knitting has been plentiful here...

While there has been quite a bit of knitting around here lately, the picture taking has been lagging. I did get a fancy new camera for my birthday, so I am learning how to use it and hope to have it up and running for better picture quality soon.

In the mean time, here are my two blocked lace projects. The raindrop shawl with Smooshy from the Woolgirl sock club -- which, yes, gives you alternate patterns to just socks! Jen at Woolgirl rocks!! I did have to toss the shawl over Roscoe, since it was his color. He did not appreciate it, but was a good boy for the photo.

The other lace piece is my stonewall stole. I love knitting it. A co-worker had traded yarn with me, so this was her one ply alpaca. I doubled it for the stole and love everything about it - the feel, the colors and the pattern. It blocked to almost double the size it was when it was just knit.

I did take a photo of my make-shift blocking area and Roscoe helping with the blocking process - which really was him laying on the floor sighing and yawning loudly... He did get an extra walk after everything was pinned :)

Soon there will be more photos...
Happy KNitting!!

It's all Roscoe's fault...

In the last three months, Jordan, our foster lab, had a name change to Roscoe and was adopted as a forever member of our family. He has greatly cut into my knitting time - along with a number of other summer activities - like camping, mr.sunneshine's mountain bike racing, yard sales, and family visiting. Roscoe has added a lot of love and joy to our house - so it is worth the lesser time to knit. He has started to carry his own gear hiking and camping, which he loves. And generally is a great dog! And really, who could resist that cute face looking up at you....

There has been knitting. I just have had the camera pointed more on Roscoe then knitting, the next post will have FO's and a couple that I am really loving that are in progress :).

Happy KNitting and happy summer!

Meet Jordan

This is Jordan - our foster lab. He is wonderful, well behaved, loves to be pet and walked and generally a joy to be around. He will infringe on my knitting time, but with a face like that, it is hard to hold him responsible. We are really enjoying him!

Happy KNitting!

One more reason to try on as you go...

Please excuse the not so great cell phone photos. I was so proud of my sock, I decided to try it on... Then I realized, that being the tight purler that I am, it was too small... So the lovely ball of yellow yarn is now the yellow sock. I have re-cast on - it will be easier the next time around, right? Next time, I will try it on much more often... And I jumped up a needle size as well!

Happy KNitting!

Things I am proud of...

And one thing that I am excited about - but I purchased it, so no need to be proud. Let's start with that one - the Susan Bates sock needle sets with 000, 00, 0 and 1 needles all bundled for a better price. They are jones-ing to start on a new pair of fair isle mitts with some sale jade cashmere, I purchased last week... That's another story, that my husband doesn't know.

Then there is the Cleo sock from the Woolgirl sock club - I am not worried about spoiling, since everyone I know in the club has finished theirs already. It is a fun knit - takes some concentration, but isn't really difficult - its beautiful, though!
Finally, we have my new Double Point storage . For $15.00 - I found these little clear vials at the science supply store down the street - cut up some pretty paper that I had - added some fun labels that I had and changed their centers to numbers - to mark the US size of the needle. They are not really full yet - but it got all the needles off the stitch marker table - YEAH! And I am very please with how they look. I am feeling a little "Friend" today (you know who you are - wink). Now I will not have to search through the knitting bag and measure every needle to distinguish between a two and a three....
Happy KNitting!!

Here are some FO's finally!

Soooo, see there really has been knitting. Two pairs of socks - and I don't think I showed my cashmere knee highs here, but they are on ravelry. The green and purple socks are my first opal socks - such pretty patterned yarn, the other set is the peppermint patty kit from Woolgirl - they are really pretty but the pattern was really picky (and I gave up on the feet and just knit them - I liked the yarn patterning better in the plain).

Then there are all the mitts. Two complete sets that are gifts and 2.5 unfinished sets of mitts in cotton. I can now say that I have mastered this pattern! Should have the left overs finished this weekend, which will be nice.

Since I have done so well with getting things done, I went ahead and cast on the large wings shawl from Vivian Hoxbro's book, Shadow Knitting and the Cleopatra socks from the Woolgirl sock club - stay tuned for updates.

I have posted twice in March - a standard that I hope to improve on!
Happy KNitting!

Its not like I don't knit...

Its not like I don't knit, but somehow the photo upload part of blogger stops my sharing said knits... Actually, I have come to the realization that I am a little over committed. There are a few things in my life that I could do without, so I am working very hard to re-evaluate my extra work activities and get rid of those that do not enhance my life. So far so good. Hopefully, this means that there will be more time to blog, keep up with ravelry, knit and see my husband.

In the meantime, there have been bunches of finished objects - 10 hats for knitogether, not photographed - the cashmere socks, done! - several pairs of mitts from the classes that I have been teaching, mostly done - peppermint patty socks, done (although I chintzed on the foot as I got sick of the pattern) - a couple misc. socks, done! - and there are several things on the needles... There have been so many socks and mitts, I am thinking its time to get back to a bigger project. I'll let you know how that goes...

