I am a Sock Machine

Honestly, one sock on the needles isn't enough anymore. I have to be working on more than one sock because I have all of this neat sock yarn to try out.

I have finished the Luna Park socks and I'm very pleased how they turned out. I do have another colorway and will try that out at a later date.

As I was finishing up this sock, I cast on for another pair using Socks that Rock in the Fire on the Mountain colorway. I had been using this yarn with another sock pattern and didn't like how the sock was coming out. That was in my early sock experience days when I was a greenie to sock knitting. I rewound the yarn and decided I needed to try it again. I really like how the striping is coming out. I like this yarn a lot. It seems heavier than the Online and Luna Park yarns, but it's still a Fingering weight yarn. I am ready to pick up stitches for the heel.

I have been having problems with the heel. The stitches on the one size of the heel seem to be larger than the other side and as a result, I have a gap in the yarn. I have gotten some advice from knitters in the Yahoo forums I belong to and they have referred to two books I already have. One is Nancy Bush's Folk Socks and the other is Queen Kahuna's Crazy Toes and Heels. They are great books to have and have a wealth of information in them on knitting socks. I highly recommend both books.

Once I finished the Luna Park socks, I cast on another sock using Wollmeise in Suzanne. This yarn is like butter! I love it so much. I have two other skeins of Wollmeise that I got from the Loopy Ewe and now I must have more. It's hard to get since whenever the Loopy Ewe has a sneakup, it goes quickly.

I didn't go to Stitches. ;-( The Baltimore marathon was going on at the same time and I was afraid that I would have trouble finding a parking space. So, we didn't go. Next year we will plan better and maybe go down overnight or go on Friday.

Meet Patsy and Morris

I would like to introduce Patsy and Morris. Aren't they the most adorable toys? I got them from Little Cotton Rabbits . Julie does such a great job with these. The detail is amazing. I was so excited when I was able to get two of them.

More sock yarn. Ravelry is just great and one of the great things about it is that if you find a yarn you like on the site, you can trade or buy it from someone. I saw the yarn on Lolly's blog. I loved the colorway and knew I had to have it. She calls them her Autumnal Equinox socks. I searched on Ravelry and found someone who had the yarn and asked where she bought it. She was willing to sell or trade, so I bought two skeins. How wonderful.

It looks like I may be able to attend Stitches in Baltimore this Saturday. I will take my camera and report back. Sock yarn is definately on my list of things to get. I am scoping out vendors that I want to make sure I visit. This will be my first Stitches event. I am so excited!

Luna Park - How I love this sock yarn!

I have been knitting away on my Luna Park socks. On this sock, I have been perfecting my sock knitting even more. It's interesting how I am getting more and more confident on knitting socks and learning more as I go along.

I am enjoying this so much that I am already picking out what sock yarn I will use next. I haven't come to a decision yet, but I'm close. I really want to finish this pair up by the end of this week. I don't need a fancy pattern. The basic Patternworks sock is enough for me right now.

I have been working on comfortghan squares. I should have no problem getting a dozen completed by the end of the year.

Simple Garter Lace Square:

Elegant Lace Square:

Double Broken Rib Square:

I know that I will need to block these before sending.

I haven't been buying too much new yarn lately. I may be going to Stitches East, so I am waiting to find out if I will definately be going.

I did get some Wollmeise yarn from the Loopy Ewe. I was able to snag three skeins of yarn. I had some yarn in my basket and was checking out other yarn, when next thing I knew the yarn was gone. I quickly added these three skeins to my basket and checked out. I want to become a Loopy Groupy! I just love this online store.

The colors are from left to right: Spice Market, Suzanne, and Pfefferminz Prinz. I can't wait to try this yarn. Maybe one of these will be my next sock?

I was also able to buy some limited edition yarn from Sundara Yarns. They are both 100% superwash merino yarn.... Yummy!

