progress, purchases, and a MAJOR yard sale score!

First the progress. The North Pole christmas sock is coming along nicely, after the third try, you know, it's a charm. It kept coming out too big. I've finally figured out where the foot should end and the heel should begin, so I think it's going to work perfectly. Now it's just knit, knit, knit. It's a good, I have 10 minutes between clients project, even though it's not too stimulating.











Next, purchases, like I need more yarn. I stopped by the LYS on friday to get the 2 small needles there. Judy's magic cast on is so much easier on those kind of needles as opposed to straights. Well, they had a bunch of the zauerballs. Had to have one.
This one a a pretty cool berry color. I'm pretty sure I'm going to use it to make the shawl I saw on ravelry. Don't really care for it as socks, and I already have so many.
Speaking of socks, I'm expecting my socks that rock sept shipment any minute. I have to admit, I already peeked at some of the spoilers, and I'm sure I'm going to love it.

Now for the major score.....
I stopped by a yard sale this morning and bought a couple of knitting books for 50 cents. I pretty much always buy knitting books if I see them and they're cheap, just because. Well, and I still can't believe this one, the Alice Starmore book is a special one. It's out of print, has been for some time, will probably not ever be printed again, and it's kind of a cool book. It sells on Amazon for somewhere between $200-300. Yes, that's TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS! Not too bad for my 50 cent investment. Now, I have to think, do I want to sell it on ravelry for a couple hundred bucks, (that would buy a lot of projects), or, would I rather keep it. Tough call. I'll have to let you know, keeping it for now. Oh, by the way, the yarn was free. I really have to go to more yard sales!











We will now return you to your regularly scheduled nap.

Gail, oh my!

Gail is complete, blocked and safely put away from meddling cats.
Isn't she beautiful??
I already have a second one started. It will be a very nice christmas gift.

















This week also brought some new yarn. The 9 skeins of brown cotton are for the Botanica Medallion. I really love this vest(?), but didn't want to look like a giant doily. I saw it on someone at sock summit and it was beautiful. I think the key is to not make it in an off-white yarn, so I chose a chestnut color. Hope it will work out. The second set of brown and white are for the doggie mittens on ravelry. They're very cute and will be my first official try at colorwork. The brown in this one matches sister perfectly. That was the plan.



I'd love to show you the north pole christmas socks. One was about 90 percent done too, but I decided I didn't like the toe AT ALL, too pointy, so I ripped the whole thing out and started again. The first time the magic cast on went really smoothly, but I swear, I tried to get it to work yesterday for at least an hour and it wasn't happening. I finally gave up and cast on for the second Gail. I'll try the sock again when I feel a bit more patient. Although the socks are very plain, I'm trying to use some of the techniques I learned at sock summit. Judy's magic cast on, short row heels, and a stretchy bind off. See, sock summit just keeps on giving.
I can hardly wait for the next conference. The madrona schedule should be up soon, and I've never really considered classes there, but I'm taking a whole 'nother look at it. I'm definitely thinking about taking a class that will improve my skills and take them to another level.

This week should bring the next installment of the socks that rock sock club. I can hardly wait to see what Tina has for us this time. I've checked out her new colors and I think my credit card is weeping.

lesssons in lace

I was so inspired by all the great shawls I saw at sock summit, I decided I needed one of my own. So, here's what I've learned about lace - just this week too!
1. I cannot knit from a chart. It looks like chinese. If it's written out, I do fine, but the charts, not.
2. It pays to have the best tools. You cannot knit lace with a dull bamboo needle. Addi turbo lace, baby.
3. Lifelines.
4. Patience. Kind of goes with the lifelines.
I'm liking it though. Say hello to Gail. (rav pattern)
I'm on the 6th pattern repeat - out of 7 and booking right along. I don't think it's going to go as fast now, since it keeps growing and growing. The yarn is handmaiden sea silk, northern lights, purchased at knit-purl in portland. I already have a second one planned as a christmas present.










Also, thanks to a nice, warm shift at the farmer's market for the master gardeners yesterday, the garden socks are 99 percent done. All they need is a toe. Good thing, I think the next shipment will be this week and I also want to get started on the north pole christmas socks. Those should go quickly, though, they're going to be plain, toe-up to show off the self-striping yarn.
The felted bag is coming along, but, honestly, it's boring.

