Bad blogger

OK so the new job has been keeping me busy. I can't believe it's been so long since I posted last. I've been doing lots of knitting and organizing of my knitting stuff. First, is my Cozy Cable Socks. Sock #1 is complete and I've cast on for my second sock so I don't loose steam. I used Dream in Color Smooshy in Vino Veritas. I love this yarn.


I don't know if I'm more impressed with the fact that I finished the sock or the fact that I was able to get my foot down from the counter top. Note to self: It may be a good idea to stretch out before pulling another ballet move like this.

I also bought some new cubes and containers for my yarn. I purchased the cubes at Target and the pails are from Organize.com. I got the inspiration for the pails and cubes from Sheep in the City. Stacey has such a beautiful and well organized room she inspired me to step it up a notch.

No this is definitely not all my yarn. Off to clean up a bit and work on my second sock.

Have a great rest of the weekend!!!

February Already???

I can't believe it's February already. I start a new job tomorrow. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. It's not a job that I applied for I was chosen for the position and it's a promotion so that is definitely a good thing. I think I'm going to have a busy February and most likely a busy year. I'm not complaining, with the way the economy is and all the recent layoffs around the world I'm definitely happy to be gainfully employed.

On the knitting front I'm working on a February Lady Sweater for my grandmother's birthday. I have to get a move on because her birthday is the 8th. For myself I purchased some Dream in Color Classy to make Francis Revisited (Ravelry link).

I'm not sure what color I'm going to use between the Absolute Magenta and Chinatown Apple. I'm leaning toward the Magenta. I also started a Knit-along on Ravelry that begins on Ground Hog's Day to make the Cozy Cable Socks (Ravelry link). I can't wait to cast on the cables are gorgeous.

I'm addicted to socks again. When I first started knitting I had a sock project in my purse at all times. They kept me company at many long waits in the doctor's office. Latley I've been tempted to pull them out when I sit for hours in traffic. Like my 3 hour drive to work last week during our big snow storm. I have to figure out how to get a driver to take me back and forth to work so I can use that time to knit. LOL!!! As my grandmother would say " In my wild and crazy dreams".

I'm cured!!!

I'm not sure why but I can knit a pair of socks as a gift without a problem but for some reason I have never been able to complete a pair of socks for myself. I've knit single socks for myself but never a pair until now. I finally finished my New Years Day Socks. I participated in a KAL that started on New's Day.

Pattern: New Years Day Socks
(Ravelry link)
Source: http://www.millharrow.com/weblog/front_content.php?idart=146&idsel=182
Yarn: Pagewood Farms Yukon
Color: New Horizon (Less than 1 hank)
Size: To fit size 8 1/2 - 9 shoe size, I completed 7 pattern repeats for the cuff and 14 total repeats for each sock.
Needles: US Size 1
Modifications:I changed the toe by following the decreases until I had 16 stitches left and then I did the kitchner stitch to close the toe. Toe is nice and round. Changed the skp’s to ssk’s throughout the entire pattern.

This is a really great pattern, the lace pattern was really easy to memorize. I would definitely makes these again.

I had to order some sock blockers from The Loopy Ewe for my new socks. If you have never ordered from Sheri before you definitely need to. With your first five orders you receive a small gift and with your 6th order I've heard you receive a fantastic gift and you become a member of the Loopy Groupies club. Also for every $250 you spend you get a $25 credit. I'm sure that won't take me long to get there with all the great yarn, patterns and accessories Sheri has available.

The yarn above is Dream in Color Smooshy in Cocoa Kiss with the great Sock Blocker that I ordered. My free gift was a needle inventory tracker for double points, circulars and straight needles along with some yarn sample cards. I can't wait to place my next order.

February Lady Sweater

I finally finished my February Lady Sweater. I love this pattern. I wasn't sure it was going to be very flattering but I was wrong. The fit is great. Of all the sweaters I have knit for myself I think this is my favorite.

Pattern: February Lady Sweater

(Ravelry link)
Source: http://www.flintknits.com/blog
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Kettle Dyed
Color: Jay Kettle (7 skeins)
Size: smallest
Needles: US Size 8
Modifications:

Decreased the 9 underarm stitches because I did not want my sleeves to be wide.

• SSK, K5, K2tog
• SSK, K3, K2tog
• SSK, K1, K2tog
• Slip 2 knitwise, K1, PSSO.
• One stitch will be left. On row 1 of the gull lace pattern knit the remaining stitch together with the last K1 of the pattern repeat.
• Bound off sleeves on a purl row using size 8 needles. Binding off on a purl row creates a nice finished edge.

I got these buttons from as cute as a button. I think they are perfect. They look black but they are actually a navy blue.

If you use the Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Kettle Dyed be very careful when you block your sweater. I always block my sweaters by washing them on delicate and then laying flat to dry. My machine doesn't agitate so I am usually okay. I have never had any problems in the past. Unfortunately there are a few spots on the back of the sweater where the lace pattern is not as pronounced because it was starting to felt.

I've had a lot of time to knit this weekend because we've had more crazy weather/snow. I finished my first News Day Sock and am almost half way through the second. I love this pattern. It is pretty easy but difficult enough to keep my interest.

