Halfway Down the Stairs

Sweet Georgia!

How I miss her!

But she'll be back soon, right? First Saturday sock done - this pattern just flies once you get going.


Sorry the photo's a little blurry - this is my Curveball Socks in the Lavendar Sheep - this knit up last night during Survivor & Celebrity Apprentice. Puck was loitering wanting to wind some yarn and stuck around to watch Survivor - he thought this was knitting up "cool". He's into pink right now.

This Araucania Ranco changed it's mind, it wants to be Meida's Socks from Interweave's Favorite Socks book.

EPHS
Well, the Teen survived his day back at school after the lockdown. Word in the hallways is that someone found a "hit list" in one of the bathrooms. Evidently, they have cameras monitoring the kids going in and out of the restrooms, so were questioning the kids seen going in and out of that particular bathroom. This is all hearsay from the Teen, so take it with a grain of salt. Education goes on.

Playoffs start tomorrow at 4:00. Puck's team finished in 11th place so they're playing for a spot in the pool against the Tonka White team - gotta go get the skates sharpened now.

"Ditto."


Also? Vesper!
Lots of it!

Wordy Business

I bought some Noro. Now I can make this pair of socks along with the other cool girls.

Now if I can just master the toe-up I will be golden.

Miss T is starting a sock garden. I picked a posy today - very bright and cheerful.



Pattern: Simply Love from Sockamania Yarn: BMFA Socks That Rock lightweight 100% Superwash Merino in the Firebird colorway (2007 Socks That Rock Yarn Club). Needles: Knitpick's 2.5 mm dpn's. Completed: February 24, 2008. Mods: I needed to knit these from the top down so I reversed the pattern and then changed it so that the hearts were scattered instead of patterned. I also knit the cuff in p2 /k2tbl ribbing. (Now I have to go post this up at Sockamania and Year of Socks!!! Multi tasking + Me! Woot!)



Pattern: Cozy V-Neck from Stefanie Japel'f Fitted Knits Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in the Bluebonnet colorway (I have 5 skeins leftover - I'd be willing to sell very cheaply if anyone is interested.) Needles: Addi circs as recommended. Completed: February 24, 2008. Mods: This sweater would have fit me 15 pounds ago. My gauge was right on, so I need to revise my self-image. It's going into the pile for Christmas presents. It would definitely fit one of my sisters/SIL's. I would definitely try it again and make it the right size.

NEXT!

Speaking of sisters. My little sister bought me a set of Harmony DPN's, so now I am going to cast on the Saturday Socks:

That yarn is a hoarded batch of Sweet Georgia. (Waiting patiently for her return.)


These are next on the queue. That's some Lavender Sheep that is going to be a pair of Curve Ball Socks (that's a PDF gang), next is some Araucania Ranco that is going to be a pair of Arch-Shaped Socks (also a PDF). Now, for the life of me, I do not remember this next yarn. However it is going to be a pair of Hareton Socks by Kate Blackburn (again with the PDF). Next is some Fiber Denn sock yarn (that is an Etsy link, but I thought I bought it at Woolgirl); THAT is going to be a pair of the Nutkin sock from Knitzi.com. Last is a pair of Seacoast Handpainted Panda (Loopy Ewe I love you!)that will become a pair of Hanauma Bay Socks (that one's an HTML - yay!).


Now, lastly but not leastly, I am a returning competitor in Sock Madness this year. I will be so lucky to make it past the first round.
HOCKEY NEWS!

Puck's team took the 2nd place trophy in their tournament down in Winona this weekend! They won 8-0, 5-0 and then got beat 0-5 in the last round by a community so small that they only have a "C" Peewee team (that means that some of their players are actually a much higher caliber, some are not, but those higher caliber players made the difference). They were proud to bring home their huge trophy anyway, even with one of their MVP's in the Emergency Room. He took a dive to save a goal and got "kicked" into the boards spraining his shoulder or breaking his collarbone - we are still waiting on the second opinion.

And woot! for the EP Girls Hockey team who brought home the State Championship this weekend. The Teen got to play in the Pep Band on Friday night and came home without a voice. EP won 1-0 in OT.

Well, I have to go let the puppy out and get some exercise. Don't forget the books gang!

PSA PSA PSA!

Now many of you may not know this, but in addition to knitting like crazy, I am, and always have been addicted to books. Books and television.

Television led me to TWOP and TWOP led me to Pamie. Pamie is an uber-blogger. She was blogging way back when they were online diaries. She also used to recap the Gilmore Girls on TWOP. Now, she is a writer in LA. She loves books too. She and her friends hold an annual book drive for places that need them. Last year, they restocked some community and school library shelves down in Louisiana. (I received a personal thank you note from two librarians down in Louisiana - not just a form email - a thank you note).

