52pp2 Catchup Post,,, and I'm not talking tomatoes

The weather is nice and although I am not an 'outside' person, I have been taking advantage of the cool summer nights. Which in turn leaves me lacking when it comes to sitting in from of the PC. I have been coming along strong in the 52pp2 plunge and just finished my ninth pair since the June1st. I'll just give a taste of the socks I've done so far.... (flickr set)



I also have been working on a really pretty one skein scarf/shawl. I can't wait to finish this but I am not in a big hurry because I won't be wearing it for another month or so...scarf weather comes early in my household. I try to wear them in replacement of a coat when chilly weather comes. I have a dislike of jackets but yet I keep buying them in hopes that I might find "the one", in the meantime I have enough scarves to keep my neckage warm and whatnot.
Anywho, I started this scarf because I didn't want to use the Noro Sock for socks becase I'm a firm believer in washing socks in the washer. Although that notion went out the window recently because I did a pair of Spring Forward socks in Knitpicks Gloss Sock.

Sunday Market Shawl















The crochet monster came knocking at my door this past week to ask me why I haven't crocheted in a few years. I had no response so... in turn... I cast on a scrap ripple blanket.



I have to take an updated picture because it has doubled since this pix.
I have quite a bit of acrylic that will not really be used for anything of major size so I figure I might as well start a second scrap buster blanket. Now this ripple blanket will have to compete with the Log Cabin Square blanket I started a month or two ago. I have more then enough yarn for both...time is the issue.




















Yarn Pirate Booty ships this week....

Lazy Knitting Day

Thirteen
has officially
declared today...
International Lazy Knitting Day.

I am hoping to finish the second Cable Twist sock that I cast on yesterday. I got a good jump on it today and have about 15 straight rows until the toe decrease. I cast on a pair of Broadripple socks in Knitpicks Telemark, colorway Delphinium Heather. They are coming alot very fast and this is the first pair in a while that I have done on dpns.

The picture was taken just a few minutes ago, he fell asleep on my laptop and I haven't taken a good picture of him for quite a long while... Yes he does have a hairless budda belly. He takes after his cat mom and cat dad.....

52 pair plunge 2 - pair one

I finished my first pair of socks that will count for the 52 pair plunge. I don't think I will post every pair that I complete on this blog but I will certainly try. I really enjoyed knitting these, it only took 6 days and I did knit another sock in between sock one and two. I also have alot of yarn left and really love it... leftover socks :)

Pattern: Monkey by Cookie A
Yarn: Opal Neon 1932
Needles: Knitpicks circular size 1
Mods: knit only 4 lace repeats on cuff instead of 5, also made a shorter heel flap.

52 pair plunge kickoff

Monkeys and Cables Twists.....


I started and finished this sock yesterday. I am really liking Neon Monkeys! This is my second pair of Monkey socks in Opal Neon. This if my first sock for the 52 pair plunge kick off, now I just need to do it's mate. I only did 4 repeats on the cuff because I don't really like high cuffs and they don't fit well with my thicker calves. This is the um, the fourth sock that doesn't have a mate.... help! I am sinking in second sock syndrome - but yet I cast on another sock that isn't a second. What is wrong with this picture!


So speeding along.....I started this sock yesterday after completing the first Neon Monkey. I want to finish these socks before the weekend. There will be no second sock syndrome with this one. I am really going to try, really try and if I don't succeed then I will have five socks without a mate.

Pattern: Cable Twist Socks
Yarn: Regia Royal
Needles: KP Size 1 circulars
I changed up the pattern just a bit to be 64 stitches and the repeats are k6, p2 instead of k5, p2


So really now.. keep your fingers crossed for a second sock to come from somewhere.

Socks in need of a mate:
Carolina
Charade
Neon Monkey
Steelers sock (this is 45% done)

I need to start doing two at a time, maybe magic loop method....

Organizing!!!

I reorganized the sock stash today. I bought these three hat boxes in Philly when I went on the LYS mission. All three boxes were less then ten bucks and make excellent storage containers that are stylish too. The little green bin on top is from the buck store, and excellent purchase also.

All stacked up!

