Happiness is... (or...the CASHMERE edition...!)

STASH JUSTIFICATION!!!

I had these two skeins of a pinky-red ArtYarns Cashmere, languishing in my stash. I had forgotten exactly what I had in mind when I purchased them, and realized they were only 25 g. skeins-very little yardage...

Low and behold, I get an invite for my quilting teacher's 60th Birthday celebration-and she likes REDS! I'd been meaning to make her a second pair of fingerless mitts! I searched and found the "Princess Mitts" pattern (I think Nartian had already knit these a while back...I'd forgotten about this pattern!). Turns out the gauge and yardage were perfect!

I'm happy to report that I may make 'deadline' and get them done for the party next Saturday. Actually, as long as I keep focus (the more definitive sort as opposed to my "8-9 Projects" sort I've already discussed...), I can get them done.

Confessions-I actually have almost finished both. Problem? Well...sadly (visuals to come later...) my gauge changed considerably from the first to the second, resulting in a second mitt that is almost a whole INCH longer! Yes, it's true. And yes, I didnt' notice until I finished the whole length of the mitt, sans completed thumb.

Here, I have completed the cuff of the second and there is no indication that I am knitting a tad looser!

I wasn't 'loving' the way the instructions were written. As a matter of fact, you have to really read through the "start here, do this chart, start this one on row x of this chart, stay in pattern for this many stitches before this chart and so many stitches after...stay in pattern for this many stitches before THIS chart...Get the idea? A lot of things going on at the same time and after the first mitt, it was less 'thinky', but the beginning was kind of a big 'thinky' hassle and went a bit more slowly, so I ended up knitting much more tightly.

And yes, I did consider NOT frogging, but I think that the Nartian Influence has pushed me to frog. I started the second from the other end of the ball and will frog as I go--HEY-I can pretend I'm knitting from Flat Feet! ;)

I wish I had the pic to show you with the two side-by-side, but I'm having tech difficulties now...

But I can show you these!

My finished first pair of "Lay's"-OK, Cotty's! (I'm not supposed to use the "L" word on our Rav group, but since this is my blog...I CAN...! These are knit with my Pigeon Roof Studios merino/cashmere (Siren Song Two) sock yarn. Nartian and I decided that this is the Sport Weight, not the fingering weight (and that perhaps her heavier was the "worsted", not the sport...cuz her fingering weight was much thinner!...)

You can see how much yarn remained after making my Lay's--I wear a size 6.5 WW, to give you an idea. Actually, I think my foot is technically a 6WW, but basically I'm wearing 7M to make up for my pudgier and after-kid feet. But I would bet that based on the width of my foot pulling the knit fabric up a bit, my socks probably do end up longer than just a regular size 6, wouldn't you think?

So I guess I get to buy more yarn at Sock Summit now, right?

"Lay's" socks, AKA "Cotty"

KnittingGolfer and I keep saying you can't knit just one pair of Cotty's and so, my nickname for them is "Lay's"! I cast on for my second Pigeon Roof Studios Cotty and quickly cast-on for a second pair, too!

I love the Sam 'n Ella colorway and decided Cotty would be a great knit for it, so I couldn't resist-I went ahead and cast-on, putting all UFO's further back in my mind!

Cotty's, v. 2.0

In my last post, I had included a picture of a new sweater I started for Solly, one of my many cousin's baby. I'm using the Baby Racer Sweater pattern by Marie Connolly. I'm using Knit Pick's Mainline cotton/wool yarn for the body in the Ink colorway.

After seeing Miss Babs Worsted in Van Gough over at WoolGirl's July 4 sale, I had to get it to use for the contrasting arm/neckband. So SassyMan was kind enough to go to the PO and get my package out of hock today! How could I resist a WoolGirl sale? I would have been in bigger trouble had someone not beat me to the 3 Wowza skeins of Miss Babs Worsted in Hemlock. Alas, it was not to be! But I did manage to get these...

Miss Babs worsted in Van Gough and Miss Babs Yummy Sport/Sock in Lilacs!

