Thursday, August 30, 2007

Thanks to Sharon


Many thanks to Sharon, my pal in the International Notions Bag Exchange. I received this cool felted bag, an I love NY magnet and an extra goodie - an apron made from a dish towel; it matches my kitchen!!Thank you again!

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

all work


Well, it has been all work and no knitting this week. Back to preschool to get it ready for the first day (next week) I've had to take the boys with me so it has hard getting work done there also! But we did manage to get the room all put together for the first orientation, tonight is the last one.
I have yet to start on my monkey socks, waiting for that bad karma to pass (it struck again, this time on a scarf I'm working on, thanks to BetteM!) I'll need to get the yarn balled up at the LYS, hopefully today, and then decide on which needles to use. The pattern is written for dpn's, but I so love the 2 circ's method; which, by the way, there seems to be a shortage of lately!
I've been in contact with me pal, she is very sweet, and I've heard from my pal, she is secretive.
I'll leave you with this lovely picture from vacation; Lac La Belle.

Monday, August 27, 2007

Major rip-out-itis


I seem to have a case of bad-knitting-karma. I just frogged the most recent pair of socks I was making out of Panda Cotton. I had tried to make a different sock from this same yarn earlier this summer, and had to frog it, so I don't think it was meant for me to make socks from this particular yarn. This sock was not going well either and in a fit, I tossed the entire sock in the garbage, put the other skein in the stash, and never looked back. So sad, as they were soft and they were going to be for my mom. She did buy some LL on our Chicago trip, I have a pattern picked out, and hopefully all will go well!
Hoping to receive my Monkey sock swap pal soon, as it is back to work and school next week BUMMER so knitting time will be greatly reduced.

These socks were finished 2 weeks ago, pattern: Crusoe (Knitty) yarn: Koigu - before the bad karma kicked in.

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Monkey Sock Swap q&a

The basics:
Do you consider yourself a beginning sock knitter, an intermediate, or have you been doing this so long you could probably knit a pair in your sleep?
Intermediate; I just started making them in January.

The measurements:
Shoe Size: 9 1/2 (depends on the brand)
Foot circumference: at the ball of the foot it’s 9 /12 inches
Foot length: almost 10 inches

Yarn Preferences:
What colors do you love? green, but lately all the socks I've been making have a lot of hot pink in them. I work at a preschool, so I wear jeans, anything goes colorwise.

Do you prefer solids or variegated? I like them both, it all depends on the pattern I am making.

Do you prefer wool, cotton or acrylic yarn? wool blends

What colors would you never wear? not solid orange.

What are your favorite brands of yarn? Lorna's Laces! Koigu
Are there any new brands you would like to try? There are so many out there that I haven't even had a chance to look at them all.

Cookie A. Patterns:
Which of her patterns have you already knit? None.
Which pattern(s) would you like to knit and don’t already own? Flicker, Mona or Gothic Spire

Other pertinent information:

Would you be willing to have an international Monkey Pal or do you prefer one in the US? Either is fine.

Do you have any allergies? Cats and ragweed.

Will your knitting be exposed to smoke or animals? No.

Are you on Ravelry yet? If you don’t mind having new friends, what is your Ravelry name? no, still waiting

Friday, August 24, 2007

Another sock swap


Many thanks to my friend MidwestKnitGirl(saw this on her blog), I've gone and joined a sock swap! My first one actually. Usually I join swaps where you send yarn and patterns, in this swap you have to MAKE the socks and then send them! Along with various other goodies! I was going to make these socks anyway, so this will make it that much more fun! Check it out Monkey Socks.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Back to bloggin'

I'm back (did you even miss me??) Took a quick trip to Chicago to visit Sister. Quite fun, but exhausting.
Did a little knitting on the Panda Cotton sock, but it is slow going.
Was able to purchase some Lorna's Laces in a quaint little town (but more expensive than buying online and shipping it from here.
I won the first sp11 contest that my hostess Shelby was running.
And never did get any of the anniversary yarn (though I did look AGAIN for 3 days).

Friday, August 17, 2007

I am so bummed

I have been stalking this website for TWO days trying to get some of the anniversary yarn, today's blog entry says it all sold out in 1 day (which day? I never saw it...) BARNACLES. It says maybe more in 1 or 2 days. Not that I need more sock yarn (but it is so pretty).

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Contest #1 for SP11

My hostess Shelby, is having a contest for her group. Here are my answers:

1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without? My ruler for measuring the ribbing (1 1/2" tops!) and how much knitting left to do on the foot until I can decrease for the toe on my socks!
2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? Yes If so, how much and what type of project? summer vacation I took 3 pairs of socks (finished 2 of them)
3. Where have you travelled to that you'd consider your favorite spot? Cozumel, Mexico
4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? any sock book Do you own it? yes, Interweave Favorite Socks and Knitting Vintage Socks
5. Do you listen to podcasts? yes Which is your favorite(s)? Socks In The City & Stash and Burn

sock progress


I have totally forgotten to post pictures of finished socks! These are the Jigsaw socks for the sock-along. I was the first one finished! I love this pattern. I think I will make more socks like this!




