March Socks are Done!


And I didn't wait until 11:45p on the last day of the month either. What a surprise. I finished these last night, a whole 2 days early compared to last month. These were a delight to knit. I loved almost all of it, especially the pattern, the yarn, the colors. I did one sock one dpns and the other sock on 2 circs to see if I preferred one method over the other. Thing is, I didn't. I got bored with each method by the end of the sock. Hmmm, what gives? Am I destined to never be happy knitting socks on tiny needles? I'm curious about the Clover mini circular needles, so I'll see if I can scare up a pair of those in size 4s, the smallest size, and try them out with heavier yarn. Maybe I'll like that better. Maybe not.



Project: Hedera socks by Cookie A.
Yarn: Blue Moon Socks That Rock Lightweight in Lemongrass
Needles: Inox dpns US size 2 (that are really size 1 according to the needle gauge) for the first sock, and Addi Turbo circs US size 1 and KnitPicks Options classic circs US size 1 for the second sock
Start: Feb 24, cast on at Stitches West
Finish: March 29

Thoughts: This pattern rocks and that's because Cookie is a freakin' genius. Of course, I have no clue about lace or sock patterns; I can only follow the directions and even then it's a challenge for me. I am amazed that I was able to do lace and socks at the same time! The socks are a little bit big, and maybe that's because I knit loose. Doesn't matter, I still love the socks. I'll wash 'em in the washer and toss them in the dryer for a bit to see if it tightens a little bit.

This was my first experience knitting with STR and I really enjoyed the feel of it. I tend to split my yarns easily from picking at my yarns and it seemed as if I split the STR less than other yarns. The exception was when I was using the super pointy KnitPicks Options. I really had to make an effort not to poke into the yarn and to be sure to grab the whole strand.

I really didn't mind doing the top-down sock construction as much as I thought I would. The lace pattern was easy to remember and helped pass the time as you zip down the leg. Even though I knit loosely, the stockinette bottom doesn't feel too loose or flimsy. In fact, the fabric feels like just the right amount of tightness for durability without feeling too stiff. I have a little bit of leftover yarn, just right, I would imagine, after finishing socks, without feeling like any of this wonder yarn is wasted.

Next up, I'm thinking I'll try toe-up Jaywalkers. Or Wendy's toe-up sock recipe. Or maybe a Socks Soar on Two Circs Cat Bordhi pattern. Or...

Yummy

On Thursday, the Sweeties and I went to the new Beard Papa that opened up near us. Food and Knitting Guru Patty told me about it, and I had read a great article about the Japanese chain in the LA Times. Imagine my surprise, when I came home armed with digital pics, ready to blog and saw Ellen had scooped me with her Beard Papa post. No problem! Just call us the cream puff army spreading the love. So here are the pictures taken with the goal of making you drool.

My kids claimed to not like them. I have these pictures to prove otherwise. And the cream puffs were even more delicious than they look. Patty was right; the chocolate custard cream was grainy. The vanilla cream was divine.

I swear I don't know where she learned this stuff-food-into-mouth technique.

Who taught this boy how to eat?

This morning, Sweetie Girl participated in Nordstrom's Kids' Fashion Show. Seems they have these every season or so, and she did this with five other Brownie troop friends. Here she is strutting her stuff down the runway.

Aaaaaand there she goes.

She didn't stop on the stage long enough for me to snap a picture of her. She's been a jumpin' bean from excitement these past two weeks up until the Fashion Show, and got nervous or scared when the actual time came. Huh. Go figure. At the end, they had all the kids line up and walk through one more time and pose for pics.

What did we get out of this? 15% off kids clothes at Nordies. She picked a skirt, but the best thing IMHO she chose? These.

Chuck Taylor All-Stars. Hers are more orangey. She's my kinda funky gal.
Have a great weekend y'all!

