Thanks to my husband for taking a picture of my feet. Though the socks are actually much lighter in color than they appear.
They are a top up, stockinette foot, short row heel with K2P2 ribbing on the cuff on US1 (Magic Loop). No pattern, just winging it as I went.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
Teeny Tiny Preemie Baby Hats
Making these for the Knitting Guild Charity Project. I love a project that takes less than an hour or two.
Two Socks on the Needle
Back when I was learning to knit I made a poncho -- very badly. The poncho had dropped stitches, my gauge was off by a mile, the tension was all over the place, it didn't fit well and in a nutshell was as a disaster.
However, not being a wasteful person I recently carefully ripped out the poncho, balled up the yarn and tucked it into my "to be knit" stash basket.
When we left on our most recent road trip I tossed this yarn into my travel bag and started a pair of socks with it on the way home. :) They are *way* nicer than the crappy poncho. The yarn is an acrylic blend by Encore in worsted weight. But I am using a 2.25 mm/ US1 needle (magic loop) so they are a super tight knit and looking great.
I won't talk about how I'd ripped the heels out no less than 4 times because the yarn was splitting on me since the heels are now done and have no holes in the short row wraps.
However, not being a wasteful person I recently carefully ripped out the poncho, balled up the yarn and tucked it into my "to be knit" stash basket.
When we left on our most recent road trip I tossed this yarn into my travel bag and started a pair of socks with it on the way home. :) They are *way* nicer than the crappy poncho. The yarn is an acrylic blend by Encore in worsted weight. But I am using a 2.25 mm/ US1 needle (magic loop) so they are a super tight knit and looking great.
I won't talk about how I'd ripped the heels out no less than 4 times because the yarn was splitting on me since the heels are now done and have no holes in the short row wraps.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Little Pink and Sparkly Socks
Here are the little anklets I made on the drive down to Las Vegas over the weekend. As always it's nearly impossible to take a good picture of your own feet and capture the colors as well!
The pattern was 2 socks on 2 circs toe up with aloha long tail cast on and the 'crazy toes and heels' heel with side gussets and a slip stitch patterned heel. I also stopped the ribbing around the ankle so that the stockinette would make a nice little curled edge.
Yarn is a Fortissma in pink with stripes and a silver metallic fleck that was gifted to me by a friend who had part of a ball left over from her anklets. In hindsight I should have kept going up the leg since I still have yarn left over, but honestly, I'm impatient and just wanted the socks off the needles and on my feet.
The pattern was 2 socks on 2 circs toe up with aloha long tail cast on and the 'crazy toes and heels' heel with side gussets and a slip stitch patterned heel. I also stopped the ribbing around the ankle so that the stockinette would make a nice little curled edge.
Yarn is a Fortissma in pink with stripes and a silver metallic fleck that was gifted to me by a friend who had part of a ball left over from her anklets. In hindsight I should have kept going up the leg since I still have yarn left over, but honestly, I'm impatient and just wanted the socks off the needles and on my feet.
Missing in Action, but Still Knitting
I have been trotting around Colorado, Utah, a bit of Arizona and into Nevada with friends from Britian over the past week and a half. However, this did not prevent me from starting and finishing one pair of socks and casting on another pair. :)
A friend gave me the leftovers of some sock yarn from a pair of socks she just finished and was able to make a pair of anklets using the yarn. So, now we have matching socks. How sweet...
I also cast on another pair of "Fetching", but didn't do something right on the pattern and wound up getting to the final rows on the second one and realized they did not match. (rolls eyes). I ripped out the second one, THEN realized that the first one is the wrong one. Twice I've tried to recreate what I did wrong on glove one with no luck. To keep down my frustration, I'm going to rip out the first glove as well and tuck away the yarn for another project.
A friend gave me the leftovers of some sock yarn from a pair of socks she just finished and was able to make a pair of anklets using the yarn. So, now we have matching socks. How sweet...
I also cast on another pair of "Fetching", but didn't do something right on the pattern and wound up getting to the final rows on the second one and realized they did not match. (rolls eyes). I ripped out the second one, THEN realized that the first one is the wrong one. Twice I've tried to recreate what I did wrong on glove one with no luck. To keep down my frustration, I'm going to rip out the first glove as well and tuck away the yarn for another project.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Knitty's "Fetching"
On Friday night I saw one of the these gloves that someone else had made and thought they were so cute I had to give the pattern a whirl myself!
