Finished Object

I finished my Embossed Leaves socks today. They did come out lovely, if I do say so myself. Here they are, pictured with the matching Hydrangea that my friend Heidi brought to us last night.
I really enjoyed working with the Claudia Hand Painted Yarns. Now it is on to practicing my Maple Leaf Socks prior to the knit-along that will start July 1. Once I am comfortable that I'm on the right track, I'll work on my other projects until then.
Tomorrow my kids leave for summer camp. I know they will have a great summer and I'll have a bit more free time, but I will miss them lots. They probably won't miss my enthusiastic knitting updates!

Finished Object

I finished my Embossed Leaves socks today. They did come out lovely, if I do say so myself. Here they are, pictured with the matching Hydrangea that my friend Heidi brought to us last night.
I really enjoyed working with the Claudia Hand Painted Yarns. Now it is on to practicing my Maple Leaf Socks prior to the knit-along that will start July 1. Once I am comfortable that I'm on the right track, I'll work on my other projects until then.
Tomorrow my kids leave for summer camp. I know they will have a great summer and I'll have a bit more free time, but I will miss them lots. They probably won't miss my enthusiastic knitting updates!

Spring/Summer Cleaning

I had some time today to organize my bookmarks--I have been going crazy bookmarking sites that have sock yarn. I am committed to working through my stash for the next several months--or at least the next several pairs of socks--but I have been intrigued by my first visit to the Etsy site today. As soon as I am ready to buy more sock yarn, I think that's where I'll go.
I also received a neat gadget that I had originally seen on the Yarn Harlot's site. It is a little tin cylinder (a replica of a double-point needle holder used in New England in the 1700's, according to Jen of Wooolworks, Ltd., who sells the product. The cylinder is a bit longer than I was expecting, but fits in my portable sock bag easily, means no scrambling to find the 5th needle after putting my work down--just pop it in the tube! It keeps all 5 PDNs organized and secure.
Now my goal is to finish my current (Embossed Leaves) socks, which I should be able to do any day now, and make some further progress on the rest of my WIPS!

Spring/Summer Cleaning

I had some time today to organize my bookmarks--I have been going crazy bookmarking sites that have sock yarn. I am committed to working through my stash for the next several months--or at least the next several pairs of socks--but I have been intrigued by my first visit to the Etsy site today. As soon as I am ready to buy more sock yarn, I think that's where I'll go.
I also received a neat gadget that I had originally seen on the Yarn Harlot's site. It is a little tin cylinder (a replica of a double-point needle holder used in New England in the 1700's, according to Jen of Wooolworks, Ltd., who sells the product. The cylinder is a bit longer than I was expecting, but fits in my portable sock bag easily, means no scrambling to find the 5th needle after putting my work down--just pop it in the tube! It keeps all 5 PDNs organized and secure.
Now my goal is to finish my current (Embossed Leaves) socks, which I should be able to do any day now, and make some further progress on the rest of my WIPS!

Knitting in Public

Although I wasn't able to knit in public on the official knit in public day (unless knitting in the car with my family counts), I have done it a couple of times since. Last night, at my daughter's softball game, I worked on the scarf I'm making for my One Skein Secret Pal. This is also my World Cup Project so wow...I accomplished three things at once with that knitting!
Today I had some meetings in NYC and then ducked into one of my favorite Manhattan Yarn Shops, The Yarn Connection. I took my two balls of sock yarn that I feared would fall short for my Maple Leaf Socks, and picked up a great shade of orange Debbie Bliss Merino DK that will be wonderful for the heels, toes, and possibly the leaves themselves.
So then I had to work on my Embossed Leaves socks, which are progressing nicely, on the train ride home. Did this while listening to one of my favorite knitting podcasts, Knitty D and the City. It was heaven!
As for knitting in public, the softball coach thought it looked relaxing and no one on the train gave me a second glance.

Knitting in Public

Although I wasn't able to knit in public on the official knit in public day (unless knitting in the car with my family counts), I have done it a couple of times since. Last night, at my daughter's softball game, I worked on the scarf I'm making for my One Skein Secret Pal. This is also my World Cup Project so wow...I accomplished three things at once with that knitting!
Today I had some meetings in NYC and then ducked into one of my favorite Manhattan Yarn Shops, The Yarn Connection. I took my two balls of sock yarn that I feared would fall short for my Maple Leaf Socks, and picked up a great shade of orange Debbie Bliss Merino DK that will be wonderful for the heels, toes, and possibly the leaves themselves.
So then I had to work on my Embossed Leaves socks, which are progressing nicely, on the train ride home. Did this while listening to one of my favorite knitting podcasts, Knitty D and the City. It was heaven!
As for knitting in public, the softball coach thought it looked relaxing and no one on the train gave me a second glance.

GOALS!

