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

Prize Package

Remember when I had my 200th Post contest? Well I delivered the prize package to my mother when I was in South Carolina.

A handmade Boxy Bag was given....


...and inside of it was a Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock skein. Blue is her favorite color and it just so happened that this was the color yarn in the giveaway. I also added blue beads to the zipper pull.

Momma was very happy and thrilled to be the winner! I'll be having another contest in July for my 1 year Blogiversary. Time has flown!

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.

Leaving The Beach

Sigh.  I am sitting here at the Myrtle Beach airport waiting for my flight back to NYC.  Where did the past 8 days go?  While I am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight, I will miss my sister and all the fun we have together.  We knitted, we scrapbooked, we sewed, we lounged at the pool. We just did all that we could during the past week.  Always a lot of fun.  

I will have lots to share over the next few posts. For now I leave you all with one of my favorite pictures from the week.  I took this pic at knit night on Thursday and Knit N Purl.  Lots of fun!

Thanks Mary Beth for everything!  Lots of love to ya and I can't wait to bring you up for Rhinebeck in October!

Yarn Crawl Monday

Monday was our day to hit a couple of yarn stores in the area.  As always, I never fail to find something that wants to come home with me in my suitcase.

The first stop was Joyfilled Gardens & Gifts in Georgetown.  This is a lovely little store that not only sells a nice selection of yarn, but also sells items made by local artists.  Each time I visit, the yarn selection seems to grow and Ellen who owns the shop is one of the sweetest ladies.

I had a pattern in mind that I wanted to find yarn for and the Berrocco Comfort DK fit that bill.  Yes, that is orange.  A color I never really thought I would purchase for myself after the *pumpkin* orange yarn I had purchased and sent back to Knit Picks for my Ribby Cardi. This is actually a very pretty orange that goes well with my skin tone.  The Louisa Harding Sari ribbon is for my Lacy Skirt.  

The next stop on our crawl was Island Knits.  A very cute little store that has ducks and swans floating in the water outside the shop.

Seems like every time we visit there is a 20% off sale on all regular priced items.  This time was no different.   I entered Island Knits with no patterns in mind at all.  MB was holding the below Schaeffer Anne yarn below and I "Oooo and Awwwwed" when I saw it.  I have always wanted some of this yarn because there is enough yardage to make knee high socks.  Funny thing is MB told me she almost bought this exact same yarn/colorway for me at Christmas.  I also purchased the Ty-Dy yarn.  Three little balls were sitting on a shelf all by themselves calling out to me.  I love the pink/green multi of it.  I told MB that I didn't know what I would make with it but I could follow Sophanne's philosophy of the pattern will come. Since purchasing the pattern has come and MB and I went back today to get the third ball.

Isn't this a lovely group shot of my purchases?  At Island Knits I picked up the Jo Sharp Knit 2 book (LOVE IT) and the Verena magazine we got at Barnes and Noble.  This is a new english knitting magazine put out by Burda.  Awesome new mag.  Already have 4 patterns flagged.

Mello Yellow couldn't resist jumping in the shot.

Life In Myrtle Beach

I arrived safe and sound on Friday afternoon around 1pm.  I had a delightful flight on a Delta Connection flight straight from LGA to MYR.  With the increasing costs of flying these days, let me just tell you how shocked I was that in addition to receiving complementary soft drinks on the flight, we also were giving  a choice between several real snacks.  We even had the option of taking seconds!  Wow.

By 4pm my sister and I had donned out swimsuits and found ourselves laying by the pool in her neighborhood for a couple of hours.  Ahhh.  The relief of the pool was wonderful for me. I will say my first day in MB was awesome.

I committed myself to running while I am here.  The beginning of my marathon training is right around the corner and I want to get in some running while here.  I got up early on Saturday morning and went for a 3 mile running around the neighborhood.  The neighborhood my sis lives in is still under development in some parts.  Well all I can say is I was swarmed with horseflies in the lesser developed area.  All I could think of was killer bees and that my sis would find my body laying in the middle of the road with the flies picking over my flesh.  But alas I survived and my run turned into a 4 to 4.5 mile run.

I do have some knitting to share.  When I ran out of yarn for my Coquette Lace Tube Top I decided to start another one of my summer knitting projects.  Below is a picture of my Ribs and Lace Tank from Interweave Knits.  I can't remember the issue right now, as I left this knitting sitting in New York. 

I am using Berrocco Touche yarn in black for this knit.  I am working on the 11 inches of knit for the straps and then just have a little bit to do on the back before I am finished. If I hadn't spent the last two days before my trip trying to pack and stuff, I probably would have finished it before I came to Myrtle Beach.

Mary Beth, Mom and I went on a little yarn crawl today.  I will post about it later in the week.  Some yarny goodness to share.  I also finished knitting the front of my Prairie Tunic and started a new project and started a new project (pics to come).

Gone To The Beach

Where: Myrtle Beach, SC

When: Friday Morning at 11am

Why: Cause I need a vacation and fun time with my Sis!

Plus I need my fill of some Mellow Yellow!

Will try to blog all the fun as it happens, but no guarantees.