ETA: Pamela (Pamie) Ribon has written Why Girls are Weird and Why Moms are Weird. She also is a screenwriter and most currently was working on Samantha Who?

This year is a tough year. Her friends (fellow screenwriters) have been unemployed for a while. Our economy is having a tough time. But, it's books. It's kids and books. So I'm posting about her Dewey Donation System. Check it out, and if you have a little to spare, send some books to some kids. It makes you feel really good.

Knit on!

Irony
Does anyone else think it's ironic that Hilary berated Barack about plagiarism and then closed the debate with a direct lift from John Edwards? It's getting very interesting.

Also ironic: the emails that I keep getting from WEBS featuring beautiful, affordably priced yarn, when I am on a DIET! I really would like a skein of the Noro sock yarn now that Deb has started this little KAL. I may even learn to knit a pair of socks from the toe up. Maybe.

Heck, I've even adapted this pattern to be knit from the cuff down. I also monkeyed around with the heart pattern. Now I just have to recreate what I did the first time.

Busy weekend here at Casa Stairs. Puck has a tournament in Winona this weekend. He even has to get out of school early to make his first game (pet youth hockey peeve - school first right? But, we're gonna let the team down? Grrr.) Teen has a packed weekend so mom has to stay home to chauffeur. Tonight Teen gets to play in the Pep Band at the EP Girls' State Tourney hockey game down at the Xcel Arena.

I also have finished all the knitting on my Cozy V-Neck. I'm going to finish seaming the arms tonight and then it's done! Yay! Now, what's next?

Well, um, I'm Back?

Surprise Yarn Pr0n from the sock yarn club I thought was done!

I guess I'm going to have to count this in my mathematical stash equation - but I'm not sure how. Isn't it pretty though? Now I really am done with my Woolgirl Sock Yarn club. It was worth EVERY penny.

This is my Sockamania February sock which is also going to be my February pair for A Year in Socks! I need to get those buttons on my blog. The yarn is from one of my STR sock of the month kit. The colors also fit the new Project Spectrum theme.

It's been all I could do to keep up with my bloglines the last couple of weeks while I was sick. A few people have nominated me for the "You Make My Day" button/meme/thingy, and I've thanked them in their comments, but I've been an absolute slacker about my list (Knittymama was the most recent.) The feeling is absolutely mutual for every single gal who listed me. (Seriously, do you think my bloglines would be such a problem if I didn't have to read and comment compulsively?) I will continue to bring you the socky goodness, yarn diet or no!

In the meantime.

What the heck?

How soon can I download this pattern because I HAVE this yarn and I REALLY need to make these socks. Cookie? Loopy? MUST HAVE!

Okay, now let's see if Blogger hates me or not.

Save me from the Creepin' Crud.

I don't know where it came from, but just as I'm swinging back from the lower back pain, I was laid low by a creepy virus. It may actually be the Influenza. I had a rattle in my chest and a raspy painful cough; my bones and my head ached and I was rattled with chills. I haven't left the couch all day.

Luckily, I finished these earlier this week.

These are my Terradance socks:


I mistakenly called these my Saturday socks the other day. Same pattern author, different appearance altogether.
These are my husband's new "Packer" socks. The yarn is Over the Rainbow Twinkletoes sock yarn (off of ebay), in the Mallard colorway.

Until this virus is on the road, knitting is definitely on the back burner.

OH, and Happy Valentine's Day. Sheesh.

I love my Chiropractor.....

but I am ready to be better now.

I think I tried to do too much yesterday. The doc told me he wanted me to be able to do everything like normal - so I tried to take a walk on the treadmill yesterday. This morning the back seized up all over again. Thank goodness for my old friend knitting!


Look how gray and white it is outside. Don't these socks just brighten up the whole day?


These are my orange Thuja's - talk about a fast knit!

Pattern: Thuja from Knitty.com. Yarn: Yarntini Sportweight 100% Superwash Merino in the Tangerine colorway (Yarntini Sock Yarn Club). Needles: Knitpick's size 3 dpn's. Completed: February 8, 2008.

In the meantime, my friend Lorraine has sewn almost an entire cast's costume for their production of Beauty and the Beast - see some of her photos here!

Puck's team came in as Consolation Runner-Up this weekend (whew!) We have one more tournament and District playoff's and then hockey is done until next season.

