Meadow

Not my best work, but I like the pattern. It was designed by Lindy who is a teenage girl who makes a ton of cloths and designs as well. This is my first cloth of the year, as I have been busy making socks! Thanks for the great pattern Lindy!

Ampersand and Crusoe

OK, here's my progress on Ampersand - not bad really, just movin' slowly. This is my first project using a chart, thanks to a class I took at Stitches West.
Here's another view -- I'm likin' it....

...and a close-up (as far a my camera goes anyway) of the stitch pattern

I can't show you Crusoe, because it has been frogged down to the end of the toe increases and stashed for now. Very sad.....

What's New

OK -- I finished some socks. These are my basic rib socks I posted a month ago. I am pleased with these, and they will be worn often!

New sock yarn as well. This is a new-to-me sock yarn call Fiesta Baby Boom -- wow this is some soft stuff! I bought it through The Loopy Ewe.
The colorway is Rain Forest. Ain't it purdy? That's my good news. My not so good news is that Ampersand socks are moving sloooowly. Not a mindless pattern, and I have been tired to think lately. Everything is progessing well, but it's just taking time. My Caruso has been partially frogged! I have real small feet, and so I cast on the required 44 stitches and I can get the darn thing over my heel (I knit toe-up). The foot fit fine (maybe a little short) but the ankle was too tight. I frogged the leg back and added 4 stitches and I hope this helps.

For the next 4 Wednesdays, I am taking a toe-up, heel-less spiral sock class. Sounds intriging does it not? That's why I'm taking it! I did up my swatch is Colinette Jitterbug in colorway Parrot -- very nice yarn!

That's what is happening in my world -- whats happening in yours?

Fiber Fiber and What's OTN

I have been away looking a colleges with my boys who will be applying this fall,

which explains my blog absence....... This is what's on another set of needles (I thinkI now have 3 different socks OTN)

This is Crusoe, a Knitty pattern. I like the pattern well enough, but maybe I didn't use the right yarn to show it off....

I bought the yarn is Skagway Alaska, and can't recall the name of the yarn shop there. The yarn is Rabbit Ridge Designs in a soft wool/soy blend. The colorway is "Glacier". It is lovely yarn and very soft!

Ampersand Update...

Slow and steady -- not a social knitting project - more of a Law-and-Order-Marathon project. I took a chart reading class at Stitches and I this is my first project using charts.

I am also making some cabled mittens, my first cable project as well, and I was on gauge and everything and the pattern is just too big for my hand. So I will be taking it out and reknitting in the "small child" size instead of the "small adult" size.... sheesh!

A Quiz

Take the Quiz here!

Now that Masterpiece's Jane Austin Series has ended, every one has her on their minds -- a quiz even! I am not sure about my results though..........

I Got TWO Boxes Today

...but I am only sharing one for now. It is my first shipment of my Seven Deadly S(P)ins Club. The first sin is Gluttony and and is featured by a "gluttony" of color. This club is through the incredible Woolgirl (see link below) and the yarn is from the Unique Sheep. Checkout the pattern.
You use all these yarns for each sock and it makes a gradual rainbow effect --its lovely...
And lets not forget all the goodies as well!

What's OTN

Here is my version of Ampersand (thanks Renate) and it will be slightly different from the original as my toe-up pattern will be upside down. I did contact the designer and she thought it would be fine and so far, I like it. See the details below for the yarn my MadelineTosh, colorway Umoja.

Here is my mindless knitting project of a standard 2x2 ribbed sock. I can't remember where I got this yarn (Little Knits?) and its just called "Super Socks"

Just trying to use up some of the gorgeous yarn I have been buying....expecting 4 shipments this week --YIKES!

Fiber Friday

A prize came in the mail from The Woolgirl . She has fun contests on her blog and I answered this week's question correctly (shape of a sugar molecule = rings) and she pulled my name! It was a "Peeps" Easter Prize.

The yarn is from White Oak Studio Yarns and it's really soft. I will have to find just the right pattern for this yarn!

I also got my Defeat the Winter Dodrums Swap package from Sarah -- thanks so much!
It's been a fun mail week and I still have fiber to share from Stitches!

