Knit, Knit, Knit to My Hearts Content

This week is wonderful. I don't have to work, I don't have to go anywhere except where I want to go, I can get caught up on cleaning, and I can knit, knit, knit to my hearts content. I really need to knit since I have been buying yarn like crazy.

I couldn't resist ordering from the Loopy Ewe, so I got three skeins of Sereknity Sock Options perfect and a skein of Indigo Moon yarns.

From left to right: Indigo Moon: Wine Country, Sereknity: Vineyard, Violas, and Tree Frog. I can't wait to try out these yarns. Both are 100% Superwash merino. The Sereknity is a light sport weight yarn.

I also got my yarn order from Hangefaerbt. This is another yarn from Germany and the colorways looked really nice, so I ordered 5 skeins. It took awhile because she dyes it after you order the yarn.

It's 100% merino extra fine yarn. It appears to be superwash and you get 150 grams in each skein, so I may be able to get two pairs of socks out of each skein. From left to right, colors are: Fairy Garden, Atlantis, Green Elve, Army of Orcs, and Magic Rose.

My order of Fannies Fingering Weight yarn finally came in at Kraemer's Yarn Shop. I just love the colors called Kaleidoscope and Storm. This yarn is so soft.

I have been knitting a bit. I finished the September Mid Month KAL dishcloth called Woven Cable by Jamie Monaghan. This was a great way to practice cables and it came out really nice. I used size 7 needles and Peaches and Creme yarn in the Dessert Gold colorway.

The Saturday knitting class at Kraemer's is doing a dishcloth a month to practice different stitches. The cloth for September was the Nubbins cloth. I used size 7 needles with Sugar and Cream yarn in the Key Lime Pie colorway. This cloth was fun and I can see making this pattern as a placemat.

My River Rapid Socks on two circular needles are coming along. I hope to really work on these a lot this week. It's really not bad knitting two socks on two circular needles. There are some challenges, but there would be on anything you learn for the first time. I love the yarn (Indie Dyer using Louet Gems base) and the colorway.

Well, I'm off to knit! I cast on for another dishcloth and want to cast on for a Prayer Shawl plus work on my socks.

Yard Sale! - No Time to Knit

I can't believe how fast this past week went. We had a neighborhood yard sale on Saturday, so most of my spare time was spent getting ready for the sale. It was suppose to be sunny and cool; however, it didn't get warm until close to 11 AM. The yard sale went until noon and we were freezing because it was overcast. I did fine with the sale. I had a ton of books to put out and we weren't that busy, but one person came and offered me a flat rate for the hardback books. I took it. I didn't want to have to carry all the boxes back into the house. The great part is that he resells the books on Amazon, so I got his name and number and can call him as I have books to get rid of.

Not much knitting went on this week. I did get some yarn, which I will post later this week. I ordered some neat knitting tools from an etsy shop called karatstix. I custom ordered what I wanted and it has been shipped. I have a picture of my order from her and I'm so excited how it turned out. Definately, check out her shop.

Spring Forward - Fall Back

Spring Forward is complete! I guess it should be since Spring has been gone for quite awhile. I loved knitting these socks. It was a really easy pattern to follow. I also liked the Jknits yarn in the Boston colorway. I used a size 1 needle. I guess someone needs to come up with a pattern called Fall Back.

I am slowly working on River Rapid Socks using two circular needles. It's not that I'm not liking the pattern or the needles, it's just that I wanted to finish off the Spring Forward socks. I have another sock on the needles and want to finish up a couple of other things too as well as start other projects. Maggie was sick the last couple of days, so that also slowed me down. She is getting better. She has pills from the vet but I have to feed her hamburger and rice. So I keep frying up hamburger and cooking rice. Thank goodness I am now able to mix in her regular dog food. Soon she should be just eating that and I can take a break from being the Hamburger and Rice Queen.

I saw a really cool pair of socks knitted in a watermelon colorway that I'm dying to buy. I just have to be patient until the yarn is available. I'm not telling where to find it yet because I want to make sure that I get to buy the yarn first. Am I bad?

