Current WIPs

I can't believe I've been working on the Mystery Stole 3 for 2 months, and haven't posted a picture yet! I've been so busy working on it, I just haven't taken the time to get the camera. Plus there's not really a good place to spread it out for pictures, color and space wise, other than our guest bed, and it's covered with spare clothes right now. That I've been too busy to sort because I'm knitting :) Well, I'm nearly finished, but I wanted to post at least once before the final shots. I pinned it out slightly at stitch group tonight and took this picture. I think I have about 50 rows left to go. Woohoo! I'm using Jaggerspun Zephyr laceweight in Peacock. You can't see them but there are tiny little dark green beads in there too.

I also started these toe up socks from some more discontinued Knit Picks Dancing from my stash. I am doing a K3 P1 rib on the instep and will continue it on the leg. I'll probably use the gusset and heel flap from the Widdershins pattern. The toe was Wendy's short row toe (my favorite right now). I've decided I there must be something about this yarn I don't like - The Jaywalkers I knit with it took, what, 3 or 4 months to knit I think. I started these at least 2 weeks ago, and I'm only as far as the gusset on the first sock. The socks I just knit with the Online Supersocke only took about 2 weeks, and it was a cotton blend too. I like the feel of the Dancing yarn, and it knits up okay. I don't know if I don't like how often it changes colors (about every 3-8 stitches), or the slight stretchiness (it has elastic), what. I can't pinpoint it. Anyway, these are the last two skeins of it I have, so once I finish this pair, I'm done with it.

I'm in a hurry to finish these two projects. I'm chomping at the bit to start the Tilted Duster cardigan / jacket featured on the cover of the latest Interweave Knits. Fortunately, the yarn I ordered from Webs is on back order, or there would be no way I could resist casting on!

FO Report: Widdershins

Pattern: Widdershins

Yarn: Online SuperSocke 100 Summer

Needles: Knit Picks size 1

Started: July 26, 2007

Finished: August 12, 2007

Modifications: The pattern was written for a different gauge yarn than I used, so I had to adjust the number of stitches to knit, plus the number of increases for the gusset and the number of stitches for the heel flap. I also used the cast on and short row toe from Wendy's Detailed Toe Up Sock pattern. I had approximately 20% more stitches and rows per 4" than the pattern gauge called for, so I increased all the stitch numbers and increase numbers by 20%. It worked like a charm. I also knit the leg in 2 x 2 ribbing instead of 1 x 1.

This yarn was gifted to my by my non-blogging friend Susan (thanks Susan!), and I actually think I have the same color in my stash. I also have two other skeins, and look forward to using them all! I really liked it, but haven't seen it used much. It is a cotton / wool blend and is machine washable. These socks are color #792, Dungarees.

This Kitten Knits

Check out Jacquelyn's blog This Kitten Knits. She is having a contest for her first blogiversary! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on the contest post, and then post about it on your blog. For each person who comments that you sent them, your name gets entered again for the drawing! So, please let her know I sent you :)

Also, while you are there, check out her patterns! She is has quite the talent!

Ravelry

I got my Ravelry invite a couple or so weeks ago, and I've been doing lots of browsing and uploading! I don't have all my projects up there yet, and I haven't photographed any of my yarn, but if you're interested, my Ravelry ID is Pennylane.

Now back to it before my lunch is over!

SP11 Hostess questions

My SP11 hostess, Jenn, has a set of questions for her swappers. Here are the questions and my answers!

1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without? Hmmm, assuming needles are a necessity and not an accessory, I'd have to say stitch markers.

2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? If so, how much and what type of project? Absolutely! I take knitting everywhere. On vacation I take probably 3 times too much, and it's usually socks and a favorite current project, as long as its not too complicated.

3. Where have you travelled to that you'd consider your favorite spot? I've always loved Colorado for vacations, and the lake here in Oklahoma my family has always gone for weekend trips.

4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? Do you own it? My favorite book is usually the one I most recently bought (Fitted Knits by Stephanie Japel), but the one I keep going back to is Knitting from the Top by Barbara Walker, and yes I do own both of them.

5. Do you listen to podcasts? Which is your favorite(s)? I do, my favorite is Lime & Violet because they always make me laugh out loud :)

Oops

I started a new pair of socks right after I finished the Jaywalkers. One of them is finished completely, and the other is in progress. This picture was taken a few days ago , when I was just about to start the gusset increases. I noticed a little something strange near the toe of the second sock. Anyone see it?

Check out the close up.

