Finished Projects

I finished two more projects that I can count in my Create 52 challenge...

I made another needle felted drier ball.  Although, just like the last one, I'm thinking it might be too pretty to use for a drier ball.  It's supposed to be a mandala.  The outlining makes it look a bit like a stained glass design too.

This pair of socks is finally finished!  I started them a couple of years ago as a lesson to learn the toe up method.  However, the person that was teaching me wasn't very regular about coming to our stitch gatherings and then stopped altogether.  I thought about trying to figure it out on my own by using YouTube videos.  I was just frustrated with it and tired of it sitting around that I decided to just rip it out and make them the way I know how, cuff down.  I still might learn toe up someday.  In fact, I saw a different way of starting it recently that seemed a lot easier and more fun.  It uses circular needles instead of double point needles.

I'm now caught up with my challenge.  Yay!

My First Toe-Up Socks!

My knit group planned an extra outing this week at Tom's Farms.

It's a nice little place with shops selling produce, candies, jams, fresh baked breads, etc. along with a couple different restaurants, a pond, attractions for kids and more.  We sat in a shady spot by the pond and the weather was perfect.  We stitched and chatted for hours.  Some of us even grabbed a bite to eat.  One of the knitters in the group tried to teach me how to knit toe-up socks.

I just wasn't getting it though and eventually ripped it out and moved on to something else.

When I got home, I looked up some how-to help on YouTube and found THIS video.

It made all the difference and LOOK!  I'm doing it!...

I'm so excited!  I've got a good start on the toe and should be up to the foot part in a few more rows.

Hopefully, I'll be able to find a video on how to knit the heel parts that makes as much sense.

It will be so wonderful to not have to do kitchener stitch anymore.  And, to be able to utilize more of the yarn and not worry about running out.

After our stitch gathering, we all headed over to the market there and bought some fresh fruit and veggies.  Of course, I had to stroll through the candy area to see what they had!

I spotted the peanut brittle and couldn't resist buying a box of it.  It's SOOOOO yummy!

I think I could eat the whole box!  I'm trying hard to restrain myself.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Finally Finished

I've been working on and off on this pair of socks for a long time.

I was surprised at how long when I updated my project notes on Ravelry.

It turns out that I started these in July of 2011!  Sheesh!  It's about time I finished them!

They're just a basic pair of socks knitted with size two double point needles.  Nothing fancy.

I originally bought the yarn for a crochet shawl but the colors pooled in ways that didn't look good.

Knitting seems to be a much better match for this colorway of Zitron Trekking XXL yarn.

I love the colors and I finished them just in time for the wintery weather we're having this week.

I think this yarn would look great as a Sockhead Hat like the one I made HERE.

I have almost half a skein left.  Time to weigh it and the hat I made before and see if it's possible!

Maybe a less slouchy version.  :-)

Pretty New Socks

One of the yarny things I did this weekend was to start a new pair of socks. I'm using Trekking XXL sock yarn (colour 50) that I've had for a while. I bought it to crochet a shawl but the pooling of colors when I crocheted with it was ugly. In fact, it looked so bad that I doubted if I would ever use this yarn for anything. But, for some reason, it spoke to me this weekend as I looked through my stash and I decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did because it's knitting up really pretty. I love the colors now and I'm excited about these socks. It's so wonderful to have time to knit and play with yarn again. :-D

Itty Bitty Sock

I'm so excited to have some time to play with yarn again and I've been playing all weekend! Woo hoo! :-) One of the things I did was to knit up another itty bitty sock for my key chain sock blocker. I knitted a little turquoise sock a couple of years ago but I lost it a week or so ago. I used a pattern that came with the sock blocker but you can find the pattern HERE on Ravelry too. It's a fun little project that goes quickly and uses up a little bit of leftover sock yarn.

It's a Match!

I recently blogged about a pair of socks I was mindlessly knitting that turned out to be horribly mismatched. The mismatch wouldn't have shown from under my jeans and no one would have cared...except for me. So, I ripped the second sock out and started again. You can read about that HERE.

