ALMOST TO THE END

Finally got the photos off the camera. The dolls were for the LAF charity and made to fit wooden cradles made by another group. The scarves are the Christmas output and done in the summer's qiviuk purchases. I still have some for my self and will have to come up with a plan for it. The socks are twelve of the thirteen pairs I did this year (one left to live with my sister).

Working away on the Modern Quilt Wrap from Folk Style and then on to finish the Kathryn Alexander scarf from last year. I am going to Madrona in February! Yeah me and will spend three days in classes with her and one day in with Lucy Neatby. I am really looking forward to this.

Work gave me a merit bonus and which I am still in shock about but if I work it right could end up at SOAR this year. Lovely prospects to end the year on and start the new.

FO'S

Two more pairs for the sock stash. Rivendale from the Chameleon Colorworks sock 'o the month and my own creation, albeit from a Susanna Lewis lace chart, the cruise lace sock in a lovely merino tencel also a Chameleon Colorworks yarn. I keep thinking that I will gift someone with some of this year's product, but so far have only managed to part with one pair.

Went to a spinning guild meeting for the first time in months today. It was nice to chat with everyone--heard about Janet's cruise, Elena's remodel and chatted with a lot of people that I had not seen in quite awhile. Nice way to spend a very rainy day (It never rains here in September, what's up with that?)

HOW I SPENT MY SATURDAY

I caught the Gold Line and met pals, Nancy, Ruth and Janel at Union Station as we were on our way to hear the Yarn Harlot at LAPL. It was a gorgeous day to be out in the world specially with such great company. Nancy, Ruth and I spent some time knitting in the garden that is next to the library while waiting for Janel to join us--the birds were out, it was the perfect temperature and a great start to a very fun day. After lunching at the Panda Express that is inside the Library we went and got in line. Everyone was furiously knitting away, chatting and having a great time. For once my group was not the only ones knitting in public!

The Yarn Harlot was as funny in person as in her books and gracious as well. She had time to speak to everyone as well as take a picture. There's Janel with her lovely Chameleon Colorworks yarn--a gift to Stephanie and me with my cruise toe-up sock (also Chameleon Colorworks Optium yarn).

We are in Ellen Bloom's (she introduced the Yarn Harlot) blog slide show.

ELEVEN AND TWELVE

Here it is early September and I have finished the twelve pairs of socks that I set out to knit in January, only thing is that I have two three pairs on the needles and yarn for ????? many more. At least this is one New Year's Resolution that I can say that I kept.

The lighter blue, turquoise actually, sock is Flicker by the wonderful Cookie A. This one was actually finished on the very long and delayed flight home from the Spindlictiy cruise. It was done in Lorna's Laces and fun to knit.

The second sock is one from Knitty, Queen of Cups and also knit in Lorna's Laces. This yarn really bloomed when they were washed and are now very soft and comfy.

BACK

The cruise was lovely. Here Janel, Heather and I are lounging on the deck knitting while floating by the glaciers.

Came home with more yarn than I intended, but that's not unusual. Lots of qiviuk and also some yak, so there will be lace knitting. Learned lots about designing my own socks--lacy ones no less--and another way to do a toe-up--it's knit out of the most lovely optim yarn.

MISSED ONE

I thought I was only on sock number nine, but found that I had missed this lovely in the count. It's another Chameleon Colorworks original by Janel Laidman. It was knit flat, grafted and then the heel and toe were knit on. A fun project and a very different sock.

THOUGHT THAT I WAS THROUGH WITH STRIPES

Started a new sock, Queen of Cups from Knitty, with some Lorna's Laces sock in the Douglas Fir colorway and low and behold it has stripes! Faint, but they are there. This is a fun sock, easy to read chart and pattern.

JULY FINISHED WITH ONE DAY STILL TO GO

Sea Monster sock designed by Janel Laidman with yarn by Chameleon Colorworks. This sock has a cute tectured pattern that just doesn't show up in the pic. It sort of resembles scales, thence the name Sea Monster.

Didn't think I would finish this in time, but here it is with one day left and they are done. Five more socks to go to meet my goal of a sock a month. I am taking a break from the sock clubs in August to knit one by Cookie A. in a Lorna's Laces solid. I figure that it is good trainning for the cruise.

JUNE (THOUGH IT'S REALLY #7)

This is the second of six STR's. This time I did not knit the pattern but chose this one from the best of IK book. The stripes make the pattern retreat instead of showing off its charming self. Lesson learned: think before shelling out big bucks on a lark and consider using more heathered or solid sock yark. I think I'm about over stripes.

MAY SOCK REDUX

Second pair done this month! Finished the lovely Jacaranda by Janel of Chameleon Colorworks, my favorite dyer and sock designer. This was the May sock of the month and my second try at one of her patterns. I can't sing her praises loudly enough, great yarn, inventive design, gorgeous colors.

I am still with two pair to go to keep up with the incoming yarn. I still have Janel's shadow knit which is a good mental stretch while learning a new sock construction technique. I also have the STR Grasshopper to do as well. Oh my so many socks so little time.

I've also been working on some felting projects that have been a good mental stretch (this old brain needs all the stretching it can get) and hope to get some time this long weekend to finish at least one of them.

MAY SOCK

Still on track with the sock-a-month as this is number five. The yarn is Tofootsi, a blend of wool, soy silk and cotton with a hint of something called chitin (crab shell), knit in an Internet pattern, "Bubblewrap." They are going to live with my sister for her birthday which is being celebrated today, so they were finished just in time.

