Tehehehe

9

I just looked around the knitting room and counted nine pairs of socks on needles. I wish I could blame some of those on mom but her two unfinished socks are downstairs. It's my goal to finish up 2 of those pairs by Thursday. I also have a secret knitting project in the works. That's on the junket for Friday. No time to blog, I need to knit.

Sockapalooza Update

The sock and I had a great time in PGH. We stopped at rest stops and played on a very cool pirate ship/playground. Like I said in my last post, I really did very little knitting on the trip. I finished the first sock on the car ride there and then never cast on the second sock. I'm planning on casting on the second sock tonight. Right now, I'm just glad to be able to sleep in my own bed (It's not a figment of your imagination, we did come home a little early).

Vacation

Humberto was found without any problems. He thanks you all for worrying about him. A good vacation is being had by all and little knitting is being done (we've been too busy riding roller-coasters)

Out Like A Fat Kid in Dodgeball

We're leaving in aprozimatly 20 minutes and Humberto escaped this morning while we were packing the car. He always does that. Now, I have to call Rae and ask her to come over this evening and find him. He's sneaky, as has been documented in the past. It was going to be the only thing that I had to worry about was which yarn store in Nashville I was going to hit (Haus of Yarn is the final decision, i think) If we stop at a hotel thats got WIFi I'll update on sock progress again later. In the mean time, see you in 10 days, if not sooner!

Sockapalooza Progress

I started my Sockapalooza socks a couple of days ago during a Harry Potter movie marathon. My pal likes dark blue so I got out some Dream in Color in "Nightwatch." I really like this yarn, not only because of how nice it is to work with, but also because of the subtle hints of purple and green along with the blue. It's very pretty and my pictures don't do it justice.
The pattern I'm using is Sleepwalker Socks. It's one of the Dream in Color patterns and it is trucking right along. I know it looks like a Monkey. Really, its not. Instead of the V shape of a Monkey this looks more like leaves on a vine.
I'll try to update again later today to make up for the fact that I'll be gone for the next two weeks. Maybe I'll get lots of sock knitting done while I'm gone (It is a 12 hour drive each way).

Hogwarts Sock Swap 2

I've been all worried because I hadn't gotten any info about the second Hogwarts Sock Swap. Rebecca had made a post saying that she had found a bunch of emails in her SPAM filter. That got me thinking... I checked my SPAM box and guess what I found. It's been sitting there for 4 days. I wonder what else I've missed...

Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionnaire

Second Years

What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into? Ravenclaw

Shoe size? Foot length? Foot circumference? I wear a US Woman's size 10. My feet are around 10 inches around and 11 inches long(that's with some wiggle room, I love wiggle room)

List your three favorite sock yarns.
a. Yarn Pirate (I don't have Rosie, Pretty Pirate, or Magnolia yet)

b. STR (You can check my flickr account for most of what I have. Most everything is lightweight)

c.Fleece Artist
I also enjoy Lorna's Laces, White Oak Studio, and most everything that the Loopy Ewe sells. Maybe it would be easier to ask what sock yarn I don't like :)

Would you like to try a new brand of sock yarn? If so, which brand?
I've been wanting to try some of the German handyers (Woolarina and Tausendschoen). But I totally understand that that is beyond most peoples reach. I'm always up for a new yarn that is unique to the area that you live in. I really like Indie Dyers.

Do you prefer variegated or solid sock yarn?
I love varigated for most socks but I am learning to love solids as well. I prefer a semi-solid to a flat 1 dimensional color.

What colors would you like to add to your sock yarn stash?
I'm open to almost anything that's varigated. I like saturated color. The only thing that I might dislike would be a solid yellow or orange(but I do like them in some variegated form).

What kind of sock patterns do you gravitate toward? Lace? Ribbed? Fair Isle?
I'm a cables and lace kind of girl although ribbed is good too. I have most of the Cookie patterns.

Do you have any allergies? (smoke, animals, etc.)
Nope

Will your socks be exposed to cigarette smoke or animals as you knit them?
They will be exposed to my Border Collie and Cat

Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal?
Yup
There is still time to sign up (Becky, I'm talking to you!). Just go to http://hogwarts-sock-swap-two.blogspot.com/

Gift Knitting

Here's the slanty scarf that is going to PGH as a belated graduation present and a baby hat that is going into the stash for some future emergency gift giving.

