Trying to finish up projects

I finally blocked the color affection shawl that I finished.  I think it came out really great.  I got most of the puckering out on the one edge.

As you can see that there is some puckering, but it’s not near as much as preblocking.  I used my Inspinknity Blocking wires for the first time and I loved them.  They were worth getting.  Now I have to start on another Color Affection shawl.

I finished knitting the July 2012 midmonth dishcloth.  It was a dress dishcloth that you can put on your dish liquid soap.  The designer was Debbie Trainor of the Knit and Sew studio.  The pattern is called Let’s Go to London.  I used Peaches and Crème in red with a size 7 needle.  It’s cute.

I am getting close to finishing my USA sock.  I finished the first sock and have turned the heel on the second sock.  I hope to finish it off by Monday.  Let’s see if I make it.  I am using a size 1 needle with Lollipop self striping yarn in the USA color.

I had to buy two skeins of Sweet Georgia Tough Love sock yarn.  The top color is English Ivy to make the Park City Socks and the second is cherry to make the Cherry Lane Socks.   So, I need to finish up my USA socks so I can start one one of these patterns.

 

Off to knit!

Sock Obsessed

I finally finished the Karen’s Sock by Monica Jines.  I loved this pattern with the cables and lace.  I used Socktopus Sokkusu yarn with a size 1 needle.  I just can’t believe that it took me way over a month to finish these.  How time flies.

I started on another sock right away.  I had to start these because of the Olympics.  I am calling them my USA socks.  The yarn is Lollipop Yarns in the color USA.  I am just using a basic sock pattern.  I may just do a heel flap for these socks instead of an afterthought heel.  I love the yarn!  It’s nice and soft and I love the striping.

I haven’t been doing much other knitting.  It may be because of the heat, although it has cooled down some lately.

I did buy a kit from my local yarn shop.  It’s a crochet pattern and I thought that I needed to do more crochet since I don’t crochet much and don’t feel too comfortable doing it.  Maybe this will help.  It’s a crochet watermelon dishcloth.  I couldn’t resist it because of the colors.

I have been knitting

Even though it’s been really hot this week, I have been knitting and I’ve gotten quite a bit accomplished.  I need to knit because I have other projects itching to get started.

I finished the July Dishcloth KAL.  The pattern is really cute.  It’s called Knitted Mini Wash mitts by Deanna Caswell and Daisy Siskins (from Little House in the Suburbs).  I used a size 6 needle with Peaches in Crème in red and Sugar and Cream in white.

I did get the body finished of the Ruby the Huggable Monster.  Still have to do arms and legs.  I am using a size 5 needle with Lornas Laces Worsted Yarn in the color Zombie Barbeque.

I got a lot further with the Karen’s sock by Monica Jines.  I am working on the foot and hope to complete one sock by the end of next week if not sooner.  I am using a size 1 needle with Socktopus Soccusu yarn in lime and basil.  I really am enjoying the pattern in this sock.  I love Monica Jines’s patterns.

I haven’t been knitting much on my fair isle hat.  I did get a little further.  My goal is to work on it more this coming week.  I am using a size 7 and 8 needle with Madelinetosh Vintage yarn in scarlet and tern.

I was going to start on another Color Affection shawl (still have to block the last one), but I think I will pick up a work in progress called the Copycat shawl. Once I get further along with this shawl, I will start a color affection shawl in Shalimar Breathless.

I’ve Got Yarn

Boy, do I ever have yarn!

The Loopy Ewe got in a shipment of Madelinetosh Pashmina.  I have wanted some to knit another Color Affection Shawl.  So I bought 3 skeins (2 will be for the color affection – the third is just to have because I love the color)

From top to bottom, the colors are grove, dahlia, and cove.  I will use the top two for the shawl and add tern which is in my stash.

From my local yarn shop, I bought Shalimar Breathless.  I was so excited that they got this yarn in.

From top to bottom, colors are limerick (very light green), loden, and byzantine.  To the left side is tequila sunrise.

I also got some more Dancing Dog Dyeworks in Waltz Worsted. 

I got a half skein of tangy orange, and mazie and bella in the varigated color.

Now, I have to get to knitting!

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.