Hot, Hot, Hot

Well, you can tell that July is on the horizon.  It’s hot outside and I’m inside with the air conditioning.  It feels good in here.

I did get more knitting done this week.  I finished the Color Affection Shawl.  I used Plucky Knitter Primo yarn in Speakeasy, Elmer T, and Minature Lilac with a size 6 needle.  I need to block it.  I should have done a YO at the beginning of the row, but I didn’t see the notes on Ravelry until I had already started knitting this.  I hope it blocks okay.  It’s a puckered on the one side. We shall see.  I will make another one of these.  I enjoyed the knit.

I also started on other projects.  I started knitting a sock at the beginning of June, but haven’t made much progress on it.  The pattern is Karen’s socks by Monica Jines.  One of my knitting friends made this sock and I liked the combination of the cables and lace.  I am using Socktopus Sokkusu yarn in lime and basil with a size 1 needle.

I am knitting another monster.  The pattern is Ruby the Lovable Huggable Monster by Jenna Krupar.  I am using Lorna’s Laces Zombie BBQ yarn in worsted weight with a size 5 needle.

I love two color knitting and already had taken a class, but wanted a refresher.  So, I am knitting the Faux Fair Isle hat using Madelintosh Vintage in scarlett and tern.  I am using size 7 and 8 needles.  Practice makes perfect.

I was watching the Knitgirllls videocast and Leslie was knitting a sock out of Lollipop yarns in the It’s 5 O’clock somewhere colorway, and I had to buy it.  I also couldn’t resist getting the USA colorway as well.  These will make cool socks.

Off to knit or maybe read or just relaxing on this hot, hot day.

Not Much Knitting Going On

I haven’t been knitting much at home.  We are had our bedroom repainted so stuff is all over the place.  Next we are having new hardwood flooring put in and then new furniture delivered.  So hopefully everything will be back to normal soon.

I did get two things completed.  I finished Iris the Gourmet Monster.  The pattern is from Rebecca Danger and I used one of her kits.  The yarn is Lornas Laces Green Line Dk in the color envy with a size 4 needle.  I had to get help from a good knitting friend to sew the legs on and the bottom of Iris.  She got really cute!

I also finished the June Mid Month dishcloth KAL.  I used Peaches and Crème in red and white with a size 7 needle.  I liked this cloth, but I do not have a name yet or who designed it.

I am close to finishing the Color Affection Shawl.  I am knitting the border.

I did get the June shipment of yarn from the Cookie A sock club.  It’s Plucky Knitter’s primo in the color Vintage Ice Box.  I love it!

I will post pictures of what I am working on in the next blog post.

I’m ahead of my Reading Goal

Finally! I was way behind, but I got caught up in May and now I am ahead of my goal for the year.  Here is what I have read since the last time I reported:

 

Summer Island – Kristin Hannah (any book by her is great)

Gossip Girl – Cecily Von Ziegesar

Once in Every Life – Kristin Hannah

Miss Julia Renews her Vows – Ann B. Ross

Rapture in Death – J.D. Robb

A Wondering Heart – Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer

Wishes & Stitches – Rachael Herron

Most Talkative – Andy Cohen

Dead Reckoning – Charlaine Harris

The Last Boyfriend – Nora Roberts

Through a Dogs Eyes – Jennifer Arnold – wonderful incite into a what a dog can do.

Fifty Shades Freed – E.L. James

The Knitting Circle – Ann Hodd – Great book!

Dog On It – Spencer Quinn

Lakeside  Cottage – Susan Wiggs

Stories I only Tell My Friends – Rob Lowe

Moon Spinners – Sally Goldenbaum

Ceremony in Death – J. D. Robb

A Holiday Yarn – Sally Golenbaum

Thereby Hangs a Tail – Spencer Quinn

Body of Lies – Iris Johanson

Cast On Kill Off – Maggie Sefton

It’s been a productive week

I finished the Colonade Shawl by Stephen West.  I used Madelinetosh Vintage in cove and thyme with a size 10 needle.  Loved the yarn and the project.

