Wow! Its been a while!

 I haven't been very good at posting things I'm working on lately. Mostly its because there are limitations in using the iPhone Blogger app and I didn't want to use up data by posting via the Mac. Now that our data limits are lifted I would prefer to update via the Mac. I have several items I need to enter into my Ravely projects and to blog about here.

First of all, let me update my Carnival Houdini socks. I have finished them and then they sat waiting to be washed and dried. I had several skeins of yarn I had spun as well as socks and shawls, scarves to wash and I finally did it all last week. I like the fit of these but not sure I will be doing this process again. I'm just not sure I like the look of where you knit up from the footprint. I do think my next pair of socks will be done using an afterthought heel as I have not done that yet. 

I also finished the dishcloth I was doing for my DD with the raindrops pattern. I have another ball of yarn and am looking for a different pattern to use. 

I also finished my weaving sample, cut it off the loom and then washed and dried it. After it was dry I tied the fringe on the edge with a simple overhand knot. I need to learn to hemstitch I think. I like the pattern, it was a type of waffle stitch using pick up sticks done on my Cricket loom. After washing it measures 6.5" x 6" not including the fringe. Its 6.5"x9" including the fringe. I like the stitch pattern, I like the yarn. With only a 10" weaving width I'm guessing I can't get dishtowels, but I believe I could make something useful other than scarves.

Another thing I have been working on this summer is a Summer Solstice Mystery Shawl by Wendy D. Johnson. This is a lace shawl that was released in sections starting on June 20th. It is a crescent shaped shawl and I really love it! It was fun to knit. I think I will start knitting some more shawls of other shapes rather than triangle.  I have a few pics in process and then finished. It helps to have a light colored couch! 

The pattern called for 420 yards/100 gms. I had 15 grams left over. I did the shawl as written except it had optional 5 stitch or 3 stitch nupps. I did not do the nupps and I did not do any pattern repeats. It looks very nice on and sits well on the shoulders. My shawl pin looks really nice as well.

I had picked up one of my drop spindles, the resin Mother of Pearl looking on by Butterfly Girl and had continued spinning some fiber I purchased at DFW Fiber Fest back in 2010. Its a lovely soft mix of several fibers that drafts wonderfully and has been spinning very fine on this wonderful spindle.

I am knitting socks also. I started a pair of Waterfall Socks by Wendy D. Johnson as toe up socks. The yarn is some lovely sock yarn that I cannot remember the fiber content. I purchased this yarn from Mary Berry at Fancy Fibers Farms. It was an oatmeal color and I used some acid dye and dyed them a lovely dark purple.

I guess thats enough for now. Sorry for the photo overload, I figured I would get these up and then try to blog as I go along. I'm still mad at the Soay Cardi, but I will be getting it out of time out soon and ripping out the sleeves and doing them again. I'll probably do them at the same time so they come out even. Pics of that then. Until next time, thanks for reading!

Quick Houdini Update

I've just finished picking up stitches and opening up the footprint. Before I go down to the garden I wanted to show these really quick.

Now a little weaving!

I didn't post anything on weaving yet. I got some cotton yarn last week and am experimenting in weaving dishcloths. So far this is what I have. I'll weave one in plain weave and then wash them and see how they look!

Houdini Update

Houdini footprints done! Now for the scary part. I will pick up stitches on each footprint and then cut my knitting open to knit upwards for the leg. Wish me luck!

Dishcloths!

So I'm mad at my Soay Cardi... I got close to finishing the 2nd sleeve and find they are different lengths! Ugh! Don't know if I'm going to rip them out and start over or try to adjust the second sleeve. I'm punishing it by putting it in time out. So.... Just having the socks to work on isn't enough and I started dishcloths yesterday. DD asked for some and I saw this pink and white cotton yarn in sale. Cute pattern huh? It's called Raindrop by Lily Sugar and Cream website.

Houdini Socks Update

Starting the decreases for the toe/heel in the footprint for the Houdini Socks. Once I close the end up I'll take step by step pics of the process to pick up stitches and open the footprint to knit the leg.