I learned two things with this pattern:
-- cabling
-- thumb gussets with waste yarn.
The pattern is so easy to read and these knit up uber fast. I made the first one in just a couple hours and then cast on and made 1/2 the second one while watching a movie last night. I just finished up the second glove this afternoon in about an hour.
I'd like to experiment with using beads in this pattern -- and make myself another pair in the cashmere/merino I was oogling on Friday night.
EDIT: I used Encore yarn, a wool/acrylic blend.
I learned two things with this pattern:
-- cabling
-- thumb gussets with waste yarn.
The pattern is so easy to read and these knit up uber fast. I made the first one in just a couple hours and then cast on and made 1/2 the second one while watching a movie last night. I just finished up the second glove this afternoon in about an hour.
I'd like to experiment with using beads in this pattern -- and make myself another pair in the cashmere/merino I was oogling on Friday night.
EDIT: I used Encore yarn, a wool/acrylic blend.
Friday, September 01, 2006
The socks are done!
Cute, eh? However, now I have nothing to take to tonight's 'Sit and Knit' except my mystery stole and that is nearly impossible to work on when I am too busy running my mouth to count.
Guess, I'll dig around in my little stash and take a look at some of the new MagKnits patterns in the issue that came out today.
Guess, I'll dig around in my little stash and take a look at some of the new MagKnits patterns in the issue that came out today.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
I'm a sock pimp....
In my quest to overtake the sock world with handknit socks, I taught a friend how to make a teeny tiny sock last night.
I am currently amassing a collection of very small squirrel sized socks in this quest to teach the world the joys of sock making.
I am currently amassing a collection of very small squirrel sized socks in this quest to teach the world the joys of sock making.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
The Latest Socks!
(Austermann Step Sock Yarn with Aloe and Jojoba added)
This striping pattern is what happened when you start one sock from the middle of the ball and the other from the outside -- I think it looks cute that they are similar but not the same. The white and purple are reversed on the two socks (the other color is a forest green).
The bottoms are also plain stripes as apposed to the the chevron pattern on the top.
Hang on, I'll share a photo:
This striping pattern is what happened when you start one sock from the middle of the ball and the other from the outside -- I think it looks cute that they are similar but not the same. The white and purple are reversed on the two socks (the other color is a forest green).
The bottoms are also plain stripes as apposed to the the chevron pattern on the top.
Hang on, I'll share a photo:
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Crazy Toes & Heels Socks #2
I started yet another pair of socks last week -- the day after finishing up the previous pair. I tell you socks are my "crack addiction" of the knitting world. With the current pair I used the "no wrap" short row heels, but without the gusset like the previous pair, from the CTH book. One word: wow! The heels have no unsightly gaps along the middle like most of my short rows. Only one hole and that was due to a malfunction of the needles, ok, ok, it was operator error.
These socks are also done with a chevron pattern from the Sensational Socks book. I got both heels turned this afternoon and am making my way up the legs this evening.
I'm going to feed the dogs, open another Heineken and settle down in the sunroom to try to get 1/2 way up the cuffs on these socks.
(And no, I don't have any updated on the Mystery Stole. Still on Clue 3, side 2. It's taken a back seat to my sock obession...maybe I should change the blog name?)
These socks are also done with a chevron pattern from the Sensational Socks book. I got both heels turned this afternoon and am making my way up the legs this evening.
I'm going to feed the dogs, open another Heineken and settle down in the sunroom to try to get 1/2 way up the cuffs on these socks.
(And no, I don't have any updated on the Mystery Stole. Still on Clue 3, side 2. It's taken a back seat to my sock obession...maybe I should change the blog name?)
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
08-22-06 Socks
Yay!! The stripes almost match! They are off by one row but wooo-hooo! I love these new socks.
They were knitted two up, toe at a time using the "Crazy Toes & Heels" method which results in NO HOLES on the short row heels. (there are no wraps, so no wrap holes -- just the one small hole where I slipped a stitch that should have been knitted.)
The hair on the floor is because Matilda was laying in the spot prior to me snapping the photos -- however, there is just no way around NOT having hair on the floor in our house.