Sock Leftovers: less than 50 gram leftovers for monster socks or baby socks





Solid Colors: Knitpicks Essential, Bare Essential, Wildfoote, KP Simple Stripes



Self Striping: Opal Neon, Drops Fabel, Lionbrand Magic Stripes, KP Essential Multi, Regia


Yarn Snob Bin: Yarn Pirate, Lavendar Sheep, Dream Smooshy, Lorna's Laces, Regia Kaffee Facet, Vesper Self Striping, Knitpicks Gloss , Knitpicks Sock Garden, KPPPM

Yarn Pirate - May Booty Club

I love me some May Booty Club. I am all about this colorway, more then April's, which I loved also. I can't wait to make some yummy socks with this!
Patina's blues are so pretty and light and blendy with the greens and the browns are a perfect offset.
LOVE LOVE LOVE!

I can't wait till June's yarn!

Fabelicous Ice Cream Socks

I have to make a second post today because I really love the yarn that I bought for these "Ice Cream Socks"...

Drops Fabel is my new best friend. The price is right and the colors are great. It is very comparable to Opal or Regia.

Socks a Plenty...

I have been finishing up alot of socks today because I have so many with "loose ends". Here is a multi picture of all of the socks that are done or partially done.
In order from left to right:
Carolina in Knitpicks Simple Stripes in tropical (one sock)
Slip Rib Socks in Knitpicks Essential in Meadow Multi (one pair)
Vanilla socks in Drops Fabel in Yellow/Pink Mix (one pair)
Charade in Lorna's Laces Sock Multi in Cool (one sock)

I have to get the needles ready for 52 pair plunge II, it starts in less than a week! ARE YOU LISTENING - LESS THAN ONE WEEK!!!

I am going to start getting my stash in order and perhaps divide a few 100 gram balls into 50 grams. I need to print out some patterns - oh boy the excitement. I am debating on if I will call off from work next Monday???

Is that too crazy? A bit obsessive, oh yea!!!

52 pair plunge II and more

I just joined the 52 pair plunge II. I am very pumped and hope I can get alot of pairs of socks done.
Keep your sock knitting fingers crossed!

I am working on a cardi-shrug for a wedding that I will be going to at the end of the month.
Here's what I got so far and a picture of the dress that I will be wearing with it.

non knit related

88%DRUNKARD

I always knew I was good at something...lol.

Yarn 24/7

Yea so I was told today that I cannot buy any more yarn. I asked J why and he told me that last night I was looking for yarn scraps under his pillow. HA. At least it wasn't because I am buying so much yarn that I have nowhere else to put it. I hide it well, don't tell him that.....

Nutkins - FO (APRIL KAL)

Finished my Nutkins last night and kitchenered the toe this morning. This was my first time using KPPPM and I liked the colors and the feel of the yarn so there should be some add'l purchases in the future. I did experience biasing the same as alot of other people but this didn't bother me enough to mirror the pattern. Some did mirror the pattern but experienced a downfall of stretch.
Although this is my fourth pair of completed socks (including a baby pair of Nutkin) for the month of April, this is the pair that counts for the Sock KAL for April.



Pattern : Nutkin
Needles : Knitpicks Circulars size 2
Yarn : Koigu KPPPM Color lot P118
Mods : Did k2,p2 ribbing instead of turned cuff. Wrapped short row toe

Yarn Pirate Booty Club - April

Pretend that I haven't joined almost every "stash busting" group on the internet. Just for a minute... okay?





April's Booty Club shipment from Yarn Pirate is great. I might add that this is my first yarn of the month club and I am very pleased. Here's my booty....


Yea I am pretty lazy and didn't rotate the picture....sorry!

Greenberry Waffle Socks

Blueberry Waffle Socks knit in Knitpicks Essential in "grass" on size two circulars.
I started this sock last night around 9 pm and finished today around 1pm. Fast knit!
I have to finish the second....

The Egg Dye Sock Yarn Experience

I bought up a few egg dye kits on 50% clearance this year in hopes to dye up some of my own yarn. I got three skeins of KP bare fingering weight yarn recently and here are my results from dying just one skein so far.

FIVE very generalized steps to your own hand-dyed yarn!!





Step One: Soak 30 minutes in vinegar water.





















