9 June - Knitting Fan

I am a fan of knitting, as you might know.

This year I have knit a Feather and Fan CYA sweater and a pair of Feather and Fan socks.

I have also knit a Zigzag Pullover. (just needs to be stitched together)

I am working on a Water's Edge Cardi. (waiting for the last skein of yarn to be dyed)

I have just cast on for another shawl.

27 May - Maybe

Maybe:

I'll never get off Facebook now that the Quilt Mavericks have a group there.

It'll warm up some. Hoodie and wool socks on for the morning.

I will sleep in my own bed tonight.

I will miss Cosi and Dexter, but I will have the Saki-Bomb under my feet again.

#85 of 365 - Gonna Have Happy Feet in Green Eventually

Sorry that the picture is out of focus. It's due to operator error on the part of the photographer. She said it herself, so don't get mad at me for it. Its craptastic, so sorry about that. I went to Lamb Shoppe in Denver to knit with the girls after stripping palms at church this morning. I had totally forgotten that I was to get a birthday discount as my birthday falls in March when I decide to go today. I mean, after all, it's nearly a hundred and thirty miles round trip to get there just to knit. However, the next time I would be able to get to the shop would be next Saturday. Of course, that would then be in April. I therefore, took advantage of the discount today. I bought some new sock yarn for me to make a pair of green socks. It's Zauberball Magic Ball in greens.

I also learned to strip palms to prepare them for Palm Sunday tomorrow and also how to make a palm cross. I took to heart what my Granny used to say and learned something new today.

#84 of 365 - Really Happy Feet

I have been missing ONE of this pair of fraternal socks nearly all winter. I was sad about that and worrit that it had fallen behind the stacked washer and dryer when I used the top of the stack to lay out the drying sock collection back in December. The laundry set is in an alcove and therefore it's inaccessible by little ole me, as there is NO way I can move them out by me own self and Erin's is often too broken to ask for her help. Normally, I lay the collection out on a towel on the floor and let them dry there. However, when this one went missing, Erin's young man, Guy was here from the UK and my Da was also in town to meet him. It was the only place I could think of that was absolutely out of the way of anything. We have a teeny tiny townhouse and between Erin and I, we have TOO much stuff...

So, imagine if you would, both my dismay and delight when the washer and the dryer failed yesterday and I needed to dump out my laundry basket so Erin could cart a very wet load of laundry to the laundromat to get it dried. In the upending of my deep laundry basket, the missing sock miraculously appeared. Since we are having snow, yet again, my feet are glad of the wash and wear warmth of my Encore Scrap Socks. Also in the picture, my oldest pair of clogs, which I will be very unhappy to see go when they finally shuffle off this mortal coil, as it were. I am thinking that they are going on their 25th year of service. So, I certainly have gotten my money's worth, don't ya think? I just spent $20.00 on repairing them, so who knows, maybe I'll another 25 years out of them, if I live that long?

#55 of 365 - Bellatrix Yarn and Bellatrix Stockings to Come

Again With the Socks!



However, there is a really good reason to talk about these. They are actually going to be knee-high stockings, instead of socks. The yarn was custom dyed for me by my dear daughter, Erin. She has a wee indie dying project called Asylum for Wayward Yarn.

Her colourways are primarily based on characters from books, movies and television shows. There are Outlander, Harry Potter and Moonlight ones so far. It's base is Knitpicks Bare in a Superwash Merino Wool and Nylon (75/25) dyed with Jacquard and Cushing's dyes. The colourway is called Bellatrix, Mark 1. It is a black, grey and purple yarn. It is very mysterious and smoky and was dyed at my personal request for this particular pattern. Bellatrix is one of the three sock/stocking patterns named after characters from the Harry Potter books that you can find over on Ravelry.



