Caught in a Web

For years I had been considering knitting the Charlotte’s Web shawl, but never could commit. Then I saw Turtlegirl76’s at Sock Summit and I (as well as some of the Chicago Group) all suddenly had to knit it.

After just a few days I’m already on the 3rd color. The pattern in the book Knits from a Painter’s Palette is not the easiest to follow, but with a little concentration I figured out what I needed to do. I’m usually a die hard chart knitter, but the chart in the book is frankly one of the hardest to read that I’ve ever seen so I’ve found following the written instructions for the 8 row repeat the best. I’m also using the chart provided by this blogger to keep track of rows and color changes (the excel file is on the right hand column of her blog).

I’m knitting the shawl with Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock in Lightweight. So far the colors I’ve used are Stonewash, Peaseblossom, and Never on Sunday. This project seems to move very quickly for lace as it’s so fun to see what the next set of colors will look like.

Read Full Post »

Spring Cleaning

As I had a bit of baby free time this weekend thanks to Matt being home I took this opportunity to sort through and organize all my knitting needles and knitting accouterments. First of all, until I rounded up all my dpns I had no idea I had so many. Why on earth do I have 8 pairs of 2.5 mm (US 1.5) dpns? I think I keep buying them since I stash them away in different bags and can’t ever find them when I want them. Enter the Lexie Barnes Dottie DPN/Crochet Hook wallet. I couldn’t resist and I am now eagerly awaiting the arrival of my diablo Dottie. I’ll post pictures of the inside as soon as I have it in my hot little hands.

Next up, I was trying to figure out what to do with my umpteen million stitchmarkers when I stumbled across an organization thread on Ravelry. Someone suggested using a split ring to hold all the stitchmarkers. Brilliant! So off I went to JoAnn’s (though I’m sure they are cheaper at the hardware store, but I don’t know where the hardware store is in Hillsboro). I found them in the embroidery floss section and an hour later I had wrangled all of my random stitcchmarkers onto 4 easy to manage rings. Hooray!

While at JoAnn’s I found the cutest little project bag and I just had to get it. It’s perfect for holding a pair of socks in progress or my Lace Ribbon Scarf. How could I say no? (I’m in the Ravelry Lace Ribbon Scarf KAL and I’m actually getting some knitting done! I’m using Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock mediumweight in Bella Coola and I think it is turning out really well).

I’ve also been working on organizing my yarn stash, but that is a bigger project that will take a bit longer than a 3-day weekend. 🙂

Things are going well with baby Cori. Matt and I are getting into a routine with her and everyday it is fun to see how she changes. She’s beginning to smile more and she has really taken an interest in the world around her now.

For now, I am going to try to keep up with blogging, but it just will be a bit more intermittent than it used to be. Thank you everyone for your comments about Cori and my blogging. Please feel free to check out my Ravelry page as I tend to update that more frequently.

Read Full Post »

You Spindle Me Round

Spindle Socks

Pattern: Spindle from More Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch
Yarn: Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in Desert Flower
Needles: Inox 2.0mm
Start Date: March 27, 2007
End Date: June 20, 2007
Comments: What else can I say about Lorna’s Laces or More Sensational Knitted Socks that I haven’t said before? I love them both. Sock knitting would not be as much fun without either one. If I use the Spindle pattern again I’m going to try it with a nearly solid or solid sock yarn. The design would really pop, but it looks pretty cool with this yarn too. Yea socks!

This pair did drag on for a bit, but I think it’s just I was distracted by baby projects (for the future nephew) and various other socks. Desert Flower was one of the first Lorna’s Laces colors I ever bought and I’m so happy that I’ve finally knit with it. It’s such a fun and vibrant color.

..

.

.

..

..

.

.

.

.

..

.

.

.

..

