Winter storm

That is A LOT of snow! It's been snowing all day, seems to be slowing down a bit now (5pm) and there is at least 30 cm out there. I'm thinking there will probably be a snow day tomorrow. Good thing I bought that gingerbread house kit last week, it will be a good activity if I have boys home tomorrow. Anyhow, the knitting. I forgot to show one of my FO's from a few weeks ago, a nice warm hat for the Baby Girl (OK, she'll be 2 in January, but she's MY baby). It's a pattern I've wanted to do since I bought the book, Zoe Mellors Double Knits. So, I ordered some Knit Picks Swish Superwash and I did the Inca Hat.



However, it's too big and is living comfortably in a box in the basement with the coat I bought at The Gap on clearance for next year. I stuck to the pattern, except that I did a single crochet edging instead of pick up and knit. I just wasn't in a pick up and knit frame of mind that night and this was quick and easy. If I were to do this pattern again, and I think I would, I would do it in the round. Colourwork and purling isn't a whole lot of fun.

I've also finished my SIL's black slippers. I gave them to her last Sunday and she felted them on Monday, wore them on Wednesday. Loves them. I negelected to take a picture of the big floppy black slippers, so, use your imagination. With the leftover black, I decided to try and make a pair of Dashing for the small boy's Kindergarten teacher. One is done and it looks good, but I'm worried about having enough of the black to make the second. I really don't want to have to run out and buy another ball. If there isn't enough, I guess he won't get them.

Otherwise, I'm still working on the same old things. My longer needle is still backordered at JBW so I might try this week to work Avast on the shorter one, I'm tired of this project, the heel is turned and I'm done the gusset decreases on the second Retro Rib sock, Tangled Yoke sleeve #1 is done. Time to start finishing things if I want to start my first big lace project in January. And no, I don't know what it's going to be yet, but that's the plan.

Cold

Well, winter dumped on us this week. Cold, snow, and more snow and more cold.

My small boy has a birthday next week, and we had a little family party last weekend. Of course, I made a cake. He had originally wanted a Rocketship cake which I was familiar with, since big boy also wanted a rocketship cake for his 4th birthday. But changed his mind and wanted a chocolate cake with race cars on it. Done.

I just love the folded anticipatory hands of an almost 4 year old in the background!

There has been some knitting going on, but everything just feels really stalled right now. I'm waiting on a longer needle to finish Avast, the tangled mess is in time out. I got it untangled and wound, but I can't look at it right now. It's destiny is a hat for big boy (who has FINALLY lost his 2 front teeth!). I've finished the first of my SIL's socks, AKA the socks that never end and my other SIL brought the Classic Merino over last weekend for me to make her 2 pairs of felted clogs so I have pretty much finished the black pair of those, just need to attach the second outer sole and sew up the seam. We're having supper with them on Sunday, I think she'll be pleasantly surprised to have a pair of slippers one week after bringing me the yarn! I was a bad girl and cast on the Tangled Yoke Cardigan too, I was itching to knit something for me and my big project (Avast) is waiting, so I have done one sleeve, I'm going to like this sweater if the sleeve is any indication. So I will leave you with a couple of pics of the Sock That Never Ends and some boring black slippers. Aren't you glad you dropped in today? And I see that someone is reading, so if you are just checking me out, thanks for reading and if you keep coming back, thank you too. And let me know who you are and I'll return the favour.

Retro Rib Socks from Favorite Socks (it's so hard not to put a 'u' in there!) in Socks that Rock mediumweight Mystic Kelp


Fiber Trends Felted clogs, black Patons Classic Merino

3 hrs and counting

This is not the part of knitting I enjoy. This was meant to be a 5 minute task while the little ones ate lunch. Supper's just about ready now.

I'm a bad blogger

Forgive me, for I have not blogged in 18 days! Wow, where does the time go. Well, knitting and 3 kids, that's where it goes.

It's been a somewhat productive 18 days. I did decide to rip back the Yarn Pirate Rum Runner Monkeys (did I mention that?). I added another repeat to the leg and did a flap instead of short row heel. They fit SO much better now.



I also finished the Waving Lace Socks for my MIL. I didn't really like knitting the socks, but I am very happy with the way they turned out. She's going to be very happy, I hope. Hopefully happy enough that she will come watch my kids for when I have to go for JURY DUTY!!!! Yep, I've been summoned. Yay.



