Finished socks

I never did post the orange socks I finished.  So here they are...

Rebel Pilot Socks, rav page here

And I finally finished the mate to the Patchwork Weasley socks

Rav page here

You know I have more socks on the needles (yes, that is a given, haha)  but I also have a test knit on the needles, a fingerless mitt, and a sweater vest? (not sure what to call it because it is a sweater without sleeves and buttons but not a pullover). 
And I have a couple of needlepoint projects in the works.

Happy knitting!!

WIP Wednesday

Yes, you got it....  another sock...   mate

an update on the nametag....

and

a finished pair!!

WIP Wednesday

I had hoped to have these socks finished by today but... not

I am close to the toe so hopefully I'll have it done by the weekend and have another sock mate on the needles to show you next week.

I join the Embroidery Guild (EGA) and have to make a nametag. I had one I made for the Needlepoint Guild (currently not a member) but I Can't Find It!!!

So I am playing around with some ideas for a new one.

Traveling and knitting

By now you have been wondering what I've been up to and why I haven't blogged in f-o-r-e-v-e-r!

We went on a road trip. A very long road trip.  4,130 miles worth of road trip. Fifteen states in two weeks worth of road trip. We crossed over the Mississippi before it flooded and wondered if we'd be able to get back across it!

We got to see family (the purpose of the trip).  It was very hard to leave everyone but we did have a good visit.

And we did make it back across the swollen Mississippi River.

I made sure I took plenty of traveling knitting. Probably way too much but hey, you never know. My plan was to work on sock mates and finish a scarf. I did not get as much knitting done as I thought.  BUT... I did finally finish March's Year of Stash Socks and one scarf.

And I am working on the mate to this sock....

Now I'll catch up with my blog reading.

WIP Wednesday

Progress made...

...slowly because I've been working on Christmas stuff

WIP Wednesday

I got busy today and almost forgot to post my wips...

First up, Crazy Socks.

A basic sock pattern (great for long car rides) using Zauberball Crazy, 75% virgin wool/25% nylon.

I knitted a short row heel for something different and a more rounded toe.

BUT! as you can see, they will not be matching very well despite my yarn manipulations. So I am just going with it. Yep, just gonna see how they look when finished. (I can always give them as a gift)

Next, "Not Really" Gringotts Goblin Socks based on the pattern Gringotts Goblin Socks by Helen Waittes (rav link)

"Not Really" because I changed the pattern. The original pattern has the silver yarn cabling throughout the leg with the green. These are the socks I whined talked about in Throwing in the towel.

I never did figure out how the festive knitting technique worked to make the cabling. So I just knitted two color work in the ribbing. I have just started the heel.

I'm kinda making it up as I go.

Throwing in the towel

I'm throwing in the towel on the Gringotts Goblin socks.  Yep.  You heard me right.  I'm giving up on a sock pattern.  Me.  I love a challenge but I have to admit defeat.  This pattern has me beat.

All went well for the first two inches (k2, p2 ribbing in one color, silver).  Then I added in the second color (green) for the  purls.  Not bad.  I know how to do this two color knitting.  It's a bit different with one of the colors being purls but I held that yarn in my right hand.  So all went well.  Until...

...cables were introduced.  Now you all know I like cables.  I have done lots of cables.  Lots of different cables.  But this cable has 2 knit (silver) stitches and 2 purl (green) stitches held to the back, then knit the next two stitches (silver).  Then, place the 2 purl (green) stitches back on the left hand needle and purl them. THEN knit the 2 stitches (silver) from the cable needle!!  Not only does all this twisting and fiddling make my wrists hurt but it tightens up all the stitches by trying to bring 2 stitches around 4 stitches and trying to knit them.

I tinked back.  I let it sit in time out for two days.  I tried again.  This time finishing the round.  And then trying to work the next round.

I am not happy.  I am not happy with how the green purl stitches show underneath the silver cabled knit stitches.  I am not happy with how much I have to struggle to work the stitches.  I am not happy with how long it takes to work one round.  And most of all, I am not happy that my arms and wrists hurt. (and I make a conscious effort to  not  squeeze the needles tightly which puts more stress on the arms and wrists)

So I ask you... why knit it if you are not happy?

Exactly!  So into the frog pond it goes.

Finished cowl & Hagrid socks

I finished the Shawl Collared Cowl.


Now all I have to do is find buttons.

I am very happy with this cowl.  I won't have to pull it over my head.  It is very soft! (baby alpaca).  And I think it will be just enough around my neck for the cool mornings this fall.

The yarn called for is Misti Alpaca Chunky (which I do not have) so I substituted  Cascade Pure Alpaca.  It is a worsted weight yarn but I got gauge so I went with it.

More info found on my ravelry page.

And I finished (can't remember if I posted about it) Hagrid's Motorcycle Socks.  Mystery solved!

Love, love, love, these socks!!  It is a great pattern, easy, and works up quickly.

More info found here.



Now to wind up some yarn for Gringott's Goblin Socks.

