New Project!

I know, I am supposed to be knitting Ryan's socks; it' a big sock and I need a project that's just "knitting" for when I get tired of knitting on a sock. I know you know what I mean. I started this project for tomorrow - Thursday - Market Street DayKnitters knitting. Our knit group is growing and there is usually a lot of conversation going on. (I think a couple of ladies are there JUST for the conversation as opposed to some of us who are there to knit together). I needed something simple to knit with a luscious yarn. I dug in my stash and VIOLA! Manos Silk Blend; and several skeins of it!

I loved this yarn when I saw it; loved everything about it - the color, the feel - it's very soft and it really has no twist. I have been wanting to knit this up for a while. Seems now is the time.

Up Close - great colors! (I think Berroco has a sock yarn Metallic that is just about these same colors. I think I see matching socks in my future)

Just starting - OTN

I am going to knit this pattern. It's a Manos pattern book and I like the look of Newport.

I will be blogging about this for the next couple of weeks. P.S. Loretta we are missing you! Hope you are home soon and back to knitting with us.

Projects OTN

My son-in-law Ryan requested a pair of socks for his birthday. At the time, he knew they would be a bit late as I had project deadlines looming. Ryan didn't mind; it's not like he's going to be wearing them anytime soon as we are in the Dog Days of Summer. Now, I have one OTN and I am enjoying knitting them Thursdays at Market Street DayKnitters. I really do enjoy knitting for someone specific at times; especially if they are excited to be getting something knitted. So, below are a few pictures of Ryan's sock. It's not quite a "neverending sock like Joe's is; but I am glad to be knitting it on the small circular so I can pick up some speed on the foot now. The yarn is Lana Grossa. (no matter how hard I try, I even have each project in a separate basket, I still misplace yarn labels - I am sure I will find it on my knitting table somewhere)

Close up of the cuff - of 2 X 2 Ribbing

Yarn and Beginning on the Small Circ

Close Up of the Heel

Another -

There we go - all 9" of ribbing

Next -

This is the short row shawl I have been working on while I was a bit "under the weather". It was relaxing to knit something I really didn't have to think about AND was turning out gorgeous! I have thoroughly gotten into this shawl adding an ample hood onto it. Now, I am working to make a hood in a non-traditional way. In other words, I don't want to just sew a seam across the top of my head front to back! It's been a labor of love with no anxieties since it's for me! I have written everything down as I am sure I will want to do this again. It will have beading around the face of the hood. The next one will have some yarn over details and beading between the short row designs.

Close Up of the Colorway

I have been knitting this while it is literally "hot as Hell" here in Houston. I daydream about how much I am going to enjoy wearing this when Fall finally does arrive. Even though I love Summer, I was daydreaming about fireplace weather just yesterday. (I know I am going to knit matching handwarmers to go with this)

Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders

I have received official notification from Storey Publishing that two of my original designs are going to be included in the newest One-Skein Wonders book! These books have not only been favorites of mine, but also favorites for everyone that I know! This has absolutely made my day! I had submitted two designs hoping that one of them would make it into the book. I was most surprised to receive word that both made it! So, when the book debuts; get your copy and look for Ruby Begonia and Calypso! (happy dancing and singing with squeals in the background)

Fun Knitting

After finishing 4 design projects, it feels so good to be knitting for my enjoyment only! I have the Ilene bag almost finished; Todd's socks are almost finished and Ryan's socks are ready to start. Then, there's a shawl I started with Noro - couldn't resist the yarn.

We went to Lake Charles for Memorial Day. took Todd's socks to knit on the way. Just needed to decrease and kitchener one toe to be finished with the pair. Forgot my double points (I guess that would be a menopausal moment according to SOME people). I was disappointed as I wanted to give them to him while we were there. Below are a few pictures. Thought I would share. Back to knitting pictures tomorrow.

Matthew in his Indiana Jones hat with whip

Matthew up in a tree. (don't think his Mom knew where he was)

Pam letting Jayden nap in her lap. He was so tired.

