Giving sock knitting a little rest

The sock knitting mojo is on a wee mental break. That and I simply cannot motivate myself to work on my Digitessa sock for more than 1 row at a time. Even after I color-coded all the travelling stitches on the chart.


I've joined the lemming masses and am now a proud owner of the infamously popular Noro Striped Scarf (colorways 244 & 268).

The FO photo will have to wait 'til the scarf finishes drying after its soak (w/Soak!) & hair-conditionered rinse (a little Noro trick I learned on the old yahoo Clapotis group).


My other lemming knit, the Lady February Sweater, is cruising along. I'm using Miss Babs superwash worsted (yowza skein size) in Pookie, but they way it's knitting up, I'm mentally referring it to my tropical camo cardie. It's much more variegated and green than I expected it to be when I ordered it. I'm sure the gull lace section will look better than its current scrambled state once blocked. However, if I do this easy pattern again (provided I just didn't jinx myself right there), I would go for a bit more semi-solid colorway.


And just to keep myself from buying/ordering more yarn 'til Stitches West (Eeek, next week already!) and Sock Camp, I went "shopping" in my stash and decided to use the UEU (Use Everything Up) concept from my makeup group. I pulled the remaining 1 + maybe 1/2 skein of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran leftover from my Twist cardigan and cast on for another pair of Fetchings for myself.

I had considered making fingerless mitts w/a cable pattern matching the Twist, but I wasn't sure I would have enough and decided to play it safe. Besides Fetchings are a fast knit.

Excused from dusting

Nothing like having a cold as an excuse to forego household chores and lay in bed & knit. At least I got the laundry done this weekend.


Yarn4Socks kit from coughfall2007cough
Merlot Vine Sock by Anne Hanson
Twisted Fiber Art Arial ombre self-striping yarn
size 2.50 mm KP circs
mod: Judy's Magic Cast on for the toe

I actually finished this after the weekend 'cause I left the second sock at work. I love this relatively easy pattern, speaking as a lover of lace knitting (or knitting lace). I have half the skein (50 g)of yarn leftover. Plenty for a pair of fingerless mitts later. I won't do the matching lace pattern though as it biases.


Brioche Hat from Weekend Knitting
Crystal Palace Merino 5 Solid in Deep Forest & Chamois - 1 skein each
size 8 & 10 Boyes interchangeable needle set

Thankfully finished before the Superbowl game since it was actually a rather exciting one to watch, especially from a neutral party perspective. My DH is happy and appreciative of this hat, especially with the little hunting I had to do to find the right combination of "forest green & tan" that he specifically wanted and all the grumbling he overheard as I worked on it. I had a doozy of a time trying to keep the 2-color Italian tubular cast on from twisting around when I joined in the round for this hat.

The only quibble I have is that because I chose a yarn based on color rather than matching the weight that was spec'd in the pattern, my stitches, especially in the crown decreases look awfully wonky. I hope that a good wash & block will smooth them out.


Bella's mittens (apologies for the craptastic shady lighting)
Knit Picks Swish Bulky in Onyx Heather (65 g from each of 2 100 g balls)
size 10 KP circs

Since I left my second Merlot sock at work, I wanted something to alternate w/DH's hat and cast on for these adorable mittens. (I can hear my sister laughing at the geekiness of this.) A very clever knitter reverse-engineered the pattern from analyzing various movie promo pics and who knows how many viewings of the movie. The pattern is super quick and easy. Love it!


Bella's hat to match!
Knit Picks Swish Bulky in Onyx Heather remainders from the mittens
size 10 KP circs

The mittens were such a quick knit I decided to knit the hat designed to match the horseshoe cable pattern in the mittens. Also quick & easy! I cast on during the Superbowl game 'cause I could barely get 2 rows of my Digitessa sock done correctly while watching.

Who said knitters never make matching knitwear?

Singing the Blues

Rockin' Sock Club 2009 kit in da house! As usual, don't scroll past the second pic of my project below:


Moebius for Peace


yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Luscious Single Silk in Moody Blues
pattern: Cat Bordhi's moebius scarf from knitty gritty
needles: US size 10.5 KP nickel-plated circs

I love how Moody Blues knit up, even in its unblocked state. I have 129 g of the LSS skein leftover. Plenty for a second moebius (moebii to spare?) or a pair of Toasts/Toastys. I haven't decided yet.


