Ella, Hats and Socks

Poor, poor Ella. She has such patience! The LittleOne had her birthday party with her girls over on Saturday, and they proceeded to use their science skills of static electricity to stick the balloons all over her. Isn't she cute!


Our outside Christmas tree got put up on Saturday as well. We re-did the backyard over the last month or so. It was all concrete and dirt, and we put pavers across the entire back and made sort of an outside AZ room-- we now have an outside living room/dining room.

My new hat! Owls! Owls! The hat pattern is the Who? [rav link] pattern. This is a great warm hat. The little bumps on the side are short rows (an idea taken from Cameron's Cap), to cover my ears. I love this hat! It's warm without being too heavy. I used 1 1/2 skeins of Lite Lopi in grey and made the ribbing longer and the top a little longer, too. (I'll wear it this morning to walk Ella as it's blustery and raining.)

And my socks! Took me over a year, but I finished them! Don't know why! They're socks, small, portable and easy to finish, but took me a long time. The second one only took, like 5 days to finish! Yay! These are spring pools [rav link], but I think in this picture, I look like I have Grinch feet --sort of fitting with the season! These are great. My first toe-up and magic loop socks. Yarn: Brown Sheep Wildfoote Luxury Sock yarn, 2 skeins in bright green. I did make them longer, did 4 reps of the leg.

There's my update for now! My kids have only two more weeks of school and then they're off for Christmas break for about 3 weeks! So, I'm going to be running around trying to get all my stuff done and knits knitted!

WIP Wednesday

I'm slowly working on my CPH. The sleeves of anything seem to take me a long, long, long, long, long time. When I've made some better progress on them I'll take a picture, but for now, you'll just have to picture it in your mind!
My socks are going just as slow. I thought I'd have plenty of time at all these baseball games and practices, but...I seem to get too involved and can't focus on the knitting! The Munchkin (the oldest) has got a great team this year. They're 4-0! He got to pitch last night and did a great job! Didn't let up any hits, and only let up 3 runs toward the end of his second inning! It's such a boost to his self confidence when he pitches well. The LittleOne has back-to-back games this weekend, so we'll see how she does! (I found out last night that she's the only girl in her whole division! Wow! Girl power there!)

Does Ella look like the LittleOne's baseball team mascot?

I think so! Maybe not as mean though!

This weekend officially kicked off baseball season in the Cactus household. With two playing at different levels, I need something to keep me busy...so I cast on some socks. They're going to be the Pulsations Socks and I'm using some Opal yarn in the color neon, that I had bought sometime last year. With games for each at least twice a week as well as practice, I should knock these out in no time!

CPH Note: I finished the left side on Sunday, and started the sleeves! I'm doing both sleeves at once so they'll come out even. Have a great week!

FO & UFO First Friday

My first FO of the new year! It was supposed to be a neck warmer/gaiter for My Hubby, made with leftover yarn from his hat, but sadly, I miscalculated and it was way too small! I can barely get it over my head (what was I thinking?), so now I have a headband/ear warmer/sort of Calorimetry, but without the shaping!

Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers; light green, partial skein (I still have leftovers).

Pattern: co 76 sts, join and 2x2 rib for 6 inches, bind off (very, very loosely!).

Needles: #7 16" circular.

Now...isn't this such a pretty color?

Yes, just another shot to show you how pretty the purple is. (My poinsettia is still hanging in there, I moved it outside today, it was getting droopy and seemed like it needed some sun.)

It's the first Friday of 2008 for the new year and I had planned on showing a new sock to everyone (or at least part of a sock), but sadly it was frogged just this morning. I have some Colinette Jitterbug sock yarn in a lovely hand-dyed purple (which was purchased over a year ago, maybe two years, way before I started knitting socks, the color got me, as you can see) and was happily knitting along (my own made-up pattern), got to the heel flap and then tried the sock on...you guessed it, too small. So, I put it down, worked a few more heel flap rows (why? I don't know) and then went to bed with that sock on my mind.