Anyway, this is my fourth or fifth attempt to get these silly stockings started as I am that determined to knit them. I kept frogging them as I was missing an important step (DROP ALL THEM Dad Gum YARN OVERS, YOs) whilst trying to knit them and they kept growing and growing and growing as I was knitting into the YOs like I would do with lace knitting but without a matching K2tog, which is so necessary to keep the shape you are striving for, sigh... I gave up trying to figure it out on my own. I mean, isn't that the definition of insanity, doing something over and over and expecting different results? I finally asked for help with the dang stitch today, as I was at Knitter's Kove for the Wednesday morning knit-in.


I also met up at the store with my friend Sharon today. I am attempting to help get her started on her own sock project using two circular needles instead of 4-5 DPNs. She was definitely getting the hang of it by the time knit was winding up.



and here is our Sharon, about 2 rows into the process...

#53 of 365 - Socks, Yet Again

I love socks as you all know, I also love clog style shoes. These socks are clog socks as the design only goes up the back of the heel. These were mostly knitted whilst sitting in court listening to testimony regarding the return of our congregation, Grace and Saint Stephen's real property last spring. We, on the right side of the courtroom were regular Madame DeFarges. About 6 of the women on our side of the aisle knitted during that seemingly endless trial. Our property was returned to us by judicial decree and we returned to it on Palm Sunday, 2009. I have made two pairs of these socks, one pair in wool and one pair in cotton. They are both really smooshy and show off nicely when I am wearing a skirt or a pair of shorts. This is a photo of the wool pair, I can't seem to locate a photo of the cotton pair at the moment.

#42 of 365 - I Almost Forgot and I Did Misplace

Whoops, what was I thinking? I nearly forgot to post today and I have been doing this for 42 days, one would think it would be automatic... I even commented on Rebecca's picture a day, which should have reminded me already.

I went out today to get the green Wild Foote yarn from Brown Sheep for Kevin's kilt stockings that came in at Shuttles in Boulder. I also stopped in at Gypsy Wools , sadly nothing jumped off the shelf and had to come home with me. Then I ran by the library for a DVD. the last stop was at Big Lots to pick up a pair of readers, as I have both broken one pair and misplaced another pair in the last 4 days. How sad is that?


So, what do you think?

#41 of 365 - What You Do, When...

If you knit like I do, occasionally you'll want to wind some yarn without aid of tools. I am dog sitting in Broomfield this week and therefore don't have my tools of a ball winder and swift, nor do I have a willing pair of hands. Here's the solution. Either use your feet or use your knee. You can also use the back of a chair, but there is not an appropriate style in the TV room of this house.



If you do either of these, you can end up with one of these. This is some hand-dyed handspun, that my new friend Rachel was de-stashing last weekend. I thought that they would work well together as a shawlette. It is styled on the Multnomah. More shall be revealed... This is likely going for Miz Jenna's birthday giftie in May.

#39 of 365 - How I spent my Day

It's snowing and has been since yesterday, so I am watching movies and snuggling under the blanket. I am wearing Hope's Monkies on my tootsies!

#27 of 365 - The Misty Moors

I love yarn, if that isn't already obvious to you, my dear readers. I chose this yarn because the name was so evocative and it has every colour that I love all in one strand.

I found this great sock yarn from . It's a colourway called Misty Moor (scroll down for the colourway). I was going to make Cheryl Oberle's Highland Triangle Shawl (scroll down to the Folk Shawls book) from it, but even with 800 plus yards, it's not enough. So instead, I am going to make Ysolda Teague's Ishbel with it. It is one of the shawls going towards my 10 Shawls in 2010.

Since I own shirts in every colour in the yarn and since the Ishbel won't use both skeins, I will make a pair of socks with the remainder. Then I will have a set, either to wear together or apart depending on how chilly it is. I will likely use this pattern Zokni, since I liked it so well when I knitted them up for Erin.

#23 of 365 - Sock Loving Girl

I am one of those persons that have never had a nickname that ever really stuck. Granted, people call me names all the time, but most are not repeatable, LOL. About the closest I have ever come to having a nickname is being know for my "kewl sox" and it stretching out to be what to call me if you couldn't remember my name right off the bat as in "You know, the one with the cool socks". I have been famous (or is that infamous) since middle school for the interesting socks that I have owned and worn over the years. Even after 29 years, the first person from my high school that saw me at the all class reunion, lifted my pant leg to check my socks and stated, yet again, "Cool Socks". As my daughter's father stated a few years ago about me, "Some things never change". So this is "Kewl Sox" signing off for the day...

