Too Much Yarn

Pair #2

It pays to stay focused, I found out... I only knitted socks this week (OK! I cheated on the socks by knitting a few mitered squares on my blankie!). And so, I finished Rambutan Socks. This is my second pair of the year.

I don't normally knit mirrored socks, but this pair, I followed the pattern as written. One foot uses K2TOG, the other uses SSK.

And this would be my first completed Bugga project of the year. My goal is finish 12 projects. For the next few days, I'm planning on finishing the Linaria Bipartita socks. I'm working on the heel flap of the second sock now, so I know I can do it!!

One of the threads on SKA (Socks Knitters Annoynomous) discussed the Sock Drawer topic. I do not have a sock drawer. The drawers in my dresser are all too deep for socks. I was asked to show my "drawer". So, I took the opportunity to organize my socks. Interestingly, I found out I'm missing 3 socks. My Socks That Rock Orange ones and a single Hazel Knits Terrywinkle one. Maybe they went on vacation... Are you as anal as me to remember missing socks from the inventory? Anyway, the results of the organization:

Yep, I brought them outside to get the best lighting! I need to find a new system as both containers are overflowing. (psst.. Christy! 6 pairs here still have the ends not woven in! 4 have never been worn, the other 2 were worn with tails just tucked inside!)

Last night, I was at Amazing Threads, my local yarn shop. They hosted a reception for one of Rowan's American designers, Josh Bennet. I've never heard of him, but maybe you have. Josh's website is boy meets purl. Josh designs mostly sweater patterns. You can find free patterns from Rowan on his website. I learned that those patterns on the Rowan magazines ($25+) are free online. You just have to register at the Rowan website. I had this photo taken for Yvonne: (and I had a few minutes alone with him in our little spot, talking about knitting on airplanes! Angel B is my witness!)

That's all I have to share with you for now. I'll be back when I finish that 3rd pair of socks!

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Destash Dec/Jan/Feb

I've misplaced some yarn and realized that I didn't post my destahes for Dec and Jan. Here's a recollection of what left the coop.

Socks That Rock Lightweight: Clare De Lune

Bugga: Black Witch Moth

Miss Babs Yowza What A Skein: Aubergine

Bugga: VW Bug

Bugga: Coloraro Hairstreak

Bugga: Experimental Love Child

Bugga: December Nudibranch

Bugga: Vampire Moth

Skinny Bugga: Red-Legged Ham Beetle

Skinny Bugga: David Attenborough

Bugga: Pink & Green Point Mutation

And a bag!

Finished Socks #1

My first pair of socks for 2012! These are the Sock Knitters Annoynomous Mystery Sock for January. The pattern is called Bláthnat by Carrie Sullivan (irishgirlieknits). These were knit using The Plucky Knitter's Primo in Fingering in a special color - One Hit Wonder. I bought a bunch of Primo, thinking I'll never be able to buy them from Sarah's online store. They are really nice to knit with, but the yarn is a little thinner than what I'm used to. I need to give up my 2.5 mm needles if I want to continue using this yarn. And you know how much I detest knitting with 2.25 mm needles.

Here are the Primo skeins I brought back from Portland:

So many blue skeins! The lavender skein I used is on the left side, bottom...

I was hoping to complete 15 pairs of socks and 12 shawls - which would give me the ability to fill out the alphabet with my 27 projects. Well, the first 2 projects I've finished start with letter B... Hmm... Maybe that's not such a good idea afterall.

Finished Shawl #1

This is from the Janel Laidman's Knitterati Sock Club. Each club shipment consists of 2 patterns. One is a sock and one is something-else. This month is a mystery shawl. I followed along and finished it on Saturday. I blocked it and it's all ready. Emily was not home today so I wasn't able to have her model for me. Here it is, unblocked:

Here it is blocked:

I have been knitting my shawls and yes, I still have 12 rows left on Damson.

And I started on Romi's latest pattern, Erato as you have seen last week: (I have knitted quite a bit more since this photo was taken)

Needless to say, I have been neglecting my socks. I did finish Rambutan #1.

This week, I've decided to devote myself to only knitting socks as I have 3 second socks to knit. One that needs to be cast on. One has 3 inches left from finishing. One is only 1 inch into it.