Waving Lace Socks from Favorite Socks



The yarn is Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight in January One



I've also finished one sleeve of Avast and I'm halfways through the second, soon it will be time to cram all the stitches onto one needle and do the yoke. I hope to have it finished by Christmas, but we'll see. My afternoon nap knitting time will soon be taken up by the painting of the dining room.

Have a great week to any that are reading, and I'll post more, I promise.

Sugar crash

The day after Halloween, the kids are crashing. The 3.5 year old is a mess today, the boy needs some sleep. Fortunately there is no school tomorrow and he can sleep in. I hope. Boy 1 lost tooth number 5 yesterday, Superman looks pretty funny missing one of his front teeth I tell you. And the Girl, she's just funny, trying to say everything she hears. She quite enjoyed the trick or treating last night and is quite posessive of her bag of goodies.

Anyway, a knittng update. I finished the "Just like yours" socks last week and presented them to my SIL on the weekend, she loves them. Yay!


I'm cruising along on the MIL's Waving Lace Socks, halfway down the foot of sock #1


Avast, is a big grey sweater. I'm done the increases on sleeve one, and now I just have to make it long enough for Mr. Monkey Arms.

Anemoi, j'adore. Almost done, good thing, the mornings are getting rather chilly.

A sad revelation

I came to a very sad revelation yesterday. One I think I really knew all along, but yesterday made me face it. I wore my Rum Running Monkeys for the first time, and they just don't fit right. I love them so much, but I know that I won't wear them in the state that they are in. So, I have decided, I'm going to pull them back to the leg, add a repeat, do a flap heel (they're currently short row) and finish them.

It makes me sad and happy all at the same time.

She gets it

My SIL gets it. She's a non-knitter (but thinking about learning) and she totally gets it.

She was here on Friday night, to felt her slippers and decided on a sock pattern for her STR, and we were looking in the sock yarn bin and I was showing her my lovelies and the STR that they ordered. She squeezed and petted and rubbed them on her cheek, no prompting. Not even a flinch or a weird look when I said I was thinking of keeping one of the sock yarns as a pet.

My husbands sister, she rocks.

AND! Her neighbours cleaning lady raises Alpacas, has them shorn twice a year and pays some one to spin it. She sells some (basically to cover the cost of making it) and donates some to McMaster Childrens Hospital for volunteers to make blankets for the premies that they can take home. So, Jenn is going to get me some and I will make a blanket for a tiny baby. A warm soft cozy blanket, an alpaca blanket. I'm very excited about this. Now I just need to figure out what pattern to do...

Mitten love

One of the projects, I've cut down quite a bit, finished a lot waiting for the STR.

I love the Anemoi, love them. Here they are, right mitt in progress. I just realized today that I have never made full mittens before. I did a pair of Fetching last winter, but never fully fingered mitts. I'm happy. My stranding is kind of hot and cold, they will need a good blocking for sure.



And! I have about and inch left of the 16 Avast inches. YAY!

It feels more like fall today. Grey, rainy, and 12 degrees. I have finshed both the clogs for my SIL, she just needs to come hang out so we can felt them, AND I finished the Cable Rib Socks too. I will probably do these again, quick, easy, and cozy. I love STR. I've said before that I'm not a big fan of this colourway, I like the dark purple and the grey, but not with the green and yellow. The socks turned out nicely and I hope she likes them.


And the cable


Just in time too, I got squishy mail today...

Hot. Too hot.

After 3 very very rainy days, the sun is out today. It's too hot, 30 degrees and humid. It's just crazy. All my boys are outside raking leaves, working up a sweat and getting dirty. The girl is sleeping.

I'm cruising along on the cable rib socks for Emily, STR lightweight, Scottish Highlands. Not my favourite colourway, but she likes it. They should be making their way to Reno by the end of the week.


I'm very tempted to cast on for some little Rum Running Monkey's for the girl tonight, but I love my Anemoi Mittens. I'm really enjoying knitting them and they are turning out just as I had hoped. This is of course after multiple attempts to get the wrist big enough to actually fit over my hand! I'm knitting them Magic Loop (first time!), I wasn't sure how my tension would be trying to do stranded colourwork AND wrangle the DPNs.