My Favourite Heel - #7 of 365

I only learned to knit socks two winters ago or rather I finally learned to turn heels then. Here is my foot in the heel turn I use the most. It's from the Bellatrix Stocking which I will eventually knit a pair of. I keep starting the Bellatrix and then I frog what I started as I decide I want the yarn I chose for something else... I really just want a pair of black stockings in this pattern. I am thinking of using a kettle dyed black yarn (kettle dyed has subtle variegation due to the dying process) to get the effect I see in my head.

I finished the first shawl for the 10 in 2010 challenge. It's blocking now.

The Birthday Surprise

The Birthday Girl, Erin and her Surprise, Leilani aka Mimi. Yesterday we had a very long adventure to celebrate the DD's birthday on the actual day of her birth. I very nearly didn't go as I had given up my ticket to Wicked for Eriy's cousin and I hadn't slept well the night before. So, I was grumpy and not so sure that I wanted to spend the whole day out of the house. In the end it was a good day had by all.

Anyhoo, we left the house at 5:30 am to drive to Boulder for breakfast with another birthday girl, Katte Beth (her's is on Monday) at the Boulder Tea House. Erin and I hit the WalMart in the Flat Irons before hand to finish up some grocery shopping in anticipation of potentially being snowed in. Mark, Darla and Aidan joined us as well as the surprise that wasn't, Leilani aka Mimi, who flew in the night before from CA and stayed at the Judd House until we all met up for breakfast.

After breakfast, I took the whole gang to Gypsy Wools also in Boulder, to look at and fondle fibery goodness. Darla found some bamboo and merino to spin together for socks. Aidan got a BIG foam mat for his needlefelting projects. I got some lovely lavender fiber to spin(think I will ply it with the silk/wool that I have going) and Katte got some yarns and patterns for a mitt and scarf set, that I am going to knit for her.













Then we headed into town for the Wicked Ticket Lottery sign-up. I gave up my ticket for Mimi, so she and Erin could see it together. Sadly, I didn't win a ticket in the lottery. That means I get to see Wicked in London next year. Sad for me, NOT! The gentleman with his back to us in the brown leather jacket in the waiting group is Don Stewart. We met this fellow conspirator while waiting in line to get in the lottery for tickets. He joined the three of us and we all entered for 2 tickets each. As we only needed the one for me we would give him the other and vice-versa. Don didn't win either, but he was going to try again last night and today as this is it. Wicked ends this evening and moves on to Cleveland...

Since the ticket lottery sign up started at 11:30am and the drawing was at Noon and the show didn't start until 2:00pm,we had time to kill. So, we hopped on the 16th Street Mall shuttle and went down to the Tattered Cover at 16th and Wynkoop in LoDo to peruse the books and be inside til the show started for the girls. We sat in the knitting/art/craft area on the second floor and rested the feetsie and looked at the books. The Joy of Sox which has two patterns by my friend, Gina House was on the shelf and it was the first time I got to really look this book over. I so want to add this book to my collection of knitting books. The girls left me at the Tattered Cover when it was time for the show and I pulled out my knitting (I had a pair of socks with me). I discovered a huge mistake and put them aside to peruse the magazines. My phone rang and it was Sheila checking to see if I had gotten a ticket. She also wanted me to know she and her friend, Sue were heading to The Lamb Shoppe for the afternoon stitch in. Since I was at loose ends, they very kindly came downtown and picked me up and took me with them. It was a very satisfactory way to spend the afternoon and I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to the shop and my visit with Sheila and Sue.

After the girls picked me up, we headed home to the Springs in the snow storm. We had planned hand built pizzas for the supper, so we stopped to pick up the fixings at the Whole Foods after we got Pan's supper at the Pet'sMart. We were smart to stop even at the lateish hour as this is what we woke up to...

