No Yarn shopping, New knitting group.....

I've done it now, I am completely nuts, I've joined SockWars! You too can sign up on Yahoo! here. And read more about it here.

Lace Cuff socks done, and a big hit

Too Cute!
I finished the Lace Cuff socks and they are a big hit already. Sarah is wearing them to school today. Although I made this pair for Catherine, she felt they were too floppy around the foot and (being very foot sensitive) does not want to wear them. Well, since I still have half the yarn left, I will make another pair; smaller around the foot.

These are made with KnitPicks Pallete in Lilac. And although I was not sure about the yarn at the start, they knit a lovely fabric. I will use this yarn again! I used a 2.25mm circular needle, knitting 2 at once, from cuff down.

Mystery Socks complete....

Well, I didn't make it. As you can see in the photo I have run out of yarn. I made it only to row 85. These are definately slippers..... They are cozy, comfortable and lovely. I really liked this heel turn as well, the nicest short row heel I have done to date. I am sorry to have to finish this sock short of the next clue, but with 3 other socks on needles, I am glad to be done with one. More details later, as I am tired now.

Ready to turn heel on Firestarter/Safari Socks

I was hoping to turn the heel before the weekend, but it's time for me to get some work done...Oh well... Hey, I just tried these on for the photo and noticed that I am SO ready to turn the heel, even though I have only worked up to 15 purls in the gusset, rather than the 18. I'm afraid to do more and make this sock huge, and then again can I go ahead and shorted the gusset? I'll have to read the instructions closer to see. In the mean time, enjoy the photo and enjoy your weekend!
One last note, this is the first time I have had a Lorna's Laces that striped rather than variagated......Hmmm I guess I'll have to think Tiger. Grrrr.
Current details
Yarn: Lorna's Laces sock, in color Safari
Needles: One 2.5mm 40" Hiya Hiya circular needle.

What a Gorgeous Day!

All is well....after a while, Catherine decided she wanted some ice cream and she was all smiles the rest of the day. Amazing what a little ice cream (for her) and a single malt scotch (for me) will do! Then add in some sushi (must have soft foods to eat) for dinner, with ice cream (again?) for desert and a really goods night rest and all is well today!

I have been working on my Mom's sweater as well as the Lace Cuff socks. They are sooo cute. I am doing the size small so they will fit my daughter, and although they were a bit tight to get on, they did fit me for the photo. I am also awaiting the next Mystery Sock clue, and I have started the Firestarter socks. Although I don't have any red yarn on hand, I have a Lorna's laces in browns (Safari) that was just dying to get on needles.

Today is a busy day, with food shopping, kids karate and school open house, so I better squeeze in a little more knitting on this lovely day of sunshine.

Kids

My little lady Catherine had her 2 front teeth extracted today, and I am so stressed I can't even sit long enough to knit. She looks so sad :-( and I wish I could do something to make her feel better. She won't even smile or take the gauze out of her mouth for a picture. It's amazing the effect your own children have on you, I almost feel like it was me who had the procedure, actually worse! I want to take her for ice cream, but she is afraid to put anything in her mouth. Well, I can always do what I do best and hope it is enough, CUDDLE! I'm off to cuddle with my "baby". But on a good note, I want to share this photo of Catherine knitting her first sock! This was yesterday, and she was quite the happy girl.

Race Day and Mystery Socks clue 2 done

Had a great day of camaraderie! Ran the 7th Annual Marlboro Police Chase. This race is always alot of fun, and today even in the rain. I certainly had my ego boosted a bit as well. Even though I ran my worst time in 5 years of running this race, I was fortunate to place 1st in my age group. So.... good beer, food, friends and a medal.

And I even found time to photograph my Scherherazade's Slippers after knitting clue 2.

6 Stitch Embossed Moss Stitch from More Sensational Socks

Ok, so Catherine is too busy to model her socks for me, although she does wear them with pride. :-) I grabbed some photos to show you anyway. The cuff on these were done in stockingnet, and I learned that you really need a rib of some sort to tighten it up a bit. Catherine doesn't mind, as they still look really cute. And she picked out the pattern all herself!

Pattern: 6 Stitch Embossed Moss Stitch from More Sensational Socks

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Childsplay (#62)

Needles: 1 2.25mm circular

Construction: 2 at once, toe-up, reverse heal, picot cuff.

6 Stitch BasketWeave from More Sensational Socks

I finished the socks last night with a picot cuffed hem. They look lovely. I am pleased.

