Month: June 2006

I don’t usually make fun of others knitting. It’s a kharma thing. I know I can come up with some funk sometimes so I keep my mouth shut about others’ funk. But this time it’s not only the knitting but the model. Please, please, go HERE…..and have a good chuckle at the makeup, hair (wigs) and lack of overall common sense when it comes to clothes, accessories, etc. Oh & the knitting is a good laugh too!

The weekend was really great! Father’s Day was nice, all the kids had gifts they made for George and I bought him some new oil painting books. The weather could have been better, it was actually misty & wet when we left for church.

Saturday we spent in the backyard working. We had to cut down some massive Bird of Paradise trees so that socaledison can get to their pole & do an inspection. There is one tree that is butt up against the pole we cannot cut it down.

I do love these plants/trees. They have the largest birds of paradise flowers. They measure 14″-18″!

On the knitting front I worked on the fan & feather shawl, it is up to 405 stitches. I am on row 81 of 189. It’s slowed down quite a bit already, I wonder how long those last 20 rows will take?? Hours per row I am sure!

Today is the official first day of summer break at our house. We started our day with cleaning & chores then Tyler decided he would make lunch for everyone!

He made sandwiches also but by the time I got there to take the picture they gobbled them all I up. Carrots, hot dogs, graham cracker cookies, rainbow goldfish & pretzels.

Isn’t that so sweet? AND they didn’t even fight me on the cleanup & chores this morning! WHERE DID MY CHILDREN GO?? Who are these kids?? I love it! There is a possibility of keeping my sanity this summer after all!

 

I thought I would explain why my tulip sock looks SO different than the original knitpicks sock pattern.

Side by side you can see that mine is nowhere close in color scheme. I used what palette yarns I had on hand. By the time I got to the foot of the sock I figured out that although I like how the fair isle tulips look it was unrealistic to think that in santa barbara I would ever be cold enough to wear them on a regular basis. And I have cold feet a lot! I have been known to wear socks in the summer here. I chalk it up to having bad circulation.  I thought to go along with the theme that 4 row stripes would work nicely for the foot. I do love how they turned out. I did a little dot row on the toe so it looks a bit like a seam & it ties in the stripes on the foot to the fair isle on the leg. I also don’t like the toe they used so I used my normal decrease & grafting toe.

I have decided that I will make the second sock but then no more socks with this fair isle chart. It’s too bulky for me. But I do believe that it would make the cutest mittens ever! So that may be christmas for some family members that live where it’s cold enough to actually wear mittens!

I started the lace fan & feather shawl from Meg Swanson’s A Gathering of Lace.

It’s circular, started from the center out. Laceweight merino wool pot surprise yarn from www.handpaintedyarn.com, 2200 yards. I actually won it from their ebay store about 2 years ago & have tried a number of projects with it. None have been the right project for this yarn. This project is!!

I am using size 5 needles, as suggested in the pattern. Bryspun dpn’s for now, then I will move up to a circular 20″ boye needle probably. Depends on what I have free. The denise needles may be a bit more easily handled with the wool. Boye tend to get so slick with thin wool yarns. The last thing I want is to have stitches come flying off one needle end! Especially once they are packed on there tightly!

This is defenitely not a travel project. This baby is getting it’s own home right next to my chair.

Here are a few short row heels that I like. I prefer a wrapped method but this is a great all around sock pattern. Techguy Socks

This is my favorite short row heel pattern, Pom Squad, & cute, fast socks.

Magknits seems to have some of the better short row heel patterns. Have fun! I am going to cast on for a lace shawl I decided. We’ll see just how far I get on the thing before getting too bored with it ;o)

I finished the green socks last night.

Now onto the next pair. I want to finish the two toe up on two circ’s because the two circ’s method drives me nuts & I would prefer just to be done with them. I think it’s the mix of the two circs, this particular yarn & the fact that I am making them up as I go, no real plan happening.

I thought it was time for something a bit more light & fun on the color scheme. Who knows, I may change my blog color to a different color a week. I like the thought….

I suppose it should be blue for the project spectrum color of the month. But since I am just today finishing the green May socks I am a bit behind. blue, blue, blue. What can I do that is blue? Well the Carla is blue. It’s an mesh sweater pattern so it’s apropos for summer, that may be the next finished project, after the socks, we see!

 This yarn is the only real reason I want a spinning wheel. I know, it’s probably an impossible spin for a beginner but I LOVE IT!

You can find it here to purchase. I am too cheap to pay for it but good Lord how I want it! Lust & coveting all in one.

I really couldn’t control myself when I found theknitter.com with free shipping.

Trekking xxl was calling my name, not only do they have a very good price and free shipping but the color selection is phenomenal!

Color 05 pink & yellow thin stripes

 

 

 

 

Color 107 greens, reds & pinks

 

 

 

 

I also joined their sock club. For $16.95 you get the yarn & pattern for that month. Lately I have enjoyed socks so much that I really think I will enjoy it. Plus that means there will be plenty of sock pairs done for christmas time. Whew, thinkin’ ahead!

I also am whipping right through the green toe up parade socks. Technically the color is daffodil but whatever, I call it green. I am turning the heel. I am thinking I will go until I run out of the ball of yarn. Keeping them simple stockinette until the last 2 inches then decrease & switch to 2×2 rib.