Long Weekend

If you are in the United States, this weekend is Memorial Day weekend. Remember back when these use to be four day weekends. Anyway, the DH and I are enjoying the extra time together, getting things done like yard work, and more relaxation time as well. But we have not fogotten the intent of this holiday. So hug a vet, or the family of a vet, or an active duty military member. Freedom does not come free. That may sound trite, but many have paid the ultimate price so that we have the freedoms we enjoy in this wonderful country.

Onto the knitting, since this is a knitting blog after all.

I started another pair of socks, not a big surprise, I know. But I was surprised at how fast these are knitting up!! These are ready for the heel already. I started them Friday night, but ripped back and restarted the pattern Saturday morning at knit group. Had to modify since I am doing toe up. I am so loving this pattern! After about three repeats I had it memorized. Cables and lace on a sock, it just doesn't get any better....



Yarn: KnitPicks Essential Petunia
Needles: Crystal Palace 2.25mm
cast on 64 stitches increased to 35 stitches on top
Pattern: Pembrokeshire Pathways here

Walk in the Woods

I finished another pair of socks yesterday.



Yarn: Claudia Hand Painted, Walk in the Woods
Needles: Colonial Rosewood 2.25mm
cast on 68 stitches
short row heel and toe
Cuff: feather and fan 4 inches1 inch 2X2 ribbing
Russian bindoff

Remember when I dyed some bare Palette yarn (here and here).



Here are the pinks and purples. I cast on for a shawl. Kind of a practice shawl before I make the one for my mom. I like how it is coming along so far. It is just plain, no lace pattern planned. I started with straight needles, just until it gets a little bigger, then I will probably switch a circular.



Humble beginnings of a triangle shawl
Yarn: hand dyed Palette yarn
Needles: size 9 Brittany straight

Speaking of Knit Picks Palette, my order arrived.
Here are some of the new heathered colors.



I like them alot! I am thinking a top down cardigan of this weight would be nice for indoor wear. I am glad that they are adding more colors to their current classic yarn lines. Now if they would just add more colors of Gloss. *sigh*

Trekking Chevrons

They're done! I finished them over the weekend and I could not be happier with these socks. I like them, I like the yarn, the pattern, the way they fit, everything!



Specs:
Yarn: Trekking XXL #131
Needles: Crystal Palace (2.25mm)
cast on 64 stitches, increased top to 40 stitches
Pattern: here
Cuff: 4 inches, 2X2 ribbing, Russian bindoff

Now I am finishing up the Walk in the Woods socks.



After I finish this pair, I am going to knit a shawl or two. My mom is going on a cruise and has requested that I make her a shawl to take along. So I asked her what color, what style, etc. She wants a black triangle shawl. Black. Of all the colors in the spectrum, she wants black because it matches everything. She wants what she wants, so I ordered some black gloss from KnitPicks. While looking around I found this. I am so happy that they added some new colors! I had to get some!

While contemplating black yarn, I remembered that my LYS had some fancy black laceweight. So I went there on Saturday and found just what I was looking for:



Black with silver and gold glitter. It has just a little bit of sparkle without being too novelty-ish. So I will make mom 2 shawls. I think she will like both.

While I was at the yarn store chatting I spotted a whole set of Barbara Walker's stitch dictionaries. Yes, all four books, right in front of me! I stopped midsentence! I already have the first book, so volume two followed me home. I like this one very much!



This weekend the weather was so nice here in Colorado. After the DH and I finished hiking Saturday morning, we decided to do a little yard work. That turned into ALOT of yard work, he likes to get in there and get it done. I found these lovely tulips, so it was worth the effort!



The perfect shade of pink, not too pastel, not too bright.

Crayon Socks

I finished these socks at work yesterday. Everyone really likes the colors. They were named crayon socks by a coworker. I have them happily on my feet today! I am almost exclusively wearing my own handknit socks and that makes me happy!



Yarn: On Line Summer Color #792
Needles: Crystal Palace 2.25mm
64 stitches short row toe and heel
3 inches 2X2 ribbing
Russian bind off

I have been knitting on two pairs of socks at home this week.



I am totally loving this pattern!
And the yarn is funky - in a good way!



This yarn color is called "Walk in the Woods." It is really living up to its name! The sage green, spruce, and brown of the trees and foliage, the blues of the sky and water. Makes me want to pull on my hiking boots and go up in the mountains!

Saturday Chevrons

I noticed that both knitting projects that I worked on yesterday are chevrons! How fun is that! I made good progress on the Trekking Chevron socks and I am liking this pattern.





Yes, gray la gran, I always make both socks at the same time. That way there is no chance for dreaded Second Sock Syndrome, and I know I have enough yarn to finish both socks evenly. Although with my small feet, that is usually not an issue.

I doubled the size of the Chili Pepper scarf since last week, it is 12 inches long already.



I worked on it on the way to Denver. Lisa, Chery, and I did a mini yarn crawl after knit group. The weather sucked for the drive - sorry Lisa. But the yarn stores were great! We went to String for some Koigu for Chery to raffle for charity (more details on her blog). Of course some Koigu followed me home too :) I have no self control, I know. We also went to The Lamb Shoppe, since we were already in the area and Lisa had never been there. Like we need to justify going to to a yarn store hehe. Then when I got home a box of yarn was waiting for me from Simply Socks. I love Fleece Artist and just had to get more!

So here are my aquisitions:


Koigu: Left-Right:1157, 2260,P800,2395


Cherry Tree Hill: One of a Kind Left:Water Right:Brights


Fleece Artist: Left-Right: Jester, Autumn, Rainbow

It was a wonderful yarn filled day!
Hope you are having a great weekend too :)

Sock Swatches

For me, the best way to swatch for a sock is just to cast on and jump in! It's only yarn after all. So I did just that! I am going to try a new pattern and I wanted something that stripes.
I tried these two:



On the left is Trekking XXL #131, and the right is Claudia Hand Painted , Walk in the Woods
They both may work. But I think that I will try the Trekking first.
The pattern that I want to try is here. Except I am going to make them toe up of course! So that is what I will be working on this weekend, and the Chili Pepper scarf.

I received my copy of IK in the mail yesterday.



Already, I like the Blouson sweater. It looks comfy and has nice details! I really like this magazine, for inspiration if nothing else.

Painted Daisy

I love these socks beyond words!
So soft! Nice color! Luxurious!



Yarn: Apple Laine, Apple Pie, Painted Daisy
Needles: Crystal Palace size 1 (2.25mm)/Colonial Needle Rosewood(2.25mm)
64 stitches
Cuff: Uneven Ribbing, MSKS p 87
1 inch 2x2 ribbing Russian bindoff