This morning, I looked at that sock again, and decided something wasn't right and I didn't like what I saw. So, for some inspiration, I jumped on Ravelry read some reviews of the said yarn, thought about it as I undecorated the Christmas tree and then took two minutes to frog the sock! And you know what, I wasn't sad, depressed or upset, I knew in the long run I wouldn't be happy, or I'd run out of yarn. )The yardage on the label reads 267 m, but when you convert that, it's only about 320 yards.) So, now I'm back to square one with the yarn, which has been sitting in my closet for such a long time waiting for the perfect pattern for the yarn. More than likely, the perfect pattern is the one included on the ball band! But...we'll see...

Happy knitting!

Wrapping up the Year (part one)

My Hubby and I went to a New Year's/Christmas party over the weekend, and I just couldn't help myself. I thought this napkin (circa 1995) says it all!

I finally finished them! My Embossed Leaves socks!

Pattern: Embossed Leaves, from Favorite Socks.

Yarn: Regia, sock yarn in pink.

Changes: none!

And my two-tone Fetching! I ran out of the blue, and when I went back to the LYS to buy another one, they were out of the blue! So, I used the brown! I like the way they came out.

Pattern: Fetching, knitty.com

Yarn: Brown Sheep, Lamb's Pride Bulky, blue flannel and sable.

Changes: Made four cable repeats at wrist (to make them longer) and used #7's to make a tight knit fabric (these are very, very warm!). They also match my blue flannel Utopia hat!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas Day and your Christmas Season is going great! A New Year is coming fast upon us and if I don't get back to you all by Tuesday, I hope everyone has a great New Year's Eve!

My Favorite Foods

Today is cooking day in the Cactus household. It's raining, so it's a perfect day to start the Christmas lasagna, made with homemade sausage (one of our friends makes their own sausage! very, very good!), homemade tomato sauce and lots and lots of ricotta cheese! So, in honor of all that, here are some of my favorite foods. (Again in no particular order.)

1. lasagna
2. pizza (of course!, no anchovies)
3. spaghetti
4. a Ruben sandwich
5. roast pork tenderloin
6. turkey with all the trimmings!
7. a good hamburger
8. Shepard's pie
9. steak and baked potato
10. green beans (I love, love green beans.)

What are some of your favorite foods? Let me know!

On the knitting side, not much is being completed around here (see above cooking). I'm still working on Stella's Hat from Knitting School Dropout and my embossed leaves socks (why they're taking sooooooo long I don't know). And the Fetching, I ran out of the yarn that matches the dark blue Utopia hat, so I'm trying to figure out something...I'll let you know soon (I hope).

And the kids are home on their first day of Christmas vacation today, so...well, you know how it goes!

My Favorite Socks (and Scarves?)

These are a few of my favorite sock patterns.



Monkey Socks (who doesn't love this pattern!?)

Embossed Leaves (from Interweave Knits, Favorite Socks)

Uptown Boot Socks (from Interweave Knits, Favorite Socks)

Brigit (from the Socktopia people!) (but for some reason, the link is no longer there, but check here (thank you Misfit Knits for posting this great picture so we can see what they look like!) (I do have a copy that I printed out of this if anyone wants it, let me know!)

Twinkletoes (that Knitty.com, gotta' love it!)

Jaywalker (Grumperina has some cool socks.)

Pedicure Socks

Earl Gray (oh, you Harlots will love this one!)

Nine-to-Fives



Let me know some of your favorites! (I've got a lot of sock yarn that needs to be knitted up before I can buy any more!)

(Oh, and there probably won't be a favorite scarves -- I don't really knit scarves! I mean, I know I should, and I own the Vogue Knitting, Scarves (from the "On the Go!" series), and there are several in there that I like, but I've never, ever even attempted (and I've had that book for quite some time, I might add.) So...if there are some of your favorite scarf patterns out there, let me know. Who knows? I may even attempt one! (Oh, and before you ask, I do own four scarves, my favorite being a woven wool turquoise extra wide wrap/shawl/scarf that I bought at Old Navy last year on clearance.)

Wow! What a Weekend!!!