Right now there are only photos of the cashmere knee socks - watch tomorrow for more finished project - and two posts in one month!! The photos aren't great, but that's what I get for using my phone...

Happy KNitting!!

goodness in the mail and more...

First, we have the first (and possibly last) pair of socks knit for mr.sunneshine. They turned out well, but he is still not thrilled with them... Boys....

Then there was this wonderful coffee swap package from Paige! It has the Noro sock yarn that I have been coveting and yummy COFFEE - that smells amazing! There was also some handmade goodness and chocolate and a beautiful card. I am feeling very spoiled right now... Thank you, Paige! And having a huge debate over what sock pattern to do with my new yarn... Suggestions are always appreciated and I am going to check over at Ravelry as well...

Happy KNitting!

The brown alpaca mitts

Well, the brown alpaca mitts are finished! I LOVE them... I love them enough that I finished them a week ago and dressed every day last weak to be able to wear them. This week its just too darn warm to be wearing alpaca mitts. Since we are about 50" of snow shy of where we should be, I am hoping for snow - the 60 degree weather can come back in April.

So with every triumph, there is a challenge. I bought this amazing cashmere yarn from Woolgirl. When I spun it, the ball was huge. So in the true thought of luxury, I decide to make knee socks. The pattern is simple - the yarn amazing!! However, as I got close to the ankle, I realized that there is not nearly enough to have pure cashmere feet - however, this may be okay, I am not sure how durable the cashmere yarn is - there is only 20% wool. So now I am mixing it with a similar but darker color of interlacements sock yarn to finish off the feet. Just a few more inches to go...

Happy KNitting!!

Coffee Swap Questions

QUESTIONS
1. Whole bean or ground?
Generally whole bean

2. Fully-loaded or decaf?
Fully Loaded!!

3. Regular or flavored?
Regular - just good old black coffee in our house...

4. How do you drink your coffee?
Since I answered that above, I drink my coffee in bed in the mornings with my husband. The perfect way to start the day.

5. Favorite coffee ever?
It seems to change... Really what I am drinking at the time is generally wonderful. I just stay away from Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts...

6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do?
Not too fussy...

7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee?
Chocolate... wheatless waffles... chocolate covered pretzels...

8. Anything else about your coffee preferences?
Nope

9. Yarn/fiber you love?
I love natural fibers. I have been knitting a lot of socks and fair isle lately. I have however knit just about everything and enjoyed most of it. Really, I am thankful to have time to knit whatever the project...

10. Yarn/fiber you hate?
Synthetics, fun fur, hairy and acrylic yarns - I know there are reasons to love them, I just don't...

11. What's on your needles?
Two pairs of socks for me, one for my husband, a sweater and two pairs of fingerless mitts... Can you say knitting ADD... And there is a shawl/scarf, bathrobe, sweater for my grandson and more socks in the cue...

12. Favorite colors?
For socks or fair isle mittens, I will knit with anything! Color is fun! For hats, scarves or anything else, black or neutrals... I don't wear much color.

13. Allergies?
I am allergic to wheat. However it is mild and my DH will eat anything that I can't...

14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest?
I love this swap! Paige, I am really excited to be paired with you. While I have just briefly lurked around your blog, I think this is going to be very fun! I am pretty easy to please and thank you for all the time and thought I know you will put into the package!!

More knitting posts soon... There are pretty finished objects to share...
Happy KNitting!!

Has it really been so long?

Hello blogworld,
It apparently has been forever since I have been here. There are a laundry list of excuses - the holidays, working on closing the yarn shop (almost done - 1/31 is fast approaching), my real job, husband with the flu, visiting grandchild, and I am sure there are more... However, there has be knitting, so I really am overdue! It appears that everything that I have to show right now is in progress - so here it goes... Oh and sorry for the not so crisp camera phone photos!

So the grey and white mitts are a proto-type for a class that I am teaching on fair-isle knitting. I have yet to add the thumbs, since that is the most intimidating part - I want to have both thumbs to demonstrate with...

Then we have the anemone sock that I messed up with the Rockin' Sock Club yarn - so I started again with some yarn a
co-worker gave me (after I spent 4 hours rolling some mohair for her - one more reminder as to why I do not knit with mohair). They are turning out really nicely - and will show up better on blockers when they are finished.

Then there is the brown mitts - I realized that I didn't have any, so these are wonderful brown alpaca mitts with a little orange and white detail. They have been a joy to knit. Started last Sunday, I expect they will be finished and wearable by the end of next week at the latest!

And finally, I found this pattern on ravelry and thought it would be fun. It was! However, I did not gauge before I started, and I know better. So the mitten turned out HUGE. I won't be making the second. However, if I ever break my right hand, I have a lovely large glove in superwash wool to wear. I will be trying this again (complete with a swatch) as soon as a few other things are off my needles.

Happy KNitting!!