Knitting in the Park

The weather is nice today, that pleasant temperature between scorching hot and blistering cold. The sun isn't burning and the breeze is lovely. So after work I bundled up the kids and the dog, and we all walked to the park.

Sitting here in the shade with the dog while the kids play is a really nice way to spend an afternoon. The kids are playing on the equipment, and hopefully burning off their excess energy.

During lunch today I reached the first decrease round on the owls sweater and began the first row of the pattern. It's nice to have less stitches on the needles, and to work a pattern. Can't wait to see how it works out.

My sock is growing as well, I have turned the heel, picked up stitches and now am working down the gusset. I really have missed doing this heel. Definitely more interesting than the afterthought heel.

January 2012 Sock

I figure I'll probably only get one pair of socks done per month, especially if I take into account all the sweaters I intend to knit, the squares I'm crocheting, the facecloths and anything else that takes my fancy.

So I'd like to introduce you to "January 2012". The yarn is Moda Vera noir, Colorway pink mix I think. The yarn stripes with a dusty pink and a speckled blue/green/cream which I really like. All the shades are muted and this Colorway really appeals to me.

I'm halfway down the first leg, and will be doing a slip stitch heel flap and short row heel. Can 't wait!!!

Making Progress

The last few weeks have not been the best for knitting, with life being busy, I just wanted something to knit that required no thought at all, so I worked on a pair of vanilla socks in a really nice blue colorway from Patonyle. This became my only knitting as I was enjoying it all over again. Now they are done. And sorry, no pics yet as I had to wear them immediately after the final ends were woven in, so I will take a picture after they have been washed. But now I have cast on another vanilla sock:

 You'll have to excuse the blurs, I didn't realise at the time! As you can see I have begun the cuff of the first sock and it's being knit out of Moda Vera Noir, Pink Mix. Not my favourite sock yarn, but I have it in my sash so I'm using it. I think I'm ready for the leg now, I usually only knit the ribbing for an inch or so, until it bores me.

 I have also cast on the one row scarf from the Yarn Harlot. On the weekend at my S'n'B, I was given 2 skeins of handspun alpaca in lovely teales and blues. I had originally cast it on as a Saroyan, but the stitch definition was terrible. So I chose the simpler "one row scarf " and it is working up lovely. Pattern is memorised, I love the texture, and I like the idea that I knit until there is no more!

 Lastly, I finally made some progress on my Handspun Seneca. I have finished the body to the armholes, and had to begin a sleeve, but I wasn't in the mood to do the horizontal cables, and last night I finally had the desire to work on it.......and I'm so glad I did. It was nice working on something that required some concentration, but also so much fun watching the cable develop.

I'm looking forward to being able to wear the Seneca soon, I think it will be a really warm and comfy knit. For now though, I'm just happy that my joy for knitting is back.

Monkey Socks!!

I have finally cast on for the famous "Monkey Socks" by Cookie A, and so far I love them! I will admit I have only done a couple of repeats down one leg, but so far I really enjoy the pattern and have almost memorised the repeat. I can tell these will be gorgeous socks, and in the hot pink Cleckheaton Merino I'm using, I am hoping they will be nice to wear and not itchy or scratchy at all. I love the warmth and the extra cushioning knit socks provide, and knitting them is a lot of fun too. But they lose their appeal when they are too itchy to wear.

I have not seen a pair of Monkey socks in person before, so seeing the pattern developing is very addictive. I would love nothing more than to work on these exclusively, but I really need to work on my cardigan for work. The weather is getting cooler and I don't like being cold, especially when it is preventable.....with a nice hand knit cardigan.

I have looked at other sock patterns by Cookie A, and I can tell many more of them will be making their way onto my needles. I will just need to buy more sock yarn!

My Holden Shawlette

Searching for a shawl pattern that included a lace pattern that was a bit of challenge, but not so that I would get flustered, I chose the Holden Shawlette by Mindy Wilkes. I really like this pattern. It has enough of the stockinette portion to really show off the varigated yarn I'm using, but I am also really looking forward to getting to the lace. It looks like so much fun!

The two photos don't really show off the yarn as well as I'd hoped, but it is truly gorgeous. The main base color is blue, with porions of indigo, purple and a bit of bright jade green just to give it that little flash. The color is definately me andI cannot wait to see it finished, although a part of me doesn't want it to end! I mostly knit with solid colors, so I didn't realise how truly pleasurable varigated yarns can be.

