Snowy Cable Socks

So I've finished my first pair of patterned socks, and I LOVE them. I found the pattern in the November - January Issue of Cast On Magazine. I was a little hesitant to knit them since no one on Ravelry has knit these socks and I really like to see others results for projects before I knit them. But I decided to just go for it and I'm really really happy.

I used the Colinette Jitterbug yarn and I'm hooked. The yarn is fantastic!! It's so soft and so freakin squishy. I just want to live in these socks.

The bonus also about being the first person to knit this pattern on Ravelry is that now my picture of my socks is the post picture for the pattern.

Winter Light

So the winter light or lack there of is really putting a strain on my Ravelry/Blog updating. I leave for work Monday through Friday and it’s just before sunrise. Then I get out of work each night just after sunset. So Monday thru Friday I’m missing the sun all together. And my home lighting situation is just not adequate for good (or even decent) photography after dark. So all my pictures need to basically be taken on the weekends; but again this pose some issues with lighting also, I’m limited to photograph between basically 7:30am(I don’t think I’ve ever seen 7:30 am on a weekend) and 4:30 pm. But the cloudy days and bluish tinge to the light that winter has makes even these times difficult. So I post with out pictures and my Ravelry page just stays the same.

2009 Sock Kal

I’ve decided to join the 2009 sock kal. Although I’m not sure that I’m going to be in this for the full 12 month knitting since some of the months don’t get me all hot and bothered. So the agenda for the year is as follows

January : Red/Pink socks

February : Socks for a Cause/Charity

March : Lace socks

April : UFO socks

May : Cable socks

June : Green socks

July : New technique socks

August : Send a Skein

September : Unsocks

October : Pick something from my stash socks

November : Knitty pattern

December : Pick a designer month (tbd)

I’m actually excited to get the ball rolling on this one. I went over the weekend and bought some Casacade 220 in a pretty pink color for the January Red/Pink socks. I’ve chosen the travelers sock pattern which I found through Ravelry. I really like the pattern. I just think that I would like the socks to be just a little longer since these are my house/slipper/all the time feet keeping warm socks and I plan on changing the pattern to cuff down though. I did a gauge swatch and once I pick up an extra needle tonight on my way home I’ll be good to go on these.

So I’m definitely doing the January socks. February not so much, March sounds good. I’ve got some pretty Madelinetosh yarn that I think would be great in Lace or if I’m feeling super fancy I would love some more of the Jitterbug yarn. I love love love the feel of the socks I’ve just made with that yarn. I think after March I’ll have to see what happens. I love the idea of the year of socks and all that goodness, I just don’t know if I want to spend all my time knitting socks.

New Year, New Blogger, New FOs

New Year New Blogger or I hope to be at least a little better then I have been recently. It’s been almost two whole months since I last posted. I feel guilty. I don’t know how it happened. I don’t want to make any ambitious goals for 2009 like I’m going to blog everyday, or three post a week for ‘09’ since I don’t want to force myself into blog slavery (blogavery) but I do want to have a better track record with posting items. So I’m just going to aim to be a better blogger. Period.

What’s off my sticks:

I’ve completed two Habitat hats (his and hers). The pattern was great and the end results are fantastic. I love mine. I used the Homestead Farms yarn for mine in pinkish shades. For the “his” I used the Manos in a charcoal color. For the man’s version I used the longer M/L version of the pattern. I have to give the pattern two very enthusiastic thumbs up. I love it! Love It!

I finished my first pull over sweater. I finally finished my Golden (Green) Gables Hoodie (without the hoodie). I decided I would never wear the hood up and I looked at a lot of the FO’s and decided I wasn’t loving the look of the hood when the hood was down….so I left it off. I really am pretty pleased. My only issue is with the sleeves. I had tighter tension on the sleeves since I used the magic loop method. Only I did not check the gauge again since I had gotten gauge the entire body piece. So the arms are snugger then I would like. Certainly not too tight to wear or even uncomfortable; it’s just that I cannot wear anything under the sweater that is too bulky. I did wear the sweater for Christmas people were surprised that it was a handmade sweater so I’m thinking that’s about as good as you can hope for. I think when it comes too all my hand knit items that is what I strive for, store bought appearance.

