Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays, my friends!! I hope you are all well.

What a busy month! I am very pleased to say that I managed to finish everything that I planned on making and baking. And I say these two things every year too: 1. I'm not going to make gifts anymore and 2. I'm going to start making them earlier. haha! The gifts were all well received and that made me feel very good. Makes all that knitting worth it! The two major items I knit:

Mom and Antarktis
Yarn: Knit Picks Hawthorne in Alameda (the pattern calls for just one skein, but since Hawthorne  has 357 yards per skein, I dipped into a second skein...but overall used 418 yards)

This pattern was gifted to me by the so sweet Andi. I really enjoyed knitting this shawl, and would love to knit myself one!  I really love the garter sections paired with lace. And after blocking, the shawl grew and has such a lovely drape!

Aunt Karla and Nurmilintu 
Yarn: Madelinetosh Merino Light in Black Velvet (used about 377 yards)

This is another shawl I would love to knit myself! The lace sections tripped me up at first. This also has garter + lace ...hmm, I see a theme! I really like this shawl!! very pretty



I have been very busy at work. My co-worker has been on vacation since last Monday, until this coming Tuesday, so I have been working full days to cover her. Today was the first day I was able to pleasure knit!! Dani of Little Bobbins blog and podcast started a Christmas Eve Socks KAL and I've been so eager to cast on!! I decided to use Cakewalk Yarns in Peppermint Bark to knit Madeline Gannon's Evergreen Socks. (The designer is also going to have an Evergreen Socks KAL on Instagram if you're interested!)

oh! I finished this little guy:

little cutie :) he went to live with a friend in Canada :)

I also finished the Sugarplum Fairies socks, but I'll post about them next time! My sock total for the year is 24 pairs! Pretty happy about that!


Are you curious about how Berny and Bruce have been doing?? ;) It seemed like after that horrible week of thinking Bruce had feline leukemia and then hearing the good news, everything would be ok. And it is, sort of. Bruce has since met Berny. They are still adjusting to one another, Berny more so than Bruce. When we first met Bruce, he was so quiet and timid, we thought he would get along with Berny perfectly. As he's grown, his personality has emerged and he's one wild kitten! Very extroverted, LOVES stimulation of all kinds, and is incredibly food motivated (he actually gained too much weight and the vet said he was fat!! oh the horror!! We've been feeding him by dispersing his food in a muffin tin and it slows him down. Has worked wonders!). Berny is basically the complete opposite. She's also gotten accustomed to sleeping all day...

I was able to take this picture one day:

If I don't have a chance to write again before 2015, Happy New Year!! Thank you all so very much for reading my blog, it means an incredible amount to me. May the new year bring you happiness, health, and many good times. 

Love,

Jesse 

Happy November

November 1st! I always like the first day of a new month. I like the literal turning of the calendar, and the idea of a whole month to look forward to is hopeful. I wish the months wouldn't go by so quickly though!

Let's see... since that last time I blogged, I finished the Patronus socks:

Pattern: Blender Socks by Heather Sebastian 
Yarn: Knit Picks Hawthorne, sampler pack of all the colorways
Needles: 2.25 mm 40" circular (magic loop)

This is my 20th pair this year!!!! I met my goal and will hopefully finish a few more pairs before 2015!

I used the Fish Lips Kiss Heel and knit the socks one at a time. I love them!! The colors are amazing and the yarn feels durable yet squishy. For the second sock I only juggled three colors once; I mainly stuck with alternating just two colors and it worked sooo much better. There was less, well, juggling :)

And I have a half-finished object:

Dani of the Little Bobbins podcast started a mitten KAL that I couldn't pass up. The pattern I chose is Just Thumbkin by Diane Lyles. It's a basic mitten pattern that has instructions for three sizes. This is the smallest size, and it's a bit narrow on the hand, even for me. I might have to keep them :)



Progress was made on the following projects:

Fall Socks

Yule Socks for Heather

And Nurmilintu -- I made it past the first lace section! (though it's pretty hard to tell in the photo).

It's been so cold here! The mornings are usually in the low 30s and the highs during the day only reach about 50-60 degrees. Part of me is happy because I've been wearing handknit socks and shawls everyday, but the other part is dreading winter!! I opened my sock drawer and there's a huge gap of missing socks!! (I have about two weeks of unwashed handknit socks waiting for a soak...)

I hope everyone has a fabulous and warm weekend :) x

weekend things

It's so hard to believe that another weekend has passed, and that another month is almost over! We had a few days last week that were in the high 80s-low 90s, and that did not feel very fall-like. But this weekend has been chilly and damp, and with the changing leaves, it's beginning to feel very much like autumn. So much so that I had to cast on some fall socks:

The yarn is from Knit Picks Felici in the colorway Maple Leaves

I wound each skein into pretty little balls that Susan B. Anderson calls Everlasting Gobstopper Yarn Balls. It was fun to do! and I think they look really cute :)


I've knit a lot on Brie's socks. The pattern is Faux Cable Socks by Jen Lucas.