This weekend went by soooooooooo fast! I can't believe it's December already! (I think I said that about November, too!) A busy weekend what with the last soccer game of the year, the Munchkin's team played the consolation round and lost, but they did a great job! To be 4th in a league with fifteen other teams is pretty good! It was so cold out there (8:00 AM), we had that winter storm move through last Thursday, Friday and Saturday. And we got lots and lots of wind, cold weather and much needed rain! So, me being the knitter, wore my hat, and my purple Fetchings (over other gloves)! It was great to be able to wear my stuff and be warm! Both kids had birthday parties this weekend, too. One on Saturday and one on Sunday at the park, but it turned out to be a nice day. The outside Christmas lights went up yesterday, too. It's easier with help! We also put up our tree on Saturday and the kids did all the ornament hanging! They did a great job!

I forgot to mention in my WIP Wednesday review about the Embossed Leaves socks. I'm still working on them-- I did most of the leg, heel and turned the heel over the weekend. I'm going to try to finish them this week.

I'm still working on the Celtic Tote lining (actually I haven't had time to start at all).

This is the start of a baby-sized hat based on my Hubby's favorite hat (the Father/Daughter, of course)! The LittleOne's god-mother is due any time this week. There's nothing like knowing for eight months that the baby's coming, but putting it off until the week the baby's due! Oh, well...it's small!

(I've got to change that date stamp!)

One Sad Sock

Oh, you poor, poor sock.

All by yourself.

Waiting.

Wondering when your companion will show.

But, alas, there will be no such companion.

It will always be you.

One sad sock.

But, be happy,

A Christmas Stocking you shall be.

Pattern: Eesti Hiking Sock, from Favorite Socks

Yarn: stash yarn (I think it was Encore (green), Wool Ease (oatmeal and red)

Why only one: mutual agreement of hubby and I

More Yarn...

Okay. I know I wasn't going to buy any more yarn, but yesterday the kiddos, the hubby and I all went on a field trip day. Since the kids are off this week for fall break (which is feeling more like summer), we took them on a field trip. We went on a museum tour at the local college campus, one of which they wouldn't let us in -- my purse was too big and I might "bump into the artwork." That is a direct quote from the security guard! Can you believe it! She wouldn't let us in because I wouldn't leave my purse at her desk! There's just no way! I had all the stuff you would normally carry in a purse in there and there was no way I was leaving it with her!

Anyway, on a brighter note, I did get to go to one of the LYS's that I hadn't been to before because it's all the way across town. It was a nice store, small, but she had a good selection. And she told me that another LYS opened up closer to me, that's my next week's trip (when they're back at school!). All I walked out with though was this:

... Regia, sock yarn in like a pink, but not hot pink color.

I think I'm going to either do the Uptown Boot socks or the Embossed Leaves, from Favorite Socks. I think both would look great with this color. But before I can begin, I need to finish the hubby's socks (and Ella's sweater). Tune in tomorrow for DoT (dogs on Thurs.) and I might be ready to unveil Ella's sweater.

Dogs and WIP Thursday

Sad, sad puppy...waiting for Mom to finish her sweater...

The start of Ella's sweater.

(I like how my geranium is blooming right now.)

I know it doesn't look like much right now, and you're asking yourself, how is that little strip of cable going to cover Ella and keep her warm on those cold, dark, bleak winter days? But you'll have to wait, 'cause I've got a plan (at least I think I do).
So, right now, Ella's sweater is one of the three WIP-- dare I tell you the others that are still hanging out in the basket? Okay, you twisted my arm, still working on the hubby's second Eesti sock. I did cast on for it, but all the stitches are still sitting on the one dpn, very lonely and waiting to be worked on (no picture as it's very, very sad).
Also still working on the yoga mat bag, haven't gotten very far with that one (again no picture as it's, again, very, very sad). (You could go here to see the sock who's waiting for a companion, and here to see the yoga mat--it's that dejected little strip of maroon at the top of the picture.)
Hmm...is there anything else WIP? (I'm asking myself here at this point because I'm too lazy to go upstairs to look.) No, I don't think so. But I am planning on starting a hat soon...

