Bag Lady

For the Socks that Rawk group, Q1 "Tina's Choice" KAL.

I knitted these on and off over the 3 months.  Just simply got distracted with other knitting and then of course life always calls too.

The heel portion adds a decent amount of length to the foot, originally I had about a size 7.5 sock, which is way too long for my little size 5.  I ripped back down to about 4.5 inches and started the heel again, this time it worked out perfectly, although I think if I were to use this version of heel, I'd go with maybe 4 inches to give it a more snug fit.   

I was originally skeptical about having garter stitch toe and heel, but it's actually pretty comfortable.  The pattern simply ends at the leg portion, you just bind off in pattern, no cuff.  I did, however, try a version of a garter stitch cuff and didn't like it, so I ripped it out and went with the pattern instructions.

All and all I'm happy with them, another pair of socks to add to my ever growing sock wardrobe.

Quick note about the pictures, it was quite interesting contorting my body to get these pics.  Although the time I spent contorting did count as a small but always needed workout! 

Pattern: Solstice Slip by JC Briar
 Yarn: Socks that Rock - Lightweight "Bag Lady" colorway
Needles: US 1 (Addi Lace)
Started: January 16, 2011
Finished: March 28, 2011

Mods: Front (instep) stitches are 30, and the sole st’s are 25. I did this intentionally to make the sock fit snug, since my feet are small and narrow. At heel portion, increased to the 35 sts.  When done with the heel portion, the first round that starts the decreases (k2tog/ssk) I picked up all wrapped stitches on the first and last stitches that I did decreases on. This worked great and closing any holes.  I went with ankle socks instead of the traditional longer leg.

And knits move on

My knitting over the past few months has been rather erratic, I'm all over the board with mini-knits to large full on sweater knits.  Not that I'm complaining, I do love the variety in the knits, and crochets lately but sometimes I sit back and really want to focus on more fulfulling knitting. 

At this point in my knitting reportoire I've grown to really enjoy the satisfaction of edgy, elegant, intricate, creative patterns.  So what gets in the way of me knitting all that my heart desires? 

My Harry Potter escapades!  Yes, I'm a HP fan, along with being a Twilight fan.  There's a fantastic group on Rav that is HP themed and there's actually classes per month turning in knitting and crocheting items.  It's rather fun actually, but it can actually be pretty busy as well.  So here are a few gallery pictures of FO's from January and February.

In other areas I did finish the lovely Rosamund Cardi for Pico Accuardi Dyeworks at Stitches West 2011

This is the last picture I took of Rosamund (this is knit in Guiseppe "thick/thin" yarn from PAD), I should be getting a complete picture soon, but it turned out gorgeous!

I also started a new Acorns sweater, using lovely  PAD yarn in Negro con Rojo, it's absolutely lovely!

Now onto Solstice Slip socks, I was actually done with these babies but frogged because I felt they were too long.  So now I'll pick this up again to make the right length.  The heel was literally about 1.5 or 2 inches of extra length of the foot, vastly threw off my length!

I'll also be starting these cute Arista Gauntlets, another great one from PAD

And finally I've started a new Cotton Candy Hearts Blankie, using Cotton Candy yarn.  It's all eco and all soft cotton.  Feels so silky and soft knit up.  I believe this will be a present for one of my nieces, definitely not for me!

Phew! Ok see you Wednesday!  Time to get back on track with all my duties, I do believe time has been off lately. 

Happy Monday!

My how time flies!

Yes time flies when you have too much to do, doesn’t it? It's been over a week since my last post, I'm so sorry! What have I been up to?

Well I've been working on a secret personal project, that for now I can't share, but maybe someday soon, I'm aiming for later this year. It isn't related to knitting, but I can't say that knitting won't be a part of it. It's a different passion of mines that I've always aspired too, and hopefully I'll make it happen. It's the right time in my life for me right now to do this, so wish me luck 8) I would shed more light on "what it is" but for now, I need to keep it under wraps.

The project I've been working on requires a lot of research, a lot of soul-searching and a lot of time to think. I've slowly started trying to balance my other passions, like knitting, which I love, and need to focus on balancing it more. On top of this, there's the normal work grind and raising my kids, although their both completely self sufficient, they require more "mental" support from me and my husband. When your kids get to the teenage years, the game changes, and a lot of questions are asked about decisions for their future, about life in general.

