THE KNITTING WILDFLOWER

Callandra... my birthday socks

2009-04-29T05:45:00.002-05:00

Long time no see. I've been knitting I've been participating in the Makin Cookies kal on Rav. April's kal was a Cookie A pattern knitter's choice. I've been wanting to knit Cookie's Flicker socks since last summer. I'm calling these my birthday socks.

pattern: Flicker
yarn: Colinette Jitterbug Velvet Plum
needle: US 1.5 Addi 40"
cast on: April 1, 2009
cast off: April 26, 2009

Yep It's my birthday. I'm 41. Time flies by. This "baby" picture of was taken when I was about 5 years old. This pic signifies the start of the love affair I had with turtleneck tops. I finally stopped wearing them when I was in my 30s lol

My mom wouldn't let me wear makeup until I was 18, but she never stopped me from wearing jewelry. I'm rockin' those huge earrings lol

April Birthday Swap Loot

2009-04-28T09:16:00.003-05:00

Look what my wonderful and thoughtful birthday twin (not quite hers is today mine's tomorrow) sent me :D

Death by Sudoku novel..... sudoku is a favorite puzzle of mine
purple darning needles
pretty Tofusies sock yarn..... :D
Wildflower Garden seeds
Butterfly photo clip
seashells...I collect them :)
a flowery birthday card
a wonderful letter
purple and green stitchmarkers which I need because I'm always losing mine

THANK YOU SO MUCH my birthday twin!

Happy St. Patrick's Day/Jade Hederas

2009-03-16T15:28:00.002-05:00

So my blog doesn't get pinched:

Man, those socks made my ankles look like cankles. The Jade Hederas were a quick, easy knit and stretchy. I was kind iffy about the long heel flag. It seemed like it was extra long and would not fit my foot. Others on the Makin' Cookie board posted the same doubts. It fits though.

I bought a skein and a half of Colinette Jitterbug in Velvet Olive to make the socks. The socks took less than a full skein. I have enough yarn leftover from the full skein to make matching mini sock for my sock blocker key chain.

pattern: Hedera by Cookie A from knitty.com
yarn: Colinette Jitterbug in Velvet Olive.... a gorgeous, vivid green
needle: US 1.5 Addi 40" circ
Size: 10 wide
start: March 1, 2009
finish: March 12, 2009

Pretties

2009-03-11T03:17:00.003-05:00

My newest acquisition from the Loopy Ewe:

Dream in Color Smooshy in the Purple Rain and Romero Blue colorways. My picture doesn't do them justice. I saw that purple and the name and knew I had to buy it. I went to high school in the 80s so I immediately connected the colorway with Prince. I bought the blue sight unseen. Susan didn't have a picture up yet. I connected that name with Lenny Kravitz's stage name. Both the yarn and him are eye candy. The blue is my favorite shade of blue, a cobalt blue. I'll use both yarns to make socks when the Makin' Cookies kal for the Sock Innovations book by my favorite sock designer, Cookie A, starts.

TOL Weeks 5&6

2009-03-08T09:26:00.002-05:00

Knitting the second set of trees was easier and quicker this time around. I just needed to pay attention to what I was doing. I'm still on track to finish the afghan by Good Friday.

Besides knitting the afghan, I was able to knit the first sock of a pair of Jade Hederas. I won't even show you a picture of the first sock because I'll be done with the second one by this time next week. Ok instead I linked it.

One last thing, I forgot to tell you about this site in an earlier post on low days. Cake Wrecks! a good site go to if you need a laugh. Take a look around the site and let me know what you think about the plaid cake interpretation. LOL

Where's winter

2009-03-05T17:07:00.004-06:00

Its not here. It's so hot in Corpus Christi that birds are playing in water sprinklers to cool off. Those "winter Texans" just cannot take the heat.

I took this picture with my camera phone at Texas A&M Corpus Christi. The blue you see in the picture is the Bay of Corpus Christi aka Gulf of Mexico. Sorry for the fuzzy pic.

Puts a smile on my face every time

2009-03-05T12:37:00.003-06:00

Grace over at LovinComfortKnits wanted to know what helps me on a low day. I wrote that knitting, phoning/emailing/hanging out with a friend, and going to the beach to watch the sun set helps me. Also listening to dance music. One song that puts me in a good mood is Work That by Mary J. Blige. This song cheers me up, gets me moving and puts a smile on my face every time I hear it.

YAY!!!!! I'm a Winner!!!!

2009-02-24T16:36:00.003-06:00

Look what I won in the contest Grace(LovinComfortKnits) had on her blog:

Elann.com's Black Soie Bambou yarn in a cone!

and extra goodies: a cute card, pomegranate tea, berryblossom tea and chocolates!

THANK YOU SO MUCH Grace! I'm thrilled with my prizes.

5th Photo Meme

2009-02-24T01:33:00.003-06:00

MissMe, tagged me for this meme.

Here’s how it works:
Find your 5th photo file folder, then the 5th photo in that file folder.
Then pass the meme to 5 people.

I'm not sure how my laptop is compiling and organizing the list of my photo files. I took that picture back in August of 2008. Its a picture of the bonus goodies(cute bag, US 1.5 Addi circ, US 2 metal dpns) I sent to my spoilee in the Purple Rules! swap over on Ravelry. I went back and bought one of those cute bags for myself.

Now I have to tag 5 people. Hopefully they'll play along.
1. Darcy: great pictures and cute models :)
2. Grace: lace knitting is a skillful art and she's a great artist :)
3. AllyB: I love her food pics :)
4. Britknitter: socks socks socks! :)
5. Ponyknits: let's all pray that her 5th photo is of Kenny Chesney :p

TOL Weeks # 3 and 4

2009-02-23T02:34:00.001-06:00

I feel accomplished. I've made it through the flower garden pattern, and I'm a third of the way through knitting the TOL. I managed to remember to increase into the first stitch of the flower pattern, but still the section had some pitfalls for me.

1. I misread the instructions on how to make the leaves and grabbed(yanked is more like it) the arms of 6th stitch down to make the leaves.

2. Sometimes, I didn't do the psso of leaf loop and had 1 too many stitches in the next row.

I ended up tinking and reknitting those 2 rows twice then I was satisfied with how they looked. I'm so so glad there's a TOL kal group because I was able to look through the tutorials to see what I was doing wrong with the leaves. Ya'll have a good week and try not to work too hard!

Pink Maelstroms aka Dualla Socks

2009-02-19T01:38:00.004-06:00

I LOVE BATTLESTAR GALACTICA. I'm a BIG fan of Battlestar Galactica, the reimaging series. Its final season is airing on the SciFi channel. I try to watch the episodes on Friday night but its hard to do because I work when its on so I usually rush home on Saturday morning so I can watch the episode on hulu.com. I spend countless hours reading and posting messages on the BSG ravelry group message board. I love the show so much that I bought Seasons 1 thru 4.0 on dvd.

I love the show so much that I knit a pair of Cookie A's Maelstrom Socks for a knitalong being held on the BSG Ravelry group. (That isn't as bad as naming the dog I had years ago Lt. Geordi LaForge, a Star Trek:TNG character, or so I've been told.) We had to choose a pattern whose name was the same as a BSG character or episode title or use a yarn that was inspired by the series. I chose to knit a pair of Maelstrom. Maelstrom is the title of an episode in Season 3 that dealing with Starbuck. I named my Maelstroms after one of my favorite female characters, Lt. Anastacia Dualla, fleet communications officer. She's the one that'll give you good advice you're having doubts.

FO: Pink Maelstroms aka Dualla Socks

This pattern is a quick knit.... very, very easy to memorize.The socks only took me 6 days to knit; technically Feb 6 thru Feb 16, but I only knit them on the days I worked plus one Monday.

pattern: Maelstrom by Cookie A featured in Twist Collective
yarn: Sock That Rock! lightweight in Rosebud
needle: US 1.5 Addi 40" magic loop method
modifications: I used STR lighweight yarn that has a gauge of 7 spi for me instead of the Knittery Merino Chubby Sock that has a gauge of 8spi/the leg has 8 pattern reps instead of 9
Size: US women's 10 wide

***If you're watching the series, please post only spoiler free comments. A buddy who reads my blog has only seen Season 1***

Sock Mosaic

2009-02-16T21:03:00.004-06:00

So this was what I was knitting when I took my blogging subbatical. If you want, check out my Ravelry project page for more info.

The highlights:
The brown socks on the top left are my oldest brother's socks. I'm going to write up the pattern after I finish the TOL. I need to knit the socks again in a ladies version. I have permission from Hello Yarn to publish her Irish Hiking Scarf pattern that I modified into a pair of socks. It'll be my first "published" pattern.
The red socks in the center are made with Madeline Tosh's Tosh sock yarn. The picture doesn't do them justice. I had a hard giving them up!
The black socks in the lower right are for nephew#4 and they're little and cute just like he is.

Happy Valentine's Day/Single Awareness Day

2009-02-13T08:17:00.002-06:00

Here's one of my favorites:

I had a poster of Andy Gibb on my bedroom wall when I was a teen. I had the biggest crush on him. Have a love filled day everyone!

TOL Week #2 and Purl Increases

2009-02-10T22:27:00.007-06:00

I finished week 2 of the TOL last week, but haven't had time to post about until now. I finished the top of the trees and I love how it looks. I think this afghan will be one of the items I'm going to have a hard time parting with.

If you , dear reader, is thinking of knitting the TOL spend the $4 and buy the Lion's Brand pattern. It comes with a chart for the trees that's sooo sooo helpful!

Next up is the dividing pattern section and flower section. I'm going to have to do a purl increase. I looked up purl increases in the net and I found a great video on how to do an invisible one. The video's author and producer is Annie Modesitt aka the Knitting Heretic. One day when I'm a better knitter, I'll knit her Kimono Swing Coat.

The purl increase can lean to the left or right depending on how you do it. I'm not sure which increase I'll use. Both look great.

Tree of Life Week #1 Completed

2009-02-03T03:18:00.001-06:00

I've set up a weekly schedule to follow so I don't get behind in my knitting the Tree of Life(TOL). Each week, I knit approximately 30 rows. If I stay on schedule, I'll be done with it by Good Friday in April. That's twelve weeks of knitting which includes knitting the main section in 10 weeks, knitting and sewing the tulip border in 1 week plus an extra week if I get behind.

Week one consisted of me knitting the trunks and some of the branching of the first set of trees. Its not mindless knitting nor is it overly complicated. I just have to pay attention to what I'm doing. The cables are 2/2 and 2/1 ones. I tried knitting it during the Super Bowl(Yay!!! Go Steelers!!)and my increases looked jacked up. I followed the M1 increase instructions provided in the pattern and I had holes wherever there was an increase. I ripped back to row 15 and reknit the increases and beginning branches. This time I used Amy's M1L andM1R nvisible increases and I liked how they looked... plus there were no holes! The yarn is Lion's Brand Wool Ease in the Fisherman(neutral/natural)colorway. This first skein has knots in it and I've gotten good practice at doing the Russian join. Overall, I'm pleased with how the afghan looks so far.

Pleiades Clue #1 Completed

2009-01-29T01:08:00.004-06:00

I decided to name my Mystic Star shawl Pleiades. Pleiades is a cluster of hot blue stars in the constellation of Taurus. On a clear night you can see the star cluster around 8pm.

pattern: Mystic Star Shawl by (knit&knag) Anna Dalvi
yarn: Jaggerspun Zephyr in Indigo

Knitting Goals 2009

2009-01-23T13:19:00.002-06:00

I have some lofty knitting goals for 2009. I want to be a more adventurous knitter and break out of my easy sock pattern and only knit socks mode. I hope do much better than I did in 2008.

1. Knit for myself 7 pairs of socks...one for each day of the week.

2. Be a more adventurous socknitter. I joined the Crafty Bus over on Ravelry and I knitting a pair of Baroque Socks for January. Its going much quicker since I put the cable needle down. The yarn is Louet Gems fingering weight sock yarn in Linen Grey and I really like it!

3. Knit and finish(or complete one already started) two the following lace shawls:
Adamas Shawl I started in February 2008
Angel Shawl I wanted to knit in 2008
Mystic Light Shawl I started in 2008.... in March I think
Mystic Star Shawl that I'll start on Monday... I concide that I'll get behind but I want to finish
it. I seem to be able to finish things knit in the round
Swallowtail Shawl I started in December 2008 when I was briefly tired of knitting socks

4. Knit either the Lily of the Valley Stole or Triinu's Vine and Leaf Shawl for myself.

5. Knit the Tree of Life Afghan for a buddy and Saffron Cables Afghan for my brother and his wife for Christmas. Oh yeah, this is an odd year so I'm only knitting one Christmas present everyone else gets store bought stuff. I start the Tree of Life Afghan(TOL) on Monday too.

Long time No See!!!

2009-01-22T14:23:00.004-06:00

I feel like blogging so here it goes. What's been going on with me? Well here's the short version:

1. I moved into a new place... an apartment. I cannot at this time have pets :( but I hoping to talking my landlords into a small adult potty trained dog. Think good thoughts for me.

2. I bought a Blackberry so I'm now hip like the President..... some of you know why... sigh

3. I was sick for 3 weeks in December..... Upper resp. colds are horrible!

4. And I've done some knitting... I'll not hit you with it all at once, but over several posts.

Twelly Socks

Pattern: Garter Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks
Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy Black Parade
Needles: US 1.5 Addi Turbo 2 at once method for most of them
Modifications: none
Start: September 16, 2008
Finish: December 5, 2008

I feel like doing a kal so I joined the Mystic Star kal on yahoo. Lets see if I finish this one lol.

I knitted a gauge swatch (good for me!) with my chosen yarn, Jaggerspun Zephyr in Indigo. The dimensions are suppose to be 4.9 x 5.5..... mine's 5 x 6. For once I don't have to go up a needle size.

FO: Mrs Twelly's Breast Cancer Awareness Socks

2008-10-30T14:34:00.003-05:00

Pattern: Waterfall Lace Rib from Senational Knitted Socks
Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy Cool Fire(pink,red,blue,lavender)
Needles: US1.5 Addi Yurbo 40" magic loop method
Size: US 8 medium
modifications: stockinette stitch heel
Start: October 6, 2008
Finish: October 24, 2008

FO: Red Scarf

2008-10-30T13:52:00.004-05:00

I finished this scarf and mailed it off a few weeks ago. I hope the recipient likes it.

My cables go to the right instead of the left like in the Irish Hiking Scarf pattern. I've fallen in love with the pattern and I'm planning on making more of them.

Soapbox moment:
I voted yesterday at the Corpus Christi Council for the Deaf. Its a very nice facility and the staff were very helpful and courteous. After I voted, I left $5 in the tip jar at their cafe as a thank you for having their facility as an early voting place. I waited in line for about 20 minutes before I voted. (I wanted to vote this past weekend at 1/2 Price Books but the wait was over an hour.) I beamed when I clicked on Obama/Biden. I'm urging everyone to vote even if its for those other two. I've always believed you can complain as much as you want about this country if you vote. If you don't vote you haven't done the one most important thing to get your voice heard so don't complain. In other countries people fight even die for the right vote so EVERYONE GO VOTE!!!

Red Scarf Project and Christmas Knitting Update

2008-10-09T12:06:00.003-05:00

Here's what I have so far:

1. Red Scarf Project: Irish Hiking Scarf 2. Twelly's Socks 3. Feathers Wimple 4. Mrs Twelly's Socks 5. Brotherly Love Socks 6. Brotherly Love Scarf

1. I'm using Vanna's Choice 100% acrylic yarn in Cranberry to knit the Red Scarf Project scarf. Its put out by Lion's Brand. I'm pleasantly surprised that this acrylic yarn is soooo soft. I'm buying more of it especially since I could win $1000 in a contest on the Vanna's Choice website(which goes live on October 10th). Lion's Brand is sponsoring a yarn contest at Michaels stores beginning October 12, 2008 where the grand prize will be $1,000 and an all-expense paid trip to Los Angeles to meet Vanna White and be part of the audience of Wheel of Fortune. The contest ends on February 1, 2009.

2. I'm knitting Twelly's Socks for my scrabble buddy in Dream in Color Smooshy Black Parade. The pattern is Charlene Schurch's Garter Rib.

3. I'm knitting the Wavy Feathers Wimple for a friend. The yarn is Fearless Fibers Laceweight %100 merino in Antique Rose. This seems like it'll be a quick knit. I'm using leftover orange sock as placement markers.

4. I'm knitting Mrs Twelly's Socks(my scrabble buddies wife) for breast cancer awareness month. She's recovering from breast cancer surgery. The yarn is Dream in Color Smooshy Cool Fire and pattern is Schurch's waterfall lace rib.

5. I'm modifying the Irish Hiking Scarf to make my older brother a pair of socks. The yarn is Dream in Color Smooshy November Muse.

6. I've fallen in love with the Irish Hiking Scarf pattern. Its easy and beautiful. I'm making this scarf for my lil brother. The yarn is Plymouth's Encore in Deep Forest.

Pink for October

2008-10-01T02:39:00.002-05:00

Web sites will Go Pink during the month of October to bring attention to Breast Cancer Awareness Month, get people talking about breast cancer, and raise money for research. But to be clear, raising money isn’t the primary purpose of this web event. The hope is that you turn your site pink (in whatever way works for your site), educate yourself about the multiple issues related to Breast Cancer, then take that knowledge and tell someone else what you’ve learned.

