Sunday, February 28, 2010

On The Needles:

I don't know if I actually voiced this goal, but in order to use up some of my large quantity of sock yarn stash, I set myself a goal of at least two pair a month. Should be no problem, right? So far, so good. There are three destinations for the socks: the family gift basket, my sock drawer or the need box (to give away to groups that NEED them!)

These are my Michigan Lake Shore Socks on the needles.


Interesting FYI aside: Have you noticed that yarn containing Bamboo squeaks on wooden needles? I have made some changes to this sock pattern for my quirks. I changed to a pique hem cuff. I reduced the number of stitches on the needle from 72 to 60. I also knit a heel flap/gusset instead of a short row heel and because I reduced the pattern repeat to an odd number, I knit the foot of the sock in stockinette.

Now, hopefully no one will bother me while I watch the Canada/USA hockey game this afternoon. If I'm lucky I can get down to the heel flap on my second sock today.

Friday, February 26, 2010

The Olympics are Addictive!

I have been glued to the television watching every possible permutation of Olympics sports. Any time I don't have to be at a kid's sporting event, there I was, watching Curling and knitting.

So, the American Aerial Skier (his name is Speedy!) won his medal with a jump called the Hurricane. Can I present my Ravelympics entry?

Tsunami


Pattern: Tsunami by Judy Sumner from Knitted Socks East and West Yarn: The Knittery 4ply Sock: Merino Cashmere (NEW) Color: Moonlight Needles: US 1 and 2 DPN's Started: February 1, 2010 Completed: February 13, 2010

Note: This book has a lot of those oddball socks patterns (no toes, etc.), but the cuff pattern is there and if you have any sock knitting experience, you can figure out how to make a whole sock. There are quite a few in here knit with a heavier yarn. The photography is beautiful as well.

This yarn has cashmere in it, so I intend to keep this pair! No sock basket for these babies!

Teen Update:

Teen has finally started to hear back from some of the colleges he has applied to - so far only one school has declined his application. We also found out this week that the Teen is now a National Merit Scholar Finalist! I am bustin' my buttons I am so proud of our boy!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Guess What Time It Is?

I know, AFTER the Olympics.

It's almost time for Lacrosse! See that white-shorted boy up there? That's Puck. Five inches taller than last February. Still only 13. Gulp.

Oh yea. AND it was my birthday. Yummy Mini Mochi. Hate how splitty it is to knit with, love the socks it makes.

I'm watching the Fins and the Czechs play hockey. This game may NEVER end.

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Tamino





Pattern: Tamino by Caoua Coffee Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy Color: In Vino Veritas Needles: US 1 DPN's Started: January 6, 2010 Completed: February 7, 2010

Note: All of her patterns are free, however, the only place I've found them is on Ravelry in her store. This is one of those patterns I had to follow row by row so it actually took me a while to finish them, but I feel like the finished product is a work of art! I think the next couple pairs of socks are going to be a little less complex to save my poor fingers.

In the meantime, we are facing our own snowstorm, it seems we are in the Winter that never ends!























Monday, February 08, 2010

February SIP



I picked out a skein from the stash to cast on for one of my February pairs. I picked out a pattern from Knitted Socks East and West and some yummy yarn with Cashmere in it (I will give you the gory details in my FO post). I am actually looking forward to keeping this pair for winter warmth.

I was wandering around Etsy last week and found that pretty row counter. Somehow it had to make it's way to my house. I wonder how that happens? Between my sock bag, the yarn and the yarn bling, I seem to have a color theme going, don't you think? (Hmm, seems Hide and Sheep is having a family emergency and their shop is closed for a couple weeks. I hope all will be well.)

PS Stupid Saints.

Sunday, February 07, 2010

A Little, Teeny-Tiny Tanning Bed:


So, I ordered a Kandle for my Kindle. It snuggled up nicely to my Diet Coke for most of the day.


