Sanguine Gryphon

I just love the Sanguine Gryphon and the yarn she dyes.  I especially love Bugga and Skinny Bugga.  Bugga has 20% cashmere and Skinny Bugga has 10% cashmere. 

I am currently working on the Malestrom sock by Cookie A.  It’s a great pattern.  I am using Skinny Bugga in Blue Lobster with size 1 1/2 needles.  I have finished one sock and have moved on to the second sock.

 

I am also working on a basic sock pattern using Madelinetosh sock.  I love the colorway.  It’s called Plum Tree, but I hate how it’s pooling.  I started with size 1 needles and then moved to size 1-1/2 needles.  I’m still not happy.  Here it is with the 1-1/2 needles.

Here is the other side of the sock:

So, I started again.  I went back to size 1 needles and I split the ball of yarn in half.  I am knitting two rows from one ball and two rows from the second ball.  I will post pictures when I am further along with the sock.  It looks better so far.

I am not a fan of yarn that pools, but when the yarn is hand dyed it tends to do that.  I have to watch that in the future when I buy yarn.  

Reading is Fun

Well, it’s about time that I catch up with what I have been reading.  Surprisingly, I have been reading quite a lot.

A Reliable Wife – by Robert Goolrick – a very good book

U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton – I love these alphabet books

9th Judgement by James Patterson

A Christmas Visitor by Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer

Brava Valentine by Adriana Tirgiani

A Christmas Star by Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer

Falling for Him by Debbie Macomber

Ending in Marriage by Debbie Macomber

Midnight Sons & Daughters by Debbie Macomber

True Colors by Kristin Hannah – another wonderful book by this author.

Hannah’s List by Debbie Macomber

Miss Julia Stands Her Ground by Ann B. Ross

Home is Where the Wine is by Laurie Perry

Naked in Death by J.D. Robb – excellent!

All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

Glory in Death by J.D. Robb

Troublemaker by Janet Evanovich and Alex Evanovitch

Miss Julia Strikes Back by Ann B. Ross

Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb

Orchard Valley Grooms by Debbie Macomber

I’m still on target towards my goal of reading 65 books this year.  I hope I can keep it up.

I love Skinny Bugga

I am in love with Skinny Bugga yarn by Sanguine Gryphon.  I am knitting Cookie A’s Malestrom pattern with Skinny Bugga in the color Blue Lobster.  This yarn has some cashmere in it and it is so nice to work with.  I love this pattern too.  I am using size 1.5 needles.

Still knitting on my calendar scarf.  This project should be finished in about 3 weeks.  I am loving this.

I bought some Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino to make some baby hats for my niece who is pregnant and due in November.  She is going to have a boy.  I got the color 34003 (lt green) and 340027 (a denim like blue).

I went to Musicfest in Bethlehem, PA last night.  Thanks to the generosity of a fellow knitter, I got to see Allison Iriheta and Adam Lambert.  We had front row seats and got an excellent view of the stage.  It was a great experience!  Adam is a wonderful entertainer.

 

Finishing Projects feels good

I finished knitting the Angee sock by Cookie A.  I really enjoyed this pattern.  I used Numma Numma in grape jam with a size 1 1/2 needle.  Love the color and love the yarn.

I also completed the August KAL for my Monthly Dishcloth group.  The pattern is Baby Starfish Dishcloth by Elaine Fitzpatrick.  I used Peaches and Creme yarn in the color sunburst with size 6 needles.  This was a really cute pattern.

I was able to get the Loopy Ewe 4th Anniversary Kit.  We got Dream in Color Smooshy with cashmere yarn in the color Joy in the Morning.  It’s a beautiful color – Like a Robin’s Egg blue.  Also a sock pattern called Argonauta by Debbie O’Neill and a Loopy Ewe tumbler by Hadley Pottery.   Love it!

