My First Toe-Up Socks

Well, here they are in all their glory, my first pair of toe-up socks (well almost, I've got to finish the second). I made them shorties (is that what you call them?) ending just above my ankle.

Adapted from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch (before it has to go back to the library).
The toe.

The Lace Rib Pattern.

(With weird flash problem.)

The yarn is Cotton Ease by Lion Brand in terracotta (I know, it looks red, but it's a real pretty washed out orangy color).

It's just been too hot to knit much here, thus the slow progress on everything (and I do mean everything). And I'm trying to organize everything before going on vacation with the kids. Hope all had a great weekend.

Reflections on Wednesday

Yarn Update:
No luck locally for the Magic Stripe in the Jelly Bean Stripe color, but I have found a couple on different web places (amazon/e-bay) that carry it still (I think it's going to be discontinued soon) and want to thank all for the tips. So, the monkeys will stay on the needles for a while longer.

Since I'm on the lookout for the yarn, I'm trying some toe-up socks from the Sensational Knitted Socks (have you checked out the KAL?) book, but I'm using cotton ease in terracotta (yes, another Lion Brand yarn), so they're a little heavier than with the sock yarn (it's a DK yarn). But I really like the toe-up method. Makes more sense, somehow than cuff, leg, heel, and so on and so forth, but I can see the virtues of knitting both and of knowing both methods. These particular socks are going to be cuff socks or short socks, whatever you want to call them, hoping to get them done before vacation. (pict to follow sometime later this week, I promise)

On another note, I must apologize to those blogs where I have lurked (I really hate that term), let's see, where I have only read and not left a comment, no, too many words, hmm...where I was a wallflower -- yes, I think that works. Okay, to continue, I must apologize to those blogs where I was a wallflower, I love reading you guys, and I have my favorites, but I, for reasons unknown to me, did not leave any comments this week. I love seeing all the socks, hats, scarfs, shawls, sweaters, mittens, etc that you all produce and when you show me (and everyone else who reads) those things, I get inspired to keep on knitting my socks, my sweaters (if I knit them, you notice I don't yet?), my hats and accessories...so, I guess what I'm trying to say here is, thanks and keep on knitting (even if I don't tell you personally)!!

Have a great day!!

Semi-Book Review (don't want to spoil the ending)

Happy Monday to all!!

I finished The Friday Night Knitting Club and let me tell you, I was a little disappointed in the ending. For those of you who have not read it, I will not tell you what happens, only that I think it was not the best way to end what was, up until that point, a delightful book. I enjoyed the characters and how they integrated knitting into their lives, and it was a quick and easy read, but...I did not like the ending. It was almost as if the Kate Jacobs (the author) didn't know where else to go with it so she just...oh, yeah, I'm not going to say. So, read it and then you decide. That's all I'm going to say.

Oh, and say good bye to my Monkey Socks...I don't have enough yarn to finish, unless someone out there has a part of a skein left of Lion Brand Magic Stripe in Jelly Bean that they want to donate (or trade???) to my socks? I need to finish the foot. I looked at the store where I bought my original skeins of Magic Stripe and they were all out of the jelly bean, and clearance pricing on the blue color I had used already.

But never fear, my creative gene kicked in late yesterday, or was that Saturday?, and I've got something else (or two, or three, or four) [projects] up my sleeve.

Hope all those hubby's out there had a great Father's Day yesterday, too. (Where would we be without them?) :)

Up to My Ears In Books...

I decided to change my colors today. What do you think? I like it, but it may change tomorrow, who knows?! Sometimes change is good, don't you think?

On another note, my local library has decided to honor all of my book requests this week.

Let's see, first I picked up The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. So far it's a pretty good read, but I must be getting old, the font is so small...

Second, my request for Charmed Knits, Projects for fans of Harry Potter by Alison Hansel came in yesterday and I spent last night looking through it. There are definitely some patterns I'm going to try in there, when I get the time. So many patterns, not enough time, right? Then as I'm reading the back cover, I noticed that the author, Alison Hansel is the writer of the blue blog -- I didn't know that and I had recently found her blog via somewhere (can't remember). But go by and check it out.

Thirdly, I found 100 Afghans to Knit and Crochet by Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss. It's okay, more crochet than knit, but it shows some interesting patterns.

Fourth, 100 Knitting Projects by Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss. Again, lots and lots of projects and a few that I might actually do, given the time (see #2).

