Too Much Yarn

TAAT (Three At A Time)

So you think you're cool that you can knit two socks at a time?  Well?  Guess what?  I'm knitting three at a time!  This past week, I've been knitting on these 3 socks into the wee hours (as my husband was gone with his buddies at a friend's cabin).  I would be knitting and watching Larry King on CNN on the Michael Jackson stories... This is just a prelude to next week when my husband will be gone for 5 days to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and I'm off from work.  Hmmm.. I could knit til 3 am and then sleep until noon (like what my daughter does now) and then watch TV and knit all day!  All 5 days! 

Anywho, these are the socks I'm working on:  Cotty, Solid Mystery, and On-Hold:

Yesterday, I went to a parade with my nieces and I was knitting at the parade.  Way cool!

I was actually sitting, but I wanted to get a good background of our local high school marching band.

I stumbled on to Wollmeise blog here: here .  I want to go to Germany just to go to this store and get a suitcase full of yarn!

They're here... (say it like in the Poltergeist movie)

Yep - 3 shipments as expected.  But you know, when you expect it so much, somehow, I wasn't that excited anymore.  Perhaps it's because the one I most anticipated (as I couldn't find any spoiler) was the Knit Purl package.  Well, I was disappointed with the color (because it doesn't have blue in it?).  I think I'll have to list that on Ravelry for sale/trade.  Here it is.  The pattern is actually quite brilliant and will bring out the colors in any hand-dyed yarn.

The next package is from Hazelknits.  Love, love, love the yarn base...

And finally, the Loopy Ewe Sock Club package.  It is awesome!  The Red Namaste Buddy Case is gorgeous! I would gladly get another Namaste bag in that red!  The yarn is non other than Sanguine Gyphron's Bugga!  As for the pattern from Wendy Johnson - it's similar to Cookie A's Marlenes, but I ain't touching no k1tbl-p1 pattern for a while.  I can only handle one of them at a time.  And right now, it's the Solid Mystery Sock.  The twisted stitches/rib does make it look exquisite, but it's just hard on my hands.

I do want to cast on Wendy's On Hold Socks and I think I want to knit a pair of red socks, which I don't have yet.  Now, I have to dive into my stash to find that right red:  Hazelknits Red Carpet?  Socks That Rock Brick?  Bugga from the sock club?  You will find out soon enough... 

Sock Progress and New Yarn Arrival

I left the house yesterday to head out to my lake home (which is just 40 miles away) at 2 pm.  My husband invited his friend's family to spend the afternoon.  They visited until 10 pm and by then, it was too late/dark to put things away, so we spent the night there.  While everyone was tubing/fishing/playing in the lake, I knitted!  I worked on 2 projects - the Cotty and the Solid Mystery Socks.  I also read Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series (#15 - it's a funny one!).  Anyway, here are the progress:  This is the Mystery Sock - the k1tbl-p1 is hard on my hand so I can only knit a few rows at a time.

The Cotty is flying off the needles...

So the mail came (remember, I told you that I'm expecting packages???).  OK, Woolgirl's shipment arrived.  The yarn:

Left to right:  Smooshy in Strange Harvest (I've been wanting that color for a long time!), Hazel Knit's The Red Carpet, and finally, I got to try Madelinetosh Tosh Sock Yarn in Baltic and Citrus.  My kids' school colors are Orange and Black so I will always have a use for Orange.  AND... if yarn is not enough, I scored on this Namaste Bag:

Yes, Ms Barb Nelson!  This is my 3rd Namaste Bag!  But I won't be bringing this to Knit Night, tho..This is not going to be used for knitting supplies!  I already have my work laptop fitted in there. I do wish it is a couple of inches shorter, tho... but for now, I like the weight and the feel of it.  When I get tired of it, I'm sure I can find someone to buy it from me.  Afterall, I bought this with a 25% off discount... good deal!

OK - waiting for Hazel Knit's order, Loopy Ewe's Sock Club, Socks That Rock Sock Club, and the last Knit Purl Sock Club... I like the odd months - that's when the sock club yarn arrives.  Now, if only I have more time!

#11, #12, Yarn Diet Busted!!!!!!!!!

