All Purpose

I got some yarn. I know, shocking.

I got something for the August xmas socks.

Fleece Artist Sea Wool in Lily Pond

Then I got some great indie dyed (or indie dyer, or indy??) yarn in a RAOK (random act of kindness) which is going to be perfect for another pair of xmas socks.

Wooly Wonka Fibers 100% Merino Sock yarn in Country Garden

Then I went to Long Beach and the yarn store I went to didn’t have any Noro Kureyon so I grabbed this instead, but I’m rethinking this purchase. In hindsite I see that should have just gotten the buttons and maybe looked for a book I’ve been wanting. You might see this up for sale soon, but we’ll see.

Lorna’s Laces Shepard Sock Multi in Mineshaft

I got this for another special gift for a mystery person. So gorgeous.

Malabrigo Lace in Vaa

And finally, I sold some stash and replaced with something I’ve been coveting for a while:

Dream in Color Smooshy in Dusky Aurora

So I’ve pretty much only got 1 xmas yarn purchase left to make (unless I make guy knitted gifts), but I’ve got 5 pairs of socks to knit still.

No Comments | In: knitting, stash | tags: dic, gifts, malabrigo, sea wool, shepard sock, smooshy, socks, stash, xmas, yarn. | #

So. I finally totally finished Ella’s blanket. I’m very disappointed in how this project turned out. It’s a little sad because I put so much into that project and I basically didn’t really think the use of cotton + wool together through. I also got lazy at the end and threw the blanket in the wash (cold water, gentle cycle, low spin) but it kinda roughed up the wool and it didn’t help the cotton shrink back. So I feel like this is a failed project. My sister wants me to give it to Ella anyway though because she’ll like the textures, so I guess I will. I also have that crochet blanket I will finish soon that I can give her, but that feel so…I dunno I guess because it’s acrylic I’m a little embarrassed by it, but hey I got plenty of acrylic blankets in my closet from both my grandmother and one of my great-grandmothers so I guess it’s not the end of the world.

So, I did some work on that acrylic, aka striped, blanket and I’m not sure now if I can really finish it this month. My neck is killing me lately and I’m trying some new techniques for knitting/crocheting, but I’m slow right now. I also think I have more to finish than I originally thought. I guess we’ll see.

I’m rocking along on the Koigu socks, and should finish one this week so those shouldn’t be a problem. Since I think I’ll finish these pretty quickly I’m thinking of doing a Calorimetry for my sister for our Alaska trip and a scarf for my Mom. I just got some pretty Araucania Ranco Multy from a Ravelry purchase (for socks, but then got a better yarn in a swap) that would probably make a good Lace Ribbon Scarf. I think I’ll use some leftover sock yarn to make the Calorimetry.

I also got some Fleece Artist Sea Wool for socks (I have 2 pairs of socks that don’t really fit into my knitting schedule so I’m buying yarn as I can for those two and will knit when I have time).

I also traded my Araucania Nature Cotton in purple for 4 skeins of sock yarn. I know. I got a skein of Tofutsies, a skein of Regia Color 4-ply and 2 skeins of Wildfoote from Brown Sheep. The Tofutsies is for a pair of xmas socks and the rest are just for the stash for now.

I also ordered 2 skeins of Lamb’s Pride Superwash Bulky so I can do a City Shawl for myself for the Alaska trip, my last personal yarn splurge (besides the Noro I’ve budgeted) until December.

I’ll be getting all this stuff this week and I’ll post pics soon.

No Comments | In: crochet, finished object, gifts, knitting, ravelry, stash, work in progress | tags: blanket, gifts, ravelry, socks, stash, xmas, yarn. | #

So I did manage to finish one thing in June (w00t).

I give you my Charade socks

Pattern: Charade by Sandra Park
Yarn: Claudia Handpainted Yarns Fingering in Plumlicious
Needles: US 1 40″ circulars (Magic Loop)
Notes: These took me forever to get started, which is why it took me about 2.5 months to actually finish them. I kept making mistakes when casting on and doing the first bits of the first sock. Once I got going though they went pretty fast and the pattern is easy to follow. The yarn was nice. It was a little splitty, but not horribly so. I think the colors are nice and it definitely pools a lot less than everything else I’ve used so far. So thumb’s up on the Claudia’s Handpainted Fingering. These are destined to be a xmas gift for someone.

So other than that nothing done. I did get VERY close to finishing Ella’s blanket. I have about 5 inches of the last piece of trim and then seaming the trim on and I’m done! I will definitely finish that in the next week (I hope). I am also aiming to complete that striped crochet blanket this month as well (it would knock 4840 yards out of the stash!) as well as a pair of xmas socks. I am also swatching for the the Ribs and Lace Tank and really hope to get cracking on that.

