She Seeketh Wool

Knitting Nirvana

2008-11-05T09:34:00.003-06:00

I am back from our week long "fiber" vacation. It was very hard to leave. This vacation was right up there with one of my best. This is probably because there was absolutely no agenda. I had stopped on the way to the resort and stocked up on food and I literally did not leave for the first 3 days. I watched it snow, I read, I knitted, I sewed, I relaxed in the jacuzzi, I just had no desire to leave. It was that nice. Tuesday we did venture out to some yarn and quilt shops with a stop at a nice coffee house which was enough to satisfy our wonderlust. For the rest of the week, we dyed, we finished our Amy Butler Bags we started and we walked every day enjoying the unseasonably warm temps and beautiful fall days. At night we picked up movies at the lodge and made popcorn and stayed up late knitting or reading. For me, this was the ultimate in relaxing vacations. I accomplished more than I thought I would and really was disappointed when I had to leave it all behind to drive the 6 hours home. But I did make one long stop here which added hours onto my trip and some sensory overload. It's now back to work, back to reality and planning on where my next "retreat" can be. Pictures of the yarn and bags can be seen here.

Knitting Time

2008-10-19T14:38:00.005-05:00

I've actually gotten some knitting time in these past few weeks and finished the first in a pair of the Snake River Socks. I did modify these a bit by knitting them top down instead of toe up. I also increased the pattern by one 8 stitch repeat to accomodate my tight gauge and I substituted a fleegle heel. The yarn was a joy to knit with and I'll purchase more if I come across any. It was Araucania Ranco in a semi solid colorway. This is some nice yarn. It is thicker than Trekking and Opal but still with some nylon added but it remains soft and easy to use for cables. It does not photograph well or perhaps it's just my camera. It is much brighter in person with nice color strands running through it. It was just fun knitting these and that's what it's all about right? Having a pattern in your que, finding a yarn to match the pattern and enjoying it from start to end. No struggling and cursing and frogging, but enjoyment from start to finish. I will try to wrap up the second sock before I leave next week. Six days till my vacation! Girls only knitting and dyeing week in northern Minnesota. I can't wait. Lots of yarn, books, movies, pj's, food and wine and wilderness. Oh I got some new shoes and they fit perfectly with new socks.

A Loss

2008-10-05T12:28:00.004-05:00

I finished the pair of Catherine Socks for September SNA . I haven't decided if I am going to participate in October's knit a long. I have a lot going on this month and I leave for fall knitting vacation in 2 weeks. I did cast on a new pair of Snake River Socks. Unfortunately the yarn does not photograph well. In person it is a beautiful green with specks of gold, red and yellow woven in and it's one of those yarns that if you get near natural light you can see it's beautiful colors. I have reversed the pattern and am knitting these cuff down using Cat Bordhi's right and left leaning increases.

In other sad news, we loss my brother in law this week. He was 48 and had battled colon cancer for the last few years. We all thought he had it licked and then it reared it's ugly head again. I'm not going to go into details, just to say that if someone or something does the choosing as to who goes and who stays on this earth, this was a poor choice. "Dano" (as he will always be known by me) was a giving compassionate person who helped so many throughout his short life. He lived with us in the first years of our marriage, and when we moved Dano moved with us. He was a perfect roomate and I considered him a brother. He never married and had no children but spent his time with his nieces and nephews. He would have been a wonderful father. He leaves behind his true companion, his dog "Hud". Safe travels Dano.

