2nd Sock Update

Thursday, after Knit Night Out, I came home and finished the heel and picked up gusset stitches. As you can see, I didn't knit very much on the way to Houston Friday. I needed to relax and clear the clutter from my head. I hope to fnish this sock by tomorrow as I have a project that I am eager to start!

I did knit a bit last night...
Joe and I got up early this morning; had coffee on the patio watching the hummingbirds. By 8:30am, we were pedaling into Graywood! We biked almost 5 miles this morning. (Our goal is to bike at least 5 days a week - I AM being realistic - I can hear Kim giggling now) We went to the grocery and Joe is currently grilling steaks. After lunch, I will be knitting. Baseball comes on this afternnoon! Sometimes, well, a lot, Tugley and I sack out on the sofa for an afternnoon nap. That is such a luxury and truly a sight to see!

Joe and I have been trying to getting our body clocks in sync since he retired. He is a morning person and I am an afternoon person. Maybe we are almost there.

Our back yard -

I did take lots of pictures Friday - as you can see, they had not poured concrete. Joe was actually glad he got to see the footings. They install a cable lock system under the slab. He liked that A LOT! This view is from the front porch thru to the back porch on into the back yard - right through the house. In the front, they were working on the driveway. Using a neat little tractor, they were digging it out and bringing in clay by dump truck loads. All I can say is it's good to see some progress after nearly 4 months of weather delay. We will probably be moving in August - the hottest month of the year.

Sock 2 Report

I am knitting Sock 2 in Crystal Palace's new Panda Wool color strawberry with needles #1.5. The ribbing is complete and I have started the heel flap. I am so happy to be finished with the ribbing! Panda Wool is a wonderful yarn, but I am spoiled to the silky feel of Panda Cotton now. (There are two more Crystal Palace sock yarns not yet available that have a wonderful feel to them also!)

I am trying to decide if I should take this sock to Knit Night Out tonight...... or do I want to be tinking on this sock on the way to Houston in the morning? Wish I could talk and knit at the same time.

Sock Update 4

Ready to kitchener the toe -

This sock knit up very quickly. I think the pebble rib has enough variation in it to keep it interesting. The wide wale rib of k3 p1 was so boring, I thought I would never finish the other socks. This rib is a variation of that rib. Knitting never ceases to surprise me. I also have to say that Panda Cotton really show great stitch definition. This photo doesn't show it well; but this sock looks really great. I will try and take a better picture after finishing the toe.

I have started the second sock this evening. We are watching the Yankees vs Devil Rays and knitting. Joe has decided it's time to learn to knit socks - he wants some sock yarn.......

Sock Update 3

I am really enjoying knitting this sock for two reasons: 1) I love CPY's Panda Cotton - it has such a silkiness in hand; 2) I am enjoying this rib. I haven't knitted the pebble rib before. It has just enough change in it that you have to pay attention.

I have 6" of ribbing completed along with the heel flap, heel turn and am now decreasing in the gusset area. I have folded it down for ease of photographing and found that I really like the texture on the backside/inside of the ribbing.

Today is the Saturday Knit Together at Books A Million. I am picking up granddaughter Alexis and we are going to go knit for a few hours. She hasn't seen her "knitting friends" in quite some time now! Having Alexis in the shop last Summer was so much fun. People would come in and see her sitting on the sofa knitting. They would ask "Is she knitting" and at second glance, ask incredulously "Is she knitting a sock?"

First, we will probably have a lite lunch at Que Pasa as she like the cheese dip there! I will snap a few pics for the blog.

Sock Report

I started this sock on Tuesday getting about a good inch of ribbing done.

Yesterday, I went to tend to/rock Jayden (still on a 2 hr feeding schedule) so Pam could take a much needed nap. That 2 hr schedule is rough on parents. By the time you feed and diaper the baby and he is back to sleep, you have about 45 minutes until it's time to get another bottle ready. Joe and I had a business mtg last night and didn't get home until after 9PM. So, no knitting yesterday.

This evening I was able to work on the sock some. I am abiding by the "Gina Rule" especially since I am feeling tired. (the rule states no knitting after 9PM; otherwise there is major tinking the next morning) So, I am finished for the evening.

