Busy Bee, Busy Me

So much has happened in the last nine days. We have all had the flu, myself and Monkey included, which has contributed to the lack of blog posting. Also, I have been gearing up to teach my sock class 101 that I committed to teaching at Make One on Monday nights. Concidentially, I taught my first class while at the height of illness and was running a fever at the same time. Talk about being out of it. I am apparently very good at faking being ok as I called my best friend after the class and she let me know that I sounded a little euphoric and not at all like my usual self. I did manage to get everyone knitting in the round (and not backwards apparently) by the end of the class so, I guess, all's well that ends well. Right? Right.

I do have some finished projects and some that are nearing completion to show you. After seeing some of the baby sized Odessa's on Ravelry, I decided that I desperately needed one right now and cast on last week. This is the end result and I must say, I am very pleased with the results.

Incidentally, I have no idea what the dangling threads are hanging out of the bottom of the hat. Rest assured, they do not exist in real life. I am chalking them up to photography error.

I also picked up Cat Bordhi's new book and I love all the sock designs. So, I have decided to work my way from the front to the back of the book. The minute I got the book home, I cast on for the Baby Sky socks. They are such an amazingly well written pattern and so interesting to knit. I know it will sound incredibly cheesy, but this is the best sock book I have ever bought - and I have only knit the first pattern.

Finally, I returned the yarn that I was originally going to use to make Emerald (I fell out of love with the color) and in accordance with the watch agreement, was able to pick up four skeins of Tilli Thomas Voile de la Mer in American Beauty. Totally Scrummy! I am planning to use this to make the Hanging Garden stole by Sivia Harding. Apparently, this is a very good beginner lace project - we shall see. I figure if I set aside 30 minutes each night and retreat to another (kid-free) room, it will be done by this time next year.

Goodbye Old Friends

Well, the cats were delivered to their new home on Saturday night. I have been assured by TG that they have been delievered into a very nice home with very nice people. Still I am sad. I had a bit of a minor meltdown on Saturday night as TG was carting them away and have not been able to bring myself to phone the nice people who have taken them and see how they are all getting along. I really do miss them and it's so hard not to have them here with me, snuggling in bed and purring away.

Anyway, despite all the sad, I have managed to get my Monkey socks done. I love the way that they turned out.




Pattern: Monkey Socks by Cookie A.
Yarn: Socks That Rock - Walkin on the Wild Tide
Needle: 2.75mm (US 2)
Modifications: I made the leg a little shorter by doing one less repeat of the pattern and since the yarn has no nylon in it, I substituted a slipstich heel for the short row one which will hopefully make for longer wearing socks. Next on the sock needles - a plain cuff down sock knit in Cherry Tree Hill Merino in the Quarry Hill colorway. These will be my demo socks for the sock class I am teaching at Make 1 starting Sept 24.

Bunny Candy Tuesday

I managed to convince Bunny to try on the dress yesterday and let me take some photos. Actually, she was more than willing to wear the dress - she would wear it to bed if I let her - but the photos, not so much. So, without further ado; here is the dress...

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...

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???

Little Knits

Well, baby watch 2007 continues with no sign of the littlest little making its way into the World. As I am typing this, Husband is sanding the change table and he swears that it will be finished by the end of tonight. I sure hope so. I would really like to get the baby clothes out of the crib and into their proper place.

I seem to have caught a horrible case of start-itis and have cast on for a zillion projects in the last little while. I worked almost non-stop on the drop stitch socks that I was designing, but things haven't quite worked out the way I thought they might, so I have put them in time out for the time being. I have also cast on for two little projects that I thought might help me pass the time and not be too thought intensive as the temperature (and my tummy) continues to rise.

I absolutely love these little booties and am hoping that they will actually fit since I accidently used a size 00 instead of the size 0 needle called for in the pattern. Hopefully it won't be too long before I get to find out.

**Please excuse the terrible picture. I wanted to get a blog post off just incase I wasn't able to later and the sun wouldn't cooperate.

I also cast on for the Cotton Hat in Last Minute Knitted Gifts using Mission Falls 1824 Cotton and I am really enjoying this knit. I like how the yarn is somewhat slubby looking as it adds a needed texture to the hat. I am opting not to add the I-cord as I want to make this hat as unisex as possible.