March Socks

Yes, I actually knit some of the yarn I buy! I am on a roll with 3 pairs of socks complete. This time last year I couldn't knit a sock!

This is Lorna's Laces Sock that I bought at the Loppy Ewe. Great yarn and I love the colorway. You may remember that I tried some patterns and then decided to just let the yarn do the talking. I'm already working on my next pair!

OK -- I am am fully recovered from Stitches. I would have been ready for a report sooner, but with all the yarn I brought home, a cold decided to hop a ride as well.

It was reported to be the largest Knitting Event so far and we even made Channel 5 news and the cover of the San Jose Mercury News. Knitting has hit the big time!

Well I agree it was BIG! There were over 250 vendors and the quality of yarn was better than last year – in my opinion. I don’t recall a long line last year to get in to the Marketplace on Thursday night, but there was…but we did get a sample of Tofutsie while we were waiting.

Everyone was headed one of two places: Raverly, where I got this cute t-shirt

and Blue Moon Fibers Arts. I decide to wait on Blue Moon because I really didn't want to stand in the very long line and if I didn't look right away, I wouldn't know what I had missed. Later I was able to get 3 hanks of Socks that Rock Silkie and was very happy!

This colorway is Puck's Mischief and it so soft. It's 81% superwash merino and 19% silk in their medium weight. Sorry about the photo below. This colorway, Rook-y, was hard to capture. It's from their Raven series and has wonderful highlights.

This is from Blue Moon's site, so you get an idea of the colors.

I pick up my Raverly passport and went around to the various vendors to have it “stamped”. It was a great idea, as I was able to see some great yarn and meet great vendors like Article Pract. I got this neat blocking system there and now I can block my afghan squares.

I took 3 classes: Chart Reading and Writing with JC Briar and her Get Twisted class the same afternoon. She is a great instructor and I got a lot out of her 2 classes. Then Saturday I took Lucy Neatby’s advanced sock class all day. I learned so much, but I have only been knitting 3 years,so it was a little overwhelming. She is amazing and I really enjoyed it.

I did buy more yarn -- 2 more types of sock yarn and 2 hanks for scarves that I'll tell you about them on some other Friday. I actually have been knitting some yarn as well and I am almost finished with some socks that I'll post those this weekend.

Fiber Friday Week 3 (late)

Not ready to post about Stitches yet, but here's something to tide you over!

How great it is to buy gorgeous sock yarn and support a charity as well. This is what I did by purchasing Madelinetosh yarn in Umoja colorway. It is SW Merino - 395 yards. It is spun like Koigu and feels wonderful! The colorway name comes from a Women's Group in Kenya that advocates for, and enables women's empowerment via HIV/Aids health education, children's education, political participation and community action.
Here is the link on Woolgirl where I heard about the charity. or you can directly to here to go directly to the group itself. Isn't it pretty!?

Today Is National Chocolate Mint Day

I am going to Stitches West on Thursday and will be gone through Sunday. Expect a full report when I get back and lots of fiber for Fridays!

Here's a yummy way to celebrate!

Fudgy Minty Brownies

3/4 cup Cocoa
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
2/3 cup Oil
1/2 cup Water, boiling
2 cups Sugar
2 Eggs
1 1/2 cup Flour
1 teaspoon Mint flavoring
1/4 teaspoon Salt
20 Mint patties

Directions:

Stir cocoa and baking soda in mixing bowl, blend in half of the oil, add boiling water; stir until mixture thickens. Stir in sugar, eggs, remaining oil, stir until smooth. Add flour, mintflavoring and salt, blend very well together.

Pour into lightly greased 13 X 9 inch baking pan or two 8 inch sqare pans. Bake at 350 degress F for 35 to 40 minutes for big pan, about 30-32 minutes for two small pans.

While the brownies are still hot, arrange the cream-filled mint patties on top, bake another 3 minutes then spread all evenly around. Let cool, cut into squares.

