Socks are flying off my needles

Lately I've had this sort of project angst. I get bored with everything. Maybe partially because I feel guilty when I'm knitting that I'm not unpacking. It doesn't make me unpack any more but it does make me feel bad that I'm not unpacking. What's the solution? Start a bunch of new pairs of socks of course.

Let's start with these:

The yarn is Plymouth Yarns Happy Feet and I love, love, love it. The pattern is Emily's Socks from 2-at-Time Socks by Melissa Morgan-Oakes. I tried to do socks two on one circular but it didn't work for me. Maybe if I can try another needle a different time, it will work but for now, no. The pattern is written for children but I sized it up to fit my clodhoppers. I wasn't sure about the color of the yarn but it looks beautiful in this pattern and now, means something to me.

While knitting these socks, my beloved Hero died.

He was fifteen years old and sick so it's good that he's in a better place but it still hurts and it still sucks. I miss him every day. But, he died while I was knitting these socks with the rainbow yarn.

Check out this to understand http://rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm so now they are my Hero socks.

I can't talk about that anymore so let's move on. To Christmas presents. Yes, I'm planning ahead. Last year I finished the last project on Christmas Eve morning and while I could totally see myself doing it again, I'd rather not. So, Here are the Waffley Goodness socks

These are knit of Alpaca Sock Yarn and they are for my Mother-in-Law for Christmas. I think they are really beautiful and soft and I hope she will like them a lot.

I went to a movie with some friends last weekend. Babylon A.D. with Vin Diesel. It was only okay but I did manage to get some knitting done in the theater on these:

They are just a basic ribbed sock knit in Regia. they are intended for my dad and I know he will like them. I knit him socks last year for Christmas and he wears them every Sunday for Church.

I have one other pair of socks lying around but I'm not really sure what to do with them.

The last time I stopped into my LYS I picked up some Maizy sock yarn to try it out. It's nice and I like the yarn but I'm not thrilled with how it's knitting up in these basic toe-up socks so I think a good frogging is in order and a new pattern needs to be chosen.

Well, that's pretty much it for now. I'd better go and get some unpacking done today.

Grey Skies will finally clear up

So, finally we had a smidge of sun today and I was able to get some pictures of the current projects.

First though, the long, long, long awaited MS3.

Preblocked

During Blocking

Cue heavenly-sounding chorus

Tah-Dah!

This is knit out of Indie II yarn 55% silk, 45% cashmere from Little Knits It's so soft and floaty, I just adore it. Plus the pattern is beautiful and I can't wait until I can wear it somewhere. Never mind that I know of nowhere that I could wear it. (I'm not exactly glamorous.)

Hmm, looking at this, I know none of my other boring little socks will be able to compete so let's save those pics for another day, shall we?

Blocking...Please wait.

It feels like so much has been going on but in actuality it's been the same old, same old.
I have been unpacking the last of our boxes. Yay! Finally. But our tiny apartment is still full of them so I still have a ways to go and I have been doing some knitting. I say some but really I have had a wicked case of startitis and it has made my attention span even less than usual.
I cast on 4 new pairs of socks. That doesn't mean that I finished any though. I just cast on more.
I'm starting to think about Christmas gifts though so most of what I have cast on is for that.
I have finished the knitting of my Mystery Stole 3 and it is blocking right now. It's very exciting. It's the first major lace project that I've done and it's so exciting I can hardly believe it.
I picked out the yarn for Mystery Stole 4 and I printed off the clues but I haven't actually wound the yarn or started yet. I'm excited to but I know that it requires some attention span. I'm not sure that I have enough attention span right now.
You can't tell but I'm typing really fast, I think it may be time to stop drinking coffee today. Hmm, maybe not, I have to do the laundry now.
I'll post pictures of new socks and such soon but it's really grey and icky today so I don't think anything will turn out.

Oh, the humanity, I mean, the boxes

I know I've been absent. I keep saying that I will post more often and it ends up being less. The honest truth is that I haven't had much time to knit lately. I am having a little party on Sunday and I desperately need to get our tiny apartment box-free before then. I'm also working on getting a home-based business going so my time has been pretty full lately. As a matter of fact, I have a conference call today.

The main thing I have been knitting in the few spare moments that I can find, is my Mystery Stole 3. I somehow got myself signed up for Mystery Stole 4. I don't know how that happened really. Okay, I do. I did it. But now I feel guilty that I haven't finished 3 yet. As it happens I opened up a box the other day that it was in. Right there with the pattern and everything. I decided it was a sign that it needed to get finished so my little fingers are flying through it. The pattern is absolutely beautiful and I am actually working on the wing now so I think I'm getting close to done. At this point the rows are getting longer though. I haven't been entirely sure that I want a wing. I don't know if I want it to be asymmetrical or not but to be honest, I couldn't face knitting any more cat's paw lace. It's beautiful but I love that the pattern changes and that's what I crave.


I did manage to pick up the second trekking sock the other day but I only managed to knit two needles full of stitches before I had to go make dinner so that's pretty slow going too. Hopefully after this party I can find some more time to buckle down and get going on the Christmas gifts I have planned. Otherwise I have no hope of getting gifts done in time.


Plus, I have a wicked case of selfish startitis where all I want to do is start new projects for myself.

I did finish one thing. My Ogee Lace Skirt. Wanna see it? Okay.

hmm, see the problem here? I do. What happened was that I basically finished the whole thing one day, including the i-cord. Then, before I cast off, I tried it on. Oh My Word! It looked Horrible! I am not particularly small-tushied. It looked awful. I ripped the whole thing before I could think about it too much. I love the yarn and will definitely use it for something else. I just think this yarn with this project, not feeling the love.

