Hah! I am posting and no one will expect it! I just received my new shipment from the Rocking Sock Club and I wanted to post a picture. Sorry about the bad lighting, it's cloudy here. I do have some stash to document so I hope to catch up on that, but...I'm not making any promises! I do have some other Blue Moon I added, along with Fiesta Boomerang, Knittery, and I don't know what all.

Yep, it's been almost 3 months since my last post. Very bad blogger. I have been knitting, but not for myself. Well, I've been knitting and playing World of Warcraft! I got a job at a yarn store so I have been knitting samples and swatches for the store. Here is the first sweater I knit for the store in Manos Cotton Stria:
The pattern is a Manos pattern in one of their books. I'll have to check at the store.
Well, my real reason for posting is that I am FINALLY finishing the Koigu socks that I started, I dunno...5 MONTHS ago! After all that time, I couldn't remember how I did the bind off on the first sock. So, I went to my trusty blog thinking all the info had to be there...and, what's this? no info about the bind off?!! what kind of a blog is she running? So here 's the pertinent info on the bind off: I used Grumperina's stretchy bind off and it worked perfectly! My new favorite bind off for socks. Woot!
So, what do I knit next?

Yes, I finished the sweater vest! My daughter, H, is completely happy with it so I am happy. She can wear it all spring. She says it came out just like she wanted it . That's important since she designed it. The specs are a little sparse on this vest but here goes:
Needles: knitpicks Size 7
Yarn: Tahki Cotton Classic in Cactus(4 skeins), Sunflower(1), Turquoise(1).
Pattern: my own with H's input
Start: Well, the first time was Dec. 4. This time was around Jan. 12.
End: Feb. 18.

And since I am in a pic posting mood, here is the baby hat I made for a friend's granddaughter. This took me longer than it should have because I knit it on size 3s.
And here is the vest not on my daughter :)
So now I get to work on socks for ME! Yea!

These are part of my Valentine's Day present from my DH. He does get me the best presents :)

Lorna's Laces in Ravenswood and Gold Hill above and below is Schaefer Anne. There is more yarn, but I haven't taken pictures of it yet.

Now, since it has been awhile since I posted, I do have a project pic as well.
I have to admit that this is an old project pic. I have finished the front and am now on the final inch of the back. But my warcraft character is doing great! I'll get an updated picture done soon...as soon as i level up my character a wee bit more!

Awhile back I fell in love with the Loopy Blues color from Yarn Pirate. It's an exclusive color for Loopy Ewe and they sold out of it almost immediately. So when I saw that Sheri had some back in stock at the Loopy Ewe, I had to buy it immediately. This is it in the merino/tencel on top and Toasted from Claudia's Handpainted Yarns. 'Cause you know I can't just buy the one skein when I can get free shipping by adding just a wee bit more...

This one I have no excuse for. I was weak while walking through the Yarn Barn and couldn't resist. It's Koigu KPPPM in 407, I think. It's actually a little darker than this picture, but it was the best I could do.

And next time I will post a crazy boring progress pic.

I know I have been a bad blogger. Before, I was having trouble getting my kids to let me use the computer because they were playing Warcraft. I now regret to inform you that I, also, have fallen victim to the Warcraft addiction. Since the new release of Burning Crusade, my entire family has been playing nonstop. I feel so ashamed. ;)

Also, I had thought to join the Knit From Your Stash bandwagon...I didn't even make it 3 weeks. So, here I am. With, apparently, not enough willpower to fill a thimble. So in my next post, which I promise won't take 3 weeks, I will post pics of the new additions to the stash and the project progress update. I know you're dying in anticipation.

I have been knitting, even if I haven't been blogging. There just doesn't seem to be a whole lot to blog about. I have been avoiding knitting H's sweater vest because I am unhappy with how the edges of the intarsia look. And how fiddly intarsia in the round is. I have been contemplating frogging the whole thing and starting over with regular intarsia, but I don't think H would let me. She is anxious for the sweater vest to be done and doesn't want it taking any longer than it already has. And there is that hope that washing and blocking will help some of the wonky stitches. (But I don't really believe that.)
In my knitting avoidance, I did cast on for a new sock. I just wanted an easy project to work on for the college bowl week and random tv watching.


This is Koigu KPPPM in p113D and this is my first toe up heel flap. I had to knit the heel twice because the first version didn't really fit my heel. I did more research and found the Widdershins pattern and the notes that the author made to tailor the heel to your own sock. I am so impressed that she even came up with a formula to figure out the stitch counts. I love this heel flap! I can easily memorize this heel and there are no stitches to pick up. It also fits my heel great. The only problem I have with this heel is one of my own creation. I didn't increase enough for the gusset stitches so the heel flap is 1 cm too shallow, but it still fits great. I'll just adjust it on the second sock and any future socks.

