Always Socks

Hello Dear Friends!

I've really been feeling the cold this winter. Especially my feet. I've even taken to wearing thin cotton anklets inside my wool socks. At this point, pretty yarn turning into warm socks and hot drinks is the only thing getting me through the season. My love affair with the beauty of winter is pretty thin on the ground by February. I've had enough ice and snow and salt and sand...sadly, they're houseguests that just won't leave. So there's nothing else for it. I Must Knit More Socks. They make me happy...and warm.

 

Gazebo

pattern: plain vanilla socks

yarn: Berroco Boboli Lace

 

Rye

pattern: Rye by tincanknits

yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Superwash Worsted

My current socks in progress are a shameless copy of these. I thought they could be my Valentine's socks. But they won't be done in time because I didn't start them till Monday night, and at 9stitches/inch, they're not very fast. And then there's the intarsia heart. Have I ever mentioned how I dislike knitting intarsia (or fair isle?) I think they're gorgeous and I envy people who churn out colorful knits. But, I struggle. The stitches are wonky and the yarns tangle. And I find myself frustrated and pulling out my hair and yarn. Not pretty. But yet, there is a wonky little heart on the heel, and I hope that it all evens out in the blocking. I suppose I could have done it in duplicate stitch, but not sure I was using all my brain cells when I started this sock. Because, if I had been using my brain cells properly, I would have knit the cuff in red to ensure that I would have enough gray yarn for both socks.

 

Well dear friends, that does it for me. I'm off to see what the Olympic events are tonight and knit. Maybe I'll have one Valentine sock by Friday :)

Battling Winter

 

Hello Dear Friends!

 

Winter is still thriving here, as it is in much of the country.  As a knitter, I love the romantic idea of winter...dreaming of warm, woolly handknits to protect against the chill.  Sitting inside where it's cozy with my needles, while the snow falls outside my window.  But the reality of facing the frigid temps is a different story.  I'd stay inside and avoid them if I could.  But, I have to venture out early every morning to take the kiddos to school.

 

I searched Ravelry and then dug into my stash.  And then spent my week making two pairs of warm and woolly cabled mittens to wear on those cold mornings.  These mittens were exactly the sort of project I needed.  Quick, useful and oh, so lovely!



 

Skinny Mittens

pattern: Skinny Fit Mittens by Andrea Black

yarn: Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool

 

 

Cruiser

pattern: Cruiser by Cailyn Meyer

yarn: Tahki Yarns Donegal Tweed Homespun (Vintage)

 

 

We've been having snow every few days.  Big, beautiful soft flakes floating in the air, and fast, small flakes pouring from the sky.  And the way it all clings and coats the trees is breathtaking.  And then in between it all, sunshine and melting and then the next round of snow and ice.  So my next battle plan was casting on some very simple stripey socks.  The sun may be shining, but don't let it fool you, it was cold!!!

 

 

Winter's Cure

pattern: plain vanilla socks w/ picot edge

yarn: Knit Picks Felici Sport Self Striping

 

Spring is still several months away, so I'm still arming myself with needles and yarn!

More of Everything

Hello Dear Friends!

Thank you so much for the very kind welcome back! It feels good to be in blogland again. I need to spend some time with my bloglovin account and add some blogs back into it (I had cleared it all out a while ago.) I still miss google reader.

The new year had me wanting to get the list of knitting wip's whittled down. I've managed to get two crossed off.

I finished my Colorado shawl, knit with some rustic 2-ply Colorado homespun purchased at the Taos Wool Festival many moons ago. The yarn and pattern felt like they were meant for each other. And the pattern...so simple and lovely and clever! Wendy doesn't recommend blocking the finished shawl, but I felt like my yarn could use it and I was right. It bloomed beautifully, and while it's still very "rustic" feeling, it isn't quite as scratchy.

 

Colorado shawl

pattern: Colorado Spring by Wendy D. Johnson

yarn: 2-ply Colorado Homespun

 

 

 I finished my Christmas socks a wee bit after the holidays. I have easily knit a couple hundred pair of socks, but I still get a little giddy with a newly finished pair.

 

Roman Holiday socks

pattern: Blueberry Waffle by Sandy Turner

yarn: Regia

 

And...I actually crossed a few stitches! I cleaned out my drawers (2!) of cross stitch wip's and came across this one that only had a few stripes left to do. Hopefully I'll get it sewn into a little pillow to add to my patriotic basket this year :)

 

 

flag motif

pattern: Summer Patches by Plain & Fancy Collection

fabric: 28ct "staci-dyed" linen

fibers: WDW brick and whiskey, GAST uniform blue, coffee dyed DMC

 



As I said, I cleaned out my cross stitch wip's: tossing some projects, reclaiming linen from others and organizing what remained. I pulled out a couple that I hope to work on here and there, fingers crossed :)
 

So what do I mean by "more of everything"? I hope to knit more stash yarn, do more cross stitch and embroidery, read more, and continue to do more cleaning and organizing. And just appreciating everything a little bit more :)

Thanks for stopping by my neck of the woods. Sending you all a little Colorado Sunshine!

