Mystery Revealed!

Secret's out! These were a sample I knit for Cookie A's new book, Sock Innovation. You can see a sample of the book here and you can pre-order it on Amazon here.

The Deets:
Pattern Name; Milo
Cast On: May 7, 2008
Cast Off: June 3, 2008
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock in denim
Needles: US1, dpn

Nor'easter

Well, I woke up this morning to find this:

Yep, we're in the middle of a nor'easter with an expected 12"-18" of snow.  My plans today include knitting (obvi), watching some Star Wars (episodes 4 & 5 are on deck), and cooking some corned beef and cabbage.

Here's a WIP and an FO to keep you entertained.

Pattern: Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Mediumweight

Color: 1 skein Loch Ness and 1 skein Tanzanite

Needles: US6

Time to complete: I knit it for about a month on and off

This may look like an FO but don't let it fool you, there's only one sock so far.

Pattern: Plain stockinette, short row heel and toe, 72 stitch sock

Yarn: Regia Design Line, Kaffe Fassett

Color: fire (4259)

Needles: US1

Time to complete: This first sock took me 4 days

Minty Fresh Feet

There are more pictures here.

Thank you, Minty! Today I popped down to the post to find a package from Minty of pepperknit.com. Inside I found a Falling Leaves sock knit with Claudia Handpainted in dark green that fits like a dream. Seriously, I've been walking around the house wearing one sock for about 2 hours.
I also found pattern notes which I greatly appreciate because I know the pattern had to be resized for my ginormous foot. I love the changes she made, especially the meandering trail of knits between the purls! And did you see that star toe? Gorgeous.
Hmmm, what else? Lovely notecards with scarf patters on them, tea, bee and flower soap (I love bee and flower) and copious amounts of chocolate.
I love everything in this little box! I have to go cast on now, I have another sock to knit.
Minty: flickr, Ravelry, blog

Clever Title

I finally finished the sock for my single sock swap partner! Pardon the terrible lighting, it was late and we only have about 5 minutes of sun anyway.

Pattern: Rococo Socks
Yarn: Regia Silk 4-ply
Color: 0010
Needles: US1 DPN
Time to complete: 5 days

I love the yarn, it held up well to multiple froggings and was a Child's Silk Sock, Drunken Bee and finally, a Rococo Sock. I also love the pattern and will definitely be making a pair for myself.
You're supposed to repeat the 4 row cuff pattern 3 times but I excluded the last k2, p2 row and bound off because I was running out of yarn. That little bit of yarn you see in the pic was all I had left. I knit 8 pattern repeats on the foot and the leg of the sock. I used a US5 to bind off.

I also included a GoKnit Pouch and a set of US1 rosewood DPN. I hope the sock fits and she likes everything.

I've also been doing some mobile photoblogging. I like that I can take pictures of something that I think is funny or interesting and send it to flickr via my phone. Awesome.


Wow Papa John's is going to be my new pharmacy.


Biker in front of me at the natual foods store.

In tattoo news I'm getting some more in on the 17th!

Thank You & Actual Knitting

Know what makes me feel better when I'm down? Hand knit socks! After returning from Toronto, I found these awesome socks (and other goodies) waiting for me. My Sock It To Me pal, Ann (blog Ravelry), knit me these beautiful socks that fit perfectly.

The pattern is from More Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch and the yarn is Claudia Hand Painted in the colorway Eat Your Veggies.

Ann Also sent a package for Elah. She was beside herself when she discovered that part of the package was for her.


I feel totally spoiled. Here's what else was in the box. A beautiful pouch filled with all manner of tea,


shortbread cookie mix and A First Treasury of Knitting Patterns (can you believe it!?),


a skein of STR medium in Farmhouse (I love the colorway!).


Seriously, Ann, you went above and beyond and really made a difference in how I was feeling. I immediately put the socks on and even slept with them on (unheard of!) that night. Thank you.

In my own knitting news, I completed an EZ Baby Sweater on Two Needles (Ravelry). It was my grief knitting. I figured what better way to work through it than by knitting something for a new life.

Yarn: 2.5 skeins, Rowan Wool Cotton
Color: Elf
Source: Kaleidoscope Yarns
Needles: Addi Turbo US 5 crics
Date Started: 20 October 2007
Date Finished: 28 October 2007

Up next: I am furiously trying to finish my SSS sock by Thursday.

Beantown Love

First a knitting update. Drunken Bees have been frogged back to the ribbing; a small set back but I'm still feeling good about them. CPH only needs the sleeves and buttons sewn on! If I can get enough homework done then I'll try to finish it tonight.

