I took such a long break from blogging that I have a backlog of projects I wanted to add here. This is a big entry!

Socks:

Since the Sock Summit, I have finished the French Socks and Mona Socks.
I got to meet designers Nancy Bush and Cookie A. at Sock Summit when they were doing the book signing. I got a ride from my boss (!) down to the Convention Center, and she came to pick me up when I was done. That was great. I just wish I had more time to meet Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (although I saw her everywhere during Sock Summit) and Barbara Walker.

The French Socks are really a great pattern. I love the color, especially the name, “Butter Peeps”—I’m a Peeps freak. I also am enamored of the yarn—count on more Smooshy socks in the future!

*Pattern: Child’s French Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush

*Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy “Butter Peeps purchased at Twisted! in Portland, OR

*Needles: KnitPicks 32” circular needle size 1.5 (2.5 mm), Magic Loop

The Mona Socks are a direct result of joining Ravelry. I fell in love with the pattern and the yarn browsing around there. I had been waiting for a while, however, to actually bring them together. The variation of the color hides the pattern somewhat, but I still like the overall effect.

*Pattern: Mona Socks by Cookie A.

*Yarn: Ruby Sapphire Yarns Sapphire Sock “Yahto”

*Needles: KnitPicks 32” circular needle size 1.5 (2.5 mm), Magic Loop

I also made a mini sock for a Moo card holder, which was a hit. A lot of people I met also had cards, so I tried not to be too shy about offering my card.

But Wait! there's lots more after the break... _________________________

Blanket #2

I talked about my insane sock yarn blanket, but I also have a Log Cabin Style blanket going on in Noro Kueyon. This is also a modular project—at least at this stage. One skein of Kureyon makes a square about 10”. When I have all 20 squares knit, I’ll pick up strips between squares in a plain brown yarn to make a grid around the squares and for the border. It’s a very mindless project, which is good, and it’s going to come together much faster than the tiny squares.

*Pattern: Log Cabin Square by Sarah Bradberry

*Yarn: Noro Kueyon in a variety of colors. Louet Riverstone in Caribou for the borders

*Needles: Size 8 (5mm) needles.

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Other Projects

I feel bad that these projects haven’t been mentioned yet. These are the oldest of all the projects.

First, I started a Fair Isle sweater for Walker. It’s knit in the round, so the entire body is on the needles right now. I’m about halfway through the second repeat, after which I can start the shaping for the armholes and the steeks. I will have to cut through my knitting. It makes me nervous already! I got interested in the technique, and have enjoyed the challenge. I put it down in favor of quicker projects, and during the warm weather, but now it’s getting cooler and easier to have a big sweater in one’s lap!

*Pattern: Mossbank Pullover by Wilma Malcombson from Jamieson’s Shetland Knitting Book 3

*Yarn: Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift in Rosewood, Shetland Black, Rosemary, Old Gold, Rust and Burnt Umber

*Needles: Size 2(2.75 mm) and Size 3(3.25 mm) circular needles

Once in awhile I get the lace bug. It bites me HARD. My stash of lace yarn speaks to the seduction of those dreamy, gossamer shawls. I had wanted to make the Swallowtail Shawl ever since I saw the pattern. The pattern features nupps, which are sort of bobbles, little raised bumps, but I knew that the mohair yarn I was using would make that technique extra tricky, so I added beads instead.

I did have an issue with this pattern—it’s not hard, but knitting with sticky mohair is a special challenge. When I screwed up, I just didn’t have the energy to fix it right away. Even when I had ripped back and installed lifelines, I wasn’t motivated to get it done until more recently.

This is during the blocking of the shawl

*Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn Clark from Interweave Knits Fall 2006

*Yarn: Rowan Kid Silk Haze in “Meadow”

*Beads: 6/0 greenish pearly beads from Dava Beads

*Needle: Addi Turbo Lace Size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles

Finally, I am making a scarf. I love having lots of scarves to wear. However, I do not love knitting scarves. It’s far too easy to get bored and move on to the "new hotness". I am trying to make this my TV knitting. I’m halfway done, at least. This picture is from when I was merely 1/4 done, but it looks the same, just longer.

*Pattern: Entrelac Scarf (pdf link)

*Yarn: Noro Kueyon in 157

*Needle:Size 8 (5mm) 24” circular needles

This was a much needed palate cleanser. Now I can talk about finishing these projects and even start some new ones!