Go to the Pink for October website to sign up and download a button.

Banned Book Week

2008-09-24T17:29:00.001-05:00

Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them. After all, intellectual freedom can exist only where these two essential conditions are met.
Banned Books Week in the United States is September 27 - October 4, 2008. Banned Books Week is observed during the last week of September each year. It is the 27th anniversary of this annual American Library Association event which is is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association, American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, American Library Association, American Society of Journalists and Authors, Association of American Publishers, National Association of College Stores, and is endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. In honor of Banned Book Week, I'm going to read Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, a book that has been on the Challenged book list

NFL Bye Weeks

2008-09-24T06:56:00.004-05:00

Each NFL team plays 16 games out of 17 weeks in the NFL schedule. The game that they don't play is called their bye week, or "Open Date". It is important in fantasy football to make sure that your starters and backups do not have the same bye week since one of the primary reasons for drafting backup players to have coverage during the bye week of your starter.

Why does the NFL have bye weeks any way? I'm asking this question because RB Willie Parker(eye candy pic) sprained his knee in the PIT-PHI game last week and will miss PIT's game this week with Ravens. It's my RB back up's bye week so I've had to go looking for a RB free agent. My league on NFL.com requires 2 starting RBs. I decided to pick up at least for this week and may be next week Chris Perry CIN RB to fill the hole in my roster. I dropped DET's WR Roy Williams to get Perry. I also dropped WR Anthony Gonzalez for WR Hank Baskett. I'm 3-0 in that league and ranked #1 in my division. I've had to do less juggling in my yahoo league. I'm 2-1 and ranked #3 in the one. I lost last week by 2 points. You're right Eileen. FF can get crazy.

Change You CAN Believe In

2008-09-18T17:13:00.002-05:00

This is why I'm voting for Sen. Obama....

Red Scarf Project

2008-09-17T11:42:00.000-05:00

Guess what! Its that time of year again. The Orphan Foundation of America is accepting scarves for their Red Scarf Project. The submission period for the next Red Scarf initiative is set for September 1 through October 31, 2008. Scarves should be sent to:

Orphan Foundation of America
The Red Scarf Project
21351 Gentry Drive
Sterling, VA 20166

Last year I made My So Called Scarf and sent a gift card to Starbucks. This year in keeping with my cable fascination, I'm making the Irish Hiking Scarf. I loved how Ally's turned out. I also want to include a gift card from either Barnes and Noble, Borders, Target, Walmart or Starbucks. Please leave me a comment about which gift card should I buy.

Eagles vs Cowboys

2008-09-16T11:20:00.001-05:00

What a wild and crazy game! I was mindlessly knitting gauge swatches and watching all the action. I was disappointed that the Eagles lost(41-37) but enjoyed the game. I was rooting for Eagles not only because I'm a fan, but also because I needed DeSean Jackson(wr) and David Akers(k) to have really good games so I could win my fantasy football game. I needed 15 points just to tie. Despite DeSean totally messing up a touchdown by celebrating too soon, he gave me 11 points. Akers gave me 14 points so I won my game by 10 points.

Fantasy Football has been a lot more fun that I thought it would be. Not only is it making me pay more attention to the league as a whole rather than just my favorite teams but it makes watching all the games fun. There's alot of research involved in picking which players to start or to bench. I consulted a buddy who helped me pick which players to have on my draft list before the season began. He's been right most of the time. This past week I wanted to bench Drew Brees because I didn't think that he'd do well against the Redskins, but I was talked
(text messaged) out of it...... I was right. I would have been better off if I had played Eli Manning and Aaron Rodgers. Oh well, I'm increasing my football knowledge. I'm 2-0 in both my leagues so far. Week 3 is going to be a tough week for me. Both of my opponents has Donovan McNabb, my Eagles quarterback. I'm going to hope Brees has just as good or a better game than McNabb. I cannot root against him because I have Eagles players on my teams. I need for them to catch his passes and touchdowns and kick those field goals and 3 pointers.

Carefree Holiday or Not KAL

2008-09-16T00:49:00.001-05:00

Dr Laura is hosting Carefree Holiday or Not KAL. You can knit anything socks, scarves, hats, etc. To be entered in to the prize drawings, you must knit a minimum of 100 yards. If your knit item is 600 yards of yarn then you'll be entered 6x into the drawing. Here's the rules:

1. KAL starts on October 1, 2008 and ends November 30, 2008. All finished projects must be posted by Midnight, November 30th to qualify for the final drawing. Items started before October 1 do not qualify for the KAL.
2. You will receive one entry for every 100 yards used in your item. Please use a minimum of 100 yards. You may knit a set if items. (For example, a pair of baby socks uses 50 yds of yarn. You will need to knit 2 pairs to qualify for one entry.)
3. Must post photo of project in progress to blog.
4. Must post photo of finished project to blog. Please post how many yards of yarn needed for project. (need this info so you can be given the correct number of entries for your project.) If a set of items is required ( see rule #2), please show all items in ONE post for credit.
5. Limit of one prize per person. We want to spread the wealth. The winner of the sign-up drawing will be exempt from this rule and will be allowed to win one more prize.
6. Special Prize for projects knit with Crystal Palace Yarn. Winner will be decided by blog participants who will vote for their favorite project at the end of the KAL.
7. Winners will be selected by Susan of CPY, using a random number generator.
8. Have fun! This is a Carefree, Stress-free, Holiday or Not KAL. It doesn't even have to be gift knitting. We won't tell.
Remember to post your name as listed in the sidebar so you can receive credit for your project.

My Holiday or Not knitting plans are:

1. Kinetic Scarf(from knitty.com) for my dad I'm thinking about using Plymouth Encore Blues

2. Irish Hiking Scarf for my lil brother Plymouth Encore Green

3. Harvest Socks(from the Socknitters files) for my older brother Dream in Color Smooshy November Muse

4. Monkey Socks for my SIL Either Dream in Color Smooshy Midnight Derby or Ruby River

5. Garter Rib Socks for Nephew #3 CTH Supersock Navy

6. Thuja Socks for Nephew #2 CTH Supersock Navy

7. Pink Socks for my Scrabble buddy's wife Dream in Color Smooshy Cool Fire

8. Deep Forest Socks for my uncle I'm thinking about Fearless Fibers Deepest Forest

9. Illumination Scarf for aunt #1 Lane Borgosesia Cashwool Ecru.... If you ever have Grace of Lovin Comfort Knits you have to have to buy her this yarn.... its a wool blend that soft like cashmere and shiny like silk but with out the cashmere/silk price

10. Illumination Scarf for aunt #2 Lane Borgosesia Cashwool Ecru

11. Maelstrom Socks for myself if I can find Dream in Color Butter Peeps I'll use it

Come on over and knit with us :)

FO: Peach Cream Kuchon Socks

2008-09-15T11:29:00.001-05:00

I finished the Peach Cream Kuchon over the weekend at work while watching season 1 of Mad Men. It was slow because of the hurricane Ike scare. I like the finished socks and pattern. I won't be buying more skeins of the yarn. It's splitty.

Pattern: Waving Lace by Evelyn Clark from Favorite Socks
Yarn: J Knits supersock Me! in Georgia
Needles: US 1 24" circs
Method: 2 socks on 2 circs at the same time
Modifications: I made the scalloped edge cuff and only did 1 and 1/2 pattern repeats for the leg. The cuff plus leg are about a total of 3 inches long.
Start: September 1, 2008
Finish: September 13, 2008

Music Meme

2008-09-11T06:24:00.003-05:00

I saw this meme on Nichole's blog and had to do it too. I'm giving away my age. Time goes by quick. I can remember in high school us voting on the Class Song and it was a tie between Party All the Time and That's What Friends Are For. The latter song won when we had the run off. I've embeded a video for my all time favorites.

The rules:
A) Go to musicoutfitters.com
B) Enter the year you graduated from high school in the search function and get the list of 100 most popular songs of that year
C) Bold the songs you like, strike through the ones you hate and underline or italicize your favorite. Do nothing to the ones you don’t remember (or don’t care about)

Top 100 Hits of 1986/Top 100 Songs of 1986

1. That's What Friends Are For, Dionne Warwick, Elton John, and Gladys Knight
2. ~~Say You, Say Me, Lionel Richie~~
3. I Miss You, Klymaxx
4. On My Own , Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald
5. Broken Wings, Mr. Mister
6. How Will I Know, Whitney Houston
7. ~~Party All The Time, Eddie Murphy~~
8. Burning Heart, Survivor
9. Kyrie, Mr. Mister
10. Addicted To Love, Robert Palmer
11. Greatest Love Of All, Whitney Houston
12. Secret Lovers, Atlantic Starr
13. Friends And Lovers, Carl Anderson and Gloria Loring <--- Robin Thicke's mom
14. Glory Of Love, Peter Cetera
15. West End Girls, Pet Shop Boys
16. There'll Be Sad Songs, Billy Ocean
17. Alive And Kicking, Simple Minds
18. Never, Heart
19. Kiss, Prince and The Revolution
20. Higher Love, Steve Winwood
21. Stuck With You, Huey Lewis and The News
22. Holding Back The Years, Simply Red one of my all time favorites

23. ~~Sledgehammer, Peter Gabriel~~
24. Sara, Starship
25. Human, Human League
26. I Can't Wait, Nu Shooz
27. Take My Breath Away, Berlin
28. ~~Rock Me Amadeus, Falco~~
29. Papa Don't Preach, Madonna
30. You Give Love A Bad Name, Bon Jovi
31. When The Going Gets Tough, Billy Ocean
32. When I Think Of You, Janet Jackson
33. These Dreams, Heart
34. Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone), Glass Tiger
35. Live To Tell, Madonna
36. Mad About You, Belinda Carlisle
37. Something About You, Level 42
38. Venus, Bananarama <--- recently featured in an episode of Saving Grace
39. Dancing On The Ceiling, Lionel Richie
40. Conga, Miami Sound Machine
41. True Colors, Cyndi Lauper
42. Danger Zone, Kenny Loggins
43. What Have You Done For Me Lately, Janet Jackson
44. No One Is To Blame, Howard Jones
45. ~~Let's Go All The Way, Sly Fox~~
46. I Didn't Mean To Turn You On, Robert Palmer
47. Words Get In The Way, Miami Sound Machine
48. Manic Monday, Bangles
49. ~~Walk Of Life, Dire Straits~~
50. Amanda, Boston
51. Two Of Hearts, Stacey Q
52. Crush On You, Jets
53. If You Leave, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
54. Invisible Touch, Genesis
55. The Sweetest Taboo, Sade
56. What You Need, INXS
57. Talk To Me, Stevie Nicks
58. Nasty, Janet Jackson
59. Take Me Home Tonight, Eddie Money
60. We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off, Jermaine Stewart
61. All Cried Out, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam With Full Force
62. Your Love, Outfield
63. I'm Your Man, Wham!
64. Perfect Way, Scritti Politti
65. Living In America, James Brown
66. R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A., John Cougar Mellencamp
67. Who's Johnny, El Debarge
68. ~~Word Up, Cameo~~ my brother played this album all the time I hate this song
69. Why Can't This Be Love, Van Halen
70. Silent Running, Mike + The Mechanics
71. Typical Male, Tina Turner
72. Small Town, John Cougar Mellencamp
73. Tarzan Boy, Baltimora
74. All I Need Is A Miracle, Mike + The Mechanics
75. Sweet Freedom, Michael McDonald
76. True Blue, Madonna
77. Rumors, Timex Social Club
78. Life In A Northern Town, Dream Academy
79. Bad Boy, Miami Sound Machine
80. Sleeping Bag, ZZ Top
81. Tonight She Comes, Cars
82. Love Touch, Rod Stewart
83. A Love Bizarre, Sheila E...... I wanted to be Sheila E
84. Throwing It All Away, Genesis
85. Baby Love, Regina
86. Election Day, Arcadia
87. Nikita, Elton John
88. Take Me Home, Phil Collins
89. Walk This Way, Run-D.M.C. revived Aerosmith's career
90. Sweet Love, Anita Baker.... one of my all time favorites

91. Your Wildest Dreams, Moody Blues
92. Spies Like Us, Paul McCartney
93. Object Of My Desire, Starpoint
94. Dreamtime, Daryl Hall
95. Tender Love, Force M.D.'s
96. King For A Day, Thompson Twins
97. Love Will Conquer All, Lionel Richie
98. A Different Corner, George Michael
99. I'll Be Over You, Toto I still know all the words to this song
100. Go Home, Stevie Wonder

House Challenge Season 5

2008-09-11T04:36:00.003-05:00

I'm taking a break from reading and posting on the Ravelry group, Sarah Palin Must Be STOPPED, to post another non knitting related but interests me entry on my blog. If you're a not a fan of Gov. Palin, go to ravelry group and get in on the bitching. If you are a fan of Gov. Palin, skip it... you don't want to become a troll. lol

Dr. Scott of Polite Dissent is having his annual House Challenge for season 5 of the tv show. Here's what you have to do:

Make a list of ten conditions or diseases you think will show up on House. Be as specific as possible: no categories (like “cancer” or “autoimmune disease”), and no overly broad descriptions (“liver failure” or “cardiac arrest”, for instance). The list you make will last the remainder of the season — no addition, subtractions, or swaps. Put your list in the comments section.

Each week, your list will be compared against the show. Scoring is as follows:

1 point for a brief mention or one-liner.
3 points if the team actually tests for the condition.
3 points if your diagnosis is featured in a clinic scene.
5 points if the team treats the condition (or supposed condition).
12 points if it’s actually the correct final answer (or one of the answers) of the episode.
Please note: If your diagnosis is close, but not specific enough (for example “meningitis” when the team tests for “viral meningitis”) you will earn 1/3 the points.

Scores will be collated each week and a running total will be kept. Scores will be posted late night the day of the show, or by noon the next day. After the final episode of the season, a winner will be crowned!

Since the last contest ended, I've been compiling and researching diseases/conditions I thought would be "good" on House. Ones that could show up on the show. I made a big mistake last year in that I picked diseases that could only be the final solution. I was trying the diseased ball out of the park. This year I've picked a few of those, but I also some "we think its this but we'll be proven wrong." Here's my picks:

1. Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis
2. Histoplasmosis
3. disseminated Tb also known as miliary Tb
4. Anisakidosis also known as anisakiasis
5. Wegener's Granulomatosis
6. Sarcoidosis
7. Scleroderma
8. TTP thrombic thrombocytopenic purpura
9. Toxic Shock Syndrome
10. Addison's disease

If you care to you can, click on each disease/condition to learn about it. The info is from the NIH or the CDC.

Fantasy Football

2008-09-08T17:29:00.003-05:00

Well, I've gone and done it. I've joined not 1 but 2 fantasy football leagues on Ravelry. This post is for my buddies who want to know who's on my fantasy football teams.

On NFL.com , my team name is Wildfire. My players:

Quarterbacks:
Drew Brees , NO
Aaron Rodgers, GB

Running backs:
Frank Gore, SF
Rudi Johnson, DET
Willie Parker, PIT

Wide receivers:
Chris Chambers, SD
Santonio Holmes, PIT
Roy Williams, DET
Anthony Gonzalez, IND

Tight Ends:
Jeremy Shockey, NO
Dustin Keller, NYJ

Kicker:
Josh Scobee, JAC

Defense:
Green Bay Packers
New York Giants

On Yahoo Sports, my team's Wildfire. I'm original lol

Quarterbacks:
Drew Brees, NO
Eli Manning, NYG

Running backs:
Reggie Bush, NO
Ryan Grant, GB
Rudi Johnson, DET

Wide receivers:
DeSean Jackson, PHI
Greg Jennings, GB
Bryant Johnson, SF
Vincent Jackson, SD

Tight Ends:
Todd Heap, BAL
Zack Miller, OAK

Kicker:
David Akers, PHI

Defense:
Green Bay Packers
Indianapolis Colts

Don't you wish you had my teams?

Purple Rules!!

2008-09-08T16:23:00.002-05:00

Look at what I got from my swap pal in the Purple Rules Summer Swap:

2 Lorna's Laces Sherperd Sock in Mixed Berries colorway
2 Knitpicks Memories in the Red Hat colorway
2 Sweetarts........ I ate the one of them already....... They're one of my favorite candies
Purple Flowery pouch with surprises inside

The surprises:
Aveeno daily moisturizer lotion.... how did she know that's my lotion?
Point protectors
Clover US 2 dpns...... I want to make a pair of socks with dpns
Stitchmarkers that spell out my name (Cheryl)

Thank you so much AnnaRenee :-)

Startitis

2008-09-04T17:38:00.003-05:00

Over the past last week Ive started 5 new projects. I usually done have more than 2 to 3 projects going at once. I won't even mention the ones hibernating.

From the top left and making a circle:

1. Peach Cream Kuchen Socks: I'm knitting them for the September Solid Socks kal over on Ravelry. The J Knits superwash me sock yarn(Georgia) is a little splitty, but sooo soft. I'm knitting 2 socks on 2 circs for the first time. I found a nice tutorial online at Fyberduck. I'm using 1 skein of yarn in a center pull ball. Once I figured out how to keep the yarn from tangling(Use a ziploc or hefty bag with a cut in the bottom and another toward the top to thread the yarn through) it's easy. I'll let you know how it goes with the heel flaps and gusset.

