Ms. Create (It's always about the sticks and string...)

Finished socks, and ... where did the needle go???

So.... I woke up in the middle of the night, glanced over and saw that Paul was not in the bed.  Woot!  This almost always means that it's the weekend and Paul has fallen asleep on the couch watching tv again.  Primo knitting time!  It's funny how wide awake you can become at 3:00 a.m. when you don't have to get up and get ready for work, and you get to knit!  Plus, a good burst of coffee will give you at least two hours before you get sleepy again.

I was smiling.... I was humming..... I was moving to the "weekend beat"....  I was . . . . . . . . missing a sock needle.  Where the hell did it go?  The last place I was knitting the sock was . . . . . . on the living room couch.  Said husband is now on the living room couch.  Uh Oh.  No problem.  I'll just use something else.  Right?  Yeah.  You know how that goes.  It's like when you're driving and you drop your lighter or what have you.  First it's - I don't need the stinking lighter right now, I can wait until I get home.  Then you start fidgeting.  Then you are slightly leaning down with your hand and "scoping" the floor with your eyes on the road.  Then you get mad at yourself and stop it ... but you can't.  That's just what happened to me with the sock needle.  I was not happy.  I was not humming, and my "weekend beat" was all shot to hell.  So I did what any normal person would do under these circumstances.  I stalked Paul.  You have to be quiet.  This is a delicate procedure.  First I lifted the blanket from his feet and searched the end of the couch and in the cushions.  No needle.  Then I searched above his head.  No needle.  Now we need to get serious.  The blanket gets lifted and the sides of said husband are "sweeped".  Hmmm....  said husband seems to have a "someone is bugging me and I'm about ready to wake up mad" look on his face.  Probably not good.  Back to the bedroom I go (quickly), dejected and without my Harmony sock needle, size 2 dpn.  Half a cup of coffee later I am knitting away using a Clover for replacement.  Weekend Beat recommences....  Said husband is now up (I can hear reading material being shuffled), but has no idea why.  Oh.  Such insomnia the poor man gets....  I deny everything....  he he

Speaking of socks, here's my progress on the Nanners:

 

I actually modified this pattern without knowing it.  Every other row you need to knit the knits and purl the purls.  I knit the knits and knit the purls.  Oops.  So now I have seed stitches instead of purl stitches in between the Nanners.  Looks okay, right?  Kind of makes the Nanners pop I think.

I also finished the Salmon and Russets:

 

Sock crock pot dyeing rocks!  Plus - $6.99 for a pair of hand-dyed socks!!!  Don't forget I have the sock crock pot dyeing method up above in the side bar.  Try it and let me know how you do!!  I'm always happy to hear how others' dyeing experiments come out.

I've got more, but I'm sure you've had enough for one day!  Over and out....

Blogcation Fun, the Knitting Black Hole and Nanners!!

The Fourth of July Holiday and more vacation time is approaching!  Not a bunch this time, just a few days.  I'll take them though!!!  Speaking of vacation, have you checked out Ida's Knit-a-While Blogcation Contest?  It is a lot of fun!!!  You get to search for the specific blog she is giving you hints on.   Kind of like a treasure hunt on the internet.  I like it because I can read blogs I've never heard of before and meet new friends.  Check it out.

In Knitting News (okay - is there any other kind???), a week has gone by and I feel I have nothing to show for it.

That's not entirely true, since I've been knitting every day.  I just don't have any completed projects.  This is all to be blamed on the Collared U-Neck-Tee.  Yes, I can too place blame on a piece of knitting.  This little beauty is knit in sport-weight cotton and is taking forever since I started at the bottom and am working in the round.  I need to get to the underarm area before I can start the raglan sleeve increases.  The pattern says 14 inches before doing this.  Well....  here is 15 inches:

   

-- and it is still too short.  I am thinking I need at least 16-17 inches if I want to cover my tummy roll and lay the bottom cuff on my hips.  This is Knit Picks Shine Sport in the coral colorway.  I really wanted to wear it this summer, so I'm still going strong on it.  So close - but yet so far.....

