More Socks

While reading some of my favorite blogs, I ran across a sock pattern by the Yarn Harlot. She had made a pair of socks using a 2x2 rib with moving over 1 stitch every 6 rounds. Here is my attempt on this variation. I am using Regia Jacquard Color dk sport weight with a 1" cuff of 1x1 rib and 3" of the stitch pattern. She's the master. Her socks look a lot better.


I have finished the gusset, now on to the long foot part.


On other news:

I have joined Ravelry. My stuff is under the name: craftybean. Maybe I will figure out how this works one of these days.

As Promised...

As I promised, here are the new socks I finished. I think that I will gift them to MIL for Christmas. I gave her a pair last year and she liked them. So I hope that she will like this pair.

Pattern: Basic Sock Pattern 2x2 Rib
Source: Nancy Bush
Yarn: Sisu Fantasy
Color: 9367
Needle: US2

On other news, I have started seaming the Perfect Tee Sweater. Maybe I will be able to wear it in the spring. I don't think a cotton sweater is appropriate in 36 degree weather.

Gauntlets

I finally received my invitation to Ravelry. I have a lot of computer duty to upload all of my yarn, projects, etc.

I had 2 skeins of Filatura DiCrosa Primo that I won at guild meeting last month. I wanted to make a pair of fingerless mitts. So, I used Ravelry to research patterns. There were a lot of patterns to choose from. This is what I came up with:



Pattern: Symmetrical Braided Gauntlets
Source: knittyknotty
Yarn: Filatura DiCrosa Primo
Color: 293 (Purple)
Needle: US7

More finished knitting to come!

Other Interests

This fall we have been doing other things. Check out my 9th grader. He is the second tuba from the left.


Now to get some pictures from my 7th grader's band. He is playing the trombone. His second parade is Veteran's Day.(Monday)

Updates

Has it really been 3 months since I posted anything? My apologies. I have no excuse except I have been knitting and not blogging. Mostly starting projects and not finishing them. I have way too many UFO's!! Then today I set up my profile on Ravelry. Something else to play with!!

On to knitting: I completed the Perfect Tee. But, I decided it looked like a tent on me. So, I ripped it up. I am up to knitting the second sleeve. Only a few more inches, then the dreaded seaming up. I may get to wear it next spring, since it is already November.

My bad! I didn't re-skein the yarn and give it a bath, etc., etc. (as instructed in Knitting Daily). There doesn't seem to be a lot of memory in the yarn. But it is cotton yarn: Plymouth's Fantasy Naturale. Maybe that makes a difference.

I had started the Lizard Ridge Afghan from Knitty, but I didn't like how the short rows were working, so I scrapped that project. Be on the look out for my solution to 20 single balls of Noro Kureyon Yarns.

New School Year

Well, it may be 100 degrees outside, but summer is over in Bartlett! I sent off all my babies to school this morning. I didn't get a picture of my new High School student (his bus came at 6:20). But here are the others: 7th grade, 4th grade and 1st grade. This year I have children in 3 schools. Thank goodness for buses. I wouldn't be able to have everyone there on time.

Memphis Stitch N Pitch

Well, Memphis has a triple A ball club, but no Stitch N Pitch day. That's okay, I take my knitting everywhere and declared last Saturday night a stitch n pitch event.

I completed about half of a mitered square for a mitered square afghan from sock yarn. The Heathen Housewife has a tutorial on her blog. I almost have enough squares for the foundation row. Pictures of that to come.


Back to the ballgame. Here is my family at the game. My husband is watching the game and the 14 year old hates to have his picture taken. See the surly look?

It was Elvis Night. We were serenaded with Elvis tunes during the game.

Afterwards, there was a fireworks display during an Elvis concert. Our team the Redbirds won the game and we had a great time, but my goodness, it was hot!!

Another Dishcloth

I was cleaning off my desk today and I found a February KAL dishcloth that I hadn't finished. There were only 10 or so rows left to complete. So, I hunted around and found the printed copy of the pattern and finished knitting it. Now I only need the rows for tomorrow on the current KAL & I will have 2 new dishcloths. It is nice to have another FO.