Still waiting on my BMFA mail, good thing I have stuff to keep me busy!

Ooops

I did a bad thing. And I think, because of it, I am self-banning from (trying) to sign up for the Rockin' Sock Club 2008.

Because I read the lovely Tiennie's blog, and enjoy it so, I clicked a link. A link that lead me to a new yarn club, with yummy treats I haven't yet tried, but have looked at the colours and thought hmmmmmmmm. I was too late for Petals, but I am now a part of Sundara's Season's Yarn Club. I chose Autumn. It is very expensive, but I did the math and it's totally worth it. And I'm getting silk, hand dyed silk yarn people. I'm in trouble.

Socktoberfest

Wow, has it been a week already?

Well, those darn Rum Running Monkeys are finished. A little short in the leg, but they're awesome. I love the colours so very much.



Next in line for completion are Emily's cable ribbed socks, I'm about halfway down the leg on sock #2. They are a nice quick knit which is nice. They need to be finished before Customs decides to let go of the BMFA yarn that all the IL ladies ordered 3 weeks ago. According to tracking they arrived in Canada on the 28th, and there they sit. I've said it before, I'll say it again. It's YARN people!

I very sadly had to rip out all my progess on the Anemoi Mittens I started this week, the cuff and 14 rows of pattern. The cuff was just too tight. They are so nice, just what I wanted. The colours are perfect.

Let Socktoberfest continue! Even if the socks were actually started in September.

I'm in a funk

I'm in a funk today. Not sure why, but I just want to knit and be left alone. That's it.

I've been surprisingly monogamous in my knitting this week. Well, not monogamous really, but only two projects for the most part. Most of my time has been spent on the Rum Running Monkeys


One is finished, and I turned the heel on the second this afternoon. I've been focusing on these because they are easy and quick and I don't need the pattern anymore. So, five foot repeats and a toe and I have another pair of socks. I really like these, I'm glad I frogged the first pattern I tried and did these instead. In addition to the Monkey's I've been trying to do at least 5 rows of Avast everyday, that takes close to an hour but, also adds almost an inch to the length. It's growing, slowly but growing.

I really need to go to Ancaster. Maybe I'll go Monday, I'll be dragging Kid Monkey's with me. Pleh, the husband just came in here and said "You're not buying yarn are you? You're cut off from yarn right now!" So maybe I won't go on Monday. Meanie.

A Tuesday update

I'm cruising along. We went away with some friends (no kids!) this weekend and I got some good car knitting done with Avast. It takes me almost 10 minutes to do a row so it feels like it's taking forever, but it's almost 12 inches long now, so I'm feeling pretty good about getting it done fairly soon.

I finished one Rum Runner Monkey last night and I'm waiting for Emily to get back to me with the size of her foot, I need that crucial bit of information before I continue.

I would love to get to the yarn store in Ancaster sometime soon to pick up some Felted Tweed for the Tangled Yoke. And, more than likely, some other things too.

Mmmm. I got my squishy Yarn Pirate mail today, my shop order, still waiting on the club shipment. Look for it on Ravelry (greenerknits) sometime soon. Now, I shall Monkey.

Operation: Knit Quickly

So really, not much of anything is getting done around here. Just the necessities, food, clothing, school, and I knit when children are sleeping. Usually, I share that time between knitting and accomplishing householdy type things. Now I'm trying to knock off a couple of projects before the sock yarn arrives and the IL's start saying "How's my sock coming along?". And if I do that, then maybe I can start my TYC. Who am I kidding, I have to get at least two of those socks done before I start that. And there is going to be the quilt wrap too... Oy, what have I done.

Here is todays project, the Cable Rib Sock from Favorite socks

I've really done it this time

I have now officially over-extended myself.

The family was here for Cameron's birthday on Sunday and two SIL's and the MIL made a sock order from Blue Moon while they were here. Between the three of them they ordered 5 hanks of yarn, the $20 shipping cost is much more tolerable for 5 hanks instead of just one. So, that is 5 pairs of socks. Plus Jer's, plus mine, plus Emily's (not actually started yet), plus Avast, plus the Modern Quilt Wrap yarn I ordered last week (it's backordered, I can wait). It saddens me, but I'm pretty sure that my Tangled Yoke will be waiting until after Christmas.

It's good to knit for other people. It is. It really is.