On the plus side, I downloaded pretty much all of the Lime & Violet podcasts and now have been getting caught up on them while making dinner, doing dishes and or unpacking boxes. At least they make the time go by fast.

Well, I'm off to make dinner again. Maybe by next week, I'll find some more time to blog and knit. Later.

I promise I haven't disappeared.

Sorry for the radio silence folks. I've been trying to focus on "real" life. I know, I know, why focus on real life, that has nothing to do with knitting and other crafts.
This included a trip north to visit my cousin and her absolutely adorable kids (whose pictures I don't have permission to post, unfortunately) and attend a bridal shower for another cousin who is getting married.
It was a fun week and I got a bunch done around the house but it still isn't as organized as I'd like so I still have a lot to do. I'm off to work on it, just thought I'd mention to you what's going on.
Later.

Avoiding Reality.

So, my apartment is still chock full of boxes. Boxes everywhere. They are mostly full of books or yarn. They are everywhere. So, of course, instead of unpacking them, I'm knitting frantically on my Ogee Lace Skirt. I think I'm just funky enough to pull it off and I have a bridal shower this weekend that I may be able to wear it to. Unfortunately, its not done yet. I have also managed to find my Mystery Stole 3 and since I have somehow signed up for Mystery Stole 4, it is a priority to me to get it done. I have a hard time just sitting and focusing on it. What I really need is a day-long marathon of some show that I'd like to watch so that I can just sit down and just plow through it.

Since I've done nothing but unpack lately and I have no finished projects to show you. Instead, I present, with no ado whatsoever,

The Yarnington's Adventures in the City.

The caption reads: Hmm,... I wonder how long it will take me to find that handpainted skein of red merino.

I'm sorry for the poor quality. We don't have a scanner so I had to make do with a picture of the comic. I actually had this idea and drew it up. Then I had a bunch more ideas so I'm working on them. You might be forced to see more of these guys. (I should note that the name: The Yarningtons is something that my husband came up with. I asked him to help me with a name and he immediately said that. I thought it was so cute that it stuck. My mom says that's scary because he's crossed over to my side.)

Well, I'm headed back to the sofa to knit on my Ogee. Later.

So, I'm kinda shy. Haven't I mentioned that?

I don't think I have mentioned before my social ineptitude. I try, I really do but in groups of people I don't know I freeze up and I completely freak out beforehand. This makes it extremely difficult for me to make new friends as an adult. I never used to have this problem, I don't know how it snuck up on me but I do struggle with social freakout.

But, we are going to completely ignore the fact that a large part of the reason why I was up all night was because I was anxious about the upcoming knitting meetup. Yup, we're gonna ignore that completely and talk about what I got after staying up all night. Let's start with this:

This is a view of the sunrise from our living room window. Technically our window faces south but it was pretty anyway. I got hubby up and fed and off to work on time. Then I made myself a really great breakfast.

This is coffee (of course) and some whole wheat toast with some leftover garlic butter potatoes fried up nice and crispy and an omelette with tomato, avocado, sprouts and cheese inside. Yum!

Then I went to sleep. I slept most of the day but got up in enough time to get ready and get nervous about the knitting meetup. I went anyway and had some fun. Then I came home and spent a little quiet time with hubby. We watched a little TV and I made myself go to sleep.

Then we got up yesterday and I started the lengthy process of organizing my crafting area. It was actually a good thing that I didn't blog yesterday because it was not a good day. Not at all. I had an extremely frustrating day. It should have been fun, putting together my craft area but things kept falling, usually on me and I kept having to pick up the same thing again and again. It wasn't good. At all. We were busy last night anyway. We made a friend during the play whose husband we also get along with so we now have a couple with which to do things. Last night we went out to their house for dinner and games. We also played with their kids for awhile. It was really fun and great to see them.

Today was a day filled with nothing fun. Cleaning house and doing the laundry so instead I will mention these.

This is my cutie patootie hubby in his new socks. I mentioned previously that the yarn wasn't very soft and wasn't a lot of fun to knit with.

I take it all back.

I washed these today and Oh My Goodness. They are soft and subtle and smooth and beautiful now and now, I want some socks of my own with this yarn. That will probably have to wait until after Christmas though.

