Socks Are Rockin'

Well, yes I did give in and try the Socks that Rock in Farmhouse colorway! And they are gorgeous...just see for yourself. I decided to knit the medium-weight yarn on size 3 needles. Those needles were so wanting a nice yarn to be knit on them...they have spent many months in the storage case. I just could not resist!

I love the feel of Socks that Rock. The mail order service from the company was quick...less than 1 week from time of order (company in Oregon) to arrival in mail (to PA). Very pleased!

I have begun the gusset decrease and probably will finish this sock by the end of Sunday.

My good friend, Billie, let me try on a sock she recently finished from a lovely Trekking XXL colorway purcased from Knitters' Underground in Centre Hall. I have been using 64 stitches on size 2 needles and even with the shaped sock pattern ... which I LOVE ... I still get baggy socks at the ankles. Billie and Molly have been telling me I need to use 56 stitches...I guess Billie had to prove it to me. So, future socks from fingering weight yarns will be knitted on 56 stitches.

Thanks Billie and Molly!

Second Sock Finished; New Pair Begun

After a humid morning, this afternoon's weather was perfect for sitting outdoors and knitting. I did just that! No campaign work today. I needed a break! The light breeze and sunny skies were wonderful and the Goldens and I enjoyed the day outdoors.

I finished my second shaped sock form the Regia wool/silk combo. Really nice. I love the patterning. Would never have bought this particular colorway by just seeing the skein of yarn, but at Maryland Sheep & Wool in May I saw a sample sock and immediately knew I wanted to make a pair for myself. Yo u can see the finished product here.

Today's knitting progress inspired me to immediately cast on another pair of socks...this time from the Lorna's Laces I bought in Williamsburg, VA in June. The color is called "Tuscany" and the combination is gorgeous, although the photo is not a true representation of the richness of the colors -- a raspberry, olive green, medium blue combination. I can't wait to see how it patterns. Keep watching for updated photos.

Of course it is time to think of the next pair...sock out came the recently purchased Socks That Rock yarn which can be knit on a size 3 needles...hey...that means I could start them too...but won't...because my embossed leaves socks from Koigu are calling me to finish them. The skein of Socks that rock yarn is a nice superwash merino in burgundy, gold, teal and navy blue. This colorway is called "Farmhouse."

Happy Birthday Stratton!

Mr. Perfect. The Love of My Life. Goofy Big Golden. My Angel. Petunia. Pumkin.

Those are all names for one guy in my life...Stratton who will be 8 tomorrow, Aug. 2. Happy, Happy Birthday my special boy! You have been such a joy since I brought you home at age 8 weeks. May we have many, many more years together. I'd take a dozen just like you! I love you Strattie my baby boy.

BEST fitting sock

Finally had time to finish my sock from Regia wool/silk. I am really pleased with the yarn..a joy to knit with and the colors are beautiful.

But, the BEST part is the pattern I used. I wrote about it a while back and bought a copy based on the suggestion of my good friend, Roberta. The pattern is called Shapely Secrets Socks and was designed by Dawk Adcock. It can be found on her site at www.dawnadcock.com and I highly recommend this pattern.

Until this sock all of mine bagged a bit at the ankle. Frankly, I probably need to go down a needle size (I use #2) and she recommends #0. I think I will compromise and use #1. There is extended ankle shaping and nice shaping at the top. I think one size smaller needle will completely solve my ankle bagging woes. Today I ordered a pair of Crystal Palace dpns in size 1 and another set in size 2 (I do knit with thinker yarn sometimes for heavier wool socks). I love the 6-inch needles and have completely fallen for the Crystal Palace needles.

Shawl from sock yarn

I have begun and frogged several shawls. I just wasn't happy with them after a few inches of knitting, primairly because I selected the wrong yarn.

This time it's different!

I chose Trekking sock yarn in color 108 which is a lovely combination of shades of blue/turquoise/rust/dark yellow/ brown/lavender. Might sound like an odd color combination but I think it is truly lovely. I Bought the yarn from Molly at Knitters Underground in Centre Hall, PA...she recently began carrying a large selection of colors and all are gorgeous. I bought 5 skeins without a shawl pattern in mind and no plans to begin knitting one in 90-plus degree heat. Well, the fingers got itchy to begin and I wanted to try Trekking. I love the feel and it knits beautifully!