I turned it on to take a picture - I thought it looked like a little tanning bed. But then, I think our toaster looks like R2D2. Yea, my kids think I'm nuts. It worked great on it's first trial run, at least, as long as I could stay awake. It fit snugly onto the Kindle and shone the light exactly where I needed it. Yay! I can read late into the night without waking my husband!

Saturday, February 06, 2010

Button Time!

I bought these off of Ebay before Christmas. They were so charming, I could not resist. Now to find the perfect combination of yarn and pattern to use them on. I have some green silk yarn that would look really sweet with these buttons. I am having a hard time finding patterns that interest me right now. I might've burned my sweater mojo on that NaKniSweMoDo attempt.

Friday, February 05, 2010

There's No Place Like Home, There's No Place Like Home...

I would like to present Ruby Slippers. Zen Yarn Garden's Bling Yarn. I'm pretty sure I won't use the beads that came in this kit, but the pattern is pretty cute. Stay tuned! (Oz Sock Yarn Club through Woolgirl.)

Also? Can I forget the Superbowl is happening this weekend and go yarn shopping to anesthetize my pain? The LYS is having their annual SB weekend sale and I can't bear to watch that football performance.

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Mondo NaKniSweMoDo


In case you don't remember, I attempted the NaKniSweMoDo last year; basically I tried to knit one sweater per month. I made it up to #11 and finally I called surrender. I did love this sweater, so I finally decided to pull it out and finish it up!

I may have surrendered, but I actually got a ton of knitting finished last year: 19 pair of socks, 1 cowl, 1 pair of mittens, 10 sweaters, 1 red scarf and 1 shawlette!


Pattern: Mondo Cable Pulli by Bonne Marie Burns from Chic Knits Yarn: Madelinetosh tosh dk Color: Terra Needles: US 7 and US 8 Circs Started: October 7, 2009 Completed: January 31, 2010.

Note: The hem seems to roll a bit so I think I'm going to go back in and knit around like I finished the collar. I love this sweater construction very much. There is definitely a color difference from the first skein to the rest of the yarn, but I love this sweater anyway.

Ta Daaa! I think it will make it's debut at the next Hockey game. My next sweater project is going to be something from the new Knitscene...In the meantime, I've got a second pair of January socks to finish.



Wednesday, February 03, 2010

The Last Hat I Needed for a Second Hat Trick!

Pattern: Quincy by Jared Flood Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted Color: Forest Needles: US 10.5 Straights and US 10 DPN's Started: February 1, 2010 Completed: February 2, 2010.

Note: Love this pattern. Love this yarn. I love how it looks on the head!

We had a lovely snowstorm this week that freshened up the whole world. Very fluffy and light on top of some very nasty ice. My body is aching from the snowblower wrestling I had to do on Tuesday morning.

Hubby and I watched the Wild get beat by Dallas AGAIN last night. Seriously, how do you outshoot a team like that and still lose? Sigh. At least Puck's hockey and Lacrosse teams are kicking some booty.

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Marathon Blogging, Here We Go!



Pattern: O! Socks by Shana Kreikemeier Yarn: Knitterly Things Vesper Sock Yarn 440 Merino Color: Might As Well Go For a Coke Needles: US 2 DPN's Started: January 9, 2010 Completed: January 29, 2010.

Note: This pattern blazed along whenever I worked on it. The yarn is definitely colorful, but I love how it blended when it was knit. No flashing and pooling in this sock.

I took these pictures with my Christmas present, a new Canon G10 that replaced my decrepit old Sony. Hubby found a good deal at National Camera locally and I have been really happy with it so far. The macro shots are so much prettier!

We've been crazy with Hockey and Lacrosse for the last couple weeks, and it only looks to get busier as Spring season starts. We have one last hockey tournament in a couple of weeks, and then Playoffs don't start until March.

Well, I know it's brief, but I've for more FO's, some new yarn and pretty buttons to show you in the next couple of posts!

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