Care for a bowl of......

Ice Cream...Neapolitan to be exact :)

Vesper Sock Yarn a gift from Cristi when we met for the first time..yeah..like over a year ago. I likey marinating the sock yarn stash :) This was my favorite ice cream growing up. They didn't have all the fancy ice creams like they do now. Um..I remember when cookies and cream came out during freshman year at college...yeah, the freshman 15 plus LOL!


Neapolitan Colorway
100% Merino
Started August 07-Finished March 08
Generic 64 stitch Stockinette Stitch socks
US 2 Inox, Magic Loop
Short row heels
Stretchy bind off, which BTW, worked much better this time than the first time. From Weebleknits, using Denise's version from Socknitters (hey just giving credit links). This is the best one I've used.




Ahhhh self-stripey goodness! Need to cast on another SS pair, wonder what color I'll use...seriously? hehe

Heels didn't match, but it's ok with me! Don't wait so long between heels! I was trying to remember how many wrapped stitches. I did ok, and they fit perfectly...so warm and soft. These were my in the car, doc. appointment, etc. socks, but I just wanted a WIP done..YKWIM! I'm proud of myself, as Saturday, I stopped sewing and just worked on sock 2 which I had just finished the SRH. I finally could knit without looking and finished them last nite, and did the bindoff this morning. A miracle for me! Woot!

I've heard a lot of different opinions of Vesper sock yarn. This is from a while back and it isn't superwash, just 100% merino, no nylon either, but I love them. So warm and cuddly on a rainy day like today. Hehe..yeah for the rain, will make weeding this week soooo much easier! :)

YPF-'tini Sport Edition

Yarntini Sportweight
Cosmopolitan Colorway (would love one of those right now LOL)
Variegated
260 yds

I love all these colors, great to have them together...

Very hard to get yarn. Most sites almost crash when the word is out. This I got...gosh, months ago from their site.

I had another post, but I truly did a photo dis-service to it, no amount of tweaking could fix it, after I posted..well..ugh..next week for that retake!

Not much going on here..well, lots of sewing and extreme sock knitting...sigh..always the end of the month for me!!

*****Enabling alert!
ETA: Just saw Woolgirl's blog. She's getting in some Pink Kitty in the next few weeks, FYI for those of you that wondered how to get it.
/end enabling/ hehe..

The Traveller...

Made with the help of a customer that wanted a specific needle case similar to my retrofitted one. I think this is perfect for a traveling case for the knitter who already has specific needle cases (or other storage media) for each type of needle, and just wants to take a few of each type with them. So after a bit of thinking on how to easily sew the sections and reversing the pocket, I think I like it.

Introducing the Traveller from JaneZ Place!


As you can see, straights, dpn's and circs. Can also be used for taking a few of your interchangeables with you if you want.



More pictures here if you want to look. The straight needle length was about 10".

It's full, but not much bigger than the other cases. So if you are interested, just email me or convo me at Etsy. I run about a week or so out with custom orders. Which..eek, off to finish a couple more!

Ok, trying to come up with a new label, and keep costs low. I made the background out my banner from the shop, but I can't add the wording...at least with my computer lack of knowledge. I had DD freehand a page of them (iron on fabric) but would love to know how to add it or if someone can fix this for me. I have them saved as a word document.
ETA: thanks, all set now! :)



Finally, via Ravelry's Etsy forum, I found these cool knitting gadgets. I don't normally go wild over these types of gadgets, and you know I hate to swatch, but saw these and had them customized for me.


By Karatstix. Check out the other stuff she sells. Laser carved and made of very strong bamboo, I love bamboo..um..have something to show you later this week...gotta finish another something first so I can have more to report on..enough mystery for you ;)

Creatively YPF

You see, sometimes I sew for yarn. Carrie was wanting a new box bag for her new purse, and since she was going to Stitches..um..er..we kinda had a swap!


Creatively Dyed
Topaz Sock -- 250 yds of Sportweight baybee!!

Grapey Green--well that's my name for it, as there isn't one on the band.


Gorgeous colors and about time I got some purple in the stash huh! I met her at SAFF, and so did not see any colors like this or this yarn there, trust me, some would have come home with me!