This is our second swap together! I'm keeping the photo in black and white so something will remain a mystery for her (I am really bad at keeping secrets!) :) it's so much fun knitting and putting together a package for a knitting friend! and it's equally fun to wear hand knit items from a friend; I cherish them.


This sock was finished during the weekend:

it's Crazy Zauberball in colorway 1701 Parrot. I decided to use an afterthought heel in order to not disrupt the color flow. My last pair of Crazy Zauberballs has a distinct line where the colors change after the heel, and it kind of drives me nuts! I got the idea from Dani after she knit a pair of Crazy Zauberball socks the same way.

This pair is part of another knitting swap! :)

and probably the most exciting thing that I finished is a super duper old WIP!

Uhhhh, I started it in December 2011... haha!! It's been through at least one house move, saw me graduate from college, and it became insanely jealous when I abandoned it to learn how to knit!

Its purpose was to use up acrylic remnants because I had so. much. acrylic! Picking it up again after years of not crocheting was interesting, but it all came back to me pretty quickly. I am glad the pattern is simple! (it's Lyn's Round Ripple). Ultimately I only added about five rounds before deciding it was finished because I had had enough! I would say it's an oversized lapghan, if such a thing exists :) I am going to gift it to my aunt for Christmas and I think she will like it.

And the rest of the acrylic is going to be donated.



I hope everyone has a great week! x

Socks FO sho!

Happy weekend, friends!

I'm sipping a cup of coffee on the couch while I write this, Scott is playing his new game, Destiny, and Berny is snuggled between us. Today is his birthday! He's planned a game of golf and lunch with his parents, but I think if he could have it his way, he'd continue on playing Destiny all day ;) He is hooked. (I'll join them for lunch but not golf, because I don't play hehe)

I have finished two pairs of socks recently.

Pattern: 64 stitch vanilla pattern with modified Eye of Partridge heel - OAAT
Yarn: Zwerger Garn Opal Hundertwasser in Wintergeist  
Needles: 2.25 mm Hiya Hiya Sharps (looove) 32" circular


I knit on these a lot during our recent vacation, and then they were purse socks after that. I knit the second sock's foot a little longer on accident...it's because I keep changing where I want to start the toe decreases! Sometimes I wait until the sock is past my little toe, sometimes before... inconsistency!

I love Opal!! I've acquired a nice little stash of it and they will all become vanilla socks :)



The second pair I finished just in time for Scott's birthday! I had a heckuva time washing and drying them without him noticing though. I had to be really sneaky :)

Pattern: 72 stitch vanilla pattern with Fish Lips Kiss Heel (toe up!) - TAAT
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Multi Sock in Edgewater
Needles: 2.25 mm Addi Sock Rockets 40" cable


I really, really, really enjoyed knitting with Lorna's Laces! The yarn itself is wonderful, but oh! then the colors!! They kept the interest going :)

That's it from me, I hope you all enjoy your weekend!! x

always socks

Hi friends!

I have been such a polygamous knitter lately, it's kind of driving me nuts because I haven't finished anything! I should add, while I usually have several projects going at the same time, this feels a little out of control. eep!

 

Dad's socks have been receiving more knitting time. They won't be finished in time for Father's Day, but I think I will give them to him anyway. I really want him to try them on so I know how much longer to knit them.

 

Look at the cute Belgian waffle stitch marker I received from Brie!! Cute stitch markers definitely help motivate me in that sea of navy blue :)

  

I also have been knitting on Sue's socks. I think I was still on the leg the last time I posted about them. I have turned the heels on both and have knit a little bit of feet :)

  

An eye of partridge heel is still the prettiest, in my opinion!!

 

I finished one hiking sock! Even though they are short, they are sure taking a long time to knit ;) The cuff and the leg are both one inch long, and then I started the heel flap. The yarn is Patons Kroy but doesn't it look like handspun? 

In my polygamist state, I cast on a new sock. It's Sunday Swing by Kristel Nyberg in Juno Fibre Arts Buffy Sock, colorway Lilac Pool. This is a BFL yarn and super squishy! One thing I have noticed about knitting with BFL (the other time I knit with BFL was with the String Theory Christmas socks) is that while it stretches very well, it doesn't really sproing back, know what I mean? I started this sock 64 stitches on 2.25 mm needles, which is my usual method, but they were too loose. I started over, 64 stitches on 2.00 mm needles and it fits much better. 

 

  

I really love the pattern! I am ready to start the heel :)

One last project: LACE!

