Lots of Stuff

I've got lots to share!

Sock Progress

There was lots of sock knitting this past weekend. I finished the first Waving Lace sock and started a new sock. The Waving Lace sock is being done with J Knits and the new sock is the Yarrow Ribbed pattern from Knitting Vintage Socks in Opal.




Spinning

I have two new handspun yarns to share. First is a 2-ply spun from the Party Roving I bought at MD Sheep & Wool.



Next is also a two-ply (which is intended for a pair of socks) spun from Hello Yarn Superwash Merino roving in Blue Raspberry.



Stash

I also received some roving that I ordered.

Two braids of Superwash Merino from Funky Carolina. Colorways are Desire and Raspberry Lemonade.




And Superwash Merino from Twisted. Colorway is Sherwood.



That's about it for now. I'm expecting more packages this month (2 fiber club shipments, a Yarn Pirate order, and the first installment of the Yarn Pirate Booty Club. There will be more spinning and knitting to share soon too.

Sunkissed Handspun Socks

Yesterday, being the 4th of July, meant I got an extra day off from work. It was a relaxing day and I finished a pair of socks.


Pattern - my usual top down with Eye of Partridge heel flap and kitchenered toes
Yarn - My own handspun. Roving details: Funky Carolina Superwash Merino, color - Sunkissed
Needles & Gauge - Size 2 DPNs, 7-8 st/in

They are very soft and squishy!

An Update

Yes, blogging continues to be sporadic. The dishcloth craze has subsided. The sock mojo has returned. And spinning continues.

I have two pair of socks on the needles at the moment.

Handspun Sunkissed Socks

These are being worked in my very own handspun (roving from Funky Carolina). I'm very happy with how this first sock has turned out. The second sock is on the needles and is almost half way done. I'm hoping to have this pair completed by the weekend.

J Knits Waving Lace Socks

This is my first time using J Knits yarn. Its not as soft as some other yarns I have used, but I'm confident it will soften after washing. Its not splitty and has been easy to work with. I like how these are turning out, except for the cuff. I followed the pattern for the ribbed cuff, instead of doing what I usually do and knit the cuff with a 2x2 rib. I'm not really a fan of the 1x1 rib.

Spinning updates and pics to come in a future post.

Where have all the socks gone?

I've been in kind of a sock rut lately. I used to be a sock knitter...a hard-core sock knitter. I always had at least one pair (but usually two) on the needles at all times. All of my free time was spent knitting socks. I didn't suffer from second sock syndrome (a.k.a. SSS). I had my sock plans laid out several pair in advance. I don't know how it happened, but the sock mojo vanished.

I think it all started with this pair. I liked working with the yarn, but I didn't really like how they turned out. Way too busy for the pattern.

Then I started working with the April Socks That Rock Sock Club yarn. Yep, the Silkie Socks That Rock. I love the colors and its very soft, but the yarn is splitty and I don't like working with splitty yarn.

That's the Retro Rib pattern from 25 Favorite Socks.

In an attempt to woo my sock mojo back, I decided to temporarily abandon the Silkie Socks That Rock and work on something that I thought would knit up pretty quickly. So, I pulled out all my medium weight Socks That Rock. I lined them all up and picked the color that I thought would be the most fun to work with. (As a side note, I was kind of shocked to see that a lot of my Socks That Rock colors are similar.) I decided on Seal Rock and picked the Thuja pattern from Knitty. In theory, this should have been a really quick knit, size 2 needles, thicker than usual yarn, a pattern with only a 2 row repeat. It took me a little over 3 weeks to finish the pair.


Pattern - Thuja
Yarn - Socks That Rock mediumweight in Seal Rock
Needles & Gauge - Size 2 DPNs, 7 st/in

I don't think my sock mojo has completely returned yet, but I do think it's lurking around the corner. I've got yarn picked out for my next pair or two (although since the June shipment of the Rockin' Sock Club arrived today, I may be rethinking those plans a little). And looking around on Ravelry has inspired me to get back to socks.

It's a Sickness!

It all started innocently enough. A few months ago, I decided to make a Ballband Dishcloth for blogless Mary for a monthly Dishcloth Exchange that I participate in.

Yarn used: Sugar & Cream in Over the Rainbow and Hot Orange
After finishing it, taking a picture, and sending it on its way, I didn't give it or the pattern another thought.

Then for the May exchange, I decided I'd make another one for blogless Marilyn.

Yarn used: Lion Brand Cotton in Mixed Berry and Sugar & Cream in Hot Green
Things were a little different this time.

Before I even finished the second Ballband Dishcloth, I visited the Elmore Pisgah site and decided to make a purchase.

This picture only shows a portion of my order (the 6 big balls of white cotton that I ordered (they were on special, I couldn't resist) are not pictured).

After finishing the second dishcloth, I immediately cast on for another. And when that one was done, cast on again for another. You get the idea. I even went out and bought another set of size 7 needles so I could have more than 1 going at a time.

Yarn used: (from left to right) Peaches & Cream Fiesta Ombre and Peacock; Teal Ombre and Sunburst; Gumdrop and Sunburst; Sour Green Apple and White; Pink Lemonade and Apple Green

With all the yarn I bought and all the yarn I already had, I've got lots of possibilities for more of these. And for now, there's no sign that I will be slowing down.