I also finished the Froot Loop Socks.  The yarn is Fibernymph Dyeworks in the Froot Loop color with size 1 needles.  This yarn is really nice and I love the striping.

I also completed the June 2012 Dishcloth KAL.  I used Peaches and Crème in light blue with a size 7 needle.  The pattern is Summer Daze by Sue Schaeffer.

I’m going to take another Fair Isle class at the end of June for review.  So I bought Madelinetosh Vintage yarn in tern and scarlet for that project.

Dancing Dog Dyeworks had an update so I had to buy more yarn for Monster projects.  I got the Twist Sock in the Dawn Stripe and Waltz Worsted in bright tropical blue and lime.

And Gnome Acres makes great yarn for Monsters, so I got her worsted yarn and fingering yarn in the color Franklin for a KAL in July.

I couldn’t resist getting Dragonfly Fibers yarn in her Dragon Sock in the Maggie May color (for my Maggie May of course).

Since I finished off several projects, I got back to knitting on my Color Affection Shawl.  I have 4 more repeats until I get to the border, so that project is getting closer to the finish line.  Maybe I will get to finish that up next week.  I really would like to make another shawl using this pattern.  I am already eyeing some yarn for it.  We will  see what happens.  Plus, I have to finish sewing up my Iris monster.

Yea, no rain today

It was a beautiful cool day. Thought I better post some project pictures.

I finished the May Mid Month dishcloth KAL.  The pattern is Diamond Moss cloth by Janet Nogle.  I used a size 7 needle with Knitpicks Dishie in aster.  I liked the yarn and there is probably enough to do another dishcloth.

I have been wanting to knit a monster, so I had a kit from Rebecca Danger that I bought quite awhile ago.  It is for Iris the Gourmet Monster.  I am using a size 4 needle with Lornas Laces Green Line DK yarn (now discontinued).  I am finished with the knitting and just have to sew the pieces together.  I will definitely knit another monster.  Her instructions are super.

I started a KAL with my local yarn shop (The Knitter’s Edge).  I am knitting the Colonade shawl by Stephen West.  I am using a size 10 needle with Madelinetosh Vintage in cove and thyme.  I really love the yarn and the cove color.  I am almost finished with this project.

I have finally started using the third color on the Color Affection scarf.  I am really enjoying this knit and it is easy since it’s all garter stitch.  I am using size 6 needles with Plucky Knitter’s Primo yarn in Elmer T,  Miniature Lilacs, and Jazz Age.

I may just do another of these shawls.

Rain, Rain Go Away

I wanted it to rain because it was so dry, but this is getting ridiculous.  The other day we had hail and now there is a tornado watch until 2 AM.  Will it ever end?  It started to rain hard again a few minutes ago.  Here we go again.

I did finish one of the Froot Loop socks.  The yarn is from Fibernymph dyeworks and I am using a size 1 needle.

I love the yarn.  It is her bounce base.

I did get more of it.  The colors are Good and Plenty and Snips and Snails.

The only other yarn I got was some Cotonade yarn.  The colors are Willow (529) and a Gold color (849).

I am still working on my Color Affection scarf.  I am on the third color.  I also started two new projects and will post pictures in the next post I write.

Wonderful Week

It was a nice week.  I got a lot of things finished around the house, got to spend some time with friends, and got to knit, knit, knit.

I finished the Nanaimo Socks.  I used Socktopus Sokkusu yarn in the river styx color with size 1 needles.  I really liked knitting with this yarn and I loved the pattern.

I then started the Fruit Loop socks.  Yarn is by Fibernymph dyeworks in her Bounce base, in the color Fruit Loops.  I am using a size 1 needle.  I love the yarn.  It’s aptly named and I love the striping.

I have wanted to knit an animal or monster for awhile and finally knit up the Chubby Chirp pattern by Rebecca Danger.  This knit up fast and was easy to do.  I used size 6mm safety eyes.  The yarn is Plymouth Jeanne worsted in colors 52 (blue) and 53 (orange).  I used a size 5 needle. Next up is Iris the gourmet monster.