I'm using Zig Zag by King Cole and it's a 75% wool, 25% nylon blend. Very nice to work with, soft and oh so pretty. I purchased it at a local yarn store in Dandenong called Knit'nPurl. They don't have a website but they have a nice range of yarns and the owner is lovely.

FO - Regia Anklets!

I have just finished grafting the toe on the second sock and immediately proceeded to try them on and photograph them. I was able to get a full pair out of a 50g skein of sock yarn, which I am thrilled with.
I don't have much yarn left, but certainly enough that I can lengthen the cuff by a few rows. I only did 10 rows of rib before starting the heel flap, and I think I may prefer it to be just a little itty bit longer.

I still have another skein of this Regia colorway, and figure that one day I will make another pair of anklets with it. After knitting with it, I discovered that I love the blues and greens, but not too keen on the amount of grey and the yucky olive/khaki/ i don't know green that is in there. I don't think I would want to use this colorway for anything other than socks.

I am very pleased with how these socks turned out, and again I used a basic sock pattern that has become not only memorised, but guaranteed for a good fit. You can find the pattern I use here.

Clearly written, easy to follow and an excellent finished product!

My Regia Anklet!

Well, I have been working on my regia anklet, just a little bit. Haven't had much time to knit between trying to toilet train Nathan and looking into a new school for Chloe. But so far I'm loving it, the colors are gorgeous, the yarn is soft and using the Knitmore Girls Vanilla Sock Pattern, I know what I'm doing. But it's still second to my tangled yoke which I'm hoping to have all joined up by tomorrow. Hopefully.

The only amendment to the pattern I have made is to rib for only 10 rows before starting the heel flap, thereby omitting the leg of the sock and making it an anklet. Otherwise all other aspects of the pattern will stay the same as this sock pattern fits my foot perfectly!

Sock Mastery!

Well, I had a very unfortunate experience with my first sock, it came out huge! but at least I know more about sock construction and sizing. The second sock I made came out perfect for me, so I am thrilled. By the time I started the third sock, but second of th pair, I knew exactly where i was going, what was up next and felt confident. Although I still had to check back on the pattern occasionally, I was impressed that I had already mastered the necessary skills and manouvering of the DPN's. I know many people use circulars, but I wanted to start out on DPN's, so that I can develop as many skills as possible. And to tell you the truth, I really enjoy them!

My next set of socks will be for my daughter, she picked out some very pretty pink colorways of striping and fair isle yarns. I'm pretty sure I will be able to make her 2 pairs from each 100g ball. I have many more balls of yarn in various colorways, self-striping and fair isle designs that are ideal for myself as well. I just need to master the toe seam and they will become very easy knitting options.

I woke up sick today, sore throat and stuffy nose which was pretty disappointing. DH and DD woke up the same too. Today was a beautiful day though, sunny and warmish. Although the wind made it a bit chilly. So I spent most of the day outside with my son as he played on the swingset and with his matchbox cars. The dog was happy, she played by herself chasing balls and anything else that moved. Silly thing won't go outside unless people are out there with her. Diva dog. So because I was outside for most of the day I knitted on my dad's sweater as it is knitted in te round and just knit stitch. I carry the ball in a bag on my shoulder and i can walk around my yard easily while knitting. I find i can spend hours outside with my kids this way, otherwise i get so bored i can barely last 5 minutes.

I also listened to the Knitmore Girls podcast today. I only discovered podcasts recently and I start at he beginning.......up to the most recent. I started with the Knit Picks podcast, now on to Knitmore Girls. I have KIPing it Real, CogKNITive, Manic Purl and a few more waiting in line. I'm loving it, I had no idea so many others knit, let alone that there was so much to say! I'm currently downloading the Harry Potter series of audiobooks and many more waiting in line. When I'm not listening to my iPod, I'm knitting and reading. I'm currently reading "Compulsion" by Jonathan Kellerman. Not my favourite so far, but still enjoyable. Tomorrow I have to start reading my workbook for my hird module, "Conflict Resolution". I just hope it's as interesting as my first two subjects. I'm studying a Bachelor of Applied Social Science majoring in Counselling. But with 2 kids at home, and my other commitments, it's going to be quite a few years before I finish, but I figure that's ok. It keeps my ind active and it's a great feeling to get a Distinction!

Til next time.......Danielle