I did it! FO Friday!

Pattern: Flatiron Clog Socks from Designedly, Kristi
Yarn: 3 skeins KPPPM, it’s been too long, I no longer know what colorway it is, sorry - vast majority of skein 3 remains
Needles: Sock 1 was done on Swallow Caesin US Sz 0, Sock 2 was done on Wright’s Aluminum US Sz 0

Notes: Once blocked the size discrepancy wasn’t nearly as much as I had feared, though sock number 2 was definitely tighter and much more to my liking actually. That said, I won’t be ripping sock 1 and redoing it. It’ll be fine and it will give me a sock I can wear when our friends cats decide to hunt one of my feet and it swells up again.

As for the needles, I will not bother with the Swalloe DPNs again for socks. They are even less sturdy it seems than the birch DPNs. For US 1 and smaller I’ll be sticking to metal from here on out!

I won’t mention how long this took me to complete this pair! The important part is it is done, done, done and I have one more pair of hand knit socks to add to my sock drawer!

Some additional views…

Then, since it’s Friday and I’m totally ready for some sillyness, I have an Avatar as per Jenla’s meme…

Okay, so it isn’t so much ugly as they were looking for, but it is utterly ridiculous - a mini skirt and strapless top in snow and ice? Sure, there is a stocking cap and scarf, but look at all that skin exposed to the elements??? How about that horse and the corgi in a rain coat?? Silliness, pure and simple!

Have a great weekend everone!

I’m sticking to it!

Despite the reciept of a gift certificate to Woolen Treasures yesterday, I didn’t buy any fibery goodness as I *knew* that would lead to my not following through with the intentions stated yesterday. I knew once I had new yarn in my hands I would be compelled to cast on something new and I am going to stitck to making the mates to my orphan socks and mitten! For, it is Mating Month! (*snicker*)

I crawled on the leg of this sock for a very long time. In fact, I’m pretty sure I cast on for sock number 2 right away so that was back in July if I recall correctly. But, over Christmas holidays I got an inch or two done, then was able to finish the heel flap on New Year’s day and the gusset at SnB on Monday night and I’m about 1/2 long the instep and will hopefully be closing in on the toe perhaps by this evening???

I only got to knit about four rounds yesterday. So, really most of that foot was knit on Monday between SnB and socializing afterwards with people visiting from Portland and Illinois. I kind of overdid it. That seems to be a common problem for me with this pattern. I’m not sure if it is the US0 needles or the stitch pattern or just the combination of both. I’m getting a tighter gauge on this second one too, LOL! I think it’s because these were the socks that killed my Swallow Caesin needles - of the 5 in the package, I have 2 that are not broke. So, I’m on metal ones now from Wright that I picked up at one of the Hobby Lobby 1/2 off sales so that I could buy two packs so I would have 5 needles to use (they are sold in sets of 4). But, the sock will probably fit better than #1 as this ribbing is *very* stretchy and I like my socks somewhat snug.

This evening DH starts with his writing group. They will be meeting the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month. So, I think tonight I will be heading over to knit at Textiles a Mano. I’ve been home alone soooo much lately because my back/neck have been acting up and while I’m still not feeling stellar in that department, I know socializing often helps somewhat just because it lifts my mood a bit so instead of staying home all by myself I might as well get out of the house since there is something going on that I would enjoy doing. So, I will likely be going the 1st and 3rd Monday evenings for sure.

1/2 FO Friday!

While I’ve been busy distracting you with a virtual attendance at what has been decided to be the first annual holiday knitting tea, I’ve been busy knitting. Ashley was needling (ha!) me a bit on Saturday night about the number of WIPs I have laying around the house. Well, after she left on Saturday night I cast on for another one, LOL!

I was lacking good TV/Movie/Visiting knitting and I had a project that was coming upon a bit of a deadline. So, I cast on for the sock pictured above. It’s a design exclusively for No No Kitty Yarns and is knit in her Kona Superwash DK weight yarn on US 4s and US 3s in the Graffiti colorway. It was a blast to knit with and I had sock #1 done by Tuesday evening! That’s less than four days - late Saturday night to early Tuesday evening! I think that is one of the fastest socks to fly off of my needles. I now have the pattern written up and will be anxiously casting on for #2 and follow my pattern to test it. I think Danielle is planning an early New Year pattern release extravaganza. I’m thinking I’ll call the pattern Dimple socks and it will contain both clog and standard heel flap directions. Like the name? Have suggestions for something else?

