life as we know it....over

We have a crawler here!

At 8 months old, he has become such a busy little boy!

Unfortunately, my knitting time has gone way down because we have put our home for sale on the market and have been searching for something a little bigger. We are in a 2-bedroom house currently and would like to find something with at least 3 bedrooms and a little more elbow room, if you know what I mean.

But, I have managed to finish one of my stripey socks! Just plain stockingette stitch, this one really went fast. Also, I wanted to show off a new set of fabrics I got from Pink Chalk Fabrics. It's the Red Letter Day collection by Lizzy House. I totally fell in love with it when I saw it online. The picture does not do it justice. Since I am trying to keep the house spotless right now, I will have to settle for just drooling over it until after we move (and who knows when that will be).

happy things.

With summer right around the corner my thoughts have turned to quilts. Or, I should say....the sewing of quilts. I ran across several awesome blogs that have so many inspiring quilts!I've had this stack of mostly Amy Butler fabrics for a while now but I just can't decide what quilt pattern to make with them. I've put them out on my table so I can drool over them on an hourly basis.

In the mean time, I've started stripey socks. This is Knit Picks Felici Self-Striping Sock yarn. I am totally in love with this stuff!!! It looks like a very thin yarn and I expected it to feel even thinner, like the KP Essentials Sock. In fact, it is very firm and soft and not splitty at all! And these colors just make me smile! I think this is the discontinued Coney Island colorway.

I've actually had a good bit of time to knit the past few days since I am recovering from ingrown toenail surgery (sorry, gross, I know). It's been a great excuse to just sit on the couch in between taking care of the baby.

Butternut socks

These have been finished for weeks! I had a hard time getting good pictures but you get the idea.

Pattern: plain stockingette

Yarn: Yarn Pirate Booty Club Merino/Tensel in Butternut colorway

Needles: US#1

Notes: This yarn was so loosely plied that it made it splitty and hard to work with. I am happy with the finished result but don't think I would use it again. I have worn them many times already and they are warm and cozy just as handmade socks should be.

Jack Update: Jack is doing soooo much better now that he has his stitches out and we can go back to feeding him with a bottle! He is so much happier now and so am I!

Fall goodies

Just a day late!

A fall-themed quilt in the works.

One finished sock in Yarn Pirate merino/tencel in "Butternut".

I wanted this picture to include The Boy but he is taking a nap and that is more important right now.

I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween!

Good to be home

Even though the weather wasn't ideal (rainy/snowy & cold) we had a wonderful time on our vacation!

Badlands National Park:

Lots of cool tunnels:Mount Rushmore:

I was able to get some knitting done too! I finished my Monkey socks. Aren't they LOUD?! I love them though...so soft and the pattern is great to knit!Pattern: Monkeys by Cookie A.

Yarn: Interlacements Tiny Toes in the Summer Fruit colorway

Needles: US #2

I had originally planned to start the Trystero Socks but as I was looking at the pattern I realized that it may be a bit complicated for vacation knitting. So I wound up some lovely earthy colored yarn for some simpler socks. This is some Yarn Pirate Booty Club merino/tencel sock yarn.

I attempted to knit these in the Nutkin sock pattern but the yarn was pooling ugly with #2 needles. I tried going down to size #1 needles but they were just too tight. So I ended up going with more stitches on the #1 needles in plain stockingette stitch. I think if I have enough left over I will make some matching baby socks for "Junior".

By they way, the pregnancy is still going very well! He's been kicking more and more frequently and Hubby was actually able to feel a little kick for the first time the other day. It's so exciting!

It's that time of year again!

VACATION TIME! yay!

Of course, you all know that the most important part of vacation planning is deciding what knitting projects to take. We are heading up to South Dakota to visit friends and Mount Rushmore so it will be a looong road trip, which means plenty of knitting time!