When I knit socks, I would normally find the start of one of the colors and cast on. That way, I could later find the start of that same color to cast on the second sock and have a matched pair. Since I didn't do that this time, I had to come up with a solution and hope it worked. Luckily, it did. I now own a brand new, perfectly matched pair of socks!


To restart my second sock, I pulled yarn from the ball until I found a brown section like the one near the top of the first sock. From that spot, I wrapped yarn around one of my needles (going backward from the brown) 48 times (the number of stitches I needed to cast on). Next, I took that length of yarn and measured seven lengths (the number of rows above the brown stripe on the first sock and still measuring backward from the brown) and cast on with the seventh length. I felt pretty confident that this would work but I didn't imagine it would work this well. The stripes are perfectly matched!


If I had paid better attention, I could have made longer socks. It turns out that I only used half the ball of yarn. That means I have enough yarn left over to make another short pair.

I really should learn how to knit socks from the toe up! That way, I could divide a ball of sock yarn in half and get the maximum use from it...and longer socks too!

Do Over!

I recently started knitting a pair of socks with yarn from my stash, Berroco Comfort Sock. I knitted a pair of socks with this yarn in the past and thought I didn't like the feel of them. When I actually wore them, I loved them! So, it makes perfect sense to make another pair. First sock, done! Looks great!

I dove right into the second sock...


But, I did so without thinking! I forgot to do a little planning and make sure I started the yarn in the same color spot so the stripes would match!


I tried to go with it but I just can't! I know, they won't show under my jeans. But, I'll know!


Rip!


Time to start over! And, this time, with a little thought and planning!


If I had done a little homework before I started this pair, I could have had longer socks too! I weighed the first sock this morning and it only weighs about half an ounce. I have over two ounces left! Ugh! I should know better because I usually plan better. Oh well. At least I can do the second one over.

Happy Knitting!

Cottage Socks

I recently ran across a chunky sock pattern on Ravelry that I HAD to make! I thought they were cute and would be great to keep my feet warm around the house. I had no idea when I got started how cute they'd look with my wellies...


They're soft, warm, and make my wellies feel and fit better!


The "Cottage Socks" pattern is free on Ravelry and the Lion Brand website. I knit them with two skeins of Michael's Loops and Threads Charisma yarn and size 10 1/2 double point needles. I made them long enough to go up to my knees and fit me perfectly. However, when my daughter modeled them for pictures, I found it interesting that, even though we're the same height, our leg proportions are very different...they don't reach her knees!


They were super simple and quick to make...except for the gussets. I had so much trouble with them and I'm not sure why. But, I was determined to make these and just kept working until I got it! The pattern was a bit confusing on the toe part. So, I tweeked them and made them work. I finished the toe with about eight stitches across (eight in the front and eight in the back) and kitchener stitches.


I love 'em!

Falling into Spring

I started these socks last fall but hadn't gotten past the cuff until just recently. The yarn is ONLine Supersocke 100 with aloe and the colorway, "Wellness", is beautiful. However, I'm not sure if it's suitable for this "Lace-Rib Socks" pattern. The lace interferes with the stripes and the stripes with the lace. I've come very close to pulling it out several times. I keep forging ahead though, keeping an open mind, to see how they'll turn out. My daughter and husband think they look great and keep encouraging me. What do you think? Would you knit lacy socks with such a stripey yarn? I think I'll go poke around on Ravelry and try to find other socks made with this yarn and see what I think.

First Feather and Fan

Feather and fan is something I've been wanting to try. It's so pretty and lacy and I've seen it knit up in scarves and throws. I never imagined it on socks. But, last week, I ran across a pattern for it on Ravelry called, "Waterloose". I loved how it looked and instantly decided to try it. I couldn't believe how easy it is! So easy it made me laugh. The look of feather and fan is decieving with it's lacy, curvy, open look. I had heard it wasn't hard but never imagined it being this easy! Here's sock number one of this pair...


