Before and After

Before:




After:



I was knitting the Mad Color Weave socks pattern in this lovely yarn by Three Irish Girls, and I didn't like how the pattern was coming out. It was partially because of how the yarn was blending and partially because I just didn't like knitting this pattern. I love the finished pattern and all the socks I've seen but for some reason this pattern and yarn were just not meant to be.

So..... Riiiiiiiiippppp!!

This lovely yarn will hopefully be making another appearance soon!!

Orange you glad I knit more socks?

I have yet another pair of socks to show you! These were finsihed in August but for some reason I never took a picture of them!

They are my Fireball socks knit with C*eye*ber Fiber yarn dyed by my friend Erin.



It's just a basic sock but I tried something new... an afterthought heel.




I didn't have any DPNs with me when I was knitting this - I was at the National Stitch and Pitch game - so instead I knit two rows on one side with scrap yarn, and kept on knitting! After finishing the toe, I went back and picked up the stitches on the scrap yarn and knit a second toe. I actually reall love how the heel came out and I may have to make more socks this way!

I have been experimenting with differnet sock heels lately. I forgot to mention that on the plain socks I knit from Rhinebeck I made a garter stitch heel:



A couple people have asked if this is a short row heel. It's not - it's actually just a heel flap that I knit in garter stich and then turned and picked up as normal. I love how squishy and flexible it is.

Happy Friday everyone!

Mystery Socks Done!

A day late... but still rock'n...
I finished the toe on November 1st - so I missed Socktober by one day - but I still love my Mystery Socks:

Looks like Hurley likes them too :)



Stats:
Pattern: Mystery Socks09 by Kristin Kapur of Through the Loops fame
Yarn: Socks that Rock in Beryl
Needles: Size 2 DPNs
Alterations: I only did 4 instead of 5 repeats on the leg.

I really enjoyed knitting these socks and looked forward to the new clue each week. I actually knit both socks at the same time so that I wouldn't be left with Second sock syndrome - for which I am very famous. I may have to do this for all my socks!



I knit quite a bit on these during the Rhinebeck roadtrips. The pattern was easy to memorize and they had just enough variety to keep up the interest. If you didn't knit these yet - I highly recommend them!

Happy Halloween!

It figures it's the very last day of October before I even get one pair of socks finished for Socktober!! I started three pairs but only finished one.

I do love them though! Sarah, Jolene and I each bought a skein of Socks that Rock at Rhinebeck. We all cast on and knit plain socks with our skeins.









And because it's Halloween, here's a creepy spooky spider for you!




I took this shot in Ellicot City where I had coffee this morning and a brief photo shoot. It may be one of the last last days with the Autumn leaves. They were really falling today and it was beautiful to be in the middle of of it all.





I got some great shots that I think will work up nicely in HDR. I took an amazing HDR photography class last weekend. I will post pictures soon of some of the things I learned.



Happy Halloween!

Mystery Sock clue #2

I finished the second clue in in the Through the Loop's Socktoberfest Mystery Sock '09.




I only did 4 repeats of the lace pattern instead of 5 since I'm a bit concerned that I will run out of yarn! The pattern calls for 400 yards and Socks that Rock typically have about 360 in their lightweight. So I'm trying to be frugal while I can :)

Guess where I am today! I'm at Sarah's house! We are road tripping to Rhinebeck later in the week. I'm so excited!!

Are you going? Let me know!!

Mystery sock - clue #1

Happy October everyone!! October is not just a time for the leaves changing color, Halloween and Rhinebck... it's also time for Socktoberfest! This year I decided to take part in Through the Loop's Socktoberfest Mystery Sock '09.

I cast on and knit the first clue over the past two days.



I'm using Socks that Rock in Beryl.

I'm knitting both socks at once so I'm not left with the dreaded second sock syndrome!

I can't wait for the next clue!

Monkey Socks... finally!

I started these socks in June 2007 and just finished them a few days ago. That has got to be some kind of record for longest UFO! I knit the first sock and then put it aside because the way the colors pooled didn't thrill me. But I dug them out again one day when I was looking for a portable project and finally finsihed them off.



