My Knitting Life

Longest blog break ever!  And it was a knitting break, too.  All I produced this whole summer were these two socks for Lisa Lloyd's patterns, Corduroy Sock in cranberry and Fence Row in blues, both samples which are now photographed on the patterns.  The patterns are a joy to work up, especially in Barb Parry's gorgeous new line of sock yarn at Foxfire Fibers.  After I sent these off, I started a new pair of Corduroy socks in some Trekking I had laying around.

This summer was chock full of activity.  I ran our a local team of 65 swimmers.  We went to Aruba with my sister's family.  We have been hosting German visitors for 2 weeks.  I was away a couple times with my daughter at her swim meets.  And I negotiated and accepted a new full time job which starts in a couple weeks.

I have been trying to set up support systems for myself to ensure that I can handle the job without losing my mind!  Cleaning services, help with driving kids around from a high school senior we know, and grocery delivery should help.  I am also going with a friend to one of these meal preparation places where you assemble meals, bring home and freeze for later use.

Hopefully, there will be time for knitting.  I've come to accept the fact that the next few years may be lean knitting years with my kids at the stages they are in and me working.  I'm going to just keep plugging away with this quiet little blog, though.  It calms me down to know it's still here.

 

I got my IK Fall 2005 last Friday and was so happy to see a new sock pattern by Nancy Bush, worked up in Mountain Colors Bearfoot, no less.  A perfect chance for me to try the set of Inox size 1 needles I bought at Webs a couple months back, and the Alpine Bearfoot I have in my stash.

I'm not a big fan of bamboo needles for socks.  They are too bendy and the points seem kind of soft, if you know what I mean.  Not to mention the breaking.  I love these metal needles!  The have a coating so they are not slippery or noisy, but they hold their shape and are pointy enough to cable without a cable needle, even with these teeny stitches.  What a great value - I think they were around $5.00.

This pattern has some unique features - so far, casting on double strand, then dropping the second strand for the knitting, giving the top edge a ruffle-y appearance.  Also, a wide cuff - 3".  Looks like it's going to be a fun knit...

From one skein of Mountain Colours, first I made these....

With the yarn leftover, a pair for baby...

Still, some left, Christmas ornament...

'nother ornament...

Left to right, Ladies Bankers Socks (Mountain Colours Pattern), Baby Ribbed Socks (Yankee Knitters Pattern), Christmas Ornaments (Last-Minute Knittted Gifts).  One Skein Mountain Colours and Size 2 DPNs - see the leftover?

Mountain Colors now gets added to my list of favorite yarns!  It is silky soft, there was no pooling and what a great value at 350 yds to a 4 oz. skein.

What to knit when you have no time for knitting....socks!  I've been toting these around with me this week - a row here, a row there and I finished the first sock.  This is luxurious Mountain Colors - "Banker's Socks" - a pattern written for the yarn.  It's basically a simple ribbed sock on size 2 needles.  These are samples for my LYS - it's going to be hard to give them up when they are done.  Have a great weekend!   

Sometimes you just need a project that you can start and finish within a weekend.  I felt like that last Friday, when I decided to fulfill my third child's request for a pair of socks.  I pulled this fun Regia Crazy Stripes from my sock stash - a gift from the World's Greatest Secret Pal, Lynette, during the first round of Secret Pal, designed and executed by my blogging inspiration, Sandy.

Yarn:  Regia Crazy Stripes, 2 balls

Needles:  Clover Bamboo, size 3

Pattern:  Yankee Knitters Classic Socks for the Family

I worked pretty hard at matching up my stripes, despite the annoying fact that the sections of color were not uniform.  The first sock was a blast.  The second required a skilled eye and the guts to cut and weave ends.

With the remains, I decided to add to my Dulaan box with these toddler mittens. 

These mittens caused me hours of worry.  Not about the knitting, I decided to throw caution to the wind and let the stripes lie where they may.  But any mom of a toddler knows that toddlers and mittens do not go together, and I kept thinking "Who will be sure that they get their thumb in?" and "Who will track down the missing mitten when it falls in the mud?". 