Swirled Prussian

Crushed Cherries

I really love Ravelry. It's so cool to be able to see different yarns and what people have knit with the yarns. I was even able to buy some yarn that I saw in someone's stash. We worked it out and it should be on it's way by the end of the week. Can't wait!

Read and Watch the World Grow

I have been doing quite a bit of reading. It's funny, I have been keeping track of the books I have read since 1985. It's interesting to go back and see how many books I have read in a year. Some years it's quite a lot (at one time I worked in a library as a bookkeeper) and other years it's very few or none at all. The most books I ever read in a year was 57 in 1988. Because I haven't been working I have been reading like crazy. I have currently read 45 books this year and I am determined to at least meet or beat the amount of books read in 1988. Since, I only have to read 12 more books, I think I can meet that goal. I would have to read at least one book a week until the end of the year. Let's see how well I do.

I have currently read the following books: I'm a Debbie Macomber fan and I have read A Little Bit Country, Country Bride, 74 Seaside Ave, Caroline's Child, Dr. Texas, and Back on Blossom Street. I love them all. I have continued with Stephen White's series about Alan Gregory and have read The Program, The Best Revenge, Blinded, Missing Persons, and Kill Me. There is only one more book in this series and I will be sad that I have read them all. I am sure he is writing more, but I will just have to wait until he finishes writing them. I also enjoy Mary Higgins Clark and just finished No Place Like Home and I couldn't resist reading Wonderful Tonight by Patti Boyd. She was married to George Harrison and Eric Clapton. They both wrote wonderful songs about her. I see that Eric Clapton has an autobiography coming out. I will have to get that book to read.

What would I do without books and knitting?

More Socks

This past week has not been a good week. Around Tuesday, I started with a sore throat and felt awful the rest of the week. It didn't really feel like a cold so I guess it was allergies. I certainly slept a lot and didn't get much knitting done.

I did finish the Online blue socks and they even fit. I am so excited!

I have been adding more sock yarn to my stash. I ordered from Seaport Yarn. I saw Luna Park in a magazine and fell in love. So I had to get me some and while there I found Colinette Jitterbug. The Luna Park is color 200 and 204 and the Jitterbug yarn is in the Kingfisher color. I've heard some controvery over this yarn, so I will have to see what happens. It looks as if I may need to wash the socks separately, when I first wash them.

Since I finished the online sock, I really wanted to try out the Luna Park. So, I cast on and I've finished the gusset. I am ready to turn the heel. I am using color 200 on size 2 needles with the Basic Patternworks pattern. I really like how the striping is coming.

Stash Enhancement

Well, I have been adding to my stash and there is more to come. Of course, I had to buy yarn at Kraemer's fabulous 50% off sale. I didn't get many different kinds of yarns, but I got quite a bit. I got a skein of Sockotta in color number 6670 and I got 20 skeins of Summit Hill in pearl. Kraemer's name brand yarn was not suppose to be on sale, but they reduced the Summit Hill because they are going to be making hanks instead of balls.

When I went to class that Saturday, I got there about 5 minutes early and had a hard time finding a parking space. Fortunately, I have been there often enough, that I parked in the back of the store. I got in the store, picked out my yarn and got in line. It didn't take me long to get checked out. Thank God. Not too much later you had to wait in line for 45 - 60 minutes to get checked out.

I also added Shi bui sock yarn in color number 51302 and Dream in Color Smooshy in happy forest. I got these skeins from Simply Socks Yarn Company.

From the Loopy Ewe, I got Dream in Color Smooshy in Lipstick Lava, All things Heather in midnight frost, and Shi bui in color 1675 (it's like a pumpkin color).

I just ordered more yarn from the Loopy Ewe today. I wanted some Wollmeise. I had to order fast. I had yarn in my basket and before I knew it, it was gone. I got three different skeins though and just checked a couple of minutes ago and the Wollmeise is all gone. Thank god I got some.