A nice way to end an interesting month.


I love the colorway (so me!) and am definitely in my Blue Heaven. Queen of Beads, however, I am not. As for my ballband bluesy singer, I got Lucinda Williams. Off to hear a sampling of her music online.

Circles Never End

I didn't think much about Cat's nifty moebius concept since I bought her book & the skein of LSS at Sock Camp last April 'til tapmouse suggested I join in Tina's KAL. After the sucky start of my new year, I figured I too needed a little peace and decided to join in. The only thing I won't be doing though is dragging this WIP out for 4 years. Maybe I'll do one a year. And instead of for 4 years, hopefully 8 like Carole suggested in the comments.


yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Luscious Single Silk in Moody Blues
pattern: Cat Bordhi's moebius scarf from knitty gritty
needles: US size 10.5 KP nickel-plated circs

While I started working the main pattern yesterday during the inaugural ceremonies, I cast on earlier last week. It took me a few tries. While Cat's tutorial is awesome in how easy the cast on is, I had issues in 1) casting on the correct number of stitches for the pattern, and 2) prevent myself from adding in extras crossings/twists while knitting the first round, all at the same time. It probably didn't help that I tried to learn another new cast on during the same week.


Yup, I started DH's forest green & tan vertically striped hat. It took several aborted attempts on dpns & KP circs magic loop style before I remembered I still had my old Boyes Interchangeable set that would allow me to have a 16" circular. A total doh moment! So much easier to keep the cast on stitches aligned straight while joining the 2-color tubular cast on in the round. It was an absolute PITA on dpns or a much longer circular needle.

It was so frustrating that I cast on what I thought would be a suitable alternate hat for DH in the meantime.


The Other Hat that Rocks
Knit Picks Swish Bulky in Squirrel Heather
size 9 & 10.5 Knit Picks Harmony circs
pattern size large

After checking to make sure that he also didn't think cables are "girly" (guess who Monkey1 got that idea from), I cast on & finished in 2 days! Even in between boring chores & tasks. Then DH tells me "It's not green. Or tan." So. Now it looks like that co-worker that half-jokingly asks for a hand-knit item now has one. Or at least he will have one next holiday season.

2008 Rockin Sock Club Wrap Up and more

I didn't expect to knit all my kits last year, but somehow I did.


(missing is Monkey1's Sweet Tart's 'cause I can't find it...yet)

The last kit was fun and fast once I focused on it.


yarn: Socks that Rock medium weight in Muddy Autumn Rainbow - how fascinating what you get when you swish in extra red dye to Fire on the Mountain
pattern: Holidazed by Anne Hanson
needles: size 2 (2.75 mm) Knit Picks Harmony dpns
patten size: medium
mod: only decreased the toe down to 16 sts rather than 8


Also completed in Socks that Rock are my Leyburn socks as part of the Socks that Rawk Raverly group's KAL.


yarn: Socks that Rock lightweight in The Cookie Next Door
pattern: Leyburn socks
needles: 2.50 mm Knit Picks nickel plated dpns
mods:
converted pattern to cuff down w/slip stitch heel flap
cast on 66 sts and maintain stitch count in the foot as well

And in between all that, I finished a hat.


yarn: Knit Picks Swish worsted in Lemongrass Heather
pattern: Meret (Mystery Beret)
needles: Knit Picks size 7 & 8 nickel-plated circs
pattern size: medium w/the 1 extra repeat of the lace pattern for slouch

Well, at least the knitting goes well

First, our vehicle gets rear-ended on our way to the cabin in holiday commute traffic. While waiting for our state highway patrol to take our incident report, I was too anxious to work on any of my socks in progress and proceeded to cast on for the Meret (Mystery Beret - Ravelry link) in Knit Picks Swish Worsted in Lemongrass Heather.