  

It will be an Echo Flower shawl (isn't it pretty?) It's for my friend's boss, who was looking for a light something to wear over her dress at her son's wedding. This will be my first full lace project, with lace yarn, and I am a little apprehensive but also very excited about it. My deadline is July 29. eek!


I didn't take a progress photo of Mrs. Weasley's blanket but I finished the first quadrant (36 squares) and have knit about four squares of the second quadrant. I've received a bunch of mini skeins from Instagram friends and am slowly working them in!

little lovelies!!

oh, that little mouse? The sweet Dani made and sent it for Berny!!

(I posted a video of Berny going crazy for it on Instagram! it was so cute. But then she crashed hard, so I took a photo, of course)

Scott is enjoying his new toy, a PS4 !! He traded in an old PS3 plus some games, and that credit was applied towards the purchase. I think it was a great deal. But while he is playing with his toy, I think I will knit!! I haven't been able to knit as much this week because my coworker is gone, which means I've been working full days. I will tell you what, this weekend has been so blissful and leisurely!!!

Hope you are all enjoying your weekends, and Happy Father's Day!!!
xx

sock wips and a confession

Happy Sunday! Though it's only about 36 degrees F, it is incredibly sunny! I tried knitting outdoors but the wind was just a little too spring-filled yet. So I'm typing this while sitting on the floor, my feet in a bright sun beam. It's an okay compromise :)

Today I invested in a retirement plan. It feels good even though I really don't like to think about money. So I am looking forward to the day I can retire, though it seems so far away, but I am more than enjoying my days right now. Anyway, enough about that.

I've been knitting nothing but socks lately!

This is the pair for my dad. They are meant for his birthday (in May) but my brother wants us all to go in on a big present for him. That means, I have until June (!!!) to finish these instead for Father's Day :) I am overjoyed by that news!

I knit more on my swap socks. I think I will start the heel soon. This really is one of my favorite sock knitting methods!!

And I cast on a new pair. The super sweet Vanessa of Lynai Yarns sent me a special anniversary skein. This colorway is based off of a photo I submitted for her one year anniversary colorway contest, and is called Star Trails. As soon as I had a pair of socks off the needles, these went on.

That pattern is Honey Badger by Irishgirlieknits, and I will use a Fish Lips Kiss heel. This pattern is obscured a bit by the colors, but I think once it's on the foot and stretched a little it will show better. It is a great pattern and I am obsessed with knitting on these!!


I mentioned a finished pair:

Yay! The yarn is Knit Picks Felici in High Tide. This is my ninth pair this year... however, they are too big for me! I had a feeling they might be, but kept knitting anyway. Instead of frogging the toes and part of the foot, I am going to gift them to my sister-in-law. She's not going to read this but someone else who knows her might ... (Abbey, shhhhh!!!)


I've been happily and feverishly knitting on socks because in just a little bit a box of yarn is going to arrive, and then I will have to change gears and knit baby things. On this blog, I try very hard to be neutral on topics that I know are controversial, or I don't even voice my opinion. That said, I know I am going to receive backlash by the following statement, but I don't care. Here it is:

I don't like knitting baby things!!!!!!!

hehe. I think baby things are cute; teeny tiny cardis and lacy little dresses make me squee. And I know knitters who primarily knit baby things and that is wonderful. But it's so difficult for me to justify time it takes to knit the item versus time worn. The practical woman in me almost always wins. With that, I have about four expecting women in my life, and I can't not knit them something. The usual bypass to my baby knitting problem is to make blankets. Those I am on board with. However, there is no way I can knit four baby blankets in the following months. I have a few other ideas instead. As soon as the yarn arrives I will start and then share my projects :)


I hope everyone has a fabulous week ahead xx

Tonight is Scotch whiskey and a Psych marathon...doesn't get much better!

I have gotten such a great response to my 2014 sock list! It's really awesome hearing from others, and it sounds like there are quite a few who will be planning their own list :) that said...I have already changed February's pattern. At this moment (haha!), it is no longer True Love by Chrissy Gardiner but Monkey by Cookie A, another pattern that I really love.

Lately I have been working on this lovely sock:



It is my first Crazy Zauberball and I LOVE it! The colors are amazing!! I am also knitting this pair one at a time, another first for me. The main reason for this choice is because I love how the yarn is already wound! If I knit them two at a time, I would have to rewind. Another reason is I have been very curious about what it feels like to knit just one sock by itself. And I'm enjoying it so much!!




There is some relief in reaching the end of a row and knowing I just turn and keep knitting, no second sock to worry about. One sock seems so much more portable too. I am not worried about having second sock syndrome...this yarn is so pretty and I am loving the mindless knitting.