I'm really happy with how it turned out. I like the extra long ribbed cuff and the lacy look of the sock. I even love this yarn. It looked fine in the ball but when I started knitting the sock it looked different and so much prettier! It's Lane Cervinia Calzetteria sock yarn from Italy. I used size two dpns and knitted the heel the way I usually do, rather than how this pattern suggested.


I really don't like doing the kitchner stitch. So, I decided to knit a star toe to avoid it. I'm glad I did because I think it looks really nice on this sock and the fit is great!

A little side note...when I met with my knit friends last week for coffee and stitching, I was surprised to see that several of us are now working on feather and fan projects. One is a scarf, one a round blanket/shawl, and my socks. Fun! What a versatile pattern!

Well, I'm off to eat some fresh baked bannana bread that I made this morning and then start my second sock. Have a terrific day! Thanks for stopping by. :-)

Stars and Stripes

I started this sock earlier this summer and finished it once...but I had so much yarn left over that I ripped it back to the leg to add more length, in an attempt to use up more of the yarn...I don't like to be wasteful or have leftovers. After I added more to the leg, I was a little concerned whether or not I'd have enough to complete the foot, even though I weighed the yarn to try and make a more scientific guestimate. Well, I had enough! Yay! Here's sock number one, for the second time...


I still have another sock to knit but I'm excited about these socks and can't wait to show how cute they are and my "star toe"!...


I saw some socks last week that were made with a different kind of toe that avoids having to use kitchener stitching... something I don't enjoy and the possibility of skipping this was too good to pass up. I came home, started googling various ideas of what it might be called, found some pictures of various knit toe methods and easy directions (scroll to the bottom of the link to "star toe"). I couldn't wait to try it out, so I used it on this sock. It was simple and makes a nicely shaped toe.

This Knitcol yarn makes such cute and colorful stripes and with the "star toes"...these are now aptly named, "Stars and Stripes". :-D

I'm off to knit the second one...only once!

Knit, Knit, Knit, Frog, Knit, Crochet, Knit, De-Stash, Knit, Finish, Repeat!

Before I left on vacation I spent a lot of time looking at my stash and pattern possibilities on Ravelry. I'm still on a mission to de-stash and that's just what I'm doing. I've been starting and finishing projects, finishing up loose ends on others, frogging a few, and still starting new ones. I've been inspired and excited about knitting again (even a little crochet) and I think I've got my knitting mojo again...maybe it's the sheep shoes!

The first thing I did on my trip was to finish my Sangria Shawl. I don't have any new pictures of it yet but you can click on the name and see it's beginnings. I love this shawl! The colors, textures, and overall effect of the yarn is delicious!

The next thing I did on my trip was to start a simple scarf. I found the pattern on Ravelry...it's called "Scrunchable Scarf". The stitch pattern is done in threes plus one stitch on each side. I used some Bernat Denim Style yarn in blue. I tried it with a few needle sizes, decided on 10 1/2's and quickly got started. The only thing was...it was making a ridge down one side and a dip down the other...hmmmm? I frogged it and started again, adding another set of three, thinking it would add a ridge down the other side and make it symetrical. It didn't work! Hmmmm? Oh well...I knitted it anyway and it turned out nice. I finished it shortly after we got home from our trip. It's super soft and "scrunchable"...just like the pattern name says...


Another project I started on our vacation was this...some stripey socks with Knitcol yarn I had bought last year. I finished the first sock last weekend but had so much yarn left over in that ball (it'll take two balls of yarn) that it bugged me enough to frog the sock back to the leg and add more to the length of that, in hopes that I'll use up more or most of the yarn...keeping my fingers crossed that I have enough now to reach the end of the toe (I really need to learn the toe up method!)...


I had taken some left over Sugar n Cream yarn to make a little project bag but didn't get to it until I got home. I ended up crocheting it. It's loosely inspired by the "Work Your Way Up String Bag" pattern (also found on Ravelry) but I did it in the round so I would only have the bottom to sew up...


I added lining...


And, an I-cord drawstring...


I still need to get some thread to match the "Cupcake" color of the yarn so I can sew the lining to it. Otherwise, it's done!