A Good Knitting Week

I had a good knitting week this past week.  I finished one Angee sock and started on the second sock.  I love the yarn and the color. I should finish this up the first week in August.  Just in time to start knitting the Maelstrom sock by Cookie A.  Three of us from my Friday knitting class are going to knit this together.  I plan on using Sanguine Gryphon’s Skinny Bugga in blue lobster.

I’m still working on my calendar scarf.  After this week we should be half completed with it.

I did get some new yarn this week.  From the Loopy Ewe, I got Madeline Tosh sock in Cherry and Black Trillium in Fallen Leaves and Northern Pines.

From the Sanguine Gryphon, I got two skeins of Bugga.  They are slightly irregular skeins and she ran a contest to get a $28.00 credit.  I was lucky enough to get the credit and I’m just waiting for her to send it to me.  The colors I got are Fiery Searcher Beetle and Blue Lobster (yes, I know I got this in Skinny Bugga, but I really liked the colorway).  I also got these skeins at a reduced price because they were irregular. 

A few weeks ago, I finished the blanket I was knitting for Maggie and thought you would enjoy a picture of her using it.

Isn’t she cute?  She just loves her blanket.  The color is great and the pattern was a fun knit.

Summer Lovin

Yes, I finally finished my Summer Lovin Sock.  I really worked on it a lot this past week as I was determined to finish it.  I used size 1 needles.  The yarn is Sweet George superwash sock in orchid and the pattern is by Dawn Matkovic.

Two of my other knitting friends also knit this sock.  We are trying to knit projects together, although we aren’t finishing them together.  I have been the person lagging behind for the last two socks.  Here are pictures of the three socks together.

And a closeup:

I also completed the July Mid Month Dishcloth for my Monthly Dishcloth group.  The pattern is Ribbons and Lace by Janet Nogle.  I used size 7 needles with Peaches and Creme cotton in tea rose.

Another project the three of us are working on is the 2007 Swedish Calendar Scarf.  We are only doing 3 days of patterns in a week so we can work on other projects.  We should finish this by early September.  I am using a size 2 needle and Dale of Norway Baby Ull in an off white colorway.  I am really enjoying this as the pattern changes. This picture is through Day 7 of the scarf.

Now that I finished the Summer Lovin Sock, I can start back up on my Angee Sock by Cookie A in Numma Numma grape jam.  I will have pictures next week.  I want to finish this sock as we are starting a new sock the first Friday in August.  Working together like this on a project really gets you focused on knitting.  I don’t want to lag behind on the next project.    

Knit, Purl, YO, SSK, K2T

I’m so excited.  I finally finished one of the Summer Lovin Socks and even got started on the second.  I would really like to finish this up by the end of July, if not sooner.

Here is the finished sock, with part of the second sock completed.  I am using Sweet Georgia superwash sock in orchid with size 1 needles.

I also got through Day 4 of the 2007 Calendar Scarf.  I’m really enjoying knitting this.  I will definitely take on the 2008 and 2009 pattern.  I am using Dale of Norway in Baby Ull with an off white color and size 2 Addi Turbo needles.

I got my Loopy Ewe Sock club shipment for July.  It is a nice package.  I got Alchemy Juniper yarn in Autumn Ecstasy colorway.  Two patterns (one sock by Monica and one cowl by Wendy Knits).  A Loopy Ewe measuring tape, scissors, and post-it flags in a case.

I also got a shipment of yarn from the Sanguine Gryphon.  I just can’t resist her Bugga and Skinny Bugga yarn.  The colors are Skinny Bugga in Blue Lobster, Bugga in Robberfly, Smaller Yellow Ant, and Karner Blue.

Off the Needles

I finally got finished with some projects.  I guess that is what happens when you are working on several items.  Eventually it all comes together.

I finished the Ripple Afghan made out of Fantasy Naturale in color 9005 (purple).  I used size 8 needles.  The pattern called for 8 skeins, I had 9 and used 7.  So, I have enough left to make a market bag. 

