Yesterday I completed my Sockret-Pal’s socks, but I can’t post them yet! I still need to get a few things before I mail the last package. Soon as I know that my pal has received the package, I’ll post the socks. I’m pretty happy with how they came out and hopefully my pal will like them :o)
Month: February 2007
The Reveal!
I got the final package from the Sock-ret Pal Swap on Friday, but I was in New York. I drove back Saturday and was so thrilled to have such a wonderful package to come back to since the drive was not so fun. Lise (go check out her blog!) was the person who spoiled me for the last few months with all sorts of wonderful sock knitting and crafting goodies! I was totally surprised (and thrilled!) with the package and all the goodies it held for me:
Look at that really neat Tote-ally Cool craft tote! I’ve never seen one of those before and I’m already dying to use it :o)
Ooooo…. wonder what’s inside??
Socks!! Chocolate!! And what’s that?? Sock blockers!!!! I totally LOVE the sock blockers! I’ve been wanting a pair for a long time now :o)
Here’s a better photo of the socks:
And a close up of the lacy stitch pattern:
The socks are wonderfully soft and fit like a dream! Thanks for everything Lise!! You’re an awesome pal :o)
Hot Head No. 4
Pattern: Hot Head from Stitch ‘n Bitch
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick ‘n Quick color 182 (Pine)
Needles: US 10.5 bamboo straights
Time: 3 hours
Notes: I’ve knit this pattern 3 times before and I’m sure I’ll knit it again. Next time, though, I’ll be doing it on a circular! I don’t care much for seaming. This was for Nick so that he can keep his head warm while he’s out shoveling snow (hahahaha). He was even kind enough to pose for a photo for me. This is the least crappy of the three he let me take (in the others he look drunk and had his eyes half closed).
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Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! ❤
Granny Square (aka Look I can crochet!)
In the past I taught myself how to do a single crochet and double crochet, but couldn’t do anything beyond making a square or rectangle. I’ve been wanting to learn a little more than that and mostly be able to read patterns, so yesterday I got a book to help me out. Today I taught myself how to make Granny Squares:
It’s a little wonky (in my opinion), but I think it came out pretty good for my first attempt :o)
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I’m a little bummed about this, but I know it’s for the best. I’ve decided that I’m not going to join any more swaps until we are moved and settled into a place. I’m bummed because I thought about joining The Project Spectrum Swap and/or Secret Pal 10. I decided not to because we’re still in limbo with the move and not being settled makes it difficult to do swaps. Not only that, but so much of my crafty stuff is packed up and not accessible which means I have to buy more of what I already have or somehow manage without it. So, after talking it over with Nick, we both agreed that it would be best to wait until we are settled somewhere. *sigh* I know its for the best and I’m sure there will be other cool swaps once we are settled, but it bums me out a bit. Still, in light of the fact that I will not be swapping for a while and my crafting is sort of limited, I think I may join Project Spectrum. I’ll decide in the next few days if I will or not.
We’re expecting lots of snow tomorrow and we’ve planned a day spent at home. I’ll be doing my taxes (see the software in the background of the above photo? it’s waiting for me!), hopefully finishing my Sock-ret Pal socks, and maybe even learning more crochet!
New yarn and other crafty things
Today I went to Cornucopia Yarn Shop with Nick to get some non-wooly yarn for a scarf for me. While we were there, we came across Sock Wizard Software. Now, I love knitting socks and have been struggling with making my own patterns. After a discussion about if I’d really use it (YES!), Nick bought it for me! Haven’t had much of a chance to play with it, but I’ve tested the waters and so far it seems pretty nifty.
I ended up getting 4 hanks of Noro Lily in color 28 which is a beautiful blue color. I’m going to use the Argosy scarf pattern. Here’s a photo of the yarn with pretty accurate color:
Today, I also picked up a copy of The Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller. I have both of the Stitch ‘n Bitch books and like the way they are set up and the instructions, so I went ahead and got this one (finally!). I’ve attempted crochet countless times and still struggle with it. I want to learn to crochet!! I’m hoping this will give me the kick I need to finally learn and crochet some things that I’ve been really wanting.
That’s all I’ve got for now. No real knitting progress to report as I haven’t been knitting much lately. I need to get working on my Sock-ret Pal socks so they will be done in time (not that I’m too worried about it… I’m halfway down the leg of the second sock). I also have another pair of socks on the needles that are very simple and have been getting more knitting time because of that and I have another pair I want to cast on for. I think I may wait to cast on for the scarf until I’m done with the sock just to get me motivated ;o)
Happy crafting all!
FO – Belt!