The Beginnings of CPH

I am about 8" into it and have 6" more before I start the underarm shaping. My right cable looks a bit wonky, but I have checked and double-checked that it's turned corrrectly. It may be the Black Water Abbey, since it's a bit rough and grippy. Hopefully it'll block out fine. I'm on a bit of a break from this right now, until I can finish my March sock for SAM 3. Just my luck; I'll spend all of March working on one pair of socks on size 1 needles. Now I remember why I like making footies on worsted weight yarn. Here's a close up picture of the double cable running up the back. I like this picture because I think it shows the texture of the yarn and cables really well. Madge and Marie are also making CPHs and are way farther along than I. Be sure to check theirs out.

Tricky Tricot blogged about this tremendous yarn sale at Knit Happens Online. Like a fool, I had to go and check it out. Hours later, I have purchased waaaaay too much yarn, but who can resist deals like Cascade 220 for $3 a skein (especially when the Fitted Knits book features some rockin' sweaters made from this yarn?), Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky for $3 a ball, Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk for less than $4 a ball, Koigu KPPPM for $4.50 a skein. Oops, did I just tell you everything I purchased? Well, I might be holding out on a couple of yarns, but it's definitely worth checking it out.

Wait! Before you click on their site, I have to give you some navigational advice. Be sure to click on the second Yarn button on the left hand bar. Then, you can select how you want to have the yarn presented to you by brand, weight, or gauge. Then you'll see all of the yarns. If you just click on the What's New Yarn, you'll only see a couple of yarns. It's kind of hard to navigate this site, but I know you can do it. I also know you can give me a run for my money when it comes to buying yarn. Be sure to let me know what you got!

My First Hedera

Here they are, the first Hedera sock is done. I finished it yesterday and hurried to cast on the second sock. I made the first sock on dpns, and I started the second on 2 circs. The jury is still out on whether I'm going to keep going on 2 circs or switch back to dpns. Both are different kinds of fiddly, but fiddly all the same. I might have to order a pair of those clover mini circs and see if I like those. Sigh... will I never be satisfied? That's not exactly true. I am satisfied with the lace pattern on these socks. Here's a close up view of the lace. The color is a bit washed out; it's limey-er, more like the picture above.



Robyn, my Secret Pal hostess with the mostest is holding a contest. What's your favorite knitting notion. Behold!

It's my silk fortune cookie that holds my stitchmarkers. I love that it holds all of my beautiful stitchmarkers and opens wide enough for me to see them. I love that it just takes a little squeeze to even open them, but they stay closed and secure in my notions bag. I especially love that it's just a repurposed coin purse but has that asian dim sum vibe going for it.

I definitely wrestled with this question. Would it be my Susan Bates needle gauge? My clover ka cha just because I love that darned sound it makes? (So do my 6 year old daughter and 81 year old mother, both of whom love to pick it up and click away without any thought about its purpose.) My second favorites are my stitchmarkers that are really size 8 jump rings. These little gems cost $1 for 100 of them and are the easiest things to slip from one needle to the other without having to flip the dangly (beautiful but fiddly dangly)? Don't get me wrong. I so love beautiful stitchmarkers. I love having them, their beautiful colors, gems, beads and motifs. I love looking at them and imagining using them on grand projects. I also love these jump ring stitchmarkers because there's something beautiful in the simplicity of the plain ring. Melise turned me onto them about a year ago when I was doing lace for the first time. I bow down to her knitting wisdom.

Finally Wicked!



Here she is in all her glory. No, not me. I'm talking about the sweater. The Sweater. Wicked. I ran out of yarn and was getting distracted with the idea of a new project, so I didn't make the kangaroo pocket. I really like this sweater and will definitely wear it when the weather cools down. Too bad temps in the LA area have been in the '90s lately.