Don't you love that middle panel of purls?

 

Great construction on this tee.  I wonder why more people aren't knitting it?  Oh, yeah... sport weight yarn.  We've already established that.  How easily I forget!  ;)

I have also finished the back and two front panels of Hey Teach!:

  

I need to do two sleeves, block it and then knit the button band on.  Hmmmm..  Block something before finishing it?  Let's all hold our collective breaths on that one.  ;)

The Russet and Salmon socks are still going:

 

-- still loving them with all my heart.  Even though I had to set them aside to start my Nanners for the Wendy KAL's July "installment":

 

See here how they are giving the Russets some love???  I'm using my homespun Toasted Banana Superwash I purchased from Zarzuela's Etsy shop.  She has wonderful rovings, and this is my first handspun I was able to get enough yardage from 4 oz. for a pair of socks!  350+ yards baby!  After these are done I have to do the On-Holds.  I am loving all of the lace socks I've been churning out!

See!  I'm doing stuff!  Happy Fourth Everyone!

P.S.  The ducks still hate me, although they have brought Paul into their flock.  Men.  Figures.  

Stash Police, Sprucey Lucy and Ready for Round 2

I've been busted by the Stash Police (aka Paul)...

It was so simple at first..... The stash was getting a little out-of-hand in the one room I keep it in.  You know how it is?  You have some packages of yarn that come and you realize the tub or box you keep that particular weight/make/model in is full, so, you either start a new box/tub or throw the package on the table.  Suddenly there seems to be a large pile of packages on the table.  Oh boy.  How did they get there???  Time to improvise.  So, slowly (this must be done delicately people) I had been moving portions of it out and into the adjacent room which we'll call the "book" room.  First it was the merino worsted (well, some of it).  Let's face it, we all have multiple containers with worsted weight stash.  That's the "working" yarn, right?  Then it was the sock and lace weight stash.  Lace weight - awh.... just a little stash, starting to spread it's wings...  So far so good.  No one was the wiser, except yours truly.  I was so proud of myself.  I'm thinking ahead...  I'm making room...

Well, it all went to hell when I decided that the Caron one-pound afghan yarn had to go.

By the way, did you know that Caron has so many different colors of their one-pound skeins?  I mean, really cool colors, like fluorescent orange and yellows, etc.  Of course I played with it before it got moved.  You have to play with your stash to let it know you love it every now and again.  ANYway - when moving the 150 skeins in every color imaginable, I found two perfect large cardboard boxes.  I thought, this is great!  Cardboard is fine for acrylic.  It's not like any little beasties are going to get in there and start eating it, right?  When I say large, I mean LARGE.  My whole collection fit in two of these boxes, which I then moved to the "book" room.  Hmmmm....  looking a little boxey in there.  But the stash room is looking excellent again.

In comes Paul.  "Hey, I thought you sent all of the fleeces to be processed already."  Me, "Nope, I still have two boxes going."  Paul, "Oh.  Okay.  Well, those boxes are pretty big.  How much wool did you fit in them?"  Me, "Ah, which boxes are you talking about?"  You can see where this is going, right?  Next comes the, "Hey, you are not going to have storage in both of the bedrooms, are you???"  Me, "Of course not honey, that's why we need to get the basement finished."  he he he    

Let's just say Paul is learning about yarn addiction.

Onward......  I do have stuff to show you.  I finished the Sprucey Lucys:

  

Just in time, too, because on July 1st we start two new patterns.

Here's the pretty heel structure:

 

Next it's On-Hold and Nanners.  And I'm ready!!!

 

I'm using the turquoise I just dyed for the On-Holds, and my handspun Toasted Banana from Zarzuela!  Yay!  Oh, and to keep me busy until it's time to start??

