Hello YPF! Part Deux-The FO files

Yeah!!! An FO! I am so happy! It is a great pattern and easy to do IMHO. I had a few problems with forgetting the some last decreases in a few of the repeats of sock 1, but by sock 2 I was cruisin'.


Monkey Socks from Knitty.com
Hello Yarn Fat Sock in Sandcastles
US 2 Brittany DPN's
The only mods to the pattern were using sportweight yarn and I knit 4 plain stockinette rows before the toe decreases as they weren't quite long enough and I didn't want to start another pattern repeat.

I just love this yarn, it survived quite a bit of frogging on sock 1, as I said above the missed decreases. Not hardly splitty at all. So soft and look at the colors, hardly any pooling and pretty well distributed. Now don't get me wrong I do love the looks of pooling yarns, but sometimes it's nice to have it all mixed in so to speak.

A close up of the pattern repeats.



In profile!



Ahhhh...Stockinette.......

These count for my Socktopia "It's Not Easy Being Green" and Sock a Month KAL March entries. Also the Green Sock KAL

Onward to more socks, sweaters, etc.!

Hello YPF!

Hi! Happy Friday or should I say...Happy Hello Yarn Pr0n Friday!!



I present the Fat Sock in Sandcastles Colorway!

Fat Sock is Hello Yarns Sportweight 100% Superwash Merino and it is fabulous to knit with!! Not splitty at and and frogs very well! Ask me later how I know!!


I just love these colors!! It is so soft, very similar feeling to Koigu (but I haven't knit with that yet so I can't comment on how it knits) but this is just so squishy and fab!







Hoping to post the FO from this fabulous yarn later today! Oh and I already have another 2 skeins coming. Being sportweight you need the 2 skeins!

oh and pssst. This colorway is not available, sorry, I got this early in the fall! But you can check out her other fabulous colorways! I love Indie dyers!

Changes.....

As they say, life is on going, changing, etc...and so on! I was thinking today of just how much it has changed over the last month.....and only 1 thing happened.

For 17 years, (eeek that long!) my son has been dropped off in the morning and picked up in the evening by either my hubby or myself. The last 12 yrs Daddy has done the AM drops as he works close by the schools he's attended, since both schools (private elementary & High School) have no buses. The High school is a school of choice and not in our school "zone" we have to drop him off...no problem as it is a great school, college prep, etc. I usually did the afternoon pick ups of both children. His grandparents did the afternoon pick ups in HS from his freshman year until.......1 month ago.

You see (well if the insurance bill hike comments didn't tell you) he is driving to and from school now. So far he's been doing well (hope it continues) and let me tell you....just being able to "come" home for the first time in 17 years, right after work is amazing...Hubby picks up DD almost every day as it's close to his work. Talk about gas savings! I can go much longer on a tank of gas then ever before! Which now a days is perfect!

So I am "free" now..."free" to just come home......just this evening, I got home, did a few dishes that were hanging around, prepped for dinner, vacuumed, did some laundry, dusted, finished cooking dinner, tidied around a bit...and all done before 6:30.

Before, I would have to rush to pick up children (at one time they were at 2 different places), try to fit in an errand or two, hang out in lovely traffic, and hope dinner would somehow magically get on the table by 6:30...all the other stuff I can fit in now..well would wait until the weekend or later in the evening....if I got to it at all. No wonder I hated the weekends...all I did was clean....etc.

And knitting/sewing...no wonder it took forever to crank out those sewing and knitting projects..I should have a ton to show you...but I'm still getting used to this new freedom. Yeah I should be going to the gym, but you know what, it is just so nice to be able to have my family come home and dinner is usually ready. Not hearing..is it time yet, when is it going to be ready I'm starrrrving....I just smile and there it is. (there are days when we still get take out, and days when I run an errand and dinner is at 6:30 or later.....I'm not that perfect ;) and I don't want to be.

