Friday, July 25, 2008
I blame it all on Ravelry...
I've been kind of absent lately and I blame it all on Ravelry. It's just too easy to upload projects and yarn directly to Ravelry instead of posting here....but I'm going to try to get better. I have a lot to blog about, just need the patience to do it.
I've been up to a few things since I last blogged....the yummiest was a knitting retreat in Greer, Arizona with my knitting grrrls. We stayed in a beautiful cabin up in the mountains. The weather was absolutely gorgeous with rain and thunder and the highs in the 60's during the day. I know to some this sounds absolutely dreadful, but it's no picnic living in Phoenix in the summertime, so rain and cool weather are what we want. It also makes for delish knitting weather. We spent our time cooking yummy meals, knitting, spinning, talking, sharing, watching movies and bonding. I love my knitting group so much and it was great to spend a weekend away with them. Next time, we did decide to stay a little closer to home and to extend our stay. The 4 hour drive and only 1 full day wasn't quite enough...but it was fun, just the same. You can see my whole Flickr set of photos from the trip here.
For my mindless knitting in Greer, I chose to cast on for another pair of socks for myself in Yarn Chef Minestrone sock yarn. HEAVEN. This is the softest, most buttery, delicious sock yarn EVER and the striping...the glorious striping. Take a gander at my first finished sock.
I'm calling these bad boys my Rice Dream Puddle socks. The colorway name is Ice Cream Puddle, but, you know, I'm dairy-free IRL so I had to mix it up a bit. I'm anxious to cast on for the second one, but first, I promised The Mister a pair of socks too...so I cast on for The Gentleman's Fancy Sock in Railway Stitch from Knitting Vintage Socks. I'm using the yarn he picked for the pattern which is Dream in Color Smooshy in Cocoa Kiss. I think he chose well.
Be back soon...I promise...with more sock results as well as a yummy cookie recipe and a Ravelympics project. Have a super weekend.
Labels: da blahs, DIC Smooshy, Life...le sigh, Ravelry, sock love
Monday, July 7, 2008
Close but no cigar...
Last year, my knitting goal was to understand the anatomy of a sock and to be really comfortable knitting them. To find out what yarns I liked to knit them with, what needles I preferred and to figure out what heel and toe fit my foot the best. I succeeded and became obsessed with knitting socks. The love affair is still constant and beautiful, but I decided that I wanted to knit them with more consistency and that I was ready to take on some more advanced sock patterns.I joined the Sock A Month KAL 5 which started this past January. The goal was to knit and post a pair a month...I did great....until the last pair. I finished a day late. At first, I was upset about it...feeling like I didn't meet the goal I set out to make, but then shortly realized that...well, that's not what knitting's all about. For me, it's my stress reliever, my social outlet and my little piece of heaven. I got over it and looked back at all the beautiful socks I knit over the past 6 months and was again, ever grateful that I'm a knitter. The people I've met, the things I've done, the skill I've gained, the peace it brings...it's not about the ultimate goal, but the ultimate feeling of joy that it brings into my life.
January
February
March
April
May
June
My June socks, finished July 2, are Hedgerows by Jane Cochran. I used Sundara Sock in Candied Chrome and size 1 Knit Picks Nickel Plated DPNs. This sock yarn was a DREAM to knit with!
So there it is....6 month's worth of socks. Socks I'm happy with. Socks I learned a lot about knitting from. I knit my first pair of lace socks during the past 6 months. I also used several new sock yarns that I'd never knit with before like Yarntini, Vesper, sKNITches, Dream in Color Smooshy and Sundara. I think that's a lot to be satisfied with.
I decided not to join the next 6 months of the KAL because I'm going to start on another knitting goal...one that's kind of well....FREAKED ME OUT....I'm going to knit my first sweater.
My sweet friend, Gherkin and I are going to knit Pamela Wynne's February Lady Sweater out of Cascade 220 on our knitting retreat to Greer this coming weekend. I did my swatch the other night and got gauge spot on!
I'm excited. A little nervous. And eagerly anticipating what this next goal will bring to my knitting....I have a sneaky suspicion it will be, stress relief, socialization with dear friends and my little piece of heaven.
Labels: Life...le sigh, SAM KAL, sock love
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
A pair of drinks
My thirsty socks are done. Mint Mocha Lattes are finally a pair. I hope she loves them.
