WIPs, Stash...and pondering SABLE...

Yes, I have been knitting...but, unfortunately not much on these Solstice Slip socks...yes, the slow going Solstice Slip socks that have been neglected...


...in favor of these! I don't know why, but I got all motivated to work on the second sock to my Cedar Creek sock from the very first Socks that Rock club shipment of 2006. Maybe I just felt the need to start something new without the guilt: you see, if really wasn't something new cuz it was a second sock!

So there I was, innocently plugging away at my second Cedar Creek. I brought it to work in hopes of finishing it at work during our knitting group time. I got the foot to the appropriate length and (of course) it wasn't until then that I realized I had duped myself yet again!

I should have been suspicious as the striping of the foot knit up so uniformly. I should not have been so lazy as to not count the foot stitches. But alas, it was not until I got to the toe decreases of this second sock that it occurred to me that no, I did not follow the written instructions to decrease this size M sock to 60 stitches-5 less than the cuff! No, no...I had decided that since they were knitting up at a fairly snug width (and since I am Miss Pudgey Feet), I had (oh, so long ago, now...) made the Executive Decision to only decrease to 64 for the foot! Doh! (yes, folks, another DOH! Moment!) And when you put the feet up to one another, it is only too obvious!-lol!

So...I had to call and cry to Nartian about what a dork I am. Together, we decided that a little putting aside of this project is what I need to do for the moment.

A part of me wants to barrel through to the end, knowing that the sock will fit anyways, despite the narrower width, and to hell with more closely 'matched' socks! But, OTOH, a part of me wants to be anal and rip back, knowing the striping will more closely resemble. Yet, I somehow feel that I can't allow myself the pleasure of casting on one of my new sock yarns until this sock is complete...and I am SOOOOO over this sock!-lol!

The dilemma: rip back and rework the foot, further stunting my progress and ability to cast-on for another pair of socks anytime soon or blow off my 'can't cast on 'til..." rule and allow myself to put this aside, perhaps condemning the pair to further eternal WIP status, or push through and mark this pair off the list!

Stilaholic Naritian has the right idea: give myself a day or two to think about it, then decide. Yeah, think I'll do that! Thanks, Nartian! She "gets" me; I like that.

And meanwhile, I have started this scarf, Ruffled Roses pattern of which Annie Modesett has made available only to LYSs. I asked Allison at ImagiKnit to order it for me and on Friday, finally got over there to get it from her. Of course, I went ahead and bought the 'prescribed' yarns. It wasn't the time to get creative and envision this in alternative colorways since the picture was B&W and I couldn't remember what all the different colors looked like and how they layed out. But I had picked same colors for the ruffle portion, as well as the two greens, as prescribed anyway, so I stuck to the same...

I have finished the last lace repeat and am now onto the ribbing...I have to say that I love this and hope I can keep my focus on getting it done!


I mentioned I was at ImagiKnit on Friday, so I guess I'd better 'fess up on the Stash Enhancement Xcurtion...

Allison had gotten in lots of new sock yarns, Dream In Color Smooshy being the ones I immediately was drawn to. Of course, she had gotten in so much new that many weren't yet set out on shelves and were on the floor. She was (ahem!) nice enough to point them out to me...there went the yarn diet/budget! Thus, I will not be attending TKGA this Friday!



In addition to the Gallway (I'm inspired to do many Cat Bordhi baby learner socks...), I also got a couple of merino/acrylic yarns that would be cool for baby-whatever stuff (specifically, I have the Baby Surprise Sweater in mind...)-these shown in front of the basket filled with...SOCK YARN!!! Smooshy "Chinatown Apple", Paca Peds (can't remember colorway) and Harvest, Prism and Alpaca Sox. I'll have to check them again for the colorways and names, since they are not nearby...OH! And behind to the left (you can hardly tell!) is a Chameleon Colorworks merino/tencel in "Purple Rain", a light/white color with pale purple and blue.
And I sure wish this order from Woolmeise that Nartian had ordered for me had come in sooner!
I think the these may have helped me to resist (or at least put back) some of the ImagiKnit purchases! Oh well...LOVE this stuff! It feels and seems to be tightly twisted and very solid. I am soooo dying to try this stuff out!
And then, we also got our order of STR! They were putting Foofaraw to "rest", so I decided I HAD to get it! And Gingerbread Dude was too hard to resist-I have visions of socks knit from this colorway to wear around during the holidays! Of course, I went and purchased the 'Autumn' Paca Peds and since Halloween/Thanksgiving precedes Christmas, I will need to knit that up first so that I can have some very Fall sock in that wonderful pumkiny-green colorway! I'm deciding between RPM and a more ribbed sock pattern-maybe Charade? I kind of like the idea of RPM since it would maybe give it a 'cornucopia' look...or maybe a pumpkin/squash feel?

Again, I am taking Nartian's advise: try out the RPMs first...Yeah, think I'll do that!

Blue, Blue...

...my world is BLUE! Ha! A color I always consider not in my favs, but I LOVE my new Woolgirl Sock Club shipment that came today!

In this kit: MissBabs "Waterfall" pattern and Yummy Superwash Sport 3ply yarn in colorway as the same name as the pattern, "Waterfall"! I have been so spoiled being in the STR club, and with the Simply Sock Yarn Company's club, you just get yarn-no frills, since that is their philosphy. So really, i wasn't expecting such a treat! This club package was really much more than I expected! I say, give me the frills, man, cuz I'm cheap and can be bought!-lol!