I don't feel rushed...I feel a bit of peace, it could possibly be that I am not fighting the traffic everyday. I don't live in a big city, just a place where people come from all over and "think" they know how to drive! Now if they would learn that green means go, not go slow, we'd all get somewhere around here! ;)

For all of you who still are dropping off/picking up family and "rush" to get dinner and all else done, hang in there!! Your turn will come too!!

My Monkey socks are hanging in there...I just wanna be done...I've been a good girl and have only alternated knitting secret project and these for the last week...I wanna swatch...

(pssst...did you hear that..I said I wanna s****ch???) See what some changes will do to ya!! ;)

YPF.....

Amazing colors no?



Ready for your close up???




Blue Moon Fiber Arts Sock Candy
76% Cotton, 4% Elite (elastic) Similar to Cascade Fixation and Elann Esprit
Henpecked Colorway
Love it! I have another colorway in this yarn...for a future YPF, you know summer around here, the Sock Candy's will be turning into some summer socks!


Onto.........

One of my most favorite colors and the hardest often to capture.


Louet Gems in Cherry Red, fingering weight. These are destined to become a Cookie A. sock pattern...which one..hard to choose! :)





Another favorite color of mine!




Doesn't that look soft and squishy?? It sure feels it!





This skein captures the colors a bit better.
Tess Designer Yarn (from Maine!)
Supersocks and baby
80% Wool, 20% Nylon.
So soft and green!


YPF Courtesy of Carrieknits! She was my Summer Fiber Fling SP this year...a very sneaky woman too! She went to Stitches West and kept an eye out for a few yarns I had wanted and scored these for our swap!

It is so awesome to have knitter friends from all over the world to swap with. (well only US/Canada/UK so far) Great way to try new/hard to find yarns and *ahem* certain cakes, chocolates, etc. all the while plying them with yarns/fabric/foodies/etc. from your corner of the world. Secret Pals are fun too...but swapping is even better! :)

Wednesday WIP

Hi! So here I sit, knitting away on what you see below and importing some CD's into my eyetunes! I had to start a new account and even though I had my precious backup disk...sadly, it can't be used for my ipod anymore. You see, we didn't realize when we updated DD's computer, that was it. Only allowed on 1 computer...sigh..oh well, not like I had more than 50 songs I paid for...I can still play the CD though, so not a total loss. (I knew I should have made a new account for her from the get go....warning to multiple ipod users on 1 computer!) Ok enough, I'm sure you're all sick of this stuff...But..consider this a PSA hehe!

I am loving this Monkey sock!!! I have finally "gotten" in the grove with the repeat pattern. I musta been overly tired last week, it would take me forever and a day to do a repeat. I'm hoping to be done with this bugger by tomorrow and starting sock 2. It is cast on already and in the project bag awaiting it's turn with my lovely fingers! Ohhh lucky sock! ;)



I tried it on and OMG! It fits...so well! I think I've found my needle size for Sportweight (yay! my favorite weight sock yarn-I still use fingering, just a happy preference.)...US 2 or according to my Brittany dpn's 2.75 mm! Either that or it is a fake out due to the pattern. So, seeing that I am on the foot portion I thought I could use ML to go faster! Well..my only free US 2 circ is really a 3.0...I know this happens a lot, but I am liking the fabric the stockinette stitches is making so I trudge on with dpn's.

See what happens when you are a smartypants (or you think you are!) and "learn" too many ways to knit a sock.... (and you have more than 1 sock OTN --bad girl!) you have to suck it up and drive on, cause I am sure not removing any needles....

Sock 2 coming this weekend......if it doesn't get too nice out and I have a sudden wild hair to actually go outside and weed a flower bed or two and possible try to plant something that might actually live in this hot as he!! so sunny place! :( I know I shouldn't complain, but The weather here is 70-80 one day and 40-50 or so the next. I know some of you in the "snow/colder" areas would love to throw a snowball at me, sorry, but sigh...I am a New Englander...it's in my blood and getting hot weather in March just kills me! I will return home one day, crazy as people think I am for "wanting" to go to a colder climate to retire. I just want 4 seasons.....4 separate seasons...not hot/cold/hot/cold/hot. I want my wood stove...I want to ski again....



