If at first you don't succeed...

Frog, frog again. That right there has been the story of the past week or so in my knitting life. The red yarn that I dyed up for my SITM socks, has been knitted and frogged about 5 times in the past week. For some reason red seems to be a hard color to find a pattern for. Every time I thought that I found the perfect pattern, I would get ready to start the heel and the pattern wouldn't be showing up. So I am now on my 6th try and these ones are going pretty good. I'm doing Baudelaire by Cookie A, I love knitting this pattern. It is complicated enough to keep it interesting, but yet with it being a 8 row repeat, it's pretty easy to memorize. Here's a pic of my progress as of last night, although I am a little further along now, just finished turning the heel. This pic makes the yarn look a little on the orange side, but I assure you it is red.

And then there shall be more frogging...MS3. Since Melanie posted the theme, I have had a love hate relationship with this project. Hence the reason that I haven't finished it yet. Well that and I made a mistake at the beginning of Clue 6 and didn't realise this until I had finished the clue. So I had to frog the whole clue to fix it, and because of this I lost my motivation to finish it. And then, last night I was laying in bed trying to get to sleep, and my brain just wouldn't stop running through all my WIPs. So I decided to get up, since I wasn't going to be able to sleep, and see if I could work on some of them. Out came MS3, I frogged, fixed the stupid mistake that I made, and am almost done Clue 6, again. I am thinking that I should be able to finish it this weekend and get it blocked out. Here's hoping.

Hanami KAL starts tomorrow, and I am very excited about this. Partly because the pattern is so beautiful, but mostly because it's for me. I ordered my yarn on Tuesday and it got here today. Can you guess where I ordered from? That's right the Loopy Ewe. Sherri outdoes herself with customer service. Yummy yarn, good prices, and quick ass service. It really doesn't get any better then that. Oh wait it does, she puts little goodies in with your order. How sweet is that. Here is my Lane Borgosesia Cashwool in Black for Hanami, a couple of yarn samples, and some little sock note cards.

And last but not least. I got my Ravelry invite today, but since Rachel gave me her extra one, I now have an extra one. So I will also gift mine away, as Rachel did for me. If you want to leave me a comment, I'll send you the link.

Have a great Labor Day weekend.

Monkey Sock Swap 3

Monkey Sock Swap THREE Questionnaire
The basics:
Do you consider yourself a beginning sock knitter, an intermediate, or have you been doing this so long you could probably knit a pair in your sleep? I would say I'm an intermediate edging on advanced. The more complex the better
The measurements:Shoe Size: 8 US Foot circumference: 8 1/4" Foot length: 9"
Yarn Preferences:
What colors do you love? I love blues, greens and natural colors, think it's because winter is coming
Do you prefer solids or variegated? either
Do you prefer wool, cotton or acrylic yarn? no preference, other then I'm not a huge acrylic fan
What colors would you never wear? bright colors
What are your favorite brands of yarn? Louet Gems, Tofutsies(SWTC)
Are there any new brands you would like to try? Cherry Tree Hill, Yarn Pirate, All Things Heather
Cookie A. Patterns:
Which of her patterns have you already knit? Pomatomus
Which pattern(s) would you like to knit and don’t already own? Listed in order of preference:
Mona, Gothic Spiral, Flicker, Thelonious, Twisted Flower, BFF(I can't seen to find this one anywhere)
Other pertinent information:
Would you be willing to have an international Monkey Pal or do you prefer one in the US? no preference
Do you have any allergies? no allergies
Will your knitting be exposed to smoke or animals? it will be exposed to a cat, although I try to keep my projects in Ziploc bags when I'm not working on them
Are you on Ravelry yet? If you don’t mind having new friends, what is your Ravelry name? peaceangel

Hand Dyed Yarn

What a frustrating weekend of knitting! Everything that I started working on just wouldn't work out. I broke one of my US1 while trying on my mom's sock to see how it was fitting. Which stinks because I need all 5 of the needles to finish my other Hogwarts socks. So that project is on hold. I made it to the heel on my moms sock, and I'm not sure if I like how its turning out, so back in the basket it goes so that I can think about it. And I had to frog back to the beginning of clue 6 for MS3, and no matter how many times I try to fix that, it just keeps on messing up. Ugh!

Happier news...I finished my dyeing for the Hand Dyed Yarn Swap. So that package went in the mail on Friday, should be there today or tomorrow. I'll post pics as soon as she gets it. Here is a pic of some extra yarn I dyed for myself. It's called "Circus", it's much more colorful in person. And one that I dyed for my SITM socks. Called "Shades of Red", it is slightly variegated shades of red.

I also cast on my SITM socks last night, and they are coming along quite nicely. I decided to use the "Uptown Boot Socks" from Favorite Socks with my own hand dyed yarn. The pattern looks classic and is easy to memorize. I'm loving it. This pic is not capturing the cable pattern or the color very well, but in person it looks pretty good.

End of the Wave

I have finished the Print O' Wave Stole! I cast off yesterday morning and had it blocking for the rest of the day. I love how it turned out, and am glad to have a project off the needles and in the finished pile.

Pattern: Print O' Wave Stole

Yarn: Knit Picks Shadow in Vineyard (3 skeins)

Needles: US 4 - Clover 24" circular

Modifications: I followed the pattern, but if I do it again I'm going to knit the center panel all in one piece. I like the idea of the mirrored panels, but I don't like the seam that you get in the center where you join the 2 panels.

These are for you mom...