So my first shipment had a newsletter from WoolGirl herself, the pattern, the yarn packet, and a cute Woolgirl club notebook/journal complete with Woolgirl pen! In the "yarn packet" was a welcome postcard, chocolate mint lipbalm (I LOVE chocolate MINT!), an exclusive Sereknity stitch marker, and of course, the yarn itself! All beautifully packed in a priority box topped with blue tissue paper. What a way to start a club! Awesome, you Woolgirl, you!

And awesome of Stilaholic Nartian (and I understand turned onto Woolgirl by Irish Girlie) to point me in WoolGirl's direction a while back...And here Nartian nominated me for a Rockin' Blog Girl cuz of my STR enabling!-lol! (Thanks for that nomination, too, Nartian! I didn't get a chance to mention it earlier, since I kinda wanted to try the button thing again, but haven't had a chance to attempt it...)

Look what I whipped up!

Forgetting that my cousin's baby shower is this coming Saturday, I grabbed the outfit below and a bib I had long-ago made for fun (ala Mason-Dixon style, called to my attention by none other than Stilaholic Nartian!), snipped and weaved in the ends and added a button. (Yeah, I know...choking hazard...) I decided to make a hat to go with it, using the remaining cotton. So here is the hat, to go with the ensemb!


It was a nice, quick-knit! If anyone cares, here's what I did:


Last-Minute Baby Hat

Measurements: Approximately 16" around, should fit a 6-9 month old (if done with a lighter weight yarn, smaller gauge, this could be adapted for a preemie hat...)
(Please note that corrections have been made since I first posted this pattern; starting with Round 38, I had mis-stated the number of stitches remaining. A final Round 43 has been added to adjust for the error. MANY THANKS to SUSAN who knit this and pointed it out to me! And thanks to any of you interested in this pattern!)

Gauge: knit at 4 stitches per inch, stockinette in the round on size 6 DPNs

Materials: Size 6 DPNs (or whatever needles you prefer for knitting in the round), Sugar and Cream yarn (used about 1/2 ball).
CO 60 stitches

Round 1-Knit to end

Round 2-Purl to end

Rounds 3 & 4 -repeat Rounds 1&2

Round 5-8-knit

Round 9-(yo, k2tog)* repeat to end of round

Round 10-1213 -knit to end
(Thanks for catching that!)
Round 14-17-same as rounds 1-4

Rounds 18-29-knit to end of round


Decrease top as follows:

Round 30-(K8, K2tog)*, repeat to end of round (54 stitches remain)

Round 31, 33, 35, 37- knit to end of round

Round 32-(K7, K2tog)*, repeat to end of round (48 stitches remain)

Round 34-(K6, K2tog)*, repeat to end of round (42 stitches remain)

Round 36-(K5, K2tog)*, repeat to end of round (36 stitches remain)


Round 38-(K4, K2tog)*, repeat to end of round (30 stitches remain)
Round 39-(K3, K2tog)*, repeat to end of round (24 stitches remain)
Round 40-(K2, K2tog)*, repeat to end of round (18 stitches remain)
Round 41-(K1, K2tog)*, repeat to end of round (12 stitches remain)
Round 42-(K2tog)*, repeat to end of round (6 stitches remain)
Round 43-(K2tog)*, repeat to end of round (3 stitches remain)

Leave remaining 3 stitches on DPN and make a 1-1 1/2 inch I-cord by sliding the three stitches to the opposite end of the DPN and knitting them (yarn carries behind the 3 stitches made, over to the 'end' 3rd stitch; now slide the 3 new stitches to the opposite end and knit (repeats what you just did). Repeat this until your I-cord measures 1-1 1/2inch, cut yarn, leaving about a 4" tail and thread through remaining 3 loops. Curl the I-cord, making a little 'nub' and bring the tail down the top of the hat and secure.
Enjoy!

And a last treat...
"Nana" had left this comment and I didn't want anyone missing out on her matching baby mitts pattern:

"I love this pattern! I created a pair of mitts to go with it, that I would be more than happy to share:







Baby Mitts:






Sugar and Cream cotton 4-ply






Special Stitch: RT - this is a good alternative to the yo, k2tog from the hat pattern, as it is somewhat less convenient to have holes in mittens than in hats.


RT - Work as if to K2tog but don’t pull the original stitches off of the left needle. Re- insert the right needle into the right stitch of the k2tog and knit this stitch, and then pull both of the original stitches off the needle in the process.*






CO 24 (when you cast on for the second mitt, leave a very long tail - this will become the 2-st I-cord to connect them)






Row 1 - 8: (K1, P1)* repeat until end of row






Row 9 - 11: K to end






Row 12: P to end






Row 13 - 16: K to end






Row 17: (RT, K1)* repeat until end






Row 18 - 22: K to end






Row 23: P to end






Row 24: K to end






Decrease:






Row 25: (K4, K2tog)* repeat to end (20 st left)






Row 26: K to end






Row 27: (K3, K2tog)* repeat to end (16 st left)






Row 28: K to end






Row 29: (K2, K2tog)* repeat to end (12 st left)






Row 30: (K1, K2tog)* repeat to end (8 st left)






Row 31: K2tog to end (4 st left)






Row 32: K2together two times, cut yarn, and thread end through remaining two stitches. Pull thread to the inside of the mitten, and weave in ends. After the second mitt, pick up two stitches next to the tail at the cuff, and create a 2-st I-cord to connect them. Use your judgment as to how long it should be.