Specs on the Slanty Scarf:
Yarn: La Boheme by Fiesta Yarns in Burnished Red (#11094)
Pattern: CO 15 stitches. R1: K into F & B, K across until 2 sts remain, k2tog. R2: K all sts. Repeat these two rows until you run out of yarn or the scarf is as long as you want it (I'm 6 ft. and it came to below my knees using 1 full skein).
Needles: Size 10.5 Clovers
Notes: A super easy pattern that looks a lot cooler than just a garter stitch scarf. I completed the scarf in just the span of 2 movies (Muppets from Space and Labrinth, I was on a Henson kick this weekend).

Hat is from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

In other news, I cast on a new sock as I watched the 2nd HP movies this afternoon. Then I ripped the sock out. My size 10 feet and the Knitting on the Road patterns do not work well together without some major tweaking (I went up from the size 0 needles suggested to a size 1.5 and they were still only 8 inches wide). I think I'll start on my Sockapalooza socks, instead. My pal has much smaller feet than me, so I should be able to use a "normal" pattern without tweaking it so much. I also worked on the Pink Elephant this afternoon and then put him back into timeout. I'm horrible with sewing and now he looks more like a rabbit than an Elephant. The pattern I'm using is the Knitting at Knoon pattern with all the stuffed animals (Lions, and zebras, and giraffes, oh my). It's called Safari friends and I might go look it up on Raverly to see what other people have done with it. That's all for today, I'll ttyl.

Update:

I did finish the slanty scarf and a baby hat. I've also seamed up most of the baby bell bottoms (Mayfield's baby was born on this past week). I'll post pictures when it's light out tomorrow. Next up: The other advanced sock class sock. No second sock syndrome for me today (I have not cast on anything new...see, I can resist the siren call of ravelry and the yarn).

Progress

I've spent the day knitting, and playing around on Ravelry. I took some pictures of the STR stash and uploaded some of them (notice how I didn't say all). I also have a picture to share with all of you. Above is my STR totebag filled with my STR stash. The tote can easily fit 16 skeins of yarn and is very cute.
The slanty scarf is almost done and I am determined to finish it today. Then I'm going to finish up a baby hat that has been waiting half done for quite a while. I'm thinking that I'll have a Harry Potter Movie Marathon tonight while I knit.
I'm really loving being done with most of my big deadline projects. It's nice to be able to play around on Ravelry and pick what I want to knit on, not what I have to knit on. I do need to start the Sockapalooza socks but I still have 2 weeks or so to get them done. I finally feel like its summer. i might pop back on to post some pics later tonight, but don't count on it. I'll talk to you all tomorrow!

Turning UFOs into Fos

I'm trying to get at least one project finished a day before I leave on vacation next Thursday (That means no more blogging until around August 1st after Thursday, although you never Know when I might find some wireless). Today I finished the first of the socks I'm designing for the advanced sock class at That Yarn Shop. I've already cast on the second and worked around an inch. I've also been working on a slanty scarf (you know where you decrease on one side and increase on the other).

It's been a real struggle for me not to start up any more projects. Ravelry has caused me to want to cast on a million multiple projects that I know I won't have the time I need to devote to them. The one project I want to start this week is my Sockapalooza socks. I really haven't picked out a pattern or yarn for them yet (I know that I don't want to knit monkeys just because everyone else is knitting them and I strive to be different). Any suggestions that you have, I'll be glad to listen to, just leave me a comment. Have a great rest of your weekend and I'll try to update tomorrow if I do anything exciting.

No Knitting Today

Instead I hung out with two of my favorite people.

Hogwarts Socks

They've been shipped and are currently on their way to Canada. Here's the specifics:

Yarn: Cosmic Fibers in the Hufflepuff Second Year Colorway.
I wasn't real happy with the yarn. The yardage was in the 300s (380 I think, I send the tag to my pal), which made it impossible for me to make the socks I really wanted to make for my pal (I tried Mermaids, they looked funky and were going to run out of yarn and I tried monkeys and ran out of yarn). This was just one of those yarns were I couldn't get it to do what I wanted and that slowed down the whole process. We've all had cursed yarn and will all have cursed yarn in the future. It's just a fact of knitting.