The Perfect Weekend

2008-09-24T16:03:00.007-05:00

Wow what a wonderful camping trip. The weather was absolutely perfect, the park was deserted, in fact, we had the whole primitive campground to ourselves. I rode all the wilderness trails and saw lots of wildlife and most importantly just relaxed. I got some knitting done, but mainly in the car on the way up and back, it was just too nice out and I was biking during the day. In the evenings it got dark so quickly, we usually played cribbage or sat around the campfire. I told my co-workers "I wouldn't have traded this trip for a 3 day caribbean cruise", at which point I got some blank stares and only one of "the girls" understood as she camps as well and rides, except for her it's horses. To have perfect weather, fall colors, blue skies and miles of trails to explore and virtually a whole park to yourself, well it was hard to pack up and come back. It's just a reminder as to what we have within driving distance of us and for that I am grateful. But there was fiber! We stopped in Marshall for some supplies and ther was a yarn shop that was having an anniversary sale and to celebrate they invited a local alpaca breeder to come so customers could see and touch an alpaca in the parking lot. Who would have thought that on our way up to the woods we would be able to see these gorgeous girls

I'm close to finishing my second "Catherine" sock and should have pics soon. I had my annual eye exam today and new contacts are being made as we speak so I'll look forward to clearer stitch definition.

Show N Tell

2008-09-13T14:35:00.003-05:00

I have been knitting, just not as much as I would like to be. I finished the first sock for the September SNA's sockdown. These are orange even though my camera doesn't think so. The yarn is Louet Gems Terra Cotta and it is a dull tangerine color but a real joy to knit with. The pattern, "Catherine" by Kate Blackburn is a scaled down version of Hareton. I have really enjoyed knitting this sock and am on the second one. I can't explain why certain patterns are more enjoyable to knit than the next, but this was a fun pattern. I actually added repeats of the pattern on the leg, then remembered I didn't want to run out of yarn. I plan on getting some knitting time in this weekend because I've had a very long stressful week at my job and will enjoy a quiet vegetative state this weekend. Next week will be our end of year camping trip to Minnesota. My favorite time of year to go. Campfires and flannel shirts and beautiful autumn foliage. Warm days and cool nights and no bugs! On a final note, I always like to put a plug in for an upcoming musician and here is a guy I have been following for a while, I have purchased his album (buy it, you won't be sorry) and wanted to share a link so you can check it out for yourself.

Fall is Right Around the Corner

2008-09-01T15:59:00.005-05:00

I just finished some knee highs. Nothing fancy, just stockinette Regia that has been marinating in my stash for more than a few years. They were nice socks to work on mindlessly while traveling. It will be a while before I am able to whip out more stockinette on tiny needles and make them knee highs. Like my shoes? They are new and ready for fall. Which makes me think of back to school. Obviously it has been decades since I boarded a school bus but don't you remeber the feeling of anticipation and excitement? I do. The summer was winding down, boredom had crept in and new school supplies always excited me and then the whole "what to wear the first day back" and calls on the teen line to find out what everyone else was wearing. I still remember the first day of school and that distinct smell of bus fumes from the bus coming down the road on a cool fall morning. Crazy I tell ya that we remember this stuff but can't remember jack when standing in the aisle of the grocery store. Okay I've talked about it before and it's here. Socknitter's Anonymous "Sockdown '09. I am pumped! I cast on just after midnight last night after everyone was asleep and I couldn't wait to get up and see what everyone else had done. Am I pitiful or what? I can't help it, this is such a well run group on Ravelry and it is so much fun to participate in! My newest pair of "orange" socks are Catherine by Kate Blackburn in Louet Gems Terra Cotta. Hope everyone has had a nice labor day with some knitting time thrown in.

Kansas City has got it going on

2008-08-23T14:20:00.003-05:00

I just got home from my trip to Kansas City for the CVC. What a nice city! I have driven through before but hadn't spent any time "exploring". The city has a lot going for it; a nice downtown area, power and light district, river market, great barbeque restaurants, great yarn shops (yes I visited one and bought some yarn)
Some Araucania Ranco #104 which I have wanted to try. It looks brown in the pic but is actually a nice bronze color. I also picked up some Hiya Hiya double points which I am very happy with. The weather was fine the living easy and yes I would go back again, heck, I'd live there if the circumstances were right. I got lots of knitting done on the car trip since I took my husband for the sole purpose of having a chauffeur (don't tell him that) I am trying to finish up a the stockinette pair in Regia I started last week. I had to wait to get home to turn the heel since I forgot to take my instructions for the Fleegle Heel along. I really like this heel and it fits my foot nicely. It seems to work better on circulars due to the number of increases you have to make but after "turning" you can go back to double points if you feel more comfortable with them. Now I have a weekend of playing "catch up" with the house and laundry and chances are I'll sneak in some knitting time.