I'm really feeling the sock vibe right now so I think I will take mostly sock projects. I'm just a foot away from finishing my Monkeys socks so I'll definitely take those. And, it's not a sock project but I'll take my half finished Lace Ribbon scarf. I told myself that once I finish my Monkeys then I will allow myself to cast on for the Trystero Socks by Cookie A. I've been dying to knit these! the cable pattern is just so gorgeous and unique I think. I haven't completely decided on what yarn to use though. I think I've narrowed it down to some Plucky Knitter 100% BFL in "Grass is Greener" or my treasured Sweet Georgia sock yarn in "Blue Fig". I will take both and see what happens.And, just in case I get sick of all that fingerling weight yarn, I'll take some Lion Brand Chunky in charcoal for Kate the knitted cat. I want to copy this adorable version of it that I saw recently!

Well, I think I can check that off my to-do list now. I'm finishing up some little knitted gifts for our friends that we'll be visiting so I'll show those to you before we leave.

Catching up...again

Wow, sorry for the long absence! I've just been super busy lately!

This past weekend we made a whirlwind trip to Florida for a friend's wedding. Twelve hours one way and the weather was terrible! luckily it stopped raining about 2 hours before the wedding, which was on the beach.

I took all of your advice and have successfully made my first pair of baby socks!!!I cast on 32 stitches and knit 2x2 ribbing for about an inch and a half and then proceeded with a regular heel flap and gusset. It's hard to tell the scale here but they really look like they'll fit a baby's foot. I guess we'll find out for sure in September. This is just some leftover Yarntini Sock yarn in the Blue Hawaiian colorway. You can't get any cuter!

Also, BIG NEWS! my gender scan has been scheduled for April 29th. In three weeks! EEeek! I'm so excited. I think this calls for a gender guessing contest....STAY TUNED! I'll be giving more info soon and may even post a bump picture. I'll be 19 weeks then and let's just hope he or she isn't too shy. LOL!

I wanted to start a relatively easy new project that would be good for car knitting on our trip but I didn't get too far. This is the Lace Ribbon Scarf from the latest Knitty issue. I'm using some old Knit Picks Essential sock yarn that I've had around for a while but I love the color because it is similar to the original scarf in the pattern. I think I like how it's coming out but it seems very slooooow going. We'll see if I can finish it by winter.

I have lots more to show you as well so I'll be posting again soon.

I've got a lot to learn!

See my toddler-sized socks:

Lesson learned: 48 stitches are too many stitches to cast-on for baby socks. The cuff seems small enough, I guess because I did 1x1 ribbing but the foot is just waaaay too large. I know it's hard to tell in the picture but trust me, they are too big. And yes, I know they will be grown into at some point but I want baby socks! This is some of my leftover Sunshine Yarn from my sadly neglected knee-high socks. It's a very, very thin yarn so I thought I should cast on more stitches to compensate for the smaller gauge. I think next time I will cast on something like 32 or 38 stitchs and do 2x2 ribbing for the cuff. We'll see how it works out. Any tips or advice are welcome!

And here is my other new project, the Asymetrical Cabled Cardi.

I'd better seriously hurry if I'm going to get any wear out this before a) it gets too hot, and b) I get too HUGE! I've got a few inches til I add the sleeves and start the yoke but this has been a really fun piece to knit. The cables look really complicated but they're actually pretty simple and easily memorized.

Oh and my Petal cardigan is almost done as well. I've picked up all the stitches around the body and am knitting the edging...it's a real PAIN in the you-know-what because there are about a billion stitches and I have to keep transferring stitches around on two different circulars to fit them all. I think I'll work on it this weekend and try to finish it.

Have a Happy Easter weekend everyone!

Mmmm, Berries!

Okay, not real berries but the yarn makes my fingers look like I've been in the blueberry patch all day!

I started some new Monkeys, using the called for size #2 needles instead of #1s which I can say from experience will result in socks that are too tight! See my orphan Monkey sock here.

