AS PROMISED...

Here it is, Friday...I promised you pics of the recent FOs so, without further adieu, here they are...First the Sachiko Kimono Sweater by Erika Flory. How cute is this sweater? While I am not a fan of cotton yarn in general, I knit this in Lion Cotton Ease and found it to be just fine to work with. It is a 50/50 cotton acrylic blend so the hand and drape are very nice. Next, the Hedera socks. I love this pattern and I found it to be the perfect vehicle for solid yarn. I don't know about you, but I tend to get bored with solid sock yarns...So, as it stands, I only have one project on the needles, the Campfire socks...hard to believe. However, when I started knitting, I told myself that barring the occasional emergency (gifts or gotta knit now yarn), I would have no more than two projects going at one time. This was to self-police. One, to make sure I did not get bored, and two, so I would have incentive to finish something in order to start something new, and third to keep the house from being overrun by UFOs (unfinished objects). Now I getto decide on the next project. I am leaning toward felted bags - after all, I burned out the transmission on my wash machine and had to replace it...nothing like a little felting to break in a new machine!

Pattern: Sachiko Kimono Sweater (Infant size 6 mos.), by Erika Flory

Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Lime

Needles: Size 7 straight

Pattern: Hedera, by Cookie A.

Yarn: Lorna's Laces in Denim

Needles: Sz 1 DPNs

Alterations: Picot trim cuff

IT'S BEEN A WHILE...

I know, I know, I'm a bad blogger! I can't believe it has been almost a month since my last post. I don't have a really good excuse, but I did do some traveling, which included a trip to The Yarn Barn in Lawrence, Kansas (didn't buy a thing !!!!)....does that count???? I did do some KIP (knitting in public) in the airport and on the plane (which should make up for it). I also have a couple of FOs to show you, but alas, the digital camera is in New Mexico with my hubby, so you will just have to wait to get a look at them. This afternoon, my knit buddy, KS came by (bearing yummy banana nut bread) and we both decided to cast on for a pair of socks in Cherry Tree Hill DK weight...I am working on the Campfire Socks in Foxy Lady, which is mostly a red colorway (I Love RED) so I think they will be great for this winter/Christmas season...I was having a hard time deciding on my next project...it has been 100 degrees here for a week so that may be part of the problem..but I also have a lot of sock yarn just screaming to be picked up and knit, and they are all yelling "my turn, my turn"....so that is the other problem...decisions, decisions...I promise, this week I will post the FO pics...

A TRUE STORY

I went to one of my favorite yarn stores Saturday in search of some Blue Sky Alpaca Silk, and to replace my broken size 2 dpns. While I was gone, the mailman came running across the street to deliver a box. My husband was in the yard and watched as the box was dropped and rolled down the driveway, much to the dismay of the mailman. In an effort to make light of the situation, my husband told the mailman "it's ok, it's probably just yarn." JUST YARN!!! Well, in his defense, he was correct. It was, in fact, yarn. Five skeins of delicious sock yarn sent to me from The Loopy Ewe. So, for those of you who were wondering who, where, when, why and how, I give you 2 skeins of Louet Gems in Fern Green, 1 skein of Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Solid in Nantucket Red, and 2 skeins of Claudia Hand Painted in Sea Dreams. I must say that the Sea Dreams is much lighter in color than I expected, but still the perfect vehicle for this sock. The other two yarns are for whatever patterns call to me from the Favorite Socks book. So, off I go to turn "just yarn" into "just socks".

DREAMING IN TECHNICOLOR SOCK YARN

My friend, KS and I have had several conversations about knitting patterns and pattern books. It seems that most, although pretty to look at and ooh and ahhhh over, contain few items that we will actually knit. It's sad to say, but true. So, we decided that it might be best if we work on a "single-pattern-as-needed-basis". Then I found this book and all that went out the window! What a wonderful collection of beautiful sock patterns. I keep turning pages and marking pages and dreaming about yarn and yarn and yarn. Today, dreams became reality....I ordered 5 skeins (yes, 5 skeins) of sock yarn from The Loopy Ewe...Yippee Skippee, I can hardly wait! So, as the I start to turn the heel on the mate to the Hedera, I am close to turning dreams into reality (or really pretty socks). Place your orders now...Christmas is only five months away!

ONE DOWN...

I finished one Hedera and I LOVE this sock. Want to know why???? because it is the best fitting sock I have made to date. Now, I know that the beauty of hand knit socks is that you can make them to fit. Well, darn it, so far I haven't really felt like doing the math! So, believe me when I say I love this sock. I think I have discovered the secret...size one needles. I am on to the second one - round two with the picot edge...

Pattern: Hedera by Cookie A.

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Denim on Size 1 DPNs

Modifications: 5-row Picot Trim at cuff

I also began my foray into the world of sock pattern design...I was into the second repeat when I snapped a Lantern Moon needle...so the project is on hold until I can get my hands on another set of needles...stay tuned!

SPINNING ROUND AND ROUND

Guess what I did today? My friend, KS, and I traveled to one of our favorite yarn stores. I can't really classify it as a LYS because is it about 160 miles away! The goal for the day was to learn to spin wool using a drop spindle. For those of you who don't know, a drop spindle is small and looks fairly harmless. Almost like a child's toy top. However, as I was soon to discover, it is not as easy as it appears. Apparently, this method has been used for at least 10,000 years...I know why...it takes that long to master the art! The class started at 11:00 a.m. and was to run to 3:00 p.m. Want to guess when I had my a-ha moment? Approximately 3:05 p.m. I enjoyed the class and learned some things, and am not at all giving in. However, do not expect a skein of sock yarn to roll off of my drop spindle any time soon! All in all, the day was good. KS got to spend some quality time with the yarn and pattern selection, and it was a pretty day for a ride. As a matter of fact, this was one of the many sites of the day.

FEATHERING YOUR NEST

For the past several weeks, we have had a family of birds nesting in the corner of our carport. There has been a lot of activity and, lately, a lot of chirpping going on. I think our little friends are about to leave the nest. My friend KS had a moment of clarity over the weekend, and she got me thinking about why people knit, and the different personalities of knitters. We had our monthly knit-in tonight and although it was a small group of 5 knitters, everyone there was a different type knitter. I tend to be a warm fuzzy knitter. It tends to make me relax. I like the feel of quality yarn and wooden needles. I like to be surrounded by baskets of yarn. I like knowing that I am creating something to adorn a friend or family member, (or myself). I like the idea that someone might think of me each time they slip into something hand made, just for them. Made by me with a warm heart and happy hands. So, I guess I am a feathering your nest kind of knitter.