Burning Through the Stash

2008-08-17T14:11:00.003-05:00

I am trying to use yarns that have been in my stash for a long while. I didn't want to destash them but they weren't first on my pile of yarns to "knit with next". As August draws to a close, Summer of Socks winds down, SKA's sockdown 08 closes, I just wanted to cast on a stockinette sock and get it finished. I reached into my storage box and found this Regia Multi ringel (Color 5340) and cast on. The sock looks funny because I thought I would try some leg shaping for a longer sock and better fit. I really like the colors in this sock and think they will be cute when completed. I have to go to Kansas City for a 4 day conference on Wednesday, so I hope these will be finished by the time I come home. I'm planning on looking for some knitting stores to visit while I am down there. I'll also stop along the way on my drive home and browse as well. That's the only good thing about the whole trip, travel time to listen to podcasts, knitting in the hotel, room service on company tab and yarn shops along the way!

Knitting Toys

2008-08-03T19:10:00.004-05:00

My birthday present from my husband arrived yesterday. The Knitzi.These were actually backordered a couple of months. I didn't mind, it was worth the wait. This invention is so slick. Screw the double points in with the sock and everything is safe and secure. Could I get by without it? Sure, I've done okay up till now. That's not the point. I like toys. Knitting gadgets and gizmos. I like unique things that are considered "notions" but acutally have a purpose. (I won't even tell ya about my sewing treasures). So now I have the Knitzi and I want a new sock bag to store my Knitzi in. I've spent too many hours checking out etsy and various craft tutorials, and finally I decided to make my own. This ate up my whole day and no knitting got done. Is it finished? No way...I have sewn the "prototype". I didn't want to ruin my good fabric and I was "winging" it without a pattern so I resorted to using an old sheet to practice the design concept on. I'll get it made up this week and post about it. Not alot of knitting going on because of this, but I'll have fun things to put my knitting in!

Back to the Salt Mines

2008-07-26T12:04:00.005-05:00

I am back from vacation. It was extremely difficult to get myself back to work on Monday. I wish I could have stayed longer. Rug camp was great. Instead of staying in the student dorms, this year, due to some flooding issues and repair in the dormitory we usually occupy we were given these really nice 6 bedroom townhouses to stay in for the week. Full kitchens and 2 baths, set in the middle of a wild flower meadow. It was relaxing, peacefula and most of all fun! Since Decorah is a Norweigan community the townhouses all have names of cities in the "homeland". There was Lilehammer, Begen, Oslo, etc. It's a beautiful campus if you ever get the chance to visit. Decorah Rug School gets better each year and it's good to see old friends and catch up. I was able to ride every day and we logged about 250 miles during the vacation. The bike trails in this area can not be beat. I plan on going back just to ride and see some beautiful scenery. The town was hit hard during the eastern Iowa floods but they are rebuilding quickly and I know this community will do just fine. Everyone takes great pride in their homes and gardens and it is great to ride and see such nice sights.

When we weren't using wool in our rugs, we were knitting, usually in the evenings when we gathered in the "commons" area. I ripped out my Spring Forward socks since I thought they would look better in a semi solid colorway and cast on again for the SKA Sockdown's July knitalong. This is Stems Stitch pattern from Charlene Schurch's More Sensational Knitted Socks. It's moving right along.
Oh a new yarn store opened in Decorah and we stopped there within 5 minutes of hitting town. The Blue Heron Knittery on Water Street. Nice people, beautiful shop, nice variety of yarns and I wished I lived there and could curl up on their comfy chairs and knit with the townies. I've accumulated some new yarns which I absolutely do not need, but that's never stopped me in the past. I wanted some "feel good" yarns, some nice soft merinos which are a joy to knit with and although, probably not the most durable, make knitting with them so satisfying. Now I have to face the reality of coming home from a girls vacation. Housework and laundry and you know the drill......

