And we're off!

Almost! At least the knitting is ready, and there are many, many bins of things lined up in the hall (this is the problem with travelling by car--not enough incentive to pack light!). As knitting goes, I settled on bringing some Noro for a felted bag my teenager wants (not that I'll be able to felt at the beach!), needles and back up yarn (in case I can't get to that wonderful yarn store in time) for the Wonky Lace Socks, some remnants for the kids to knit with, some more leftovers and crochet hooks for me to practice, practice, practice my crochet flowers (they need it!), some nubby yarn and big needles for a possible scarf project (you never know!) my socks in progress (one DONE, one just begun) and a copy of Knit Simple, some patterns, and some back up needles, just in case! And, I of course reserve the right to totally divert from all plans once I hit the yarn store! I only wish I didn't have to drive--kills so much knitting time! But we have two weeks in the sun, two car loads of kids and gear....and an overflowing knitting bag.... what could be better?! I hope to be able to blog while I'm gone, but may have to hunt for a connection. If you want, subscribe to my blog with bloglines (see the button at right), and you can be notified with updates. Safe travels, and happy knitting, all!
One addition already: look at this cool link about knitting white squares to contribute to an art project at Sky Between Branches.

To knit, perchance to swim....

I am getting ready to get ready for vacation--I am thinking about knitting projects to take with me! I have my current socks n progress (one down, one to go), I have a crazy urge to knit another hat or two (maybe child size this time so my girls can wear them) and I came across this great pattern from Trek for "Wonky Lace Socks". I like the name, and the pattern looks like so much fun, and it uses Cascade Fixation, which is a great thing to knit at the beach. And I have some Fixation in my stash, but I don't love the color, so this will give me a great excuse (like I need one) to visit this really cool yarn and used book store we found on the island last summer. I can't wait! Now I guess I have to start thinking about packing other things, like clothes, and sunblock and all that--but there's time!

Two, two, two wee sockies...

Okay, here's the thing. I have exactly one person in my life who are expecting babies. Now I'd like to say they're best friends, and that they'd love nothing more than to be showered (get it?) with lots of hand knit gifts....But honestly, she's a person I'm friendly enough with, but you know, not best. So since I've already given her those wee hats, I fear I might be seen as sort of stalking her if I show up with these baby socks too, but I'm just amazed at how much fun it is to knit these little things (and, okay, quick too; a gauge of 10st/inch goes a lot faster when you only have 40 stitches on the needle and the feet are just 4" long)! I think I will chance sending these along to my friend, just because they're done and all....maybe with a card that promises I am not a knitting stalker! (And by the way, this is the now discontinued [of course, I like it] Knitpicks Dancing, on u.s.0/2.0mm magic loop, and is an adaptation of a couple different patterns I've seen, with a repeating but traveling purl stitch).

Another day, another sock begun

No, I have not finished my red socks of the previous post. I am almost through the foot of the first.....but I have started another sock--a different sock of course--and this one is a baby sock. I just couldn't resist! I'm just started -- another 2.0 mm/us 0 experience, but with only 40 stitches cast on this time, in the last of my Knitpicks Dancing....since I want them to be teeny tiny. They will be cute. The somewhat troubling thing is what this kind of fickleness with my sock projects says about me--but I guess I will get back to my knitting, and think about that tomorrow!

Socks, socks, must knit socks.....

My little hat making break made me a little crazy I think, even after my last sock debacle! I cast on for these day before yesterday, and I think I'm knitting too hard (or too excitedly, if you can do that) because I'm bending my needles! Oh, but it's fun to see those tiny stitches again--they always look so neat and tidy (something in my life should be neat and tidy, right). This wool is Regia, a really pretty kind of mottled red (one of my very favorite colors) that I got on sale somewhere (ah, the memory fade amidst the haze of wool) I'm using size 0/2.25 mm needles, and getting about 9 stitches to the inch in the stockinette portion of the sock. This is an adapatation of the Posh Yarn "Slip up socks" pattern I used for my earlier Fingerless mitts, this time using a 72 stitch cast on to accomodate my bigger feet and the gauge I'm knitting at. The cool thing about this pattern is it is so easy and it looks so much like cables--love it. Now, to knit some more, and, perchance, to sleep (at some point!) Amended: found the ballband (whew!) The yarn is "Regia 4 Fach Haltbar/4 fadig Color" The color number is 5571.

