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!

Happy Blog Anniversary

It's so hard to believe that this is my 2 year blog anniversary. This has been a great journey documenting my new love of knitting. I continue to grow and look forward to many more years of blogging.

Summer of Socks

I have joined the Summer of Socks KAL and I'm so excited. Who would have thought that I could participate in a group like this. It starts in June, so I need to practice, right? So I ordered sock yarn from the Loopy Ewe. The yarn is (from left to right), Fiesta Boomerang in Madrid, Paca Peds in Frosty Nite and Carribean Chocolate. I also had to buy the cedar balls to keep the moths away from my yarn.

I finished up my monkey socks and I love how they turned out. I'm really pleased with this pattern. For my first patterned sock, it was really not a bad experience and I know I will make more. I believe I even have one picked out, but will knit it later. Right now I'm back to the basic sock pattern. But, in the meantime, here is a picture of my monkey socks. I used Dream in Color Smooshy in Happy Forest with size 2 needles.

I finished up two more comfortghan squares. That makes a total of 8 finished and 16 more to go. This one is called Little Fountains by Mary Dixon. I used TLC Essentials yarn in the color Falling Leaves with size 8 needles. This was a fun pattern to knit.

I really liked the mid-month dishcloth KAL this month. It's called Every Day, Any Day by Sue Schaefer from Harvest Moon Designs. I used Peaches and Creme yarn in Shades of Pastels with a size 7 needle. Sue is a great designer.

I'm also looking forward to making a sock monkey. I heard about these kits from the STR Ravelry group and just had to have one. The colorways I got are Rhodonoite and Purple Rain.

Well, I'm off to knit more socks. Practice, Practice, Practice.

Reading is so relaxing

I have been catching up on reading, which is a good thing since I have a goal to reach by the end of the year and it helps that it is so relaxing. You can disappear into the story and forget everything else. Sometimes, all I want to do is read and not do anything else.

I read the following books:

K is for Killer - Sue Grafton

L is for Lawless - Sue Grafton

Fourth of July - James Patterson

Fifth Horseman - James Patterson

Sixth Target - James Patterson

Seventh Heaven - James Patterson

Nells Cowboy - Debbie Macomber

Lone Star Baby - Debbie Macomber

The Cowboys Lady - Debbie Macomber

The Sheriff Takes a Wife - Debbie Macomber

Things I Learned from Knitting - Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

The Shopaholic and the Sister - Sophie Kinsella

I enjoyed all of these books and do recommend them.

Of course, I've also been on a yarn buying binge.

I got Fortissima Socka - Mexiko Color from Kraemers. One of my knitting friends was knitting a sock with this yarn and I really like how it turned out.

I couldn't pass up Dream in Color Smooshy yarn in Punky Fushia.

I love this Lornas Laces Shepherd sock in Grumperia colorway that I got from Birds-N-Yarn.

I got my first shipment from the Plucky Knitter sock club. It's the Classic sock in Captain Wentworth colorway.

And finally, I have been drooling over Sweet Georgia yarn. I discovered her right around the time she decided to take a break from dyeing yarn. I waited over a whole year and she finally came back, but I could only get laceweight yarn in the Logwood colorway. It was worth it, but I still want to get at least one skein of her sock yarn.

Haven't done much knitting this week. I have been catching up on housework and reading Barbara Walters book: Audition. It's page turner.

My Local Yarn Shop: Kraemer Yarn

Here are pictures of the newly renovated Kraemer Yarn Shop in Nazareth.

Walking in the door:

To the right of the door:

In the back of the store. The wall has Dream in Color, Farmhouse Yarns and Summit Hill:

My Friday knitting group:

Linda's log cabin lap blanket. The pattern is Valley Log Cabin blanket from Webs using Plymouth Encore Yarn. I am going to make one of these. She did make some modifications by doing the same pattern in each square and bordering each square with a dark grey. The photo is exactly how this lap blanket looks.

Mandy's almost completed vest for her husband:

Lois's prayer shawl:

Beautiful Eileen who is the sock lady. She is holding two sock puppets that they are selling in kits with the yarn and the pattern. Although, they are sold out right now. They are really cute.

This is Char with her completed baby sweater. Several members are making this baby sweater. Isn't it cute.

Our wonderful teacher, Pat:

I love my Friday knitting group!

Wonderful Weather makes for great knitting

What great weather we had the last two days! It's been beautiful enough to sit out on my back porch and knit away. I also started listening to my ipod while I knit. I belong to Audible books and have enough books to catch up on over the summer. It was great; however, today is overcast and it is going to rain. Oh well, you have to take what you can get and enjoy it while you can.

