Earthy Socks

In all the excitement over the weekend of my maiden voyage to Fair Isle, I forgot to show you my new socks on the needles.



I do not name all of my projects, but these are special. The color is fantastic! It is leftover Crazy Monkey yarn from the last moebius. I started these on Friday night. I took them to knit group with me. They looked HUGE! I thought it was my imagination. But I had to get another opinion. There must have been some black hole in the knitter universe continuum or something. I used the same needles I always use with the same number of stitches that I always use. But they were too big. So, when I got home on Saturday night I frogged them and started again with 4 less stitches, now they fit. Go figure!

Tales From Fair Isle

My wonderful husband got busy with the ball winder in anticipation of my first fair isle project. He is such a good enabler.


Look at all those colors!
I loaded them up in a project bag and off to knit group we went!

Now I am doing the happy dance!!
I learned how to Fair Isle today!!
After a rough few beginning rows, some bad words, and whining, I fell into a rhythm.
(thanks Anne for your patience and hand holding)
I hold both colors in my left hand. This is most comfortable for me, because I am a continental knitter and I am used to holding the yarn in my left hand. I move the yarn with my left thumb a little. Everyone has their own style I am sure. But this is working for me. As I said in a previous post, most of the ladies in knit group are making a sweater, but I am making a scarf. Inspired by Elizabeth Zimmerman in Knitting Without Tears page 108-109, I am making a "toe" at each end and knitting in the round on DPN's.

Without further adu, presenting my first fair isle knitting....



Not bad for a first day!
Whew, that took all day to go that little bit!

I'll leave you with a picture of Anne's sweater in progress.
She's moving right along!

2 Done, 2 Starting

Finished Objects

Mittens:



Yarn: Plain and Fancy Sheep and Wool, Maroon
left over from previous socks
Needles: KnitPicks size 1 (2.5mm)
52 stitches for a snug fit
5 1/2 inches until thumb, 1 1/2 inches after thumb
1 inch 2X2 ribbing
Afterthought thumb on 13 stitches

I like them!
They fit great!
Love the yarn, of course!

Moebius:



Yarn: Crazy Monkey Yarn
Needles: size 6 KnitPicks Options
Pattern: A Treasury of Magical Knitting by Cat Bordhi
Chapter Three page 26, Purl Ridge Moebius
Cast on 280 stitches
Finished size: 54 inches long, 6 inches wide

Love it!
Wore it to work today.
Was nice for inside, light, not overly warm.
And it will match almost everything :)

Jumping Onto The Needles

I had 3 1/2 oz left over from the moebius.
That is approx 102 grams.
Plenty to make a pair of socks for me!
Yeah! Because I love this yarn, the unusual color!
It wants to be socks!
I must cast on tonight!

I got my box of yarn love from KnitPicks yesterday!



This is the Palette Sampler from KnitPicks.
It is even more lovely in person.
Oh, the variety of colors!
I will be cast on for this as well.
This will be the KPPFIC scarf.
I will follow the color chart, but I am making a scarf in the round on DPN's.
Just kind of making it up as I go.

100 Posts

This is my 100th post.
But I am not big on meme's.
I can't think of a contest.
So, I guess I will celebrate by casting on my new projects.

Mitten Weather

Well, we got more snow again yesterday.
It was a light, pretty snow, fluffly flakes .



Majc enjoys playing in the snow



Perfect weather for knitting mittens.


Specs so far:
Yarn: Plain and Fancy Sheep and Wool, Maroon
left over from previous socks
Needles: KnitPicks size 1 (2.5mm)
52 stitches for a snug fit

I am using the same toe up technique I use for socks.
But that makes these top down mittens I guess.
Funny how that works out.
I am just making the pattern up as I go along.
I was thinking of an afterthought thumb.

BTW, this is my 99th post.
Some people do something special for their 100th post.
Some do "100 Things about Me"
Some do a contest.
I don't know what I want to do, if anything.
What do you think?
Give me your ideas.
I'll have to think about it.

Just Keep Ribbing

This is how my socks started out this morning.



Then I ribbed for most of knit group.
Boring I know.
But worth it.
Because now I have these!



Specs:
Yarn: Plain and Fancy Sheep and Wool, Maroon
Needles: KnitPicks size 1 (2.5mm)
toe up, 60 stitches
2X2 ribbing 4 inches

I absolutely LOVE this yarn. I went to Estes for the first time last year. I discovered this wonderful yarn that can only be found at a few festivals. So, when I heard that they would be at Taos, I had to go get more. Yes, I went to Taos just for this yarn! And it was worth the trip! Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed other things about Taos as well. But I wanted some more Plain and Fancy Sheep and Wool yarn! A road trip was needed!

So as not to waste any of this exquisite wool, I am casting on for a pair of mittens with the 46 grams I have leftover from the socks. That should be plenty for a pair of mittens for my little hands.

Christy worked on her KPPFIC sweater at group.



It is lovely! Everyone was admiring her work!



We spent the day in Black Forest. It snowed lightly. Just enough to remind us that we are in Colorado! I didn't mind, it was breathtakingly beautiful!

After knit group, I had to run to the book store and pick up Friday Night Knitting Club. I will probably start it tomorrow. While I was there I also acquired some more Yarn Harlot books. Can't get enough of Stephanie, she is so funny!

Off They Go, With Love

I am sending these off to The Red Scarf Project today.


These little guys jumped in the box also!

On The Needles


Past the heels, onto the ribbing.


A new project started today.
Just a plain garter stitch triangle shawl.
Because I am NOT a "competitive knitter"
Love this yarn!
I have another one in a different color.
It is my favorite shawl. I wear it all the time.

I left the moebius at work tonight, sorry no pic.
But it is coming along nicely!

On My Mind

Most of the ladies in my knit group are making this.