I also finished up a lot of loose ends after I got home by tucking the ends into several projects that I had previously finished but neglected to do that final task to truly finish them. That felt good!

I worked on my "Flower Basket Shawl" this weekend. However, since this project has done little more than frustrate me, I'm planning to frog it completely and use the yarn for something more enjoyable.

I'm also about to cast on my first tank top! After months of having trouble deciding on projects and lacking my usual knitting enthusiasm, it's extra nice to have that excitement back again! I just hope I don't burn myself out! lol

Well, I'm off for a day at the beach...fresh, cool air, beautiful scenery, and...of course...knitting!!! :-D

Recent Finds

I don't shop as much lately as I use to and I don't have the budget for it. However, once in a while, I find time to wander around antique and thrift stores and other fun places. I'm usually on the hunt for one thing or another. Sometimes it may take years to find...especially, since I try to buy things on the cheap. So, when I do find something it's especially exciting. Like finding treasure. Here are a couple of things I've found recently that I'd been hunting for...


I call this one, "Violet" because she's purple. I found her at a local thrift shop. I love her metal base. It's much better looking than new ones with their plastic bases. She's close to my size, so she'll come in handy if I start sewing clothes...which I'm feeling inspired to do. And, she'll be great for modeling knitting projects for blog photo shoots. I think it's funny that the sticker on her chest says, "Acme". That makes me think of old cartoons. I'm not crazy about her purple color though. I bought some neutral fabric to try and recover her. I'll let you know how that goes.





I found these old wood sock blockers at a yarn shop that's going out of business. I've been watching for some of these for quite a while. I think they're the perfect size for hubby socks. And, they'll look great hanging on the wall in my soon-to-be craft studio (currently a guest bedroom). Fun! :-D





My daughter is about to graduate from high school and we're looking forward to some time (finally) this summer to go shopping and exploring again. Life has been so busy that we haven't had time to do that like we use to. She loves to hunt for treasures too. I wonder what we'll find?

Mesa Socks

I finally finished my Mesa Socks. What would have been a quick project (I had the first sock half done on the day I started it) ended up to be a challenge...not in knitting...but with yarn. I made these with Berroco Comfort Sock yarn. The colors are pretty and the yarn is very soft and affordable. So, I bought two balls of it in two different colors. It seemed like a great yarn, but...that changed quickly as I kept running into knots (lots of them) and sections where a knot held the yarn together with a thread that, 10" or so later, became yarn again. I came across the first knot at the heel of the first sock. I worked with it and tried to go on but I decided that a knot on the heel might not be comfortable. And, taking a big section out because of the thread and the knot would throw the colors off, making it hard to match the second sock. So, I ripped it out and started again. More knots! I don't remember how many times I started the second (third) sock before I was able to keep knitting without running across more knots. I finally gave up and just kept knitting. Luckily, I only have one knot to deal with in the second sock. And, I was able to match the colors up closely enough for them to look like a pair.

The very first sock was a 2x2 rib and I liked it. But, I decided to make them with a ribbed cuff and stockinette for the legs. I think it shows off the colors much better. I really love the colors. They remind me of colors I see in the desert, the soils and the glow of the sun on the rocks, with bits pale, sagey green, like desert plants. Pretty! And, like I said before, they're very soft. But, I really didn't like working with this yarn (aside from the knots). I'm not sure how to describe it except that where I picked up stitches for the gussets, it's like the stitches stretched out and it doesn't look very nice. It did that on the final kitchner stitch on the toes too. And, even though it's soft, it has an odd feel to it. Maybe I'm spoiled from using all natural fibers and the "weirdness" I'm experiencing with this yarn is the "fakeness"...nylon and acrylic. It's very affordable and I have tons left over but it's definitely not a good deal. I won't be making any more socks with it. I'm not sure what I'll do with the other ball of it that I bought.

