Oh look, another sock update

Because I haven't knitted anything but socks in a long time. Yes I started Crumpets but stopped when I didn't like the beads I picked out. I replaced the beads but haven't had the desire to cast on again. I also have a baby gift for a child due in December that I haven't even decided on a project yet. I know November is going to be a busy month. For now, I am like the grasshopper who knows that winter is coming but prefers to play while the sun is shining. Here's what I've been playing with:

Socks!
Yesterday:

And Today:


As much as I'd like these socks done (can't wait to wear them) I find myself lingering with the yarn. The stitches are so beautiful and the yarn is nice and smooth. I keep stopping to admire the sock. I will be almost sorry when they're done.

I can't say enough for the two socks on one magic loop method. I really adore this technique. Because some have asked, here is the tutorial I used to learn:
The Boy Who Knits

And more sewing to report:

I made this bag over the weekend as a gift for a friend. I also started three different oversized totes, but they are really time-consuming so no photos yet.

And the best news of all, we finally broke down and got high speed internet. No more dial-up! I can't tell you how much better it is. No, wait, yes I can! It is way better. I can actually watch videos on YouTube now. Okay, just more distraction, but it's so fun!

Red Socks Done

Started: August 16, 2006
Completed: August 22, 2006
Yarn: Silja color 309 164 yards

This was my first pair of child sized socks knitted for my five-year-old. The yarn is nice and seems to have a bit of stretch. I think they'll last the year.

I find it a bit unnerving that after these socks were finished the Sox finally won one. Coincidence? Yes, definitely.

In other yarn news: check out this deliciousness:

Awesome Gina hand dyed this beautiful merino/tencel sock yarn for ME! I was so excited I ripped out my sock-in-progress to cast on for a new pair a Jaywalkers. This yarn screams Jaywalkers.

Got me a roving eye

I don’t spin, I don’t have a spindle or a wheel or even know if they’re the same thing. Why am I looking at roving? Ever since Rose brought some gorgeously soft purple merino roving for Gina to spin, I’ve been looking at the stuff. Maybe after I finish the seven (yup I’m bad) UFOs I’ll ask Gina to maybe show me how she spins. Maybe.

Well, it’s (kinda) about knitting
When knitters see the name Zimmerman the first person that should pop into their mind is EZ the very famous (among the knitterati) Elizabeth Zimmerman. I’m so abnormal I aught to be outlawed. I was reading someone’s blog last week and saw the name Zimmerman while skimming and thought to myself, “why is this knitblog referencing Don Zimmerman, the Yankees dugout coach who famously (or infamously) rushed (Red Sox pitcher) Pedro Martinez during the ’98 ALCS bench-clearing brawl and was subsequently tossed aside by his (huge) head? Maybe it’s because I’m so used to seeing Elizabeth Zimmerman referenced by her initials EZ and not her last name. Maybe it’s because this season is now so far into the toilet that I’m looking back to other not so happy seasons. Either way, football season starts in two weeks. Go Pats.

Some pictures from the weekend and an update on the other Red Socks
Saturday we had a family barbeque for my mom’s 60th birthday. I thought it would be funny to flip the 6 from her candles so it looked like she was turning 90. She didn't think it was funny but it was.


My kids were cute as usual. It's so hard to get the baby girl to say cheese, although I do love snapshots when the subject isn't looking directly at the camera.

And the big guy just loves to ham it up:


And the little red socks are coming along nicely. I ended up casting on 44 stitches, doing an inch of ribbing then changing to stockinette. They fit so far. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Socks? Check

The Sherbet flavor socks that rock are done. Ain’t they pretty? They are not going to my sister. I’ll probably finish one of the Jaywalks to give her. The layette perhaps?

Guess who tried to steal them?



I’ve started another pair of socks for the little big guy. These will be his back to school socks. Hopefully they’ll fit. I started with 56 stitches on size two needles, but after completing the ribbing, decided they were WAY too big. Gina suggested I cast on 44 stitches, so let’s see how they turn out. They do look good so far. Also, I am still trying to find the perfect beads for Crumpets and I’ll probably cast on after I get the current red socks done.

I don't crochet, but I have the ultimate respect for those that do. One of them from ManchVegas knitters, Marion made these adorable favors for her daughter's wedding and had a bunch left over that she genously shared with the group. The jellybeans were tasty, and I adore the little crocheted flowers. I made one into a magnet:



Also check out the cute card it's holding up, it's a thank you card that Gina made. Gosh, I love crafty people!


It’s going to be a very busy weekend; I am throwing a birthday party for my mom tomorrow, then Sunday we are meeting my mother in law in Brookline for dinner. She’s in town for a few days for some conference, so I’ll also be heading back down there on Monday for lunch. Hmmmmm… yarn stores in Brookline.

I tried...I failed

I knit my little fingers off trying to finish a pair of socks in less than a week. How do you people do this? I am so dead for the sock wars. I only take comfort in the fact that I will be killed by a pair of handknit socks. Here is my failed attempt at one-week sherbet socks that rock ribbed socks:

It's all over but for the toes, and I'll probably finish that today.