Owly

I have always been something of a night owl. As a matter of fact, my mother loves to tell a story in which my brother is a wee babe and I a troublesome toddler and we kept her awake at nearly all hours as I would be up late and he up very early.
I must say though, this is getting ridiculous! It is nearly 3:30 am in my little swath of central time zone and yet, here I sit at the computer. It's not even as if I am staying up for some good reason like finishing something or having fun visiting. No, I just can't sleep.
Let me explain; no, there is too much, let me sum up. (Okay, now I'm not just owly, I'm squirrely) Many, many people (me included) in my family have strange if not outright annoying sleep habits. Some (such as my mother) arise at the butt-crack-of-dawn every single solitary day and by that I mean that if I text message her right now at 3:30 am, there's a probably 25% chance that she's awake. Some (like my aunt) can't get to sleep. Some have strange dreams, some have other weird quirks.
Then there's me. (You know this is gonna be good when I start a new paragraph, bear with me.) My sleep patterns run the gamut. It seems to run in some sort of unascertainable cycle. What happens is that I have all of those things at one time or another, although the early-riser curse is pretty rare in my day-sleeper body. For awhile (this can range anywhere from a couple of nights to more than a month for any of the following cycles) I will have strange dreams constantly every night and wake up feeling like I had run a marathon instead of actually sleeping, then it will switch, it might be to waking up many times during the night or not being able to fall asleep or sleeping late even though I managed to get to bed at a semi-decent time. These little cycles seem to have no rhyme or reason. They don't follow any pattern whatsoever that I can figure out and most of the time I can live with them (usually with the help of some caffeine.) I have worked my share of get up early and be at the office jobs (okay, I'm only 28 but I have done it for a couple of years so I feel like that's a share) and retail which is evenings and weekends mostly. For about the last year though I have been gainfully unemployed. It's really a personal choice between myself and my husband but the point is that I have been a little better able to deal with the weird sleep patterns because I can rest during the day (in between other things) when I need to. Right now we are still (sort of) in the process of moving and so my days are filled with my normal household chores and errands (laundry, dishes, cooking, grocery shopping, etc.) and then a lot of unpacking and organizing as well. Plus we are in a new place so it takes a little while to get used to the noises and the atmosphere of the place.
For the most part the extra work has made me tired enough to sleep but tonight apparently not so much. I sit here at the computer doing nothing whatsoever useful (I'm reading old blog posts for heaven's sake. Like they won't be there tomorrow.) and counting down the hours until hubby's alarm goes off so I can make breakfast for him before he goes to work. I even made coffee at 1:30 in the morning!
*sigh* I need a vacation. Or a nap, a nap would prolly work too.

Hmm, do you think it would be a bad idea to wake hubby at the "old" time to see if he's glad he doesn't have to get up yet? (we moved closer to where he works so he doesn't have to drive an hour and twenty minutes greatly reducing his need to arise early, lousy sleeper.)

Finished Socks

Not a stitch was knit yesterday and very little else was done. I unpacked some more boxes and I made a nice dinner and that was about it. Hubby works the evening shift on Mondays and Tuesdays and I swear, it throws my whole schedule off for the whole day.


Today I managed to get up by 10:00am (I told you my schedule was off) and by the time I got hubby out the door for work and finished my to-do list for the day (and that's creating the list, not actually doing it.) I was hopped up on coffee and it was 1:00 in the afternoon.


I did finally take some finished project pictures so let's take a look at those:


These are the finished Feather & Fan Socks from Socks, Socks, Socks. They are knit up in Trekking XXL Sock yarn. I love Trekking yarn but this pattern of yarn was very different than those I've used before. If I had been doing a plain stockinette sock, I don't think I would have liked them at all. The pattern is beautiful and with a 2-row pattern repeat, easy to learn so you don't have to constantly look at the chart. I find that the socks themselves ended up a little tight so that they kinda stretch to get over my heel. Once on though, they look wonderful and wear beautifully and comfortably. I will definitely knit this pattern again. (The tightness of them may be due to the fact that I knit quite tightly.)


What else? Oh yeah, my Vanilla Swirl Socks:

These are knit with some Sockotta Sock yarn that I've had lying around for a couple of years. They're knit up in a basic Stockinette Sock but I added a band of ribbing around the foot to prevent them from bunching and falling down. They look ridiculous just sitting there but they fit very well. I honestly haven't had a lot of problem with hand-knit socks falling down or bunching but they are a preventative measure. The colors look kinda goofy together but I still love the socks.

Tomorrow, the photo shoot of hubby's new socks.

How sad am I?

So, I haven't posted since last Thursday and I have absolutely nothing new to report.
It's still grey and drizzly so I won't be doing sock yarn pictures today so there isn't anything there.
Hmm, reading maybe? What am I reading. Oh yeah, I'm reading a book called Sea Dragon Heir by Storm Constantine. We somehow acquired the trilogy through the Science Fiction Book Club and some parts of the story are great. Some are creepy and I don't like (let's just say descriptive incest) but the history landscape descriptions are seriously infecting me with the bug to get to writing and to running an adventure for our gaming group. Maybe that will be the next big "project."
I'm gonna go make dinner now. Sorry my life is so boring.

Rain, Rain, go away.

I started thinking about why I don't have anyone (that I can see) reading my blog and I think it's maybe because I don't post often enough so my new goal is to post much more often. Therefore, yesterday, I saved some of my juicy tidbits for today.

You see, I've been on a dreaded "D" word lately. A yarn, d-d-d-diet. Ugh, it's even hard to type that. It wasn't an "official" thing, I just knew the expense of moving would be coming up and I also shouldn't have way more extra yarn to move so I have been strictly curbing my yarn-buying obsession. The result? I have been completely blah about my stash. Usually the only yarn I like to buy is my sock yarn unless I'm planning a big project so the only thing I really curbed was the sock-yarn purchases. It has been months and months since I allowed myself to freely buy sock yarn. (Okay, maybe it was only a few months. It just felt longer)


Well, I started thinking about it.
What do I knit the most of? Socks
What do I want to buy the most? Sock Yarn


So, last week, after our moving expenses were (mostly) sorted out, I lifted the sock yarn embargo. Today, I wanted to show you my new sock yarn. Then what happened? The weather didn't cooperate. It is grey and drizzly and icky today so there's no way to get a decent photo.


Whoo, it just lightning-ed. If I could only catch it just right, I could get a good picture. hee hee.


So today you will have to suffice to hear about this:

Hmm, pretty yarn, nice stitches but what is it? you ask. It's the Ogee Lace Skirt
from Interweave Knits Summer 2007.



I'm knitting it with Classic Elite Yarns Waterlily. Color: 1995 (purple). A beautiful extra fine merine with some subtle color variations. The issue that I have is that I have 4 skeins of 100 yards. So 4x100=400 yards.
The pattern calls for: 6, 82yard skeins. 6x82=492 yards. Anyone else see a problem?
I might just shorten it so I don't do another repeat but I really love the length so I might just add in another yarn. I haven't decided yet. Anyone have any thoughts?

