Four Footed Birthday

Some one I know was six years old on Saturday!



Yes, it was my good little puppy Majc! We took her out to the pet store to pick out some toys. She got a nylabone, a new bone toy, some pig's ears and dog biscuits. Then we took her to the dog park and she ran around with the other dogs for a couple hours. She had a great time!

Knitting

I made progress on the Apple Laine socks. I really like how these are coming along. I picked a ribbing pattern from More Sensational Knitted Socks. Uneven Ribbing, page 87. A simple two row repeat.

I thought that knitting this pair just couldn't get any better. Then I got a call from Knitter's Kove and the rosewood needles I ordered came in. I am in heaven! These needles are fantastic! Nice and smooth. Good needles really make a difference.

I got a little done on the chevron scarf as well.

Apple Laine

I did immediately cast on with the Apple Laine yarn. It is luscious! It is really hard to describe its' softness. But I can say that it is like a combination of Mountain Colors Barefoot and Knit Picks Gloss. Just what I was hoping for, and more! The colors are vibrant and random - no stripes or pooling so far. Almost too good to be true. I love this yarn! A joy to knit with!



Specs so far:
Yarn: Apple Laine, Apple Pie, Painted Daisy
Needles: Crystal Palace size 1 (2.25mm)
64 stitches

By the way, the CTH socks did bloom and relax in the wash.
I like them better now!

Brain Cramp

I had a brain cramp yesterday when I was posting and forgot a couple things. Maybe I was distracted by all the pretty colors of yarn that I dyed. Anyway...

I finished the turquoise socks at knit group on Saturday.



Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill, Turquoise
Needles: Crystal Palace size 1 (2.25mm)
64 stitches
Cuff: Baby Cables from Sensational Knitted Socks

I am not sure that I like them yet. I like the pattern, the bright color. But the yarn is really tightly spun, a hard twist. I am hoping they bloom and soften in the wash. They are soaking now.

I took the zigzag scarf to the pajama jam. I got to about the six inch mark and decided that I did not like the decrease. I ripped it and started over. I changed the decrease to slip stitches knitwise. Now I like it. A lady at the jam says that it looks like chili peppers, so that is what I am namimg it.



Yarn: KnitPicks Memories Daffodil & Flower Power
both yarns are discontinued
Needles: Brittany size 6
Pattern: ZigZag Stripes from Scarf Style pg 33
Pattern mod: slip stitches knitwise


Finally, I got this in the mail today from The Loopy Ewe.



Apple Laine, Apple Pie
Bubblegum(L), Painted Daisy(R)
Very Yummy!
I might have to cast on with this tonight it is that good!

Grown Up Dyes

After knit group on Saturday, I stopped at Table Rock Llamas and picked up more dye. They have even more of the jacquard colors than Knit Picks. Lots of pretty colors!

We all had fun at the Pajama Jam last night. There were alot more knitters there than could have been expected. There were all skill levels too. Seasoned knitters and brand new as well. Spinners too! I heard it just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Good for the store! They have one once a month, every third Saturday.



Today, hubby and I spent the morning and early afternoon dying yarn! So much fun. We used a canner and some canning jars, a gas grill, and our imaginations! Here are some of the results:

Spring Meets Autumn

I have been looking at a lot of lace lately as I mentioned in my previous post. I found this and this. Lots of eye candy at both those sites! I think I have found a good "starter" pattern or two. I was thinking I should finish Blueberries first. Until then, I need to go search my stash and decide what lace yarn I want to use.

But I was itching to cast on something, so I started another scarf.



And I have been wanting to combine these two yarns since they first ended up next to each other in my knitting basket. The Daffodils (left) looks more autumnal, while the Flower Power (right) looks very spring-like. I needed something simple to take to the Pajama Jam at The Lamb Shoppe this weekend. This will make nice car knitting for the trip too. An easy two row repeat on the scarf and on Blueberries! I can give my mind a rest!

Inspired

I am sure that I am not the only one who was inspired by Scout's episode about acid dyes on Knitty Gritty.



These came from KnitPicks along with some Bare yarn. This will not be the first time that I have used acid dyes. Our knit group has went over to Christy's and had dye days. But I want to try it again with my own setup so I can play anytime I want.

This arrived yesterday as well:


The yarn I ordered from Yarnzilla.
Tofutsies: 736, 726
Regia: 5419, 5420

The turquoise socks are coming along nicely.



And I have been adding a few rows to the Blueberry Shawl almost everyday.

But all I can think about is lace. And this is not helping! I am thinking about all the motifs in my stitch dictionaries.
The endless possiblities....

Soy Socks

I finished the Tofutsies socks at work yesterday.



Yarn: Tofutsies #727
Needles: bamboo size 1 (2.25mm)
64 stitches
3 inches 2X2 ribbing
Russian bind off

We did not get our blizzard, darn!
But the mountains got some snow.
Had to take a shot on the way to knit group.



Knit group was fun!



Everyone wanted to show off their projects.
Funny that I have become the photographer, since I was the last one to get a blog. But I do bring my camera almost every week. Saturdays are the best days for pics! We go to knit group, do errands after and drive all around town. Camera in tow.

Thank you all for the kind comments on the feather and fan scarf.

Enjoy your day!

Lime 'n Violet Scarf

I am so happy with this scarf! It is done, and still loved! I finished it early last night, but Lost was on. So I could not pull myself away to post, or even take pics.