I've slowed down on my destashing, but in January, with the opening of Verdant Gryphon and Cephalopod Yarns (split from Sanguine Gryphon), it appears my purchases had doubled in the one week. Luckily, as new colors were introduced, especially at Cephalopod, I already have those colors. Verdant, on the other hand, is introducing new colors and slowly... (lucky for me!). And they brought back another dose of Valentine Bonbons. Here they are. So yummy...

and I received some yarn from Hazel Knits - Wendee started dyeing color of the month (such a bad idea for yarn-addcits like me!) Zest is the January color:

Since I didn't want it to travel alone, I thought I would try Divine in Orchid. BAD IDEA! Divine is really divine!

And while I was photographing new acquisition, I found this Zen Yarn Garden Serenity 20 that I had picked up at a local shop a few weeks ago. It look really nice next to Zest.

So, as I'm knitting, I'm wondering about my next Shawl project. I think it's going to be Color Affection - that's a hot pattern right now. The toughest part is deciding on what 3 colors to use. For the time being, this is what I've decided on.

I'm trying very hard to stay focused so I dare not wind these yarns, ready for use, as you know how distracted I get! Have you finished any projects lately??

Wordless Monday

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Not Much Happenin'...

I have been knitting quite a bit, but it appears I have nothing to show. I have been working mostly on shawls. Yes, you read that right! ShawlSSSSSSSSS! I have been moving along just fine with Damson. I have 20 rows left on the shawl. Each row is over 300 stitches.

Then, I found out that I joined Janel Laidman's Knitteratti's Sock Club. I guess one of the patterns is a shawl. Maybe that's why I joined the club? Anyway, the sock pattern is very nice, but who won't want to participate in a Mystery Shawl? There was a section A and section B. I frogged section B two times and the third time, I think I got it right. The second clue was released on Thursday, but I haven't started working on it. And I only joined the patterns-only club. The yarn that came with the shipment is a Hazel Knits Entice yarn. So, I went to my stash and pulled out this Entice in Blueberry.

As far as socks go, other than finishing the SKA Mystery Sock (first one), I really have made no progress on the other 3 patterns on my needles. I plan to sit out for the SKA February challenge because I'm expecting patterns (and yarn, possibly) from the Rockin' Sock Club, Cookie A Sock Club, and Socktopus Club. OR, I just work on second socks in February. I'm using Primo for the first time (same as Entice - I've used it, but not a finished project!)

I've been naughty since Verdant Gryphon and Cephalopod Yarns opened. And that's all I will say!

30 Years

Hop over to my other blog, Too Much Energy, to find out the special occasion today! Then, hop over to the Three Irish Girls' Blog to see how lucky I am that Amazing Threads, the featured yarn store is my home yarn shop. It is less than 4 miles away from my house and I have to drive by it EVERYDAY!! TWICE A DAY!

A reward for my hard work!

I've been knitting like a mad woman! As a reward, I gave myself permission to cast on yet another project! A shawl. As I've told you all previously, I flunked at knitting a Westknits pattern. Yvonne figured out the Sharktooth pattern and is enjoying it. Maybe I really should give it another shot. But before I do that, I decided to knit an easy pattern - Damson. Since I have the Bugga November Nudibranch caked, I used the yarn. This is the beginning...

This is what it will look like. I snagged this from Ysolda's pattern page:

There is a possiblity that I may run out of yarn so I have to be creative with the edging, or I could go with the modified pattern by Linda Butkus. But, I like it to be more sporty and less feminine-ish so I may stick with the original pattern.

Yesterday was a holiday from work, but I did not knit a single stitch! After kniting a lot on Saturday and Sunday, I had to get my butt off the knitting chair and finished some chores around the house. Mystery clues came out on Sunday. I finished clue 3 of the SKA Mystery Sock - sock #1. I got caught up with clue 2 on the Sock #2. Clue 3 consisted of the heel flap, turn, and gusset. I haven't taken a photo of the completion of clue 3, but this was taken while I was knitting clue 3.

On the Through The Loops Mystery Sock, I finished clue 2. Clue 3 consisted of the heel flap and heel turn. I should be able to complete that. Unfortunately, this is the most challenging pattern I'm working on, so I have only completed 1 sock. This is what it looks like now:

Sock #3 - the Cookie A's Rambutan Socks. I'm now knitting the boring stockinette section. Don't have a progress pic either.

Sock #4 - Hunter's Linaria Bipartita. I finished the first sock, but have not cast on the second sock:

So the status at this time:

Other than the above, I've been working on my Never Ending Sock Yarn blanket. My goal is to knit 120 squares a year. I have 35 columns. Knitting 4 rows a year would yield 140 squares. I may need to be more aggresive at knitting 10 squares a month (which I have done so far this month). Just for fun, I dug up photos of when the blankie was born. Nov, 2010:

Then, I gave the red blanket to my Mom. So, I had to use a different blanket for size comparison. This was taken in June, 2011:

And over the weekend, it is now at this size:

I am crazy!! But this will be beautiful. It will be drapped over my casket at my funeral to show my love for knitting as we don't want socks all over the casket.