They were knitted two up, toe at a time using the "Crazy Toes & Heels" method which results in NO HOLES on the short row heels. (there are no wraps, so no wrap holes -- just the one small hole where I slipped a stitch that should have been knitted.)
The hair on the floor is because Matilda was laying in the spot prior to me snapping the photos -- however, there is just no way around NOT having hair on the floor in our house.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Crazy Toes & Heels Socks #1
Here are the first socks I made with my new Crazy Toes and Heels book. These were made two at a time with two no.3 circular needles with Fortissima sock yarn (which incidently I love how the stripes worked out!)
The toe cast on for these socks was UBER easy and not nearly as slippery at the Magic Loop figure 8 cast on which I find difficult to get started. The heels are the "crazy heels" that a started by creating large gussets as part of the sole stitches and then use a modified short row WITHOUT wraps -- which means no holes up the side.
I'm only about an inch into the cuff, so if I sit down tonight I'm hoping to be able to knock these out by tomorrow's Knitting Guild meeting.
I am also still working on my Mystery Stole and am starting Clue 3. I am working both sides, so I am done with Clue 1 & 2 on both ends.
The toe cast on for these socks was UBER easy and not nearly as slippery at the Magic Loop figure 8 cast on which I find difficult to get started. The heels are the "crazy heels" that a started by creating large gussets as part of the sole stitches and then use a modified short row WITHOUT wraps -- which means no holes up the side.
I'm only about an inch into the cuff, so if I sit down tonight I'm hoping to be able to knock these out by tomorrow's Knitting Guild meeting.
I am also still working on my Mystery Stole and am starting Clue 3. I am working both sides, so I am done with Clue 1 & 2 on both ends.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Hello, I'm Pixie and I'm a Sock Addict....
I started ANOTHER pair of socks last night. This time I am using the "Aloha Cast On" from the 'Crazy Toes and Heels' book and working two socks on two circulars. When I get to the heels, I will also be using the heel process from the 'Crazy Toes and Heels' book.
Photos to follow on some future day.
:)
Photos to follow on some future day.
:)
Monday, August 14, 2006
Completed Socks: Magic Loop 2 Socks at Once
I've been dying to try the Magic Loop process to make two socks at once on one long circular. I cast the socks on Friday a week ago, worked on them here and there and finished them up last night!
wooo---hooo!
It seemed to go much faster this way than with the '2 circular/1 sock at a time' method I have used in the past and I'm thrilled at the results. The best part is that the foot sections and leg sections are the same length, unlike my other socks that don't quite match.
Have a full glass of wine, empty needles and sock more yarn in my basket -- life is good!
wooo---hooo!
It seemed to go much faster this way than with the '2 circular/1 sock at a time' method I have used in the past and I'm thrilled at the results. The best part is that the foot sections and leg sections are the same length, unlike my other socks that don't quite match.
Have a full glass of wine, empty needles and sock more yarn in my basket -- life is good!
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Henry David Thoreau the Llama with his Alpaca Friends
I had a wonderful day at a local alpaca farm where we were invited out for lunch and to visit with the alpacas!
After the completely crappy and heartwrenching week I've had, getting a kiss from an alpaca was just what I needed.
The owners of the farm (http://www.lavenderfieldsalpacas.com) were *so* generous allowing us to come out there, answer the 10,000 questions I had and providing dessert for our lunches.
After the completely crappy and heartwrenching week I've had, getting a kiss from an alpaca was just what I needed.
The owners of the farm (http://www.lavenderfieldsalpacas.com) were *so* generous allowing us to come out there, answer the 10,000 questions I had and providing dessert for our lunches.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
What's up with my Mystery Stole, you ask?
Honestly, nothing.
It's been sitting in it's bag resting.
I got all wrapped up in finishing the Clapotis project for a while there, and then when I stopped in at YarnArts for a beer, erhm, I mean to knit the other day I needed something to work on that did not require 100% concentration, a chart, two colors of highlighters etc., so I figured out the Magic Loop technique to cast on two socks at once on one needle.
The two sock project is going well so far, but I'll a little fuzzy on how I'm going to do the heels. I'll do one and if I'm totally confused, it's easy enough to slide one sock onto stitch holders while I turn the second heel.