See, my poor Bradford Pear tree...didn't even get to see full bloom (see something I planted all by myself..it still lives!) It's confused too!

I stole this from Trillian who got it via Ali. What Goddess are you? Hehe...mine is pretty interesting and I've heard tell a certain friend is the same!

You Are Psyche!

Eternally in search of purpose and insight. You're curious and creative with a total sense of wonder. Totally empathetic, you pick up on other's moods easily. Just be sure to pamper yourself as well!

What Goddess Are You?

It's not easy being green.........and a rant!

(remember a song with that saying? anyone?)

Anyhow, Happy Belated St. Patty's day!

I've been trying to post all day..grrrr...but I have finally fixed the ISP problems myself thankyouverymuchservicepersonwhodidnotshowyesterday!!! Yes folks, no show, no call and I took an afternoon off from work. When we called the *&^^##@ company the first time I was told it was being worked on..well kinda funny cause the person is not here...then I was told it was starting at the company, then they worked back checking the line to your house...ok I said...kinda funny as the problem is with the new router...doesn't like something here, but the line works, it was pinged from the company yesterday...

(long story short) I fix the problem and get the mail M*N provider installed and can now access the internet via my computer and it's been pretty reliable so far...have downloaded new photo editing program that was included in the new computer...I LOVE IT!!! We uninstalled the new router and are still using the old router until the 29th...cause guess what happens then...noshow company is losing us baybee we are so done with you!...here we come digital phone and faster high speed internet! (ps. this wasn't the only problems over the last 4 yrs, just the last straw!)


So you wanna see what the green is all about??? Do ya?


My current WIP's: Top-L-R: Baby Sock in BS Alpaca and Monkey Sock in the Sandcastles Fat Sock colorway from Hello Yarn. I love knitting with this yarn...more deets on that when finished. I just need to remember to decrease...on both sides..I've frogged on every repeat due to forgetting one of the decreases and kept having 18 stitches instead of 16.

On the bottom is the back of my Everyday Cardigan in Peace Fleece Hemlock. I needed a good mindless project with not much to pay attention to...in between those two socks up there!

Thanks for listening! So glad to be typing on a larger keyboard for sure!

Yalpaca Pr0n Friday

Today's pr0n is brought to you via Acorn Street Shop in Seattle. A really neat store, with a whole wall of WOOL!! Cascade, Lopi, and tons of others. They sure had a ton of yarn in that small store, again some I've never seen IRL. Very friendly and helpful staff.

I really loved the hat so I got the pattern first, then the yarn (I told you real helpful staff :)
No name, but more of a denim blue color. When I got home I remembered this yarn will work well also. After that, I'll double or triple strand yarns if I make anymore.




See here, you can tell it is more denimy...


Soooo very soft too!



Who wouldn't love a blanket in this...but then who could afford to!! Yikes!!

This post was an interesting mix of computerness...We finally received our new computer..Yay..kind of..it has no photoediting software so I had to upload to laptop then to flickr. I have to move what is on hubby's laptop. We are having internet/dsl issues with the new one and had to so far upgrade a router. Still with ISP problems so service person to visit tomorrow. I am posting this via IE, which for some reason is working on new pc..then it doesn't....then it does.....