Project: Wicked
Yarn: Colorado Yarns Durango in a burgundy color (I can't remember the color number and the label is somewhere I'm not.)
Needles: KnitPicks Options US Size 5
Start: Feb 5
Finish: March 12

Thoughts: This sweater is so comfortable. I know when temperatures drop, I'll be reaching for this sweater time and time again. It felt like miles of stockinette but I adore making top-down raglans, especially with worsted weight yarn. I'll tell you a secret. I didn't swatch (gasp!); are you shocked? And since I committed such a knitting sin, I got smacked by the Knitting Goddess. My initial thoughts were that I always knit loose, so I'll go down the customary 2 needle sizes. Since it's a boatneck, it should fit around my big head (which it did! whew!). After several inches of knitting stockinette in the round, I got curious and checked my gauge. My gauge was a bit smaller than the pattern called for, so I did the maths, and ended up following the numbers for the next size up. I didn't worry about it, because I knew I could just knit the increases until it fit comfortably around my chest and arms before setting aside the sleeve stitches. I could have started the waist shaping decreases a little earlier than the 3" called for in the pattern, but it turned out fine. Because of my smaller gauge, I actually ran out of yarn after 6 balls. Marie came to the rescue with the 7th ball and I ended up using about half of it. Would I make it again? Absolutely! In fact, I already have the yarn for it. Thanks to Jillian for snapping the pics.

Breaking News!

I cast off Wicked today, after having to frog one of the sleeves. Watching TV late at night when you're tired and doing crossover cables just didn't work for me last night, so I frogged and reknit the last sleeve today. I just need to weave in the ends, wash and block and it's ready to go! Of course, now that we have weather in the '90s here in LA, I'll wear it for a picture. Then, I'll promptly fold it up nicely tuck it away in a drawer until Fall or Winter. I'll post pictures in a few days.

Just so you have something nice to look at, and there are lots of pictures already being posted of the STR sock club installment, here you go. A little eye candy:

Pinkie Promise

Sweetie Girl was lamenting the other day about how I *never* knit her anything... well, at least not for the past 2 months. The last bit o' knit she got was the Drive Thru Sweater. She made me pinkie promise that I would knit her washcloth before I started any other project. Since Wicked is stalled until I can get more yarn, and I have swatched for the Central Park Hoodie, there was nothing else to be done except the washcloth.

Project: Washcloth from Mason-Dixon Knitting

Yarn: Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille in Chartreuse
Needles: KnitPicks Options US size 8

Start: 3/9

Finish: 3/10
Thoughts: I love making this washcloth! I had made one for Beth's baby and had forgotten how quick, easy and fun it is to knit up. It only took about 2 or 3 hours. The bobbles and eyelet holes at the beginning add just a dash of panache and keep things interesting. I have 3 more skeins of the chenille in my stash to knit more up for the family. In the book, they also show these knit up with kitchen cotton as a potholder or washcloth. These would great little gifts for friends for various occasions, so I might need to add some Peaches and Cream cotton to the stash to whip these out when needed. Promise kept!

I swatched for CPH with the Black Water Abbey 2 ply in pink heathers, and here's the little gem. I used the suggested size 8's, washed the sucker and hit gauge. I'm afraid of my gauge growing in the middle of the sweater, as it is wont to do, so I'll have to be extra dutiful to keep my eye on it. The yarn is a bit rough and sticky (is that the right word for it?), so my stockinette stitch looks quite rough. I'm used to the nice, smooth stockinette stitches you get from merino, but I think this yarn is still gonna rock the house. I've read all over that the pattern runs small, so I'm planning on following the 40" directions. I picked up 2 balls of Durango from Saint Marie this afternoon, so all I gotta do now is finish up the short sleeves on Wicked and I'll be ready to start CPH. I promise.

Who else is working on CPH right now?

I've Never Felt So Old

The other day, I accompanied Sweetie Boy and his class on a field trip to the Huntington Library and Gardens. We're only about 15 minutes away, and it's always such a pleasure to go here. If you have never been, this place is da bomb! They feature a wonderful museum with incredible works of art, including Blue Boy and Pinkie, an amazing book collection, and gardens upon gardens of beautiful flowers, plants and trees. I'm trying not to gush on and on about it because no words will do this place justice. If you're coming to LA for a visit, you must see this place. It's completely worth it, and if you want to treat yourself a bit, go to their tea room. It's always great to stuff yourself with tea, scones, sandwiches, and dessert, and then roll yourself out to stroll among the gardens.