Free to Good Home

2008-07-06T16:24:00.004-05:00

I have gotten very little done this holiday weekend, thanks in most part to this 14 week old ~~terrier~~ terror. It's a long story but one of my son's friends purchased this dog when she got her first job and apartment. She quickly realized that working long hours and living in an apartment does not mix well with new puppy. The landlord did not appreciate his cuteness. She brought him to me in the hopes I would find a good home for him (I am a Veterinary Practice Manager) or better yet, keep him for myself. NOT! I forgot how much work puppies are. Seriously I am a cat owner and the two dogs I have had were housetrained adults when they found me. He is going to work with me tomorrow and I will try to match him up with a client who is in need of some "puppy love". I did get some knitting done. I finished my first sock for Summer of Socks and cast on a second pair for the next two week period. I've said this many times before but knit-alongs are so helpful for staying on track and meeting deadlines. It has really made me step up my game and set realistic knitting goals. All that will go down the tubes as I am packing to leave next Saturday for rug camp. (Just like sock camp except we make hooked rugs). It's an annual event and a fun vacation. The same crew of women meet year after year every July in Decorah, Iowa and stay on campus at Luther college. It's a beautiful small picturesque town with miles of bike trails and small shops and great restaurants. We take classes, buy wool, make rugs, knit and felt and ride bikes, canoe etc. It's my favorite vacation by far. Seeing everyone each year is like going to summer camp as a kid, old friends, new ones, seasoned campers and newbies. I'll be sure to pack my socks!

It's my Birthday

2008-06-29T13:31:00.002-05:00

I have had a wonderful birthday! I got a weekend to do nothing but play and knit, that's a gift in itself. My best knitting buddy got me this luscious yarn and a wonderful bag. Thank you Suzanne! My son got me the perfect gift for my sock knitting, a Sherpani bag! Anyone who knits socks and leaves the house needs one of these bags. They are wonderful. My husband surprised me with a Knitzi! It's on back order and will arrive later. I have had a great day. The weather is perfect and I am heading out for a bike ride. I am working hard to finish my Summer of Socks entry by the two week deadline. I'm not whipping these socks out at the rate some others are, but just keeping up with the deadline is an accomplishment for me. I keep telling me this is not a race, it's a process. At least it's summer and I am getting some socks done and that's what it is all about.

Back from the Wilds

2008-06-25T13:55:00.003-05:00

I am back from our family camping trip. All I can say is conditions must be very favorable this summer for mosquitoes. I have never seen so many. Even covered in Deep Woods Off it was a constant battle to keep them at bay. At least the weather cooperated and we had sunny skies and fairly moderate temps. I was able to ride every day. The paved bike trails in the park and to the nearest town about 7 miles away are wonderful. Although we like to try new parks every year, I'm glad we made a return trip here. On the knitting front, Summer of Socks officially began Saturday. (Actually Friday night at midnight EST). I was sound asleep in my tent after a very long day. Saturday morning, after some camp coffee, I was able to cast on my SOS socks, Hedera, by Cookie A. I am using Panda Cotton I won in a raffle aboard SeaSocks Cruise last year. I won't be as fast as most of the participants, but it's still a fun knit-a-long and why not knit more socks. That's all I knit anyways!

Staying Dry

2008-06-14T09:56:00.003-05:00

As everyone probably knows by now, mother nature has unleashed some wrath on the Midwestern part of this country and the last 7 to 10 days have been horrific for those in the path of the storms and the flooding. I live in the midwest and our river (the Big Sioux) crested about 4 days ago. It came out of it's banks, but the flooding was in low lying farm land. Bad for the farmers but homes were spared. Others across the state of Iowa are in much worse shape. The middle of the state eastward has been hard hit and I really feel for these people. To come home to a house that is full of mud and debri and all of your personal items destroyed must be heartwrenching. They are in my thoughts. On a sadder note, Wednesday was a night of tornados in this area and there were quite a few that touched down. The boyscout camp that was hit is within an hour of me and I can only imagine what it was like for the parents of those scouts to get that phone call.