Here’s a closer look at the ribs…

It has distracted me from holiday knitting though so I need to get my butt in gear. Especially because I have this coat on the way, which means I *need* new winter accessories pronto… Hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, the whole shebang! Please, please, feel free to leave comments with pattern, color, and/or yarn suggestions. I think I want to go with colors that contrast with the green as greens next to my face can be a bit fickle as to whether they wash me out or not. But, you can see a recent pic of me here to see my hair color and complexion. It’s slightly yellow because it was taken in our yellow-y bathroom under incandesent lights. But it should give you an idea of my current looks.

Goodies!

*Finally* Amanda and I got to see each other. With travel for SOAR and the holidays and my getting sick two weeks ago we hadn’t seen each other since the night before she left for SOAR in early November. She brought me back goodies too!

On the left is Socks that Rock (yes, I’m finally part of the cool kids with just the right yarn, LOL!) in Iolite. This was a fortunate thing for me, as Amanda and Margene’s yarn choices for Snow overlapped and this was a doubled colorway so I was given the option to give it a home in my stash. And, as luck would have it these should blend wonderfully into my wardrobe once they grow up into socks! Wheeeee! Thank you!

Now that I went and looked at their colorways I have several others I’m coveting. Jewel of the Nile, Pebbles, Sandstone, Jade, Flourite, Cobalt Bloom… *sigh*

Then, the packet on the right has had me drooling since about 6:10pm last night… It’s a sampler of silk hankies from Treenway Silks. The colors are great and I *loved* spinning the silk from the bell in the spinning class in August. I can’t wait to play with this and then dream up something to do with it once it is spun.

Last night was also the first night this month that both Snow and I made it on the same night. Miraculously the universe has not started spiralling inward towards a black hole (at least not that I’ve heard so far). Yeah! It was kind of nice having just the hard core regulars there last night. Ashley’s fair isle cardigan is going to be gorgeous! She’s on a sleeve so it won’t be too much longer! And Linsey is getting close to starting sleeves on her gorgous orange Manos sweater for her hubby. *swoon*

I have progress to report on Grandma’s Albert Seaman Scarf, but that shall wait until tomorrow. I’m trying really hard to not cast on for the second Mitten from Halland, but I’m guessing I’ll cave before Saturday. While I’m making good progress on Grandma’s scarf, because it is mohair and it’s hard to see stitches clearly it just isn’t a visiting sort of project and I shall need a visiting project for the knitting tea. While I would love to report a finished scarf before Saturday I just don’t see it happening amongst work and preparations for the tea. That said, I’m coming into the home stretch enough I don’t think I’ll be in danger of casting aside the scarf in favor of exclusive knitting on the mitten. Wish me luck!

Spinning Class Redux…

Yesterday I showed off my center pull ball of the plied yarn. Here you can see that I used about 1/2 of that ball and knit my swatch. It’s 30 sts on US 2.5 Bryspun DPNs knit in the round. I had a tough time deciding on a pattern, as the yarn is still pretty rustic (though I’ll likely want to re-swatch when I really sit down to spin all the yarn for the socks as this skein contained all my experiements of different drafting techniques and fighting with the plying as well). So, I chose a simple embellished rib. I then wash and blocked the swatch too. There really wasn’t much difference at all. The one end is small in circumference because I didn’t pay attention to BO loosely - oops! If I had paid attention it could possibly be worn as a cuff. Oh, and if you click on the picture it’ll give you a larger image of just the swatch that will give you a bit better feel for the depth of color in this yarn.

So, last night was sort of a free form class. Once we all finished disucssing our project plans we got to just try different fibers. From left to right we have bombyx silk spun from a cap or bell (similar to a hankie), bleached tussah roving, linen roving (these weren’t full length fibers and weren’t spun from a distaff or wet as you would need to do with full length flax fibers), lastly is a combination mini-skein of combed cotton (the brown) and cotton spun direct from the seed pods.

My favorite to spin last night would have to be the bombyx silk cap and then the cotton from the pods. But I had very little fight with any of them. I did have some trouble doing a worsted draw on the tussah roving, but I got it down towards the end - mostly when Maggie started talking about the linen process so I got caught up in listening to her and just got into the rhythm. I’ll want to be trying that again here very soon to try get that engrained in my head. But I was having difficulty pinching my forward hand hard enough to keep the twist out from between the hands. It seems I tend naturally towards the long draw so I had a good time with the cotton. The first little bit of the combed cotton resulted in some really large slubs, but I thinned it out quite well and then had a blast with the seed pods. I was amazed at the length of yarn you would get from one seed pod!

