SOTS 2 Hint #4 Completed

I can't believe it ..... it's Thursday and I have just completed last Friday's hint. I have about 3 yards of the first skein of the KP Shadow left .... have the second ready to add when the next hint is out tomorrow.
I'm knitting a scarf for a friend's husband who admired the scarf I made his wife for Christmas. I'm using a free-trade yarn from Peru - Mirasol in a medium denin colorway. It's 60% merino, 20% alpaca, 20% silk. A 50 gr ball contains 55 yards for $6.95. I purchased the yarn at String of Purls in Omaha. I have about 4" completed and had my friend look at it yesterday at coffee ..... she was sure that her husband would love it ...... if he doesn't, she certainly will.

I'm also working on completed socks for SAM5 KAL with yarn my daughter spun .... am about halfway out on the the feet .... doing both socks at once on ml. Love the feel and colorway of this yarn! TLGB

Knitting News

Our dd came home for Thanksgiving and some fun knitting times. Since both sets of our parents are celebrating in heaven, our celebration is just for the three of us (plus our 3 dogs). The usual turkey, dressing, potatoes, yams, cranberry jello, and pumpkin pie was delicious .... even the leftovers eaten Sunday noon!

Saturday morning when dh went pheasant hunting, the dd and I headed to a small town about 40 miles away after busymomof2 on Ravelry alerted us to the existence of a yarn shop ..... I have to drive 75+ miles to get to the nearest shop ..... except all the on-line yarn goodness. The shop, Ewe-Phoria Yarns, carries a variety of yarns. The owner formerly had an on-line shop when her family lived in Denver. Now, she has come to northern Iowa, opened a shop, still maintains her online business in the backroom of the store, and dyes yarn, too! It was a very delightful experience for both of us. Across the street was a gorgeous quilt shop .... there was an overwhelming display of flannel .... didn't know they made that much flannel. Anyway, the flannel pjs (three sets) that I made dd while she was in college are losing their softness. I have two lengths of pj flannel to sew .... now I have three! The newly acquired 5-yards is in the washer, soon to go in the dryer.

Oh, the uptown boot socks that I'm knitting from yarn sent by my SP11, are progressing well. With two days free from teaching school, I was able to "power-knit." I knit both socks on magic loop, so I'm about halfway finished with the gussets .... once those are done, the rest is easy.

While dd was home, I was able to photograph the Norwegian mittens (my first pair ever made) and scarf, just used the snowflake pattern from the mitts on it. The scarf was knitted on a 16-in circ #3 and took 5 balls of Norwegian yarn (it is probably about six feet long). The set matches the colors (a dark plum and heather grey) of a Columbia cold weather jacket we bought for her when she was in college.

DH and I are looking forward to a 4-day bus trip to Branson, Missouri, to go to seven shows and enjoy the Christmas "glitter." It will be another short week at school.

TLGB

Back to School!

What an exciting day at school today. Midway through my morning classes, the electricity was lost because of a thunderstorm going through the area ..... northern Iowa has been blessed with these the past week. The first time the electricity went off, it was for about 20 minutes. It's a joy to keep 20+ freshmen students entertained on their first day of high school. The water fountains do not even work when the power is off. I am in a newer addition to the high school that has one section of lights that are battery-powered in situations like these ... the small bathroom in the area had light in them, too. The power stayed on all of five minutes when it was gone again .... this time for 15 minutes ..... back on for 5 ....yup, off again for about 15. Then ..... it was finally back on to stay for the rest of my classes. Most of the students said that this was one way to remember their first day at the high school.

On to knitting ..... I did take some different pictures of the market bag today, but haven't downloaded them yet ... maybe tomorrow. I started the toes on my Central Air socks .... yipes, they are my August socks for SAM KAL .... I'll get them finished in time. I did sign up for Socktopia .... rather late in the month, so am only planning on knitting the mystery sock .... we have the pattern for the twisted ribbing and leg so far, but are patiently (???) waiting for the next clue, probably the heel.

I also about 4 inches short of decreasing for the armhole on the back of my Somerset jacket. I knit on it usually in the car when I don't have to concentrate on the pattern and can just knit the reverse stockinette "Braille" method.

Sorry, no pics ... next time. TLGB

Garterlac!

I purchased a pattern last fall to learn entrelac ... a felted bag knit with Noro Kureyon ... I'm using Silk Garden. Well ..... somewhere I read to start with the Garterlac dishcloth from Criminy Jickets. I started it yesterday and it's done! It took about 3 times longer than most dishcloths, but I did have to frog several times on the edge triangles when I did the wrong kind. Well .... it's done and here's the picture. Don't know if I'll make more or not .... will see how well they wear before I decide.