I just didn't think I would wear it.
And it seemed such a big time commitment.
But I was looking at the chart and I like the way the colors are arranged in an interesting way.
Especially the band that looks like a pansy :)
So I am making something different with the pattern - a scarf!
I will wear that! and a low commitment level that I can handle.

Back to my knitting.......

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Cold, but not much more snow. So it was a great day for knit group at Lisa's house. It was nice sitting in front of the fire and knitting! Christy did a great job of writing about the day here.



I worked on these new socks.
So far, just my basic toe up pattern.
I haven't decided on a cuff pattern yet.

And I cast on for a moebius, twice!
It's a joke with us that we cannot count at knit group!
Always better to cast on at home, then take your project to knit group!



Yarn: Crazy Monkey Yarn
Needles: size 6 KnitPicks Options
Pattern: A Treasury of Magical Knitting by Cat Bordhi
Chapter Three page 26, Purl Ridge Moebius
Cast on 280 stitches




This pattern is simple, yet elegant.
Really shows off the beauty of the yarn!
I am lovin this yarn. Everyone else did too.
And I barely got to leave with it still in MY knit bag!

Random



This book is coming out this week and I can hardly wait!
Looking forward to the movie too!


Random puppy pic

The End of Monogamy

Red Scarf

Red Scarf #4 is finally done!
That was ALOT of gray seed stitch!
I was really good about being monogamous to these scarves, but I almost fell off the wagon on this one.



Stats:
Yarns:Cascade Bollicine Grey and White
KnitPicks Swish Superwash Red Pepper
Needles: Size 8 Brittany
Seed Stitch with stripes
cast on 29 stitches



I have really enjoyed making these red scarves. I just need to go get some goodies to include in the box and ship them off. Such a great cause. I will definately be making more, maybe I will start earlier or do some during the year as it moves me.

I found this button from here.
I am proud to add it to my sidebar.



New Stuff

I got some yarn love from KnitPicks today.



This is Swish Superwash in Ballerina, Wisteria, and Bubblegum.
It will be a large scarf/wrap inspired by the Zigzag Stripes scarf from Scarf Style (remember Collegiate Chevrons).

But right now I feel the need to do something other than a scarf!
Something round.
And I have a couple new projects in mind.


This is Crazy Monkey Yarn from Christy and will be a mobius.


This is Plain and Fancy Sheep and Wool, it wants to be socks.

So, I have Startitis! and I am ok with that!
I still have stuff on the needles to finish up. and I will. But I feel the need to cast on some new stuff first. Besides I have another long weekend (MLK day) and the weather here is lending itself to staying indoors again.



This is four weekends in a row that it has snowed! I know, it is Colorado. But it makes for great knitting and a movie weather! Gotta look on the bright side I guess! Maybe I will watch some Lost before the season stars again to refresh my mind on the first six episodes of this season before they took a break. Can hardly wait for Feb 7th!

Have a great weekend!!

BAAAaaaaaaaaaa

Look at what my silly hubby made last night......



Lego sheep!!
They are so cute!

A Forest and #4

I started Red Scarf #4 last night.


Yarns: Cascade Bollicine Grey and White
KnitPicks Swish Superwash Red Pepper
Needles: Size 8 Brittany
Seed Stitch with stripes
It is 19 inches long already!


I found this WIP laying around and finished it off tonight.
Hubby likes it, so I gave it to him.
This is so soft and cuddly! Have to make one for me next.

Yarn: Brooks Farm Four Play Jeans Old and New
Needle: size 6 Addi Turbo 24 inch
125 stitches 3X2 ribbing
6 inches tall





My DH liked his stocking full of Legos so much that I ordered him some special pieces from The Lego website. Others sets arrived, but I liked the little forest. They are fun! Makes you just want get down on the floor and build something!

English Tea and #3

English Tea

Ellen graciously invited our knit group to her lovely home for English High Tea. Even the recent Colorado snow could not keep us away! It was a wonderful day with good friends, tasty foods, and even some knitting!

This is the view from Ellen's window.


This is the delectable spread she laid before us!
It was almost too delightful to eat!
But we got over that after the picture was taken and gobbled it all up! I mean, thoroughly enjoyed it! hehe


She did such a great job at making everyone feel welcome!
Thank you again Ellen!

Red Scarf #3
I finished Red Scarf #3 today!
This one is my favorite! Lovin the pattern and the yarn.
I am calling it Collegiate Chevrons.



Specs:
Yarns: KnitPicks Swish Superwash Fired Brick, Dark Navy, and Stampato 8014
Needles: size 8 Brittany
Pattern: Zigzag Stripes from Scarf Style

And of course The Hot Scarf Model returns!
Alert the media!



I hope your weekend was as fun as mine!

This and That

It snowed again today. Three times in three weeks the news says. But this is Colorado after all. This was just a dusting here in the Springs. No big deal.

I really like Red Scarf #3. I like the pattern, the yarn. I like it so much, I am thinking of making one for myself. I ordered some yarn from Knit Picks for that purpose. I thought Bubblegum, Ballerina, and Wisteria would go well with this Stampato in my stash. I have alot of Stampato I have noticed. A large basket full in the living room. It is like decor, I change the colors around once in a while to redecorate!





We just got done watching It's a Wonderful Life. I love that movie! I know it is a little late for holiday movies, but I watch them all year. I have too many to limit myself to just one season of the year! My DH had never seen it before this evening. He liked it. Good principles is what he said. Knowing what is important in life, family, friends.

Speaking of The Hot Scarf Model. I was reading his contract and he is only obligated to model Finished Objects. Sorry Leisel :( But at the rate I am going, I will have this scarf done this weekend anyway, probably tomorrow even! If actual knitting gets done at knit group - it could happen!

Scarf Update

33 inches and growing...