Socks, Continued...

Surprisingly, I finished my Hederas yesterday. We watched a movie Saturday night and I knit straight through, getting most of the foot done. I finished up by the pool yesterday and Kitchenered the toe last night. They look beautiful, if I do say so, and I hope my Sockapalooza Pal loves them as much as I do.

I immediately looked at that sock stash that I shared with you earlier this week, and decided that instead of continuing to plow through my Socks that Rock, I would use one of my self-patterning yarns. I picked the Lana Grossa Meilenweit Fantasy, in beautiful blues and greens.

My sister had sent me this skein when she determined that sock knitting was not for her. After perusing Ravelry for more time than I care to admit last night (boy, is that site addictive!) I determined that because this yarn creates a Fair Isle pattern that's pretty busy on its own, most people knit this yarn up as straight stockinette. Wanting a bit more interest, I decided to try the Ridged Feather pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks. Although I have several sock books, I keep going back to this one! This pattern uses an Afterthought Heel, which will be something new for me. So now I've officially started on Summer of Socks! Just 4 days after summer began--not bad.

Socks, Continued...

Surprisingly, I finished my Hederas yesterday. We watched a movie Saturday night and I knit straight through, getting most of the foot done. I finished up by the pool yesterday and Kitchenered the toe last night. They look beautiful, if I do say so, and I hope my Sockapalooza Pal loves them as much as I do.

I immediately looked at that sock stash that I shared with you earlier this week, and decided that instead of continuing to plow through my Socks that Rock, I would use one of my self-patterning yarns. I picked the Lana Grossa Meilenweit Fantasy, in beautiful blues and greens.

My sister had sent me this skein when she determined that sock knitting was not for her. After perusing Ravelry for more time than I care to admit last night (boy, is that site addictive!) I determined that because this yarn creates a Fair Isle pattern that's pretty busy on its own, most people knit this yarn up as straight stockinette. Wanting a bit more interest, I decided to try the Ridged Feather pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks. Although I have several sock books, I keep going back to this one! This pattern uses an Afterthought Heel, which will be something new for me. So now I've officially started on Summer of Socks! Just 4 days after summer began--not bad.

Summer of Socks

It's been awhile since I've had time to post--or, for that matter, time to knit. This week was all about family: Father's Day last Sunday, then our wedding anniversary, then my daughter's Middle School graduation, and today, my son's birthday. With relatives visiting and many festivities to attend, I did not pick up my needles once between Monday and last night, when I forced myself to pick up the gusset stitches on my Hederas. I felt like I should be using my size 0 sock needles (which I like to use for the heels when the rest of the sock is done on size 1's) to keep my eyes open!
Today is a much more relaxed day and I'm eager to get back to the regular knitting routine. I will get more done on the Hederas as well as the BonBon tank.
Yesterday was the start of Summer of Socks. I will not start a pair until I finish my Hederas (which should just be another week or two), but I have plenty of sock yarn from which to choose! The new Rockin Sock Club colorway and pattern arrived during all of the frenzy of this week, but it is just lovely--pinks, oranges, etc. Actually, this colorway, Firebird, is very similar to the recent Dahlia colorway from the Sundara Sock Club:
With all the gifting of sock yarn that's happened over the past few weeks, I now have quite the sock yarn stash--enough for 10 pairs! This includes 4 skeins of STR, 3 skeins of Sundara, and 3 skeins of Opal/Meilenweit types. It should be an eventful summer of socks, that's for sure. Here's the stash, I'm looking forward to playing with it as summer begins!

Summer of Socks

It's been awhile since I've had time to post--or, for that matter, time to knit. This week was all about family: Father's Day last Sunday, then our wedding anniversary, then my daughter's Middle School graduation, and today, my son's birthday. With relatives visiting and many festivities to attend, I did not pick up my needles once between Monday and last night, when I forced myself to pick up the gusset stitches on my Hederas. I felt like I should be using my size 0 sock needles (which I like to use for the heels when the rest of the sock is done on size 1's) to keep my eyes open!
Today is a much more relaxed day and I'm eager to get back to the regular knitting routine. I will get more done on the Hederas as well as the BonBon tank.
Yesterday was the start of Summer of Socks. I will not start a pair until I finish my Hederas (which should just be another week or two), but I have plenty of sock yarn from which to choose! The new Rockin Sock Club colorway and pattern arrived during all of the frenzy of this week, but it is just lovely--pinks, oranges, etc. Actually, this colorway, Firebird, is very similar to the recent Dahlia colorway from the Sundara Sock Club:
With all the gifting of sock yarn that's happened over the past few weeks, I now have quite the sock yarn stash--enough for 10 pairs! This includes 4 skeins of STR, 3 skeins of Sundara, and 3 skeins of Opal/Meilenweit types. It should be an eventful summer of socks, that's for sure. Here's the stash, I'm looking forward to playing with it as summer begins!

