In the nick of time. I've finally finished my Socktoberfest socks. These are a wonderful pair of socks and mom should enjoy them. I tried them on and they are heavenly. I'll be diving in the sock stash pronto.
Specs:
Pattern: Mine
Needles: 2.5 mm Holz & Stein dpn's
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Potluck
Size: Women's 10 narrow
Started: 10/01/2006 Finished: 10/30/2006
On to finish the Swallowtail.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Sunday, October 29, 2006
SAFFtisfying
We drove up to SAFF on Friday evening in terrible blustery rainy conditions and arrived at the hotel around 8:45 pm. Saturday morning didn't look too promising even though the weather report the previous evening said otherwise. It was very windy and cool but the clouds gave way to sunshine for a beautiful fall day in the mountains.
We arrived at the agricultural center around 10:30. The crowd had already arrived and we were lucky to get one of the few parking spaces available near the main gate. This was my first time and I am so glad that mom acompanied me on the trip.
The vendors and classes were located in the main arena. I saw Donna, her husband and their lovely daughter. Donna introduced me to a blogger friend of her's, Carolyn from Yarn's the Word.
My traveling buddy made a brief tour of some of the vendors before stopping for good to wait while I hunted down goodies. She's been having trouble with her good knee due to all the moving and the lifting and bending involved. Even though she doesn't spin she was very helpful in pointing out fiber related goodness. She's holding the Kokovoko lightweight spindle purchased from the Kokovoko booth and bag of cashmere purchased from Little Barn Inc.
I purchased several 8 ounce packages of fibers to do a fiber sampler.
My main purpose for attending SAFF was to personally select drop spindles. I'm able to spin once again and have been hesitant to purchase online after my first spindle purchased turned out not to be such a good decision. I wanted to be able to take them for a test drive and this was a great opportunity. I came home with four beauties.
Clockwise from right Kokovoko lightweight, Bosworth Midi,
Wooden Ewe, and Snipes.
I have never heard of the last two but was very pleased after trying them out. The Snipes spindle came as bottom whirl but was pre-drilled for either and since I'm not a bottom whirl girl, I converted it to a top whorl. I also purchased a few other goodies to round out the day.
We stopped in Hendersonville at Stepp's Orchard Farm and picked up some apples. We stopped at another shop on the way out and the Mutsu apples Carolyn suggested are delicious. I've never seen such a variety of apples as we saw at the last stop. They had close to 30 varities more than half of which we've never seen.
Today it's been back to the packing and moving. The kitchen work starts tomorrow and hopefully everything else follows soon afterward. I can finally resume my regular knitting pace!!!
We arrived at the agricultural center around 10:30. The crowd had already arrived and we were lucky to get one of the few parking spaces available near the main gate. This was my first time and I am so glad that mom acompanied me on the trip.
The vendors and classes were located in the main arena. I saw Donna, her husband and their lovely daughter. Donna introduced me to a blogger friend of her's, Carolyn from Yarn's the Word.
My traveling buddy made a brief tour of some of the vendors before stopping for good to wait while I hunted down goodies. She's been having trouble with her good knee due to all the moving and the lifting and bending involved. Even though she doesn't spin she was very helpful in pointing out fiber related goodness. She's holding the Kokovoko lightweight spindle purchased from the Kokovoko booth and bag of cashmere purchased from Little Barn Inc.
I purchased several 8 ounce packages of fibers to do a fiber sampler.
My main purpose for attending SAFF was to personally select drop spindles. I'm able to spin once again and have been hesitant to purchase online after my first spindle purchased turned out not to be such a good decision. I wanted to be able to take them for a test drive and this was a great opportunity. I came home with four beauties.
Clockwise from right Kokovoko lightweight, Bosworth Midi,Wooden Ewe, and Snipes.
I have never heard of the last two but was very pleased after trying them out. The Snipes spindle came as bottom whirl but was pre-drilled for either and since I'm not a bottom whirl girl, I converted it to a top whorl. I also purchased a few other goodies to round out the day.
We stopped in Hendersonville at Stepp's Orchard Farm and picked up some apples. We stopped at another shop on the way out and the Mutsu apples Carolyn suggested are delicious. I've never seen such a variety of apples as we saw at the last stop. They had close to 30 varities more than half of which we've never seen.
Today it's been back to the packing and moving. The kitchen work starts tomorrow and hopefully everything else follows soon afterward. I can finally resume my regular knitting pace!!!
