Sock Summit-the Lazy Edition

Look at all the lanyards...oh my, big crowd a-comin'!

And lookie-Jess and Casey are staying at my hotel! Yes, crappy pic of me and all!

I don't know how the pics ended up in this order, but I thought you would all enjoy getting glimpes of, for instance--Turtlegirl! Who could miss her?

Or Irishgirlieknits putting all those badges together?

And just for Knittinggolfer, a pic of my brand-spanking new Jenkins' Turkish Drop Spindle!!! Beauties and they packaged it up in a silk hankie!

All I can say is that the market ended today at 6pm, but by 4pm, I was pretty wiped out! So many indie dyers all in one place and so very much that I was on serious overload! I did stay til the end of market, but my head was mush!

Class was absolutely incredible-right down to a classmate impaling her calf on a straight needle!

More when I return, but I thought some of you would enjoy a glimpse into this wonderful event that is SOCK SUMMIT 2009!!!

You wouldn't guess that Sock Summit Hasn't Started Yet!

...if you were to see the amount of sock yarn I've already amassed today!

But guess what? ALL THE ABOVE wasn't purchased! Well...I did pay for a 'yarn tasting luncheon', but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine a luncheon with so many goodies!

Including this bag of treats!...

And after our glass of prosecco to start things off (stitch marker attached to our glass!), a first course like this...
Acuardi Insalata served with our salad!

And door prizes! I won this prize donated by Larissa herself! And the bag didn't just include her Knitalong book, but also a whole French Press Cozy KIT! Yarn and pattern!

We had lunch with the various dyers who so generously donated their yarns for us! We later had the opportunity to visit Abundant Yarn Dyeworks and I actually was kinda good...

I purchased a skein of Cascade 220 Superwash to make 12" blocks for a special afghan they are making for a special little girl who lost her mother. I can mail the blocks to them if I don't finish any prior to leaving. And I couldn't resist some authentic OREGON yarn to bring home!

So I got a bit of a headstart...oh well!

What was fun is I poked in to say 'hi' to Cockeyed and got to peek at a couple of vendor booths! All I can say is O M G!!! This is going to be way too much temptation! I was already petting and pining over some of Snicklefritz's Yarn! GORGEOUS and some merino/cashmere was just asking to be snatched up! Alas, no snatching. YET.

Please, oh please...what to do to keep from grabbing up skeins of yarn and buying, buying buying?

Third Time's a Charm?...

I don't think so!

But there you have it...the Princess Mitts for a Queen! Still not perfect, but certainly better than the first TWO renditions of the left mitt!


Last I posted, I think I had mentioned the issue of gauge and the near-inch difference between the first and second knitted mitt!

But when the second go-round was knit, look what happened!

For those who need a bit of a hint: I have two RIGHT mitts, not a right and a left!-doh!

And really, the third "left" mitt would have been nicer to re-knit had I more time and patience, but it wasn't happening. I just couldn't do it. But in case you didn't notice, the left gusset was very strange: the ribbing just didn't seem 'right'.

And sure enough, Nartian figured out and found the revised Princess Mitts pattern! If you look at the revised charts, you would never guess that it was the same pattern! Well, at least not the thumb increase chart portions...Ah, well...as Knittinggolfer and I discussed, sometimes it is hard to remember to check for pattern errata. In my case-especially when trying to get a gift done quickly! I seem to recall either Cat (Moebius Bordhi) or Yarn Harlot Steph say in one of their classes that you should 'frequently admire your work'. Nartian said it was Harlot in our last Knitting for Efficiency class. But in that class, her reference to admiring work frequently was that doing so often slows your knitting speed. I seem to recall that the 'admire your work frequently' I was recalling was made in reference to 'keep your eyes open for mistakes so you can catch them earlier on'. I don't learn, do I?

So I am back from a road trip with SassyMan and Lil Emp and all I have to show for it is a finished pair of sport weight Cotty's (that were just about completed before leaving...) and the mitts! That's it. I worked a bit on Ulmus...

The Ulmus found its way to the beach at the "Strand" on Coronado Island; I knit while I kept and eye on my guys...

I knit the left mitt of Princess Mitts THREE times.

I learned what a shark egg looks like...

they're the spiral algae looking things...

Lil Emp got his wish to see the La Brea Tar Pits!

I don't recall stuff still oozing from the ground, but it has been over 25 years since I was last there! Pretty amazing and all in the middle of the city!

And while in San Diego, we even got glimpses of ComicCon-goers! Sorry, Nartian, no Twilight Geek Fan photos!

Our trip even included a visit with Lil' Emp's cousin, Nico...

And upon my return, a whirlwind of basket ball clinic, PTA meeting/get-together, and a 60th Birthday party which ended with this...