Yarn: Lime N Violet, Violet's Pink Ribbon from Lisa Souza
Needles: Laurel Hill size 5
Pattern: Gossamer Shells Scarf from One Skein Wonders p.55

It is 5 feet long, and I used a little less than half the yarn. I have enough left to make another, or something else. And I can make more of these scarves with about 100 grams of light weight sock yarn. Yes, I will be making more of these! What's not to love? Fun colors, an easy, fast knit! Everyone can use another scarf .



Onto socks in progress...

The tofutsie socks are past the heel and onto the ribbing. I like the yarn alot! Only one thing I do not like is that it is loosely spun. So that makes it difficult to rip back and pick up. Ask me how I know this... I tried a pattern on the cuff and it wasn't working. I ripped back the first one - big mistake. A big mess, very splitty. It was worth the extra time to tink on the second sock. Sorry, no pic of this sock, I left them at work. Should be done for the next post though. I like the tofutsies so much that I ordered more. Yarnzilla is having an April sale - 20% off. I could not help myself! Also picked up some Regia on closeout. I know, I am being a yarn pusher! Just trying to share the love! hehe

But I do have this sock in progres to show you:



We have a new sock model, Lambie. She followed my DH home from work yesterday. She is just the right size for socks!

To close out today's post, some April snow.



We are under a blizzard warning. Perfect knitting weather.

Cold Snap

Springtime in the Rockies in a transitional time. It can be lovely outside, warm with blue skies like last week. Or it can be like this:






My poor tulip is frozen. But it is from Colorado, so it will probably survive! The plants are hardy here and have adapted well to the crazy weather! Just like us!

Instead of dying eggs this weekend, we dyed mini skeins of yarn with egg coloring. Knit Picks palette in cream and white that I had in my stash did the trick for this sample batch.



I like how they came out. Have to stop by the grocery store today and get more egg coloring kits before they are gone for the year. Gotta stock up before they hop away.....



Yeah, I didn't do all the colors available. I was in a pink/purple blue/green mood. The yellow and orange just wasn't appealing to me at the moment. Oh well. And what am I going to do with these little bits of colored yarn? I was thinking about a striped chevron scarf similar to this. Or another feather and fan.

On the WIP front, I have been working on the Lime and Violet feather and fan scarf and the Blueberries shawl. But I was inspired by the socks Linda was working on yesterday (a pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks). So, while I was at the LYS paying a deposit for the Brown Sheep trip, some solid color sock yarn followed me home and I cast on.



By the way, thank you for all the nice congrats on my promotion!
I appreciate the comments.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

It's Official!

Knitting



I am so loving this Tofutsies yarn!
Perfect for spring/summer socks!
Soft, light, and colorful!
Speaking of color.....

I picked this up today:



I am thinking it will dye yarn like Koolaid.
Has anyone tried this?
Please share your thoughts and experience if so.

Work

I got a big promotion at work today!
Yeah me!
*Happy Dance* *Snoopy Dance*
I just couldn't hold it in any longer!!!

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss

That is how I feel right now. He was one smart Cat!

Bleached Denim

I finished a new work sock this week. As you may know, I knit almost everywhere, including at work. I try to keep it simple for work knitting since I get interrupted often. I like this Regia Cotton yarn. These will make nice all season socks that will go nicely with jeans or a denim skirt.



Specs:
Yarn: Regia Cotton #59
Needles: bamboo size 1 (2.25mm)
64 stitches
3 inches 2X2 ribbing
Russian bind off

I already wound the Tofutsies yarn that I acquired on the recent yarn crawl. It is at work already cast on in my knitting bag in my desk. Everyone has been playing with it. I don't know if it is the bright color or the silky feel. Everyone who stops by my cubicle can't keep their hands off that yarn!



I got this book in the mail this week. I really like it! Of the 200 patterns included, 100 are knit and 100 are crochet. I learned to crochet when I was about 8 or 9 years old. I have made many blankets and such. So this book appeals to me in the sense of versatility of crafts. But even for the knitter, there is much to keep your attention. Wonderful photos, easy to read patterns, interesting yarn combinations. Worth checking out.



The love continues with the Feather and Fan scarf. In fact I making noticeable progress - four feet long already!! YEAH!

Swimming Lesson

It was another wonderful spring day in Colorado. The DH, Majc, and I went for a ride up to the Black Forest/Monument area to hang out at the park and enjoy the day. We went to Fox Run Regional Park. It was perfect!



There was a golden retriever fetching a stick from the middle of the lake over and over. We stopped and watched. After they tired and left, Majc decided she could swim too. She jumped in, swam about ten feet, and swam back. She did this four times. A good workout for a first try!



Time for a nap!

You Spin Me Round and Round

We had a spin day at knit group this week! What fun!
Lisa generously invited us into her lovely home to play with fiber, her wheels, and spindles. I got to play and watch the others spin, as they tried to "bring me over to the dark side" of making yarn. We spun, we knit, we ate (it was a potluck also). What more could you ask for on a beautiful Colorado Saturday!

Here are the pics:
(click to enlarge)


This is Linda spinning


Lisa teaching me how to spin.


My first homespun.
I need alot more practice!
But it was fun!


Kirsten's drop spindle.


Lisa made this guy at camp and we all want one now!
He is too cute!



Chery twisted my arm and made me go to Knitter's Kove. Against my will! haha I did mention last week that I was going on a yarn diet. That didn't last long! But DH said that it is a diet not a fast. He is such an bad influence! So I bought this pretty sock yarn.




Then my DH and I went on a drive and enjoyed the day! The mountains had some snow this week. But it was all Colorado blue sky here in the Springs!