A Blog of My Own

New Socks - Yarntini at last.

Well.. Finishing two pair of socks recently certainly grants permission to cast on for new ones!!! Even if I have two unfinished pair still in my WIP pile. Right..? Right..? Enable me people please. Here is a sneak preview. I am not sure how this shows up on your computer.. But the green is screaming florescent at me on mine and really it isn't so bright in person. The shades of pink are lovely and the lime is just the hint of retro that I love. I have really waited a long time to sample this yarn. Yarntini! I have been wanting to know why it flies off the shelves. So far I report that all is well with the yarn and I really like working with it. Almost like Cherry Tree Hill.. Not quite.. But very closing in my adoration factor. I am in the market for a project. Something that I just want to work on with vim and vigor. It hasn't jumped out at me so that is why I am making all the socks. The current socks here are Uptown Boot Socks from Favorite Socks. I am surely getting my money out of this book. It is really loaded with good patterns. Okay.. I am out of here until I have some knitting to report. I might shamelessly flaunt some grandson pics soon or some Dexter pictures. I think my blog needs a little bit more chatter... What do you think. As always... Feel free to leave a link to your current WIP, I'd love to stop by and visit your blog. If you don't have a blog....leave me your ravelry info and I will hunt you down there. Cheers and Happy Week!! Ps I am looking for a slouch hat pattern for a girl... A hip younger woman.. Any suggestions?

Edited to add a picture of Elliott.  At three years old this was the first time he saw Beauty and the Beast.    He was mesmerized.  He had a lot of questions for me... "Nana,  is that Beast Guy a good guy?  What is he mad?  Why are those foxes beating up beast?"  We have watched it three more times since.  He has the story down pat now and we can do the voices.  Awh Disney.. it is a beautiful thing.

More Closure!! These socks are off the Needles.

Finally for me and for YOU.. these are off the needles and we don't have to talk about them any longer.  :)
I finished them last night while watching The Reader (see my review here)

So my question was "since I am knitting them toe up don't I just turn the chart upside down for the scalloped edging?'  Apparently not!   I think I might if needed to revers the SSK or K2 Togs? Not sure.  I didn't end up with Scalloped edging.  But I left it that way.  I did have to undo each bind off and bind off super loosely.   So here they are.

 They are not my favorite socks.. but they are pretty nice.  I really want to take stock of my WIPS.  I don't think I have so many that I can't just cast on today for another pair today.. or hmmm what do I want to work on?.... hmmmmmmm.

Well of immediate concern is housework.. so that is where you'll find me the next few hours.

Closure...

Okay.. yes.  Closure.  I have finally sewed the seams for the D-V-Argyle Vest, and I put it on for a photo.  Done.. finished... and out of my head.  Well not really I can't wait to wear it this fall. It is really motivation to loose some weight as it is too tight right now.    Actually it is just right.. I am too bulky .. ha ha..   But I braved it up and took a photo for you all anyway.  You can see that with a little weight loss this is actually going to be quite flattering.

Here are seam shots.  I basically just whipped stitched the seams except for the one place that I messed up on when I was trying to pick up stitches.  It needed reinforcement so I criss crossed the stitches.  Live and learn.   I still am really tickled with this project from start to finish.  You can buy this pattern HERE . It is well worth it.

Two at a Time, Toe up... Are we done yet?

Two at a time toe up! Yes.. I love it. And yet I am ready to be done. I didn't get second sock syndrome but I sure got a bit of a snore factor doing the leg. I wanted to go further but I am so ready for the last edge. I am going to put the scalloped edging on them. I am pretty sure I have to do it top to bottom since the pattern is written from leg down. Thirteen rows until cast off.. Of course with two at a time that is X 2!!!

Just a quickie update. Happy Friday come up.

What I like about knit Night!

I just love that I have set aside time to knit!!!! And meeting with some awesome and fun knitters is just another bonus. Hooray... knitting meet up is fun.   I have gotten some progress on the two at a time socks.  I think in a few inches I will put on the scalloped border.   Here is that progress.
Now…  I am prepared for comments on the next project.  Yeah.. It is 103 plus degrees today in Sunny California and I pulled out these mittens.  The Bella's Mittens.   Personally I think they are too warm for even Forks, Washington.. But who knows.    Yeah.. I am pretty sure that I will never be able to wear these mittens.. But heck.. I am a Twilight Geeky fan.. .. Well at times.. What can I say?  So one down.. And one to go.  I used the Cascade  109 LE ( chunky 100% pervuvian wool) that the pattern calls for.  It is discontinued but I found it at Webs on-line..(Usually the link is at yarn.com.. I couldn't get it to load tonight to put a link for you)... And I got it for a good price too!