Turtle Pie! So yummy! Happy Birthday to a wonderful quilting guru, my quilt teacher, and a most-talented woman, Karen!

So it's back to two days of work and off to Sock Summit on Wednesday morning! I'm stressing about the whole luncheon thing and luggage handling, not to mention the fact that SassyMan seems to have gotten a flu or something that I hope I will not catch! MUST STAY WELL FOR SS09!!!

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!

Thank Heavens!

...for talented cousins who not only know how to take photos, but do a mighty fine job of it!

Baby Mine details...I knit this with the Socks that Rock medium weight that I
custom dyed to my "uncomfortable" color preferences-pastels.
Actually, I do like purple, brown and green, so this was actually
kind of a mottled Spirits using those hues.

And this time I used the Fleegle version of Saartje's Booties
Pretty nice not seaming-and so much neater looking!

Haven't you ever asked someone to photograph something for you only to have them either: 1) never do it or 2) send some crappy picture where you could not even ascertain what the subject of the photo is supposed to be...?

Well, my cousin and his wife loved the baby sweater set I knit for their Baby inWaiting! AND...his wife took some great pics for me! You are all familiar with my amateur photos, but at least they depict what I am trying to show. So this time around, you can appreciate my latest gift knitting much better-photographed than what I would have provided!

This time I used the Fleeglized version of Saartje's Booties. Many thanks to Nartian who had pointed out that Fleegle had re-written this seamless version. I think she mentioned it to me when I made the last baby set, but I was either too lazy to look it up or had already started the original pattern. I think the garter stitch matches the garter yolk of Baby Mine quite well.

I can hardly wait to see the baby in this!

And for fun? A picture of Lil Emp at his first Rally-we attended the California Children's Rally yesterday in Sacramento.


And tonight, in reading his camp newsletter for this week, it states that the theme this summer is is to be a (Camp Name) Super Hero!!! Every week's theme will be based off a super power that (Camp Name) Super Hero youth should have, and will emphasize some kind of skill or value that we hope the kids wsill learn through the leaders' activities..."

So what do you think this week's theme is? "Be Active and Speak up!" It then says, "We'll be learning ...why it's important to be active, and the influlence of one person's voice in making a difference." SERENDIPITY!

I guess it was OK that he took yesterday off from camp!

A Post All it's Own

Another pattern I started swatching for is IrishGirlieKnit's Cotty sock pattern. LOVE it, and it is going to be our Socks that Rawk Rav group KAL starting next month. I had told Nartian that if it got picked, I would be knitting it with my Pigeon Roof Studios cashmere/merino.

I love the pattern and immediately got it when it came out and KNEW I *had* to knit it with the Pigeon Roof since: 1) it seemed like a good match and 2)IrishG irlieKnits turned me on to the stuff! So PRS cahmere/merino it is! Been struggling a bit with the swatch and need to wet it and see what gauge I get.

So then, I go to catch up on Irish Girlie's blog, only to see a gorgeous new pair she is designing! Ack! So many patterns, so little time! But go NOW and get the pattern cuz she marked it down to $4. until May 7!

(Yeah, no swatch pics. Maybe I should be like KnitGlit and draw a picture as a substitute, huh?...)

Charity First, then WIPs and Swatching

...but of course, life is mixed in with the knitting: school wind-down, family activities, work and PLAY!

Last night was "Uptown Unveiled", Oakland's attempt to showcase what they have tagged their new art/theatre district. Businesses were open, streets blocked off with various stage locations with music and mardi-gras style parading and dancing. Fox Theatre was open for tours, the Crucible was out with their giant blow torch (or whatever it is you call it that makes that big ol' BOOM!)...We peeked in to the Crucible Gallery and journeyed up to tour the 'upscale luxury condos' in the Cathedral Building. Overpriced is not my 'style', though I appreciate nice things and can understand value of nice things. But things that are pricey more for the status is kinda not my thing. It seems like the area is really going for the 'upscale' image-and the restaurant prices follow right along with it.

We enjoyed our champagne and strawberries while we toured the condos-and the view was quite nice.

the mezzanine level of the 14th floor condo

But come on-a luxury condo priced over $1M where you'd have to travel down two flights of stairs to find a bathroom? I think this area is condidered a 'media room' (no windows, no water, no closets...) You go up the stairs to a small landing (I'd say only good use would be for a dog bed) and yet another flight up to the rooftop which is quite compact.

View of the Fox Theatre and festivities below from the condo

The Crucible has a gallery that is in the lobby of The Cathedral Building

I do love the old elevator fixture-there are actually 14 floors, though this only shows 12

By the time we got to the Fox Theatre, a line had formed so we opted out on the tour...

