June 26, 2014

The End & The Beginning

I have so much to say and so little time to say it lately.  The podcasting is a little more time consuming than I thought it would be, but I have no regrets - other than that blogging seems to have taken a back seat.

Not everyone is interested in video podcasts, so I think it only fair that I share what I can't fit into a 30 minute time slot, along with other things I didn't get to talk about.

First, there's my newly bound off socks called Ugly Duckling Socks by Karin Aida:


I used to spin yarn and put it in my stash bin because a) my handspun never looks like the braid of fiber I ordered and it takes some getting used to seeing it in yarn form, and b) sometimes the yarn is just too busy.  Lately, however, I've had a second look at the hand spun in my stash - and as the saying goes 'there's a lid for every pot' and for my wildly beautiful and colorful handspun, there is a solid colored companion to rein it in with.

The socks being fraternal doesn't even bother me, every 'box' has it's own identity and I love each and every stitch.  I love the socks, but I love more that I don't have to knit anymore - all socks going forward are at will.

And then there is the heartbreak that is the Monkey Socks by Cookie A:


Honestly, the skein of Pagewood Farms in lilac fields (#42) was not impressive, and while I was making the socks I still wasn't impressed, but then, when they were washed and blocked - awesome!  Imagine my heartbreak when trying to get them on my feet only to find that they wouldn't go past my heel!  Shucks!

The last two pairs of socks fulfill my commitment to make 26 pairs of socks in 12 months.  I did it!  I had my doubts, but I powered through - I even made socks I didn't want to make, with patterns that were poorly written, and quite a few pages long.  Whew!

So, you'd think I would have had enough, right?  Not so fast!  I've been seeing the Mystik Spiral socks pattern go viral and it seems like everyone has a pair, or two, and I've been drooling over this pattern since I don't know when.  I was saving my self-striping yarn for a special occasion - like the end of the 52/26 pair plunge, apparently, and now I have a chance to have a pair of my own.  Woo hoo!

The Moms With Yarn Ravelry group will be hosting a sock KAL in July, and while you may think I've had enough of sock knitting to last me a lifetime - or at least another year - au contraire, mon ami!  I picked out yarn from stash: Fishknits Yarn in the Fuji - Fight Like a Girl colorway and purchased the pattern today:


And I am ready to go!  Only four days until we start and Tracey is cooking up the details as I type.  I won't win any prize other than a new pair of socks, that is, and I'm still excited.  Yay!

Finally, with the Tour de France/Fleece coming up, I'll have handspun galore - maybe.  I'm not going to join any of the Ravelry teams this year, I'm just going to enjoy the race on TV while I spin and cheer on my favorites (whoever they are this year).  Maybe this year I'll just get the t-shirt.

June 25, 2014

Moms With Yarn - Episode 6

Happy Summertime!



Finished Objects:

Tracey:
Tiny Tea Leaves Cardi by Melissa LaBarre.  This is the first of two sweaters for each of her daughters, this size 8 is for her middle child.  Just needs two buttons and to have the ends woven in.  Good thing she had the notion to make a larger size when she started - two years ago!

Sharon:
Monkey Socks by Cookie A.  I made them for myself using my pink Susan Bates needles, because pink = US #2.  As it turns out, they're pink, alright, but they're US #1 and as a result, the socks don't fit.  Luckily, they have a home to go to.
It also means that I'll have to make another pair.

Lonely Skein by Diana Rozenshteyn.  Made with US #6 needles and mystery yarn. This pattern is too pretty to make with yarn I didn't enjoy, so I'll make another with yarn I spun myself.


Works in Progress:

Tracey:
Tiny Tea Leaves Cardi by Melissa LaBarre, size 6, for her youngest child.

Skyp Rib Socks by Adrienne Ku.  One done, one to go and Tracey isn't feeling the love!  She needs suggestions for sock patterns - so feel free to leave your non-cable sock suggestions for Tracey in the episode thread of our Ravelry forum Moms With Yarn.

And while you're offering up your suggestions: why not join the group?  That's where you can get details about our upcoming KAL.

Sharon:
Ugly Duckling Socks by Karin Aida.  I used my handspun Rambouillet, so these socks are far from ugly ducklings!


You'll need to watch the podcast to see what Heather made enticed me buy!  Luckily I have a supplier - thanks Juanita!






June 19, 2014

Moms With Yarn - Episode 5

There was a lot of show and tell this week!

I must have fallen down the rabbit hole is the only reason I can think why this post is going up one week after recording.  





Finished Objects

Tracey:

  Little Oak Cardigan by Alana Dakos

  My Knitted Heart Vanilla Socks by Elizabeth Suarez



Sharon:

  Show Off Stranded Socks by Anne Campbell

  Lavender Cardigan by Schneckenstrik

  Torrent Socks by Emily Wessel and Alexa Ludeman



Works in Progress

Tracey:

  Skyp Rib Socks by Adrienne Ku


Sharon:

  Lonely Skein (which hasn't yet been uploaded to Ravelry, shame on me!)


Tools

Tracey gave up on the Kollage Square Needles, they just weren't her cup of tea, so she went back to using her go-to needles which are Chiao Goo needles.



I tried the Nova Cubics which are square needles, and I love them!  I ordered two sets from Jimmy Beans Wool.


If you are so inclined, pop on over to our Ravelry group.  Tracey and I are cooking something up for a KAL and a prize, but you'll have to wait until next week to find out the details - only because we're still working that out.