Memorial Day

I grew up in a family that didn't do "cemetary-ing" on Memorial Day weekend. It might have started with my Great-Gran who said, "If you don't bring me flowers while I'm alive, don't bother when I'm dead." But, DD3 asked to go to one of the cemeteries in town where a whole room full of relatives are buried. So, we'll go later today.

It's been a busy week: out-of-state visitors, along with the requisite eating out; DD1's birthday & BD cookout; the first high school graduation of the youngest generation of the family (and he's off to the Army within the week!); a little knitting; etc.

DD3 stayed overnight and we (DD1, too) watched Operation Petticoat (Tony Curtis, Cary Grant.) I'd forgotten how funny it was. As the young folk say: I lmao :-)

No yarny photos - I'm doing another toe up pair [i know!] and I'm about half finished with them [2 socks on 2 circs.] My visiting sister from CO asked me to knit her a pair of socks, too. That's good, because I counted how many pair I've done for myself and I'm up to 15. I probably don't need anymore for a while.

Buster graduated from 4 yr old preschool. Here's a photo:

2010 May Socks

I received this yarn from a friend in England (Thanks D!) The balls felt so warm and soft & I knew I wanted to do a pair of socks with it, but wasn't sure the yardage would be enough.

So... Toe-Up! by Chrissy Gardiner to the rescue. I used the Non-shaped round toe and the Hybrid heel. The socks fit perfectly! I'm so tickled!!

Also wanted an easy pattern, so I just did a 4 stitch x 6 row cable up the center of the instep & leg. And to make sure I didn't run out of wool, I did the toes & the top of the leg ribbing in I Love This Wool in Winter White ( I think.)

Pattern: Mine with toe & heel help from Toe-Up!
Yarn: Rowan Tapestry in a purplish color (SH179) & I Love This Wool in Winter White
Needles: Size 3 [US] - two circs
Knit for: Me :-)

It's April and I have a New Pair of Socks!

...Or, how I learned to be friends with a wrapped stitch, toe-up pattern.

Pattern: "Gull Wing" which starts on pg 76 of Toe-Up! by Chrissy Gardiner
Yarn: Knit Picks Memories in Cape Cod
Needles: two size 1 [2.25] circs
Knit for: Me

The pattern says to use "your favorite toe up method." What do you do when you don't like toe up methods? I read over Chrissy's book and decided that she did a good job with directions & photos.

I didn't have to frog the toes. Not once! I followed the heel directions in the pattern. Evidently this is a "hybrid heel." I like it MUCH better than the normal wrapped stitch heel.

Yay! I'm so pleased that I'm casting on for my next pair yet this evening. I'll use worksheets included in the book to do the toe and a hybrid heel in a worsted weight. Details later. Not looking forward to winter, but I'll enjoy the warm socks when it gets here. :-)

My other blog

Have I mentioned this before? It's an international community effort: Midwest Meets Midlands. We've only had a few projects so far, but more are in the works...or recipe books.

I'm knitting, too. And yikes, I'm missing hockey - Go Pens! (Tomorrow it will be: Go B'Hawks!)

More on knitting later (socks, need you ask?)

Truckers Do It, too!

From the online Wall Street Journal What a great article!

2010 March Socks!

Finished these last evening :-) Specs:

Pattern: a varied rib over 72 st.
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll in Blue Violet Multi
Needles: Size 1 [US]/2.25mm
Knit for: DD3

And then I started a practice pair (child sized) of socks, using Chrissy Gardiner's "Toe-Up!" and the Syncopated Rib Boot Socks pattern. I think I have enough leftover Louet Gems worsted to make a small pair. Like I said Practice.

Yes, I've completed several pair of toe-up socks, but not happy with the wrapped method of toes and especially not happy with wrapped heels. Chrissy says a different heel is needed for high arched feet.

Earlier March Socks

I mailed these socks to my sister in SC on Tuesday and she received them today. :-)

Pattern: Paton's Spiral Tube Sock pattern
Yarn: Paton's Stretch Sock yarn in Plum (click on "free patterns" tab)
Needles: 2 [US] / 2.75mm - two circs



ETA photo sister took w/ socks on feet via her cell phone:

March Madness Socks!