I have also been reading. I have read the following books:

Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovitch

The Beach House by Jane Green

What Happened by Scott McClelland

S is for Silence by Sue Grafton

The Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux (this was really good)

Something Borrowed and Something Blue by Emily Giffin (I enjoyed both of these books)

Marriage of Inconvenice and Stand in Wife by Debbie Macomber

Dyer Consequences by Maggie Sefton

That's 44 books read to date and 21 more to my goal by the end of the year. I am currently reading Why Women Should Rule the World by Dee Dee Myers. This is a really good read and I believe that every woman should read this. It's startling to see how much women are treated differently than men in the workplace.

Learning Something New

There just isn't enough time in the day for knitting. I think we need more than a 24 hour day.

I finished the September Dishcloth KAL. It's a schoolhouse by Andi Worthy. I used size 6 needles with Peaches and Creme in Brick Red. This is the first time I used Brittany birch needles and I really liked them. So much that I bought size 7 and 8.

I have also been working on my Spring Forward Socks. I finished one sock and I'm now working on the second sock. I hope to finish it this week.

I like this pattern. It is easy to follow and the stitches are easy to remember.

I have started two socks on two needles. This is the first time using circular needles for socks. It took me a couple of rows to get the hang of it. At times I felt as if the needles were all tangled up into loops. Thanks to a knitting friend at knitting class, I overcame my doubts and I think I'm going to like this method. I am using size 2 needles (one metal and one harmony - this is easier to keep track of the needles) and Indie Dyer yarn, which is 100% Superwash merino. The pattern I chose is the River Rapids Sock by Sock Bug. It was written for two socks on two circular needles and looks like it isn't too difficult a pattern to knit.

I guess it's a good thing to learn something new.

Yarn Porn

I have to get caught up on posting the sock yarn I bought. First is the Plucky Knitter sock club. It's the Plucky Classics a merino superwash yarn in the colorway called Madeleine Elster. I also got a tape measure with the yarn.

Then there is the Socks That Rock sock club. Lightweight 100% superwash merino yarn in the goody goody colorway. I received two sock patterns with this yarn.

I also couldn't resist ordering Socks that Rock Typhoon Tina in Silkie, Rain Forest Jaspter in lightweight, and Highway 30 in Silkie.

Kraemer yarns got a special order of Flat Feet yarn. This is from the Flat Feet sock club. I thought it was different enough to try. Can't wait to see how it knits up.

Last, but not least I ordered Felici from knitpicks in Provence and Mixed Berries. I saw Provence knitted up and it really stripes nice.

I ordered some new yarn from Germany (it's not Wollmeise) and I can't wait to get that yarn to see how it compares with Wollmeise. I will post that when it arrives, but it will probably be later in September. Hope I'm not disappointed. I tried to get into the Wollmeise sock club, but didn't make it, so this purchase is to appease me. Wollmeise is like gold now a days because it's so hard to get.

Knitting away like crazy in September

It's hard to believe that it's September already. The weather here hasn't been that hot lately, but this week it's suppose to go back to the 90's. I have four more weeks of teaching and then I get a break. I'm ready since my knitting has suffered the last two weeks.

Some finished projects:

I finished the August Mid-Month KAL. The pattern is called Elvish Leaves. I used Size 6 needles and Peaches and Creme yarn in the country garden colorway.

After I finished it, I found a mistake (can you find it?), so I knit up another one using Peaches and Creme in shrimp. I like this one because you can see the pattern better. I really like the pattern and it was a fun knit.

Another sock is complete. For this one I used Trekking Zitron yarn in the colorway 167 with a basic sock pattern and size 2 needles.

I also started working on my Spring Forward socks again. I let them sit for awhile and now I am on a role. I hope to finish the first sock by today or tomorrow.