But once up at the relative peaceful quiet of our cabin, I managed to make some progress on my Holidazed sock, my Merlot Vine sock, and even started the cuff of my Leyburn sock.


the last Rockin' Sock Club kit of 2008
Holidazed by Anne Hanson (knitspot)
Socks that Rock mediumweight in Muddy Autumn Rainbow
size 2.75 mm KP Harmony dpns
pattern size medium - no mods


Left Merlot Vine Sock by Anne Hanson (again)
Twisted Fiber Art Arial ombre self-striping yarn
size 2.50 mm KP circs
mod: Judy's Magic Cast on for the toe


Then, the text at 3:30 am one morning and the subsequent call from my sister later in the day came the news that our paternal matriarch, my dad's mom, had passed away. In the Philippines. A day's drive from Metro Manila. Younger sis is going to represent the family as both my brother & I have young kids and mom just used up her vacation time.

If I had one of those mood indicators up on my blog, it would definitely be set at sucky.

Last Pair of Socks of 2008

Barely.


Pattern: Slipped Stitch Rib Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks
Yarn: Mountain Colors Bearfoot in Elderberry from a lys in Sacramento when they had a brick & mortar presence
needle: size 2 (2.75 mm) KP circs
sock size: Mens 13N (thank goodness for the "narrow" part)
Mod: skipped the garter stitch edge on the heel flap - too fiddly for me

Now on to my current sock WIP:


Pattern: Merlot Vine Sock by Anne Hanson
Yarn: Twist Fiber Art in Arial
needle: 2.50 mm KP circs

Keeping the short row heel due to the ombre striping nature of the hand-dyed yarn. Otherwise, rather prejudiced against the short row heel due to fit issues.

And now I digress into gifted yarny goodness:


Tapmouse gave me a test skein of mmm-Malabrigo Gusanito in Azul Seco for x-mas. She got it from Imagiknit in SF. Clearly, Imagiknit's got a direct line to the folks at Malabrigo since they also had the test skeins for their other new yarn, Dos, which I'm not clear is another sock yarn or not. I'll have to re-read the Malabrigo Junkies thread on Ravelry to refresh my memory.


And look! Another awesome colorway from the mad dyeing genius that is Tina of Blue Moon Fiber Arts. Irishgirlieknits gave this skein as a b-day present. Now I have to start an unofficial campaign to ask Tina (politely!) to put Sea Mar up on the website so I can return the favor.

Thank you, my sweet knitting buddies!


Lastly, I was so tied up in holiday stuff that I totally forgot I qualified to be in Woolgirl's Wooly Woolgirl Club. I received the kit right on Christmas Eve and was confounded 'cause I thought I didn't have another order due. LOL! Love all the goodies and the special holiday-themed hand-dyed Leili yarn.

Wishing everyone a Hauoli Makahiki Hou! Happy New Year!

Winter Grey

I hope everyone is having a happy holiday season. It's been busy at Chez Nartian so I haven't had a chance to blog, let alone knit.

I was all set on publishing this post during our gray, rainy winter weather to match my color theme but by the time I got around to working on this post, the sun comes out. Figures. Anyway, I was mentally and "officially" done with my gift knitting by Christmas Eve Eve.


Pattern: A Boy Hat x 2
yarn: Knit Picks Swish in Coast Grey - 1 skein each hat
needle size: US 8

I actually finished 2 of these, washed & let them dry in time to give them to one of my guys at work for his 2 boys before the end of last week. I was in such a rush though that I didn't do the obligatory Nartian hat shot of the hats over my Monkeys' eyes.


Felicity
Patons Classic Wool in Black/Noir
size 7 & 9 KP circs
for: my cousin's daughter to replace Le Slouch which went to Monkey1's teacher

However, this hat did not dry in time for Christmas Eve when we saw my cousin. If we don't get a chance to see them again before winter is over, I'll save this for next Christmas.

The following 2 were actually destress from the holiday knitting and not a last minute attempt to have 2 more spare "just-in-case" gifts. But thinking back on it, it probably wasn't a good idea to put size 15 & 17 needles in my hands, even if they were hollow metal alloy.


Seastorm Scarflette
Rowan Big Wool Tuft color #56
size 17 Boyes needles - I think I bought these when I knit up some Ozark Handspun
still in need of a button

This ball of yarn was from my first & only Patternworks end of the year grab bag buy when I was a newbie knitter. This and the ball of Big Wool below were in a bag marked "Cotton." Yeah, it took me 3 years to figure out what the heck to do with these, especially the Tuft.


knit COWL
Rowan Big Wool in Cloak
size 15 KP circs

Now that I'm all done with my gift knitting, I took a quick break and finished some reading. Younger Sis, who curses me for getting her hooked on that vamp series (hah, I wasn't the one with a really long layover at LAX w/nothing to read 'cept what was at the airport magazine store), paid me back by getting me book 3 (something to do with eclipses ;) ) & 4 (I'm not sure how I think about it yet - I spoiled myself on major plot points) as my Christmas gift. I am sometimes too cheap in buying books and was willing to wait 'til May for the paperback version of book 3, but Younger Sis said no way she was waiting that long to finish the series and bought the last 2 in hardcover.