I knit like crazy last night while watching the NCAA basketball tournament games. I'll admit that I'm not much of a basketball fan, but each March I follow the Big Event.

Since I know nothing at all about the teams, I fill my brackets out after the winners are announced. Saves a lot of erasing or scratching out :-)

I finished a pair of socks last weekend, but can't use them for SAM9. So will blog about them later. DD3 had a birthday this week, but the timing is only coincidental.

Pattern: a varied rib over 72 st.
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll in Blue Violet Multi
Needles: Size 1 [US]/2.25mm
Knit for: DD3

Oscar Knitting

I'm getting all set for an evening of Oscar watching and my plans are to knit -- SOCKS!

I know! Who woulda guessed? I've been working on a pair for my sister (mentioned at the bottom of this post.) I'm on the 2nd sock and just over 1/2 done with it. I'm sure there aren't many more stitches than in a "normal" sock, but these tube socks seem like they go on forever!

So, to change the pace, I've started a pair for DD3. They'll be top down, ribbed leg & instep, heel flap & gusset. These will be my March SAM9 socks. More about them later. Need to fix a cuppa Yorkshire Tea and then I'll get knitting.

Happy Oscar Watching to all :-)

2010 February Socks

My grandson called them "Weird." I call them warm. Got rid of a lot of little bits & bobs leftover from other sock projects. :-)

Curling and Purling

- and knitting, too.

I finished the Dove Moebius, but I'm very disappointed with it. How difficult are Ks and Ps and YOs? Well, actually my problem was with tension. I got gauge OK at the beginning, but while watching the various events, I lost focus on the tension. Many inches along I thought about frogging, but talked myself out of it figuring I could block it right.

Not going to bother blocking. (How do you block a moebius scarf anyway?) I'm going to to something I've never ever done before with a FO. I'm going to rip the whole thing out. (She takes a deep breath here.)

This project was going to be a Christmas '10 present, so I have time to figure out what I want to do. Reknit Dove or use a different pattern.

And then I looked at the Yarn Harlot's sweater. Makes my little, simple, but flawed scarf look mightily pathetic.

False starts

In the Olympic Games, too many false starts can get you disqualified. However, in the knitting Olympics, too many false starts just gets you closer to the Closing Ceremonies and less time to complete the project.

Argh. Friday evening, I cast on for the Dove moebius. I thought I had put a twist in it, but an inch of width later, I realized there wasn't a twist. Frogged. Cast on 159 sts again. Got 3 inches into the width and checked gauge again. Cor! Need a larger circ. AND... at this rate the yardage will give out before I cross the finished line, even with a larger needle. Frogged.

Cast on 159 sts AGAIN, this time on a size 9 circ. This looks better. But, I placed an order with Knit Picks for another skein of Andean Silk in Cream. Also ordered a book, Chrissy Gardiner's Toe Up!, because I'm still trying to conquer toe up socks.

Pre-Olympics FO

I was a test knitter for Kala over at Vegan Craftastic. Her Slippity Do Da Cowl is a quick & easy knit. Here's a photo of the finished project.

Yarn: Vanna's Choice in Purple Print and Dusty Purple.
Needle: Size 10 (6mm) 16" circular

No! NOT socks - Knitting Olympics Updated AGAIN

Changed my mind - no socks. I remembered another project I could do instead: the Dove Moebius Scarf & Hat. A free pattern at tahkistacycharles. Using Knit Picks; Andean Silk in cream.



I tried to post to Stephanie's web page about the change, but it's not showing up. Oh, well. She won't send the knitting police after me :-)

I just took a photo of the balls of yarn.

I owe, I owe, so off to work I go....

2010 Knitting Olympics

Change of plans. Not doing the Feb. Lady Sweater during the Olympics. Not since signing up for Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's 2010 Knitting Olympics. Rules state that the project has to be CO during the opening ceremony (was going to do that anyway.) Rules also state that the project must be finished before the end of the 2010 Olympics. That eliminates the sweater!!

So, I'll be doing socks for me :-) Yarn: OPAL Cotton 2008 in #2092, & using a "generic" pattern -- actually Stephanie's Step-by-Step Cheat Sheet for Socks (pg 144 of Knitting Rules.)

The socks will (and I emphasize WILL) be finished by February 28 - so they will also be my February SAM9 entry.