Tomorrow, after the gym, I have promised Joe to work in the yard with him. I have gardenias to replace the ones that Rita blew away and I want to get the patio back to where we will enjoy sitting out there in the afternoon.

Elf hat and Gauntlets--Done and Done

The Elf hat is finished along with the gauntlets to match, the second one went quite well, down to only a couple of the sailor words, no tinking, and no help from the DW, ta da!!! Actually, Gabby will get something else to go with the gauntlets, after seeing the finished product, the Elf hat is something I feel she may not wear. Being an 11 year old in June, the hat may be too “cutsie” for that age, she will probably feel like it makes her look too young.

You guys remember not wanting to look too young don’t you? Now I for one would love to look “too young” for my age, that ain’t happen'! Funny isn’t it how we view age. As a teenager, we try to look 20ish, all grown up, got all the mature “equipment” we have no idea how to use but are aching to try out, just as soon as we figure "it" out. Then the 30’s come along, we have it all figured out, plus the consequences that come along with it, namely our dear, loving, sweet, adorable children (said as a loving dad)……yeah right, and we don’t have time to worry about age. Then somehow the 50’s- 60’s creep up and all of a sudden we are trying to look 20ish again, or at least do the best we can, which is usually a total failure, you can’t make a 57 Chevy look like a 2007 Corvette no how matter how hard you try, (actually the 57 Chevy is a much hotter looking a car, but that is only my opinion). And sadly a lot of folks spend what it takes to buy the Corvette trying to look younger, you can only stretch a piece of leather so far………..

Anyway, back to the Gabby issue, I will be making her a belt to go along with the gauntlets, this will be much cooler and hopefully something she will wear. It will be like the one I just finished, the DIY Fringed Hippy Belt in Crystal Palace Yarns Trio, it has a lot of shiny stuff a young lady should really like. I modified it some, added a double YO instead of the single in the pattern, it gives it more openness, as Debbie says, Cute!

I am not knitting as much now, as Debbie said the house in Texas has started and now I have to get our yard here in better shape. I will be spending more time in the yard with the ax, shovel, rake and hoe ( hoe as in yard tool, not as in ho that can get you fired…oh wait I can’t get fired, I don’t have a job). But fear not, will be doing some knitting, and will keep you up on my adventures.

Till next time, Knit On…..Joe

Turbo Knitting a Sock

Here we are.... This is Ann Norling's Adult Socks II Pattern. I need to knit 2 socks, from different yarns, by this pattern and get it back to Crystal Palace by June 1st. (not mentioning the other sock from a yet to be debuted yarn) I believe that I am up for the challenge.

Close up of the pebble rib; one of the ribs used in the pattern. I cast on this afternoon late (7pm) and this is all I have gotten done between talking to Joe and watching the Astros - about 1 inch of ribbing. (9pm) I hope to do better tomorrow. My plan is to get up a bit earlier than usual and knit for a couple of hours before my day actually begins. Lately, my days seem to be busier than I would like. We made a pitcher of margaritas; so I am putting the knitting down for the night.

Yarn Arrived in Today's Mail

A box of sock yarn from Crystal Palace came in Today's Mail! I have never been crazy about getting mail unless there's cool stuff in the mailbox. Magazines, Christmas cards, plant/seed/orchid catalogs, money or knitting accouterment. Sock yarn does qualify!

Skeins on the left are Panda Wool and the skeins on the right are Panda Cotton both are from Crystal Palace Yarns. Solid colors of sock yarn! Wahoo!

These skeins are out front because they have to be knit first! They are the yarns that were chosen to knit socks for the new photo on the Ann Norling 12A basic sock pattern pattern. They need these yesterday; so knitting begins in the morning. I will photo and post every day so you can see how I am progressing. There were a couple other balls of yarn that I am holding back for later. They are pretty special......no hints! I will be working on these projects at Knit Night Out on Thursdays.

Construction Has Finally Started

Joe and I were in Houston this weekend to go to the Bluebonnet Festival in Chappell Hill, Texas with friends. It was truly a great Festival! Chappell Hill is a beautiful, historic, small town. (there is a beautiful white chapel on a hill) We had thought it would be nice but it was much more than we had expected! There were quaint shops with all kinds of antiques and handmade items. There were booths set up for blocks and blocks with crafts, foods, music and just about everything you could imagine. It was so neat that many people brought their dogs! Dogs of all sizes and shapes, leashed and very well-behaved, were participating in the fun.