*This wording, and this particular stitch, I got from this pattern, Baby Mitts:






Sugar and Cream cotton 4-ply






Special Stitch: RT - this is a good alternative to the yo, k2tog from the hat pattern, as it is somewhat less convenient to have holes in mittens than in hats.


Work as if to K2tog but don’t pull the original stitches off of the left needle. Re- insert the right needle into the right stitch of the k2tog and knit this stitch, and then pull both of the original stitches off the needle in the process.*






CO 24 (when you cast on for the second mitt, leave a very long tail - this will become the 2-st I-cord to connect them)






Row 1 - 8: (K1, P1)* repeat until end of row






Row 9 - 11: K to end






Row 12: P to end






Row 13 - 16: K to end






Row 17: (RT, K1)* repeat until end






Row 18 - 22: K to end






Row 23: P to end






Row 24: K to end






Decrease:






Row 25: (K4, K2tog)* repeat to end (20 st left)






Row 26: K to end






Row 27: (K3, K2tog)* repeat to end (16 st left)






Row 28: K to end






Row 29: (K2, K2tog)* repeat to end (12 st left)






Row 30: (K1, K2tog)* repeat to end (8 st left)






Row 31: K2tog to end (4 st left)






Row 32: K2together two times, cut yarn, and thread end through remaining two stitches. Pull thread to the inside of the mitten, and weave in ends. After the second mitt, pick up two stitches next to the tail at the cuff, and create a 2-st I-cord to connect them. Use your judgment as to how long it should be.






*This wording, and this particular stitch, I got from this patternBaby Mitts:






Sugar and Cream cotton 4-ply






Special Stitch: RT - this is a good alternative to the yo, k2tog from the hat pattern, as it is somewhat less convenient to have holes in mittens than in hats.


Work as if to K2tog but don’t pull the original stitches off of the left needle. Re- insert the right needle into the right stitch of the k2tog and knit this stitch, and then pull both of the original stitches off the needle in the process.*






CO 24 (when you cast on for the second mitt, leave a very long tail - this will become the 2-st I-cord to connect them)






Row 1 - 8: (K1, P1)* repeat until end of row






Row 9 - 11: K to end






Row 12: P to end






Row 13 - 16: K to end






Row 17: (RT, K1)* repeat until end






Row 18 - 22: K to end






Row 23: P to end






Row 24: K to end






Decrease:






Row 25: (K4, K2tog)* repeat to end (20 st left)






Row 26: K to end






Row 27: (K3, K2tog)* repeat to end (16 st left)






Row 28: K to end






Row 29: (K2, K2tog)* repeat to end (12 st left)






Row 30: (K1, K2tog)* repeat to end (8 st left)






Row 31: K2tog to end (4 st left)






Row 32: K2together two times, cut yarn, and thread end through remaining two stitches. Pull thread to the inside of the mitten, and weave in ends. After the second mitt, pick up two stitches next to the tail at the cuff, and create a 2-st I-cord to connect them. Use your judgment as to how long it should be.






*This wording, and this particular stitch, I got from this pattern,http://cerebral.typepad.com/cerebral_hemorrhage/files/BeanpoleBeanie.pdf. I think it is a fabulous pattern for an adult’s hat. I recommend decreasing the CO by 2 8-stitch increments."

I Missed YPF!

And maybe "Blog-free Terry" (hope you don't mind me referring to you that way, Terry!) was waiting in anticipation to see what naughtiness I was into! So I can't disappoint now, right? So here is my YPF make-up...

Where to start? OK, how about this...my FIRST shipment from my 3-month Simply Socks Yarn Company Club shipment.

It is "Ramble" by Sleeping Dragon. I didn't really receive it until a week or two ago when I discovered a delivery slip at the bottom of my mailbox! Luckily, I discovered it right in time, since it was actually a "2nd Notice" and would have been sent back shortly if I hadn't retrieved it from thePO! The Ramble colorway is much darker in the pick; in real life, it is more raspberry, royal blue and yellow. Not a gold yellow, but a yellow yellow, which makes the colorway out of my usual "me" palette. Once knit, I will proably love it, but I can't say it's a favorite at this point.

So...it took so long to get this pack, that I now have my second package! This time, it is a Spunky Eclectic sock string in "The Berry Brigade". This one is much more, my palette! I like medium to dark colorways!

And here it is, spread open for better viewing. The skein pic is closer to what it looks like. The open skein pic comes out brighter and brings out the blues, which aren't apparent when you look at it.

And what would YPF (or shall I say YPS for SUNDAY?) be without Sock that Rock?!

I have been trying hard to control the yarn expenditures. The Sock Club thing happened when I was under the impression that I had money, and it is already pre-paid. The STR order was cut from 2 Twisteds and 4 STR to just the three above: Silkie STR in "Downpour", STR light in "Hot Flash" and STR light in "Metamorphic". The Silkie is for a dear Camp Cockamamie friend who doesn't know I will be RAKing her with it! Just need to think of some other goodies to include and will mail it out to her. I'll explain all later, just can't right now in case there is a chance she is reading this.

I've been wearing my Ribby Pully like nobody's business, and the weather has been perfect for it! You'd think I would finish my other sleeveless wrap top and cardigan, but NOOOOOO...I am barely working on my Solstice Slip socks and have been focused on the Campanulas. I still love the Black Forest Fudge yarn and am not entirely convinced that the Campanulas could not look kinda cute in this striped wonderful colorway, but I decided to stop where it is at and instead start up a new pair in the Yarn Botanika Radiance colorway, "Heather". I know in my heart of hearts that this colorway is probably a big winner for the Campanulas, softer pink shades and subtle shading and blending of colors vs. the higher contrast of the BFF. So...as much as I hate toe-ups (which is a large reason why I was resisting this earlier...), I cast on and have just finished the toe increases. I'll post a pic next time so it might look more interesting at that point.

