



Hubby has requested a pair the same gray color about 2 inches longer in the leg section. So I think I can do that ;) I will know this pattern by heart after his gray pair, DD's 2 pairs (blue & black) and hopefully mine out of this colorway.

Well off to knit about 4 more rows before the toe shaping!! Then Thuja, part I will be finished!

May I present....

My Neopolitan sock! Yarn hand dyed by my friend Heather! Who also saved me from myself for sure!! As you know from the prior post, I frogged the toe, and had to add about 2 1/2 more inches..I didn't think I had big feet LOL! I love them, and thanks to Yoshimi I understand ML and can do it so much better! Pattern is a 2 x 2 ribbed cuff and forefoot from the Greeneyed grrl. It was my first sock pattern I had found way before I even realized I would even try to make them. A pretty easy pattern, just got to remember all feet are different lengths.

ETA:Looking closely again at the toe, I added wooly nylon as a reinforcement thread...I forgot to do the heel, and will add to my 2nd sock too. It'll be interesting to see if it helps on the wear.

So I casted on for the second sock already :), however, also casted on for my second Thuja sock too...decided to knit that first, I needed a break from sized 2 needles...ha! Now knitting on size 6 and they feel like logs compared to the 2's...who knows, I could have 2 pairs done for my Sock a month KAL....

Which brings me to...yeah I joined another KAL...only for a short time. Its the Don't come a knockin' KAL for the Socks that Rock yarn...
This yarn is very soft and I love the colorway (which is brand new, not yet released to the public) and a pattern...which I will need tons of help on...picot edge...yikes... just 1 step at a time...

Even another sock KAL with a lot of the peeps at the Knittyboardstm! I love KALS! can you tell ;)

My name is Zonda and I have a sock yarn addiction...I haven't met a sock yarn I didn't like......yet ;)

Like DUH!!

Having a duh! Day here at chez Z! I was so bummed last nite when I finished my ribbed neopolitan sock. It was too small!!! Luckily, I didn't finish it off....and my good friend Heather (the yarn's dyer Momma) told me...just frog the toe and make the foot longer! Thank you Heather for saving me from myself!

Hits self in head*** like DUH! I said to myself!! Who says you "have" to follow the darned pattern! Not everyone's feet are the same length...I almost threw the pattern away too! hehe..

So guess what I am off to do tonite........

Happy St. Patricks Day!

I found this on my doorstep today after a busy and tiring day at work..When one does their own job and is now learning how to do supply (we are talking about a large medical center Radiology department here!) WHEW! I'll be filling in with a coworker for 3 months while the supply guy is recuping from major surgery...he's the brawn & muscles..I am the brain...well except when he is out, then I am both...yikes! Okay, enough of that! That's not what you want to know about!

My Knittytm SP6 is the most awesomest person! I was in awe of my last package and now this.I am a person who loves to give more than to receive...can't help it..it is in my genes...It is a theme package for..well guess what today is!

A cute St. Paddy's day card!! Some Sewing themed note cards, sticky notes, emergency eyeglass case, candle, green/white cascade wool :) and 2 of these: (hey, not a bad hands behind the head shot huh? HEHE, won't tell you how many pics it took to do that! LOL!

So since I wear scrubs at work...well this will work and I won't get pinched all day. These stitchmarkers are awesome, my favorite collectibles..see..shoes...tiny rings...socks!! WHEE! THANK YOU!

F....is for....

Forsythia-a shrub with yellow bell shaped flowers that blooms in the Spring!...hmmm March 15...Spring???

I am particularly proud of this forsythia and if you look at the one on the right, far behind near the house, it's Mommy! Folks I have no green thumb! The one next to the house started as a clipping from MIL! The one you see now (up close left and full size right) is the result of a baby clipping....I literally stuck the clipping in a hole, watered...that was it.

Not too bad! For an ungreenthumby person ;)

My SP and some knitterly things

Well my KnittySP6 is awesome! She is a barrel of laughs...and I really thought she had pulled one over on me today! I was emailed the UPS tracking # and hadn't checked it until today when it wasn't on my doorstep upon arrival at home. It said...on the truck..called and spoke to a person...they said...on the truck..but I saw the words "reschedule" so I was a little nervous...Nice UPS lady said, they work until 7 pm...ok..so wait...5:30..nothing...6:00..nothing...6:30...nothing, panicking..wondered if neighbor or someone else got it..knew I couldn't check online for a few hours...(are you bored yet?) LOL!

So at 6:45 pm, I hear the truck..the man in brown has arrived. Now I don't want to look too eager..so I finish getting my dinner..he finally pops out of the truck and ...is rolling a car tire...YESSIREE a car tire! I thought..hmmm she has a really good sense of humor...YIKES! So he checked address, not the right one, phew! (now if it would have fit my vehicle..well....)He says, sorry! Bye....