Snakey Sunday...

He's sort of hard to see (the Munchkin's camera has a better picture, but I can't find the cord), but that dark shadow right above the bicycle handle was our Sunday visitor! Ella found him slithering across the patio in the backyard Sunday, and then my Hubby found him curled up underneath a table and behind the water guns on the side of the house. The Fire Department came, just a bull snake they said. But still...it was a snake!!! Ewww!!!!

The finished soccer banner -- they won 2-1 on a very, very hot Saturday afternoon!

The LittleOne "won" her game, too. (The won is in quotes, because they "don't" keep score at her age, but they know!) She scored two goals in her first ever game!!!!

And the Hubby's Eesti sock-- I did finish the toe yesterday -- I was having sock remorse, so I finished it. It's a really, really tall sock, I think he's going to wear them as house socks (when I get the other one started and finished)!

I added the darker band of yarn at the bottom of the leaf tee, and I think it will work. I want to do a few inches so that it's not too short on me. I'm going to add a boarder on the neckline of the darker yarn so that it will look like it was intended to have the dark at the bottom (does that make sense?).

And that wraps up my busy weekend in a nutshell. Happy knitting all!!

WIP Wednesday

From right to left: rib and cable hat, sock for husband, yoga bag and leaf tee shirt.

These are my WIP's. I'm starting off September with some different things. Another rib and cable hat for my friend in Colorado (she wanted summer hats, by the time she gets this one, it will be winter, oh, well there's always next summer). But all I have to do is finish the i-cord trim, ie, sew it on. It's from the Knit.1 (spring 2007) issue.

The sock for my husband from Favorite Socks. (Yes, the one I had a problem with last week.) It's the Eesti Trail Hiking Sock (pg 97). But I've tried it on him and it fits rather well, so my revisions worked okay.

The lacy yoga bag from Interweave Knits (summer 2007). My yoga mat needs a home to live in.

And the leaf tee shirt that I saw at aquaknits, but she got the pattern from knitting school dropout. Both are new blogs to me that I've added to my sidebar. Check them out when you've got the time. When I saw this, I just had to knit it and I had the yarn in my stash -- Brown Sheep and Co., turquoise I think. I'll have to dig up the tag later. It's been in my stash for about three years or so, I had bought two skeins and finally just wound them into balls last Friday. I rarely make sweaters for myself, hats, socks and hats seem to be what I do, but I wanted to try this one -- it's going really fast.

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day Weekend, and a great football kick off! I love the college football, fall is just around the corner! (I may be able to start baking again, it's been too hot!)

Have a great one!!!!

{Ella wanted me to tell everyone that Mom sewed the Grinch's nose back on and thanks all the dogs whose moms left comments for her! Whine, moan, small woof!} (Ella doesn't really bark, she sort of whine/talks to me.)

Favorite Sock Book Pattern Corrections

You know how I wasn't going to start anything new?
I had started some socks for my hubby last week from Favorite Socks, the Eesti Trail Hiking Socks by Nancy Bush, and as I got to the chart I found an error in the pattern. So I e-mailed Interweave Press this afternoon:

Dear Interweave Customer Service:
I have completed to rnd 5 of the star pattern, and I notice that when you increase the number of stitches goes to 64, yet the chart is a pattern repeat of 22 stitches -- this does not work, there will be 2 few stitches left? Am I reading this correctly? Please advise as am trying to finish the sock (ie: needle #1 22 sts; needle #2 20 sts; needle #3 22 stitches). This won't work with the chart...possibly directions incorrect?
Thank you,
Cactusneedles

And I just got this response back:

Dear Cactusneedles,
Thank you for your message. I passed your query to our tech editor and this is her response:

I compared the version in the book to the pattern that originally ran in the winter 1997 issue of Knits, and the
book has the red pattern repeat box in the wrong place.The repeat box for Rnds 5-17 of the chart should only
surround the leftmost 16 sts of the chart, or the last 16 sts of the chart as you would knit it. Also, the "inc 8 sts evenly spaced" note next to the chart should be aligned with Rnd 4, not Rnd 3. The text correctly says to increase in Rnd 4, so that's OK.
After inc 8 sts in Rnd 4 there will be 64 sts. To set the pattern up correctly in Rnd 5 from the chart shown in Favorite Socks, skip the first 6 sts, and repeat only the 7th through 22nd sts of the chart for a 16-st pattern. Drawing a line in the book or temporarily covering up the unwanted sts with a Post-it note will make it easier to remember where the right starting place is.
And the correct 16-st pattern fits perfectly 4 times around in 64 sts!