I also was able to snag a skein of Dragons Blood from Hello Yarn. She is having another update tomorrow and I would really like to get some Homespun yarn. Hope she has some.

I guess I better get to knitting me some socks!

Knit One, Purl Two pick up a stitch that's all you do.

Where the heck did I get that title? Somehow it just popped into my mind. I must have learned it somewhere.

I have been knitting away and wanted to post my pictures. Mostly dishcloths and comfortghan squares.

Here is the progress on my sock. One down, one to go. I think it's looking pretty good, plus I got the second sock to start around the same point, so they should be a matched pair. I have to get me some sock blockers.

I have been knitting dishcloths. This one is from the Monthly dishcloth group. It's a Happy Birthday cloth designed by Kim Fortin. I used Sugar and Cream in a hot blue color.

The second one is called the Straight Vines Cloth from my Dishcloths R US Yahoo group. It is designed by Katherine Frazier and I used Sugar and Cream green stripes.

Here are two comfortghan squares I completed out of my goal of 12 for my Dishcloths R US group:

The one on the top is called Little Checks Square by Mary Dixon and the one on the bottom is called Basket Welt Square by Mary Dixon. I used size 8 needles for both and I used TLC Essentials yarn by Red Heart in Fusion.

I am currently working on another Comfortghan square in addition to my second sock. My fingers are flying!

Yarn Buyers Anonymous

I am obsessed by yarn. It truely is an addiction. I wonder if they have a group that could help me. I wonder if they call it YBA (yarn buyers anonymous). Help ME!

Well, I didn't just buy yarn for no reason. I really like WEBs and have never ordered from them. So I found two yarns to buy. One is Valley Yarns Franklin in the Macaw color for socks of course.

Then, I have heard so much about Tofutsies yarn from Southwest Trading company, that I had to try this skein in color 727.

I want to make the Noro striped scarf with Silk Garden for my husband for Christmas. So I bought 4 skeins. Since some of the colors were discontinued, I had to get them from several different places (none from Webs).

I had mentioned in an earlier post that I wanted to knit Elizabeth Zimmermans baby surprise jacket. I finally got the yarn I ordered from Sundara yarns.

And then my Socks That Rock yarn club sent me this package:

The color is called Flower Power and I think it will make beautiful looking socks, don't you?

I have more yarn coming from the Loopy Ewe (I actually was able to buy yarn during a shop update), Hello Yarn (it was tough getting yarn here, but I was able to order a skein during her shop update), and some yarn from Simply Socks Yarn Company. All yarn is for socks.....see I am loving knitting socks, but I really need to attend a YBA meeting soon. Does anyone want to join me?

I am still knitting away on my sock, but I am getting closer to getting it finished. I did knit another dishcloth for my Yahoo dishcloth group. We are trying to get pictures of all of the dishcloth patterns posted in our files, so everyone is busy knitting away. This is called the Leaf Allover Lace Cloth.

The End of Summer?

The last week of August brings back memories. By this time, I was ready to go back to school; however, back in the day when I was in school, we started after Labor Day. Some schools have already started and our school district starts tomorrow. To be that young again to have to worry about school.

I do love the Fall though. I think it's the crisp clean air that comes with it and the leaves turning colors. I love the first snowfall, but just like the heat, I get tired of it and can't wait for Spring. It already feels like fall because it is getting darker earlier. I will be glad for the cooler weather though so I can begin to get things organized around the house. It was certainly and wonderful summer and I so do not miss working.

I am feeling real good about knitting socks. I am taking my time and recording the rows I am knitting to make the second sock easier to knit. I did get past the heel with a little help from my knitting teacher. When I had to pick up stitches on the one side, I kept getting holes. She fixed it for me. So, now I just have to knit the foot and toe and then I can start on the second sock. It is going quickly though and I am having more fun that I had before trying to knit socks.

It's funny though. I am using Plymouth bamboo needles for this sock and I just love the needles. I am finding that the yarn I am using for a project and the needles I use make a big difference on my desire to keep knitting a project.