Pattern: Love Day
Source: http://tricotine.typepad.com/weblog/

Yarn: Tahki Cotton Classic

Color: Red

Needle: US 5

New Purchases

I added a new addition to my Knitting Library. It is the Baby Surprise Jacket DVD from Elizabeth Zimmermann. I have a lot of baby gifts to make, so I decided to give this sweater a try. A friend at church just had a baby and my nephew's wife is expecting. Oh, I just realized, I am going to be a great-aunt! And my youngest child is six. That makes me feel old.





It is a good thing I didn't join the knit only from my stash group. I found a great deal on e-bay for 9 skeins of Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille yarn. Crystal Palace has a new pattern for washcloths on their web-site. They will make nice gifts. Or maybe I'll knit more cuddle toys.




I have started to wind the skeins with my trusty nostepine. I could use a swift. The kids get tired of holding out their hands for me. I can use the backs of chairs, but it is easier if someone holds the skeins.

Row Counter Bracelet

Yesterday, I was reading the posts on one of my Yahoo Groups. Someone asked about using row counter bracelets. I have never used one but I have seen them on other blogs and internet company sites. The retail price on the bracelets is about $10. Well, I decided that I could make one. After all I do have lots of beads from making stitch markers. Today I went to Hobby Lobby and purchased the cording, crimps, and lobster claw clasps. Presto, change-o, here is a Row Counter Bracelet!

I'll have to make more for some friends. How about one for a door prize for the knitting guild (with matching stitch markers, of course!)?

BTW, I decided the sleeves on my Perfect Tee Sweater are too big. So...rippit, rippit.

Busy Summer

Well, I don't have much knitting done from last week. My oldest son started Band Camp and I ended up driving 100 miles a day to take and pick him up from school. The school gave the students 2 breaks a day for a 1 3/4 hours each. My son wanted to come home for the breaks and he can't drive so ........
Here they are learning the marches. My son is the tuba player with the black hat.

And another shot. The band is fairly large with around 100 kids. They actually have 8 tuba players.

On to knitting:

I received my order from Carodan Farm Wool Shop. It is a kit for the cuddle animals with the pattern and yarn. I started the cat in lavender, but I didn't like how the increases looked. So this morning I frogged it and will start again.

July Mid-Month KAL

I am behind on the Monthly Dishcloth KAL current cloth, but it is finished. It turned out very nice. This cloth should have good scrubbing power because it uses mainly seed and garter stitches. I didn't block it, so it's not square.

Some of the KAL members had problems with the "knit in the back loop", but that is fairly simple to learn. ( Especially with all the tutorials out there in internetland.)

I liked this cloth, I'll have to knit it again.

Pattern: Bamboozled
Source: Monthly Dishcloth KAL
Yarn: Sugar N Creme
Color: Country Brown Ombre
Needles: US 6

Perfect Tee

I am busily knitting Ann Norling's The Perfect Tee. I started it back in May using Peaches N Creme Cotton Worsted in white. It was finished except for seaming the sides. I basted the side seams & tried it on. Because I used the shaping instructions, the sweater did not suit my build. Too Tight for me! It was promptly frogged. (ie. rip it, rip it) That was okay with me, because I had used the less expensive yarn to make a trial run anyway. (It is tiring to make a sweater and not have it fit properly).

I then started over using the yarn I purchased for this project. I am using Plymouth Yarns - Fantasy Naturale, a larger size and NO SHAPING. We shall see how this works.

I have finished the back and am almost up to the arm hole shaping on the front. When I knitted the first sweater, the arm holes had the "stair step" ladders around the curve. This made it very hard to sew in the sleeves. I decided to research the problem and I found the best tutorial on Knitty.com. Check out the smooth arm hole curve now! I'll see how it works on the neckline.