I also finished some think men’s worsted weight socks using the Ann Budd Pattern for the Ladders for Life. They are from what I hear very warm and get used daily. I’m pretty sure that it’s a good sign when the item is worn daily. It was an easy pattern, very easy to memorize and when it comes to socks that is really what I’m looking for. I like patterns on the socks but I don’t like to have to have the pattern in front of me at all times and constantly be paying attention to the pattern. So these were great. But I have to say I would not knit this pattern for me or any women for that matter. The pattern has a very masculine look and feel to it, which was great since it was in fact for a man.

On the needles: Titled Duster, Snowy Cabled Socks, and Irish Hiking Scarf more of this to come later.

Feels like forever

Wow, this feels like forever.

On the knitting front a lot has been going on and on the personal front too.

I’ve been gift knitting recently. Currently on the needles is a pair of socks in worsted weight yarn. I’m using the Ann Budd’s Ladders for life stitch pattern. I’ve done my first short row heel on these. I like the process, the heel looks a little so so but I’ve taken a finishing class since and picked up some great tips and advice there.

I’ve finished a Habitat hat also for the same gift. I used Manos for the first time. I like the end result but I was a little disappointed in the yarn. I found four knots in the yarn and used less then 200 yards.

Mystic Earth is on the back burner. I got thru all of the first part and half of the second and was just not having fun with it. I’m not sure if it was the yarn or the pattern but it’s on hold. Maybe some other time I’ll pick it back up.

I’m still trucking away on my sweater. I have most of a sleeve done and the body up to the arm pits. I’ve done the magic loop method for the sleeves and love it. It’s giving me a much nicer sleeve then the 12” circulars were.

So in other news I finally got back my pc from HP. It took close to a month for that whole ordeal to be resolved and I got back the PC just days before I left for a business trip in the Chicago area. But I was very glad to have it back. I had just gotten the new iPod touch for my birthday and was dying to try it out. It is great. I loved my iPod classic but the touch is a whole new world. The applications are so cool and the wi-fi is amazing. I love that I can go on the web and check my email right from my iPod.

In other birthday news I got an amazing swift and ball winder. I’m in love with it. It’s great. It’s a table swift so it just sits on the table and it’s beautiful. I’ve been knitting up a storm just to wind more yarn. I also got a sewing machine for my birthday and have been learning the ropes on that one. So far I’ve been making bags to hold my knitting projects.

Finally the spoils

I went to three yarn shops in the Chicago area and bought the following items:

From a lovely shop in Oak Park “Chix with Stix” 2 skeins of Jitterbug in Velvet Olive, 2 skeins Dream in Color Smooshy in Spring Tickle.

In Downers Grove “Knitche” Hand Maiden 1 skein Cashbah, 2 skeins Araucania Azapa (so soft, so very soft) and one very cute sheepy tape measure

In Glen Ellyn “The String Theory” 8 skeins of Peace Fleece in the gorgeous color way of Lauren’s Coral.

Pumpkins, Cactus and Succulents

My littlest niece turned two last week and for her birthday I decided to knit her a hat. So feeling the fall I went with a pumpkin hat. It was a quick little knit with a simple rolled brim pattern and a 7 X 1 ribbing. I did adjust the pattern to decrease alternately between K2Tog (just before left side purl) and SSK (just after purl on right side). I felt so funny, well almost ashamed, buying the yarn for this project but it was the colors that looked the best for the pattern. It's Lion brand 100% Wool in Pumpkin and Patons Merino Wool in Olive Green. But I do have to admit the colors work really well.

The thing that I found the weirdest about making the childs size hat is that the average 2 year old's head is 19". What's so odd about that? I measured my head and it's 20". I thought that was just insane that a two year olds head is just 1" smaller then my own.

Not so much knitting but....I think they're really cool. I took some pictures this weekend of my newest cactus and my Lithops (Living Stones).

Cactus

3 Lithops aka Living Rocks

When Knitting Fights Back

This is my second (see below for the details about the first) Mystic Earth Swatch on Size 4 Bamboo needles.

Well I had a really rough night on Thursday. Well my day was great, I had a fantastic day at work. That isn't that common either, but I did have a spectacular day at work. Then I went home all excited to swatch out my Mystic Earth Swatch and that is when trouble began. I did the entire swatch on size 3 needles and was binding off when I realized the BO was way too tight so I began to undo the BO but the combination of the metal needles and super fine lace weight yarn made for a disaster. Stitches dropped and the Swatch died. It completely unraveled before my sad eyes.