I was able to purchase two new socks books. One is by Cat Bordhi called New Pathways for Sockknitters. It's a whole new way of knitting socks. What I like about it is that you can practice by knitting baby socks. She also gives you the instructions on knitting with circular needles and double pointed needles. I will definately be trying the patterns in this book.

The second book I got is by Ann Budd called Getting Started Knitting Socks. I got this book for the basics and it doesn't disappoint me.

I finished a dishcloth from one of my Yahoo groups called the Lacy Hearts Dishcloth. This was a fun dishcloth to knit and it gave me a reason to use the new Sugar and Cream stripes yarn in Pink. I think it turned out really nice.

Speaking of Yahoo, it really has been giving me trouble lately. The emails from my groups have been bouncing and I have to keep going in to reset myself. Hopefully, it will be fixed soon.

Socks, Socks, Socks

I am finally knitting socks and I think I am starting to get the hang of it. I finished the Cascade Fixation ankle socks that I was working on. This really is the second pair of socks that I have knitted, but I really feel as if I did better on this pair.

So, I have started another pair of socks using Online Supersocke 100. Color 924 and using size 2 bamboo double points.

I had two other pair of socks on the needles that I hadn't finished and I decided that they were too complex, so I frogged them. I will use the yarn for other socks, but I need to stick to the basics before I get too fancy. Since I was frogging away, I also ripped out a doggie sweater that I had started for Sadie. I just didn't feel right using that sweater for Maggie and I really hadn't gotten that far. I now have all of my projects organized. I have thirteen projects in the works and I feel better about them all.

1. Silky Tie Wrap - I may frog this and start all over.
2. Sweater - front is done and I'm working on the back. The back is about half compete. I really need to start this again. This was the first knitted project that I started with back in June of 2004.
3. Shrug - almost complete. I probably only have a couple of rows left and then I can start to sew it together.
4. Candle flame shawl - I restarted this a second time because I made a mistake. I learned from the mystery stole 3 and I put the directions in a spreadsheet. It is more organized and will help me keep my place. I just have to recheck the spreadsheet and can pick this up again to work on.
5. Chevron Scarf using STR yarn - I restarted this scarf since I didn't like how it was turning out. I am now on the right track.
6. Mystery Stole 3 - I have three clues to finish, but was waiting for the final pictures of the wing to be posted to see how this turns out. I will probably knit the wing.
7. Beach tote - Front is complete and Back is almost done.
8. Black fingerless gloves
9. Ripple Afghan - will start this up again soon.
10. Snowflake dishcloth
11. Barbara Walker's Square A Long afghan - I have one square complete, but I'm in no rush to finish this.
12. Online Sock - just started this
13. Comfortghan squares for my Dishcloth group - I am determined to complete a dozen before the end of the year.

So, with all of these projects, you would think I would not be thinking of new things to knit. But Kraemer Yarns just developed a new yarn called Sterling that is Superwash merino, silk, nylon and yes Sterling Silver. They currently only have it in White and I had to buy a skein. My first thought was socks, but it is yummy enough for a small scarf. So, once I find a pattern, I will be trying this yarn. They are going to have this in other colors. Black is coming out next.

I also found out that Kraemers is going to come out with a line of sock yarn. They are going to start with solid colors first. I can't wait to see it! When I went to class this week, I was shocked to see that they had the Dream in Color yarn. I was ecstatic! I was even more surprised to find out that they make the yarn. So many new things and so little time to knit them all!

I am in Sock and Yarn heaven!

The Heat is ON

Boy is it hot! The next couple of days are not suppose to be cool ones. It's days like this that make me look forward to fall weather. At least we have air conditioning to keep us cool.

