Too Much Yarn

A long weekend

    I really was hoping for a rainy long weekend so I can finish up my socks for Tour De Sock that starts on June 1.  Instead, it stayed dry (though not sunny), so I worked on my deck plants and my garden.  Today, I went shopping for food and went to the Apple Store to buy AppleCare for my new phone.  I did knit a little while watching the movie, The Impossible - really good - sad, but good.

OK - since I last posted, I have finished two socks - not a pair!  The first one is the Asymmetrical Socks. 

I just finished the gusset of the left sock so the cables are moving towards another when worn as a pair.  I'll show you when I finished.

I also finished the Solfar socks.. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo of it by itself.  So here it is with the Asymmetrical Sock:

Clue 4 of the SKA Mystery Socks was released. I finished one of the socks and am working the gusset of the second sock:

I used Handwerks Sock Plus 8, which I understand it to be discontinued.  I sure love this base. It's not as soft as my MCN, but it shows stitch definition very nicely.

And, I helped instigate the Monkey Madness over at SKA. So if you haven't knitted Monkey socks before and want to know what the fuss is all about, why not join us?  I was surprised to find many people like me, finding this a fun pattern to knit.  This is Monkey sock # 9 (yes!  I've finished knitting 8 PAIRS of Monkey socks!).  Using another new yarn (Zen Garden Serenity 20.  I've used Serenity before, but this is a little thinner).

And now, I have to go find some suitable yarn for Tour de Socks.  I need 400 yards of fingering weight yarn and 50 size 6 seed beads!  Should have those in my stash!

Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend (what's left of it)...

Lots of updates

First of all, I'm still holding on to the sock mojo, so we'll start with the sock progress. I finished Tulip Sock #1.  I was using the Hiya Hiya Sharps and wanted to use the same needles for both Right and Left Sock for the SKA Mystery Sock, so I have not cast on Sock #2.

I'm keeping up with the clues for the SKA Mystery Sock.  This photo was taken after Clue 2 was completed last week.  I have Clue 3 done on one sock and about 6 more rows on the heel flap and heel turn left for the second sock.. Then, I will go back to work on the other socks in progress.

This is the Cookie A's Solfar socks (a sock club pattern from last year).  I have not lifted a finger on my pots and garden yet!

And, on Sunday, I cast on Cookie A's Asymmetrical Cables socks from the Sock Knitting Master Class book.  It was a bit confusing reading the pattern at first, but once I got it, it was very easy.  I would actually knit this pattern again.  I have finished the gusset on the first sock.  And I started on Sunday night.  This photo was taken before the heel flap:

I used Dream In Color Smooshy with Cashmere in the colorway, Electric Mauve.  I seem to be in the blues and purples groove lately.  I bought some new yarn at 2 recent events.  Most of them were from the same vendor!  Well, let me show you some photos of Sherpard's Harvest which I attended last week:

First stop was of course, to see Chris from Briar Rose. I keep collecting her yarn.  Just haven't used them. Here's Haruni in Worsted Weight - using Briar Rose Fourth of July.

I bought 3 skeins from Ewetopia and will show you later...

It was sunny one minute, and sleeting the next!  It was cold and makes a person want to knit!!  BAD for the customer, good for the Vendors

I'm so glad I'm not into spinning.  Lots of roving.. I will weave before I spin.

These are the Kickapoo sock yarn from Ewetopia.

These 2 other skeins of Kickapoo was from Yarnover (end of April)

and this is a worsted weight:

Well, it was 98 degrees yesterday I actually thought of snow!  :)  I guess Summer is here.

 

Knitting Socks This Week

   No siree!  I didn't knit any shawls this week. Just socks.  I finished the Mystery Sock Clue #1 on the Sock Knitters Annoynomous board.  Using Handwerks Sock Plus 8 in London Fog which I won from Hunter's blog a couple of years ago. I love this base.  I'm trying to knit with more yarn I've not used before.  Will definitely buy more of these if colors come in something I don't already have! (HAHA!)

Then, I worked on the Tulip socks.  I'm working on the toe now as I worked on that this evening.  Also using a yarn I've not used before - Sweet Fibers Cashmerino.  Thumbs up for this yarn as well.

