More socks

It's the weekend, and I'm finished the toe-up socks for my oldest son. I'm opting not to include a photo because they require some fixing in the gusset area ... there are HOLES in them ... but the holes are equally distributed and uniform, so methinks I had a little problem with the pattern. I think they can be darned and repaired in those areas to close up the holes.

Then and only then will I post a picture.

Of course, I could have frogged back to the area just prior to turning the heel, but how can anyone do that when a seven-year old is eagerly charting progress each and every day?? I'm serious -- one morning this week the first words out of his mouth were, "Mommy, did you turn the heels last night?" No, not "Good morning," or "I don't want to get up today," but "Mommy, did you turn the heels last night."

After they were cast off the needles, I discreetly placed them in an undisclosed location until I can sit down tonight and do some fixing. In the meantime, I started another pair with some Opal yarn I got from someone on line.

And now for some fun. Since I seem to not have very many comments (just two, if my calculations are correct), I've decided to do a little contest -- in an attempt to get folks to read and also to comment. Blogs are interactive, people! So watch this site this week for instructions. Prizes are contingent on your passion -- stamping or knitting.

Stay tuned!

An amusing button...

Just popping in. The Harlot has the cutest button and I just had to share -- and post it on my site. Too cute!

And the Sox have it!

No, I'm not a fan of the Red Sox or the White Sox -- today, it's blue sox. Oldest son's socks, to be exact. Two are in progress, but here's a picture of one. I'm using Wendy's toe-up sock pattern, so wish me luck.


Why are there two in progress? Well, for one thing, I forgot to measure his foot to see how close I was to being ready for the heel. So rather than stop knitting (forbid!), I opted to go ahead and start the second. Second reason: It will allow me to make them the same size pre-heel without counting rows. Yeah, yeah, those two-circ fans will tell me that there's a better way to make them identical, but I'm just not there yet. Besides, I bought two 40-inch number twos and that's just way to much cable for me. I feel like I'm wrestling two snakes and it seems easier to wrestle a single porcupine.

And, since I'm just a joiner, I'm chipping in on the "200X Socks" campaign. Check out my shiny new button on the right sidebar. Uh oh... maybe I should shift my project for the Olympics to socks. But then Vicki would kill me.

The Hat is Done

I finished Cutie Pie's hat this morning and he wants to be on the Internet, so as usual, I do my best to accomodate. Here he is showing off the finished product.

He's very, very happy. He likes the blue stripe (not clearly seen here) the best, so he says.

When my oldest found out that his brother was going to be on my blog, he decided that he'd put in a knitting order. He would like a hat, mittens, a sweater and some socks. In that order. I think he needs a lobotomy first ;) He's reordered them right this second -- socks, sweater, hat and then mittens. Not a bad order, and socks for those little feet shouldn't take long -- or interfere with the Knitting Olympics (only two more weeks of swatching, er, training to go). Oh, and Vicki, I've elected to do your poncho as my Olympic project -- in honor of the Yarn Harlot, who is recovering from DVT. Since they're her brainchild, why not? So you can expect to watch progress online soon. But I can't even cast-on until the opening ceremonies. At least you won't be left wondering when I'll get around to it!

And more progress...

I feel like I'm going to be doing decreases forever, but something tells me I'm on the home stretch.

Maybe tonight's the night I get it all done. Cutie will be so very, very happy!

Lest I forget...

... here's the hat progress! I am hoping to get some progress done on the decreases tonight, so maybe tomorrow it will look a little more like the finished product. I'm done with blue and back to green. Cutie pie gave me a high five for it when he saw progress.

More on the hat tomorrow. I'm digging this yarn ... and thinking that I might make my top-down pullover out of it.

Knitting Olympics

Now I've done it. I've gone and joined the Yarn Harlot's Knitting Olympics. Because the project needs to be a challenge, I've decided to make some mittens. I've never done them before, and since my little cutie has asked for a pair to match his hat (which, rest assured dear readers, progress is being made on despite the lack of photos) I figured it might be a nice thing to try.

Rules are pretty simple -- must cast on during the opening ceremonies and be done by the time the torch goes out. Hmmm... only about two weeks until those ceremonies. I'll keep everyone posted on progress.

Will try to post pics of cutie's hat later tonight ... I'm on the decreases, so it's starting to get some shape. He tried it on his head last night and it looks like it will fit. And he consented to a blue band, so it's a little more fun.

Stay tuned...

So what's next?

My littlest boy has asked me to make him a long stocking cap with matching mittens. So the socks and everything else has shifted down in the queue so I can accomodate him. I picked up a pretty Cascade 220 in green for him ... got enough to do the hat and the mittens. I cast on last night and have about 3/4 of an inch done. I think he thought I'd have it done in an evening ...