I haven't posted in quite a while because I'm ashamed that I've busted my yarn diet and was just avoiding admitting this failure to you.  BUT!  The good news first... I joined Summer of Socks 2009 (supposed to be stress-free!) and my goal is to finish 6 pairs of socks over the next 10 weeks.  I finished 2 pairs so far - this project should encourage me to finish some socks in progress (right?)

Pair #11 (towards 25 for the year):

Sunshines by Cookie A in Zen Garden Serenity (Gold Dynasty):

Pair #12: Scrolls Socks by Charlene Schurch.  This is a WIP from last year!  Yarn is Socks That Rock Lightweight in Midsummer's Night.

Then, I finished Fraggles using Socks That Rock Lightweight in Mochaberry:

I have to admit with this lace, I feel "sexy" wearing this one sock!  Wait til I get both socks done! John'd better watch out!

OK - now comes the bad news, although I'm sure you're excited to see what damage I'd done.  Well, it was just an innocent little thing.  I was able to snatch a La Digitessa Kit from Yarnissima.  Her packages are also so nicely packaged.  Emily already ate the tiny Biscotti and there's a baby Tobelrone as well which I hid from her.  I must have repeated a few times, "this is from the Netherlands"...  So here is JUST one skein:

Then, The Loopy Ewe  had a sneak up - String Theory Caper was on there - I must have that yarn - it's like Casbah with the cashmere content.  OK... just 2 skeins:

Bemini:

and North Haven:

Then, Woolgirl reminded us Wooly Club members that we can get 25% off our purchases by June 30.  Well, I stocked up on a FEW skeins.  Then, Wendee from HazelKnits decided to stock up her shop with brand new colors.  Well, I "'needed" a FEW of those brand new colors...  Stay tune to find out exactly how many new skeins of yarns  I acquired in the last week.  I hate yarn stores!! I'm so weak!

Last night at Knit Night, I casted on Cotty, designed by Carrie.  There is a KAL using Socks That Rock yarn.  Sad to say, I have not finished the last two KALs.   This colorway is Peaseblossom.  This is a pattern that stands out when you wear the sock.  I'll take better photos after I get more of the leg done.

 

Yarn Diet: Day 21

Since the mini yarn hop on May 30, I have not purchased ANY yarn! Can you believe it?  I read every single sale email from my favorite online stores and promptly deleted them.  What's nice about being in sock clubs is that you've already paid for the yarn and they just keep coming!  Here's the latest from Hazel Knits (Hisbiscus and Aloha):

I finished one Squiggle sock in the last 2 weeks, almost finished the first Brainless sock, and I'm now trying to finish the second Sunshine Socks.  Much of the past week has really focused on getting a new car for myself as I give my all-time favorite car of mine (Honda CRV) to my son.  It's 7 years old with 90,000 miles - perfect for him and it's safe for him.  Now, I end up with the Nissan Versa.  It's a little cute, but does not have the power (engine-wise and airconditioner-wise on this 90 degree day!)  It boasts some cool features such as voice activated bluetooth system so if I am really bad, I can program The Loopy Ewe's phone number on there and say, "Call Loopy Ewe" and hopefully, Sheri and her elves are too busy to pick up my phone call so I can save some money!  Don't worry, I'm limited to 40 numbers so I will not save any yarn store's number on the system. Well, here's the cutie - don't have a name for it yet - I think my CRV is a boy.  This one feels like a girl. We're just getting to know each other...

WWKIP Day

Click the image to get a bigger photo so you can read the journaling. 

Finished Socks and more acquisitions!

Let's face it.  I have a BIG problem when it comes to STUFF.  I went on a mini Yarn Shop Hop (which I had no need, to...) and well, I end up with a little haul - really!  It was just 2 skiens of Koigu, 2 skeins of Casbah, 2 skeins of Lorna's Laces Worsted for a Shawl, 2 skeins of Art Yarn, and 1 Malabrigo Sock - so, hmm... that means, I just added enough yarn for 5 pairs of socks and guess what?  I just finished 1 PAIR this week!  I went to 5 of the 7 shops and I think I will stop!  Today's the last day, but I will resist because I don't need anymore.  I'm officially announcing that I cannot buy ANY MORE yarn until September 11, when I will meet Ravelry friends at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival.  (I know my friend Chris - who is not a knitter, is laughing out loud as she reads this!)  Here's the haul (lovely, I tellya!)