So you may have noticed the Summertime Tunic has not been getting a lot of face time or blog coverage. Well, this weekend I spent some major knitting time with it and made some good progress. At this point the hemp makes it look a bit sacklike, but I have faith it will be great once it gets a wash and it is all finished. At some point I need to go in search of ribbon…

I also spent this weekend trying to organize a bit for the upcoming move. I think I’ll be spending every weekend that way for a while, but if I tackle one room per weekend I should be able to clear out a lot stuff prior to the move. I also took a little time to take photos of almost all of my sock yarn stash for my Ravelry.com stash page. It was fun visiting with all my sock yarn. 🙂

.

.

One last thing, Friday my June 2007 Rockin’ Sock Club Kit came…scroll down for a picture…

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

..

.

.

Gorgeous! I look forward to casting on for this one though I think I’ll be doing a few modifications to the pattern similar to what Adrienne is doing. I think I’ll be adding a little ribbing to the top and I’ll be ditching the short row heel in favor of either my preferred Peasant Heel or a nice heel flap. I don’t think I’ll knit the garter stitch toe either.

Overall, I’m very happy with this kit and I’m already looking forward to August’s. 🙂

Read Full Post »

Yarntastic Day!

So I mentioned on Friday that a bit of sock yarn had entered my home lately. I splurged a bit since it was my birthday. Yeah, that’s the perfect excuse. 🙂 Prepare to drool!

(Pick Up Sticks Club and Rockin‘ Sock Club are the last photos so as to not spoil the surprise for other members).
Duet Skinny from A Swell Yarn Shop in Sailor Girl. Absolutely love this color combination! This is the new thinner sock weight Duet.

Cascade Fixation in Denim (2608) and Chocolate (7382). Adrienne knit a pair of socks with Fixation and brought it to knitting Group. They were so fabulous I want to knit some for myself!

Meilenweit Cotton Fantasy #812 (Blue and Tan) and #803 (Pinks and Browns). This just looked like great cotton sock yarn. It’s 45% cotton, 42% wool, and 13% polyamide.

Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock in Undertoe (Mediumweight).
Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock in Socktopus (Mediumweight). Absolutely love this color and the name!

Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock in Foo Foo (Mediumweight).

Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock in Footzey-Foo (Mediumweight)

2007 Rockin‘ Sock Club April kit color, Walking on the Wild Tide, using the new base yarn, Silkie – a silk and wool blend. Absolutely stunning color!

And last, but not least the Pick Up Sticks April Sock Club Kit with Zen Yarn Garden in Spring Garden. The perfect spring colors. 🙂

So, which is your favorite? 😉

Read Full Post »

Progress and the Rockin’ Sock Club Kit!

A bit of progress was made on Thermal this weekend. I’m only a few inches away from dividing for the front button placket. Hooray! As it goes on, I’m really falling into a rhythm with this pattern. Something kind of zen about knitting for hours and not always making any visible progress. Well, it’s zen if I’m in a good mood otherwise it’s just damn frustrating. 🙂 As I knit I sometimes find my self singing in my head the song that Dory sings in Finding Nemo. Except instead of “swimming” I’m thinking, “Just keep knitting. Just keep knitting. Just keep knitting, knitting, knitting. What do we do? We knit, knit.”

Last night I picked up the neglected Conifer Sock from the Pick Up Sticks Sock Club. I finished up the leg and got past the pretty heel. The pattern designer added a lot of unique detail to it and I actually had to pay attention while knitting! 🙂 Some people were having trouble getting the sock over their heel so I was thrilled to find out it went over mine. It’s a bit tight pulling it on, but once it’s on it fits perfectly. (Needles: 2.5mm Inox; Yarn: Apple Laine Apple Pie in English Garden).