Stats:
Pattern: Monkey socks by Cookie A
Needles: Size 2 Addis
Yarn: Socks that Rock medium weight - in Metomorphosis colorway
Mods: I did one less repeat than the pattern called for. I think I would have run out of yarn if I hadn't!



I'm still not 100% happy with the way the colors blended, but I am glad they are finally done!






What do you think? Wearable?

Actual Knitting!

Don't faint! I know it's been a while - but I actually have knitting to show you!

I dyed this yarn with Sarah two summers ago and I knit the socks in February, but I'm just getting around to showing you now:

These are just plain jane socks - basic top down and comfy.



Stats:
Pattern: Basic top down sock
Yarn: Hand dyed Louet base yarn
Needles: size US 2


I am still not sure if I will get to keep these - my mom had her eyes on them the last time she was over!




But she doesn't have cutes shoes to show them off!!

Tigerwalkers

I forgot to post pics of my latest sock! I knit another pair of Jaywalkers.

I started these for the "Air" months of Project Spectrum, but was a little late completing them and even later in showing them off!



Stats:
Pattern: Jaywalkers by Grumperina
Yarn: Lisa Souza superfine merino superwash sock yarn in the Mombassa colorway - purchased at Stitches East
Needles: Size US 2 DPNs


I love this yarn - it striped perfectly and there is so much yardage in this skein I think I have enough for a second pair!



I love how the toes pooled!


Roar!

Summer of Socks!

Well I didn't intend to knit socks all summer but it seems like they are the only thing I can focus on lately! My poor Printed Silk Cardi has been languishing half done


and the Liesl I started ages ago - still looks like this:



My Goddess Knints mystery circular shawl? Still only on Clue 3 of 5!



I love them all - but for some reason I just can't seem to concentrate on anything requiring more than minimal thinking!

So - that leaves socks! My version of mindless knitting.

I recently finished some Noro socks. This was the first time I used the new Noro sock yarn. I have to say I love the colors! I wasn't crazy about the texture, and the yarn broke on me a few times, but overall the results are great!



I was anal about making sure the two socks matched!



I also cast on another "mindless knitting" sock - my 4th pair of Jaywalkers! This pattern has become second nature for me - I don't even need to look at the pattern anymore at this point.



This yarn in Liza Souza's that I picked up at Stitches East last year. I just love how it is striping! I'm calling these my Tigerwalkers!

So here's hoping I can focus on something more than socks soon! I signed up for the Ravelympics - so that will definitely challenge me to work on something more complicated.

Hope you're having a great week!

Jaywalking... again!

I finsihed another pair of Jaywalkers last week. This is defiitely my all time favorite sock pattern. It's quick and easy to memorize.



Stats:
Pattern: Jaywalkers by Grumperina
Yarn: Trekking XXL in color 107
Needles: US 2 dpns
Alternations: Knit with size 2 needles instead of size 1s (I knit tight!)







I bet you can't guess who took these picures...

I'll give you a hint...

She was visiting town this weekend from Rhode Island...

She has a cute dog named Murphy...

She knits socks faster than anyone I know....

Yup! Sarah! It was so great to spend some time with her - it was just what I needed :)

Thanks for a great weekend!

Liberty Socks

I should have posted about my latest socks a while ago - but I was busy working in DC all week. May I present my Liberty Socks!



Stats:
Pattern: Basic cuff down sock
Yarn: My own handspun
Roving: Mama E's Cyberfiber Merino Tencel in the
Needles: Size 3 DPNs

I starting knitting these socks while I was in Philly a few weeks ago. I was sitting on a bench in front of the Liberty Bell and Sarah and I were enjoying the view. Plain socks were just the ticket for enjoying the day.






This is the first object I have ever knit from my own handspun. I have to say I am hooked! I started the Diamond Fantasy Shawl last week with some other handspun.
Pics of that hopefully coming soon!!

I'm Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! (I was late getting this posted... I actually started writing it on Thanksgiving morning!)

