Purl Kitty

Finished: One Pair of Socks

April 6, 2012 Category :FOs 0

So I have been knitting. I did an entire Featherweight Cardigan in about two and a half months. My latest FOs is a pair of socks for Mike, which I finished about a week ago. I knit out of Cherry Tree Hill’s now discontinued striping yarn. I want to say the name was Pacific Ocean? I can’t even remember where I got it. I did just stockinette with a ribbed cuff and they turned out very nice. Toe-up of course. I think they’re his new favorite pair of socks!

The square grows

April 5, 2012 Category :crochet| WIPs 0

Hard at work on my granny square. It gets big so fast!

What I’ve Been Up To

April 5, 2012 Category :travel 0

Well maybe the fact I got a new computer will help with the timing of my updates but only time is going to tell on that one. Other than that we just got back from a trip to see my family in Delaware. I didn’t get much knitting done but on our return I finally sat down and learned how to crochet! So my first project is this giant granny square blanket out of left over sock yarn. It’s coming up nicely and it moves along very quickly.

Delaware was lovely. We got out to DC and to Baltimore to see zoo and aquarium. I was very impressed with both and I’ve been to a lot of zoos and aquariums in my time! We had kept planning on going up to Philly but never actually made it up. Especially not after finding out the DC zoo had pandas (Mike’s favorite animal). On the way home from the Baltimore Aquarium, I asked him to google which zoos in the country had pandas. When we saw that DC did, our plans for the next day were pretty much set.We drove out to a point in Maryland and took the metro to a stop near the zoo and walked down to it. It was a beautiful neighborhood. After spending the day walking around we took the metro downtown and checked out DC a bit. I’ve never seen the White House before and the cherry blossoms were blooming so it was the perfect time to be there.

I also took Mike to see Miles the monster at Dover Downs. It’s a big statue of a monster holding a race car in his hand. I have no interest in Nascar and neither does he but it’s still an impressive statue. Other than that we spent some time in Lewes and stopped in to a very nice yarn shop called Ginger Moon. I purchased from black Tili Thomas sock yarn (had no idea she made sock yarn)for a pair of socks for my Dad. He prefers neutral colors which I’ve learned the hard way over the years. I think this will finally be the perfect pair for him. Otherwise it was a nice way to spend spring break. I’m now working along and plotting how to get to France this year. Did I mention I’m getting married this year as well? However we have nothing set in stone, not even a date. More on that to come soon.

Clickity

October 29, 2011 Category :WIPs 0

My needles have been clicking so much as of late. I’m determined to have my mom and stepfather’s Christmas gifts done before I go see them at Thanksgiving! They are going to be spending Christmas in Germany and France on the holiday market cruise and then to their house near Bordeaux for the holiday itself. I’m super jealous but maybe we can join them next year. It’ll be nice to see them at Thanksgiving and there’s a possibility I’ll be bringing home my canine sister to dog-sit for the holidays. She’ll be reunited with Pumpkin, much to Pumpkin’s absolute dismay and as much as she hates the idea I think she’ll enjoy having her around rather than be alone when we’re out.

Thankfully my stepfather doesn’t read this blog and has no idea of the gorgeous green ribbed scarf I’m cranking out for him. Not cranking in the literally form but this thing is flying off the needles! I cast on yesterday and with a couple of hours of Netflix I was already through the first ball. When I spoke with my mom earlier this week she mentioned that they needed some warm items for their trip since they’ll be out of their element from the Bay Area and they’re not used to the cold. At least they won’t have the snow the East Coast is getting!

Gift FOs!

July 12, 2010 Category :FOs| WIPs 0

[singlepic id=12 w=320 h=240 float=left] 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. [singlepic id=9 w=320 h=240 float=right] 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.

[singlepic id=13 w=320 h=240 float=left] 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. [singlepic id=15 w=320 h=240 float=right]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!

First time for everything

April 20, 2010 Category :Stash Enchancement| travel 0

I was digging through my stash this afternoon for Magpie Yarn’s Earth Day swap this weekend and came across a skein I had completely forgotten about. If I had remembered and taken the time to enter it properly on Ravelry I know it would have been knit up as I was hungering to make a pair of socks out of that yarn base a few months back. I remember buying it and I remember Jane asking if I wanted it wound but it got shuffled away not long after I bought it and I forgot about it’s existence. No more! Mountain Colors! Come on down!

The other reason for the stash dive is I’m picking out projects that are going to travel with me this summer. Long plane trips=tons of knitting time and I don’t want to waste any of it. So far I have a couple of lace projects I want to start and finish and a few socks. I really want to get a bunch of projects off the needles and by the end of the year only have about 15 or so on the needles at all times. I seem to fall out of love too easily with a project and I need to push myself to stick with it.

