a test post from the 2nd computer with a new browser update.
Okay, so its been a few months… I’ve been a little busy at work, a little busy knitting, a little busy sleeping – no blog.
And what turned out to be a really great idea of sharing the blog with my sister kind of fell flat on its face when her computer won’t let her post to the blog. Well, maybe I’ll be able to figure it out when I go out there to visit next time.
Our mom just got back from a trip to Europe and visited a relative and turns out she is a sock knitter! Hurray for us she hooked mom up with some cool sock yarn. Melissa ‘says’ she’s going to send my half out to me… hee, hee. At the rate I’ve been going, it probably would be better if she knit them for me
I’m almost finished with my second sock (of my second pair of socks) knit with ArtYarns supermerino in a pattern from Charlene Schurch’s book.
sock2.jpg (sorry, can’t figure out the thumbnail option)
sock1.jpg
I’ve been spending some time knitting washcloths/baby bibs/burp cloths for all the myriad babies being born here – something in the water, I guess.
Just got a new camera too, so hopefully that will also encourage the posts!
Speaking of pictures: the beautiful roses my husband sent to work for our first anniversary
!
My tomato plants:
(test)
So, I know this blog is really supposed to include two people, and while not many people may be reading,I just didn’t want anyone to think I was making up a sister. I have been known to have imaginary friends (Wass’up Cotton), but I do really have a sister. She really does knit, cook, sew, etc., but she is on vacation. Seeing as I’m an working a bit more now (and yes, on-call on Easter!!!), Melissa, dear, you might have to pick up some slack!.
Unable to post pics at the moment due to firewall issues, but I finished my Thuja sock! This means I have officially knit a sock, and am therefore qualified to take the Charlene Schurch sock class at my LYS. Drumroll, please… I got the day off that day! With 4 days off this month, it must have been meant to be.
I have also successfully avoided the dreaded Second ‘Fetching’ Syndrome (closely related to the well known Second Sock Syndrome) and finished my second fetching yesterday. Perfectly time to coincide with the cold snap down in the South. Yea! I’m probably the only one happy it was 33 degrees this morning. I also started the cuff to my second Thuja so I really do plan to finish it. Not to be too selfish with my knitting projects, I started the burp cloth I bought the Cotton Rich for 2 weeks ago. It is fantastic to work with – makes a really dense fabric, knitting it with 7s. I will definitely make some face washcloths with it, it is soooo soft and cushy.
Maybe I’ll be able to link some pics tomorrow, but the finished Thuja is on flickr…..
I never thought I’d be able to do this – as often as I’ve heard people say it is not that hard, I had sort of put it up on a pedestal – Sock-aliah (my 40-year-old-virgin movie addicted husband has worn off on me!).
I’m actually nearly done with my first sock – just have to finish the foot section and then the toe decreases.
Yes, Melissa, you will be able to knit socks. Just have to dive in!! These may actually end up being yours. I used size 4 needles and I think I probably should have stuck with the size 6 or maybe size 5 for my big ole feet. My only hope is that they are narrow so it will be okay. I think that I’ll knit #2 on size 5s and just deal with uneven socks – a learning experience. The yarn is great to work with – I just love how it feels when I knit.
I’m hoping my strategy of alternating projects will prevent the much discussed 2nd sock syndrome – I’ll make sure I finish my 2nd fetching glove and then the second sock. I’m trying to save some mindless/non-patterened knitting for work since I have many q3 call nights ahead this month. (hence the infrequent posts)
Thought I would get my act together and post so you have some inspiration while you are on vacation, Liss, and plant the seed that YOU can make socks!
