Wild Thing

I think these may be the quickest socks I've ever knit for myself. They took me 10 days to knit.



Pattern - my usual top down with Eye of Partridge heel flap and kitchenered toes
Yarn - Sock Hop, Wild Thing colorway
Needles & Gauge - Size 1 1/2 DPNs, 7 st/in

I loved working with this yarn. Because it's handspun, I never knew which color would turn up next. I think that's part of the reason why I was able to knit this socks so quickly. I have another colorway of this yarn in my stash. I have my next several pairs of socks already planned, but I might just have to move the Sock Hop up to the front of the line.

Random Thoughts

No pictures today. Getting home at 5:00 makes it difficult to take pictures. Without the natural light, the pictures turn out dark.

I recently came up out of the dark ages and started listening to podcasts. Knitting podcasts to be specific. At the suggestion of a blogless friend, I've subscribed to and downloaded previous episodes of the Lime & Violet podcast. I am finding them to be very entertaining, but also dangerous with all the yarn p*rn segments.

I have decided to go on a yarn fast between now and the end of the year. I purchased a lot of sock yarn (14 skeins to be exact) at Stitches a couple weekends ago and my sock yarn stash is getting way out of control. It is no longer contained in the cabinet I purchased for the purpose of storing my sock yarn. It has now overflowed onto a closet shelf. I figure I can go six weeks without acquiring any new stash.

In an attempt to get my stash back to a more manageable level, I am also going to try to knit another 5 pair of socks by the end of the year. This is huge for someone like me. With 3 kids, a husband, house, dog and 40-hour a week job, I don't get nearly enough time to knit. But in order to make things go my way, I am planning to use sport weight or 6-ply for my next few pair of socks. I have some Yarntini sport weight, more Socks That Rock medium weight, and ON-Line 6-ply lined up for my next socks.

I currently have two pair of socks on the needles. Opal Acapulco socks - still on sock 1, but I am working on the foot now. Yesterday, I cast on my first Sock Hop sock. I am already past the heel on the first sock!! This is my first time using handspun and I think it went so quickly because I was anxious to see what color yarn would come up next. I'm hoping by Wednesday to have a mismatched pair to show.

I've got a really long weekend coming up. 5 days of knitting bliss! Well, it won't be a full 5 days. Part of one day will be spent eating and another will be spent shopping. But, I hope to have lots of knitting time in between. And maybe a pair or two of completed socks before the weekend is over.

Lime & Violet Socks

I finished my Lime & Violet socks today.



Pattern = Waffle Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks for the leg, stockinette for the foot
Yarn = Lisa Souza Sock!, Lime & Violet colorway
Needles & Gauge = size 1 DPNs, 9 stitches per inch

Scottish Highlands Socks

I completed my Socks That Rock socks yesterday.



Pattern - my usual top down with Eye of Partridge heel flap and kitchenered toes
Yarn - Socks That Rock mediumweight, Scottish Highlands
Needles & Gauge - Size 2 DPNs, 7 st/in

Stash Enhancement = Yarn P*rn

Yesterday I attended my first Stitches event. I went only for the shopping and I had a great time. It was all about handpainted sock yarn for me. Here's a group shot of my haul.



My first stop was the Blue Moon booth. I picked up 3 skeins of Socks That rock in lightweight and 2 in medium weight


from left to right: Queen Rock, Tanzanite, Fire on the Mountain

from top to bottom: Chickabiddy and Rooster Rock

Then there was the stop at the Cloverhill Yarn Shop booth.


from top to bottom: Cloverhill and Fiesta

And Ellen's 1/2 Pint Farm


two un-named colorways

And Lisa Souza


from top to bottom: Mars Quake and Shade Garden

And Sheila and Michael Ernst were I picked up this Fly Super Sport


color = Ruby Redmond

And Misty Mountain Farm for a skein of Jubilee


color = Berry

And last but not least, Maple Creek Farm. They aren't on the web yet, but hope to be by the end of this year.


color = Red Tigereye

I also finished a pair of socks yesterday. Watch for them in another post later today.