The yarn is Interlacements Tiny Toes in the Summer Fruit colorway, very appropriately named if I do say so. I was in the mood for something bright and as you can see, this yarn does not disappoint! I really do love the Monkey stitch pattern a lot and the Tiny Toes is much more cooperative with it than it was with the Cable Twist stitch pattern.

You can't beat quick socks!

Christmas preparations are in full swing here! I'm so happy to say that I am nearly done with all of my handmade gifts. Uhm, not that I'm making that many. It's just that I expected a pair of socks to take me much longer.

Pattern: Ampersand

Yarn: Socks that Rock Mediumweight, in Puck's Mischief colorway

Needles: #2 circular for magic loop

Notes: I really love how these came out! These were especially fun to make since the future recipient had given me some very strong hints that she would love a pair of handknit socks. I know she'll love the colors too. And speaking of colors....can you believe that these didn't do ANY weird pooling that STR is "famous" for?! Just perfect.

In fact, I was so happy with how fast and nice these knit up that I immediately started another pair in the Socks That Rock mediumweight. I think these will be a gift for hubby since he appreciates handmade socks. It is the Lucy colorway and I'm using a simple pattern from the Sensational Knitted Socks book.And look what I have here....

Yup, it's the mess that I showed you a while back. And would you believe that it only took me 20 minutes to wind it into these two balls? If I'd known it would be so simple I wouldn't have been so dramatic about it all! I guess I just psych my self out sometimes. Now I can work on Ester along with my Somewhat Cowl, which is coming along great!

Everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Finished: RPM socks

Here are my lovely RPM socks! I am really happy with how they turned out!Pattern: RPM socks from Knitty
Yarn: Yarn Pirate Merino in Rum Runner (Booty Club exclusive)
Needles: US #1 cirs using magic loop
Notes: I made the larger size since I was using #1 needles and thinner yarn and it really worked out perfectly. They're not too tight nor too loose. I think they may be the most comfortable and best fitting socks I've ever made. The only thing I did change was I just lengthened the leg by several pattern repeats.


The other fun thing I did last week was a little yarn trading. Library Liz saw that I had my Yarn Pirate Booty Club yarn in the Calamity colorway up for trade on Ravelry and offered something up from her stash. It worked out so perfectly! I ended up with her Pure Knits Yarntini club yarn in the Mint Mojito colorway! Ravelry is just so cool like that!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Now I see why everybody loves it

.....Socks That Rock that is. I decided yesterday to go ahead and cast on for some Ampersand socks which will be a Christmas gift. I actually bought this Mediumweight STR a while ago and when I was thinking of my Christmas knit list the other day, a certain someone popped into my head and I know she will LOVE this colorway. It's the Puck's Mischief colorway.
So, yeah, the Socks That Rock.....it rocks! I guess because it's mediumweight it is sooooo fast to knit up! I'm using size 2 needles and the fabric is quite nice and dense. And YAY for no weird pooling that STR is notorious for.
Oh and I wanted to thank Maryse for tagging me for the 8 Random Things meme! I did a 7 random things a while back, does that count? Those are so fun! Feel free to snag it and play along. :)

Thanks for all the nice compliments on my Bluebell Perdita! I gave it to the birthday girl on Sunday and I think she really loved it!

This is not your imagination!

Hello everyone! This is a real post! with actual finished objects! 2 of them no less!
Once again, sorry for the absence lately. I blame it on Ravelry. I've been busy knitting though.