So, I am no longer avoiding the vest and I hope to finish it by next week. Then maybe she won't give me the evil eye when she sees me knitting on something else.

I hope your holidays are going great. Sorry for the pics, but it is very overcast here. These are my Christmas presents, in addition to my big present that I received 2 months early(my car).The skeins are Opal on the left, Schaefer Anne on the right, Colinette Jitterbug in Blue Parrot on top, and another Schaefer Anne on the bottom.
With all the Christmas stuff going on, there has not been much knitting. But now that we are in college bowl week, I predict things will be changing. :) I just love knitting while I am watching football.

My final package for the 2006 Rockin' Sock Club arrived on Saturday, and I was one of 5 winners for the 20 questions contest! It's embarrassing how much time I spent filling out the sheet, but it was worth every minute. My prize is the skein on the right - it's Seduction (their 50%merino/50% tencel blend) in the Puck's Mischief color. I love the sheen and color on this yarn. And the feel... oh my, it's soft.
The middle skein, a Rare Gem, was the bonus for signing up for the entire year. I don't know how they did it, but I absolutely adore the one I got. I know I say it every time, but this is definitely my favorite. ;) I love looking at it so much in the skein, I don't know if I will be able to knit it up. Especially since I can't get another one! I loved being a part of this club and I think they did a fantastic job.

Alright, I am obviously out of my mind. I went to Lawrence and KC this weekend on the pretext of getting my friend to try on her socks. You know, so I could officially get them off the needles. Well, apparently a few yarn stores got in the way and I came home with these new sock yarns. Like I don't have enough for the next few YEARS. The top one is the new Colinette Jitterbug. I had heard about it on the Knittyboard, but wow! It is so vibrant and squishy, a lot like STR on first glance. I'll have to knit this up SOON. The bottom ones are more Koigu I picked up at The Studio. I also had another friend with me who insisted on buying for me a sock yarn I was eyeing, but had put back:
This is J-Knits (Superwash Me-Light Sock in the Amesbury color), which I had not heard of before. The Studio had several different colors of it and they all looked pretty interesting. Oh, and I got the Colinette at Knit-Wit in Olathe. So now I'm really in the mood to knit some socks.
And the socks I knit for my friend...they fit! Woo-Hoo! So I kitchenered (is that a word?) the seams and they are ready to go.

Okay, I admit I was a little hasty in casting on for H's argyle vest. When I first cast on for this vest I hadn't even done a gauge swatch. A friend of mine mentioned that wasn't like me, but I just wanted to get going with this project.

Well, when I discovered that the designer (my daughter, H) did not want ribbing in the bottom band and had to rip back anyway, I went ahead and did a gauge swatch. So now I have the correct gauge, everything is going great right? It would have gone great if I hadn't made a stupid math error in how many stitches to cast on!
So, after a few false starts, I finally have the bottom band to this vest started and I meet with a knitting buddy of mine. She kindly points out that I can't do intarsia if I'm knitting in the round (which I am). I take the Scarlett O'Hara approach and decide I'll think about that tomorrow. Or whenever I get to the point of having to knit the diamonds.

Well, my first attempt was NOT pretty. I was winging it and doing some kind of weird stranding. I realize there has to be something on the internet and I come upon this site which is perfect! Using the last method she describes, I finally have something close to the desired result:

I actually finished the felting on this bag on Tuesday last week, but it took me awhile to do the sewing. I needed to sew the backpack strap to the bag, a couple of D rings the tie the strap to, and the front pocket. The pocket on the front had to be sew on twice because the first time I had sewn it on crooked. I thought I could eyeball it but I was wrong. I know it still looks a little crooked in the picture, but that's just the way the bag is sitting (or so I hope!).


My daughter loves it so that's all that matters. Now she wants me to work on her argyle vest so I have cast on for that in some Tahki Cotton Classic in a grass green.With all the snow recently I am really feeling the need for more socks. I think I need to go check the stash...

Thanksgiving was very good for knitting since I managed to get a lot done. First, I have an almost finished pair of socks:I just need to kitchener the toes, but I am waiting until the recipient can try them on before I do that. I am afraid they will be too snug, but if that's the case my little girl will have some new socks! So in my mind, these are done before the deadline of the end of the month.

Next, I have the backpack I have been working on for my little girl, H. H has been wanting this for awhile and now I am almost done. As soon as I get the top edge done I can toss this in the washer for the felting.