2. Naive Socks: I knit 65 rounds and discovered I have a mistake in the 45-50 rounds. I added and extra round so the cable look wonky now. I'm tinking back to my mistake to fix it.

3. Giboshi Hat: I'm using leftover yarn to make a cable hat for Nichole's Chemo hat project. Its a left twist cable. I'm thinking of changing the ribbing on the cuff.

4. Petite Berrylicious: This is prototype Monkey sock( my 4th pair of them) that could be my niece's Christmas socks. I'm making a child's size 4-5. I'll send the sock off and see if it fits her. Hopefully, it'll be a little big on her. I adjusted pattern so I could cast on and use 48 stitches.

5. Struts Her Stuff: I first casted on as was making the Baby Cable Rib from SKS, but I changed my mind. I'm thinking of using the Ann Budd's 8 sts per inch pattern and make the staggered baby cables. I like how it looks better. If my SIL likes the Monkey sock I made for her daughter , I may just frog them and make a pair of Monkeys too.

Solid Socks KAL

2008-08-28T00:09:00.001-05:00

My next sock kal is the Solid Socks (and semi solids too) year long kal over on Ravelry. Its an informal sock kal that has you knit a pair of socks with your choice of pattern in a preselected color. We're not picky about the shades of preselected color.

Colors for 2008-2009

September: Oranges
October : Browns (to include tans/honey etc)
November : Golds/yellows
December : Reds and greens
January : Burgundy/wine and black/greycolors
February : Pinks/Peaches
March : Greens
April : Purples
May : Pastels
June : Naturals/Whites
July : Blues, Reds or White
August: Brights and only solids

For September I'm knitting Evelyn Clark's Waving Lace Socks from Favorite Socks in J Knits Superwash Me sock yarn in Georgia. It reminds of me of a dessert one of my ex coworkers would make and that's what I named the socks,Peach Cream Kuchen.

Come on over and join us :-)

I'm having fun!!!

2008-08-25T19:15:00.001-05:00

I was listening to Your Health on NPR and they had a segment on meditation and how it lowers your blood pressure. Meditation produces a relaxation response. Knitting does that for me! My blood pressure has gone down since I started knitting...... especially sock knitting. The socks that are lowering my blood pressure now are the Karner Blues.

I bought the cable needle necklace that is featured on Darcy's blog. Darcy has great instructional videos on how to use the cable needle necklace. I'm using it to knit the 2x2 and 3x3 cables in the Naive sock pattern. I've trying to knit the 1x1 cables without the cable needle. I'm able to do so except for the one at the beginning of the round. Those stitches are too tight to use the cableneedleless cable technique. Go checkout Darcy's blog and leave a comment.

Summer of Socks

2008-08-25T00:18:00.001-05:00

My final tally from the Summer of Socks is 6 plus 1 in progress.

1. My 1st Jaywalkers
2. Monkey See Monkey Do Monkey Socks
3. Crimson Purls aka Berrylicious Monkey Socks
4. Acai Berry Monkey Socks
5. Excalibur Garter Rib Socks
6. Swagger Thuja Socks
7. Karner Blues Naive Sock..... Socks #1 in progress

It was a great kal and I look forward to doing it again next year.

Swagger Socks

2008-08-23T17:27:00.001-05:00

My Christmas knitting has started! I'm knitting my older brother's family socks for Christmas. ..... all 7 of them. These are some BIG socks! lol Lebron James (size 15 shoe) could wear these socks.

FO: Nephew #1 Socks
pattern: Thuja Socks from knitty.com by Bobby Ziegler
yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Solids in Navy (get use to seeing this yarn I have 3 more pairs to make with it)
size: US mens 14 wide
needles: US 1 Addi turbo 2 24'' circs
modifications: fingering weight yarn
start: August 8, 2008 Olympics opening Ceremonies
finish: August 22, 2008 at 610pm CST 2 days left of the Olympics

Excalibur Socks

2008-08-11T20:08:00.004-05:00

I finished my uncle's last week. I think he'll like them. Charlene Schurch's garter rib is an easy unisex pattern that looks good with any yarn.

Pattern: Garter Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch Yarn: Fearless Fibers' Superwash sock yarn in Contemplation Needles: US 1 addi turbo 24" 2 circ method Gauge: 9 spi Modifications: Heel flap is 32 rows instead of 40. Round heel Start: July 23, 2008 Finish: August 7, 2008

One last thing, I'm on Team 7 of the Dishrag Tag. I have my US 7 Addi turbo ready for my turn. Good luck to everyone participating!!

FO: Acai Berry Socks

2008-08-08T02:44:00.003-05:00

I'm getting behind on posting for this blog. If you looked at my Ravely projects, you know I'm knitting. My feeble excuse is that I've been having female problems......... hot flashes, migraines, fatigue, etc. My hormones are out of wack. I have a doctor's appointment in a week..... I'm going to walk into his office and just beg him to fix me! I've self diagnosed myself and I think I have either PCOS(95% positive this is it) or I'm going through early onset menopause because I've never had kids. I haven't ovulated since February. I know I haven't been ovulating because I'm one of the "lucky" who has pain(mittelschmerz) when I do. Please bear with me........

I named the socks after the main ingredient(Acai berry) of a beverage I tried called Purple. This is my 3rd pair of Monkey socks. I've knit this pair for my mom's other sister who's birthday is coming up.

Pattern: Monkey Socks by Cookie A
Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy Visual Purple
Needles: US 2 Addi turbo 40" circ magic loop method
Gauge: 7.5 spi Don't ask me how my gauge went down????? I'm a tight knitter.....
Modifications: Round heel using Heel by the Numbers file available at the Socknitters group.
Start: July 17, 2008
Finish: July 23, 2008

In about 12 hours I'll get to start on my OlympicSox2008(Ravelympics2008) socks. I've joined 2 kals to help get me motivated. I'm knitting US mens' size 13-14 wide socks for my nephew's big feet. I'm using Bobby Ziegler's Thujas. In the OlympicSox2008, my events are the Marathon and Water Sports(Swimming). I'm able to do that because the socks a big and will take me awhile to do them and they're blue. Wish me luck :-) And I hope all of you finish your Olympic knitting projects. Take care and thanks for stopping by.

Crimson Purls aka Berrylicious Socks

2008-07-28T16:43:00.003-05:00

One of the things I enjoy about the Summer of Socks competition is seeing what everyone is knitting. Haveyouanywool posted a pair of gorgeous Flickers(pattern by CookieA) that I have to knit! I've already bought the pattern. I'm waiting to buy the yarn until the last week of the Olympics. I don't want to get distracted from knitting nephew's socks that I'm knitting for the Ravelympics.

The other pair of socks I'm waiting to knit and buy the yarn for is the Monkeys in the Dream in Color Smooshy Ruby River. I knit a pair of them for my aunt and LOVE how they look. The socks are soo pretty!! The Berrylicious socks are for my aunt who made a special request for a pair of socks she could wear around house. I'm mail them to her for her birthday in September.

Pattern: Monkey Socks by Cookie A
Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy Ruby River
Needles: US 2 Addi turbo 40" circ magic loop method
Gauge: 8 spi
Modifications: I omitted the set rows for the heel flap. I made the heel flap only 28 rows(14 PU sts) long.
Start: July 10, 2008
Finish: July 17, 2008

Monkey See Monkey Do Socks

2008-07-20T20:30:00.003-05:00

When the Summer of Socks kal/competition started, it seemed everyone was knitting and raving about Cookie A's Monkey socks. I decided I had to knit a pair myself to see what all the fuss was about. I love love this pattern. It's an easy pattern to knit and I had the pattern repeat memorized after the 2nd repeat.

Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy Midnight Derby
Needles: US 2 Addi turbo circ magic loop method
Gauge: 8 spi
Modifications: I used Ozlorna's large Monkey spreadsheet.(You can send her a message on Ravelry and she'll email you the spreadsheet.) I casted on 80 sts instead of 64 because of my big feet and leg swelling I sometimes have. I used Techknitter's wonderful SYTK left leaning decrease. My left leaning decreases are purrrtty now instead of sloppy looking.
Start: June 30, 2008
Finish: July 10, 2008

You'll see more Monkeys from me soon. One last thing, my Anura Socks picture is now featured on the Sensational Knitted Socks Lace Rib pattern page on Ravelry. Yay!!!!

Fraternal Jaywalkers

2008-07-17T17:08:00.005-05:00

I haven't been posting on here because I have been compulsively knitting socks. I'm trying and succeeding at knitting a pair of socks every 2 weeks for the Summer of Socks 2008 competition on Ravelry. I know I won't win the most socks knit, but maybe I can win one of the biweekly prizes. I'm trying to get my sock knitting time down to less than 2 weeks in preparation for the Summer Olympics. I'm participating in the Ravelympics in which I'll attempt to knit a pair of US mens size 14 wide socks for my nephew in about 2 weeks and work an extra day at work each week. Its an endurance/time limit challenge for myself.

Well anyway here's the Jaywalkers I had to knit after seeing so many of them on Britknitter(Brittany knitter)'s blog.

Pattern: Jaywalkers by Grumperina
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in Dusk colorway
Needles: US 1
Gauge: 9 spi
Start: June 21, 2008 I had to look on Ravelry for the date
Finish: June 29, 2008

In the next couple of days I'll post other socks I've knitted. I don't this post to be too long.

Life = Risks

2008-07-03T12:03:00.004-05:00

" Energy and persistence conquer all things. "
~ Benjamin Franklin

If you're going through hell, keep going. "
~ Sir Winston Churchill

It was slow at work last weekend and I got to thinking about my life...... and I'm disappointed with myself because I've become complacent. In the last few years, I haven't done most of things I've wanted to do.... get my RN license, move away from Corpus Christi, go to France, further my education, start exercising on a regular basis, etc. My life has ground to halt because I've lost my focus. I've decided no more of that!!! I made a list of goals I want to accomplish in the next 6 months. I'm not publishing here(some of you know why). The goals center round beginning a new chapter of my life. The video above inspires me to work hard and meet my goals.

And the winner is

2008-07-01T19:24:00.002-05:00

I counted all the entries and using

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2008-07-02 00:23:55 UTC

The winner is Bean!!!!! Congradulations!!! Please send your name and address to clwdaisy@yahoo.com or to my Ravelry ID: wildflower38.

Everyone left me some great sock stories! I enjoyed reading them all. I did run into a slight problem with my email account. Some of the messages were "bounced." (My Scrabulous email games were bounced too.) I have moderated comments set up and I wasn't getting an email for some of the entries. I accidently rejected/deleted one for the last entries then found 15 messages from people.

The rejected/deleted comment was by JackieCasts:
I'm knitting my second pair of socks. This time I'm doing Magic Loop (first time was DPNs). This sock and I just fought and fought and fought. I can't tell you how frustrated I was. Once I stepped back and tried to read my knitting and calmed down, everything was fine. Moving right along with no problems!

I contacted Blogger about it and I had all the comments/messages when I generated the winning number. I want to thank everyone for stopping by and telling me a sock story.

What I did while waiting for the Summer of Socks to begin and Blogiversary Contest Begins

2008-06-24T19:01:00.002-05:00

Anyone who's ever stopped by and read my little knitting blog knows that I love socks. I started knitting because I wanted to knit socks. Every now and then I knit something other than socks..... things like this hat

Velox Hat aka Fountain Hat by Katie Himmleberg from Spring 2008 Interweave Knits in ShiBuiKnits sock yarn in Blossom colorway.... or this cell phone bag

Can you hear me now? phone bag by Kathy North from Designs by KN in Cascade Cotton Rich DK on purple..... it's so soft... now when I do a dishcloth swap I'm using this yarn..... or even a water bottle koozie

Drink Up bottle koozie by Anita Moore of YarnDemonAdventures. I made it for my downstream pal in the Multitasking 9-5 swap over on Ravelry. I spoiled Britknitter... go check out her blog to see what I gave her. Nichole my hostess paired us up well. (Thanks Nichole) Britknitter is a sock knitter who loves Jaywalkers. She's knitted at least 7 pairs of them. All of which are lovely. She made me want to knit a pair Jaywalkers too.

I'm knitting the Jaywalkers with a Cherry tree Hill supersock in Dusk colorway..... was the 1st sock yarn I ever stashed. It's a mixture of purples. blues, greens, and reds(mauve). I need a little more yardage than what's in the skein(420 yds) so I'm using some leftover yarn I have in the same colorway to knit the heels and toes. The Jaywalkers are my 1st pair of socks for the Summer of Socks KAL competition over on Ravelry. I had planned on knitting the Muscari Socks first but I changed my mind at the least moment. I'll knit them in July.

I'm digressing from the real purpose of this post. I've been blogging for a year now. I started this blog because I wanted to participate in the Dog Days of Summer dishcloth swap and having a blog was a requirement. I'm holding a contest/drawing to thank and show my appreciation of my readers. One lucky reader will win:

Melissa Morgan-Oakes' 2 at time SOCKS: The Secret of Knitting Two at Once on One Circular Needle

US1 40" Addi Turbo Circ....

The Yarn Harlot's Things I Learned from Knitting.... whether I wanted to or not

Dream in Color Smooshy in Visual Purple colorway

Sock Blocker keychain

So you're probably wondering what you dear reader has to do to get entered into the drawing. There are 3 ways:

1. Leave me a message telling me a short sock story.... the 1st pair you knitted or what pair gave you second sock syndrome or the time you knit a pair and they didn't fit or when you tried to knit a pair of socks and got so frustrated you ripped them up, etc. (All those things have happened to me.)

2. Post a link to the socks(or ripped up yarn) you're talking about in your story.

3. Blog about this drawing on your blog and link it back to me.

The drawing will end at 2359(11:59 pm) CST June 30th. If you leave an anonymous comment, please leave me your Ravelry ID so I can find you. Thank you so much everyone and keep knitting.....

Multitask Swap Spoils

2008-06-20T00:45:00.003-05:00

Look what came in the mail on Thursday:

I tried to figure out who was my spoiler and I was completely and totally wrong. It wasn't AllyB, LapdogCreations, or even my spoilee. It was Ponyknit who went to NYC last week to see Kenny Chesney on the Today Show. Go to her blog and look at the pics. Ponyknit sent me the cutesy cutest things for our swap.

1. Zona Blue Design's Superwash sock in the Desert Moon colorway..... its smooshy!

2. Gingersnaps so I can continue my addiction

3. A highlighter, 2 specialty pencils(they'll get much use at work), and a puzzle eraser(I haven't taken it apart yet)

4. Laura Ashley notecards, a mini pen and pad set and spiral postits..... all will get much use

5. Butterfly bath fizzers... just thing I need after working my 32

6. a multicolored slinky..... thats going help relieve my stress

7. a Critter ball....... I've already named her MRSA...... It took me 30 minutes before I put it down so I could take pictures.... I need to find out where Ponyknit got MRSA so I can buy some for my littlest nephew

8. Beautiful Butterfly stitchmarkers that Ponyknit made herself.... look and see how pretty they are :-)

Thank you so much Ponyknit... you made my day :-)

Summer Knitting Goals 2008

2008-06-18T00:33:00.004-05:00

Skeins Her Way is having a contest and is asking for summer goals. I tried make reasonable goals and include some of my WIPS....

1. Participate in the Summer of Socks

2. Knit myself a pair of socks: Muscari Socks from knitty.com

3. Get started knitting my Christmas sock gifts for my brother's family
a. My oldest nephew's socks(US size 14 feet)
b. My SIL socks

4. Finish the Adamas Shawl for my aunt...it's now a Christmas gift

5. Finish the Mystic Light Shawl for my SIL

6. Knit myself another pair of socks: Nancy Bush's Conwy Socks

FO: PICHOLINE SOCKS

I finished my Dad's Father's Day Gift, aka the Picholine Socks. My Dad is going thru a rough time right now healthwise so I wanted to make him a pair of socks that were extra special. The picholine is a type of olive. Olives symbolize peace, health and hope. The Picholine Socks are my way of giving him health and hope.

pattern: My own... a simple k3p3 ribbing
yarn: Fearless Fibers' superwash sock yarn in Contemplation colorway
needles: US1
gauge: 9spi
size: 12 wide
start: June 2
finish: June 13

One last thing:

The yarn I'm giving away in my blogiversary contest/drawing is Dream in Color Smooshy in Visual Purple colorway. I bought a skein of it for myself too.

Quickie Sock Update: Picholine Sock #1 Done

2008-06-07T17:33:00.005-05:00

I'm done with my Dad's first sock. The contrasting yarn that looks like fringe is there to help me count how many rows I have. The top down sock design is very basic. The cuff is k1p1. The leg and foot pattern is k3p3. I wanted something that would be quick to knit. The yarn is Fearless Fibers superwash sock in the Contemplation colorway. Its olive green with gray and a few shades of blue thrown in. Well I need to get dressed for work now. I hope everyone who's off has a good weekend. Take care :-)

FO: ANURA SOCKS

2008-06-03T16:45:00.000-05:00

YAY!!!! I've finished the Anura Socks. They're my last pair socks I committed to knitting in Pay It Forward. They are for Frogalot, a very giving and terrific person. I hope she likes them.

pattern: Lace Rib from Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks
yarn: Fearless Fibers' Superwash Sock in the Spellbound colorway
needles: US 1 Addi turo circs(2)
gauge: 9 spi
size: US 7 1/2
modifications: I used a stockinette stitch heel flap
start: May 21, 2008
finish: June 2, 2008

FO: Pay It Forward

At last my PIF commitment is over. I'll be mailing the socks plus a sock blocker keychain next when I finish my Dad's Father's Day present aka Picholine Socks. I have 10 days to knit US size 12 wide mens socks. I'm rewatching BSG, Battlestar Galactica(reimaging series), as I do it.