First off is my test knit for The Plucky Knitter.
Pattern: Just the stitch pattern from Jaywalkers plus a 2 st garter border to prevent rolling.
Yarn: 1 skein of The Plucky Knitter Merino in the Kicky colorway and 1 skein of The Plucky Knitter BFL Suri Alpaca in the Vivi's Dress colorway (actually I think I only used about half of each skein)
Needles: US #5
Notes: There are really only good things to say about this project (and I'm not just trying to suck up here ;-)). The pattern was simple yet interesting and the yarns were wonderful to work with. My pictures really don't do the yarn justice at all....the colors are much more vibrant. I actually loved the BFL/Suri Alpaca yarn much more than I thought I would! It's very silky and not at all itchy (on my sensitive neck that is saying a lot!). And of course the 100% merino is the absolute softest yarn you can get. The finished dimensions ended up being 6"x75" which I think is the perfect length to wear it doubled or just a simple wrap around the neck.

Now, for my second FO (can you believe it!):

Pattern: Cable Twist Socks
Yarn: Interlacements Tiny Toes in the Southwest colorway from The Loopy Ewe
Needles: US#1

Notes: Unfortunately, this knit was not nearly so enjoyable as the scarf. There was just something about the combination of the slipped stitch pattern and the somewhat splitty yarn that did not mix well. The yarn itself is perfectly soft and lovely and I'm sure would do well in a simpler pattern. I modified the pattern by adding one stitch repeat so as to adapt to fingerling weight yarn. They fit well and I'm sure I will enjoy wearing them this winter. I'm just glad they are finally finished!

I hope everyone is having a nice weekend!

I've got my work cut out for me

So this weekend I was trying to organize my stash and discovered how many projects I actually have lined up in the queue.

A. WIP knee-high socks in Sunshine Yarns in Fiesta color. One sock complete.

B. WIP Endpaper Mitts. One mitt complete. (hmmm, do I see a pattern?)

C. Knit Picks Swish in grey and heather grey. Winter hat for hubby.

D. Cotton Fleece in black for I Do shrug.

E. 2 skeins of Knit Picks Shadow lace in Vineyard (lovely!!) for Sarcelle (sorry link isn't working) and 2 skeins of Jagger Spun Zephyr wool lace for something lacy...don't know yet.

F. WIP Lizard Ridge blanket in Noro Silk Garden various colorways. So far, 2 out of 24 blocks complete.

G. 6 skeins of Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed in a navy color. I think this might be suitable for the Minimalist Cardigan from the latest IK.

H. Freshly ripped Peace Fleece worsted in Ancient Fern that was formerly a Forecast Cardigan. I'm really thinking this would be good for the Tilted Duster from IK. It's pretty scratchy wool so it definitely has to be for outerwear.

I. 3 skeins of Lion Brand Cotton Ease that was originally a failed Lilah. No plans as of yet for it.

J. Ooo! This is my newest aquisition. It's 12 skeins of Knit Picks Main Line in dusty lavender for Tree Jacket.

K. This was an impluse buy when Webs had Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool on sale last year. I have since learned that impulse buys are not a good thing. I had originally wanted to make the Not-So-Shrunked Cardigan but I'm just not in love with the color. So there it sits.

L. Silky Tweed for the Not-So-Shrunked Cardigan except I didn't buy enough of it and they were the last 4 skeins on clearance at my LYS. I could probably try and track down another skein in the same dye lot if I really wanted to. Oh well.

M. 5 skeins of Knit Picks Merino Style in Hollyberry for the Puffed Sleeve Feminie Cardi from Fitted Knits.

N. Another failed project that needs to be ripped (in Knit Picks Shine Worsted). Remeber this disaster? I'm just not crazy about the color so I think I will dye it black at some point when I need it for a project.

O. Many skeins of Elann Highland wool for the Phildar Swing Jacket. Not sure why this one hasn't gotten off the ground yet. I made a swatch way back when but didn't write down the needle size unfortunately.

Oh my goodness! so sorry to bore you with all that! So in conclusion.....NO MORE BUYING YARN!!! well, until at least half of that has been used up. I really can't wait to get my Ravelry invite. Last time I looked though I was like #3,642 in line!

And if you're still reading, here is my lovely 1st RPM sock:

Matchmaker

For some reason, that title sounds so corny but I'm going to use it anyway because I got nothin' better at the moment.