I did it

I watched a 3 minute clip on YouTube and learned how to magic loop. I'm not sure if it's going to be my prefered method, but it's working nicely for the toddler sleeve thus far.

Not excited

My knitting isn't exiciting me much at the momment. I have 12 inches of stocking stitch over 218 stitches on Avast, it's long and tedious, but the yarn is SO SO SO SO SO nice. My SIL (Jen) has requested a pair of felted slippers so I'm halfway through them, quick and easy but for some reason I'm not enjoying them very much (they are pretty though), I haven't taken any pictures. My MIL has also asked my to do a pair for her MIL (Jer's grandma), they are going to be some weird looking slippers I tell you. Her feet are very swollen from lymph node removal 30 years ago, one more so than the other so these slippers are going to be highly modified. Not my strong suit as I haven't ever really modified a pattern before, except for adding length so we'll see what sort of freakish footwear we end up with. The other project is Jer's socks, I'm so slow, but I have to finish them.

I started a pair of Monkeys with the July Booty Club yarn and I'm really glad I frogged the first pattern because I like this so much more. I've done 2 and a half repeats on the leg and I'm stopping until I get my Knit Picks order, the needles I'm using are not anywhere near pointy enough and I can't seem to locate another pair of 2.75mm needles, although I'm sure I have some.

And, my other SIL was here the other day looking at my Pink Granite Monkeys and loved them, she wants some. So I gave her the URL and she proceed to try and order them and SHIPPING TO CANADA COST TWENTY DOLLARS!!!!!!! The yarn itself costs $20, I really don't understand how they find it acceptable to charge people $20 for shipping. There has to be another way. I'm going to email them.

Yesterday was good. My cake was done at a decent hour on Friday night and delivered to the party house in the morning. I was happy with it, and everyone else seemed to be as well.



The Knitters Fair was bigger than I thought it would be. So many interesting things to look at, touch, squeeze and buy. My completely unorganized path here there and everywhere intersected with the Yarn Harlot a number of times. Cool. I bought a ball winder, which I love whole-heartedly and 2 skeins of sock yarn - Smooshy and Cherry Tree Hill. I also bought 2 skeins of Koigu to make myself a syncopated cap. And I met Angela from Red Corset designs to buy my awesome DPN holder. And that's it, no one really brought any Rowan with them that I was able to see, so I didn't get yarn for my sweater or my mom's wrap (still kind of thinking about that one). I have enough on my plate right now, include 2 slipper orders from family so maybe I'll wait a bit.

I want

I really want to do the Modern Quilt Wrap for my Mom. She is a quilter and I think she would really like it. You can get 2 wraps out of 1 purchase they say, but would I really knit this twice. Maybe.

I've just finished the cake for the baby shower tomorrow, and the MIL has the Baby Surprise Jacket to put with the car seat that we group purchased. I hope Kirsten likes both of them.

Now I'm going to knit (something) and then go to bed. Big day at the Knitters Fair tomorrow! Then the shower after that. Ahhhh, a kid free day. Mostly.

There

It took me about 20 minutes, but I just moved all of my posts from my knitting blog on Vox over to here. I can't put my finger on it, but I just don't like it there.

It's late now, but maybe this weekend I'll add the pictures and the rest of the tags. Until then, good night.

If you stumble across this, by Ravelry name is greenerknits, and my LJ name is greener. Creative aren't I?

Wednesday

Finishing things feels good sometimes.

I (finally) finished the Ella Sweater and gave it to Jen last night. Perfect timing, she is seeing Matt and Tanya and the baby today. I really hope they like it. The BSJ is ABB. Don't you love acronyms that you don't understand. All but buttons, I bought buttons this afternoon, and will sew them on tonight and block it, hopefully it will be dry enough to take to my MIL's on Friday so she can put it with the car seat that we bought off the registry.

Now I'm back to Avast. I measured Jer last night and I'l be knitting the L (44 in) for him and probably adding a little bit of extra length, we'll see. I'll need to pick of 3 more balls of the Silkroad Tweed.

And where am I going to get this yarn from? Well, I'm going to try and control myself at the Knitter's Fair on Saturday. I NEED to pick up the Silkroad, and the Felted Tweed for MY Tangled Yoke Cardigan. There was a scarf/stole pattern on the Knitting Daily email the other day that I'm thinking about doing for my mom, it sort of whispered MOM! to me when I looked at the picture so I may get that too, depending on prices and everything of course. And there will more than likely be sock stash enhancement, how can I not. It's going to be a dangerous place.