And speaking of WoolGirl, I resurrected this sock I started using Spunky Ecclectic sport yarn, also purchased from WoolGirl.

Slipped Stitch Delight pattern by Terry Ross, knit in the Spunky Ecclectic Sport sock yarn, Hummingbird colorway.

Yeah, the ADD continues. I have narrowed my focus to about 6-8 projects right now; hopefully I'll prioritize and plug through them! Vacation is in the near future and hopefully some good knitting time!

Don't Blink!

When I first took pictures to post a couple of days ago, I meant to show these current projects I'm working on...


A sweater for Solly...

The back is done; working on the front!

Great Uncle "Hooey" (Henry's) crocheted slippers for his 94th Birthday...

The original pair appeared to be a bit larger than I imagine his feet to be, so I started a new pair to present to him at his party yesterday. Sadly, I didn't get them finished and now that one is complete, I am thinking perhaps the larger size won't be so large once seamed and finished! Back to square one!

And the start of my Cotty's by IrishGirlieKnits!

These are being knit with the Pigeon Roof Studios merino/cashmere I had picked up at Stitches West. The colorway is Labyrinth, and is more purple than shows in this picture.

Once I cast on for the picot cuff last week, it went quite quickly. So quickly, that by the time I had a chance to load the pics above, I was able to take a pic of this and completed my first of the pair! This, while trying to get the Uncle Hooey Slippers 1 & 2 done!

Cotty's shown, almost to the toe!

As well as bring the Lil'Emp to the Alameda County Fair on Furlough Friday...
Sadly, I didn't get a chance to pop in to the Fiber Arts building; something told me if I had, I may have seen some wonderful socks or shawls knit by BellyButtonKnits! Darn if I missed it! But we rode the rides and I ate a chocolate-dipped cheesecake!

So while Uncle Hooey needs to wait for his slippers, I am LOVING the Cotty pattern! Quick and easy and awfully pretty! Now to cast-on for the second...sorry, Uncle Hooey, I'll have to try and get your slippers done inbetween the Cotty's, now that your party has passed and I missed deadline!

Living for the Quick Fix, Plotting and Planning

Now that my afghan squares for the Pine Ridge Reservation afghans are sent out, I have found that the squares, combined with the Ravelry Socks that Rawk Crochet Challenge, have whet my appetite for crochet!

My attention went in the direction of working on afghan squares for that sampler lapghan I had bought a bunch of Vanna's Choice yarn for back in November. It's not very large, so it only requires 20 blocks. I plugged away and completed 4-5, but having the afghan squares for the Pine Ridge project behind me, and crochet calling out to me, I have now diverted my attention to other little quickie projects.

I completed a couple pairs of baby booties which I will have to post when I finish them off-one pair needs buttons, the other needs ties. And, realizing my Great Uncle's birthday is approaching, I decided I should make him some crocheted slippers.

So basically, my knitting time has been crochet time, Ulmus angst time (more on that at a later time), Lil' Emp Cake baking/decorating time (BTW, today is Lil' Emp's 9th Birthday!), and lastly--planning and scheming time!

This, my friends, is a Great Ball. Not to be confused with a Poke Ball nor with a Master Ball. This was part of this years cake decoration; last year's cake theme? Pokeball!

Baby dress, baby sweaters, socks, Cotty's, baby sweater, crocheted booties, Blackberry Brambles...all these projects floating in and out of my mind. Start? Swatch? Maybe a sweater? No, maybe a dress...no, sweater. So basically, my knitting mind has been jumping around with no set plans.

But with the release of IrishGirlieKnits' Blackberry Brambles pattern, I've been playing with these possibilities...
I love the redder color of the far left, but I fear it is a bit too lightweight. I'm tempted to go with the far right, which is the Scheeshaf ramie/wool blend and seems like it would be a perfect weight. But then I came upon the middle yarn. I can't even recall any longer whose yarn this is. Lisa Souza? Either way, I'm pretty certain it is a merino superwash. Decisions, decisions! Not that I've even cast on for my Cotty socks yet! Then there is the Carmen cardi that I resurrected...

Yes, I'm still all over the board!