Pair 3 Started in the SOS 2007

A simple basket weave pattern, german sock yarn: Strickspass.
I did these on 2 circulars. I have to say.....Didn't like it much. DPNs seems so much easier to me. I used a 16 inch and a 29 inch needle. It was such a pain with all that cording flipping around and getting in my way. I'm doing my second sock on 4 DPNs.


I think I will try doing 2 socks on 2 circs. I see the advantage to that. But otherwise.......I'm not converting.

Have a great Weekend.

Frogging and Filling

Well I finally decided to Frog the sweater I started last Spring. I just was not happy about how the front pattern was looking.



I did not like the center cable.. It was coming out too tight and pulling the yarn to the right and creating long strands along the left side. That no matter how hard I tried to tighten during my knitting, it always seemed to occur. The photo below isn't very clear but you can see how loose the stitches were along the center cable.



I like the yarn. I got it off off Ebay. It was from some farm in Connecticut. It was called Mule Spun. It reminds me of Bartlett yarn. I think I will start a new sweater with it, but I need to decide on a less complicated cable pattern. The moss stitching I did on the back side was really very nice so maybe I'll design something along those lines.

As for my Filler project:
Okay, you must know what a filler project is....a project that will only take a few hours, so it will not interfere with any other project commitment. Since I just couldn't decide on a sock pattern to begin for pair 3 of my SOS2007 KAL, I decided to cast on the filler project the Saarjte baby booties, for my friend who is due in October. A perfect filler project!!




These are just the most adorable baby booties. And they are SOOOOOOOO small. I finished them in about 2 hours including sewing on the buttons.
I knit these in a vintage yarn: Miss Canada (Patons & Baldwins LTD) 100% wool on size 1 needles. The yarn is a very smooth fingering weight with alot of spring to it. Each booties came out to about 3" long.

I think today I will pour over some of my sock patterns and maybe some sweater patterns to decide what I should do next.
Can you believe it, Since I frogged the sweater, I have NOTHING ON THE NEEDLES. Time to get casting on!!

A Time To COMPLETE

Harry Potter Completed!! Undulating Ribbed Socks Completed!!



What a weekend. That makes 2 pair completed for SOS 2007. While not monumental.....this is good for me.

The sockotta sock yarn was quite nice. Not really as fuzzy and springy as a higher wool content, but I like it non-the-less. The socks are cooler and more summer-y. My daughter might take them. She is a huge pink fan.

I must go off and decide what sock is next.

Have a Great Day!!!!

Harry Potter Weekend in Full swing

Some Knitting News First.
These are the pictures of my current Sock Projects. I've been working on the Undulating Rib socks in My Sockotta. I think the first sock came out great. I've already casted on the second sock.....of course while reading Harry Potter. I am trying the Elizabeth Zimmerman's recommendation about reading and knitting. It is a little hard because I need to pay attention tot he pattern and count and read in my head, but really it just slows down both he knitting and reading at this point. I just get the enjoy both for longer.



Also.....TaaaDaaaa! Just a teaser. Below is a picture of my sock that I have designed for the SOS design contest.


I still need help...If anyone is interested in testing the pattern for me I would GREATLY GREATLY appreciate it.

I'm going to spend today at the Harry Potter Movie with my kids and friends and then come home and read the book. Maybe try some knitting along with it.
Happy Harry Potter Weekend Everyone!!

SOS 2007 Design submission. Help Needed!!

The pattern for my SOS2007 design contest is almost done. I just have the toe to finish up on the second pair. I've been diligently knitting a row....writing the pattern....knitting a row....writing the pattern. I was so happy to get to the repeat part so it would go faster. I have to say I am very satisfied how it came out. For my first design, no real issues arose.

I do need some help, If anyone out there is willing to help test the pattern, I'll purchase you the yarn. If you are interested I can send you a picture of the socks I have finished and you can decide if you want to help me. I've already purchased the yarn from Simply Socks Yarn Co. It is the Lanna Grossa Meilenweit-Wool solids in (Pink, Green, Turquoise, & Yellow). I have lots of 2 color combinations to choose from so you can pick the 2 colors you want your socks to be.
If interested please leave me a comment.

Now that I am done with my Pattern designing, I can start knitting socks from others' patterns. I've been scouting all the socks that everyone else is doing at SOS2007. They have given me some great ideas. I love being here with all these potential socks to knit and Yarns to use.

Have a great week! Off to Knit!