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Relaxing
Last weekend I had a nice relaxing time at the Myrtle Beach which was much needed after all the packing and moving that's been going on around here. I enjoy going in the fall when the crowds are no longer there.
There was much shopping but very little knitting. We went shopping after realizing I had left the blender at home and found the neatest personal blender by Hamilton Beach. Once the blue coconut coladas starting flowing any hope of knittng was pretty much over.
I am determined to have these finished before Halloween given the fact that I'm well past the 2/3's mark. I've made it to the patterned portion which goes pretty fast so this isn't and unrealistic goal. I've also started back on the Swallowtail and I am on the second Lily of the Valley section. Tomorrow afternoon I leave for SAFF. I'm going over on Saturday and will probably head up to Hendersonville for apples.
This is my first SAFF and due to the move the main thing I'm looking for is drop spindles. I'm desperately trying to hold off on purchasing any fibery goodness and since the neck and shoulder have been holding up pretty well for the most part it may be time to get out the spinning goodies after the holiday knitting is over.
There was much shopping but very little knitting. We went shopping after realizing I had left the blender at home and found the neatest personal blender by Hamilton Beach. Once the blue coconut coladas starting flowing any hope of knittng was pretty much over.
I am determined to have these finished before Halloween given the fact that I'm well past the 2/3's mark. I've made it to the patterned portion which goes pretty fast so this isn't and unrealistic goal. I've also started back on the Swallowtail and I am on the second Lily of the Valley section. Tomorrow afternoon I leave for SAFF. I'm going over on Saturday and will probably head up to Hendersonville for apples.
This is my first SAFF and due to the move the main thing I'm looking for is drop spindles. I'm desperately trying to hold off on purchasing any fibery goodness and since the neck and shoulder have been holding up pretty well for the most part it may be time to get out the spinning goodies after the holiday knitting is over.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Bacon,Bacon, Bacon
Acornbud asked if there were any Kevin Bacon sightings. Yes indeed. I caught this quick pic as he was headed back upstairs after lunch and in full make-up no less. We received advance notice and were waiting for him to come downstairs as the cast and crew headed to lunch. He had passed us when we realized that he was made up to look like a patient so when they returned from lunch I was ready. Too bad I didn't realize that I had zoomed in too much.
It's been busy around work. For the past 2 days I've had a gazillion watt light shining in my office window. Even with the blinds closed it's been warm. Thank goodness it has cooled down. They were supposed to go to another site on the campus but due to the rain all today one of my co-workers was told that they would be back tomorrow.
Yesterday the Palmetto Purlers did a knitting demonstration at the State Fair. Charlotte is working on her double knit baby blanket.
We have a demo day at the fair each year and bring materials for anyone interested in giving knitting a try. It was fun as always and of course I had to get some of that super healthy fair food. The corn dog was yummy, the fried mushrooms tasty and the Nedderfield's lemonade refreshing. I had an Italian beef sandwch to go. It wasn't as good as the other food, but the Polish sausage that I bought from the same place was delicious this afternoon. The holiday munching has begun a few weeks early.
We are in the process of moving out of the house and into the addition for some renovations. It has not been fun and my knitting time has been sacrificed. I've managed to make it to the first Lily of the Valley section by working on the Swallowtail during breaks and lunch at work. I'm downsizing as I go, except for the knitting goods, and should be finished by Thursday. Even though we're not physically moving out, there is a lot of packing and storage involved in clearing out.
This weekend I'm headed to the beach to put my feet up, knit and relax. I haven't been anywhere since Las Vegas in April so this trip is long overdue.
It's been busy around work. For the past 2 days I've had a gazillion watt light shining in my office window. Even with the blinds closed it's been warm. Thank goodness it has cooled down. They were supposed to go to another site on the campus but due to the rain all today one of my co-workers was told that they would be back tomorrow.
Yesterday the Palmetto Purlers did a knitting demonstration at the State Fair. Charlotte is working on her double knit baby blanket.
We have a demo day at the fair each year and bring materials for anyone interested in giving knitting a try. It was fun as always and of course I had to get some of that super healthy fair food. The corn dog was yummy, the fried mushrooms tasty and the Nedderfield's lemonade refreshing. I had an Italian beef sandwch to go. It wasn't as good as the other food, but the Polish sausage that I bought from the same place was delicious this afternoon. The holiday munching has begun a few weeks early.