I haven’t stopped buying yarn.  My local yarn shop got Madelinetosh Vintage yarn.  They are having a knit-a-long using the Colonade pattern by Stephen West.  I bought the colors Thyme and Cove.

I also want to knit the Vittorio Scarf/Shawl, so I bought Dyeabolical yarn in her strong arm skinny in gamma ray and BFF hardtwist 4 ply sock in We are all mad here.  I love the colors.

It’s warming up this morning, so I guess I will go knit and read outside.  Enjoy the weekend!

Busy Week

It has been a busy week and I’ve gotten a lot accomplished.

I finished the hitchhiker scarf.  I used Wollmeise superwash yarn in the color Am Kalten Polar with a size 2 needle.  I really enjoyed knitting this pattern.

I also completed the May 2012 Dishcloth KAL.  The pattern is Rippling Diag by Janet Nogle.  I used Sugar and Cream in hot lime with a size 7 needle.  After completing this cloth, I took a picture and saw that I made an error in the pattern.  I am not ripping this cloth out, so it is what it is.

One Nanaimo sock is completed.  I used size 1 needles with Soctopus Sokkusu original yarn in the river styx color.  Love this pattern and yarn.

The exciting part of this week is that I got my Dancing Dog Dyeworks yarn in Waltz Worsted.  She had a big update and I was shocked that I was able to get 7 (yes 7) skeins.  Now I can start knitting monsters.

The colors from top to bottom are:  Owlies, Jolly, Puppytails, and Zombie Dog.

The colors in this group from top to bottom are: Mickey’s Madness, Cupcake and Kelp Forest.

I also bought three skeins of Noro Silk Garden in the color 354 to make a Noro shawlette.

And, I was able to snag a skein of Wollmeise in the color Lila Ludmilla.  This was a tough buy as her web site was running really slow.  After I bought this skein, I realized I already had this color, but I figure I can put it to good use.

So, now I want to finish the second Nanaimo Sock (I need to cast on for it though) and the Color Affection Shawl.  I think I will cast on for the Noro Shawl soon.

Monday, I get new windows for my bedroom, so I will be busy tomorrow cleaning out the room and covering furniture up in anticipation of the install.  New Furniture has been ordered.  Now, I just need to get the room painted and buy some curtains.

Great Knitting Week

I has been a great knitting week.  I started two more projects and finished two projects.

I completed the April Mid Month Dishcloth KAL.  The pattern is Waves of Lace.  I used a size 6 needle with Peaches and Crème in delft blue.

I also finished the Hayrick Sock by Anne Hanson using Lorna’s Laces Solemate in pine with a size 1 needle.  I really liked this pattern.

I finished the main part of the Sheldon blanket, but still need to pick up the side stitches and knit the pocket.  I am using size 7 needles with Knitpicks shine in cream, pea pod, and french blue.

I started the Color Affection Shawl.  I am using size 6 needles with Plucky Knitter Primo yarn in Elmer T, Miniature Lilacs and Speakeasy.  I have started on the second color.  This is an easy knit and I am enjoying it.

I was also anxious to begin the Cookie A sock club socks for April.  The pattern is Nanaimo Socks.  I am using a size 1 needle with Socktopus Sokkusu yarn in River Styx.  This yarn is wonderful and the pattern is very easy.  My needles are flying.

So, hope next week I will get to report more progress with my knitting.

I’m behind on my reading

I don’t know what happened, but I got off to a slow start at the beginning of the year.  So, now I am trying to catch up.

The books I read so far this year are:

V is for Vengeance – Sue Grafton

Dixie Divas – Virginia Brown

Face of Deception – Iris Johansen

The Wednesday Letters – Jason F. Wright – I loved this book

The Killing Game – Iris Johansen

Range of Motion – Elizabeth Berg

Dead in the Family – Charlaine Harris

Honeymooning – Rachael Herron

Angel Falls – Kristin Hannah – her books are great.

