Boot Socks, Just in Time for Winter!

I finished my daughter' Hunter Boot Socks, aka kilt hose, yesterday. She will be coming home from college for winter break next week, and I will give these to her on one of the eight nights of Hanukkah! They came out great, if I do say so myself--I have never knit knee socks, and these are even longer (16 inches, with a fold-over lace panel too!). I really enjoyed knitting these socks, which decrease from the calf down to the ankle and fit me perfectly (we're similar in size). I think I'd like to do a pair of knee socks for me! Any pattern recommendations?
I also liked knitting socks with Cascade 220 Superwash. I used size 4 needles and, despite the length, they went quickly. I started them in September, but really haven't worked on them much as I've been making hats for all of my daughter's friends, and have even sold a few in my Etsy shop! I am probably going to be doing a fundraiser for my son's high school in January and I will try to sell hats and headbands in the school colors there.
Next up--I may reward myself by making the Laura Nelkin Butin Collar, for which I ordered a kit as well as the e-book that contains this and other jewelry and accessory patterns. Then I'll get back to the Transverse Cardigan that I started in July!
Happy Holidays, everyone--stay warm!

Boot Socks, Just in Time for Winter!

I finished my daughter' Hunter Boot Socks, aka kilt hose, yesterday. She will be coming home from college for winter break next week, and I will give these to her on one of the eight nights of Hanukkah! They came out great, if I do say so myself--I have never knit knee socks, and these are even longer (16 inches, with a fold-over lace panel too!). I really enjoyed knitting these socks, which decrease from the calf down to the ankle and fit me perfectly (we're similar in size). I think I'd like to do a pair of knee socks for me! Any pattern recommendations?
I also liked knitting socks with Cascade 220 Superwash. I used size 4 needles and, despite the length, they went quickly. I started them in September, but really haven't worked on them much as I've been making hats for all of my daughter's friends, and have even sold a few in my Etsy shop! I am probably going to be doing a fundraiser for my son's high school in January and I will try to sell hats and headbands in the school colors there.
Next up--I may reward myself by making the Laura Nelkin Butin Collar, for which I ordered a kit as well as the e-book that contains this and other jewelry and accessory patterns. Then I'll get back to the Transverse Cardigan that I started in July!
Happy Holidays, everyone--stay warm!

Winter Wear

Happy Post-Thanksgiving! Had a wonderful long weekend with my beautiful daughter home from collehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifge. I loved spending time with her as well as seeing all of her friends--such a great group of girls. I gave two of them their earflap hats--three more to go in the "core" group of friends and one additional friend has requested a hat. At this rate, colleges all over the country will have samples of mhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gify hats, and hopefully this will lead to sales!
I have now made two official sales in my Etsy shop and look forward to growing my business.
As I said goodbye to my daughter until she returns again in three weeks, I promised that her Hunter Boot Liners , a variation of kilt hose, would be finished by Winter Break. Last night I powered through the first one while watching a too-close-for-comfort Steelers victory, and am about halfway through the decorative cuff of boot liner #2. I'm confident that I'll reach my goal. At 16 inches for the leg, these boot liners are a very significant project!
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and is doing lots of cold-weather knitting!

Winter Wear

Happy Post-Thanksgiving! Had a wonderful long weekend with my beautiful daughter home from collehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifge. I loved spending time with her as well as seeing all of her friends--such a great group of girls. I gave two of them their earflap hats--three more to go in the "core" group of friends and one additional friend has requested a hat. At this rate, colleges all over the country will have samples of mhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gify hats, and hopefully this will lead to sales!
I have now made two official sales in my Etsy shop and look forward to growing my business.
As I said goodbye to my daughter until she returns again in three weeks, I promised that her Hunter Boot Liners , a variation of kilt hose, would be finished by Winter Break. Last night I powered through the first one while watching a too-close-for-comfort Steelers victory, and am about halfway through the decorative cuff of boot liner #2. I'm confident that I'll reach my goal. At 16 inches for the leg, these boot liners are a very significant project!
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and is doing lots of cold-weather knitting!

Hat Mania!