(there may be more family pictures next week as Pam, Alexis and Jayden are coming to spend 10 days with us)

Mississippi and Guam Socks are Finished

My socks are on their way to Crystal Palace Yarns via UPS as of yesterday! Woohoo! Today, I am finishing up edits on the written patterns and a short bio. Several pictures of both pair are below. First is the sock for Mississippi. Guam sock pictures follow. (blogger turned some of my pics again)

Leg of Mississippi sock

Heel of Mississippi Sock

Tiny beaded rib of Mississippi sock

Pictures of Guam Socks This pair of socks are siblings but not twins; meaning they are not identical. It is their differences that make them interesting.

The colors are reversed for the socks plus one sock has one more row of edging than the other. I liked them that way so didn't change it. Knitters can do their socks however they want them. Flowers are positioned on the outside of the socks slightly above the ankle. The inside of the socks have small lazy daisy flowers with beaded centers.

Closeup of sock with red flower, orange edging and orange lazy daisy flowers.

Closeup of the sock with the orange flower.

On to the next big thing!

Bluebonnets of Texas

Joe and I decided to drive to Brenham (home of Bluebell ice cream) and have lunch. It is about an hour away from us and a nice, scenic drive. It's one of the favorite routes to see Texas Bluebonnets in abundance. We had lunch at Must Be Heaven! Halving a sandwich; we saved room for a large piece of coconut pie that we also shared. It was delicious! Brenham is a wonderful little town with a center court house square. There are many many quaint little shops of antiques, flea market finds and crafts. It's a wonderful place to spend the day. Below, a field of bluebonnets that seems to go on forever.

A herd of cows grazing in a field of bluebonnets.

There were many cars stopped with people out in the fields taking pictures of their spouses, children, grandmothers and pets! It's neat to see dogs having their pictures made out in a field of flowers.

It was a bit overcast as you can see, but we had a great time.

Next weekend, Joe's kids and grandkids are coming. We are all planning to go to Chappel Hill for the Bluebonnet Festival. There will be more bluebonnet pictues, I am sure.

Still Working on Guam

I have been playing with the embellishment of Guam for several days now. I like the way it looks this morning; so I am going to make the other sock match but reversing the colors. The flower is located just above the ankle facing out on the sock. It does look very similar to what I had envisioned this sock to be. I have stayed very simple with any crocheted embellishment so that even a beginner crocheter could achieve the same results. A simple crocheted edging can give any knitted piece a look of additional refinement. IMHO.

This photo shows the center of the flower and the daisy stitch with beaded centers up close.

Another closeup of edging and flower.

I am hoping to finish the embellishment of the second sock today so that I can block them. I want to take them to Market Street DayKnitters tomorrow. Then, in the mail on Friday! Woohoo!

Guam Socks - Embellishing in Progress

To say I have been knitting like someone crazily obsessed is an understatement! I am proud to say the knitting is finished! At this point, I am working on the embellishment of the Guam socks. I thought I would post the process. For me, it is probably craziness at it's best! Actually, this is the FUN part - the creative part. I want these socks to be floral and very colorful yet something anyone can easily achieve. I want something "out of the box" for these socks. A look for socks that I haven't seen before. First, let me say that my intention with this sock was intarsia in the round but I became concerned about not having enough time to complete the socks since I have never done intarsia in the round. It would have been a learning process for me. (it is on my shortlist though) So, the next best thing would be the charted design in duplicate stitch. I have found that I really don't like duplicate stitch that much. I need a tiny embroidery hoop to make my stitches neater. I have been to two different craft stores looking for that damned little hoop. I had to settle for one last evening; I hope it works the way I want it to! While waiting to find the hoop, I wondered about satin stitching some flowers on the sock. Below is the result of some quick little satin stitches. Pretty neat, actually. Still going to do the duplicate stitch to see which I like best. It may turn out to be some combination of both. There is also a planned edging around the large flower. I hope the picture in my head translates well onto the sock! The socks are going to have different colored edging on the ribbing. One has two rows of that edging and the other has one row. I am leaning toward the one row. Already tried beading the edging and didn't care for it. This is about the 4th edging I have tried; deciding I like the simpler edging best since the socks will have flowers on them. I really like the little lazy daisy flowers hoping to scatter a few of those with a bead in the center.