Specs:
Pattern: 3x1 rib, slip stitch heel, "Charade" toe
Yarn: sKNITches Syncopation in Mint Mocha Latte
Needles: Knit Picks Nickel DPNs size 1
Recipient: My MIL for Mother's Day
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Wee Tiny Things & Sock Yarn that Makes Me Thirsty
I joined Emily's Wee Tiny Sock Swap after having a great time knitting for the Dish Rag Tag also hosted by Miss Yarn Miracle herself. I got the name of the person I was making the sock for on Friday night and in about an hour last night knit up this little sock. I love it. I made it out of The Plucky Knitter Merino Fingering in colorway Manor. Love.
I've also been knitting on my Mother-In-Law's socks. I can post these here because I know she doesn't read my blog. She's been hinting for a while about wanting a pair of handknit socks so I decided to knit her some for Mother's Day. It's pretty easy knitting these because we wear the same size shoe. She has a bit of a skinnier foot than I do so I just did the foot on 64 sts instead of my usual 68. They are turning out so cute. I'm using sKNITches Mint Mocha Latte dyed for me in a special order by Sam. I'm hoping to cast on for the second one tonight during the Mister's ice hockey playoff game. :)
Have a happy Sunday! The Mister and I have date night tonight. My MIL is taking the 'Nut overnight so we can go out to dinner and go to my man's hockey game...it's the first one I've been able to get to in 2 seasons so I'm really excited!
Labels: Plucky love, SAM KAL, sock love
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Embossed Leaves Love
I just finished these last night and I couldn't wait to take pics and say that they were done. I LOVED KNITTING THESE! It was my first time doing a lace and charted pattern and it was soooo much fun! I am thrilled with the fit on these and the yarn was a dream to work with. Without further ado, my Embossed Leaves aka My SAM KAL 5 March St. Patty's socks.(click to make any picture bigger)
Specs:
Pattern: Embossed Leaves by Mona Schmidt from IK Winter 2005
Yarn: Dream In Color Smooshy in Happy Forest
Needles: Knit Picks DPNs in Size 1 1/2
Mods: I used the heel from this pattern from Favorite Socks, instead of the suggested short row heel in the magazine pattern. A big thanks to Melana for sharing.
Notes: I LOVE LOVE LOVE this sock yarn so much. This is my new fav. It's so beautiful...the pics couldn't do it justice and it is so soft and smooshy. I'm glad I have more in my stash!
Labels: DIC Smooshy, lurve, SAM KAL, sock love
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Strange Little Valentines
I can't believe it's been almost a month since I posted...DOH! It seems I have less time lately to blog...or is it that I spend more time on Ravelry? :)I thought I could share some baby knitting with you, but everything hasn't been received by the mamas yet, so I need to wait to share those, but in the meantime, check out my February Socks for SAM KAL 5!
I adored knitting these. It was my first time knitting with Vesper and boy was I pleased. I'm so glad I have another skein of her sock yarn in my stash!
Specs:
Pattern: 3x1 rib, 64 sts on the leg, 68 on the foot, slip stitch heel, "Charade" toe
Yarn: Vesper Superwash Wool/Nylon Blend in the StrangeLittleMama colorway
Needles: Size 1 Susan Bates DPNs
My socks for March are these babies...my first lace charted socks. The pattern is Embossed Leaves and I'm using another new-to-me sock yarn, Dream In Color Smooshy in Happy Forest.
More sock details, baby knits, vegan goodies (and recipes) and the cutest hat evah made for Miss Buggernut. Have a fabulous weekend!
Labels: SAM KAL, sock love, Vesper
Friday, January 18, 2008
January Socks Fini!
I finished a pair in just 15 days! This is a big deal for me since I very rarely have time to knit during the day and have just a few hours after the Buggernut is in bed at night.
Perfect with my Keens, no?Specs:
Pattern: Charade by Sandra Park
Yarn: Merino Sock in Rum Runner (the first Booty Club shipment)
Needles: size 1 Susan Bates DPNs
Pattern: Charade by Sandra Park
Yarn: Merino Sock in Rum Runner (the first Booty Club shipment)
Needles: size 1 Susan Bates DPNs
Up next: February KAL socks I'm naming Strange Little Valentines....want a peek?
Labels: SAM KAL, sock love, Yarn Pirate
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Rum is goooooooood.
Rum Runner that is. I am in love with this colorway. This is from the first Yarn Pirate Booty Club shipment back in August. These were destined to be Monkeys but I had sizing issues so they are becoming my second pair of Charades. Yarn Pirate Merino Sock works REALLY well with this pattern...I bet any variegated would too. One down, seocnd sock cast on...about 45% more to go. Looks like I'll make the January KAL goal I made for myself!
Labels: SAM KAL, sock love, Yarn Pirate
