Finishing Continues

I've been continuing to work on current projects in the hope of finishing some things up before the new month starts and the Harry Potter Knit and Crochet House Cup term. 

I finished my Citron and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. This is knit in the Lettuce color of Malabrigo Lace yarn. 

I mostly found it frustrating to work on because the yarn was so fine and easy to split that I couldn't work on it while reading because I had to make sure I wasn't losing stitches. I had to pay close attention while watching TV too. I do think it's lovely though and soft so it will be nice as the weather cools to wrap it around my neck. 

I did weave in the ends but I haven't blocked it and I likely won't for now but will just wear it as is.

I also finished a pair of socks. These are knit from Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight. This is the only skein of Socks that Rock lightweight that I had and I put off knitting with it for a long time because I just wasn't thrilled with the way it worked up. There was something about the yellow, green and brown that didn't appeal to me. I've been knitting with lots of fine yarns too so it was a little odd for me to knit with a thicker yarn but it was fun and fast. These are knit in the Monkey pattern but without purls. I don't think the experience with this yarn will stop me from purchasing more in the future  since it comes in such beautiful colors.

I'm itching to start about 6 new things though. Not the least of which are these two lovely skeins that I got to knit the Wonder Woman Wrap. It's really hard to wait until the end of the month, even though I have plenty of projects on the needles that are still waiting for my attention. 

Here's hoping I can hold off! 

August Buzz

Things have gotten wild around here again. I did manage to finish my Citron but I have yet to weave in ends or block it.
I've been travelling every weekend and therefore trying desperately to keep up on the housework and other things during the week, meaning my brain hasn't had any down-time lately to even think of a blog post.
But I signed up for the Harry Potter Knit and Crochet House Cup (HPKCHC) again and it begins September 1 so I am hoping to finish up a couple quick projects yet and then be ready for a cast on party on September 1!
Basically I'm looking forward to things slowing down this fall. I feel like I've been buzzing around like a bee and I'm ready for some hunker down and knit time.

Sock stories

Socks are some of my favorite projects to knit. They're useful, small and portable and usually pretty simple since I have a basic pattern memorized.

I almost always have a sock in my purse and can take it out and knit a few rounds if I have down-time or I'm waiting for something. As a matter of fact, I try not to go anywhere without my knitting because it gives me a lot of patience for things like waiting.
Well, I recently finished some socks.

These are the Sweet Summer Sky socks knit from Vesper Sock Yarn in Sweet Summer Sky. I started them in mid-May to take with on our road trip to Shepherd's Harvest Festival and I finished them in either late June or early July. They were just purse socks and so had no deadline or anything so I mostly ignored them and just knit them when I had a minute. Since it was the Tour de Fleece and I had several other projects on the needles, I decided against starting any new socks when I finished these. I actually felt a little bit burned out on knitting socks and I had so many projects on the needles, I didn't want to start anything new. So instead I stuck my Wolkig cowl in my purse and away I went.
Well, after a few weeks of having that in my purse I found that I wasn't taking it out to work on, even when I had a minute because I didn't want to. I guess a cowl isn't as fun of a purse project as socks?
Last weekend my husband was gone and I was home alone with our pets and decided I wanted to knit some socks again. Except, why should I start some new socks when I knew I had some around that hadn't been finished. So I went digging around and came up with my Vesper Holiday Celebrate! socks. These were being knit in the Skew pattern and the first sock was finished, the second one started. What a silly time to put them down and ignore them.
After an evening (and then a bit more) working on them, they were done.

I still really love this pattern. They're a bit fiddly to knit because you do have to pay attention for almost the whole sock.

But just about the time you can take it anymore, you whack on the ribbing at the top and slip them on.

That's when it all becomes clear. They are completely, totally worth it! I just love the way they fit. They are snug to my foot, but not too snug and even in shoes that are slippery inside, that tend to make my socks slide down, these do not slide down. They stay exactly in place until I take them off. Love them!
Of course I was so inspired by the fact that I am now adding 2 new pairs of socks to my sock drawer and my love of these Skew socks, I decided to dig out another pair of Skew socks waiting to be finished. These required a little bit more work, having only one sock partly done. But I've finished the first and cast on the second now so they're making good progress.
Maybe I'll have another pair to share next week.