The needles are clicking

I’ve been doing great in the knitting department.  I finished the mushishi cowl.  I used size 9 needles.  It came out great!

I also completed the February Mid Month KAL in my dishcloth group.  The pattern is Weave Me Wash Me by Alli Barrett.  This was a fun knit even though there was a lot of seed stitch.  I forgot that I was knitting the seed stitch pattern.  I used Peaches and Crème in shaded pastels with a size 6 needle.

Then, I finally blocked my calendar scarf that I finished in September.  It came out really nice.

Two of my knitting friends and I are knitting socks where we each take turns picking out the pattern.  We all finally finished the embossed leave sock, so here is the picture.

I was able to snag three skeins of Wollmeise Twin from the Loopy Ewe.  I got Red Hot Chili, Grapes for Sheri, and Gewitterhimmel.

And, last but not least, I was able to get another ball of Twisted Limone Tangy sock yarn in the jelly bean colorway.  This is a really nice color!

I’m getting close to finishing the Eternity Scarf.  I should be able to finish it by the end of the week.  I will soon be starting the feather and fan stitch on my Multnomah scarf.  I’m concerned about this part of the pattern as some knitter’s were having trouble with it. Only 6 more repeats of the pattern on the blanket I am knitting.  I should be finishing that up in the next two or three weeks.  It feels so good.

Yarn Clubs Plus

I got my first shipment of yarn from Club Loopy.  The yarn is from the Alpaca Yarn Company and it is called Paca Heels and Toes.  Along with the shipment, I got a sock and shawl pattern as well as a Loopy Ewe Baggu bag.  Love this shipment.

The Cookie A sock club shipment also came.  I got two exclusive sock yarn patterns as well as two cookie recipes with String Theory Caper Sock in the Solas color way.  The yarn appears to be green in the picture, but it is really a blue color.

The Sanguine Gryphon had a special package you could buy for Valentine’s Day.  It is called the Bon Bon kit.  I got 4 skeins of Bugga yarn in the following colors: From the top, clockwise – Pink Katydid, Purple Ochre Sea Star, Devils Flower, Tropical Shield Bug.  Love this kit.  I already have a sock pattern figured out for one of these skeins.  The question is, which skein?

In addition to the Bugga, I also got 2 skeins of Codex in the color Again and Again.

There are so many nice yarn clubs out there this year.  I passed up the String Theory Colorworks club.  Maybe next year.

Finishing

I have been doing great in the finishing department.  It’s so rewarding. What is also great is that I have been completing some old WIPs.

I completed the basic pair of socks in String Theory Continuum yarn in the Galactic Ghoul color way using size 1 needles.

I finished an old WIP called the Leaf Lace Scarf by Janet D. Russell.  I used Ella Rae lace merino yarn in a blue color way using size 3 needles.  This is the first project that I really blocked using blocking wires.  It worked out really well.

 

I also completed  another old project.  A scarf using Habu Cork Chenille and Tobi Moire yarns with size 10 needles.  I was really glad to be finished with this.  You just knit every row, but with two skeins of yarn that are fine threads, it was easy to make a mistake when knitting.

This morning, I finally blocked  my Calendar Scarf.  I finished this in September, but never blocked it.  I used Dale of Norway Baby Ull yarn in a natural color with size 2 needles.  I love this yarn.  I will definitely do another Calendar Scarf using the same yarn, but in a different color.  I will post another picture when it is dry from blocking.

I started an Eternity Scarf by Michele Wang.  I am using Berroco’s Flicker yarn with a size 9 needle.  The color is 3307 a dark grey.  This yarn is so soft, but does dry out your hands.

Well, off to knit some more.  I am close to finishing the Mushishi cowl.  I would like to finish this by the end of the week. Then next old WIP up for finishing is my Multnomah shawl and then the Girasole.

Great Knitting Week

February is going so fast.  I can’t believe that it’s almost half over. I have been doing a lot of knitting this week.  That is a good thing.

I finished the February Dishcloth KAL.  The pattern is called Betsy the Bass by Janet Nogle.  I used size 7 needles with Peaches and Crème yarn in the Delft Blue colorway.

I also finished another Darrell Waltrip cloth.  The pattern is by Rhonda White.  I used size 6 needles with Sugar and Cream yarn in Beach Ball Blue.

I have been working on my String Theory Continuum Basic sock in the Galactic Ghoul colorway with size 1 needles.  One sock is complete.  This yarn is soft and plush.  I just love it.

And, I have been working faithfully on the Leaf Lace Scarf using size 3 needles with Ella Rae lace merino yarn.  I’m so excited that I am just about finished with this scarf since I started it in May of 2009.

