Soctoberfest Final Tally
Okay, Tuesday was the last day of Soctoberfest hosted by
Lolly. And it is time to post my final sock tally for the month of OCtober. I only frogged one sock but I restarted it in a different pattern, so does that count?
Completed socks - 5 socks
Completed pairs of socks - 2 pairs
Socks on the needles at the beginning of the month - 5 different sock patterns
Socks on the needle at the end of the month - 3 different patterns
including the mate to the oddball sock which is a Christmas present
Lessons learned - there is no such thing as too many socks on the needles so long as you start a new one as soon as you finish one
Okay, here are the details. On the completed socks, the two pairs that were completed were simple st-st with picot hems. The yarn for one was a gift from Pris of
Knit Buddies. The other yarn was from the
stash from an eBay buy. The oddball sock is from stash yarn as well. After finishing this pattern for Sock-a-pooolza, I decided to make it again using
Claudia'sHand Painted sock yarn. My mother saw the finished sock and liked it. So that made it easy and it will be part of her Christmas present. I already have the second sock on the needles but I am just taking a break from the pattern at the moment.
Who do the socks belong to? The red socks are mine. The yarn is Fruit Punch from
Sundara courtsey of Priscilla. The orange-y socks are from an eBay purchase and the yarn was supposed to go to Priscilla but it somehow managed to stay in my stash.
Bad!!!! But never fear because the socks are going to be mailed to Priscilla.
The last sock in the photo is one that I started right after finishing the orange-y socks so that I have a simple no-thinking-required sock ont he needles. It is Meilenweitt Color Tweed in color number 1001. The colors are nice autumnal colors. And that photo is not accurate since I managed to turn the heel before midnight on Halloween. I have already started the second sock and should be able to turn the heel on that one today. I am want to make sure that both socks end up the same length so I am knitting from both ends of the ball. The pattern is a mock rib pattern that I found in
Sensational Knitted Socks. And it is knitting up really fast. I am hoping to have another new pair of socks to wear by the end of next week if not sooner.
One of the other socks that I started last month, actually the frogged one, is a top down sock. I have not down a top down sock since my very first sock years ago. The yarn is a Cherry Tree potluck color in brights. I belong to the
STR Rockin' Socks Club and one of the patterns for September was
Central Air and the yarn and the pattern just went together since the colors are nice hot summer colors. I will be working on these socks next. I am curious to see if I can do a regular heel flap again.
Are You Addicted????
I found this
test for seeing how addcited you are to knitting over at
Musings of a Mad Dragon Knitter. Minnie scored a 71%. I must have a really serious case since here are my results .....
Wow! You scored 91% on the addiction quiz. It's official. You are a hard core, totally obsessed knit-a-holic. You knit anywhere and everywhere, and when you aren't knitting you are thinking about knitting. If you find you are losing weight, you may want to pare back a bit to make time for eating and sleeping!
Try it out and see how you score. I bet you will score highter than you imagine. Plus it will help kill a few minutes of the work day.
Weird....
I saw this over on Jodi of
Caffeinated Yarn's blog and decided to try it. The results are really strange since my last name is not very common not just in the US but in Spain where my family is from. And yet there are 3 people with my real name. And there are supposedly 660 people with my last name..... And if I type in my brother's name, the results are 0 yet I know of at least 3 people with his exact name - my father, my brother , and my nephew. So that makes you wonder.....
Finished Items
Yes, I finally finished my scarf for the
ISE2 late last night. I put it in the washer to soak this morning and went home at lunch to spin it out and lay it out. Hopefully it will be dry enough tomorrow for me to take a decent photo of it.
Plus I have 1 glove from the
Fetching pattern done. Okay, it still needs a thumb but I am going to wait until I have the mate done before doing the thumbs. I have modified the pattern a bit by adding more another repeat of the cables at the wrist and at the top instead of picots. And I am using Manos for my yarn. And yes, these are a Christmas present for someone.
And more later....
Wine & a Sock
Okay, this weekend was busy. I actually had two fire prevention details on Saturday at the same time. Yeah, hard to be in two places at once. But I had someone who volunteered to take one of them. I had the birthday party at the station. And I spent the bulk of the day Sunday in class followed by a few hours of fire prevention and mapping for the fire company. But I still managed to finish a sock!!!!!
As to the wine part, well,
I went out Friday evening to pick up a bottle of my favorite wine. And instead of my favorite Australian syrah, I saw this Argentine syrah and I had to get it. Check the label out!!! How can a knitter resist a wine from a vineyard called Funky Llama?? I also bought a bottle of Pinot Grigo (Australian). I tried the Pinot Grigo first and that seemed to help me speed up my knitting. I tried the Funky Llama last night and managed to finish off one sock. This sock took me less than a week to complete. And yes, I have already cast on for the second sock. So I may get lucky and finish a second pair of socks before Soctoberfest is over.
Fruit Punch Socks
Here are my fruit punch socks knit in
Sundara Yarns. The yarn was a gift from
Pris of
Knit Buddies. I love the colors in this yarn. It is so me. I used a basic toe up pattern based on
Wendy's
toe up pattern that I have modified to fit my tension and my foot. The sock has a picot edging instead of ribbing a la
Claudia.
