Sock Frenzy

It's been hot, hot, hot here. That means lots of time spent indoors escaping the heat and enjoying the AC. I've been working on the 3 pairs of socks that I have on the needles.

Sunshine - One sock down 1/3 of the second started.


Elongated Corded Rib - Sensational Knitted Socks for mom. I'm using Regia Bamboo Color. I started this one before the June Cookie A Sock Knit-Along began.


Nebula - Cookie A Sock Innovation Knit-Along June. I'm using the Kona that I dyed Cantaloupe.


I'm not sure if I'll finish this one in time. It requires a lot of work and I may not have the time to devote to it.

I've decided to knit the Triangular Warm Shawl. I spent two days looking for the pattern and it was exactly where I had put it. This pattern is in the September/October 2002 Piecework which is sold out and I was freaking out for a minute because I knew I'd purchased it with the kit. I haven't started yet too busy trying to get some of these socks finished and I've cast on something for mom.


She's been looking for a bolero type sweater. The new Knotions is out and features a cute bolero named the Little Peacock. I had Cotton Classic on hand in cream, she had specified white, but says that this color is okay. I casted on today and will try to finish this by the end of the month. We have a trip in July so I definitely want to be finished by then.


I've been keeping an eye on the garden. The tomatoes and squashes have blooms but no squash or tomatoes thus far. I have peppers growing and today I saw the first little cucumber. It is about an inch long so I have to be sure to water them well. Each year I'm trying to add something different. I love fresh fruit and vegetables and this is the time of year when you can get them at their best. I'm hoping that I have the same bounty that I did last year which gave me plenty of opportunities for sharing.

C is for Cookie

Yesterday I started my fourth pair of Cookie A socks. The Sunshine pattern from Sock Innovation. I'm using the Trekking Undyed that I dyed Cornflower. This color has called me from when it first came out of the dye pot. I may end up giving these socks to mom as the leg seems a little big on me. She has you increase to 80 stitches when doing the pattern and that may just be a tad too much for me.


The Sock Innovation knit-along is also planning to knit the Nebula. It is a new pattern available on her website. I was planning to use the Dream In Color Smooshy I purchased at Stitches South but it turned out to be a tangled mess. I had undone a knot in the skein thinking it was where it was tied and the trouble began. One large beautiful skein turned into 3 smaller yarn cakes. I was disappointed to say the least.

I've narrowed my shawl selection down to two. Both are Galina Khmeleva designs. The first choice is the Triangular/Warm scarf which I purchased as a kit at the TKGA convention in Atlanta a few years ago. The second choice is Olga's Indiski (Indian) Shawl which is on the cover of the current issue of Piecework. I saw this shawl at Stitches South and purchased the magazine before it was distributed. If I select this pattern I'll use some of the 50/50 Merino Silk I purchased from Skaska at the same time.

I'm still playing around with the dye pot. I tried the yarn cake dyeing technique used by Monica. I wound the cakes too loose and they fell apart in the pot. I also added two skeins that were still in their original form and had some fun results. I've overdyed some of the skeins and am waiting for them to dry.

I went to In the Loop to find yarn for the Nebula socks. I didn't find anything that caught my eye so this evening I am dyeing two 400 yard hanks Canteloupe. The large size of this pattern takes 500 yards! I may have to tone the color down some when I check it in the morning but for now it's looking good. This dyeing thing is getting in my blood. That's all for now, check you later.