Catching Up

I'm feeling so much better this week! Ahhhh! Now, with how crazy/busy the past couple months have been, then a week off from being sick, I have a lot of catching up to do. So, that's what I started on yesterday. I have so much I need to do and want to do that I can easily feel overwhelmed. I'm trying to have narrow vision and just look at a few things at a time and keep moving, hoping that I'll make significant progress. Trouble is, the more I do, the more I find to do. Life never gets boring that way! :-)

Speaking of catching up... I'm not a person that likes to have a lot of stuff sitting around. That goes for a stash too. Don't get me wrong...I lovvvvve yarn! But, I would prefer to buy it when I need it. That way, when I finish a project, I get a double reward...a finished item and a chance to go shopping and plan a new project. I'm also a very careful and frugal shopper and it's very common for me to shop and come home with nothing. That really helps keep the stash down. But, somehow, I still have a stash...small, but I have one. I've been trying to work through as much of it as I can over this past year and I think I've made quite a dent, especially with Christmas gifts. But, I still have yarn for more projects and I'm trying not to let it weigh me down along with all the other things I have to do. Marie, at Sel and Poivre , has been talking this week about organizing her projects and not being overwhelmed too. I love how she said that a "stash gives me a rash". lol She's been organizing her projects into a small, manageable, realistic list. I've been kind of doing the same thing with my Ravelry queue and removing things as soon as they're done. And, I don't let the list get too long. Marie's posts have been inspiring me to plan some upcoming projects from my stash and put them on my queue. I think that if I organize them and have a plan, these stash yarns will once again be exciting like when I bought them and not an overwhelming (but beautiful) pile of yarn. And, I can catch up on some of those projects I've dreamt of doing.

One ball of yarn at a time...

Last week, while I was sick, I finished a pair of socks. I so enjoyed working on a quick and simple project that I wanted to start on another pair. So, I pulled some yarn out of my stash that I bought at the Knitting Olympics(click and scroll to the bottom to see the yarn) and got started. I'm knitting them in a simple 2x2 rib and carrying the rib down the top of the foot. I thought the yarn was pretty in the ball but I always enjoy seeing how the colors look and change as it's knitted up. This one is no exception. The colors remind me of the desert with all the browns, terra cotta, and orange colors, with a few sagey green plants here and there. So, I'm calling them my "Mesa Socks". This yarn is incredibly soft too! They're working up pretty quickly as I finished the cuff (about 6 1/2 inches) and the heal in one day. It doesn't look as great in pictures as it does in real life, but here's one anyway... Hopefully, they'll look great in a picture when they're done...on a pair of feet! That'll be one less ball of yarn in my stash.


Well, back to work on catching up. Then, tonight, a relaxing evening of simple sock knitting. Mmmmm...life is good!

Socks and Sniffles

Here's a picture of my finished Bordeaux socks. When I originally started knitting these I was getting a nice striping effect that reminded me of some of the Noro striping projects I've seen. However, I needed to start again with less stitches and I didn't get that effect again. They are pretty though and I'm happy with how they turned out. Simple but nice.

I thought I was feeling better but last night my throat started hurting again and my nose stuffed up so much that I couldn't breath through it. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep. With having to blow my nose so much, I might not get much knitting done today. Sigh!

Sock KAL

Several of the ladies in our Wednesday morning stitch group want to learn how to make socks. So, we decided to start the new year off with a sock KAL. We start tomorrow. I'm kind of leading the whole thing since I've made socks. So, I posted a little assignment on our website to select their yarn, needles and knit a swatch. Then, go to the Sock-U-Lator (on my side bar) and type in their gauge and measurements to get directions for the perfect size. From there they can be a little creative with ribbing and cuff length. We'll all knit the feet about the same. I decided to get an early start since I'll be helping out. I'm making mine with some yarn that I sell, it's Silver Creek BFL. I don't know why but these yarns haven't sold very well. That just leaves more for me! I love the colors soooo much and the yarn is soft and nice to work with. I love the stiping effect I'm getting on this sock. It reminds me of some of the projects I've seen people do with Noro yarn, alternating colors. It's so pretty. I'm not sure I ever would have thought of putting teal, blue, burgandy and olive together but it sure looks great! The colors are a little brighter in the picture than in real life. This colorway is called "Bordeaux". I made some socks in the colorway, "Herb Garden", last year. About 11 ladies are planning to attend. It should be a lot of fun!