Sunday was my birthday and I received lots of nice cards (Seriously - how did Yvonne manage to get a card to me exactly on time from the Netherlands?) and fun gifts from my family, but no gift certificates to yarn stores this year! No sneaky yarn diet buying for me this time. My second Saturday sock is just past the gusset and I plan on finishing that up today while I watch Rescue Me's third season. The Cozy V-Neck is next and then we'll be casting on again!

Later folks - and remember - bend from the knees!

Reporting for Duty!

Boy, between the Puppy Duty (or is that doody?), and the back issues, I have had very little luck getting to my computer in the last couple of weeks. Being banished makes for a backload of pictures to show you, so here we go.

One Saturday Sock is finished.

Yvonne wanted to know what was special about this sock. Nothing at all. In fact it is mostly plain stockinette with a basket weave heel. When I finish the partner, I'll try to get a better picture. However, it is HUGE. This pair is for my lovely DH who really likes his warm hand-knit socks.

Then, I should show you the yarn I bought with my January allowance (and I still have 626 yards left to use up!)
Some Dream in Color Smooshy in Vino Veritas.



Araucania Ranco Multy in colorway 308. I really liked how this yarn knitted up for my Apres Sock Swap, so I thought a pair for my house was in order.


And my tangerine Thuja's are nearing completion. I know, I know, they really are that bright. I'm thinking they'll be welcome for the cold wooden floors of my SIL's house.

I am a sleeve and a half away from finishing my Cozy V-Neck sweater, and I ripped out my so-called scarf because I wasn't happy with the width. I picked out a different pattern off of Ravelry and that is now my hockey knitting. I hope to have some FO pictures for you in the upcoming week!

We have a hockey tournament in Bloomington this weekend, it's a round robin so it's kind of odd. Wish Puck luck!

What day is it?

Sorry I have been so conspicuously absent.

I injured my back and moving around my house easily has become quite the problem. (Not to mention trying to herd a medium-sized puppy around!)

The Urgent Care Dr. gave me some Flexaril and in my rare moments awake, I have been plugging away at this sock:

My neon orange Thuja - fastest sock in the West.

My terradance socks in Over the Rainbow Twinkletoes Sock yarn that I bought off ebay AGES ago. I knit this much last night during Sarah Connor Chronicles!
This is my Cozy V-Neck Pullover from Stefanie Japel's book. This also is going very quickly. I frogged Sleeping Beauty for this - a much more wearable neckline for me.

I have been struggling to keep up with the Bloglines because of the back - don't be surprised if I am slow to comment, friends! For those of you complaining about the math in my earlier post: I have used up 4x the amount of yarn that I purchased in January (so in other words - there is less coming in than there is going out!)

I am also participating in A Year In Socks with my buddy Rani. I've got a pattern and yarn all picked out, I just have to cast on.

A Plan!

All right, I have finally reached a "Stash Management Plan"! I have been wringing my hands over this for a month, and I decided I was really overthinking things. Since I know I will feel too deprived if I don't get to buy the occasional skein, there had to be some allowance for new stash.

The plan? The yardage coming in can only equal 1/4 of the yardage going out (I started out at 1/2, but decided that was too much!).

So, going out in January? I finished two pair of socks, the Araucania Hourglass sweater and ten Preemie hats. There is 3,070 yards used. I have quietly been using the Ravely toss/sale option and I have destashed 3,105 yards (I actually sold them! Yay, Paypal balance!) So, I have a total of 6,175 total yardage used/destashed; 1/4 of that total is 1,544 yards for January!!! Confession time. I went to Coldwater last week and brought home two skeins of sock yarn. Some Smooshy and some more Araucania Ranco, so that's +826. This way I have 717 in the bank! So, I'll tally up at the end of each month, but it's a way of holding me accountable for what is coming in the door. So, I owe you yarny goodness photos!


On the Needles:


This is my first Thuja sock that I finished last night (not included in the January total!) This is some Yarntini sportweight. Talk about a fast pattern. I watched the Minnetonka/Edina HS hockey game last night (yes, I cheered for Edina - my buddy's hubby is Assistant Coach, I would've been traitor if I hadn't rooted for the Hornets.) Besides, the Headhunter Kid that hurt Puck was a Tonka Skipper; can I help it if I hold grudges?

This is my hubby's new Malabrigo hat in the EP colors. It will go on the needles next. I'm going to upsize the Teen Dream hat for him.

I've also been knitting away on my Cozy V-neck, another pair of socks in the Terradance pattern (another Ocean Winds pattern), some Saturday socks and the Shawl Collar Sweater are next in the queue. I promise pictures and links in upcoming posts!

Now I have to go out in the cold and throw the Kong frisbee for the puppies.