I wish I had more to show, but really, between hair cuts, pictures, and naps, there has not been a lot of knitting progress. I imagine that soon all knitting will cease as extreme fatigue sets in once again. I guess I had better get my butt in gear then, hadnt I?

Babies Everywhere

Another day and another baby project done. Seems like there are babies coming out of the woodwork these days. So, because we know for sure that there are two baby girls in the family (one of which arrived last week and the other is still baking - due in September), I have spent some time knitting some pink things. Pink things are cute. Baby things are cute. Pink baby things are uber cute.

Pattern: 5 Hour Baby Sweater (Last Minute Knitted Gifts) & Ruffled Hat

Yarn: Mission Falls Worsted in Raspberry

Needles: Size 10.5 US (sweater) & 9 US (hat)

Size: Newborn

Modifications: None

I also stopped off at my not-so-local yarn store on my way home from a meeting in that area of town and picked up some of the things that I can't get at my fave LYS. I got a Phildar pattern book with some itty bitty and not so itty bitty patterns for Bunny and the new bean. The cool thing is that the book has a hooded jacket that I can make in sizes which will fit both kidlets. And, before anyone comments, yes, I realize that this makes me one of those moms. I know and yet, I don't care. Matching stuff is dorky, but cute. I promise not to knit a ton of these. Don't want to mess up the kids forever.

I am planning to make the baby size in Butterfly Super 10 Cotton that I bought today at the not so local LYS and the big girl version in some Sari cotton that I have hanging around from a sweater I sent to the frog pond.

Otherwise, one week of work left before I can start living at my LYS and knitting all day... I can't wait.

Spring has Sprung...

...for the most part.

Ok, not withstanding the fact that it snowed a lot last weekend, I managed to get some planting done this weekend. This is our first summer in this house and I am so loving how the yard looks now that the grass is mowed and the flowers are in. I stepped out this morning and took some shots of the new hanging pots and boxes that Hubby made me.

And, thanks to the snow, I did get the Jaywalkers off the needles. I am so happy to be finished these now that spring is here.

Pattern: Jaywalkers from Magknits done toe up

Yarn: Lily Petal from HL Miller Yarns.

Home Sweet Home

I am back! It feels so nice after being away for so long to sleep in my bed and wake up in my own house. I am getting to the point now, at 32 weeks pregnant, that hotel beds and working 12 hours a day is a little more than I can handle. However, I received some amazing news the other day that I will hopefully be able to share in a bit. No, we still don't know the sex of the baby...

However, I will admit that everything I seem to be making is blue. I am not drawn to green or yellow at all. I feel like this baby will be wearing blue for some reason. Although, I am trying my darnedest to pick gender neutral stuff, it sure feels as though I am unconsciously leaning one way.

I did finish the baby sweater that I was working on the weekend before I left to go to Canmore for work. I absolutely love it! I also made a matching "fruit cap" hat from an Ann Norling pattern that I picked up at Make1.


Pattern: Baby Placket Neck Sweater - Last Minute Knitted Gifts - size 0-6 months
Yarn:Rowan Handknit Dk Cotton
Modifications: I didn't sew the placket the same way as the book asks for. Instead, I sewed it closed at the bottom and sewed 2 mother of pearl buttons in permanently so that the neck would fold over or stand up on its own.

I didn't make any modifications on the fruit cap, however, I do plan to make another one using seed stitch instead of a rolled brim. I think I will also make the next one somewhat smaller as this one came out a little larger than I thought it would.

I also treated myself to some new yarn and a pattern at the one yarn store in Canmore. I bought some Sirdar snugly dk yarn in a light greeny blue and a cute baby pullover pattern. I can't wait to get started on this. Just as soon as some of the other things that I have committed to do are off the needles. I am having a hard time deciding if I want to knit it with the hood as the green photo shows. I think I am leaning toward the hooded one and I did buy enough yarn just in case I decide to make it that way.

Remember the Jaywalker that I started on at the end of April? I have had this half finished sock on the needles for a while now and am just getting ready to turn the heel. I am hoping to have this pair finished for the end of May for my SAM 3 KAL.