And these are my first completed pair for Socktoberfest that
Lolly is hosting. I am working on a second pair right now that should be done by the end of the month. I need to start the second sock tonight. I want to get the toe done so I can knit it in class on Sunday. The first sock has the heel turned and it is just a matter of making the leg as long as I want it. And yes, it will have a picot cuff. The yarn is one that I bought off eBay quite a while ago and the colors are oranges and pinks.
The third sock is the
Simply Lovely Lace Socks from the spring issue of IK. This is the third time that I have knitted this pattern. I knitted it the first time for my Sockopoolza socks. I made a second pair using the same yarn and pattern for myself. But I don't have them. The first pair that I mailed out never made it to their destination (another country) so I sent out the second pair. And yes, they arrived this time. So I am knitting them for a third time. This time I am using Claudia's Hand Paints in the
Pink Cloud color way. And I have a feeling that I am not going to end up with
these socks. My mother likes them. So I am thinking easy Christmas present. I can always try this pattern for the fourth time in a different yarn and keep them for myself. And yes, I knit them toe up.
And forgive the photos of red socks against a red couch but it is dark in the evening so I had to make do.
Meme or Is Any One Reading This?
Okay, I have
borrowed this from a few people.
1. First Name? Mia and yes that is a nickname.
2. Were you named after anyone? You mean besides the Virgin Mary? No.
3. When did you last cry? After my last ped patient was brave when we carried him to the helo. Always watch small kids around hot liquids.
4. Do you like your handwritting? Yes, when I write neat enough to read it.
5. What is your favorite lunchmeat? Veggies not meat.
6. If you were another person would you be friends with you? Yes.
7. Do you have a journal? Does this count?
8. Do you still have your tonsils? Yes.
9. Would you bungee jump? Hell no. I am not that crazy.
10. What is your favorite cereal? Cinnamon Puffins eaten dry.
11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Yes. Unless I have to unzip them
12. Do you think you are strong? Not as strong as I should be. But yes.
13. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? When I eat ice cream I like Chunky Monkey from Ben and Jerry's.
14. Shoe Size? Regular shoes a US size 8; running shoes a US 9, and fire boots are a US 9.
15. Red or Pink? Red
16. Wha tis the least favorite thing about yourself? I can be a pain in the rear.
17. Who do you miss the most? My old meezer Bonita but Mimi is a nice meezer.
18. Do you want everyone to send this back to you? Try it; at least I will know that you are reading this.
19. What color pants, shirt, and shoes are you wearing? Red sweater with some cleavage, jeans, and black ankle boots. Hey, you have cleavage show it with some taste.
20. Last thing you ate? A pear.
21. What are you listening to right now? iTunes and Carly Simon and James Taylor are playing.
22. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Blue or red. Think deep rich saturated hues.
23. Favorite smell? A nice freshly brewed cup of jasmine tea.
24. Who is the last person you talked to on the phone? My friend Billy.
25. The first thing you notice about people you are attracted to? How they carry themselves.
26. Do you like the person you stole This from? Yeah,
she is a nice person.
27. Favorite drink? Jasmine tea.
28. Favorite sport? It used to be white water kayaking but I have always loved soccer.
29. Eye color? Brown
30. Hat size? Average
31. Do you wear contacts? No.
32. Favorite food? I like so many but I will be good and say the veggie dim sum from my favorite Chineese place and veggie sushi.
33. Scary movies or happy endings? Happy endings.
35. Summer or winter? Both. Summer because of carnival and winter because I love snow.
36. Hugs or kisses? Both.
37. Favorite dessert? Linda's fudge cake from the
Cheesecake Factory. Seven layers of chocolate and fudge.......
38. Who is most likely to respond? ?!?!
39. Least likely to respond? ?!?!
39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? ??
40. What books are you reading? I am re-reading Harry Potter Book 7 right now. But I am also reading my books for my class. And I am waiting for Halloween when the next Nora Roberts book comes out.
41. What's on your mouse pad? I have a trackball so no mouse pad.
42. What did you watch last night on tv? Nothing because I was in class.
43. Favorite sounds? Falling water; a quiet creek in the woods, and the sound of a siren.
44. Rolling Stones or Beatles? Um, U2.
45. The furthest you have been from home? I'm a military brat so that doesn't count.
46. What's your special talent? I know of several people who will say trouble. But I like to color outside the lines.
47. Where were you born? You wouldn't believe me but let's just say that my passport has to say China so that I can visit China instead of where I was really born. And I don' look Chinese.
48. Who sent this to you? Stolen from
Michelle,
Bonne Marie,
Julie, and
Cara.
Unveiled
Here are the goodies that I received from Lera in the Knitters' Tea Swap 2. First off the yarn, enough yarn to make 2 pairs of socks in Knit Picks Parade sock yarn. Green socks and a multi color pair of socks are now in the stash. At the very back is a copy of the Harlot's latest book Knitting Rules. And to help with the tears that come from crying is a thing of tissue that is designed to fit a cup holder in your car.
There is also a bag of Windmill cookies. Gingerbread flavors! Yummy!!!
