Work In Progress

A winner

Sorry I fell off the map - we've been sick with some lingering, horrible chest cold. All of us.  Sigh.

So, it takes a bit to figure out a way to get a baby to choose only on name... :)

Third commenter from the original post - Kate! :) I can't wait to see what you make!  A large lace shawl? Doubled for a shawlette? Infinity cowl, lots of fingerless mitts? :)

Brown Trudge (FO)

About half way through this project, I started calling it brown sludge, since it was so boring.

But since they were socks, I decided brown trudge made more sense.

These were my Dad's Christmas present, finished so that my brother could deliver them just before Valentine's Day.

I already knew they weren't going to be on time when we headed back, but I thought I'd get plenty of knitting time. Unfortunately, the directions for the heel weren't that great and my first attempt was awful. I couldn't stand it and tore it out. I did it again, but it didn't turn out much better. My Dad claimed it didn't feel bad so I went ahead and did the rest of the leg, but I still think it looks terrible.

I found some great directions and used that for the second sock. A better knitter than I would have torn out the first sock and redone the first heel. Instead, I am just hoping that my Dad was right and the clunky heel doesn't bother him.

If I make another toe up sock with worsted weight yarn, I think I'll do a gusset heel or something. I didn't realize that you could do something other than a short row but now that I've actually read my Wendy Johnson Knitting Toe Up Socks book, I have discovered there are other methods. I just think the double wraps are too bulky with worsted weight.

The pattern is the Jogless Stripe Hiking Sock.  I obviously didn't do the stripes, I was just looking for a free toe up pattern for men's feet. I used reinforcing thread on the toes and heels. For fun, I did the intarsia square, also using the reinforcing thread. I figured that I could learn intarsia and that since my dad actually will be wearing these with hiking boots, that it might make sense to have the reinforcing.  

You can just see the reinforced intarsia square in this picture that also give you an idea of what size 13 men's feet look like.  I measured my dad's foot and it was 11 3/4 inches long. Yeah.

 As I've said before, the yarn claims to be worsted, but it's really more like a heavy DK.  It's also made in China.  I won't be buying it again.  The reinforcing thread is Regia and I used 8 grams, so quite a bit, 66 yards (though I'm not counting that in my yardage total).

So glad these are done! 

Project details:
Pattern: Jogless Stripe Hiking Socks 
Yarn: Cascade Superwash, 354 yards and Regia reinforcing thread, 66 yards
Modifications: no stripes
Yardage total 2014: 433

4th Blogiversary - results

So, our internet was intermittent all last week.  And I also wanted to post something really cool (IMHO) with the results.  So I waited to post the giveaway results.

And then two things happened.

1. Wiggle was super wiggly and wanted lots of holding and cuddles this past week.  Even at one, two or four in the morning.  Yesterday we saw TWO teeth just beneath the surface so now we know why!  So the really cool thing hasn't been worked on as planned.

2.  HUGE storm on Saturday!  So huge, it flooded our storage area and Saturday night we were opening boxes from our move and getting a little sad about books that were ruined. :(  The storm also completely knocked out our internet and we just got it back today. 

So that is my excuse for taking so long. Without further ado:

1. Five skeins of Araucania Magallanes - Melissa 

2. Two skeins of Fortissima Sock Yarn - Chrissy F

3. A copy of Classic Knits - Kate (for blogging) 

4. Final prize - one skein of Piedmont Yarn's Oakland Wildsocks - Kate (for the vest idea)

I'll be emailing you soon for mailing addresses! 

Thank you for all the great suggestions. Frankly, I HATE vests for myself, so I'd never even looked at the patterns for babies! I loved some of the toy ideas too. :) 

Thank you for joining me and I hope some of the new visitors will stick around.  We'll see where this blog goes in the next four years! 

For all those that didn't win, I hope  to post the cool item later this week (we shall see). And here is a picture of Wiggle, who is 24 weeks old today! It got "cold" with the storm and, for the first time, I put him in long sleeves and (his only pair of) pants. For those that are wondering, it was 68F.  Oh how we acclimate! 

4th Blogiversary Giveaway

Alright, a post all it's own! Thank you for reading my blog for the past four years. As a small token of my gratitude, I'm hosting a giveaway. 

Check back occasionally because I'll update this as I get more prizes together. 

I've already found the first prize

1. Five skeins of Araucania Magallanes

2. Two skeins of Fortissima Sock Yarn 

3. A copy of Classic Knits 

4. Final prize - one skein of Piedmont Yarn's Oakland Wildsocks, 420 yards, fingering weight

Here are the details for the giveaway:

For one entry: Tell me something I can make for Wiggle (p.s. he's wearing 12-18 month stuff already!) We're in Hawaii and I've been struggling for stuff to knit him (he's usually just in a diaper because it's so hot!) 