Sock Designing for SOS 2007

I have finally settled on the Sock design for SOS 2007. It is different than the socks I finished in my previous post, but I will say.... It's related. The pattern is a play with 2 colors. I made one is a highly contrasting color (Bernat Hot Sox Yarn in blue and white). I'm in the process of finishing this second sock of this pair. I am using up my cheaper acrylic yarn for this first pair as I work out the pattern kinks. I've had this yarn for years before I found the good stuff. I've decided that I will give this pair to a friend who is allergic to wool. She always asks for stuff made with acrylic yarn- which just kills me. But that is what friends do for each other.....make sacrifices. I knit with acrylic just for her. I think I will try to convert her to cotton, silk and bamboo.

Back to the pattern:
I love the look of Fair Isle knitting, but to be honest I've always been very intimidated with doing more than 1 color knitting, other than stripes. That is how I am. If it looks hard, I have a tendency to shy away from it until I finally tell myself , "This is not that hard, put your mind to it and practice." So recently I started playing around with Fair Isle Techniques and swatched out some ideas. And finally I decided I could do this in a sock. So hence I started working on the Ute sock pattern and found that I am an extremely tight knitter, so my sock seemed fairly tight and will not stretch much. Although I can get it on my foot. And once it is on, it is nice and snug. But I don't like to struggle to get my socks on. For me, the end result of my knitting is important. I guess that means I am not a process knitter. I do not want to knit something I do not want to wear. So I've quit working on the Ute socks (for now) and started working out how to use the Fair Isle knitting style in a sock that allows for stretch and comfort while wearing. Plus, I get to submit something to the SOS 2007 Design contest. What fun this has been!!

Wish me luck. I'll check to see if I can post the picture of the socks on this blog. If so I will. I'd love know what others think of them.

Still working out the pattern

Well I am still working out my pattern for the Fair Isle Ribbed socks. I still need to come up with a name. I am thinking Purl Isle (like fair Isle) Or maybe Rib Isle. But that sounds like something you order at a Steak or Ribs Restaurant. I'll have to think about that for a while.

I finished the painting of my Bedroom ( Alleluha!!!!!!) That was such a project. I have absolutely no guilt now about just knitting for pretty much the rest of the summer.





Oh and I included a couple of pictures of the stash. I wanted to look at my sock yarn stash just for inspiration. I decided about 1 month ago I had lots of darker masculine colors and I needed some more lighter brighter feminine colors. Hence I bought the Wildfoote and Sockotta (pinks and yellow)on while on vacation

New pattern

Hi All......I'm Back from vacation. The Outerbanks was beautiful and fun-filled. I did get some knitting done. In fact, I worked out the pattern that is Pretty cool. I only have one sock done. It was intended for using up scrap sock yarn, but I started with a couple of odd balls of sock yarn I had laying around for the first pair.




I tried a combination of some leftover Bernat sock yarn with this pattern to see how it looked in a cuff. It is really very easy to do.

Summer of Socks really begins June22

As usual....I missed the kick off. I'm not ready yet. I've been formulating my sock pattern in my head, but no swatching yet. I've been packing for vacation. I think I need to focus on sock knitting on Vacation.. I'm stopping on the Modified Ute socks to start my OFFICIALLY COUNTABLE socks. Maybe I will start on my pattern. Nah......too much thinking for vacation knitting.

Good luck all!!!

Must pick a pattern. Must pick a pattern!!!

Summer of Socks - Begins for me

Okay.....I know that I am supposed to wait until June 21 to start my socks.....But I couldn't wait. I finished all my sock projects and just could not wait for 2 weeks to start new socks. So.........I began my Ute socks (with a slight color modification). I'm really flying through them!!





The Colors are quite different from the picture in Favorite Socks (Interweave), but I like them. This is the first real multi-color Fair Isle style project I've ever done. I am a tight knitter so I knew I needed to be really loose. I'm not doing too bad. They fit really nice.

Actually, This project gave me a great idea for a sock pattern that I am working out now for the Summer of Socks pattern contest. I'll keep you all up to date on the swatching. The pattern is color based. I'm not sure if color work is very appealing to sock knitters, because, I think, most of you are like me and very intimidated by multi-color knitting. But I'm going to incorporate color blending that Elizabeth Zimmerman discusses in Knitters Almanac - Difficult Sweater (not really). The swatches will tell if this pattern will ever be born.


I'd love to know if other sock knitters have done Fair Isle work. And If not, why not?

Baby Knitting Continues as my Computer Falls ill

Happy JUNE Everyone!!!!

Well, I've finally gotten my computer back on track after a nasty trojan. I hate viruses. Who does that. They should be hunted down and shot. ( sorry, just a bit graphic).