On the way home, we detoured to Brenham, Texas, home of BlueBell Ice Cream. Our intentions were to go by the Creamery for ice cream but they were closed. Instead, we went to Must Be Heaven for Homemade Pie and Ice Cream. Unbelievably Delicious. (Joe and I had vanilla shakes and coconut pie) The bluebonnets were gorgeous!

We were excited to find that forming up for the slab has started! We were really surprised! It was a gorgeous day to be outside! Joe saw tracks where deer had been walking around at the back of our lot!

Joe standing inside our house!

Knitting posts will continue tomorrow..............

A Little Bit of My Sock

We had a nice Easter! We made 8 little Easter Baskets full of chocolate this year. Saturday, we had Joe's children, spouses and grandchildren for a late lunch. Sunday, we all went to Heather's house for Easter. We delivered 5 little Baskets to Gabby, Alec, Crosby, Sophie and Jack for the Easter Bunny. Kim and Todd are coming here for dinner this evening. Two more Easter Baskets will go home with Kayla and Matthew. Tomorrow, we will deliver a Basket to Alexis. Jayden doesn't know about the Easter Bunny and Chocolate yet!

As you all know, a family gathering for us is a BIG event. If everyone shows up; we have 25. Joe and I just about have it down to an art. The key is having everything ready and a buffet area designated. We feed the children first; there were only 5 children on Saturday; usually we have 8 - 10 children. Then, the adults fix their plates and find a place to sit and eat. After that; you are on your own.

OTN - I started a mindless knitting project. I desperately needed one. I can't decide what shrug/cocoon I want to knit with my new Rowan; so I started this shrug from Knit2Together. I am knitting it in SWTC's bamboo. It is completely k2p2 ribbing for the body of the shrug. After that, you knit some really beautiful lace to go around the edges. Until then, this is my knitting for Knit Night Out and late evenings.



This is the beaded sock design (it's kinda hard to see the beads in this shot) that I have been working on. The yarn is Lorna's Laces in Poppy knit on #2 dps. There has been a lot of tinking going on. I frogged it the last time to change 2 stitches. The stitch at the beginning and end of my dps. One or two stitches can make a big difference in the way your sock looks. The second sock of this design will probably be knit on #1.5 to see the difference in size. #1.5 is my personal preference for knitting socks.

One of my knitting girlfriends, Debbie W., likes the pattern "between" the design. So, I have been trying to chart that to see if I can achieve that look as a design on it's own.

Joe's Knittin' Adventures

The Demise of the Clementine Shawlette

The groan of agony heard lately was me doing the unthinkable…….pulling out the shawlette, yep, the whole thing. After much soul searching and a lot of prodding and coaching from the resident knit master, I decided the only right thing to do was pull it out. You see there were a few (actually a bunch) of bugger-ups in the darn thing and as any self respecting knitter knows, you can’t just leave them (one of the draw backs of living with a pro). It was one of the hardest things I have done to date as a knitter, but it is done and I recovered. One of the things that helped was Debbie said it would look much better in a solid color so the pattern would show better, and as usual she is right. Plus I got a big ole kiss on the head for doing the right thing. I was hoping for a little better “reward”, but she said she didn’t reward for something that minor, so I took her to Texas the next day, that always works ……….woo hoo……… Okay, the shawlette is on hold for now; but will be started again at a later date.

Do not despair; I have been knitting (how did this start becoming a habit?). I made two bibs for the new little guy, Jayden. The first one he will have to wait a while to use - at least a year. The pattern called for a 25 cast on, well that just didn’t look like it was going to be anywhere big enough to do any good. Dude here decides to cast on 40 sts. I guess the people that make up patterns know what they are doing cause after a couple of rows it became very obvious that the darn thing was going to be way to big for an infant. Being undaunted; I finished it then did another one with the correct cast on. So little knothead got himself two bibs from Poppy instead of just one. I also made him two knitted foam filled blocks. Each one has a different yarn color and pattern; plus, each one is knitted using different stitch patterns. I used them to practice the patterns, so when I get ready I will have better skills to tackle the more difficult designs. No fear! (My DW forgot to take pictures of my knitted gifts before sending them home with the new little guy! :O( She promised to snap them when she goes to visit next week).