There has been knitting. Sometimes the worse it gets, the more I knit. I finished my Eleanor socks for the Sockdown knitalong on Ravelry. I'm in limbo waiting for Summer of Socks to begin. I participated last year and it is a fun time. Basically you knit socks throughout the summer, take pictures and have fun with some of the contests. There are no set patterns and you can work at your own pace.

It's that time of year again. We leave next Friday. I can only hope it is sunny and dry. I need a vacation. Bikes are going. Knitting is going. Teenagers......yes and friends included.

I just want blue skys, dry land and good firelight to knit by.

Shoes & Socks

2008-05-31T13:25:00.003-05:00

These are my new shoes, know why I picked them? They reminded me of my yarn. Let's start from the beginning. My son who is a junior in college and plays basketball landed a job at a large sporting goods store his freshman year and has worked there throughout school and summers. He gets a nice discount which keeps him in nice clothes, but more importantly, supports his shoe addiction. My son owns way too many pairs of athletic shoes. He collects them. For Mothers Day this year, since he knows I have a walking workout I do on days I don't get to ride, offered to buy me a new pair of training shoes. It took me a couple of weeks to finally get an evening where he was working and I wasn't and we went shoe shopping at his store. I am finicky when it comes to picking out shoes. I tend to keep my shoes for long periods of time if they are comfortable and usually won't wear shoes that aren't. This involves trying on lots of shoes, different brands, different styles etc. I finally decided on a model, but then the color choice came. By this time my usually patient son, was starting to tire, at one point he probably wished he would have just sent flowers. So on the spur of the moment I said "I'll take the pink and brown ones" to which he replied, "Really? I didn't think you would be a pink shoe person", I said "I'm not but it matches a skein of yarn I have."

Only a knitter would understand I guess. I'm actually heading out right now for a ride, the first in a while due to stormy weather and high winds.

Three Days Grace

2008-05-24T14:37:00.002-05:00

On this three day weekend which is overcast, windy and cooler than expected, I am going to "drop out", relax and oh did I say relax? Yes I have all that I need right around me in my front room. Sometimes it's not about what you "do" on your long weekends away from work, it's about what you don't do. This weekend will not involve housework, large family dinners, trips to the city or shopping. Instead, a few movies, pajamas till 11am, reading, knitting, some nice long walks (too windy for bike riding) and little projects that amuse me. I could so retire tomorrow. It drives me insane when I hear about retired people who "don't know what to do with themselves" and go back to work. Really? Because I could so excel at retirement. I would have so much to do I would have a hard time packing it all in, reading lists, computer time, knitting, visiting, traveling. Now with the economy the way it is I can look forward to all this when I can finally retire at oh about 92 years of age. On a more serious note, I will be thinking of all those that are not with us today.

Elevating Eleanor

2008-05-17T16:29:00.004-05:00

I still knit. I just don't get to talk about it as much as I used to. I have been keeping up with Sockdown on Ravelry and have cast on my sock for May Sock using Gigi Silva's "Eleanor" pattern. It's something I wanted to do because I had such a good time as a member of her online "Socktopia" Group. I have had all of her patterns in my "que" from the beginning. The yarn I am using is Regia stretch which I purchased last year at the Webs booth at Stitches Midwest. It was on their incredible sale table and I can never turn down a "semi-solid" my favorite sock color. This yarn is great. I would buy it in every color, except it's available in a very limited color palette and sadly it inlcludes mostly darks. I believe Meilenweit has a similar yarn with some elastic in it. I used Knitpicks Dancing before it was discontinued and the socks look like new except for some slight fading. Cascade Fixation is too thick and stretchy for me. I really enjoy the thinner fingerweights. I am looking forward to dusting off the camping equipment and heading up to Minnesota soon as the weather is finally warming up. I avoid the holiday weekends because the parks become too crowded. Tonight will be the first "Grill Out" of the season. We had to dust off the grill and clean and replace some parts and it is ready for marinated chicken breast and grilled vegetables. Now I need to whip up some kind of dessert. Enjoy your weekend!