Spoiler Alert ****2007 Rockin’ Sock Club Kit ****
Don’t Scroll if You Don’t Want to See

🙂


🙂


🙂

🙂

🙂

🙂

🙂

🙂


🙂

And here it is. Finally! The absolutely awesome first kit from the 2007 Rockin’ Sock Club. The color is Monsoon (mediumweight) and it is incredibly appropriate in light of the dismal weather we have been having lately. The pattern, Inside Out, is really different and I look forward to casting on as soon as I finish up the Conifer socks. Along with the yarn and pattern, the kit included the adorable little emergency skein key chain, a sticker, the newsletter, and a very nice custom binder (definitely a step up from last year’s). I’m so happy I joined again and I am now already anxiously waiting for the next kit. 🙂

Read Full Post »

Rockin’ Around

Quick, non-knitting report: At around 5:30am on Saturday morning I woke up with the worst searing pain. No matter which way I turned my neck it was intensely painful. Even putting my head on the pillow hurt! Geez! Since then it has slowly gotten better, but man, it hurts! No idea what I did, but we figured I must have pinched a nerve at some point. Ugh! What a way to spend a weekend. 😦

As you can imagine, very little knitting happened over the last few days. I only today felt I could pick up the needles, but even then it was just to finish the toe to the first Socks that Rocks Philosopher’s Stone sock. I’m going to take it easy on the knitting for a while until my neck is back to normal. I really like how this sock turned out. I used the garter rib pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks. The lightweight Socks that Rock knit up into a very nice, dense fabric and I just love the combination of colors. Now, to cast on for sock number 2…

In happy cheery news I received the final 2006 Rockin‘ Sock Club kit today (I’m staying home from work due to the neck pain). The kit included two colors! On the left is Rare Gems in mediumweight. Rare Gems is created when there are dying mistakes. Have you ever seen such a gorgeous mistake? On the right is the official December color – Mustang Sally in lightweight! I absolutely love both of these. The pattern for Mustang Sally is very pretty, but it involves beads…not sure about the beads…The color reminds me of another Blue Moon Fiber Arts color – Cherries Jubilee (I used that color in their cotton sock yarn, Sock Candy this summer). I just love the intense pinky reds. Yea!

So, not sure what knitting will happen in the next few days. Kind of depends on the whole stupid neck thing. Ugh.

Good news is that I did finish Durrow on Friday (I have a feeling the hours of finishing may be what killed my neck). More details on the sweater once it is gifted to the recipient next week. 🙂

Read Full Post »

Socks and Violets

Marble Arches

Pattern: Marble Arches from the October Rockin’ Sock Club, medium size
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Pink Granite mediumweight (Rockin’ Sock Club color)
Needles/Gauge: KnitPicks dpns size 1, approx. 8 stitches/inch
Start Date: November 6, 2006
End Date: November 10, 2006
Comments: So I knew I knit these quickly, but until I was typing out my start and end dates I didn’t realize how quickly. Yowza! I guess it’s just further proof that I am absolutely smitten with Socks that Rock (STR). I simply can’t put the needles down when I’m knitting with this stuff. I love the density of the yarn and the soft and smooth fabric it creates. And the colors? Love the colors! Yea!
These socks also mark the first time I’ve used one of the Rockin’ Sock Club patterns. So far I haven’t been too keen on any of them, but this one is a big winner. I will definitely be using it again. Possibly in a few weeks with some more STR that just arrived at my house:)
(Oh, and someone asked me where I got my sock blockers – found them on ebay, of course! Just go here and check them out. I really think they are great.)

Here’s a little picture of my latest Socks that Rock acquisitions. On the left are two Nodding Violets (lightweight) for my knee socks, then we have a mediumweight Downpour and a lightweight Jingle Bell Rock.

Since the Marble Arches socks were all done, I was able to cast on for my long desired Knee Socks in Socks that Rock lightweight Nodding Violets. I’m using the pattern found here. Jen has is almost finished with a pair using this pattern and they look amazing (Jen – please post a picture of your rockin’ knee socks)! So far, so good. The lightweight goes a bit slower than the mediumweight, but it’s creating a lovely fabric. The colors are even more beautiful knit up. Hands down, these are my favorite colors. I cannot wait to wear them! (Not sure if I’ll wear them with a skirt or not…Am I that brave?)