Prizes!

I received my great contest prizes from Shannon and Stephanie of SSK.

They sent me a beautiful skein of Opal Sock Yarn, it looks like it is called "Southwest Collection," color #5.

I think it would make a beautiful pair of socks, or might even be a pretty half of a Chevron Scarf (since I just got Last-Minute Knitted Gifts.)

They also sent me a very cute pad of foldover stationery that looks like the old Nancy Drew books. How did they know that I read every one of these books as a child, and also that my kids leave for camp in less than two weeks, and I will need to write to them on fun stationery!


Thanks, ladies, for these treats. After a long week, it was great to receive them.

Prizes!

I received my great contest prizes from Shannon and Stephanie of SSK.

They sent me a beautiful skein of Opal Sock Yarn, it looks like it is called "Southwest Collection," color #5.

I think it would make a beautiful pair of socks, or might even be a pretty half of a Chevron Scarf (since I just got Last-Minute Knitted Gifts.)

They also sent me a very cute pad of foldover stationery that looks like the old Nancy Drew books. How did they know that I read every one of these books as a child, and also that my kids leave for camp in less than two weeks, and I will need to write to them on fun stationery!


Thanks, ladies, for these treats. After a long week, it was great to receive them.

Dish Rag Tag

Now that I am well into my Sockapalooza pal's second sock, I was intrigued today by an invitation to join "Dishrag Tag," an effort being started by Emily at the Yarn Miracle blog. I have a whole cone of Peaches and Creme that you've heard about in past posts, and I've been wanting to do some dishcloths/facecloths, particularly after reading Mason-Dixon Knitting recently. This seems like a fun summer activity that won't require too big of a time commitment. Check it out!

Dish Rag Tag

Now that I am well into my Sockapalooza pal's second sock, I was intrigued today by an invitation to join "Dishrag Tag," an effort being started by Emily at the Yarn Miracle blog. I have a whole cone of Peaches and Creme that you've heard about in past posts, and I've been wanting to do some dishcloths/facecloths, particularly after reading Mason-Dixon Knitting recently. This seems like a fun summer activity that won't require too big of a time commitment. Check it out!

Sockapalooza: Halfway There

While watching the final episode of The Sopranos last night, I finished the first of my Hederas. I hope it is the right size for my pal, but it does match the measurements she submitted. Now I've started Sock #2 and hope that I will have enough yarn, but I can always order more, right? My two goals at the moment are to finish the sock in time (before my vacation the last week in July, so I can mail it on time), and to finish with enough yarn.

Today was a train commuting day for a business meeting, so I took my Midwest Moonlight Scarf from Scarf Style, on which little progress had been made. Although I love this pattern, it does involve a bit of concentration and might not be the best choice for working on while riding the rails, but I also found that I could fudge a stitch here and there and it still looks OK. Shhh...don't tell!

Sockapalooza: Halfway There

While watching the final episode of The Sopranos last night, I finished the first of my Hederas. I hope it is the right size for my pal, but it does match the measurements she submitted. Now I've started Sock #2 and hope that I will have enough yarn, but I can always order more, right? My two goals at the moment are to finish the sock in time (before my vacation the last week in July, so I can mail it on time), and to finish with enough yarn.

Today was a train commuting day for a business meeting, so I took my Midwest Moonlight Scarf from Scarf Style, on which little progress had been made. Although I love this pattern, it does involve a bit of concentration and might not be the best choice for working on while riding the rails, but I also found that I could fudge a stitch here and there and it still looks OK. Shhh...don't tell!

I Won a Contest!

I have been entering a bunch of contests on other blogs and Podcasts for some time now--I think it's a great way to be an interactive member of the blogger/Podcaster community.