We are in the process of moving out of the house and into the addition for some renovations. It has not been fun and my knitting time has been sacrificed. I've managed to make it to the first Lily of the Valley section by working on the Swallowtail during breaks and lunch at work. I'm downsizing as I go, except for the knitting goods, and should be finished by Thursday. Even though we're not physically moving out, there is a lot of packing and storage involved in clearing out.
This weekend I'm headed to the beach to put my feet up, knit and relax. I haven't been anywhere since Las Vegas in April so this trip is long overdue.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon
For several weeks we've been curious about the presence of trucks of various sizes, vans and other strange vehicles on our campus and strange personnel in our building. My co-workers and I didn't make the connection with the film "Death Sentence" starring Kevin Bacon being filmed in Columbia. More trucks and equipment showed up with the mother lode arriving on Thursday.
By Friday morning there was a full fledge movie shoot going on across from our building. They've turned the second floor of the hospital building where my office is located into an emergency room for the shoot and will be shooting in the boiler room in the basement. (The hospital has been empty except for clinic services for several years.) With my luck everything will be back to normal by Monday when we return to work.
The first Raked Leaves sock is finished. I've casted on for the second sock and have completed the toe shaping and started the foot. I'm very pleased with the way these are turning out and they fit mom perfectly.
Socktoberfest Questions Part II:
Do you have certain patterns planned for some of the yarns? Do you buy yarn and then choose a pattern? Ocassionally. Most of the time if I see yarn that I like I buy it and figure out what pattern I'm going to use later. Even if I buy yarn with a pattern in mind I usually make something different than the original plan.
Does a certain sock yarn you have in your stash take you back to a certain event? (where you were when you bought/received it? what was going on in your life at the time!) Absolutely. I have some LL Shepherd Sock in Rainbow that I bought at the first machine knitting event I attended. The skeins I have left from the Xmas socks when I didn't know how much to buy. The Regia Clown Color from the modular sweater for my co-workers first and now possibly only child and the list goes on.
Socks, socks and more socks!!!
By Friday morning there was a full fledge movie shoot going on across from our building. They've turned the second floor of the hospital building where my office is located into an emergency room for the shoot and will be shooting in the boiler room in the basement. (The hospital has been empty except for clinic services for several years.) With my luck everything will be back to normal by Monday when we return to work.
The first Raked Leaves sock is finished. I've casted on for the second sock and have completed the toe shaping and started the foot. I'm very pleased with the way these are turning out and they fit mom perfectly.
Socktoberfest Questions Part II:
Do you have certain patterns planned for some of the yarns? Do you buy yarn and then choose a pattern? Ocassionally. Most of the time if I see yarn that I like I buy it and figure out what pattern I'm going to use later. Even if I buy yarn with a pattern in mind I usually make something different than the original plan.
Does a certain sock yarn you have in your stash take you back to a certain event? (where you were when you bought/received it? what was going on in your life at the time!) Absolutely. I have some LL Shepherd Sock in Rainbow that I bought at the first machine knitting event I attended. The skeins I have left from the Xmas socks when I didn't know how much to buy. The Regia Clown Color from the modular sweater for my co-workers first and now possibly only child and the list goes on.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
My Sock History
First things first. The first completed Socktoberfest project. This pair of socks has been in the works for several months and since there are several projects that need to enter the rotation due to the upcoming holidays and many more socks to be made, I decided to finally finish them this weekend.
Specs:
Pattern: Openwork Ribs from Sensational Knitted Socks
Needles: 1 US Inox dpn's
Yarn: Regia Bamboo Color Clown
Size: Women's 10 narrow
Started: 7/22/2006 Finished: 10/08/2006
Modifications: I rarely follow the heel and toe instructions. This was the first sock in my heel and toe experiment. I used the Magic Cast-on and the PGR short-row heel. These were fun to knit and the leg pattern is really quick to work if you commit to stick to it. It repeats over 4 rows and 3 of those are simple K2P2 ribbing. The yarn is very soft and mom will have to see how it holds up over the long haul.
When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class? I started making socks in the fall of '01. I decided to make socks for most of my nieces and nephews for Xmas that year. It was my first time knitting Xmas presents and I finished each pair. One of my nephews was around 2 at the time and when I tried to get him to try his socks on the DPN's still in them he was terrified. It was a full year before he would put the socks on and he ended up wearing them all the time around the house. They all have their socks as they have refused to pass down any of their knitted gifts.
I taught myself using a generic sock pattern from the lys.