Those of you who have been long time readers of my blog may have noticed the ticker below my header. I'm putting together a little something to thank my readers and celebrate my 1st blog anniversary. My blogiversary is June 25th. Check back in the coming weeks for more details.

FO: Loop De Loop Socks

2008-05-22T21:02:00.000-05:00

pattern: Charlene Schurch's Yarn Over Cable Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks
yarn: Fearless Fibers' Superwash Sock in the Discipline colorway
needles: Addi Turbo US 1 circs I knit socks with using the 2 circ method
gauge: 9 sts/inch
size: US 9 medium
modifications: The heels are stockinette stitch. I always had 40 stitches on the instep instead of 41 like pattern called for after knitting the leg.
start: May 3, 2008
finish: May 20, 2008

This is the 3rd pair of socks I've made for my Pay It Forward commitment. I committed myself to make 4 pairs of socks. I made this pair for Opcola. Fearless Fibers' Discipline is rapidly becoming my favorite yarn. I love the color and I want to keep every pair of socks I make with it. My last pair of PIF socks is for Frogalot. I'm making Lace Rib Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks.

I bought 3 skeins of Dream in Color Smooshy Midnight Derby to knit 2 of my nephews socks, US size 14 wide and 9 medium shoes, for Christmas. I thought the colorway was navy blue. Well, there's purple mixed in it so I cannot use it for 2 teenage boys. Its a burden I'm willing to take on and I'll use the yarn to knit myself a few pairs of socks. I amazed myself by knitting a gauge swatch. With US 2 Addis and magic looping, my gauge for the yarn is 8sts/inch.

Pattern Surfing: Easy Flame Scarf by Wendy B. of Knit and Tonic
I saw a partial section of the scarf that Knottyknitter40 knitted on the Multitask 9-5 Ravelry group I belong to. She's making it with Malabrigo Geranio. Its lovely and I'm looking forward to seeing how it looks when she completes it.

One last thing...... I found this tutorial in an online British knitting magazine today. If I had known about it yesterday I could have sent a link to the novice sock knitter instead of writing all that stuff out yesterday. lol There's a cute sock pattern, Clover, and a scarf/stole pattern, Wild Strawberry,in the magazine too.

Magic Looping

2008-05-21T18:25:00.008-05:00

Here's my response to a call for help by a novice sock knitter on the Yahoo Socknitter Group. She wanted a generic sock pattern to her first pair of socks using magic loop. It helped me get my mind organized on how to do a toe down sock using magic loop. I want to use magic loop to make Nancy Bush's Conwy Socks (in Knitting on the Road) and Child's First Sock in Shell Pattern(in Knittin Vitage Socks). Of course I won't be able to knit socks until after I finish Frogalot's PIF socks and my Dad's Father's Day socks. Let me know what you think.

Magic Loop Generic Sock Pattern

Note: I used the following as references for the pattern and techniques:

www.knittinghelp.com/videos/advanced-techniques Amy’s videos on magic loop and heel/gusset of a sock.
www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knitting-tips Amy’s video on Kitchener stitch
http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring05/FEATsocks101.html Kathy Atherly’s Sock 101
Charlene Schurch’s Sensational Knitted Socks book

Cast on

The number of stitches you cast on depends on your gauge and foot circumference. Gauge = 8 sts per inch. Foot circ = 8 inches. So you cast on stitches are 8 x 8 = 64 stitches. Cast on 64 stitches(using a loose long tail cast on) and join the ends. Begin knitting using the magic loop technique. You should have 32 stitches along the 1^st half of the cable and 32 stitches along the 2^nd half of the cable. After knitting a couple of rounds of the cuff, place stitch marker to note the beginning of the round

Magic Loop

Using a circular needle that has a long, flexible cable(>= 40 inches), cast on the number of stitches you want to use to knit your sock. Example: 64 stitches. Move those stitches to the middle of the cable. Divide the stitches in half (32 + 32 = 64). Place a stitch marker between the 32 and 33 stitches. Pinch and pull the cable between those two stitches. Now you're ready to join the ends. Move the separated stitches back on the needles close the endpoints. Be careful to not to drop any stitches and twist the stitches. I join my ends by moving the first stitch to the opposite needle and moving the last stitch to the opposite needle. Now you're ready to knit the cuff.

Cuff

K2p2 for 12 rounds. Approximately 1 inch.

Leg

To make things easy we’ll do a stockinette stitch leg(all knit stitches)

Knit around until your sock measures (cuff plus leg) measures 6 or 7 inches total.

Heel Flap

Refer to Amy’s video(note the way I’m telling you to do the heel flap, heel turn and gusset are slightly different than Amy’s; no worries)

To make thing easier for you for your 1^st sock, rest the instep stitches in a stitch holder. You can keep the stitches on the cable but it may be confusing since this is your 1^st sock. It will be easier for you to pick up the instep stitches when decreasing the gusset if you use a plastic or metal stitch holder.

For simplicity sake, let’s consider the back of the sock that has the heel stitches the 32 stitches that you knit last; the part of the cable that has the last stitch you knit. The instep stitches(32) are the other side of the cable. You’ re making a stockinette heel with a German selvedge. The German selvedge is the slipped stitches at the edges of the row. With the instep stitches resting in a stitch holder, (1)turn your work, slip the 1^st stitch(the last one you knit) then purl to the end of the row. (2)Turn your work, slip the 1^st stitch then knit to the end of the row. Repeat 1 and 2 until you have 32 rows then turn your work. Remember you slipped the 1^st stitch(32 of them) of every row of the heel flap so when have to pick up and knit stitches along the selvedge you’ll only have 16 to do.

Heel Turn

You need to do this at one sitting. Its can be confusing if you put it down then pick it back up.

(1) Slip the 1^st stitch, purl 16 stitches then p2tog, purl 1 then turn your work(you’re creating a gap) look closely

(2) Slip the 1^st stitch, knit 3 stitches then ssk, knit 1 then turn your work(your creating a gap) look closely

(3) Slip the 1^st stitch, purl to the 1^st stitch before the gap, p2tog(the stitches before and after the gap), purl 1 then turn your work

(4) Slip the 1^st stitch knit to the 1^st stitch before the gap, ssk(the stitches before and after the gap), knit 1 then turn your work

Repeat 3 and 4 until all the stitches on needle have been worked. You should have 18 stitches left after knitting the heel flap

Gusset

The key to picking up and knitting the stitches along the selvedge(heel flap edges) is to count and identify them before you do it. Remember you made 32 rows for heel flap and slipped the 1^st stitch at the beginning of each row. That means you have 16 stitches to pick up. You’ll start magic looping again now. Ok, pick up and knit 16 stitches along the heel flap edge. There can be a hole at the top of the gusset so pick up and knit 2 stitches between the last heel flap edge stitch and the instep. Place a stitch marker. Knit the 1^st 16 stitches of the instep in pattern. You’re magic looping now so consider the 16 selvedge stitches, 2 extra stitches and 16 instep stitches along the first half of the cable. ( You’ll divide the heel turn stitches after you pick up the other side of the selvedge.) You’re magic looping now so we have to knit stitches on the 2^nd half of the cable. Look at and identify the stitches you’ll pickup before knitting them. Knit the other 16 stitches of the instep. Place a stitch marker. Pick up and knit 2 stitches between the instep and the first stitch of the heel flap edge. Pick up and knit 16 stitches along the heel flap edge the knit the first 9 stitches of the heel turn. You should how have 2 rows of stitches along the halves of the cable. Each row should have 43 stitches. Along the 1^st half of the cable, you should have 9 heel turn, 16 heel flap edge, 2 extra, and 16 instep stitches(9 + 16 + 2 + 16 = 43). Along the 2^nd half of the cable, you should have 16 instep, 2 extra, 16 heel flap edge, and 9 heel turn stitches(16 + 2 + 16 + 9 = 43). You’ll decrease each half to 32 stitches(64 total stitches).

Gusset Decrease

You need to pay close attention because the first couple rounds can be confusing. Along the 1^st half of the cable, knit to 2 stitches before the stitch marker, ssk, slip the stitch marker then knit 16 instep stitches in pattern. Along the 2^nd half of the cable, knit the 16 instep stitches, slip the stitch marker, k2tog then knit to the end of the row. You’ve closed the hole at the top of the gusset. Now its time to do the decreasing.

(1 a) Along the 1^st half of the cable, knit to 3 stitches before the stitch marker, k2tog, knit 1, slip the stitch marker then knit 16 instep stitches in pattern.

(1 b) Along the 2^nd half of the of the cable, knit the 16 instep stitches, slip the

stitch marker, k2tog then knit to the end of the row.

(2 a) knit to stitch marker, slip stitch marker, knit instep stitches in pattern

(2 b) knit instep stitches, slip stitch marker, and then knit to end of row

Repeat 1 and 2 until you have 32 stitches on each cable half. That’s 10 decreasing (1) rounds. It will help if you write down 1-10 and mark off each round. Looking at your ssk and k2tog stitches and their position will help if you don’t want to keep track on paper.

Foot

It’s easier to knit the foot if you keep the instep and sole stitches separate. Now after you’ve knit the last round of the gusset decrease, knit to the stitch marker. Remove the stitch marker. This marks the beginning of the instep stitches and the round. You’re doing magic loop here. Knit the instep stitches. Join both part of the instep here. Remove the stitch marker. This mark the beginning of the sole stitches. You should have the instep stitches on the 1^st half of the cable and the sole stitches on the 2^nd half the cable. Knit the foot to the desired length; heel to the base of the toe.

Toe Decreasing

Now we’re almost done. Standard toe decrease has you decreasing 2 stitches per cable half then knitting around then next round until ½ the total stitches remain. Then decreasing every round until ½ those stitches remain.

(1) Instep: knit 1, ssk, knit to 3 stitches before the end of 1^st half of cable, k2tog, knit 1. Sole: knit 1, ssk, knit to 3 stitches before the end o the 2^nd half of the cable, k2tog, knit1.

(2) Knit around the instep and sole.

Repeat 1 and 2 until 32 total stitches remain then repeat 1 until 16 total stitches remain. Now you’re ready for the Kitchener stitch.

Kitchener stitch

Use Amy’s video to see how to do it. I’ve officially run out of steam

FO: Great Barrier Reef Socks

2008-05-06T20:38:00.000-05:00

pattern: Charlene Schurch's Double Lace Ribbing from More Sensational Knitted Socks
yarn: Fearless Fiber's superwash sock yarn in the Coral Pink colorway
needles: Addi turbo US1
gauge: 9 sts = 1 inch
modifications: stockinette stitch heel

I started these socks in March then stopped knitting them to make the Broad Spiral/Vortex Socks. After I frogged them, I restarted them in April so it took me about 3 weeks to knit. I'm pleased with how they turned out and I hope Lushorama likes them. Now I only have 2 more PIF pairs of socks to make.

Pattern Surfing: Marigold Socks by Pamela W. aka Flint Knits

When I saw this pattern, Marigold Socks, it made me want to do another pair of toe up socks. It's lovely! I'll even do a short row heel(which I'm not a fan of). I discovered the pattern while looking at pictures of the Child's First Sock on Ravelry. Flint Knit's has a gorgeous pair that she made using a purple semi-solid Koigu.

Frustrated Knitting

2008-04-18T15:23:00.003-05:00

Clue2 Finished:
After an unfortunate accident and a fix it job that looked wonky, I ripped back to my lifeline(please excuse my perfectionistic tendencies). I pressed on and I've finished Clue 2 of the MysticLight Shawl. I'm 2 clues behind but I think I'll be done with it by May 1st. That's my goal. My SIL's birthday is May 16th. I should have plenty of time to block it and mail it to her.

Adamas Shawl:

Remember this shawl? Well I still not done with it and the kal is over. One of my goals for my vacation is to get done and blocked and start the Angel shawl for my other aunt. Oh yeah... I decided to give them their shawls on July 26th.. That's Aunts and Uncles Day. I changed my plans because the Adamas was taking me so long the knit and I won't have the Angel shawl completed by Mother's Day. I have to give them the shawls at the same time I won't hurt anyone's feelings.

What do you do when your lace knitting frustrates you?
I knit a dishcloth. I saw the Vortex Dishcloths over on Knitty Kitty.
She's knit the Vortex 5 and 6. The dishcloth I knitted and took a picture of unblocked is the Vortex 5 Dishcloth. First to Five has designed 3 Vortex Dishcloths. If I get frustrated next week, you may be seeing the Vortex 6.

One last thing...

If you've read my More about Me post, you'll know that I enjoy playing scrabble and compile word lists so I can increase my score. I was talking to a buddy that I play unrated games with on Scrabulous.I beat her playing this word, QUIXOTRY. I was telling her that I was in the process of reading Word Freak. There's a variation of the word in the book and that's how I was able to add QUIXO to her TRY (triple word score) to get my own triple word score. I suggested she read it too. She told me about this funny short story about scrabble, Death By Scrabble , that I had to read. Please read it. You'll enjoy it. Thank you for stopping by and have a good weekend! :-)

Vortex

2008-04-10T08:10:00.001-05:00

Presenting the Broad Spiral Ribbing Socks aka Vortex knitted with Fearless Fibers superwash sock yarn in the Disipline colorway.

I love these socks! I knitted them for a special work buddy. If they weren't for her, I'd keep these socks. I love them that much. The Vorex takes the place of the Twist&Shout socks I made for her last year that didn't fit. The pattern features a tw2r stitch. I was confused about the stitch until I saw the video on AllButtonedUp. The tutorial author features the stitch in a pattern thats very similar to the Broad Spiral Ribbing.

I frogged and recasted on the PIF Great Barrier Reef socks for
Lushorama. I don't know how I did it but the front and back of the socks switched. I tried tinking a few rows thinking I could find the mistake and correct it but I couldn't so I ripped. I'd like to get them sent out to Lushorama in Australia in May. That's when winter season begins there. The Great Barrier Reef socks are the double lace ribbing socks found in More Sensational Knitted Socks. I'm using the Fearless Fibers superwash sock yarn in the Coral Pink colorway.
The color reminds me of watermelon.

Don't you think so too?

Pattern Surfing: Leyburn Socks by Pepperknit
I've been blogstalking Kelpknits and she just finished knitting these socks. The Leyburn Socks are toe up socks with a lattice stitch pattern. They should be knitted with no ease or even a little positive ease because they aren't stretchy. What drew me to the pattern that it looks gorgeous using variegated or solid yarn. I think whenever I knit the socks I do what Kelpknits did and use Judy Becker's Magic toe and toe up heel flap. (Maiaspins has a excellent toe up gusseted heel tutorial.)

One last thing.... If you need a laugh, head over to Downeast Yarn Ho and see how shes feeling about the weather. LOL I feel that way when its August and just taking out the trash makes you break out into a sweat. (its not for a kid's eyes)

Mystic Light Shawl Clue 1 Completed

2008-04-04T09:04:00.003-05:00

It's pretty so far. My SIL will love it! I shot the pic with a blue background.Thats why it looks creamy white instead of pale blue. I need to take a photography class or find a tutorial online. Does anyone know of one?

Your Element Is Water

A bit of a contradiction, you can seem both lighthearted and serious.

That's because you're good at going with the flow - but you also are deep.

Highly intuitive, you tune in to people's emotions and moods easily.

You are able to tap into deep emotional connections and connect with others.

You prefer a smooth, harmonious life - but you can navigate your way around waves.

You have a knack for getting people to get along and making life a little more peaceful.

What's Your Element?

?Am I knitting the wrong element shawl? lol I'm thinking of making Anna's Mystic Waters Shawl my summer shawl project. Hopefully I'll be done with it before she comes out with her next element. Ann's has debuted a new pattern.... Luscious Forests Lace Shawl. Maybe when I do a few more lace on one side shawls I'll be ready to tackle it. :-)

Sock It To Me Part Deux Loot

2008-03-28T07:25:00.003-05:00

LOOK WHAT CAME IN THE MAIL!!!!

- 3 skeins of Sugar n Cream Cotton yarn
- Araucania fingering weight yarn in Ranco It's screaming at me to make the Lace Ribbon Scarf in the Spring 2008 knitty
- 2 skeins of Drops Design's yummy Fabel sock yarn
- True Blue Spa's Shea isn't so and Toe the line to make my feet look purrty
- Nice notecards
- The first 2 books of James Patterson's Women's Mystery Club, 1st to Die and 2nd Chance Just what I wanted
- Ginger Snaps to feed my GS addiction lol
- Trail Mix yay
- Ferrero Rocher to feed my chocolate addiction lol
- a nice hello postcard from Oklahoma
- and lastly a pair of very comfortable socks

I'm relaxing, reading 1st to Die and munching on some ginger snaps. Dawn made me these pretty socks. They're stockinette stitch socks using Regia sock yarn in the galaxy colorway.