I am loving not typing on a laptop though, especially since hubby has a long paper for me to do this weekend. See, 20+yrs later and I still am typing for goodies. In the *cough* days before word processors and computers, but thankfully electric typewriters, I used to type papers for fellow students. Sometimes I got cash, sometimes I got a certain brown bottle that starts with a K and ends with an A, sometimes other goodies. Fast forward 20+ years and I'm still doing someones papers. But what do they call it now...not typing..inputting, computering. Heck I keep calling the ENTER key RETURN...LOL, my kids look at me like I'm clueless...what the heck is a RETURN key???? DS loves to also remind me how "big" computers were back then...hmmm

Kitty & Trip Pr0n

Here's some Sapphire Pr0n to get you by until I have something more blog worthy and I recover from getting our new 6 month car insurance policy....2 adults, 1 17y/o son.....gahhhhh!!!

She loves boxes! Particularly this one from my friend Charlotte. If I try to open the darn thing, I get quite the stare and whining sound...geesh it's my stuff!!




Skyline of Seattle from the Bainbridge Ferry! It was fun, I stayed outside for a little bit, loving the cold....well for a little bit ;)


I think this is Bainbridge Island, from the front of the ferry (someone correct me if I'm wrong)!
Thanks Ana-this picture is of West Seattle/Alki Beach
I visited Churchmouse Yarn & Teas, while walking around on the island. Very nice store, packed with a lot of yarn. Yarns I've only seen online. I walked around a bit fondling and sniffing (well discretely ;). They have a great variety there and I behaved, only some Koigu and Cascade Sierra for Sizzle...or Green Gable (yet again!)...or.....

These are the only 2 pictures from the trip...bad blogger....My camera is nice, but soooo bulky and heavy to carry around...so I didn't.

Well off to check out car insurance rates.....I thought I had the lowest one...sigh...well it was pretty low until a handsome 17 y/o wanted to start driving.......how do people with like 2 kids at a time driving do it!!! Guess they don't have food yarn to buy huh? :)

I'm back! Just in time for....

YPF! Presenting Mmmmmalabrigo in the Col China Colorway...




As you can see, it's in skein and cake form. I love this colorway as it reminds me of Macintosh apples...and I love them. I only wished it had more of the green in it! I first saw this colorway at LadyLungdoc's blog and I wasn't sure it was the same one, but I got it anyways! (side note, we both had the same lovely Yarnit for CASP's! :)

What's this below...well a real outdoor picture of the colorway knitted up...seed stitch even...



It's Le' Slouch from Knit and Tonic! I love the swirly action on the ribbing. EEK, just noticed the hole in the top...that'll be a quick fix! You can see how the difference in lighting makes the colors look.



I chose to do the seed stitch pattern and it was pretty easy to do! About 1/2 way through it was much better to knit after I got US 9 x 16" gray Inox circs to do it! (Thank you Weaving Works! more on that later!) I didn't enjoy knitting it on dpns...sometimes I'm weird that way! ;)


Please excuse the no make-up, recovering from jetlag and time change look!


Non-Slouch???? Well as you can see, it doesn't slouch as much as Wendy's does, but I do like it and will wear it. I started this a few days before I left for Seattle, thinking I'd need and finish it in time! Here I go thinking I am a super, speedy fast knitter!


Heh! Finished it on the plane returning home Wednesday! I did knit it to the length suggested in the pattern, but I do knit tight and no I didn't do a gauge swatch....it's a hat people! Those who know I hate doing them, and since it wasn't Fair Isle or a more intricate type pattern I resisted. I figured if I hated it, or it didn't fit, I'd give it away or frog it! DD hated it, but it looked so cute on her.


This is what is leftover and I do have another skein of it too! Well, that skein does have 2" of a neckwarmer knit, which will be promptly frogged when it gets here...yeah, overpacking me had to send a box home. And no, not full of yarn LOL, I wish!

Seattle was fun and more on that another day...now to get back to EST only to have to Spring ahead this weekend! Will be catching up on all of you too! :) So much happens when I'm gone..

Also since I've been gone, my friend Heather from All Things Heather is doing a fundraiser for her daughter's sister school in Africa to buy books. Well, since I've not been able to post about it, she's raised over $2,000 and will be also donating books to local Literacy campaigns in her area. If you can, go donate either way you can! Thanks!