Too Much Yarn

Not Much Happenin'...

I have been knitting quite a bit, but it appears I have nothing to show. I have been working mostly on shawls. Yes, you read that right! ShawlSSSSSSSSS! I have been moving along just fine with Damson. I have 20 rows left on the shawl. Each row is over 300 stitches.

Then, I found out that I joined Janel Laidman's Knitteratti's Sock Club. I guess one of the patterns is a shawl. Maybe that's why I joined the club? Anyway, the sock pattern is very nice, but who won't want to participate in a Mystery Shawl? There was a section A and section B. I frogged section B two times and the third time, I think I got it right. The second clue was released on Thursday, but I haven't started working on it. And I only joined the patterns-only club. The yarn that came with the shipment is a Hazel Knits Entice yarn. So, I went to my stash and pulled out this Entice in Blueberry.

As far as socks go, other than finishing the SKA Mystery Sock (first one), I really have made no progress on the other 3 patterns on my needles. I plan to sit out for the SKA February challenge because I'm expecting patterns (and yarn, possibly) from the Rockin' Sock Club, Cookie A Sock Club, and Socktopus Club. OR, I just work on second socks in February. I'm using Primo for the first time (same as Entice - I've used it, but not a finished project!)

I've been naughty since Verdant Gryphon and Cephalopod Yarns opened. And that's all I will say!

30 Years

Hop over to my other blog, Too Much Energy, to find out the special occasion today! Then, hop over to the Three Irish Girls' Blog to see how lucky I am that Amazing Threads, the featured yarn store is my home yarn shop. It is less than 4 miles away from my house and I have to drive by it EVERYDAY!! TWICE A DAY!

A reward for my hard work!

I've been knitting like a mad woman! As a reward, I gave myself permission to cast on yet another project! A shawl. As I've told you all previously, I flunked at knitting a Westknits pattern. Yvonne figured out the Sharktooth pattern and is enjoying it. Maybe I really should give it another shot. But before I do that, I decided to knit an easy pattern - Damson. Since I have the Bugga November Nudibranch caked, I used the yarn. This is the beginning...

This is what it will look like. I snagged this from Ysolda's pattern page:

There is a possiblity that I may run out of yarn so I have to be creative with the edging, or I could go with the modified pattern by Linda Butkus. But, I like it to be more sporty and less feminine-ish so I may stick with the original pattern.

Yesterday was a holiday from work, but I did not knit a single stitch! After kniting a lot on Saturday and Sunday, I had to get my butt off the knitting chair and finished some chores around the house. Mystery clues came out on Sunday. I finished clue 3 of the SKA Mystery Sock - sock #1. I got caught up with clue 2 on the Sock #2. Clue 3 consisted of the heel flap, turn, and gusset. I haven't taken a photo of the completion of clue 3, but this was taken while I was knitting clue 3.

On the Through The Loops Mystery Sock, I finished clue 2. Clue 3 consisted of the heel flap and heel turn. I should be able to complete that. Unfortunately, this is the most challenging pattern I'm working on, so I have only completed 1 sock. This is what it looks like now:

Sock #3 - the Cookie A's Rambutan Socks. I'm now knitting the boring stockinette section. Don't have a progress pic either.

Sock #4 - Hunter's Linaria Bipartita. I finished the first sock, but have not cast on the second sock:

So the status at this time:

Other than the above, I've been working on my Never Ending Sock Yarn blanket. My goal is to knit 120 squares a year. I have 35 columns. Knitting 4 rows a year would yield 140 squares. I may need to be more aggresive at knitting 10 squares a month (which I have done so far this month). Just for fun, I dug up photos of when the blankie was born. Nov, 2010:

Then, I gave the red blanket to my Mom. So, I had to use a different blanket for size comparison. This was taken in June, 2011:

And over the weekend, it is now at this size:

I am crazy!! But this will be beautiful. It will be drapped over my casket at my funeral to show my love for knitting as we don't want socks all over the casket.