I'm a little further along now, just about to do the heel. This yarn (Plymouth Sockotta #5612) is all the fun of color work with none of the work. I think I might pick up another ball in this same color for myself. I'm also trying to find color #605, unfortunately my LYS doesn't carry this color, maybe I can find it online.

Hand Dyed Yarn Swap

My yarn is here. I was so excited to open this package, and even more so once I had it all opened. Inside was a calender, 2 bath balls,At Knit's End by the Yarn Harlot, and my yarn.
Thank you so much Rachel! I love everything in the package, but I really love the yarn. I already wound it in a ball, so now its taking all my will power not to use it. Thank you again.

FO's

I'm back! Not that I physically went anywhere, but I've had a busy couple of weeks so my blogging has been very spotty. During my blogging absence I have been knitting. I have a couple of FO's to show off, first up... Pattern:Seduction Socks(Interweave Spring 2007)

Yarn:Kiwi Lemonade - thankewe

Needles:US 2 - KA

Modifications:None, I love this whole pattern. It knit up so quick and the socks fit perfectly.

Pattern:On Your Toes Socks(Interweave Summer 2007)

Yarn:Kiwi Lemonade - thankewe

Needles:US 2 - KA

Modifications:This was my first attempt at toe-up socks, and while I like the toe and being able to have Angelina try them on while I knit, I don't like the heel. I tried the suggested short-row heel, and ended up with a lot of holes on my short row heel. So I switched to the heel from here, and ended up with less holes. Still not impressed with it though. I think if I could figure out how to change the heel to what I normally do I would like this way of doing socks.

I forgot to post the theme of MS3, but as everyone probably knows by now that the theme is Swan Lake. I spent some time debating about how I wanted to finish the stole, and in the end went with the original design. Melanie designed this asymmetrical, with a pointed pendant on one end and a wing on the other. She did give directions on how to finish the stole symmetrical, but it was designed with a wing. So I waited to see how the wing was turning out on others stoles and decided that it looked beautiful. So I have finished Clue 5 & 6, with only one week to go I can't wait to see this pattern blocked. My grandmother is going to love this.

I also started my Hogwarts sock. This turned out to be more difficult then I had first thought. I had picked out what I had hoped would be the perfect pattern, Fred and George Socks. But after a few inches of denial, I finally admitted that I could hear bees in the background. Even though I chose a charcoal instead of black, they were still looking like bumblebees. Oh well, back to the pattern searching, and I found the new pattern that looks nothing like bees. I cast on and finished the first sock this weekend, I think that the colors with the pattern look quite nice.


Well, I'm off to do some dying for my Hand Dyed Yarn Swap and for SITM, hoping to have this done in the next few days. After that I have big plans to finish the Print O' Wave Stole(the rest of the yarn came in the other day), and get it pinned out on the blocking board.

Old Fisherman's Wharf

Look what the owl dropped by

My yummy yarn dropped in on Saturday. I ordered it from The Loopy Ewe on Wednesday and it got here just a few days later. It must have been delivered by owl, there's no way muggle mail would have gotten it here that fast. It's Louet Gems Fingering in Goldilocks and Charcoal, it is so soft and squishy I can't wait to get started on the socks. I also managed to find some beautiful beads for my stitch markers, this picture doesn't do them justice.

Secret Pal 11 Questionaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? So far my favorite yarn would be Louet Gems in fingering. I don't like anything that isn't soft

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I'm am in the process of making a needle case, but at the moment they are sitting in a bag

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? My grandmother taught me to knit when I was in grade school, but I didn't really take it seriously until the beginning of this year. I would consider myself intermediate

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? I have an Amazon wish list and it can be found here.

5. What's your favorite scent? Magnolia Blossom(but I think it's been discontinued), I like clean, fresh smells

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I like Reese Peanut Butter Cups, or milk chocolate

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I love to sew, cross-stitch, crochet, just started to do some beading, and am dying to try a drop spindle.

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 a variety of music. Rap, Country, Top 20. Yes, my computer can play MP3s

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I love muted colors, can't stand anything really bright

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? DH, our 4 yr old daughter, our cat and a hamster

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? All the above except ponchos

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I love to knit everything

13. What are you knitting right now? MS3, socks(for various swaps), Anemoi Mittens, and a Cardigan for Angelina

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes, I do

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I prefer Bamboo needles, as for circular or straight, it depends on the project

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yeah!! I just bought a yarn winder, still working on the swift

17. How old is your oldest UFO? January 2007...A cable and bobble hooded cardigan for myself

18. What is your favorite holiday? It's a toss up between Christmas and Thanksgiving, I love both

19. Is there anything that you collect? Shot glasses, Willow Tree figurines and Candles

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 am a fairly new sock knitter so I would love to try some Cherry Tree Hill or Fleece Artist, since these seem to be what sock knitters are always raving about. But I'm willing to try anything that you think is awesome.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I would like to try the Magic Loop for socks

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? US 8, Length 9", Circumference 8 1/4"

23. When is your birthday? March 9, 1982

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? peaceangel

I know that's its been a whole week without a post, but I have been crazy busy this past week. My mom is here for a visit which is taking up most of my time. We've been doing alot of sight seeing and visiting, it has been alot of fun. We went and took the 17 Mile Drive yesterday. What a beautiful drive that was. And tomorrow we have plans to visit the Aquarium and walk around Cannery Row, should be fun.

On the knitting front, I've been doing quite a bit, but I don't have any pictures taken yet. So hopefully I'll get those done in the next couple of days. That's it for today, I'm going to go back to the MS3 and try to decide what I want to do with that.(I'll explain later)