(The colors of this yarn go from a very dark emerald green to an intense purple. I could not get my camera to behave this morning and this is the best I could do. )

Read Full Post »

A Rockin’ End to Socktober

The Arrival of the Penultimate Socks That Rock Rockin’ Sock Kit
Yowza! This kit is hands down my favorite so far. I thought I loved Titania the most, but then Pink Granite was delivered and stole my heart. And the pattern? Awesome!

Occasionally I have pondered whether I really needto join the 2007 Rockin’ Sock Club. Who am I kidding? Of course I’m going to rejoin. I’ve even been doing a bit of ebay destashing to raise a some cash and free up room in the sock yarn stash. I love Socks that Rock, sock clubs, packages in the mail, the exclusivity (is that a real word?), the excitiment, the drama – Ok, you get the point:)

Are you going to have Rockin’ Socks in 2007?

Read Full Post »

The Arrival of the September Socks that Rock Rockin’ Sock Kit

Hooray! The September Rockin’ Sock Club Socks kit came yesterday! I didn’t expect to see it until next week so it was quite a surprise to come home to find it waiting. Yea! The color is Titania and it is simply stunning. The kit came with an emergency sock yarn keychain and two patterns. The Titania’s Revenge pattern (written specifically for the colorway) is absolutely not my taste (meshy lace with a slanted cable across the foot), but I really like the Central Air pattern. I think it’s similar to a lacy one in the Sensational Knitted Socks book that I had already wanted to knit – perfect! Right now I have quite a bit on the needles, so for now I will just admire Titania in the skein:) The two smaller photos are each end of the hank. Lovely variety of fall colors.

And look what arrived from Sunshine Yarns – Here we have Welsh Green Dragon, Swedish Short Snout Dragon, and Brick (The first two complete my collection of the Harry Potter Dragon colors that Dani has created). Since it was Sunshine Yarns’ anniversary, Dani included a very nice set of Inox needles and a cute little button with her logo. I just love her yarn! The Brick is perfect for the new Diamante pattern at Knitty.

The weekend with my Mom and Step-Dad was fantastic. We had a great time at the King Tut exhibit and then Saturday we made it up to Wisconsin to tour the Jelly Belly distribution center (Love those jelly bellies!). Then we spent the whole afternoon at the Chicago Botanic Garden. We had so much fun there we purchased a membership so we can go back whenever we want. I look forward to visiting the Garden throughout the different seasons. Ok, time to get some weekend knitting done before the weekend is over!

Read Full Post »

Tip Toe Through the Poppies

Elongated Corded Rib Socks

Pattern: Elongated Corded Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks
Yarn: Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in Poppy
Needles: KnitPicks dpns size 1
Start Date: July 17, 2006
Finish Date: July 23, 2006
Comments: These are some pretty snazzy socks. The pattern was a lot of fun. It’s very much like the openwork rib I did last so I cruised right through knitting these. The poppy color was a little intense at first, but as I knit it I really began to enjoy it more. This is the 4th pair of 6 for this month…3.25 single socks to go!

On Friday I received my July Blue Moon Fiber Arts Rockin’ Sock Club kit. The color this time is just dreamy- its name is Peaseblossom (like the character in Midsummer Night’s Dream). Like last time, I’m not exactly enthralled by the pattern. It’s a mesh summery Birkenstock type ankle sock. That pretty much is the exact opposite of everything I like. I don’t like mesh. I don’t like summer. I don’t like Birkenstocks. I don’t like ankle socks. I know part of being in the Rockin’ Sock Club is to try new things, but I love this color too much to knit a sock pattern that just does not make me happy. To try to stay in the spirit of attempting new things, I think I will still do something outside of my comfort zone. I think I will knit toe-up socks (I have never successfully knit toe-up socks). Next month. Not this month. I think 6 pairs in July is doable, 7 pairs? No way:)

Read Full Post »