WIP Wednesday

Almost done with Hagrid's Motorcycle socks

I should get the second sock done by tomorrow.

And I worked on the Solid Sock Sep/Oct Mystery Sock. I'm working on the heel which isn't showing in the picture.

I am using String Theory Caper Sock (it has cashmere!! and it feels wonderful to work with)

And I worked on the Shawl Collared Cowl.

I am using Cascade Pure Alpaca (100% baby alpaca) in blue and size US 6 & US 7 needles. I know the pattern calls for US 8 & US 9 but to get gauge I had to go down two needles sizes! (mentioned in previous blog).  I love the yarn and the pattern. The yarn is so soft and will feel wonderfully warm around my neck. (I do hope we get a few cold days this winter)  The pattern is well written and is working up quickly. Great pattern!!

WIP Wednesday

... on a Thursday

There was some trouble loading clue 4 for Hagrid's Motorcycle socks (red). So... while waiting... I started the Solid Sock Group Sep/Oct Mystery sock (blue). 

The clue was finally loaded but since it took so long, they also loaded clue 5. So now I can finish Hagrid's socks. I'm about 4 inches shy of finishing the foot & toe on the first sock. Meanwhile, clue 2 has come out for the blue sock. 

In other news, I pulled some DMC threads for a Christmas stocking I need to start stitching.

WIP Wednesday

Latest update on the Hagrid's Motorcycle Socks

finished through clue 3 (waiting on clue 4)

WIP Wednesday

Hagrid's Motorcycle Socks

Clue 2 done on first sock and started on the second one.

I've also been working on a little bit of lace and some more blackwork (may post those pictures later)

WIP Wednesday

Just a few pictures of what I've been working on this week...

Hagrid's Motorcycle Socks...
a mystery kal

more details here

Blackwork

Just a sample of blackwork for a class I'll be teaching for the local Embroidery Guild Association

(I'm almost done with the bookmark)

Another knitted square.

Yes, in black.  Yes, it can be hard to see the stitches. (especially for a pattern I have not done before)

It will be easier once I've done a few more rows and memorized the pattern. (I think)

Welcome to Hogwarts Finished!!!

I finished before the end of the kal (July 18th) ... barely.   More pictures and details click here.

And not without a casualty ...

Is it Karma? or Murphy's Law??

I was bragging the other day (of course while I was knitting) on how I have never broken a needle. I know, I know, I should'ave kept my mouth shut. But n-o-o-o. 

My knitting was sitting on the arm of the chair and as I sat down in my chair my arm rested on the chair arm. I heard a snap!      Yep, broke the needle.

Good thing Knit Picks Harmony dpns come in a set of six!

WIP Wednesday

Yep, still knitting on these socks (all the other wip are waiting their turn). I hope to finish these tonight or tomorrow. Then I'll be ready to wear my socks when Hogwarts is back in session! lol.

WIP Wednesday

Almost done with the leg of the second sock.

(I don't suppose you've noticed I have resisted, so far, the call to start a new sock for July.) 

(I have printed the first clue for the Solid Socks Mystery sock)

Missed it...

...missed the WIP Wednesday. I was so busy knitting (well between all the visiting, meetings, cooking, and cleaning) I missed posting my wip.

First let me direct your attention to a "Mini Sock Refresher" I participated in on Monday at SuKnitWitty's.
Su had FSS (First Sock Syndrome). She managed to not catch SSS (Second Sock Syndrome) by casting on for the second sock before the first one was finished. But alas, FSS hit! And then, family stuff came up, quilting stuff came up, some work came up, so the poor socks were put in time out.

On Monday, Su's good friend came to visit. Her friend asked if I could come over too. (Her ulterior motive was to have me help her with her sock. Her second sock). When Su saw her friend's sock, she was once again excited inspired about knitting socks. But since her socks had been in time out, she couldn't remember what to do next. So she agreed it would be wonderful if I could come over and then they both could pick my brain about knitting socks.

So I took one of the 5 socks (yes, I back up to 5 again)  on over to SuKnitWitty's house and we had a Mini Sock Refresher. I helped her friend with the heel, heel turn, and gusset. And I helped Su figure out where she was (in her house of course!! oh, she meant with her knitting). So we all had an enjoyable afternoon working on socks.

I did finish my first sock, "A-Maze-ing" yesterday morning (instead of blogging).

 IF I manage to get the second one finished before next Wednesday, I'll submit them for the Summer of Color Sock Contest at Simply Sock Yarn Company.

But not to be left out...

...I did work on the foot of the Welcome to Hogwarts sock last night (yes, instead of blogging).

p.s. To SuKnitWitty, What sock yarn?! (hehehehahahaheheheh)
Oh, you mean the sock yarn you brought over to my house for me to store with my sock yarn. I'm sure we can work it out. :-)

WIP Wednesday

Welcome to Hogwarts...

Yes, that is yellow (again) (What's up with all this yellow lately?!)

It is interesting how one cake can wind tighter than another!?

Why yes... it is another sock!