Seven Nations at Scruffy Murphy's

Seven Nations on the seventh day of the seventh month. It was an awesome show! Katte Beth and I and the rest of my friends were treated to one of 7Ns old school shows. They even played Under the Milky Way, which they haven't performed in concert in a very long time. Thanks, guys!



























Vic and Will were on top of their game and Crisco kicked it on the drums, and in spite of being tired from the travel, Kirk and Strube sang and played even better than at Gillette.

Trish and Katte Beth

Gary, Jenny and Kristin

Gina


Of course, I worked on a sock whilst waiting for the band to start. Knitting in a pub leads to interesting conversations, ask me how I know...

Cotton Fern Clog Socks

I am nearly finished with my cotton Fern Clog Socks. Here's a preview. They are knit from Sockina, a self-patterning cotton and nylon blend yarn. These were also the second effort at knitting with two circular needles. I must say, I love my DPNs, but I can't lose nor break 2 circs as easily whilst traveling and knitting.



I wear a lot of clogs and slides, so these socks are a perfect fit in more ways than one.



The lace pattern only goes up the heel and calf, for show and the rest of the sock is in stocking stitch.




Of course, the pattern is available from Ravelry.

Fawkes Socks Redux

Here is the progress I have made on my Fawkes Socks on 2 circs. Picked up from the heel and finished the decreases for the gusset and now down to the toe. Jury is still out on knitting with two circs, but I am DOING IT.

There were fewer decreases than I am used to so I had to frog back two rows to get my 30 stitches on the one needle again. I had my knitting rhythm going and just zoned out. Thank the Gods for a life line. I didn't screw up the pattern across the instep when frogging as the life line was in place. You can just see the thread of dental floss that I used dangling with the needles. I move it every pattern repeat just to be on the safe side. One of the kewl things about interchangeable needles is that they have a key hole for tightening the threaded part and you can thread your lifeline through the hole and it pulls along through the stitches as you knit. The other advantage to 2 circs is that it is certainly easier to try on the sock for fit as you go.

In the background you can just see Erin's yardage counter (green wheel) and the new swift LOADED with the Sad Sack bamboo yarn. It's been through the ringer to put it mildy. First it arrived smashed flat in a torn and greasy Tyvek package from Singapore. Then it was washed to get the grease spots out. Then it was wound off the cone into skeins and caked and all manner of mayhem that can be committed on yarn. Read Erin's Journal of Impossible Things to learn more.

The ribbon yarn sweater is done but I haven't got a picture of it that I like yet. Will post later.

Why is There a Bicycle in the Bathroom?

Friday, sigh!
We are up to our asses in plants and patio chairs in the house and there's a bicycle in my bathtub. They are suppose to be power washing and painting the house today. It's 1:51 pm and they haven't even started up as of yet. Do we get taped inside while they work or do we go find something to do that doesn't cost a ton of money? the stair landing is covered in pots of plants. This is the only way up the stairs. Pan's napping spot is at the top of the landing. Pan has chive breathe from raiding my kitchen garden pots as he goes back and forth...



Here's one of the tomato plants and the chives. I am also sitting on some lilies that will go into the church garden when it is decided where the Return to Grace bed will be.







I have though, made great progress on the tee-shirt sweater, I am knitting from a Bernat Yarns pattern. I am knitting it from a variegated ribbon yarn I found for a dollar a skein. I am getting the same gauge, even though I am using a different yarn than the pattern calls for. This is what progress I have so far.I have used a skein and a 1/3 for about 10 inches. I did make one adjustment. I ground off the pointy tips to the bamboo needles to make them less pokey. Works so much better now, I can just "clicket" away without much attention.



I had to put down the Fawkes Socks as I need to frog the heel flap, as I am not liking the directions I was given and want to do my own heel.

Fawkes Socks - Learned Something New

I KNOW I CAN DO THIS...