The other day I bought a jacket at the GAP Outlet for $19.99 (original price was $148.00). The only thing wrong with it was that the belt was missing. It was SUCH a cute jacket and I needed a smaller coat to wear, I got it anyhow with the intention of knitting a belt for it. I figured I could use something with a little bit of tan in it, or variegated browns to give it some color and a different look. When I went to Michael’s I found the Patons SWS with pinks and brown and knew it would be perfect!
Pattern: My own – cast on 10 stitches, worked in garter stitch until all yarn was used, made it approx 50 inches long
Yarn: Patons SWS – 70% wool/30% soy, approx 110 yards
Needles: US 6 bamboo straights
Time: Started 2/9/07 , Completed 2/10/07
Notes: This is a nice yarn to work with and I love the colors!
Here’s the jacket on me (ignore the funny face I’m making):
And here’s a closer up photo of the belt on the jacket (I was too lazy to take it out of the jacket to take a picture of the whole thing by itself – sorry!):
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In other news, I GOT A JOB! I’m pretty psyched about it! I start on Feb. 19th. Now Nick just needs to get a job. I’m going back to New York for the rest of this week and Nick and Nathaniel will be coming back with me since Nick has an interview on the 17th (cross your fingers for him!).
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Keep on knitting and crafting!
Shetland Triangle FO
Here it is! The Shetland Triangle has been done for quite some time, but the weather hasn’t given me any good natural light to take photos until today.
Pattern: Shetland Triangle
Yarn: 4 skeins Debbie Bliss Pure Silk in natural
Needles: US 8 circular
Time: Started 10/22/06, Knitting Completed 1/6/07, Blocked 1/30/07, Totally Completed 1/31/07
Notes: This was an easy pattern to memorize. I think it’s a great first lace project for someone that’s not a lace scarf. The silk was a little difficult to get used to since it has no stretch to it at all, but I did get the hang of it after a while. It would have been done a lot faster, but I put it aside for a while and then once it was done, I had no place to block it. Overall, I’m very happy with the finished product!
Not much I don’t like…
There’s not much I can really say that I don’t like about knitting. Most of it I have picked up with ease and continue to do so. From the basic pattern to the complex, I can do it. I’m not trying to brag here, but I feel like I’m just a natural at it. I love to knit and I can’t believe it took me so long to try it! Anyhow, there IS a point to this…. to show that not everything knitting comes to me easily and I do struggle with certain techniques.
I like sock knitting. It’s quick, portable knitting and patterns range from easy to complicated (not to mention all the yarns and patterns to choose from!). I’m a top-down sock knitter, though. I have the top-down thing mastered. I’m even all about the DPN’s over the magic loop thing. Aside from the very first sock I knit which was toe-up and after it was done was abandoned and the second sock never came to be…. I don’t suffer from “second sock syndrome” and always get the pair completed. I strongly believe that the reason the first sock I ever knit never got a mate was because it was toe-up.
I hate toe-up socks! I really, really struggle with it. It takes so much effort to get them started while I wrestle with the needles and yarn multiple times to get it to come out right. Pffft. Who needs toe-up socks?! Not me that’s for sure.
Now, I know that there are benefits to knitting socks toe-up. The fit is much more adjustable and you don’t knit the whole leg and then find out that there’s no way the foot part will ever fit your feet (like my recent attempt at the Monkey socks). Baudelaire didn’t work out so good, though…. that was toe-up and I had to scrap that whole thing because once I got the heel done they didn’t fit! At any rate, I’m really trying to give it a go. I joined a sock-knitting Yahoo! group and the pattern for Feb/Mar is toe-up. I know there’s some modifications I want to make as I go along and the best way will be to do this toe-up. Hopefully I’ll get the hang of the whole toe-up sock thing, but I’ll tell you that so far it’s not going well. I’ve had 4 starts on the toe already and I think I may finally have gotten it right and the toe is starting to take shape.
Send me luck with these darn things!
PS: What is there that you struggle with in knitting?
Shedir #2 FO
It’s that time again! Another finished object!! I’ve been working on a lot of small projects lately. I’d really like to start something big, but don’t have the yarn to start a sweater or shawl. Right now I’m on the hunt for the right sweater pattern for my next big project. As soon as I find it, I’ll start hunting down some yarn. Anyhow… on with the most recent FO!
Pattern: Shedir (PDF link)
Needles: US 3 circular and DPN’s
Time: Started 1/29/07, Completed 1/31/07
Yarn: Rowan Calmer (75% cotton/25% acrylic) color 485
Notes: This is my second time knitting this hat. For me this is a quick knit once I got the hang of the chart. I did make a few modifications that were nearly the same as the first time I knit it – l knit 3 repeats (instead of 5) and then adjusted the top decreases to make it so there is no nipple on top – the first time I had to rip back and adjust the decreases which made it go in a little – I like what I did this time much better. This is going to my middle sister since my youngest sister got the last one I knit. Who knows, I may end up knitting this again for myself!
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