Currently, I am working on the Knit Wits' Pixie Hat for my granddaughter, Gabby for her birthday June 1st. She will get the hat with a pair of gauntlets to match. They are in her favorite color; lime green with some fuzzy fur around the face. The fur will be added to the gauntlets so they will match the hat. So far, it has not been too bad. Knitting with two yarns at the same time was a first, especially since one had all the fuzzy hairs, but I got it on with not too much trouble as in a minimum of the sailor talk. And I have only had to get Debbie to fix some “things” no more than 4 or 5 times, so all in all things are going well.

That’s it for now; the finished project will be posted at some time in the future.
Until next time,

Knit On………Joe

Knit Goes On

Ta-Daaaaaa! Big Bad Baby Blanket finished and ready to deliver. Berroco Touche is sooo soft! Not too bad when you think Jayden wasn't supposed to be here for two more days! I dislike knitting seed stitch but I do love the way it looks. I am quite pleased with the blanket. I hope that he drags it around with him until he starts kindergarden.

I have been BAD! Added to my Stash - Rowan Soft Lux in Cedar (extra fine merino, angora, nylon and sparkle). I had been wanting this yarn for such a long time but wouldn't buy it. In fact, I looked at it the last time I went yarn shop crawling in Houston. Didn't get it! Ever so casually, not intending to buy, I was browsing Jimmy Beans Wool and there it was! ON SALE! How could I NOT buy it? It's my favorite color and has a tiny sparkle in it.............

I have 10 balls, yep, bought a whole bag of it. I think there is something to snuggle into for the Fall coming my way! I am going to find my scented oil, Noel, put a drop on a cotton ball and seal it with my yarn in a knitting tote. It will be heavenly to knit when I decide on a pattern.

Finally, a sock of my own design is OTN. The yarn is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Poppy on a #1.5 12" Addi Turbo and the beads are Hobby Lobby! It is a simple lace design for Summer and I am having a blast with it! You probably won't see it again here on the blog but my knitting girlfriends will see it on Thursday's Knit Night Out.

Crystal Palace Yarns has asked if I will knit a couple more socks in solids for them. Ann Norling Patterns (Marge) wants my knitted socks for the new photograph on one of her sock patterns. How cool is that? I am surprised AND very pleased!

Knitting and Misc

I am quite pleased with myself this morning. I have been an hour ahead of the clock. Joe likes to eat at 12Noon straight up! I had seasoned a brisket and put it in the fridge last night. He put it in the oven this morning "sometime" before I got up. At 10:30AM, I thought it was 11:30aM; and started our lunch. On the menu - brisket, BBQ pinto beans and baby Yukon gold potatoes steamed in healthy butter-tasting stuff with Tony's!

Almost OTN - this afternoon, I am beginning some sock designs. I have chosen a near solid yarn - Poppy - and it is wound into a ball. I will let you know how that goes.

Jayden's Big Bad Baby Blanket

in a WET heap. After many hours of knitting, this a sight that causes anxiety for most knitters. I have it in the dryer now tossing about on air. I am checking it frequently. When it is somewhat dry; I plan to spread it out on my bed to finish drying.

Many of you know Alexis; so here she is holding her new baby brother for the first time.

Joe brought me roses from the yard this morning. This was/is a Jackson Perkins experimental rose that he was evaluating for them. I hadn't realized that it survived Rita; it is my favorite. So, we will be digging it up in a few months for a road trip!

By Request, More Baby Jayden

These little feet have several pairs of handknit socks.

Nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby -

Jayden Has Arrived

Jayden Slade

6lbs 13 oz and 20 in long

March 19, 2007

Knitting will continue on this blog soon. We are knitting...