This recipe from CDKitchen for Fudgy Minty Brownies serves/makes 3 dozen

Fiber Friday Week2

Isn't this delicious? It's called Sugar from Dyelicious Additions in Australia.
It is 75% Superwash Wool and 25% Nylon 4 ply and 187m

Those of you who know me, maybe surprised by this color choice. Maybe Valentine's Day to got me. Now I may make this or this, or this
and I got a little Valentine treat as well -- thanks Kelly!

Fiber Friday Week One

OK -- everyone is oooohing and ahhhhhing over Wollmeise. I have tired to order it during the Loopy Ewe sneak-ups, but have never snagged a skein. I just happend to be on the Wollmeise site when they were updating and managed to order 2 skeins. Look how it comes in the mail all the way from Germany!

Under the sticker they had a mini skein hidden -- adorable. Its "Red Hot Chili ."
Now onto the skeins! I had no idea what I ordered, as everytime I added something to my cart it was "stolen" from me so I just kept adding items and checked out with whatever was remaining. Talk about a crap shoot! I was lucky to get one skein of Sockenwole 80/20 in Suzanne . Its a very generous 510 yards of superwash merino.
This is the same yarn in Vincent colorway. They wash the yarn is something that smells wonderful too......soooo soft.
And they included a little sweet treat and translation of German knitting terms.

New Socks OTN

Wow! I love this Lorna's Laces sock yarn. It is the 3rd of my many new sock yarn purchases. You have already seen my Zen Heart Socks, the sKnitches Syncopation yarn, and this is Lorna's "Edgewater" colorway. Purchased at the Loopy Ewe.

I had a pattern all picked out and I ripped it back to just let the yarn do the talking. Its my usual technique -- nothin' fancy.

I also got some Duet yarn at the Loopy Ewe and some Regia from Raverly "itchyfingers." My Dyelicious Yarn (Sugar) has not come from Australia yet, nor has my Woolmeise from Germany. I also ordered this other fantastic yarn from the Woolgirl. It will have its own blog entry as its something special!

I am going to start a feature called "Fiber Fridays" where I will post some of my new yarns

I can't stop myself!

They are Finished!

These were OTN waaaaay too long. Now that I am in SAM5 (sock-a-month 5), it gave me the push I needed to get them finished.

I got the yarn at Stonebarnfibers.com. The colorway is Blackberry Bramble and it feels like Koigu!


The pattern is from Sensational Knitted Socks, called "Baby Cable Rib". I don't have a fancy camera, so I hope this photo does justice to the stitches. They were a toe-up Magic Loop sock, with the afterthought heel.

January SAM5 Socks

I am trying to use up my sock stash, but so far this year I have added 6 to it! You have seen 2 and I got 2 more today and I will post their loveliness soon!

I was glad to finish the Chewy Spaghetti Holiday Club and this is the final shipment called Wintery 2007. You can buy her yarn at http://theloopyewe.com/ -- it is sport weight and knits up fast. This is a basic 2x2 rib, toe-up with the after-thought heel.

Today is National Blueberry Pancake Day

Use fresh or frozen blueberries in this pancake recipe.

INGREDIENTS:
2 eggs, separated
1 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
3 tablespoons sugar
3/4 teasooon salt
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup fresh or frozen thawed blueberries, rinsed

PREPARATION:
In a small bowl, beat egg whites until stiff; set aside.In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Beat egg yolks in a medium mixing bowl; add milk and melted butter. Stir egg mixture into dry ingredients; mix until batter is smooth and stir in blueberries. Fold in beaten egg whites. Bake on hot greased griddle. Makes 12 pancakes.

ENJOY!

Defeat the Winter Doldrums Dishcloth Exchange

Topic for Week #2

"There are many people who ADORE receiving hand-knit or crochet items; but there are just as many who have no appreciation whatever of how much love, work, and time goes into a hand-made item. Share a story of a hand-made gift you gave to someone and how it worked out - good, bad, or ugly!"

I knit these bed socks for a friend and I was so proud of them! I had only been knitting for about 1 year and it was really a struggle. Upon opening them she replied (not in a good way) "Great, so now every gift I get from you will be knitted." Now that her daughter has learned to knit she doesn't feel that way.......BTW, they were too small - LOL!