No Comments | In: crochet, finished object, gifts, knitting, stash, work in progress | tags: blanket, finished object, gifts, planned projects, socks, stash, tank, work in progress, xmas. | #

So I got my stash enhancements last week.

Remember, I got the Louisa Harding Nautical Cotton in #09 (Forest).

Elann’s Callista in black.

And Elann’s Coto Canapone in Medici Purple, the purple is much darker when not in direct sunlight like the photo.

So that’s all making me very happy. The Nautical Cotton is a great color as well and I’m probably going to start with it and the Ribs and Lace Tank. I’m swatching for that now.

I’m also wrapping up my Charade‘s (hope to finish tonight so I don’t goose egg for June). And I’m ready to start my July socks, which will be the Slip Up Socks from Posh Yarn. I’ll be using that Koigu I got in June for these.

So many pretty yarns now, so little time.

No Comments | In: gifts, knitting, stash, work in progress | tags: 2008, gifts, socks, stash, work in progress, xmas, yarn, year of the sock. | #

So one of the better ideas I’ve had was to create my own “sock club” a few months ago by taking the few sock yarns in my stash, pairing them with a pattern and putting them in a little tub so when I finish one pair I go pull another pair out. I’d been doing about a pair a month until May when I didn’t finish anything. So around the same time I decided I wanted to try to do socks as my present for xmas this year and it dovetailed nicely with me also wanting to try various yarns. I decided that for the xmas socks I could not repeat patterns or yarn so it gives me a nice excuse to look at patterns and try to match to the various yarns I want to try.

I also wanted to be flexible with the yarn purchases since there are so many different yarns I want to try and I want to try to keep my costs down. That’s why I decided to purchase yarn each month, so this month I bought the yarn for July’s xmas socks.
So this way I can scout Ravelry for swaps/sales and check out my LYS’s monthly sale and BOLO (be on the lookout) for other sales.

I also wanted to try to stick to patterns I have already (in magazines or books) or that are free, though I would consider purchasing standalone patterns from independent designers. It’s been pretty fun to fantasize about yarn and pattern combo’s and since the yarns aren’t set in stone after I make a selection I reselect the pattern. So lot’s of knitting fantasy and planning going on, which is good.

So far I’ve finished one pair:

Monkey‘s with ShibuiKnits Sock in Jewel

and I’m working on another:

Charade‘s with Claudia Hand Painted Fingering in Plumilicious

I also just purchased yarn for the July pair (Koigu KPPPM in P117) and now need to find a pattern.

I’m hoping to try the following yarns: Austermann Step, Trekking Pro Natura, Socks that Rock, Smooshy, and I’d love to throw in some independent yarnies as well.

Since I’m trying all these yarns I’ll try to comment more on the yarns as I work through them so look for more year of the sock updates.

No Comments | In: gifts, knitting, ravelry, work in progress | tags: 2008, gifts, socks, work in progress, xmas, year of the sock. | #

So I’m so getting my ravelry invite either today or tomorrow (less than 600 people ahead of me), I’m psyched! I have been pulling together all my magazines and books, marking all my wishlist projects, gathering all my stash in anticipation.

I’ve finished scarf four and five and I’m almost done with six. Yes, I’m rocking the xmas crochet. I’ll try to do pics of scarf 6 and 7 soon, scarf five is already gone but is like the green scarf I did (#1 I think).

No Comments | In: crochet, finished object, ravelry | tags: crochet, finished object, patagonia, ravelry, scarf, xmas. | #

So I didn’t get a chance to take any pics yesterday, but hopefully today when I get home before I run to pilates.

I have 7 xmas gifts that I’m crocheting this year (2 are down, 5 to go). I’m doing a really basic scarf in double crochet (it’s a variation on the One Skien Scarf in Debbie Stoller’s Stitch n’ Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker). I’m doing a chain of 163 instead of 203 and I’m doing about 6 rows and no edging. I’m using Araucania Patagonia Nature Cotton for the yarn and I’m using almost 3 skeins on a size N hook.

I seriously love Araucania yarn. I made this scarf for myself using
#210 207 last year (I did mine the full length, but wider and no border) and I love the colors, texture of the yarn. I also picked up some Limari (#505 I think) a month ago when I was in Charleston and made a scarf of that. That is some sweet ass wool right there. It is so freaking soft and again the colors are wonderful. I will get pics of all these up soon. I think I might actually re-knit the Limari scarf only because I made it a bit too wide, we’ll see when the xmas crocheting is done.

Anyway, I’ve really enjoyed trying to pick out the perfect color combo for each person, and I bought a bonus skien of each color I got so that I can add them to my magic yarn ball which I hope to use to make something cool from either AlterKnits or Simple Knits with a Twist.

I really wish I was home crocheting and watching Weeds right now. Really.

No Comments | In: crochet, work in progress | tags: Araucania, crocheting, magic yarn ball, xmas, yarn. | #