Interweave Knits Spring 2007 Search

Day before yesterday, I was reading the post on Socknitters about Grumperina's sock in the new Interweave. I made a mental note to be sure to look at it again; certain that I had overlooked it. Yesterday morning at 6:50AM, almost ready to leave for Houston, I remember the mental note and go to the yarn room to get the Spring Interweave (they are all stored in the same place). I grab the one on the top and put it in my knitting tote with Jaden's baby blanket. Out the door and into the car by 7AM! Wahoo (on time)! Halfway to Houston, I decide to check out the socks. Flipping thru the mag, I realize that I am looking at the Winter 2006 Issue! Bummer. I picked up the wrong magazine and I am now wondering where the Spring issue is. This morning, wanting to look at Grumperina's Socks, I start searching for the Spring 2007 issue. It's not on my yarn table, it's not with the other Interweaves where it should be, it's not on the table by my chair, it's not in the drawer of said table, it's not on the coffee table, it's not in either drawer of the coffee table, it's not in any of my other knitting totes; AND it's not on the computer desk. I am trying to remember ANYTHING from the Spring Issue; I can't. I know I didn't take it to Books A Million for Knit Night Out. As I walk by Joe's chair and look on his end table - THERE IT IS - folded back to the Clementine Shawl! Oh........... now I remember - my husband is knitting from the Spring Interweave 2007. (smiling) Another mental note - copy that chart for him - and get that magazine. We were in Houston yesterday in ALL that rain! Jeez Louise! Joe looked at me on the way home, with that twinkle he gets in his eye and said "you just HAD to come to Houston today, didn't you?" We closed on our house. Now, if it will just stop raining long enough to pour concrete.

Still Baby Knitting -

First, before OKC, another Easter Bunny. This is the only male bunny that I have. You don't see many bunnies that are boy bunnies, come to think of it. He's sitting on the mantle, probably wondering where the caramel Cadbury Eggs are! So am I.

I can't seem to remain focused on any one thing for very long today. I am trying desperately to daydream about a vacation to the Bahamas with free all you can drink margaritas BUT Pam is having her baby next week instead of the 29th; we are closing on our house tomorrow in Houston; we have to put our house here on the market ready to show and we will be moving to the Houston area in about 4 months. &*%^@#?*! I could use some of Joe's golf words about now! I would like to deal with these things one at a time on a more leisurely basis. I hate moving even when it's a move that I want. I hate packing even more. The only good thing about it is I am really good at it after all those years of practice - good labeling is the key. I have been wandering from room to room today thinking OMG! Joe's going to call Two Cajuns and a Truck to move my new furniture. They are probably very good...........

OKC - The Big Bad Baby Blanket is coming along at a frantic pace. It is almost halfway completed at 17" thanks mostly to knitting in the car AND being stuck in traffic on I10 in Houston for a LONG time while it was closed; yes, closed. We will be on the road again early tomorrow morning. Joe has an alternate scenic route through Port Arthur for our return trip. It is great knitting time. (they say the inside of your purse is a reflection of your state of mind. I think my knitting table is probably a more accurate reflection)
Thought ya'll would enjoy seeing major frogging for the umpteenth time. Joe finally quit asking "are you frogging that again"?! Yes, my husband, I am.

Those Ladies are Tough!

Tough Ladies of Knit Night Out

I thought that I was doing so well when I posted that I was coming out of the Yarn Closet. Well, it seems I did not make it all the way out. Debbie’s KNO friends seem to have a different opinion. Everyone has been so very supportive with lots of encouraging posts about my revelation, BUT, it seems I have not completely made it all the way out of the closet. My good friends Gina, Janet, Sandy, and Debbie W. made it very clear to me last week that until I join them in knitting at one of their knit-outs, I have not completely made it out of the Yarn Closet. These ladies are tough. I thought admitting in a very public forum like this that I knitted would be enough, WRONG…..now it seems I can not fully claim liberation until I KIP! So, do I take the next step in proving I am man enough to step out in public with my skill? I am pondering this. I guess the only reason I have to KIP is to show other guys who may enjoy the craft that it is okay, that real men do knit and there is nothing to be ashamed of.

I do know that a great way to meet women for a single man is to act helpless in a supermarket, to walk a dog or take a small child to a park. A smart man will let the ladies know he can do some sort of handicraft, especially if he knits. Ladies just love a man with “good hands”. So you single men out there, take note, if you do not impress the ladies with your bulging biceps, your 6-pack abs or your amazing wit, you might do well to ask for a lady’s assistance with your knitting, who knows you might get to go play in her yarn basket!!!