Also worked on the Central Air socks .... they are my August socks for the SAM KAL, so they need to get finished. I wish I had smaller feet! I should be close to starting the toe this week-end. Teacher in-service days for school start on Monday with classes beginning on Wednesday, so I won't be doing much knitting during the day.

After vacation, I finished the market bag out of Sugar 'n Cream - haven't used it yet, but I did get two large sofa pillows stuffed into it for the picture. If did get the Plymouth yarn the pattern called for while on vacation, so hope to start another one soon. The one that's completed doesn't have a lot of "substance".

A Special Shawl

A friend from church lost her husband to cancer earlier this summer and I decided that I wanted to knit her a comfort shawl. My daughter found the perfect yarn in Omaha .... Mountain Colors in the Indian corn colorway. I have started two different shawls, but didn't care for either one .... just didn't seem right for Joanne. Well ...... I have found the pattern ... Moonlight Sonata Scarf/Shawl from Elann; a free pattern. Here's the pic of the set-up 12 rows and the first pattern repeat of 12 rows ..... need to do a total of thirteen and I'm just about to the end of my second. The yellow dots are pin heads. I really like it!

I hope to get a couple of pattern repeats on my Central Air socks this afternoon. That happens in between trying to get things ready to take off for a week of fishing at my brother's cabin on Gull Lake near Brainerd, Minnesota. Last year, DD and I did a yarn crawl in the area and also taught DSIL to knit .... dishcloths. She was thrilled. Maybe I can get her going on something else. There were rumors of a yarn shop opening in Nisswa the first of the year, so we'll probably check that out for sure. My DH and DB can do the fishing. SIL and I will knit, shop, and drink coffee .... yes ..... she likes flavored coffees, too.

Better get busy ..... TLGB.

Greensburg - Here We Come!

I've just returned from the post office after mailing the 4th package of afghan squares for the people of Greensburg, KS, who lost their homes to a tornado in early May. Last weekend, Alcariel and I talked about sending enough squares (56) for an entire afghan. She had just purchased yarn on sale to use for that purpose. Well, with the squares I sent today, we are at 48 .... that leaves just 8 to finish before Aug. 1, actually July 26 for me since we are leaving for my brother's lake cabin near Brainerd, MN, the next day. Guess, I'll try to knit one every other day ... that should make it. Here are the pics from today's package.

The Central Air socks are on the magic loop and I have about 1/2 inch of the ribbing completed (I always have about 1 inch of ribbing at the top of my socks) . I'll be glad to get a little more done since the loop will "hang" better than it is now. The socks will be a bit different since after splitting the large cake of Trekking, the colors weren't close at all ..... too much would have had to be pulled off but that's okay.

I also need to get some rows done on the shawl for a recent widow. It is working out okay now that I've changed patterns and am alternating the Mountain Colors every 4/2 rows. Will try to get a pic when it is a little farther along.
TLGB

Solstice Slip Is Complete!

Just finished taking pics of the completed Solstice Slip, RSC June selection. I knitted top-down starting with 3X2 rib for 8 rows, using a heel flap with 18 loops on side to accommodate my high instep, heel turn, and the toe from Knitpicks Twisted Socks. For the first time ever, I used the magic loop with Addi #1 (2.5) and was holding my breath as my two balls of yarn became smaller and smaller. It was a relief to not have to knit a second sock ... I did have to kitchener both toes, however, at the same time.

Now, back to the other socks I have to complete ... Broadripple from Knitty, Air-Conditioned from RSC 2006 but out of Trekking, and Crooked Cable from Sock Bug. Wow .... that's a lot of socks!

I'm also working on a shawl (lacy feather/fan) for a friend and just started a Sommerset jacket for school this year. It just reverse stockinette with a shawl collar, so that shouldn't be too difficult. TLGB

Yarn Crawl

My DD, Alcariel, and I met in Des Moines (that's Iowa) on Friday afternoon. Friday evening we spent a great time at Borders in West Des Moines knitting with Cheryl and her knitting group. On Saturday morning, we met Cheryl at Knitting Together to start the crawl and went on to Purls the Yarn Studio and Creative Corner. Yes, I did break the yarn diet and Cheryl reminded me that I'd need to reset my counter.
My brother's family hosted a surprise 60th birthday picnic for my sister-in-law early in the afternoon. Since it was on the east side of the metro, we just made it after the crawl. About 3/4 of the way there, I remembered that the present was back in my car at the motel in West Des Moines. Thanks to the USPS in Omaha, the gift was sent on the way today. Her birthday is actually July 3, so maybe (???) it will make it.
Alcariel and I then went to Omaha for the rest of the week-end and so I could watch her co-ed church softball team win ... it's really a celebration when that happens. We celebrated at Cold Stone Creamery. After going home, Alcariel and I had a knitting session ... finished turning the heels on both of the STR socks on magic loop. Now just to finish the gussets. I fell asleep knitting on the Clapotis for a friend ... Alcariel continued knitting for most of the night.
On the way home to northern Iowa, I stopped at another shop in Carroll ... The Yarn Basket. It is fantastic .... has many Addi turbo circs ... had the one I needed! Also acquired something for Alcariel .... items for gifts don't count ..... right???
I got home to two very hyper dogs ... my mini poodle Toffee wouldn't stopped squealing .... yes, she is quite vocal. Cozi, on the other hand, just jumped up a couple of time. I'm glad to be home. TLGB

Blue Moon Fiber Gals Rock!