And last, but not least, I should show you some new bags I've acquired. Remember the Tom Bihn Swifts I acquired last year? First, it was the Purple that was too purplish so I sold it to Purple Kathy...

Then, the Navy and Steel.

Now, I bought these other Nylon ones because the Cork one was out of stock. It was a couple of weeks ago, but before I bought the Cork one, I tried to sell the Navy and Steel. Since it was no longer available in that combination of colors, it was snagged up within an hour of my posting it for sale. I promptly ordered the Cork Swift and I'm as happy as a clam with this knitting tote. It seems bigger than the other ones, but it shouldn't be. I know I'm finally at peace with this one.

Also, in the past months, due to discounts offered for my birthday month... I was able to acquire these Knowknits pouches. Despite all the pretty project bags I have, if I have to just grab a project bag on the go, I use the Knowknit pouches to snap it on my purse. They are available in all sorts of colors. I love Denise's collection!

Anyway, the new ones I got was the Fur (I love petting it!)

and the Ostrich (I don't know why it's the Ostrich)

And finally, here's my latest distraction. The January pattern from Stephen West (Westknits). I may have to try this AFTER Damson is done. Snagged this photo from Ravelry member, Mabuli.

Until then, I hope I don't cast on any other projects!

Monday Update

I meant to update the blog yesterday but well, I spent too much time knitting... I cast on 4 pairs of socks last week. These photos were taken before I worked even more on them... The first pair is the Linaria Bipartita by Hunter Hammersen. I'm using Hazel Knits Entice in Hoppy Blonde. I'm now working on the last repeat before the toe on Sock #1:

This is a very attractive sock when worn. Next, is the Cookie A's Rambutan Socks. I'm using Bugga in Golden Orb Weaver. I'm just about to knit the heel flap:

Clue 2 was released for both the mystery socks I'm knitting. I finished clue 1 on both socks for the SKA mystery by Carrie Sullivan (irishgirlieknits). This photo was taken when I still had 8 rows left on clue 2:

And finally, the fourth sock: The Through The Loops Mystery Socks. This is just before the end of clue 1. I get stressed out on knitting this sock due to the ktbl's... But the finished clue 2 looks very nice. Will need to concentrate on this one this week. I'm using Bugga in Dawn Dropwing.

In summary, here is where I'm at. I'm very content with the choices I have to knit with.

My son was home for 3 weeks for Christmas break. He asked for a pair of mittens. I finished them 2 hours before he left yesterday. I had finished the mittens more than a week ago, except the second mitten was missing the "top". Here are the finished mittens and the happy boy!

I even tried to cast on a shawl on Saturday. I first attempted to cast on Stephen West's Sharktooth. I didn't like the written instructions. UGH! Then, I tried to cast on Daybreak, thinking it can't be that complicated with just 4 rows of stitches. WRONG! I HATE written instructions. But I think I'm going to give Daybreak ONE MORE try before I officially label myself a Westknits Flunkie! Susan from Buffalo asked why I even joined the shawl club. It's like having lettuce in your refrigerator. It makes you feel like you're eating healthy. I need to have some Westknits patterns so it feels "cool" (no pun with the refrigerator analogy).

This photo is for Dianne. She had asked about the sizing of the worsted weight blankie square compared to the sock yarn size. I set a goal of 125 squares in 2012. I knitted 2 squares over the weekend. That's the contribution from week 1!

I recently acquired the i.knit charm for a necklace. Then, I found some charms for my Pandora bracelet. Well, the yarn charm was a bit too big for a bracelet so I decided to put it on my necklace. The sock charm/bead works on the bracelet, but I think it's more "obvious" worn as a charm. You like?

