Pardon The Dust

I am in the process of combining my vegetarian blog with my knitting blog. This way I can back to posting more on both topics without having to feel like I am being pulled in 2 directions.  I hope to have everything combined by the middle of next week then back to posting. Thanks

What is off the needles since the last post...

Pattern-Sport Weight Toe-Up Socks w/Gusset Heel
By-Wendy D Johnson
Yarn-Knit Picks Felici Sport Self Striping in Recess

Pattern-My Zombie Boyfriend
By-Elizabeth Deremiah
Yarn-Unwind Yarn Company Journey Sock in Captiva Sunset

Pattern-Be Kind (Baby Size)
By-Melissa Simpson
Yarn-Premier Yarns Everyday Soft Worsted Prints in Happy Baby









What's on the needles

Pattern-Wendy's Generic Toe-Up Sock
By-Wendy D Johnson
Yarn-Hazel Knits Artisan Sock in Hometown Baseball

Pattern-Woodland Spring Shawl
By-Christina Wall
Yarn-The Periwinkle Sheep Merino Silk in Roses & Ashes








I also have another pair of socks on the needles but its only the cuff & the other various other languishing WIPS...

This, That & Everything In Between

As you can see it has been longer then a week since I last blogged, seriously the weeks are flying by faster then I can  keep track of. I have been doing a fair amount of knitting on somethings & other items haven't even been touched.

I finished the Ampersand socks that I talked about in the last post. They didn't fit Mk but they have already been given to someone else who loves them & they fit well too. Maybe I should just start knitting socks for various people around the world lol.  I really enjoyed knitting these socks the fact they were knit out of Sport Weight yarn didn't hurt either. You have to love a pattern that is only a 2 row repeat.  Socks that Rock Mediumweight yarn was a dream to knit with I will have to get my hand on some more.

Since the last socks didn't fit Mk I decided to cast on another pair for him with more Sport Weight yarn this time I am using Knit Picks Felici Sport in Recess. I am doing them toe-up this time using a pattern by Wendy D Johnson called Sport Weight Toe-Up Socks with Gusset Heel (5/15/07).

I am not sure if the heels will throw off the stripes but if so its no big deal. Hopefully since the Ampersand socks only took me 11 days hopefully I can get these done before the end of March so I can enter them in the Must-Stash Podcast sock KAL.

I have also been working on the Got Twist socks along the way. I am done with the Gusset on the left foot I need to finish the one on the right & then on to the foot. The Hemlock Ring nor the shawl have gotten much of any work done. I think I knit a few rows of stockinette on the shawl I really need to get moving on that. I cast on a blanket out of Super Bulky yarn just to get it out of my stash let me say  good grief size 13 needles are ridiculous to knit with (this coming from a girl who rarely knits on anything higher then size 6's. I haven't gotten very far so nothing picture worthy I am just knitting in stockinette I just want it gone lol.  Other then that not much else is going on except I want to cast on another cable hat someone talk me down. I have enough on the needles already right ???

Whirlwind.....

Its been almost a month since I last blogged not really sure exactly how that happened. But here I am back at it & back to trying to blog at least once a week I have been knitting alot since the last post & I have also been frogging alot but I still have plenty on the needles(all while trying to talk myself out of casting on more). So let us pick up where we left off last month (side tangent how the heck is it already March really 2013 slow the heck down some will ya). On to the knitting. Last time I posted I was knitting the Pomme de Pin socks, a baby hat & a shawl. Well the socks & baby hat are done but the shawl has been ripped out & the yarn is back in the stash.  I will cover the new knitting then show you the finished objects

I have 2 pairs of socks on the needles (yea crazy I know) one pair is in Fingering Weight & the other is Sport Weight. The first pair is Got Twist ? by Niki Vogler. These socks are feeding my cable addiction I have going on right now. They are knit out of  Fibermorphosis Artisan Dyed Yarn there was no colorway listed. I am about ready to start the heel flaps then its smooth sailing on the feet & toes

Next socks on the needles are the Ampersand socks by Kirsten Kapur. These socks are for two KAL's that are going on. One is for the Knitabulls group you have to use Socks that Rock . The other one is for the Must Stash Podcast Sock It To Me March-Month of Socks KAL. These are knit out of Socks that Rock Mediumweight in the colorway Persephone's Persimmons. I am actually farther then the pictures show I am half way through with the foot on the first sock. I hope to have them done this weekend.  I will say omg I have to invest in more sport weight yarn because these socks are flying off the needles I cast them on March 1st & they are almost done. Gimme more sportweight yarn lol

I cast the Hemlock Ring Blanket back on again using the same yarn I used before. I haven't gotten very far but here is a picture anyways. I am using Berroco Ultra Alpaca in the colorway Flannery Red. I love Berroco Ultra Alpaca & Ultra Alpaca Fine.. I also have a start of a baby hat & shawl on the needles I will post pics of them next time neither are very far into the knitting.

