Baby Steps

It's finally been cool enough for Monkey to wear the baby sockettes that I knit for her out of left over sock yarn back in April. I absolutely love these and they kept her little feets super snuggly and warm while we were out at the lake this week. I am so glad that they still fit as she is growing like a little weed. As a matter of fact, at her last dr's appt this week, she was almost 10lbs!!



Pattern: Better than Booties: Baby Socks (Spring 2006 Interweave Knits)
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock - Hawaii
Needles: US 00
Modifications: none - but I wish I would have made the cuffs an inch or so longer

As well, this week, two new and muchly anticipated packages arrived at our house. I was so excited to receive my Sockapalooza4 socks and thankfully they arrived this week so I didn't have to wait too long for them. Aren't they colorful? Thanks sockpal!! She also included a ton of amazing smelling hand cream and some handmade stitch markers. I can't believe how much work she put into my swap goodies!



Finally, this week I got my August shipment from the Rockin Sock Club. While I don't love the pattern, I really like the colors of the yarn this month and will be searching high and low for a pattern that will show off the variation of the yarn to it's fullest.



Otherwise, I have been chronically sleep deprived for the last two weeks as I am not quite used to getting up 2-3 times a night with a newborn and taking care of a five year old at the same time. As well, the housework and cooking won't take care of itself, so my computer time has been somewhat limited lately and I anticipate that it will continue to be this way for the next few months. That means that posts won't be as frequent in the meantime. Hopefully this won't last too long...

Round and Round We Go

Endless stockinette. Mindless, awful, boring, knitting. My fingers are sore and they long to cast on something more intricate and fun! I am officially sick of the Crumpets dress that I cast on for Bunny to wear to the wedding we are attending at the end of the month. The pattern called for 25" of stockinette stitch knit on 360 stitches using worsted weight yarn. As of this afternoon, I have only 8" left to go. That's 17" of stockinette stitch people!! More than I care for. And yet, I am so anticipating the finished dress, that I am working on this pattern pretty much exclusively so that it will be finished in time. And, since, as I have said before, mindless stockinette stitch makes for boring photos, I will attempt to once again distract you with something more interesting.




Pretty? Oh yes. I am in love with this sweater and think it will make an amazing addition to my wardrobe this winter. You can also see a small preview of the color I will be making it in if you look to the top left of the photo (hint: it's also the same color as the one the model is wearing in the photo). So, now, it's a toss up between this and Emerald - I really can't decide which one to cast on for first. I have the yarn for both and need some help with the decision. So, to that end, leave me a comment and let me know which one to cast on for first...



Oh, and if anyone can help me figure out how to get my month old (today!!!) daughter to take a bottle (or soother for that matter), please leave me a comment and let me know. I have to start teaching classes soon and if she doesn't take a bottle, I don't know what I'll do, but I do know I'll be in trouble!

Edited to add: Hubby managed to get her to take a bottle today without much trouble. Apparently, I need to be out of the house so she can't see or smell me. I think we will just give up on the soother... Beggars can't be choosers. Right?

Knitting Related Injuries

I am making some progress on Bunny's Crumpet Dress. I really loved this pattern to begin with, but the endless, mindless stockinette stitch is truly driving me crazy! And, my initial impressions of Lion Brand Cotton-Ease have been reinforced. The yarn is splitty and terribly hard on the hands. I am not enjoying working with it at all. I actually have knitting related injuries caused by the coarse nature of the cotton plies. It's almost like working with rope. What you can't really tell from these photos is that the skin is actually split open where the arrows are pointing. Hurts like the dickens when I stab myself with a knitting needle there.

I am about half way done the dress which needs to be ready for wear at our good friends wedding on August 31. I am therefore, working through the pain... oh, the things I do for my kids.

What I really want to do is cast on for another pair of socks. Make1 just got in their first ever shipment of Mama E C*eye*ber Fiber Sock yarn and it is amazing. So, of course, I had to get a few skeins. I picked up two of the Merino/Tencel and one of the Merino/Silk yarns. Yummy.

I signed up for Sock a Month 4, so really, I needed some more yarn to make socks with. Afterall, I have committed to knitting a pair of socks each month for the next 6 months... I may not be as ambitious as YouKnowWho, but still, it's a start right??

Sockapalooza Pal... Your Socks are On Their Way!!!

Oh yes, the finished socks are currently winging their way to my sockapalooza pal and I can't wait to see if they fit. These were a fun knit and the pattern was so well written, they literally just flew off my needles!




Pattern: Monkey Socks by Cookie A.
Yarn: Mama E Cyeber fiber in Peppermint Twist
Needles: Size 1 US DPN's
Modifications: I went with a slip stitch heel instead of the short row one called for in the pattern.

I also sent the rest of the yarn.. hopefully my pal will be able to find a good use for it.

Ok, now when will my socks get here???