I'm off to the Nanci Griffith concert tonight with a friend, and of course my two little socks on one needle are stuffed into the bag with a bottle of wine, some hummus, pita bread and some granola. I'm a hippy girl at heart who can't go anywhere without knitting, granola and a bottle of wine. :)
It's been sitting in it's bag resting.
I got all wrapped up in finishing the Clapotis project for a while there, and then when I stopped in at YarnArts for a beer, erhm, I mean to knit the other day I needed something to work on that did not require 100% concentration, a chart, two colors of highlighters etc., so I figured out the Magic Loop technique to cast on two socks at once on one needle.
The two sock project is going well so far, but I'll a little fuzzy on how I'm going to do the heels. I'll do one and if I'm totally confused, it's easy enough to slide one sock onto stitch holders while I turn the second heel.
I'm off to the Nanci Griffith concert tonight with a friend, and of course my two little socks on one needle are stuffed into the bag with a bottle of wine, some hummus, pita bread and some granola. I'm a hippy girl at heart who can't go anywhere without knitting, granola and a bottle of wine. :)
Monday, August 07, 2006
I've shed the Clap......
Last night I finished up my Clapotis! It was a fairly easy project, just had to watch your markers and pay attention to the pattern. I'd definately make this one again.
I haven't blocked it and am not sure if I will. It's fairly large -- to big to wear like a scarf while I eat crossiants.... but will look great as a light wrap while I drink wine in the park.
I'll get my lovely husband to get a photo of me wearing it later this week.
EDIT: Karen, thanks for the suggestion NOT to block this project!
I haven't blocked it and am not sure if I will. It's fairly large -- to big to wear like a scarf while I eat crossiants.... but will look great as a light wrap while I drink wine in the park.
I'll get my lovely husband to get a photo of me wearing it later this week.
EDIT: Karen, thanks for the suggestion NOT to block this project!
Friday, August 04, 2006
HandDyed Yard
Dry Kool-Aid + a damp white boxer = a giant mess.
I got a BUNCH of natural colored wool that I niddy-noddied up into smaller hanks so that I could experiement with dyeing with Kool-Aid. I got some *great* results! Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures of the gorgeous coral-red skein or the turquoise with maroon-ish bits before I gave them away as a birthday gift.
And because I'm obssesive, I've already planned what part of the front yard I can dig up for a new garden where I can harvest my own plants for making natural dyes.
I got a BUNCH of natural colored wool that I niddy-noddied up into smaller hanks so that I could experiement with dyeing with Kool-Aid. I got some *great* results! Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures of the gorgeous coral-red skein or the turquoise with maroon-ish bits before I gave them away as a birthday gift.
And because I'm obssesive, I've already planned what part of the front yard I can dig up for a new garden where I can harvest my own plants for making natural dyes.
Monday, July 31, 2006
"Spinning, spiraling machine...You spin and spiral in my head " - Blues Traveler
Yesterday was a lazy afternoon, but after lunch I got bored and took a quick jaunt up to Midnight Sun Fiber Arts to see what was new there. Chris had not yet unpacked her new shipment, but pulled open the boxes while I was there for a sneak peek. :)
I also drooled, sighed and wistfully admired all the spinning wheels set up in the back for demos. A new wheel is at the top of my wish list, well, just below "pay off all our debt". See how that is an oxymoron? Ah well, when the right wheel comes along, it will all work out right? I mean that is how I got my first wheel - just being in the right place at the right time.
Chris asked me how my weaving was going and I was embarrassed to tell her that I put my loom in it's fancy new bag a few months ago and it's still sitting in there part way through a project.
Is my blog name making more sense to you now? LOL
I love to learn new things and have so many projects going on at one time and just don't have enough time to devote to them all. Would it be totally insane to "schedule" which projects I can work on when....let's see Sunday for the Mystery Stole KAL, Monday for the Clapotis, Tuesday a free for all, Wednesday for weaving, Thursday for misc knitting, Friday for handspinning and Saturday open for something new!
I'm finishing up a work project, then I'll got pull out my loom as a visual reminder "WORK ON THIS PROJECT". (It supposedly will be a shawl, but that will require me to make a second piece just like the current one, so it may turn out to be a short table runner...snort).
So, what project do YOU have languishing somewhere in a bag?
