Knitting Group in the Local Newspaper!

Our Penns Valley Knitting Group was featured in a cover story of the Living Section of today's Centre Daily Times newspaper. Here is the link: http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/15578825.htm

Unfortunately, the photos do not appear on the website...but trust me...they were as wonderful as the story!

Why Lifelines?

I know about lifelines and the importance of them when lace knitting. I was planning on using them after I finished 3 more rows on my wrap I was knitting from Trekking XXL. Well, too little too late. That shawl is now a rolled up ball of yarn again. I dropped a stitch somewhere...only a few rows back...but couldn't figure out where. So, I frogged the entire 6 inches of shawl. Could be worse.

Here is a photo of the shawl from a few weeks ago. I will finish this before I begin the alpaca shawl I have decided. I have too many UFOs and need to get some of these projects finished.

I finish socks but not some other things. I need to focus on finishing and not just starting.

I am stuck in Harrisburg helping with the final days (we hope!) of the challenges to the signatures on the Green Party petition. We have to win this challenge.

However, tomorrow night I will start the shawl again. This time I will use lifelines every 10 rows I have decided. Am buying a needle and getting thread tomorrow. If I drop a stitch again it won't be so painful to rip out 10 rows.

It's Alpaca Time!

The cooler winds have started to drift through Pennsylvania. Nights are "sweater weather" as my mother used to say. I am knitting away on socks of all types and patterns. And, yes, I am still working on the lace stole that I am knitting from Trekking XXL. Will show progress of it in a few days. I promise.

But, the Alpaca Peruvian Tweed at Knitter's Underground has been calling my name for almost a year. What to knit? Well, Billie to the rescue...again! See...the Faroese Flower Shawl designed by Lucy Neatby www.tradewindknits.com It will be gorgeous in the the twist of black, chocolate and khaki. Now, off to knit!

Rockin' On Two Socks

Socks That Rock were finished last night. Plan to wear them tomorrow night to the knitting group meeting. A freelance reporter from the local newspaper called me over the weekend and is planning to attend the meeting to do a story on our group! What fun this will be!!

There are such nice people in the group and all are talented knitters ... even the newer knitters...they are learning quickly and are will to knit unusual projects.

We are going to discuss knitting for charity. I am trying to find a local group for hats, scarves, etc. for the winter. Hopefully the local food bank accepts such donations. Must contact the manager tomorrow.

Off to do laundry and get started on another pair of socks. Can't let those needles cool down.

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.