Socks!Socks!

Great things going on around here!

On my way out to go to Grandma's on Friday, I got my sockapalooza package!

This is the contents of my package:

That's*two* pairs of socks, beaded stitch markers, jelly bellies, AND a lovely felted tote bag.

I was so overwhelmed by all those delightful things!Look how beautiful those stitch markers are:

Oh, there was a box of Lindt truffles too, but they met their demise on trip. I think I saved them, but left them in the freezer at my grandma's house.

Thank you so much, Dana N.!

In knitting news, I have on sleeve left on my mom's cardigan, some ends to weave in on my Trellis, and a felted bag started with all my leftover bits of wool. I've been depressed about how many WIPs I actually have but listing them out like this really helps. Maybe I'll cast on for something else now.

Next Monday, I'm going to New York with my sister and our two sewing friends. I AM SO EXCITED!

Of Heath and yarn and baby things. . .

I just finished a Heath-Bar-Caramel-Sweet-Cream-in-a-Waffle-cone and was it ever good! Usually ice cream's not my thing and up until about 5 minutes before we left I was thinking pie but then. . . I love Heath more than pie.

I've been hanging out at Ravelry more than anywhere else lately. Yeah, its as good as everyone's been saying. I can't wait until everything is done.

I'm still chugging away at my Sockapalooza socks. I'm almost to the heel on the second one. I don't know, I guess I'm just kinda bored with the pattern. I still really like the look of it though.

I started a Trellis for a lovely couple in our church about to issue their first child. I picked Tatamy Tweed in a lovely lime color so it would be unisex. Now that I'm knitting with it, I see that it has a lot more fuchsia flecks in than I would have liked. Dan say it looks okay, so I'll keep going. If its too girly they can save it for their next one :)

There is a SALE at my favorite yarn store! They didn't advertise so I thought I'd save them some trouble. YEAH! 25-40% off everything(except their own brand)



I bought some sock yarn for Dan(Paton's Kroy)

And the greatest news of all time?

I can finish my mom's sweater.
I went to the Fantasy Naturale shelf and they didn't have any color that would match the blue at all. And of course not the actual color I was looking for. I called Mom and asked her if she'd like it another color. I trudged up to the counter and purchased 6 skeins in beige(ho hum) I told the lady my sad story of the sad sweater with not enough yarn. Then, get this, she pulls out two skeins of the exact yarn I needed!!! She has set them aside for herself but she figured my need was greater than her own! I returned the beige and emerged triumphant from the GREATEST YARN STORE ON EARTH. Incidentally, they'll be renovating in a few months so they'll be closed for a while :(
I was so happy to see today too, that Auntie Saar has found her way back to blogland. Its not a knitting blog but its nice to read what she has to say :)

One is the loneliest number. . .

So I'd better cast on for the next one before the dreaded Second Sock Syndrome comes knocking.
I just kitchenered the toe about 10 minutes ago. Its slightly too big for my foot which should be about right for my sock pal(she wears a 7 1/2, I wear a 6 or 6 1/2). What do you think of the color?

In other news, we planted most of our garden today(a little late, I know) in a thunder storm. About 15 minutes before we went out, it was hailing! Fortunately, our other little plants were hardy enough to withstand that pelting! I was so worried for the baby peas and the broccoli.

Name that sock yarn!

The sock is a little slow going around here. My hands keep getting sticky and then the yarn doesn't want to move, or when it does all the stitches slip right off. I predict that I'll be in the air conditioning more this summer than ever. I'm really enjoying the pattern. I had to rip back the heel once because I was off center for the instep pattern. I had some knitting time during Memorial Day so I wasn't too upset about it.


I had to take my sewing machine to get fixed yesterday. Its been doing strange things since I got it last year but I was in denial. The thread keeps bunching underneath and the tension was wacky. I had to drive 45 minutes away to another Joann's since the Husqvarna store in my Joanns closed up shop a month ago. I'll be making that trip again next Wednesday to pick it up.





I stopped at a little bead shop on the way home(my father's beads). Awhile back they sold yarn as well as beads but the last time I was in there they were selling out. It was slim pickins yesterday but they had:








Star by Classic Elite and Opal sock yarn.


The only thing is the Opal doesn't have a dyelot so I have no idea what color/collection its from. Can you name that yarn?


It was only after I left the store that I remembered that I'm supposed to be on a yarn diet! Oops, no returns on yarn! I got all excited because it was all 40% off!


I also got the new Interweave Knits last week. I bought it for the Origami cardigan but now that I look at I don't think I like it anymore. I really like the Wheat-Ear Cable Yoke. I think if I end up making it the cables will start about 3 repeats higher in the front for some obvious(?) reasons. I also like Josephine,Notre Dame de Grace, Sleeveless Tuxedo Shirt, and Ogee Lace skirt!