Now on to Boston.
I drove down on Friday and enjoyed the wonderful hospitality of Mrs. & Mr. Hello Yarn (and Shambles). I had a great time with Adrian and Mark, ate some delicious food, did a little bit of knitting and just had a good old-fashioned visit. It was awesome.


The next morning, Saturday, Adrian treated me to some yummy coffee, I marveled at all the fiber-y goodness in her home and then it was off to meet Siòbhan at Darkwave. 5 1/2 hours later I was on my way back home with the outline of a bad ass knitting tattoo.

Siòbhan is awesome and I was totally blown away by the design she created with very little guidance from me. I am so excited to go back.

Damn It

doorway to my heart
Originally uploaded by stinkypony.

Remember when I was working on an original sock design? The sweetheart Socks over there on the right? ---->
Well I was just checking out the Interweave Holiday 2007 preview and there's a pair of socks in there with the same name. So what's the protocol here? My design is done, it's just not written up but now I feel like I should change the name. What do you think? Leave me a comment.

I'm a bad blogger.

First the good news: I'm all better! That's really it, there's no bad news.
It's been a long time since I last posted and even longer since I replied to anyone's comments. I do still have all of your emails and I will reply soon.

I didn't really knit all that much while I was sick but I have been trying to work on a sock pattern for the Summer of Socks. Here's my test sock. I didn't end up going with any of these patterns.

Click the pick to go to flickr and see all the patterns.
I really like the top pattern but I think it's too much like the snicket socks to be original.
I did eventually settle on a pattern and am in the process of test knitting and charting now.

I also received my package from my last.fm/ravelry swap partner.

The package is awesome! It contained a CD, a card, some beads (not pictured) and a beautiful skein of Cider Moon yarn in Hocus Crocus. I've been wanting to try Cider Moon and I adore the colors.

Here's the playlist from the CD.

This is the second time I've done a simple package and one skein swap ad I love it!

Also in pre-sickness knitting I made a pair of Saartje's Bootees for a woman at work who's expecting.

The yarn is left over from the Bloody Mary socks I knit for my Sock It To Me pal.

What else?

Oh, I've picked up my hoop again for the frist time in about 15 years.

My first practice project.


A shirt I made for Elah's first day of school. She'll be in 2nd grade this year (!) which at her school makes her a Tau. It's a big deal, for the first 2 years she was in the same classroom so this is her first big change in awhile. She loves the shirt and when I gave it to her she gave me a huge hug and told me that she thought she'd cry. Only I could have a child who gets verklempt.

*whew* OK, that's it for now. Sorry it took so long Stoneking and Jess.

It's not summer until I've made sweet tea.

Mmmmmmm, minty.

Today was a perfect day, mid 70s, sunny, clear, light breeze...I was sad to be in an office today.

The heat broke and of course I promptly turned on the oven to make a cherry and nectarine Clafoutis and scones.


I also finished the first sock for my Sock It To Me pal. I hope she likes them because I kind of don't want to send them. The pattern is Bloody Mary (every time I think the name of the sock I think it in a spooky voice) and the yarn is Mountain Colors Bearfoot.

Day of Packages!

My Yarn in a Tea Cup package arrived from Jessica today. I love everything in here, thank you Jessica!
The package contained 2 skeins of Caudia's Hand Painted, a delicious cookie covered with chocolate and a beautiful mug. I really love the mug, it fits in my hand perfectly, I'm super excited to try the yarn, and believe it or not, I haven't eaten the cookie!


Leyburn socks in progress along with the beautiful socks blockers I just received from Chappy's. The yarn is some Koigu I've had in the stash for years.


These stitch markers also came with my sock blockers, what a pleasant surprise.

One Down, One To Go

Marigold #1 is done! I love this pattern, this yarn, this heel. Unfortunately my shoulder doesn't like all the knitting I've been doing so I think it will be a no knitting weekend for me. :(

Marigold Revived!

The new heel is awesome! I definitely started the short row heel too soon and I think that's why it was so tight across my ankle. Short row has been good to me but it can't compare to the fit of a heel flap and gusset. A big thank you to Wendy of Wendy Knits for coming up with this incredible technique, I love, love, love this heel.



Sock: Marigold
Heel: Toe up gusset
Yarn: Knit Picks bare

Marigold Progress

Here's my marigold progress so far. I am loving the pattern and the yarn.
Unfortunately the sock is tight across the top of my ankle (the bendy spot), I think it's because I started the heel too soon. I may need to frog, add a repeat or two to the foot and redo the heel.



*Edit
I guess I should add some details. The sock is Marigold from Flint Knits and the yarn is Knit Picks Bare hand dyed by me (and Elah).

*whew*

I had a busy weekend.
Let's start with Thursday. So at 11:30 Thursday night I realized that Friday was Georgia's last day at work and I had no knitted gift. For shame!

