#11 2nd Sock Syndrome

I love having my own knitted socks but always hate having to start all over for the 2nd sock. With the sock yarn challenge from Skacel, I finally tried knitting 2 socks at once for the May challenge. It is going well-only have about another inch to go. The problem....can't seem to find the project. Oh well, that can't keep me down.

The June challenge was a top down pattern with gusset stitches. Gusset stitches terrify me. I always seem to have gaps. So I watched the video (which helped immensely) and finished the 1st sock.

As you can tell, I can be done for about 5 weeks and enjoy 1 sock. I broke my foot 3 days after school got out. I have started the 2nd sock (so at least I can alternate which sock I wear).  When I finish the anklet, I really need to find those almost finished pair of socks.

Happy knitting

#10 Dyeing roving

So trying to catch up with blogging, I am adding many items that are in the works. At the dyeing party, I had a beautiful roving. Luckily for me, the weaving teacher was there who is an expert on fibers. She is thinking merino (yum). So I have plenty to spin this summer on those lazy days before I get back into summer school/beginning of the school year. I did notice that in some areas, there was some matting. We shall see when I spin. It always seems to happen in the green area.

#9 Dyeing yarn

So being a teacher, I read different educational blogs. One teacher/trainer had written that she would read a book a day for the summer. The only way she was going to meet this goal was to read a variety of books, including picture books. So, how could I tie this in with my challenge...

Part of working with fiber is the joy of creating my own. When I went to my weaving guild in June, we had our dyeing party (you should see the look of my kindergartners when I say I am going to dye :)

The lady who hosted is in the middle of splitting her house between her son's and her new digs in Arizona. She was cleaning out and giving away lots of good things. One of the things I scored was a wool-mix yarn. I have no idea what it was but I figured, if I didn't like it, I could always make it into a scarf or bring it to our 'Dog' party in January.  So what do you think-knit or give away?

The Wall

Sometimes it feels like the wall is high. I am working on the latest sock challenge from Skacel and I have hit the wall. I guess I was smart to knit the pair at the same time. I just wish I could just finish them. Having 2 diffent patterns (front and back) for the leg is killing me. So what else to do but start a mindless pattern. I started a pillbox hat for Special Olympics. I have already made 2 hats (only 8 more to go).

Of course putting off finishing the socks is going to get me in the end. The next challenge comes on June 1st.

Happy knitting my friends.

#8 Cranked

So trying to knit a pair of socks in a month can be a challenge when teaching. I was only 2 days into May for my April socks so I feel real good. Nice yarn by Skacel and the pattern went pretty easy. I have added the link for any interested in this pattern. Cranked Socks

#7 Left over handspun

So my little sister still had some left over hand spun of mine. I decided to try a hat from HatHeads: 1 Man + 2 Knitting Needles = 50 Fun Hat Designs. With the hand spun, the thickness changes so sometimes it is hard to see the circles. I knit it with Cascade 220 heather. I still haven't mailed it to her (keep wearing it as I walk to school every morning).

Don't you love the laundry basket in the back that still needs to be folded (and yes, my husband will be working on that pile).


Have a great day knitting.

#6 Color Gamps

My spinning & weaving guild had a project for us this last year. We were all going to make color gamps. The great part was the loom came already warped. At the end of the project, there was still some warp left over. I got the luck of getting the loom and so I finished off the warp. Guess I need to finish warping off my own loom.

#5 of 52 Failure proof?

There are times when I rip out knitting and other times I just don't care if there is a design flaw. Last September I gave my little sister some handspun yarn. I gave her a 'failure proof' scarf pattern. Only she could misintrepet k2, p2 as knit 2 rows, purl 2 rows. Now, normally, that could be okay but her knitting reminded me of my dear mom (rest her soul) who could add and subtract stitches in a scarf. My sister also couldn't follow 2 row repeats. She did ask me to rip it out. I explained what k2, p2 meant; and away I went. I ended up knitting the scarf while watching the Butler/UConn final game. It came out beautiful. Too bad my sister doesn't like her picture on the web. Technophobe :)

Pattern for Failure Proof scarf
Cast on in a multiple of 4 + 1
k2, p2 as long as you want scarf
Bind off

Happy knitting.

#4 of 52

So knitting always takes me a while. Luckily, I like to be creative in other ways. Over my spring vacation, I spent time in Reno and Lake Tahoe. Even with the cold wind, the lake was beautiful. I created this panorama using PhotoShop Elements (and the help of my husband).
Enjoy.

#3 of 52 in 52

I could say that my #3 is the dried apples that I did before I went on vacation but since I am always making dried fruit, I think I will save that creativity for a desperate week.

I am so happy that I finished my March socks for Skacel. I love them and they fit.