My STR package came yesterday ... I was going to wait to open it to see if my daughter, Alcariel, also had received hers, but ..... the will power just wasn't there. The colorway is gorgeous, the pattern awesome, and the little "surprise" great! I didn't cast on yet, but will probably do so today.

I've been knitting on the clapotis for a friend from church .... I do have to do more repeats since the yarn is finer that what's suggested, but it is turning out nice. Hopefully I'll be ready for the "straight" section in the middle of the shawl. TLGB

Greensburg - Here We Come!

The envelope is waiting on the kitchen table ... the first dozen squares knitted to help create afghans for the people of Greensburg who lost their homes to a tornado earlier this spring. The knitting has been an absolute joy! I planned to post a pic, but the image downloaded from the camera wouldn't open ... I've never had that happen before. Check the previous post for the pic of the first seven. Alcariel and I started knitting the squares last week-end ... she had finished two and I had three when we left Sunday afternoon to come home. My goal was to have a dozen by the week-end and .... I made it! As I knitted I also remembered the items I had knitted for family and friends .... felted slippers for Alcariel, Sophie bags for some of my coffee friend (Jodi, Susie, Deb and Jan) and the "mistake" yarn. When Alcariel and I visited Brown Sheep Yarn in western Nebraska two summers ago, I was looking at their hand-painted yarn that was displayed in a large, flat basket in their outlet shop attached to the mill. I purchased about $325 worth of yarn for $78. I took some from the top to look more closely at the colors underneath. Well .... when we got to the motel in the next town and were admiring our stash additions, I wondered where the yarn had come from ... the clerk thought I wanted it and so I ended up with about ten hanks of "Poppy Fields". I had put it in my felted slipper stash, but hadn't knitted it ... four squares were from that colorway.
After packing the squares, I settled down to knit some on the Fiber Trends Lacy Mobius I had started earlier. This is my second try .... I'm using KP #7 circ (from their needle set) and placed a marker every 30 sts (only 18 in the last repeat) and haven't had the trouble keeping track of where I am. The pattern is an 8 row repeat and I finished the first repeat last night. Previously I had tried it in a wool, mohair, rayon blend but this time I'm using some Koigu sock yarn (three skeins will be plenty). When I dropped a st, all I did was frog the 30 sts in the repeat not tinking the 378 sts per round to pick up the sts .... one I even frogged 4 rows and knitted them back. I really enjoying knitting it this time. Oh, when casting on the 378 sts (long-tail method was suggested) I only made it to 219 with the "long-enough" tail I started with ..... later I pulled off about 3 more yards and then just had about a foot left but at least it was enough.
Since school was finished last Wed. and I checked out on Thurs., I'm looking forward to knitting as well as some fix-up inside the house, mainly painting. TLGB

First Try with Magic Loop

I'm about finished with the gusset on my second KHTG sock, but decided that I wanted to work on something new .... so to the stash I went ... didn't take me too long.......I chose a colorway called Grandma for socks for a coffee friend who is a great grandma.

I tried two circs for the STR KHTG sock, but didn't like it at all. So, today, I took a 47" #1 Addi circ and decided to try the using the magic loop. Well, .... it took all of about 5 minutes to figure it out with directions I downloaded. I'm knitting Sock Bug Crooked Cable Socks ... so far everything is working .... of course, I've just done k1, p1 rib and the first pattern row. I guess you're never too old to learn something different ... I'm really enjoying it. And ... when I'm done, I don't have the knit another sock ... they'll both be the same, too! The pic looks a bit of a tangled mess, but it isn't. Once you've started, there's really only one way to go. Can't wait to get back to the loop!

TLGB

Lucy Bag - BIG!

The UFO that I planned for February is finally finished ... well, almost! I still have to felt it. I knit the Lucy Bag from Plymouth Outback Wool in a colorway of black, navy, rose, and aqua that I had purchased at a LYS about 40 miles away ... the closest here in northern Iowa. But ... received a card that it is closing ... actually the owner is moving stock back to her main store about 100 miles away, but on the way to our daughter's home.
Did some frogging to the STR sock ... was about 2 inches above the heel flap when the pattern wasn't coming out ... found out picking up the sts wasn't easy even for this knitter certified as in ARS (advanced rip st). This is a term of group of knitting friends from 20+ years ago. In fact, my daughter Alcariel was born on a knitting day ... we met every two weeks in our homes for about 10 years. When Alcariel was of preschool age, she would say that one day she wanted to knit, crochet, and do the rip stitch .... little did she know! Anyway, the sock is back to about 1 inch over the heel, so will probably finish it this week-end ... the end of the school year is entirely too busy to have marathon knitting sessions. TLGB

It's has arrived!!!!