Finished Objects

Pomme de Pin Socks by Nicole Masson


















Also finished was a baby hat called Ahimsa Newborn Hat by Jenna Greer. I made a small design on the front just to change it up a bit I can't remember exactly what I did either I will try it again at some point & write it down.

Look At That Leg....

I am happy to say I made it past the short row heels on the socks & they look Ok but seriously they are still my nemesis  I get the whole wrap & turn thing heck I even get the picking up the wrap part. I can do short rows like the wind on projects that aren't heels so no clue. The cool thing is there are other heels you can use while doing toe-up or cuff-down socks. I want to try afterthought heels, eye of partridge heel, sweet tomato heel & a heel flap & gusset on toe-up socks.

I really enjoy knitting socks cuff down I have finally gotten to the point where I can pick up the gusset stitches with-out having holes. I knit socks just to knit them. I knit the occasional pair for MK but that is it any others I give away. I would knit them for myself but lets be honest I wouldn't wear them I don't wear things I knit call me crazy its Ok you wouldn't be the first to do so.

I finally came up with a knitting motto for the year Knit It & Get Rid of It. (unless I really can't part with it) Which means after I knit it unless it's made for a certain person or charity I will be finding a home for it. I rather it be used then sitting around collecting dust. Now on to the knitting.

I have made some progress on the socks I am on the leg portion of the left sock. I am really enjoying the pattern & it shows up great with the yarn. I hope to be done with these before the end of the month.  Sadly nothing else has really gotten worked on expect a few rows on a baby hat for a KAL I am in. but I will show you pictures just to give you something to look at.

I have got to get my butt in gear here seriously there is no reason why the hat isn't done, why the shawl is still not being worked on or why hemlock ring is still sitting in the bag on row 10 I think. I need to stop browsing Ravelry because OMG the cable bug is still hanging on & there are some gorgeous cabled hats, scarves & mitts running around. I need to not cast on all the things & work on what I have on the needles. I need to get these socks done before opening day in Baseball I still owe Mk a pair out socks out of some Seattle Mariners colors yarn.

What's New....

Since the last time I posted I have cast on a new project & I am also about to start on the heel of my Pomme de Pin socks. I will talk about the socks first since I have a picture. I am about to start the short row heel on them & I have to say I am a bit nervous about it. I have only ever done one other pair of toe up socks & the heel on the socks was my nemesis. This time I plan on putting in some waste yarn just in case I need to rip back (cross your fingers for me ). I decided to cast on the second sock before I started the heel on sock #1 .                               

The second thing I started was the Vermillion shawl by Carolina Diez. I have knit this shawlette before & I really enjoyed it. This time I am making it for one of the five gifts for  2013 Creative Pay It Forward. 

I found out about it on Plurk the first 5 people who respond to your Plurk (they also have to replurk it) get something handmade from you this year. This will help knock a few things off my knitting goals list at the same time. I am using Cascade Heritage Handpaints in a pretty Blue/ Purple combo. I will post a picture of it next time all I have so far is the stockinette knitting done. 

I also recast on my Hemlock Ring blanket let's hope I have better luck with it this time then I had last time. I will also post a picture of that the next time I blog.

In Awe Of It...

Have you ever knit something that you were totally in awe of after you made it ? Well that was me earlier this week. In the last post I showed a picture of the hat I just started for Mk. In case you didn't  read the last post the hat is the Sea Beanie by Elena Nodel. I wasn't very far into the hat just a  few inches of seeing the cables. 

Let me preface this by saying this is the biggest cable project I have ever done. I also told Mk if he loses this hat I will have to hurt him. Anyways I finished the hat on the 24th & OMG I honestly didn't want to give up. I am not a hat wearer so me keeping it made no sense. 

 Front of the Hat

Left Cable            

                                            

Right Cable

I am going to do something I don't normally do & pat myself on the back. I honestly think this hat looks awesome. It fits Mk great & I didn't screw up the cables its a win win for me lol.

I also finally cast on my Pomme de Pin socks by Nicole Masson. I was originally going to reverse the pattern & knit it cuff down instead of toe-up which is how its written but I decided I would stick it out so with the short row heel. I haven't had much practice with the short row heel so I figured give it a try I am sure I will end up finding another sock pattern at some point that I like and will want to make that has a short row heel.