After surviving four days and three nights without power after a freak October snowstorm, I am back to knitting as usual, and my chunky hats seem more needed than ever! I have been continuing to make gift hats and headbands for my teenagers' friends and hope that they will serve as good marketers for the hats and headbands in my Etsy shop.
I also made my daughter a nice, warm chunky ribbed scarf in her school colors and my favorite bulky yarn, Cascade 128 Superwash.
Now I am on to experimenting with some boys' hats from a fabulous book, Hip Knit Hats. So far, I've made the Skip and am in the midst of making the Pat designs from this book.
We gain an hour when we set the clocks back tonight--another hour to knit! Yay! Stay warm, everyone.

Hat Mania!

After surviving four days and three nights without power after a freak October snowstorm, I am back to knitting as usual, and my chunky hats seem more needed than ever! I have been continuing to make gift hats and headbands for my teenagers' friends and hope that they will serve as good marketers for the hats and headbands in my Etsy shop.
I also made my daughter a nice, warm chunky ribbed scarf in her school colors and my favorite bulky yarn, Cascade 128 Superwash.
Now I am on to experimenting with some boys' hats from a fabulous book, Hip Knit Hats. So far, I've made the Skip and am in the midst of making the Pat designs from this book.
We gain an hour when we set the clocks back tonight--another hour to knit! Yay! Stay warm, everyone.

Sweet Feet!

My poor husband has been patiently waiting for his Cauchy Socks to be finished. I have been so busy on my earflap hat kick that hishttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifsocks--begun on 4th of July weekend--have taken a definite back seat. Finally, this morning, I finished the socks. I really like the way they look--very masculine and a simple pattern with some interest both for the knitter and the wearer.

In other foot-related news, I'm now going back to the just-started Hunter Boot liners for my daughter, the college girl. I am using the Toirneach Kilt Hose pattern, from Knitty.com back in 2007. Because they are supposed to be worn with kilts, they are knee-high and have a fold-over cuff that my daughter can cuff over the outside of each boot. They are going to be very cute!

I'm also continuing to make earflap hats like crazy. Here is one of my daughter's friends modeling hers:

OK, friends, time to get back to my knitting and Podcasts! Will try to be back before too much time has gone by.

Sweet Feet!

My poor husband has been patiently waiting for his Cauchy Socks to be finished. I have been so busy on my earflap hat kick that hishttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifsocks--begun on 4th of July weekend--have taken a definite back seat. Finally, this morning, I finished the socks. I really like the way they look--very masculine and a simple pattern with some interest both for the knitter and the wearer.

In other foot-related news, I'm now going back to the just-started Hunter Boot liners for my daughter, the college girl. I am using the Toirneach Kilt Hose pattern, from Knitty.com back in 2007. Because they are supposed to be worn with kilts, they are knee-high and have a fold-over cuff that my daughter can cuff over the outside of each boot. They are going to be very cute!

I'm also continuing to make earflap hats like crazy. Here is one of my daughter's friends modeling hers:

OK, friends, time to get back to my knitting and Podcasts! Will try to be back before too much time has gone by.

GO BLUE!!

I've been busy knitting up a storm for my new ETSY SHOP! I am going to be making hats and headbands to start, all in collehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifge or high school colors. My crack marketing team consists of my daughter, now a college freshman, and all of her friends at colleges throughout the country; and my son, a high school junior who has been proudly talking up my goods to his friends!
Still learning the ins and outs of being an online seller, but I have my supplies and I'm ready to roll.
A few examples of what I can make in any school color combo:

It is AWESOME to be making up my own patterns for these items too!

While watching U of M's AMAZING win against Notre Dame tonight, I worked on a pair of liners for my daughter's Hunter boots, an apparent college staple! A Ravelry contact gave me the idea to use a kilt hose pattern so that I'd have the wide cuff to turn down over the boots. Great idea! I am making the Toirneach Kilt Hose out of Cascade 220 Superwash in the Daffodil colorway that I've now used for about five different projects! We'll see how it goes!

GO BLUE!!

I've been busy knitting up a storm for my new ETSY SHOP! I am going to be making hats and headbands to start, all in collehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifge or high school colors. My crack marketing team consists of my daughter, now a college freshman, and all of her friends at colleges throughout the country; and my son, a high school junior who has been proudly talking up my goods to his friends!
Still learning the ins and outs of being an online seller, but I have my supplies and I'm ready to roll.
A few examples of what I can make in any school color combo:

It is AWESOME to be making up my own patterns for these items too!