I said, wait a minute..you HAVE a box on there for me..it says so online!!! He goes back in..minutes tick by...out he comes with a box with a fan on the outside! I am so happy to see the box I don't notice the fan..hmmm..ok..a little heavy though! So I commence to opening the box...and as you can see below..no fan...and no tire either! ;)

A really cool cast iron Sewing machine to add to my collection :)! 2 prs of socks ;), Bags, a Knitters dozen (cool ideas for my wool in there!), purse handles, beaded ribbon for bling on a purse, a mouse pad, lint roller (to go in my car!) bag of assorted clips (so needed!) 3 skeins of Noro Silk garden in purples..yummy(disguised in cookie tin and I did get a tin of real cookies too!) and a cool blue tube bag that is in use as we speak!! My card is so funny...from the Pickle Factory..."And your Secret Pal is.....you didn't really think I would tell you this soon did ya?

Well SP you are awesome! I love my goodies, even the excitement that went with getting them ;) Can't wait...1 more month to find out who you truly are!

Well the sock is going well! On the gusset and using a combo of ML and DPN's...yeah weird I know, but the cuff for me is easier on ML and the rest is easier on DPN's...until I get to my class this weekend...My closest LYS is having a sock class; 2 circs...it is 1 hr away...but you know it is something I want to learn better and quicker..and you know I have learned sewing, knitting and most of my quilting online or by books..sometimes it is nice to go to a class...it is 3 weeks long and I am on/call all those 3 weeks...please pager..do not go off!!

Kyoto (the sash, knit in the round)...I curse you...well I did last nite!! Attempted to cast on longtail (my fav. way!) 170 stitches...ran out of yarn, so tried to knit the last 30 on...harmph! wayy too tight! Frog and wait to get home to get larger needles...cast on..a little too much left over...cut and count...fall asleep for about an hour, needle by my side (told ya, sometimes my knitting puts me to sleep!) recounted, was good...Row 1 of pattern MC...seed stitch...cool..I can do that...start w/K end w/K...should have clued me in!! Row 2 CC, get halfway around...notice that my stitches are twisted...Now I know they weren't like that before!!! Lay it down..check again..yep...1st time ever!!!! FROGGGGGED! Put that cursed skein away to use at end if needed!!!!!!!!! Try new skein today...CO 170 w/little leftover...count 4 times before I get it right...knit 1 row...VBG! NO TWIST...put away for another day, I am wore out on this baby! (Being knit with knitpicks shine, which compared to wool, nice but like string...)

I'll sign off for now! Hope you all had an interesting day too! :)

E is for..... and a few Misc. things :)

Elastic! Many sizes, colors, and shapes...even clear. Before the knitting bug hit me very hard, I sewed and quilted more...everything from pj pants, boxers, scrub tops/hats, to quilts. So you always need various sizes/kinds of elastic. The hair ones are for scrunchies, when I feel like making them! E was kind of hard to think of something..original..creative...etc...


Onto the Misc. things! Thuja sock 1 has a new owner, my darling daughter, fits her perfectly and she has requested the other sock (the nerve) and out of yarn I have on hand (has to be worsted) black in Cascade superwash...



Ok for some eye catching colors! My friend
Heather dyed this fabulous colorway I got like 2 seconds after she posted it here! She has been patiently waiting to see what it would look like knit up...Well Heather, wait no more! :) I love this, it makes me drool knitting with it whenever a new color comes up..I can just taste the ice cream...waaaaa!

Ta Da!! oh yeah and a minor vent ;)

May I present....Milky Way! It is still floppier than I wanted...so this weekend I think it'll be taking a few more hot baths! I used Lambs Pride Worsted, in Chocolate souffle (chocolate of course ;)2 1/2 skeins(thank you Shelagh for rescuing me ;), Aran (nougat)- 1/2 to 2/3 skein, Wild Oak (Caramelllll, yummmy)- 1 1/2 skeins

Click on the picture to see up close the sides of the bag and handles. Since this was stockinette stitch, the sides of the handle and bag did curl as expected...I was a little worried about it..However, if you look, it is like I-cord, a neat design feature for sure...I like it :)


Remember you too can knit your own version of this bag!

See this!!! down here!!! It's Thuja sock 1....made in woolease for hubby...I am venting my spleen as it does not fit him whatsoeva!!!! He has high instep/arches, won't go over them at all!!! UGH! So I told him not to ever expect socks from me (unless someone knows of a high instep pattern)...you know he didn't mind..I don't think he really wanted them anyways... :(. He supports me don't get me wrong, other than a scarf or maybe a hat, has no desire for knitted items..which is ok with me..more for me. And since we don't live in a cold climate, no sweaters for hotblooded him anyways!

I am only mad cause I have way too pretty yarns to be making socks for me and DD...so I will finish this one..yes I will...as for sock 2..hahaha...maybe later, yes folks this sock will suffer SSS...for a bit anyways! BTW I love this pattern, and have pink and black cascade superwash waiting to be knit in this.



To end on a happy note...another Dulaan hat made with the leftover orange LP bulky, Patons Divine in Floral Fantasy, and double Patons Classical Wool in Thats Pink. As usual, DD is my model ;)

Good nite :)

Still drying

Yes, Milky Way is still drying. A little more tugs and twists, and hoping it will be done by tomorrow...please!!! I am not sure if I felted it enough to stand on its own...so it may go back to the washer.