THANK YOU SO MUCH DAWN! :-)

Fearless Knitting

2008-03-21T01:08:00.000-05:00

At the beginning of the year, Knitting Daily had this in a newsletter. I finally decided to post about it.

Is there something you haven't tried because it seems Too Scary?

Knitting a sweater scares me. What if I spend all that time, energy and money and it doesn't fit... Or I don't like it... Or I don't look good in it.... Or I get bored knitting it and don't finish..... I want knitting to be fun and not seem like work.

Is there a technique you want to learn, or learn to do more skillfully?

Cables and Color Stranding. I've recently learned to do both. Cableless cable knitting isn't that hard to do. I need to practice so that the cable in front stitches(left) look tighter and identical to the cable in back stitches(right). Color stranding is an ongoing learning experience for me. I'll give it a try in few weeks when I make my lil bro a scarf. I want to do a Harry Potter type scarf with his name spelled out.

Is there something that stumps you?

I have trouble understanding patterns that aren't well written. I can pretty much understand all sock patterns well written or not, but non sock patterns.... Its seems like some patterns are the designer's notes. There's somethings I'd love to knit but I don't want to spend $10 for 15 minutes at my LYS asking the owner to deciper a pattern for me. The $10 for 15 minutes is price for "I have question..." at my LYS.

Is there something that you are dying to try, in your secret knitter's heart, but haven't dared because you think you're not a good enough knitter?

I look at pictures of the Pretty as a Peacock Shawl on Ravelry and drool. You have to be an expert lace knitter to do it. I'm a lace beginner. If the second row and all subsequent even rows aren't purl rows, I'd be up a creek.

Are you always knitting The Same Old Things, and you'd like to try something new?

I would love to make the Scarlet Woman Sleeveless Tank , Bella or Shapely Tee , but I'm afraid of spending alot of money on one of them and doing something to mess it up. I've thought doing a baby or toddler project like AllyB or Crimson Purls did to get my feet wet.

Do you always knit for others, and never for yourself? Or perhaps you only knit yourself accessories, but never a lovely cardigan or pullover to wear?

I usually knit for others, and hardly ever for myself. I don't take the time to knit for myself. That said.... I'm thinking frogging the Jacobean socks I was knitting for myself. My stubborn and tenacious nature hasn't kicked in and made me want to finish the first sock. Is there such a thing as 1st sock syndrome? I've fallen out of love and I'm bored with the pattern. I love the yarn and the color is gorgeous. I was thinking of making the Ribbed Lace Socks from SKS instead(I'm copying AllyB). I could still do the SKP but I'd do it on my own and make the 5 pairs of socks with patterns I've wanted to make for myself.

Pattern Surfing: Falling Water by Bonnie S. on Blue Peninsula
I discovered this pattern indirectly when I was reading a thread on knittinghelp about knitting 2 toe up socks using magic loop. That sent me to Bella Vita Farm & Fiber and Diane's sock tutorial makes magic looping 2 socks clear. (I've decided to blogstalk her because she 's an intricate and pretty fair isle sweater and a Mystic Light shawl.) She's knitting the Falling Water Lace Scarf too. The Falling Water looks like a cable scarf, but its not. The lace design makes it look that way. Neat! The scarf is free Bonnie's blog, Blue Peninsula. I'm thinking I'll knit it for myself with Sarah's Yarns fingering weight cashmere in Rich Blueberry colorway.

Color Stranding

2008-03-13T23:53:00.003-05:00

Last Saturday, I took a color stranding class at my LYS. My teacher taught me how carry the yarn on the wrong side so it doesn't look a mess. She taught me how knit holding the 2 strands 3 different ways. I've decided the easiest way for me to do it two handed.

I've been practicing left handed knitting. My stitches are looser than what I do right handed. My LYS teacher says to keep practicing and they'll tighten up and be identical to my right handed way. It makes sense that it'll be identical to my right hand because of the mechanics. I'm still knitting with my right hand. All I'm doing is holding the yarn in my left hand.

My teacher referred me to knittinghelp.com for a refresher video on 2 handed knitting. I found Knitting Tips by Judy when I was searching for color stranding sites. Judy has great 4 videos on colorwork. I've noticed that she purls through the back loop when she does fair isle.

Swatching: Complete Combustion aka Mystic Light Shawl
After a long search, I found the blue yarn I want to use for the Mystic Light Shawl. The yarn I decided on is Fearless Fibers Superwash sock yarn in the Sloth colorway. I'll bought 2 skeins(1100 yrds total).

The fingering weight yarn is light blue with little pale bits of lavender and gray. I interpreted the light and flames theme of the shawl to be the rare blue flame color produced in the chemical reaction when hydrocarbons/oxygen mixture is combined with an abundance of oxygen and heat is added. The flame can only be produced under laboratory conditions. (<--- Geeky organic chemistry moment.)
I wasn't going to do a swatch because it's a shawl and I didn't see the point. Thank goodness I looked at the swatch pattern because I need to know how to do cables. I watched Amy's cable and cableless cable videos to learn how. I used US7 needles like knitknag used to make her swatch. The blocked swatch dimensions should be 11x 16 cm. Mine are 10 x 15 cm and it's wonky over stretched.

I tried again using US9s. I think it's a little too big and loose. My dimensions are 11 x 16 cm but I could have blocked it larger than that. I'm going to use US8s when I knit the shawl. Come on March 26th! I'll be done with the Adamas Shawl by then. My EE kal leader extended our finish date to April 15th. I need another week because I kept messing up the 12th pattern repeat of chart 12.

Pattern Surfing: Sockret Scarf by Susan P.
You've all heard of the Moroccan Days/Arabian Nights Stole. The designer of that stole has a cute and easy scarf pattern, Sockret Scarf. It's made with 1 skein(400 yds) of sock yarn and US 4 needles. I want to make with FF Spellbound.

Presenting the Slipped Stitch Rib Socks

2008-03-07T19:15:00.001-06:00

The Slipped Stitch Rib Socks were made with FF superwash sock yarn in the Prosperity colorway and knitted on US1 Addi needles with a 9 spi gauge.

The socks begins with a k1p1 rib cuff,

a slipped stitch rib leg that

continues into the heel with a garter stitch edging,

an instep foot in pattern with a stockinette sole

and ends with a standard toe.

I think the pattern is unisex and I'll use it again to make my dad's Father's Day gift. I'll probably buy FF Smoke colorway for them.

My next PIF socks are for Lushorama. Since she likes bright colors, I'm using FF Coral Pink to knit the Double Lace Ribbing.

Note: My camera stopped communicating with my laptop so the rest of this post is pictureless. I'll edit this post if I can get them communicating again and insert pictures for mail call and pattern surfing.

Mail Call

Deb from Fearless Fibers must be lovin me. My latest purchases were Spellbound(the teal green one it replaces the one I'm using to make the Jacobean), Discipline(the blue one), and two skeins of Sloth(the pastel blue ones I'm going to use to make the Mystic Light Shawl).

Pattern Surfing: Jacobean Socks by Julie P.

The Jacobean is the first discipline/event pattern in Sock Knitters Pentathlon 2008. It's a mostly stockinette sock that has the diamond motif on the instep/front of the sock. I'm modifying the pattern by adding a few stitches so it'll fit my size 10 wide feet(US).

I saw this on Girly with a Twist. You have to play this game. I wasted 90 seconds trying to spell one of the states correctly. I also wasted 2 minutes trying to remember the one state I was missing.

In 6m 23s

Click here to Play

You Knew I HAD to post something on this qwirky day

2008-02-29T17:26:00.000-06:00

WIP: PIF Deb's Money Socks

I love how the Fearless Fiber's Prosperity is knitting up in this unisex pattern. It's the Slipped Stitch Rib from SKS. I sneakingly asked a buddy if he liked the sock and he said he did. I'm planning on making them for him later this year.

WIP: Adamas Shawl

I'm about halfway through making this shawl. I have 243 stitches now and I'm working on the 8th repeat of chart 2.

I'm US 7 needles instead of the 6s. I hope I can block this shawl to really make the diamonds come out. I hope mine will look as good as MissMe's Adamas Shawl. Seeing hers was the inspiration for me to make mine.

Ravelry Pattern Surfing: Aveline Slouchy Hat by Jennifer T.

The Aveline Slouchy Hat is a $3.75 pattern available on pieknits.com. The pattern starts with a tubular cast on. I'd read on Ravelry so many threads about the tubular cast ons that it seemed confusing and made me not want to knit this hat. It's actually easy if you just follow Jennifer's instructions. I'm thinking of pairing the hat with Jennifer's Grape Hyacinth Lace Scarf(in black also) to give my SIL for her birthday. The purple yarn you see is waste yarn that'll be taken out eventually. I'm magic looping the hat.

? 4000+ yards of wool?

What would you do with this yarn? Dye it? It's laceweight wool yarn that my friend bought for a dollar at Goodwill. She gave it to me in exchange after I use up the yarn she wants the cone to make an angel.

Knerd

2008-02-21T14:58:00.000-06:00

I recently talked to a buddy of mine about hobbies and he called me a nerd because I knit. I smiled and responded by saying, "I'M PROUD TO BE A KNITTING NERD/GEEK AND WHEN I DIE I HOPE I HAVE A PAIR OF KNITTING NEEDLES IN MY HANDS BECAUSE I'LL HAVE DIED HAPPY!!!"Lol He just laughed and called me a nerd again. I feel blessed that I have something that gives me joy. I love that I can look at a pattern, be able to interpret it to fit my needs and create a pair of socks, a scarf or a hat. Has anyone called you a nerd/geek because your knitting?

FO: Waterfall Lace Rib Socks

I finished the Waterfall Lace Rib socks from Sensational Knitted Socks. I used a stockinette stitch heel. They're size 7 medium and very stretchy. These are the fastest pair of socks I've knit. It took me just 10 days to do it. I'm thinking about doing Sock Wars so I'm interested in how fast I can knit a pair. My next pair of socks from SKS are the Slipped Stitch Rib. I'm making those for my PIF/Deb.

New Podcast: Diva Knitting

I read about a new podcast, Diva Knitting, over on the knittinghelp.com forum. I've listened to the 3 episodes Cheryl has produced and it seems pretty good. She drumming up listeners by holding a contest. All you have to do is post a link on your blog or a knitting message to her podcast by February 26th. I try to support all things that Cheryls do. :-) Her pet project is Project Sanity. Project Sanity is a great way to organize your knitting for the year. You decide who your knitting for, what you want to knit them, the pattern, the yarn and the completion date. The completion date is what sold me on the idea. It'll help me keep my first New Year's resolution which is to knit and gift on time.
One of my friends crochets Christmas gifts throughout the year so she's not stressed durig the holidays. Before I listened to the podcast I mailed my older brother and SIL a questionnaire. I asked for their shoe size(for the smaller kids what my SIL thinks would be a good size to do), and color preference. Because I'll be making 7 pairs of socks, I'm getting my Christmas knitting organized in February. My oldest brother wears a size 13 wide shoe and his oldest son wears a 14 wide shoe. I figure I'll start in May,knit a pair of socks a month and I'll be done by December.

Pattern Surfing: Pearl's Diamond Socks by Emily and Tempest Socks by Emilee
Pearl's Diamond Socks is a pattern inspired by Emily's aunt who's battling leukemia. I heard about the pattern on Crimson Purl's blog. It's only $5 and the proceeds go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It's well written(that means I can follow it without being confused). Emily is also offering email support if you need it. The pattern is written for sport weight yarn.
Tempest Socks is a easy lace pattern written by Emilee. The lace is a repeating lightening bolt. She's famous for her Foliage Hat featured in the Fall 2007 knitty. She made a lace hat pattern knitted from the crown down easy and fun for me so I know I'll like knitting this one.
*Note: The Mirabella socks I was going to write about this week will be done at a later date. I wasn't able to get the Yummy Yarns website to come up. I kept getting an error.

On Your Mark... Ready..... Set..... Wait a few more Days!!!!

2008-02-13T12:50:00.005-06:00

I'm impatiently waiting for Friday, February 15th. That's when the Ebony Elite KCAL starts. I'm so excited and I want to start knitting right now! The purpose of the kcal is to challenge ourselves. Alot of the people in the group are knitting or crocheting sweaters. The Flair by Knit and Tonic seems to be popular. I'm knitting the Adamas Shawl by Mimknits. I'm making it for one of my aunts(my grandmother's sister) as a Mother's Day gift. The yarn I'll be using is JaggerSpun Maineline in Natural. It's creamy vanilla color and has 2240 yards in a cone. I bought it at Sarah's Yarn. I'm going to be using my Knitpicks Harmony interchangeable US 6s to knit the shawl. I'm adding 4 more repeats to the shawl because my aunt is a tall woman.

I've joined the Mystic Light Shawl Kal yahoo group that's hosted by Knit&knag. I'll be using the same yarn I'm using for the Adamas Shawl to make that shawl. It's for one of my other aunts(my grandmother's other sister).

On Monday I got in 3 of the 4 sock yarns I need to make my Pay It Forward gifts. I have only about 4 more months to make the socks for the women who signed up in December.

The FF Prosperity is for Deb. The yarn looks like money.

The FF Coral Pink is for Lushorama. She loves bright colors.

The FF Spellbound is for OP. It's gorgeous! I'll be buying more of it.

AJ, my Sock It to Me Twice hostess, wants to know what are my favorite sock yarns. I haven't knit with all of them but will.

Top 10 Sock Yarns

10. The Fiber Denn I've found the blue yarn for 2 of my nephews Christmas socks

9. MamaBlue Her Baja and Talula are gorgeous!

8. LotusYarns I covet her Under the Pink colorway

7. Wollmeise Yes I CAN see myself paying the shipping and buying this German sock yarn.

6. Dream in Color Smooshy Sock I'm going to buy the Black Parade to do Christmas socks for my brother and SIL.

5. Unwind Yarn Co I fell in love with her Prince of Tides colorway last yarn

4. MadelineTosh Lovely if you can get it! I've been trying to buy more of it since I made those vermillion socks but everyone is sold out. :-(

3. White Willow Her yarn is sooo soft.

2. Lisa Souza I made socks for my dad using her yarn

1. Fearless Fibers It's my "go to" sock yarn.

Ravelry Pattern Surfing: Liesel Scarf by MJ

The Liesel Scarf is lace scarf that can be knit with any type of yarn. MJ is a knitwear designer living in Germany. She has also a sock pattern I'll talk about next week. I casted on for the scarf this week using Patons Classic Merino wool in black. I'm an EE swap angel and I think my spoilee will like it. I'm not being anonymous with her because I want her to know that someone is being responsible, doing something for her and is following through on a promise.

'S Wonderful

2008-02-13T12:04:00.002-06:00

'S Wonderful

'S marvelous

He should care fore me.....

'S awful nice

'S Paradise

'S what I love to see! Happy Valentine's Day Everyone! As you can see, mine's starting a day early..

This and That

2008-02-04T17:56:00.000-06:00

Can you really call it winter when it's windy and 83 degrees outside? South Texas weather.......

FO: Forest Canopy Shawl

I had to look back for my start date on the shawl.... November 5th.... I stopped knitting it after I took a picture and posted about it here. It was/is my only UFO. I started knitting the shawl again last week. It's actually a quick knit because the pattern is only 4 rows long with purl rows between. I think that's what you call "knitted lace" or is it lace knitting?

The yarn is Mountain Colors Weavers Wool Quarters in Ruby River, 100% worsted weight wool. It's different shades of reds, oranges, and yellows with a little purple thrown in. (My camera hates me.... all the colors in my pics look different than they do in real life.)

I like how the yarn feels. Its so soft and doesn't split. Using this yarn makes me want to try Mountain Colors' sock yarn. I'll probably reblock the shawl after I get my blocking wires in. I had scalloping along the straight edge.

FO: Harebell Lace Rib Socks

I'm done with my size 8 medium Harebell Lace Rib socks. It's an easy pattern that's from SKS. I knitted a stockinette heel instead of the slip stitch. I wanted to see how it looked in comparison to a short row heel. I like it better and I think I'll use it instead of the short row. You know I'm not a fan of short row heels.

Sock WIP: Waterfall Lace Socks

I'm continuing my sampling of SKS patterns. This time I'm knitting the Waterfall Lace Rib Socks. The yarn is FearlessFiber's superwash sock yarn in the Imagine colorway. It's a grapey purple yarn with streaks of navy blue in it. I'm knitting them for my friend, N. I should have had them completed and given to her on January 31st. That was the expiration date on her coupon. :-(

Ravelry Pattern Surfing: Ironwork Socks by Kim
Kelp! Knits is a blogger out of Houston Texas. I was browsing on Raverly and found her Ironwork Socks. Its an intricate pattern that has a heel design that's pointed. I'm not sure if its stretches so I'll have to be careful about the size when I make them. I want to make them for my cousin eventually using the FearlessFiber Lust.