I also bought some new yarn.  I got Berroco’s Flicker yarn in color 3307 (grey).  I will be casting on tomorrow for the Eternity Scarf using this yarn.  It’s so soft and pretty with the flicks of sliver in it.

I couldn’t resist buying another skein of Twisted Limone sock yarn in the Liquorice Lime colorway.  This picture looks like yellow and black, but it’s really lime and black.

Looks like we will be having some warmer weather in the next few days.  By warm I mean it will be in the 40’s.  I hope a lot of our snow and ice melts before we get another storm.  Maybe the Groundhog was right and spring is around the corner.

Snow and Ice

Well, we are in the middle of two storms.  Today we had snow mixed with freezing rain and now there is a lull in the weather, but late tonight or early tomorrow morning, we will be getting an ice storm.  Needless to say, I have been knitting away.  Perfect weather for it.  I just hope that we don’t lose power.

I finally finished the Moebius scarf that I was working on.  I was using Araucania Panguipulli in color 5.  I used size 10 needles.  I really enjoyed this knit and learned a lot about moebius.  I will definitely try knitting something again using this method. This is really nice and warm around the neck.

I also completed the Basic Sock I was working on using Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in the pullman colorway.  I used a size 1 needle for this sock.

I did start another basic sock using String Theroy Colorworks Continuum sock in Galactic Ghoul.  I really love this yarn.  It is nice and soft.

I was really glad that I got into the CookieA sock club.  I wasn’t going to try, but it’s CookieA and I’m sure the patterns will be great as well as the yarn.  I’m also participating in the Loopy Ewe club, which is a three month club.  I will try the three month club and decide if I want to stay in after that.  I am debating about the String Theory sock club.  She is going to open up memberships in February.  I have time to make up my mind about that one.

I am still working on the Mushishi (Plymouth Yarns) cowl in color 09.  This yarn is really fun to knit. I am using size 9 needles.

Still frogging some old WIP’s that I didn’t see me finishing, but I did start up on the Leaf Lace Scarf that I started several years ago.  I have an incentive, since one of my Yahoo Dishcloth groups is having a scarf KAL.  You can knit any scarf, so I am knitting this for the month of February and hopefully will finish it.  I will post pictures of this on my next blog post.

Stay warm and safe. Only 46 more days until spring and hopefully the Groundhog won’t see his shadow tomorrow. 

Yarn

Yes, I’m still buying.  I can’t resist.  But, I am being more selective.

First up is Noro Silk Garden Sock in color S269.  It’s a cream colorway to use in combination with another skein to make a Silk Kerchief.  I am going to use my new size 3 Signature cable needles to knit this.  I just need to finish another project and then I’m casting on.

Second is Sanguine Gryphon’s Codex. I got Flash Harry(green) and Enid Coleslaw (purple) to make the Moody Kerchief.  I may be able to make 2 Kerchiefs out of this.

Third is Madelinetosh merino light in tern.  This is a grey colorway and is it ever nice.  I am going to use this to make the Twisted Rib Neckwarmer.

Fourth is Malabrigo worsted in the colorway Pearl Ten.  I am going to use this to make a slouchy hat.  I have a couple of patterns to choose from and I’m not sure which one I will pick yet.

I thought this was a grey color, but it appears to have some brown in it.

Fifth is Twisted Limone Zingy 100.  I got a shaded solid in a green colorway called Cucumber coblis.

And, I also got Tangy in the colorway Fruit Salad. This will have wide stripes.

Last, but not least, I got a monster to knit.  It’s a kit from Danger craft called Iris the Gourmet Monster.  She also has a book that might be available now and I plan on getting that too.  The yarn is from Lorna’s Laces.

Now all I need is the time to knit all of these patterns.  Although, we have been having a lot of snow lately, so that might help me.Only 51 days until spring.

Finishing and Frogging

Well, I am working on projects.  Many projects, but I am finishing some.  In fact, I’m not letting myself start on another project until I finish something (other than dishcloths).  So that’s a great incentive isn’t it.

I did start to frog some projects that I didn’t think I would finish.  I ripped out the baby sweater.  I wasn’t keen on how it was turning out, so I knit a dishtowel and dishcloth.  The pattern is Annie’s kitchen set by Sue Schaeffer.  I used Katia Tobago in color 53.  I used a size 8 needle for the dishtowel and size 6 needle for the dishcloth.

I also ripped out a fetching glove.  I didn’t like the needles I was using and I ripped out a lace shawl (candle flame shawl) I really just had completed the border.  With all the lace shawl patterns out there, I decided that I could find another pattern that I liked better.  Last but not least, I ripped out the silky tie wrap.  I just didn’t like how it was turning out.  I will use the yarn for something else.  I think that is all I will rip out for now.