I've decided that I'm not knitting Matt's socks on DPNs anymore. They're so slow and I keep dropping stitches. I'll probably head over to Concord today for new addi's in size 0 and red sock yarn for the little big guy. He asked me for socks and how can I refuse?

And I have some pictures to share:
Check out this 'do:

That girl needs a haircut.

And here she is sniffing yarn:



And finally, the both of them acting out the kiss scene of Spider-Man.

Check engine light = bad

On Sunday the family piled into my car to start some back to school shopping. Since the big guy is only starting Kindergarten it shouldn’t be “back to school”, just “to school shopping”. Anyhow, the check engine light came on just as soon as she was started, so I called the shop on Monday morning and got us an appointment. Does anyone know what an O2 sensor is? Well it’s 400 bucks, that's what it is. Oh, and by the way the rear pads and rotors were about 98% degraded so go ahead and throw those in there too. Another 400? Sure what the hell. Add assorted other crap I never heard of and we’re in the can 878 smackeroos. Oh well, I was just going to spend that on yarn anyway. (Well, not this week, but soon enough.)

Speaking of which, guess what came in the mail today?

I got this:

Which will be the crumpets dress for the baby girl

And this:

I’m totally digging on this gloss yarn. It’s 70% merino and 30% silk and 100% soft. I’m going to be making a stole for myself. Is it okay for someone under 70 to use the term “stole”? I just picture some grandmother saying, “Be a dear and hand me my stole”. Not my grandmother though. She uses booze to keep her warm. I love my Nana.

And, progress people… the sherbet socks are up to the heel flap. Tonight is knitting group at Barnes and Noble, so I should be able to get a couple of good hours in hopefully.

Sock on!

Rock on with your bad self

The Socks that Rock yarn finally came in (thanks Gina!). I am officially in training for the Sock Wars slated to begin late next month. If you haven’t signed up for Sock Wars yet do it now. Go on, I’ll wait.

I started knitting a pair in the Sherbet coloway on Saturday. I’m trying to see how fast I can knit them. They’re only a simple k3p1 rib, done two at once on one circular aka magic loop. I am making progress, but of course nothing else is being knitted. These I think are going to go to my sister when done since every time I mention socks she asks when I’m going to knit her a pair. That’ll shut her up.

I got about another inch done on Matt’s socks on Friday. I’m really digging this pattern, but I need to pay very careful attention to what I’m doing, so I need to wait until both children are asleep to work on these.

On Saturday night Matt and I went to diner and a movie to celebrate his birthday. We ended up at a small romantic Italian place and ended up both drinking and eating too much. The movie was Talladega Nights and was just okay. There was really nothing else playing that I wanted to see, and Matt picked the movie anyway. The best bits were Sacha Baron Cohen as a rival driver and a cool cameo by Elvis Costello, who in my opinion, is The Shit.

How cute is this kitty?

You have to check out this site Wee Wonderfuls. They simply have the cutest sewing and embroidery patterns ever. One of which was this adorable (and free!) pointy kitty that I whipped up here. She only takes 1/4 yard of fabric.

And a bag

I adore this fabric. I finished this bucket bag just in time to take it out on Saturday night. It looked totally cute with my outfit (which was also totally cute).

Back to my rockin’ socks.

Happy Birthday Baby

Okay, a day late and a dollar short as usual, but Happy Birthday shout outs to my darling handsome hubby Matt. We celebrated last night with a family dinner and ice cream cake from Ben & Jerry's - Cherry Garcia and Chocolate Fudge Brownie, in case you were wondering. Tonight my mom is sitting the kids while we go out to dinner and a movie - yippee!

Knitter’s ennui

(or, getting my sew on)
I only have two small finished projects to share in the knitting side of things; check out this adorable little sock pin. My friend and fellow blogger Gina had this great idea for all the sock knitters in our knitting group to knit tiny itty bitty socks to wear as a pin. Mine is lavender Frog Tree alpaca knit on #1 needles. I cast on 20 stitches and just knit like a regular sock, and hot-glued a pin backing on. Easy as pie, and only took a couple of hours to complete. Talk about instant gratification.

Second small project I’m sharing is Perdita done in Lily of the Valley from Summer ’06 knitty. It was my first project with beading and I really enjoyed the beadwork.

The sewing has been calling me lately more than the knitting. I have two finished totes that are going up on Etsy today. I finally finished the ultra-girly shopping tote with the satiny French café lining. I’m not crazy about the end product -- the lining was too slippery to work with. I wasn’t going to put it up, but I think I’ll sell it anyway, just at a discount.

The second is my favorite -- an oversized tote in Vintage Roses and micro suede with pink webbing handles. Cute, no?

Tomorrow will be a shoulder bag and my recipe for Stoli-dolies. (you’ll see)

A (kind of) finished pair

Okay, so they’re not an actual pair, but they are two Jaywalkers that are completely knitted and can be worn as such. Can too! No, it doesn’t matter if one sock is superwash and the other is handwash, my husband is just going to put them both in the washer on hot anyway. The sock on the left is the recently finished Jaywalker in Lorna's Laces Layette and the right is a handpainted merino.

I am still knitting away on Broadripple #1 while I wait for the STR order to come in. Please let it be this week!