What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?My first pair was from a Regia leaflet and had looped fringed around the top. It was a basic top-down sock pattern worked in 2 strands of Regia 4fadig Clown color. They are stored in my nieces drawer. She outgrew them a few years ago.
What would you have done differently?Not a single thing. They turned out great and fit perfectly.
What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?I've used Regia, Froelich Wolle, Online, Mountain Colors and I'm using Cherry Tree Hill for the first time. I like them all for their own unique reasons. My favorites at the moment are the MC and CTH. I have some Sundara Sock in the stash to try and will try other brands. I haven't tried Koigu for socks. I love it in the shawl I made but I balked at paying $30+ for a pair of socks which is about what it would cost for the 3 skeins I need to make a pair for my large feet. However, I'm still interested in trying more of the premium sock yarns that are available.
Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?I've never tried crocheting socks. My preference is DPN's. I do use the 2 circ method, but I've never tried the Magic Loop. It's not on my radar at the moment.
Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)
How many pairs have you made? For years I used the flap heel. One of my Guild members showed me a short-row method that I've used for the past year 1 1/2 when working toe-up. This summer I started trying different methods for toes and heels and my current fav is the PGR short-row heel. That is subject to change as I try and experiment with other techniques.
How many pairs have you made? 22. I now have 2 pairs on the needles.
After a little trial and error, I've decided to use a pattern called the "Comma Stitch" on the leg of the sock.
It's hard to photograph because it blends into the background colors of the sock. The pattern is very visible in person and is not distracting from the coloring of the yarn. I love the way it's there but not in your face there.
Specs:
Pattern: Openwork Ribs from Sensational Knitted Socks
Needles: 1 US Inox dpn's
Yarn: Regia Bamboo Color Clown
Size: Women's 10 narrow
Started: 7/22/2006 Finished: 10/08/2006
Modifications: I rarely follow the heel and toe instructions. This was the first sock in my heel and toe experiment. I used the Magic Cast-on and the PGR short-row heel. These were fun to knit and the leg pattern is really quick to work if you commit to stick to it. It repeats over 4 rows and 3 of those are simple K2P2 ribbing. The yarn is very soft and mom will have to see how it holds up over the long haul.
When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class? I started making socks in the fall of '01. I decided to make socks for most of my nieces and nephews for Xmas that year. It was my first time knitting Xmas presents and I finished each pair. One of my nephews was around 2 at the time and when I tried to get him to try his socks on the DPN's still in them he was terrified. It was a full year before he would put the socks on and he ended up wearing them all the time around the house. They all have their socks as they have refused to pass down any of their knitted gifts.
I taught myself using a generic sock pattern from the lys.
What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?My first pair was from a Regia leaflet and had looped fringed around the top. It was a basic top-down sock pattern worked in 2 strands of Regia 4fadig Clown color. They are stored in my nieces drawer. She outgrew them a few years ago.
What would you have done differently?Not a single thing. They turned out great and fit perfectly.
What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?I've used Regia, Froelich Wolle, Online, Mountain Colors and I'm using Cherry Tree Hill for the first time. I like them all for their own unique reasons. My favorites at the moment are the MC and CTH. I have some Sundara Sock in the stash to try and will try other brands. I haven't tried Koigu for socks. I love it in the shawl I made but I balked at paying $30+ for a pair of socks which is about what it would cost for the 3 skeins I need to make a pair for my large feet. However, I'm still interested in trying more of the premium sock yarns that are available.
Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?I've never tried crocheting socks. My preference is DPN's. I do use the 2 circ method, but I've never tried the Magic Loop. It's not on my radar at the moment.
Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)
How many pairs have you made? For years I used the flap heel. One of my Guild members showed me a short-row method that I've used for the past year 1 1/2 when working toe-up. This summer I started trying different methods for toes and heels and my current fav is the PGR short-row heel. That is subject to change as I try and experiment with other techniques.
How many pairs have you made? 22. I now have 2 pairs on the needles.
After a little trial and error, I've decided to use a pattern called the "Comma Stitch" on the leg of the sock.
It's hard to photograph because it blends into the background colors of the sock. The pattern is very visible in person and is not distracting from the coloring of the yarn. I love the way it's there but not in your face there.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Swallowtail II
This morning at work I started Swallowtail #2 using ebony JaggerSpun Zephyr.
