Sock Madness Anxiety

Here's what I'm planning on using for Sock Madness (I think?). The first 3 pairs of socks will be from one of the following: A variegated sport-weight, I'm choosing Mountain Colors Bearfoot (although my first choice was Lorna's Laces Sport. But would have to order it, and that involves buying yarn). For the 2 skeins of variegated fingering weight I have some Lorna's in the denim colorway. And finally, for the color work pair, I have some Koigu. Other yarns pictured for later rounds include: Sundara (I'm hoping the second color work sock is in a way later round that I don't get to, because I'm not loving that combination. We'll have to see...), J-Knits Alaska, Socks That Rock in Midsummer Night's Dream, and more Lorna's Laces, this time in Pine.

The thing that I find most nervous, is the amount of yarn and the lack of gauge given for some patterns. Lorna's doesn't have the yardage that is called for, it was mentioned that Felcia used almost all Lorna's. I can't think about this anymore...it's 13 days away and I have socks on all the needles that are called for. I need to finish some objects before I get all kinds of caught up in this "madness."

Weak

I am weak. I have a ton of stuff to knit (including three pairs of socks already on needles) and what do I do? I cast on another pair of socks. I need this pair of socks. These are straight vanilla stockinette socks. I require some knitting that is not patterned, cabled, or lacy. These are comfort socks knit out of an incredible yarn (I'll tell you what it is after I buy out all the new shipment of it that the Loopy Ewe has coming in. I'm selfish like that and I have credit so I'll still be honoring the whole Lent thing.)

Now I feel bad because I'm being selfish...Oh well, I'll get over it. How about this, if someone leaves me a comment guessing about what yarn this is and gets it right, I'll reveal it to all. I'll even give a hint...I bought this at the Loopy Ewe when she had the huge restock with all the Apple Pie yarn (no, it's not Apple Pie).

Lent

I am planing on giving up spending money on yarn for Lent. Luckily, I got a big box from the Loopy Ewe to tide me over until after Easter. I'll let you know how I do.

Play Day

I spent today playing with Rae and Julie. I had started on the Godbaby shrug, but then had to rip it out. It's a simple pattern, but it hates me. I'll try to knit at least for an hour tonight. I'll hopefully have a more promising day tomorrow, and try to blog about it on Wednesday.

Monkey Socks are Done!!!

The monkey socks are done! I finished them this morning and I wet block them right away. First they went for a bath in the SOAK tub (the water had turned purple when I was done) and then they went on the blockers for a dry. I LOVE this pattern. It was easy (I had it memorized after the first 2 repeats) and it looks great! Here's my notes on the socks:

Pattern: Monkey by Cookie. You can find it at Knitty and www.knitanon.com/blog

Yarn: Socks That Rock in the Christmas Balls colorway. Its out of stock on the Blue Moon website but they have lots of other cool colors.

Alterations to the Pattern: I cut the leg down to 5 pattern repeats instead of 6. I was concerned that I might run out of yarn (It would have been very close, I have 4 grams of yarn left).

Date Started: Christmas Eve 2006. I finished the first sock the next day and then had some second sock syndrome issues with the ribbing.

Notes: Again, I love this pattern. I can't wait to try some of Cookie's other patterns and I know she'll be showing up on Knitty Gritty sometime soon.

Must Resist New Yarn

I might have over stretched my knitting ability for the next few months. Here's a list of stuff that MUST be done:
1. I must finish my Monkey Socks (They're almost done, I need to finish a pair of socks for a KAL I'm in, and I need the needles for another project).
2. I must knit some stuff for my God baby which will be here by March 15th at the latest (hopefully). I'm planning a hat, a sweater from Natural Knits, and the shrug from One Skein at this point.
3. I need to knit the shop models for That Yarn Shop (ideal finish time would be by Feb. 28th, I've already swatched and plan and casting on once I finish the Monkey sock).
4. I need to finish my Yarntini socks and rewrite the pattern and put it in yarn from Beth's shop. (deadline: March 30th)
5. Sock Madness
6. Figure out classes for That Yarn Shop

Here's the good news: I'm almost done with the Monkey Socks (I'm on the last repeat before the toes on the second sock, if all goes according to plan I should finish tonight). I have Monday off and a whole season of Firefly to watch. There's knit nights Tuesday and Thursday this week. I have a week off from school in March.
I've spent enough time blogging. Must resist the new Yarn Nerd Yarn calling my name and knock out some Monkey Socks. Look for pictures tomorrow.

Good News! (maybe)

First off, I'm really excited that there's a new yarn shop moving into Hernando. You can find it online at www.thatyarnshop.com . I was over there yesterday and I was amazed at the space. I can't wait for it to open! I'm knitting some socks for Kathy out of Scheaffer Anne (such a yummy sock yarn). Now I have to pick out a pattern (or two...)
In other news I'm hoping to make a spot in the Sock Madness. I submitted my email (after several failed attempts) and hopefully I'll be participating!!!! This would be the maybe part of the title. I had read about this event forever ago and I had forgotten to check the sign up dates. Luckily, I saw that sign-ups were going on, so I'm hoping I grabbed a spot. If you want to participate and haven't signed up yet, now is the time!

