Saturday, August 25, 2007

Late but better than never

Ok here is the update from last week. I know I know but, it's better than never. This is my Lacy Mock Cable sock. I'm excited I've finished it and will be casting on the 2ND one. What I have to do is undo the bind off edge and go back and do a I believe it's called a sewn bind off. It will be allot looser. I wonder if I can add an edging to it at this point. This is the first sock of the DH's, I am finally on the RIBBING!!!!! Who knows I might finish the ribbing next week.

My BaSalt tank top is coming along so I am excited



But, all I have left to do on the Surprise jacket is to sew in the thread, and sew on the buttons and I'm done!!!!! Now I have almost a full skein of the beautiful Cider Moon yarn left I need to find a hat pattern and maybe booties for a boy.


I went shopping to Elann and got the yarn for my Surplice Lace Top by Gayle Bunn




Sunday, August 12, 2007

Why do I knit with wool in 104 degree heat???

Why do I knit with wool in 104 degree heat??? Because I live in Texas and it's August. Summer finally made it to Texas with a vengeance. Last week went a little nuts,I didn't get as much knitting done as I wanted. The BaSalt tank is coming along. I am now on octagon 4. I am hoping to have it finished before September 1st. The DH's sock (The boyfriend sock pattern) keeps growing, but I am finally starting to decrease, soon now I will be working on the ribbing and binding off. He loves them. He's realized how much work goes into knitting a sock and how much more goes into knitting one.
The Baby Surprise Jacket. I'm so excited it's half done and I haven't even touched the second skein. Now I have started to look for the buttons. Anyone out there know of any good places for handmade buttons?

I had to start another pair of socks, I know it goes against what I said a few weeks ago about projects but I joined Sock Knitter's Anonymous and the Ravelry group is having a year long sock down challenge
Sockdown: Ravelry is a year-long personal knitting challenge that will begin on August 1, 2007 and end on September 30, 2008. Members of Sock Knitters Anonymous are NOT required to participate in the KAL. It is to help us challenge ourselves by knitting socks using different techniques. This first month we have a choice of either knitting a pattern by The Sock Bug or any lace pattern. Though I like the patterns by The Sock Bug, and will probably knit at least 1 or all of her sock patterns, I had to knit this one next. I bought the yarn and the pattern from One Planet Yarn and Fiber was made from the yarn. The yarn is from Lanas Puras Melosa Fingering and the pattern is Lacy Mock Cable Socks. The colorway is Golden Rose. My camera does not do it justice. But here it is, the pattern is so easy, I am already making the gussets. Yes, it's a toe up pattern. The yarn is so super soft.










Secret Pal 11 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? Well for socks, I like using super wash 75/25 combo but I have used 100% merino for socks. I love Alpaca, merino, blue face Leicester, silk, I want to try sea silk, and camel. You know how some of us collect patterns also? Well... so do I but my favorite is fingerless gloves. I have only knit one pair but I love to knit them. Now as far as which yarn I use, in no particular order Yarn Pirate, Lorena's Laces, Woolly Boully (She's on Etsy ) Cider Moon , Lanas Puras and Koigu I am drooling over Briar Rose Fibers, Socks that rock, Alchemy Yarns, Hand Maiden, Fleece Artist, Beaded Rayon by Blue Heron yarns, Sock Hop yarn by Crown Mountain Farms.... I could go on but I will never respond to all the questions so I'll stop. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?I don't like mohair, no acrylic 2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?I use knit picks options mainly so I use their binder and their plastic sleeves, I could use some more of the 1 pocket page, I have enough of the 2 and 3 pocket page. 3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? It will be 2 yrs in December. Mom tried to teach me when I was 10 I hated it then, and I started again by what I remembered from what she taught me and Knitting for dummies. Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I think this year it would be safe to say intermediate. 4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yes but remember only the knitting things on the Amazon list are mine the rest are gifts the DH wants. 5. What's your favorite scent? Crisp clean air, lavender, vanilla, 6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Yes Favorite candy?Chocolate, milk chocolate, chocolate covered nuts, graham crackers, M & Ms with nuts and without. 7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?Surfing Ravelry. Do you spin? Not yet but hopefully in two years. 8. What kind of music do you like?I'll get back to you on that. Can your computer/stereo play MP3s?No (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)9. What's your favorite color(s)?Vibrant Greens, purples, Reds Any colors you just can't stand?Orange 10. What is your family situation? Married Do you have any pets?1 very spoiled welsh corgi and 2 spoiled cats. 11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?yes to Scarves, no to hats, yes to mittens and yes yes yes to ponchos. 12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?Its a toss up between fingerless gloves and socks. 13. What are you knitting right now?BaSalt tank from Knitting Nature, Boy Friend sock pattern socks for DH, Sup rise baby jacket and Lanas Puras pattern Lacy mock cable socks. 14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes 15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?Circular Bamboo, aluminum, plastic Knit picks, ebony and rosewood. ?16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?Yes and Yes. 17. How old is your oldest UFO?1 year 18. What is your favorite holiday?Halloween 19. Is there anything that you collect?Yes, mice, dragons, faeries and pirate stuff. 20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? Yes the new Cat Bordi sock book New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One,Knit Kimono: 18 Designs with Simple Shapes and Stitch 'N Bitch Page-A-Day Calendar 2008 What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?Interweave Knits 21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?I am still working on cables this year, next year it's lace and fair isle 22. Are you a sock knitter? Yes What are your foot measurements?It's 10 inches long, not sure of the rest of them but if it helps I have a wide foot and have thicker calves 23. When is your birthday? 05/06 24. Are you on Ravelry? yes I am. If so, what's your ID? Look for Knitstress.Mary

1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without?My gauge ruler, I don't know how I used to measure gauge without it before I found it. Since I found it, it's been so easy.
2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? Of course. If so, how much and what type of project?At least 2 projects, because what would I do if I finish what I bring? It's whatever I have on my needles. I take my knitting with me every day there are at least 4 projects in the bag. 3. Where have you travelled to that you'd consider your favorite spot?The Blue Ridge Parkway, The outter banks of the Carolina's, Rocky Mt National Park. 4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? Knit Kimono: 18 Designs with Simple Shapes by Vicki Square and New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One by Cat Bordhi Do you own it?Sadly no not yet. 5. Do you listen to podcasts? I used to Which is your favorite(s)?I did not have any one that was a favorite.

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Updated progress from last week.

I've been a little busy with .. ok I will admit, I got sucked into Ravelry. At least last week I stuck to the new plan. This is the new blanket square I have been working on. Only a little big more to go and then I can start on a new one. The DH's first sock. Still not done, he wants them to his knees so I have about 5 more inches to go. Now for cindybmw2004 who was kind enough to leave a comment. This yarn is
Fortissima Colori Socka:1776. I purchased it last year, at a yarn shop in Arlington Texas. It's a bit rougher than what I am used to but, I am told the roughness will go away with the first washing.
This is the progress on my BaSalt tank top. I have hexagons 1-3 finished, I have added half of a hexagon to the bottom of #1. I think that will give me the length I am looking for.

I started a baby surprise jacket! Surprise! I ripped it out after 30 rows.... There was one mistake in it that I could not live with so back to the drawing board. I hope baby Jaxon doesn't decide to surprise his parents and come before his ETA date of 10/26 . I have also found out I get to make 2 more of these. Surprise!!!


I have signed up for Secret Pal 11. With the pictures that I am going to post at the end of this week, there will be hard evidence I have faltered off the knitting plan of one new project, one sock project, one UFO. You will all soon see.