 

Sock it To Me

My sock needles are almost never empty.

But there was almost a full month where they were.

Thankfully, Middle had a band concert.

So I cast on some very plain ones to take with me.

Sock respite over.

Socks have resumed...

**most of these were actually knitted BEFORE the respite**

Cross-Stitch Lounge Socks

by Veronik Avery

Knitting 24/7

Candide "Ragg" Boot Socks

Reynolds #38

64st Picot Edged socks

64st Simple Stockinette socks

You can check out my Ravelry page for more project info.

Thanks for stopping by my neck of the woods and for all your wonderful comments,

they sure make my day!

Happy Sunday!

Stash Mania!

Hello Dear Friends!  I've been doing a "stash-free summer" the last few years.  And it's actually been pretty successful.  And those stash-free summers usually carry over into the remaining part of the year with very little additional stash accumulation.  So from the end of May through the end of December, I usually make a pretty good dent using my current stash (you would think it would show more, but there you go.)  But when my birthday rolls around in December, I'm usually jones-ing for something new (and it usually has to do with socks.)

Wrap birthday, sock yarn and sale all together and this is what you end up (courtesy of Webs)...

I've been researching sock-yarn-clubs (where you get a skein of specially hand-dyed sock yarn and an exclusive pattern and sometimes a few extra little trinkets show up in your mailbox every other month.)  But you know, forking over $240+ for 6 skeins of yarn is not in my budget.  And what if I don't like the colorway that shows up?  I figure I can spend a lot less and get a little more bang for my buck by doing my own little sock-club.  Heck, I already own almost every sock pattern book published not to mention the 100's of free patterns out there.

So here is the first installment of "staci's frugal sock yarn club".  Whoops...how'd that red yarn for a skirt get in there???  I have yarn for 4 pairs of socks and a skirt at a fraction of 4 shipments from a club.  In fact, it cost less than 2 shipments.  (And no, I'm not going to be doing this every other month, LOL!!!)

The last of my stash I have to share today is this gorgeous hand-dyed thread I won from Nancy of Victorian Motto.  I first purchased thread from Nancy back in 2008 and her thread is wonderful to work with.  You many remember that my rooster is stitched with one of Nancy's reds.  She's currently having another floss giveaway on her blog so you better head over for a chance!  Thank you so much Nancy!!!

 

My friend Wendy Jo's birthday was yesterday and I knit her a pair of plain picot socks and included a collectors edition Whitman's tin I found at the holidays.  We never get the Whitman's tins around here so you have to believe I snatched some of those babies up, lol!!!  Happy Birthday dear friend!!!

Well goodness, that was quite a lot of stuff!  Thanks for stopping by my neck of the woods and for your sweet comments.  Happy Friday the 13th...Make it a Great One!!!

Loose Ends

Hello Dear Friends!  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday.  It's hard to believe another Christmas has come and gone.  Our decorations have been packed away and the house returned to "normal".  After 4 weeks of having our halls decked, I'm always ready for things to be cleaned up and out to usher in the new year.

I decided at the last minute to knit Hubby some Christmas socks.  And I was able to get two pairs done in the week before Christmas.  I'm so lucky that his favorite type of socks knit up so quickly.  A sock-a-day, literally!

Candide Ragg Boot Socks

yarn:  Bernat Denim Style, Indigo

215 yds

needles:  sz 8

sz:  men's med

Candide Ragg Boot Socks

yarn:  misc worsted wt wool, Grey and Creme

approx 220 yds

needles:  sz 8

sz:  men's med

I received a lovely box of goodies from my dear friend Wendy Jo.  For my birthday she sent me a beautiful matching tissue holder and key fob which I put in my purse immediately (after the pic!)  And for my Christmas gift she sent me some fabulous hand scrubs she made and a darling cushion she stitched filled with crushed walnuts.  I think the cushion is the perfect size and weight to hold my knitting books open to my pattern page while I'm working :)  Thank you so much Wendy Jo for your kind friendship!

And this little goodie arrived from sweet Michele W.  We share many of the same weaknesses likes.  And what could be cuter than this little Demi-Starbucks mug pincushion???  Thank you so much Michele for always being so thoughtful!

 

I've been spending my post-Christmas time trying to figure this out...