We apologize for this error and appreciate your letting us know there's a problem!

Best wishes,
Nancy
___________________
Nancy Arndt
Production editor
Interweave Press LLC
201 East Fourth St.
Loveland, CO 80537
interweave.com

Wow! I'm impressed. That was a fast and fabulous response time. I had already adjusted my pattern to make it even, but even so, I want to commend Interweave for getting back to me so quickly!

FYI -- Check here for the corrections! (hopefully this link works, I seem to be having trouble connecting to their site!) Otherwise just go to interweave.com, under the books tab, there is an area regarding corrections (and there seem to be quite a few!).

Ta! Da! May I Present the Blue, Rib and Cable Socks

At first there was one sock...

...and one toe...
...but now there are two.

Rib and Cable Socks, Interweave Knits (Fall '05); Brown Sheep Company, luxury sock yarn, wildfoote turquoise; used #1 dpn for the cuff and leg, #2 dpn for the heel, foot and toe.

Monkey update tomorrow! They're getting there!

Have a great day to all!!!

(Oh, yeah, I got a new, fast kick arse computer yesterday, my old one just had too, too many problems and had lived well past it's prime, may it RIP.)

Do you like the new colors? I think I'm ready for fall!

No Show Socks

I was all set and ready to show you guys pictures of the blue rib and cable socks that I finished last night, but no such luck. My computer and my camera are having communication issues. I'll try again later.

Monkey See, Knitter Doesn't

So last night I took out the monkeys to try and jump back in and finish them. Those of you who have been with me for a while know that I ran out of yarn, but found more while on vacation. But as I looked at them, I realized I don't know where I am in the pattern. And I'm one of those knitters who writes down the pattern on a separate sheet of paper and marks off row by row where I am in that particular pattern. But I don't know where I am in these! I guess I'm going to have to sit down with them this weekend and spend some quality time with my monkeys and try and get them off my back (ha, ha futile attempt at a joke)!

Been Too, Way Too, Long...

Found this picture in my archived photos on my computer. It’s been soooooooo hot here these past two weeks that this is a great reminder for me! My feet in the cool Atlantic Ocean! {This was at Popham Beach in Maine.}

And I know, I know, it's been too long since I've posted -- I've lost track of time what with coming back from vacation, the kids started school, trying to organize the house with them gone all day and then trying to finish the blue rib and cable socks (I have to install my printer software and then I'll have some pictures--hopefully by tomorrow, Sat at the latest I hope). I'm almost finished with the second sock, and the more I look at them and admire my work (which I think you have to do) the more I like these socks.

My vow was also to not start anything new until I finished all the UFO's I've got lying around, but I don't really think that's going to happen, I've been reading all my issues of Vogue Knitting, Interweave Knits and the Knit Simple that all seemed to arrive in the mail in the same week. There's a lot of stuff in there that I'm considering -- so much to knit, so little time. And besides, I think I'm really, really ready for fall!!

Not to mention that I've been reading all the new books my library got in. I just finished Reality Queen by Debbie DiGiovanni -- it was very, very good. I also have Knitting Around by Elizabeth Zimmerman which I have glanced at, but need to read in more detail and then I've been looking for this one and finally found it Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver which somebody recommended (I can't remember who), so I'm going to try to read/start it this weekend.

(Edited on Friday 8/17 -- Started the Animal, Vegetable, Miracle book and just didn't like it -- the tone of the author regarding the desert SW was not too good, somewhat negative in fact it seemed and thus this sort of turned me off of this book. I don't like starting a book with negative thoughts!)