Anyway, in between completely restarting my computer from scratch, I was knitting baby items for some friends. I finished the EZ's Surplice Baby Jacket. Instructions in Spring/Summer 2007 Vogue Knitting. As with all EZ's work, a great pattern!. Here it is in traditional baby colors.


I found out one of my friends is having a girl. So this will be hers.

I've also finished the Baby Booties. I love the Teal ones. I will need to buy some girl color wool to make them again. They were just too easy and really sweet. Besides, these lace up so they are more likely to stay on the baby's little feet.


Off to hunt down all the blogs I lost in my favorites.
Have a great weekend!!

What Fun.... Ohhh, Baby Knitting

I've been knitting away and enjoying every minute. I was inspired by the coral snake exhibit at the Subversive Knitting and Lace Show. For those who have not seen it....It was coral snake skins knitted!!! I wanted to get a picture but the guards wouldn't let me. Anyway, the exhibit inspired my coral snake socks.. I'm almost done with them.


The socks were interrupted by Baby booties. 2 good friends are having babies. June and October! I wanted to come up with something cute but not too involved since I don't have much time for the June baby. Plus we don't know if it is a Girl or A Boy. Then, I found the Old World Booties ( http://www.interweaveknits.com/freepatterns/pdf/win_06/OldWorldBooties.pdf



The picture is of the Gold Bobble Booties (Felted - In Cascade EcoWool Yellow/Aqua). And half way through the Green Serf Booties. I think I will like the serf booties better because they lace up. I'll post the final pictures when done. there is also a pair of Jester booties with bells on them. I may have to make those too just for the fun of it. I had a hard time envisioning how these booties would sew together but once I worked on them a while, it was very evident. And SUPER easy. I can finish one in a night.


I'm also thinking about trying the baby sweater wrap from Elizabeth Zimmerman. I know there was the tutorial/pattern in the last interweave knits magazine. It looks easy and fun...Just my kind of knitting.

Have a great Day!!

Ampersand socks

Ampersands complete
I completed the Ampersand Socks. (Thank you Midnight Purls -http://throughtheloops.typepad.com/Ampersand.pdf ). This is such a great patten. And I love the Madeline Tosh yarn I used(Sorry it took me so long to give feedback - I just completely did not think of it.) I still have probably over 100 yards left after finishing my second pair of ankle socks. I added 3 knit stitches to the middle of the pattern as it was written. This worked out so I could do a Top down sock of 64 stitches.



A little more detail:



New York Trip
While in New York I was able to get to Museum of Art and Design. The Lace and Subversive Knitting show was so nice. I really enjoyed it. I have to say I actually liked the coral snake exhibit which I had not heard about. The idea of knitting animal skins to save the actual killing of these animals for their skins is really COOL!! I'm not a heavy duty animal activist.....I just really loved patterns. I tried to take a picture but was filed by the guard. So sorry......

For now.....off to knit

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

I wanted to get a quick update before I left on my Trip. I have to be in New York for a couple of days for work. I am planning on going to the Museum of Art and Design to see the Subversive Knitting show. I am so siked about that!!!!! I did not expect to get to NY this spring so I figured there would be no chance for me to see this, but just when you think things could never work out......they do.

Anyway. I got a couple of new books and I wanted to share.



The knitted Toys book is very nice. This is the very first time I have ever even considered knitting toys. I have a couple of friends who are pregnant and I I don't think I will have the time to finish baby quilts or knitted or crocheted blankets, so I thought I would knit them toys. One is due in June and I made her first daughter a flannel quilt. It came out really nice, but this time she does not know what she is having( wouldn't turn during the Ultrasound) and I'm not sure if another blanket makes sense. The other lady is due in October. I may still try to make a blanket (probably quilt it because I can do that in 1-2 weeks even with a busy schedule). This is her first. We are still waiting on whether it is a boy or girl. Hopefully this baby will cooperate with the ultrasound

The mouse came out sooooooooo cute. Anyway the book has great pictures. I haven't checked for corrections, but I think I found one in the mouse pattern, but it was really a very small one ( Knit a row that should have been purled for the StSt)

The other picture is of the Ampersand sock. This pattern comes out really great in handpainted yarn. the purple is of course for GE high school ( where my kids go.) I discussed the yarn in my previous post. But i got 2 pair of ankle socks and I still have left over yarn from this skein. It was such a great Value. I've been watching Madeline Tosh on Etsy for more. I think I will buy more. I am waiting to see how these socks where though.

