Back to Knitting Socks

It’s good to be back….back to knitting socks.  It’s been awhile since I was working and then working on other projects.  Socks were on the back burner.  But, I finally picked up a sock I had started back in October.  I am working on the Embossed Leaves Sock by Mona Schmidt.  I am using a size 1.5 needle with the Sanguine Gryphon Skinny Bugga in Leaf Insect.  I hope to be turning the heel by the end of the week.

I want to start on a Christmas sock.  A plain basic sock pattern using either String Theory Continuum sock yarn in Kinetic Energy.  I got this yarn in a kit from Simply Socks. It was the Fa La La sock kit.  We got a reversal project bag, bottle cap magnets and gift cards with the kit.  I really like the yarn too.

The other sock yarn I am thinking of using is the yarn I got at the Knitter’s Edge, my favorite local yarn store.  It’s from Frolicking Feet and the color is Christmas Cactus.  I think I will knit my Christmas sock out of this yarn.

I started on the second ball of Marble Chunky yarn for the prayer shawl for my only knitted Christmas gift.  I really like this yarn.  It’s acrylic, soft and washable.  I just had to buy more colors, so I got MC14 (red) and MC6 (blue/brown).  I think there is another color that I want to get yet.  I like this so much that I am getting rid of the Lion Brand Homespun yarn I bought awhile back.  I will donate it to a prayer shawl group.

Are you knitting any Christmas gifts?

It was a Great Thanksgiving

I really had a great Thanksgiving, especially since I had quit my job.  It  just wasn’t working out for me and I was having blood pressure issues.  So, I guess my body was telling me to take time to smell the roses and stay home.  I am enjoying it immensely. I get to do what I want (knit and read) and what I am really looking forward to is sitting at home and watch it snow.  I won’t have to worry if I should stay home or go into work.

I have been knitting.  I finished the November Mid Month Dishcloth KAL.  The pattern is called Fire N Ice by Janet Nogle.  I used Peaches and Crème yarn in Premium Passion and Delft Blue with a size 6 needle.  This was a fun knit and it turned out really nice.

I also completed the Purl Ridge Scarf.  It’s a scarf that is knit in the round. The pattern is by Stephen West.  I really like his designs.  I used a size 8 needle with Madelinetosh dk yarn in the oxblood color way.

I really enjoy knitting cowls, so I bought yarn to make more.  I got Rowan Lima in a grey and purple color way.

Rowan Drift in a grey color way.  I think I am on a grey kick.

Also, Araucania Panguipulli yarn to make a Mobius scarf in a blue/teal color way.

And I bought more Baby Ull yarn by Dale of Norway to get ready to knit more calendar scarves.  I still have to block the last one I knit and will have to post a picture once it’s blocked.  I got a green color (9013)

and a grey color (0007).

I have much knitting to keep me busy during the winter months don’t I?

Christmas songs on the radio?

November is flying by and Christmas is coming up pretty quickly.  One of our local radio stations is playing Christmas music already.  It just doesn’t seem right.  It was nice that Daylight Savings Time ended last Sunday and we got an extra hour, but I hate that it’s dark out so early.  I am dreaming of Spring and warmer weather.

I got my last Loopy Ewe Sock Club shipment.  It was a nice package.  We got The Sanguine Gryphon’s Bugga yarn in Great Purple Hairstreak, A top down sock pattern by Debbie of Nutty Creations and cabled hat pattern by Sara of the Sexy Knitter.  Also in the package was a set of stitch markers and a Loopy Ewe Stitch Marker pocket. 

So, this was the second year that I was in the club.  I will go into the lottery again, but won’t be guaranteed a spot.  So, if I get in, I get in and if not I should be in the Don’t Be blue club, which will be nice.

I also bought some Fortissima Color Sock yarn in color 164.  I liked the different shades of red on this yarn and it would be nice for Christmas or Valentines Day.

I completed the November 2010 dishcloth KAL.  The cloth is by Elaine Fitzpatrick and it’s called the peanut cloth.  I used Peaches and Crème in color peacock with size 6 needles.

I also finished the Twist baby hat by Melissa Goodale.  I used Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in a blue denim colorway with size 2 and 3 needles.

I need to give this hat and the Sprout hat to my niece.  Her baby was due on November 12th, but she had the baby on November 4th. He was 7 pounds, 8 ounces and she named him Carter.

Reading–but falling behind

I have been reading, but work sure is getting in the way.  I think I will make my goal of 65 books for the year, but I need to get reading.

I have finished the following books:

Fly Away Home – Jennifer Weiner (great read and hope there is a sequel)

On Mystic Lake – Kristin Hannah – I just love her books

A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolft

Dream When you’re Feeling Blue – Elizabeth Berg

Promises to Keep – Jane Green

1022 Evergreen Place – Debbie Macomber

The Surgeon – Tess Gerritsen – Scary book

Big Russ & Me – Tim Russert

The Perfect Christmas – Debbie Macomber

The Things we do for Love – Kristin Hannah

Low Country Summer – Dorothea Benton Frank – Love, love her books

Heart of the Matter – Emily Giffin

Home Again – Kristin Hannah

Wool Girl Sock Club–October 2010

I got the October shipment of the Wool Girl Sock Club.  It is a nice package. 

