I'm Baacckk!

Tonight's post features what I bought several weeks ago with the gift certificate my DD3 gave me for Christmas.

Thanks again, Honey Bunch!

I plan to use the sock yarn for myself. I think the buttons will be used on my February Lady Sweater. That's looking like it will be a February 2012 Sweater.

The "knitting thimble" thingy, if it works, could be handy when I start knitting a pair of colorwork socks (2 pair are planned.)

Oh, what a busy month! & December Socks

I finished Christmas shopping /wrapping early and that should have given me some "free" time, right? The month was full of busy-ness -- all good, but I'm still waiting for free time. I've been contemplating this and have decided that:

• I shouldn't be so selfish to expect ME time
• Spending time with people is more important than a clean house, etc. etc.
• I need to prioritize and schedule (really good at this at work, and not at all good at this away from it)

On the other hand, knitting IS 'me' time and I have been knitting all month - while visiting, waiting (in waiting rooms, in the car waiting for my DD to get off work), etc. I finish a pair of socks:

Pattern: Celtic Spirit from Sock Club by Charlene Schurch & Beth Parrott
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll in Sapphire Heather
Needles: Size 1 [US] /2.25mm; two circs
Knit for: DD1

Click on the photo for a closer view of the pattern.

2010 November Socks

This pair was finished early this month, but I forgot to get a photo of them before Sport and family moved out of town. But, when I visited last week the socks were sent back home with me - they'd shrunk in the laundry.

A cool soak with fabric softener and a blocking session - and Yay! They fit Sport again. He visited yesterday, and I tried to send the socks home with him. But he wanted to keep them at my house, because "Mama doesn't know how to wash them."

SO...since I had several pairs in need of a wash, we had a lesson in hand washing and air drying socks :-) Sport asked for the steps to be written down "with everything in words." Later, he happily took the socks and his detailed washing instructions home with him.

Pattern: Garter Rib version of Mix-and-Match Socks from Chrissy Gardiner's Toe-Up!

Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks FX

Needles: US 1.5

Knit for: 7 year old Sport

OTN Update

1. A Christmas project - I hope to finish soon.

2. February Lady Sweater - I dig this out occasionally and I've worked to below the sleeve division. Woo Hoo! My goal is to finish it by... February 28, 2011. That might be possible :-)

3. Socks for DD1 - Using a top down pattern from Sock Club. Just finished row 9 at the top of the cuff.

Photos eventually.

Oh - argh - I forgot to get a photo of Sport's socks to post here & at SAM10. Now that they've moved I can't just walk next door with my camera anymore. [sniffle] I'll try to remember to take my camera along this weekend.

Way to go, Prince Charles!

Thanks to my non-knitting DD1 who passed along this article from the NY Times.

OFF the needles: I finished Sport's socks a few days ago and I'm hoping to get a photo of them on his feet this weekend.

Other news: Don't think I said that the grandsons (& their parents) moved last Saturday. Too far to visit everyday, but close enough to see them every weekend or two. I'm missing them a lot already. But... the plan is that each of them will spend a weekend with me once a month. This weekend is Sport's turn and Buster's will be in two weeks.

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" :-)