I'm back from a mini break to Cancun! John and I went on a 5 day trip to Mexico as one last hurrah before his surgery next week. For those of you keeping track - John finished his chemo and radiation about 5 weeks ago and has been getting better and better (both physically and emotionally) ever since. He is feeling much more like himself again and we were so glad we got to enjoy a relaxing vacation together before he starts to feel like crap again.

We stayed at the Westin in the hotel zone in Cancun and it was beautiful :)











We relaxed by the pool, relaxed on the beach, relaxed in our room.... you get the idea.

I did alot of this:


and John did alot of this:



I started a new sock while I was down there - because really - you need a new sock when you go on vacation!



We only left the hotel once - to see some of the shopping areas. We bought some souveniers and stuff - but the best thing I took home with me - are the memories of a great trip.





Here we are flying into the sunset...



Until next time - Adios amigos!

I've been busy!

Hi all - it's been a while!! I've been busy. Very very busy!

I haven't posted any knitting content in a while - so.... I owe you guys a TON of pictures.

I finally got a chance to use some of my hand dyed yarn from my trip to Cape Cod. I created this crazy skein of yarn using all the leftover dyes. I just kind of dumped different colors in stripes along the skein - not really thinking about it at all. It turned out to be one of my favorite skeins. It's got orange and purple and brown and blue and all the shades in between. (It's actually perfect for Project Spectrum!)

The colors kind of remind me of space or a Nebula - so I had to find just the right socks to make with them. Along came Turtlegirl's Red Dwarf Socks. What could be better for my Nebula yarn - than Red Dwarf socks?! So - I made them! I really love how the stripes came out.





I had enough yarn left over for something else and the darling pattern for Saartje's Bootees was just too cute to ignore.



I spent forever trying to find the perfect buttons for these little beauties. (Sorry ladies - I'm sure I was quite annoying!) - but I think I finally found them.




I used another skein of my hand dyed sock yarn to try my hand at designing. I just picked a simple stitch pattern and ended up with these:



I think the Double Eyelet pattern looks good with the subtle variation of my yarn.



I am having trouble coming up with a name for this pattern. Maybe you can help... what should I name this pattern? Leave me a comment with your suggestion and maybe I'll give away some of my hand dyed sock yarn to the person with the best idea!



I have been test knitting for my friend Jolene. I haven't been able to post about any of them until now. These are her Penelope socks.



I was knitting them while relaxing on the beach in Cape cod. I have finished them - but have yet to take an updated pic - oops! This pattern is a Sweet Sheep exclusive pattern. Go and buy it! - you'll love it.


Finally - I have been a bad friend! I have gotten some really cool gifties from friends and I haven't properly thanked them yet!

First up we have an amazing collection of things from the Rockin' Mama E. I took some pictures for her and she gave me these goodies!



Some awesome roving, a Mama E 'We Rock the Dye Pot' tote, a Mama E canvas bag, and missing from the picture - some cool hand dyed yarn (it's being wound) and a Tshirt (it's in the wash!) Thanks E!!

Next up is the talented Jolene of jmknits. Jolene's designs rock - you should check them out!! She gave me this awesome roving a while ago - before I got my wheel and I knew it had to be the first thing I spun on my new baby. It's finally all spun up, washed and ready for socks.



I have about 400 yards of this stuff!! I can't wait to knit some socks with this.



She also gave me these amazing rovings for taking photos of her designs for her.



I can't wait to spin them up!

Next is the wonderful Amie. She has been absolutely amazingly supportive and loving to John and me. She gave us both notebooks to have a place to record our questions and thoughts about John's treatment. The one she gave me has an awesome hand sewn cover. I love it!

I love me some toile!

And finally - last but not least my Cape Cod livin' friend Sarah sent me some gorgeous Crown Mountain Fiber roving in the Wild Thing colorway.




I loved it so much I spun it up in less than a week! Thanks Sarah! You will always be my knitting (and spinning) twin!!

Did I ever tell you that I have the best friends ever!!!??? Thanks ladies!