The Notebook – Nicholas Sparks

The Wedding – Nicholas Sparks – what a great story

Fifty Shades of Grey – E. L. James

The Search – Iris Johansen

Died in the Wool – Mary Kruger

Fifty Shades Darker – E. L. James

Knit Fast, Die Young – Mary Kruger

Miss Julia Delivers the Goods – Ann B. Ross

I am 7 books behind.  I think I will be able to catch up.

We finally have rain

Yes, we have had some rain this past week and a half.  It’s not a lot and it hasn’t been pouring, so that is a good thing.  It’s been so dry here that I haven’t even minded the rain.

As a result, I have been buying yarn.  I couldn’t resist the update from Numma Numma.  I got Doppio in blue cheese and violet bruise.

Then some of my knitting friends and I drove to Emmaus, PA to go to Conversational Threads.  It’s a nice shop, but it is small.  They have so many different kinds of yarns there, but they don’t have too much out because of the size of the shop.  As a result, it’s hard to see.  Also, it seemed as if they had many dark colors.  The good news is that they will be expanding into the space next door.  That will give them more room and the yarns will probably be displayed better.  They have many yarn lines that I like.

I did get a skein of Spud and Chloe Sweater in the turtle color.  I plan on using this to make an animal.

I also couldn’t pass up the last update from the Loopy Ewe.  I did have a $25.00 credit too, so that helped.  I got 4 skeins of  Malabrigo Finito in the estragon color way and a skein of the Biscote & Cie Felix yarn in the color Go Haps Go.  This is a self striping yarn and I wanted the red, white and blue to make socks for the 4th of July.

I ordered other yarn this week and I will post the pictures next week, if I get it by then.  I was excited to score big in this update.  I can’t believe that I did so well.  I’m not telling what it is until I can post the pictures.

Quiet Week

Yes, not much going on.  I did finish the first Hayrick sock.  I really like this pattern.  I am using Lornas Laces solemate in pine with size 1 needles.

I got the April Cookie A shipment.  I knew we would eventually get this yarn.  It’s Sokkusu by Socktopus in the color river styx.  I really love the color and patterns are nice.  After I finish the Hayrick sock, I will be knitting with this yarn using the Nanaimo sock pattern from the club.

I couldn’t resist buying the Seasons hat kit (spring) from Brooklyn Tweed in the loft yarn.

The colors (from left to right and then at the bottom) are:Thistle, Fossil, Plume, Sweatshirt, and Fort Blanket.

I’m still working on the Sheldon Blanket and the Hitchhiker.  I am getting close to finishing the Hitchhiker scarf.  Maybe, I can finish it up this week.  I would really like to start on another project, but want to finish something first.

We are due for some warm weather this week, so maybe I can sit out on my back porch and knit.  Maggie would like that.

Happy Easter

 

Aren’t these rabbits cute?  I made them from the pattern called Huggie Bunnies.  They were a very quick knit.  I used a size 8 needle and used Plymouth Jeanne Worsted yarn in color 0055 (green), 0053 (orange), 0052 (blue), 0056 (yellow) and I also used Knitpicks Dishie in the aster color.  I liked the Jeanne worsted best for this pattern.  I plan on giving them to my great nephew Carter tomorrow for Easter, but I’m keeping the Purple (aster) for myself.

This week went fast and I hope that next week does as well.  It is my last week of work and then I’m free!  I did get to complete the April Dishcloth KAL.  The pattern is called Ramon Noodle Dishcloth.  I used a size 7 needle with Peaches and Crème in the camel color.

As far as yarn purchases, I didn’t buy much.  I got another skein of the Jeanne worsted but in the blue color (0052) for the rabbits.

I also bought a kit from the Plucky Knitter for the Sonoran cowl.  I got the pattern plus two skeins of Plucky rustic in the bombshell and oatmeal color.

I’ve been catching up on podcasts this week.  I’m really enjoying the videocasts, but still like the audiocasts.