Anyhoo... after the field trip, Sweetie Boy's homework assignment was to write 10 sentences using their spelling words for the week. He typed them up on my computer, and this is what I spied:

The portrait of Blue Boy was my geriatric mother’s favorite painting.

What the...??? He's gonna get it now.

P.S. Wicked is stalled. I cast off on the waist band, and just have the 2 sleeves to finish. I went to the stash to get the last ball, but apparently I used it already! I didn't realize that I went through all six balls of yarn, but my Angel, Marie, is kind enough to share one with me from her stash. Thank you, Marie! I'm swatching for the Central Park Hoodie with my Black Water Abbey yarn I got at Stitches. Wish me luck!

SP 10 Questionnaire

For my Secret Pal 10:

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love alpaca, merino, silk and am particularly interested in the new “alternative” fibers, like bamboo, corn, and chitin. Lately I have been drawn also to traditional or classic wool yarns, and am especially curious about Beaverslide. I really love almost anything by Blue Sky, Malabrigo, Blue Moon (no duh!), Blue Heron (but funny, I don't especially like blue yarn!). I *really* despise acrylic and most novelty yarns. I am embarrassed to admit it, but it's true. Hi. My name is Mary. I'm a yarn snob.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
KnitPicks Options are stored in their own case, and I just got this great new circular needle holder by Della Q at Stitches West. My rarely used straight needles are kept in a pretty ceramic vase. Don’t have anything to store DPNs, but then again, I don’t have many. I have been contemplating getting some KnitPicks or Susan Bates dpns in sizes 1, 4 and 5.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I learned to knit about 4 1/2 years ago, but have been avidly knitting for about 2. I consider myself a confident intermediate, but there are still many things to learn and tackle.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Nope

5. What's your favorite scent?
Citrus, hands down! I also love almond, coconut, green apple and grapefruit. Unfortunately, fragrances and lotions don't mix well for me, as I have eczema (sorry, TMI!) but I still love those scents in other forms.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I definitely have a sweet tooth, and love dark chocolate, any kind of baked dessert/good; I’m also partial towards fruity and coffee flavors too.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I have *way* too much yarn to be interested in other crafts. I’m afraid to start spinning or dyeing because I might abandon my lovely stash.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like many different kinds of music but tend not to like rap as much. I love a great, smooth voice. Lately, I’ve been intensely curious about blues (good ol’ traditional blues), John Legend, Michael Buble, John Mayer and any other great voices, male or female. I also love alternative and flashbacks to my childhood ‘70s and ‘80s music, such as ABBA, E.L.O., disco, and 80’s “new wave.”

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?I really love greens (almost anything except solid forest or hunter green or kelly green), reds, browns, burgundies, pinks, oranges and yellows in moderation. I tend not to be a blue person but not sure why or why not.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Married, 2 kids, no pets

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Since I live in sunny So Cal, I wear hats occasionally to early morning soccer games, and scarves when there’s a bit of a chill. Mittens… almost never, and as for ponchos, please kill me first.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Besides gifts for others, I love knitting socks, caps because they’re quick and easy, and wrist warmers.

13. What are you knitting right now?
I’m finishing up my Wicked sweater and Hedera socks. What will I cast on next? The choices are endless. Will it be the Central Park Hoodie? The scribble lace scarf? Perhaps a malabrigo reversible cable scarf? Cotton chenille washcloth? Fetchings?

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Abso-freakin-lutely

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I almost always use metal circulars but have been thinking of getting a 16" circular in sizes US 6 and 8 for hats.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Yes.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
1 ½ years. Please don't remind me.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
It used to be Christmas and then Thanksgiving. For the past 2 years, it has become any holiday where I haven’t had to cook a lot or host a gathering (takes up too much knitting time!), and they have been Easter and 4th of July.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Yarn, knitting books, knitting needles, stitch markers, plastic tubs to hold my yarn, seems to be anything knitting related.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I have Vogue and Interweave. I’d love to have KnitPicks dpns (above), any Barbara Walker’s Treasury 1 or 2, future releases (Yarn Harlot’s upcoming, and Charlene Schurch’s upcoming More Sensational Knitted Socks), Favorite Socks: 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave, and Lace Style.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I really need to improve my finishing skills, especially seaming.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I am a sock knitter, although I really need to work on learning some more heels techniques. I’m a US women’s size 8.