It's nice to not have to worry about getting the BSJ done, since I have the cake to do on Friday too. I'll have an assitant for the baking process. I'm looking after my friends 5 yr old while Mom drives Dad to his vasectomy. Good thing she likes to bake.

Maybe I'll find something else to finish. I'm sure there is something.

Or maybe not..

So, after some post office stalking on Thursday afternoon, I got my BMFA order. I got a little done on Friday, a lot done yesterday, and somewhere inbetween today. The BSJ is so fun, and the STR is fabulous as usual, the colour is very cute. I actually like a little bit of pooling with my varigated yarn, so I'm missing that a little.

So that's really my main focus right now, I haven't the heart to frog anything yet, but I'm sure it's coming. Damn socks.

The Waterloo County Knitters Fair is on Saturday. Anyone want to come with me? My friend (that knits) will be nursing her post-vasectomy day 1 husband, and my mom will be on her way to Chicago. So that leaves.....no one, I guess I'm going by myself then on to the shower with my pretty little BSJ. I may have to buy some yarn to drown my lonely sorrows, for a Tangled Yoke cardigan maybe?

My plans are all shot to sh!t

So, I'm still waiting. Apparently my package cleared customs on the 27th and arrived at the local postal depot at 8 am this morning. But it isn't at my house. I was REALLY hoping to have it for the car ride to the zoo tomorrow. It's an almost 2 hour drive. So unless somehow, miraculously it arrives before 9am, I'm not going to have it. Damn customs holding up yarn for crying out loud. Don't they have better things to do?

What have I been doing while I wait for my elusive STR shipment. Well, I've turned the heel and worked a bit of the foot of my Yarn Pirate July sock club colour -- Rum Runner in the retro rib pattern. Don't think I like it, and I think I'm going to rip it out. I finished the foot and turned the heel on my Anne Budd Toe-Up sock, the foot fits OK until about 2/3 of the way up then it it just stretched too much and the heel/ankle/leg is too small. So that need to be ripped back too. It's in Lorna's laces Aslan BTW. What have I been doing that I'm not going to rip out? One of Jer's socks is done, that was one long stockinette foot! They're really nice (It, right now it's an it, not a they) and I've done most of the cabled band for his Avast sweater. The new plan is to finish that tonight and pick up the stiches to begin the 8m of stocking stich on the body in the car tomorrow.

My big boy is 7 today. Seven.

Still waiting

OK Canada Post, where is my wool! The last update from USPS said this

"Your item arrived in CANADA at 2:31 PM on August 16, 2007. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later."

I've been checking. And checking and checking. Well, today is August 23rd and it still didn't come. This BSJ needs to be done by September 8th and if that is going to happen, the wool needs to get here!

I've been touching and squeezing the Jo Sharp Silkroad Tweed that arrived on Monday. It's so lovely. I may have to swatch it tonight, I can't take it anymore.

It's a rainy dreary day here today. I've made the buttercream for the cupcakes I will be baking tomorrow for Nikki's wedding on Saturday. The blue is not right. I can get it dark enough in the fondant, but the butter cream is being difficult. I need to add more colour, but I'm really worried about altering the taste of the icing by adding too much. Sigh. And now it looks like I won't be able to stay for dinner at the wedding after all. Some dingbat hospital muckymuck has scheduled a dinner meeting for 430 on a Saturday in August that Jeremy needs to go to. Who does that? So, depending on who HE finds to watch the children (this one isn't my problem) and what their schedule is like, I may have to come home from London earlier than I want to. Sucky.

Starting vs Finishing

OK, in contrast to last week, I now have a finishing bug. Which I guess is better than a starting bug, although, the startitis is still there and could rear it's ugly head at any moment. My BMFA order should be here early next week so that gives me the weekend to finish up a few things before I go hog wild on the BSJ (I'm so excited about knitting another one!). Jer is working this weekend so theoretically I should be able to get a fair bit done. Jen is in Germany, and my goal for finishing the ever-present Ella Sweater is when she returns. Then I can give her the sweater and her dog all at once. The embroidery is paining me, it really is, I need to JUST DO IT! Julia's poncho that has been my car knitting is also in the 'almost' state. It's half-way cast off and needs trim and a hood. These 2 I hope to finish this weekend.