I also finished Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers from my summer reading list. It was okay, might be a good read out loud type of book, but (and I can't believe I'm going to say this) but I like the movie better. I'll probably read more books than I put on the list, but that's what always happens, something else that intrigues me comes up.

So, I think I'll be busy the next few days perusing these book selections, trying to finish the monkey sock, the cable and rib sock and then I got a request for summer hats from a friend who wears anything I knit her. I can probably find something in these to take with me on vacation, too. Normally I'd give you a link to where you could buy the books, but you all know how to do that, and I don't have time this morning, off to swimming lessons with the munchkins, well they get to swim, I don't.

Edited: I also changed the font per beth's comment. I think this works better!

Two for One

Out of one project (this) I made a sunglasses case and a radio cozy.

I knit the case and cozy as one piece out of leftover bits of wool and then felted it.

I guessed on the size and it was way too long after I felted it for my sunglasses. So I cut the end off, which was a perfect fit for the satellite radio and my sunglasses fit in the top (I sewed the bottom together on my sewing machine).

It didn't turn out exactly as I planned, but sometimes two for one is a good deal! And my hubby is happy his radio will be cozy in it's new home when he's not using it!!

Rain, rain, rain In June!!!!

Just had to show you guys this. Rain on my sidewalk at 3:30 in the afternoon in June!! The flash went off when I took this, that's how dark it is right now. I know, most of you are going, rain in June, so what...but let me tell you, it hasn't rained like this here in the desert since probably about February or March (if even). I can't remember the last time we had this much rain in the afternoon. Since I took the picture, it hasn't stopped!!!!

Right now it's so loud I can't even hear the dryer on behind me!

Have a great one guys!!!

To only frog a little bit...

Okay, for those of you who have been reading the saga of the blue cable and rib sock which I was going to frog and have said so on a couple of different days. Well...I did frog it, but only to the beginning of the heel and then I re-did the heel, gusset and part of the instep with bigger needles (#2's) and now it fits. The leg is a little snug, but that's okay, I'd rather have it fit tight then droop around my ankles like elephant skin (who said that? bad, bad cactusneedles!). I liked the pattern and the yarn, but didn't want to rip out all my hard work, so I sat, and sat, and sat and thought, and thought and just went ahead and spent my Saturday and most of Sunday re-doing the sock.

I also finished one monkey sock, and will probably cast on the second this week.

Now...what is this you ask?




I will reveal tomorrow (or the next day, or whenever I next have time to post)...

Sock Week

Here is the blue rib and cable sock. I turned the heel, did the gusset and worked some of the instep and then tried it on -- no dice. I mean I could stretch it, but it would stretch out the stitches, so I'm going to have to frog it. Such a sad, sad time, but just wanted you all to see that the sock itself is lovely and was a pretty easy pattern to follow, although I did have some trouble turning the heel. I probably won't do this pattern again after I frog with this yarn anyway, so I'll have to find something else. Maybe from here?

Now this is what I've been working on--

--I think it's coming along nicely. And I really like the colors, but some of the pattern is lost, so I might do another pair in a solid color so the pattern is more defined. I highly recommend this pattern, it's easy, fast (this is the fastest I've ever knit something other than a hat). I was reading some past posting (goggle on Monkey Sock) and a lot of people were complaining that the sock was too loose. Not to me, but I guess after the rib and cable sock, everything is slightly loose to me!

In between working on this, summer is here in full force. Swim lessons, heat, squabbling, etc, etc...you know the drill. But it's fun as they're only small once and they get along rather well with each other.

On another note, the kids and I will be traveling by plane in a few weeks (a first for them and a long, long time for me). Knitting needles are allowed, right? Has anyone had any problems taking a carry-on project? I'm thinking I'll just pack some yarn and needles in my suitcase and not worry about it, but I'm on the fence. Any advice would be appreciated.

Hope all have had a productive week!

Monkey Socks

Yes, yes, another pair of monkey socks!

They're posing in my pink geranium.

I have about two more repeats of the pattern before I get to the heel. I'm using Lion Brand Magic Stripes in jelly bean stripe. (Ella had to be there again.)

I really like this pattern. I thought it would be complicated, but it's fairly simple. I had to take a break from the rib and cable socks. I turned the heel and did some of the instep for those, but I think they're going to be too tight for me. I think I'm going to have to frog what I've done, maybe I'll go halfway up the leg and change to bigger needles, hmmm....that might work.

ZZZZzzzzzz.......

Walked into the room and saw this---

My mom just gave me the couch and won't be thrilled to see this (hi, mom!), but what am I going to do?
She's a dog.

Who's just plain tired!