This noon as I was rounding the last corner before home, my eyes glimpsed a red/white/blue STR envelope sticking out the top of the mailbox. Underneath was a box from Paradise Fibers with LM dps Sock Stix sizes 1-3, 47" Addi circ #1 (for magic loop try later one), and sock blockers. What could be better than two packages? .......the fantastic, scrumptious, delightful yarn sent by the ladies at BMFA.
I celebrated after my last class at school with a nutshell (almond, white chocolate) latte and a slice of strawberry delight cheesecake at one of the local coffee shops .... and read the dyer's notes and footnotes.
After supper, I just had to get started. I have almost always knit to gauge, but I did do a gauge swatch .... right one! Tried the two circs, but didn't like them .... so took out the ebony LM 2's I had just received and slipped the sts ... those I LOVE! Already have the first toe completed ... ready to get going on the foot. The pattern doesn't appear too difficult. Happy knitting is in the immediate future for me!
TLGB

I'm Waiting!!???

STR has arrived in Iowa .... just not northern Iowa. I've been patiently waiting ... haven't even seen one glimpse of the yarn ... just a few comments about it being lucious.
One of the Broadripple Socks from Knitty is knitted but the toe isn't closed yet. The STR Air-Conditioned socks is slow going ... the Trekking colorway 100 is turning out great, but it is so fine of a yarn! These are definitely going to warm my feet! The pattern isn't difficult to remember at all, so may even use this to knit in the car ... just not when it's dark since I can't "feel" the sts so well ... and my DH doesn't appreciate the map light on all the time.
TLGB

Completed Socks!

The socks that Alcariel named Raspberry Latte are finished as well as the Dublin Bay socks from the LS Gendarme colorway that she gifted me with at Christmas. Wow! ... two pairs of socks completed this month ... one a UFO and the other started and finished!

Decided to get a couple more pairs of socks on the needles before STR box comes next week .... the "easy" sock is the Broadripple pattern from Knitty in KP Sock Garden - Hydrangea colorway - on BR 3's ... probably for a coffee buddy that is purple/pink crazy. I'm about halfway finished with the heel flap on the first sock. The other is STR 2006 Air Conditioned in Trekking colorway 100 (golds, green, blues, red) on KP 1's. I'm about ..... one inch ... into the first sock .... with such fine yarn on size 1's it will be a long time before they are finished .... definitely not one that I will take along on a car ride.

Didn't want to be without the correct needles when STR comes, so ordered some LM 1's in rosewood, 2's in ebony, and 3's in blonde as well as Addi size 2 circ 47" for a magic loop attempt. Decided to finally get the Fiber Trend blue sock blockers ...... all from Paradise Fibers out of Spokane ... I ordered about 1:15 this afternoon and the items were shipped today .... even had a couple phone calls since the rosewood wasn't available in all the sizes I wanted. Haven't ever ordered from them before, but am impressed so far.

STR Inside Out Completed!
They're done ... just need to wash them and then take them to my daughter's this week-end when we go for Easter. I finished the second sock with just 6 inches of yarn left in that half of the yarn ... the other half has about a ping pong size ball left. I'm just glad that I did finish without having to frog back to tie in new yarn. I'm glad to be finished but am grateful to BMFA for the challenges they presented and also for my own accommodations for high insteps, even though they weren't fitting me ... my daughter will be delighted to get them. I had her pick out some yarn from my sock yarn stash (about 40+) for a pair of socks ... she picked out a self-patterning yarn. I am, however, going to complete the gusset, foot, and toe of my last Dublin Bay sock that was cast aside when the STR package came.
TLGB

Possessed Yarn???
Is the STR yarn possessed???? I'm beginning to think so .... I sure have frogged it enough .... even after switching from the Inside Out to the Crooked Cable Sock from Sock Bug. The cables on the latter are all back cables ... I must have front cables in my mind because I have frogged a total of four times just because of that. Instead of a nice cable, you have a "wiggly worm" cable ... not very attractive. Now I'm really concentrating so that I can get a sock done that is wearable on my foot (size 10 with high instep). The yarn shows no sign, however, of the repeated frogging.
As for north Iowa weather ... it is beautiful ... a lot better than a couple of weeks ago ... the ice, snow storm to beat all. Today is only in the upper 30's, lower 40's ... but the sun is shining and there is very little wind. The two dogs even enjoy being outside.
Suppose I'd better head back to the knitting ...
TLGB