 

Salmon and Russett.  Resistance is futile........

Sock Crock Pot Revisited.....

Without further ado - here's some dyed sock skeins...

 

Yes, I know.  All that posturing and messing with you and they are really not much to talk about, huh?  In my defense, I had to dye some plain colors for the Wendy Knits KAL.  Almost all of the socks are lace and they go good with solid colors.  These ARE very cool solid colors, though, right???  :)

 

These were done with Jacquards Acid Dyes.  The blue on the end is Turquoise, using the Donegal Sock Yarn from Knit Picks (the little color blips of blue, red, yellow and green don't dye!).

 

The green is Brilliant Kelly Green.

 

I'd say!  Again with the Donegal.

Next, I used Sky Blue and Pink:

 

And then, of course, my lovely pretty favorite - with Salmon and Russett:

 

I still haven't stopped touching this one (okay - well, maybe to touch the Malabrigo a 'lil).

Four pairs of hand-dyed superwash socks for under $30.  Yep!  AND - for those of you who think it's hard to dye sock yarn, it's totally not!!!  Look at the side-bar, under the free Bolts pattern.  I added my post (tutorial) on dyeing sock yarn in a crock pot.  Check it out!  Then, Just Do It and show me what you get!  You won't be disappointed!  Happy Weekend!

Malabrigo!

I won!  I won!!  I won a KAL!  To be specific, I won Knitting Purls' Spring KAL.

Lookie what I got!

My very own and first skein of Malabrigo!

 

It's the Archangel colorway.  I'm surprised that I am not showing you a finished pair of socks, such is my love for this yarn.  Thanks to Ida and Knitting Purls for having these wonderful KALs!  Such great fun, and look what you get!  You should come and join, really!  Lots of fun and encouragement.

That's not all!  Nope.  I received a dual prize.  Stage two:

 

This I'll have to guess on.  It didn't have a tag.  I would say it is probably 2-3 ounces of merino or blue-faced leicester.  Gorgeous and very soft!  I give, Ida - What is it!!!???

In other news......

Today was the day I was going to show you the four skeins of sock yarn I dyed (you already saw one), but prizes got in the way.  I am using two skeins of Bare Superwash Merino Nylon Sock and two skeins of Bare Superwash Merino Nylon Donegal Sock, both from Knit Picks. Great price!  One skein makes a FULL pair of socks!  Even if you didn't dye them, these are great for making a pair of socks under $7 in superwash wool.  I have personally knitted the donegal without dyeing it.  They came out lovely.

Where was I?  Oh... right.  I had the crock pot and dyes ready.  Well....  what do you think happened next?

 

This is the way we soak our wool......... early in the morning.

I know - such a tease.....

Lacy Ribs, Sprucey Lucy and Groceries....

I'm back at work full-time now.... and Paul wants to go grocery shopping tonight after work.  The "I don't do anything on Mondays" rule is definitely not working out for me today.  I can understand the urgent need for shopping, though, since I ate everything in the house over the last twelve days while I was at home.  Well... that's not totally true.  Whatever I didn't eat was old and I threw it out (don't tell Paul - he hates when I throw stuff out).  We need everything.... so I will not complain, but I will ask (just once) if he can wait until tomorrow night.  Cross your fingers!

I have more to updates to show you!  I finished the Lacy Ribs:

 

I need the little sheepie ruler for the KAL rules.  I even took a picture of Lacy Ribs on my feet!

 

Yes, I actually ventured outside and sat my butt on the picnic table to get this shot.

And... I started the Sprucey Lucys:

 

I'm using Knit Picks Palette in the teal colorway.  Not an easy pattern, but I'm getting the hang of it.  There was a lot of ripping at first.  I have to finish the second sock by the end of June, which I think is totally doable considering I finished three socks in the first 15 days (okay - I was on vacation for 12 of those.....)  :)

The reason I signed up for Wendy's KAL is that most of the socks are lace and I really need my practice on doing lace.  I LOVE lace socks, but don't really like knitting them.  Case in point - right now I am swooning over a skein of yarn that I dyed using Jacquards Russet and Salmon....