Just playing around waiting to find a little hoop that will fit inside my sock.

I love these beads! They are glass and square. Not to mention the EXACT colors of my yarn. Hoping they wind up on the socks somewhere.

Don't know why Blogger turned these pictures sideways. Jeez.

I love the simplicity of this little lazy daisy flower!

Today, I will be in the yard with Joe. It is one of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday or Sunday. He has our raised veggie garden ready to plant. (he does the work and I get to do the fun part) I have a flat of red verbenas and a flat of marigold to plant. The marigold go between the tomatoes and bell pepper plants to help keep the bugs off of them. Bugs don't like the smell of marigolds. Boy, I do! I had forgotten what tomato plants smell like! Nothing like it in the whole world! One of those simple pleasures in life. I will be posting gardening pictures along with knitting thru the Summer.

Mississippi Sock

I really do like the wave stitch pattern and have wanted to knit it into a sock. In theory, it should have knitted up perfect like the seafoam stitch for Galvez. BUT, it didn't! It "blouses" out as you knit. I have knitted, knitted and reknitted this sock! Below was my last try with a different yarn; the third yarn tried if you are keeping count. It's Panda Silk which shows more stitch definition and looks good but still is not right. It made a large sock on 60 sts. So I went back to the Panda Soy.

This is a closeup of Panda Soy knitted in wave stitch. It's a great little stitch pattern and fun to knit.

This picture, although not a great shot for actual color of yarn, shows the pattern well.

This shot shows the pattern flowing onto the top of the foot down to the toe.

Okay, full shot of the Mississippi Sock almost complete. I have been toying with a small beaded edge along the ribbing. Summer socks need a little sparkle.

The Guam sock is coming along very well. This is truly my kind of sock with bright colors and beads! I am working on the first one now. Should have some pictures to put up soon.

Mississippi Sock Design

Feeling a bit ambivalent about the Guam Sock design, I decided to start Mississippi. This design is pretty easy now that I have settled on a yarn. I had originally wanted to knit this design in Mini Mochi. Mochi has a tiny bit of fuzziness that didn't work out well. After a trip to LYS, I am knitting the design in Panda Soy. Below shows about 3/4 inch of 2 X 2 ribbing. I have placed a marker after every 6th stitch to help keep up with the pattern that repeats every 6 stitches. A tiny little crystal cube is my BOR marker. Yes, I am knitting this sock on an Addi 12" circular.

This stitch pattern works up with quite a few wraps. It is a fun knit once you get the rhythm going! You can see the wraps in the first section below.

Panda Soy is a glorious yarn to knit with. It is working up perfectly for the Mississippi design. It's a good feeling when design and yarn come together the way you envision.

50 Socks - 50 States - Guam

This is the sock for Guam. I am using Crystal Palace Panda Silk in the tone on tone greens. This was my knitting yesterday at Market Street DayKnitters. It is really pretty. I am hoping when finished, that this will look like foliage. The picture below is the heel flap.

Here you can see the ribbing and how the colors are swirling about. I knit a pair of socks in this yarn in the orange tones last year and sent them to CPY. I would love to knit a pair for ME this year for the Fall and Halloween. The orange tone on tone is gorgeous. (have no idea why Blogger turned this pic sideways, but it did)

Mississippi and Mochi proved to be a bit more difficult in starting. I LOVE the Mochi but the stitch pattern I want to use is a drop stitch. Mochi is a tiny bit fuzzy and the stitches didn't want to drop as I wanted them to. After a quick run to Twisted Yarns, I came home with Panda Soy in shades of blue. Below you can see the stitch pattern, but it's not the yarn I am going to use.

The top skein is the Mochi and the two bottom ones are the Panda Soy. I like the way the Mochi stripes best BUT.........

Just for fun, below is a pic of a Begonia leaf. Isn't it beautiful? On a tour of Brookwood Community and after visiting their gift shop, I came home with this plant and several others.

This is the bloom for the begonia pictured above.

I found the cutest little Easter Box today. I filled it with plants and set it on the coffee table to enjoy this weekend. The plants are also from Brookwood.

Have a great weekend. Tonight is margaritas at the Blue Iguana for Joe and I.