A Little Of This, A Little Of That

Since I have been rummaging through my stash these past couple of weeks, last night I found the ambition to actually organize ALL of my stash and catalogue exactly what I have. I have so many project ideas running through my head and I definitely wanted to know what I could use out of my stash before heading to the store. It truly is amazing when one decides to take on this task because you find all kinds of goodies that you may have forgotten that you had bought way back when. For example, I found a couple hanks of Manos del Uruguay that I know I bought a couple of years ago for a specific project. Now, I can use it for something totally different! When I got home late this afternnon I finished up writing out what I have and now all I have to do is transfer it to my computer so I can assign the yarn to specific projects. I am very organized so having this electronic list will help me in the long run so I get through my stash. That way, once I clear out some of the stash I can have fun shopping for some new goodies!

Speaking of buying new goodies...I had placed an order through Blue Moon Fiber Arts a week or so ago for Socks That Rock yarn. Kim had given me this recommendation and after receiving my order I can not wait to knit with this yarn. The colorways are so rich looking and the yarn is soooo soft!! The picture really doesn't give this yarn justice. One thing that is great about this yarn is that you get 360 yards per skein for a great price! I had a very hard time deciding what colorways to get. I settled on starting with Mustang Sally and Lucy In the Sky. I eventually wany to get the colorway Tide Pool. I spotted it the other day while I was browsing during some downtime at work. I can see this colorway made into Monkey socks.

But the yarn purchasing didn't stop there. Yesterday after work Kim and I headed over to Seaport Yarn (Kim calls it one of her "Yarn Crack Houses"). The last time I was here I ran in & out for some circular needles. I didn't have the $$$ to purchase yarn at the time so I didn't want to drool over yarn I couldn't adopt and take home with me. However, yesterday was a different story! I felt like I was in heaven when I entered the sock yarn room. Ahhhhh, look at the Jitterbug...look at the Lorna Laces....Oooohhhhh the Cherry Tree Hill. I selected and compared, put back and reselected until I had what I needed. I was a very good girl though. I walked out of the store adopting 1 lonely sock yarn by Cherry Tree Hill. The colorway is Contemporary Garden and when I spotted it, I was feeling the Monkey bug biting me. When I expressed my desire to Kim of what to do with this yarn she confirmed that it would look very pretty as a pair of Monkeys.

I have made great progress with my second Falling In Love Sock. Between Wednesday and Thursday I was able to finish the gusset/flap heel and completed 2 pattern repeats on the cuff. This is now my third Falling In Love sock, so I feel this one is moving along nicely. I only have another 50 rounds to do and this pair will be complete. Ooooo, then here comes a Monkey.

Lastly, while organizing my stash and unfinished objects, I came across the very first sock the I ever knitted. Notice I didn't say socks. Yes, that is right. I only ever finished 1 sock. Why you may ask? Well I think it was because when I tried on the sock, it was big on my foot and I got discouraged about completing the second one. Now after looking at the sock at least 3 years later, I realize the knitting of the sock was actually well done. I even did the heel and toe in a different color. I once again tried on the sock, and while it didn't suddenly shrink when it was hibernating for the past 3 years, I didn't think it was as huge on my foot as I remembered. It definitely isn't a sock to wear in shoes, but it could possibly become a sock that I would wear around the apartment when it's chilly outside. So, I am now thinking that I may actually complete the 2nd sock after all this time. It can't remain as a lonely lost sock. Hmmmm, maybe I could find a recipient for this sock that would fill it out better than I do. We'll see.

Lunch Time Knitting

Is there really a better way to spend your lunch break other than knitting?!?! I think not! Kim, my new knitting friend, and I spent our sunny day lunch break together outside my office building chatting, knitting and of course observing all the people around us. For instance, today we tried to decide if this older gentleman was wearing a toupee or not. Once we saw the back of his head the decision was a yes!

This was our second time being able to knit at lunch and of course this time I remembered to bring my camera. I really love the socks that Kim is knitting now. It's a basic pattern but the fun is seeing how the self-patterning yarn works up. It's always a surprise because you never know what you will get.