And last, but not least, I should show you some new bags I've acquired. Remember the Tom Bihn Swifts I acquired last year? First, it was the Purple that was too purplish so I sold it to Purple Kathy...

Then, the Navy and Steel.

Now, I bought these other Nylon ones because the Cork one was out of stock. It was a couple of weeks ago, but before I bought the Cork one, I tried to sell the Navy and Steel. Since it was no longer available in that combination of colors, it was snagged up within an hour of my posting it for sale. I promptly ordered the Cork Swift and I'm as happy as a clam with this knitting tote. It seems bigger than the other ones, but it shouldn't be. I know I'm finally at peace with this one.

Also, in the past months, due to discounts offered for my birthday month... I was able to acquire these Knowknits pouches. Despite all the pretty project bags I have, if I have to just grab a project bag on the go, I use the Knowknit pouches to snap it on my purse. They are available in all sorts of colors. I love Denise's collection!

Anyway, the new ones I got was the Fur (I love petting it!)

and the Ostrich (I don't know why it's the Ostrich)

And finally, here's my latest distraction. The January pattern from Stephen West (Westknits). I may have to try this AFTER Damson is done. Snagged this photo from Ravelry member, Mabuli.

Until then, I hope I don't cast on any other projects!

Monday Update

I meant to update the blog yesterday but well, I spent too much time knitting... I cast on 4 pairs of socks last week. These photos were taken before I worked even more on them... The first pair is the Linaria Bipartita by Hunter Hammersen. I'm using Hazel Knits Entice in Hoppy Blonde. I'm now working on the last repeat before the toe on Sock #1:

This is a very attractive sock when worn. Next, is the Cookie A's Rambutan Socks. I'm using Bugga in Golden Orb Weaver. I'm just about to knit the heel flap:

Clue 2 was released for both the mystery socks I'm knitting. I finished clue 1 on both socks for the SKA mystery by Carrie Sullivan (irishgirlieknits). This photo was taken when I still had 8 rows left on clue 2:

And finally, the fourth sock: The Through The Loops Mystery Socks. This is just before the end of clue 1. I get stressed out on knitting this sock due to the ktbl's... But the finished clue 2 looks very nice. Will need to concentrate on this one this week. I'm using Bugga in Dawn Dropwing.

In summary, here is where I'm at. I'm very content with the choices I have to knit with.

My son was home for 3 weeks for Christmas break. He asked for a pair of mittens. I finished them 2 hours before he left yesterday. I had finished the mittens more than a week ago, except the second mitten was missing the "top". Here are the finished mittens and the happy boy!

I even tried to cast on a shawl on Saturday. I first attempted to cast on Stephen West's Sharktooth. I didn't like the written instructions. UGH! Then, I tried to cast on Daybreak, thinking it can't be that complicated with just 4 rows of stitches. WRONG! I HATE written instructions. But I think I'm going to give Daybreak ONE MORE try before I officially label myself a Westknits Flunkie! Susan from Buffalo asked why I even joined the shawl club. It's like having lettuce in your refrigerator. It makes you feel like you're eating healthy. I need to have some Westknits patterns so it feels "cool" (no pun with the refrigerator analogy).

This photo is for Dianne. She had asked about the sizing of the worsted weight blankie square compared to the sock yarn size. I set a goal of 125 squares in 2012. I knitted 2 squares over the weekend. That's the contribution from week 1!

I recently acquired the i.knit charm for a necklace. Then, I found some charms for my Pandora bracelet. Well, the yarn charm was a bit too big for a bracelet so I decided to put it on my necklace. The sock charm/bead works on the bracelet, but I think it's more "obvious" worn as a charm. You like?

 

Getting Started

So this week, I've cast on 4 pairs of socks. 2 Mystery Socks, a Cookie A's club pattern, and a Hunter Hammersen's pattern. I've taken these photos a few days ago and I'm finishing up the leg of each sock of both patterns and finished clue 1 for the Mystery Socks (just 1 sock, though). It's a bit too exciting to be knitting the socks than catching up on clue 1 on Sock 2. I only have cast on photos for 3 of the 4 socks. I will take progress pics tomorrow.

Check out my Ravelry Project pages to determine which is which!

By the way, I finished these 2 socks. Just not planning on knitting the mates yet!

 

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