To Do List

Pasha is done. Will probably do another one and try to felt it. This one isn't terrible, but I wouldn't mind getting more yarn and trying again. No spare cash atm, though. Will post pics later.

Started the ribbing for the cuff of the Sockotta socks. Hopefully they'll be done soon.

Will knit the felted mittens over the holiday. Worsted wool on size 10 needles shouldn't take long.

Working on Gift Elf's project. Should be done soon, it's very small. Had to restart it, though. My preferred method of working in the round inside out doesn't work with this particular pattern. Oh well.

are we there yet?

So Pasha pieces are done. Took me probably two evenings total. Pieces are outside blocking. Not sure when I'm gonna get a chance to sew him together and stuff him w/o Steve being home, since he has the entire next week off due to Thanksgiving. We're gonna go up to his folks again this year. I'd like to make something to bring, but I don't know how long we're going to be up there. A lot of it will depend on my rehearsal schedule. I'm ASM'ing the final two chapters of The Ring of the Nibelung that will be performed in mid-January, and my rehearsal schedule is a little wonky. All I really know is that this year there will be no scary car accidents! (Last year we decided to go hiking in the mountains the day before Thanksgiving, and had a big ugly yellow Chevy truck, driven by an unlicensed driver, smash headlong into us as we were starting home. We were okay, Steve's truck was totalled. It was the sorest, most thankful Thanksgiving I've ever celebrated!) I'll probably bring the mittens and Sockotta socks up to work on, as I know that we both have the weekend after Thanksgiving off, so we'll probably stay up there at least a couple days.

I'm poor, so I've added Google ads to the footer. If any strike your fancy, just click and enjoy!

update

recieved the KnitPicks order on Thursday, safe and sound. Two new sock needles and three skeins of WotA for Pasha. He got started this evening and seems to be doing well so far. I can't really concentrate on any one project today, so I worked on my socks for a while, and since Steve had a call tonight, did Pasha's back and beak, then finished the heels on the socks. Both heels on the Sockotta socks are turned now, so now back to the stockinette. The heels didn't turn evenly, though, and I'm not sure why. Maybe I didn't write the numbers for the first one down correctly. Or maybe the allergy meds just never really wore off this morning. I dunno. There is some wonkiness, no hugely visible holes, though, and the stripes are off now. It was pure coincidence that they matched before, so that doesn't really break my heart, but still...

I'm working on turning the pattern for the Jaywalker socks from cuff down dpns to toe up ML. I think I might have a solution, but I have to check the guage, and I don't want to start a new pair of socks until I have this pair done. I'm going to be doing these on either my size 1 or size 3 circs, so I can still use the size 2 for the second Regia sock when the Sockotta pair is done.

Left to do before Christmas:
1 pair felted mittens
1 Pasha
1 Bubby
Not too bad, eh?

Pics!

Hmm...so the washing didn't really help any of the tension issues, and in fact, the snowmen one seems like it grew. I'm not sure why it's so much bigger than the holly one. Both are a little cringe-worthy, but Steve says that he wouldn't notice any of the mistakes if I hadn't pointed them out. I still might do another snowmen one. Anyway, project specs:

Pattern source: Annie's Woolens
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Autumn, White, Dk. Sage (1 skein each, still lots left after making 2 stockings)
Needles: 12" size 8 circ, 16" size 6 circ, longer size 8 circ for heel/toe

Notes:
1. Tension issues. Major tension issues.
2. Heel on the Snowman has holes because I didn't turn it properly and didn't realize it until I did the Holly one.
3. Snowman was stranded, Holly was woven. I like the woven technique better, but have to work on the left hand tension.
4. Really cute patterns and quick knits if you don't frog them a billion times.
5. Original patterns have just one icon. Steve wanted longer stockings, so we did one full pattern of the main icon and added the center images of icons from other charts, still from Annie's Woolens. His has the snowmen and the holly, mine has the holly and the evergreen.
6. Short row heel and toe options.

awww!