While watching U of M's AMAZING win against Notre Dame tonight, I worked on a pair of liners for my daughter's Hunter boots, an apparent college staple! A Ravelry contact gave me the idea to use a kilt hose pattern so that I'd have the wide cuff to turn down over the boots. Great idea! I am making the Toirneach Kilt Hose out of Cascade 220 Superwash in the Daffodil colorway that I've now used for about five different projects! We'll see how it goes!

Waiting for the Storm

As we in New Jersey and elsewhere on the East Coast await Hurricane Irene, I finished the first of my Cauchy socks for my http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhusbahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifnd. It was a bit challenging figuring out how to modify the pattern as the yarn is very skinny--about 9 stitches/inch, which is smaller than I'm used to for socks and different from the pattern's gauge. I finished sock #1 this morning and it fits its intended wearer, but does need to be stretched slightly for a perfect fit on the foot.

I'll start Sock #2 right away to prevent second sock syndrome, but will then cast on another earflap hat for one of my daughter's friends--the first of many as "my girls" head off to colleges around the country. I've become an expert at determining college colors from the Web--many actually have a page with their official Pantone colors. This first hat will probably be finished on our 8+ hour drive to take our daughter to school in a few days. I hope the rhythm of the stitches will keep me calm as I prepare to separate from my wonderful daughter!

Waiting for the Storm

As we in New Jersey and elsewhere on the East Coast await Hurricane Irene, I finished the first of my Cauchy socks for my http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhusbahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifnd. It was a bit challenging figuring out how to modify the pattern as the yarn is very skinny--about 9 stitches/inch, which is smaller than I'm used to for socks and different from the pattern's gauge. I finished sock #1 this morning and it fits its intended wearer, but does need to be stretched slightly for a perfect fit on the foot.
I'll start Sock #2 right away to prevent second sock syndrome, but will then cast on another earflap hat for one of my daughter's friends--the first of many as "my girls" head off to colleges around the country. I've become an expert at determining college colors from the Web--many actually have a page with their official Pantone colors. This first hat will probably be finished on our 8+ hour drive to take our daughter to school in a few days. I hope the rhythm of the stitches will keep me calm as I prepare to separate from my wonderful daughter!

Coming Up for Air

Wow, it's been almost a month since I last blogged and I feel like it's been a year. I haven't even knit for several days this week, which is unlike me. We returned from a vacation on August 1--after enjoying scenic locales like Prague, pictured above--to find my mom had been in the hospital and was now in rehab (at 90, she is fine now, but there has been a lot to do related to her care--thank goodness I am one of three sisters!); my daughter needing to prep for college and also needing a lot of TLC to get her in the right frame of mind for her big move; and work at its most intense in about a year. If something had to give, unfortunately, it was knitting.


I did successfully get my knitting needles through security in Vienna and Frankfurt and happily knit both going to Europe and coming home. My plane knitting of choice was the Transverse Cardigan, which is mostly stockinette at this point. Since it is a uniqhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifue, sideways construction, it will be a gamble as to whether it will fit or not, but I am measuring as best I can compared to finished sweaters and also favoriting a bunch of examples of this sweater on Ravelry.


I have also been enjoying the Cauchy socks for my husband; I would like to make sure they are done in time for winter and I am not even down the leg of Sock #1 (but almost)--so I think this will become my priority project for now.

Last weekend, after our trip, we went on a 6-hour car trip to visit my husband's parents, so I used the time to make the Gull Hat for my daughter's boyfriend in his soon-to-be-college colors of purple and gold. I loved this pattern and would consider making the sweater in the same pattern in the Norah Gaughan Men book, which I like very much.

So now I guess it's back to the socks, and hopefully more time to knit!

Coming Up for Air

Wow, it's been almost a month since I last blogged and I feel like it's been a year. I haven't even knit for several days this week, which is unlike me. We returned from a vacation on August 1--after enjoying scenic locales like Prague, pictured above--to find my mom had been in the hospital and was now in rehab (at 90, she is fine now, but there has been a lot to do related to her care--thank goodness I am one of three sisters!); my daughter needing to prep for college and also needing a lot of TLC to get her in the right frame of mind for her big move; and work at its most intense in about a year. If something had to give, unfortunately, it was knitting.