I am swatching River and Grass in this yarn..well the river anyways! :) I am making Kyoto for my daughter. The main part will be Grass, and River the band.

Let me tell you, after knitting with worsted, doubled and tripled yarns...this is like knitting with string!!! It is very soft and I like it, just so weird to get used to. I will see after I wash the swatch, as it seems like I am knitting too loose.

No progress today on the Thuja sock...had to rest a bit today, my late nites were catching up with me...so I'm just swatching and catching up on Alias episodes... Almost caught up on Lost...I love my DVR for sure :)

Thanks everyone for your nice comments on Milky Way :)

In a felted state.....

I present Milky Way, pre and post felted...er..should I say blocking.



Don't you love my blocking technique! hehe, 1st time it was a little boxy but after glancing again at the pattern courtesy of The Brown Sheep, I made the sides a little softer. Mostly dry now, mainly just the base. I have the perfect button for closure..but guess what..I didn't make anything to close it with...hmmm. Might be doing a quick icord..not sure yet. 3 trips through the front loader...did I say I really hate my front loader at times like this! Yeah, yeah, supposed to save energy, but just a minor pain when you have to shut it off, wait for the door to unlock...yada yada..

LP sure is hairy...I know what people mean now! LOL! There is still some stitch definition, barely on the colors. The creme(aran) did fairly well, more SD then the others but from what I hear, those colors usually don't felt as well. Overall, I am happy with it, it still may make another trip through the washer...we shall see.

Interesting story on the dreaded K stitch...attempt 1--3 stitches and didn't pull tight enough...little bump on the outside..frog..
Attempt 2- ahhh finished, looks not bad if I say so myself....take a look...strap is twisted I know I double checked that!!!
Attempt 3- now almost finished, not as good as the second attempt...have 4 extra stitches...??????????? by this time fed up...double up a couple of stitches and call it a day..I mean it is going to be felted....Progress now: just fine :) PHEW!

Blogger was having hiccups last nite, so I am up early today hoping to get this in...whew..so far...

In other progress: another Dulaan hat with leftover yarns; Thuja sock plugging along (had another minor stitch issue, but taken care of with ease..Stay tuned :)

The neverending strap!

I have been knitting my strap for my Milky Way Bag...that is it's nickname from me. Hopefully it will be done by tomorrow because there it just too much knitting to be done and I want to do it all!! WAAAAA! Liz at the Behind the Times Along is starting her Ribby Cardi, and I want to too....but I really gotta finish some of the following:

Milky Way bag-strap is 2/3rds done and to be felted
Clapotis-4 more increase rows..and scarf sized only...whew
Odessa-at least 1, beads on 2 yarns right now.
Thuja Socks-turning heel on sock 1-(need to finish before 31 Mar for Sock KAL)
Dulaan hat (1/2 through hat #3)(that'll be 2 this week :)
voodoo wrist warmer-the second one...suffered SWW syndrome :)
Start on the instarsia front of Weekend Getaway Satchel--
Noni bag-have everything to start...but time :(

Must swatch for:
Kyoto for DD
Ribbi Cardi for me

WIP's to get done sometime....

Yorick-1st half of scarf done, started on second skull
Weekend Getaway Satchel-back is only part done
Scoop du Jour-back done, fronts started, sleeves in dreamland
Twist-swatch done...got gauge :) yippee
Socks, Socks, and More Socks. And way too many other things in the queue to even mention!! hehe

So sorry no pics...gotta go knit and maybe pics tomorrow ;)

Lookee what the UPS person brought....

I saw this on my doorstep this evening and couldn't be more happier...unfortunately I had 2 totebags to make, so I didn't get to knit this evening :(
I am so thrilled with Kaleidoscope Yarns! I emailed them early Monday morning with my woe of no more yarn. They responded quickly and had enough in stock. I immediately placed the order and voila...you can see below...caramel has entered the building! So I hope to finish my bag by this weekend! Only 1 week late...oh well..




My second pair of socks is going great! The Thuja socks from Knittytm are going well as you can see below! I really like this pattern and with worsted weight (using woolease in charcoal gray I think) goes pretty fast. I have about 3 rows to the heel flap. I have been eyeing the artyarns supermerino...but I have been behaving and not getting it. I have black and pink in cascade superwash to use first.
Doesn't it look cute posing amidst the pear blossoms...yeah, just what I needed to do...pose my knitting by one of the sources of my allergies...so smart huh! (smacks head with hand!) Our poor confused pear tree and other foliage...they have no idea the cold snap about to arrive!

Lastly, I need some advice on this: Remind me to get the pattern before I get the yarn! I really wanted to use LP for it, but only got 1 skein of lime and had 2 skeins of lotus pink already. Something told me when I got my wild oak LP to order the cotton candy cascade as I have been wanting it, but it was always out of stock somewhere. Then I saw the granny smith color..so to make a very long story short. The yarn is to be doubled, and I will need 2 skeins of the cotton candy and granny smith each (say goodbye to limeade)I also got the victorian pink LP to use...but I don't know. I am thinking using the cascade yarns and the lotus pink...what do you think?
ETA: The Lotus pink is on the left in a yarn cake :)


Gotta go to bed! Nite!