Out with the Blue, In with the Purple

My main Project Spectrum project this month was a baby afghan. I also crocheted several squares for Heartmade Blessings with blue yarns from my stash.



I've already got my July Project Spectrum project picked out. It's the Baby hat from the book One Skein. I just happened to have one skein of purple Sirdar Domino in my stash.

What a Weekend!

Acquisitons

On Friday, I delivered the baby afghan I finished. The girl I made it for said that she has 2 friends who are expecting and was going to ask me to make 2 more for her. She said that both her friends were expecting boys. When I left work on Friday, I had some time to myself, so I stopped at Michael's and picked up these

to make this.


Then on Saturday, my youngest 2 boys and I headed out to A.C. Moore. This was something of an event for us, because if I want to go out shopping, I usually wait for Keith to be home so I can go by myself. But, Keith had to work and I didn't feel like waiting, so off we went. At A.C. Moore, I picked up these

to make this


I also picked up a knit dishcloth pattern leaflet and even though I didn't need any, I picked up a ball of cotton yarn.

The boys talked me into buying these.


A.C. Moore is part of an outdoor shopping mall called The Avenue. Since we were already there we went to a few other stores - Old Navy, looking for sunglasses for the kids - we didn't find any; Barnes & Noble - so Devin could buy a book he's been wanting; and Staples - because I wanted to get some envelopes, but then decided against it.

After we left The Avenue, we went across the street to White Marsh Mall (a regular style mall) for the purpose of going to Sears. Keith and I recently purchased water shoes from Land's End for ourselves. We originally saw them at Sears and tried them on but they didn't have the colors we wanted in the sizes we needed. So, after they arrived in the mail, the kids said they would like them too, but I didn't want to order them without the kids trying them on at the store first. So, back to Saturday, we went to Sears so the boys could try on these shoes and they only had 2 pair and they were the wrong size. There is another Sears store, closer to home, so we will have to make an effort to get out there and try them on. We go on vacation in 3 weeks and I want the boys to have these for vacation.

The mail Saturday, brought sock yarn. This comes from Black Bunny Fibers and the colorway is called Pink Lemonade.

Progress

After our shopping adventure on Saturday, and in between loads of laundry I worked on my knitting and crocheting. Every weekend I try to make at least a couple squares for Heartmade Blessings. This weekend was no exception. I made a 3 this weekend.

On Sunday, I finished these.

Opal Rainforest Collection - Flamingo
9 stitches per inch on size 1 DPNs

I also made great progress on my Trekking socks.


And my boys helped me wind up yarn for my next pair of socks.

Trekking XXL #135
I will probably cast on for these later this evening.

Summer of Socks Begins

Today starts the beginning of Summer of Socks. I have been neglecting my current sock projects, so that I could complete a baby afghan. The baby afghan is done, so I'm back to socks. And just in time too!

My first goal for Summer of Socks is to finish my current sock projects.

Opal Flamingo socks - currently working on the gusset of the second sock


Trekking (#23) socks - currently working on the leg of the first sock


Both pairs are constructed cuff down using size 1s and 72 stitches.

When these 2 are done, I'll pick something else out of my stash and start again. I don't have any other specific goals except to knit as many socks as I can.

Today for lunch I had Chinese food. My fortune reads, "You will be traveling and coming into a fortune." I will be traveling soon for vacation to Williamsburg, Virginia. Knitting Sisters yarn shop is located in Williamsburg. I wonder if my "fortune" will be yarn.

It's Done!

The baby afghan is done. I had a minor problem last night because I ran out of blue half-way around the border. Fortunately, I was able to get another ball of the same dye-lot at Wal-Mart today during lunch. The pattern is the Double Shell Stitch from Leisure Arts Leaflet #3205, Snuggle-Up Baby Afghans.

The pictures are a little off in color.



I used this pattern once before. Click here to see a pic.

And now...back to socks!

Still Working

Well, my weekend wasn't as successful as I was hoping. I didn't finish the baby afghan like I'd planned. I am only 4 rows away from the end (and then the border). Maybe I'll be able to get there tonight. I did get a couple dishcloths crocheted for an exchange, and I finished up 2 squares for Heartmade Blessings that I had previously started.

Summer of Socks starts in 2 days, so I've got to get the baby afghan out of the way. I'm still planning to devote the bulk of my summer knitting/crocheting time to knitting socks.

Busy Working....

I've been busy working on my various projects but I don't feel like I'm getting anywhere. I think know I have too many projects going at once right now. Usually I try to keep it down to one project and then in between I work on squares. Right now I have the following:
-Baby Afghan (half-way)
-Flamingo Socks (working on the gusset of the second sock)
-Trekking Socks (still working on the leg of the first sock)
Plus I'm still trying to get a few squares worked up a long the way.

I think I need to focus for now on the baby afghan. I really want to have that out of the way before Summer of Socks begins on the 21^st. There are some new sock yarns coming out this fall and I need to clear out some space in the sock yarn cabinet for new yarns. Plus, I'm hoping to attend Stitches East for the shopping. So, I'm going to try hard all summer long to work up as many socks as I can.

At the beginning of the year, I only set 2 "fiber" goals for myself. One was to knit a pair of socks a month (I've fallen behind on that, but hope to "catch-up" over summer). The other was to work through my stash of 4-ply worsted weight acrylic yarns, with the goal of emptying 2 rubbermaid containers. I started with five 18-gallon rubbermaid containers and various other small stashes of acrylic. I am happy to report, that as of yesterday I completely emptied one 18-gallon container.

Beautiful Birds

Thunderbirds!! These pics are from the Carlisle All Ford Nationals, June 3, 2006. Circumstances prevented me from driving my car, but I was still able to go and look at all the cars.






I had planned to walk around and look at the cars and then spend most of the day sitting in the grand stands knitting. But I only got a little bit of knitting time in. There was a lot more to look at than I anticipated.

Next year, my bird is going to be there!

Socks Update

I finally reached the gusset of my second flamingo sock. I've got a ways to go on the gusset decreases, but at least I'm past the hard part.


Trek Along With Me begins today so, I'll be casting on my first Trekking sock this evening. I'm going to a huge car show on Saturday at the Carlisle Fairgrounds in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. I'm not sure if this counts as a Trek but I'll be doing lots of walking around looking at cars and when I'm not doing that, I'll be sitting in the grand stands working on my socks. I plan to post pics on Sunday.