Celery socks

I finished my Celery socks, just in time to cast on new socks to knit while at Knitter's Day Out.

Socks were knit with kettled dyed yarn in several shades of celery. Size 0 needles, two socks at once on 1 long circular needle knit toe up. Patterning alternates a k1, p1, k1 rib with 3 stitches of moss stitch. Garter stitch hourglass heel.

Some FO's and UFO's

Yippee! School is back in session. I have finally got preschool sorted out for my younger son and I will have lovely, lovely mornings to myself 4 days a week.

The green top is done, washed and waiting some frogging and awaiting some revisions. I originally put in shaping at the sides of the waist which will be switched to under the bust. After washing and shrinking, the top shrunk much more lengthwise and less widthwise than I expected from my swatch. Maybe it will be done my NEXT summer.

I have some photos of the Elann wrap, free pattern HERE I found the pattern fun but the shaping was a challenge for me. Pattern was well written but there was a lot going on all at the same time. I changed the back cable pattern and shortened the wings in the front.
Here is the back modeled by the ever patient Dino.


And the front modeled by a chair since Lexi wouldn't cooperate.


I started the Kauni Autumn Cardigan and joined the KAL. I'm using colors EQ (rainbow) and EJ (white/cream/fawn/rose). I've only gotten the ribbing done so far and can't wait to start the leaves. The yarn Kauni Effektgarn is fascinating, keeps me knitting to see how the colors will play out.

In a green kind of place

On and off all summer I've been working on a summer top. At this rate I ought to be finished just in time for the first snowfall.


The top is of my own design. I made a schematic on graph paper based on my measurement and then cast on based on my swatches. Yarn is a cone of green 4/2 cotton by Dragon Tale yarns that I bought at the Mannings. I started by knitting two shoulder straps and then casting on extra stitches for armholes, front and back to knit in the round. I am rather top heavy so the front is 26 inches while the back measures 19". I'll be decreasing soon for some waist shaping and then adding a few stitches back in to accomodate what Sandy from Knitting Daily so poetically calls a "Buddha Belly". I haven't decided on a hem treatment for the bottom yet. Then I'll wash it and hope that the figuring I did to accomodate for the shrinkage of the swatch was correct.

Another green project, another Baby Bobbi Bear. Pattern by Blue Sky Alpacas. I LOVE this pattern. Knitting starts around the belly and continues upward for the front and back chest. Head is knit with clever shaping. The knitting is turned around and stitches are picked up for the shaped butt (yes it has butt shaping!) and then the legs are knit in the round. Stitches are picked up from the chest sides for the arms. Very little in the way of sewing up. Ears must be sewn on, eyes and nose are embroidered, crotch opening is sewn up and that's it.


This little guy was knit with 2 colors of Lily dishcloth cotton (Sugar & Cream or Peaches & Cream I get the names confused) on size 3 needles.

Post Potter Let Down

It took me a little less then 36 hours to read HP & the Deathly Hallows. Now I'm experiencing Post-Potter letdown. I have to say I was favorably surprised by the book. Lots of interesting plot twists. I was a little worried that it wouldn't live up to my expectations but it surpassed them. If you aren't finished reading yet....keep going, it's worth it in the end.

I've been knitting on Jenna's Very Purple scarf today. I finally found the pattern again, Amy Singer's Montego Bay Scarf from Interweave Knits. I needed something simple for my addled brain. I had been having trouble with remembering which row I was on, on RS row starts with k3 and one with k4. I finally figured out that if the previous RS row ends with a k3, the next RS row starts with k3 and vice versa for the k4 rows.

My big purchase for the weekend:

How can one possibly resist a color called VooDoo Blue? Can't wait to take it off road.

So many projects....

It has been awhile since I posted. I didn't realize how long until I saw the date.
Here is where I've been spending a good deal of time:


I've also been spending an inordinate amount of energy keeping two brothers from spitting on, beating, smacking, poking, splashing, drowning and generally annoying each other. August 27th can't get here fast enough.

I caved in to peer pressure and started Mystery Stole 3. I haven't gotten very far yet, just beginning Clue #2.


I'm using SWTC Infinity, 16/2 lace weight 100% soy silk with iridescent seed beads. Using size 0 bamboo straight needles, which doesn't allow me to stretch it out for the photo. I had been using circs but the joins kept catching.

Also been working on a v-shaped shawl off the Elann website. I'm using worsted weight wool and have changed the cable pattern on the back.

Hat Frenzy

I've been in a hat frenzy lately.

Here are some recently finished examples.


Blue one is made from handspun singles and some leftover manos using a slip stitch pattern. White one is made from Fisherman Wool and has XO cables. Both were just made up as I went along.

The brown one is the hat that goes with Am Kamrin from Heirloom Knitting (Japanese). Here is a close up of the twisted stitch panel. Lots of fun to work but not a mindless project!



I'm keep the brown hat. The other two I will save to take to Knitter's Day Out for Caps for Kids.

Finished Sweater

The Bulky Cable Sweater is now finished. I've actually been getting a good deal of use out of it. It has been in the 50's and 60's here, it's usually in the 80's this time of year.

I also got some books from Japan. New Style of Heirloom Knitting has cabled and Fair Isle sweaters. The other one is crochet of the cutest cake and food items.

I'm working on the hat that goes along with the Am Kamrin sweater, just to see if I am up to the challenge of working from a pattern that I can't read other than the charts. So far it it going pretty well. The books came from Saucy Louise. Lou will special order books she doesn't have and her prices and shipping beat most of the other books I've seen on ebay and the like.