I have been knitting my socks. I am finally getting over the fear of knitting the Monkey socks. I finished one sock and started on the other. I am really enjoying this pattern.

I have also been working on my Flat Feet socks. I have gotten further with these, but I am still on the first sock. I like how this is striping and the colors are wonderful.

Finally, I am back to knitting comfortghan squares for my dishcloth group. I knitted two of the Basket Welt Square by Mary Dixon. I used TLC Essentials in Falling Leaves with size 8 needles.

I also finished my May KAL with my dishcloth group. It's called Wedding Rings. I used Peaches and Creme yarn in Lt Grape with size 7 needles.

I dug out the Chevron Scarf that I started in March 2007 and was able to knit quite a bit on that this last week. I really like this scarf. It uses Socks that Rock in Watermelon Tourmaline and Farmhouse yarn with size 5 needles. The pattern is from Last Minute Knitted Gifts book.

So, I have been busy knitting. What are you knitting?

Do You have Flat Feet?

No, it's not what you think. I'm not talking about your feet. I'm talking about the new yarn called Flat Feet. It's sock yarn by Conjoined Creations and I am not affiliated with the company or anyone who owns it or works for it.

Flat Feet Sock yarn is 80% Superwash merino and 20% Nylon. The yarn doesn't come in skeins. It's woven(or knitted) into a flat and then handpainted. In order to knit from it, you unravel the yarn from the flat. In the picture below, you can see the flat and how its painted.

To unravel the yarn, you just start to pull on the provisional thread at one end.

It's like when you make a mistake in knitting and have to "frog". You just unravel it and start to knit again. Here is a sock I started with this unique yarn.

The curliness of the yarn does not make it harder to knit. The yarn is a great quality and it's not splitty. I do like how it is striping. They recommend size 3 needles, but I am using size 2's. They also recommend blocking the yarn to remove crimp, but I don't see much crimping. I plan on waiting until I am finished with these socks to determine whether I will block them. The colors are vibrant.

I purchased the yarn at my local yarn shop, Kraemer's Yarn Shop and it sold out quickly. They plan on getting more in and I will problably buy another colorway. As a side note, all flats are not handpainted the same way, so you could possibly knit 2 different pairs of socks (pairs not individual socks in the same pair) in the same colorway and have them look different.

The Joy of Knitting

Ah, the joy of not working regularly. It's just heaven, but still a little hectic. I have been catching up on appointments (hair color, dentist, and Maggie's visit to the vet for her shots). But, I have found time to knit and getting back to my Friday knitting group is just wonderful. Now, I have to start organizing the house. I have put this off for a year and now it's time to get some of that work done.

The weather has been wonderful this past week. It has been warm and I have been able to sit out on our screened in porch. It's very peaceful and gives me time to read and knit. What more can you ask for.

I have finished some items. I completed my Fannie's Fingerweight socks. I just love this yarn and how it striped. I will definately be knitting socks from more of this yarn.

I finished the Monthly Dishcloth mid month cloth. It's called Dots within Stripes and I used Peaches and Cream yarn in Persimmon and Tea Rose (size 7 needles). This was a fun dishcloth to knit and I love how it turned out. That is what great about knitting dishcloths. They are quick and easy and get you to try new patterns. I also loved the colors of the yarn. Peaches and Cream is great and much better than Sugar and Cream.

I finally completed the fourth comfortghan square for this year. I have to get moving on these since I committed to 24. The pattern on this one is the same as before. Double Broken Rib Square pattern by Mary Dixon. Yarn is Red Heart TLC Essentials and I used a size 7 needle.

I am still working on my Monkey sock in between everything else, but I am slowing finishing the first sock. I just have to get past the heel on this one and then I think I will begin to knit faster. It's like I'm scared to continue since this is my first patterned sock.

I have started on another sock using the Flat Feet yarn I purchased. I will be posting step by step pictures later this week to show how the yarn works. I have cast on for a sock, but want to get past the ribbing before I post the pictures.

I really need to get back to finishing up some projects that I have started, but I'm also thinking about doing a log cabin blanket or lapghan. I really should finish up my ripple afghan before starting this. Two of my knitter friends from Kraemer's are working on the log cabin pattern and they are really nice. They are using a pattern from Webs where you knit squares and then put them together rather than knitting one big log cabin square.

Decisions, Decisions what a joy to have to decide what to knit and have time for it.