I got a skein of Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock in Terrywinkle colorway.  Two patterns:  The Sock Thief sock pattern by Liz Abinante and Secret Love Scarf pattern by Liz Abinante.  A wooden box designed by Brooke of Mmin: I like Dreamin, A handmade glass needle vial by Zecca (I love these),  a loop design vintage stitch marker, and a handmade gift tag.

One more shipment of Woolgirl to come in December.

I got to go to knitting for over an hour on Friday.  That made me feel good.   I was working on the prayer shawl for a Christmas gift. It was also nice to see my knitting friends.

Just in time for Halloween

I finished the socks!  I really concentrated on finishing my Halloween socks.  I loved the yarn and how it striped.  I used size 1 needles, String Theory Continuum sock yarn in the color way Little Ghost Nebula with a basic sock pattern.  I love my new socks and I got to wear them to knitting today.

Yes, I went to my favorite yarn shop today and was able to knit with my friends.  What a great day.  I really felt sad though.  I miss going to knitting.  I am really going to try and get there for at least an hour each Friday or most Fridays.  The good news is that in two weeks I am off again and two weeks after that is Thanksgiving and I am off again.  So, I can definitely go those weeks. Something to look forward to.

I also finished the October Mid Month KAL.  The pattern was a witch by Alli Barrett.  I used size 6 needles with Sugar and Cream yarn in orange. 

Guess, you can tell it’s October and Halloween since I have been using  a lot of orange colored yarn?

I have purchased some new yarn.  I loved the String Theory Continuum yarn that I had to get Candy Corn and Electron from Simply Socks.

 

From the Loopy Ewe, I recently purchased Dream in Color’s Everlasting Sock yarn in Rosy and Tidewater.  It’s a nice sock yarn.  The Rosy color way is different from any other colors I have.

Now that I finished my Halloween sock, I need to get knitting on the embossed leaves sock, the prayer shawl for Christmas, and the baby hat for my niece (yikes, the baby is due soon).  I also need to start on the Great American afghan project that my friends are also knitting and need to get ready for the 2010 Kalendar scarf ( I still have to block my other scarf and take a picture of the finished project).

I can’t finish without showing a new picture of Maggie.  Doesn’t she look content and happy?

Time is flying and I’m glad.  I’m counting the days until the end of April.  Hope it goes real fast.

Knitting Makes me Happy

I am finally knitting more and starting to finish some projects.

I completed the October KAL in my Dishcloth group.  The pattern was Spider by Andi Worthy.  I used size 6 needles with Peaches and Creme yarn in the color shrimp.

I finished one Halloween sock using String Theory’s Continuum yarn in Little Ghost Nebula.  I am using size 1 needles.  This yarn is really nice and I love how it striped.

 

Three knitting friends were working on the Maelstrom sock and all of us finally finished them.  Don’t they look great?

   

I had to get a new picture of Maggie.  She just loves her ball and needs to have it by her all of the time.  She’s always ready to have me play with her.  I love how her tongue sticks out.

Yarn, Yarn and more Yarn….when does it stop?

I’m not knitting much, but I sure am buying yarn.  I just love yarn.  It makes me happy.

From The Knitter’s Edge, I got Crystal Palace Mochi Plus in color 558.  It’s a blue, green, purple color to make the Ruffled Scarf.

I also got Berroco Comfort yarn in color 9726 to make a bunny rabbit for my niece’s baby.  However, I recently found out that the theme for the room is monkey’s, so maybe I won’t be making the bunny.

Then I got String Theory’s Continuum sock yarn from Simply Socks.  This is a wide striping sock yarn.  It’s really cool and I love the colors.  I got Dark Matter (purple and black) and Little Ghost Nebula (orange and black for Halloween).

I started on the Halloween sock and it’s fun to knit. I’m using a size 1 needle.  I love the orange color.  My high school colors are also Orange and Black.  Although it’s been years since I graduated from high school.

I couldn’t resist ordering Skinny Bugga from the Sanguine Gryphon.  Her new fall colors are out.  I got Leaf Insect and The Herald.  Lovely colors!

I did start a prayer shawl for my mother-in-law for Christmas. Hope I get to finish it.  I am using the Marble Chunky yarn in color MC 15 with a size 13 needle.  I really like working with this yarn.

Sock Club Shipment

Yes, I got another sock club shipment.  They are surely fun to get, yet maybe I’m not as excited about them as I use to be.  We shall see what happens next year if I will decide to sign up for more.

From Wool Girl, I got a special shipment of divinely inspired by cupcakes.  This was separate from her sock club.  She sure wraps up the kits really nicely.