And finally, I cast on Solfar Socks - from Cookie A's 2012 Sock Club.  I'm using Verdant Gryphon Bugga - YES!  I've used this before!

Spring is here in Minneapolis.. I even knitted a little on the deck! 

The Snow has finally melted?

    Maybe in Minneapolis, but there are still snow up in Northern Minnesota.  I believe Duluth received more than 50" of snow for the month of April!  Last Friday, for the first time in 2013, our temp hit 60 degrees.  On the same day, it also hit 70 degrees.  On Sunday, it was 80 degrees!  Not to worry, I can still wear my hand-knit socks this coming Thursday as the high will be 40 degrees!

As you recall, I finished my Mystery Shawl.  As I looked at it, it reminded me of a slice of watermelon.  Don't you think?

I had a lot of people asking me what they were?  Where did I buy those buttons?  How did I put them on?  My answer?  Photoshop!

Right after I finished the shawl, I decided it's high time I cast on a pair of socks.  And so, I did.  I decided on Cookie A's April club pattern (one of them) - the Tulip Socks.  I'm also trying to use yarn I have in my stash and have not tried.  This time, it's Sweet Fibers (from Vancouver, Canada) Cashmerino.  I bought this when I was at Stitches West.  The color is called Early Spring.  But I think the color resembles a dark purple tulip!  I finished the leg:

I'm going to cast on more Cookie A socks in May as she's one of the designated designers for the month on the SKA group.  In addition, I need to stock up with more socks in progress so I can really do well with 2013 26 pair plunge.  I was bad this year.. I've only finished 13 pairs so far... though I have until June 30, but it's not going to happen!

Then, I decided to cast on YET another shawl.  This time, using my mini Bugga from the swaps I partcipate in.  The pattern is Eden Prairie - one of the suburbs of Minneapolis.  However, I wanted to really make a stained-glass look with multiple colors instead of the 3 that are called for in the pattern.  I started with these colors:

Wait, I should show you what the finished shawl intended to look like:

See?  Three colors and the black.  Then, I decided to use another color - Violet-tailed Bluet. Unfortunately, I did not have enough of that color, so I added another black stripe to bring in another color.  I'm now done with the stripe and am working on the opposite stripe in a coral pink.  I'm calling this shawl my Amazing Technicolor Dream Shawl.  I've started another stripe since this photo was taken, but I think I will take a photo after I finished the second diamond.

Also, I'm progressing on my Diamond Fantasy shawl.  I'm now working on the last repeat of the lace pattern.  But I think I have enough yarn that I will try to squeeze in another repeat or two.

I know it's going to be gorgeous when I block this!  You can't really see the beads.  That's the point!  Maybe they will be more obvious when the shawl is blocked.

I forgot to show you this amazing Bugga I received recently.  Magadascar  Sunset Moth.

And finally, a project bag from Lululemon.  You do not have to buy a pair of $90 Yoga pants to get this free project bag.  I bought a $12 running hat (it was on clearance!).  Also, when you knit with your project in this bag, people will look at you like you weigh 20 lbs lighter.  I mean, if you shop at Lululemon, you work out, right?  And you FEEL good carrying this bag - even if it's a pair of unfinished socks in the bag!

I was kidding!

I figured I should not blog for a little longer so you will really believe that I quit knitting!  No, really, April has been busy.  I shouldn't even be blogging right now.  I just finished verifying a software installation for work and I need to clean up the place as I'm hosting my nephew's fiancee's bridal shower tomorrow.  I still have to bake!  But if I don't blog now, it will be another week before I get to do it.

AND - I'm shocked that many of you even thought FOR A SECOND that I would quit knitting.  If I lost my fingers, I will learn to knit with my toes!!

Yvonne - let me warn you now that I'll be showing clues 4 and 5 of the Romi's Mysterious Shawl so you may want to close the window if you don't want to be spoiled.

