It's that time of the year

Halloween costumes for the grandsons:

Buster


















Sport



















And for the grand dogs, too! (Sorry, I can't tell the triplets apart...)

October 2010 socks & other updates

September was an incredibly busy month - so was August, July, June…. I tried to get this pair of socks finished by September 30^th, but - Hey, I’ve got an early submission for October :-)

Pattern: “Mix-and-Match Rib Sock Recipe” in Chrissy Gardiner’s Toe-Up!, using the Cable Rib version

Yarn: left over Paton's Kroy Socks FX in Clover Colors (see this post)

Needles: two circs, Size 2 US

Knit for: 5 year old Buster. They're about a 1/2 inch too long, but I'm thinking by March his feet will have grown that much.

Other Updates:

I’ve been knitting. Buster had asked for a scarf back in April, I think. I promised I’d have it done before it was cold. It’s cold and it’s done. Also made him a hat and a pair of mittens. I took him to Hobby Lobby and let him select from any of the “I Love This Yarn” varieties. [I know, I know… but, for a very busy mama with very active boys Easy Care was the most important.] Buster did a great job of picking out navy blue on his own. His winter coat is gray with navy trim. I used a waffle stitch pattern on his scarf.

Sport of course got to pick out his yarn. He selected a dark olive green. Also made a hat, scarf & mitts for him. I used a Mistake Rib pattern on his scarf.

On the Needles Update:

Finally CO for the February Lady Sweater! I bought the yarn on April 4, 2009. I love the color - Cascade 220 in #7811 Purple Jewel Heather. As I said in the post, I intended to get something burgundy (more reddish) and came home with Purple!! I’m knitting with an old 29” circ needle (my grandmother's) that has a very stiff cable (even after soaking in very hot water.) So, I’m going to go submit an order for several new circ needles - etc. (Probably not yarn, tho. My yarn totes are full already. Gotta get knitting!)

An August Birthday

Sport's 7th birthday was in August. We had a big family cookout at a state park for him. He's now in 2nd grade. Amazing that it's been seven years since I moved back here. I've probably said it before in one of these posts, but I'll say it again -- I miss the mountains and the mild weather of the Front Range. But, I'm glad I gave that up to live close to family. Sniff.

And not to leave out the little brother: Buster (now 5) started kindergarten and is happy to now be in a big kids' school.

PS - Happy BD to The Mama, too!

A political statement

I try to stay fairly neutral about politics and I'm a life-long independent voter, but DD2 (also known as The Mama) wore this T shirt to Sport's birthday picnic :-)

Click on photo for a larger version.

2010 August Socks

Busy month! Only had time for a quick pair that are destined for parts unknown and currently residing my my "charity" knitting bag. Yarn - leftover worsted weight Knit Pick's Tidepool Heather and some "natural" and something else. Probably Lion Wool or Patons's. Ball bands long gone.

A June Birthday

Buster turned 5 in June. He's getting tall and certainly not a "baby" anymore. If his eyes look a bit red, he was having an allergy day.












Big brother, Sport, reads the cards to Buster.

Did I say "tomorrow"?

I meant "in a few weeks."

I just looked at my blog and realized that I didn't post any photos from Buster's 5th bd. I will... one of these days. But, for now, here's a pair of socks I knit at the end of July for afghans 4 Afghans. Sent them off w/ a few w.w. pair I had saved up.

For now, I'm taking a break from a larger project and working on another pair to save for the next time a4A collects socks. Photo... one of these days.

Weather report: High temps and high humidity, flood warnings. What a summer!

End of the month update

Yes, I've been knitting. I even have some photos, but they are still on the camera. Maybe tomorrow I can post details. But, yes, I'm still here, still knitting and when not knitting, just plain busy. Heading out of town in a few minutes with a van full of kinfolk. :-}

July 2010 Socks

Finished this pair this morning and mailed them off to Colorado already. I remembered to include the ball band in the parcel, but forgot to make note of the color #.

Pattern: My own. Top down. CO 68 sts. with a ribbed leg (and upper foot) that includes a 4 st. cable down the center of both front & back. I adjusted the socks on the blockers to show the cable. (Enlarge to see)

Yarn: OPAL Cotton. #2092, I think. It's white and shades of denim.

Needles: 1[US] 2.25mm; two circs

Knit for: My DS in Colorado

June socks

Yay!

Pattern: Based on Yarnissima's Brainless (a Ravelry link). The legs are st st with just the cables up the side (set off by P2 on each side of the cable)

Yarn: Paton's Kroy Socks FX in Clover Colors

Needles: 1[US] 2.25mm; two circs

Knit for: My little (tall) Pud in SC

One skein had a hunk of bright orange that the other didn't have. Sure was fun watching the colors change.

These will be warm. You'll have to wear them while camping in the "mountains" :-)

FO and Weather

That would refer to Finished Objects - socks. They are drying on the sock blockers. Photo later.

Meanwhile, here's a photo my DD1 took yesterday with her Droid when she & her nephews (Sport & Buster) picked me up after work.

Buster said, referring to that roll cloud, "It looks like 3D!"

And the winner is...

I don't know yet. But, I'll be checking SAM9 later tonight (after hockey - Go BHawks!)

I fell in love with this colorway, but only bought one ball to send off to SAM9.

And the more I looked at it after getting it home, the less I wanted to part with it.

Kinda of a Frodo/Ring thing. Sorta.

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. :-)