Itty Bitty Sock Blocker

My teeny weeny FO...an itsy bitsy sock...for an itty bitty sock blocker.

I found an adorable wood sock blocker key chain that came with a pattern to knit a sock for it at a yarn shop this weekend. I had to have it! It's so cute and it was a quick and fun little project.


I found it at "The Yarn Deli" in Redlands, California this weekend. I had heard of this shop earlier this year but it's almost an hour from my home. However, on Saturday I was in the area and decided to check it out. I love what was on the window... "Sit. Knit. Be." Inside, it's a cute little yarn shop with lots of natural yarns, nice sample projects, and a friendly atmosphere. The owner was very welcoming and gave me a bunch of goodies...a brochure about the store and how it got started, a class and group schedule, a pen, a needle holder, a card to keep track of my needles, and a hand knitted sachet filled with lavender (mmmm, I love that smell). Wow! How nice! They had a lot of great yarns, especially wool and sock yarns. I'll definitely go back again.

Gauge Lesson

The "man socks" are done! I knitted three socks to make a pair! I learned a lesson about gauge! Sock on the top = wrong! Sock on the bottom = success!!! Whew!

If you've been reading this blog you know I started these weeks ago. And, I said I was almost done a while back. Well, something went a bit wrong...as you can see with the sock on the top. It's ok to laugh. It does look pretty funny. And, I've had some pretty funny comments like how the heel is "substantial", and how it looks like it was made for someone with a club foot, and lots of "ohhhh, my!".

I tried to find a pattern that would be perfect for what I wanted and for this yarn (Moda Dea, Sassy Stripes) but had no luck. Through all the patterns I looked at, I decided that casting on 64 stitches would be perfect. As I knit the leg it looked great. The heel was ok. But, as I knitted the foot it started to look weird. I tried it on hubby and it seemed ok, loose, but ok, so I kept going...even if it did look ridiculous. I measured for the length of the foot and added the toe, tried it on hubby again and it was a bit tight in length. So, (I know this was silly) I added a couple more rows and stitched it up. That gave it a pointy toe. Ta Da! A man sock for a club footed elf!

Oh Boy! What to do?! Ah ha! The "Sock-U-Lator"! (there is a link to it on my side bar) I typed in the gauge, shoe size, measurements, etc. and had a perfect recipe for what I wanted. Turns out that I only needed to cast on 56 stitches. Who knew that only eight stitches less would make such a huge difference?! The two new ones fit perfectly now. And, they look like normal socks! Yay!

What a lesson in how important gauge is. Hopefully, as I knit through more patterns I'll get an even better understanding of gauge and be able make it work. In the meantime, I'm so thankful for people that design things like the "Sock-U-Lator" that can save my project.

Best of all...hubby loves them! He was so excited the whole time I was making them. When they were finished last night he put them on right away. I told him it was love on his feet. :-)

Man Socks and a Mystery...

I started knitting my first pair of "man" socks yesterday for my hubby. I'm using some yarn I bought on clearance a few months ago...Moda Dea, Sassy Stripes in a nice combination of dark blues, some brown, and touches of white. I wanted to make my first pair of "man" socks with this less expensive yarn as I work out the sizing for him. Then, I'll progress to a nicer yarn. It's looking like I cast on enough to fit his leg (64 on size 2's). I like how it's looking so far, and so does he. It's a bit thick but they should be nice for wearing around the house on a cold winter day.

I'm still working on my long term projects from time to time. I also sewed curtains for my daughter's room last week. Yesterday I signed up for Mystery Stole 4. I imagine it will be beautiful like the last three. I'm a beginner at lace knitting so I'm not sure how I'll do, but I'm sure I'll learn a lot. I need to go shopping for some yarn and beads so I can get started. The first clue was listed today. Wish me luck!