It's too easy when their big to forget about them in the sense that you don't have to "babysit" them, as it once was required. You know when their babies, toddlers, little kids, they can get into anything, and it involves a lot of "physical" stamina to keep them safe. There's also planning the college layout for my daughter, which has actually turned out better than planned, because my daughter put the effort forward and was promoted to a TA for her class. Lastly, there's my son who begged to go to a completely different High School than my daughter, it was first a deliberate "NO" from me, but eventually I reached a compromise with him and I think it was probably the best decision I've made thus far for him. It means a lot of commitment on his part, like being responsible for his own transportation, keeping his grades in the A range, and also getting involved in sports. He is now on the wrestling team, it was a major surprise to us, but he did it and now is learning the brains of wrestling. Ok, so are you sick of my life now? LOL!

Onto the more fun stuff and exactly what this blog post needs!

Granted this is a late share, but hey, better late than never!

My Stitches Loot, yes it's small, I was practicing restraint the whole time, and now that I see what I bought, I'm amazed at how little it is!



From Plymouth Yarns, Baby Alpaca, in a black tweedish colorway, so soft! Suri lace, now this, it is the green ball you see there, this fiber is the softest I've felt ever, and that little ball has over 400 yards! There's also some naturally dyed fiber from "A Verb for Knitting" in black. I love this so much, I just had to buy some when I saw it and I have to say again, WonderMike is the nicest! He was working the booth when Marisol and I visited. Another friend, Leslie a.k.a. Tapmouse, was working the BMF booth and she aptly pointed out the LSS goodie in my hand in the Muddy Bottom Breakdown colorway as being a "Rocky" color, and she is so right! I love it, the beige is just too gorgeous, I just don't know what to make with it! Lastly I purchased the cutest bull magnet, cause I love magnets! And that's it for the loot, not a lot, but definitely pleasing.

Now, I have some knitting time scheduled, that's my plan, to block out specific times to knit otherwise I'll get lost in my private project if I don't.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

In a mellow mood

Lately I've been coveting more of the neutral colored yarns, the darks, but with a suttle hint of color. I visited Purlescence Yarns a few days ago, just needing to get a fix of yarnie goodness, and as dependable as can be, they always have such a good deep stock of BMF.

My stash is filled with lace, sock yarns, various amounts of worsted weight yarns, but not much of chunky or thicker yarns. There are a few projects that have caught my eye, and I need the thicker yarns to do it, say like a a litter thicker than your average worsted weight.

One of my little investments was Obsidian from Twisted BMF, it's 560 yds. of pure 100% Merino softness, I fell in love when I saw it.





I can make more than a few things out of this one skein, or hank? What would you call it? I'll have to dig up some of my saved "Planned Projects" patterns to start using this yarn. It will be quick and sweet satsifaction.

Another tidbit I've been just aching to get my hands on is the latest Knit1 mag, since you can't subscribe to the mag you really need to stalk your local carriers, mine being Barnes and Noble or Michael's, but it's very hard to catch one of these left behind there, so Barnes it is for me. Hey, I don't mind, any excuse to go to Barnes for me is a good one, I just love books.

One of my all time favorite designers, he's classic but fresh, simple yet intricate with his designs, is Jared Flood. I read his blog, Brooklyn Tweed, religiously, and he mentioned that he'll have his Relm Tam featured in the latest Knit1. Here's this pretty tam...



I have some gorgeous yarn I picked up last year at Stitches West 2008, it is from a newer yarn provider, East Port Yarns. Their yarn is literally super soft and the colors are so gorgeous reminiscent of the classic victorian era. I'll snap some pics of my EPY stash and show yah. I plan to use one of the skeins to make the Relm Tam.

Ooh, last but not least, one little scrumptous morsel left, I was "enabled" by a fellow RR member on Ravelry to visit this yarnie's site Dude Yarn. I picked up 1 skein of 100% wool in "Sunday Driver Grey" isn't that a cool name?





I'll catch you later, it's mid-week and I'm ready for the end of it. 8-)