Hats for Summer!

For the Hello Kitty Fan...

Pattern: Official Kittyville Hat, Stitch N' Bitch Book
Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Worsted, Ballerina (Color discontinued to Miss N's heartbreak! This is the only wool yarn I've gotten her to wear and her very favorite color.)
Mod's: I eliminated the plain rounds in the decreases to make it a bit shallower. My kids seem to have big heads, but they're shorter than an adults. I also eliminated the pom pom's on the ends of the ties. That just didn't seem practical, plus I don't like them!

And for the goofball!

Pattern: Umbilical Cord Hat, Stitch N' Bitch Book
Yarn: Daching Dach's Stallion Organic Merino, Framboise
Mod's: The yarn is a bulky weight so I was able to work the pattern on the same number of stitches but made it a little bit deeper. Size is 19" circumference.

Remember her first one? My baby is growing up!

We're ready for winter! ha ha!

Cami Chic Spirals

Pattern: Spiral Eyelet Socks
Yarn: Hazel Knits Artisan Sock, Cami Chic
Mod's: I had to reduce it to a 56st pattern to get a 7-1/2" unstretched sock. Those eyelets add a LOT of room.

These socks were for my Mom. I took a finished photo of them on the blockers, but it just didn't do them justice. And, since Hub was heading to Alaska I charged him to take photos of them on Moms feet. I think for two non-knitters they did a really great job!

The yarn is of course, Hazel Knits. This was another KAL that the Ravelry Group decided to do. This time we're all knitting this colorway, Cami Chic in different patterns. It's pretty interesting! I'm really really REALLY happy with how they turned out!

And, while they were at it Mom brought out the Lilac Socklets and they got a photo of them too. Much cuter on a foot than a blocker!

Moms Cabled Mitt's

Miss N wanted to help so she's modeling them here. Cute little chubby fingers!

Pattern: Moms Cabled Mitt's - by me! Size M/L
Yarn: Karabella Aurora 8

Pattern: Mom's Cabled Mitt's, size S/M
Yarn: Dream In Color Classy, Some Summer Sky
Notes: The gauge I got with this yarn was a little looser than I like, but it's sooo pretty...

Nope, I didn't fall off the face of the earth. I've been busy FINALLY getting this pattern ready for release! I know, June... who wants mittens in June?! BUT, there really is nothing better than knitting small little nothings in the summertime! The pattern is now available in the Itchy Fingers Store on Ravelry! So go, cast on! Have fun!

It took me so long because although I had a WONDERFUL tester (thanks Christy!) I didn't have a tester for the M/L size. So finally I just did it myself. I mean... hello... don't you think I needed a pair anyway?! I did make a few tweaks to the pattern in both sizes so I knit the blue pair up for my aunt who had previously requested some. But would you believe... I still owe a pair to my MIL for her sister?! I'm so bad. For some reason this last pair for my MIL is a hurdle I can't seem to jump. I have yarn. I have patterns. I just need to do it.

But instead I cast on a baby hat last night. I do not know what baby it is for. I just wanted to knit the yarn. So I am. ha! Such reckless behavior isn't it?!

I've also done some frogging. I frogged the Lace Ribbon Scarf. Not because it wasn't turning out lovely, I just decided I wanted to use a different yarn. Same for the Shifty Socks. Although I'm not even sure if I blogged about them yet. So I'm killing time until the start of Summer Of Socks 08 on the 21st by knitting quickies. I'm loving it! Stash busting galore!

I also have some Alaska news for you all. Hub got home last night from his trip up there for an in-person interview. They let him know before he left that they decided to go with the other guy. It's a little disappointing. But at the same time, I'm really at peace with it. We have prayed over the issue extensively as have our friends and many members of our church. We asked for it to be very clear what we are to do with regards to this opportunity. Well, I think it's clear! We weren't sure if the job would pay enough for us to live there anyway. At least with it ending this way we don't have to make that decision or take the risk. SO... we'll keep our eyes and ears open. We're still hoping to move. This just wasn't the right time. Onward...

Summer Goals

Ali over at Skeins Her Way likes to challenge us all to set actual GOALS for summer knitting. Maybe because it's hot and no one feels motivated??? Not sure. But she also lures us in with prizes so who are we to resist?!

She put out her list today... lands sakes it's detailed! I'm going to be a bit, no, a lot more vague.

I have a few goals...

1 (a&b). Socks.
I have joined Summer of Socks once again. My goal for this is to knit Hub enough socks for a week. I myself have enough for a little over a week now, although they don't always match what I'm wearing. But this knitter would rather wear comfy socks than match. I'll keep working on that too... so two goals... make a couple more pair for myself so I don't look quite as dorky (ie neutrals), AND make at least 4 more for Hub. He has 4 fingering weight pairs now. Two are mountain colors bearfoot and while at first he really liked them, now he claims the mohair is rather tickly on the toes. That strikes me as really funny.