I love fall

October 27, 2009 Category :Uncategorized 0

Fall is hands down my favorite time of the year. The changing colors of the leaves, the slight nip in the air, there’s nothing like it. I don’t even mind what feels like the constant rain we’ve been getting, like clockwork on Fridays. I think I’m going to pick up a fireplace log soon and get a fire going soon. I look forward to the first one every year but I’ve been putting it off this year and I think it’s about time. However, what’s with the Christmas commercials already? I just saw one for IHop. It’s only October 27th! At least wait until after Halloween

I’ve been working on a bunch of stealth knitting so no pictures right now but I’ve almost got my Hemlock Ring Blanket cast off so I’ll post that soon. I’d like to get it done and blocked before my new roommate moves in so it’s not in the way or smelling like wet sheep (I don’t mind it but I can promise she will). I’ve got one gift on the way to it’s new owner and I’ll post pictures when it’s been received.

This time I have an excuse!

June 1, 2009 Category :travel 0

I just got back from a two week trip to France, so I do have a legitimate excuse for my absence. It was amazing, the food was amazing and I actually got a fair bit of knitting done. I completed a pair of socks for my stepfather for Father’s day, a pair of booties for a one of the twins born in my mom’s village and one of my Spring Forward socks done. Pictures of the Spring Forward socks are coming soon as I just finished them last night. I’ve moved to to my Charades as my next project which is destined to be an FO. I’ll post more once I get my photos of France onto my computer.

More FO’s

April 28, 2009 Category :Uncategorized 0

Two more FO’s for today and even more tomorrow!

I cast on for these socks within hours of recieving this yarn in the mail. I’d been stalking without buying for awhile and finally broke down. These only took a couple of days and I made them pretty matchy matchy within a milimeter or two.

Yarn: Trekking XXL – 126
Pattern: None
Needle Size: 1

These are Brainless (Rav Link). My mom and I had decided to do a KAL together. When she got the heel she bailed and I kept going. These are only my first pair of this pattern and I really enjoyed it. It was simple but kept me interested the whole time. It was a fairly quick knit and I would knit it a third time in a heartbeat.

Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Thin – Mermaid’s Song (from my very first The Loopy Ewe order)
Patttern: Brainless
Needle Size: 1

FO’s and new yarn.

April 27, 2009 Category :FOs| Stash Enchancement 0

Hello! I added a cute little gallery to the sidebar which is showing my FO’s from this year. I haven’t gotten that far with adding yet so it’s still a work in progress.

So the first FO up is Froot Loops from Knitty. This was the July sock at Magpie Yarn. It took me so long because making the actual loops hurt my hands so I put it down for awhile. I decided to give them to my mom and her recent visit inspired me to visit them.

Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Thin – Rainbow Sherbet
Needle Size: O’s
Mods: Toe-Up, Piccot bind-off.

Next up is a simple pair of toe-up socks again for my mom. This was my first time using Lorna’s Laces. I loved the Grumperina colorway and cast on immediately after getting it in the mail. The colors reminded me of a shirt my mom had when I was little so it was a given to give them to her. She loves them and says they’ll fit under her shoes perfectly.

Yarn: Lorna’s Laces Sheppard Sock Multi – Grumperina
Pattern: None. Basic toe-up.
Needles: 0′s

I have more FO’s to show you tomorrow. But now for the part you’ve all been waiting for: The new yarn! I had a Birthday 10 days ago and that led to some major stash enchancement from my parents. First up is the yarn I got with my gift certificate from The Loopy Ewe that my Dad and stepmother gave me. From left to right (Numma Numma Toasty in Baba Ganoush, Fannie’s Fingering in Kaleidscope, Dream In Color Starry in Dusky Aurora, Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Select Semi-Solid in Dove and ShibuiKnits in Wasabi.) Click to embiggen.

The second group is from the trip I took with my stepfather to Magpie Yarn. The only one he didn’t buy is the purple one (unknown yarn) since my mom purchased that one on a different day. On the left is Mountain Color Bearfoot and the white and purpley is J.Knits in Cincinnati. The rest are fairly self-explanatory.

Okay, moving away from knitting for a second. SAVE CHUCK. I can’t believe this fun show may be going off the air. I didn’t start watching until this season but it’s become a show I’ve highly enjoyed and looked forward to watching every week. I love talking with my Dad about it after he watches (he started watching right from the beginning). Here’s hoping it gets some good rating tonight. Until tomorrow.

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