This is so soft too.. Geesh, I think I may need to quit YPF's!! I keep wanting to knit it all at once, and it all has it's place in the queue....sigh!

WIP's & 1/2 FO's

Hiya! Well, since I'm a bit behind in posting ...hereya go!

Here's a pair of mis-matched WIP's:
To the left--Lucky 7 Hat by Weezalana using Paton's Merino Tweed; to the right Better Bucket Hat in 100% Purewool Poison (Malabrigo's cheaper cousin ;) I'm knitting this hat along with my pal NC Christine (hehe should I say forcing her to do it, our first crocheted provisional cast on using the working yarn and hook, how I first saw Pam use it at SAFF to cast on like 300 plus stitches) The pinkish looking yarn is the Poison and the blue is the provisional cast on.

Now for the 1/2 FO's

Ice Cream Socks in Vesper Sock Yarn 1 down, 1 toe to go! How fast can I knit a sock...hmm...12 days left to the month, and considering Sock 1 has been in progress since..like..um..June/July..It has been rescued from being car/apppointment/waiting for the girl socks to hey, let's just get em done!

Oh, and what has been sucking up all my time besides one very sick hubby. (ETA: flu has finally left the building!!!)

Freakin' Finally, TD body is done, 3" shorter than pattern says...why, no clue, but it's not blocked yet and geesh, that skirt is 83 rows and since I knit 14 of them twice, I'd say it was 97 rows on there! In it's not blocked state, and about to get the collar stitches picked up. And another thing, you see others may have knit this using size 10 needles. Well, my darn gauge was acheived using size 8's!!!!!!


To ensure no Second Sleeve Syndrome (which is the cousin to the dreaded Second Sock Syndrome) I'm knitting them 2 at a time. Yes, the tiny bit of tangling is a pain but trust me, I've got like 2 more winter sweaters waiting to be knit....I've only swatched both of them, and have not cast on..staying true to TD and it better fit!

YPF-The PK version

Meet Pink Kitty....


Zen Yarn Garden Sea Yarn
70% Superwash Merino
30% Seacell
375 yds




This is the first time I've seen seacell yarn close up. Should be fun to knit with, it seems pretty soft. I was lucky to get this in a recent swap, so not sure if it is an available colorway...which I'm sure you all are glad for not enabling you in any way ;)

Sorry no WIP's posted for yesterday, darned DST..hehe yeah I like to blame it...however, stay tuned. Oh and if anyone is looking for needles...see the post below ;) yeah, I wanna get rid of them, I know someone out there can give them the love they need :)

I love Potatoes!

Is it any wonder, I used to live next door to potato fields. Mashed potatoes are my #1 hangover and comfort food. (more like comfort food these days, my hangover days are long gone ;)

So, Friday I got a wild hair after getting a wrap from Roly Poly and some potato salad and soup for lunch.


I decided to bake a few extra potatoes at dinner, then Saturday afternoon I made this recipe.


Nothing better than fresh cracked black pepper, extra cheese, bacon and green onions on top and Herb, the biscuit by the side! It was awesome and soooo bad for me, I used real cream!
Off to see if there are leftovers for lunch tomorrow, or did one of the crumbsnatchers I live with ate it all!!

YPF-The No Name Version

Interesting name, not quite sure why it's called that. I'm thinking it is better than no name at all! :)



White Oak Studio TV Yarn
Man With No Name Colorway
Fingering weight
SAFF purchase



Hey and no comments from the peanut gallery telling me of a "certain" color inside! :)




I love all the colors! Now to find a pattern! :) I'm thinking some picot edged Monkeys, I've been wanting to knit another pair. Hmmm..

Whew for Wednesday!

We interrupt your WIP Wednesday posting!

Well, about a month ago, Aimee let me know she was teaching a double knitting class at Charlotte Yarn. I've been wanting to visit some of the Charlotte knitters that I met at SAFF and I wasn't on/call and heck yes, I wanted to learn a new technique in person and not on the internet. I was so there! Aimee was a very patient teacher..we all were kinda bad...but we learned a lot.

What you see is my poor excuse of a swatch! Cotton yarn, oh well.



Below is the start of a double sided washcloth, stay tuned for that!