Anyway.. I love the mittens.. they are fun to knit.. Pretty easy.  I started at the wrist today and finished it in a bit over an hour.  Love the cable.  One of those cables that you only have to do every 7 rounds and it gives off a nice complicated stitch look. 

Happy Sunday to everyone.  I want to note that I pulled out the Pomatomas Socks ... and I think they will be finished next.  I will put a photo soon.  I forgot how creamy dreamy that Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn is...... And I have less than a sock to finish. 

Yep.. just clicking off the projects.

Wondering what the gals at knit night will think if I show up with my chunky wool. ha!  And here is a funny one.. I have Elliott's almost finished holiday stocking to finish.. Hey.. why not now...

What are you working on?  It is okay to post links.  :)

Embossed Leaves Socks

I just love em! Embossed Leaves Socks, (Favorite Socks Book)
Lorna's Laces Shepard Sport
Size two addis.
( I recommend size one if you want a tighter fitted sock) 
For me.. these are great.
I love them.  I didn't get second sock syndrome with these as they knitted up quick with the sport yarn.  And this pattern is not dull.  Yet is it so easy.  I love it.

On the finishing front, I finally washed the Deep V Argyle Vest. (Eunny Jang).  It is ready for me to sew the steeks.. maybe it is more like secure the steeks.  And unfortunately I have about seven pounds to loose and some walking to tighten up the abs.  So It will fit just right this fall.  What a great Motivation ! I mean it fits..but it could look better you know.. if I am brutally honest with myself. (Just keepin' it real).  I will post some finished pictures at some future date.  The purpose of this pic is to show that the Knit Picks yarn was really colorfast in a tepid bath in my sink. Very impressive.  It is the Merino Style Wool from Knit Picks.  Very soft yarn, and very affordable.  I love it!

Knitting Meet up - and some buttons for the booties... finally

Good afternoon...Morning.. evening... what ever time  it might be when you read this.

I have to say that I went to the local knitting meet up on Wednesday night and it was fun.  I got to see familiar faces even though I really don't know anyone.  I saw the former owner of a yarn shop that I used to go to...and some gals from Ravelry. Finally I got to meet and talk to them in person.  So odd to follow their knitting and blogs for quite a while now and meet in person.  It was fun.

I just worked on something familiar, my embossed leaves socks.  It was a good time.  I hope to go again... wait.. "I plan to go again."

So the only thing I have done to report here today is to finally put buttons on baby booties that I made for my friend's grandson who is over one years old now.  Yeah... sometimes I roll that way.  I mean it was a four minute task!

Alas.. we have a newly pregnant former co-worker in the picture and I plan to make all kinds of goodies for her.    Here are the booties.  I like this color of blue on a girl.. with some white frilly socks.. but if she has a boy we can swap out those pearly buttons and put on some ducky's or baseball buttons.

They are Saartje's Booties
Rowan pure wool DK
Size 3 bamboo dps

Have a terr-rrrrific weekend.  My goal is to have FO pair of sock on Sunday.  There... I've said it.... we shall see.

Bags from my Ravelry Queue - Which one should I make?

I stopped by my Ravelry Queue and I was pleasantly reminded of three bags that I want to make. 

I love the first one.  It is a free pattern and it is called:  Cable Bag by Patons.  You can go Here to get patterns free.  I think you have to sign up to be a member.

The second on is: Lucy Bag
by Two Old Bags - It is available at many LYS for $8.00.

The last one  is:  Celtic Tote by Jennifer Tallapaneni.  You can download a pattern for 5.50 or find it in your Interweave Knits (Winter 2007).  (woo hoo.. I have that one)

Do you have a favorite bag? Or one that you will make this year?  Feel free to post a Link.  I ‘d love to check it out.

Toe Up - Two at a Time Progress

This process is fun.. kind of like having Twins!  It takes a while but you know the idea of finishing two sock at a time has me really excited.

The Turning of the heel and picking up the gusset stitches was really easy. Also the decreases for the gusset are a breeze. 

The downfall of these socks is the yarn.  I love the colorway but the yarn is not soft like my Embossed Leaves socks with the Lorna's Laces.  I can't wait to get back to those. 

I Actually could have four pair of socks in the near future.  I have 1 and 1/4 Pomatomas done, one and 3/4 of the Stockinette Stitch sock, one and 1/6 of the Embosses Leaves and now I am working on these two socks.  I think that is pretty cool!

Here are some photos. 

and here are the twin heels.  It isn't a very elaborate heel, but I think that it is smooshy and comfy looking.  I can already tell that the socks will fit perfectly.

Oh.. Socks are a really fun thing to knit. 
But I have some other spring projects in mind.

I am thinking I want some Jay Walkers for myself.  I gave the last ones away.  I have that Yarntini  begging me to work on it.  Also... bad me.. I ordered some Dream in Color Sock yarn from Woolgirl... I can't wait to see that in my mailbox.

Have a great weekend.