Baby Love

Here's to a great Valentines Day for all! I finished some baby booties and hat for one of my coworkers. I kinda feel bad, like I've cursed the baby to be late (she's over due by a week or so) by not getting these knit faster. Here's a super close up psychedelic shot. And then the far back shot as well (so you can actually tell what this is).

The Specs: Morehouse Original Kit "Baby Hat and Booties." The kit was purchases at MS&WF last year (I think I cleaned out their booth, I bought so many of their kits) for around $15.00.

It took around five hours to finish the booties and the hat. I changed the pattern of the hat a wee bit (crown shaping and i-cord top) and used i-cord for bootee ties rather than a braid or crochet chain. Over all, a super-simple and pleasant pattern and yarn to work with. The only thing I didn't like was the number of twigs I had to pick out of the yarn (It really was just shorn off the sheep at the farm).

When at first...

I've got gauge! Here's sock #1. Just one more to go. This took much longer than I thought it would (Do you think it really makes such a huge difference in knitting time to go down to size zero needles, or is it all in my head?). I caught up on all my podcast listening for the week and listened to Plum Lovin' on Audible (I'm a book on tape fiend and audible makes it affordable and easy). The Yarn is Yarn Pirate Hydrangea in a Merino/Tencil blend. She's switched yarn bases since I bought this, and I'd like to try the new stuff. I'll have all the details on the whole shebang, when I finish the second sock.

Six Inches!!?!

I'm knitting a really cool pattern (It's the Ann Budd's Baby Sock) out of really great yarn (Yarn Pirate). All should be right in my world. It's not.

This should be much smaller than 6 inches wide.

Much, much smaller. This could fit a five year old, not a baby. Crud, now I need to knit with size zeros. Let the frogging begin.

Becky's Socks

Yesterday was Becky's twenty-first birthday! She's "all grown up and saving China (Disney's Mulan)." In order to celebrate in an awesome fashion, I knit her a pair of socks (they're the ones I finished forever ago but never showed a picture of). My total sock count for January and February is now 3 pairs. Becky and I are currently tied (she finished a pair of Monkey socks and I finished Nikki's Wick socks). Here are the specifics on Becky's Socks:

Yarn: Socks That Rock Lightweight in Hard Rock. This was my first skein of STR and I loved it. Mom bought it for me in Port Townsend WA (The same store Grandma bought my XMas skeins from).

Pattern: Beth's Toe up Pattern from her Class (It uses a figure 8 cast on and is worked on 2 circulars with a short row heel) I used twisted 1x1 ribbing at the top for 2 inches.

Notes: Becky has huge feet and I was a little worried about running out of yarn, but I had plenty and these socks are bigger than could really be blocked on a size large fiber trends blocker. I really like the strips on the feet portion of the socks and kinda wonder why it didn't continue on the ankle portion. Have I mentioned that I love the texture and feel of this yarn. I can't wait until my first sock club arrives.! Happy Birthday to Becky!!!

Loopy Groupie

I got the cute little lampwork stitch markers and the Yarn Pirate yarn I ordered from Sheri at the Loopy Ewe today. I knew I was going to become a Loopy Groupie (this was my 6th order) but I had no idea what that entailed. Sheri went above and beyond herself with the coolness of the free stuff. First, we have the tote bag itself, so cute! Then the free Online yarn. Tehehehe free sock yarn. I really haven't stopped smiling since I got this. PLUS a cute sheep related calendar, chocolate (good chocolate) and a note from Sheri. My fingers are itching with how much I want to knit (and eat chocolate)!

Silent Poetry

"Snow-Flakes"
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Out of the bosom of the Air,
Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken,
Over the woodlands brown and bare,
Over the harvest-fields forsaken,
Silent, and soft, and slow
Descends the snow.
Even as our cloudy fancies take
Suddenly shape in some divine expression,
Even as the troubled heart doth make
In the white countenance confession,
The troubled sky reveals
The grief it feels.
This is the poem of the air,
Slowly in silent syllables recorded;
This is the secret of despair,
Long in its cloudy bosom hoarded,
Now whispered and revealed
To wood and field.

To get more information about the silent poetry reading please click here.
No school today but now we have snow.

Snow Day (Without Snow)

No school today because of slippy roads and the possibility of an ice storm around 3pm. I enjoyed sleeping in, watching Knitty Gritty, and catching up on some reading. I'm a little disappointed with the lack of snow (ARK got around 2 inches) but I'm still glad to have a day off.
In knitting news: I am knitting a simple garter stitch scarf for a friend (she's my mentee and having a bad week at school). It's out of a thick and thin yarn by Lorna's Laces.

Added later: I'm done. It's just a simple 15 stitch garter stitch scarf. Knit until the yarn runs out. I wanted something simple for watching school cancellation lists as they zoomed across the bottom of the TV.

Here it is SOAKing:And here it is getting blocked: