Panic Set In - But, Whew! It's All Good

After finishing the striped leg CIC socks, I've been working on the Wildfoote Rhapsodies for me. When I got about half through the foot, I got really nervous - it sure didn't look as if there would be enough yarn.

So, I decided to "quickly" finish one of them to see if I could find another ball of this yarn [or if I'd need to finish the toes with something else.] Meanwhile I started contacting yarn shops in this part of the state. So far haven't found another skein.

But, whew! There was PLENTY left! No problem. Now to finish the 2nd sock. I've got too much to do today, so it's Extremely Doubtful that I'll finish it by the end of the Closing Ceremony. But, I will work on it while I watch this evening.

Eewww... the color is way off. Too blue here. It's really - purplish.

August Socks

These are little ones for CIC, but they ARE socks. Not sure if I'll get the pair for me finished before the end of the month. I'll sure try. My Knitting-while-watching-the-Olympics is going slowly. I tend to either get too involved in the action. Yea! USA!! Or, I dose off mid-stitch.

Pattern: Generic - CO 32 st. for about a 6"- 6.5" foot and using Grumperina's striping method for the leg.

Yarn: A) Knit Picks' Wool of the Andes in Cherry Blossom; B) Knit Picks' Wool of the Andes in Blue Bonnet; C) Knit Picks' Wool of the Andes in Winter Night; and D) Lion Wool in Winter White.

Needles: 4 dpn size 6 [US] I mistakenly blogged on Aug. 10th that I was using size 4 [US].

Knit for: CIC

ZERO

The number of homes I own.

[Had to comment on that one.]

Sport's 5!

Sport was 5 yesterday! Can't believe he's THAT old - that means I was in town five years ago this past week interviewing for my [current] job. And five years ago tomorrow I drove home, sobbing along the way 'cos I was leaving that darling little baby and didn't know when I'd be back.

Obviously, I got the job and didn't hesitate to move back here. I've really enjoyed being able to see my grandsons weekly [if not more often.]

Photos of Sport, Buster, and the two together:










































OTN UPDATE: I'll finish the striped pair of socks for CIC this evening. Normally, I could have completed a pair in less than two evenings. But, doing the striping is SO fiddly. There must be a better way to keep the different balls of yarn from tangling. It was just too much of a mess - so I only did the stripes on the legs and knit the rest in solid. Photo tomorrow.

Olympics!

No, I haven't signed up for any Olympic challenges or projects. Gosh, I haven't even logged onto Ravelry in months.

I thought about joining a Ravelry Olympics group and pondered, "What New Project should I do?" Then, I looked at my WIPs and felt guilty about laying them aside.

So, my personal Olympic challenge will be to finish the 3 current WIPs. That's a lofty goal, considering my knitting time is limited.

[Ah, ...I feel a longing for the days when I was a stay-at-home mom and had time to work on my crafts during the day when the daughters were at school. WAIT... NO!!! That would mean we'd have to go through the TERRIBLE TEENS again. No Way!]

Current WIPs for my personal KOC [Knit Olympics Challenge]:

1. Socks for me. Working two at a time, top down. I've finished the heel turn & have just picked up the stitches from the sides of the flaps. Specs:
Pattern: Generic. 1" K2, P2 cuff, then 5" of K3, P3 ribbed leg; and St St foot
Yarn: Brown Sheep Co.' s Wildfoote in Rhapsody
Needles: Knit Picks size 1 [US], two 24" circs

2. Socks for CIC. One at a time. Using Grumperina's striping method. Heel flap and toe in Cherry Blossom.
Pattern: Generic - for about a 6"- 6.5" foot
Yarn: A) Knit Picks' Wool of the Andes in Cherry Blossom; B) Knit Picks' Wool of the Andes in Blue Bonnet; C) Knit Picks' Wool of the Andes in Winter Night; and D) Lion Wool in Winter White.
Needles: 4 dpn size 4 [US]

3. I didn't blog about these before?? Can't find a post about 'em. Urban Necessity Gloves for DD2. I have one glove about 3/4 finished. Oops. Tried to link, but the page is gone or Magknits is gone - or just down.
Pattern: From Magknits, Sept 05. Urban Necessity Gloves
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn's Encore in what they say is "Gray" but it has lots of lavender/purple flecks. Color 153.
Needles: 4 dpns size 6 [US] --- So THAT's where they were. Been looking for them!!

