It's been a busy two weeks

I finished up my flaming wave socks a few days ago. I don't want to gloat but don't they awesome?! They only took forever and a day to complete. It also turns out that I read the chart in reverse so they're not exactly like the pattern. I didn't realize that i was reading charts incorrectly until a few days ago. I learn something new everyday about knitting. Like the last pair I made, they were a pleasure to knit. The pattern gets stuck in you head so you no longer need it around all the time to repeat it.


As if the socks weren't enough, I also finished an unoriginal hat, courtesy of the yarn harlot's pattern on ravelry. This was a really easy pattern to knit (and this time I followed the chart correctly!). If I were to knit this again, I would use needles one size larger. I used Plymouth Yarn Hand Paint Wool on size 10 needles. It's a bit of tight knit, considering the recommended needle size for this yarn is size 15. I'm not sure of the color way as the yarn was a gift from a few years ago. I had originally knit it into a scarf but didn't like the scarf so I frogged it. There's still close to a full skein left in my stash.



I have another item to report on. I started the Rockin' Sock Club pattern and am now at the part where I work the heel cuff. I do love the colorway for this yarn and have found that knitting with beads isn't nearly as difficult as I had thought. I'm really glad that I haven't run into a knobby bit or part where the yarn is tied. It seemed lots of other people were encountering this problem.

Because of this project, I'm now very interested in knitting the Wild Clover Maxi Clutch pattern from Valley Yarns Stockbridge with beads. I had originally thought of not using beads.

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's here!

The package arrived last Thursday and it's just as awesome as I imagined. Not only did I get the sock yarn and a pattern but a nifty keychain (of both sock yarn and Rockin' Sock Club) and pin. I have attached my pin to my cubicle, as well as the the spare keychain of sockyarn. I've already had someone comment. It was more of "what is that?!" but still, it's got people talking.

Yesterday, I spent an hour trying to decipher how to get the beads on the yarn and finally succeeded. Now I just have to figure out what how to do a tubular cast-on.

Chris has been nagging me about not knitting him socks for weeks. I finally broke down and purchased some Cascade Fixation in black. Hopefully the color will satisfy him and since the yarn can be knit up on larger needles, it won't take me nearly as long. I couldn't buy just sock yarn so I bought a skein of Cascade 220 in magneta for a Two-Toned Ribbed Shrug (by Stefanie Japel in Fitted Knits) and two balls of Laines du Nard Mulberry Silk to make Candy Wrapper Sachets (by Leigh Radford in One Skein). The lavender I purchased over the summer is still very potent and will work well in the sachets. I really want to start getting into the habit of making little projects that can be given out as gifts--things smaller than hats and scarves.

Antsy-Pants

I had a rough day at work so it was great to get the email from Blue Moon Fibers indicating they shipped my socks that rock. I am super excited for the shipment to arrive. I have to go out and buy a binder, lest the packages accompanying the yarn remain loose. How awful would that be?

I'm of the group of people where waiting to open Christmas presents is really arduous so when a club member opted to reveal the contents of the package, I can't deny that I went straight to the website and proceeded to view the pics. And let me just say, the yarn is lovely. Although now I'm kind of sad I purchased Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Potluck in a blue/green palette. Then again, can you have too many hand-knitted blue socks.

My other issue is that I am still working my way through a pair of Flame Wave socks. I'm happy to say over the weekend I made significant progress and have completed one sock. If I continue to knit at this rate, I should be able have the heel turned by the weekend. I'm 3/4 into completing the leg so I don't think this is me being too ambitious.

OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG!

It's almost time.

I've been anxiously waiting and today...I got my username and password for the Rockin' Sock Club. Fantastic! I'm ready for my yarn package to arrive, which reminds me...

I went a little crazy this weekend at the local yarn store: Wool and Company (Geneva, IL). With reckless abandon, I went through almost my entire gift certificate, purchasing:

• 3 skeins of Tahki Donegal Tweed in Charcoal
• 2 skeins of Noro Kureyon
• 2 skeins of Lamb's Pride Worsted and 1 skein of Lamb's Pride Bulky
• 1 skein of Blue Sky Alpalca's Dyed Cotton
• 1 skein of Rowan Wool Silk DK

I do have plans for each skein so I'm off to a better start than normal. When I go on yarn expeditions, I tend to buy whatever is appealing which doesn't always work out with than making it into something. But with my stash being an ever growing beast, I don't know when I'll get around to these projects.

I'm still working on the Flame Wave socks from Favorite Socks, after having ripped back from the heel over Christmas. I choose the smaller size and it turned out to be too small for my feet. I couldn't even get them over my heel. It was quite sad and disappointing to have to rip back hours worth of work. In the end, I'll be able to wear them so it works out in the end.

Merry Christmas!

The weather managed to to relent for Christmas. It was a tad difficult to find parking in Chicago but otherwise the trip to both families went remarkably well. From what we experienced the city has not plowed side-streets so there were larger than expected snow banks. At least, there weren't any attempts to save spaces with chairs and other household objects.

I'm very excited by the presents I received this year; most are related to knitting. Here's a sampling:

- Two Pretty Cheap Project Bags
- Size 9 dpn (I'm working on the Astrid Shawl.)
- Small French Knitter (I hate making i-cords!)
- It Itches by Franklin Habit
- Picture Perfect Knits by Laura Birek
- Knit Too by Kate Jacobs (Friday Night Knitting Club was a great read!)
- Knitting Around by Elizabeth Zimmerman
- The Opinionated Knitter by Elizabeth Zimmerman
- Knit Picks Interchangeable Wood Circular Knitting Needles, size 4-11
- Subscription to Interweave Knits

I've already used the interchangeable needles to work on a pedal bib (found in One Skein by Leigh Radford). They're slicker then I thought they would be and not as blunt as the bamboo needles I own, which was very useful when having to p3tog. Their crayola-like colorway is what drew me to them. Aren't they gorgeous?!

Snow!

The Chicagoland-area is a giant mess. Snow has been accumulating since early this morning. The news is reporting it will end this evening, leaving the morning commute open to question. At least, snow plows and salt trucks will have a better chance of clearing the streets. Right now with the snow still coming down, it's just unpleasant.

Our side street only bears the marks of car tracks and has piles of 3" and more along the sides. I expect it'll be more along the lines of 6" by tomorrow morning. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they plow before I head to the train station.

It's certainly not the best shot, but you get the idea of what it's like to be here -- cold, wet and desperately in need of cocoa.