Second Sock Syndrome - Not Me!

Summer of Socks has begun and I'm off to a great start. I started two socks on June 21st and I finished one pair of each today. I'm really excited about these socks too because I just love the yarn!

The first sock is made from Bellamoden's Superwash merino in the color Black Beauty. It's a beautiful color (although I am partial to purple) and the yarn is really yummy. It has a sheen to it and it is so soft and I love how it striped. I am using my standard size 2 double pointed needles with a basic sock pattern. I can't wait until the Loopy Ewe gets more of this yarn in stock.

I finally pulled out a skein of Lisa Souza's yarn that I ordered awhile ago. The yarn is a Superfine Merino Superwash called Sock. The color is called Little Devil and I just love how it striped. I used the no purl monkey pattern. This was really a nice pattern to use. I love the monkey sock, but the no purl monkey sock was even easier since I didn't need to purl. I am using the standard size 2 double pointed needles.

I am working on the second dozen of comfortghan squares for my Dishcloth group and I finished another square earlier this month but didn't post a picture. The pattern is the Belt Welt Cloth by Deborah Mason. I used a size 7 needle with Red Heart TLC Essential Yarn in the Jungle colorway.

Of course I had to buy more yarn. From the Loopy Ewe, I got Trekking Handart in Karicik and the Sanguine Gryphon 100% merino in Dragonfly.

From Enchanted Koll Farm I got a fingering sock weight yarn called Tiam Dalma. Can you tell I like the color purple?

From Whitewillow, I got a machine washable sock yarn (it has 25% nylon in it) in the color Ruby Slipper. This yarn is really nice and I can't wait to knit up a sock with it. I did order another skein in a different color.

Last but not least, I just had to buy Lanas Puras Melosa yarn in the Desert Bloom color. I got it from One Planet Yarn and Fiber to make the Boing scarf from Knitspot.com. I got the kit which gives you the yarn and the pattern. They were great to deal with. I just have to find the time to cast on for the scarf.

Well, back to the socks tomorrow and hopefully I will finish the second pair of both by the end of next week. Second sock syndrome? Not me!

Getting Ready for Summer of Socks 2008

I finished the Alpaca Ped Heel and Toe sock today. Just in time to start on the Summer of Socks tomorrow. I really liked this yarn. It's very soft. The striping got okay. Maybe I should have tried a smaller needle, but I'm not real unhappy with them. I have more of this yarn and will look forward to knitting it up. The color is Carribean Chocolate and I used size 2 needles.

I enjoyed knitting the June Mid-Month Dishcloth. It's called Lacy Waterfall by Jamie Monaghan. It's a real nice pattern and I loved the color of the yarn. I used Peaches and Creme in Shaded Denim with a size 7 needle. I really liked the denim color and have to look for more denim colored yarn to make something else. Maybe a sweater?

Tomorrow starts the Summer of Socks and I have picked out the yarn that I will use for the first two socks. I am using Lisa Souza's Sock Merino in Little Devil with the no purl monkey pattern and Bellamoden's Superwash merino in Black Beauty using a basic stockinette pattern. Yes, I will have two socks going at one time. I usually do. If I get tired with one sock, I can switch to the other sock.

I have been reading too. I have read the following books:

Audition - Barbara Walters (a great read)

M is for Malice, N is for Noose, O is for Outlaw and P is for Peril by Sue Grafton

Twenty Wishes - Debbie Macomber

Lady Killer - Lisa Scottoline

H.R.H. - Danielle Steel

Shopoholic and Baby - Sophie Kinsella

Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert

Red Lily - Nora Roberts

That's 28 books so far and I have 37 more to read to reach my goal for the end of the year. I hope to read two more books before the end of June. Guess I won't get much else done until July.

What a great summer it has been so far knitting socks and reading, but there is much more to come. It's heaven!

Another One Bites the Dust

I finished the Flat Feet sock. I like how this one turned out. I was at Kraemers today and they got more of this yarn in. There were some really unique patterns, but I resisted buying any more.

I just have to finish the second sock in the Paca peds Heel and Toe before the Summer of Sock 2008 starts on June 21st. I should be able to complete it by then. I then have to decide what yarn I will use for my next two socks and if I will do a patterned sock. Decisions, Decisions.

I completed the May Mid-Month KAL in my Yahoo group. It's called Palm Tree. I used size 7 needles with Peaches n Creme in Light Green. Monday starts the Mid-Month cloth. I can't wait.

I was able to finish two more Comfortghan squares. The pattern is Seeded Rib Check by Mary Dixon. I used Red Heart Supersaver yarn in Light Fushsia with size 8 needles.

12 squares are completed so far and I sent them off to the sista who puts the squares together. I have 12 more to do before the end of the year for my goal of 24.

I purchased more yarn. I couldn't resist and the Loopy Ewe is my downfall.

From left to right is Louet Gems fingeringweight in the colorway Crabapple Blossom and J. Knits fingeringweight in the colorway Boston. I also got a Go Knit pouch in orchid.

My STR sock club yarn came. I love the color. It's the Incredible Shrinking Violet in lightweight yarn. Purple is one of my favorite colors.

Plucky Knitter's sock club yarn also arrived. It's called Miss Marianne Dashwood and its 100% BFL superwash yarn. The color is yummy too.

The weather was hot this last week and slowed my knitting. The good thing though is that I have been getting out projects I started awhile ago. Maybe I will finally finish some works in progress off. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Speed Knitter

Well, I have been knitting away at socks to practice for the Summer of Socks 2008. I finished one Flat Foot Sock. I think the striping came out quite well and I really like how it looks. I have cast on for the second sock and hope to complete it soon. At least I don't have second sock syndrome.

I really liked this yarn, so I had to buy another skein. This one is blue, green and purple.

I also cast on for another pair of socks using Alpaca Yarn Company Paca Peds Heels and Toes. The color is Carribean Chocolate. I just love the color. You get enough yarn to either do socks with the striping or you have a small amount of solid color yarn to do the heel and toe. I went with the heel and toe in solid color and like how it turned out. The colors are really vibrant. One sock down, one to go.

I also did two comfortghan squares using Red Heart Supersaver in Light Fushsia. I used size 8 needles. The pattern is Matchstick Square by Karin Glenn-Miller. I have two more squares to do to make a dozen. Once I hit the dozen, I will send them on to the knitting sister that puts the comfortghan squares together. I hope to have these two completed by the end of the week.

The weather has been really great the last few days. It's so nice to sit outside and knit. I have been so relaxed. I think the weather helps to make me a speed knitter? More and more I am loving staying at home and the bonus is that I am cleaning out drawers and closets. I think a yarn sale is in the works. Ah, ha, more money to buy yarn!