I finally started the second sock on my blue Falling In Love socks. I actually started it on the Long Island Railroad train on Sunday when I was heading out to Amityville. I met a very nice man (could have been my grandfather) who was fascinated with my knitting. He told me it was wonderful to see someone creating something with their hands. By the time I got to my stop I had almost completed the toe. Later that afternoon I picked my sock back up because I was excited to start te cable/lace pattern. I was quickly disappointed though. Somewhere in my knitting I was short 1 increase. I thought, no problemo, I back off of few rounds and fix it. Well, a couple of rounds turned out to be about eight before I realized my missing increase was in round 6. Mind you I was already on round 20 when I noticed the issue. I immediately ripped the whole sock off the needles and started over. I now think back about how this error could have occurred, ya know because we all are "error" free in our knitting, and I remember the grandpa sitting across from me. I must have lost track of what I was doing while I was mesmerizing him with my knitting. In the end I am back on track with the sock. I am currently on round 26 of 35, then I start my increase on the gussett/heel flap.

As for my Felted Sheep Tote, I have made alot of progress. Last night I finished the body of tote and began the first side pocket. I have about 6 more rows to complete on the pocket and then I will start the other end pocket. I am definitely going to have enough yarn to also knit the side pockets onto the tote too! I am really excited about this project knitting up fast. It will be ready to go in my suitcase next week.

Falling In Love Socks All Over Again

I enjoyed knitting the Falling In Love Sock so much that I immediately proceeded to start it all over again in another color. This sock was going to be a gift (shhhhh...it's a surprise) but unfortunately something happened in the sizing of the length. The only difference from this sock and the pink one is the yarn. Different brand, but same gauge. Even though I increased the length in the foot before I started the Gusset/Flap heel, it still didn't turn out to be length it was suppose to be. After having a discussion with my sister Mary Beth, we decided that if I had used size 2 needles instead of size 1, I would have gotten the length I wanted because of the yarn I used. So, this sock fits me perfectly! Maybe it was destined to be mine in the end anyway?!?!? (BTW, I will be knitting this sock again for the intended giftee. But Shhhhh, remember it's a surprise)

For this sock I used Knit Picks Memories 100% Merino Wool yarn in Yukon. At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like the "perfect" striping of this yarn. When I started to see the lace/cable pattern I immediately decided I did indeed like the effect. I personally love how the striping goes from vertical to horizontal up the foot on the underside through the heel. If you look at the picture really close you can see the heart pattern going up the sock. Thus the name of the sock, Falling In Love!

Now I've got to start the second sock!

Falling In Love Socks - 1st Pair!

About two years ago I decided I was going to knit my first pair of socks. I was very excited to take on this new challenge. I eagerly found a "simple" pattern, purchased my yarn and double pointed needles and sat down one afternoon to embark on this new knitting adventure. Lo' and behold, to this day I only have one sock done. While the sock was completed and looked good, it was so baggy on my foot (even despite making it fit the length of my foot properly), I became discouraged with knitting socks.


Now, I have literally "Fallen In Love" with knitting socks again. For the past few months I had been watching my knitty buddy Shameka knit these beautiful socks. What intrigued me the most was that they are knitted "toe-up". I loved the fact that you could really try on this sock as you knitted it (and in my mind, get a perfect fit). At the end of May I had confided in Shameka that I was interested in purchasing the Colinette Jitterbug yarn that she was using for her socks but in the color Fire. This is when I told her I was going to make the "Falling In Love" Socks too. She offered to go by Seaport Yarn and pick up the yarn for me. What I didn't expect was that she gave the yarn to me as a gift for my college graduation. She even surprised me with it by posting it on her knitting blog. I was so excited I couldn't wait to begin!


It only took me three weeks to complete both socks! I love them and really can't wait for the cooler weather to come so I can enjoy wearing them all the time. I've already started working on a second pair now in a different color.


So now I'm just waiting on my dear Shameka to finish her first pair!!!