Trekking Along

I managed to start the second pair of SOS socks before I went on vacation. On the return trip I was about a quarter up the leg when I spotted an obvious error after the heel turn. The River Rapids pattern knits up beautifully, but I wasn't pleased with the look of the Trekking on the size 2 needles. The yarn is somewhat thinner compared to most of the others I've used. Saturday I ripped out the whole thing and cast-on using size 1's. It looks so much better



This time I'm knitting the foot plain and will put the patterning on the leg. SOS pair two on the way.

While I'm not in the running for most socks knitted during SOS, I've finished another pair. These were started before SOS began and have been languishing on the needles as I worked on and even finished other projects.


Specs:
Pattern: My Basic Toe-Up Sock
Yarn: Regia Cotton Top Color 4075
Needles: Size 1 US Inox dpn's
Size: Women's 10
Started: June 14, 2007
Finished: August 30, 2007

The City of Fountains

We're back home from the city of fountains, museums and barbecue. The Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Ladies Auxillary of the VFW convention was held in Kansas City, MO this year. We didn't escape the heat, it was just as hot and humid as Columbia, but it was an enjoyable getaway.

There was political campaigning. Hillary Clinton and John McCain spoke Monday morning. Fred Thompson and Barack Obama were there Tuesday morning. The President was there on Wednesday. I attended Clinton, McCain and Obama. It was interesting, but I was not impressed by any of them.

Sunday we visited the Negro League Baseball Museum and the American Jazz Museum at 18th and Vine in the historic jazz district.


In South Carolina we have Palmetto trees, Cincinnati has pigs and Kansas City has bulls.


Monday we visited the Studio Knitting and Needlepoint. I started knitting one of the fronts Sunday evening and realized I didn't bring the smaller needles I needed. jacket. I had planned to visit to other shops in the area, but with the busy schedule we didn't get there.


There was moderate stash enhancement with a purchases of Hand Maiden Sea Silk and Lace Silk. I also got some Louet Gems to try. The staff was friendly and there was a selection of yarns I hadn't seen, however a lot of their sock yarns were in colors that didn't appeal to me or there was only a single skein remaining.


Wednesday we went to Union Station and had a reception at the Liberty memorial on that evening. On Thursday we toured the WWI museum at the memorial. It was tiring but well worth it.


Thursday evening I had completed all the pieces for the baby jacket and was more than ready to return home.

GrowthThrough Travel

Still getting organized for the trip to KC, MO. I'm trying very hard to avoid weight problems with my luggage due to overpacking. Making sure all the necessary chargers and accessories are packed. I plan to see several museums including the Negro League Baseball Museum, the American Jazz Museum, the Nelson-Atkins with its' new addition the Bloch and the WWWI Memorial. Yarn shops scoped out, food binges planned, I'm ready to eat, drink and be knitty.

I finsihed the jacket backet earlier this evening. I can only hope that velvet-piping is easy to find this time of year. That's the one thing I didn't take into consideration. Around the Xmas holidays it's a cinch, but in the middle of 100+ degrees August, maybe not.

Donna asked about my shawl pattern. It's mine using the Chatelaine chart from one of the BW treasuries. More details here. It's still a work in progress design-wise. Slowly morphing from sketches, notes and calculations on a legal pad into to something tangible. The first of many designs making their way out of my head as I stretch my knitting legs.

Just for Baby

When I found out my brother's friends were expecting their first I went searching for the "perfect" baby knitting book. Special Knits by Debbie Bliss and the Velvet-Edged Jacket pattern caught my eye. I was originally planning to make a smaller size in a nice denim color of Baby Cashmerino and purchased that at the same time. However, every time I looked in the book, which was often, I was drawn to the original color used in the photo and purchased that to use instead.


I'm taking a much needed break from the shawl and this projects rhythmic progression of stockinette stitch is just the ticket.

I'm in the process of catching things up and would like to recognize the following as a


Donna of Confessions of a Yarnaholic. Whom I met by chance and has the most creative crafting families I've ever met.

Theresa of Knitting Nonpareil who keeps us entertained with photos and stories about her grands. Are you moved in?

Stash expeditioneer Yargineer whom is a member of the wonderful SC Knitting Guild in Greenville and was a very patient chaffeur for a few of us at the knit-in.

Not five as the others I wanted to list have have already been nominated. A toast to all "Rockin' Girl Bloggers."

Upward and Onward

Total project commitment. Sucks! I can do it but it truly is not my personal knitting style.


Stretched the shawl measures about 33 x 31 inches. My original plan was to have a finished length without borders of 60 inches. I calculated that I'd need at least ten repeats to achieve my goal and today I reached what would've been the halfway point. I decided that since the shawl/stole is for a raffle it might be best to err on the side of wider and longer so I'm adding two additional repeats.

Conspicously absent is my lifeline which didn't worked as planned. I kept weaving it through one of the fibers every now and then and ended up abandoning it about midway the third repeat. So far there haven't been any major problems. Knock on wood!!!

Things have been hectic all around for several weeks. Saturday I'm flying out for vacation and some much needed R & R. I have yet to cast on for the second pair of socks for SOS which will soon be over if I don't get my a-- in gear. I'll be knitting the River Rapid socks by Sockbug in Trekking XXL. I'm planning to take them and one other special project for a precious little boy that caught everyone by surprise coming 8 weeks early. His parents are friends of my youngest brother and some of the most wonderful people I've ever met. Does anyone know if they still have baby showers for early arrivals?