You may have noticed that there are a number of new buttons on the sidebar of my blog. Today I will cast on for my project for the Knitting World Cup, which is going to be the gift I give to my One Skein secret pal for August (nothing like getting a head start).
I also plan to participate in the Think Pink Challenge, whose goal is to collect 1,000 hand-knitted scarves to give to breast cancer survivors in September so that they can wear them during breast cancer awareness month (October).
Finally, I've joined the Maple Leaf Socks knit-a-long, part of the Townsend Socks Yahoo group of VERY enthusiastic sock knitters!
It's hard not to join in to these fun and worthy events...I hope to work on a few of my works in progress too.
I'm making good progress on the Embossed Leaves Sock #2 (moving much faster than Sock #1 did, I guess I have the rhythm of the pattern down). I think the "deadlines" of these knit-a-longs and groups also helps to motivate me, and there's no real pressure...I don't foresee the knitting police coming to get me if I don't finish on time.
But sometimes goals are good.

GOALS!

You may have noticed that there are a number of new buttons on the sidebar of my blog. Today I will cast on for my project for the Knitting World Cup, which is going to be the gift I give to my One Skein secret pal for August (nothing like getting a head start).
I also plan to participate in the Think Pink Challenge, whose goal is to collect 1,000 hand-knitted scarves to give to breast cancer survivors in September so that they can wear them during breast cancer awareness month (October).
Finally, I've joined the Maple Leaf Socks knit-a-long, part of the Townsend Socks Yahoo group of VERY enthusiastic sock knitters!
It's hard not to join in to these fun and worthy events...I hope to work on a few of my works in progress too.
I'm making good progress on the Embossed Leaves Sock #2 (moving much faster than Sock #1 did, I guess I have the rhythm of the pattern down). I think the "deadlines" of these knit-a-longs and groups also helps to motivate me, and there's no real pressure...I don't foresee the knitting police coming to get me if I don't finish on time.
But sometimes goals are good.

Trends

I finished my KnitPicks Stockpot Scarf today, so that I can free up my needles and my "one scarf at a time" quota to make a scarf for my One Skein Secret Pal. The yarn I ordered for that should be arriving on Monday.
As for the Stockpot Scarf, it came out pretty, but the "Butterfly Kisses" yarn is reminiscent of Fun Fur, and I can't help feeling that this is a dated project. I bought this yarn about a year ago. It made me realize that, while it's nice to have a stash, it's also important to keep "classic" fibers in the stash because if more "trendy" yarns are kept too long, I will not want to make anything out of them when I get around to using them.
Oh, well...I do still like the scarf--it is done in pretty shades of green and yellow "Shine Twist" (which is wonderfully soft and lovely to work with) plus the orange Butterfly Kisses, and I have two summer suits that it will really jazz up. I will wear it proudly!

Trends

I finished my KnitPicks Stockpot Scarf today, so that I can free up my needles and my "one scarf at a time" quota to make a scarf for my One Skein Secret Pal. The yarn I ordered for that should be arriving on Monday.
As for the Stockpot Scarf, it came out pretty, but the "Butterfly Kisses" yarn is reminiscent of Fun Fur, and I can't help feeling that this is a dated project. I bought this yarn about a year ago. It made me realize that, while it's nice to have a stash, it's also important to keep "classic" fibers in the stash because if more "trendy" yarns are kept too long, I will not want to make anything out of them when I get around to using them.
Oh, well...I do still like the scarf--it is done in pretty shades of green and yellow "Shine Twist" (which is wonderfully soft and lovely to work with) plus the orange Butterfly Kisses, and I have two summer suits that it will really jazz up. I will wear it proudly!

Blog Overload?

Have you ever felt like there is just too much knitting information out there?
In the past week, I have added several new blogs to my blogroll, subscribed to a couple of new knitting podcasts, entered several Website contests having to do with knitting, read through the summer issues of Knitter's and Interweave Knits magazines, and have contemplated joining several knit-a-longs. I've also been trying to fit in actual knitting in between all of these activities!
I know we are very fortunate to have all of these resources at our disposal. I think I just need to balance time to read and listen to all of these wonderful bits of information, with time to actually knit...and live the rest of my life: work, family, etc!
When I have been knitting, I've been enthusiastically making progress on my second Embossed Leaves sock (see below), as well as my Einstein Coat, which is definitely reaching the point where it cannot leave the house--it's getting very bulky! But I can't wait until it is finished and I can wear it. I am already anticipating treating myself to a trip to New York to visit Tender Buttons, my very favorite button shop where I have not been for years, to dress up this project when it is finished.

Blog Overload?

Have you ever felt like there is just too much knitting information out there?
In the past week, I have added several new blogs to my blogroll, subscribed to a couple of new knitting podcasts, entered several Website contests having to do with knitting, read through the summer issues of Knitter's and Interweave Knits magazines, and have contemplated joining several knit-a-longs. I've also been trying to fit in actual knitting in between all of these activities!
I know we are very fortunate to have all of these resources at our disposal. I think I just need to balance time to read and listen to all of these wonderful bits of information, with time to actually knit...and live the rest of my life: work, family, etc!
When I have been knitting, I've been enthusiastically making progress on my second Embossed Leaves sock (see below), as well as my Einstein Coat, which is definitely reaching the point where it cannot leave the house--it's getting very bulky! But I can't wait until it is finished and I can wear it. I am already anticipating treating myself to a trip to New York to visit Tender Buttons, my very favorite button shop where I have not been for years, to dress up this project when it is finished.