During the drive home from the yarn shop I tried to make a decision on what shawl to knit...had to make up my mind quickly because I only live 4 blocks from Molly's shop. Went to the bookshelf and pulled out the always reliable Folk Shawls book. I started leafing through the pages drooling at the lovely shawl...triangular and oblong. Then I saw it! The Kimono Shawl...that was it. The pattern has a garter stitch border around the outside and the lace repeat is an easy one...a 24-row repeat done 25 times or for as long as you want your shawl to be when finished. The pattern in the book shows it knitted in a lovely off-white yarn but I decided to use my self-striping sock yarn. I think I am going to like the patterned yarn. I am committed to it.

I don't have a lot of spare time for knitting these days but wanted to have the first repeat finishing before I took it to the yarn shop for inspection by Molly and Billie. Today was its unveiling and they really liked it. Whew! Molly will block it for me when I am finished ... hopefully for fall wearing.

Back to work and then to school board meetings tonight. Might not be able to knit until tomorrow. Keep watching for its progress.

The Mailman Arrived!

My visit to the Post Office this morning yielded just the packages I have been waiting for...

Which to open first...well start with the smaller one...

Two handmade fabric bags to hold sock projects. These wonderfully designed bags are made by "trek" at trek casts on... http://trekcelt.blogspot.com They are lined and have a nice drawstring top. She makes her items for swapping and I sent her a set of dpns that she wanted as the swap item. I also sent the Golden Retriever adult and Golden Retriever puppy fabrics, lining and thread for my bags which is why only needles were needed to swap.

Check out her blog for other fabrics, some really nice free sock patterns and other items. She also will make longer spindle bags, too. I am very pleased with the design, wonderful workmanship and prompt mailing.

Now to the second package...if you have bags for sock projects one must have yarn, too. Right? Of course I am right!!

My friend Roberta directed me to the etsy site on the Internet...a VERY dangerous on-line shopping site for all sorts of hand-dyed yarns. While pursuing I found some gorgeous yarn in shades of blue, lavender, roses and yelllows made by Gypsyknits. Her blog is http://gypsyknits.blogspot.com and is a really fun place to visit, too.

The online sales site is gypsyknits.etsy.com Check out her yarns and the others too. Kathy's yarns are a soft merino wool and the colors are fabulous. Well worth the investment.

Baby Blanket

Started the first knitting project for Steof's and Joe's baby. Decided to knit a corner to corner pastel blanket from stash yarn. A nice easy project for a Saturday. The yarnovers add a decorative touch to the edges. I got yellow yarn for a sweater, hat and socks to turn this into an ensemble. Perhaps she will use it to bring the baby home from the hospital in January.

New Ott Lamp

Was in JoAnn's Fabric Store earlier this week and saw just what I needed...a new floor Ott light. The sale was fabulous and this model included a nice magnifier. I have not attached the magnifier for knitting but plan do to some counted cross stitch this weekend and will try it out. I haven't cross stitched in about 18 months since I got back into knitting with a vengence. I have some pieces started that I want to finish and others I really want to stitch. Once I finish my contract with the Bob Casey for U.S. Senate campaign I will have more time to do both.

Counted cross stitch is a slow process, in my opinion, but I do love the results. I want to get some pieces stitched. My husband and I are beginning to think about a "winter home" in a few years and would like to have some pieces done to hang on the walls.

I have the front, back and 1 sleeve completed on O'Connor's sweater. The second sleeve is half finished. Will post a photo when it is done and blocked. Roberta has promised to show me a nifty method of sewing seams together. I bought the correct size crochet hook so will be ready to do the seaming next week when we get together.

Also stopped at Knitter's Underground on Wednesday for pizza with Molly and Billie. So nice of Molly to invite me to join them! I do miss the companionship and conversation. We had a lot to catch up on. Molly has some beautiful new yarns in stock for worsted sweaters perfect for children. Also has some new cotton sock yarns that are lovely. The Sockotta knits so nicely.

I bought some DK weight Encore in a gorgeous teal for a baby blanket for my niece's pending addition. Also got some baby yarn in yellow for a sweater, hat and booties to go with the varigated worsted weight stash yarn I will also use for a blanket. Will be a nice coming home outfit. Will take some photos this weekend to show the colors.

