Socktoberfest

Well October is almost finished and I managed to finish one pair, start a second pair and knit a pair of baby booties and . However I really didn't devote much knitting time this month to the socks. The charcoal ribbed socks are languishing - I should have listen to this yarn it wasn't ready to be knitted yet and I am paying the price. This is how the sock is behaving - I decided my gauge was too loos and I ripped out the couple of inches that I had started with, it then took me about 1 day to cast on. I kept casting on either the completely wrong number of stitches or screwing up the cast on in other ways (dropping stitches several on row 1). I then knit to the heel flap and decided I didn't like the pattern so out it came. I am currently satisfied with the sock although I realize that something dreadfully wrong may occur at any moment. Oh yeah I also lost a needle last weeked it was either left at the Poconos or is in the car somewhere.


Here are a few more pics of Keeper.


I have a coat for him, but haven't purchased the wool yet for his sweater. He will wear his coat, the first night we got him we put his coat on for a walk and 1/2 through the walk I began to wonder if he would do his business with it on (he hadn't yet). I took the coat off and within a few minutes he started marking his territory. I had heard that some male dogs don't like to pee with anything on their tummies (makes sense to me). However Sunday morning it was cold and it was time for a walk so I put on his coat (I figured I could take it off part way through the walk) and he happily did his business with the coat on. This bodes well for the winter (when he may get booties to wear as well).

Stashed with: socks, knitting, Keeper

Trellis Scarf

Last week I started the Trellis Scarf from IK Spring '06 designed by Evelyn A. Clark. I am knitting it in Misti Alpaca in Melange Forest. The pattern calls for 3.75 mm (US5) needles however when I started this I looked at the yarn and realized that there was no way that was going to work. I cast on instead with 3.25 mm (US3) needles and my gauge is still off but it is a scarf. For some reason with this pattern it requires my complete concentration. I don't think there is anything difficult with it I just can't seem to knit it without the pattern by my side and stitch markers at every repeat. This dependence on markers is a pain as they move twice in the 16 row repeat.

There have been requests for more photos of Keeper. There is something that needs to be said about greyhounds though, they sleep a lot with just a few short bursts of energy (which I never have the camera ready for). So here is a couple pics that I snapped of him sleeping.

Stashed with: trellis, lace, knitting, Keeper

Keeper

Ali and I have adopted a retired racing greyhound named Keeper. He ran 69 races under the name KL Rambo's Matt, and is now very content to sleep on his bed. He is a healthy 3.5 year old dog, that had past his peak so was retired. Greyhounds live for 12-14 years so Keeper will have a long retired life.


or to play with his stuffed Tessa Owl


We adopted him from Greyhounds in Need of Adoption. He spent his racing career in Florida so I will have to knit him a coat for winter. Can you believe that there was no yarn at Rhinebeck - I wanted a heavier - aran or worsted Superwash wool and didn't see any suitable for a dog sweater.

Stashed with: Keeper

Rhinebeck weekend

This past weekend there were two events that Ali and myself like to go to. The first is the World Tang Soo Do Region #8 championships. It is held at Fernwood Resort in Pennsylvania. I will let him tell you about this. The second event is the New York Sheep and Wool festival or as it is called around the blogosphere "Rhinebeck".
On Sunday we drove from the Poconos to Rhinebeck and met up with Wily Jeneric and Priscilla for some fiber shoppping. Since we are very bad bloggers there are very few photos and they are all over at Wiley Jeneric's. People who went on Saturday complained about the crowd which is the advantage of going on Sunday. The place was busy but you could easily move around and lines were not long. The downfall is some of the yarns are sold out. I purchased some copper mordant for some dyeing that I am planning on.

I did not fill my Bingo card, I did meet some bloggers who were squares but most of these people were not on my card. Oh well. I met two or three people who I was on their card. So people were playing. Thanks to Stitchy for organizing this.

I have some other updates to make later in the week.



Stashed with: Rhinebeck, fiber-fest, bingo

Dale Lady Bug Sweater

(Warning to those on slow connections - this is a photo laden post)

Priscilla was the closest with guessing a sweater, however this sweater is not for me but for Baby Jeneric

I was knitting the Dale Lady Bug Sweater that I received as a kit in the spring from Spin Blessing. To be fully honest with my readers, I have been knitting in secret since the summer. That is why some weeks I seemed to have done no knitting. Just to give you a photo essay on this sweater.















Project details
Yarn: Dale Baby Ull in colours Spring Green (#8523), Bright Turquoise (#6714), Yellow (#2317), Tomato Red (#3718), Deep Blue (#5545), Deep Lavendar (#5135) and Charcoal (#0083). Baby Ull is an incredibly soft superwash, although a little splitty. I will use it again
Needles: 2.75 mm circ and dpns, and 2.25 mm for the facings
Pattern: The Marihone in Dalegarn 152

Stashed with: knitting, colourwork, lady-bug-sweater

What am I knitting? Part 2

There was a couple of guesses but no one got it, so here is another hint to keep you busy while I am at Rhinebeck.



Also if you are looking for me at Rhinebeck, here is a pic from last year at Christmas with the wonderful gift I got from Ali.


Stashed with: bingo, knitting

What am I knitting? Part 1

I need a new project, any one care to guess what it is?