The other book I got was the Interweave sock book that was just published. I have not had a chance to try any of the socks from it. I did do the embossed leaf pattern from the magazine. I love knitting that pattern. It just feels really nice and the pattern was really easy to memorize. I think that was the only pattern that I already had from this book. so I am really excited to try some of the other ones.


I've packed some sock yarn and if I get some quiet time in NY I plan on starting some new socks. I'm going to work on some stripped ones. I've not done any real color work but love the stripped look on socks. I'll let you know how this works out. I'm not sure how far I can carry the yarn in the pattern I am thinking of. there may be some experimentation in this one. But that is fun too.

Ta Ta for now

I've been Busy

Well, I've been very busy this spring. And lovin' it!! Thanks to Lime and Violet I discovered Socktopia (http://socktopia.net/blog/). The sock patterns are just beautiful!! I completed the Fanny Sock for my daughter in her school colors. She only wears ankle socks, because anything higher is just "too old-fashion" for my budding teen.



The sock yarn is absolutely fabulous. I ordered it from Etsy (Madeline Tosh). I would recommend her lovely yarn to anyone. I actually received over 450 yards and had enough to complete a pair of ankle socks for myself. These are in the pattern called Ampersand (http://throughtheloops.typepad.com/Ampersand.pdf). They are coming out very nicely. I'm not exactly a purple fan, but......since I can wear them to my children's' school events, I thought what the heck.




Oh yes...I have also finished the Tunic Tank. I'm not sure if I like the way it looks on me (hence no picture of me in it.) But maybe it's just that I haven't tried it on with the right shirt and pants. I tried it on with jeans and a t-shirt. And I felt like I was putting on a potato sack.....And it looks about that flattering, too. We will have to see if this one gets worn.




I also completed a ragged edge quilt from left over felt this weekend. Some girlfriends and I get together once a month and quilt or knit. I haven't been quilting because I've been enthralled with the knitting bug for some time. But this time I thought I'd drag my sewing machine along and finish this UFO. I'm glad I did. This is a very snuggly quilt.



Happy knitting!!

Just Another Saturday

Well, I finished the I Love Ruffles sweater.....Again. but it definitely fits me much better. I washed it to allow the yarn to "muush" together in the ruffles. It is drying on the ping-pong table.

And I got started on my summery tank top. I am making it in the style of Macie from Berrocco. I cannot get myself to buy patterns anymore. For something like a tank top I can wing it. I cast on with the Channel Isle cast on ( this adds a bead at the cast on edge.) I really like the effect with the garter stitch.




I'm doing it in Cotton ease. I really love working with cotton. I know most people like wool. Don't get me wrong.....Wool is very Nice. But I like how soft and drappy cotton can be. I'll keep you posted on the progress. I don't expect this to be too difficult. I'm really just planning on a simple st st tank. I'm a simple girl.

I've been listening to pod casts today. I listened to the new Christa Knits. I liked it. Also, Brenda Dayne of Cast-On had Amy Singer from Knitty magazine on. She was talking about her new book "No Sheep for Ewe." She recommended the cotton blend yarn Calmers from Rowan. I may have to try it. She said it is the best substitute for wool in any Aran or Fair Isle knitting. I love Aran knitting so I may have to try. The only thing that will hold me back is my stash is still too big.

I fell off the wagon this week. I bought some Katia, Beetle and some Sportive, Marathon yarn on Ebay. Alot of it. It was so worth it. About 2 -3 sweaters full. 26 skeins of Marathon (10-Black, 10-White and 6-Red) and 6 of the Katia Beetle.

I was planning on using the Beetle in my new tank project, but decided that there wouldn't be enough because I was making it very long (mid thigh) So I am saving it for another project. I did knit up a quick swatch, and it seemed to knit up very nice. It had a great spring to it. It forgot to mention that it is a nylon tubular type yarn. Not usually what I even consider, but I think I like the way it knit up. It looked very smooth and defined. It needs to decide what it wants to be yet. I'll let it stew for a while.

Enough rambling....Off to Knit........talk to you all soon.

DeConstruction - The Decision to Fix

I hate to ripe apart my knitting once I've finished a garment, but in this case I just had to!!. My I love Ruffles sweater needed something. I loved the way it fit everywhere but in the shoulders. It was very wide and kept slipping off. I tried to live with it. You know, I kept telling myself it would be sexy for the summer. Like all those photos of models with their sweaters off one shoulder. Well, let me tell you in real life this is just plain annoying.