The pattern,"Kick It Up" Kid's Backpack, is out of the Knitting pattern a day calendar from 2005. The yarn is Plymouth Outback Wool in color 996. I am hoping to get this one done by the end of the week and then I can start on an argyle vest H has requested. We picked up the yarn for it on the way to Grandma's house, so I need to get started soon.

Well, I did finish my Clapotis on Monday night, but trying to get my computer from the Warcraft- playing members of my family has been difficult. So here is the picture, finally. I couldn't get the whole thing in the picture without it being kinda far away.

I did start working on the socks and realized that the pattern I was working on can't be done with the two-socks-on-one-needle technique. Or maybe I'n not smart enough to figure out how to make it work, so my socks are on separate needles now. I had a moment of panic when I tried on the socks to see if they were long enough and I could barely get them over my heels. So I called the recipient and she assured me her feet are much smaller than mine, so hopefully there should be no problems.

My DD also has me working on a felted backpack for her, so those are the current projects. But I am feeling a huge need to cast on for something else. I'm not sure what, but the need is there.

My yarn arrived today! Sorry about the dark picture, but mail didn't arrive until 5:15. Here is the yarn before I ripped into it:And After:
This is Claudia's Handpainted yarn in Just Plum on top and Purple Earth on the bottom. I love the yarn and the shipping was really fast considering Saturday was a no-mail day.

My clapotis is almost done. I predict late tonight. I actually finished yesterday, but I misjudged my yarn amount and did one too many straight repeats. So I ripped back and reknit. Then it's socks!

I came to a realization when I was watching football yesterday and my son had my computer to play Warcraft; I get a lot more knitting done when I'm not surfing on my computer!

Do I really need a title?

I haven't blogged in a while because there hasn't been much to blog about. I have been knitting on my socks and Clapotis and that's about it!


I am almost done with the straight section on my clapotis and so far I have plenty of yarn left. I was really worried about having enough yarn after reading about everyone's issues with it; then, I see that Knitty even changed the pattern to 4 skeins of Lion & Lamb. This, of course, after my DH had already given me the three skeins. So I did some research on the ol' internet and came up with this site that tells you how to see if you have enough yarn to complete your clapotis. I just started my third ball so I should be fine.

Also, I just ordered some yarn from The Loopy Ewe and I can't wait! My self imposed yarn hiatus is over. I have been wanting to try some Claudia's Handpainted and now I have some on the way.

It's almost over

Here are pictures of my sock club kit that arrived today. You know I'm always excited to see my Blue Moon package with the rest of my mail, but I couldn't help but be a little sad when I got this one. You see it's the next to last shipment in my membership, so it's almost over. I love having something to look forward to and knowing yarn is on the way! I think I have to sign up for the next year. It's like the best magazine subscription ever.

Late to the Party

This is a progress pic of my clapotis. I'm doing it out of the recommended Lorna's Laces Lion & Lamb in Sandridge. Sorry the picture is a little dark, it has been overcast for awhile here.

I was reading an interesting discussion over at Knitter's Review about the popular patterns and if the popularity influences whether you knit them or not. My feeling is that if I like the pattern, it doesn't matter what everyone else is doing. The clapotis and birch are both really popular patterns on the internet, but I really liked how they looked. Also, just because something is popular among knitters doesn't make it ubiquitous among the general population because the percentage of knitters is not that large. The figure I've heard is about 15% of Americans are knitters or crocheters. So even if everyone knit the same thing, it's not like picking it up at the Gap or something.

A little bit of spinning

Here's my spinning progress so far:

I finally sat down and just started spinning. There are a couple of sections where I had the tension set too tight and didn't get enough twist, but I finally got it set right and things were pretty smooth after that.Now I'm just worried about how to ply it since I love the colors and don't want to muddy them up. My navajo plying stinks, though. Well, I have a little bit more until I need to worry about it.
On the knitting front, my clapotis is coming along. I'm still in the increase section, but I have also been working on these socks:


I feel guilty about how long it has taken me for these socks. They are a gift for a good friend of mine, but I got wrapped up in knitting Birch and now Clapotis. I will finish these socks by Thanksgiving, if not sooner!

I'm done!

My Birch is blocking on my DIY blocking board from Home Depot. This is my first time using blocking wires so please excuse my less-than-straight edges. And here's a close up:
The horizontal lines are the ones I drew on my board to grid the blocking board.
So here are the stats on Birch:
Started: August 30, 2006
Finished: October 15, 2006
Yarn: Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Smoke, 2 3/4 balls
Needles: Size 8 Knitpicks Circulars
Modifications: None!
In case you were wondering, yes, I immediately cast on for my Clapotis last night. My Knitpicks order still hasn't arrived, but I think it will be here today. You know, now that I'm done and don't need the needle tips! It's alright, I'm sure I'll need them at some point.