I also started to attempt the learning sock #1 from Cat's new book. I either placed my markers incorrectly when I started or did some other funky thing and am now stuck! So...a puzzle/mind-bender to attempt which means I put it aside! I have made three attempts to re-start and am starting to feel like "this is a job for Wonder-Knitter (Nartian!)"-lol! So I will proabably make HER stop what she is working on and think this one out for me! Unless I end up tearing back to where I thought the sock matched the pattern last and re-knit from there.

So...I'd love to show that pic, only I fear the progress won't go past that point and don't want to keep you hanging with all my other projects that I posted about that went into the dark UFO hole! Let's just say they look like the sample up to the heels, and are being knit it a lovely light green Elann.com Highland Wool yarn...

The Camera Disapperared...

...so I wasn't able to share the fact that it is DONE! My Ribby Pulli is complete! Despite the fact that Chloe's Ribby Pulli only required one skein of variegated yarn, mine fell short on the hood by about six inches! I reaaaaaallly wanted to order more Blue Moon Fiber Arts "Twisted", but was convinced not to. So I was being good for a change and pulled out the remaining 76 g. or so of the Cascade 220 Heather and (in the words of EZ...) pressed on! I tell ya, I had to think about EZ's "press on" encouragement through such knitterly work, cuz I really was starting to get sick of working the hood. So maybe it was good that I ran out of the Puck's Mischief Twisted and had to blend it with the Cascade heather. So here is the hood, after working the heather back in at the top. I think the proportions worked out well...

Here it is, on a real body...(goes so well with my leopard-print skirt, huh?) What can I say? I love this sweater so much that I am wearing it with EVERYTHING! Just when I thought the weather was getting too warm and nice to be able to wear this anytime soon, the A/C has been crankin' at work and the San Francisco mornings have been foggy and COLD! It truly is a comfy wear and so far, the allergies are behaving! I'm not getting overheated in it, either!

And here, the warped 'flatsy' version...

Ta-duh! Fine!

So here are some details:

Pattern: Bonne Marie Burns Ribby Pulli pattern

Version: pocket, long-sleeve, hooded version

Materials: Cascade 220 Heather (color #4006), 5 skeins (and about 25 g. left)

Blue Moon Fiber Arts Twisted in Puck's Mischief (about 18 inches left!)

Needles: Knit Picks Options, Size 4 and 5

Size: 41", but I increased the body length by about 2.5" and knit the size 35" (2nd size) sleeves, starting with 50 stitches and increasing to 72 stitches to a length of 17.5"-this shorty don't got no monkey-arms!

It is a great knit and the edge finish of the pocket and hood are absolutely clever, as is the construction of the pocket, itself! (Thanks for the extra help, Nartian!) It always helps to knit together with a friend (especially if it is Stilaholic Nartian) cuz when you get stuck, they always pull you outta that mud puddle! She and I agreed that a couple of portions of the pattern were a bit confusing, while other portions were just me!-lol! And...well, I forgot to make up for the decrease in the sleeve stitches and ended up fudging the final decrease rounds! I think Nartian found some mathematical errors anyway, so I was being lazy and didn't bother re-figuring the math. It looked good enough to me and seemed to fit fine, so no harm done (in my book, at least!).

So...besides lack of camera, I didn't get a chance to post because (among my usual PTA, PPS (Parents for Public Schools, Union, non-profit board, social and work commitments-and did I mention that Little Emperor started back to school last week?!*), I've been playing "Community Activist", fighting the establishment of a White Zone in my neighborhood! Ah, the challenges of trying to keep our neighborhoods livable in "the City" (of San Francisco!)...Exhausting both mentally and physically!

So...I'm sure I must have some STR somewhere around here to flash! Guess that would be most appropriately shared on...YPF!!!

*BTW, had to share that Mr. Little Emperor was NOT looking forward to starting school, since he doesn't like 'that Raccoon math'! Yeah, the full page of long addition and subtraction problems he got stuck doing for homework last year with the cute little cartoon Raccoon wearing a mortar board on its head illustrated on the page (perhaps to make such worksheet appear more appealing?). So far, no sign of Raccoon Math, but this is only week 2 and the first week of homework...I can only agree-I, too, hate Raccoon math! You can't believe all the begging and pleading that went on to get him to plug through all those problems! Press On!

Knitting-Content Packed!-WHAM!

It is amazing to see this much knitting content in one post (for me, at least...) I actually have a knit project, book signing excitement and yarn pr0n all in one post!

I got to Purlescence yesterday evening-barely in time to get my book signed by Cat! I had seen her book at another yarn store and had looked forward to its release since hearing about it when I first met Cat at Camp Cockamamie. Luckily, I had called Nathania ahead of time to reserve my copy! Nartian had one reserved for her, too, so I think she was relieved to know that I had accomplished my mission when earlier I had left her a phone message saying that I was racing down there with but 35 minutes to go before the signing would end! But I was happy to report that I got there with about 25 minutes to spare! The Great Race accomplished! (Don't you hate it when someone drops in unexpectedly as you are headed out the door!-and wants to take your kid overnight...so then you need to get his crap together and are half kicking them out reminding them you were on your way out and NEED to go NOW...well, you get the picture?...)