So for the past few weeks, I've mostly  been knitting shawls (STILL). I tried to cast on Cookie A's April pattern - knitted 3 rows and put it down.  Let me show you some new yarns I've received (someone just sent them to me, how nice of them!)  Here are the Bugga's: (you can tell the name on the tag)

and these are from Cookie A's sock club for April.  It's not quite my color... so I'll be substituting it with another color.  It's Dream In Color Everlasting.

The next "major" shawl that I'm going to knit is Romi's fourth installment in Home is Where the Heart is e-book.  I think this will be the biggest shawl I've attempted as it uses 3 skeins of yarn.  This photo was of the yarn that was not blocked.

I don't want it to be too stripey, so I've decided to not go for contrasting colors.  This is what I've decided to use (although I need to quit knitting pinks!  2 shawls and a pair of socks so far this year in pink!)

So where the navy is in the shawl photo, I'll use the blue.  I may actually need to swatch this... otherwise, this is the other option, with the pink as the "navy".

So... for the Mysterious Shawl, clue 4 introduced the second color:

Clue 5 was an edging that you do from side to side.  Here is the first repeat - we had to do 18 repeats.  I thought I was going to run out of yarn!

After a few repeats, it was starting to look like the edging has substance!

On the blocking mats last night...

I couldn't get Emily to model for me today. John offered, but NO THANKS!  This would not go with the navy, red, and white Minnesota Twins shirt he was wearing! Well, Emily would, but she was wearing an orange shirt and no one wanted to change to pose for me...  So, I just used the pine trees!

I'm wearing it now... I'm using A Verb for Keep Warming - Annapurna.  It's very light.  And this is my FIRST semi circle shawl.

I'm glad I blogged tonight.  Sorry to have been absent for so long...

The Last Post

It is time to move on.  I've realized that I'm tired of knitting and I'm going to get rid of all my stash - that should be enough to pay for one year's of college... My needles are probably worth another 1/2 year of tuition.  I've just no longer have the desire to knit. I'll be closing down this blog as well.  Here are  a couple of new yarns that will be added to my stash - for destash.. Look for them on my stage page:

Also, still no sock knitting in the past week or three.  But I did progress on my shawls.  This is Caret:

This is Romi's Mysterious Shawl after Clue 3:

This is a new shawl I cast on - Double Fantasy by Sivia Harding.  I want to wear this to a wedding on June 1.

This blog will be here until 12/31/2060.  I hope you have a wonderful April Fools Day.

Sock Knitting Mojo - where are you?

I have myself to blame. I chased my mojo away by starting too many shawls - Yes, I started another one this week. It is one of the three Punctuation patterns by Romi.  Now, I have all 3 started.  They are all very easy - I don't need to look at the pattern, but when you're working on 3 shawls at the same time, you've just lost interest in knitting anything else.  Let me show you my shawls... Here is a group shot of the 3 Punctuation shawls - the first one I started was the circlely ones - that's Apostrophe.  The one with waves is Caret, and finally, I cast on this week, Ellipses.

and yes, as you know, I love blue!

Now, Caret is the one getting all the attention - I'd probably finish this one first.  Instead of using Fingering weight yarn, I'm using Madelinetosh DK and size 8 needles.  I have 2 skeins of the yarn in Spectrum so I'll just keep knitting until I like the size. It's very cushy, so I'm not sure if I'll block it.  This is where I'm at:

And of course, I thought I was all caught up with the Romi Mystery Shawl... turns out, she left a section out and Clue 1 was released on Friday.  I had Clue 1 from Stitches West, but like I said, there was one section missing so I finished the missing section, which had NUPPS.. ARGH!  But, I will play along.  My Nupps are inconsistent!  Some are fat and some are flat!

I'm not happy with the socks I have on the needles... I think I'm going to frog all of them...  The orange one is the Ernie socks from the Cookie A club.  I'm knitting size small, which has 58 stitches and it increases to 70 stitches, so it's quite stretchy and big for now.. Perhaps I need to keep knitting to see if I'll like it...

The Green one is the Doug Fir socks from the Twisted January club.  It's too big for me and I'm no longer interested.