Socks for every occasion

I'm pretty tired today and may be just a tiny bit crabby the dh woke me this morning at 6:30ish as he was getting ready for work and as I am SO not a morning person and so I'm barely hanging on. My downstairs neighbor who is apparently moving out also seems to see fit to keep slamming their apartment door, making an afternoon nap impossible today. I may just make a second pot of coffee.

As a two-hour drive last Saturday and a concert with our friend's band and a trip to see the St. Cloud Riverbats play in the great American pasttime resulted in lots of knitting time I have finished these:

They are knit of 2 skeins of Kroy Socks Jacquard and they are sized to fit my hubby's absurdly big feet.(US size 13)* I wasn't particularly fond of this yarn but I think a big part of that is because I had just finished knitting with Plymouth Yarn's Happy Feet which is really, really soft and supple and this felt itchy and unyielding compared to that but I think it actually turned into nice looking socks that will be nice and warm this winter. They didn't take that long to knit up either. I was also knitting them toe-up to make sure that I would have enough yarn and I knit them plenty long for my taste and still had plenty of yarn left so I would definitely recommend it for having enough for men's sizes.

Since I haven't really caught up with what else I'm working on, I might as well bring up my other UFOs. (may I just say here that I am a fan of X-Files from way back and that the fact that Unfinished Object sounds so much like Unidentified Flying Object tickles me to no end.)

This is one of what will hopefully end up to be a pair of socks in Kroy Socks Stripes in the Kool Stripes colorway. Originally I bought this yarn to make a pair of socks for myself but I think the socks, once knit, are a little bit too much for me so I am planning them to be a Christmas Gift to my 11-year old niece. I know I'm taking a chance but I'm thinking my little Hannah Montana lover is going to love the rock-star-eque colors.

Well, I've shown you one pair of finished socks and one sock that's knit without a mate yet. What else is there? Of course I have a pair of "computer socks" which just means a pair of socks simple enough to knit while reading blogs or waiting for our "flower of 1998 technology" computer to load. That would be these:

Your basic ribbed sock knit in Trekking XXL colorway: 71. Some of you may remember that I knit a pair of socks for someone last year for Christmas out of this same colorway. Actually, now that I think about it, I think it was for my uncle for his birthday. I forgot how much I love knitting with Trekking yarn. It doesn't always make for identical twin socks but I am just funky enough to be okay with that. They are soft and have great stitch definition. I love, love, love it. Let's have a close-up so you can see those beautiful stitches.** The color isn't quite right though. It's much darker than this pictures. Almost like a black-ish denim.

I would also like to note that these are knit on my new Brittany Birch needles. I have only gone the bamboo route with wooden needles before and I love wooden needles. I still think my bamboo is my favorite because they get smooth and slippery much, much faster and they have a little more flexibility IMHO but I do like these.

That's pretty much it in the mindless sock knitting department but I do have to have something that holds a little more interest. That's where these come in:

Please welcome: Tofutsies #733. Being knit into The Fancy Silk Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks.

I really like the pattern. I'm not sure about this yarn with it though.

The yarn might be too busy to show of this lovely pattern. I like the suppleness of the yarn but I'm not totally sure of it. I love the fact that it will be somewhat antibacterial but I find that it had a kind of weird smell (to me) so I'm not sure if these are meant to be or not yet.

My husband says that it's not crazy to have up to 9 pairs of socks on the needles at once so I am well under the limit of crazy around here so there may be more socks to come soon.

*These pictures were taken on my coffee table. Yes, I do think a silver bowl full of Knit Picks Shadow is an objet d'art. Wanna make something of it?

**Showing off my "new" camera. Yay! Much better than crappy old one.

I am back in business baby!

Well, I'm definitely behind with my blogging but I am also back. We are (mostly) moved to our new apartment and while I spend all day unpacking, I can spend my evenings knitting and we've got our computer set up with the 'net hooked up so I can get back to my blog. Let's start with these:

They are Feather & Fan Socks from Socks,Socks, Socks. They are Trekking XXL Sock Yarn and while I love the yarn, I'm not entirely sure that I love that pattern with that color of yarn. I can't remember the number and of course since we have a ton of boxes, I can't find the ball band now. These have actually been finished for awhile and worn several times. That's how behind I am.

Then there's these:

Now, I'm using some of this yarn for my Arrr-gyles so I wanted to knit them fairly short. They are Plymouth Yarn Happy Feet and I am absolutely in love with this yarn! It's soft and just the right colors and absolutely gorgeous. It turned my sock needles just a little tiny bit pink so I am gonna wash these in some cold water with a dash of vinegar before they go into my usual rotation since I don't really want red feet. But I know these will soon be my favorite socks. I just finished them the other night and started up with my new travelling socks.

These are some Toe-Up socks that I'm knitting for my husband. Pictured last night on their first outing. To see a friend's band play. They are knit of Kroy Socks Jacquard. I think the yarn will be extremely durable but it's not the softest and nicest to knit with. Of course my bias might come from the fact that my husband has US size 13 feet and so I am dreading ever finishing these socks.

Not much else is going on on the knitting front. As I said, I'm mostly just busy unpacking box after box.

I would just like to add one more note before I sign off. It has been difficult for me to come back and face this page because every time I did, I saw my last post. My Pheebsie who passed on. It still hurts that he is really gone but I know life goes on and so my needles will continue to click away even though he's not there to try to chew my yarn. Thanks for your patience.

