November 20, 2006

Mom's LadyBug Socks

Finally a picture of the finished socks!

October 5, 2006

More Sock Progress

The first Lady Bug sock is done and the second is ready to pick up stitches for the heel gusset. I went on a road trip Sunday. Since I didn't have to drive this was the perfect little project to pass the time on I-5.

Embossed Leaves was moving along quickly as well. One evening I knit half the foot, but since then I haven't done much at all. I think when I've finished these two pairs of socks I'll be ready to finish my Lady Eleanor. It is Fall after all! I also have the Colinette tank that needs to be seamed. It's perfect to wear over a light-weight long sleeve shirt so it's a good Fall project to finish too.

September 18, 2006

Sock Progress

The Embossed Leaves socks are coming along well. I am ready to (re)start the heel flap after frogging it last night. I gave it a try as specified in the pattern, but I didn't feel it made a thick enough fabric to hold up well. Now I'll knit the heel flap with a slip-stitch twisted rib (like the Pomatomus sock) that will match the cuff of the sock. The Lady Bug socks are also moving along. I'm about to start the toe decreases for the first sock.

September 5, 2006

Finished Pomatomus; Started Two New Pairs of Socks

So Pomatomus is finished. These are really striking socks. I enjoyed knitting them, but am ready to do some plain stockinette for a while now. So what do I start?

First, Lady Bug socks for my mom (hi!). Then, because I didn't know how long she wanted them I had to cast on for something else to work on - embossed leaves. Lady Bug socks are, of course, Opal Lady Bug from the Rainforest Collection. The green yarn I'm using for Embossed Leaves is KnitPicks Essential in Grass. This is the first time I've used either yarn and my initial impression is that the Opal is very scratchy and the KnitPicks tends to be splitty. There is also a little bit of halo from the green yarn, but it's not really bothering me.

The Lady Bug socks are not related to the fall issue of Vogue Knitting. I've just been perusing the issue and used it as a backdrop.

August 22, 2006

Evidence of a finished Pomatomus

The first Pomatomus has been finished for several weeks. Even though I was sorely tempted to start a different sock I did the right thing and cast on for the second Pom. sock. I've been whipping through this one until yesterday when my wrists were too sore to knit!

Sorry about the horrible photo, but here is evidence of my progress.

August 2, 2006

Finally some new knitting content...

I've nearly finished the first Pomatomus sock. It has taken me FOREVER to get this far because I've been so busy with work and the horses. I'm ready to start the toe decreases and then I can hardly wait to start another sock...even if it is the second one of this pair.

July 6, 2006

Have you seen the new Knitty?

I love it! My hopes were high when I heard it was the "extremities" issue and I have to say, I'm definitely pleased with the patterns.

Fetching is definitely a winner. I love the small details and the practicality of a shorter wrist warmer (as opposed to full arm warmers).

Cookie's latest sock pattern, Baudelaire, is also on my "must knit" list. If you haven't seen her other patterns you must check them out too.

I'm not usually into wrist band/bracelets, but I think Perdita's three versions are lovely.

I definitely could learn something from Widdershins as I have yet to knit a sock toe up. I keep thinking about it, but the patterns I have been using are written top down. I have no problem knitting all my socks on one circular, but change the directions from top down to toe up? Hmm...

How fun is RPM? As a regular reader of Aija's blog I was anxiously awaiting her pattern in this issue. At first I thought it was too wild for me, but it hasn't taken me long to start thinking about what yarn I would knit it in.

July 3, 2006

My New Sewing Room

There it is! I know it doesn't look like much yet, but these trusses form my sewing room over the garage. I'm sure I'll also be storing my yarn stash and knitting supplies here as well, but the actual knitting will continue to take place wherever.

June 26, 2006

Sock Obsessed

Despite having very little free time I have managed to finish my 3rd pair of socks. I couldn't resist another pair of Jaywalkers - the yarn just seemed perfect for the pattern. Now it's on to Pomatomus! I've knit the first chart one complete time and am halfway through the second repeat. So far so good.

I also did a little stash enhancement while in Reno last week. You can see my acquisitions here.

(Sorry I'm so lazy and didn't make smaller photos for this post. You'll have to see the detailed pages for the pictures this time.)

June 7, 2006

Where does the time go?

