Happy New Year!

Hi ladies, just wanted to wish each of you a very happy new year, and to thank you for your friendship. i'm thankful for each one of you and hope you have a prosperous and productive 2011. i had fully intended on posting finished objects (coraline and que sera(no buttons yet), and almost finished-picot edged socks and susie's reading mitts. no photo opportunity yet, but hopefully before the week is out it'll be done. hugs and kisses to you all.

lydia


photo from this website:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.clipartof.com/small/35618-Clipart-Illustration-Of-A-Tipsy-Tiger-Dancing-And-Holding-A-Glass-Of-Champagne-At-A-Party.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.clipartof.com/details/clipart/35618.html&h=450&w=450&sz=81&tbnid=iuJvApmXLGlRHM:&tbnh=127&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dglass%2Bof%2Bchampagne&zoom=1&q=glass+of+champagne&usg=__3qJmgf4IPAML5xCTuNNZ8N9xNmQ=&sa=X&ei=4VweTaLuO8SclgfL-KHMBA&ved=0CEUQ9QEwCQ

Tuesday Morning Babbling.

November 2nd already. and I'm happy to report the gift knitting is going well. I should have photos to share of project #1 tomorrow.

I was feeling so good about it, that I started casting on the 311 stitches for Hawthorne. Also thinking about knitting Katie's shawl in Sublime. because don't you think a merino, cashmere, silk blend would be gorgeous?

We had a lovely time at Beth's on Friday. (Thank you, Beth, for having us!) The food, the conversation, the knitting - and of course the company!! - was perfect. I'll get my recipe for the hot shrimp dip posted in our Recipes page. The cookies were from this recipe (note that the recipe calls for 3 teaspoons of sugar but only tells you how to use two of them - I put the 3rd one into the wet mixture before I added the dry ingredients). I am only sorry that 1) Virginia wasn't there too; and 2) we didn't take a group photo!!! Next time, ladies, for sure!

And speaking of Next Time, how about Friday, December 3 at my house? I'd first suggested December 10, but Lydia says that won't work. I know the weekends get really busy in December, but another suggestion would be a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

Finally, a bit of knitting news - Corinna Ferguson is hosting a Mystery Sock pattern in November. She says the pattern works up best in a solid or semi-solid yarn that's not too dark.  (and no, I'm not even considering casting these on now :-)

Gift Knitting.

(aka "Queue Management").

Yes, you heard this from me. The one time of the year I knit for others is now. Well, I usually start a bit sooner to get something done for Sara's birthday, and a lot later (after Thanksgiving!) to get Christmas gifts done. And this year I wasn't going to knit anything for the birthday, and then had the thought that I should knit her a sweater for Christmas, which means the flip-top mitts I'd planned for Christmas - the one thing she really really needs, will have to be for her birthday. And that's next week.  I was thinking I'd reknit the snapdragon mitts with the matching beret out of madtosh DK (which Theresa has ordered but won't be here til early December). If I want to knit something now, I need a different pattern. Isn't this one cute?

Oh, the sweater, I want to knit her Fair Enough (again) with gray, brown and purple. Don't you think she'd love it? I wish I'd thought of it sooner and it could've been for her birthday instead. Oh well. Now she'll be really surprised!

I've been trading emails with Katie for a few weeks about knitting for her and for Rob. We settled last week on a scarf for Rob and yesterday I selected the pattern and the yarn (in the Andean Coal colorway - it's lovely). Even treated myself to new lantern moon straights to make scarf knitting a bit more pleasurable.

This morning I had an email from Katie with her input. Two Jared Flood designs (I knew she had good taste!) autumn leaves and celes . I really love them both, and if I start "soon", might be able to finish before December 17 without going completely insane (?) - so now I need to pick one, and decide on the yarn. Would love your input!

autumn leaves - maybe leaning toward this one - in venezia?

celes - it is lovely, isn't it? (maybe for her wedding?!)

And for Marc, new golf club covers. He's darned and re-darned the ones he got for Christmas 2008. It's time for new ones.

So.... I have a sweater, a scarf, socks, mitts, and a shawl all on the needles (and getting somewhat active play time :-). And a cowl that I really want to have now. and a new KAL for the shop that will start November 12. And Hawthorne for the Duke v. GT game on November 20.

How do I fit in these other projects? Here's what I'm thinking:

1. I finish the scarf and the cowl by tomorrow (which is possible), and cast on Sara's mitts Friday. I think I can get them done by next Thursday, and make progress on my sweater, if I don't let myself get distracted by any new yarn (hello! the scarf and the cowl weren't even on my radar this time last week!!)
2. When I finish the mitts, I cast-on Rob's scarf. And knit it until I finish it (which will hopefully be a)before Christmas; and b) before I die from scarf boredom).
3. When I finish Rob's scarf, I start Marc's golf club covers.
4. When I finish my sweater, I start Sara's.
5. And I'll finish something else of mine and start Katie's scarf. If that doesn't happen by Thanksgiving, I start Katie's scarf anyway.
6. ...and at some point before November 20, I knit Hawthorne. If this doesn't happen, I think the scarf might work...it has a lot of black and gold in it.