Okay, off to indulge in some major sock knitting. I still have DH's second sock to do (yes, I'm rationalizing that it is not a holiday gift knit), a Merlot Vine Lace sock I started while waiting for DH during one of his obligatory medical tests when you reach a certain age :p, a Digitessa sock (though that Rav group KAL seems to be rather strict on when you do what portion of your socks, not to mention doing them 2-at-a-time - ugh, I don't think so!), my last Rockin Sock Club sock (Muddy Autumn Rainbow - love!), and a Leyburn sock KAL on the Socks that Rawk Rav group. Pics of that stuff in my next post since I'm not sure I can fit them all into this post.

Someone needs to put a fork in me anyway.

I really want to be done, but I'm afraid I'm not. There's something about holiday knitting that suddenly makes product/production knitters question their entire being. I'm sure the Yarn Harlot's written about it so I won't go further other than to say that it certainly does a number to one's psyche.


Symmetrical Braided Gauntlets
Crystal Palace Merino 5 Solid
size 7 dpns
for Monkey2's youngest teacher

The last of gift mitts for this season are done. Though the other ones I made were redirected from my co-workers (they just got the shaft this year) to the Monkeys' teachers.

I forgot to mention I finished this pair of fingerless mitts while on T-day vacation.


pattern: Cafe Au Lait mitts (sorry, Rav link)
yarn: Lana Grossa Numero Uno
needle size: 4 KP circs 'cause I couldn't find my old Clover dpns (note - must try KP Harmony dpns)
for: Monkey2's teachers along w/Evangeline & Symmetrical Braided Gauntlets

I really like how it fits. The lace pattern is stretchy and it gets bonus points for a nicely calculated thumb gusset. Of all the fingerless mitts I've knit this season, this and the Maine Morning Mitts are the only pairs that I can wear comfortably w/o any mods if and when I knit a pair for myself. Evangeline will need a gusset along with the extra cable repeat(s) and the Symmetrical Braided Gauntlets will need a re-porportioning and increase in needle size.

The reason I had chosen this pair of mitts was the lace pattern was the same (if not similar) to the one used for the Cowl of Kindness and the Zig Zag Cowl (both Rav links) which in turn is a stitch pattern used in one of Charlene Schurch's sock books. I just told tapmouse2 that if I had known she would use the stitch pattern for her gift cowl, I could've saved her the math and pointed her to the 2 cowl patterns.

Nottingham hat deux
Knit Picks Swish in Delft Heather
size 9 KP circs
for Squid because Monkey1 snagged Nottingham hat une

And just when I thought I was done with the gift hats for the season, Monkey1 redirected Le Slouch from her cousin to her after school teacher. Apparently her after school teacher has a small noggin. Then again, Le Slouch is stretchy enough I got it to fit my average sized head comfortably enough after a wash & block.

I knew that I was tempting fate when I cast on for Felicity (loads of Rav links today) in good old basic Patons Classic Wool black for myself the other night. This hat may end up with our cousin to replace Le Slouch that she didn't know she lost out on. Then again, I could cast on for another Le Slouch, but in St st this time as seed stitch has the same mind-numbing effect as a 1x1 rib...well, anything.


And all the while I'm knitting all these gifts, DH keeps asking me "Is that my sock you're working on?" Hah. But I have been working on it in between everything and got most of the foot knit up at Purlescence Yarns last night at Late Night Knits to the accompaniment of a lots of soprano & alto knitters singing Christmas carols.

I got smart this time around and knit this pair of DH's socks on Mountain Colors Bearfoot on size 2 needles. Larger gauge on larger needles = less tedious sock spousal sock knitting.