Photos another day.

Not an Original Idea

...I don't have too many of those. However, I do a lot of borrowing ideas - and sometimes I get crafty enough to adapt them.

Here's one I borrowed from Kathy and from Knitting Geek [Erica, I believe.]

So...the dark green yarn used for the gusset isn't THAT dark. Yes, the cuff is in brown, but it works.

Several knitters in the SnB group that I've started to attend said that they'd like to learn to knit socks. If *I* can knit socks, anyone can...so I volunteered to teach them.

I remembered the photos I'd seen at Kathy's blog and at Knitting Geek, so I borrowed the idea and knit this [one] up yesterday. I think this will be a good teaching tool. I've been looking online for easy directions for new sock knitters, but haven't found what I want, so I'll just write up my "own" directions for a basic CO 32 st, child's size practice sock.

July socks done

I've joined a Sock a Month club again - SAM6. Here's my July finished pair. Details found here.

Mystery Mittens done!

Fun project!

Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes (worsted) in Cherry Blossom.

Pattern: Found at the Mystery Mitten KAL web page.

Rocky Mountain Hi!

We ended up taking Buster with us because Sport wanted to stay home with his daddy.

Buster had a great time in Colorado! We went to the zoo.

We went to a wedding - and Buster danced - alot!



And we went to the Mountains!

Road Trip - WooHoo!!

I'm on vacation for two weeks. We are heading West in the morning to attend a wedding on Saturday. My siblings from California, Illinois & South Carolina will be there, too, along with some of the nieces and nephews.

My DD1, DD2, and Sport are going with me. Plans include a drive up Trail Ridge Rd and possibly camping at 8200 feet. I just checked the weather -- temps on the Front Range tomorrow will be in the low 90s ("but, it's a dry heat.") Lows on the weekend at the camp site will be in the low 40s - brrrrr! Packing wool socks for sure!

Strawberry Creme Socks - Photo!

I dyed the yarn earlier this year and began knitting in April. I finished the second pair for my dear friend's granddaughter in May.

Unfortunately the parcel arrived a few days after DF's birthday.

Fortunately, the socks fit!! [Thanks DG for your assistance so I could make the correct size!!]

Buster's a 3 Year Old

Photos from Buster's birthday. He's such a little man now!

New pjs for the grandsons:

Finished Socks!

Started in May and finished about two weeks ago.
Pattern: CO 64 sts. Knit top down. K1, P1 cuff for 1.5". Then st st till leg was 6"

Yarn: On-Line Supersocke 100/Sierra Color #896
Needles: 1.5 [US]
Knit for: Me! :-)

OTN - YO Cable socks

What? No photo? For now - here's a photo of the yarn and the specs:

Pattern:
"Yarn Over Cable" [a Five Stitch Pattern on pg 43 of Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks]
Yarn: Steinbach Wolle Sockenwolle, #014 from Fall 2004 color card
Needles: Two size 1 [US] 24" circs
Modification: top down, instead of toe up
Knit for: Me!

I've finished the heel turn on both socks and I'm ready to pick up the gusset stitches. I'm considering knitting the sole on size 0 [US] -- read somewhere about doing that to help the soles wear better.

This was the very first sock yarn I bought over a year & a half ago. I didn't know how much to buy, so I got the three 50 g balls. I have plans for the left overs - to perhaps stripe with a 50 g ball of Steinbach Wolle Sockenwolle #180 which is a green, brown, and gray twist.

Flood 2008

The river is back within its banks now. The number of houses and businesses up here that were damaged or destroyed by the flood is much smaller than farther south, but for the individuals who are affected, it is just as devastating.

If I'd known that DD2 was going to take her sons to see the flood, I'm sure I would have freaked out. But, all's well. No harm. Buster still talks about flooded roads - all the detours around town really impressed him. But, he's not so impressed with the smell that lingers.

We [my family and I] all live on "high ground" and didn't have any problems with flooding, but I know several people who had significant water levels - and damage such as basement wall cave in, total loss of contents of houses, etc. It took well over a week for the water to go down enough to get people in from the insurance companies - and from FEMA.

BTW - DD2's camera data stamp is off - these were taken on June 10th.