Here is a closer picture of the pattern:

I really enjoyed knitting this and the pattern was easy.

I also finished the Ulmo Multy Wave Scarf made out of Aracania Ulmo Multy yarn, color 715 with a size 7 needle.  This worked up pretty quickly and was fun to do. Can you tell I am partial to purple?

 

I also completed the July KAL.  The pattern is Felicity the Flamingo by Shama Dawson.  I used size 6 needles with Peaches and Creme pastel pink yarn.

I loved the Fantasy Naturale yarn so much and enjoyed knitting the two flags, so I bought full skeins of red, white, and blue.

The blue is color 2550 (marine), the red is color 9006 and the white is color 8176 (natural).  Now I can knit flags to my hearts content.  I’d like to try some coasters and maybe a placemat.

I also got a good deal on the light denim colorway.  It was a special at the Knitter’s Edge for $3.75 a skein, so I bought 12 skeins for another afghan and if I have any left, I will make a market bag.

Now, I am back to knitting my Summer Lovin Sock and started the 2007 Swedish Calendar Scarf.  It’s an advent calendar scarf and there is a different pattern for 24 days.  The patterns come out in December (one day at a time) and are free until around Christmas.  I am enjoying this one so much.  I think that I may try to knit the 2008 and 2009 and be ready to knit the 2010 scarf when it comes out in December.  I am using a size 2 needle (3.0) with Baby Ull yarn from Dale of Norway in color 20 (an off white color).  It’s really a nice soft yarn.

Wool Girl June Sock Club

Yeah! I got my shipment of the Wool Girl Sock Club for June.  Very nice.  The theme was the Road Not Taken. 

We got the following:

-a skein of Knitted Wit Sock yarn in the Two Roads colorway. 

- Mosey Creek sock pattern designed by Nicole Hinds.

- Walk Through the Woods Kerchief pattern designed by The Sexy Knitter.

- A walnut needle gauge palette designed by Images Stitchery Design.

- A travel spiral bound notebook

- Woolgirl sock club pen.  I really like these pens.

- A handmade tree branch button from Wooden Treasures.

- A palmwood stitch marker by Blue Ridge Notions

- A handmade gift tag from Woolgirl.

I love this sock club.

Adding to my Stash

It’s been a crazy week.  Between working and cleaning out my basement, I have been keeping busy.  I tried to set some knitting goals this week, but I didn’t get as much done as I would have liked.

I did complete two flag hot pads using Fantasy Naturale yarn in red, white and blue with size 7 needles.  They turned out really cute.  I need to try to knit a coaster with this pattern.

While I didn’t get all of my knitting goals finished this week, I did find time to get some yarn in the door.  I got Happy Feet sock yarn by Plymouth in color 27 to make a shawlette.

Then I got Happy feet in black and Ty-Dy sock yarn in Tropicale to make socks.   You use the black for the cuff, heel and toe and then knit 5 rows of the black and 5 rows of the Tropicale for the rest of the sock.  This should work up really nice, once I finish the other two pairs of socks on my needles.

I also got a shipment from the Loopy Ewe.  It’s been awhile since I ordered from there.  I got Monkeypal sock yarn in Peppermint Ice Cream and Tiptoe through the tulips and Spirit Trail Fiberworks Sunna yarn in Turkish Stone.

I also got the Route 66 Lace Bag by 3 AM Enchantments.  It’s a nice size bag and well made.

Well, off to knit, or maybe I will read.     

Cleaning and Organizing my House

I have been very ambitious cleaning and organizing closets and cabinets.  I still have a long way to go, but I am chipping away at the job.  I am almost finished with the second floor and have started on the basement.  You should see the garbage I put out for the trash man.  I am not throwing everything out as I am also putting things away for a yard sale.  It feels good to get organized though.  Thank goodness for the Container store.

As a result, I haven’t gotten much knitting done.  I seem to have started more projects or want to start more projects rather than finishing things up.