Sadness

pheebsiechess
Originally uploaded by kalkette

Yesterday my beloved furbaby, my sweet kitty Pheebsie, also called Mr. Pheebington died. I am really sad and can't even say any more right now. He was a member of my family and will be truly missed. Goodbye my Mr. Pheebington.

Still Spotty

I'm still here and still knitting. I'm almost finished with my Lotus Blossom Tank from Interweave Knits but until we get moved and get the 'net hooked up (we are having some trouble finding a place) reports will remain spotty and pictures will probably be nonexistent.

Screw it, I'm making coffee.

You know that when this is your mantra for the day, it's been bad. (I usually stop drinking coffee by about 11:00 am but today I said this at 2:30 and am drinking coffee right now.)
It all started last night really. I watched Ghost Hunters on the Sci-Fi channel last night right before I was wanting to go to sleep. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I couldn't sleep. It wasn't just that. I also was totally stir-crazy and wound up all day yesterday. I can't even blame it on an overdose of caffeine since I didn't even finish my second cup of coffee yesterday.
I ended up starting another pair of socks.

I swear I took a picture but Blogger doesn't want to post it.

They are the Feather and Fan Pattern in Socks, Socks, Socks. I have been working on them most of today too so they are already past the heel turn on the first sock. Wow, they are going pretty fast.

So, why has today sucked? Well, for starters hubby is off work today and we thought that since we are blessedly alone in the house and have nothing to do until the show tonight(The Barn Theatre) we thought that we would have some quiet time and some nice snuggle time together. We didn't. We have spent the day at each other's throats. I think we are just overtired and also both stressed about the whole moving thing so every little thing seems to bother us more than ever.
Now he's watching TV and I'm playing on the computer. It's better, I swear. We are kinda spending some separate time so we can have fun together again, without getting on each other's nerves.
Well, I'm going back to knitting now and drinking my coffee until it's time to get ready for the show.

It's Baaaack!

So, lately the blog content has been pretty sparse and I have to say the pictures have been worse. Well, today I found some batteries for the camera so I hope to improve the pictures but the content is pretty boring.

I've been awfully discontent with my knitting lately and I think more than anything it's because I'm kinda stressed about the whole finding a new place to live thing. It's not easy, especially when you are technically supposed to be out of the house by May 1. Anyone else notice the date? Yeah, you see the problem.

So, I vary between wanting to do nothing but sit and knit and then getting frustrated because I should be doing multiple other things and I am not. This has led to a wicked case of startitis followed by project frustration and then rapid frogging. Case in point.

The lovely Schaefer Anne Socks. I finally finished and bound off. They were too tight at the bind off so I did it again, increasing the looseness of the bind off. Still too tight. This was like a week and a half ago. I was frustrated so I put them aside and ignored them. Just pretended like they didn't exist. Yesterday, I was in the mood to knit so I thought finishing this pair of socks would help cheer me up. I took them out and did it again. On one sock. I wasn't happy with it and then the other sock started giving me some major poopy attitude so they somehow ended up to be two balls of yarn. eep.

Then I started a scarf with my SWS yarn. I think I showed you that.

I bought three skeins specifically because I wanted to make a scarf out of it. I have started and frogged it about 15 times. I just cannot be content with whatever it is I'm making. This last time I was over halfway through the first skein. Yeah, discontent.

Then there's the LuLu yarn. I don't think I've shown you this.


It's 5 skeins of an all acrylic but very soft and fuzzy yarn that I bought on clearance like 3 years ago or more. I love it, it's super soft and I want to make something that I wear against the skin but I don't know what. I have (over the years) started and ripped this multiple times but twice in one day? Not until yesterday. I thought I could make a cute little throw that I could snuggle under. Yeah, no. I started it, decided it was too big and frogged it. Then I started again, smaller and knitted it for about 3 hours and then frogged it again. I just don't know what to do.

I did manage to finish my Vanilla swirl socks but I don't have a picture. I already wore them (that's my favorite thing to do with new socks, wear them right away) and I haven't washed them yet. I didn't think you needed a picture of dirty socks, right? So I started another quick and easy pair.


They are my Knit Picks Essential Sock yarn in Ash and they are a basic toe-up ribbed sock. I love them already. They are great to knit backstage while waiting for set shifts or your cue. You know, while you're not changing costumes. :)


Well, that leaves a set of size 2 bamboo needles open doesn't it? Yeah, well, we can't have that can we? No. So, they're baaack.

I was gonna make you guess what it was but honestly, this picture is so bad, I don't think you'd be able to. So, they're Pomatomus. AAAAH! At least it gives me something fussy to knit. Keeps my mind away from the moving thing. Maybe it will help.

Tonsils Be Damned!

So, I am sick again. Did I mention that a few weeks ago I had a double ear infection and was put on some kick butt antibiotics? No? Well, I was. For ten days. On the very last day I felt super. Then after I kinda felt icky and the last few days a nasty spring cold has turned its ugly head. I have snot and a sore throat (which makes it absolutely horrific to act and sing right now.) I have decided to blame my tonsils.

When I was younger I had strep throat three times in a year and it left my tonsils scarred and icky. They told me I would probably have to have them out if I got it again. I haven't officially had strep throat again but I seem to catch every little bug that comes along. I swear it's because of the tonsils.

Luckily USA has an NCIS marathon starting soon so I'll be in bed knitting and dozing to NCIS.

Later.