I didn't start any new socks after I finished the monkeys. Well that's not entirely true, I knit the toe of the toe-ups for the 5th (6th?) time and I think I may have it right this time. Still tryng to decide what to do with Rum Runner and the new club colour is being mailed this week!

I've also stalled a bit on MS3, I'm not all that enthused over the wing. I've been doing a few (10 maybe) rows almost everyday and I'm about halfway through clue #4. I need to go look at some pictures of winged stoles. I've considered frogging it and knitting Hanami instead.

The project I would like to start? Either Jer's Avast or a Tangled Yoke Cardigan (Interweave Fall 2007) for me Rowan Felted Tweed in Herb. I actually dreamed about it last night. I need to call Lettuce Knit next week and see about the yarn for Avast, it's been a month and if they can't get it for me I'm going to have to go elsewhere. I need it.

Today, there is a cake to be decorated for Jer's Uncle's birthday tomorrow. It's in the oven right now.

Finished Monkeys

I finished my Monkeys last night. I love them love them love them. I'll make another pair in a lighterweight yarn these are thick and warm and cozy. Good for boots and around the house. They're awesome.

My Bee kit arrived. The wool is beautiful, and the pattern frightens me a little. I'm going to have to take some time to work myself up for it.

I have a couple of Daisies still to sew on the Ella sweater, they take so long and are rather tedious I do one, a day and there are 8 all together. I'd really rather knit.

So now that the Monkey is off my back, what to start now? I'd like to do a sweater but I don't have supplies for that right now. So I think I might go back to the toe up attempt I started/frogged at the cottage. We do have another road trip this weekend to spend Saturday night at a friends cottage......

The bees have landed

I do believe that my Bee has arrived. I got a card in the mail today, tomorrow, I shall pick it up.

The goal for this afternoon is as many monkey repeats as I can manage, I need 4.5 to get to the toe. It's possible, but not likely. And I placed an order at Blue Moon last night, one skein of Watermelon tourmaline in Heavy Weight for a BSJ, and while I was there, I may have accidently purchased lightweight skeins of Terra Firma and Scottish Highlands. I need to be done now.

A little stash enhancement

Two purchases and two July sock club colours.


From Lt to Rt, Ruby Sapphire "Galileo", Socks that Rock "Socktopus", Socks that Rock "Harlotty", Yarn Pirate "Rum Runner"

Cast on Urge

I'm feeling the need to start something. Probably because I am close to finishing a couple of things, and god forbid you actually finish something. Fortunatly these are commissioned gifts, so I MUST finish.

The button bands and collar are done on the Ella sweater, it needs seamed, and the daisies sewn on, and buttons of course. I was hoping to have it finished for Jen this weekend, but that may not happen. Why might it not happen, well because one night this week I chose to knit MS3 instead, so now I am halfway through clue 3. Clue 5 came out today and there are interesting things happening I tell you. I'm going to trust Melanie and go with the pattern, as written. My Bee Fields kit has apparently been shipped, they have shipped up to #10196 and I'm 10189. The rectangular stole version should be available (the pattern) next week. I may have to horde that too. I must not cast on Bee Fields when it arrives. I'm not ready yet.

What I want to do are 2 baby surprise jackets. I got an invitations to Jer's cousins baby shower yesterday, and I would like to make one for her baby, my friend in Vancouver is having another baby and I would like to make one for her too. They are such fun. I'm thinking of some STR heavyweight or Artyarns Supermerino. We'll see, I need to find out if either of them know what kind of baby they are having before I go buying wool.

And it's family camp this weekend. I'm probably just going to bring socks to knit. Hopefully to finish Monkey so I can start something with my new Yarn Pirate Booty Club yarn. I LOVE IT!

Back from vacation

And it was great, and I got a lot of knitting done! MS3 was a little slower going than I thought it was going to be so I didn't get as far on it as I wanted, I'm only halfway done clue #2. But, knock on wood, I haven't had to frog anything, yet. Some tinking here and there, actually some tinking to do when I pick it up again. Oops. I made good progress on Jer's sock, about an inch on the leg left to do but the toe ups I frogged a couple of times. I'm going to have to find a cast-on method I like a little better, the pattern I have makes the toe too pointy, so those are on hold again.