Of course, I did get some new yarn in the mail while I was away. The day it arrived, I had been working since 8am and called hubby at 11pm (still working!) for some sympathy. He was also seriously grumpy and we ended up getting into an argument. By way of making peace, he let me know that I had gotten some yarn that day and when he opened the box, he loved the colors so much that the argument was forgotten. We talked about yarn for a few minutes and I went to bed happy. See, yarn really does solve problems :) What did I get? Some new custom dye sock yarn from HLMiller (again, if you get a chance, check her out - her yarn is amazing) and some Louett Gems Pearl in a light pink color. I have no big plans for these yet, but once I have some time off, I'm sure that I will have it all figured out. For now, they will go to the place that all good sock yarns go... the stash shelf.

Only 4 more weeks until I am off on maternity leave... the needles will surely be flying then.

TGIF Baby

Just a few quick things to show today...

Since it's Friday, I figured I would show you something pretty. This is something that I am working on for someone else and it must remain a secret, hence the abstract picture. I really wanted to share the colors of this yarn though. Beautiful, no? I am totally into the jewel box tones mixing with the rustic browns and greens.



I also finally finished the Socks that Rock Inside Out socks that were February's kit from the rockin sock club. A big thanks to Dana for helping me figure out where I went wrong on the cables. A little time out, some quick frogging, and re-knitting, and they are finito. What do you think? In case you are wondering, I took the pictures with the socks on inside out...



That's really all I have on the needles right now that is blogworthy. I am still working on the Chevron scarf and have another scarf on the needles right now that I keep putting off (bad, bad, me), but otherwise, I have nothing. I am at an impasse. I really feel like starting a baby project, but am lacking the motivation to jump right in. You see, I am so tired these days that knitting is actually a chore of sorts and so I am trying to work on very small projects that require little thought. Maybe once I am off work life will be a little easier.

Sock-lobster

Seems as though I am sticking to my pledge to knit a pair of socks a month has been working. Since I made the new years resolution in January, I have knit 4 pairs of socks and 3 singles. Not too shabby. I also have some WIP's to show you. I started on the STR socks and got hopelessly stalled after the first sock. For some reason, my cables didn't turn out quite right and so these socks were sent to time out for a while. I figured since the new months yarn was shipped last week, I better get to it, so I cast on for the second sock and am as far as the cable section. I have smartened up somewhat and threaded myself a lifeline so that if I mess the cables up again, frogging will be easier. I can just zip down to the lifeline and start over again. At least, that's the theory. Hopefully this time the cables will miraculously work out and I can frog the other sock and re-work the cables in the same manner. Wish me luck. I would really like to have these socks done before the next kit arrives.






Then I got some sock yarn in the mail from HL Miller and started my first pair of Jaywalker's. I know I am late to jump on the Jay bus, but this is such an amazingly easy and quick knit pattern that I know I will use it over and over. It compliments the yarns that I like to buy - namely self striping or verigated- so well and the finished product is fantastic. I even started a pair of baby Jays in the left over "Malamute" Yarn Pirate yarn. I think it's so neat how the different patterns showcase this yarn. I have seen this color knit up in at least 3 different patterns (including the Embossed Leaves socks that I knit with it) and each pattern shows it so well.





I also got some more sock yarn in the mail yesterday that started out being a great deal when I first bought it (10.00 a skein for hand dyed 100% bamboo yarn) turned out to not be such a great deal. I payed about $6.00 shipping for the 3 skeins when I first bought it. Then it was shipped by accident to our old address, and sent back by the new owners (despite my going over there and explaining to them what had happened, leaving my number and asking them to call so I could come pick it up when it arrived - but that's another story, grrr.). So, when it arrived back at the original location, the seller re-sent, but I had to pay another $7.00 for it. And, of course, when it came in, customs wanted another $7.00 for it. So, the grand total for these 3 skeins of yarn came to a whopping total of $50.00 US, which I am aware is not a lot for hand dyed sock yarn, but still $14.00 more than it should have been. However, it is lovely and will be put to good use shortly.





I do have some more amazing sock yarn coming in soon. Husband seems to have relented on his yarn ban, plus, I made over a hundred dollars de-stashing some of the older yarn that I had which I knew would never be used for anything, so I was able to splurge a bit. I did get some of what I believe to be the very last shipment of Sweet Georgia yarn (I hope she enjoys her well earned hiatus), as well as some other yarn that I will be able to show you as soon as it arrives. Hopefully it won't be too long in coming.