There are several teas; all of them from Adagio. There is a large tin of Jun Zhu Mao Jian green tea. There is a large tin of Rooibos Mango. There are two small tins of a black pearl tea and a lichee pearl tea. Pearl teas are always fun to brew because you can watch them open up.
Back on the knitting side there are several sets of needles. Lera sent me size 1, 2.5 and 3 dpns. She also sent me a pair of unusual straight needles. They are called Knitterattions and they are clear plastic and have a ribbon twisted through them. There is also a small wind chime in the shape of a humming bird. And very practical for anyone using dpns, she included a set of tip protectors.
And there was also a small candle that smells like vanilla pound cake. And a bag of chocolate poker chips. I wonder what the guys at the fire hall would have to say about me betting chocolate chips instead of the dimes we normally use....
And last but not least, is what every knitter needs plenty of - a sheepy tape measure!!!!! This one is a little bit different than all of the others that I have seen and he is a little bit bigger. And yes, he is already in a sock bag.
Thank you Lera!!!!
Socks in a Cradle
Lolly asked everyone taking part in Socktoberfest to flash their stash. This is not a current stash photo for my sock yarn but it probably fairly accuratet. I took this photo late this past spring. If anything, I have added to the sock stash. I have been slowly weeding out the yarns that I don't like from my stash. but at the same time, I have been adding more of the yarns that I like to the stash. I guess I need to knit more socks......
And yes, the cradle is an antique cradle that I found at a garage sale. I bought it specifically to store yarn in so that I could see it and enjoy it.
Tea Swap Box
This is one shot of the box that I just mailed off to Jan in Indiania for the
Knitters Tea Swap 2. There is plenty of chocolate and tea in the box. I think I managed to balance out both. Because my favorite treat is one that does not travel well, I mixed up the dry ingredients and placed them in a plastic bag and stuck them in the jar in the lower left of the photos. (It has tiny Andes chocolate bars on the top.) I also included the recipe. There is even some really neat sock yan in the box (upper left corner container) that reminds me of the leaves on the trees around Harper's Ferry. I really hope Jan likes it. I am still waiting for my box to arrive but we have until tomorrow to mail everything out.
Socktofest History Questions
For Socktoberfest, Lolly has asked that we all answer some questions about our sock knitting. And better late than never.
~ When did you start making socks? I honestly do not remember when I made my first sock. But I still have it!!!!
~ Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class? I do know that I taught myself.
~ What was your first pair? See the photo and you will understand what my first pair looked like and why I never wore them. (The first sock is the blue-y blob)
~ How have they "held up" over time? Yeah but I never wore them because they did not fit.
~ What would you have done differently? Nothing. You learn from your mistakes and never hope to repeat them.
~ What yarns have you particularly enjoyed? My all time favorites are
Claudia's Hand Paints,
Fleece Artist,
Dani's
Sunshine Yarns, and
Sundara sock yarns.
~ Do you like to crochet your socks? Crochet is a dirty word to me. I do know how to crochet but I can't read a crochet pattern.
~ Or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method? I have been known to use both DPNs and 2 circulars. It all depends on the pattern and I am planning on carrying the socks with me to meetings and classes. Classes and meetings means that I use 2 circulars and a fairly simple pattern.
~ Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?) Since I almost always do a toe up pattern or convert my pattern to a toe up, I use a short row heel. I really do need to try some other methods.
~ How many pairs have you made? No clue. My hand knit socks seem to have little minds of their own and some how show up on either my mother's feet or my niece's. The problem socks seem to have a common color in that they are purple. So no more purple socks. But I do have a pair that is should be finished tonight out of Sundara in the Fruit Punch colorway. Thank you
Pris for sending me the wonderful yarn.
And I have another sock almost finished. When I did Sock-a-pooolza, I loved the pattern that I made so much that I made it 3 times (twice using the same yarn,) (And no photos since I believe that my niece now has them. My mother says that she doesn't have them. And yes, the yarn was purple.) I used the Simply Lovely pattern from the Spring 2006 issue of IK. I am just about to bind off my 5th sock using the pattern in a color way called Pink Cloud from Claudia's Hand Painted Yarns. I do think that this will be the last time I knit this paattern for a while though.
And I do have at leat 2 other socks on the needles. Photos soon.
And I should explain that I do give my mother the socks but my niece likes to help herself to my books and my socks. Although she does call me and tell me later that she borrowed them. Like I am ever going to see them back.... A 10 year girl with great taste. And no I honestly do not mind her taking the socks I just wish she would let me know and I would gladly knit her a pair that fits her foot. Her foot is smaller than mine right now.
Okay, Tuesday was the last day of Soctoberfest hosted by Lolly. And it is time to post my final sock tally for the month of OCtober. I only frogged one sock but I restarted it in a different pattern, so does that count?
stash from an eBay buy. The oddball sock is from stash yarn as well. After finishing this pattern for Sock-a-pooolza, I decided to make it again using Claudia'sHand Painted sock yarn. My mother saw the finished sock and liked it. So that made it easy and it will be part of her Christmas present. I already have the second sock on the needles but I am just taking a break from the pattern at the moment.