My Ruby Sapphire sock club yarn came, it's pretty, but BRIGHT! Wow. It came with a pattern and some nice beaded stich markers too. I'm still waiting on my Yarn Pirate Booty Club yarn but I clicked the wrong thing on flickr last night and spoiled it for myself. I like it.

That's all for now, I'm not doing any online reading of anything since I have made it a week without hearing or reading any Harry Potter spoilers and I don't want it ruined now that I'm 1/3 of the way through. So, for now, I read instead of knit.

WIP

The knitting update. All the main pieces of the Ella Baby sweater are finished and blocking, I don't plan on furthering it's progress at all until after vacation. It needs assembly, collar, button bands and buttons. It's going to be very cute. Socks, Jer's socks have become car socks, I knit them to and from Toronto on Tuesday, I'm about halfway down a leg. I'm liking them alot. I worked on Monkey tonight while I watched So You Think You Can Dance, and finished all the pattern repeats for the foot, the toe awaits me tomorrow and I will have accomplished the goal of having one done by the time we left. I'm not sure if #2 will be coming with me or waiting at home, haven't decided yet. In Toronto yesterday I bought beads for the Mystery Stole and being the bad girl that I am, I started it. I'm finished row 36 of Chart A of clue 1 (so far behind, clue 4 comes out on Friday). I like it a lot. I have also purchased one of these and hope to do it justice. It will take me a long time I'm sure. And I'm anxiously awaiting some sort of sock club delivery, I know one was shipped on Monday.

I'm going to try and get some pictures tomorrow, but I have vacation packing to do, don't want to forget any crucial knitting bits. And it's my birthday.

It might just be Ravelry that does it

It being the push I need to actually get all my knitting paraphenalia organized. Maybe, in time. Because it will take time out of the knitting to get the knitting organized. And really, what do I prefer?

knitting knitting knitting

Well, Go With the Flow are finished and looking lovely on the feet of Jen. I was very happy with the way they came out and would use that pattern again. And of course you can't finish a pair of socks with out starting another, so I have started some Monkeys, with a picot cuff. One, I'm not sure if I like the picot functionally, it looks great but kind of floppy, and two, I've turned the heel and started the foot, but I'm thinking of ripping back to the leg and adding another (6th) repeat. I'm pretty sure I'm going to actually. I also have a pair of socks for Jer in Trekking that I'm cruising along on. They are a 2x2 rib and I knit them while the boys are in the pool or we're just sitting around, they're my upstairs socks/car socks.

I'm starting to try and figure out what I'm taking with me when we go on vacation next week. Monkey will come if it's not finished, Jer's socks, the Lorna's Laces to try some toe up, the poncho I've decided to make with the lovely Artyarns, and the Mystery Stole. Plus Order of the Phoenix and Half Blood Prince to re-read before I get home and can dive right in to Deathly Hallows. Think that's enough?

Go with the flow, just go with the flow

So I'm cruising along on SIL's go with the flow socks. And after having to knit the heel flap twice due to my own stupidity, I negelected to remember that when I isolated the stiches (I think) as the pattern stated they weren't centred in the patteren, so I knit the entire heel flap, turned the heel and realized what I did. It was late, Jer said don't worry no one will notice, I lost sleep that night and ripped it back in the morning. I just couldn't live with it. So I knit the flap again while watching the boys swim on Friday afternoon, then turned the heel, mostly. After they went to bed I picked up my sock and the heel was all wrong, apparently I can't count properly and supervise swimming at the same time. Rip back heel and start again. By the time I went to bed Friday night I was only slightly farther along than where I was 24 hrs previously, but it's right. Now, here it is Sunday, late afternoon, and I have finished all the gusset decreases (I don't particularly like flap heels) and I'm cruising away on the foot. They need to be done for Friday night because we are going out for supper with them and I want to give them to her. AND, I want to finish them so I can start my Monkey's, I've decided that's what I'm doing with the Pink Granite, AND I'm expecting sock club yarn and I may need to start something with that, or I may have to wait and see what it wants to be first.

Tonight, no sock, super soft baby sweater instead. I want to get one pattern repeat done on the first front panel and sew the ends in on the completed back. That's the trick to me doing colourwork, sew the ends in as I complete each piece, then it's not quite so daunting.