Pattern: Just a simple plain jane sock.

Needles: Size 1 Ponies.

Other Notes: I'm really happy I participated in this swap. Even though the yarn gave me a bit of trouble, it was well worth the extra effort. I think that the socks came out well and I hope my pal likes them as well (I think that;s really the worst part. I really want my pal to like her socks and the other stuff as well). This was my first swap and I'm planning on signing up for round 2.

Now I have some Tofutsies calling my name. Must resist the yarn. Although it is too hot to be knitting wool...And I do need another simple sock project for my waiting sock.

The Best Made Plans

Well, the hogwarts socks are done and have had a SOAK. They are currently drying in the knitting room waiting to be shipped off to Canada tomorrow. I'll post pictures of them tomorrow on my blog, the Hogwarts Sock Swap Blog, and the Sock a Month Bog (For once I'm going to post there before the last day of the month). I can't wait for my pal's reaction. I really hope she likes them. Here are my plans for knitting in the next week:

I started a My So Called Scarf out of Debbie Bliss SoHo today. I'm going to take it to Knit night tomorrow and hopefully fiish it there (Is a scarf in 24 hours asking for too much?)

I have the other rainbow sock to begin and finish. Sheri from the Loopy Ewe has inspired me to start finishing up soe lone socks.

I would like to finish the other baby sock. It's halfway done and just needs a heel and foot.

I need to start on my Sockapalooza socks. I don't want to feel rushed on them and their is less than a month left.

Do you think I've stretched myself too far? I just want to get some stuff done before I leave on vacation on the 17th (wait, that's only 6 days away)

What do you think I should take on vacation with me? Any suggestions? Becky, are you taking the Mystery Stole?

Why My Tatoo Really is Appropriate

Your Power Element is Fire

Your power color: red Your energy: hot Your season: spring Like a fire, you are full of power and light. A born leader, you easily draw people toward you. You are full of courage and usually up for anything dangerous. You have a huge ego and love to be the center of attention.

What's Your Power Element?

Graceland

Chillin with Faulkner

I really like the town of Oxford. It has enough to do without being too crazy (Unless Ole Miss has a football game). We're off to Graceland now!

Cables

This is a picture of the bag for the cable class at That Yarn Shop. My hands are feeling much better today, although I've only tried knitting for around 20 min. before they really started to hurt again and I gave up. Peresie and I are going down to Oxford tomorrow and Elvisland on Sunday. Have a great weekend everyone! Linnakat, have a safe journey back to PA!

Taking a Break

Well, I've done too much knitting this week (at least 5 hours a day) in an attempt to catch up on the cable bag, Hogwarts socks, and Advanced sock class sock. My fingers have literally become claws and it's hard to even type at this point. I'm going to take the rest of the night off and most of tomorrow. Saturday, my best friend from HS is coming over from Little Rock and we're going to go to Elvisland Graceland. I can't wait! Anyway some Advil and hand massages are in my future. Hopefully, I will be able to knit soon!

Happy Fourth of July!!!!

Happy 4th of July everyone!!!!! Here at Chez LaLa we celebrated by doing yardwork, grilling some veggies and burgers on the grill, and spending time together. Mom and I spent the afternoon downstairs. She was spinning up some fiber and I was working on my Hogwarts Socks for the swap. I'm going to have to send those out by the begining of next week. I almost have the first sock done, so things are going okay on that front. I'm thinking of signing up for the second round. I would be classified as a "Second Year Student" and the rules would be a bit diferent, which I think I would enjoy.
I've also been working on the cable bag. I think I'm going to take that to school tomorrow to work on it some more during my planning period.
Speaking of Summer School, there's only 1 week left and I'm very excited because that means I can stay up as late as I want all the time. I'm such the night owl and the only time that I can really indulge is during the summer.
Anyway, I hope you and your families have a fun and safe fourth!

Socks That Rock

Everyone always shows the large version of the STR skein. I figured I would be a bit different and show the mini skein that comes with each kit. I know I'm weird, but this is one of my favorite parts of each kit. I think they are super cute and am planning on using them for Christmas ornaments this year (Yes, I am planning a knitting inspired tree for the knitting room). Anyway, I love the mini skiens and can't wait to get started on this kit!