On a happy note, I got my pilates certificate yesterday. It's official. I'm certified, and, except for continuing education, finally done. WHAT will I do with my weekends??

Have I said how much I love where I live??

On friday night, we went dowtown to Harbor Days. I love where I live.....











These guys have been visiting lately. This is my front yard. Notice the spotted butt on the baby. They're all cute until they eat your flowers!










Saturday was a road trip to portland. Good car knitting on the bag strap. nothing exciting to show, though. I'm using a double knitting technique I learned at sock summit. It's making a pretty substantial strap. I think it's going to work great when it's felted and hopefully not stretch much. The bag is coming along too. I can only work on it for so long because, well, it's kind of boring.











So, in portland we made a stop by the Yarn Garden. They had the universal yarn, "north pole", how could I resist?? the top yarn is north pole victoriana. I'm thinking some plain socks, it is self-striping, and toe-up, so I can use every inch of yarn. The second yarn is handmaiden sea silk from knit-purl. I've been wanting to make a shawl ever since I saw all the really cool ones at sock summit, so I decided to tackle a "gail". After a bit of frustration and some reading on ravelry, I think I'm ready to go. Hopefully they'll be something to show soon.
It's supposed to rain hard here for the next two days. I think we'll be having a pretty lazy labor day around here.......

mindless knitting

This week has been pretty quiet. Back to almost the full normal schedule. There's still a couple of pilates clients that are mia, and my Y mat class will start back up sept 10. I can't believe it's labor day already. Where did the summer go???

Good news though, on the pilates front. I got my test scores back and I passed with flying colors! Not as high as I would like, kind of greedy, I know, but no client will ever care what my scores were, only that I'm certified. It was an 89 by the way, 85 written and 93 practical. I'll always wonder what I missed, but I'll never know. I have so much free time now that I'm not studying or watching videos constantly. Maybe yardwork? A new project?

I seem to be in between knitting projects right now. Lots of mindless knitting. I'm making a bag for my friend Amy for christmas. It's going to be a messenger bag and I'm hoping to needlefelt her studio logo on the flap. It's from some recycled yarn, not sure where it came from, it was in the stash. I do know I tried felting a swatch of it and it worked fine. Pretty mindless though, knit, knit, knit.
I also got the "Garden" socks to a pretty easy point. The heel is turned on the second one and now I'm just working on the foot, knit, knit, knit.
I'm saving it for the farmer's market next week. I'll need something to do while I sit there.


I'm trying to decide what the next project should be. I REALLY want to do the bonanica medallion from the spring vogue. After I saw it done up on someone at sock summit, it made me want to do it more. Do I NEED to buy more yarn. I also want to do a shawl. I saw some really cool ones done with one zauerball and some great pooling techniques on ravelry this week. Do I really NEED more yarn?? I'd have to order both, since my LYS doesn't have either.

We're headed off to portland for a day next week to do some errands. Maybe we'll have to make a stop at knit-purl.

how did summer get to be almost over????

Time to think about christmas present knitting already.
I will NOT be finishing gifts on christmas eve, will not, will not.......

One of the coolest things I saw at sock summit was wenat's awesome pooled scarf. It inspired me to go DIRECTLY to the blue moon booth and buy more yarn. This scarf was done in a week, using a pattern from the yarn floozies site. It doesn't pool as cleanly as hers, but I love the colors. It's Champman springs in silkie. This one's for me. There's another already on the needles for someone else, in a lovely emerald green.
















In other knitting news, one garden sock (sock club) is done. I'm planning on starting the second one this week so that I can knit the easy parts at the lacey farmer's market in a couple of weeks. If I get past the leg and turning the heel, it's pretty much mindless from there.

I think sister's still recovering from the beach. Any old pillow in a pinch!

post summit recovery

After the summit, we headed out to the oregon coast for a couple of days.
It was wonderful hanging out on the beach, even though we did get rained on a bit.
I think picking up agates on the beach is one of my favorite pastimes, right next to knitting, of course. Check out some of the cool red agates in the middle of the plate.










Now I'm starting to think of christmas gift knitting, and maybe a lace shawl. I was so inspired by all the beautiful ones at the summit. I think I must have one of my own. If I start now, I can finish it before the next summit!
The garden socks are coming right along....
pics later.