Looking forward to the April challenge.

Creating

Why is it that some people feel the need to comment on when you do something creative? Like when I was knitting socks at a basketball game. The comment was...'You know, they sell socks at the store.' Of course, when she saw the finished product, she loved them. The other comment was when I was making jams last summer. My daughter told me that store jam was fine. Now that she is in college, she is begging for more jams. In fact, that is what I did on a rainy day, made jars of jumbleberry jam for my daughter.

Oh well, I guess people need some outlet.

52 in 52 #2 wristwarmers

I wonder how many of us have those pesky unfinished projects. I wonder if I have 52? Anyways, while sitting watching my son play basketball on Monday, I finished my wristwarmers.

I am now in month 3 of the knitalong at Trekking Knit Along. I finished the February challenge of wristwarmers. I didn't use the specific yarn. I tried some of my handspun but it isn't consistent enough. Luckily I had 2 dear friends buy me yarn in the U.K. last summer. Of course, they both bought me the same yarn. I don't think they know how much yarn is in a sock yarn skein so I get to do lots :).

The pattern was fun & challenging. The one nice thing about this knitalong is I get to learn new techniques. I know it might be hard to see the twists going up the wrist but it was all done without a cable needle.

Now onto March's challenge. Another pair of socks with some new techniques. Who knew you could knit a garter stitch heel.

52 in 52

I keep seeing these references on people's blogs. I saw one for bread (yummy) and one for pictures (with a specific assignment). I like the idea of challenging myself but as usual, distracted by all the choices. Then I thought, why not do something creative every week but in can be in any category. I know my limitations. I am knitting along with Skacel's knit along and I am having a hard time finishing in the 1 month time line. Learning lots but not able to keep up.

So I thought, why not have something done every week. For example, this fiber came in the mail in January. It is a superwash from The Sheep Shed. I don't always get to spin but have now finished approximately 300 yards. It is setting right now on my drying racks. Of course, I need to spin the solid brown fiber. Want to make a cowl that uses both. Obviously this won't be done by next week but who knows, maybe I will have finished another one of my projects. If not, I am counting baking!

1 Sock Down

I love a handmade pair of socks. I hate having to start the 2nd sock. I think one, looking back, I probably could have knit both at the same time but with the knit along, I had no idea of what e heel was going to look like.

Will have to post at least one so you can see my direst socks down with a cable.

Teaching

I teach 5 & 6 year olds for a living. I continue to work on learning new content, standards, and strategies. What gives me respite is my creative activities. Even though I posted that I was working on a sock knit along, it doesn't keep me from trying to juggle more than 1 project at a time. Two & half years ago, I started 'The Taste of Aran Knitting' (a 20 block cable sampler pattern). During Christmas vacation, I finished blocks 18 & 19. Trying to finish block 20 has been a challenge. That is when a good, no-let's say great teacher comes to the rescue. Cashmere Cottage Yarns has a variety of experts. If I can't find help from the wonderful owners, Jan & Judith, I can always ask one of the regulars. Carolyn saved my sanity by helping me learn some new types of increases. I am now on row 13. Of course, thank goodness for YouTube to help when you are at home and come to the next challenge. Happy creating.

Store vs. Homemade

I love Costco. Living in a small town, Costco allows me to buy quality stuff. And of course, I always end up buying more than I need. But I digress. I bought wonderful merino/silk boot socks. 3 pairs for about $15. Why would I ever want to knit my own socks. So I decided to follow along the Skacel knit along. I am trying a new cable pattern. It means I am going to have to do gusset stitches. I have to measure hor far before the heel. All the reasons why I love Cat Bhordi. So I start a new challenge and listen to the wise cracks about how I can buy socks at a store.

Possibilities

So today I got my box from The Sheep Shed. I ordered a pound of the black tonal roving which is really a silvery roving. I also went for the gamble of super wash. I got a lovely brown with a yellowish orange. Can't wait to see the spinning. Will have to post pictures.

Happy New Year

As I watched Julia & Julie last night, I thought of what would be my motivating challenge this year. I love cooking but when there is only 2-3 people in the house, I figured I would only want to cook the desserts and let my husband cook dinner.

I've decided that I will master my looms this year. As I am taking a break from sleying the loom (or should I say the loom is taking a break from slaying me). I must be missing 1 piece of direction when putting the warp on.  I have figured out the sticks. but when I am taking up the warp, I end up with a tangled mess. This time, I even separated out the colors. That alone was a mess. I am making napkins and thought I would do a striped warp of 1" increments between navy & natural. So now I have 18 chunks of 8/2 cotton in their own little chained ropes. Every once in a while, I need to stop to disconnect the threads. I wonder if it is because it is cotton (couldn't be me).

Happy Creating.