This is for one of my co-workers. She gave me her mother's needles a few years ago and it was a special gift since her mother passed when she was young and they were living in Syria. I've been wracking my brain trying to decide what to make for her. When she saw the red Swallowtail Shawl she asked if I would make one for her to use as a head scarf for church and how much would it cost. Are you kidding me?! Well of course I will and for gratis.
There is steady progress on the socks. I'm almost ready to turn the heel on the Raked Leaves and the leg of the Openwork Rib socks inching it's way up. I've been perusing stitch dictionaries trying to find just the right pattern for the leg. There are a few that have caught my attention and I'll be making a decision some time in the next few days. (There is serious pitfall to owning to many pattern dictionaries. It makes the decision making process hell!!!)
Before I went to work this morning I took a picture of the new floor after sanding and buffing.
When I came home this afternoon they looked like this.
There's one more coat to be applied before the job is finished. By the time the holidays arrive the floors in the rest of the house will look more like these. We also found out that we have more than a few touch ups needed here and there. We have serious single coat issues in every room except the den which has been painted twice. It's amazing what's revealed when the lights come on.
This is for one of my co-workers. She gave me her mother's needles a few years ago and it was a special gift since her mother passed when she was young and they were living in Syria. I've been wracking my brain trying to decide what to make for her. When she saw the red Swallowtail Shawl she asked if I would make one for her to use as a head scarf for church and how much would it cost. Are you kidding me?! Well of course I will and for gratis.
There is steady progress on the socks. I'm almost ready to turn the heel on the Raked Leaves and the leg of the Openwork Rib socks inching it's way up. I've been perusing stitch dictionaries trying to find just the right pattern for the leg. There are a few that have caught my attention and I'll be making a decision some time in the next few days. (There is serious pitfall to owning to many pattern dictionaries. It makes the decision making process hell!!!)
Before I went to work this morning I took a picture of the new floor after sanding and buffing.
When I came home this afternoon they looked like this.
There's one more coat to be applied before the job is finished. By the time the holidays arrive the floors in the rest of the house will look more like these. We also found out that we have more than a few touch ups needed here and there. We have serious single coat issues in every room except the den which has been painted twice. It's amazing what's revealed when the lights come on.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Raking Leaves
It never seems to fail! I'm so loving this CTH sock yarn and it's not for me. It is the perfect match for mom's clogs.
The colors remind of the leaves after they have fallen on the ground and are ready for raking. The CTH Supersock is soft, cushy and sproingy. This pair will work up fast because I'm enjoying the yarn and don't want to put them down!
I'm on the leg of the second Bamboo Color sock and seriously doubt that I'll finish the Cotton Color socks anytime soon. I look forward to the cool weather when I can wear the few pairs of wool handknit socks that I own. This does not bode well at all for the two pairs that are currently on the needles. The State Fair starts in a week and half and usually coincides with a significant drop in the temp resulting in perfect sock and sweater weather.
I finished the front of Pumpkin this afternoon and appear to have a half-inch difference between the front and back before the armhole bind-off. A rather easy problem to solve and since the back is completely plain I'll make the adjustment on it. After that's fixed the only thing remaining is to block and seam it together before adding the hood.
I remembered where I put the yarn for the 2 Xmas boleros and retrieved the packs from the storage unit today. These work up pretty fast so I'm hoping to have the done in the next week or so. That is once I figure out were I put the Knits magazines. With things packed and stored in different places it's starting to get a little hectic.
The colors remind of the leaves after they have fallen on the ground and are ready for raking. The CTH Supersock is soft, cushy and sproingy. This pair will work up fast because I'm enjoying the yarn and don't want to put them down!
I'm on the leg of the second Bamboo Color sock and seriously doubt that I'll finish the Cotton Color socks anytime soon. I look forward to the cool weather when I can wear the few pairs of wool handknit socks that I own. This does not bode well at all for the two pairs that are currently on the needles. The State Fair starts in a week and half and usually coincides with a significant drop in the temp resulting in perfect sock and sweater weather.
I finished the front of Pumpkin this afternoon and appear to have a half-inch difference between the front and back before the armhole bind-off. A rather easy problem to solve and since the back is completely plain I'll make the adjustment on it. After that's fixed the only thing remaining is to block and seam it together before adding the hood.
I remembered where I put the yarn for the 2 Xmas boleros and retrieved the packs from the storage unit today. These work up pretty fast so I'm hoping to have the done in the next week or so. That is once I figure out were I put the Knits magazines. With things packed and stored in different places it's starting to get a little hectic.
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