 

It so wants to be a pair of plain stockinette socks.  But.... I will soldier on with the lace socks and turn my back on it for just a little longer....

That's right.  I did some dyeing..... just a little.

Pearl, Hey Teach and, Why is the Grass always Greener on the other side?

Speaking of bringing in the hay, ;)

Here's Pearl:

 

She showed up one day with a litter of kittens.  Very feral.  She was barely a kitten herself.  We found homes for her brood and made sure she didn't have any more.  She lives in the hay barn now and loves it!  She used to live in the old sheep barn, but moved when it burned down a few years ago.  She doesn't much care for the new shiny sheep barn.  She is the fatest outdoor cat I've ever seen.  Then again, Sassy and Sophie get dry food, and she gets canned.  ;)  Paul and I think she is probably 10 or 11 now.  She hardly leaves the barn unless the dogs are there (they love her too) and/or Paul or me.  Then she comes out for her petting and goes back in.  She has become less and less feral over the years.  We've discussed bringing her in the house, but I"m not sure Sassy or Sophie would get along with her or if she would even like being in the house.  Heck, Sassy and Sophie don't like each other!!!  They each have half of the house as their territories, and I swear there is an imaginary line that cannot be crossed without cat hair flying.  Back to Pearl.  I have seen her at night in the side yard stalking little animals, so she does know there is life outside the barn.  She also has a grey friend, Smoke, who shows up to keep her company mostly in the winter (snuggle time).  He's pretty busy in the spring and summer and doesn't show much interest in her then (hmmmm.... can you guess why???)  :)

In Knitting news....

I finished the back of Hey Teach:

 

The lace pattern chart was easy to follow, until I got to the armhole shaping.  At that point I just couldn't figure out how many stitches I was into the chart to start the rows.  I tried visualizing the pattern, and congratulated myself profusely until I realized I had knit ten rows of lace that looked really neat, but were NOT the pattern.  Then, there was much ripping, cursing, reknitting and more visualizing until I finally figured it all out...... right about the time I got to the neck shaping.  Sheesh!  I did change the armholes somewhat to make sure the yarnovers were not part of the last two stitches (or three ..), so when I piece it together I can have full stitches.  It is bad enough that my finishing-up is for crap, at least give me full stitches to work with!

 

See.  Those first few rows will definitely be gone.  Trust me.  I think.  In any event, the Knit Picks Comfy in Flamingo is great!  It is so soft for being partially cotton.  Try it!

In other news, I'm still washing fleeces and sending them to be processed into roving.  I've mostly been working with white and cream, but I just have to show you Charlie's fleece:

 

This picture does not do it justice.  It is lovely.  It is a "hogget" fleece, which means it is his first lamb fleece.  Charlie is half Border Leicester and half Jacob.  His staples (length of the wool) are about five inches long.  The tips are lightened from the sun.

Charlie would be the brown butt on the left, feeling good without all that wool on him. 

 

This is apparently what the sheep think of my attempts to take their picture today.

Also, Daphne's fleece is looking good too, although it is still on her until next spring.  :)

 

Can someone please explain to me why the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence???

Lacy Ribs and Huey, Duey and Luey Update

Well... it seems I missed my one year blogversary yesterday.  Isn't that just like me?  I cannot be held accountable, though, since I am on vacation.  Happy Blogversary to me!!!

Speaking of vacation, I am on day 7 of 12 straight days at home.  I am just settling down into it, except I noticed that I have one problem.  I have totally thrown out my sleeping pattern.  It seems that I have regressed back to my infancy schedule.  Up for three hours, down for three hours, up for three hours . . . . feed . . . down for three hours.  And can I just point out that there is some real CRAP on tv in the middle of the night?!!  What is with that, anyway?