I finished one of my Fetching wristwarmers!! I did cast on and work a few rows of the 2nd one, but couldn’t wait to get started on the Thuja socks that I bought the yarn for yesterday, so I did the cuff and started on the seed stitch rib for those tonight instead. I am following all the posts I’ve seen and advise I got to knit them on size 4 DPN even though pattern calls for size 6. A little worried because at this point to get the cuff around my calf will probably have to really stretch and I’ve got size 10 feet… but I’m going to have faith. Worst case scenario, I give them to someone with smaller feet like my dear sister or nieces… (shhh… Melissa, don’t read that part) 
I really dig the fetchings – I lengthened the hand part by a few rows and also the thumb section. Naturally I have to make the second one match the first, but I think for the next pair I make (and there will be another) I’ll skip the picot bind-off and keep the extra length, maybe even add another cable at the fingers. I alternate between really liking the look of the picot and really not liking it. I guess how I make the second pair depends on how my most recent feeling at the time. Although I like the Lion Brand Wool-ease (definitely cheaper) I would like to try a pair with the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. Naturally, I really feel like hitting the yarn store tomorrow to pick a color, but I probably should finish the other 3-4 projects I have.
I had pledged not to build a ‘stash’, that is not to collect yarn for future projects because I already have a large quilting fabric/project backlog. My LYS sale tested my resolve. I think I did okay…. here are my purchases, and rationalizations…. (I just realized the beauty of the blog shared with my sister – my very disciplined, non-stash-oriented sister – it’s like accountability therapy for me!)
1) Cotton Rich – Cascade yarns, a new yarn at my local shop – very soft, mashine wash/dryable. The project: baby bib and two-color mason-dixon burp cloth. The rationalization: I was planning on a project for a baby boy due in 5 weeks…. (never mind that I have a blue-toned Peaches ‘n Cream ball just sitting there….. waiting…..)
2) Artyarn Supermerino- The project: my first pair of socks. The rationalization: As I was talking to a experienced knitter (and sock guru) at the yarn store, she pointed me toward this yarn and the Thuja pattern on Knitty.com. She said it was a good beginner project, and, gosh darn it, I believe her. Thuja Pattern
3) Online Supersocke cotton – Beach color 945 – The project: my second pair of socks. The rationalization: Naturally, I’ll finish my first pair of socks, I only have 3 projects before that… and then I’ll do these…. and they aren’t real socks until they are knit in fingering weight (says the little yarn ho demon in my head).
I would have had a #4 but luckily for my wallet, they only had one skein of Cherry Tree Hill Merino Silk DK which, I have decided, will be the yarn I use when I eventually knit a Clapotis. Granted, I haven’t ever had a skein of Lion & Lamb in my hot little hands, but it just seems so expensive.
And all day I was planning on blogging about the decision between knitting a project for yourself or someone else… maybe another day for a treatise on id vs. ego.
This really is to post a FO for my sister, but it now belongs to me, so I get to write about it.
I went to a recent visit to see my sis with a strong desire for a knitting bag. It took a discipline I rarely use to NOT purchase a fancy, and expensive ready-made knitting bag. Good thing I didn’t, because on a trip to a fantastic fabric store, we found knitting themed fabric….that fabric, coupled with the always amazing sewing talents of my sis yielded this great knitting bag and needle case. It’s got a lot of pockets, and the needle case has a place to hold row counters, tip protectors and stitch markers. Now I can take my knitting out with me without stuffing it in a purse!
I’ll have to let Melissa post with details of the pattern that served as the base for the project, though I know she did some improvisation
The first blog post – being the ‘techy’ sister, I’ll get this started and hopefully I won’t be the only poster, after a while of course….
I uploaded to flickr some pics of my most ambitous knitting project to date. It started as a simple booga bag inspired by a knitting shop near my mom. But since it was a present for my dear sister, of course I had to raise the bar a little. I added some plastic canvas to support the base and sides, added a fabric lining, some grommets, a magnetic snap and a clip for keys. Now I just have to make one for myself…. it has 20 rows to go, still on the circular needles – and naturally I have gotten distracted to another project. Any bets on when I’ll actually finish it?!?
(more pics on flickr)
Project: Booga Bag http://www.blacksheepbags.com/booga_bag.html
Yarn: Noro Kureyon (I’ll have to go look up the colorway)
Needles: 10 1/2 circulars
Modifications: a lining, grommets for the straps, magnetic closure