It was fun checking out our work area and what is developing around us. My friend and I shot off to a small theatre production of Living Room at the Oakland Noodle Factory. For a suggested donation of $10, we enjoyed an original performance by an independent theatre company. I love checking stuff like this out!

And for knitting?

Well, this month my focus (other than the pictureless deadline Baby Mine knitting) has been on charity squares for Pine Ridge Reservation. So far, I have 16 completed. I'm slowing down now, but hope to complete at least 4 more by the end of the month. I think they want them all mailed out by July 5.


It's been kind of fun just doing mindless knitting. I even learned a cabled crochet square while working on these squares!
So I am trying to re-focus and continue on these two WIPs: the Shurt'ugal socks for my sister and the Ulmus that I was forever swatching!
And yet, the inspiration to start new projects hit and I ended up swatching in pursuit of these projects...

A dress for my friend's daughter because she appreciated the baby sweater so much!

A baby sweater for Solly since I felt a bit guilty that the girl babies got sweaters and booties while he had only gotten hats and booties! And then there was the Sirdar book and Calico yarn I saw at Cottage Yarn and decided I needed to get to make this short-sleeved cardi...what do you think? V-neck or scoop-neck?

So as far as the knitting goes, at least I've been able to share the latest progress...

Pictureless entry...

A second Baby Mine with matching booties is completed and gifted! And in the rush to get it out, I forgot to get pictures! No in-progress shots, no completed shots. Phooey! Well, at least I can beg my cousin to take some and send them to me so I can eventually post them.

And other than that, I have been working on my Pine Ridge Reservation afghan blocks. I am up to 14, which is shocking since when I have offered to knit charity blocks, I usually only commit to 2 and seem to barely get them squeezed out! Ah, what a bit of focus can accomplish!

A New Discovery! BMFA IS work-related! (Nartian should appreciate this!)

So I decided to check out Tina's blog. While I'm at it, I decide, "Hey, I need to see what is up over at our RSC Blog!" Scroll down, clicked here (cuz...lemme see who designs this site!). So I ought to read about them and see what kinda stuff they post on their blog.

Listed therein is this:
Largest ExpressionEngine Web sites, May 2009
Change.gov: Transition site for Barack Obama
iLounge: All about iPod and iPhone
Periódicos Zócalo: newspaper in Mexico
Gear Live: gadget news
Top Gear: BBC car show
paidContent.org: news about online content
BMI Music: music licensing and artist
A List Apart: resource for CSS and design
Campaign Monitor: email campaign tool
Truthdig: independent political news
Grist: environmental news and commentary
Kukla’s Korner: hockey fans
Jewish Journal: large jewish newspaper in Los Angeles
CA Government: central page for California’s Gov’t
OpenGL: standards group

Notice, the "CA Government" link? Click.

SO work-related! ;) (And now so is this post!)

Pictures Loaded!

And the kid off the computer for the night! And I actually have a bit of time!

So here's the latest:

A completed CROCHETED scarf, done for the Socks that Rawk Crochet Challenge...

LSS in a Raven colorway (can't remember which). Pattern-"Verdere", crocheted in an extra repeat of rows 2-24

A pair of socks finished (finally!) after the Memorial Day Weekend!

Yes, Queen of Beads FINALLY done!

And my Moebius of Peace also finished after that holiday weekend!

A basic moebius knit with Berocco Cotton Twist, carried with a handpainted rayon

A bit smaller than it should be, but I still like it!And the two Barn Raising Quilt blocks I committed to! (Now to send them...!)

Leftover STR used: Pisgah and Seal Rock (with a bit of a Raven added to the edge)

I think I have finally settled on the Footsey Foo/Jabberwocky combo for the Ulmus, which I have yet to start! I actually still need to wind the Footsey Foo, but I'm not in a hurry since I have a "Baby Mine II" to complete by June 14! Along with requisite booties, since the mom-to-be attended our other cousin's shower and saw the Baby Mine I set done previously with the Dutch Canyon. I've connected the sleeves to the body and am starting in on the yolk.

But I've also been distracted by a fun challenge called "Blankets in July" Square Drive that is being conducted over at the Afghans for Pine Ridge Reservation Rav group. We are divided into two teams (Red Birds and Wolves) that compete to complete the most afghan squares that are supposed to be around 6" square for which a point is earned for your team (1 pt per 36 square inches...).

I joined the group when I learned that they would take just about any sized knit block (you know, for all my imperfect blocks that didn't quite meet measurement requirements for other afghans...). Up until now, I'd done nothing with this group: not participated on the board and not sent any blocks! Our ears were burned at the start of this challenge, so I figured I'd hop in on the fun.

Sounds like it will be fun and if any of you are up for it, come on over and play with us! I'm on the Wolves team! GO WOLVES!!!!