Of course, I had to start on another sock, so I am using Creatively Dyed Luxury 20 (it has some cashmere in it and is so soft) and size 2 needles. The colorway is Watermelon Juice.

I got a new phone. My Razer wasn't charging anymore and I was due for an upgrade, so I bought an Iphone. I love it! Especially since it is a phone and ipod. I found a pattern for an Iphone cozy, so I knitted that up using the Sanguine Gryphon's Eidos sock yarn in Pythagorus and size one needles. I modified the pattern a bit. I knit from the top down and used a K1 through the back loop and P1 for the ribbing. I didn't knit the pocket, but may add it later. I used the knitpicks metal double points for this pattern and let me tell you they are much nicer than bamboo for size 1 needles. In fact, I also like using the size 2 needles too.

Next week at my Friday knitting group, we are going to start knitting two socks on two needles. I have been procrastinating using two needles, but thought that I would jump in and try this method since several of us would be trying this at the same time. I am going to use the knitpicks circulars to knit these socks. Someone recommended using one metal and one harmony needle. It was better for them to keep track of what needle they were using when trying the two circular method.

At my Saturday knitting group, we are going to start knitting dishcloths to try out different patterns. We are going to knit a different pattern every two weeks. So, I am going to be knitting away like crazy this September. I don't think I have time to work or teach. It's time to retire again.

100th Post!

It's hard to believe that this is my 100th post. I have been trying to post at least one time per week this year. I have been doing pretty well. The weeks I can't get a post up, I have posted more than one time per week to make up for it.

I thought I would show you my back porch since I really love to spend time out there during the summer. Here is a picture:

It is screened in and shaded so I don't have to deal with bugs and the sun. I have several fans going too so that helps when the temperature gets up there.

Here are some pictures of my view:

I live at the base of the Poconos and while I am not really in the mountains, the Blue Mountain is the mountain that you see in the picture. It is amazing how that mountain protects us. The weather can be so different on one side of the mountain versus the other side. I also live in a community that loves trees.

Here is also a picture of my Black Eyed Susans. I had these planted for the first time this year and they came in really well. If you look close, you will see an insect on one of the plants.

I just had to share this picture of Maggie May. This came out well from my cell phone and she just had a visit to the groomer.

And, just so this post has some knitting in it. Here is a picture of the socks I am currently working on using Trekking Zitron yarn in color 167 with size 2 needles.

I have been Loopified!

I love the Loopy Ewe, so much so that I have ordered quite a bit of yarn from them lately.

From left to right: Pagewood Farm in Turquoise, Sanguine Gryphon in Oznopa Ponton, Enchanted Knoll Farm in Juniper, Trekking Zitron in color 315, and finally Noro Silk Garden in color 5252

From left to right: Scarlet Fleece in poodle skirt, Creatively Dyed Yarn in Watermelon Juice and Winds of Change.

From left to right: Pagewood Farm in Forest Camo, Perchance to Knit in Peony (note the charm or stitch marker attached to the yarn), and Hazel Knits Artisan Sock in denim blues

Of course I had to buy their second Anniversary kit that consists of Handmaiden Casbah yarn, a sock pattern, two tatoos, a pin, and a Loopy Ewe mug.

I am in heaven with all of this sock yarn and I really love the Loopy Ewe (can't you tell?)!

August.... Summer is almost over

It's August. It seems that once August gets here the summer is just about over. The way the weather has been the last couple of days, it almost feels like fall. Today it was cool and we had some severe thunderstorms with hail. The temperature is currently 64 degrees. This is the first time in awhile that I haven't had an airconditioner on and felt as if I needed to lay under the covers to get warm! I like the cooler weather, but I'm not looking forward to winter.

I have started teaching taxes again. I'm enjoying it but will be glad when the classes are over. It's taking time away from knitting.

I did finish the socks I was making with Vesper sock yarn. I really liked the yarn and how it striped. I also enjoyed using the Knitpicks double points. I used these because I decided to use size 1 - 1/2 needles.