Other than that, nothing much is happening here. Yesterday, we took Bunny to a birthday party at a friends house and she played herself out. In fact, she was so tired that she asked to go home at 8pm and went straight to bed. Not like her at all. Turns out, she was getting sick and now we all have sore throats. Everyone is staying home today under soft blankies and much cuddling is happening at this house. I guess the cleaning will have to wait another few days. Oh well. On the baby front, the littlest-little is expected in just over 12 weeks! Time has flown by this time around. Being pregnant the second time around sure is different. I remember with Bunny, I stressed out about everything! I was worried when the baby moved too much or not enough, I watched what I ate, and I made sure that I read as much as I could. This time around, the weeks are flying by, I am still eating many of the things that I shouldn't be (coffee, sushi, and lunch meats - although in moderate ammounts), but I still can't wait to meet this babe... Soon, soon.

Friday...

Ahhh, Friday. I have to go back to work on Monday and I am so not looking forward to that. More and more I am becoming comfortable with the idea of working from home some how. Must work towards making that a reality. I mean, just look at all the knitting I have gotten done over the last two weeks:

I finished Bunny's sweater. She is thrilled.

And, I started these socks yesterday:




This is how far I got in one day! Amazing, no? Please excuse the cat. She wanted to be a part of the process evidently. Actually she just wouldn't move. These are the Embossed Leaves socks from the new Interweave book - Favorite Socks. The stitch pattern is amazing, easy, and fast. I love them. I am using Yarn Pirate yarn in the Malamute colorway. So pretty. I can't wait to see how they will look once they are blocked.

Here is a close up of the stitch pattern:







I also finished these socks for the SAM 3 KAL. They will be a gift for my Mom's b-day this July.







Pattern: Vanilla Toe Up Socks (using the Summer 2006 Knitty pattern). I base all of my toe up socks on this worksheet. Pure genius.
Yarn: Trekking XXL in some random colorway (I lost the ball band)
Needles: Size 1 US

In baby news, I am 24 weeks as of this past Tuesday. Six months already. I can hardly believe it. I have a guilty confession to make though. I am still drinking coffee. Every morning I have my large, regular, Tim Hortons coffee and savor every minute of it. It's funny, I didn't drink coffee until I started working full time two years ago and now I can't imagine having to give up my one cup a day. I send Husband to get it each morning because I can't stand the dirty looks that non-pregnant people give me when I order, gasp, coffee. I did give it up in the first trimester (mainly because of all the vomiting) so really, I think that I did well. Sheesh. I know I am not alone in this - there must be plenty of pregnant women drinking coffee out there? Right. Either way, I am not giving it up. Bad me.

Remember the snow I showed you the other day? Gone. Totally gone. Calgary weather is crazy weird. See?










In one day all the snow melted. I think this calls for BBQ. I have convinced Husband to let me buy a Webber BBQ this summer (I am crazy for BBQ... I cook dinner almost every night this way in the summer). I can't wait. In case you aren't familar, these are the Cadillac of the BBQ and I. Want. One. They are the most even heating, durable, and user friendly BBQ ever.

We are off to Edmonton this weekend to visit friends. See everyone next week!

Off the Needles

Well, I have hit the mid point pregnancy wise. I am now 20 weeks and happy that this is half way over. I know the next 20 weeks won't fly by or anything, but I can't wait to get on with the best part of being pregnant - actually having the baby.

Oh, and I think I am nesting - except, I think that it's a weird form of nesting in that all I want to do is finish older knitting projects. For instance, I started this sweater for Bunny back in November and I am just now getting around to finishing it off. I am a bit ashamed to admit that for some reason, although the pattern so clearly calls for intarsia, I was fair-isling. I don't really know what I was thinking, but after being frustrated that the flower motifs were too tight, I ripped it back and finally realized my mistake. Derp! As well, this is my first intarsia project and since I had to teach myself this technique, I am not sure it turned out as well as it could have. Please don't be too critical. I am not so sure that I like the fiddly nature of intarsia either. Perhaps with some practice and a whole lot more patience, it could have turned out a little better. I have a ton of ends to weave in still. I am pretty sure that there shouldn't have been so many ends to weave, but whatever, I still like it. I still have the sleeves to complete, but I am sure that Bunny will like it no matter what too.