Sorry... the post up to here was written on Sunday night.  Now, it's Tuesday afternoon...  Since then, I frogged Chart E of the Mystery Shawl and knit it back last night.  I like it a lot more now that my nupps are nice.  I'm in a JAVA Hands-on class this week - no, we're not grinding coffee beans... we are writing JAVA beans.  So I'm knitting while the instructor is lecturing.  There will be plenty hands-on exercises so I will need to put the needles down!

Anyway, I'm not even interested in my Hexagon blanket - I haven't touched it for almost 2 weeks.  I tried to perk up my interest by picking up my mitered squares blanket as I haven't touched it since December... Well, since Sunday, I've knitted about 4 squares so maybe it will keep me interested.  I did, however, wove in ALL the ends!

Trust me!  That's a lot of ends I wove in!  That's how uninterested I was in knitting.

Then, I cleaned my bathroom instead of knitting.

Then, I tried to wind up some colorful yarn and I haven't knitted Socks That Rock for a while - hoping that I'll cast on right away on a pair of socks.  This Hot Sox look so cool in the skein:

did not look as attractive wound up!

How about this one?  Maybe I would use this instead:

That Socks That Rock in Freudian Slip. 

Maybe I'll design a pair of socks instead.

I'm still knitting ... that's good... just not socks.  I leave you with a closeup shot of my Ellipses Shawl, which I hope to finish this week.

 

Stitches West Classes

Forgive me if I'm typing with very poor grammar or if my sentences are incohesive.. I just ran all the way downstairs to yell at my husband, "You closed my window with my blog post not published?  I let you use the computer because you want to play games! You always close everything!!"  "Because it says it's using high CPU Usage!"  Moron!  The game is using high CPU Usage!  Quit messing with my computer!  (I'm sure we'll make up.  I've already hinted about going to the Auto show tomorrow at the Convention Center for a date!  What was I thinking??)

OK... so when I was at Stitches, and I took two classes.  The first one is taught by Candace Eisner Strick.  Apparently, Strick is German for Knit.  So if you want that last name, she has one more son she's trying to pawn off - one who is available for marriage - even if it's for the name, only.  She's a very funny lady, very entertaining, and a good teacher.  The class I took was called "The Art of Knitting Backwards".  Knitting backwards is most thought of being useful for entrelac knitting.  It is also good for making borders.  I did my homework (the green swatch). 

and here, I've knitted backwards on the blue swatch!  Later on, we also learned to purl backwards.  Then, we learned to do borders and mitered corners.  Unfortunately, I did not bring the green yarn, so the joints are not as impressive...  all this knitting without turning the work!

And of course, I have to prove that I've met Candace!

The next class is on Designing Socks by JC Briar.  JC has alwo written some books.  Her most famous one was on reading charts (Charts Made Simple).  The lady next to me has never read charts.  Obviously, she did not read the prerequisites properly.  Besides, if she designed any socks and has no charts, I won't be knitting her socks - unless it's just a 4 stitch-pattern.  Once JC finished her lecture, we were to go over the handouts and pick a few stitch patterns and combined them for our swatch/pattern for our sock.  This was what I came up with.  Not sure if I'll continue with it...

I was actually quite mad at myself in class.  I packed my bag the night before.  Then, at the last minute, I changed bag and left my sock needles in the bag left behind.  All I had was yarn and I could run into Marketplace to buy a set of needles, but NO! I have enough needles.  So what did I do? I had a spare set of size 5 needles (black cable) which I swapped with the needle that was on my Drift socks (heel flap, where the stitches were looser).  But I didn't have anything else for the other needle.  So, I used the string for my badge:

Pretty creative, huh?  Well, turns out, I didn't need a second needle.. We were just knitting flat!  AFTER ALL THAT WORK!!  I also did meet JC - in case you didn't believe me that I took a class from her..  (see the evidence of the swatch I knitted in class?)

I enjoyed the class and learned something.  Now, I just have to design some socks. The wheels are turning in my head. I'm just not writing them down!

This week, there has been a lot of shawl knitting - especiallyl Romi's shawls.  In my last post, I showed you the mystery shawl, for which I've finished Clue 1.  Then, I knitted to the 7th row of the Apostrophe shawl (the one with holes).  And I'm also working on Caret - another of the Punctuation shawls.    I've knitted another repeat now:

and I'm really enjoying knitting this. 

