Who's Got Knitting Content?

The other day someone had mentioned to me that when they went to my blog they had wanted to see my knitting and what they got was horses. I laughed and teased because I rather liked my horse pictures. This person knows that I love them dearly and couldn't resist the teasing.

I know it's been a few since I've posted any knitting content. I really haven't had much to show since I displayed my progress on my Diamond Lace Top. I probably would have posted about some knitting sooner if my work hadn't decided that all Blogspot sites were "Malicious" and forbid me from posting or commenting. So that left me to do my posting/commenting at night after a long day and some days I just wanted to go straight to bed.

But alas, here is a knitting content post. I hope my particular someone approves and is happy now. She is in my mind as I write.

Here is the final installment of my "Summer of Socks 08" socks:

Pattern: Uptown Boot Socks (Favorite 25 Socks)
Yarn: Sugar Bunny Boulevard - Katherine; Colorway - Juicy
Needles: Knit Picks Fixed Circs Size 1.5
Started: August 14th
Finished: August 29th

This pattern was super easy and I am happy with the end result. My only word to the wise is that you go up a needle size when you knit them. I found that the cabling tends to make them a bit snugger that usual and could possibly be difficult to get them over your heel.

I love the Sugar Bunny Boulevard yarn. The coloring is wonderful and the feel of the yarn is supersoft. I've mentioned to some that the yarn feels "thinner" than most fingering yarns. I just think certain shoes will have to be avoided when wearing them. I'm afraid of rubbing holes in the heels. Anyway, I would purchase this yarn again because I do love it, but I plan on knitting a shawl with it (you get a generous yardage of 560). The super softness would feel wonderful wrapped around my shoulders!

While I didn't get to knit as many completed pairs as I had hoped for my first participation in Summer of Socks, I am happy with the six pairs I did finish.

There Was Knitting

Finally I am getting around to a knitting content post. Life has been a little crazy for me with all my marathon training going on. It is absolutely true when people say preparing for a marathon is like having a second job. It takes alot of time and commitment. However, I actually have some knitting progress to share.

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I mentioned that everywhere I looked around my apartment I saw piles of knitting begging out to me to be picked up and worked? No? Well I did and the other week I brought them all together for a little photo shoot. Once everything was together I realized the situation wasn't all that bad. Two projects just need to be blocked and seamed (will happen when cooler when is here to stay). One has 5 more rows to be done on the collar and then we just have seaming to be done. One just needs to have a bit more done on the shoulder straps, a few rows on the back and then it is complete. Another needs to have stitches picked up for the front sweater bands and collar, install zipper and seam everything together. Three are really needing attention and the last one may get frogged and started all over.

The other week I decided I was going to make some serious progress on at least one of these projects. The lucky winner was my Diamond Lace Top from Verena Knitting Magazine. I introduced her to you back in early July. I started her while I was on vacation at Myrtle Beach in June. Once I got home she was put to the backburner because the heat didn't allow the yarn to slide across the needles.

Well I decided that I was going to transfer the project to my Knit Picks Harmony Needles so I could possibly get her done for Labor Day. Unfortunately one of my size 4 needles had a split in the wood. Knit Picks immediately sent me a replacement but I didn't get it in the mail until this past Monday. I lost a week of knitting on it but within three days I had the back complete.

I worked on the front piece this weekend but only have gotten through the first pattern repeat. It will look exactly like the back in the picture. After that I just have the ribbed collar band to do. Even if I get the knitting all done this week, I won't have time to block and seam it for Labor Day.

At last here is a picture of my last SOS08 sock. It's number six and hopefully I can get it and it's mate done by Friday. I am knitting the Uptown Boot Sock from our lovely 25 Favorite Socks book. Found out last week my sis is knitting the exact same one right now. Funny how we think alike across all the miles. Anway, I am at the toe on sock #1. I'll give all the specifics when I post the completed pair.

Summer of Socks 08 - Pair #5

Finally! My fifth pair of socks for Summer of Socks 08 are complete. The knitting was completed yesterday and I just kitchenered the toe 15 minutes ago. I am yet again happy with my new socks. Here's the stats:

Pattern: Charade by Sandra Park
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Thin; Colorway - Blueberry Sorbet
Needles: Knit Picks Fixed Circs Size #1.5
Started: July 29th
Finished: August 15th

The only modifications I did was to make the leg of the sock longer and then when it came to the toe decreases, I did the same amount of decreases but just in less rows. If I had completed the toe as written, I would have needed another half a foot to fill these babies. I love the color of this yarn. The pooling of colors makes me want to get some sorbet right now!

As true to form, I have already casted on for my next pair. Hopefully I will finish these sooner than three weeks now that I am back in good knitting form.

Summer of Socks #4

It's amazing what you can accomplish knitting wise when you are feeling better! While I was out sick a couple of weeks ago I started my fourth pair of SOS08 socks. It took me about three days to complete the first sock. However, the second sock took about a week and a half. I was just feeling yucky and with the heatwave that hit us, I didn't want to even think about picking up my knitting needles. However, last night I prevailed and finished that second sock right up!

Here's the stats...