 

Getting Started

So this week, I've cast on 4 pairs of socks. 2 Mystery Socks, a Cookie A's club pattern, and a Hunter Hammersen's pattern. I've taken these photos a few days ago and I'm finishing up the leg of each sock of both patterns and finished clue 1 for the Mystery Socks (just 1 sock, though). It's a bit too exciting to be knitting the socks than catching up on clue 1 on Sock 2. I only have cast on photos for 3 of the 4 socks. I will take progress pics tomorrow.

Check out my Ravelry Project pages to determine which is which!

By the way, I finished these 2 socks. Just not planning on knitting the mates yet!

 

dssf

Happy New Year!

Did you party last night? I did not! I watched a movie and knitted my blankie as I wait for 11 pm to start on my January KALs. But before I tell you what I'm knitting this month, let me "declare" my goals for 2012. Numbers accomplished are in parentheses.

1. 15 pairs of socks (15 pairs in 2011). At least 6 from the 3 Sock clubs I belong to in 2012 (5 in 2011). At least 7 variegated (7 in 2011). At least 4 from the Socktopus Book (my KAL with Jennifer)

2. 12 shawls (7 in 2011)

3. 12 projects using yarn from SG and/or new companies, Cephalopod Yarns or Verdant Gryphon (9 in 2011)

4. Try at least 5 new fingering weight yarns for shawls/socks (6 in 2011)

5. 6 knitted items that will be gifted (5 in 2011)

6. 125 mitered squares for my mitered squares sock yarn blanket (124 in 2011)

7. 60 hexiflats for Bee Keeper’s Quilt (24 in 2011 - only started in September 2011)

I will not bother with goals relating to stashbusting or controlling my stash because, let's face it... I'll fail at those. WIPs count as completed items on the year they were completed.

The new yarn bases I've tried this year that I've successfully completed projects for were: Three Irish Girls Glenhaven Cashmerino. Will I use this again? Yes.

Hazel Knits Piquant (Discontinued). I have stocked up a couple skeins of this base. And I look forward to using them. It is not as soft as the MCN I like to knit with, but the stitch definition makes it worth my while.

 

Three Irish Girls Roslea Organic (this is worsted!). I don't know that I would particular buy this base unless it has a color I really want. There are other brands that I would lean towards.

These are the other 2 bases I have tried. I don't have any of these bases left and I'm glad I tried them. Again, I won't particularly hoard these bases but if there is a color I'm looking for, I would use them. These are MacKintosh Celtic Sock Yarn and Illoominated Yarns Moonstone.

And finally, Madelinetosh Pashmina. YES! I'm willing to stock up on this base!

I've tried other new yarns on projects I haven't finished. I won't count them as having tried them until the project has completed.

So, to start off the new year, I have these 5 projects lined up. Surprise! I'm using Bugga on 3 of the 5 projects!! I have to use these babies up, you know!

First off.... I joined the Stephen West Shawl Club (Westknits Shawl Club). The pattern link is here. The pattern is Sharktooth. I'm going to use Bugga in the November Nudibranch.

Next, I also have Bugga wound for 2 socks: Cookie A's December Sock Club Rambutan Socks that look like this:

I'm going to use Golden Orb Weaver.

The second Bugga sock is for the Through The Loops (Kirsten Kapur's mystery socks). I frogged this sock so I can re-use Dawn Dropwing (the darker color)

Another mystery sock I'm knitting is from Irishgirlieknits - Carrie Sullivan. I'm using one of her favorite yarns, The Plucky Knitter Primo in a One Hit Wonder color I had picked up from Sock Summit.

And while I was browing in Ravelry, I've decided to also knit a new pattern from Hunter Hammersen. You can read all about this new pattern at her blog. I've snagged the photo from the pattern page to show you what it looks like. I have not decided on which Hazel Knits yarn I'm going to use as this is a KAL in the Hazel Knits Group using any of Hunter's patterns. I decided to pick this so I can "double dip" with the SKA's January Flora theme.

I hope you have a properous New Year and in my next post, you shall see what progress I've made with all these rubbish cast on's!