Still In the Picture

2008-05-03T14:20:00.003-05:00

The more I try and keep up the blog the further behind I fall. That's typical of everything at this time of year. Fourth quarter fiscal year at work means budget planning and crazy long hours and lots of stress and things at home get put on hold. Then when I have survived the whole budget crunch work nightmare I take my vacation the second week of July. Knowing I have that to look forward to gets me through this quarter. We have also completed some ongoing home improvement projects which everyone knows puts a sudden halt to any fun, free time. Last week we finished putting a new floor in our living room and painting the walls and installing new ceiling and floor moldings. So this weekend I am taking some R & R to knit and relax. I finished sock one of my pair of Cascading Leaves by Jeanie Townsend. This will be for April Sockdown on Ravelry. Yes I love the sock knit-a-longs. I only join the ones I think I can participate in with realistic goals. Speaking of which, Summer of Socks 2008 sign ups are going on. I have participated in the past and it is a fun time. It's a nice way of viewing what everyone else is knitting and using what yarns. I enjoy viewing all the pics. Well since the weather here in the midwest has been so unpredictable, the bike has only made it out on two rides. Rain and tornadoes the first part of the week, snow flurries last night. I'm really beginning to worry just a tad about where our weather patterns are headed. I am finalizing plans for our annual girls vacation this fall and so far it looks like we are heading north towards Canada. Details to follow.

Greener Pastures

2008-04-16T19:14:00.003-05:00

After knitting a pair of socks on size 0 needles and nylon blend sock yarn, moving on to Fleece Artist Merino yarn is heavenly. It is a joy to knit with and I love the pattern. It's Cascading Leaves by Jeannie Townsend from the Townsend Socknitting group. I actually knit this pattern before about 2 years ago and I always wanted to knit it again. The patten is easy to memorize and it fits for April's Sockdown knitalong on Ravelry. My trip to Salt Lake was a disaster as most of my airplane travels have been this year. I ran into a freak snowstorm in Denver on my return trip, then my plane had hydraulic problems and we had to go back to Denver and switch planes, then we hit a horrible rain/wind storm in the midwest and it all just went to hell in a handbasket after that. I'm going to put future air travel on hold for a while. My car will do just fine. But, on the bright side, I had lots of knitting time and finished my self patterning sock and started my latest pair. My bike went in for it's spring service trip today and it will be ready tomorrow at noon. Just in time for a nice weekend and I hope to get a nice ride in.

Burning through the Stash

2008-04-05T14:00:00.002-05:00

I finished sock one of the pair. One down in my desire to use up some self striping yarns. I labeled this yarn ugly kite string in my last post and I want to recant my findings. This yarn (Online Supersock 100) absolutely does not split or fray, no knots and I think it will wash up nicely and soften as it is worn. These were made with my standard size 0 Inox needles and I used the Fleegle heel and the german round toe. I 'll cast on the second sock tonight because I need to have some plane knitting. Leaving Tuesday for a district meeting in Utah and need lots of knitting. I'll be gone for 3 days only one of which involves work stuff. That means I can do my usual walk from the hotel to a nice little yarn shop I was able to visit last year. I think a skein or two of souveneir yarn is in order. If the weather is nice I can get some site seeing in as last year it rained the whole time I was in Salt Lake. There should be plenty of knitting time as I am going by myself, my boss is staying behind this trip. But, nice guy that he is, he gave me the rest of the week off when I get back. So, if this spring-like weather continues, it might be time to bring the bike out of storage and take my first bike ride of the year. Here in the midwest, it has been a long, cold, dark winter. One of the longest I can remember and, because of this, as soon as there is a resemblance of nice weather, everyone hits the streets; bicycles, motorcycles, walkers, joggers, rollerbladers, you name it we all just want to soak up some sun on our day glow arms and relish in weather that does not require a parka and a ski mask. Windows are openend, houses get cleaned, it's time to polish up the place. For me, that can wait till another day. I'm off to pack.