Needless to say, I made it! And who is there at the table with Cat? No one other than Stephen of hizKNITS! A true Camp Cockamamie mini-Reunion! We got the added treat of seeing a video clip of Cat's new grandson, Charlie, who many of the socks in the new book were made (and named) for! Adorable baby. She showed him getting a bath in the sink that Cat and Stephanie (Yarnharlot) had "birthed" the cabbage in. (You may be familiar with that story if you keep up with Yarn Harlot's blog and read her camp entry...). At any rate, Cat shared with us that while giving Charlie a bath in that same sink, it collapsed-credit is given to Stephanie who put much strength into birthing that cabbage in the sink-strong woman, that Yarn Harlot is...

So here is the progress of my Ribby Pulli...
I spent a good deal of time at the park today, at one of the Little Emperor's royal subject's (a best buddy) birthday party. I got a bit more accomplished, though if I were Nartian, I probably would have it completed by now!

I had earlier read the instructions, joined the sleeves and body, and went on to the decreases. After setting this aside, I picked it up, re-read the instructions and decided I had made an error, so I ripped back the 5 rows of alternating decreases. WRONG! I had actually done it correctly, but misread the instructions the second time around! DRAT! Re-knit the 5 rows and continued on...

The first inch or so after joining the body and sleeves is ever so akward to knit, so I was freaking that maybe I had followed the instructions incorrectly. However, after going to Purlescence (yarn store and Ribby Pulli Headquarters, in my book...), I confirmed with Sandy that yes, this is a difficult part of the Ribby Pulli sweater. She suggests either using two circs and dpns on the sleeves, or magic looping the body. I'm past the awkward part and told her than though I am sure I have all the requisite needles, I would be hard pressed to find them all and really could not justify that many repeat purchases of needles! I'm just glad I have moved past the awkward part. One thing that helped was just scrunching all the sleeve stitches onto the straight needle portions of the circs as I knit that portion. If I didn't, then the curve of the sleeve would fight with my needle positions. If I did a Ribby Pulli again, I would prefer a top-down approach. Problem is, if I did the pattern again, I would probably want to do the scoop-necked version and am not convinced I could figure out the top-down on that particular version...

And now for my Rockin Sock Club SPOILER!!! Anyone who just got spoiled, sorry! I get my shipment so late now, since I am on the West Coast and, afterall, this blog is all about ME, that I am not going to make an attempt to avoid spoilage. I know, selfish of me, isn't it? So here it is!


The color is "Flower Power". It photographed darker than the vibrancy it has in person. We go our usual mini-skein which I already hung on my Wall of Shame, so it is not pictured, but everything else is. Since most people show the front of the pattern, I decided I would picture the back side of mine-it shows the pattern knit in several colors and I think actually is a more complete pic of what the pattern looks like. You may also notice our groovy tattoos, as well...

i caved...

Ok, so I caved. I cast on for the Campanulas! I'm using the SereKnity Black Forest Fudge and must say I love the colorway. I know that stronger colors and variegateds are not the best for patterned lace and textures, but I am curious to see how this colorway works with the Campanulas-the competition will be strong, but I still am interested to see.

Definitely, I think the Radiance "Heather" will be a real winner, but I want to plug through. This is a lame pic, cuz I took it in the very beginning, so it shows none of the pattern! I'm only through one repeat at this point, so it is still hard to see just how bad a choice this yarn is!

As for the yarn itself? I am actually very pleasantly surprised at how much I am enjoying this yarn-very soft with some cush after it is knit up. I really like it!

OK, so a last couple of pics-it *is* almost YPF, ya know?...
So here is an order I got from Yarn4Socks-enabling brought to me by Stilaholic Nartian, herself! She ever so slyly pointed out to me that Ruby Sapphire has an "Atticus" colorway! Well...I couldn't resist that one! So while I was at it, I added some Fleece Artist "Stone". I thought it would be more like the Nova, but I think I may have been wrong...It looks suspiciously close to another Fleece Artist sock yarn colorway I have in my stash, so I may have to consider-gasp!-a 'destash' of one of them! I am just realizing that space is extremely exceeded and the budget is very bad, so...But I have to say that I did get to give Nartian a bit of her own medicine when I whined about how I was not going to pay shipping on ONE skein. Thus the Fleece Artist purchase! THEN I was a mere few dollars from free shipping, so Nartian HAD to add a skein to my order for herself-after all, what are knitting buds for, anyways? But you know what? We considered waiting a bit to get our yarn lovelies, but I'm so glad we didn't-neither of our colorways are availabe at Yarn4Socks! Apparently they sold out!
And here is some Shibui sock yarn in Wasabi. Nartian and I did a run the other week and I limited myself to "one" skein, which in sock yarn language translates to "enough for a pair of socks"; thus, my indulgence...

Rethinking the Campanula...

I decided to shop my stash again to see what else could be Campanula-worthy. Here are two more skeins I resurrected...

Apple Laine Apple Pie yarn in "Petals"...a little more purple than I want...

And here, Yarn Botanika Radiance in "Heather". The pic came out more dark-especially the purple-toned areas, but it actually has a lot of warm pink and beigey tones to it and in person the darker purples are quite subtle. The overall look becomes subtle shadings of pinks and lavendars. It may be the better pick for the lacey texture of the Campanula pattern.

Though I'm aware of how variegateds can work against lace patterns, I am still tempted to try out the Sereknity BFF anyway, though instincts say that the Heather is probably the best choice...More to think about before casting on!