In this shipment, I got a skein of Dashing Docs fingering weight yarn in Cupcake: Divinely Inspired colorway (pink), a sock and a cowl pattern,  an accessory bag, pin cushion, push pin, stitch markers, lip balm, box, postcards, recipe, and a gift tag.

 

The Loopy Ewe September sock club came and I got Madelinetosh sock in Loopy’s Favorite Season, a sock and fingerless glove pattern. Heal Creme and a Lotion bar.  Love this package.

Fall is here

So glad that it is raining today.  We really need it.  Fall, it reminds me that I need to get knitting.  What a great time of the year to do that.  I sure am not lacking for yarn.

I got some Jojoland Rhythm yarn in color RS71 to knit the Preppie Scarf by Anni Howard.  I love how you knit the fringe.

Marble Chunky in color MC15 to knit a prayer shawl for my mother-in-law who is in a nursing home.

Freshile Fibers Double Down fingering yarn in Watermelon to knit socks.

And Sanguine Gryphon in Skinny Bugga (I just love Skinny Bugga and Bugga) in Faithful Beauty.  Maybe for a shawl or small shawl and socks?

I did finish a dishcloth from my Monthly Dishcloth KAL group.  The pattern is called Leaf Patterned by Andi Worthy.  I used Peaches and Creme in verde green with a size 7 needle.

Off to knit!

Where did two weeks go?

Time flies I guess.  Well, I haven’t been blogging lately because I took a full time job.  Am I crazy?  I think so.  We shall see how this goes, but if it doesn’t work out then it’s no big deal.  Something was calling me to do this and I guess there is a reason.

As a result I haven’t been knitting much these last two weeks and I have a lot to catch up on.  I did frog the Madelinetosh sock I was working on.  After casting on several times, I gave up.  I didn’t like how it was turning out so I ripped it out and threw away the yarn.  Sometimes you just have to give up on it.

I have some new yarn and projects to blog about, but I will save that until later this week.

Wool Girl – August Sock Club

I got my Wool Girl sock club shipment for August.  The theme is Butterfly Kisses.  It included:

• A skein of Zen String Serenity 20 fingering weight sock yarn in the Butterfly Kisses colorway.
• Flutterby sock pattern designed by Debbie O’Neill
• Butterfly Tattoo Scarf designed by Renee Strouts
• A set of embossed and glittered butterfly diecut notecards
• A Butterfly notions tin
• A fabric sticky note post-it note holder
• 2 Butterfly stitch markers
• A handmade gift tag

So cool.

 

Time Flies

Time sure flies.  I can’t believe that it’s after Labor Day already.  I really enjoyed my summer this year.  I finished the Calendar Scarf, but need to block it.  I hope to do that in the next few days and will post pictures after it is blocked.

I did complete the Sprout hat that I working on for my niece’s baby boy due in November.  I used Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in color 340003 (green) with size 2 and size 3 needles.  It had a tricky stitch in the directions, but I emailed the designer and she sent me a tutorial, which was very helpful.

I also started on the Twist hat by the same designer.  Pictures to come later.

I finished the Flounce scarf.  This was a fun knit.  I used color 06 (green and purple) with size 9 needles.  This worked up quickly.

Doesn’t Maggie looked thrilled modeling it?

 

I finished two dishcloths.  The August Mid-Month cloth.  The pattern was Ice Cream cone by Andi Worthy.  I used Peaches and Creme in cream with size 6 needles.

  

I also completed the September KAL.  The pattern was Do I Smell Cheese by Elaine Fitzpatrick.  I really like her designs.  I used Peaches and Cream in silver grey with size 6 needles.

I did pretty good in the last several days finishing up some projects, didn’t I?

More yarn to add to my stash

What a yarn week it was.  I got quite a bit of yarn this week.  I had to get more colors from the Sanguine Gryphon.  After finishing the Maelstrom sock, I am so in love with this yarn.

From the Loopy Ewe, I got Bugga in Familiar Bluet and Skinny Bugga in Painted Damsel.

From the Sanguine Gryphon direct, I got Red Spotted Purple Butterfly and Charaxes Tiridate both in Bugga.

I also got quite a bit of yarn from my LYS, The Knitter’s Edge.  I am planning on working on squares for the Great American Afghan, so I am using Plymouth Select from Plymouth yarns in color 35 a really pretty green.  Two of my other knitting friends are also going to knit this afghan.  We are going to be picking our own squares from the three afghan books.

King George yarn was on sale, so I got two skeins of color 2786 (grey) to knit a hat.  The yarn is a baby alpaca, merino, and cashmere mix.

 

And, I bought on a whim, this pretty ribbon yarn to knit two scarves.  It comes out like a potato chip scarf only you don’t have to do as much knitting.  I got color 08 (black and grey) and color 06 (green and purple).  I am going to try to cast on for one of these scarves this week and will take pictures.

I’m was really excited to buy this cool knitting bag by Laurel Burch.  It is such a big size that I needed and the colors are perfect.  The price was right too.  This bag will come in handy since I have so much yarn to knit up.  Don’t you think?

Now, off to knit so I can post some pictures later this week.