Knitting on this...

 

And filling in this...

 

Thank you for stopping by my neck of the woods and for your kind comments!  Sending you all a little Colorado Sunshine for your final week of 2011!!!

Aaahhh!

Much better!  Thank you all for you kind comments and get well wishes...I'm feeling back to normal today :)

Got the socks for Youngest done.  I swear I'm not playing favorites, he's the only one of the Kiddos who wears handknit socks daily.  The other two only wear them occasionally (not sure what the occasion has to be, but...)  And, since his socks are the same size as mine...I figure next winter they'll be in my drawer, lol! 

60st basic stockinette socks

Zwerger Garn Opal Zirkus/Circus

(gifted to me by Margaret clear back in 2008!)

2.5mm dpns

Because I finished those socks, I was able to cast on some new ones (for me of course!)  And these just seem to be zipping along (but maybe that's because I'm no longer in an achy, hazy fog.)

 

I saw these in the store this week and couldn't help myself.  I just got done telling Hubby last week that I am a total sucker for stuff with retro/vintage packaging :)

And finally, thank you everyone for leaving a comment on my giveaway post, I really wish I could send you each a little something.  Drumroll please!  The Random Number Generator picked #42:

Tea at Weasel's said...

Hi there! What a gorgeous blog you have here. Thank you for the kind comment you left on my post today :)
I would love to enter your givaway if you don't mind? The little jumper is just too cute!!
My email address is graytrips@hotmail.co.uk

Hope you are having a fab weekend,
Louise xx

Thank you everyone for stopping by my neck of the woods...your visits brighten my day!  Happy Friday!

Tis the Season!

For making Merry!

We decked our halls last Saturday.

After Black-Friday shopping and

Anniversary lunching.

After being very ThankFULL.

The ornaments I've managed to finish for our tree this year...

Because they're all "mom's favorite"...

A little glimpse of the happy chaos that is our tree...

Outside our front door...

Cozy afternoon knitting...

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Thanks for stopping by my (snowy) neck of the woods...

and don't forget to enter my holiday giveaway :)

Busy, Busy!

Hello My Lovelies!  My how time does fly!  The Kiddos and Hubby were off all of Thanksgiving week and we've been very busy and my usual routines have been turned upside down, so things are really piling up blogging-wise ;)

My needles have been busy clicking away!  A pair of socks for me...

See the sparkles???

A pair of socks for Youngest...

I've been having the most fun knitting sweaters from leftover sock yarn for the tree!!!

Hubby even fashioned some miniature "hangers" out of paperclips...

Hubby and I also celebrated our 19th Anniversary the day after Thanksgiving.  And my dear friend Wendy Jo remembered our day with this sweet card and beautiful bracelet.  Thank you so much Wendy Jo for being such a thoughtful and generous friend!

There is actually more left to share with you, but I'll leave it for another day :)  All the knitty details can be found on my Ravelry page.

Thanks for stopping by my snowy neck of the woods!  Happy December!!!

Finished Knits

That I've been slow to blog about.  They're piling up behind the scenes...at least the photos are.  The knits themselves are already in use.  All details can be found on my Ravelry page...'cuz sometimes, I'm lazy like that ;)

Woodland Knee Highs

Palindrome

Irish Wellington Socks

Nantucket Throw

Chunkeanie

Picholine

Thanks for stopping by and for your sweet comments, I sure appreciate it!  Hope your week is off to a fantastic start...Happy Monday!

Autumn Knits

Hello Dear Friends!  Lack of blogging has become quite a theme around here, lol.  Perhaps after 3+ years my blog and it's content and focus needs a revamp :)

I finished this sweater on the first of September.  When summer begins to wind down and autumn begins to beckon, my head fills with romantic ideas of cable-y handknit sweaters, cozy scarves and woolly socks.

Brigid Jacket;

Vintage Modern Knits

My hubby made the buttons out of Linden, aren't they fab?  I love them so!  And I really love the way this sweater turned out.  It's lightweight, warm and comfy.  And it's neutral color makes it a versatile wardrobe staple.

Even though the nights are getting chilly, our days continue to be unusually warm bordering on hot.  So no chances to wear any of my woolly knee-highs yet...but that doesn't stop me from knitting them!!!  I had plenty of leftover wool from Brigid for these...

Wellington Boot Socks by

Madeline Weston,

Country Weekend Socks

See my bargain wellie-wanna-be's from Target ($12!)  Now I just hope I don't look like a dork when I wear them, lol!!!

Well, my dear friends, that wraps things up for me today.  Thanks for taking the time to stop by my neck of the woods.  Till next time, sending you all a little Colorado Sunshine!