2. Knit another sweater.
Several of you have rightly requested that I model the recently completed Wicked. I've been meaning to get Hub and some sunshine and get some decent pictures, but... the weather in particular is not cooperating! A late season cold also made an appearance here and stepped in to further hinder picture progress. And, sadly, after it's washing and blocking the sweater is WAY too big for me. That Classy grows quite a bit. Which I knew from my swatch, but my gauge also grew when I worked on the project vs. the swatch. And all that growing together became more than the thing can overcome I believe. Ack! I've seen where several other people have put theirs in the dryer and gotten it to shrink up... but mine was a teensy bit big to begin with... so I'm not really believing that will fix all my problems. And I am not about to risk ruining the yarn so that I can't rip it out and reknit it. So, I'm waiting for pictures to show you all, and then I'm going to ask for advice, and then I'm going to reknit it... either with a smaller needle, or a smaller size, or possibly both. Not sure. Hence, advice asking. The one avenue I am not going to take is gaining 20lbs so it will fit as is. Sorry folks. Just not up for that. I pulled it tight from the back and it's super cute... fitted... so I really DO want to get it right.

While I want to reknit that one right now... it's sheepy-ness might be irritating in summer. It gets hot here. Even with the AC blowing on me it's a little odd to have a pile of wool in your hands. So I'm thinking I might finally knit up Something Red... in toffee. I've got the blue sky cotton already and I think it would be a nice summer knit. Plus it's another top down sweater which will help me really learn this method.

So that's it. It's not much. But since sweater knitting is at present a learning process... who knows how much time that will suck up! I probably should get started on a few gifts for the holidays... we shall see.

I am officially jealous of the members of the Socks that Rock sock club. This month's installment is AWESOME! None of the others have made me feel like I was missing out, but this one did. Speaking of sock clubs, I joined one. I never thought I would but Sock Yarnista seems like it will be really fun. I think it was the choice of a semi-solid or handpainted each month really won me over. I just signed up for 3 months... we'll see how I feel after that.

I do have a bit of news on the Alaska front. We finally got a call and they want Hub to fly up for an extensive in person interview now. It is a city government job so the process is moving very slowly. We're totally new to this. It seems VERY slow to us. So the wait continues... I'll be very jealous that he gets to go for a visit without us. I'll console myself in the usual way... yarn. :)

Here is a fun little quiz I found on Ali's blog. I have a recent obsession with all things Jane Austen.

Take the Quiz here!

The Lilac City

The city I live in is called The Lilac City. This Indie dyer is a local and thus this colorway was inspired by our city. So of course I had to try some!

Pattern: Basic 72 st sock, Eye Of Partridge Heel
Needles: 2.0mm, 2.25mm needles
Yarn: Selah BFL Sock, Lilac City

This yarn was a little strange to me. I've worked with BFL before several times. But this BFL felt nothing like those at all. It was even slightly scratchy whereas the BFL I've used before has been nothing but soft. So that was a little surprising. Then the colorway acted really strangely at the top of the second sock. No idea what happened there. And my gauge changed too as the second sock was a full 1/4 inch shorter than the first. I ripped the toe out and added some rows to fix that but can tell that one sock is tighter than the other. Usually my second sock ends up a little bit looser. These socks were just strange. Perhaps they took direction from my 4YO on how to act, I don't know. lol! While I love their Parvana sock, I don't think I'll use the BFL again.

Now that these are off my needles, I'm back down to my regular two socks going. It's kind of a relief. :)

BTW, the Plain Janes pattern has been released now!

Plain Jane

There is a lot to be said for a plain sock. In truth they are the ones I pull out of the drawer and onto my feet first. They are comfy and reliable. Meghann has written up a new pattern and asked me to test it. The pattern is Plain Jane Socks. I think it's great. I have yet to see one out there that has this much information. It's got a huge variety of sizes, and information on different heel types and cuffs. It's great for a beginner, or... even a lazy experienced sock knitter like myself. See, I rarely look at a pattern for a plain sock anymore. But I reinvent the heel turn every time because I can't remember the number of stitches to knit over and purl back etc... It is written for 8 stitches to the inch, but if you know your foot and your gauge you can easily use the instructions for different stitch counts to make your size in a different gauge. She's still in the process of getting it ready for release right now. But when it comes out snatch it up! It's a good one!

I also used her yarn for this sock in the spirit of promoting all good things from her. :) It is the same yarn base as I used for my Lotus Socks last year which were a favorite on my feet last winter. I really love the colors and the way it knit up. I can see these being next winters favorite!

Pattern: Plain Jane Socks by Meghann Holcomb
Yarn: Illusion Yarns Premium Superwash Merino, Royal Plum
Needle: US 1.5, 2.5mm