This week, luckily, I received my order of Hazel Knits yarn from Wendee.  These are new colors that aren't even on her Etsy site yet.  They are (top to bottom): Aurora Borealis, Sweet Crush, and Lochness:

I decided to use Mochaberry (also STR Lightweight) for the Squiggles Socks from the Rockin' Sock Club.  I  plan to cast on Brainless by Yarnissima today using the sock club yarn in the Pepe Le Plume colorway.  This is where I'm at with the Squiggles Socks:

and finally, the finished socks of the week (pair #10) - the May Mystery Socks by Yarnssima, called Kiila:

Rockin' Sock Club May shipment is here!

Don't scroll down if you don't want your surprise spoiled!

Clue #4 for the SKA Mystery Sock, Kiila was relased on Friday.  I finished sock #1 this morning.  Thank goodness I started on Sock #2 so I only have Clue 4 to finish on that sock and I'll have pair #10!!  Here are some progress pictures.  After Clue #3:

After clue #4:

I also started on Sock #2 for the Sunshine Socks.  I'm trying to be "good" to finish at least one of these 2 pairs before I cast on a new sock.  I'm disappointed that I did not cast on any Anne Hanson's patterns...but lately, I've been feeling like just knitting what I want and not knit certain criteria.  Face it, I'm not knitting for the prizes so why should I "follow" the "rules"?  Although, there is much fun in knitting the same thing as others so you can discuss any difficulties or show off your version!

OK - here's the new yarn from the Rockin' Sock Club.  I love it!  But when I look at the pattern, I'm not really sure if I would use them together.  Just mulling over this...

You will know what I decide on the next time I blog!

As promised...

This is the latest shipment from the Knit Purl Sock Club.  It features a pattern from Cookie A, called Williamette Hop and yarn from Painted Skeins in the colorway Microbrew.  I love the packages from Knit Purl - always neatly bagged:

Inside...

Yesterday, I received the kit from Dye Dreams.  This is their Spring shipment.  It features a new yarn, Panda Sox in Teal and a pattern from Sivia Harding (of course, it comes with beads!) called Fiddlehead Socks. 

Did you know that Sock Clubs can be educational?  I didn't know what a fiddlehead was.  In case you don't, this is a fiddlehead:  (fiddleheads are young coiled leaves of the ostrich fern)

Photo by MIR Photos.

This past week, I've been working the 3 pairs of socks I started in May.  The red Marlenes are a bit tedious.  I've thought of frogging a few times, but I just kept enduring the boring k1tbl p1 stitches and now that I'm starting to see some pattern structure with the increases and decreases, I'm having a little more tolerance for knitting the sock.  It is the sock that has taken the least of my time. 

Next, the Yarnssima Mystery Socks, Kiila... I started with the Wollmeise Frosch but I didn't like the fabric, too flimsy and I felt the cables were not showing up nicely.  Before I finished clue 1, I learned that I've been reading the pattern chart incorrectly, repeating rows 1 - 6 instead of 2 - 6.  Row 1 was the set up row.  This gave me the excuse to start over with a different yarn. I chose Colinette Jitterbug.  Jitterbug is famous for its short yardage but someone, I bought 2 of them in the same color (Elephant's Daydream) but from different shops.  So if I need more yardage, well, I have it!  Here is a progress picture after clue 2 has been completed:

And finally, the 3rd sock I'm working on is the Sunshine Socks from Cookie A's new book, Sock Innovations.  I finished the first sock and hope to cast on this week for the second sock before my inner self talk me into casting on something else!

Last week, I was reading Carrie's blog on her "I want to knit list".  Well, here's mine (this does not include WIP):

1. Cookie A  Williamette Hop

2. Silva Harding  Fiddlehead Socks

3.  Anne Hanson Bouganvillea Socks

4. Anne Hanson The Crooked Brook

5. Cookie A Eunice

I think there are more... but I will stop here.

Happy Mother's Day

Slow play. Too bad I didn't bring my knitting. Hope you had a nice day.