Onward.  In knitting news...

I am on the second sock of Lacy Ribs from WendyKnits' "Socks from the Toe Up" and have avoided SSS yet again (second sock syndrome, Ava, I'll explain later).

 

I am really liking this Red Heart, Heart and Sole with aloe, even though it is not as "soft" as the Austermann Step.  It is definitely cheaper!!  And did you see!!!???  I have matchy matchy on the striping!  Wait...Is that picture blurry, or do I need to go wash my face (eyes)?  :)  Hey - soap is not a priority on vacation.  Just ask Paul.   

Huey Duey and Luey update...

I decided that if I waited until I could actually get a shot of them in their pool I might be retired by then.  Since Paul had to put them in their "duck hutch" when he did the hay (did you know that fishing nets have other uses then catching fish?), I figured now was as good a time as any.  Paul has to open the side door of the barn to get the hay in.  Here is their set-up:

 

Didn't Paul do a good job with it?  They even use the "steps" to get into the pool, not that I ever see it!  Here's a close-up of the little beasties:

 

They grew fast, didn't they?  Good thing I didn't start knitting their little outfits yet.  ;)

OH - you are wondering what they are staring at in the first picture, aren't you?

 

Sasha would like to be their friend as well......

Knitting Purls KALs and Pass the Vinegar

I am knitting projects other than socks this summer.....  Really!  I am in three KALs with the fabulous Knitting Purls Ravelry group.  Go get you there and join up.  You will not be disappointed.

We are doing a UFO along, a Sweater KAL and a Summer Hotties KAL.  I am knitting Hey Teach:

which falls into the Sweater KAL and Summer Hotties KAL categories.  I am not beyond getting a "two-fer" when one can be had!  I'm using Comfy from Knit Picks in the Flamingo colorway.  I love working with this yarn.  It is very soft and feels good when you knit with it, unlike some other cotton/acrylic blends out there.  Also, I seem to have gotten gauge without swatching.  (shhhh.... don't tell anyone).

By the way, I'm sorry for not linking today (or lately, actually).  If you want to get to any of these patterns or groups, please email me and I'll happily give you the link.  I promise to stop my "link" slump soon!!!

Are you in any KALs this summer??

In other news . . . and since I am currently on vacation and have lots of free time, I seem to feel a dyeing episode coming on....  Uh Oh.  Pass the vinegar please.

Socks Socks Socks

Where was I?  Oh, that's right.  6,352 KALs...... 

Socks Socks Socks....

I'm in Wendy Knits' Socks from the Toe Up KAL on Ravelry.  We are going to knit all of the socks from Wendy's fabulous new book "Socks from the Toe Up" and most (if not all) of her free sock patterns as well.  Each month we do one pattern from the book and one free pattern.  Two pairs a month?  Heck, I can do that!  Right???  This month we are doing Lacy Ribs:

 

Which I already started.

 

I'm loving this sock yarn.  It is Red Heart, Heart & Sole in the Mellow Stripe colorway.  This is superwash wool with aloe in it.  Nice price too!!

We are also doing her free pattern, Sprucey Lucy.

 

I'm using Knit Picks Palette for these in the teal colorway, although teal is not the color I would use to describe this yarn - more "sprucey" if you ask me!  Perfect for these socks.

I'm also in the Summer of Socks, 2009, but it doesn't start until June 21st and is very laid back this year.  No pressure!  Yay!

This means I will be knitting a lot of socks this summer, but not have too much time to come up with more crappy patterns of my own.  We can all now breath a big sigh of relief.  I am truly blessed......  :)

This also means that I am finished with the leftover sock yarn for awhile.  I did put a dent in it....

 

although I did add a lot of solids.... Hmmm...... Hey - that yellowish color on the left would go good with the Mellow Stripe leftovers.....  The drama continues.