I need to give props to my peep, Amanda for letting me tag along these past four weeks. It was so much more pleasureable to make the trip and take the class with a friend! Of course being able to take my pain meds was a great plus as well.

And, because I know I’ll have an e-mail or comment waiting for me if I don’t post this…

The very beginnings of Fiber Trends’ Leaf Lace Shawl in copper Zephyr (wool/silk lace weight). I’m afraid I haven’t made any progress on it today, but there should be at least some quality time with it this weekend.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Make Believe Thursday!

Today I decided to play like I was a photo stylist…

I dusted off DH’s tripod and headed out in the heat of the day to take some special photos of Flatiron in anticipation of it’s upcoming release. I got a lot of really good shots. Some didn’t fit this particular sock, but I shall have to remember them for future socks. Some were a little too dark to really show off the sock properly and I wouldn’t want Jessica to give me demerits for dark photos. But, again some of those locations would work if I had an assistant with me to use a reflector, or perhaps even at just another time of day.

I did end up with two passable shots for inclusion in the pattern . . .

This one is the main shot for the first page of the pattern.

This one is sort of a filler photo. It’s not lit properly enough to serve as the main photo, but I endangered myself by crawling around on rocks all by myself (sans cell phone even, I know I deserve demerits for unsmart photo practices) while racing the self-timer on my camera and it shows off how the pattern extends down the back of the heel.

I even finished the bonus sock wrapper that will come with the pattern (as all my sock patterns do). So, those of you who have not been to Boulder, Colorado and seen the Flatirons in person, you now know the inspiration of the sock. The photo comes from FreeStockPhotos.com as everytime I’ve been to Boulder lately it’s been raining or cloudy and I haven’t been able to get a good photo myself.

And, lastly, to show that I haven’t procrastinated to the point of not having my homework done for class tonight, I present my completed homework…

That’s small samples of singles in 10, 8, 15, 18, and 24 WPI. We were asked to do one less than 10 wpi, one about 15 wpi and one over 20 wpi. I didn’t quite hit the marks quite right so I have a few intermediate ones too.

My ultimate plan when I don’t have quite so many irons in the fire (I have a huge commissioned book to paint and bind QUICKLY in addition to release Flatiron and teaching my classes and taking the class etc.) is to spin enough singles of many different WPI that I can have one card with singles, 2-ply and 3-ply (Navajo) on it. Then, I can keep the cards on a loose leaf ring and use the collection to make decisions for future projects. I know that not all wools at a specific WPI will have the same properties etc. But, it can get me in the ballpark to start the swatching from etc. Of course it is probably quite a ways in my future before I’m actually spinning for a specific project rather than spinning and then designing the project based on the resulting yarn. But, one needs goals, right?

What I did learn from this exercise is that the lower the WPI, the less consistent my singles are I also learned that a good share of my problems at class last week was probably performance anxiety. I’ve never been a good test taker or done well when under pressure.

WIP Monday!

Any guess what this is? That’s a pair of sunglasses for scale…

It’s the Lucy Bag that I bought the pattern and yarn for at Uniquely Knit in New London, MN while I was visiting family. I love the heathery nature of the Cascade 220 Color 9454. It has such depth and range of colors in it. I can’t wait to see the felted result of it!

Yum!

I have completed the first skein of 220 and am at row 71 of 100 or 120. I haven’t decided yet if I want to do the “tall ball” version or just the regular large. At the show I saw a completed one, but it was knit out of Lopi instead so I’m unsure about its size in comparison to the use of the recommended yarns like Cascade. I’ll make the decision once I get to row 100. I have 4 skeins of yarn so I have more than enough if I want to do the large version.

I started this on Friday night. On Saturday we drove to Colorado Springs and back for a nephew’s 17th birthday party (which he hardly attended and was silent even when he was present) so that allowed for quite a bit of knitting. Though it was dark and I was exhausted on the drive home so I only knit on the way down.