For a second entry: Blog about my giveaway and come back here and tell me about it. :) I probably already read your blog and will find it, but it'll make the random number generator easier. :) 

I will take comments for this post until 11:59 HST (or 2359, should you prefer that), Sunday, November 3rd. I'll pick winners soon after and contact you for your address.

And I'll ship anywhere in the world so come join the fun!

Compilation - H2O, Gratitude, Giveaway (WIP)

**Updated to tell you to put your comments on this post (not here!). That way you can see the cool prizes** (don't worry Kate, I moved your comment over!)

I was going to write a post last week about my latest WIP.

And then I got some awesome mail.

And then I realized it was a special date this last week.  So, here is a compilations of thoughts...

Early in Partner’s and my relationship, we went for a hike.  It was a holiday weekend and we got into the parking lot late.  We were about 500 yards down the trail when we discovered that neither of us had brought water. We discussed going back but didn’t want to lose any more time.   For the first 2 ½ hours, we only saw one other person. It was during this lonely stretch of time that the foolishness of what we’d done by not bringing water struck. Twelve miles and five hours later, our hike was done and boy were we thirsty. 

 

Since then, if one of us (or both of us) is making a bad decision to save time, the other will say, “No, don’t go back for the water.”

 

This is relevant to knitting because I’m working on a new project. It’s pretty mindless knitting so I’ve livened things up by practicing some techniques that are not required by the project, namely kitchener stitch and provisional cast-ons.  Not wanting to wait to start knitting, I decided I “pretty much” knew how to do a crocheted cast on.

 

After I was done with one segment, I discovered I should have gone back for the water.  Fortunately, I only had to untangle an 18 stitch provisional cast-on. 

 

Hopefully I’ll have an FO early next week!

 

What are you knitting?

---

I was lamenting my lack of knitting mojo with a friend.  All I want to do is knit for Wiggle. But most of the time, it's so hot that he's in a diaper.  So sweaters, hats, etc seem kind of stupid.  And everything for myself sounds equally stupid. It doesn't help that I mostly have wool, angora, cashmere, et cetera. 

Well, my wonderful friend sent me a little something to get my knitting mojo back.  It's silk and seacell. The night it showed up, I didn't get the house cleaned or get to bed on time... but I knew what this was destined to become! 

And

My project bag

Recently got an upgrade, thanks to winning a generous giveaway at needle and spindle

It just makes me smile when I look at it.

---------

Which brings me to my final point!  My FOUR year blogiversary snuck up on me this past week!  So, let's have a giveaway!  I really haven't had time to get down and look in my stash, but let's get started anyway.  

For one entry: help me find something fun to knit for Wiggle

For a second entry, blog about this post.  

I think I'll leave the giveaway open for two weeks.  I have a little compassion for fellow moms that might not get to read blogs each day and thus miss out on giveaways.  That also gives me a litle bit to find a good yarn treasure (or two). I'll do another post in a couple days with the cut-off details and maybe I'll have a yarn treat up by then! 

-------

He fills my heart with joy... 

 

Camp Mitts (FO) and Sweate Shoppe (WIP)

We interrupt this wedding blog with some knitting.

I kid. 

I still have a few more wedding posts - I hope you don't mind - but I decided to actually show some knitting on here!

My new office is cold, cold cold!  I was here a week and knew I needed wool mitts in Hawaii.  When I was back visiting Partner for our anniversary, I rooted around in the stash and found the perfect yarn for some quick mitts. 

And here is a fuzzy picture but I thought it really showed the random patterning well.  This was a total fluke because I was only worried about equal yarn, but having similar patterning. 

The best part is that I rather manically checked the weight of the yarn at the start and while knitting and I was able to get the mitts to identical row counts - yay for nerd knitting!  This was the last of the yarn from a baby sweater and hat - 3 projects from two skeins!  I think it's interesting how each project striped/pooled the colors so differently: 

Oh, and if you need a quick Christmas gift, these took me just over one lazy day. 

This year's Holiday Sweate Shoppe is much reduced in size from last year.  There isn't time and I don't have my stash to do a lot of knitting.  And, as the movers came today and I found out from Partner that they packed some yarn I needed for holiday knitting. my three handmade Christmas gifts are now two for this year. This may be for the best since one project hasn't been started.

But for something completely different, for one gift I've gone back to the first craft I learned - cross stitch!  I'm just getting started, but here is a sneak peak.  I just wrote the recipient down, but then erased it on the small chance they even know about the blog. :) 

I have several other FOs to show you, though yarn totals are going to be a bit sketchy since several of these FOs are keeping that Christmas project yarn company on the trip to Hawaii.  But I can at least give you pictures! 