One quick note for those of you that are wondering what has happened to my shawl project. I have been sidetracked by more Rita repairs, this time in the yard. I had 7 loads of dirt delivered to fill in all the holes and torn up places in the yard. A friend loaned me the use of his tractor with a front-end loader. I grew up on a tractor, so that was no problem. I have not ever used a front-end loader before, so that was a bit of a challenge. Being the manly man I am, I jumped on the thing and after a round of fits and starts and a whole lot of “sailor” words; I got the hang of it. The dirt has been spread and it actually came out quite well. thank you, so I will be getting back to the shawl for a while, until I get inspired to tackle more of the yard repairs.

I will post a progress report in the coming days, so hang in there and knit on!

Me on the Tractor

Knitting, Knitting and More Knitting...

Mystery Knitting

A knitting project I have had in my head for some months is slowly appearing! There are little metal beads peaking out - those little guys have been tinked a lot. Yes, you DO see a "life line" at the end of the ribbing. Word to the wise - Never, never knit while sipping a margarita. I work on this at home only where peace and quiet allow the subconscious creative mind to work (in other words - not at Knit Night Out) This is NOT a sock.

The Big Bad Baby Blanket from Debbie Stoller's Stitch N Bitch book (one of my favorites for knitting basics). The yarn is Berroco's Touche; a cotton blend that feels like silk. The color doesn't show true; it is a very pale shade of yellow - kinda like cornsilk. Pam loves the color and it matches Jaden's room decor perfectly! I fretted a bit that I hadn't stashed blue for his knitting but I could not have chosen a better color looking back now! It's amazing how things can turn out so perfect! Sometime later in the year, I will knit a sweater and hat in about a 12 mo size for Fall.

Panda Cotton! Two pair completed! These are going in the mail to Crystal Palace Yarns today. Snapped a quick pic before they go into the mailing envelope!


"Another pair of socks for baby Jaden?" asks Joe. The colors in this photo actually came out pretty good although the yarn is more deep blue in person! This is Trekking XXL #71.


I have been putting out Easter Bunnies around the house. So, some will be shared with you on the blog over the next few weeks. I particularly like the sparkles on this Bunny.


This cutie also has sparkles and a flower collar!


This Bunny gets to sit on my knitting table until Easter. He listens to all my knitting muttering.


(Joe just passed through saying the cable of his circular needles are curling up again - the ones his shawl are on. He is going to to the kitchen to dip the cable in hot water. I told him he could slip his knitting off onto another needle and unkink his cable. Ooooh, but no, he's going to do it with his knitting still on the needles. I am still giggling.................) He is baking a dijon pork tenderloin for lunch that smells FABULOUS! How I love a man that cooks AND knits! Truly my Heaven on Earth!

Clementine Shawl by Joe

The beginning of the Clementine Shawl in the current issue of Interweave Knits

Closeup

Update on the Clementine Shawlette project. I made it through the first section of the pattern, all 46 rows, without TOO much trouble this time. Then I started on the second part, only 22 rows, but they threw in some extra stuff. There are rows with extra YO’s, k2tog I already knew from prior projects, there are several ssk’s that got me at first. But with instructions from my live-in Knit Master and studying pictures I got it done, or so I thought. When I got to the end of the row with 6 YO’s, one of those slip two knit one pass two over thingies (I actually have that down pat), one ssk and one k2tog, there should have been 29 stitches on the needle, well, there were 30 and as all you good knitters know, the only thing to do is find the mess up tink back and fix it. Ha, I have news for you, there is another way and I am sharing it now as a favor to you guys. You don’t have to tink back, just k2tog on the first two stitches on the next row and lo and behold, you are back to the correct number of stitches and you can’t even see it……..ta da!!! Time saved. Of course I have not told the little lady, she seems to think that is just something good knitters don’t do, so that is our little secret, okay?! Actually, there are several places in the there I had to do that, but so far she hasn’t found them, so I guess it just goes to show that if you are as good at hiding things as I am, then you can fool even the most discerning eye.

The next phase of the pattern takes me out to 69 stitches OTN after 40 more rows, then it goes into a pattern repeat of 4 rows for a total length of 15 inches. That makes half the shawlette. After making the two halves, then I will kitchenered (whatever the hell that means) the two together for the completed piece. So, stay tuned, updates will be forth coming as I proceed.

I was just informed that I need to say that I am knitting this out of Art Yarns Supermerino color 101, don’t know why that is important, but there I have told you, and I might get a nice reward for being a good boy………hea, hea, hea……..

Until next time, knit on……