Sock Summit!! OH MY!!!

First, let me say I don't think I've had that much fun with a bunch of folks I didn't know in a long time. Secondly, let me say, none of us were strangers for long.
What an amazing 4 days.
I kinneared Lucy Neatby in Starbucks. Took a class from her too. It was fantastic. I don't think I've learned that much about knitting ever.















Took a class from the amazing Barbara Walker (as well as others). She was having a bit of a "yard sale" and selling some little tidbits that she had knitted. Of course, everyone in the class had to have something, just so they could say "Barbara Walker knitted this" Pretty amazing. Of course, I had to have something too, and ask her to sign my book.














Kinneared Stephanie (Yarnharlot). Sorry the pic is blurry. She never stood still the entire weekend. The woman has immense energy.
















Participated in the world record breaking attempt for most folks knitting at once.








Went to an awesome ravelry party










Took some more classes, met some great folks, traded a whole bunch of stitch markers and shopped 'til I dropped. I made a haul!






Stephanie and Tina said that "next time" is two four letter words, but they're hinting that there might just be a next time in a couple of years. I'm starting RIGHT NOW saving my allowance so that I can go.

the fraggles went to the fair!

No pictures of the fraggles, but here's a couple of their new friends! Aren't they cute?


















Love this guy too.....

Barn owls have always fascinated and kind of frightened me. There's just something about them.


Waaaaayyyy too hot this week for anything. It was 103 degrees here on wed., and we broke a record. One that I hope stays on for a loooonnnngggg time.

Next week, SOCK SUMMIT!!! I'm very excited to be going and even more excited to be going to classes and shopping. It's going to be so much fun, what with classes, breaking a world record for knitting, authors and book signings, exclusive stuff to buy, ravelry meetup, the list goes on and on. I'm going to need a vacation from my vacation. I'm sure they'll be TONS to post when I get back. It's also made me think about my knitting skills and improving them. I'm seriously considering a workshop on colorwork with Brandon Mably that's coming in October. Don't have a lot of time on that one, it's filling fast.

What's that Sister? Something in the yard??


Back in 2 weeks!

The final is final

Back from the test, and this is EXACTLY how I feel






My brain is fried.
There is absolutely no knitting content to report. I spent the whole week studying my butt off and it seems to have worked. I passed the practical. Did "very well" according to the tester and I'm feeling kind of cocky about the written part.

With all this test stuff behind me now, I can focus on sock summit!
YEAH!
I'll be spending time at the county fair next weekend. That usually brings about some quality knitting time.
Now......
MARGARITAVILLE!

the fraggles take a field trip

lots of good fraggle knitting time at the market. The pic is a bit dark, but you get the idea. It was HOT, HOT, HOT there.







The "queen of beads" is all done, patiently modeled by cinnamon brown. Note how she will not look at the camera. The shame of being forced to model socks on her butt.







I am in LOVE with the newest of the sock club. I wanted to cast on the minute I got it. Now I'm inspired to finish the fraggles. Back to the market tomorrow, so they'll be more quality knitting time. It's supposed to be cooler too......





























Off to portland for a postural analysis workshop. Next saturday is the big final exam. Then I can get back to "normal?" life.
Only 3 weeks or so to sock summit!!

one sock, two sock, here's a blue sock

Queen of beads from the blue moon sock club.
A couple of hours of ticket selling at the farmer's market helped with the progress. It's being shown here by Cinnamon Brown, also know as sister. Notice the "flags back" position of the ears. We're having a pretty big thunderstorm here today. We don't have them very often in these parts, and the doggies are not at all happy about it.






"Hey Teach" is also done. It came out a bit short, even though I added extra to the bottom. I don't know what I'm going to do. I tried to add to the bottom of it, but it just didn't come out right. I think I'll try blocking it a bit more and see what happens. I wanted to take it to sock summit for the air conditioning, we'll see.












Next up will be the fraggle socks from the sock club. Gotta get caught up before that next kit shows up. (probably this week)

I've been spending time studying too. I'll be glad when all that is behind me. It's been a long 2 years +. I love pilates, teaching pilates, and especially my clients, but the whole test thing stresses me out. It will be all done exactly two weeks from today, and then the focus becomes SOCK SUMMIT!!!!!