I have been so busy with work and training the horses. Every time I think to update the website I find other more pressing things to do first. In the last two months I have finished my second pair of socks. Simple stockinette, easy and also a little boring.

Then I started another pair of Jaywalkers in Lorna's Laces glenwood. Although the photo is of the first sock of the pair, I have finished that one and am about this far into the mate.

I began seaming Circular Shrug. Mattress stitch was easier than expected, but I don't like the way the shrug fits. Blocking isn't going to save it either so it's going to hit the frog pile. Lady Eleanor has been blocked once, but I think I need to block her again before I'll be satisfied.

April 9, 2006

Yes, I Have Been Knitting

...but I have not been updating the website. Behold my first pair of finished Jaywalkers! I am certain this is only the first of many pairs.

After finishing the Jaywalkers I returned to Lady Eleanor. I believe this photo shows 6 skeins complete.

Circular Shrug and Ginger still need to be finished. They have both been blocked so I just need to stitch them together.

I almost forgot - I broke my yarn diet after two months for some gorgeous Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock. Photos are in the Yarn Stash. It was a great price and I couldn't resist. However, I've been checking all my pattern books out of the library so at least I haven't spent any money on books lately.

February 19, 2006

Quick Update on Many Topics

I'm still holding true to my yarn diet! I have been sorely tempted by Koigu KPPPM and some hand painted sock yarn on eBay, but I have resisted the temptation.

My Olympic Knitting is progressing fairly well, although I am not sure I will be able to accomplish my goal of finishing a pair of Jaywalker socks. I had a couple of false starts and I still have some things to learn about knitting socks as I go into the heel flap...

Due to Olympic Knitting I have temporarily set aside Lady Eleanor at one skein of Noro complete and Vintage Velvet at the halfway point.

Looking back at the last month I have to feel pretty good. I have accomplished Entrelac, learned how to pick up stitches (now I know why I had such a hard time with this on the Booga Bag), and began a project on size 1 needles. In my next month of knitting I expect to be able to say that I know at least one way to knit socks and that I have gained some experience in blocking and finishing (Circular Shrug and Ginger are both ready to be finished).

January 21, 2006

Officially on a Yarn Diet

The stash is closed! I will not buy any more yarn until I have cut my stash back to yarn to knit 4 items. Not 4 skeins, but yarn for 4 projects. I will not look at eBay, I will not look at online retailers who may have sales, I will not look at the local yarn store. STASH CLOSED!

You'll notice I couldn't do this for January 1st. You see, first I needed to purchase two books that I keep renewing from the library, THEN Knit Happens announced their 20% everything weekend sale. That just killed me right there! Now that I've ordered another $80 worth (really $100 worth) of yarn and knitting supplies I have to stop spending for a while. And then there was the yarn swift and ball winder - we won't even talk about that except to say I got a good deal.

The main part of my purchase from Knit Happens was to try sock knitting. When I started knitting (only a few short months ago) I said I just couldn't understand why anyone would want to knit socks. I also said if I ever get to the point of wanting to knit socks I must be crazy. It didn't take long. My order included 7 skeins of sock yarn and a tiny (for me) circular needle. There's no turning back now!

(Somebody keep me away from Elann...that's the one that could be my downfall.)

January 9, 2006

Scarf Progress Report Part II

Misty Garden is done. Vintage Velvet is 1/5 done. This yarn is so soft to the touch it was difficult to switch from it to Misty Garden's mohair before that one was finished.

I've become a 'two projects' knitter. My second project is the Circular Shrug from Craftster.

December 27, 2005

Scarf Progress Report

Ruffles is done. I'd like to steam it with my new steamer that I received for Christmas, but it looks pretty good as is. Misty Garden is halfway done. I know, Misty who? I didn't even have Misty Garden on the Projects page until today. With Misty Garden halfway done I thought it was time to experiment with a new pattern. I cast on for Vintage Velvet last night. The Touch Me yarn is just heavenly in your hands.

December 13, 2005

Oh the Guilt...

Of buying myself some yarn right before Christmas. The only saving grace was that the day I brought the yarn home, Richard had brought home about 4 more cases of wine. Just kidding - we only joke about things like that, plus as he pointed out we both enjoy the wine; he doesn't enjoy the yarn so much. Photos of the new yarn are on my Yarn Stash page.