Wowza have I been lacking in blog content

So, I realized today that it's been a ridiculously long time since I have blogged.
Not much has been going on in the knitting world and what has, I haven't been able to take pictures of as the batteries in my camera have gone kaput and with hubby driving my van as his car is still waiting to be fixed after his deer crunch I haven't been able to get to the store very often and the two times I have been to the store it was a very, very quick trip on the way to rehearsal and so I forgot the batteries.
I finished the vanilla swirl socks yesterday which is good. I need something new and kinda bright to cheer me up because we have snow in the forecast again today. Uck! Don't they realize it's April?! We're supposed to get 7 inches today. How ridiculous.
In play news, tonight is opening night. Which is the only reason that I'm missing the Yarn Harlot in the Cities tonight. It's killing me. Although last night we had an audience because our underwriters gave a party and invited people. It's a lot of fun but exhausting. I could easily sleep all day but I don't. Hubby and I had our pictures taken in our fancy dress costumes. Hopefully I will be able to post the pic here because I think it will look totally fab.
In other news, today is the 10th and we are supposed to be moved to a new place by May 1. We don't have a place to move to yet and we don't have a lot of time as the show ends April 27, but we are supposed to be moved so posts will probably be light this month.

See Ya!

So, it's Friday afternoon and I'm packing a bag to go to my parents' house. Hubby and I are leaving straight from play rehearsal.

Here's the bag:

In clockwise order from top left we have:

1. The Schaefer Anne Socks. These are almost done and I think that I can finish them if I set my mind to it.

2. The Lotus Blossom Tank. I have just finished the first repeat of the Lotus Blossom Pattern. This has not stopped me from packing all the yarn and the pattern.

3. The Vanilla Swirl Socks. So far this is the most accurate picture of the colors in it. These are my Take-everywhere-cos-I-don't-need-a-pattern socks.

4. Barely Visible are the Tiger Eyes socks. These are close to done too but are fussy so they can't be worked on just any time.

5. Mittens. I haven't shown you these yet. They are kinda boring and may get frogged. I haven't decided yet but I was worried that I wouldn't have enough to knit.

No, I didn't pack the yarn first but as you can see, it has pride of place and takes up most of the room in the bag.

So, the question is: how long will I be gone?

Until Sunday.

Is it wishful thinking that I will be able to knit this much or am I delusional?

Good question.

Updates with New Stuff

Since the never ending socks are making my whole body itch (figuratively not literally, it's beautiful yarn and I am not having an allergic reaction to it.)

and the Tiger Eyes are too difficult to take along anywhere because the pattern is too complex.

So, I started another pair

They are Sockotta Socks. It's just the Basic Sock Recipe from this book: Knitting Rules But the yarn makes them interesting so I am calling them my Vanilla Swirl socks. Vanilla because the pattern is plain and Swirl because the colors kinda swirl.

This picture is not even close to accurate for color but it will have to do for now.

I also picked up this yarn a few weeks ago

It's Patons SWS (Soy Wool Stripes) yarn in Natural Pink. The ball on the left is pretty accurate as far as colors go. At least as good as I can get my crappy camera to take. I want to use it to make a cute scarf. Maybe something with drop stitches again but I haven't decided on a pattern yet.

I also got out this yarn from the stash

I have already swatched it for this:

It's the Lotus Blossom Tank from Interweave Knits Summer 06 (I believe) I've got gauge so I think I will get going on it soon. I've been wanting to knit a new sweater for myself for awhile.

Other than all this project planning, I've just been busy with the play but I thought it was time you got an update with pictures.

Neverending socks

Did you ever see that movie "The Neverending Story"? I feel like my socks are neverending. I'm trying to stick to it and luckily I love the yarn but quite frankly, I'm getting pretty sick of them. They are the Schaefer Anne socks. I started the one at the toe and worked it to past the heel.

Picture a photo of a sock just past the heel here.

Then I took the other end of the yarn and started the other sock.

Picture a photo of two socks worked just past the heel.

I worked both of them alternating back and forth until they were just about to hit the calf muscle. Then I started thinking about it and put the one on a piece of waste yarn to try it on. I realized that I would have to increase if I wanted to have it fit my calf. I increased two stitches on each needle for two rounds (so a total of 16 stitches increased) and changed to 2x2 rib. I thought that if I changed to ribbing that when I ran out of yarn that they would have a better chance of staying up even if it was on the middle of the calf muscle. Now, I'm trying to just keep working them until I run out of yarn.

It's taking awhile. I do a round here and another round there and once in awhile I sit down and work on it for awhile. It's still taking awhile. I feel like I have been working on these socks forever.

What else. I frogged the Feather and Fan socks because they weren't going to fit. I love that STR yarn and I want to do something special with it but I haven't figured out what yet. I guess I'm just going to have to take some time one day and look through my patterns to see what I want to make.

I am getting close to done with the Tiger Eyes socks. They require a lot more focus though so I haven't been working on them much. I think if I took one day and just sat down for an hour or two and worked on them that they would be done. Now, I just need to find a couple of hours one day. hee hee.

Not much else is going on. Hubby and I have been busy rehearsing for the play. That's what has been taking up most of my time. One day I'll get some more pictures for you too.

Happy Leap Day!

