Wayward Knitting

2008 - The Year of 12 Socks

or more accurately, the year of 12 pairs of socks, or perhaps, the year of 24 socks. That's my new year's resolution (that, along with taking vitamins).  Anyway, I tried to finish the tofutsies socks from hell, but I was distracted by the loveliness of Maui.

Of course, before we flew out for Maui, we left some pretty chilly Northern Californian weather (I know, midwesterners think I'm a wimp) and so I was furiously knitting toddler socks.

Incidentally, I never realized it was so hard to buy wool socks for children until I had a toddler with cold feet.  All the storebought socks here are cotton/nylon. 

Artyarns from Full Thread Ahead to the rescue:

Toddler socks go quickly.  So quickly that if you get distracted, you might do this:

Whoops.

Or even better, you resolve to make both socks longer and then you discover it comes down to this:

Doh!  Had to kitchener the toe with some random stash yarn. 

Of course, I did manage to finish these in Maui--not that we needed them in the 79 Degrees F weather.

This is the lovely Lorna's laces in rainbow in shepherd sport on size 4 needles, pattern from Ann Budd's Handy book of patterns.

Then I started some socks for myself but got too vigorous.

I have written to Brittany Birch so hopefully I will have some replacement needles soon.  In the meantime, I picked up some Hiyahiya needles from my LYS to keep going. 

btw, very proud to share that this is my oldest sock yarn from stash.  It's Cherry Tree Hill in African Grey and Kristi and Cookie were the only reason I bought it.  Now I'm glad I did, it's beautiful and it's the reason I was motivated to learn how to knit a sock in the first place.  Go sock evangelists!

I'm all ready for winter...

but it's 71 degrees F out, so clearly not scarf weather.

  Pattern: A Scarf Askew from MagKnits

  Yarn: Cascade Venezia from my    LYS. 2 skeins.

Mods: Venezia is a lovely bulky merino and silk yarn.   The label suggests a size 8 or 9 needle.  I went up to 10.5, which still wasn't lacy enough.  I cast on 28 stitches, instead of the 35 that the pattern calls for due to the bigger yarn and needles I used.

I love the yarn, very springy and lovely.  The scarf will go great with my coats once the temps finally cool down here!

C is for Cookie

Happy Halloween!

Socktoberfest

Dinner last night was sausages, potatoes and Hefeweisen from an Oregon brewery.  Just trying to get in the spirit of Octoberfest!

And of course, the Socks That Rock Mist is on the needles now--Cedar Creek.  I'm thrilled with the pattern and yarn, no pooling so far:

The picot trim was fun, but seems to flare out a bit.

Flair was sidetracked a bit, but thanks to a lovely knitter sending over some more Rowan ASC in orkney for me to finish, we're back in action.  She is getting a little STR love in the now discontinued Foo Foo.  As you may have guessed from my knitting, I like the pink. 

Yarn Pr0n

Another baby shower...another baby hat--still going on the giant ball of yarn I used for Riley Jack's hat and booties.

And, of course, I was so proud of myself for teaching myself double crochet to finish up the Almost Famous Luggy Bonnet hat that I immediate cast on for some socks. 

It's Socks That Rock lightweight in mist.

Almost Famous Luggy Bonnet

It seems that knitters are fond of Harry Potter and I'm no exception.  When I purchased Weekend Knitting, this kid's hat was one of the first things I wanted to make. 

The "almost famous" part of the title refers to the fact that this hat was supposed to be for a scene in HP when baby Harry is delivered to his aunt Petunia's doorstep.  Alas, it was a warm day, no need for a wool hat!

Here it is after a few ends were woven in.  I have since double crocheted a trim around the brim and ear flaps and now it is blocking, with it entirely stretched around my son's little tigger ball.

Ignore my craptastic stranded knitting.

Knitters always want to see the inside.

Did I mention there were a zillion ends to weave in? In fact, it was when I started this hat at BobaKnit that Kristi alerted me to Aija's tutorial on weaving as you go. 

I did start doing that but even then, there were a boatload of ends to weave in!!!  Here's just one side of ends. 

Phone camera photo

Desperate bloggers have to resort to the camera on their phone when they are about to mail out their knittedn items and realize they have forgotten to take a photo! *gasp*

Lesson to self - keep a real camera in my purse if I want to be a credible blogger.

Little hat and booties for Baby Riley Jack.  Yarn is a wonderful random striped yarn I picked up from my LYS, Full Thread Ahead in Los Altos.  It's machine washable, and also 25% wool so it doesn't squeak.

Shrug from Fitted Knits

It fits! I'm so excited that I got a photo as soon as I cast off!  Not blocked, and ends still dangling.

Pattern from Fitted Knits by S. Japel (Glampyre)

Yarn - Lion Brand Cotton Ease

Size 8 and 7 circs.

Candy Floss Twist Socks

Finished doidlin' and finally finished these.  I started these in *ahem* March, so at this rate, I might finish all my sock yarn by the time my son graduates from college.

The Pattern - adapted from HelloYarn's Cable Twist pattern as modified by Grumperina and Annypurls.

Yarn - Shelridge Farms, purchased at Stitches West.

Size 2 needles.

The yarn was lovely , soft, not splitty and very springy.  I had a lot of trouble mastering the Left Twist stitch but I love the way it looks.  These are my 2nd pair of the Cable Twist socks.  The first pair went to my MIL for Mother's Day, and in Artyarns worsted--too last minute to take a photo for the blog.

Sweaters Definitely Look Better on a Model

The Debbie Bliss Raglan on Ms. S:

The gift recipient proclaimed the ribbon to be the "fancy" part.  Apparently, she's big on "fancy" clothes now.