I finished the January Mid Month KAL from my Monthly Dishcloth group.  The pattern is called Freedom by Sue Schaeffer.  I used Peaches and Crème in a light blue and baby green with size 7 needles.

This would be a good time to mention that I am sad that Elmore Pisgah (maker of Peaches and Crème yarn) sold the company to Spinrite (maker of Sugar and Cream).  I really loved this cotton yarn for dishcloth better than Sugar and Cream.  Fortunately, I have a lot of it in my stash and should be okay for years to come.

One sock is finished in my Lornas Laces basic sock using the Pullman colorway with size 1 needles. I liked how the striping was turning out.

I’m so excited.  Signature Needles came out with their updated circular needles.  I liked the cable on this needle, so I got a size 3, 24 inch needle with 5 inch metal needle.  Can’t wait to try this.  I have a project in mind, but need to finish some things before starting.  I also got a size 4 cable needle as well as some Double Point tubes from them.

Just had to show you a picture of Maggie sleeping.  I caught her sleeping on her football.  She so likes her toys, especially her balls and many times has to go and run to get one to sleep with so that she knows where it is before she goes to sleep. Isn’t she cute?

Wool Girl Sock Club–December 2010

Well, I got my last Wool Girl Sock club shipment.

This was a nice club, but I decided to cut back in 2010 and not sign up in 2011.

The package included 1 skein of Miss Babs Yummy fingering weight sock yarn in the color Love Letters, a Love Letters sock pattern by IrishGirlie Knits, an Ardor shawlette pattern by Jenny Raymond, a vintage heart sachet, a stitch marker, a set of Love Letter photo greeting cards, a mini Oscar Wilde diary, and a gift tag.

Knitting Like Crazy

Maybe it’s the weather.  It’s been cold here and we have had several small snow storms.  That must be what is getting me in the mood to knit and cast on for different projects.

I finished a Darrell Waltrip dishcloth by Rhonda K. White.  I used a size 6 needle with Peaches and Crème in Victorian Christmas.  I enjoyed how this turned out.

Then I completed the January KAL dishcloth called Happy 2011 by Alli Barrett.  I used a size 6 needle with Peaches and Crème in baby blue.

I also finished my Christmas socks.  I used a  size 1 needle with Frolicking Feet yarn in the color way called Christmas Cactus.

I started another sock using Lorna’s Laces Shepherd sock in the pullman color way with size 1 needles.  This is the first time I am using Lorna’s Laces yarn.  I love how it feels and how it stripes.

Then one of my friends was knitting a cowl using Plymouth Yarn Mushishi.  It' looked so nice that I bought the yarn and cast on for the cowl.  It’s a simple pattern of purling 3 rows and knitting 3 rows.  I am using a size 9 needle.

I found two other patterns that I want to start knitting.  They are both small shawls.  I will be casting on soon.  I just need to get more needles.  Yikes!

2010 ended with yarn buying binge

I want to stop adding yarn to my stash and I really am going to try hard this year to knit from my stash.  But, before I do that, I had to buy some yarn before the year 2010 ended.

I couldn’t resist the new colors of Sanguine Gryphon’s skinny bugga.  From top to bottom: I got Two butterflies went out at noon,The very quiet cricket, Sandworm, and Shelob.

Then, I was lucky….very, very lucky to catch Loopy Ewe putting up Wollmeise Twin sock yarn.  I got two skeins.  The colors are Granatapfel and Gazpacho.

I was checking out the Yarn Harlot’s blog and saw socks made out of Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in the pullman colorway.  I just had to have it. I have cast on for a sock already.

I couldn’t resist Dream in Color’s Smooshy December Dream club yarn in the color candy floss.  Actually, I loved the pattern and that hooked me to get the yarn.

Last, but not least, one of my knitting friends was knitting a cowl using Plymouth Yarns Mushishi yarn in the color 9 (red).  It looks so pretty and it’s so soft, I couldn’t resist it either.

So, that was my last buying binge for awhile.  It’s knit from stash time and I certainly have a lot of it.  I could open my own yarn store.  I won’t say that I won’t buy any yarn because if I can be lucky enough to get more Wollmeise, I wouldn’t turn that down and Numma Numma should be back to dying yarns again soon and I certainly can’t resist that.  I didn’t sign up for any sock clubs.  I will sign up for the Loopy Ewe club, but if I don’t get in, I won’t be real disappointed.  2011 seems to be about moderation in many ways.