I've already pre-ordered one cool colorway called "bobby socks", and a toe up book that will come signed. I'm so looking forward to letting my hair down, not have to worry about studying (pilates at least), and having a great time with a convention center full of knitters. What more could you want??

a day late, oh well

The holiday was pretty low-key around here. Lots of fireworks, but the doggie downers worked well and there were no meltdowns.
There's been some knitting progress.....
Hey teach is ready to be sewn up. I'm a little worried about the size of the fronts, they seem a little small. Guess we'll see in a bit. I also made the 3/4 sleeves. I'm not a huge fan of short sleeved sweaters.











The "Queen of Beads" sock is almost done too. I intended to do this at the farmer's market while I get to hang out and sell garden tour tickets. Now it'll have to be the second one instead. Cinnamon Brown was kind enough to model it for me.



Now I only have 2 more of the sock club socks to go to be caught up. I think I'll just about break even, though, because they're shipping the july one soon.

I'm SO in trouble for sock summit. Some of the vendors are starting to pre-order limited edition yarns, and it seems like I'm falling in love with all of them. It doesn't count as stash if I don't buy it at the summit, right??

Off to study. 21 days 19 days to go.

3/4 teach

Hey teach is progressing nicely, I have all of the back, one full side and about half of another. I want to make this with 3/4 sleeves, so they'll be next.
I was doing great on this until I got distracted by shiney objects.







I need a small project to do at the farmer's market while I sell tickets for the garden tour. Unfortunately, it's probably going to have to be something else, cause this one is going to be finished soon. I just can't seem to put it down.


Next up, sock summit homework.
Can you knit and study anatomy at the same time??

Another week, some more stuff

This week brought progress on "hey teach". The back is finished and about a quarter of the left side. The fern tank is also completely finished and blocked.
I'm starting to want to start some socks again. I'm going to have some time in July where I get to sit at the farmer's market and sell tickets for the garden tour, so I'll need a small, sitting around project. I'm thinking the fraggle squiggle socks would work well here. I may just have to cast them on soon.





In other news, my test date has been set for July 25th in Portland. Let the studying begin! (continue)







We'll finish with a couple of my favorites.....chocolate and roses.

A whole bunch of stuff

This week has been a productive knitting week, not much else, though, I'm afraid.
It brought a bunch of stuff.
The colored yarns are my homework for sock summit. I'm going to bag them up individually for each class with the homework attached and the proper needles.
I had such a frustration with the wrong colored yarn for my "hey teach" that i decided to break down and buy the cotton yarn it was originally made from. I'm liking it and you can see how much progress I made while sitting in a senior fall prevention for fitness instructor class. Yes, that's about how interesting the class was.
The books are for me. I'm taking a mosaic knitting class from Barbara Walker at sock summit, so I wanted the book.
As you can tell, squiggi is fascinated. He just wants the plastic, though. He's obsessed with plastic.






The fern leaf tank is almost done. About 12 rows on the back and the edges. I have to say, it fits pretty well. It's going to look good at sock summit!

How cute is this?????

The bag is finished and, as you can see, boxer tested and approved!
Love it. Can you IMAGINE how much yarn I can fit in this at the sock summit market??

It's been HOT! HOT! HOT!

Over 90degrees here, we just don't tolerate that kind of heat in these parts.
Much cooler now, though, thank goodness.

The clematis purse is felted and a lining chosen. Project this week is to line it and put in some pockets. I love it, but it's so dang big that everything would get lost if there weren't something to hold seperately. Water bottle, keys, phone.
The rest of it is intended to hold my projects and shopping at sock summit.












I also made progress on the fern lace tank. Planning on wearing this at sock summit too. As you can see, it's been boxer tested and approved.




Had to frog "hey teach". It was coming along great, only to discover that my yarn is two different colors. Same dye lot and you can't even tell until you knit them together. ARGH! That forced me to to to yarnmarket and order new stuff. I'm hoping that I'll finish the tank by the time it shows up.



I need to get going on my sock summit homework, studying for my test, and a few other minor details. Why is all that "required" stuff so hard to focus on. I'd rather just knit.......