I used my Sophie bag this weekend. I’m not fond of how it hangs when I have my things in it. I think I’ll be adding some sort of fastening system to it so it hangs nicer instead of gapping open all the time. I’m undecided if I want to add a button closure or maybe just a magnetic snap??? I’ll probably give it a few more days thought. I’m also contemplating some embroidery or needle felted embellishment, but I’ve not completely decided on that yet.

I’ll be working on a Sister Squatty once Lucy is done. My sister wants a squatty in a turquoise color. So, I picked up some Manos del Uraguay Color D to use for hers. She wants a couple modifications to it. But I’ll do that up here soon so it’s all ready for her Halloween birthday. She also mentions something about slippers, but when pressed for what color she’d like she said she was just kidding. So, I’m thinking I might make her some Fuzzy Feet for Christmas. It’s early enough I should be totally stressing myself out with pressure knitting and it would nice to return to the mostly handmade gift giving.

I’ve been all about the large needles and fulling/felting lately. I think that I’m sick of the Flatiron socks because it took me so long on the first one (and even on settling on a stitch pattern). But I think I’m also not picking up the tiny sock needles because my fall last week had me pinching a nerve that made my left arm semi-tingly and that was exacerbated while knitting on the trip home. So I’ve not picked the sock up since I got home! That’s pretty unusual for me…

There it is - all 3 or 4 inches of the cuff. *sigh* There is still quite a ways to go on that bugger. Perhaps part of my lack of progress is the fact that I don’t EVER wear socks in the summer. It’s quite likely that socks won’t see the light of day until early October. And, while I enjoy the process, it’s the wearing and showing off that pushes me forward to the finish line. So, perhaps the fact that I could finish these socks and they could languish in my sock drawer for a good 6 weeks or longer is also part of my lack of progress.

Flatiron Pics - Finally!

Towards the end of my visit in MN I completed the first Flatiron Clog sock. I have about 4 inches or so of sock number two and I’m itching to get to work on another sock design that has been brewing in my head and to use some of the yarn I bought in MN, LOL!

The flatiron sock is a clog sock, with the exaggerated rib pattern being carried down into the heel.

I didn’t get a ton of knitting done while visiting partially because I was helping mom get the hang of *good* circular needles (Addi Turbos), the long-tail cast-on and the Feather and Fan stitch pattern. By the time I left she had about 4-4.5 inches worth of 220 st feather & fan for a baby blanket. I didn’t have to fix things for her too often. But, I sure wish I knew of a knitting group that gathered on a semi-regular basis in the Willmar area so that should could get someone to help her out when something happens.

The other distraction from knitting were Summit and Peri…

The photo is horribly overexposed, but the black one in the front is a bit older and is named Summit. It is all black except for tiny white tipping at the end of her tail. The back one was fresh from the nest. I dubbed it Peri because it would lay in my lap and then suddenly raise its head really high and twist it’s head to get a look around the living room - just like a periscope. I don’t know if my sister will keep it named that though. But, I thought it was a good name.

I went to the chiropractor yesterday and was told I got whiplash from the fall on Friday night But, I picked up The Miracle Ball Method Kit on her recommendation last night and I still went to water aerobics this morning. I did a little of the miracle ball work last night and it felt good. My muscles seemed relaxed and stretched. This morning, after a bit water aerobics actually felt really good, though now that I’ve been done for 30 minutes or so I’m about back to pain levels of pre-aerobics. But, I haven’t eaten yet which means I haven’t taken the meds yet.

So, the next week or two will likely be pretty slow and careful going in everything that I do. I’ll also have to really watch how long I spin in one sitting and the knitting too Too bad I can’t totally isolate my upper left quadrant…

Hot & Tired!

Same old stuff. . .

I’m *hating* shaped triangle! The &@#*)& stitch markers that are supposed to make lace knitting bearable have to be moved every other row! Grrrrrrr! Add to it that I didn’t heed my own advice and instead listened to the siren call of varigated yarn and varigated yarn that is quite strong in its color changes and I’m more or less hosed. I haven’t decided if I’ll continue with it or not. Regardless, since I’m a host of the Gathering of Lace Along I shall have to choose another project from that book… I have no other lace weight in my stash either. I do have a couple options of about 600 yds of sport weight, but again those are varigated as well… But, I’m open to suggestions from others…

My Flatirons Clog Socks are progressing. I put away the shawl when people started arriving as I didn’t trust myself to visit and remember to move stitch markers properly etc. So I got about hald way through the heel flap on those. Perhaps I’ll get the heel turned and such today. I’d like to have this one off the needles for my trip and cast on for something a bit more dull for the traveling, but I would like to take these Caesin needles as the last time I took bamboo needles home I broke a needle and then couldn’t finish my sock. Perhaps I’ll try Alison’s Anklets!