One of the Podcasts I've been enjoying lately is SSK, featuring Shannon and Stephanie. I love the fact that they met online and are in two different parts of the country, yet knitting has brought them together, and then they've brought the rest of us into their conversation. Anyway, they had a drawing of entries on favorite vacation knitting. I put in an entry about knitting socks on vacation, and I WON! Don't know what I'll get yet, but I'm sure it will be great. Who doesn't love getting a surprise package in the mail! Go listen to the Podcast, it's very entertaining. Thanks again, Shannon and Stephanie!

The picture I had sent in is the very beginning of my Hederas for my Sockapalooza pal. Since I sent my entry to SSK, I've made some nice progress on Hedera #1, which I think looks lovely--about 2 more inches to go:


I may be in danger of running out of yarn, but the Socks that Rock Mustang Sally is still available, so I could always buy another skein--that way, I'd be able to use the rest for a pair of socks for me! The wine color, slightly variegated colorway is just gorgeous, and the Hedera pattern is definitely one I'd do again.

I Won a Contest!

I have been entering a bunch of contests on other blogs and Podcasts for some time now--I think it's a great way to be an interactive member of the blogger/Podcaster community.

One of the Podcasts I've been enjoying lately is SSK, featuring Shannon and Stephanie. I love the fact that they met online and are in two different parts of the country, yet knitting has brought them together, and then they've brought the rest of us into their conversation. Anyway, they had a drawing of entries on favorite vacation knitting. I put in an entry about knitting socks on vacation, and I WON! Don't know what I'll get yet, but I'm sure it will be great. Who doesn't love getting a surprise package in the mail! Go listen to the Podcast, it's very entertaining. Thanks again, Shannon and Stephanie!

The picture I had sent in is the very beginning of my Hederas for my Sockapalooza pal. Since I sent my entry to SSK, I've made some nice progress on Hedera #1, which I think looks lovely--about 2 more inches to go:


I may be in danger of running out of yarn, but the Socks that Rock Mustang Sally is still available, so I could always buy another skein--that way, I'd be able to use the rest for a pair of socks for me! The wine color, slightly variegated colorway is just gorgeous, and the Hedera pattern is definitely one I'd do again.

Addicted to Ravelry

I am one of the lucky ones who was issued an early invitation to Ravelry, the new social networking-type site for knitters who want to share yarn and pattern ideas, photos and feedback with other knitters, including several of my favorite Podcasters! Jessica and Casey have done a fabulous job with this site, and I've already added several Ravelry "friends" with whom I've exchanged pattern advice. Just as I have been blown away by the ever-increasing number of knitting blogs, Podcasts and general online resources, so have I been impressed with the wonderful ways in which Ravelry is bringing our widely dispersed community together. I'm looking forward to the full-blown Ravelry after what seems to me like a very successful beta-testing period. I've been thrilled to be a part of it!

I am also about half way up the body of my BonBon Tank, and the yarn is behaving so much better after I started alternating skeins to prevent pooling. Looking at the photo, there is still some pooling, but the big blobs of pink are gone. I'm already contemplating my next project after this is done.

The Hederas for my Sockapalooza pal are also coming along, although I feel a bit behind schedule now that it's June and I'm still on the leg of Sock #1. I better spend more time working on those, and less on...Ravelry.

Addicted to Ravelry

I am one of the lucky ones who was issued an early invitation to Ravelry, the new social networking-type site for knitters who want to share yarn and pattern ideas, photos and feedback with other knitters, including several of my favorite Podcasters! Jessica and Casey have done a fabulous job with this site, and I've already added several Ravelry "friends" with whom I've exchanged pattern advice. Just as I have been blown away by the ever-increasing number of knitting blogs, Podcasts and general online resources, so have I been impressed with the wonderful ways in which Ravelry is bringing our widely dispersed community together. I'm looking forward to the full-blown Ravelry after what seems to me like a very successful beta-testing period. I've been thrilled to be a part of it!

I am also about half way up the body of my BonBon Tank, and the yarn is behaving so much better after I started alternating skeins to prevent pooling. Looking at the photo, there is still some pooling, but the big blobs of pink are gone. I'm already contemplating my next project after this is done.

The Hederas for my Sockapalooza pal are also coming along, although I feel a bit behind schedule now that it's June and I'm still on the leg of Sock #1. I better spend more time working on those, and less on...Ravelry.