I always feel like Leap Day should be a special day that you don't have to work and you don't have to do anything you don't want, like a vacation day. It never works out that way but it would be nice.
I'm not working on anything new, I haven't finished anything and I don't have any pictures to show off. I'm just waiting for our new bed to be delivered. I am so excited. Our old one is horrific and I can't wait to get the new one. Plus, we are upsizing to a queen, which is good because my husband is not a small person and he takes up a good deal of the old one. Okay, I'm not exactly a small person either but he gets the lion's share of the bed and usually of the blankets too.
Hopefully I will have at least one new pair of socks to show off soon. It's difficult to find time for it now because my husband and I are busy every evening with play practice. Our local community theater is doing My Fair Lady and we are in it! Very exciting. I haven't been on the stage for 10 years! Hard to believe.
Anyway, hopefully I will be back with pictures soon. Until then, keep those sticks twitching

I couldn't find the pictures for my Tiger Eyes socks so I had to take another one.

It looks pretty good if I may say so myself. The picture doesn't but we can't have everything. I really need to find the tag for this yarn because it is absolutely gorgeous. It is so perfect for this time of year when it's cold because the colors make me think of warm summer days. It makes me think of watermelons or a strawberry patch. Yum!

This is also the first time that I am doing socks with the Magic Loop method on my very first pair of Addi Turbos. Also yum. I don't mind this method and for this particular pattern (which I was having trouble with) I really think it's working the best but I am not going to leave my dpns in the dust. I still prefer them.

A note about the Schaefer Anne: This skein has 560 yards and the yarn is so beautiful that I want to use as much of it as possible. That's why I am doing these socks toe-up. I am also doing this:

I started the one sock from the center of the center-pull ball and worked it to past the heel. Then I took another set of needles and the outside strand of yarn and started the toe of the second sock. I plan to knit to past the heel on this one and then alternate to use as much of the yarn as I can. It's so beautiful and I'm hoping to get a little bit taller socks from this skein. I would love to have knee-highs but I don't think that I will be going that tall.

While going through some projects to post all my current projects on the fabulousness that is Ravelry I found this:

It's a shawl I started made of Knit Picks Shadow in Redwood Forest. (I don't remember if I ever blogged about it.) I am designing it myself and so far, I do like it. I think it's turning out very nicely but I have a Long way to go. Since I am trying to finish up some projects, I think that this is going to be added to the list.
I have two skeins and if I like the pattern, I might try to sell it. We'll see. So far, it's just a pretty little thing I'm making.

I have one other thing that's currently in the Basket but it's a secret project so I can't blog about it. I promise photos of it when it's done though.

Up to No Good

Well, I think the start-itis has finally abated. I am so busy working on all the socks I've started that I don't have any time to start any new projects. Here is the gorgeous Schaefer Anne sock that I started.

It really is quite gorgeous. I do have another pair that I'm working on but I can't find the picture. I guess I'll have to take another one.

Lately I have been doing my knitting but I have also been a bit into some stitching. I am working on a little needlepoint that's cute.

(insert image here.)

As you can see, I don't actually have a picture of it right now.

I also dug out a cross-stitch of butterflies that I am working on:

(insert image here.)

Wow, the glaring lack of pictures is getting kind of obvious isn't it?

Otherwise I have just been resting. It's been super cold here again. Last night we were in a winter storm warning because of the blizzard-like conditions of the blowing snow. I had a bit of an earache last week and I was so tired that I slept a lot and drank entirely too much coffee when I was awake.

Well, I'm off to stitch my butterflies and watch the Shark shows on Discovery Channel for today.

Startitis

Okay, so I have a wicked case of startitis. Maybe it's the cold weather, I couldn't tell you. Today it's really windy and Really cold. I am thinking about going back to bed just to warm up my feet.

Anyway, I finally finished the hat and scarf set.

grr, that picture looks even worse than I thought it would. (Don't mind me, I'm having an argument with my digital camera and if it doesn't shape up soon, it will be in the trash can before dinner!)

Its made with Moda Dea Richochet yarn. I had some onhand that I got on clearance and I sort of like the hat and scarf but it's not my style. I'm not sure who I will give it to so I am putting it away for Christmas. Never hurts to be prepared.

Since I finished that and I only had one pair of socks on the needles:

Purple Rotating Rib socks. (Toe up) I will have to post the stats on the yarn later because I don't have it with me right now. They're fun but not really a ignore-what-you're-doing kind of sock because they are rotating so you have to remember to rotate. Plus I'm getting a little sick of them.

So, I decided that before the winter blahs get me down, I should get out my beautiful STR Sock Yarn that I ordered last spring. I'm trying so hard to cut back on the sock yarn in the stash. I have a really cute little tin bucket that sits next to my knitting spot and I have made myself a rule that all my sock yarn needs to fit inside it. One day, I'll remember to take a picture of it.

Right now, the thing is overflowing. Because of that, I wish, I really wish that this STR yarn wasn't so great. No offense to the lovely people over there at Blue Moon Fiber Arts but I really wish their website wasn't calling my name. I followed our lovely Harlot's advice and used the Feather and Fan Socks Pattern from Socks, Socks, Socks.

I didn't get the same results.

I don't completely hate them but I don't really love them either. The yarn is a beautiful color that's called Lemongrass that is sublime. Very springy and makes me not hate the gray outside quite so much. I am knitting them on US Size 2 needles and they are swirling very strangely. Within the color (you can't really tell) they do change. There's the brownish mixed in with the yellow and lighter greens mixed together but I can't decide if I want to keep it or rip it. Last night while thinking about it, I just kept knitting. I am apparently a glutton for punishment.

I'll let you know the fate of these another day and I'll post my other new projects when I am not arguing with the camera.