Hope all have had a great week or so that I've been out of touch, take care and keep on knitting!!!!

Knitting Update (Among Other Things)

(A warning from me -- this is a wordy one!)

My knitting has begun again. It took me about a week or so to get back into the swing of things, don't know why, maybe my brain and body were still on vacation. Let's just say that over my vacation I only knit the top of a hat (I'm making this one for a friend, but in a stripey green, yellow and turquoise blue color), but over the weekend I finished the brim, now all I have left is the I-cord trim (I just hate making I-cord). But, I want to get it in the mail sometime soon...

I also finished the blue cable and rib sock (go here for an old visual). I decided not to rip them, but push forward and finish. So, I finished and cast on for the second. Doing good, I think. Tried to upload some picts, but my computer is just hanging on by a thread here and wouldn't let me do anything with my camera. But I did take some pictures, so when I'm able, I'll post them!

Check here: Kreative Kelpie to read the first installment of my vacation stories.

Oh, yeah, I also read that book...Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Safe to say most of you who were going to read it have done so, but I'm still not going to reveal any of the secrets in case there are a few of you who are still getting through it.


I also read Back on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber. I like this series, the bits of knitting interspersed with the story are great. This is the third in the series, and if you haven't read them, I do recommend them.

Let's see, what else. Oh, yeah. I painted the kids bathroom this morning. The color is bayside by Behr, which I bought at Home Depot. (I also have a picture of this, but again, see above as to why there are none here!)

Yesterday the kids and I went to our favorite store in town...Target. We had to purchase school supplies. The Munchkin is going into 3rd grade and the little one to kindergarten. He's all excited, her, not so much. She sometimes has separation anxiety symptoms. (She thinks I'm going to need her to do things around the house, and I do, but she needs to go to school!) Why shopping so early for the supplies you ask? Well, out here school starts a week from Thursday (Aug 9). I know it seems awfully early, and it is, but it makes the hot summer seem shorter. Fall for me starts next week! Then again, this summer seems awfully short as we were gone for a good portion of the hottest part of it.

Okay. I think I've rambled on enough today. Remember, check out my vacation story link above!

Have a great day!!

Vacation/LYS Stash Enhancement -- Part Two

The last of the vacation bought yarns:

These are Sockotta, #14 (teals, blues and greens) and Trekking (XXL) #84 (a mix of cream, greens and beige). From Knit Purl (see previous posting).

Ah, this is probably my favorite. Schaeffer Yarn, Anne (color is reds, blues, purple and a splash of rusty orange). Bought at Classic Yarns of Grafton in Grafton, Mass. The owner (Eileen) was great and offered her cotton yarns on sale for me (even though the sale wasn't until the weekend). I only bought this, though, as I didn't have that much room left in my carry-on (ship yarn in my luggage -- no way!).

These two pictures are the front and back of a cardigan that my great-aunt gave me. It's an Irish knit that she knit years and years ago (she couldn't remember when) and it doesn't fit her any more, so I got it. It'll be like wearing a jacket for me when it gets cold here!

This picture (below) are my fried clams. I love fried clams! And to get them in the desert is next to impossible (not that they'd be fresh either). So, on the Saturday night after we got to Mass., Harry's came through! (It's in Westboro on Route 9, north side I believe.)

Next time I'll try to tell you some tales about the vacation and maybe even show you what I knit while on vacation (it wasn't much, let me tell you). And when I got home, I didn't pick up any UFO's until yesterday afternoon. I don't know, mentally I wasn't ready to dive back into any knitting or any other projects until then. But I picked up the blue cable socks and am now happy with my needle change. I told myself I've got to finish at least those and the monkeys before I can start anything new with my new yarn. (Yeah, right--we'll see how long that takes!) Anyways, hope all are having a good week! We're getting monsoon rains every afternoon since I've been home -- it's great the desert really needs it!

(Sorry about the delay in getting back to blogging -- we've had some computer malfunctions/problems/really, really, really need a new one!)