I have also been working hard on this entrelac scarf. What with Eunny Jang's pattern for entrelac socks in the new Spring Intreweave Knits, entrelac seems to be all the rage. I found the pattern for this scarf and fell in love. I am thinking that I need to use up the leftovers from Bunny's sweater and make a baby blanket using this technique too. I used four skeins of Noro Silk Garden in colorway 221. I had never used Noro before as I find it very scratchy, even with the silk in it, however, I have spoken with lots of people who have said that it softens up quite a bit once it is washed. I will be sure to let you know once I have washed it.

Finally, I am almost done this pair of socks too. I am trying so hard to get all my socks finished and off the needles as there is a skein of Socks that Rock on its way to me right now and I want to be able to cast on for the corresponding pattern as soon as it gets here. I can't believe that I got the STR club membership for my birthday from Husband this year. What a great guy he is!

Otherwise, I think I have very few projects still left on the needles that need finishing. I have the tail end (or I guess I should say the top end) of a pair of toe up socks that I am making for my mom on the needles right now that need finishing and that's pretty much it. I placed an order at Knitpicks yesterday and included is a pair of needles to work on a lace scarf which will be a gift so I don't want to post too many details about it, as well as Last Minute Knitted Gifts which has a pattern for a chevron scarf that I am dying to try next. As soon as that shows up, I will cast on for it and post some pictures.

I guess that's it for now. I am hoping that we will get the room that is intended to be the nursery painted this weekend. As soon as it's done, I will post some pics.

Finished - One pair of Bunny socks.

I am a good Mommy. Yes. I. Am. I made Bunny a pair of skating socks that she absolutely adores. Her little feets get so cold in her skates that she cries at the end of each lesson. So, like a good Mommy, I knit her a pair in Drops Alpaca and some other dark pink yarn that I had laying around.




I also made her a pair of mittens to match. I can't wait to try them out this weekend at skating. I plan on stuffing the toe with some fleece if these aren't warm enough still, but I am hoping that I will only have to do that as a last resort. There was no real pattern for these, but I did use this book (The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns: Basic Designs in Multiple Sizes & Gauges) as a guide . Of all the books that I have stockpiled over the last year, this one is my favorite as it seems to have all of the necessary measurements for knitting almost anything using any size needles and any weight yarn. All you have to do is pick your yarn, choose what ever needles you feel the yarn will best swatch up on, depending of course on what you are making (i.e. more dense for a hat or mittens, less so for something that you want to have more drape - like a sweater or scarf) , and then consult the various chart in the book to find out how many stitches to cast on. Hate math? No problem. This book does all the work for you. All you need to know is your gauge. There you have it: Bunny socks.


In other news, Terry is going to be presenting at the first ever Vancouver Tech Fest and he is super duper excited. Who can blame him really? This is a big step for him and he has really worked hard over the last year to earn it. Check him out here (scroll down to the bottom of the page). Could I be any more proud? I doubt it.

Finally, it has been brought to my attention that there has been a serious lack of yarn porn lately. In an attempt to rectify the situation, please accept this smattering of sock yarn and stitch markers. I found the stitch markers and the bottom two skeins of sock yarn here (she has the most amazing stitch markers) and the rest, including a skein of Fleece Artist Merino sock (in the red/burgundy colors), a skein of purple/green from All things Heather, a skein in the loveliest shade of blues from J-Knits, and two skeins of Regia Bamboo which I just love, came from theloopyewe. Enjoy. I know I will. And, I had the best of luck at my Tuesday night stitch and bitch at Make One. I received an offer from one of the other attendees to knit socks out of the ever growing stash that I am accumulating. I casually mentioned that the stash seems to be out of control (as does my habit I suppose) and she jumped at the chance to knit the yarn. Seems she can't afford to spend money on sock yarn right now, but has a burning desire to knit more socks. I have lots of sock yarn and not much time to knit it all. Voila. Symbiosis born. I can't wait to post some photos of my new socks that are not knit by me. Once question though -does this still count towards my FO count??