I cast on with the hand dyed Lamb's Pride and got to knittin'. I had to frog twice and by lunch time I was knitting so fast I actually broke a sweat but it was done by 1 and Georgia loves it.
The hat is based on the Cloche Du Bois pattern.

I got a lot of knitting done this weekend but didn't manage to take any pictures so today I had to try and grab some pictures after work but before this hit...


Saturday I bought some Plymouth Encore (machine washable!) for Casey's Coat from SnB Nation.

Elah picked the colors and we are knitting it together for the Bad Grandma's new dog, Lily. Hopefully it fits; we enlisted Elah's dad and stepmom to do some stealth measuring.

All weekend I continued to knit my Cable Twist Socks from hello yarn and I finished then Sunday night!

Ack! The legs, they blind me!


Yarn: 1 skein, Cherry Tree Hill Supersock
Color: Loden
Source: Linda's Store
Needles: Inox Grey US 1 crics
Date Started: 21 June 2007
Date Finished: 8 July 2007
Details: Remember when I decided to mirror the stitch pattern on the second sock? I'm really happy I did; I love them!

Sunday we had out Knit and Natter over at Viva Espresso and we had a new knitter come hang with us. Always exciting. Her Jitterbug sock was beautiful!

And finally, today I cast on for Marigold. I didn't get a lot done because I wasn't feeling well but I am very excited. (Yes, I know I need to cut my nails.)

I cast on for the 72 st sock but I think that I may need to go down to the 68. Instead of a short row toe, I did a Turkish Cast On of 20 sts, increasing every row with M1R and M1L* until I reached 36 sts and the increased every other row using the same method until I reached 72 sts. This more closely mimics a traditional wedge toe.

A note to my Sock It To Me pal, I'm working on your additional questions. They are very thorough and thoughtful; thank you.

*I remember the difference between M1R and M1L because the M1R picks up from the Rear. When you knit that stitch if it feels really loose then you're knitting into the wrong spot (front or back). Easy peasy.

Sunday Afternoon

Just a reminder, we will be getting together for a little Knit & Natter at Viva Espresso from 2:30-4 today.

One Cable Twist Sock is done and I've started the second one.

I'm finding that with the pattern reversed, the twist is tighter and I need to use a spare needle to do the cable. I know that there are other ways to cable without a needle but I'm afraid to drop my slippery sock yarn so I'm going the safe route.

Aija has been doing an Etsy Friday and while it's not Friday, I figured I'd share some of my Etsy purchases with you.

1. Nerd Necklace, 2. Knitty, knitty, 3. Even superheroes need a break, 4. Owl Cards

And while you're getting sucked into the black hole that is Etsy, go check The Other Emily's new store! Ocho is my fave.

Hello Sock

I'm almost done with my first Cable Twist sock (closer than this pattern implies). I should be done already but things like parenting and work and sleep keep getting in the way.
Anywho, I want to reverse the stitch pattern on the second sock so the two are mirror images of each other so I spent my lunch hour swatching. Here's what I came up with (I tried to write it up just like the original pattern):

To reverse the stitch for the second sock:
Row 1: *K2, K1 tbl, RT, P2* repeat around
Row 2 and all even rows: *K5, P2* around
Row 3: *K1, K1 tbl, RT, K1, P2* repeat around
Row 5: *K1 tbl, RT, K2, P2* repeat around
Row 7: *RT, K3, P2* repeat around
Row 8: as for row 2
Repeat these 8 rows for pattern

Right Twist (RT) as follows: Slip second stitch from the left hand needle to the right hand needle as if to purl. Without slipping the stitch off the needle, knit the first stitch, allowing the second stitch to drop off left hand needle.

*(This can done with a cable needle by slipping the first stitch onto the cable needle and holding it to the back of the work. Then slip the next stitch as if to purl and knit the stitch on the cable needle through the back loop.)

*Edit I changed the position of the K1 tbl after some testing. I like it better when it comes before the slipped stitch.

Dudes Love The Nail Salon

Case in point:


We got our nails done on Friday, a special occasion since it was Elah's first manicure.

She picked her own colors and everything.

In actual knitting news, I am about to embark on a dyeing expedition.

I'll be using the dyes and yarn (and dye kit from hello yarn) to make my own colorway for the Marigold Socks. Wish me luck!

Also, a coworker had a sweater at work hat I love. Very simple but with an interesting
stitch pattern in a couple of places. I took a pic because I wanted to look at the stictches but unfortunately, I am not good and discerning such info from a picture.

Anyone know what's going on here? You can see the whole sweater here.

I'm trucking right along on the Cable Twist socks and should will have a picture later, after I take the time to pull it off my camera. Maybe I'll even have some yarn to show you.