I did complete the June Mid Month KAL.  The pattern is called Peacock in Color by Janet Nogle.  I used Peaches and Creme in white and delft blue with a size 7 needle.  I really liked this pattern and it was fun to knit up.

I started another pair of socks.  The pattern is called Summer Lovin socks by Dawn Matkovic.  I’m using size 1 needles with Sweet Georgia superwash sock in the orchid colorway.  I really like the pattern and the color.

I got a cute kit from The Knitter’s Edge.  It’s a flag hotpad using Fantasy Naturale yarn in red, white, and blue.  The kit will make 2 hotpads and it was only $5.00.

I also got the June shipment from the Rubber Ducky club.  The yarn is Pima Petite in the colorway lime in the coconut (it makes me want to sing).  We also got a bar of mimi’s soap in coconut lime verbena and a moisturing sugar scrub in mint lemonade.  I love the color of the yarn.

Well, off to knit.  I have a goal this week to try and finish off some projects so I can start some new ones.   

I have my knitting mojo back

I am so glad.  I was knitting, but really wasn’t finishing anything.  This past week I finished the toe up sock I was working on.  The yarn was Online Candy Color 1177.  I used size 2 needles.  I am so excited because I figured out Judy’s magic cast on and also did a stretchy bind off.  I really enjoyed knitting these socks and will definitely do another toe up sock.

I also completed the June Monthly Dishcloth KAL.  The pattern was Happy Father’s Day by Leah Porter.  I used size 7 needles with Peaches and Creme in an olive colorway.  This was a cute cloth to knit.

I started an afghan for Maggie.  I am using a Ripple afghan pattern by Plymouth yarns with Fantasy Naturale in color 9005 (purple) and size 8 needles.  I am really enjoying the pattern and also the yarn.  The pattern calls for two different colors, but I am only using one color.

Since, I am enjoying this so much, I bought another color (9703) to make another afghan in a different pattern.  The yarn is a multi color in pinks, orange, and yellow.

I also started a scarf using Araucania Ulmo Multy yarn in color 715 (purple and green) and size 7 needles.  The pattern is called Ulmo Multy Wave scarf.  I figured that this would knit up quickly.  It only calls for one ball of yarn.

Last, but not least, I started the Buttons Cardigan for my niece’s baby.  The yarn is Katia Tobago in color 93 and size 5 needles.  I don’t know the sex of the baby yet and yes, she wants to know so she can plan on what colors to buy.  I had to get some purple in the sweater (purple is her favorite color), so I went with this yarn.  I hope to finish this quickly, so I can give it to her right away.

I have finished the collar and started on the body of the sweater.  There is no seam sewing as this is a top down sweater and you can put buttons on either side of the sweater.  I hope she likes it.   

I love to Read

I have been reading quite a bit.  Summer is a great time for reading.  I am currently on track to reach my goal of 65 books.

I have read the following:

Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

Game Change by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin – very interesting book.

Miss Julia’s School of Beauty by Ann B. Ross

The Christmas Angel by Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer

The Forgetful Bride by Debbie Macomber

When Christmas Comes by Debbie Macomber

Joy School by Elizabeth Berg

Poor Little Bitch Girl by Jackie Collins

A Christmas to Remember by Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer

Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris

Lakeshore Christmas by Susan Wigg

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah – I cried and cried at the end.

Durable Goods by Elizabeth Berg

Saver the Moment by Nora Roberts

I’m going to be a Great Aunt!

My niece is pregnant with her first child.  We don’t know if she is having a girl or boy yet, but we do know that her due date is November 12th.  I’m so excited for her.  The great thing about this is that I now get to knit baby items.

With that said, I bought Katia Tobago yarn in color 53 to make Cabin Fever’s Button’s Cardigan.  It’s a top down cardigan.  I started this today.  I want to give it to her as soon as she knows the sex of the baby.

Here is the yarn:

And, here is a picture (shown in another yarn) of how the sweater will look when I am finished.