I still have the STR sock in the bag because I didn't have the right size of needles for it and two Chameleon Colorworks socks as well. This month's is very lovely and a quick knit but am stuck on last month's at about the halfway point waiting for a tutorial from the designer when she returns from her travels.

Off to celebrate birthdays and Mother's Day with the family.

MEET LULA

Lula was made from a pattern in Lucinda Guy's AND SO TO BED... for Zora's first birthday which is tomorrow. Her parents are hosting a gala celebration on Saturday and I hope to get pictures of Zora and Lula together. If this doll survives I have plans to expand her wardrobe. Right now I sewed everything to her body so those tiny shoes and hairbows don't end up in someone's mouth. She was fun to do and I can see making some friends for her.

I am already working on Janel's socks for my May sock. The combination of yarns is nice but the pattern is a bit of a challenge for my stuffed head and chest (I have the crud again for the third time this year and am in the midst of a giant pity party. I'll snap out of it soon.). According to the posts on the STR blog almost the whole world has their next pattern and yarn but me. I was last on the
list last time and hoped for a higher position. This was a costly propostion and so far has not been what I hoped for. The Chameleon Colorworks has been a much better choice

PICTURE AND SOCK CATCH-UP

Work and life has been so crazy that there has been little time to knit, spin, etc let alone post something here. There were two whole days last week that my fingers never even touched a knitting needle--can't remember when that last happened.


First pic is the last conference pic--my winning shawl. The fiber was a merino/silk that I handpainted, spun and then knit up. While I would love to claim the pattern as my own, it is one from Knitty--Lizard Ridge. The original is an afgan knit in Noro. I just added and ribbing border and knit it to my size.

Still on track with the socks (My New Year goal is to knit a pair a month). The lovely blue lacy ones, actually finished in March but not photograped are from the Chameleon Colorworks sock club. The pattern is Niagra Falls and is knit in a very nice random dyed superwash wool. They fit like a dream--I went against my grain and did not adapt any of these for my pattern but knitted the pattern as written. The goal is not only to end up with lots of sock, but to learn something along the way as well.











April's sock is my Socks That Rock package. I have never had such trouble with a sock as with this one. I did learn to knit a toe up and love the garter and heal on this sock but the cuff was a nightmare. It was easy to knit but had to be redone several times to get it so that my foot fit in the tunnel. The cable really brings this in and there is very little give to the cuff. I knit this on size three needles finally and can just barely squeeze it over my heel. I hope it doesn't shrink.

CHAMELEON COLORWORKS

The March sock of the month arrived today from Chameleon Colorworks, the company of very talented fiber artist and friend--Janel Laidman. The pattern is lacy and the blues just my shade. Can't wait to get started.

Still slugging away on my STR sock and am finally up to the leg. My head is banging away today so knitting is hard but I would love to get this sock done!

SOCKS THAT ROCK

My package finally arrived last Friday. Most of the participants got their's at least a week ago. The yarn has a nice feel to it, but the colorway is a little unsual. The photo makes it look green and purple, but it has more grays and brown in it. This is my first attempt at a toe up sock and while it doesn't seem very difficult, the pattern needs a bit of editing. Fortunately there is a blog where other knitters discuss the problems they have encountered, so I guess that there are some advantages to starting last. The instep is knit tightly as it is supposed to be "supportive." I have some wool socks that I wear when trekking and they are snug around the instep and feel great, hope that these do as well. It is so warm here today that wearing a wool sock or a sock of anykind is not something I want to think about.

FEBRUARY SOCKS

This month's sock was knit in the last of the gift yarns from my SP Kay. The yarn is Lana Grossa and was knit on my fantastic Holz and Stein dp's that she also sent and are the most fabulous needles. Unfortunately I have lost track of which pattern I used--once memorized I put it away.

My goal is to knit a pair of socks every month and to keep me going I have joined two sock clubs, one from Chameleon Colorworks and the other Socks that Rock. Guess you know what I will be doing.

CATCH UP TIME

It's not that I haven't been working since Christmas, just way too busy to figure out the new camera. These photos are a real testament on how much more work I need to do to master the beast. The socks are one of this month's products. They were knit on my lovely needles made from recycled music instruments and with yarn from a Secret Pal, Kay.

I finally found the time to set the twist in the many spinning projects. These include some fiber I got at Torrance from Lorie Lawson and which I plan to use in a scarf pattern which is primarily short rows and will show off the yarn to the best advantage. Also included here is some merino and merino alpace that I got from Dizzy Ewe (sorry no web page yet), some Optim from Cameleon Color works (it's the pink in the middle) that I plan to knit into a poncho for the baby. The rest of the fiber will just have to wait for me to get inspired and to hopefully finish those two Noro sweaters that are hanging around.

The shawl was knit up with some merino/silk that I handpainted the roving and spun up last year. I am really happy with the way the short row pattern (short rows seem to be my new fascination--this one is from Knitty, "Lizard Ridge") and is going to the Handweaver's conference in March.

The yellow is my first ever woven project and was done on the new Kromski Harp ridgid heddle loom that I brought myself for Christmas. The weft was handspun using Crosspatch "Let's Party." I am busy spinning up some more Chameleon Colorworks that I want to weave using some tencel that I got at the Torrance Fiber event as the warp.