This lead to thoughts of toddlers in orphanages.  Babies are cute, and older kids can fend for themselves a bit, but toddlers?  It is amazing to me that they survive at all with their tendency to do the opposite of what needs to be done to get through the day.  They might look cute, but they are definition of CLUE-less!  So I added a cord and put the mittens in the box, hoping that they will find their way to a toddler lucky enough to have someone who understands them and helps them along.

Have a Great Weekend, Everyone!

PS - I have an update on Celtic Dreams over at the Blackwater Abbey Knit Along...

"Conwy Socks" - from Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road

Lornas Laces "Mixed Berries" - 2 skeins

Size 1 Plymouth Bamboo DPNs

(This yarn was a Christmas gift from my husband.  I started the socks in early January, but set them aside for other projects.  I followed the pattern as written.  They were meant for me, but ended up too small, so Maddy is the lucky recipient.  Perfect timing, as it is frigid out today, and she asked to wear them to school!)

The Conwy Curse

This is (at least) my second attempt at the Conwy Sock from Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road.  I have been enabled inspired by the ones Sandy seems to churn out so effortlessly!  Last time I blamed a mismatch with yarn and pattern.  The Schaeffer Yarns "Anne" was too fuzzy and colorful to show off the stitch pattern.  I ripped almost an entire sock in frustration.

This Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock yarn in mixed berries colorway was a gift from my children, and when I opened it I knew it was destined to become Conwy socks!  I have been knitting off and on for the past couple days.  I didn't check gauge because I am usually on, it's a lotta work for socks, and I usually just match the end product with a person with that size feet.  Well these are turning out kind of tee-niny!  Looks like my mom (weighs 90 pounds soaking wet) or Maddy will get them.  Oh well - next time I will go up a needle size so that I get to keep them!

On The Road Again!

We waited all summer for our family vacation. We're off to Block Island! I've been planning my vacation knitting for quit a while. Inspired by all the sock knitting going on at Sandy's place, I decided to dive in and get this book, to go with this luscious skein of Shaeffer Yarns' "Anne". (I must compliment the Shaeffer Yarns folks on their generous 560 yards to a skein). My photo does not do justice to the soft blend of colors. Just click on the link to see all the beautiful choices. Mine is a perfect representation of Fall leaves. I was also pleased to see how dramatically the look changes from skein to wound ball. This is because the lengths of color are very short so you get such a great mix of color in a small section.

My bag also holds Summer Tweed, Kersti, and a few different gauges of sock yarn and needles from the stash, just in case. Oh, and Nancy Wiseman's Finishing Techniques, because I never go anywhere without it anymore. There will be knitting time in the car and on the ferry, and hopefully, during the week, in between bike riding, beach going and exploring.

Best to you all - see you in a week!

Hero

Fiber Trends Felted Clog
Woman's Size Medium
Lamb's Pride Worsted, Old Sage
US 13 Needle, Yarn Held Double
Started May 7, Completed May 9, 2004

These clogs were a quick knit, for sure! The first clog is a bit of an adventure, with all it's M1's and wrap and turns. But once you get the lay of the land, the second clog was more relaxing. There are lot's of "parts", ie, first sole, toe shaping, cuff, second sole, so you are always quickly moving on to the next thing.

The felting was a challenge. I would LOVE to hear from those experienced in felting, because it took FOR-ever, and the clogs are still a bit large - I decided to call it a night at 11pm after who knows how long they had been agitating (in a zippered case with a bit of detergent). Could it have been that the water was warm-hot and not hot? My old machine doesn't agitate aggressively enough? My water is treated and very soft? The Lamb's Pride? My gauge? Oh well, they will fit great with the socks from my previous post - can't wait for winter!

Before Felting, Hero the Beanie Baby, for scale

I will definately try these again! I think my husband would love a pair. Anyone experienced cloggers out there who can talk about adding leather soles?

Kaleidescope Socks

Blackberry Ridge Kaleidescope Sock Kit
Yarn: Mallard & Firecracker
Size: Women's
Needles: Size 3.Omm DPN
Completed May 5, 2004