Weekend Knitting

My daughter still is knitting. She finished the grey scarf and asked to buy more yarn. On Saturday we drove to Nazareth, PA and visited Kraemer Textiles. What a fun place. She chose 2 skeins of Kraemer's own bulky alpaca in natural color. She cast on 12 stitches and is now the proud owner of a really long scarf. I will try to get pictures. While at Kramer I purchased yarn to make Claire a new pair of mittens. She loves all of her mittens and had requested a pair of orange mittens. The yarn is "Plymouth Encore Colorspun", this is an orange colorway, #7510.

I also joined the "KOTR" KAL. The sock for February/March is Dalarna. I found 2 skeins of Regia fadig in a red color at Kraemer Textiles and have started the sock. I am using Crystal Palace dp's in size 1. Looks good so far. I got the book as a gift from my son a few years ago. I have always looked at the pictures, but never made a pair of socks. I worked on the STR Rhodonite, "Ribble Socks", this is some brightly colored yarn. The STR Carbon yarn is in the process of becoming "Dad's Easy Cable Socks". Both patterns found in the "Socks Socks Socks" book.

Toe Jazz Finished

Just finished these this morning. Koigu was used on both pairs. I started the socks on February 10, 2007. I worked a little on this sock and a little on that sock. This way no sock was really done first. The last thing was the big toes. The blue socks are for my husband, these were done on size 2 brittany dp's. The multi-color socks were done on size 1 brittany dp's. They both were worked exactly to pattern, except no cables on the blue socks, I used k2 p2 ribbing, on the multi-color the cables go all around the cuff and I did not make them as tall as they were supposed to be.

Next up.......................................

Three skeins of BMFA, Socks That Rock medium weight. The picture is about as true to the colors as possible. The skein on the left is Rhodonite, this is going to be a pair of "Ribble Socks" from "Socks, Socks, Socks, for my daughter. The center skein is Carbon, for my son, PTBD. Finally the skein on the right is Lovers Leap, again PTBD.

My Daughter Knits

On Wednesday, February 14, 2007, my daughter (she turned 23 in January) learned to knit. Previously all she used knitting needles for was to poke her brother. We had very messy weather and no one went to work. What else was there to do. I was working on my Koigu socks and what does she say. "Do you have any yarn I can use to knit a scarf?" Looking through my stash I found some Rowan Big Wool in the color pistachio, size 15 needles and off she went.

That is until we had a melted chocolate mishap. The Rowan Big wool needed to be washed. She then moved onto some "Freshisle Fibers" suffolk wool in the color charcoal and size 9 needles. She is doing a great job. I hope that it snows some more and she actually finishes these and goes on to bigger and better knitting projects.

What is up with that new Koigu





This would be the beginnings of "Toe Jazz" a "Fiber Trends" pattern. The blue sock is for my husband, using size 2 brittany dp's. He thought the cables look kind of girly, so he get knit 2 purl 2 ribbing. I will carry this ribbing down the front of the foot to the toe. As for the cable socks, have the cables going all around the cuff and down the heel, using size 1 brittany dp's. The pattern calls for just down the back cable and a longer leg. I just like the cables all around the cuff.

I did put a pair of red mittens (patons classic) in the mail for Claire today, no time for a picture but they are the same as the blue mittens and the watermelon mittens. Just need to finish the alpaca mittens for Aiden.

Creeping Vines and Other Important Knitting

This weekend I finished up the Creepinging Vines socks. These socks were a real challenge, but well worth the effort. You will notice in the picture there are a few broken size one britany's at the bottom. This occured at the end of a row when a decrease was necessary. The first picture is before blocking. The second picture is after lightly pressing the socks. The white spots in the Trekking are interesting. I did not notice this when I purchased the yarn from Astrid. So again.................... the yarn is Trekking Pro Natura, color 1600. Creeping Vines pattern http://members.shaw.ca/misschief/Creeping%20Vines%202.pdfca/misschief/Creeping%20Vines%202.pdf , size 1 - 5" brittany dp's. There are a couple of pictures of the front of the sock. Here you can really see the vine pattern. The vine also goes up the center of the sock back. I pretty much followed the pattern except for the heel.

In other knitting I finished a pair of plain old warm pink socks. I used Queensland, Kathmandu. Cast on 48 stitches, size 2 lantern moon ebony. Nice thick warm socks.

Buckwheat Zydeco and the Suffolk Wool Triplets
On Friday, February 2, 2007, I met my husband in NYC. First he went with me to School Products, 1201 Broadway, 3rd floor. Wonderful store, easy to find. Though there were lots of choices I got 4 skeins of Koigu. These will be made into "Toe Jazz" a "Fiber Trends" pattern for the upcoming flip flop season.














We then went to BB Kings for the 8:00 pm show of Buckwheat Zydeco. Great show, lousey food.














Now for the "Freshisle Fibers" Suffolk Wool Triplets................................

The first pair I made was "Freshisle Fibers" "Suffolk Wool", color "Shades of Pinks". I usually stay away from pink yarn but I thought "What the heck". The pattern is "Fancy Chevron Lace". I used this pattern before with the Suffolk Wool and had great results. Size 5 Brittany dp's. Heel is different from the pattern. Kind of like a peppermint candy and just in time for Valentines' Day. I tried these on after knitting and fell asleep on the couch, I woke up to very warm feet. Here is the direct link to the pattern ...... http://www.knitlist.com/98gift/fancychevronlacesocks.htm
The second pair was knit from "Freshisle Fibers" "Suffolk Wool", color "Puple Sunset". I used another knitlist pattern "Texture and Lace". Again, I used size 5 Brittany dp's. This pattern I modified in the heel and in the cuff. The cuff called for knit 1 purl 1 for 2 inches. I knit 1 row and purled one row and started with the pattern rows. Here is the direct link to the pattern ......... http://www.knitlist.com/97gift/texturesox.htm

The third pair is knit from "Freshisle Fibers" Suffolk Wool", color "Iris". The pattern is again "Fancy Chevron Lace" from the knit list. I really like the way these hand dyed yarns respond to this pattern.

I will leave today with my WIP. I have been working on and off on these socks since January 15, 2007. They are knit on size 1 brittany 5 inch needles. I am using the Creeping Vines http://members.shaw.ca/misschief/Creeping%20Vines%202.pdf , Trekking ProNatura. I have broken 2 needles so far and am trying to finish these without breaking any more.

Pan's Labrynth Trip & Manos Hat

This hat was made on size 8 dp's with Manos yarn. The Pattern is a basic hat pattern, 68 stitches, seed stitch border for 10 rows, and stockenette stitch. I used most of the skein of yarn. This hat is very warm, even when temperatures are in the teens.














On January 29, 2007 the family went into New York City to see the movie Pan's Labrynth at the AMC 25 on 42nd Street. This was the closest theater the movie was playing at. After the movie we walked through times square and had dinner at Bond 45. The food was excellent the movie was excellent and a good time was had by all.