So, very frustrated for spending a couple hours on that I decided to pick up the sweater and calm myself with a little sweater knitting....and disaster strikes again. I accidentally repeated two rows in the pattern. Now I was on the edge of tears. I took the needles out of the sweater and pulled out the two rows of knitting to get back to were the pattern was correct.

(Corrected Sweater)

All in all not a great knitting night. But I survived.

Gretel, Ohio and more...

So I have a FO to share. I started and completed my Gretel Slouchy hat. I love the pattern, but my tiny head is not fitting in the hat so good. It's just a little too big. But I can still wear it and I will. The pattern is beautiful, but you have to HAVE TO read the directions carefully. I had it happen a couple times where I didn't read the directions as good as I should have and had to tink back. But it still is a nice looking hat.

I also finished the Punk Rocker Girl Socks. I love them. But the weathers been a little too warm still to use my hand knit socks. I think in a couple weeks I'll be wearing more and more of my creations.

I've started the Green Gables (mines a Golden Gable) hooded pull over from Vogue knitting fall magazine. I love it. I've got through the first pattern repeat and the sweater is about 8inches or so. It's knitting up fast and not too difficult, however the pattern and key had some issues but once I checked out the errata it was all good. The yarn is cool and funky and knits to gauge beautifully.

I've not been blogging recently for a couple reasons. Firstly I got sick. So for three or so days I was in rough shape. Then once I got better I had to go to Ohio on business. The trip went well and the training I gave was great and provided a little time one day for some sight seeing. So I've attached a lovely picture of one of the lighthouses on Lake Erie.

News: I've got a message from one of the members of the SnB that this weekend the farmers market in Coventry is having a "Fiber Twist" so there will be vendors with fiber goodies. I think I'll head out for a look and hopefully some good local treats. I like being able to get locally grown produce.

Sock Sock Sock

So lately I've been knitting socks. I realized today that I've neglected to post pictures of my socks. The last pair of socks I finished (by finished I mean finished both socks) was the watermelon socks. These socks are made from the remains of the Dream in Color Smooshy sock yarn in the Happy Forrest Color way with some Madelentosh in Pop Rocks. I really like them. I wanted a shorty sock and I finished these back in the middle of summer so these were my summer socks.

Then I cast on for my Firelights socks. These are on hold but I really am liking the progress. I've used a braided cable up the sides with 5" cuffs and Cherry Tree Hill Brights sock yarn in a color way that almost matches my Mystic Lights Shawl.

I've been working now on the Lady Punk Rocker Socks. These are using the Madelintosh Pop Rocks yarn with a simple black sock yarn for a funky rocker punky look. I love them!! I've finish one so far. I kinda hit a road block when life threw me an opportunity I couldn't refuse. But I'm plugging away on the socks and it shouldn't be too much more. I took the idea from a pattern in Stitch and Bitch Nation. Only I've done simple 6" cuff socks and the Pattern is for leg warmers.

Ooo Oooo another Mystic KAL

I've found out this spring that I'm in love with the KAL. I first joined Mystic Lights in March. And I've been reflecting now that it's a good thing that mystic lights was free to join because that was really the entry I needed to get me hooked to Anna's designs for life. Hello My Name is QA-Girl and I'm a knitaholic. Well not quite that bad, yet.

So I've now signed up for Mystic Earth. I'm really very excited. At first I wasn't thinking I would sign up for Mystic Earth when it came around. Mostly because I was think this was going to be another triangular shawl, and although I love my Mystic Lights I just don't really think I'd use another triangle shawl. While I love the mystic meadows shape and design I find the wool a little scratchy so I often use mystic lights since the yarn is so nice.

So here comes this pattern for a rectangular shawl in lace weight yarn. Which I just so happen to have more then 1600yards of this fantastic Lacey Lamb Wool in the most beautiful peachy tangerine orange color that I've been loving since I bought but haven't had a pattern for. So, I'm in.

I'm not too sure what it is about the KAL that I love so much, but I do love them. I think it might be the time line and the challenge. Or maybe its all the groupness about it. What ever it is I'm glad I've discovered them.