I should take some pictures. Because really, what's the point of just talking about it if you can't see it. Not that anyone reads this anyways. Except maybe Ange.

Beaucoup de sock yarn

So here's the deal. I now own more sock yarn (in the house and in transit) than I can knit. Solution. Knit faster, knit more.

I've joined not one, but two, 2, sock yarn clubs. Ruby Sapphire on Etsy has a 6 month club and I happen to look at the Yarn Pirate blog just after she opened registration for her new club and got a spot. I've never even touched wool from either of them. And they both start in July. I'm just a little bit excited. Almost done the Jaywalkers!

My new obsession with socks

So here's the deal. I'm knitting Jade STR Jaywalkers for my mom, she needs to try it on, I don't think I can start the toe yet. I'm not sure if I like the wearablitly of them, they don't have much stretch. We'll see when she tries them on tomorrow. There may be a frogging in my future. I'm also knitting a pair of Go With The Flow socks from Interweave with some Fleece artist, I love them but they are for the SIL. She also needs to try them, but she doesn't know I'm making them, difficult. I have a sock yarn hoard, it's not quite a stash yet, but I'm getting there. I have some Charcoal STR and Trekking in some colour for Jer, I bought some mediumweight STR Pink Granite from ebay, and I just this morning got 2 colours of Lorna's Laces from Ebay. I'm bad.

On the needles

1. Second Rockin' Sock

2. Raglan toddler sweater using "The Precious". This could quickly be frogged if I find a better pattern

3. Sewing together Cabled Coat

4. Must find buttons for Lucy's sweater

5. Must block Purple wrap-around sweater

It's really not that much.

I'm supposed to be going to the LYS on Saturday. Hopefully I will be getting supplies for Jen's friend's baby's sweater (Jer delivered her) and if I can get the man to pick a pattern, wool for that too. Maybe something for C or J.

I made a list of Blue Moon colourways I want

Lucy, Little Bunny Foo Foo, Socktopus, Terra Firma, Undertoe, Covelite, Jade, Obsidian. That's a lot of sock yarn, but as I was trying to explain to Jer, it's entertainment for me costing about $1/hour. It doesn't really get any better than that. It's cheaper and more practical than say, GOLF!

Hand-dyed, beautiful Hand-dyed

Well, the needles finally came. They are so pretty and shiny. I should start on the sleeves to the ladybug sweater now. Should.
I've been looking and looking at Blue Moon Fiber Arts WAAAAAAY to much. Everytime I go there I find a new colourway that I want, I must get to Toronto soon before I start spending money on shipping in addition to too much sock yarn. I finished the Rockin' Sock in Blue Moonstone last night and although it's beautiful, I think I prefer a short ribbed cuff followed by the stockinette in the leg rather that the ribbing all the way down. I do like the look of the short row/ hourglass heel though.
I'm almost done the back of the sweater I (finally) decided to make out of the GORGEOUS Artyarns supermerino. With only 4 hanks my options were pretty limited. I'm still a little worried that I won't have enough but we'll see. I'll do the sleeve next and if I have to dive into the third I'll have to frog it and try something else. I'm not good at this 'buy some yarn and decide later what to do with it' thing. I'm a buy yarn with a purpose kind of gal. I still buy a lot of yarn, but it's all spoken for.
And now, on with the day.

First socks!

The first socks are done.
Pattern from Knitting Rules! by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee aka The Yarn Harlot
Flap heel.
Trekking Pro Natura Colour #1601

April 26, 2007

I've been knitting like a fiend lately. Pretty much every chance I get, my house is suffering because of it so hurray for Olga every second Monday.
I've done a 2 adult pairs of felted clogs, 2 kids felted slippers (and taught 3 other people how to do them), a baby surprise jacket, a cardigan originally meant for for JIG but now I think I might send it to Vancouver to a friend that just had a baby, a wool soaker, a hooded jacket for JIG that has yet to be put together (it's a size 3 so I don't have much incentive to sew it) and I'm working on a pair of socks right now with the wool for 2 other pairs (plus ideas of buying more sock wool). But before I allow myself to buy more sock wool, I must eliminate the ladders, the terrible crappy looking ladders. It's very frustrating.