The house was 83 degrees last night. We got it to a chilly 79 degrees before bed (at midnight). This morning at 5:45 am it was still 76 degrees. It’s already 78 again in the bedroom. I slept a total of three hours, which means I am not only hot and sleep deprived, but I’m also in pain. I’m tired and cranky and crabby and little pissed that DH won’t have the portable AC unit on at night and insists on closing up the windows in the front part of the house so that we don’t get any air flow through the house to push out the hot air. I must focus on the fact that by next Monday night I get to sleep at whatever temperature I like for as many hours as I want in a bed by myself (okay, so my sister’s cat has an uncanny ability to sneak into my bedroom and sleep with me when my sister isn’t home, but mostly I’ll be by myself…)

Now, tomorrow morning the insulation guys is coming and putting in another layer of R-19 in as well as two gable vents. Since we only have 5 ridge vents with no soffet vents or gable vents it should be a big improvement. At least I’m hoping. It should at least improve the cooling off ability at night since the gable vents will allow us to be able to get the hot air out of the attic instead of it just staying there. The ridge vents don’t do much good unless cooler, fresher air can push the hot air out of them. So, I’m hoping for improvement. Also, DH is supposed to put in a ceiling fan in the bedroom while I’m gone. If he hasn’t I’m calling an electrician to do it for us when I get back.

Hopefully I’ll get sleep tonight just due to pure exhaustion and will have enough energy to take some progress photos…

So, as I’m sure most everyone realized, last Monday was a holiday here. That meant no Stitch ‘n Bitch last Monday night. Boy, have I missed it! Not that I have a whole lot to show off, but I’ve missed hearing what everyone has been up to.

Sure, I know Snow finished her shaped triangle and is working on several other lace shawls at the moment. But, she is the only other blogger from our SnB group. And, as wonderful as it is to see pictures people’s FOs it just isn’t the same as getting to see them in person and see them modeled or getting to fondle them. Just admit it!

So, I’m very much looking forward to this evening. For one, it’ll be my last SnB until August 8th! I’ll be getting ready to board my plane to Minneapolis when everyone else is gather next week. I suppose I’ll be so busy at home and showing off my stuff to grandma B that I won’t miss it so much. But I know I’ll be more than ready to see everyone again when I get back. I’ll want to know what Amanda has been spinning and what sweater design Ashley is working and to see Snow’s gorgeous lace and the progress Kerrilyn’s fun lace scarf or perhaps she’ll be working on another pair of socks?? And then of course Linsey’s sweater.

I’m so glad I persevered for that month or so of sitting at Mug’s and knitting by myself hoping other people would eventually show up! It was sooo worth it for this great group of lifelong friends I have made. And, moving it to Catalyst on Amanda’s suggestion was great as well. A nicer, friendlier coffee shop I haven’t been in! In fact I know go there one or two other days out the week as well and have been known to stop in on a weekend if we eat at the neighboring restaurant for brunch.

I suppose that is enough sap for one Monday, huh? Well, with the amazing heat this weekend, we spent a lot of time watch TV series on DVD. In fact, I’m so embarassed by the number of episodes of X-Files and Firefly we watched yesterday that I won’t give out the number, LOL! However, it did bring to my attention my lack of easy knitting. I’m working on a sock design that I don’t find difficult, but every fourth row is a bit difficult to execute in the dark and then there is the shaped triangle. And, while I suspect at some point I’ll be able to comfortably execute this central portion in the dark while watching TV I’m not there yet. DH definitely prefers watching in the dark as our TV really gets glare easy, but it was also cooler to keep lights off. We’ve been staying up until 1am or even later to let the bedroom cool off to 78 degrees and for us to get so tired that the heat can’t even keep us up. So, I’m exhausted and don’t have more than an additional 12 rows or so done on the Koigu sock (which I’m thinking will henceforth be called Flatirons socks since I bought the yarn in Boulder and the stitch pattern makes me think of them).

I will be seeking a reprieve at Catalyst early. I’ll probably head over there right after Emma gets her mid-day meal and bring my lap top and do some design work I have in the queue right now before SnB.