I have some more skeins of Vesper Sock Yarn, but just had to order more. I got Neopolitan:

And, Hot Metal:

I started another sock using Trekking Zitron in color 167. I'm also using the knitpicks metal double points with these.

I think I am going to be brave and try two socks on two circular needles. I first need to order some needles from Knitpicks. One of my knitting friends used one of the knitpicks metal and one of the harmony needles when she knitted her first pair of two socks on circular needles. She found it easier to keep track of the needles.

I finished the August KAL in my dishcloth group. The pattern is Redbud Leaf by Sue Mrenna. I used size 6 needles and Peaches and Creme yarn in Burnt orange. I enjoyed this pattern.

I am also trying to finish up a beach tote that I started last year using Fantasy Natural yarn. I just need to sew it together and will post pictures when it's complete.

Do You Only Knit Socks?

Jeez am I on a roll knitting socks. I completed the Jitterbug sock using a basic sock pattern with size 2 needles in the Raphael colorway. I love working with Jitterbug yarn.

I started a sock using the Spring Forward pattern from Knitty.com. This is a great pattern and I am enjoying it. I'm using JKnits yarn in the Boston colorway with size 1 needles.

I couldn't resist the Vesper Sock yarn in the Crew colorway. It makes me feel cool (rather than warm) knitting with this yarn. I am partial to green. I love the striping. I am using a size 1-1/2 needle. This is the first time I am knitting with my Knitpicks doublepointed needles and let me tell you, they are really nice. I am a bamboo fan (preferably Plymouth bamboo), but I may just switch to these needles all of the time.

I really need to knit something other than socks, don't you think?

Quick Post

A quick post to show another pair of socks completed. These are the JKnits Superwash Me sock in the Reno colorway using size 2 needles.

I also started another pair using Colinette Jitterbug in the Raphael colorway.

And, I thought I would post an updated picture of Maggie playing with her new toy. I dare her to rip this one up. She really loves it.

Summer Heat makes me buy more yarn?

I hate the heat. I guess Summer is not for me. It's too hot right now and I don't feel like doing anything when it's this hot. It's too hot at work (we have a broken air conditioner). At least at home I can turn on the air conditioners. It's too hot to sit out on my back porch (even with the fans) and I love to sit out on my back porch and knit.

I did finish another sock. I used the basic sock pattern with The Sanguine Gryphon yarn in Pythagoras colorway (blue) with a size 2 needle.

I loved this sock yarn so much that I bought two more skeins directly from the Sanguine Gryphon. I got O'Peirates:

And, I purchased Phaedrus:

I also knitted a dog leash using Sugar and Cream cotton in Wine with size 7 needles. This was a great project since I got to try out my first project with beads. It knitted up quite fast.

I finished the July Mid-month KAL. The pattern is called Summer Breeze. I used Peaches and Creme yarn in the Fairy Tales colorway. I like the pattern, but the dishcloth is small. I think I should have knitted another repeat of the pattern.

I bought more yarn (yes, I know that I am bad, but I just love sock yarn). From Hello Yarn, I bought the colorway Fruit Bowl in her Handdyed sock yarn.

From the Loopy Ewe, I got three skeins. From left to right: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Select in the Gypsy Rose Colorway, Perchance to Knit in the Irises colorway and, Hazel Knits Artisan sock in the cami chic colorway.

From Patternworks, I got their Bretton sock yarn in a grey colorway (thinking I may make a pair of socks for my husband).

I got the Booby sock kit from the Kraemer Yarn Shop. I think this is a cool sock pattern and some of the purchase goes towards Breast Cancer.

Last but not least, I got my Plucky Knitter Classics sock club yarn. It is 80% Merino, 10% Cashmire, and 10% Nylon in the Colonel Brandon colorway.

I'm waiting for the next Loopy Ewe sneak up to buy more sock yarn. She is going to have The Sanguine Gryphon and Enchanted Knoll yarn. Yum! Maybe the heat makes me buy more yarn? Now that is something to think about.