True Confessions

2008-03-29T15:45:00.003-05:00

I finished my Nine to Five socks with a few days to spare. To read more about the project check here. Again, this was a great well written pattern, thank you Nicole. I went through my yarn stash the other day. It was dreary outside and I was home alone and I piled it all up on the bed and contemplated my yarn. (I bet there are others that do the same and just don't talk about it). My good friend and accomplice in yarn purchases called me that same day and we got into a discussion on economics and how a recession is going to effect the average family and smack dab in the middle of the conversation she says, "thank god we have yarn stashes in case there comes a time where there isn't extra money for yarn". That clinched it. My yarn stash is my little "nest egg". I can knit without worry in an economic slow down. Now onto the true confessions part of this post. Wasn't there a magazine years ago with that name?. I vaguely remember going to my gramma's house and seeing it laying around. (I'm thinking the 60's of course I was very young then you know) My confession is I like ugly self-patterning yarn. Analyzing it, it's probably because I am a rescuer by nature, pets, people, the downtrodden and ugly yarn. I validate buying the yarn because no one else will. It's always on sale because the colors are hideous and I have a great time knitting it. The rules are simple, stockinette stitch socks and center pull skeins only so you don't know what color is coming up next. It's like eating through a box of cracker jacks. I'm serious here. These are colors that as I am knitting with them, one of my family members will stroll through the room look down and then pause, and usually say something like "that's an unusual color combination". Then I know I've done a good job in picking out a homely yarn. So that's how I roll. I just finished a nice pair of socks in a nice hand dyed merino and now I am knitting with kite string in a pretty unusual color conglomeration. Wanna see?

Tangled Up in Blue

2008-03-16T18:20:00.003-05:00

I finished the first in the pair today. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this pattern. It was just a fun to knit sock. I will get better pics up when I can take them in daylight. It was late afternoon as I was kitchnering the toe up.. I will cast on the second one this evening. I have to take a break as I am having a Sunday dinner here. Spring break started this weekend and my son and his girlfriend are both home from college. They are good about alternating dinners at the "parents" and tonight I was glad to host one. During the week it becomes every person for his or her self. I just want to say a quick thanks to Nicole for generously offering this pattern up. I have to get some more treadsoft. I hope it wears as nicely as it knits. Spring might be right around the corner but the temps are dropping here and we might end up with a storm or two before this week is out. I haven't put my snow scraper away just yet. Oh yeah about the title, guess I don't need to tell you I am a big fan of this guy. If you haven't heard his latest release, it's fantastic. Now that we are on the music topic, for any other Crowe fans, this album was released March 9th. If I was younger and didn't have to play a grown up, I'd be a groupie on their next tour.

Something New, Something Blue

2008-03-09T16:15:00.004-05:00

I have started a new sock. Surprise right? I actually just cast on for these yesterday, but sometimes when you really enjoy knitting with a yarn and it's a great pattern you just want to keep knitting. This is some treadsoft yarn I dyed myself and I am really pleased with the way it turned out. I can best describe it as Cookie Monster Blue in color. It's very tightly spun and springy, comparable to Cherry Tree Hill or Koigu. The pattern, Nine to Five Socks (thank you Nicole) is wonderful. Very easy but it's got enough going on that you don't get bored. It is a beautifully textured pattern which I believe was written to showcase solid or tonal yarns. This pattern is also the March/April Sock pattern for the Socknitters SAM group I am a part of. I tell you like Peanut Butter and Jelly it's a great match all the way around. That's about all I have been up to this weekend. The midwest has not even caught a glimpse of spring yet so outdoor activities were not high on my list. I'm beginning to wonder what month I'll actually be able to bring the bicycle out. I've had fun catching up on podcasts and getting some reading time in. Ravelry, like always, ate up a big piece of my weekend!

