Almost a toe

Another day, another meeting, a little lunch break and a wait in the dentist office and this guy's sock is almost done. And I mean almost done. I'm halfway thru the toe decreases and on to kitchnering. Guys socks have only a few more stitches around but more in length so they take a little longer to get done. I'm liking the stipey yarn though as it's easy to gauge the inches you knit.

Yet another sock

I picked up the sock I had cast on last friday and got knitting on it again while watching a knitting dvd. As you can see I got the heel turned and an on to the toe but I was fascinated by the Lucy Neatby Knitting Essentials dvd. It had lots of stuff that I already knew, but she led you through everything, with great visuals that you understood more of how knitting works and why. I learned a lot and am now halfway through #2. I'm going to get her book from the library and really look at it again. There's always more techniques that can be learned and enjoyed.

A little finishing

It's that time of year already, yes time for finishing up stuff. These are the Alan Dart advent ornaments that I was knitting on two weeks ago. They came out very cute and are very tiny. The Santa is only 4 inches tall. Lot's of fun though and they'll look great where ever they end up. It was my day off today so I decided that they needed to get done. I'm now ready for the first seven days to christmas, but I think I might not get the others done before the holiday as well as everything else I need to craft. My socks are on target but I'm looking to all of my other stuff to do.

I'm prepping the needle point ornaments to get finished also. Their edges are glued and dried and are ready for the next step. Back to the workroom again.

Lot's of meeting knitting

Yesterday as thought I had another meeting to attend so I brought along the 'alpaca' sock. I kept at it an by the afternoon I was kitchnering up the toe. Not one to let my needles rest (and I was still in yet another meeting) I cast on a new skein of multicolored 'regia' type yarn. At the end I had about 3 inches of the cuff done.

I'm working on another 'team shirt' ornament this time with the name of the park on the back of the shirt. I was having trouble deciding which number or player to imortalize so the park they play in it is. I'm doing this one all in plain basketweave to see the end results. My son told me he really liked the fancier stitches that give it more dimension. We'll see the finished product and then go ahead with others. I'm liking these small needlepoint projects. No magnifying eye's to wear. It's like coloring with yarn for grownups and you can be as plain or fancy with stitches and threads as you like. They are easy to transport and to do a few stitches. I also needed to have a little rest from knitting. But I've knit 3 pairs of socks in October, and there are a few days left in the month.

Ornamentals

Here is what is done on the next 'team' ornament that I'm working on. It's been washed, blocked and dried and now needs some glue to stabalize the edges prior to sewing on lining fabric, assembly and trimming. I'm eyeing my bead stash for wire in order to craft a tiny custom hanger to display the little shirt. After finishing the stitching on this one I thought, oh, should I have picked a number or name for the back? Lets see how this one turns out and the next one could be customized or even designed for another 'team' even a different 'sport'.

On the knitting front I cast on an am up to the heel on the second 'alpaca' sock. I'll wrap this one up by the weekend. I looked at my sock stash and realized I need to concentrate the next few pairs on the men's catagory. I've heard that they are greatly appreciated so I don't want the guys to get shorted because I like a smaller (read less total stitches) women's size to knit. On to the needles.

Little knitting

Today I got to work a little bit of knitting done while the workers put in my new furnace and hot water heater. I'm almost done with the toe on the first alpaca sock. It's so soft and will be wonderful on a foot. It's not a stretchy yarn but I did a ribbing pattern so it will stay on the foot. I did some needlepoint on a tiny shirt ornament but it's getting ready to be blocked and stretched prior to assembly so no photo yet.

My favorite knitting designer, Alan Dart, has a website that you can order some of his patterns from. www.alandart.co.uk Of course I had to get the christmas mice set because you can never have enough knitted mice. I'm looking forward to a day next week that I can just sit and sew and not worry about the house. It's warm and snuggly now, thanks to that wonderful furnace, so I can sit upstairs in my craft room comfortably to get stuff done. Lately I've been wondering how people lived in the cold and got so much done. I know they dressed warmly but with no heat my hands were cold and I was all wrapped up in a blanket. It did restrict my crafting dexterity. Did they just get used to it or am I spoiled by central heating? I'm just thankful that I don't have to raise sheep in the backyard in order to keep knittting.

Turkey Day

I had been working a little bit on this Mill Hill bead pin kit for my mom. It went so fast and tonite it got done. It needs a backing, trimming and a pin back and it will be done. Mom's coming on Monday so that will get done this weekend.
A meeting this morning lead to me bringing my 'sock bag' with me and that was a great decision. I cast on at the start of the meeting and at the end I had the leg done and was working on the heel flap. During the break all of the other knitters came up to 'fondle' the alpaca yarn and tell me of their projects. They really liked my finger puppet needle holders and vowed to go to their respective childrens departments in a hunt for 'leftover puppets' to convert. A little tv watching tonite and the heel was turned and I'm on to the foot. The yarn is extremely soft and I'm enjoying just a K2P2 rib. I had tried other patterns with this yarn but they didn't show up so the usual it is. Work tomorrow then some more ornament or sock knitting tomorrow.