Step Two: Mix up the dyes with a bit of vinegar, no vinegar in the pink.






















Step Three : Put yarn evenly into the dye mugs and nuke for two minutes, let rest two minutes...on and off for about 10 minutes or until all dye is soaked up and water looks clear-ish. ( no picture...yarn was in the microwave)



Step Four : Allow to cool down and rinse gently.
























Step Five : hang to dry and wait anxiously to wind up your new hand-dyed creation.

























This yarn will self stripe with white bits between all the colored stripes. This will be the next pair of socks :)

April Kal - Nutkins

I started my April sock on March 30th, which I know was a bit of a cheat, but really who is going to punish me? The knitting nazis might get me!! Anyway, I started knitting the first sock on size one needles. I don't know what made me think that I would get gauge with needles that small. I am a loose knitter but I don't care how loose I knit, I got the first repeat done and tried them on.. good to go :) and then.. I got five repeats done and I was ready to start the heel. I tried them on again, just because the progress is so fun to see on an actual foot...Yea so I pretty much wanted to rip my hair out but ended up having to frog everything but the ribbing. I decided on going to my trusty size 2 harmonys and was able to fly thru 4 repeats and now I have an entire sock done. I may have set a world record, or not.... I did this entire sock in four days including the almost losing my hair frogging incident.



















Pattern: Nutkin
Yarn: Koigu KPPPM

March KAL Socks

Finally finished my March Socks... I did all the knitting during the month of March and finished the kitchener toes today. I took some indoor and outdoor pictures. All details on my Ravelry page.

Vesper !

I also got a skein of Vesper sock yarn, which is appropriately named "trick or treat". I may hold out on making a pair of socks until September so they will be ready for plenty of October wear. I really love it..... I really love Halloween...I did get engaged at our Halloween party this past year and will be getting married in October of 09.

Tofutsies

Has anyone made anything (socks) with this yarn?? I got some thru Ravelry swap and so far have not found a pattern to try it on. I hear it is splitty but that doesn't bother me. I am thinking maybe a pair of plain o' vanilla socks.

Easter Bunny ain't got sh*t on me!!

Made some really cute baskets tonite for the kiddies. I have fun buying the cute gifts and packing up the goodies but just really still don't like kids. Oh well... Everyone is getting alot of peeps!! YAY!
I made six baskets, four girly ones and two boys ones. Two year olds are hard to buy for! All those small parts!

Stash Enhancement Xpedition

two skeins of Lorna's Laces Sock in Cool

two skeins of Lorna's Laces Sock in Argyle

two skeins of Lorna's Laces Sock in Tuscany


two skeins of KPPPM in pretty oatmeal with color flecks


one skein of KFM in some pretty blues and browns



one skein of Dream in Color Smooshy, Dusky Aurora

two skeins of Regia Design Line Kaffee Fassett,4253 camel teal blue purple
one skein Noro sock yarn , S188 purple green brown

2 skeins of Rown Cashsoft DK in Cocoa

4 skeins Debbie Bliss Luxury Tweed, Violet @ loop (40% off also, $5.40 a skein)

Yarn Pirate + stash

I really wanted to join the Booty Club for Yarn Pirate but knew I wouldn't be home because I went on a day trip to Philly. It was all good because my stash just grew, alot. Anyway I hinted to Jer that maybe he would sign me up but I he didn't get the memo. I was able just now to take a peek at the site and sign ups were still being taken, so I just signed up. I hope this means there is still a spot open.
YAY

Ps - I will be adding stash to Ravelry, and a mass photo or two here on my blog. Yummy stash!

March Madness Socks

I started a pair of Monkey socks on Sunday afternoon. Here are some progression shots. Day 3 and so far I am one repeat and a toe away from a completed sock.

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Stats:
Pattern:Monkey by Cookie A
Yarn: Opal Neon color 1930
Needles: Size 1 dpns, metal
Mods: Did 5 repeats instead of six, 12 heel flap rows instead of 15 and did not twist stitches when picked up heel/gusset.

I love this pattern alot even though this is only the second time I am making a pair of Monkeys.... These are coming along well. I want to try the purl less version but I don't want to Monkey myself out.

Gotta love cell phone pictures!!