Pattern: 6 Stitch BasketWeave from More Sensational Socks.

Yarn: Marks & Kattens Clown Shade #1854

Needles: 1 2.5mm circular

Construction: 2 socks toe-up using Judy's magic Cast-on and a Reversed Heal. I like making a cuffed hem because it feels substantial and yet is nice and stretchy.

These socks were a lot of fun to make, I really enjoy the portablility of making socks as well as being able to pick them up at any time without thought. I need to hurry up and get another pair of socks on needles. I can't decide what to do next, that's what's slowing me down.

Blur Bolero for Mackenzie complete.

Well, here it is done. It is really cute, although it is too big for one of my models here, I think it will fit Mackenzie nicely. Do you like the personal touch in the middle front? The wider band of knitting is positioned just right, and a cute little button could be put there....Hmmm I think I will do that as soon as I'm done with this blog (although a shower might be a higher priority).

Pattern: Blur Children's Boleros Sirdar #2198 (from The Knitting Zone).
Yarn: Blur, #714 Pink
Needles: US Sizes 10 & 7
Construction: Followed pattern (with 2 extra rows of knit/purl) Ok ok, I'll admit it, I put this down so that I could finish my white cardi, and when I came back I misjudged what row I was on, and ended up with 2 extra rows.....happy now? :-)

Oh! Silly me!

I have disregarded the days responsibilities to do some knitting. I just need to do the sleeves on the childs bolero. As I was working away happily listening to my book on ipod I got the where the instructions said to knit until measures 16". What? Oh No! I was knitting long sleeve, not short sleeve. And since cuff is smaller than upper arm, I had to frog it all. It took me almost just as long to take it out as to knit it, that fuzzy yarn did not want to unravel. Well, I'll try again next time I have a free block of time. The book is a fun listen though, so all was not wasted.

Mystery Socks - Scherherazade's Slippers

Thanks for the link Pat, I have started these! And so far it is alot of fun. This is my first Mystery anything, as well as my first time working from a chart. I'm not sure I am doing everything right, but I like what I see so far. I had ordered a bunch of Elann.com Esprit for a sweater and when I did the swatch I did not like the effect the yarn gave. It is sort of like a small gauge boucle (which I have already proclaimed a dislike). So I sent it back, but I was left with the one skein from my swatch and decided to use that for this myster sock, as it is the only solid color sock weight yarn I have. It seems to be working quite well with this pattern and the texture is also quite forgiving of any errors I might have made..... :-) It is also really stretchy and therefore size forgiving. Just hoping one ball is enough, lol.

Knitting Knook

I forgot to mention. On my way back from NH we stopped at the Knitting Knook in Keene. A lovely yarn store, with wonderful people. We had such a blast (my 2 girls and I) chatting away in the store and perusing the yarn. I can't wait to go back there again. My girls bought more yarn than I did! Of course from the sale basket. They wanted a few skeins of $9 yarn, but I said "lets save it for next time". I did get my first ever skein of Noro Kureyon #102. It was on sale (I believe it is a discontinued color). I'm not sure what I will do with it yet, probably a scarf (something like this). I ordered a dark purple color to use as a constrasting color, we'll see, not a top priority.

Well, if you are passing through Keene, NH, stop in at the Knitting Knook and visit.

Summer Cardigan finally done...

Pattern: Katia Twist Jacket (pattern no longer available at Elann.com)
Construction: 1. worked as one peice instead of 3, back and forth, from bottom up.
2. Finished shoulders with kitchener stitch.
3. Worked sleeves from shoulder down, starting with short rows to shape the shoulder. Both sleeves were then worked together. I began knitting the sleeves in the round and discovered that this rib does not do well, so I switched to back and forth and seemed the sleeves.
Yarn: Reynolds Saucy White, 100% Cotton, Worsted weight
Needles: Denise Circular #7

-The sleeves seemed to take forever. I never thought I was going to finish this Cardigan. I like it and it is exactly what I wanted for a quick throw on cool spring/fall evenings. I am thinking, however of putting a single button up on the neck. It would look cute as well as added warmth at the neck.

-I am happy to be finished with this project as well as happy to blog again. One more project I want to finish before I start anything new. Then I have about 3 projects in mind.

-Question: I frogged a sweater and was wondering if I should "wash" the wool before using it again, and how do I go about "washing" wool?

-It has been a wonderful summer! Yet I am glad it is over, it was so very busy, that I feel like I am now on MY vacation. At least for a while....I have lots of "work" to do at home.