SOCK WARS

Yarn Monkey has started Sock Wars - winner gets some nice swag, everyone gets a pair of socks. Here are the rules:

1. The first rule of Sock Wars is, you must talk about Sock Wars
2. The second rule of Sock Wars is, you MUST talk about Sock Wars.
3. Two socks to a fight
4. One fight at a time
5. No shirts, no shoes, just socks
6. Fights will go on as long as they have to
7. If this is your first time in Sock Wars, you have to fight.

For more details go see Yarn Monkey

Skacel is thinking of making sharper Addi Turbos if there is demand for them. For details go see Grumperina, she has a letter posted from Skacel discussing this issue, and the letter she sent them. They apparently didn't know that some people believe the needles have dull tips.

Purse update

I felted the swatch, some of the pattern stitches are difficult to see. It may be due to some tension issues, purling in stranded knitting was giving me some issues. The long strands at the back, also distorted the shape, but after trimming these strands the swatch behaved better. The swatch went through the washing machine twice. For the purse I figure I can duplicate stich any potential problem areas, and give it a good look after the first trip in the washing machine. If it needs any more touchups I can do it at that time. I was concerned about the white yarn not felting, but it didn't have a problem.

I'll add photos once blogger starts to behave.

ETA: After 3 attempts over the course of the day - I added the pictures. The purse is moved along farther now.

Shopping bags and socks

Well as promised yesterday, I have some knitting to show you. In order of the projects being finished.

Chevron Ribbed Socks.

Pattern: Adapted from Sensational Knitted Socks (added more stitches to the pattern repeat) 64 sts total
Needles: 2.75 mm bamboo needles
Yarn: Silja Strompegarn 80% superwash wool, 20% nylon
Other notes: I really like the combination of ribbing with the chevrons. When the socks are flat, the purl stitches disappear, but stretch the socks, and there they are.
Heel: I used the short row heel, something I rarely do, but wanted to try it again.

Hemp Shopping Bag

I started this project back in March and last week got the yarn to finish this project.
Yarn: Hemp for Knitting DK weight, colour Sapphire 2 skeins
Needles: 4.5 mm
Pattern: my own

A day lily from the garden.

Swatches

This is the swatching I have been doing for the SIL purse. The brown Quebecoise 2 ply wool and the cream is stuff I acquired froms Sarah's stash






I need to felt the swatch to make sure that a) the cream will felt b) they will felt similarly. I also need to make sure that the design will be noticeable and look good after felting. The purse is designed to have several motifs, so if I need to tweak, I need to do it before I cast on etc.


Here is a "weed" in my garden the Helleborine orchid which is currently the only non native naturalized orchid in Ontario.



I have some more knitting done, although I need to take some pictures.

LYS trip

I went into my LYS (Cloth and Clay) today. I needed to get a skein of hemp to finish this project. (This is one of my SOS exceptions). I hadn't been in there since December (seeing as I wasn't living here until after the SOS started it hasn't been that long). They have a nice selection of beautiful yarns. They had a couple of papers at the checkout about the KW knitters guild, I mentioned that I would be interesting in joining, and it was too bad they only meet from Sept to May. The owner told me that the founder of the guild is none other than Sally Melville, another local knitter who attends the guild meetings is Debbie New.

My other exception for the summer of stash is yarn for a purse for my SIL, this is what I have so far.

I purchased some yarn in January, I picked up more yarn from Sarah so I just need to swatch to see if the yarns I have will work together and give the effect that I want.

Another is brought into the fold

Just over a year ago I corrupted taught my sister, Sarah, how to knit. She is a fearless knitter, not afraid to try new things. On Friday, she told me she has started a blog with her friend Vicky, however she wasn't telling anyone until she has an archive built up. So it in the spirit of all sisters go over to Needle Rich Yarn Poor to say hi.

Only one sister, Emily, left to bring over. She is resisting the idea, it is not a cool enough for her and is embarrassed that her sister knits in school (they are both in high school).

Chevron Ribbed Socks

The chevron ribbed sock reclines on a piece of "driftwood." A potential mate that is not developed yet sits in the background.


The colours are pretty good in this photo, bright yellow, red, dark green and dark blue.

It is based on a stitch pattern in Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch. The yarn is Silja Sock yarn




For photos of the kayaking trip, geocaching and Toronto go see Jenni.

Kayaking, sweaters and more

Went kayaking this weekend on the Grand River as my camera is tempermental and as I do not have a waterproof container, I do not have photos. However the wildlife list that we saw was fabulous, including Great Blue Herons (lots), Red Wing Blackbird nests (x2), plus I saw some interesting places to hike to. We also did some local geocaching, and we found two while we were out on the water.

Remember this knitting project:



Samus is finished!!!!!


Pattern specs:
Samus from Knitty (did you see the new issue is up)
Needles: 5mm Addi Turbos and some bamboo dpns
Yarn: Cascade 220 (colour is more accurate in the top photo)
Alterations: I added waist shaping and have left off the zipper. I have a zipper I might put in at a later date, but I like this the way it currently is.
Other entries on this project: here and here

I have started (well I'm half done) a new pair of socks. Which the camera ate the picture (it was on the screen and when I went to download them - gone). I'll set them up for another picture tomorrow.

and to finish it with a sky photo