Movie Review: Smokin Aces
Maybe I would have liked the movie better than if I hadn't seen Lucky Number Slevin, Pulp Fiction the day before or watched The Departed right before I saw this movie. It was.... mmmm eh not too bad..... not better than those other movies. The plot was kinda of stupid and not believable. My suspension of belief was in overdrive watching this movie. Don't put it your Netflix or Blockbuster queue wait until its on tv. I wish I had

Ebony Elite Swap Package and Other Mail

2008-01-29T13:43:00.000-06:00

Ebony Elite Scarf Swap Package

I participated in a swap with my Ravelry and yahoo group sistahfriends, Ebony Elite. Its a group for African American crafters.... knitters, crocheters, jewelry designers, etc. I was shocked there was such a group because I'm the only Black knitter in my city that I know of. lol Anyway, Kinkycoils was very good to me. She's a wonderful spoiler. Look what I got:

Knitting needle point protectors, a knitting thimble(how did she know that I signed up to take a class in stranding at my LYS in March), hot chocolate and gingersnap biscuits(yum!!!) and a pretty compact mirror(I'll have to hide it... I have friends who'll want it). Last but not least is the beautiful crocheted scarf Kinkycoils knitted for me using sock yarn. I love it!!! :-) It's her own design and just beautiful. My pictures don't do it justice. I'm going to find out if she has the pattern for sell and link it here. THANK YOU SO MUCH K!!!!!!

****Edited: I forgot about the Lana Grossa sock pattern book. I already have picked out patterns I want to knit from it. The spiral eyelet socks are pretty.

My EESS Downstream pal's scarf

This is the only picture I took of the scarf I made my EESS downstream pal's scarf before I mailed it off with the books, yarns, stitchmarkers and goodies I sent her. The scarf is the Lacy V by Pegg Thomas. The pattern calls for wool ease yarn, but I made it instead with Patons 100% merino wool one of my favorite worsted yarns. I wet blocked the scarf to a finished size of 8 inches wide by 36 inches in length.

More Fearless Fibers sock yarn plus some Jaggerspun Maineline

I bought another skein of the Blue Violet because I loved it so much. I still knitting the Bluebell rib socks with the first skein I have of it. I'll post pictures after I finish them and send the package off to the Sock It to Me Twice downstream pal. The second skein of Fearless Fibers yarn is the purple-ish red Lust, the first sock yarn this year in her series of the 7 deadly sins.

The cinnebar is JaggerSpun Mainline 2/20, a light fingering weight(in between laceweight and fingeringweight) that I want to use to make the Orchid Pi shawl. I'm planning on making it around May. The second cone is JaggerSpun Maineline 2/8 fingeringweight yarn in natural. I'll use it to make the Adamas Shawl for one of my aunts for Mother's Day. I'm adding 4 repeats to chart 2 of the pattern because my aunt is a tall woman. I may have to order another cone of the natural because I want to use it to make the Mystic Light Shawl for my other aunt. I'm making the Adamas Shawl for the first Ebony Elite KCal of 2008. The purpose of the KCal is to challenge ourselves.

Sock Bags

If you haven't bought a sock bag from StuckinIllinois' etsy shop, hurry up and do so! She's putting up new stock as I write this. They're only $10 shipping included and she ships priority so you'll get it in about 2 to 3 days. The sock bags are part of the SockItToMe swap package I'm putting together. My theme for the package is Hearts.

Long Time No See

2008-01-16T14:34:00.000-06:00

I'm still alive. I survived the bad cold I had after Christmas. I was really sick. In fact when I was running a fever my eyeballs felt hot. I felt so bad all I could do was sleep and play Ravelry games the limited amount of time I was awake. Over the past week, I started knitting again and I even have a few FOs.

Lace Ribbed Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks

These are my first toe up socks. I knit the for a buddy, C. I used Judy Becker's Magic cast on. I watched the Cat Bordhi video on youtube to learn the technique. I also conquered short row heels using Kathleen Taylor's no wrap short row heel technique. Yay!!!! I used EZ's sewn bind off for the first time also. I don't know if I'll make another pair of toe up socks, but at least I know I can do them successfully. The sock yarn I used is Madeline Tosh's Somewhat solid in vermillion. It's wonderful. If you can get your hands on some, buy it!

Foliage Hats

The Foliage hat pattern featured in the Fall 2007 knitty is so easy. I'd never made a hat from the crown down but it's easy and a quick knit. I made version 2 and modified the pattern by increasing the hat body from 3 repeats to 4 and the ribbed brim from 7 rows to 10. I used EZ sewn bind off. The purple one I made in December and promptly started wearing it. The red one(I'm sorry for the bad pic. It's been raining and darkly overcast here.) is for a friend, L.

Sock yarn buys

I bought 2 purpley skeins of sock yarn from Fearlessfibers. The one on the right is Imagine; it's a grapey purple with navy blue. The left one is Blue violet. I'm using it to the Bluebell Rib socks from SKS. The socks are for a swap I'm doing.

Oops! A Couple More Things

2007-12-20T17:50:00.000-06:00

I forgot to post the sock book Vegasangelbrat sent me.

I'm sorry. It's Christmas crazy around here. I'm packing, running errands, entertaining visitors, etc. I'm all over the place. I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Please put God and love your hearts. Pray for peace in the world. Take care and I'll see you next year....

Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap Package: I'm Speechless!!!!

2007-12-20T13:00:00.000-06:00

Thank you so much!!! Vegasangelbrat was so very generous with her gifts to me.

My Loot:
2 skeins of Knitpicks Memories Rocky Mountain Dusk (I was calling it Rocky Mountain Spotted fever)
2 skeins of Knitpicks Memories Yukon
2 skeins Filati Cervinia Genova
A sampler gift set from Starbucks with 2 kinds of coffee, gourmet hot chocolate, a chocolate biscotti, Tazo tea and 2 coffee mugs
A winter snowflake card making kit
Winter pencil, stationary and envelopes
A vanilla spice candle
A pound of Starbucks Christmas blend coffee
Stitchmarkers, crocheted stitchmaker holder and row counter bracelet from Vegasangelbrat's etsy store,BlumesAccessories
A gift box of Belgian Chocolate Truffles (I didn't open it because I'm taking it home with me to Victoria for Christmas)

WOW!!! Where do I go to nominate her for best spoiler of the swap? Vegasanglebrat is the best!

Christmas Knitting/SITM2x Topic of the Week

2007-12-20T12:35:00.000-06:00

The screams you might have heard Wednesday morning/Tuesday night were mine. I was screaming because I ran out of yarn binding off the ONLY Christmas gift I'm knitting this year! I researched the project and 2 skeins of Cascade Eco Wool is suppose to be enough to knit the Hemlock Ring Blanket. I used a felted join to combine the two skeins together. I'm not a loose knitter. I'm a medium to tight knitter. I made/making the blanket using the extended chart in which there's 121 rows and 600 stitches on the needles. And I still ran out of yarn! I'm upset. I ordered more yarn and after I finish it and give it to the recipient, I'll post pictures. :-(

WWCS Topic of the Week

2007-12-20T11:58:00.000-06:00

What would be the perfect vacation during the Winter Season? Would rather you head to the beach, to escape all the cold weather or want to pack your ski's and head to the mountains.

I've always wanted to go to Paris and see the Eiffel Tower, sit in a cafe on the Champs Elysees and people watch, go to the Louvre,etc. Check out the Eiffel Tower webcam. I want to go on one of those 10day see everything tours.

Lagniappe

2007-12-19T16:26:00.000-06:00

My wonderful SP11 secret pal gave a me terrific lagniappe. BUTTERFLY SOCK BLOCKERS! The seller even included a pretty daisy stitchmaker. A lagniappe is a Cajun term referring to something extra someone receives in addition to normal service.

New Year's Knitting Resolutions 2008

2007-12-14T00:46:00.000-06:00

Texas Purl Gurl has a New Year's Knitting Resolution thing on her blog and I thought it was a cool idea. Those who have read my blog should NOT be surprised with the first one....

1. Knit a gift and give it to the designated person ON TIME!!!!! (Don't even ask me about the Hemlock Ring Throw.) I need to plan, organize and execute better.

2. Knit Lace in over 50% of my projects.

3. Knit EZ's Pi Shawl.

4. Learn to spin and use my drop spindle. Just not play around with the roving and spindle like I have been doing.

5. Learn to dye my own yarn.

6. Finish the crochet tutorial I started last summer.

What's your knitting resolutions for 2008?

Winter Coffee Swap Topic of the Week

2007-12-11T22:12:00.000-06:00

I saw this blogthing on s-knitting.

What color is your soul painted?

Purple

Your soul is painted the color purple, which embodies the characteristics of sensuality, spirituality, creativity, wealth, royalty, nobility, mystery, enlightenment, arrogance, gaudiness, mourning, confusion, pride, delicacy, power, meditation, religion, and ambition. Purple falls under the element of Earth, and was once a European symbol of royalty; today it symbolizes the divine.

Click Here to Take This Quiz

Quizzes and Personality Tests

For many people, Winter is a time of cold weather and snow - and many fun outdoor activities that can only be enjoyed during those times! What's YOUR favorite activity in Winter, and is it even outdoors??

My aching joints don't like cold weather too much so I usually pass on outdoor Winter activites. I like making real hot chocolate.

Here's the recipe:

1 ounce (1 square) unsweetened chocolate
3 tbsp sugar or 1 1/2 tbsp splenda
2 cups milk
1/4 tsp vanilla

Place chocolate, sugar, and milk in a 2-quart saucepan over medium-low heat. Heat, stirring, until chocolate melts and mixture is well blended.
Add vanilla; pour hot chocolate into a really big mug.
Hot chocolate recipe serves 1

Note: The Splenda website has sugar substitution tips, calculators, recipes,etc. to help you use its product.

Pay It Forward

2007-12-11T00:51:00.000-06:00

These are the instructions:

“It’s the Pay It Forward Exchange. It’s based on the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward” where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, just passing it on, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness are passed on. So here’s how it works. I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I do not know what that gift will be yet, and it won’t be sent this month, probably not next month, but it will be sent (within 6 months) and that’s a promise! What YOU have to do in return, then, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

I will now Pay It Forward to you THREE, I wonder who you will be?! Please, be a PIF! You will enjoy it just as much as we do!”

And, remember…you have 6 months to get your gifts done! Come on, you know you would love to be one of my angels. Then, one day, but you don’t know when….you will get a gift that I have made especially for YOU!

Most the people I know in blogland have already signed for it. I saw the group on Ravelry and decided I needed to do it. I signed up thru Girly with A Twist. If you haven't signed up already, please do. I promise to make you something nice :-)

2klace

2007-12-06T20:23:00.000-06:00

I joined the 2klace Ravelry group because I'm find that I enjoy knitting lace. I'm slow and I make mistakes,but I like the challenge. The rules of the group are fairly simple. Over 50% of my projects in 2008 have to be lace. Lace socks are included. YAY! I'm going to buy another US1 addi turbo lace so I can knit a doily for my stepmom's birthday present. The doily will be one of my first projects of 2008. I also want knit at least 2 more Hemlock Ring Blankets in 2008.

I haven't been able to successfully knit the Hemlock Ring Blanket this week without missing up. I've had to tink and tink til I finally ripped back to my lifeline. I figured out that the written instructions and the chart aren't the same and that's why my count was off. I put it down on Tuesday and haven't worked on it since. I'll pick it up again next week and I'm only going to use the written instructions. I work better under pressure any way. What have so far looks pretty....

What I've been working on instead is the Foliage Hat from knitty.com. I'm making it for myself. It's a lace hat that's surprisingly easy to knit. Of course it's purple.

I'm still working on the my 1st toe up sock. I've made it through the short row heel and now I'm knitting the leg. I've researched and asked questions about casting off. I was all set to use a crochet bind off, but instead I'm going to use EZ's sewn cast off with Denise's variation.

WWCS Topic of the Week
Our hostesses wanted us to get to know 2 other people in the swap that were not our upstream or downstream pals. I've had conversations this week with Angela about short row heels without holes. I talked to Heather about cables and patient sock knitting.

Knitting Content

2007-11-30T01:18:00.000-06:00

Hemlock Ring Throw

The Cascsade Eco Wool yarn that I ordered from a Washington knitting shop was backordered so I ordered some from JimmyBeansWool. I want the throw to be finished and blocked by December 18th. I immediately casted on with a J/1o crochet hook. I magic looped the first 9 rounds then switched to 2 circs. I had to sleep on it to understand how to knit and purl 9 stitches into a double yarn over. Instead of using BrooklynTweed's pattern in which the blocked diameter of the throw is about 4 feet, I'm using the Hemolock Ring KAL pattern that's on yahoo. I want my throw's diameter to be about 5 feet.

Harmony Needles

I'm using US 10.5 Harmony interchangable needles. I bought 2 sets of the 10.5 needles, 40 inch and 47 inch cables to try out. I'm going to have 600 plus stitches on the circs and I didn't want them to be crowded. When I knit lace, I have to constantly count stitches. I didn't want to miscount stitches because they're crowded.

Secret Pal Socks

These are the Apple Harvest Socks I knitted for my downstream secret pal. I used White Willow Market's superwash socks in the SnapDragon colorway. I hope she likes them. I hope they fit too. I used the foot circumference times my sock yrn gauge to get the right number of cast on stitches. The Apple Harvest socks made me see that a heel flap can be knitted in k1p1 with a continuation of the leg pattern. I'm understanding more about sock designing. I particularly like this photo because the hot pink in the yarn looks hot pink instead of orange. I've learned from reading Adrienne's interview of BrooklynTweed that the best light for taking photos is natural light. You'll be seeing better pictures from me.

First Toe Up Socks
For my next sock project, I'm making the Lace Rib socks from SNS. The sock yarn is Madeleine Tosh's Superwash in the Vermillion colorway. The socks are for a pal's who's birthday was in November. (Yeah I late again.) I wanted to try something new and try again to do short row heels. I'm going to use Kathleen Taylor's NoWrap Short Row Heel.

I casted on using Judy Becker's Magic cast on for toe up socks that I read about at knitty.com. I'm a visual learner so I looked at the Cat Bordhi videos on youtube to see how to do the magic cast on and the left and right increases. I casted on 40 stitches, half the total number of stitches I need.

You Are Austin

A little bit country, a little bit rock and roll.
You're totally weird and very proud of it.
Artistic and freaky, you still seem to fit in... in your own strange way.

Famous Austin residents: Lance Armstrong, Sandra Bullock, Andy Roddick

What American City Are You?

I'm "totally weird, artistic, freaky." LMAO

An Embarrassment of Riches Part Two: Fall into Autumn Loot!!!

2007-11-29T19:21:00.000-06:00

Herzlichen Dank Frau S!!!! Sie behandeln mich gut!

Thank you so much S!!!! My FIA spoiler sent me this package all the way from Germany! I was worried it was lost.... snail mail is so slow. :-( My spoiler is S of s-knitting. She's the knitter I talked about in a previous post that has the Orangina top I covet. I read her blog and through her I found Adrienne's blog.

S sent me Sweet Kiss(strawberry and cherry) tea, a bar of white magnolia soap, a skein of red Silkdream yarn, 2 skeins of cotton yarn, and the book, OneSkein. The book has knit and crochet patterns in it. I found an infant hat pattern I want to make for my littlest nephew. S sent me 2 soft, knitted washcloths. I really appreciate her doing that because cotton yarn is harder to get in Europe than it is in the US. :-) S also sent me some spice vanilla candles to go into the jack-o-lantern candle holder. The candler holder broke somewhere in transit. :-(

The package was well worth the wait because she sent me 2 bars of Milka Schokolade. It's rich, smooth and creamy delicious Austrian milk chocolate. My friends and I had it with coffee. Thank you again S :-)

That brings me to my answer for the Winter Coffee Swap Topic of the Week:

What is the ideal setting for enjoying the perfect cup of coffee? Who would be there - or would you be alone? Inside or out? Morning or night? With food or just the steaming cup of joe?

Sitting around after dinner talking and playing poker with my friends. I play Tx holdem poker with a group of friends. We usually have dinner around 7 pm then sit down and have a long poker playing session. We drink coffee that we get from Half Price Books.

An Embarssment of Riches, Part One: SP11 LOOT!!!!!!!

2007-11-29T17:48:00.000-06:00

I'm speechless. I'm in shock. I'm stupefied, astonished, amazed......

I have received my last package from my wonderful SP 11 secret pal who's knitwear and accessories designer, KT! In a previous package, KT sent me the beautiful Sari Silk bag. She told me that the pattern was featured in the Summer 2007 edition of Black Purl Magazine. What she didn't tell me was that she was THE DESIGNER!!! I feel sooo special. :-)

In this package Celestial Waters lotion bar(that I'm lovin' ), Addi turbo US 1 lace circ, cute retractable tape measure, 2 skeins of Regia sock yarn and.....

A scarf for my roommate. My roomie is recovering from uterine cancer surgery and KT was nice enough to make her this scarf using her Mistaken Rumour Scarf pattern. The teal in scarf I'm going to use the pattern to make my lil brother the scarf he's been wanting me to make him.

KT said this pretty purple scarf "just screams me." She's right and I love wearing it. It's soo soft.

Thank you so much KT. I love handmade gifts.

Winter Coffee Swap Topic #3

2007-11-19T22:25:00.001-06:00

A quick post.....
The Thursday upcoming is Thanksgiving in the U.S., so let's all - American and not alike! - just share a post with what it is we're thankful for. A wonderful thing to do any time of year, I thought it'd be a nice thing to share for this week with the group!