I also finished hint 5 of my Mystery Stole 4 (Serendipity) during T-day vacation. Unfortunately, I haven't touched it since. With hint 5, I was a least able to work 1 row every few days. Not now and not anytime soon either 'cause I just signed up for Yarnissima's Digitessa KAL on Ravelry. I told Irishgirlieknits that I am crazy. And I am. Especially since Mom's flying in tonight (ugh, e3 hours late!) and so I probably won't get any knitting at all done while she's here.

Gifts received and to be given

I know I have a lot of gift knitting to catch up on. It would've been smarter if I took a pic of them all at once, but my brain's not at a smart place right now, especially when I actually starting thinking about who I should really knit for instead of thinking, "Oh, this would be a cute gift to knit...somebody." Eeek!


Le Slouch (still in need of a wash & block though)
Knit Picks Swish in Indigo Heather - I really like the heathered colors I've bought so far
size 9 & 10 KP circs
For: my cousin's daughter


Darkside Cowl (sorry, Ravelry link) - this one's been washed & blocked, but the pic is pre-blocked
Malabrigo Silky Merino in Arlene's Purples - yum!
size 8 KP circs
For N for whom I made my first knitted chemo cap a couple years ago. Still free of bone marrow cancer & going strong.


Evangeline fingerless mitts (in need of a wash & block)
Knit Picks Swish worsted in Lava Heather
size 7 KP dpns
wrist length
mod: extra cable repeat before thumbhole
for: either a co-worker or one of Monkey2' teachers


Ruffled Roses Scarf (you guessed it, also in need of blocking)
Univeral Yarns Tango
Misti Alpaca worsted & handpainted worsted
Alpaca with a Twist Baby Twist
size 7 KP Harmony circs
For...me?


Sanguine Gryphon Bugga cashmere blend (edited to correct the name)
from: tapmouse
love!


My Christmas llama to go with my birthday skein of undyed alpaca from Old Oaks Ranch (you can read my friend's article on them in the link)
from: Home on Derange - who's started knitting, though the credit goes to Penguin's friend's delightfully cute elephant, and totally not me.

I'm sure I've missed a few gift FO's I haven't posted on yet, so I'll be catching up still. But before I forget, December is also Wollmeise sock club kit time! Woot!

We Can Walk Through A Rainbow

Just in case there are any Rockin' Sock Club stragglers out there, don't scroll past my Anemones.


Pattern: Cloning Anemones by Team Blue Moon
Pattern size: Medium
Yarn: Socks that Rock lightweight in Tide Pooling
Needle size: 2.50 mm KP nickel plated dpns
Mod: reduced number of foot stitches to 64, not 60

Mother of .... To reference a very popular book & movie among the teen set, this pattern can be likened to a sadistic lion. Well, technically, only every fourth row of the pattern can. But I am a stupid lamb as I actually finished this pair.


And just in time to get my last 2008 Rockin' Sock Club kit. Tapmouse and I were going to take pics of our skeins together to see if and show any subtle differences between our "rare gem"-ish type skeins, but we forgot our digital cameras. We'll have to see how well tapmouse's camera phone takes photos. Or we can try again this week. I won't be casting on immediately given that while I'm knitting socks, they're gift socks. And both of us had "fog" on our ball band, so appropo for the place we live.

We can walk through a rainbow
Smiling faces as we go


We can climb on a sunset
Hold the rain
Let it get us wet



We can walk through a rainbow
Make a wish
And let it go

partial lyrics courtesy of Olomana (the sweet harmonies of Jerry Santos and the late Robert Beaumont)

The winner?

Adrienne

She got 8 out of the 10 guesses correct. I'll be e-mailing her on details on the yarn hand-off...cause it's a running joke between us that we won't tell each other exactly we live since we're in the same exact bellybutton town in the Bay Area. Our stash live a little too close together. ;)

Of course, I bought all this stuff before getting details on BMFA's online Barn Sale this weekend. In any case, I'll be buying a sweater's worth of Woobu since Purlescence didn't have the color I wanted. So what did I buy for my birthday?

left to right: Grimm's Willow Wren, Hobgoblin, Potomac, Gingerbread Dude, and Cookie Next Door


left to right: Oma Desala, Jubilation, Alley Oop, Hurdy Gurdy, Treehugger

Considering I only had 3 guessers, I think I made my first (and for now only) blog contest too hard. Live and learn! It was fascinating to see what everyone guessed though. Thank you all and see you online.