23. When is your birthday?
November 5th

The Kindness of Knitters

One of the things that my friends and I continually gush over is the kindness of knitters. Sure, you get the shops with snooty people who don't want to help you. And I enjoy walking away from them and not giving them any of my money. However, when you come across those kind knitters that are complete strangers, it just blows you away. We had experience after experience of this kindness in classes, in the marketplace, at the bar, just walking through the hallways.

The best experience I had at Stitches was with Cookie. Cookie is a kickass sock designer who was running her own booth at Stitches and terribly busy. I had decided I wanted to knit something special at Stitches, and couldn't be bored with my projects I brought up with me. Nevermind, that I forgot to bring the new ball of yarn for Wicked. Since I've been aching to do a traditional top down sock, I decided I would check out the Bay Area Knitters Coop for a Cookie pattern. The new patterns she was offering were probably too advanced for what I wanted, but I spied a Hedera among the samples. Hedera is a free pattern on Knitty. They looked like just the level of difficulty I needed, so I decided to use my new skein of STR Lemongrass for them. After searching the marketplace for US size 2 metal dpns, I was set... or at least thought I was. I could just print up the pattern at the hotel and be off, right? Wrong. Turns out, it would have cost me about $15 to print it up at the Hyatt. Bad idea. Save the money for more yarn.

While stalking Cookie's booth the next day, I about not being able to start Hedera after all because I'm too cheap. And what did she do? She printed up the pattern for me right then and there! I know the pattern was free. I know the pattern is hers. The fact that she took time out right then and printed it for me, blew my mind away! I had to tell everybody I knew at Stitches about Cookie's kindness and sent them to her booth to buy more yarn. Of course, after seeing their shawls in the fashion show, I went back again and got more patterns and yarn. So without further ado, here is the beginning of my Lemongrass Hedera, thanks to Cookie.






Big socks, little socks. The big sister sock is Jillian's using STR Jasper in heavyweight. The colorway really is that beautiful. Good thing I got a skein of it for myself.

Here's the rest of the yarn roll call. I was going to tempt you with a little taste of my Stitches yarn at each posting, but I got tired of doing that. It's in my nature to be kind to you.



Fingering weight wool and hand-dyed sock yarn from Bay Area Knitters Coop. They had such great yarn at reasonable prices, and of course, excellent patterns too.




Wool and tencel sock yarn from Ellen's Half Pint Farm. I was excited to find out they were at Stitches, since my Secret Pal Annie got me a skein of their yarn for my birthday. I love the sheen from the tencel.



From Village Spinning and Weaving, a hank of their Hot Foot, hand-dyed superwash wool, and a hank of their 100% spun silk.




Honey Lane Farms sells this beautiful alpaca in an array of colors. Madge got a gorgeous green that I waited too long before buying and missed out, so I had to "settle" for this purpley plum color. The alpaca is to make their Roche Harbor Scarf.


Fiber Elements carries many different yarns, including these. (l) 100% alpaca from Henry's Attic in this beautiful chocolate color. It's slated to be a sweater for Sweetie Hubby one of these days. (r) Chasing Rainbows had a booth at Stitches but I didn't see much I liked from them until I went to the Fiber Elements booth. I came across this hank in these beautiful raspberry pinks, and it's worsted weight superwash wool. Perfect for another short-sleeved sweater for me. I think the subtle color variations will look great.

Don't hate me because I have beautiful yarn.

Guess Who's 50 Today!

No, not me! Shame on you for even thinking that. The Cat in the Hat is 50, and if you go to the Random House Cat in the Hat website and send a card to the Cat, Random House will donate a copy of the book to First Book, a non-profit organization that supports reading in low-income areas. Okay, I probably said a ton of politically incorrect things, but ignore my ignorance and just go there.