I'm thankful for my family, friends, and the country I live in. I feel that I'm living a blessed life. God has shown me severals times that he's in my life and helped me through the rough spots.

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and wonderful rest of the week. TTYL.... :-)

Sock It to Me Part Deux

2007-11-19T19:39:00.000-06:00

The Questions.....

How long have you been knitting? Do you consider yourself beginner, intermediate, advanced? I've been knitting for a little over a year. I consider myself to be an advanced beginner because I can knit socks. I have so much more to learn.... sweaters, tops,cables, intarsia, steeking, lace knitting and knitted lace. I've decided in 2008 I'll learn more about lace knitting and knit my first top. I have the pattern for the Scarlet Woman tank top. I want to knit it plus a top I saw in Vogue Knitting Spring 2007.
How long have you been knitting socks? I've been knitting socks since January of this year. When I started knitting, my goal was to knit socks. I feel comfortable knitting basic socks. I want to try Jaywalkers, Loksins, lace sock patterns in SNS and MSNS, and Cookie A patterns.
What are your favorite fibers to work with? Wool and cotton. For socks I mostly use superwash merino wool because of the oops factor. If someone including myself accidently washes the socks, they won't be ruined.
What is your favorite color? purples, blues and reds
What are your current WIPs (works in progress)? A secret pair of socks for a swap, Forest Canopy Shawl(my 1st lace shawl), and My So Called Scarf for myself
Name your favorite yarns, (brand, fibers, colors, etc.). Sock yarn: Fearless Fibers, White Willow Market, Lisa Souza, Madeleine Tosh. I prefer superwash merino wool. I like multi-colored, solid and somewhat solid yarns. Other types of yarn.... I like merino wool. After Christmas..... I haven't done my Christmas shopping yet..... I'm going to try Sundara's yarn. I saw Brooklyntweed's Shetland Lace Triangle knit with her yarn and fell in love.
What are some yarns/fibers that you stay away from. I don't like Red Heart yarn. I don't like cotton or cotton blends sock yarn. Possum yarn.... yuck
What is your family situation? (Married, kids, pets?) I'm single with no kids and no pets at this time.
Name some of your hobbies. Other than knitting, reading, cooking. I crochet a little. I want to start sewing again but need to buy a sewing machine. I need to reschedule my soapmaking class. I haven't found the time to do it. I took a beginner jewelry making class back in March. Maybe I'll make some stitchmarkers on day.
Name some of your favorite movies? Shawshank Redemption, Secret Window, The Green Mile
Do you like to read? Yes, I love to read. Since I've been knitting, I haven't read all that much.
Do you collect anything? Seashells, butterflies, knitting patterns and cooking recipes. I have 40GB on my hard drive. I used about 15 GB of which approximately 8-10 GB is patterns and recipes. I have the most up to date version of Acrobat Adobe. Most of my patterns are stored in either Adobe or Word documents. I have my patterns also stored in flash drives as a backup. I think in 2008 I'll start collecting knitting books. I don't collect yarn or have a yarn stash because I'm practical. Most of the time, I need to have a pattern picked out before I'll buy yarn for it.
Do you own an iPod or mp3 player? I have both.
What are your favorite type of knitting needles? Addi turbos. I recently bought Harmony needles (size US 10.5 interchangables) to make the Hemlock Ring Throw. They're so pretty. I want so much to like using them. If all goes well, I'll use them for lace knitting.
What knitting notion could you not live without? My darning needles. They're in a magnetic case I got as a free gift in a British knitting magazine.
Who are some of your favorite designers? I like Cookie A, Jackie E-S, Goddess Knits, Evelyn Clark, Grumperina, Pieknits, Ann Budd, Cat Bordhi, Brooklyntweed and of course EZ.
Do you subscribe to any magazines? (Knitting or otherwise.) I subscribe to IK.
When is your birthday? April 29th
Do you have a "wishlist", (on Ravelry, Froogle, or Amazon)? I have a favorite list I'm working on on Ravelry.
Do you have a Ravelry ID? wildflower38
If you had a sheep, what would you name it? Zoe cuz she's a fluffy ewe.

Knitterly Things I like

2007-11-15T01:05:00.000-06:00

Knitting Blogs:
My SP11 hostess, Christine is having one more contest for our group. Yay! What do you need to do to enter? Easy! Just link me to a fresh, new, interesting knit/crochet blog. No YarnHarlot, Crazy Aunt Purl and others that everyone has heard of. I want new. That's it.

There are so many blogs I like. It was hard to choose. I ended up putting the names of my top 4 picks in a bowl and picking one. I chose Crimson Purl. My top 4 picks were:

Crimson Purl -I enjoy reading about her adventures. She's a knitting social butterfly. We share a couple of similarities. Her favorite colors are red and purple.She's knitting or has knit alot of the patterns I want to try. We both had a baby tooth that never fell out. She had braces put on to close the gap. I have a dental bridge that matches my other teeth.

LovinComfortKnits - She's an awesome lace knitter and a very nice person. Nichole of Lapdog Creations referred me to her when I had questions about blocking lace. I looked at her blog and had another one of my "I want to be able to do that" moments. Her shawls are so beautiful. Her Etain is gorgeous, simply gorgeous. I saw it and said out loud, " WOW!"

Lotus Knits! - She's an actress, knitter and indie yarn hand-dyer. I'm having a hard time resisting from buying her Under the Pink socks in her Lotus Yarn etsy shop. She has contests on her blog and gives away a skein of very own hand-dyed yarn. If you enter one of them, tell her I sent you.

Real Life Live&Unscripted - She knits, sews, scrapbooks and is a photographer. I enjoy reading about her live. She's also a very nice person. I'd been blogstalking her for awhile and decided to delurk and post a comment. She was so touched by it she invited me over for cake. lol...... Ok...what really happened was, I delurked and posted a comment when Adrienne asked her readers to delurk. Instead of putting wildflower38 as my name, I put my real name, Cheryl, on the comment. Adrienne thought I was her neighbor, sent me an email and invited me over for cake.

To whom it may concern: Here's a few of knitterly books that I covet.

Sock Knitting Books:

Lace Knitting Books:

Knitting Books:

What are some blogs you like? What are some knitting books you covet?

Knitting Adventurer

2007-11-14T12:43:00.000-06:00

What Kind of Knitter Are You?

You appear to be a Knitting Adventurer. You are through those knitting growing pains and feeling more adventurous. You can follow a standard pattern if it's not too complicated and know where to go to get help. Maybe you've started to experiment with different fibers and you might be eyeing a book with a cool technique you've never tried. Perhaps you prefer to stick to other people's patterns but you are trying to challenge yourself more. Regardless of your preference, you are continually trying to grow as a knitter, and as well you should since your non-knitting friends are probably dropping some serious hints, these days.http://marniemaclean.com
Take this quiz!

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I think I'm a knitting adventurer because I like to make changes to the patterns I knit. I don't have a problem with ripping and starting over. Let me tell you about the Forest Canopy Shawl.

Last week I casted on the Forest Canopy Shawl. Actually, I casted on the shawl 3 times. The first time I used a provisional cast on(it's not needed for this pattern) because I didn't like my cast on edge of the Branching Out scarf. I thought it wasn't stretchy enough. Then I knitted the setup rows of the pattern. I hated how it looked and I ripped. The second time I casted on again using the provisional cast on and slipped the edge stitches of the setup rows. I hated how that looked too. The third time I casted on not modifying the pattern at all. I like how it looks and I've completed 3 pattern repeats. I like how it looks. I'm knitting the shawl with Mountain Colors Weaver's Wool Quarters in Ruby River colorway. The ruby river colorway has 2 shades of red(ones a true red and the other lighter pinkish red), brownish orange and 2 shade of maroon(maroon and a mauvey maroon) in it. I'm using the chart to knit it. I'm never used a chart before. It's so much easier than using the written instructions.

I finished the Branching Out scarf. Later on today, I'll go to Michaels to buy more pins so I can block it. Grace of LovinComfortKnits was kind enough to give me advice on how to block it.

Unblocked it's 39 inches long.

Sock News:
I'm still knitting my secret project with the Snapdragon sock yarn. I'm not going to be done by Friday like I wanted. Pictures to come when the package is sent off.

I bought some more yarn.... sock yarn of course. It's Madeleine Tosh's Hand-dyed Superwash Merino wool sock yarn in vermillion. Its shades of pink and red.

Winter Coffee Swap Topic#2

2007-11-12T02:36:00.000-06:00

I am 50% Addicted to Coffee

As the cold of winter approaches, do you change the projects you work on? Do you work on gifts for others or do you continue working on projects for yourself?

I haven't changed the projects that I work on. I like socks and knit them whenever I get a chance to. I consider myself to be a sock knitter.... a slow one, but still a sock knitter. Last year I knitted most of the Christmas gifts (scarves) I gave out. This year I decided to have low stress Christmas so I'm only knitting one Christmas gift, the Hemlock Ring Throw for a special someone. If the yarn and needles ever get here I'll be able to start it. I live in Corpus Christi, Texas. It's considered the edge of the knitting world. I'm amazed that we have a real LYS here. Anyway, I'm only knitting one Christmas gift this year. Most of the time my knitting is for someone else. It makes me happy to knit an item for someone. I feel that when I knit and gift socks, a hat or something else for family or a friend I'm giving them a hug. I have a "to do" list of names of family and friends and projects that I keep. I like to give out knitting coupons. The coupon is my way to telling the giftee that they are on my list and I will definitely knit something for them. I put expiration dates on them. Usually the expiration date is a year from their birthday.

As for knitting for myself, I haven't done much of that. I knit the Branching Out Scarf for myself. I need to post a picture of it as soon as I block it. That's last thing that I knit for myself. Before that I knit myself some dishcloths. Up coming projects I want to do for myself are the Theolonius Socks, Mystic Waters Shawl, Scarlet Woman tank top, and Aveline Slouchy hat.

Flowers and Book Meme

2007-11-08T03:30:00.000-06:00

My favorite swap hostess, Anne, is having a contest over on her site. She wants to know what are your favorite knit patterns. She looking for something to knit. Of course, I gave her few sock patterns I like. Tell her I sent you and I'll be entered into the drawing 3 times.

Flowers
I don't understand why I'm not a daisy, bluebonnet or some other wildflower...

You Are A Lily

You are a nurturer and all around natural therapist.

People see you as their rock. And they are able to depend on you.

You are a soothing influence. You can make people feel better with a few words.

Your caring has more of an impact than even you realize.

What Flower Are You?

I do consider myself to be a loyal friend and I like making people laugh. Sometimes people don't get my jokes because I'm perceived as being a very serious person.

Book Meme

1. Hardcover or paperback, and why?

Paperback. It’s cheaper and easier to carry around.

2. If I were to own a book shop, I would call it…

Wee Hours. Sometimes when I’m reading a really good book, I won’t put it down and I’ll stay up all night reading it.

3. My favorite quote from a book (mention the title) is…

I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. - Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

4. The author (alive or deceased) I would love to have lunch with would be…

I cannot pick just one. My top 3 are Harper Lee, Toni Morrison and Alex Haley.

5. If I was going to a deserted island and could only bring one book, except for the SAS survival guide, it would be…

The Stand (unabridged version) – Stephen King It’s the only 1000+ pages book that I’ve ever read that I never wanted it to end.

6. I would love someone to invent a bookish gadget that…

Actually someone already invented it. A Ear light

7. The smell of an old book reminds me of…

Adventure, travel, excitement

8. If I could be the lead character in a book (mention the title), it would be…

Kay Scarpetta in Patricia Cornwell crime novels. She’s extremely intelligent, well respected, a hard worker and also an excellent cook.

9. The most overestimated book of all times is…

The DaVinci Code. It was boring

10. I hate it when a book…

Ends. The adventure is over. :-(

Mad TV Project Runway

2007-11-06T00:17:00.000-06:00

OMG, this is so funny!!!!

The new season of Project Runway starts next week on Wednesday. I'm so excited!!! I love the show. This season all the contestants are working designers. I think the "twist" will make the show better. I think that each design will already have their own "voice"... their own distinct style. Alot of the up and coming designers have suffered from not having their own unique style.... and couldn't come up with designs when challenge was to create a look that reflects their own style/voice. It's been over a year since the shows been on and I'm looking forward to seeing it again.

I've been watching Project Runway Canada on Spice TV. Check it out if you get a chance. Episode 5 was televised Monday night. It should be up on the site in a few days. I think MG's going to win it.

Knitting Meme

2007-11-05T19:40:00.000-06:00

Seen on many knitting blogs, I thought I’d post it on mine. Here’s what I can do after 1 year of knitting. Maybe I’ll post it again next year to compare.

Mark with bold the things you have knit, with italics the ones you plan to knit sometime, and leave the rest. Of course, I added comments.

Afghan I see the Hemlock Ring Throw in my future
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire ????
Shawl Hopefully I'll start the Forest Canopy Shawl in a few weeks
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up I found a short row heel tutorial that I like in 2008 I'll try toe-ups
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk a fine strand with wool for socks
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting maybe
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn If I can get that drop spindle rotating
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit SShhhhh Don't tell my lil brother lol
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns I know how to do it, I just don't like it
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit Sshhh again don't tell my lil brother
Bobbles
Knitting for a living If only I could
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously On my 2008 to do list
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO I need to learn the provisional and crochet cast on
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere (mmm, cashmere!)
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern I want to get Barbara Walker's treasury books
Gloves mittens are warmer!
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows I'm going to try toe-ups with Kathleen's no wrap short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift I think that's all I do
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Hair accessories
Knitting in public
Knitting with buffalo yarn
Knitting with pygora
Dyeing with food dye/drink mixes
Dyeing with chemical dyes (acid, etc)

Flower Cubes, Apple Harvest Socks and Branching Out Scarf

2007-11-05T18:49:00.000-06:00

Flower Cube

I was looking at the wildflower pictures posted on Flickr and found a Pansy Cube. Luvmykatz created it using program found on Dumpr. She was kind enough to answer my email and give me the name of the site she used to create the Pansy Cube. She has swirls, Faberge eggs and alot of other beautiful pictures of flowers.

FO: Apple Harvest Socks

I finished the Apple Harvest Socks I knitted for my friend, S. Her favorite color is green so I hope she likes them. The socks were easy to knit and I'm making the sock pattern my "gotta make a female pair of socks quick pattern."

Sshhhh! It's a secret!!! Don't say anything but I'm making a pair of socks using this yarn for someone......

I'll post pictures at the end of the month. The yarn is White Willow Market's superwash supersoft fingering weight merino in the Snapdragon colorway. It's grapey purple and hot pink. In the picture the hot pink looks orangey.

I've started knitting the Branching Out Scarf again. I put it off to the side in September. I have about 10 more pattern repeats then I'll be done. I'm going to try to block it myself. After I finish it I'm going to try knitting the Forest Canopy Shawl with the Mountain Colors Weaver's Wool Quarters.

Winter Coffee Swap Topic of the Week #1

2007-11-05T18:27:00.000-06:00

When did you first start drinking coffee? What age were you? Was it about the caffeine, or do you love the taste and smell? Tell us how your passion began!

I started drinking coffee when I was in MLT school (medical laboratory technology) in 1990. I was about 22 years old. I'm more of a tea drinker. Coffee gave me (and it still does) a stronger caffeine kick than tea that helped me study, concentrate, focus and stay alert. I discovered mocha frappaccinos earlier this year while I was on vacation. They are so good. Sometimes I have them for lunch on Sundays when I'm working.

iPod Meme and a laugh

2007-10-25T23:30:00.000-05:00

Seen on many sites, I give you my version of it.

Put your iPod/mp3 player on random and list the first 10 songs:
1. Found Out About You - Gin Blossoms
2. I'm Gonna Be Ready - Yolanda Adams
3. Right Here/Human Nature - SWV my week isn't right unless I hear this song
4. Plush - STP one of my favorite bands
5. Holding Back the Years - Simply Red this song came out the year I graduated high school
6. This Is How We Do It - Montell Jordan
7. Sweet Love - Anita Baker from my favorite album of all time
8. My Love - Little Texas
9. Give Me You - Mary J Blige
10. You Get What You Give - The New Rascals

I was reading other people's blogs and discovered this. It had me thinking whatever happened to growing up to become a strong independent woman who doesn't need a man to make her life but to share it.....

My Knitting Anniversary

2007-10-24T00:55:00.000-05:00

Today is my knitting anniversary. On October 24, 2006 at Knotty Girl Yarns, I learned to "stitch and bitch." (Ok.... alright.....I knew how to bitch loong before then)LOL I had my first knitting lesson and learned to cast on using the long tail cast on and to knit. Two days later, I learned to bind off in knit stitch and to purl. I used to hate to purl. I would have to read in my Stitch and Bitch book how to purl because I would choose patterns that used knit stitch only. That was of course before I found out about with website, knittinghelp.com and their great knitting videos.

The reason I knit is because of myaimistrue. Last year I started watching Project Runway. I would read the blogs online that recapped the show. One blog that I kept going back to was www.myaimistrue.com. I thought her recaps were so funny. I started reading her other posts and saw that she was knitting socks. Then October came and she was knitting socks for Socktoberfest. I thought to myself.... I want to do that! So I called around and made an appointment at Knotty Girl Yarns. Looking back that was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I love to knit and it gives me a creative outlet and peace and calm.