...actually, as I type this, and knowing how much time I have for knitting, I'm thinking this doesn't seem too impossible.

Am I crazy? no, don't answer that. But if I talk to you about a new project, please ask me how my gift knitting plan is progressing... I really can't start anything new for myself until I have it done!

maybe not together

had to break the blog silence-these do look great with jean-just NOT TOGETHER!

citron and luciole. The yarn for citron look really garish in some light, but i like it and i had about 6" of yarn left. don't think i'd use this yarn again, and definitely not for socks. it's got an odd twist. i am planning to knit both of these patterns again at some point-both were very easy and are great for social knitting (except the hem on luciole, that was a bit tricky-but not hard).

SAFF 2010

as promised here's a report from SAFF-we really enjoyed it-there were more vendors in another building (if you can imagine!) the weather was gorgeous, and the drive up very easy-but was still 4 hours. my mom and i left as scheduled, and listened to an ann perry book on the way up and back. we were here for about 2 hours, but next year i'd like to add another 1/2 hour. there were several stalls that had buttons, shawl pens etc., but we just didn't have the time to really browse. we had plans to meet friends for lunch so that's why we cut it a bit short. this was a well attended and well organized event. LOTS of knitters about with their lovely shawlettes and sweaters. many of these vendors were also at stitches south.
the show arena-they show animals here (was surprised that it was not animal smelly) this facility is the western north carolina agricultural center.

my mom plays with some roving. she also talks to angora bunnies and llamas-but that's my mom!
we hunted desperately for the animals-we weren't going to come this far and not see animals. we finally found them at the far end of the stalls- say hello to a llama-they are soooo soft and cute!
here's another-they're about the size of a pony. the colors were amazing.

say hello to an alpaca-too sweet
now what you really wanted to know about- from l-r: miss babs monochrome sock in lilacs, kitchen sink dye works luxe merino fine (10% cashmere-mmmmm) in meg, grass, and dexter, and knitting notions ruby. also got some cute stitch markers (resting on grass). it was great fun, and i'm hoping to go again next year-the weather being as gorgeous as it was really made it enjoyable. there's more photos here.

i also saw this designer, and had meant to go back to look at her patterns again, her hats are adorable.

Kirsten Kapur is doing a 2010 Mystery Sock next month. Anyone interested in joining me?

Finished on August 31. Knitting along with you all has really helped my sock knitting!

Yarn is Malabrigo Sock in the Primavera colorway.

SAFF 2010

Anyone interested in joining my mom and I on this outing-will be going early saturday. great list of vendors that will be there.

Socktoberfest Get Together

To celebrate Socktoberfest, I'd like to invite you all to my home for a get together some evening in October. There will be food, wine, and sock knitting!

Let me know what nights work best for you. Or maybe a Saturday afternoon works better? Hopefully we'll find a time that works for everyone.

Sock Patterns We Like

Hey everyone! Mary and I discussed adding a link list to the sidebar for keeping track of patterns we like that we may want to knit. If everyone adds a favorite sock pattern or two (or three or...) then we can use the list for deciding on which socks to knit.

It's really easy to add items to the list.

1) Sign in. The page will look the same as the one when you don't sign in, but in the sidebar you will see little icons that look like tools.

2) Click on the tool icon for Sock Patterns We Like. You'll see this:

3) Type or paste in the URL for the sock pattern you want to add in the New Site URL slot.

4) Type or paste in the name of the sock pattern in the New Site Name slot.

5) Press the Add Link icon.

6) Press the Save icon.

That's it! You can then view the blog to check that your new link is there.

Now, which sock patterns do you like? :)

Socks for August and September.

Is it obvious to everyone that our August sock is the Cast-on Cottage KAL? Wendy Johnson's toe-up Double Eyelet Ribs in case you've been under a rock and 1) don't read the CoC blog (shame on you!) or 2) don't talk to me (I don't think any of you have that excuse!).

And based on conversation more than the voting on our sidebar, I think September is going to be the Embossed Leaves . I have a(nother :-) skein of Sophie's Toes in the "merlot" colorway which seems to be crying out to be "grape leaves". We'll see....

Hopefully we have enough copies of Favorite Socks floating around to get everyone the pattern. Please comment if you need it.

me too!