Yarn Pron (as L&V would say)

Well 2 new yarns arrived today. The first is from Simply Sock Co. It is sKNITches Syncopation sock yarn -- colorway is Rugby. It is lovely yarn and soft and squishy. I just happened to log on at the right time because its GONE now!

This yarn below is an early Valentine's present from my hubby so I can have it for V-Day. Our last name is Love and I collect hearts, so these socks are perfect. I haven't done anything like this so it should be interesting.... This is from Woolgirl . Check out the darling heel!

New Dishcloth

I have not knit a dishcloth in a while, and I thought I'd whip one up for my Defeat the Winter Doldrums Swap.

I belong to the Monthly Dishcloth KAL and genius Janet Nogle contributed the pattern.

Dishcloth Exchange Topic 1

Weekly Topic: Dishrag. Dishcloth. Face cloth.

When I am working on mine, it's a dishcloth. When its ratty and old then it a dishrag. Its a face cloth if I am giving it with soap, or made in my bathroom colors for washcloths. Its' all good!

Beat the Winter Doldrums Dishcloth Exchange Questionaire

1. Do you knit, crochet, or do both? Knit only
2. What types of needles do you enjoy using for making dishcloths? 7mm 10" straights
3. What types of cotton do you enjoy using for making dishcloths? P and C and S and C
Is there any that you've been wanting to try? Not really
4. What color(s) are your kitchen and bath decorated in (if any)? Kitchen is black, tan and olive green, bath is blue and purple
5. What are your favorite colors for yarns? Brights Least favorite? Baby colors
6. Do you like Winter, or do you count the days until it ends? I live in Californis, so we don''t really get it too bad
7. What's your favorite way to brighten your day when you're down in the dumps? Eat chocolate! and knit!
8. What is your favorite treat to indulge in and when your down in the dumps? I like pinwheel cookies, and Lindor truffles in the red wrapper
9. Do you drink coffee? Tea? Cocoa? Both but not green tea
10. If you could take a vacation starting tomorrow and go anywhere for one week and money were no object, where would you go and what would you do? I would go back to Italy adnd tour the entire country!
11. Do you have any allergies or aversions your pal should be aware of? No walnuts, mugs or cig smoke

First FO of 2008

MY KLEE SCARF IS DONE!
It took me way to long to finish this thing! It is gorgeous yarn to knit with and its cashmere and so it feels wonderful around my next. Now I am off as I have a fingerless glove to finish.

New Socks OTN

I have joined a new KAL http://sockamonthkal5.blogspot.com/ which will hopefully inspire me to knit a pair of socks a month.

Above is my progress using my last Chewy Spaghetti club yarn, Wintery 2007. This will be a basic stockinette pattern with the afterthought heel. MAgic Loop technique and toe-up (such a rebel!)

Defeat the Winter Doldrums SWAP

As you all know, I love SWAPs and here is the link to one of my favorites. The commitment is not overwhelming and what could be better than a handmade item, yarn and soap! Check it out!
http://dishclothexchange.blogspot.com/

So you all know how it goes...Your friend wants you to go to the LYS with her. Now, you don't really need anything but some how you find something your have to make . Here is mine!

The shop was offering a free pattern with purchase -- Araucania Copihue yarn, colorway 910. It is yummy super-fine alpaca. I had to modify the original pattern to fit my hand and the photo reflects the third try.

It is a gift for me!

Noro Hat is Finished

Thank goodnesss this was a gift for someone with a bigger head than mine. When I make it for my head (yes I had guage) I will use 6 and 7 needles instead of 7 and 8 needles. I even made it 4 rows shorter and I almost ran out of yarn.....


This is from the first One-Skein Wonder book -- "Ela's Favorite Hat". The yarn is Noro's Silk Garden in colorway 251 --I hope my friend likes it!

Thankful 2007 Complete

I have finished my Chewy Spaghetti Thankful 2007 socks as of the 7th and just positng. This pattern is from Sensational Kniited Socks:

Row 1: K2 P2
Row 2: K all