Apple Harvest Sock Update:

I knitted heel, heel flap and was decreasing the gusset when I decided to rip back to the end of the leg. I wasn't liking the holes on the sides of the heel flap. Both sides of the heel flap were knitted in garter stitch and when I picked up the stitches on the sides to decrease the gusset, I had holes. I thought if I kept knitting that it would look better but it didn't soooo I ripped. Those extra knit stitches account for the modification of the original pattern in which I casted on 72 stitches instead of 60. I'm going to try knitting the extra stitches in the heel flap in stockinette and see if I like that better.

I've added 2 new sock yarns to my meager sock yarn collection....

The 1st one is Shi Bui 100% superwash merino in Pink Blossom colorway. (It looks orangey in the picture but it's because of the lighting when I took the photo.) It's soo soft. I already have the yarn earmarked for socks for a buddy's upcoming birthday. I covet Shi Bui's Midnight, Peacock, Peony, Mulberry, Marine, Roppongi, and Jewel colorways

The 2nd one is a new find.... Farmhouse Yarns' Bo Peep's Not Just for socks yarn (75% merino and 25% nylon). When I ordered it, I was going to use it for socks as a thank you gift for a buddy that did me a favor. Now that I have it I want to keep it for myself. I also like the boysenberry, old roses, orchid, rhapsody, plums&pinks, and wildflower.

What I'm reading:

I've been reading The Apprentice. It's the second book in the Jane Rizzoli series by Tess Gerritsen. I'm liking it so far.

What I'm watching:

Dexter.... he's the serial killer of serial killers. This is a great show. I've gotten hooked on it. Michael C. Hall plays Dexter on the show. Those that watched HBO's Six Feet Under will remember him as David Fisher. Dex is nothing like sweet David.

House..... I'm liking this season alot better than I liked season 3. Cutty rehired Foreman... I cannot wait until next week to see how House takes the news. I also joined the House Along blog. I've been in Wilson's category(socks). Maybe the shawl I want to knit will fit into Cutty's category. I'm also participating in a "House Challenge." Over on Polite Dissent's blog last week he had use pick out 10 diseases that could diagnosed on House. My picks are

1. dissminated Tb….. and the lab tests will come back way too quick confirming the dx

2. Kawasaki disease

3. TTP- thrombic thrombocytopenic purpura

4. Loeys-Dietz aortic aneurysm syndrome- House will come into the patient’s room and have him/her say aahhh and then we’ll get to see his/her split uvula

5. Nephropathic epidemia with internal hemorrhaging- we’ll get to see a bloody urine so we know there’s renal involvement/cause vole bite

6. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever- tick bite

7. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease-mad cow disease

8. HHT- hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia with AVMs-the team will keep misdiagnosing the patient 1st it’ll be Tb because of the spot in the lungs on the xray until they get to the right dx/treatment will be life long estrogen therapy

9. Neimann Pick disease type C

10. Maple syrup disease-patient has dementia/no one ever collects a urine on the patient

We're competing for bragging rights. I'm excited that I got 3 points this week for Mad Cow Disease.

Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap Questionnaire

2007-10-24T00:18:00.000-05:00

Coffee

What are your favorite kinds of coffee? (Brands, Roasts, anything at all you'd like to share!)
Do you prefer whole bean or ground coffee? Cafe Calypso's house blends are wonderful. I like their Hawaiian Hazelnut and their Carmel Vanilla. Cafe Calypso is a coffee house inside of Half Price Books here in Corpus Christi. I also like Starbucks coffees. I like Starbucks' 10% Kona, Brazil Ipanema, French Roast and Cafe Verona. I prefer ground coffee.

This time of year, there are often Holiday Blends available, and many flavored coffees - do you drink flavored coffee? Yes. Do you enjoy special blends? Yes, I'm willing to try anything.

How do you take your coffee? Cream and Sugar? Straight up? Decaf? Ilike alot of mocha or french vanilla creamer and 3 packets of equal. I don't see the point of decaf coffee.

Do you prefer drinking from a nice thick mug, or a matched cup and saucer? I use 20 oz mugs.

Winter and Holidays

What is your favorite part of Winter? The weather is great. I get to make homemade soups and stews. I get to wear my knitted scarves, socks and hats. I love hot chocolate. Sometimes in the summer (or any other season)I'll drink it at work when I'm cold. Hot chocolate reminds me of my childhood.

Do you celebrate a holiday in December, and if so, which holiday? Christmas

If you celebrate Christmas, do you put up a tree? Sometimes, but the last couple, we've used my roommates' "electric light" fake christmas tree. A real tree can be a handful to deal with....all that vacuuming.

Would you enjoy items related to the holiday, or would you prefer a Winter themed package? A winter themed package would be great.

Do you collect anything? I collect seashells and butterflies. I'm thinking of starting to collect sock yarn because I really don't have a stash. Are there any holiday or winter-themed items (Snowmen, Angels, Snowflakes, Santas, etc) that you collect? no not really

Do you wear scarves? Mittens? Hats? Scarves, socks and hats

What is your favorite holiday or winter treat? Ohio chocolate buckeyes. My roommates' friend makes them every year......they are sooo good..... chocolate and peanut butter....... Of course, I like hot chocolate.

Please share a favorite Winter or Holiday memory. When I was growing up on Christmas eve, my mom and dad take my brother and I out driving around to look at the Christmas lights and decorations.

Yarn and Crafting

Do you Knit or Crochet? For how long? I've been knitting for exactly 1 year today :-) YAY!!! I've crocheting since the summer.

Do you like wooden, metal, or plastic needles\hooks? Circular or straight? I like Susan Bates' crochet hooks. I like how that hooks grab and hold the yarn..... I make fewer mistakes. I like Addi turbo circs. I like that the cable can hold the project when I'm not working on it. I heard good things about Knitpicks Harmony needles. I'm thinking of buying a few because I want to start knitting lace shawls.

What sort of projects do you enjoy making? Socks, socks and more socks LOL

What are your favorite types of yarn to work with? Superwash sock yarn (really an kind of woolen sock yarn) and worsted weight wool

Do you spin or dye? I'm trying to learn to spin. I was gifted a drop spindle and some pretty roving.

Do you do other crafts such as scrapbooking or needlepoint or anything else? I've been trying to sew. I've been trying to take a sewing class but something always comes up and I haven't yet.

General

When is your birthday? April 29th

Do you have any children? (Furry kind count!) no, not right now

What are your favorite colors? reds, blues and purples

Do you have any allergies? no

Fall into AutumnTopic #6...... Apples and Horses

2007-10-18T11:10:00.000-05:00

Now that it is getting cooler here, it makes me think of apple picking and hay rides. Are you the type that likes to go to participate in all the fall festivities like apple picking, pumpkins, decorating for the fall, hay rides, baking fall goodies, etc. or do you just sit and count the days till Thanksgiving/Christmas/Hanukkah?

Apple Picking:
Didn't the Unabomber say the happiest times in his life was going apple picking? lol *
Well this is the closest I'll ever come to picking apples...

It's the Apple Harvest Socks from Northern Sunshine Designs. I'm using the incredibly soft White Willow's superwash sock yarn in the Prarie Grass colorway. It's part of her Native American sock yarn series. I used the Medicine Woman colorway to make the Twist&/Shout socks. My gauge is 9spi. I've modified the pattern because of the gauge and I casted on 72 stitches instead of 60.

Hay rides:
I'm from cattle country, and I've never gone on a hay ride. I've ridden horses(on Mustang Island) before but it's not exclusively a Fall activity. On Mustang Island near Corpus Christi, you can go horseback riding on the beach. Most of the horses they have at the stables are gentle, docile mares. Speaking of mares and horses.... guess what I finished!

Yeah, that's right the Thuja socks in the Thoroughbred colorway for size 13 wide feet. I hope my brother likes them.

Now that I told you about my next sock project and my FO, I'm actually going to answer the topic question..... I like baking in the Fall apple pies, cakes, sweets, etc. I love how when a pie is baking in the oven the house is filled with the scent of cinnamon. I thinking of baking a peach cobbler this year. I've never attempted to do one. Peach cobbler was one of my grandmother's best recipes. I know I won't be able to do it like hers but I'm going to try.

*Note: I'm not saying people who pick apples are crazy. I was just making a joke. When I saw apple picking that was the first thought that came to me. I can remember back in 1996 listening to a radio program and the hosts were talking about the Unabomber. The FBI interviewed Kaczynski and he told them that apple picking with some woman was the happiest time in his life.

Fall into Autumn Topic# 5.... A peek inside my knitting bag and A quick Thuja Sock update

2007-10-11T13:28:00.000-05:00

I don't think the contest is still going on but here's a picture of me knitting. I took a video of me knitting on my digital camera but I don't know how to upload and post it on my blog. Plus it's been a busy week for me so I'm not willing to take the time to learn how to do it. <---- lazy
Flash your needles and other items you use to make your wares. Dpns, circs, straights, hooks,tape measures, darning needles, favorite stitch markers, needle holders, cases, the works!

Here's a peek into my knitting bag:

I've had this messenger bag for a year. I bought it online from Target. It has served me well, but it's time for me to get a new bag. I was awake at 3:00 in the morning watching HSN. I've had good restraint in the past when I'm watched HSN. I usually ask myself do I really need whatever the item is that I'm looking and wanting to buy. In this case my answer was yes. My knitting messenger bag doesn't close anymore. The weekend tote will be here around October 19th.

weekend tote from HSN

The tote bag matches my notions carrying case. It's canvas pencil pouch with a mesh pocket.

I keep inside of it: darning needles, measuring tape, paperclips (I use them as stitchmarkers), Knitchek for measuring gauge, US 1, 3 and 7 crochet hooks for fixing knitting mistakes, scissors, calculator, yellow highlighter, pencil and lip balm.

I keep a ruler in my knitting bag because Ann Budd says that a measuring tape can stretch out and you won't get accurate measurements.

I got my magnetic darning needle holder as a free gift from a UK knitting magazine, ?Simply Knitting?. Has anyone had their Addi Turbos discolor/tarnish a little? The ones I use the most, the US 1s and Us7s both have a little discoloration/tarnish on them. I bought them from YarnMarket.com so I know that there real Addis......

My on the go knitting reference book is Margaret Radcliffe's The Knitting Answer Book. Great book and the lady is a very nice person. Last year I had a question about tension and elongated stitches. I called her in ?Maryland? on a Monday. She was running an errand and her husband said she would call me back. Well, she called me back and explained to me what I was doing wrong. Awesome, she's just awesome. (I think she is a master knitter and deserves a knitting black belt.)

I also keep a journal/notebook in my bag too. I use it to write notes to myself.

Last weekend, I finished reading The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen. It's the first in the Jane Rizzoli series. It was a good suspense book. I liked how the book accurately depicted trauma situations and what blood products a doctor would order in those situations.... ie someone blooding out would require packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma and platelets. <--- It made the nerdy medical lab tech in me happy. The little biography of the author in the back of the book says that she used to be doctor on internal medicine. She knows what she's talking about. Thuja Progress:

I'm now knitting the heel flap of the 2nd sock. Hopefully, I'll be finished with this sock next week.

Thuja Socks for my bubba

2007-10-04T05:35:00.000-05:00

I'm making the Thuja socks for my older brother. His birthday was last month. I casted on for these socks September 20th, a few days after his birthday. This post is for my brother so he can see the progress I'm making on his socks. :-)

Cuff:
I initially casted on 104 stitches based on my 9 spi gauge and his foot circumference estimated as being 11 1/4 inches. I had trouble with ladders and it seemed like there was way tooooo many stitches. (I think my ladder problems stemmed from the fact that I was sleep deprived because I've never had a problem with ladders on 2 circs or magic loop.) I recasted on with 96 stitches and instead of the k1p1 ribbing that the cuff is supposed to be, I did a k2p2 ribbing.

Leg:
I wanted to use a pattern that fairly easy since I would be knitting a big sock. The leg is knitted using seed stitch ribbing. It's a 2 row pattern. A repeating purl stitch in the second row is the only the difference this and stockinette.

Heel Flap and Turning the Heel:
I started the heel with on the wrong side instead of the right side. I did that because I moved the last stitch on needle 2 to needle 1 and moved a stitch from needle 1 to needle 2. I used Schurch's tip, picking up 2 extra stitches at the top of the gusset, to keep holes from forming at the top of the gusset.

Foot and Toe Shaping:
I made the foot 9 3/8 inches long. I used standard toe shaping. I was going to use a round toe shaping since 96 is a multiple of 8 and I had never done it before.... but I decided against it. I think the reason I had 2nd sock syndrome with the Twist & Shout socks was because I was trying to do too many new things.

I immediately casted on and knit the cuff of the 2nd sock. I going to have to stop knitting the sock for a couple of days because I need to finish My So Called Scarf and I'm working.

BTW.... Check out the details for the Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap! YARN and COFFEE...my favorite legal addictive stimulants.... I'm going to sign up! Registration begins October 24th!

Fall into Autumn Topic #4

2007-10-02T18:16:00.000-05:00

Anne's topic of the week: I know that when Fall arrives, I'm much more excited about having foods like Chili and Soups and Crock Pot type meals - there's just something about coming home to a house that smells all nummy and having a nice bowl of warmth when there's a chill in the air outside. How about you? Are there any recipes you especially enjoy having in the Fall? Any foods that are seasonal that you especially enjoy?

I subscribe to a Southern cooking newsletter and I get alot of my recipes from it. One of the recipes I really like is the carne guisado. It's a tender stew meat with gravy. I serve it on top of rice. I also like to make chicken noodle soup with garlic. I serve it with crusty French bread. I know the times when the bakery at the grocery store makes them and I can time it to get them when the bread is fresh out of the oven. Of course Fall wouldn't be Fall if I didn't bake pies especially apple pies. I like to make apple pies with royal gala, jonathan or pippin apples.

Note: The image in this post is from the internet, mindpetals.com and not taken by me.

SP11 Favorites

2007-10-02T16:09:00.000-05:00

A list of my favorites:

Actor - Denzel Washington

Actress - Julia Roberts

Animal - Golden retriever dog

Band - No Doubt

Book - The Color Purple

Bubble Bath - Any of the Bath&Body Works body washes

Candy - Chocolate anything

Color - Purple

Flower - Daisies and pansies

Food - Spaghetti with meat sauce

Lip Balm - Pucker Ups MediLip

Lotion -Victoria Secret Love's Spell Body Butter

Movie - Fargo

Song - there's so many.... at the moment it's Bubbly by Colbie Caillat and Jill Scott's new album

TV Show - House

Vacation Spot - Austin, Tx

Fall into Autumn Topic #3...... plus guess who's on ravelry

2007-09-24T14:16:00.000-05:00

Autumn has now officially begun here in the States!! What is your favorite thing about Autumn/Fall? Why?

Fall means chili. With the cooler Fall weather, I can cook soups, stews and chili. My favorite and only chili recipe is Wick Fowler's 2 Alarm Chili. I serve it with beans and cornbread.

In other news....

Hey there,

frecklegirl has invited you to Ravelry!
"Here you go! Thanks for your interest in our little site.
Let me know if you have any questions or problems!

Jess"

I have received my invitation to Ravelry. I guess I was wrong about the Christmas 2008 ETA for my invite. :-) For those of you who care my ravelry ID is wildflower38.

FO: Twist & Shout Socks.....also what socks are next up

2007-09-20T21:36:00.000-05:00

Finally, I'm done with them. It was a long 2 months of knitting. What I've learned from knitting the Twist & Shout Socks:

1. I don't like short row heels. I can do them, but I just don't like them. It's going to effect me trying to knit toe up socks. I've decided to push back learning to knit toe up socks until 2008.

2. I cannot multitask and knit lace socks. I'm going to mess up. I'd like to try knitting lace socks again...maybe something by Cookie A or out of Sensational Knitted Socks

The next pair of socks I'm knitting are for my brother's size 13 feet. I'm going to knit the Thuja Socks from knitty.com using Fearless Fiber's Superwash merino sock yarn in the Thoroughbred colorway. I'm using US 1 Addi Turbo needles on 2 circs. The modifications to the pattern so far are the fingering sock yarn, US 1 needles, and casting on 104 stitches....I'm gonna be busy.

Look what came in the mail..... It's Mountain Colors Weaver's Wool Quarters in Ruby River colorway. I'm going to use it to knit a shawl. More on that later after I finish the Branching Out Lace Scarf.

Crochet Wednesdays plus a Sock Update

2007-09-19T21:29:00.000-05:00

My wonderful SP11 spoiler sent me some sari silk that I immediately decided to make a cosmetic bag with. I was following a pattern in my Getting Started Crochet book. I ripped out all the stitches and started over again because I didn't want to sew the seams together on the sides and to the zipper. I using a modified pattern for the cosmetic bag. The pattern is actually a pattern for a potholder. I'm just not going to fold the edges diagonally to make the potholder.

Twist & Shout Sock Update:
I so far I've met my goals for knitting the 2d sock.
On Monday I finished the leg and wrapped the stitches for the short row heel.

On Tuesday, I unwrapped and knitted the short row heel. I even knitted a couple of inches of the foot.

My goal for Wednesday is to finish the foot and on Thursday I'll do the toe decreases and kitchener the toe. So I'd better get started.....