Pat's Knitting and Quilting
<< May 2007 // Main // July 2007 >> June 28 , 2007 With very mixed feelings, I have decided to stop blogging, at least for this summer. I have found that my life is unbalanced with way too much time spent on the computer and knitting - I tend to go overboard sometimes and this time I've turned what was a joy into almost a burden. I'd like to just try a little moderation, but I think I need a complete break for awhile! Dave is a teacher and takes the summer off, so we are free to travel and play all summer - my sister is coming next week and I found myself worried about how I would keep up knitting, blogging and reading blogs with all the family happenings. SO, I will be off the computer.... I will still be knitting and quilting, but not as obsessively..... and I will reevaluate in the fall. Have a wonderful summer!
June 25 , 2007 The new STR sock kit is perfect for a bright summer knit!
The Pattern is called Solstice Slip and it is knit in Socks That Rock merino lightweight. The color is aptly named Firebird. After weighing all the options and discussing (dissecting) the pattern with Madame Purl, I opted to make the smallest size on two 2.25 circulars and knit cuff down (well I guess that part is obvious from the pictures - duh!) and just figure out the rest and make decisions as I go along. I quickly got into the rhythm of this stitch pattern and after a few rows, dumped the cable needle (and I'm not a cabling without a needle person - I usually like my cable needle - but not for this one). I took the above picture yesterday...last night I completed another few inches of leg (6" total) and made my way through 1 of the garter stitch heels....
Don't forget you can click the pictures for a closer look if you like.
When I want a sock change, I am working on my Breeze anklets- Isn't this a delicate beautiful (partial) heel flap ?
June 22 , 2007 I've gone against all my sock rules.... Yesterday I started 3 different pairs of socks! I couldn't help myself. First I cast on Breeze just because they are so cute and I had 1 skein of pink Lorna's Laces that was perfect for them. As soon as I finished the 1st repeat - the mailman dropped off the new STR kit (my favorite so far!) and I cast on and knit a repeat of those socks. THEN I was in dire need of a "take along" sock in the afternoon so quickly cast on a pair of Sockotta striping socks. I've got my Summer of Socks off to a good start!! The progress isn't far enough for pictures yet ... In the meantime, I'm still doing my coffee knitting each morning and am making good progress on the Cloud Scarf. I love it when a scarf gets long enough to drape over my legs while knitting! (must be done by the 29th so I can start the Mystery Stole 3 KAL!)
Look what we picked from the garden yesterday!
June 19 , 2007 Before I get to the sock agenda....I have some finished socks!
Pattern: cuff down, short row heel (I wanted to keep the fun stripes going) over 56 stitches
In 2 days Summer of Socks begins and I am left with one pair of socks (New Englands) on my needles. My plan is to make some socks that have been in the queue for a long time (although some new patterns just got added when Summer Knitty came out) and I will use stash sock yarn (of which there is PLENTY). The list includes, but is not limited to....(sorry no time for links today) Miranda, Thelonius, Spearfish, Cable Twist, Bavarian Twisted Stitch, Dream Twister, Bisenkorbchen, Breeze, Nordic Lights, Anastasia, Colorwork from MSKS, kit socks from RBK and STR, Setesdal, and a few more Nancy Bush (if I'm lucky...I'll get 2 or 3 from this list done!) - while at the same time making some plain stockinette socks from gorgeous hand painted/dyed yarn that I have collected. I'm not going to enter the "most socks" contest or anything...I don't want to be in a hurry - I just want to make socks that I love.
June 15 , 2007
I love cotton sweaters and this on will be worn often - it fits nicely and is so soft and comfortable - a keeper! Pattern: Cable Sweater by Kathy Zimmerman from Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2006
The quilting bug still has me! I have cut out the whole thing in the last 3 days! There are 400 4" half square triangles and 1300 2" half square triangles. Now all I have to do is put them all back together again!
June 12 , 2007 I decided this morning that I must have been crazy when I decided on my 2 most recent projects. The White Cloud Scarf you saw in the last post and now my White New England Socks. The reason is this.....
I don't use gloves when gardening and this is the state of my hands most of the time! Usually I can get away with a quick wash before I start knitting, but with these 2 projects, I actually have to scrub hard and clean my fingernails!
The double start cast-on is a perfect beginning! In another inch or 2 the lacy ribbing will stop and the back of the sock will be plain stockinette. Here they are this morning, after a few more rows and in their non stretched state - So pretty and WHITE!
Somehow - out of nowhere, I am getting the quilting itch....It's going to be a scrap quilt reds and neutrals. I've started pulling reds (I have almost 150 reds so you can tell the size of my fabric stash - although I must qualify and say that I rarely buy more than 1/4 yard of any fabric)
June 8 , 2007 Every morning I have 1 cup of coffee or green tea - one cup only, since I'm sensitive to caffeine, but love it! I get up early - the house is very quiet and I knit and savor my morning drink. I can work on a complicated pattern in the morning since nothing is distracting me. I have a new morning knitting project.
Cloud Scarf by Lucy Neatby is perfect for morning knitting. It has a 12 row repeat which matches just right with my time frame - and if I do one repeat each morning ....it will be done in a few weeks (depending on how long I make it). The pattern is for a 36" scarf which seems a little short to me - it would just hang around my neck - no wrapping, but that might be OK - I have awhile to decide. I'm using Knit Picks Bare Merino Wool fingering weight with a US 6 (Denise 4.2mm)needle. I've loved Lucy Neatby's patterns ever since I made these socks - she is a designer extraordinaire!
June 4 , 2007
Pattern: Juta's Stockings from Folk Knitting in Estonia by Nancy Bush I think this was the perfect pattern for my special yarn -the simple lace down the sides of the leg and the front of the foot don't take away from the beauty of the yarn. I used a 2.25 mm needle for everything except the last 2" of the leg - I went down a needle size there for a snug fit around my ankles. Speaking of needles ....I used some wonderful new circulars ....HiyaHiya needles. These are inexpensive circulars ($7.50) that are absolutely perfect to me. They are pointy, have smooth joins, flexible cord, shiny slick finish, and come in EVERY size and lengths up to 47" (for these socks I used a 40")
You can see how the color changes depending on the way the sun hits these socks - it's not just the camera...they actually change from more orangish to more pinkish depending on the light. These pictures were taken with the last sun of the evening and the color is right on.
June 1, 2007 My April/May Project Spectrum Knitting
Dulaan 2007
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