Well, I have finally found a suitable pattern for me and my Yarn Pirate Booty club yarn! I think I tried 3 different patterns before finding the right one. I tried several patterns from the Sensational Knitted Socks book but I just wasn't feeling the love with any of them. Next, I tried Emilee's Tempest Socks and I was loving the pattern but the yarn was not. It started doing thick spiral striping which was taking away from the pattern. So, finally, I tried the RPM pattern from Knitty and it is a winner!!
Look how perfectly the yarn is behaving (it actually looks better when the stitches are stretched out on my leg)! and this pattern is very simple but fun at the same time. Definitely not a fussy stitch pattern at all. I'm just breezing right along!

Wednesday.

Lately I've just been all over the place with my knitting. I don't know what it is but I just haven't been able to focus on anything all summer. So here's the latest result of my knitting ADD: I just had to cast on some socks with my gorgeous Yarn Pirate sock club yarn. I think I'm going to just do the beaded rib pattern from Sensational Socks. And you'll notice that I'm using dpns and not my usual magic loop circular needle. That's because my circular needle is currently tied up with the Cable Twist Southwest socks that I started at the beginning of the summer. For some reason, I am just not enjoying the stitch pattern at all. I love how it looks and everything, but knitting it is just not fun right now. I need something simpler at the moment.

On a good note, I have completed the back piece of Josephine. I think the front will go much quicker.

Also, I was nominated as a Rockin' Girl Blogger by Lara at Yarn It!! I am just so flattered!

Now, to pass on some of the fun, I will be nominating:

• Annie from Annie Knits because she is knitting (an crocheting) like crazy even with a newborn baby! That seems like quite a feat to me!
• Stitchywitch at Green Apples because I have never seen anyone crank out so many awesome FOs so quickly! I love everything she makes! And I get the greatest pattern ideas from her too.
• Emilee from Emilee Knits because I think she has excellent taste in color and she has a sock pattern that I totally want to make (I had forgotten about them until just now...I think I'll be changing my plan for my yarn pirate socks now!)
• Alyssa from Words & Wool because she is the sock queen! I am so envious of her sock drawer!
• Micki from A Thing for String because she has awesome taste in knitting too and oh my gosh you have got to see her Print O' the Wave stole she just finished! it is amazing.

Wow, that was so hard to pick just a few people because honestly, every blog I read has an awesome girl blogger behind it!

Happy Day

First sewing project (from my recent fabric haul): new curtains for spare bedroom.

You may remember that I've recently "redone" the spare bedroom (read about it here). Well, I decided that it was too white or too dull or something. It definitely needed some color. What do y'all think? I really like it. Even though it's a very bold pattern, it doesn't overwhelm you because the rest of the room is very clean and simple. I basically just copied the general design of the Ikea curtains I had hanging there before. Pretty simple. I gotta say, I think I'm much better at just winging it and not needing a pattern with sewing than I am with knitting. Of course, I can only speak for making household and accessory items such as curtains, pillows, tote bags, etc. I don't ever really sew clothes for myself. Too time consuming.

And, lest you forget that this is a knitting blog, here is sock number one of my Interlacements Tiny Toes Southwest socks.I think this pattern (Cable Twist) has held up pretty well against the pooling.

Oh yes! and Happy Anniversary to my sweet Hubby! Four years ago today I married the love of my life. We're off to celebrate now!

One big sigh of relief!

You know why? because my vacation has officially started! woohoo!

As you can see, we're taking a road trip to New Mexico. And those are my special "vacation" socks that I already started with Interlacements Tiny Toes in the Southwest colorway (get it? Southwest. New Mexico). It took me a couple of tries to find the right pattern and needle combination but I've ended up with the Cable Twist Socks pattern from Hello Yarn. I'm really loving it so far!

Have a great weekend everyone and I'll catch up with you when I get back!