Some knitting has occured!

As amazing as it may seem, I actually have a project that is progressing and acutally looking like it (dare I say?) may get completed! I am now on my second sleeve of the Ribby Pulli. Don't hold your breath, but I am actually hopeful that I may actually be wearing this in the Fall!

I ended up lengthening the body (by a good 2 1/2" or so...), since I really didn't want the pocket to hit into my sagging boobs! No, I'm not built like the Ribby Pulli model, so I think it was prudent to do so! Some of us just can't pull off that sweater hitting in the places hers does-so flattery before fashion...I also cut the sleeve short by about an inch (17.25" vs. 18"...) and worked it in a couple of sizes smaller. The body is being knit in the size 41". (Fingers crossed-"I hope it fits, I hope it fits!"...)




And though these are nowhere near completion, I actually have my Solstice Slip socks going. They were the last Rockin Sock Club kit. I decided to start the second and have them both going so that I actually have a fighting chance at getting the PAIR done!


I want to make progress on these, since the Campanula for the Cure socks are haunting me! I haven't started them yet and really wanted to try and finish these socks before starting the Campanulas. Problem is, with the Ribby Pulli really shaping up...well, you know...guess which project is pulling me towards it the most these days?...

CAMPANULA FOR THE CURE!

In my insanity, I decided to join the Campanula for the Cure KAL. Well, when I saw MezzoDiva's pattern she was selling to raise money for her Weekend to End Breast Cancer Walk, I had to have the pattern! And of course, KALs are fun, even when I can't keep up!

So I decided to "shop my stash" for some yarn, rather than purchase some new. Here is what I came up with-the Sereknity "Black Forest Fudge", which MezzoDiva had figured out also has the initials "BFF"-clever you!

Of course, just when I decide this, it turns out that I will be able to lay my hands on some Hot Flash STR light, so now I can't decide which to use! I may start a pair in the BFF, then maybe do another in Hot Flash...or perhaps Chappy's "Booby Socks" in Hot Flash? I'll show a pic of the Hot Flash colorway later.

I am dying to try out the Serenknity yarn, and since the colorway IS BFF...well, I think I have my answer!

I am very much not into doing toe-up socks. I have done maybe 3 socks in this manner and so far prefer cuff-downs. I just hate the short-row heels and am not yet saavy enough to convert to a reverse heel-flap construction. (Remember the Monsoons that are still to be...yes, that is why they are 'still to be'!) That is probably the biggest reason I'm not starting them. But you know...I may just go ahead and make them following the pattern as-written. I'll live!

GADS! What is WRONG with ME????!!!!

In this past post, I had shown a glimpse of a beginning of a sock being knit in Jitterbug "Tuscany" colorway. I basically combined two different patterns...Well, smarty-me neglected to say *which* two patterns I used! The pattern copies are separated from the long-neglected sock, and though I can figure out the ribbing, I sure as heck don't recall which 'leafy sock' (of maaaaannny that exist out there!) I used! I'll have to post a pic of it later and *beg* everyone to try and figure it out. I know that pattern was from someone's blog. In addition, I think the blogger didn't write out a complete pattern, but instead wrote out the lace/leaf pattern, general total stitches CO, and that was it. I think it may have been done in a purple/lilac color and was posted with instructions for another sock the blogger had knit...Hmm...maybe I need to dig through some of my many UFO bags!

MAN! The whole point of my starting this blog was so I could keep track of this kinda stuff! I guess my thoughts escape me and I digress to other subjects!

I know...I promised knitting focus this time!

...but I wanted to share this because it was so touching to me. Of course, it means alot to me, since this is what my friend, Carlene, wrote and posted at our friend (and her sister) Penny's memorial site (so sorry, no knitting content in this post...):

Pen and Car

Tiny Drops Make a Waterfall
A poem written by Carlene Foldenauer for her sister and friend Penny

“Tiny drops make a waterfall,” she said with a smile.
Reminding me that small things make a difference.
A smile, a thank you, a hug – they matter!
Giving that comes from the heart.

She reflected on that day at the Multonomah Falls.
It was morning, and Penny has always liked morning best.
Darkness turned to light and the sound of rushing water filled her ears.
Like fireworks cascading from blue skies, the falls appeared before her.

She was tiny, yet powerful, as she stood before them.
Penny looking straight up, the water coming straight down.
Seeking shelter from the gaze of the sun, her eyes closed.
Her face was warm, yet billions of tiny goose bumps covered her arms.

She took a loooong, deep breath, dizzied by the morning air.
The moisture that settled on her lips, tasted of the pines that surrounded her.
She stood at the foot of the falls mesmerized - frozen with respect.
She couldn’t move. She couldn’t speak.

Then like wind in her ear, she heard the words, “Tiny drops make a waterfall.”
The voice was soft, low and soothing. The words were wondrous, wise and within.
Adorned with the feather of a thunderbird, wearing the tanned skin of a buck,
He blew a puff of smoke, encircling her in a mist.

Her eyes still closed to the sky, the message was clear,
It’s about sharing. About giving and receiving with no expectations.
Like a circle it comes back around naturally.
Just live from the heart and love freely.

Penny told the story of the Great Falls and to share her lesson with us.
You don’t have to climb mountains, run marathons or write novels,
Touch the lives of others by being kind and gentle.
Take a minute to listen. Spare some change. Extend a helping hand.

