Saturday, September 29, 2007

Getting Ready for Socktoberfest

I know, I haven't blogged in a while, so let me get caught up.

I finished these socks two weeks ago. I thought plain stockinette socks would show off the color more than trying to get a pattern in there. I didn't want it too busy.

Turquoise River socks

Yarn: Knit Picks Essential Bare, hand dyed here
Needles: bamboo 2.25mm
64 stitches
short row heel and toe
4 inch stockinete cuff
1 inch 2X2 ribbing
Russian Bindoff

I haven't cast on another pair of socks for "at home" knitting since finishing these. Two weeks. Shocking! That is just so wrong! I always have at least one pair on the needles. Now that Socktoberfest is almost upon us again, I better remedy that problem with a double solution! I couldn't decide which socks to start first, so I will be starting with both of these:

getting ready for Soctoberfest

left: Claudia Hand Painted, Woodland Moss
right: Knit Picks Essentail Tweed, Plum

On the non-sock knitting front, I am almost done with the Chili Pepper scarf just in time for fall.

Chili Pepper scarf

And on the trip to and from Vegas I worked on this:

Mindless Scarf

A Mindless Scarf
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill, Baby Loop, Earth
Needles: Brittany size 15
cast on 15 stitches, knit every row...forever

Mindless Scarf Closeup

Monday, September 10, 2007

Vegas Baby!

We just got back from an action packed Vegas weekend!

(Click on pics to enlarge)

There was sightseeing.

The Fountains of BellagioExcalibur at nightLion Fish
MGM GrandParis in VegasParis in VegasFlamingo Girl

more Vegas pics here

We even caught a glitzy show.

We took in a show

But the reason that we were there was to go to my DH's high school reunion. My wonderful husband is from Guam USA. There is a class reunion every five years on Guam. But occasionally on an off year, there is another reunion on the mainland for those who live here. This was one of those off years! So off to Vegas we went to catch up on old times and reconnect with friends.

EveryoneLunch at the Sidewalk CafeHPIM3751

more reunion pics here

This was the best class reunion ever! What a laid back group of Islanders! JFK class of 1980 ROCKS!! There was much partying and good times. Rumors and secrets revealed. But I can not elaborate, because, as the saying goes,
What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas!

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

September Already?

Where does the time go? It seems to me, that the older you get, the faster the summers fly by. Remember when you were in grade school, summer lasted forever! The summer after graduating high school was over quickly. Now they just speed by. But onto Autumn, my favorite season. Crisp evenings, a chill in the air, changing leaves, wool socks. Anyway, I digress.

Onto the knitting...

First some Finished Objects:

Aquarell Feather and Fan

Yarn: Trekking Aquarell 159
Needles: Rosewood 2.25mm
Pattern: Feather and Fan
64 stitches increased to 36 on top
short row heel and toe
16 repeats on foot, 12 repeats on cuff
4 rows garter stitch
Russian bind off

Blue Violet Baby CablesBlue Violet Baby CablesBlue Violet Baby Cables

Yarn: Knit Picks Essential Blue Violet Multi
Needles: bamboo 2.25mm
Pattern: Baby Cables Sensational Knitted Socks
short row toe and heel
size 9 6 inches btwn toe and heel
3 inch cuff Russian bindoff

These are for a coworker, she picked the yarn and the pattern. I made them sort on her request as well. she tried them on and they fit, I am happy! She is happy! Yeah!

I stalled on a WIP pair of socks. The problem is I haven't decided what top ribbing to do for these. Stockinette then an inch or two of 2X2, four or five inches of 2X2, or something fancy? I can't decide. But I really like them, DH even named them, Turquoise River.

Turquoise River socks

Yarn: Knit Picks Essential Bare, hand dyed here
Needles: bamboo 2.25mm
64 stitches
short row heel and toe

And what would a catch up type post be without some yarny goodness... This came in the mail yesterday. It is the backordered Sock Hop Yarn.

Sock Hop Yarn

Left: Big Yellow Taxi
Right: Magic Carpet Ride

I am glad that I did get them, the colors look much richer in person, and I just love the hand spun goodness. I had the inside info on when it was going to be available for sale by reading Teyani's blog, sometimes she mentions when yarn is going up for sale.

Anyway, this is a short week because of the holiday on Monday, and I am thankful!