I also drooled, sighed and wistfully admired all the spinning wheels set up in the back for demos. A new wheel is at the top of my wish list, well, just below "pay off all our debt". See how that is an oxymoron? Ah well, when the right wheel comes along, it will all work out right? I mean that is how I got my first wheel - just being in the right place at the right time.
Chris asked me how my weaving was going and I was embarrassed to tell her that I put my loom in it's fancy new bag a few months ago and it's still sitting in there part way through a project.
Is my blog name making more sense to you now? LOL
I love to learn new things and have so many projects going on at one time and just don't have enough time to devote to them all. Would it be totally insane to "schedule" which projects I can work on when....let's see Sunday for the Mystery Stole KAL, Monday for the Clapotis, Tuesday a free for all, Wednesday for weaving, Thursday for misc knitting, Friday for handspinning and Saturday open for something new!
I'm finishing up a work project, then I'll got pull out my loom as a visual reminder "WORK ON THIS PROJECT". (It supposedly will be a shawl, but that will require me to make a second piece just like the current one, so it may turn out to be a short table runner...snort).
So, what project do YOU have languishing somewhere in a bag?
Sunday, July 30, 2006
FO: Knit for a Cure Stole
It's done -- finally. After a restart, ripping out the end, finishing it and then reripping out the end to rebind off -- it's done!! I love how it turned out and would like to make another, but not right now. I'm sick to death of k1, YO, Ktog, K1, YO, K2tog....
Yesterday I had a nice day sitting around YarnArts when I should have been at home working on the backyard gardens. However, it was much cooler sitting around a table yapping and knitting. Maxwell, my brindle boxer boy, had a nice time laying under the table napping as well. Maxwell has become quite the knitty dog. He attending the Denver Knitting Guild meeting with me last week where he showed off his ability to completely ignore having a hand spindle dropped on his head.
Speaking of the Guild, I joined last week after my second meeting. Everyone there is so nice, helpful and willing to share! Last week's speaker was from 'Spin Off' magazine and gave each of us a simple drop spindle (of falling on Maxwell's head fame) and a poof of roving -- it reminded me how much I like to spin and resparked my interest in looking for a new wheel. Dirk promised to take me up to Shuttle, Spindles and Skeins (or whatever order the name SHOULD be in..) in Boulder to take a look at some different wheels. Unfortunately, I just can't afford the wheel I would love to have, so I am willing to get something else until I hit the lottery!
I'm still work on the Clapotis and am 1/2 way through the center section. I *adore* the yarn and can't wait to see the project when it's all done.
Also, still plugging away at the Mystery Stole KAL. I am still on the first 1/2 of clue 2 and put in another few rows this mornings. I'd love to whip right through this, but that's just not going to happen. I can't knit this pattern quickly and don't want to risk making a tragic mistake because I'm impatient.
Dirk is working until close tonight, so I'll have plenty of "couch time" for the Mystery Stole!
Yesterday I had a nice day sitting around YarnArts when I should have been at home working on the backyard gardens. However, it was much cooler sitting around a table yapping and knitting. Maxwell, my brindle boxer boy, had a nice time laying under the table napping as well. Maxwell has become quite the knitty dog. He attending the Denver Knitting Guild meeting with me last week where he showed off his ability to completely ignore having a hand spindle dropped on his head.
Speaking of the Guild, I joined last week after my second meeting. Everyone there is so nice, helpful and willing to share! Last week's speaker was from 'Spin Off' magazine and gave each of us a simple drop spindle (of falling on Maxwell's head fame) and a poof of roving -- it reminded me how much I like to spin and resparked my interest in looking for a new wheel. Dirk promised to take me up to Shuttle, Spindles and Skeins (or whatever order the name SHOULD be in..) in Boulder to take a look at some different wheels. Unfortunately, I just can't afford the wheel I would love to have, so I am willing to get something else until I hit the lottery!
I'm still work on the Clapotis and am 1/2 way through the center section. I *adore* the yarn and can't wait to see the project when it's all done.
Also, still plugging away at the Mystery Stole KAL. I am still on the first 1/2 of clue 2 and put in another few rows this mornings. I'd love to whip right through this, but that's just not going to happen. I can't knit this pattern quickly and don't want to risk making a tragic mistake because I'm impatient.
Dirk is working until close tonight, so I'll have plenty of "couch time" for the Mystery Stole!
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