Katie and Steve,
Thank you so much for the afghan. It looks really great on my papasan chair. I can't believe how soft and pretty it is. I'm soooo glad you made it to the reception. It was a great time, and great to see old friends. Thank you again.
Love,
Amanda and Nick

The possibly unfortunate recipients of Winter Night #1, but they like it, so hey, it works for me! =)

Want KnitPicks order! (I know, it's still early to expect it, but I WANT IT! WHINE!)

Been lazy, haven't finished Holly stocking or finished the first heel of the Sockotta socks. Only about twenty more pattern rows for the stocking. I really should get that done tonight. Then I don't have to worry about it anymore, right?

Second Sock Syndrome

sorta, but not really...
I got the Regia in for the second sock of the first pair today. However, my size 2 needles (currently the only sock needles I own, although 1's and 3's are coming in the next KnitPicks shipment!) are currently occupied by the pair of Sockotta socks that I work on in spurts. I am not a big fan of the Sockotta yarn, which is why I haven't been working on them as much. It's...hard. The yarn, I mean. I think it will soften up when it is washed, and being cotton-based, will surely make for more wearable socks for my current environment, but I'm not sure I would buy more of it. I'm almost to the heel of this pair.

Turned the heel of the Holly Christmas stocking (mine) last night. I could finish the thing tonight if I wanted. The weaving technique seems faster and slightly more even than the stranding, although there are still definite tension issues. However, I'm not frogging this one five hundred times. I also actually figured out how to do the YO short row heel properly, w/o the visible holes, and it looks five billion times better than the Snowmen stocking. I'm thinking that I'm going to do another Snowman stocking with the weaving and the proper toes. I want Steve to have something nice, too. Both will depend on how they wash out, though. Still have not washed the first Snowman, hence no pics yet.

Made my last KP order the other day after getting my last PCPA check until March. Some WotA for a certain quick project for a certain someone (not my gift elf, I already have her yarn, just waiting on the needles) and two pairs of 40" circs for socks. There should be no shipping issues this time, so I hope to get the order by the end of next week. Other than that, my small stash is on a yarn diet until further notice. Which shouldn't be a problem unless I see a yarn that I fall madly in love with. I want to get these stockings (made in stashed acrylics) and the Spruce felted mittens done. Then I have the yarn to do four pairs of socks - the Regia, Sockotta, SockaColori, and Bearfoot - plus some Crystal Palace Waikiki for a t-strap top that I started and abandoned for some reason (I might try to rewrite the pattern to do it in the round), the KnitPicks Shadow for the Tiger Eye stole I broke down and started already, and I am really wanting to do a top-down raglan with some of the (watches the yarn snobs shudder) Simply Soft I have stashed. I have four skeins in four colors that I think would make a nice sweater with wide horizonatal stripes. I want a slightly oversized sweater, with a...hmm...floppy turtleneck?...collar. I will start with the off-white for the collar and yoke and top of the sleeves, then do a light sage green band, then a darker tan band, and then a dark sage green band. Maybe it will be the ugliest sweater ever, I don't know, but at least I will have made a sweater and used up some of my stash. This is not counting the four skeins of Homespun in Cobalt that I need to do something with. I think I'm gonna do a dishcloth shawl with it. When I get around to it.

Btw, if there was ever a book that made you want to knit and read at the same time, it's Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton. The actual murder plot is a little weak, but still interesting, but the characters are great, and the LYS and SnB group that get involved with the main character are right out of my fantasy "girls night out". I have got to get me one of those groups...my LYS keeps inviting me, but their "late nights" are Wednesday and Thursday, which are usually the only evenings I can spend with Steve. We'll see. They're also usually older, but that really shouldn't be an issue. I'd really love to spend more time with people closer to my age that aren't drunk, though.

Christmas is coming...

As evidenced by the completion of the first Christmas stocking! Finally! It's...not my best work ever, but I'm hoping a run through the wash will help it. I'd tear it all out and do it again, but I don't want to spend more time on it, and Steve won't let me anyway. He thinks it's great the way it is. I hope my stocking goes better. I should have done mine first to practice on, but he was so excited about them...sigh...pics will be up after it goes through the wash.