Pattern: camp Mitts
Yarn: Cascade, Superwash Handpainted, 110 yards! 
Modifications: I did more stitches on the fingers because I wanted to make sure that these would really keep my fingers protected from the air conditioning.  I also only knit them long enough to use half the yarn on each so I think they are 8 inches long, but still easily tuck into a jacket.
Knitting yardage total 2012: 1991

Kate-a-palooza - Results

We're a little delayed on the results.  Partner and I spent yesterday helping out at a trail run. Partner was 19 out of 32 for the 5 mile race!

We also helped out with support. I've been working the finish line and results, which is fun, but does make for a long day - 13 hours door to door yesterday. There I am by the finish line clock.

But on to the the Gifting!!!

Tools necessary for a blog contest

(Partner, aka "Random Name Drawer" not shown):

Giftees:

Thank you so much for joining me for my birthday.  It was a great time and I really enjoyed all your fun comments. Now I need to finish a baby sweater, but I couldn't resist starting some socks any longer...

Kate-a-palooza - Day 8 - For Realz! (FO)

So, who misses their own birthday celebration?!  I had a specific goal in mind before I posted on my birthday.  And then missed it (ha!) And then all the things I put off during my birthday weekend had to be done.  Well anyway!  This is what I did for my birthday.

Presents first!

Yarn! 

Pattern book!

And if one is good, two is better! Ha! 

Books!

Movies! (the wrapping says, "a secret gift from a brilliant friend" - inspired by the knitting weekend!)
And best for last - a handmade jewelry holder!

Stalked by Sasha!  (and Beckerman in the first photo, I just realized!)

Since it was also Mother's day in the States, an awesome card:

Baseball!

And knitting!

And knitting while watching movies (while Partner cooked dinner!!)!

And cake! Yum!
A fantastic day!  And now, finally, the gift for Day 8 - A knitted item! The pattern was given to me by the sweet Kate.  Made in a lovely Malabrigo (the label which I cannot currently find)! Since my birthday, I've done a bit more movie watching and knitting and so now have

A hat!

So, to win the hat, tell me: What is your favorite birthday dessert? It's always cake for me!

I don't know what all I need to tell people, so the "rules" continue to get explained as I think necessary. You can get more than one gift in this little party. You just have to leave a comment on each post for that particular gift. I will take comments for this post - and this post only - until 11:59 PST on May 17th. On May 18th, I'll draw names for all of the gifts and contact the recipients!

Kate-a-palooza - Day 7

Well, Kate-a-palooza is drawing to a close, just one day left.

I spent the first day of my birthday weekend enjoying the great outdoors.  I was volunteering at a race on my home turf.

Partner ran. 

I spent the day working the finish line and started a dishcloth for the down time.

Here was the first finisher of the day. 

(it's a dog walking his donkey!)

For today's gift, I have a little bit of sock yarn. 

Self striping! 

I used Regia for my first pair of socks nearly five years ago.  They wear so well, even though I almost always wash them in the washer.  They feel so good after a long day of standing, that I've decided to keep wearing them after I put them on for show and tell. 

Two skeins of Regia in a self striping yarn with shades of white, greys, and greens, more than enough for some ladies socks. 

So, to be eligible for this gift, tell me: What is the weirdest gift you've ever received?

I don't know what all I need to tell people, so the "rules" continue to get explained as I think necessary. You can get more than one gift in this little party.  You just have to leave a comment on each post for that particular gift. I will take comments for this post, and all Kate-a-palooza posts, until 11:59 PST on May 13th. Please leave your responses on the appropriate post. 

Kate-a-palooza - Day 6

It's a busy pre-week of birthday... I probably should have planned this out a little better.

Oh well, today's giveaway is a simple one.

Yarn.

I bought this at Happy Knits in Portland.  If you say the name fast, it sounds like Happiness. That is what the cashier told me.  I hope this yarn makes you happy.

I enjoy the dependability of Cascade 220.  And, though I've only made one sweater, that hasn't gotten a lot of wear, I like the way it wears.  But, now that I've spent some money on some super soft yarns, I do notice it's a bit "harder" on the hands, though it softens after a wash. 

So, today's gift is 3 skeins of Cascade 220 Heathers in the Mocha Heather colorway. This is the truest picture of the colorway... I guess the kitty fur muted the flash!  Brown and a deeper red.

I was thinking this would make a great hat, scarf/cowl, mitten combo. Or a sweater for a younger kid? Is 660 yards enough for that?

So, to be eligible for today's gift, tell me: What yarns do you like and why?

I don't know what all I need to tell people, so the "rules" continue to get explained as I think necessary. You can get more than one gift in this little party.  You just have to leave a comment on each post for that particular gift. I will take comments for this post, and all Kate-a-palooza posts, until 11:59 PST on May 13th. Please leave your responses on the appropriate post.