And baby needs three?

Here are the promised baby hats, made from the pattern in Last Minute Knitted Gifts, with the yarn the pattern actually called for(imagine that), Mission Falls 1824 cotton. I think they came out really well; I have to say the yarn is a bit more rustic looking knit up than I expected, but I am hoping that will be part of the charm! The colors might be a bit wacky too, but I figure you don't see all that many babies with purple hats! The baby shower is not until tomorrow morning, so I am feeling way ahead of myself (for me)! I still need to come up with some pretty packaging; that will be tonight's project. And I started another sock this week (red ones!) , will post that picture soon!

You CAN be too distracted...

Okay, it's been awhile, but I have finally managed to really mess up a pair of really simple socks. I think this is because I knitted these in a combination of places, and never more than a few rows at a time....at the pool, at swim meets, while watching much too engrossing movies, I'm not sure....And I was clearly not careful enough....for although the first sock made me think nothing could go wrong, when I finished the second sock, I discovered that it was, well, a completely different size....both in the length of the cuff and the length of the foot (what was I thinking, well, I was clearly not thinking!). I also discovered that this yarn, (Elann Esprit), at least in this 4/2 seed rib I decided to use, is not as forgiving or adaptable as the Cascade Fixation (cotton/elastic blend, pretty much a sport weight), I like so much! And as the Yarn Harlot warned, this is not going to come out in the blocking! . Phew. I wasn't going to post these at all, but "in the interest of full disclosure" (as we say), here they are. Luckily, my daughter doesn't seem to mind the sizing problem and has been happily scuffing around the house in them. Alas, I had planned them to be for me (yes, this yarn DOES stretch a lot, but not that much!) Now, to finish my shower gifts (all little hats, which don't have to match)!

Oh say can you crochet....

Well, as you can see, not really, or just barely (can I crochet, that is!) I was inspired to post this attempt at a small bit of crochet by reading Craftybernie, who talks about her own struggles to get past wobbly single crochet to actual shapes (Coming Up Blank: While I was feeling rotten....). Believe it or not, I have "known" the basics of crochet for years (meaning, "how to"), but I have never been able to make it look right! This is the closest I have come--a wobbly version of a crochet flower circle "pattern" I found in the winter issue of Knitscene. I know, I could have chosen an easier yarn (what can I say, it was there.....). It is clear to me this will take much more practice...and maybe a better set of crochet hooks (I always think equipment will rescue me!) . I am determined to keep trying, slowly, and soon!

Oh Baby, Baby...

Baby knitting--I haven't done a lot of it. But a friend is having a baby, and I got invited to what looks to be a very lovely shower, so I have gone through tons of patterns searching for something special to knit. Alas, I have spent so long searching patterns that I am now within two weeks of the shower date!(I won't even tell you how much this happens to me!) But after all that searching, I came up with these "Children's Cotton Hats" in Last Minute Knitted Gifts, one of my favorite (and most used) knitting books (which could have something to do with my general tendency to procrastinate....but it is a good book, really). I decided to make her three hats; one pale yellow, one very pale green, and one almost purple. (Don't know if she's having a boy or girl). I had to order the Mission Falls 1824 Cotton, so I went ahead and made up a prototype today in some Lily "Sugar n Cream" that I dug out of my always cooperative stash. The gauge of the yarn is different, but I wanted to get a feel for how the hat looked in person. I like it a lot, and think it will be very funky and hip knitted up in the Mission Falls. Now, while I wait for the yarn, I can work on some very cool packaging.......hmmm..........will have to look for some ideas on that!