One down, one to go

Tah Dah - one down and one to go. Smooshy is really nice. This sock has almost knit itself.

Ok, yes, knitting a sock with a pattern instead of stockinette keeps the interest. Maybe I'm just picking up more confidence with each sock, but this was a quick knit. Maybe 6 sts/inch vs 7 sts /inch makes that much difference. I love this pair, well 1/2 pair. . .

But call me fickle. I'm already planning what yarn to use next.

Sleeping Dragon Yarns from Simply Socks.com
Handpainted 100% superwash merino
Color is Mossy Frog and much greener than this shot indicates.

Progress update 1-6

Easy pattern. Just hard enough to be an interesting step.

I turned the heel and now it is on to the toe. I must say I enjoyed the mental game of keeping track of the pattern at the same time as decreasing for the gusset. Since I've just learned long tail cast on in October 2007, I feel proud of my slow but steady progress toward more complicated designs.

Ok, time for a close up of that heel. Eye of Partridge doesn't look very exciting, but I like how it fits and feels. In fact it may be the best fitting sock yet.

Its in the pattern

My 4th sock, but my first sock with a pattern. Pattern is off from the ribbing, but I'll fix that on the second sock.

Here's today's progress knitting wise:

As for the pattern to exercise before knitting - well today's weather was stormy again and I used that as an excuse to wait for a break in the clouds to head outside for the walk. But I did get it done.

Smile.

Happy Feet

These are happy, warm feet. Yes I finished 3rd pr o' socks today. So Happy Birthday to me. Actually I started the toe decreasing too early on the left sock and planned to frog and add in more rows. But that was before I happened onto a new Ravelry group (and aren't there billions of groups!)

"Into the Labryknit" and spontaneously started their new KAL. Ha ha on me somehow I thought it was going to be a hat. So. . .she thinks. . .why not give it a whirl with the Lorna's Laces leftovers!

Well, after exploring the group comments I have realized it is intended to be a bit larger than hat size. So I'll knit until I run out of this yarn or decide to continue with another bit of stash.

It is a great pattern and this is my first ever KAL. We got the first 24 rows today, and I'm hoping I can keep up. Because from a simple cast on of 8 innocent stitches it has bloomed to 154. Oh, well it is peaceful knitting and may become more of a learning process than a product. Truly this knitting was blessed for me. Count after each increase row was just what the designer ordered.

Then to top off this rainy day, the hat kit from Norma arrived! woo-hoo.

I've queued it up, but not sure how soon this project will see the light of day.

I leave you with a picture of a birthday flower gifted by my neighbor.

Happy January 4th to one and all!

The 1st on the 1st

Posted January 1, 2008 on Bloglines and moved to Blogger today.

That's my first blog on Jan. 1st.
1. Decided this morning to try to wear my handknit socks every day. Since I only have 2.5 pairs this will mean lots of handwashing and incentive to knit more. My stash has 6 different yarns just waiting. Dream in Color Smooshy In Vino Veritas will be the next.

2. Decided to start this blog. So plenty to learn about adding photos.

3. Helped Norma to reduce her stash. More on that once it has arrived.

Off to a good start

Posted in old blog, moved today.
January 2, 2008

Ok, one of the resolutions I didn't mention 'cause I wasn't sure I would really do it is taken from the cute knitting blog name: Exercise before Knitting. Love that and decided to take it to heart for the good of my heart. So, before I can pick up the needles I need to at least walk around the block. It was frosty aka refreshing, but then I got so busy when I got back that I haven't really had a chance to knit more than one row.
I'm trying to finish the 2nd sock to my 3rd pair of socks. It is Lorna's Laces Tahoe. Really soft and I love the way the colors don't pool.
I got wrap STYLE at the library after I noticed the Shetland Triangle on Stacee's blog. http://knittingelephant.wordpress.com/
Reading the pattern looks like a good candidate for overcoming the fear factor. Instructions don't register in my brain, but will probably make sense once I start knitting. So this is a project for my Ravelry queue.
Posted on: Wed, Jan 2 2008 4:16 PM

Oh bother! sez Pooh and me

Ok, just moved from Bloglines to Blogger and as you can see from the addition of a photo. It is already going well.

I love the way this Lorna's Laces Tahoe color is flowing.

I really like knitting socks, but there are two parts that bother me.

First the fiddlie (is that a word?) part when you have just joined and are knitting the first 4 or so rows. Why doesn't anyone talk about this? Am I the only one who has trouble ? Maybe.
The second part that bothers me is why ithe part from the heel to the toe seem to take f.o.r.e.v.e.r!

I love watching the Eye of Partridge heel flap develop and I really like turning the heel. And the gusset part isn't too bad, but golly its taking so long to knit to the toe. (Note to self - google Eye of Partridge to see if I can discover why it is called that.)

Ok, I still have more time today and am really hoping to finish this sock so I can wear it tomorrow for my birthday. Besides I have the Smooshy waiting for me and how cool will it be to start a new sock on my b-day?!!