I did successfully get my knitting needles through security in Vienna and Frankfurt and happily knit both going to Europe and coming home. My plane knitting of choice was the Transverse Cardigan, which is mostly stockinette at this point. Since it is a uniqhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifue, sideways construction, it will be a gamble as to whether it will fit or not, but I am measuring as best I can compared to finished sweaters and also favoriting a bunch of examples of this sweater on Ravelry.

I have also been enjoying the Cauchy socks for my husband; I would like to make sure they are done in time for winter and I am not even down the leg of Sock #1 (but almost)--so I think this will become my priority project for now.
Last weekend, after our trip, we went on a 6-hour car trip to visit my husband's parents, so I used the time to make the Gull Hat for my daughter's boyfriend in his soon-to-be-college colors of purple and gold. I loved this pattern and would consider making the sweater in the same pattern in the Norah Gaughan Men book, which I like very much.
So now I guess it's back to the socks, and hopefully more time to knit!

The Big Project is Finished--Go Blue!

Finished my daughter's University of Michigan Afghan with over a month to go before she leaves for college! I am very pleased with it and hope that it brings her good luck and lots of love in college. I used almost 2,000 yards of yarn in this afghan and enjoyed the pattern very much. Making it in strips of two squares (as recommended on Ravelry) was great, and I liked the mitered garter border I added.
So now it's on to some new projects, particularly in advance of a vacation where I'll need some big and small projects to occupy me. I'm going to try my luck at getting knitting needles on a transatlantic flight too!
I'm working on the Cauchy Socks from Cookie A's Sock Innovation for my husband;
The Uisce scarf/shawl from Carol Feller's Stolen Stitches booklet-- a good way to use up my lovely Brooks Farm Mas Acero;
and the Transverse Cardigan from Interweave Knits, which I've always wanted to make and will be a nice use for my Autumn House Farm's Finnean's Rainbow yarn, purchased at Rhinebeck last fall.
Lots to do before I leave, but at least all of these projects are on the needles and ready to go!

The Big Project is Finished--Go Blue!

Finished my daughter's University of Michigan Afghan with over a month to go before she leaves for college! I am very pleased with it and hope that it brings her good luck and lots of love in college. I used almost 2,000 yards of yarn in this afghan and enjoyed the pattern very much. Making it in strips of two squares (as recommended on Ravelry) was great, and I liked the mitered garter border I added.
So now it's on to some new projects, particularly in advance of a vacation where I'll need some big and small projects to occupy me. I'm going to try my luck at getting knitting needles on a transatlantic flight too!
I'm working on the Cauchy Socks from Cookie A's Sock Innovation for my husband;
The Uisce scarf/shawl from Carol Feller's Stolen Stitches booklet-- a good way to use up my lovely Brooks Farm Mas Acero;
and the Transverse Cardigan from Interweave Knits, which I've always wanted to make and will be a nice use for my Autumn House Farm's Finnean's Rainbow yarn, purchased at Rhinebeck last fall.
Lots to do before I leave, but at least all of these projects are on the needles and ready to go!

Socks IMO A Dear Friend

First, Happy 4th of July to all--watching the fireworks displays in Washington, DC and New York City tonight makes me feel very patriotic. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
But on to knitting. Sorry it's been so long since I've posted--we've had a lot of big occasions in our household, most notably my DD's graduation from high school. So while the knitting (particularly her college afghan) has gone on, the blogging has taken a back seat. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Prior to the holiday weekend I finished the socks I have been knitting for quite some time--in between projects--from the “Egg-Stra” Special Sock Kit by Skacel; all proceeds went to Ovarian Cancer research, and I wanted to support this cause in memory of my dear friend who passed away from a form of this disease. However, the pattern looked a bit too complicated. I decided “On http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifHold”, from Wendy Johnson's "Socks from the Toe Up," was also a fitting pattern to honor Mimi’s memory, as she did hold on for so long, fighting as hard as she could.
I learned a lot while making these socks, including more experience at toe-up socks (although I just couldn’t get Wendy’s short-row heel, and ended up going back to my old stand-by, Sensational Knitted Socks, and used an Eye of Partridge heel). The kit had come with beads, and I worked them into this pattern in a pretty design. I also tried the dental-floss-threader method of adding the beads, and I think I like it much better than the crochet hook method. Good to know both ways.
Finally, I used the sewn bind-off to ensure stretchiness at the cuff. Very pleased with these socks.
Immediately cast on Cauchy, from Cookie A's Sock Innovation, for my DH, using the very pretty, but very thin, Swanky Sock BFL Yarn in Navy Blue from Evermore Studios. We'll see how I do with an 80-stitch sock (at a gauge of 9 stitches/inch)!