This WAS (very important) the waving lace sock. I was not happy with it, knit on size 1 dpn's, very loose, I tried making sock #2 on 2 circs, very tight, then I pulled out the needles (by accident) in the car on the way home from vacation. Frogged the 2nd and never felt like re-making it. So this, sock #1, was totally frogged (never done that before, froggen an entire completed sock!) I will put it back in the stash and probably make more Jigsaw socks!

How nice, a question:

Sister said...
1. How do you keep your socks from falling to your ankles?
They have ribbing at the top that keeps them up

2. Aren't your feet hot in August?
I don't wear them now, they are for when I go back to work.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

And the countdown begins....


We are just 3 short weeks from the start of school and HOCKEY! Well, son #2 started hockey first of August (missed 2 practices as we were on vacation). I can't believe how fast this summer as gone! All I've done is sit and knit :) and read and do laundry...how great is that?
The knitting will be greatly scaled back come September, I do have those 2 jobs to do remember? Lunch lady and pre-school asst? Yes, back to work (and back to $$$)
Here's a picture from our U.P. vacation, the mini "Big Mac" made from an erector set, very cool.
Well, SP11 is up and running, I've been in contact with both pals, so this is going to be fun.
On the sock front, I have SSS - scattered sock syndrome! I have 3 socks finished, 1 of a pair of 3 different patterns; waving lace, Lion self-striping, and Koigo Crusoe. I'm debating frogging the entire waving lace sock, as I've just learned to do socks on 2 circ's and I really like it! What do you think?
P.S. You all better sit for this: I am going to scrapbook now, I know, it's been forever...but I have 4 maybe 5 pages to do.@(*^$%^%#@&$#*&($#&**( Stand up again, as I have not scrapbooked in a while, I failed to realize that a) I have no sticky tabs to mount the photos and b) son #2 is in need of a new book. Barnacles, guess I'll have to go shopping.

Friday, August 10, 2007

SP11 Questionnarie

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock, Cascade 220, Koigu
What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? Angora, anything fuzzy, they make my nose itch
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? My addis are in their bags from the store, all straight needles in a case, everything in a dresser drawer in the living room
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Since June 2006 like a mad-woman :), I saw a woman knitting a scarf at the hockey rink in November of 2004, watched her for a little bit, didn't look at that difficult, so I made a bunch of scarves that winter. Put the needles away, then started up last June making purses. Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? intermediate
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? YES
5. What is your favorite scent? Christmas scents - Evergreen and Cinnamon
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? YES Favorite candy? Hershey's Kisses with Caramel, Take 5, Good & Plenty
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Scrapbook Do you spin? NO
8. What kind of music do you like? Big Tracks (XM Radio) 80's and 90's Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) yes, also have ipod nano
9. What's your favorite color(s)? GREEN, lately a lot of my sock yarn has had tints of HOT PINK Any colors you just can't stand? used to be orange, but now I think orange is ok in small batches
10. What is your family situation? Married with 2 boys, 8 and 10 Do you have any pets? NO
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Mittens all the time (I do live in Michigan), no hats, don't like static hat hair, I have a poncho that I made, but have only worn it 3 times.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? At the moment Socks, but also purses
13. What are you knitting right now? Socks; 3 different pairs
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? YES
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Circular -Addi Turbos are the way to go. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? For socks, I used to like Plymouth Bamboo, but now Knit Picks circulars
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? NO
17. How old is your oldest UFO? 2 weeks
18. What is your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving
19. Is there anything that you collect? NO, unless yarn counts
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? Sock patterns, What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Interweave Knits
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I conquered cables and socks on 2 circs, so maybe 2 socks on 2 circs, Magic Loop (I have the book and needle) and Toe-Up?
22. Are you a sock knitter? YES What are your foot measurements? Foot measures 10", I wear size 9 shoe
23. When is your birthday April 23
24. I AM NOT ON RAVELRY, I AM NUMBER 21,351 (maybe by Christmas?)

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Candy Cravings


So, I've been knitting this sock since Sunday and I keep getting these candy cravings and can't figure out why.....it's a Lion Brand self-striping yarn, black/white & orange/pink/green.



I finally had to run out to the store tonight, I couldn't take it anymore :)
Good & Plenty YUM!!!

Monday, August 06, 2007

I'm back


With 7 or maybe 8 loads of laundry to do!
Still have to go grocery shopping.
But I did accomplish the following:
read 4 books and 1 magazine
finished the CF anklets and my Jigsaw-along socks.

I had to frog the Waving Laces.
But I did start some Lion Brand self-striping socks (it was the very first skein of sock yarn I received, way back when; maybe December?)