Purl Kitty

Hello! It’s been a busy summer but I have a couple of gift FOs that I’ve made for my mom recently that I’m dying to show off! First up is a lace scarf made from Misti Alpaca Lace Solids. It’s the Travelling Roses scarf by Leanne (To Knit is Divine) and I chose the yarn with the intention of making a scarf for my mom for last mother’s day but I quickly found that it wasn’t going to be a quick knit and it definitely took a few repeats of the pattern before I was comfortable doing it. I had to really keep track of my rows with a 44 row repeat. However I really enjoyed the pattern and did a majority of the knitting while watching Seasons 1-4 of Bones on Netflix so once I got the hang of it, it was a surprising easy TV knit. I made no modifications and just followed the pattern. I would knit it again in the future but not the near future.

Next up are a cute pair of tennis socks, also for my mom. She was on the quest to make a pair of purple tennis socks but ran out of yarn. I found some leftovers of mine that would work for her to add in as heel yarn but while I did that, I knit up a really quick pair out of Cascade Fixation and sent her another ball to make her own. I used the Cascade Fixation Ankle Socks pattern by Christi H. Brockway and followed the pattern exactly. I got nervous towards the end that I was going to run out of yarn before the kitchener but I but barely made it. I love how they turned out and I’ve already used the pattern again for a pair of gym socks for me (to be shown off soon) and I have some yarn to make a couple of more pairs for both my mom and I. She’s already worn hers a few times and I’ve worn mine once to the gym. This was really my first complete pair of cuff-down socks. I’ve only stuck to toe-ups since I began knitting socks and had no intention of doing cuff-down at all but these were so quick it didn’t matter much. I just find that cuff-down socks are so much harder to try on and I like to know I’m not going to run out of yarn as easily if I start the cuff too high and the heel not as comfortable. I’ve ended up frogging every attempt. I’m not saying these socks will turn me but I’ll definitely give cuff-down another go in the future.

Right now I’m working on numerous pairs of socks. Two WIPs socks are gifts that I’d like to complete fairly soon. My mom and I are doing a KAL with Montego Bay in Malabrigo Lace. I think she’s farther than I am even after ripping it out multiple times. I’ve got Hey, Teach! going in Sirdar Calico and I’m almost done with the back. I’d really like to finish it in time to wear this fall. I plan to extend the sleeves to 3/4 length as I’ll get more use out of it. I’ve finished up 3 or 4 pairs of socks in the past month so I need to get them photographed and posted on here. I’m in a stripes phase and I’ve decided I always need to have a simple pair of stripey socks going at all times. Right now there’s three…. They just make me happy and the yarns I’m using are so easy to wash and maintain that I want a whole drawer full of them!

I’ve been knitting away. I’ve already got a lovely parade of FOs for 2009.

First off my current project – Interlocking Leaves from Knitty Fall 2008:

I’m using Seacoast Handpainted Panda in Sugar Plum. I have quite a few pairs of socks OTN right now but I wanted to grab something to start on during my trip to Delaware last week. I have a few more rows done now but not much.

Next up was a quick project but it was desperately needed with the bad weather coming about three weeks ago. It’s done in Noro and the project is called the Noro Spiral Hat which can be found on my Ravelry project page. It’s warm and I’ve worn it pretty much non stop since I cast off. I was in Delaware over the weekend for my Dad’s Birthday and while we were in Wal-mart I got hot and slipped it into my pocket. As we were loading the car I noticed my hat was missing. We trekked back into the store and asked Customer Service if anyone had turned it in, no go. We started to retrace our steps and in the home improvement section I asked the man behind the counter making keys if anyone had turned it in there. He pulled it out from under the counter and told me someone had thrown it in the recycling bin!! I couldn’t believe an employee of all people wouldn’t give it to customer service. There was a little bit of glue on it but it needs to be blocked anyway so I’m not complaining. I’m happy to have it back.

This was my first FO of the new year, made as a Christmas gift for my old roommate and best friend Kelli. It’s Toasty and made with some Malabrigo worsted I picked up in Mendocino (actually Fort Bragg) over Christmas. My mom and I started a pair at the same time and I finished just before she did. Both were destined to be gifts to women named Kelli (or Kelly). Hers were out of Rowan Felted Tweed and they turned out gorgeous.

I’ll write a Mendocino post up next along with some more from Delaware.