“Tiny drops make a waterfall” She said with a smile

At the memorial site, it says that it was Penny's wish that in lieu of donations of money or flowers, that we all do one nice thing for someone. So like Penny and her positive attitude of "small things make a difference"!

Birthday Treasures Revealed...

I finally have a bit of time to post a few goodies! It's been busy around here with various birthday celebrations and prior to that-well, I think I already mentioned about the eBlogger robot kicking me out for a bit. Anyways, July 26 was my birthday...

So here, some of my birthday goodies!


Stilaholic Nartian gifted me the gorgeous Nature's Palette in the Orchid colorway! Thanks so much, Nartian! I think she knows my sock yarn stash is a bit weak in the 'nearly solids' category for handpainteds! And does it show? I used a gift certificate from another friend to get the other yarns shown-Koigu PPPM, nonetheless. Another friend got me this tea which I need to try, but the packaging is so cute that I am afraid to open it! (Note the two cute little cherry-figure motif boxes...) I also got some of this weird linen/viscose stuff called "Iside", which I am still trying to figure out...I originally thought how cool it would be for a cute little tank, but clearly I don't think it will be enough. There are 175 yds per skein and I purchased 4 of them, but: a) I am not a tiny gal b) this really doesn't seem to work well knit up at 4 st/inch. It seems to be headed for shawl/ette land...Gorgeous color, though!

And here is how I spent my day...

Making this...

And this...

And doing this...


Yes, it was an attempt to make a Bake Sale Betty's Fried Chicken Sandwich! (This past week's food section had an article featuring the famous sandwich-and much to my delight-included the recipe for it!) I confirmed what I always somehow knew in the back of my mind: the $8 per sandwich is well worth the price! Don't attempt this at home, folks!

OK, if you want to do it, go ahead...I dare ya! Even if you could execute it perfectly, you could not convince me it was worth the effort and cost of having to purchase those 2 quarts of vegetable oil to fry the chicken in, let alone the cabbage, red vinegar, olive oil, jalepenos, etc...not to mention the time you wait for the oil to heat up to 365 degrees Farenheit!

I like to consider myself a fairly decent cook, but I will confess that deep frying is something I have never become proficient at. I did read sometime, long ago, that it was a tricky thing to deep fry-getting the right temperature and holding it there. I wish I had tried it out sooner after reading said article, since the fine points seemed to have escaped me as I made my attempt to fry up the 4 chicken breasts that I had carefully double-coated with buttermilk and flour...Alas, my attempt resulted in somewhat anemic chicken breasts with oil-soaked, gooey (yet tasty) coating.

In my haste (and hunger) I then conveniently forgot to get any pics of the final product! However, remembering about the temperature issue with deep frying, I followed my instincts and heated the oil back up to the requisite 365 degrees and finished frying up the 4 tenderloins-each turning out much better than the earlier larger breasts. The smaller pieces definitely helped keep the heat up and fried up much nicer.

Here, what remains of the tenderloins.


The black specs are what got attached to the batter, since it was fried in the remaining oil from the earlier breasts. Despite the gummy covering of the large breasts, the overnight salt/buttermilk soak did pay off, and even the large breasts were still pretty tasty and tender.

The coleslaw is wonderful-much harder to mess up, though I am sure that the published recipe is a different than what comes out at the bakery-I don't recall the coleslaw being as moist, so I used the entire head of cabbage, since I love the coleslaw anyway. Now I've got more left over for snacking!

So...I guess this exercise had more than the one purpose of teaching me the true "Value" of a Bakesale Betty's Fried Chicken Sandwich...it made me work a bit harder to help burn off the 955 calories that the sandwich is supposed to contain! That's 23 "points" in Weight Watcher's language!-lol! (Which, BTW, I had the WHOLE sandwich today which exceeds my daily 'point' allowance by 3! But that's another story...) Oh-and the added benefit of going to Bake Sale Betty's to buy my fried chicken sandwich?-it is on the same block as ARTICLE PRACT! Fried chicken sandwich and yarn?! I'm THERE! Man, I sure hope she doesn't ever stop making these puppies!

OK, so I'll focus more on my knitting next time I post...

Blogless...ready to go?

Well, besides being busy celebrating my birthday, I have been blocked out of my blog! So here is a test to see if they have returned my blogging powers. If not, then I will save this entry like the few others past, to post when I am again allowed. Sucks, really...

So I thought I would share what a friend brought back to me from Hawaii. I picked him up the other week and he provided me these most-awesome treats! Friends should not start such addictions; then again, we do it with yarn all the time, don't we? ;)

Don't try them. You won't be able to get them out of your mind. My major weakness-shortbread. And the chocolate is absolutely creamy!

Taking the time...

So it appears I am again able to post to my blog-well, thank YOU, oh mighty Blogger! Glad you have decided I am not a spam blog. So...following, my previous entry...






I guess I can do what Stilaholic is doing and read my new HP book, instead of blogging, but I figure that I actually have something to prove I knit (and finish) *some* items! So here, a nice day project, the "felted cap" from Bev Galeskas. It was supposed to be for me, but I let it shrink too much! So it is a snug-fit hat for me, or...a cute 'ol hat for the Lil' Emperor, himself.

Lil' Emperor says, "It stinks!"...yeah, another reason not to knit him anything!

A Penny Returning to Heaven...