I'm in a funk with the mystery stole. Melanie posted Clue 5 on Friday and it's a wing. The theme is Swan's Lake and it's a beautiful story and wonderful theme, but I'm not sure about the wing. There are two more clues to finish and I figure that I don't have to keep up with everyone and can finish later when I get my mojo back. From some of the posts on yahoo, I think quite a few knitters are not real happy on how this is turning out. I'm sure many are refraining from speaking out for fear of being slammed by some of the other knitters. Melanie is being a real sport and understands. Don't get me wrong. I love how the wing looks, but I am more traditional and would rather have had the stole follow the symmetry of the beginning of the stole.

I do however love the Zephyr yarn that I am using to knit the stole. This is the second time I am using Zephyr. Although it is a laceweight yarn, it holds the stitches very well. As a result, I broke down and bought 2 cones from Sarahs Yarn. I got Peacock and Vanilla to add to my Ebony.

I have been knitting dishcloths. I finally finished the July Midmonth cloth. It's a really nice pattern. I used Peaches and Cream in Passion. I think that it shows off the knitting pattern very well. I wasn't too sure that I liked this variegated color when I got it, but it looks pretty good. I also completed the August cloth that is a dolphin pattern. I used light blue in Sugar and Cream.

Speaking of cotton yarn. I finally got the new Sugar and Cream stripes cotton. I got the following colors: Violet, Lime, Pinky, Country, Tie Dye, and Holiday. I am looking forward to trying out these new colors.

I was also able to finish the first sock that we are working on in my knitting class. We are using Cascade fixation and an ankle sock pattern. I am so proud of myself that I completed it and even did the kitchener stitch! I need to cast on the second sock before Friday and then I am anxious to try another sock. I think I am finally getting the hang of this or at least feeling a little more confident.

I have already knit one pair of socks and have two other patterns on the needles. I have now decided to rip out the two other socks and start over with a simpler pattern. I need to get the basics down before trying a fancier pattern. Socks aren't hard, it's just the heel and gusset part that are a little tricky and I need to feel more confident about knitting socks. I am using the Lantern Moon DPN's and really love them. They are 7 inches long, so they could be shorter. So, I am going to get the new Sox Stixs that are 5 inches long. I just have to decide on what sizes to order.

Well, while everyone is reading the 7th Harry Potter book, I have gone back to the beginning and I'm starting over with the first book. You can see my new glasses on the picture below with the book. I really like these new glasses. Not only do I like the shape, I like that they are black on the outside and green on the inside.

And I must end this post with a new picture of Maggie May. As you can see, she is doing a cute pose. Ah, if only she was always like this!

Knitting Lace

This is all I have been doing. I have been trying to catch up and this Sunday, I started on Clue 4. I have made it through Chart E and now am waiting for Mrs. R to post the written instructions for Chart F. We have until next Friday until the next Clue is posted.

I am attaching a picture below. You can see that I still have my lifelines in just in case

I have finally gotten into the rhythm of knitting this stole without making too many mistakes. The lifelines and stitch markers are definately helping.

I did start on a sock at knitting class, but I am mostly knitting that in class since I don't want to knit on the stole there. I need quiet and concentration to knit this lace stole.

I Am Addicted

I am hooked on the Mystery Stole 3 KAL. I started last Monday and had a bad start. I must have frogged 6 times or more. It just wasn't flowing right. So, I tried again last Tuesday and I had success.....until I ran into problems later on. After so much frogging, I began to put in lifelines every 10 rows. That did help, but I still had problems. I had hoped to finish Clue 1 before the end of the week, but that was not going to happen. Finally this Sunday, I completed Clue 1 and was at the point where the stitches were not increasing anymore. I then added stitch markers after every 11 stitches and that made a big difference. I became brave enough to wait until I had 12 rows before adding a lifeline. I have been doing well, but if I made a mistake, I caught it before finishing out a row. I have 20 more rows on Clue 2 and will probably start Clue 3 on Wednesday (knock on wood). I would really like to be caught up by the end of the week so I have a lot of time to work on Clue 4. I am really happy with how it's turning out and I love, love, love the Zephyr yarn and the Knitpicks needles. Here is a picture showing the stitch markers and the lifelines (note: I am not removing any lifelines yet....just in case).