Knitting for a baby (or babies)

Am searching through my stash for baby yarns. I found some nice pastel soft yarn that will make nice stripes on a blanket. Have some others and am planning a sweater or two and some baby socks.

No, not for my use! My niece Stoef told me today she is expecting her first child (possibly twins!) in January. So, Auntie Kim better knit a bit faster I think.

I have some yarns tucked away that were given to me over the past few years. This is where a stash does come in handy.

I have one baby blanket made from some brightly colors worsted yarn. Would work for laying on the floor and putting a baby or babies on it.

During a recent visit to Rosie's Yarn Cellar in Philadelphia I bought some yarn and whined because I don't live close enough to take the bootie class. The people in that shop are so customer-service savvy...they gave me that pattern and one for a baby sweater. I just remembered the sweater...it was made from Koigu sock yarn. I won't use Koigu...too expensive and too warm for Savannah, GA but I will find a nice substitute and make that sweater or sweaters.

Good grief...she is making me do plurals!!!! As long as the baby or babies are healthy and she does OK in delivery...I don't care how much I need to knit.

Happy Birthday Teddy Bear!

Our youngest Golden Retriever, Teddy Bear, is celebrating his third birthday today, June 19. He came into the rescue at age 4 1/2 months and I just couldn't let him go. He is a total love sponge but also is a handful some days. Fortunately, his Golden brothers seem to love him as much as we do because they tolerate a lot of yipping, nipping and wrestling from this guy. He loves laying his head in his daddy's lap while he gets belly rubs. Teddy is just a loving Golden boy.

Happy Birthday my little sweetheart and may you have many, many more!!!!

My SPECIAL knitting bag

The UPS man came to my door late yesterday afternoon. I wasn't expecting him. He brought a medium sized box and it was from a yarn shop. I had not ordered anything...well, not anything that large.

Upon opening the box I found a GORGEOUS knitting bag made by Lexie Barnes www.lexiebarnes.com inside. I was stunned. I had looked at this bag during a recent trip to Virginia but even though I dubbed it the "perfect knitting bag" I would never spend the $$$ for it. My husband had the shop order one in red and have it sent to me for our anniversary. Sometimes he truly amazes me!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this bag. It is somewhat bowling ball bag shaped so the wider bottom accommodates a large number of projects...which is what I usually have in the works. The outside can be wiped off with a damp cloth and is waterproof...I think. The shoulder handles are just the right length for me and are made not to slip off the shoulder. A wonderful concept!

As great as the outside is the inside is almost beyond description but I will try. There are many pockets of many sizes including long angled ones for knitting needles. I quickly loaded up the bag and still have space for a wallet and keys.

What a wonderful gift! Now I suppose I better go to the golf shop and buy him a present...gee...Father's Day is Sunday and our anniversary is Monday....yes, it is time to shop.

Shaped Socks

Aren't these lovely?

My friend Roberta is an even more avid (or is that rabid???) knitter than I am. Recently, during one of our jaunts to a local coffee house she told me about the wonderful pattern "Shapely Secrets Socks." Well, of course I just HAD to do that internet search and purchase a copy of the pattern for myself. This came after our discussion of whether or not I should decrease the number of cast on stitches. I felt that socks made from fewer stitches might not fit and then all of my work would be wasted. I don't mind frogging...really I don't...but I don't like frogging that much!

Dawn Adcock, the designer, has come up with a wonder basic sock pattern that helps eliminate the bagging that can occur above the heel flap at the back of the ankle of stockinette stitch socks. She also creatively adds a bit of leg shaping to the cuff by using a graduated ribbing into the leg. The sock is great for 64 or 72 stitches cast on for cuff down knitting. Dawn's website is www.dawnadcock.com

I am working on my first sock with this pattern and if it fits as well as I think it is going to fit...well this WILL become my standard basic pattern.

And, this pattern works well with the wonderful self-patterning yarns that are on the market for today's knitters. I am using a Regia silk/wool blend that I bought at Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. It is going along more quickly than usual. Why? Because I am not as bored as I sometimes get with knitting around and around. I need to pay attention to Dawn's pattern.

Dawn thank you for sharing your talents with others and Roberta thank you for being such a good friend and pointing me in the direction of this pattern.