...and really excited about it! I actually knit THREE socks in July which is like breaking the sound sock barrier for sure! I really loved the heel and heel turn - it's similar to my vanilla recipe, but having the slipped stitches at the beginning of the rows (instead of the ends) seems easier. I will definitely be doing knitting these again!

ditto.

here's mine, i really like the edging on these socks, and plan to adopt this as my vanilla socks pattern, but will include the 2x2 ribbing that karen is doing with her's. ~~really like how her's are coming along. i can't wait to see the rest. i really like the koigu yarn, and i think i'll be using another colorway for the embossed leaves.

It's a new record for me

My picot edge socks are done and I'm really happy with them. It usually takes me forever to knit socks but I had lots of knitting time on vacation and things made more sense to me this time. I may end up being a sock knitter after all. :)

Found my way to...

Hey Everyone!

Thought I better make my presence known.

Sox have me perplexed!!!

Mary & Lynn can't believe how loosey-goosey my gauge is.

First pair of sox ended up like Beth's tale. My sweet hubby

loves them anyway! So I'm gonna try the picot-edge w/worsted

weight on 1's. Will keep all posted.

picot edge sock love

how are ya'll coming along-really like the way the picot edge is constructed, mary and karen remember the last one's we tried? i'm also enjoying the way this colorway is knitting up-i'm using koigu painter's pallette premium KPM111 is the colorway-think it needs a real name!great sock yarn.

lydia suggests a book (or 2).

first time posting, not sure how this will work, but here goes. right now i'm reading edward rutherford's "new york", which I am LOVING- have read all his other works, and he doesn't disappoint. if you've been to NYC you really "see" what he's writing about. also reading "the girl with the dragon tattoo" steig larrson-really good, and love his description of the swedish villages. i'm also in the library queue to get jaqueline winspear's newest-the mapping of love and death. one other book that has been languishing on my nightstand is diana gabaldon's "echo in the bone"-love her books are so long and detailed-it's great vacation reading. oh so many books so little time.

The Story of a Knitter and the Three Socks

Once upon a time there was a knitter who was fairly new to the Land of Sock Knitting. It was not a scary place but many things seemed unfamiliar. Everything was knit on small needles and there were many decisions to make: toe up, cuff down, heel flaps, short row heels, and so on. But to make up for all the tiny knitting and all the thinking that needed to be done, there was yarn. Soft yarn. Beautiful yarn in wonderful colors. Yarn that begged to be knit into lovely things. It made the Land of Sock Knitting a very attractive place.

One day, some friends invited the knitter to knit with them. So the knitter started out to meet her friends and came across a pretty cottage. She knocked on the door and when nobody answered, she walked right in. There on the table was a ball of yarn, some tiny needles, and a pattern for picot edge socks. The knitter had tried these socks before but the cast on was too small. She wouldn't make that mistake again.

She settled herself into a chair and cast on again. She decided to make a few changes to be sure the sock wasn't too small. She cast on 72 stitches instead of 64, she used a stretchier cast on, and she happened to be using different needles. She knit and she knit and she knit. Finally, after about 12 rows, she tried on the sock. This one was too big!

The knitter was very tired by this time so she went upstairs to rest. When she woke up, she was going to try again with 64 stitches and the hope that this sock would be just right.

Looks great with jeans!

Mary & Karen on Mary's deck, Wednesday evening

Yep, our current socks are looking great with jeans! and two more things:

1. I think Lynn is the only one of us who can knit a pair of socks in a month. Since this whole thing is supposed to be fun, not stressful, should we "relax" our schedule and think about a new pair every other month? We can do the picot edge for July (and those of us who want can participate in the CoC KAL toe-up socks in August) and then pick new patterns for September, November, etc....

2. Would someone else please chime in with a post or a comment? please?!

September socks.

A bit more poking around and I found a polling widget. Check out the sidebar to see potential options for September's socks!!  Respond with comments about ones you'd like me to add to the polling list (think it's easier if one person owns the poll for each month - someone else gets to own October, November, etc.!)

Now if I could find a great calendar widget, we'd be set - absent that, I've created a simple list with the meetups that we have planned for the next few weeks.

August socks.

So - looks like the shop is going to host toe-up socks for the next KAL. I'm thinking Wendy Johnson's double eyelet rib (thanks to Beth for the suggestion), since they look different from the ones that we've already done here!  The timing will probably be August - and I can't even knit one pair of socks in a month, so suggest we follow along and knit whatever the shop picks that month.

Now we're looking for September selections.  And that is SO not urgent!!

Suggestions on how to make a decision? the beginning lace group on Ravelry posts a new thread each month and the members put up suggestions and use the agree/disagree buttons to vote. I don't know how to translate that idea here.

sock ideas for after July?

...ok, everyone knows we're knitting a vanilla sock with a picot edge (thank you, Beth) for July. What about after that?

Check out Beth's suggestions. or mine.

Lynn's suggestions: zig zag socks, retro rib socks, merino lace socks, embossed leaves socks, waving lace socks, or something from Sensational Knitted Socks.