This has become so addicting though. I stop and take a break and I swear that the stole is calling me to keep working on it.

I am still working on my beach tote. I have been knitting on that when I am at knitting class. When I went to class on Friday, we were remarking on the softness of a sock that was in the classroom. It was an anklet sock. Well, the yarn was Cascade Fixation, which was on sale at Kraemers (of course I had to buy some). So, when I go to class this Friday, we are going to work on the sock as a group project, where all of us will knit a pair of socks (anklets). So, I am really looking forward to starting this project. That is another reason why I want to catch up on the Mystery Stole 3 pattern.

I did finish a dishcloth from my Monthly Dishcloth Group. It was a real quick project and I love the pattern.

Tomorrow, I go to the Eye Doctor to pick up my new glasses. I had this brainstorm to see if I could get magnifying lenses to use when I work on any fine knitting projects like the Mystery Stole 3 KAL. Let's see what they say and how much it will cost me.

Maggie May is doing well after her operation. The stitches are out and she healed really well. Tomorrow, she goes to get groomed. I will take a picture of her to post later.

07-07-07 what a great day it was!

I can't believe what a great day I had on Saturday! I have been working on the beach tote from Knitter's and finished up the front side on Friday. I was going to start on the back and decided to start it with a new skein of yarn. I go get the yarn and it's the wrong dye lot! I could not believe that I didn't check it before buying it. Kraemer's has the yarn on sale for $3.00 a skein and everyone has been buying it up to work on this tote bag. So, I figured I would try my luck and see if they had any red left. If not, I figured it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world since it was the other side and this would be my scrap beach bag if it looked too bad. So, Saturday I go to my knitting class and first thing I check is the Fantasy Naturalle yarn. One red skein is left and it's the right dye lot! Now what are the chances of that?

Then I get home and have an invite to Ravelry! I have been waiting for quite awhile to have access to the site. My online ID is KarinK. I have a lot of work to do to get organized on it, but it is a great site to keep track of your needles, books and projects (past, current, and future). The beauty of it is that my blog posts will link there too as well as my flickr account. Now I have to get to work. It's nice that everything can be in one place.

The last great thing that happened was that I joined the Mystery Stole 3 KAL about a half an hour before it was closed for sign ups. I thought that I had missed the date until I saw the Yarn Harlot's post and realized that I still had time to join. I have struggled with what yarn to use and finally decided on Zephyr in black. I have a cone of this and since the KAL has posted 2 weeks of knitting instructions or clues and I didn't want to have to wait any longer to start, I did the cast on today and will not be using beads. I'm a little nervous working with beads for now, but figure if all turns out well with this stole, I may do a second one with beads. I hope to get close to catching up by Friday when the next set of clues get posted.

I am doing the happy dance!

I also christened my new squirrel cage yarn swift and I love it! It is so easy to use and I love that my yarn winder sits on top of the swift. Everything is in one place and I don't have to drag the swift and yarn winder out to set it up to use it. I do want to get a cover to avoid getting it dusty. I see that Bed, Bath and Beyond sells body pillowcases and I think that this will do the trick!

I got my order from Lettuce Knit last week. Here are the Dream in Color baby sweater kits:

One is called Rocketry and the other is called Tulips.

And, here is the Handmaiden Sea Silk I got with the One Skein Shawl (Lacy Wings) pattern:

From Barnes and Noble, I got my order for the two new lace books: Lacy Little Knits and Wrapped in Comfort. Both are wonderful books with really nice patterns.

On the reading front, I have finished the following books: Manner of Death and Cold Case by Stephen White, Drop Dead Beautiful by Jackie Collins (I love her books) and Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovitch. I really like this series of books by Janet. I am currently reading Second Chance by Jane Green. I have read all of her books and really enjoyed them as well.