Yep, that's a dropped stitch, discovered about 40 rows or so after dropping. I ended up dropping the one next to it, and used two crochet hooks to pick both of them back up . The resulting fabric is a little firm in that area, but it beats frogging back nearly to the beginning of the sock.

Spin-tastic!

Check out the awesome package I received from Tamara at Spincerely Yours! I was a winner in a blog contest she held recently, and she sent me some gorgeorus yarn and roving! The yarn is Baby Merino DK, and the roving is 2 oz of Superwash Merino. I love the colors - Yay!

Check out Tamara's Etsy shop. This makes me want to get back into dying, but I'm way too busy right now.

Thank you Tamara!!

Secret Pal 11 Questionaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I prefer natural fibers, I don't care so much for acrylics, unless they are blended with wool or cotton, etc.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have my KnitPicks options in their case, but my dpns are stored in a plastic tub.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? My Aunt Ruth taught me to knit when I was seven, a garter stitch scarf with ivory acrylic yarn. I've knit on and off since then, consistently for the last four years. I think I'm somewhere between intermediate and advanced.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? I do, my Amazon list is linked in the sidebar, under My Favorite Online Shopping.

5. What's your favorite scent? Hmm - orange / vanilla, or any kind of fruity scent. Not so fond of the florals, unless its a light one like gardenia or jasmine.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Absolutely, I love chocolate, especially dark chocolate :)

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I am just learning to spin, and am very much a beginner. I cross stitched for a couple of years, and am sort of on a quilting hiatus while my kids are so small. I probably have 10 quilts in progress, and a huge stash.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I can play MP3s, and I like all sorts of music - seriously. For example right now on my ipod, I have Sting, Paul McCartney, Panic at the Disco, Ehren Starks (classical), the Oceans 11 and Pretty in Pink soundtracks, and a ton of Ben Folds music. Plus lots of podcasts :)

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I like oceany colors, blues, greens, plus purples. I also love a deep true red. I don't care for bright orange or yellow.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? Married with a 4 year old son and 2 year old daughter, and a 6 year old dog.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes, when its cold enough here - usually 2-3 months out of the year.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I've been on a cardigan kick for a long time, but it looks like I'm starting to gravitate towards socks.

13. What are you knitting right now? A Debbie Bliss cardi with a sailor collar for my daughter, some Widdershins, and the Mystery Stole 3.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Circular and aluminum. I do use straight plastic Bryspuns for my lace knitting.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes, both.

17. How old is your oldest UFO? About 4 months on the DB cardi. (We won't discuss the quilting UFOs).

18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas.

19. Is there anything that you collect? Yarn ;). Oh, I also have a few dragonfly items.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I just renewed my Interweave Knits subscription. I'd like to try one of the bamboo yarns, and as far as books & patterns go..... I have really been wanting Knitting Vintage Socks, and Get Started Knitting Socks by Ann Budd. I also like the new Jordana Paige pattern for the Trapeze Jacket.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I guess I'd say Entrelac - I have the book and enough Silk Garden for the Lady Eleanor wrap, but haven't taken the plunge yet. I hear its best to learn to knit backwards, and I don't know how to do that yet.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yes I am, I wear a size 9 1/2 M.

23. When is your birthday? March 25

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? I just joined last week, and haven't had time to do anything with it yet. My ID is pennylane.

Jaywalkers!

Pattern: Jaywalkers by Grumperina
Yarn: Dancing by KnitPicks, color: Jig(discontinued)
Needles: Knitpicks size 3
Started: April 21, 2007
Finished: July 26, 2007
Modifications: None

Remember these? I finished the first sock way back at the beginning of June. I'm a pretty slow sock knitter, I usually have another project or two that seem to take priority over any socks. I have gotten a little faster the last few weeks though. Now it seems the socks are taking precedence over other projects. I don't have the brain power for much more than simple stockinette in the round these days. Hopefully that will change soon, now that I'm getting settled in at the new job :)

I'm still here

Quick update:

• New job is going well, lots to learn.
• Sweetpea turned two years old, celebrated with two parties
• Monkeyboy got a nasty stomach bug :( but is feeling better now. He tried to convince me this morning that he wasn't better and wanted to stay home for 8 weeks and play video games. Nice try, you're going to school (day care).
• Finished some socks, cast on for some Widdershins.
• Finished 12 squares for Greensburg, will be mailed tomorrow!
• Halfway through Clue 4 of Mystery Stole 3, and I hope to be well into Clue 5 (if not finished with it) by the weekend.

Details with pictures later this week (I hope)!