I continue to make progress on Ruffles. I've used up the first skein of Cascade 220 and have just gotten started on the second. To take a break from Ruffles, I made the Alterknits PDA Cozy from left over Kureyon. I started to felt it, but it still needs to shrink a lot more. Pre-felting phots are on the Projects page.

November 29, 2005

YIKES!

See all those strips hanging on my dress form? Those are all the binding strips for the quilt projects I need to machine quilt and finish. There are strips for two table runners, a set of placemats, a king size quilt, and a double bed size quilt. I don't even want to think about the other quilt tops I have that are done, but that don't have their binding strips cut yet!

The good news is that I AM making progress on them. Two steps forward, one step back in some cases, but I have to get them on the frame and experiment so I can learn.

November 27, 2005

Knitting and Quilting, Quilting and Knitting

I'm trying to finish a number of quilting projects, but I have to say it is SO much easier to sit on the couch and knit. It's even easier to sit at my sewing machine and sew, but what I really need to be working on is the finish work which requires standing at my B-Line quilting frame. I love my frame and usually after sitting all day I don't mind standing. Lately though, collapsing on the couch sounds a lot better.

My quilting progress since my last post was to finish piecing the 4th diamond placemat and to completely finish two small, decorative pieces. One is a wreath of origami flowers and the other consists of 4 small, pieced Christmas trees. Today I looked backing fabric for the French Country table runners and I'm working on pinning the first one on the frame this afternoon.

In knitting news, I have completed the knitting on the Secret Project. I couldn't wait to get this one done. Two months ago I didn't feel like I was ready to divide my concentration between two knitting projects - now I'm starting to feel like it's a necessity to have two projects to choose from on the needles. I suppose that's only true if one of the projects is boring or not portable. I do find it nice to have a small portable project, which brings me to the Ruffles scarf I cast on for on Thanksgiving. For my second project I'm contemplating the Craftster circular shrug out of the pink and brown Malabrigo.

November 17, 2005

Wish List

This time of year there are always a couple of people asking me what I have on my wish list. So here it is. If you think it's long, it's not because I'm being greedy, but because I want to provide lots of options.

In knitting news, I have finished Bonnie's birthday present just in time. It's not that it's been a rush to finish it, just that I took my time getting the ends woven in and blocking. See pictures in Knitting Projects. I also have some new photos of my future projects. The more I can document my stash and upcoming projects, the less likely I am to buy more yarn on eBay.

November 2, 2005

I Like to Touch Yarn

I am a yarnaholic. Wait...maybe I'm not. I went to my LYS today (in proximity to my office anyway) and I only bought ONE skein of yarn for $11.50. I'm sure this is the cheapest amount I will ever get out of a yarn store for. But I can't stop touching my yarn.

I like looking at fabic, but I like touching yarn. What in the world changed in my mind that the look became less important and touch became so much more important? When I was in the LQS the other day I wasn't excited to look at the fabric at all.

October 31, 2005

Knitting and Quilting Photos

The knitting and quilting photo galleries are nearly finished. Don't miss my Yarn Stash - this is my way of reminding myself that I DON'T NEED ANY MORE YARN. Today anyway.

I'm still working on re-grouping and formatting Pepsi and Blondie's pictures. Oh yeah, and the rest of the website that doesn't fall under my section. :)

October 27, 2005

Something New

I've been reading a number of knitting blogs lately and I think it's time to try something new with the website. I'm going to turn it a little more blog style in hopes that I'll update it more often by making it easier to add short posts and photos of what I've been up to.

The first step is the change to my main page which will now feature blog style posts with the most recent one at the top. Next, I'll probably add some things to the right navigation and re-arrange the photo galleries so that it's easier to browse a group of photos, then click on the one that you'd like to read more about. I also have some new graphics in the works to update the over all look and feel, plus eventually I'd like you to be able to leave comments like you can on a real blog.

It might take some time though - so please be patient!

Wish List
Needle Inventory

Craft Galleries:

Knitting Projects
Yarn Stash
Quilt Projects

The Horses:

Pepsi and Blondie

Knit-Alongs I Joined:

Blogs I'm Reading:

Since I don't have comments enabled yet (and probably won't for some time), you may email me at:

tobys at rlshome dot com