There is nothing sexy about washing the dishes in your flannel PJ's and having your sweater keep falling off you shoulder!!

Okay. So I ripped out all the crochet frilly edging. This was not easy because it kept getting caught on the woven in ends. Then I decided to pick up stitches along the collar and about 1/2 ways down the front. I worked some short rows at the shoulder seams ( only 2 row) and kept going back and forth until I had 9 rows. I did some shaping at the front edges by binding off about 6 stitches, 3 times each side.




This picture shows the neck line. The shoulder seam is at the right of the picture. You can see how the knitting is coming toward you or "up" the neck. I am now to the point where I am re-adding the crochet frill......... again.


One other change I had to make. I would have run out of yarn, but I decided to do the crochet with 1 strand of the yarn. I had plied 2 strands of this beige yarn together for the knitting part. This has actually worked out really well. Crochet fabric is so much more dense you really don't need as heavy weight a yarn as you do with knitting. Good thing, because I think I would not be able to add the frills in the same yarn if I did not do this.


Knitter REPRESENT!!

Guido, from It's a Purl Man, will be on Good morning AMERICA ( March 19th). I've sent him my idea for the poster he asked for on this last Pod cast. My slogan was

KNITTERS - Take their Yarn All the Way

Tune in if you can and look for Him.

Papa's socks done too

Wanted to let you know I've finished my Dad's socks. The anniversary present is finished. I think they will like them. I made them in 3x3 ribbing. My dad has really wide feet and he says he has a hard time finding socks that are not too tight. After listening to Line&violet talk about the Grumperina socks being very loose because of the 3x3 ribbing pattern, I figured that would be great!!!! ( I just Love them!!! Done you?). Any way.

Let me explain the sock yarn.


I like to resue yarn ( oh yeah - and get a great deal!!) So i hunt ebay for good yarns that are seeking a new life. They York yarn came from a lot of sock yarn I bought from a woman in Canada. I got about 25 skeins of wool/nylon for about $25 .00) It was mostly solid colors, but that is what I like working with the best. I love making lace socks. I think the solids show off the pattens the best.


I'm glad they are done. Because now I can work on something else. I'm thinking about Macie from Berroco. I like the simple style and I really love the (cotton) easy-breezy look. I'll keep you up to date.
http://www.berroco.com/255.262/261/261_macie_lg_pv.html

I have another project that I could work on. It is a Gansey wool sweater. I bought some handspun wool on ebay ( reminded me of Bartlett's but it was from a small farm in Connecticut). I could not pass it up. I got a sweater's full ( 6 skeins of about 200 yards) for 20.00 dollars!!!! I will let you know how that is going. I'm working on it between projects because I cannot wear it until next winter so there is no hurry.

Getting Back on the Band Wagon

I've been gone a long time from writing. My life has been crazy. Actually I just recently got my picture program put back on my computer so I can now download pictures again. (YEA!!!!!)

I've been knitting up a storm. Still working on Socks. I promised my Mom and Dad Socks for their 51st wedding anniversary. So I did the Edelweiss sock in Browns for my Mom and a loose 3x3 ribbing sock for my Dad. He always complains that Socks are too tight so I am hoping he likes these.





I also completed the I Love Ruffles from Creative Knitting March 2007 issue.



I did it in a Cone yarn of Wool acrylic & cotton Blend. I think it will be great for the summer. Also, I've finished a few hats from he book my daughter got me for Christmas. So far I have pretty much loved all the hats. I'm not sure if Berets are my style but the felted hat and the non felted version of the hat in the picture are Great.


Actually, President's Day I went home to visit Family and my Sister-in Law (CA) loved my hat so much I let her keep it. She wore it the whole weekend. I'm really glad she liked it. It was my favorite hat too. I will need to knit myself another one. These were actually the first hats I've ever made. I'm just not a small project person. Unless you count socks. But I will say, they are super quick and fun.

Back to it in the New Year

Well, I've resurfaced into the new year. I've noticed that others have done what I did and seemed to go underground for a few months. I will sy I miss my podcasts and blogs. But I am as guilty as they are. This year's holiday season was hectic, and I dare say I am somewhat glad it is over.

Knitting ahs been very productive. I did make lots of presents for everyone. Mostly Scarves and Socks. I think if I do this next year I will start in June, Not October! Word to the wise!
I did not take pictures of the present I made. They came out really good, but I wrapped them quickly and off they went. So I have no new pictures, but I should soon. I am almost finished with the Eidelweisse socks from Vogue Knitting. They are coming out really nice.

Well off to start my day.