More socks of course......Unchain My Heart

I promised that I would update my blog more. Which even to my amazement I have been doing. I also promised that I would show you some of the designs that I've been working on. This is one of my favorite designs to date and with 397 skeins of sock yarn I have to find a way to use it all up. ;o)

I designed this for the Saffron Dyeworks Enya yarn, which is beautiful and you have to try it if you haven't. The pattern will be available on Sunday Oct 3rd and will be free with the purchase of a skein of the Enya sock yarn from the Saffron Dyeworks website. The pattern will be available on my blog and on Ravelry in January 2011.

Pattern Name: Unchain My Heart (Ravelry link)
Yarn: Saffron Dyeworks Enya
Colorway: Swoop
Pattern Source: Saffron Dyeworks
Available: Sunday Oct 3rd

The cables of the sock start at the cuff and continue down the heel. The picture below is from one of my test knitters Annie (QTKnits on Ravelry), it really shows off the heel pattern.

I can't wait to wear these with my clogs this fall and winter. The pattern looks like it would be much more difficult than it actually is, which is always a bonus. Enjoy!!!

The magic number is........

I counted three times just to make sure I had the number right. I even thought about asking my husband to count for me but I wasn't sure that was such a good idea ;o) SABLE comes to mind or warm feet for the rest of my life, however you look at it.

397 - Yes that is right almost 400 skeins/hanks/balls of sock yarn.

1st prize - Jessica, who guessed 397. I think we should call her the Rain Man of sock yarn.
2nd prize - Andrea, who guessed 395. Yes this is the Andrea who laughed about my 50 skeins of sock yarn.
3rd prize - Knit'in Crazee, who guessed 390.

Thanks everyone for playing. I had fun reading your guesses. I think I should go and cast on a couple more pairs of socks to use up some of this stash ;o) Check back soon I will be posting the details of my new pattern.

The first step......

The first step to getting help is admitting that you have a problem........ ;o)

One of my friends Andrea mentioned that she was reading my old blog posts. She said that she laughed when she saw that I posted about having 50 skein of sock yarn. Yes, I now have more than 50 skeins. So I went back and looked through my old posts and discovered that on September 7, 2007 I posted my first blog entry. I thought why not have a contest for my blogiversary.

Yes, I am going to show you pictures of my sock yarn stash, all of it I promise, (no laughing Andrea or you either Michelle ;0). The contest will run from tonight September 7 til Monday September 13th at 8PM. The individuals that leave a comment guessing the total number of skeins, balls and/or hanks of yarn that I have in my stash without going over will win. I will have a first, second and third place winner. One guess per person. If there is a tie I will draw names to determine the tie breaker. What will the prizes be? You guessed it sock yarn.

Prizes:
First place - 1 Sundara 100% superwash merino yarn in the orchid colorway
Second place - 1 Tuscan Grove 100% Superwash Merino in the Venice base, colorway Whisper
Third place - 1 Red Rocks Fiber Works Aspen Sock , colorway It's a Go



Everything on the floor and in the four bins is sock yarn.



Here is a close up of the bins. Some have have two layers of yarn and some have three layers.



Good luck everyone!!!

Goth Kiddie

First, I have to say that I can't believe it has been almost 7 months since I blogged last. I have been very busy designing some new patterns and finishing up some new and old projects. I have lots to show you but I think I'll post my projects one at a time. That way I can be sure to post more ;o)

Recently I have acquired some Gothsock yarn and have even been able to score a much coveted spot in the Gothsock sock club. Yeah......Anyways I finished my first project with the OhMyGoth yarn that I received via a Raverly trade.

Pattern: Country Kiddie (Ravelry link)
Yarn: OhMyGoth
Color: Teenage Drama Queen
Size: I knit the largest size but the final product measures like the
6 month size. You can see more pictures here on Ravelry.
Needles: US Size 3 (3.25mm)
Verdict: I love how they turned out.
Modifications: None

I have to say that I enjoyed every moment knitting this because the OhMyGoth is super soft and squishy. It must be the cashmere and nylon in the fiber. I have some left over to make some cute little socks or booties. Not sure who this is for but they will be one lucky baby. Sorry for the drive by post but like I said I have lots more to share. Hope everyone had a great long weekend.

February Contest....

So, I figured after the Ravelympics have come to an end that we could start a Knit Along with the Sinuosity sock pattern.

If you purchase the pattern, between today Feb 15 and EOD of Feb 28, you will be entered to win a skein of Destination Yarn. You get to choose between two colorways Sea or Shining Sea. I will send it out just in time for our KAL which will start on March 15. The KAL will be through the Knitting Nonstop Group on Ravelry.

Shining Sea:

Sea:

The great pictures are courtesy of Jeanne of Destination Yarn.

Another Hobby....

Not that I need another hobby but I think I've caught the sewing bug. Saturday I had some friends over for a winter craft night. We made box bags to hold small knitting projects. These bags are sold all over etsy and I've bought a couple myself before I realized how easy they were to make.

This is the first one I made with Michelle's help. I love the material, who doesn't love chickens ;o)


The second bag I made all by myself on Sunday. These are sooooo fun to make.


The best thing about these bags is they can be made using fat quarters. If your interested in making one there are some great tutorials here, here and here. I cut my fabric 14 inches by 18 inches and I used a 14 inch zipper. I cut the ends off of the zipper after I sewed over the ends. I had not sewn in years so if I was able to make one anyone can make them. Have fun if you decide to make one.

Ravelympics 2010

So I've decided to join the Ravelympics and compete in two categories. First is the WIP (the work in progress) category. I have lots of socks that I need to finish up and get off my needles so I can knit up the tons of sock yarn that I have (I'll show you that at a later time ;o). First up I need to finish the mates to my Sinuosity sock and my Cookie A Monkeys. I love that pattern. Both yarns are Hazel Knits Artisan Sock, one of my favorites.


Next, these socks were actually suppose to be done for Halloween but there is always next year. my Little Pumpkin socks (Ravelry link). Such a fun pattern and of course Malabrigo sock yarn is to die for.

I almost forgot about these. They are beautiful but I had to put the cables down for a little bit. I was so proud of myself when I finished the first sock. I have about 20% of the second sock done. These are the Cozy Cable Socks (Ravelry link). I extended the pattern down the heel because I wear clogs and I thought it would be fun to show the cables off.

I don't only knit socks although that's what it seems like lately. I also joined the Designer Original Dance.

This competition gives me 17 days to design and knit an original item. I can swatch before the Olympics but can't cast on until Feb 12th. I'm excited to see how I work under pressure. 17 days seems like a short time but when I was in college I always waited til a day or two before a paper was due to start. Am I crazy or is this the kick in the pants I need to finish my next design? Guess we'll find out.