It was a great class and I had some fun class mates to name a few! Double knitting is interesting, but very slow. I can see some good reasons to use it like hats and scarves.

I was also so lucky to be able to join in on the Fair Isle fun taught by Jane Prater. You've seen her mentioned on Cristi's blog many times and is known as her Knitting Guru. Well let me tell you she is one amazing lady! So full of knowledge and a fun teacher. I learned a lot and hope to take another class from her again one day..

She taught us color theory and examples on how to use the colors to make certain images pop out. She is a challenging teacher, and made us think a lot.

I can haz Fair Isle! I so can't believe it was kinda easy. Well, easier than I thought and this is only a swatch and not a sweater. It really helped to have Aimee's double knitting class first as I learned how to manipulate two yarns better.

See, the obligatory guts of Fair Isle knitting.

Here is where I relearned to knit backwards. Oh I can see many uses for that!

The front and the back where we learned how to "trap" our long floats.

I can really see me knitting Fair Isle. I'll start with a hat first. Heck, don't be expecting sweaters/vests like Cristi's and Pam's anytime soon! I had a great time meeting everyone and hope to return...um..see way far below.

There is some kind of spell up there, you know when people that knit certain things that begin with an L and the LYS sells these things...there is some sort of entrancement, charm, or whatever....you end up buying lace yarns...and a pattern!
Gah! Yikes!

Oh, and just when you thought I was done...well..I almost never left Charlotte. (some people said it was a plot to keep me there! Which I would love to live there or at least closer!)

After a great dinner with Aimee. My hybrid Escape wouldn't drive..it would start up, but then die...sigh..2 1/2 hrs from home! I called AAA and got a tow back home..um..I only had to pay for 36 of the 136 miles...then Aimee, my knightess in shining armor took me to the airport to rent a car, and if that wasn't enough, she kindly loaned me her GPS! MOOOO! (heh inside joke!)

So..home again and the dealer called with the problem. In a nutshell, something failed and my hybrid battery was drained of power....after finding a part in another state (don't get me started on why a dealership sells hybrids, but has no parts!). They gave me a rental for 2 days. Heh, I returned the Pathfinder as while driving home that damned thing flashed "service engine soon", I felt a bit like a jinx you know! Dropped it back, got another one, and today I got my baby back.
Um..er..won't be going out of town anytime soon..sigh..gotta get sewing to pay for this one!!

See why it's Whew for Wednesday!

Finally....an FO

Picture heavy post here! :) Got lots to say and show!

I finished these by the skin of my teeth for the KAL..Yes, I love to pressure myself into last minute finishing...I live by it..well most of the time!

Presenting...........


Merrlot Socks
Original Duet DK yarn from A Swell Yarn Shop
Merlot colorway
Pattern at the time was included with the yarn purchase. I got this skein at least a year ago!
2 at one time, Magic looped, US 3 addi's
The usual picture for socks,

Close up Mr. DeMille of the much talked about afterthought heel. Do you want to know what I think after the thought? Huh, huh!

Side by each! (yes I said that on purpose, I grew up with that saying!) You can kinda see the ridge the ATH (afterthought heel) leaves. Much like toe decreases, well it should cause it's actually a toe on a heel!

The Ballet shot, DD is such a reluctant happy model! The picture below is how dark the socks actually are.

See, I wanna be folded just like this! I'm very flexible!

Ok, we are now after the thought! I really enjoyed knitting the ATH. You can just knit, add your waste yarn, and knit till the cows come home, and when you are done, pull out the waste yarn, add your ATH and weave in and finished. I'll have to get back to you on the wearing of them with shoes. It does leave a bit of a ridge, but since I mainly wear backless shoes, it may not be a problem.

I had plenty of yarn! I can probably make little socks or booties with the leftovers. As I was worried about not having enough to do the heels later, I knit the heels before I finished the cuffs. It was quite the tangle due to them still being on the needles, but I perservered. That way, I had plenty for the cuff, and still a bit left for accent on baby stuff.

Again, 2 at a time, ML is ok. A bit slow I think, but the fact you have 2 socks done at the same time is good. At least they are definately the same length and height!

This yarn is wonderful! So soft! At the time I purchased it, it was the only weight she had, but no longer. You can all enjoy knitting just about any weight you want to.