(Me, Pen and her sis, Car)

Early this morning a dear friend of mine passed on after an up and down battle with cancer. I just found out tonight. I adored her. I loved her; she loved me...I know because she told me so, and often...and because that is how she was-full of love and not ever forgetting to say anything she felt because she knew life is too short. Full of love, warmth, passion, mischievousness, generous...that was Penny. Towards the end, even more philosphical, though I think that happens when you face death so frequenty...Of course, there were so many other wonderful things about her. Hell-she was embracing life even before she was diagnosed with the beginning breast cancer. You couldn't help but love her and I know she is now in complete love and comfort on the other side.

I had just weaved in the last ends of the hat I had knit for her while on my Sock Camp trip, having seen her a week or two prior to leaving. That was the last time I saw her, and the first in some time that we had been able to get together. It was for Norouz-Sizdeh Bedar, the 13th day of (and ending the) Persian New Year. I wish I had gotten the hat to her earlier, as planned. Wish I had been in touch sooner. But I also do not believe in regrets in life and that it was meant to happen this way and in this order.

But don't let me kid you-my heart's breaking right now and I need to go grieve.

A Happy 7yo...

No cake or cupcake pics to share...I actually forgot to take pics, if you can believe that! Hopefully my parents or some other party-goers got the Emperor's Birthday captured on film/digital...I know my dad took a video...

But here is a Happy Lucky 7 Emperor!

(see the smile?...)

If You Don't Have a Knitting Buddy, Get One!

Ah, yes...now we know why 'buddies' are important. They enable us, and us them. And sometimes, when we end up in need of another skein of hand-dyed yarn (that the dyer is challenged in being able to re-dye anything remotely similar in color to...) because we decided to make larger socks than planned...our KNITTING BUDDIES can bail us out cuz, by George-they bought that same damn yarn at the same time you did because you were both drawn to it at the same time! (Nothing like sharing, huh?) So then the skeins are the same dye lot, too, cuz they were from that same batch! Well, whadda ya know?! Stilaholic Nartian came through with the Sanguine Gryphon Traveller yarn in the (trying to be re-done colorway, "Mali")!!! Thanks so much, Nartian!!! Couldn't survive this knittng adventure without you!

Oh...and another happy-happy to share...my Horcrux pair is finished-in time for the new movie and new book releases!

And I missed YPF-even purchased some yarn yesterday on the way to BINGO (yes, my friend got a bunch of us together to celebrate her birthday and play Bingo!). So I'll have to get the pics loaded to share. Guess it'll have to wait for next YPF...

Lookie what I got today!

A package from Sanguine Gryphon! What can I say? I saw the new "Little Traveller" fingering weight yarn and *had* to get a skein "Ghana" colorway! Threw in a bit o' batting (Wild Mountain Thyme) to justify the shipping... and there you go!

Well...Etsy can be bad for me. Very bad.

That same day, I saw this and this...LOVED them! HAD to get the sun one for me and the lady bug one for my friend's daughter who shares my birthday and who has always been the 'ladybug'...

Now, as if that wasn't enough, when I placed my order for the Little Traveller yarn, I passed up the "Brazil" colorway. Gryphon emailed me thanking me for the order and mentioned that if I had knit up my previously ordered yarn (Traveller in "Mali"), if I wouldn't mind sharing pics. Well, that very yarn was in line to be knit into Ann Budd's "Flame wave" (pic shown at someone's blog I found...) pattern from IK "Favorite Socks".

I got motivated to start them NOW, and got to it, failing to remember the cuff was only to be knit to 3 1/2"...So now that I am past the heel and into the gussett decreases, I realize I may not have enough yarn! (Picture coming soon...) Becoming so enlightened, I thought perhaps I should check Gryphon's site for more of the Traveller yarn and see what other colors exist that may work for Flamewave toes...No Traveller at this time, but one last skein of Little Traveller "Brazil", looking just as fantastic and irresistable as ever! What is a knitting sock-gal to do?! Self-restraint is not my strong point. Needless to say, it is on order and I asked Gryphon to hold it until I figure out whether a third skein will be needed for my Flamewaves or not...I know it will not exactly match, but I need the yarn type to match and I'm hoping she can dye up something that will coordinate, maybe in darker shades...Apparently she is due to dye up more of the Traveller yarn soon...

Did I ever tell you how dangerous Etsy is for me? God, I *love* that place!

Missing YPF...

As I prepare for the Emperor's 7th Birthday party! Cake, cupcakes, treat bags, food shopping...all that! But this is a once in a lifetime birthday, as he turns 7 today-July 7th! So I decided to give him a Lucky 7 Birthday Bash!

I did manage to dig out some yarn that was never flashed that came not too long ago...They are both from Zen Yarn Garden. Frosty Freeze and Creamsicle colorways. Oh...and let's not forget bootey I picked up as a result of Stilaholic Nartian merely mentioning Wool Girl...no sooner do I read about the site, I click the link and what do I see? Yarn from Pigeon Roof Studios in a colorway I could not pass up-"Atticus"! So several skeins later, I am checking out and have added on some Route 66 by Spunky Eclectic. I knew I was good, but I don't think I have ever impulse shopped any quicker than that! But look how stinkin' cute that stitch marker is? Who wouldn't want a lil' lambie marker?

And then, of course, knowing that Lis at One Planet was posting more goodies, I ended up with some Madelinetosh batts and a new Avi Wasserman spindle. I love the batts and have since finished the 'Cools" batt shown partially spun.

Must-get-sleep! (Even though I'm dying to work on the Flame Wave ala Paula socks I'm working on in some yarn I got from Gryphon...) I'll have to show off my Etsy purchases and the recent cupcakes and cakes...later...