My readers know I have been struggling with a lace stole name Voyager aka the Shawl from Hell. I have put it down for the time being. It will rise again, maybe it'll be called the Zombie Shawl in the future! It will be resurrected, no, really, it will be...

I haven't talked about it before, but I am also having issues with a new to new knitting stitch called Knit One Below, sigh.

I have cognitive disorders related to chemo and West Nile Virus. I easily get frustrated by not being able to get something the first or second attempt. I mean, I get really, really, really frustrated! Anyway, enough about that.

I decided I was going to learn something new, hell or high water. I decided to cast on a new pair of socks. Socks, you say, but you knit them all the time, what's new about that. Absolutely true, I knit at least pair a month. Now, here's the twist. The directions for this pattern has you cast on on 2 circular needles instead of on DPNs. This is new to me. I haven't used 2 circs to knit in the round before and I don't know anyone who does knit this way. Most of my friends are Magic Loop (see earlier post wherein I learned this trick) or DPN knitters.

Once again, I have Erin's new sock book, How to Knit Socks, Three Methods Made Easy by Edie Eckman to thank for great instructions on getting started in this new, to me, knitting style.

Here's a photo of the yarn I am using for this project. I can't tell you anything about it, as I can't find the ball band at this moment, other than it's superwash sock yarn and merino.



Here's the cuff and one repeat of pattern done.

It's LACE! It's coming out right on the stitch count! I have learned a new knitting style! This all happened in one project! SEE, see, I can do this! I can learn something new and not drive myself (or anyone else, for that matter) mad in the process. It's LACE!, as you can see from the photo above. Knitting lace means yarn overs and K2togs and K3togs and all manner of devilment in the stitch department and count, count, count and use a life line. That said, I am DOING IT and seeing the pattern come right and the whole thing is flying merrily along and... Sigh (this one of relief)! No frogging, no tinking, just knit, knit, knit. What joy, caloo, calay!

Now, the jury's still out as to whether or not I like knitting with 2 circs. I do have a new trick in my knitting arsenal, though. Woot! I also have a "Jeez, maybe it's NOT time for the Ga-Ga Home" sense of profound relief.

Finished Socks - Encore Scrappies and Dragonflies KAL

Here are the two latest pairs of socks that I have completed.

The scrappy socks are made from leftovers. I had these colours leftover after making a bunch of hats for charity. The yarn is Encore Colors Worsted Weight knitted on Size 4s. I just used the yarns as they came along, which is why there are 5 different yarns in these socks. It is also why there is no rhyme or reason to the colour blocking.

The Dragonflies are knitted in a lace stitch that looks like a dragonfly. These were done in a Cascade Yarns Sassy Stripes sock weight yarn knitted on Size 2s. As you can see I didn't get the striping to line up as the yarn was wound different on the 2 skeins I had and I decided "screw it", I am not going to make myself crazy trying to get it to line up. Hey, they are my socks, therefore, it's my rules. I would only wish that my pictures would show the design better, however, sigh...

BTW, these Dragonfly in Amber KAL socks are going to have a felted bag in the shape of a thistle to go with. Green Pi in earlier post is the beginning of that project...

Come Home, Little Stitches, Come Home

Here's an update on my Ravelry.com Dragonfly in Amber (DIA) KAL. (There is a picture of the first cuff, showing the yarn in an earlier post.)

So, I have one sock done on my DIA sock KAL. It's lovely and I want to wear it. I would wear it in a heart beat, if I had any other sock made of the same type of yarn, but nooooo. This was my first venture with sock weight yarn and knitting with same. All of the other socks I have made have been warm woolies as oppose to lacy woolies. I have the other sock cast on and knitted down for about 4 inches. Guess what I didn't do? Put in a lifeline and it's lace! What the Hell was I thinking? Shoot me in the head dead with an axe....

I pulled a needle out of live stitches and lost the YOs, Poo! :-( Gack...

It's been too cold and with some snowy days in there, as well, to sit outside to try and find my lost stitches. There is not enough light in my house even with all the lamps on to try and find them especially with the snow and overcast we had at the beginning of the week...