Socks IMO A Dear Friend

First, Happy 4th of July to all--watching the fireworks displays in Washington, DC and New York City tonight makes me feel very patriotic. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
But on to knitting. Sorry it's been so long since I've posted--we've had a lot of big occasions in our household, most notably my DD's graduation from high school. So while the knitting (particularly her college afghan) has gone on, the blogging has taken a back seat. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Prior to the holiday weekend I finished the socks I have been knitting for quite some time--in between projects--from the “Egg-Stra” Special Sock Kit by Skacel; all proceeds went to Ovarian Cancer research, and I wanted to support this cause in memory of my dear friend who passed away from a form of this disease. However, the pattern looked a bit too complicated. I decided “On http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifHold”, from Wendy Johnson's "Socks from the Toe Up," was also a fitting pattern to honor Mimi’s memory, as she did hold on for so long, fighting as hard as she could.
I learned a lot while making these socks, including more experience at toe-up socks (although I just couldn’t get Wendy’s short-row heel, and ended up going back to my old stand-by, Sensational Knitted Socks, and used an Eye of Partridge heel). The kit had come with beads, and I worked them into this pattern in a pretty design. I also tried the dental-floss-threader method of adding the beads, and I think I like it much better than the crochet hook method. Good to know both ways.
Finally, I used the sewn bind-off to ensure stretchiness at the cuff. Very pleased with these socks.
Immediately cast on Cauchy, from Cookie A's Sock Innovation, for my DH, using the very pretty, but very thin, Swanky Sock BFL Yarn in Navy Blue from Evermore Studios. We'll see how I do with an 80-stitch sock (at a gauge of 9 stitches/inch)!

Roxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxanne!

I know a lot of people have been talking about the fact that whenever they mention the name of the Roxanne Mystery Shawl, the Police song of the late 1970's-early 1980's comes into their head and won't leave! I've been having the same thoughts as I've sprinted toward the finish line of this cute shawl.
I really enjoyed making it, but now that it's done and blocked, I'm not sure if I will wear it all that much. It is a little short, but since it is somewhat rounded in the back versus triangular, it is not appropriate to wear with the point in the front and the ends draped forward. I think I would prefer that type of shawl as my next attempt. If anyone can recommend a good pattern that fits these requirements, please leave a comment!http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
The pattern was a lot of fun, and was my first experience with a true lace shawl. I loved the tab cast-on and I love the cables surrounded by lace. In addition, this was the first shawl that I really blocked out from the "blob" stage to a beautiful, opened-up lace garment, and it WAS magical to see how the shawl changed as many others have described.
Now I return to the University of Michigan afghan for my daughter. I am slightly ahead of schedule, and plan to finish the third of the four panels tonight and hopefully block it tonight--I have a lot of evening activities this week and tonight is probably my only chance to take the time I need with the blocking wires to get a nice, straight panel.
Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday weekend!

Roxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxanne!

I know a lot of people have been talking about the fact that whenever they mention the name of the Roxanne Mystery Shawl, the Police song of the late 1970's-early 1980's comes into their head and won't leave! I've been having the same thoughts as I've sprinted toward the finish line of this cute shawl.
I really enjoyed making it, but now that it's done and blocked, I'm not sure if I will wear it all that much. It is a little short, but since it is somewhat rounded in the back versus triangular, it is not appropriate to wear with the point in the front and the ends draped forward. I think I would prefer that type of shawl as my next attempt. If anyone can recommend a good pattern that fits these requirements, please leave a comment!http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
The pattern was a lot of fun, and was my first experience with a true lace shawl. I loved the tab cast-on and I love the cables surrounded by lace. In addition, this was the first shawl that I really blocked out from the "blob" stage to a beautiful, opened-up lace garment, and it WAS magical to see how the shawl changed as many others have described.
Now I return to the University of Michigan afghan for my daughter. I am slightly ahead of schedule, and plan to finish the third of the four panels tonight and hopefully block it tonight--I have a lot of evening activities this week and tonight is probably my only chance to take the time I need with the blocking wires to get a nice, straight panel.
Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday weekend!