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 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’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.

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

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.

It’s snowing again here. Already there’s about four inches on the ground. My workplace was hit pretty badly by the ice storms of last week and some parts are still without power. Thankfully the worst at home was some downed trees on my street.  Most of the ice and snow had all but melted away yesterday afternoon and there was a lot of grass showing just a few hours ago.  It’s January so I can’t complain too much.

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.

As you can see from the side bar I have quite a few items in progress, all of which need photographing. I took this on my way out the door from work the other night. It blended in a bit too much but the light was gorgeous.

I’ve made a few of the Ballband Dishcloths (Rav Link) from Mason-Dixon Knitting. I took the book out of the library and I kept it a bit longer than I should have. It was so difficult to return, but it’s on my list to get from Amazon one of these days. I missed the Mason-Dixon Knitters speaking here last month. I had a bunch of stuff going on and I’m regretting not being able to get over there for it. I heard it was great, complete with the wigs!

I’m so excited to start knitting from the new IK Holiday Issue. There’s so many gorgeous patterns, especially the Helix Gauntlets (Rav link)! I have the perfect yarn in mind for it, but I think I need to wait until after Christmas. I can’t believe Thanksgiving is only two weeks away. Christmas will be here before we know it!

The lace ribbon scarf has been finished, blocked and gifted to my wonderful mom. It was a fun project and some brought me dsome gorgeous fingering Alpaca to make another. Her friend purchased a skein of Dream in Color Smooshy in Lipstick Lava so I can make her one. This is the third I’ll be making in DIC and I’m excited to use it again.

I picked up lots of lovely yarns on my trip to San Francisco bay area this past weekend. Some Shibui, Happy Feet, Collinette Jitterbug, Malabrigo. I didn’t knit as much as I normally do and after frogging my Charade, I think I was just a bit frustrated. I’m on the toe now but I need to work on my Dads sweater vest this week.

My trip overall was great and it was nice to spend time with my mom and stepfather. I went with my stepfather to look at the iPhones at the Apple store and left with an iPod Touch! Yay! It’s so pretty. I picked out my favorite type of case, the agent18 and I can’t wait to put some movies on it later today.

Before I forget, I want to give a shout out to a wonderful yarn shop I visited in Lafayette called The Yarn Boutique. This place and the owner were fabulous. She has a great selection of yarn and was so helpful. I wish I lived closer so I could go there often.