I'm already thinking about the next sock pattern I want to knit. I decided on the Cozy Cable Socks. I purchased some Dream in Color Smooshy in Vino Veritas and Happy Forest. I'm not sure which color I'm going to use. Too hard to decide.

Vino Veritas

Happy Forest

I'll leave you with a picture that I took at sunrise this morning. As soon as I woke up I ran for my camera to capture this beautiful sky.

Shalom Cardigan

I have been doing a lot of knitting because we were snowed in last week. We got about 10 inches of snow over the weekend. Last night it was -10 degrees and we have about a foot of snow on the ground now. I just need a snow suit so I can go outside and make snow angels like I did when I was a kid. To be able to play outside making igloos all day. That was the life.

The snow gave me an excuse to stay in with a hot cup of tea and my knitting. I finished my Shalom Cardigan and my February Lady Sweater. It has been really hard to photograph both sweaters and get an accurate picture of the yarn color. I'm also close to finishing my New Years Day sock. I can't wait to cast on for the second sock. The cable pattern was a lot of fun to knit.

So here are the details of my finished Shalom Cardigan. I love how it came out. It's definitely warm and cozy and perfect for this crazy weather.

Pattern: Shalom Cardigan
(Ravelry link)
Source: http://involvingthesenses.blogspot.com/
Yarn: Malabrigo Chunky
Color: Paris Nights (5.75 hanks)
Size: 32
Needles: US Size 10 1/2
Modifications:

• Cast on using long-tail cast on.
• Cast on counts as first row.
• Completed 3 buttonholes on rows 6, 20 & 34.
• Row 45: K28 (front), place next 33 stitches (sleeve) on scrap yarn, cast on 5, knit 47 (back), place next 33 stitches (sleeve) on scrap yarn, cast on 5, knit 28 (front).
• Row 46: K5, P26, place marker, P51, place marker, P26, K5.
• Row 55: Knit until 2 stitches before marker, SSK, slip marker, K2tog, repeat once, knit to end of row.
• Repeated row 55 four times as directed in pattern.
• Row 83: Knit until 1 stitch before marker, M1L, K1, slip marker, K1, M1R, repeat once, knit to end of row.
• Completed row 83 twice.
• Knit row 97 and then moved on to garter stitch bottom band. My row gauge was slightly off and I didn’t want the sweater to be too long.
• Knit 8 rows of garter stitch & bound off on row 9.
• Sleeves - placed sleeve stitches on needles, picked up 4 stitches under arm, placed marker (for future decreases) picked up 4 more stitches under arm.
• Sleeve - Knit 4 rounds. - Complete one decrease row. SSK, knit to two stitches before marker K2tog. - Decreased every 6 rows (5 times). - Decreased every 5 rows (4 times). - Completed 8 garter stitch rows. - Bound off on row 9 (purl row). Sleeve measured 17 inches from end of yoke to end of cuff.

This is a great pattern and very easy to modify. It's also a really quick knit. I would definitely recommend this pattern if you're on the fence about it.

I'll leave you will a little eye candy. This is Sophie's Toes sock yarn. I purchased it on etsy here.

Cooking with Gas

I have been a knitting mad women. My sink is clogged and the kitchen is a mess but that's okay because I'm happily knitting while the DH snakes the drain. At least I have my priorities straight. LOL!!! I have been happily knitting on my New Years Day Sock. The only modification I'm making is substituting ssk's for the skp's. I'm not fond of having to pass a stitch over. If I can avoid it and still get the same look I will definitely do it.

I'm using the Pagewood Farms Yukon Hand-dyed yarn that I purchased when I was in Colorado. It's 70% wool, 20% bamboo and 10% nylon. I'm loving knitting with it. The pattern is a lot of fun and has just the right amount of cabling to add interest.

I learned how to knit without a cable needle using Grumperina's tutorial. It was a little intimidating at first but once you get the hang of it, it's really easy.


I have also been working on my Shalom cardigan. I'm using the Malabrigo Chunky. This yarn is so soft and yummy. I will definitley be using it again.

This is a great pattern, very easy to adapt. I'm adding long sleeves and more buttons. I'm not sure yet if I'm going to add 3 or 4 button's. I can't wait to finish the yoke and split the sleeves because I want to try this on.

I have also have been making stitch markers again. I ordered a bunch of beads from Oriental Trading . I also ordered these sheep beads from Fairy Bear's Beads. I couldn't resist they are just too cute.

My friend Michelle also made me some stitch markers. She actually gave them to everyone in our knitting group. We had a Christmas Knit get together the week before Christmas.

One can never have too many fun stitch markers.

2008 FO's

I can't believe that 2008 is almost over. There are so many things that I wanted to knit and many more that I started but didn't get finished. Here is a look back at what I did finish.

In 2009 I'm going to focus on organization. I would love to redo my pantry and get some new closet and garage organizers. I also have some knitting items that I'm getting ready to cast on.

Shalom Cardigan - I'm going to swatch today. This one should be a fast knit.

February Lady sweater - Body is done but the sleeves seem a little too big. I think I may decrease some stitches on the sleeves.

New Years Day Socks - (Raverlry link) I can't start these until midnight tonight. I'm in a KAL and those are the rules.

I hope every one has a Happy New Year!!!