I have been getting a lot of knitting time this week and although I have spent HOURS on the computer this week, none of that included blogging, obviously.
I am enjoying my first Sockapalooza. I was starting to be stressed out until I realized that I have a long time to work on this. As soon as I realized that, my whole project just came together. I dyed my yarn again.(Is that called overdyeing?) It is really a lovely shade of green now. There are some little blips of dark pink all in it from my koolaid dying but I think it makes the yarn a little more interesting to work with. I am doing the "Go With The Flow" sock from Favorite Socks. I really wanted to do the anniversary socks but the cables on the cuff just didn't look right in the yarn. This pattern is perfect. Lacy-- but not too lacy and not difficult at all. My sock pal has knitted lace socks so I was a little intimidated to try anything super fancy. I tried the Monkey socks everyone has been knitting and I made a few mistakes and had to frog the whole thing. I will try Monkey again just not when it has to be *perfect*.

Its a little dark and blurry but its still awful purty!

In other knitting news, I attended MDS&W an eon ago and now I have the camera back to show you all what I got:

Yup, that's it. Last year, it was about the same only blue. No, I don't spin.(But will, if it kills me) I have a hard time deciding on yarn when there is SOOO much variety. Plus, my husband has little patience while I decide. Just picking out that roving was iffy.

Here's the tank top I finished. My twin brother informed me that it looked like a knitted version of marijuana this evening. Great. That'll give me a lot of confidence *if* I ever wear it.
And the piece de resistance:

Vogue #10. I know its a more advanced pattern but would it have killed the designer to let me know where to start the lace pattern in those increasing/decreasing rows? I think the cardie is beautiful but its kicking me in the butt. Really hard! On the other hand, the yarn has wonderful drape at this gauge, and the color is fantastic. One of the greatest things though, is that I'll probably have enough yarn to make two. Not that I will but at least I won't run out. I just started the second ball of yarn at the armholes of the back!(I have 9)




More regular blogging soon, and a fun announcement later next week.

I made a decision, sort of. . .

Thanks to everyone who left a comment with their favorite sock book. I went to Barnes and Noble last night and got. . . . . Favorite Socks from IK! I like almost every pair in this book!
I've decided on the Anniversary socks for my pal. If they don't work out I'm going to try the Waving Lace and if those don't work out I'm going to try "Go with the Flow". If none of those works out, I'm going to purchase some new yarn. I think my color choice is making it a little hard.
Again, Thanks to everyone!

So I guess I should be working on Sockapalooza. . . .

But I'm not. The pattern choice is not coming easy since my pal has already knit the one I had my heart set on making. A trip to Barnes and Nobles tomorrow should clear that all up. Yes, I'm buying a knitting book.(Sensational Knitted Socks, I think) It will only be my 3rd knitting book in 4 years of knitting but its seems like the right thing to do. I want my sock pal to be happy, and I also want to be happy.(Instead of frustrated as I am when I think of designing my own sock pattern) Sockapalooza is about fun NOT stress and the free patterns just aren't doing it for me.
That said, I have just cast on for a sweater for myself. #10 from Vogue knitting spring/summer '07 out of the turquoise yarn. I have been scheming and designing for the yarn but today I am going to knit with it. Hopefully it'll be something I'll wear. I have such bad luck with that.
Which brings me to my last point. I finished the tank that was destined for the sheep and wool last night and its too.short. I just got so tired of stockinette stitch that I shortened it a whole inch. I'm kicking myself now. There is some good news though. I did a seed stitch neckline and it looks beautiful.
Pics sometime this week and all about the sheep and wool!

Sockapalooza 4!

I know I've mentioned earlier that I signed up for sockapalooza but I'm just so excited about it!
I dyed my sock yarn with pink lemonade kool-aid. It didn't turn out too even but I think it'll be soooo pretty anyway! I was researching some other patterns this morning. I wanted it to be lacy but not too lacy, kwim? Has anyone knit Embossed Leaves from IK? I read on another blog(I forget which) that it makes a very loose sock so I'm a little nervous.
I'm also sooo curious about the sockpal who is making my socks. I didn't put too much in my sock preferences because I didn't want to just dictate a style and then not be surprised at all.
I love every color-- except maybe puce or something but even still in the proper place, who knows?
I need to email my sock pal(since she doesn't have a blog) and see how she'd like lacy stuff. I'm not sure how much info to divulge.
This is sooo much fun!
Hopefully, I'll get some pictures up after Sheep and Wool this weekend!