So I'm sitting here trying to figure out what to write (a short bit of 2x2 garter rib just isn't interesting), and figured I'd just address some folks specificially:

Vicki, are you out there? Your poncho is now in the queue ... I'll be sending a gauge swatch home with Peter one day this week (if I can get rid of this cold/infection that is threatening to keep me home in bed!) to see if you like the yarn I already have. If not, we'll have to go on an excursion ...

My Aunt Vista is halfway done her poncho! Kudos to her -- between having a sick cow, a full-time house husband (retired totally, even the side job) and holiday madness on the farm -- she's getting there. Her energy level is one that I envy...

And my Aunt Sue has started FOUR new projects. She's becoming (I think) notorious for her lacy tableclothes, and she seemed inspired by the mobius I gave her for Christmas so she's making two. The last project goes unnamed because I don't know who is reading this, but it certainly sounds yummy.

I think it would be pretty darn neat to have other people contribute to this blog ... make comments, everyone!

That's all folks!

The Sweater...

IT'S DONE!! That's right, folks ... after about 11 days of knitting, my top-down V-neck is complete. I apologize for the picture quality, but at least you can see it's completeness. It's a beautiful baby blue, which certainly doesn't show in this lighting. Anyway, just a thank you to all who made it possible -- Laura (and my in-laws), whose gift certificates allowed me to get merino/alpaca/silk yarn (so soft to play with), my kids, who hung on to every stitch and cheered me on, and Clint, who patiently waited and commented -- even though he's generally not a fan of hand-knits. To Aunt Jinnie, who told me about my grandmother's knitting and the beautiful sweaters she created. And lastly, to Aunt Sue ... who told me that the best way to do my first sweater was top-down in the round.

What next? I just don't know yet. I cast on for a pair of socks last night, but the cast was too tight on #1s, so I don't know if I'll shelve them for now and start something else, or if I'll re-cast tonight and give it another shot. I know it will be something small, though. Stay tuned!

Too busy to blog!

Damn. I've been too busy knitting this sweater to type a single word. But golly, I'm makin' progress. Believe it or not, the body is done (except for the ribbing at the neck) and I've started a sleeve! If I play my cards right and carve out knitting time, it should be done by the end of the weekend. There's really no more stockinette or major purling left, so it's downhill from here.

Stay tuned ... at the very least, I'll put a pic of the finished project!

Knitters beware -- I'm becoming a student of steeks and I'm anticipating a cardigan soon. :)

Projects in queue:

- Peruvian DK hat or gloves to match sweater

- Wildfoote socks

- Vicki's poncho in Lion Homespun (lavender)

And, of course, there's always the perfect pie shawl that I've yet to finish...

Next on the needles ...

Here it is, ladies and gentleman ... the next project.

The v-neck sweater from Pure and Simple Knitting. I started the neck last night, and as soon as I get through the interminable stockinette stitching and join the work (only about 14 more rows to go -- should get there tonight!) I should be rocking and rolling until I get to the sleeves. Woo Hoo -- no more purling. I will try to post a progress picture later tonight, but I have this absolutely lovely blue alpaca/merino/silk yarn from "Peru DK" ... it's going to be a great all-year sweater if I can pull it off.

And for those who are interested, the shawl still isn't done but I"m just taking a break...

I'll keep everyone posted!

Happy 2006!

It's January 1, and I have a few crafting resolutions (including projects to start and complete) to share. Note that there are some things here that you can help with...

• Knit a Sweater. I've done lots of small projects and a very large poncho. I'm currently working on a shawl that is made from the most exquisite Peruvian Tweed yarn (I'm 3/10 of the way done as of this morning), but I really want to make a sweater. Aunt Sue has pledged to help with problems, so I think when the shawl is done, I'll get started.
• Finish more than one pair of socks. I seriously suffer from Second Sock Syndrome (SSS), and I admit it. SO, in 2006, I plan on getting a pair of simple anklets done. I have some truly sweet "luxury sock yarn" to help me get started. But socks are a great spring project since they don't overheat your lap.
• Get Clint's scarf done. He's been watching me make things for folks for months and months, and not once have I seriously worked on a scarf for him. This year, I'm gonna do it.
• Hold a crop at my house. That's right, you scrapbookers -- after the holidays, I want to have a paper day at my house. So watch your e-mail for details.
• Pare down my stamp and paper stash. We're in the process of re-doing some rooms in our house, and my paper and stamps are seriously getting in the way. I have rubber stamps for just about everything. Some are unmounted, some are mounted but unused and others are mounted and abused. And I have paper in every color, pattern and texture imaginable. And it seems to be growing, even though I've made a commitment to stop buying non-CM supplies. Keep you eyes peeled to this blog for information on how you can raid my stash for free. I'm plotting a contest of some sort.
• Teach someone to knit. I taught my assistant at work how to knit in 2005. She may be a convert. I figure, if I teach a person a year, then I'm doing my part to expand the handicraft for a few more generations.
• Teach more people to scrapbook and preserve their memories. Anyone interested? Let me know!

Well, that's it for January 1. Happy 2006!