I am still (slowly) working on the Weasley Homestead socks:




Last week I was just working on the heel flaps and now I am about two-three inches away from decreasing the toes:




My third WIP is a cross stitch project!



It is the Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery's Once Upon a Time Sampler!!! eeeee! It is a year long mystery pattern, with a new part of the sampler released once a month! And it's fairy tale themed! ♥ ♥ ♥




I am not very far along, I have worked a little bit of the inner grids, and am now stitching the top part of the border. Then I will stitch January's little section and border! seriously so excited...I love fairy tales!


Last postI mentioned my second finished object of 2014, which is a Great Divide Shawl. Finally, photos!


 

Ravelry page
Yarn: madelinetosh dk in Robin's Egg and Black Currant
Needles: US 8
Modifications: none! well, I did run out of my main color during the final garter edge, so I finished knitting it with the contrast color.




I love this pattern! I love wearing this shawl! It is so cozy and squishy. Every time I wear it I receive compliments. love love love!


Enjoy your week, my friends!
xx



ETA: flickr is changing some things, and for the past two posts when I shared a photo, you would see the iframe...and it was driving me nuts!!! I figured out how to post just the photo and not the iframe. Thanks for bearing with me!!  xx

2014: a year in socks

Happy New Year!! I hope it has been treating all of you very well. So far my January has been very inspiring and hopeful. I hope I can make it last! :)

Right now I am knitting Weasley Homestead socks by Erica Lueder:


The yarn is stuff I handdyed with Kool-aid! I am really pleased with how these are knitting up; I wasn't too sure on the color at first, but the colors combined with the pattern.......ooooooh!


Since the new year began, I have finished two objects. yeah!!



Pattern: Afterthought Heels by Laura Linneman
Yarn: String Theory Colorworks Tachyon Self Striping in Helix Nebula
Needles: Magic loop on 2.25 mm 40" cable
Cast on: December 23, 2013

Learning to make an afterthought heel has been in my to do list for quite some time. I love when all the stripes line up. And these were soooo easy to do! Very eye-pleasing with not a lot of effort :)


My second FO is currently blocking; it is a Great Divide shawl. I started it in September 2013, so it feels awesome having it completed. I will take photos as soon as possible!! I already know I love it. I knit it with Madeline Tosh dk...... ♥ ♥ ♥


Have you heard about the Knitting Resolutions KAL that My Sister's Knitter is hosting??

via My Sister's Knitter

Firstly, these are the best KALs I've ever participated in. Andi is an awesome host, and the Ravelry group is full of the most supportive crafters :) and secondly, all of the KALs have been very inspiring!

so, my goals:

1. Knit 13 pairs of socks
2. Knit up more stashed yarn, including handspun!
3. Learn to Navajo ply
4. Buy a darning egg and fix that white pair of socks
5. Organize craft room
6. Frog Rockefeller, reskein and wash yarn ... I will never wear this shawl
7. Knit mom an afghan
8. Knit dad a pair of socks
9. Finish WIPs, I think I have about four
10. Read 50 books

there are several more, but they are pretty unrelated to this blog so I won't mention them :)

 

To help knit thirteen pairs of socks, I spent my morning organizing and going through both my Ravelry library and queue, combing patterns I have been dying to knit. I really want to knit new patterns this year. There is nothing wrong with Hermione's Everyday socks, but they are my go to pattern when I don't know what to knit, and I would like more variety!! hehe :)

I created a 2014 tab in my queue with eleven sock patterns (ideally one per month!):

January: is my current WIP, Weasley Homestead
February: True Love by Chrissy Gardiner
March: Shur'tugal by Alice Yu
April: Cadence Socks by verybusymonkey  (I want to try this pattern again since I frogged my first try)
May: School Pick Up Line Socks by Lisa Beth Houchins 
June: (open)
July: Devil's Snare Socks by Erica Lueder
August: Waving Lace Socks by Evelyn A. Clark
September: Merripog Socks by Jennifer Hagan
October: Boo! Toe-Up Socks by Emily B. Miller
November: "Little Pumpkins" Socks by Sabine Ruppert
December: On-Hold Socks by Wendy D. Johnson
floating socks (that I might work on between other sock patterns):  another stripey pair of AfterThought Heel Socks by Laura Linneman. and there will more than likely be Hermione's too...because I can't help myself

The above photo are skeins I would like to knit into socks this year, and many of them have been "assigned" to a monthly sock pattern. I am sure there will be changes to this list during the year; I will really just use it as a guideline. But I am already looking forward to all of these patterns...some have been in my queue for years!! It feels really good to have a plan for them finally :)

I really hope planning a year's worth of socks pays off! It will give me something to look forward to each month. It will help use up stash. It forces me to use patterns I've been collecting...and ogling :) 

that's it from me, I hope everyone has a wonderful week!! xx