Warm, Cozy wool is my friend today

So, the weather advisory for this morning said that exposed skin freezes in 15-20 minutes. This isn't good. I have decided that I won't be leaving the warmth and safety of the house today. It actually took the promise of some nice, hot coffee to even get me out of my warm, cozy bed.
The thermometer outside of the kitchen window says -20 and that doesn't take into account the wind chill. It's cold. Way too cold. Crazy cold. This is the kind of day when you are very happy you are a knitter and have a house filled almost to the brim with wool. I'm pretty sure that I will just be snuggling up with some of that lovely wool today. I am really trying to be strong and work on projects that are already started. It's not entirely easy. The biggest thing I am trying to finish right now is the Red and blue scarf and hat set. The hat is done and I am just trying to run out of the yarn on the scarf. It's taking some willpower though. Not only do I long for the new projects, I think they might be calling my name, but I am dying with the length of the rows. I don't know what compelled me to think it was a good idea to knit a scarf the long way. Plus it's garter stitch so it's really boring. I find myself wishing for some fiddly, tiny lace knitting. Which is a good thing because the other thing I want to finish is my Mystery Stole 3.
Anyway, off to play with my wool now.

Ah the frozen fingers, how the make typing interesting

So, I realized today that I may be getting just a wee bit lazy in terms of blogging. Of course the whole reason I started to blog is to share my projects with the world. Or at least keep a record for myself, complete with pictures. If I don't write things, how will I keep a record? Hmm, interesting thought.
What's been going on that I haven't been blogging? Well, nothing really. I got the cold to end all colds that appears to be spreading like wildfire around the blogging world. If you haven't got it, take your Vitamin C, you for sure don't want it. I am starting to feel better but the old nose still won't stop with the constant streaming so I'd better not go very far from a tissue, like Ever! Grrr. Hubby even got a bit of it and missed a couple of days of work. It's also been so cold around here it's ridiculous. I find myself getting up for awhile to play on the computer or you know, do things to keep the health department from coming in to tell us we can no longer wallow in the filth or cook something and then I get so cold that I can't feel my extremities and go back to bed for several hours. The excessive sleeping I'm sure is in large part to the cold but I don't seem to be getting a whole lot done lately.
I did hear a story about some bloggers who are setting 12 goals this year to create twelve things. I like that although I don't think I want to set them all at once.
I will start by saying that I want to finish my mystery stole 3. It would be helpful if, you know, it was done before #4 started. Then I have that red and blue scarf and hat set. I have been working on that for over a year and it's not that difficult, I should just finish it. My trouble with the motivation on this one is that I don't know who to give it to. I created an interesting design and while I like it, I know it isn't my taste and I won't wear it, but who to give it to is quite a conundrum. Hmm, well, I'm off to do a little of that cooking and then probably back to bed to warm up the toesies.
By the way, yes our heat is on and the cold I am feeling is through flannel pajama pants, handknit wool socks, slippers, a t-shirt and a large sweatshirt. I promise that it isn't imagined.

Yay! New things are done

So, I did remember that I promised a picture of all the flame hats together. So, without further ado, here they are.


I made the red/black one first and I think it turned out well. Then the blue/black one and finally the green/black one. I think they all worked out well and they were all very well received. As a matter of fact, they didn't believe that I knitted them at first. My brother asked where he could buy another one. hee hee.

I haven't just been sitting on my thumbs though. I have been doing some knitting.

I now present the very first post-Christmas finished object. A pair of socks for me! Finally, I can knit things for myself and not feel guilty. Yes, those are my pajama pants, yes it is almost 10:00 am. Wanna make something of it? I actually made the foot a little long on these. I think a washing will help them to snug up though. They are kind of weird colors but very pretty and springish. About this time of year I totally get into the sunshine-y and green colors because I start getting bored with all the white and brown outside. I may have to order something orangey soon to quell the need for spring.
I do have another pair started but I am going to work on finishing up some projects before starting a bunch of new stuff. One thing I really want to finish is my Mystery Stole. It's so pretty and I just want it to be done so that I can show it off.

Looking back and looking forward

The family Christmas celebrations are finally dwindling down. We do actually still have one left. It's on the 20th but it's really more of a chance for the family to get together than a "Christmas Party" it's with my husband's side of the family and they're pretty reserved so it will be a meal and a few board games and it will be time to go home.
On Sunday we had the big family Christmas for my side. As is our tradition, we watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. It so epitomizes our family's holiday celebrations. It never works out the way you think it will. Something always falls apart but in the end all that matters is that we are all together. That's how it always is. We had lots of things to celebrate this year. My cousin had her baby. A healthy little girl. I got to hold her and she was so sweet and snuggly, I could have kept her. Another cousin got engaged. She's marrying the man she's been living with for several years. It's great. Happy times for all.
As the year changes to a new calendar, I'm always reminded of how blessed my family is. We are all in good health. In the last year, two uncles had terrible accidents. Both of them are fine. We could have easily lost one or both of them but they are still with us. We have new beginnings, a baby and a new marriage coming soon and it's a wonderful thing.
Here's to a new year that's as full of promise as the previous years.

Ah, the sighs of relief

So, the holidays are finally over. I did manage to finish the last sock on the morning of Christmas Eve. At least it was before we had to leave the house.
I haven't been around much because of the many holiday celebrations and the nasty cold thing that has it's fickle little grip on me.
Hubby and I are starting a "healthier living" thing. It involves more exercise and eating right. In order to get on track I'm logging our calories and so, planning and cooking healthy meals and logging in our calories has taken up some of my time. Hubby is sick too and we all know how men can be when they are sick.
"I don't feel well, wait on me hand and foot despite the fact that you are sick too." Actually, he's not too bad, but I am the official household soup-maker. Luckily, it's been canned soup lately since I haven't felt like doing anything.
I should have at least one finished thing next week. Until then, happy knitting.