New Socks and Old Pictures

Hot off the Needles:

I finished the Colinette Jitterbug Socks this morning. I really liked working with this yarn. It has a nice "springy" feel to it. It sort of reminded me of Koigu. The colors pooled some, but not in an unpleasant way. There is a faint odor of vinegar in this yarn. Probably from the dyeing process, it should fade when washed.

I did modify my pattern to accommodate fingering weight yarn. The cast on was 64 stitches and I used 5 needles.



Pattern: Thuja (modified)
Source: knitty
Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug
Color: Mardi Gras
Needles: US 1


Everyday Cardigan

Here is the picture of my Everyday Cardigan from Peace Fleece. I finished it in March and actually wore it a couple of times before it became too hot. I must admit that wool yarn is very warm. I have never had a wool sweater before now. This can be worn as a jacket. The yarn is a little scratchy but not too bad. It really blocks the wind. I will probably modify the pattern the next time I knit this sweater. The arms are too long (did you notice that I rolled them up?) and the body needs lengthening for my taste.


Pattern: Everyday Cardigan
Source: Peace Fleece
Yarn: Peace Fleece Worsted Weight
Color: Blueberry Borscht
Needles: US 6 & US 8

More Pictures

Here is another pair of socks knitted for my daughter. I finished these about 2 months ago, but never posted a picture.


Pattern: Knitting Pure & Simple Childrens Sock Pattern
Yarn: Regia Silk
Needle: US 2
Color: Pink

I modified the heel using my favorite:

Row 1: slip 1, knit 1 across the heel
Row 2: slip the first stitch then purl the rest
Repeat Rows 1 & 2 for the length of the heel flap

Seraphim Finished

I know I haven't updated my blog in a long time, but I have been knitting. I will try to post all the pictures over the next few days.

Finished & Blocked Today

Pattern: Seraphim Shawl
Designer: Miriam Felton
Needle: US 5
Yarn: GB Wolle Cosy Socks
Color: Black



I made a new design element. Can you find it? After searching the web, I found out that you need to move the markers in the repeats. Oh well, live and learn. It was too hard to rip out and redo, so I just carried on correctly. I only messed up two rows, but this is the result.

I am a Winner!!

Yippee, I won a door prize at the Memphis Knitting Guild the other night. It is a Special Sneak Peek for The Friday Night Knitting Club book. Now I will have to find the book and read the whole thing!


On to knitting

I finished the Fingerless Gloves out of sport sock yarn. The pattern called for fingering weight yarn, but I converted it for the sport weight. The mitts were knitted on straight needles. If I make another pair, I will convert it to double pointed needles. My seams stink.


Pattern: Socks for Yarn
Source: Knitting Pattern a Day - December 20, 2006.
(Modified for Sport Weight Yarn)
Yarn: Regia 6 ply Crazy Color
Color: Variegated
Needle: US 4

More Finished for 2007

I joined another KAL. This time it is for bookmarks. This is my first attempt:



January Bookmark
Source: Monthly Bookmarks KAL
Yarn: (Vintage) Bucilla Riviera 100% Cotton
Color: Red/Brown?
Needle: US 5


More Dishcloths finished.

Snowflake Dishcloth

Source: rainyk.com

Yarn: Sugar N Creme

Color: White

Needles: US 7

My Charity projects started for 2007.

Preemie Blanket

Source: My Own (based on diagonal dishcloth)

Yarn: Plassard Trophee

Color: Baby Varigated

Needle: US 6

New Year New FOs

I have actually finished a project already. This is the December Mid-Month Dishcloth from the KAL. This is an interesting pattern because one stitch is a "yo, ss2, knit 1, p2sso"or yarn over, slip 2 stitches, knit 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over. I have never done this, so I have learned a new technique.


Pattern: Snowy Drops
Source:Monthly Dishcloth KAL
Yarn: Sugar N Creme
Color: Marble Print
Needle: US7

I did knit several face cloths for teacher presents. I used a finer cotton and smaller needles. The cloths turned out very nice, especially after blocking. I attached them around a bottle of bubble bath. Of course they were knitted under a deadline, so no pictures. But I received nice thank-you notes from the teachers.