New project

I started last nite working on a new project from my simply knitting magazine. It's an advent tree with ornaments. I've decided to just knit the ornaments and not the tree. For one thing I'm not really fond of flocked or white trees and I have a number of small artifical trees in my holiday collection that would nice decorated. They could also be given away but I'll have to think about that. Right now I've got another bag started full of little knitted parts. They are really small so they are knitting up fast. I'm not retiring my sock bag just yet. That is at the ready for any meeting I'm attending this week.

My new roof arrived today and looks great. In preparation I de-decorated the house so there are piles of picture frames on the furniture. I'm waiting to change to the holiday decor until after the new furnace is installed next week. I'm imagining the dust from the duct work coming loose. I peeked in the open attic space above the garage and I'll be sweeping and vacumming up all of dust that came loose today. They warned me and I draped plastic over everything, but the floor and plastic coverings is covered in old dust from the roof. The good thing is that the roof wasn't damaged at all, the new roof will last 25-30 years and it looks really nice. Good craftsmanship.

Let it snow

I started this last nite and finished him up tonite. He is one of my extremely limited edition cross-stitched holiday cards. I've got one finished totally, and three just stitched so four of the family will get one. They are fun and easy to do and a break from all the knitting and cleaning.

Another pair completed

After a productive holiday, cleaning out the attic room, making more trash and even putting some of my collected tins into the recycling bin, I got down to doing some knitting. Here is the finished result. Another pair of socks. I've got a jar in the craft store room just waiting for them. I'm resting my sock pattern for just a little while and doing some other projects and even more cleaning and organizing. The more I sort, toss and put away finds me finding more to sort, toss and put away. The plus side is that it is totally clear around the water heater so when they come to replace it the workmen won't have any trouble. I still have to get tarps to cover all the stuff in the attic and get them in place. Lots to do and even my son got into the act today cleaning out and rearranging his room. It still need work but again the more you do the more you find to do.

I got the word that the flannel quilt that go finished while on vacation was given to it's intended recipent a little earlier than christmas. The word got back that it was a great hit and and show stopper. I'm so glad, it was fun to sew and we all knew it would be loved in it's new home.

On to a little more organinzing, cleaning and putting stuff away before the night is over. One more day off tomorrow, but I've got loads to do. Never enough hours in the day.

2nd Sock

After a hectic, incredibly busy but in the end productive week at work I finally got to take a day off. Did that mean a day of rest, well kind of. I'm going to get a new roof put on the house so tarps have to be laid over all of the stuff in the attic. I'm also going to get a new furnace and a new water heater, so the room where the water heater is has to get cleaned out so the workers can get in it. So today I was washing dishes, cleaning the upstairs room and putting things away in preparation for the repairs. Did I get it all done? No way! But I did manage to make two large bags of trash and get a little more organized. Some how I also made a turkey dinner, brownies and crescent rolls. Did I also mention that I got some knitting in too. It's my second 'fortisimma' sock and it's had it's heel turned. Tomorrow the gusset will get decreased and then on to the foot. Some fun new dvd's from the library make the crafting so much fun.

Back to the needles

I finally got to get back to my knitting tonite after two days of not touching them but I still carried them with me no matter where I went. I had grand plans of a break, but I used the time instead to do the dishes, laundry, sweep the floors and brush a cat. I even got to meet the cutest new puppy from across the street. But back to the crafting. I am only 1/4" away from doing the decreases on my 'fortisimma' sock #1. It felt so good to get the needles back in my hands, relax and watch a crazy tv show. A holiday is coming up so that means I'll get to sit at my desk and do some finishing of other projects or even just get a little bit organized in another area of the house. I have to get out the fall decorations and get the house ready for halloween! I just know it's going to be a great day off.

As the heel turns

Last nite I realized I had kept on knitting and the heel on the first 'fortisima' sock was done. I like the striping and the yarn will wear wonderfully. Today was another story. I haven't even touched my knitting and I won't get a chance to work on it until tomorrow. Luckily there is a 'prayer shawl' meeting so I'll have to get some knitting done. So much to work on and not enough time to do it all. I'm looking forward to the holiday weekend just to snuggle with my gang of cats and get some crafting done.

On to the next sock

I finished up the second 'stretch sock' last nite and cast on another one right away. Luckily I had brought my knitting when I was out visiting. We talked quilting, needlework, beading and knitting so no minded me working away. It's fun to go an talk with other fellow crafters where every one knows what you're talking about and you can explain a new technique or comment on theirs. A supportive, nurturing environment. One that makes you want to craft some more.

So here is the new sock. It's 'fortisima' yarn in extremly multicolored stripe pattern. I decided a k2p2 rib would be soft and form fitting so it will be another comfy, useable, wearable sock for the holiday jar fest. I've done my pair for October (stretchy pair) so I need to get ahead of the game in order to be on target for December. I'm enjoying myself so others will too.

Second Sock

I finished the first 'regia stretch' sock and am halfway done with the second. I love this yarn, it knits up well and fit so nicely when I did a trial fit. I know I'm going to get a few more balls of of this from 'webs'. They don't have many color choices but at under $5 a ball that's less than $10 for a fitted pair of socks. It's much easy to knit with then 'cascade fixation' which I had trouble doing ribbing with. The regia could be knitted with lots of stitch patterns because it will hold the stitch definition. Onward to the heel.