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.. Don't forget to spring forward your clock tomorrow night and it will still be sunny at 6:30 p.m on Sunday!!  (Grrr.. have to lose an hour of sleep for the sunlight!)

Oh, before I forget... it's been 13 days since I last bought yarn.  I may break this run tomorrow when I go and redeem my Groupon at my loyal yarn shop... but then, if I go to the Auto Show, I can add another couple of days to the stretch... Sunday, I have to go to a friend's memorial gathering for her Mom who passed away earlier this week.

 

Drift Socks

Finally finished my second pair of socks this year, but am falling way behind with my sock completion for the 26 pair plunge.

This was knitted with Bugga in Cotton Stainer.  This is the 11th pair of the 26 pair plunge, that ends on June 30.  Yeah.. not going to happen for me to finish another 15 pairs in the next 4 months - unless I just knit the mates of all my socks in progress.

2013 was supposed to be my year of socks.  It has turned into a year of shawls. In the last 10 days, I've cast on 3 shawls - all designed by Romi.  This is Apostrophe:

The finished shawl should look something like this:

I also cast on Caret today, but my photo is on my ipad and it's not letting me copy it.  Finished shawl should look like this: (my colors are totally different, of course!) - the one in the middle - blue and white.

This is the Mystery Shawl that starts on March 15.  But because I bought the kit from Stitches, Clue 1 was included.  I'm using a yarn I've not knitted before:  A Verb for Keeping Warm in Annapurna in the the Double Delight colorway.

I really should go organize the yarn room.  My son is coming home this weekend for Spring Break.

 

Final Day At Stitches

I must have walked through Marketplace about 5 times, maybe more as I'm looking for a certain booth.  After a while, I was just looking at a blob of colors.  Every booth started to look the same.  For the last day, it was as if I'll never have a chance to buy yarn again!  The only pile of yarn I had planned to buy on the final day was in a bag under the Cephalopod Yarns:  2 Buggas, a box of mini Buggas and a Traveller.  But there was this blue skein in a bag - a pound of Bugga - basically 4 skeins of Bugga for the price of less than 4 sepearate skeins that you get to choose.  There was a really fat skein of Chester Cricket - I think I'll be able to destash.  The colors in the bag are all just a little off from the actual color.

Anyway, as I was walking by the Miss Babs booth, it was finally without a line!!  So I had to get in line!  I ended up with 2 skeins that I will like to try to knit Carson by Romi with (not that I don't already have stash at home for it!).  Besides, I had room in my suitcase!  So, these were the yarn and project bags that I bought on this trip.  The rest not photographed are needles, shawl pins, and other misc tools.  This is what you have to enjoy for now.  When they are de-vaccumed, you'll have to check my stash page.

the other side:

Bags:

I left at a reasonable time, with ample time at the gate, and even shopping for some flavors of Ghiradelli Chocolate that I can't find locally - such as Sea Salt Soiree - dark chocolate with sea salk and roasted almonds.  My sister's family was leaving for Kauai 2 hours before I left.  I had the house to myself, putting my bags by the door, grabbed my Buttonwillow Shawl and Roger Socks to the chair to put on my socks.  Then, I headed out, loaded the car, and off I go.  When I was on the monorail to the terminal, I was feeling a little chilly and my Buttonwillow was no where to be found!  I think it was still on the chair at my sister's house!  Unfortunately, she's in Kauai so she won't be able to tell me if it's there.  I'm sure it's not in the rental car!!  It is one of my favorite shawls!  I'd better not lose it!

OK - you're here for the photos, right?  So here are the projects that I will want to knit...

These are the Ravelry friends I met.  I'm not describing who's who for privacy reasons!  If you're on the photo and would like a copy of the photo, let me know so I can email it to you, or you can get it from my flickr account:

and the last shots of booths...

Remember the Sweet Fiber booth on Thursday night:

On Saturday afternoon, one of the tables were removed and these were all the MCN that were left:

I'll tell you about my classes in the next post.