Soay Cardi Update

I have finished the first sleeve and am picking up stitches for the other one. I am running out of the variegated yarn and had to search on Ravelry for one to buy. It should be on its way to me. Will probably need less than half the skein. Oh well. Houdini socks coming along well, have about 2.5" done so far. Pics of that later.

Carnival Houdini Socks

I'm calling these Carnival Houdini Socks because of the festive colorway of this yarn. I'm using Regia 4 ply sock yarn in a bright colorway. I can't find the name of the color on the wrapper. Most of its in German. :) So its a Houdini sock because you knit a footprint that is closed on both ends. One end is a toe and the other becomes the heel. Then you slide your needle through stitches on two rows leaving one row between. Then you cut that row and knit the leg up from that. It sounded fun so I'm looking forward to it. I've cast on the toe and finished the increases. I haven't decided what pattern to use on the leg. Maybe something from socks a la cart. We will see how this works.

On the other hand, I'm still working in the Soay Cardi. I'm working on one sleeve and going to see if I have enough yarn. I may need to search out a skein if the variegated one. :)

Winging It Socks Done!

Wow! Love these socks. Due to the pattern in the yarn I did not use any pattern stitches but the yarn pattern is lovely. I used a 1x1 rib for the cuff and Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off. Very comfortable, and the fit is perfect.

Now it's back to the Soay Cardi before starting new socks. Next socks will be Houdini socks with a leg pattern to be determined.

Soay Cardi progress is the fronts are done, working on the back now. After that it's bind off the shoulders, pick up sleeves and then the button bands. Should go fast now.

Winging It Update

Loving these socks! I'll be making lots of socks!!!

Winging It Sock Update

They are just flying along. Sometimes it's good to work on something that is simple as a break from more complicated projects. Plus I have LOTS of sock yarn. :)

Winging It Socks

I'm starting some new socks. I've wanted to use this yarn for a while that I got from my friend Amanda Truan. It was during one of her destash sessions. I am not using a pattern, hence the winging it. I didn't want to use any pattern stitches because the color changes will make a great pattern. I did not do a swatch with my 00 addi turbo circular needles so I will just have to try on the toe cup to see how much to increase. I love the gusset heel that Wilma Becker uses so I will use that heel. I'm also doing two at a time which is my preferred method. I did make an effort to match up the color repeat so these should be fairly close to matching. I only did that because I only had to sacrifice about 18" of yarn. This yarn is Maxim Prints and is very soft. It is 80% Lana Merino Superwash and 20% nylon. As I said, very soft. No matter how many projects I have going I have to have socks. This will be very portable as they don't have a pattern to concentrate on.

Tree Frog Socks Done!!!

Finished my socks today! Yay! I got bogged down on the leg part of the right sock due to the spiral pattern. They are not anatomically left and right but rather spiral one way or another. Anyway, they fit well. Now just need wet finished. On to the next one!

Tree Frog Update

Got out my Tree Frog socks today to work on. I've finally finished the leg and have turned the heel. Now I'm working my way down the foot. It's much easier now. I think it will go fast now.

Soay Cardi Update

I finished the ribbing and started with the Lavendar variegated yarn last night. This is also the beginning of the lace pattern in the body. This would be a great pattern for someone who is new to lace but has some knitting experience because the lace is only in the front. It's the first 31 stitches. The rest is all stockinette.

Soay Cardi Progress

I didn't work in the cardi over the weekend. Too tired after our hiking adventure in Saturday! Anyway, this is my progress to date. I'm almost done with the lace rows. This is also the decrease rows at the side seams. I'm loving how this is knitting up. I have this yarn in white and pale green and I may make them up using this pattern.

Purple Soay Sweater

I've started a new short cardi. The pattern is on Ravelry by The Shetland Trader. I'm using Paton's Grace cotton yarn in both Viola and Lavender variegated color ways. The ribbing and button band will be solid and the body and sleeves will be variegated.