I'm a Shameful Blogger

DD (Alcariel on Ravelry) decided to come home for the Labor Day week-end. After church this morning, I changed clothes and came out with knitted socks. DD said, "When did you do those?" When I told her that they were from TLE sock club last spring, she then said, "Well, you haven't blogged in a couple of months." My reply was, "I didn't know that you read my blog." Her answer was a resounding, "YES, I do!" So, I guess I'd better put the completed socks up. These are March Mosaic Socks by Wendy Johnson in the spring chill colorway from Fiesta Yarns Baby Boom. I did the pair toe-up (yes, Deb Barnhill, another pair of toe-up socks) ml on Addis #1 and #2. They were started April 27 and finished May 12, so a quick knit for me.

An FO this summer was the New Shell scarf from Jamieson's Ultra fw shetland yarn, a gift from Hreow in an RSE. I had started it May 16, 2009, but didn't finish it. Then when the snows of 2009-10 came about every two weeks, it was my project ... but I did finish it until July 15 ... this summer. The pattern only called for two balls of the yarn called strawberry crush, but Hreow had sent 3 since I like wide, long scarves. I knitted until I thought I just had enough left for the bind-off ... and I just did ... about one foot was all that remained.

I'm also working on another Gail shawl, this a Christmas gift for a friend ...from Kraemer Yarns Sterling Silver and Silk yarn in the tuxedo colorway. I hope to do 12 pattern repeats and am just starting the 9th repeat. Hopefully it will be finished by the end of September.

My knitting has slowed a lot due to an unfortunate accident the day before classes began at school. I was bringing the last of my "stuff" on a small AV cart when the wheel caught on a crack in the sidewalk sending my "stuff" and me forward. Not wanting to meet up with the cement sidewalk, I pushed my hands down onto the side of the cart and that saved my fall. It did, however, leave me with a severly strained left knee. I have been taking physical therapy and am starting to feel some relief. I haven't missed a day (actually just the morning), but have come home to the cold packs and tylenol. Just haven't seemed as enthused about knitting. That will change ... I guarantee that!

Happy knitting! TLGB

Blogging Apology

I have been a terrible blogger lately.

Dd and I went out to Estes Park for the Wool Market again this year ... June 10-13. We took an Orenburg lace class from Galina. Yes, we spent two days learning the motifs and then putting them together for an "original" design. In the afternoon of the second day, Galina asked if anyone needed help with a knitting problem. I asked for her to show me continental knitting which she graciously did. I heard that it was easier on arthritis ... I have basal joint arthritis in my right thumb. Well, it doesn't help with mine ... I've started a scarf and will complete it, but don't know if I'll be able to do it until I have the surgery. The scarf is our of Manos de Uruguay in a silk/merino blend ... absolutely divine to knit. Don't have the pic on my laptop yet, so that will come. We were able to preview/purchase at the vender barn Friday after classes were concluded. Dd and I exhibited extreme control. Both of us made yarn purchases from Galina's booth, Skaska Designs. Dd was able to find a couple of sheep fleeces.
The entire time was rainly ... from a gentle shower to a downpour on Saturday when we went out to the fairgrounds. Sunday morning we packed the car in a heavy rain and drove in rain most of the way across Nebraska.

These are my completed Eunice socks by Cookie A for the KAL that dd hosts on her videocast blog here. They were knit with Sockissima Colori Socka Color 100 in the colorway 09 (blue, purple, green, dark gold). I knit them 2AAT on #3 Addi ml ... started in early June and finished late in the month.

I've started my next pair, Hermoine's Everyday Socks in Wollmeise Supersocke in the Saumi colorway (red, yellow, blue, white).

Happy knitting! TLGB

The Loopy Ewe Sock Club

DD, Alcariel on Rav, convinced me earlier this year to try get in the sock club from The Loopy Ewe. She did tell me, though, that it was a lottery system so not everyone that applies will be accepted. Well ... I got in and received the first shipment in March ... love it, but had to wait to finish two pairs of socks on the magic loop already. Both a sock and scarf pattern came, but I chose the socks ... and then discovered that they were toe up. Both dd and I took Deb Barnhill's class at Sock Summit last summer, "Toe-up for the Stubborn." I finished my pair of socks, but dd decided to frog hers since she wasn't enjoying the knit but liked both the stitch pattern she chose and they yarn. Well, here's how my socks look so far.

Pattern: March Mosaic Socks by Wendy Johnson

Yarn: Fiesta Yarns Baby Boom - Spring Chill colorway

2AAT on magic loop - Addi #1 2.25mm

I'm also trying to complete a wip each month. For both April and May, however, I working to complete a scarf from Jamieson's Sheltland wool, an exchange gift from Hreow here on Ravelry. The pic is at the halfway mark, but I've finished the first two balls of light fingering weight, so am at the two-thirds mark. The pattern was also included New Shell Scarf. Can't wait to block it!

Some New WIPs

I decided that I needed to get some more projects started. I didn't even have a pair of socks on the needles, so I co Sailor's Delight socks from Two At A Time Socks. I've knitted my socks two-at-a-time for the past 2-3 years, so ml isn't anything new ..... just liked the look of these socks. They are knit in Regia Design Line in colorway4251 (blue, teal, rose, purple) with Addi #1 on ml.

I wanted to knit a scarf/shawl, so in my stash was the New Shell Scarf from Jamieson's (Scotland). The yarn is Jamieson's Ultra in strawberry crush colorway (a light red heather) and is knit on KPH #5. It was a gift from Hreow (Rav ID) in the first Ravelry Scarf Exchange. I just have never started it .... it's only a two-row repeat, so it easy to remember. The pattern calls for two balls but Hreow sent three, so it will be a bit longer.


Happy knitting! TLGB

Christmas Stocking Update

I'm so excited ..... I've finished the leg, heel flap, and heel turn on the Christmas stocking for the International Christmas Stocking Exchange on Ravelry. I just learned about this swap earlier this month and the moderators said they would accept people until Oct. 15. Well, I received my partner's name the next day and started to stocking ..... I'm using Plymouth Galway yarn in the basic colors of red, green, blue, purple plus white. It has really turned out well. I did do the slip st heel flap instead of just a st st flap .... thought it would be more substantial. I've collected most of the "stuff" for the sock even though it will not be inside the sock .... fits better in the flat rate USPS boxes. I took a pic of the leg of the stocking earlier today, but won't post pics until the box has been sent ...the date is to be before Nov. 15, I believe. So ..... pics will be up after Thanksgiving.

I've also been working on a scarf for the husband of one of my coffee friends. He said that men's scarves aren't ever as soft as the one I knit for his wife last Christmas. He will find out when I'm finished with it.