Pattern: Express Lane by Diane Mulholland
Yarn: Dream In Color Smooshy; Colorway Happy Forest
Needles: Knit Picks Circs Size 1.5
Started: July 14th
Completed: July 28th

I made a couple of modifications to this pattern. Nothing major. These are a toe-up construction and I chose to do my own method using the Magic 8 cast-on (have yet to try the provisional). I like this cast-on because I already have both sides of the toe on my needles. No having to unravel a provisional, etc. I also cast-on the number of stitches for the larger sock. By doing this I didn't need to incorporate the calf shaping on the back of the leg. Finally I made the leg of the sock longer that written. I did a total of 10 repeats instead of the 7 or 8 written in the pattern.

I love this sock. The pattern itself was easy. One thing I love about the heel construction is that it is a short row heel, but it is completed without wraps. Super simple! The yarn was delicious to knit with and I didn't encounter any splittiness at all (I've read that some knitters have). The color choice is definitely different for me, but I can see myself wearing these alot this fall/winter!

Summer of Socks #2

When I signed up for Summer of Socks my goal was to try and knit 1 pair of socks every 2 weeks. I really wanted to get through my sock yarn stash. Little did I think I would have 2 pairs done in 2 weeks. After finishing my first pair on Sunday, I was anxious to cast on for a new pattern. After pouring over the yarns in my stash and selecting one to match the pattern I wanted to do next, I was set. Here's the stats...

Pattern: Spring Forward (Knitty Summer '08)
Yarn: Tess' Designer Yarns (no colorway listed; just purplish blue)
Needles: Knit Picks size 1.5
Started: June 29th
Finished: July 4th

I absolutely loved knitting this pattern. It was fun and super easy to remember. Will definitely knit it again. The only modification I made was to knit the leg longer than suggested. I wanted the leg to come up a bit higher but also a little slouchy. I knitted 4 full pattern repeats instead of the 2.5 suggested.

The yarn was wonderful to knit with and it was the one Kim picked up for me at MDSW this year. My only issue with it is that my fingers turned blue. LOL Also a side note in regards to the pictures. The yarn is actually more purple than blue. It's an awfully dreary day outside and had to take the pics inside. So the flash did a little number on the color.

What's next? Not sure.

Summer of Socks #1

Well my first pair of socks for Summer of Socks 08 are complete! I'm actually very happy to be done with them for the simple reason of having to do a cable in between my two circs. The pattern was designed for dpns. Anyway, I managed to get through those 7 pattern repeats in the leg of each sock and was thankful the cabling was only 1 row out of the 12.

Would I knit this pattern again? Maybe. It is a very pretty sock and I really like the look of the cabling. If I did them again I would definitely choose a yarn that doesn't stripe at all. I must also broadcast this warning to anyone who wants to knit this pattern. You must go up a needle size than you would normally use for the leg. If you don't, the sockie won't go over your heel! Bummer hunh?

Here are the stats:
Pattern: Saucy by Cider Moon
Yarn: Claudia Hand Painted; Colorway - Chocolate Cherry (2 skeins)
Needles: Knit Picks Size 2.5 and 2
Started: June 21st
Finished: June 28th

Saucy Sock SOS08

Summer of Socks 08 began while I was in Myrtle Beach and Mary Beth and I kicked it off together sister style! We both decided to knit the same sock pattern which is the Saucy Sock.

I am knitting Saucy in the Claudia Hand Painted yarn that I bought while on my New Jersey yarn crawl with Kim and Shameka back in March. The colorway is Cherry Chocolate and it has definitely lived up to it's name.

I completed sock #1 yesterday and immediately cast on for sock #2. I have been enjoying knitting this pattern, but a word to those who want to knit it, make sure you go up a needle size for the leg of the sock. The cabling pattern definitely makes for a sock with little, to no ease, to getting it over your heel.

Fortunately for me I forgot my needles in NY and borrowed MB's #2 needles which were actually 2.5's (at the time I didn't know). When I got home I put them on my 2's and realized that her's were larger. I was thankful for it. I would have had to frog and start all over with a larger needle if they had been not the size they were. I normally would have gone down to a size 1 needle for the heel and foot, but decided to stick with the 2's. Glad I did because I got a nice fit with them. The 1's would have been too tight.

New Additions

I finally placed my very first order with Loopy Ewe the other day. I had been a browser for quite some time and never managed to purchase anything. Primarily because I couldn't make up my mind what I really wanted. I'm the type of person that loves to see yarn in person and touch all of its loveliness.

Now that I am participating in the Summer of Socks 08 this year, I new I wanted to get at least a couple of more purty sock yarns in my collection. I placed my order on Wednesday, received an email from Loopy on Thursday stating one of my choices was no longer available and package was at my doorstep on Saturday.

Two yarns below is what I got from Loopy. The third is one Kim bought for me at MDSW (Love that she offered to be my personal shopper).

Top down in picture are: Tess' Designer Yarns (colourway: Have No Idea) - This is what Kim picked up for me at MDSW. It's hard to see in the picture but there is a good deal of purple in the yarn. Nice yardage on the hank too! Next: Farmhouse Yarns - Colourway Plums and Pinks. I originally had ordered Red Roses but got this as a replacement. The plum color is not very prominent in this mostly pink yarn. it will be interesting to see how it knits up. Finally: Cherry Tree Hill - Colourway Blueberry Sorbet.

So I am now prepared for SOS. All my sock yarns are now nice little cakes waiting to be picked from the pile. It's a small stash compared to some of those on Ravelry, but I figure if I make it through all this yarn before the end of SOS, I can always purchase more!