March Madness

2008-03-01T14:59:00.003-06:00

It's warm and sunny and there's a hint of spring. Tomorrow that will all change with a chance of snow flurries. For today, I dug out my Spring...Reminds me of Easter Socks and matched them up with my Blue Suede Clogs and I am already in a brighter mood. It's sad when we have socks that match our shoes and vice versa. But I take comfort in the fact that I am not alone. There is a Flickr group for pics of handknit socks and shoes. I have a weekend of alone time which in reality is a two-day vacation in my house. I've got my laptop, coffee cup and knitting and I'm good. My family is out and about all weekend. I was able to get outside for a nice walk in the sunshine and listen to some of my favorite podcasts. Check out the latest from It's a Purl, Man he did a live podcast this morning and it was a lot of fun to watch and listen to. He has plans for another Saturday Live podcast in the future. On my needles this weekend is my Mountain Colors Bearfoot socks that have been lanquishing in my knitting bag all week due to a crazy work schedule, which, by Friday, had me asking myself "Are the planets not alligned properly or WTF"? You know it's bad when your boss asks you "What happy hour starts the earliest? Hope everyone is able to enjoy a little down time this weekend.

Comfort Knitting

2008-02-24T13:03:00.003-06:00

I love these socks. I have completed one and am well on my way on the second of the pair. This yarn is so soft and when I try them on you can immediately feel the warmth. I just hope they hold up well with washing. The reviews I have read have mentioned some problems with fuzzing and colors running but I will handwash as usual and hope for the best. I made these toe up with a 64 stitch cast on and 2.5mm circular needles. The pattern is just a 3 x 1 rib and I used my favorite heel yet, The Fleegle Heel. Each time I finish with the heel turning, I marvel at how slick the whole process is.

I have returned from Madrona humbled in my knitting abilities. Wow the talent in that one hotel was awesome. When I see knitters such as the likes of Evelyn Clark, Kathryn Alexander, Lucy Neatby, Nancy Bush and so many others, for me it becomes knitted art and not just knitting. After one of the evening lectures, there was a gallery set up in one of the large banquet rooms and the teachers were there with many of their pieces on display. Visitors were welcome to look and touch and read notes about and wander from table to table examining all the finished pieces. It was inspiring and a little overwhelming. I knit for relaxation and as a hobby. I will never crank out a great knitting masterpiece but I love to look at other knitter's accomplishments, like looking at colorful art pieces at the art museum. It is eye candy. It stimulates our visual senses.

Not only were the teachers talented, oh no, a large majority of the attendees donned knitted pieces and wore them throughout the week. It became an "I spy" experience for 4 days. "Oh Look" there is the Central Park Hoodie, oh there is the Kanui sweater (and there were many) oh that is the Entrelac Shawl etc. etc. To see these patterns on the web and in the magazine is one thing, to see them within a foot of you in a crowded elevator is another. It was pure visual stimulation all day every day. Add to that the market which we stopped in every single day and well you want to store all this visual fiber stuff in a bottle and bring it home with you. I managed to bring some things home. Surprisingly much less than my roomies who were finding creative ways to rearrange already full suitcases to get their wares home with them. I have plenty of sock yarn and I brought home some new additions to the stash, but I want to branch out into some shawls and scarves and I really want to pick the pattern first, then shop for the yarn. I find myself with some odd lots of some absolutely beautiful yarns I have purchased in my travels that really is not enough yardage to make the pattern I end up choosing for it. It's hand dyed one of a kind, so you can't just pick up the phone and order more. It then becomes a challenge to see what you can mix in, add to, or modify the pattern with. It would have been much easier to just buy the yarn, pattern and needles all at the same time and then all you have to do is cast on and start knitting. So I have had my fiber fix till summer. I hope we all go back to Stitches Midwest this year. I could make room in my closet for some more stash.