Blogland Redux

So it has been forever since I have posted to the blog and there is a huge back log of finished knits to rave about. It is a daunting task so I have decided that I might as well start with the most recent and show you some older projects as time allows.
I am finally working again so there is somewhat less time for blogging and knitting. I'm sure you can guess which activity takes precedence.
Hubby asked me to knit some socks for his dad's birthday a couple weeks ago. He came with me to Twisted and we picked out a skein of yarn with a LOT of yardage as his dad wear size 13 wide.
I knit Holidazed again because it is a fabulous pattern that seems to be very forgiving in the fit department and also wonderful to knit.
These are the biggest socks I have ever made.

Pattern: Holidazed by Anne Hanson
Needles: US 1.5, 2.25mm
Yarn: Punta Yarns Merisock Handpainted, also some Shibuiknits Sock in Ink for contrasting heel and toe.

This skein of sock yarn was an incredible 463 yards and I had some left over, maybe even enough for the heels and toes but I think the contrast worked out nicely.

Recession Stash Bust 2009-Episode 2

I thought I better get some decent pictures before I stretch it all out. I have been wearing it every chance I get. It is so soft and snuggly and the color is so much fun!

Pattern: Wicked
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy in Ruby River

I bought this yarn over a year ago at a store closing sale. I'm almost done with my second sweater from stash yarn this year. I'm so glad I stocked up when I could. More info here for Ravelry users.

Recession Stash Bust 2009-Episode 1

These were actually began before I was laid off but as they are made entirely of leftover bits of sock yarn in the stash they qualify. They are as ridiculously crazy as expected and I can hardly wait until it is cold enough to wear them out.
The pictures are not great as it is difficult to photograph knee socks on oneself and I did not want to interrupt the tireless job searching efforts of M for fear that I may be knitting in a cardboard box some day not so distant.


I started off recording what all the bits of yarn were. I think I have all from the left sock but lost interest and/or wasn't sure about some in the right. The cool thing is I can look at these and remember so many sock projects, mostly for other people. It's like a time capsule of sock knitting that I can wear. Thank Goddess for the stash! I'm off to work on Episode #2. If you have access to Ravelry more details can be found here.

Spring (Baby) Showers part I

So, I lost my job rather unexpectedly a few weeks ago and though I've had quite a bit of spare time on my hands I just did not feel like blogging. It took me a couple weeks just to get my knitting mojo back. I have been keeping busy: weeding, planting, pruning, building a new and improved raised bed for veggies, cleaning and organizing the house. I went foraging in the woods for mushrooms and native plants which was especially therapeutic.

My dogs, as you can imagine, are thrilled to have me home. Though the spring weather is hit and miss, they are getting much more regular exercise outside the yard and I am able to spend more time reinforcing good behaviors :).


Fortunately it is raining more than water this Spring. Two important baby showers imposed some much needed deadlines for my languishing knitting projects.
Two of my momma friends are due exactly two days apart, so we had a joint day of celebration and blessing for them. Luckily the weather cooperated and we were able to be outside for messy belly casting and henna decorating of their fecund forms. It was really a wonderful time. Both moms were grateful for the absence of humiliating and idiotic baby shower games and instead we shared good food, good company and the love and support of friends.
Suffice it to say when the husbands came by later they had some choice words to describe our festivities, 'hippy' being one of the least egregious. Some activities are just better off voluntarily gender segregated I guess. We had fun and that's what counts!


Here is one of the baby sweaters I made. It is a very simple cardigan pattern to which I added the skull and crossbones for some tough guy flair (it's a boy). If you are on Ravelry, you can check it out here.


And some very masculine camo baby socks. You may remember the adult version in this yarn. These baby sock blockers are just about the most painfully cute things ever. I keep knitting baby socks so I have an excuse to use them. I bought them at Twisted and they are fantastic!


Here is the second sweater (you can see one of the second pair of booties in the corner there, not sure if I ever got a picture of those together). It is the same cardigan but plain blue with turtle buttons. The buttons actually ended up spread out much more on the sweater but I think I failed to get a final photo of that too. These turtle buttons called to me and at the shower I discovered that turtles were very significant to the recipient and her husband and they share matching turtle tattoos with each others initials. How cute! What serendipity! (or dumb luck depending on your disposition).


On a completely unrelated note, I finished my Rogue Roses socks and took some crappy photos of them. They really are nice. I look forward to sporting them with a skirt in the evenings this summer.


So now I really need to get back to some flying sticks and yarn as I try to finish another sweater for a baby shower this upcoming weekend.

Monkey in Paradise

This and That

Most of my recent knitting is still top secret but I have a pair of small FOs to show.
Clay's Motorcycle Cowl-finally finished and blocked. I'm still hoping for a photo shoot on the bike but took some photos just in case.

Gratuitous Pedro photo just cause.....

A barely finished in time to photograph in daylight birthday gift for my friend Clare.
Pattern: Mineco
Needles: US 8
Yarn: Red Heart Eco Cotton

I really like the way it turned out. I'm normally NOT a cotton girl but I was so intrigued by the recycled (truly/post-consumer) yarn that I had to give it a go. It was a very nice, economical and eco friendly gift project. I love the texture of it and the drape (not sure if that is only in reference to garments).

I made my own gift bag again and my sewing is ehrr.. improving. Maybe someday I will take a class, and get an ironing board and..no probably not..we'll see.

Queen of Beads

I couldn't help myself. I absolutely had to sign up for the Rockin' Sock Club again this year. I decided that to justify the expense to myself I needed to make a more concerted effort to actually knit the kits as they arrived rather than fondling them lovingly and adding to the stash.
Luckily for me the first kit of the year was beautiful and also constructed in a cuff down manner, mostly familiar to me and without frustration.
I did learn a new cast on (tubular) and knit for the first time with beads (love it!).

Pattern: Queen of Beads by Sivia Harding for BMFA 2009 World Sock Domination Tour
Yarn: BMFA Lightweight Socks that Rock in 'My Blue Heaven'
Needles: US 1, 2.25 mm
Size: Large with minor mods, decreased foot after gusset to 32 sts.

Reconstruction

Maybe I was feeling a tad guilty after the extreme stash enhancement on Saturday at the Blue Moon De-Stash Barn Sale

Or maybe I was just inspired when my kind husband had only supportive things to say when I came home with three more bags of yarn.

And offered to help photograph the newest FOs

Without so much as a joke about the newest 'cowl craze'

But I took his suggestion to finish my blanket and ran with it.

The deconstruction (damaged section only :) is complete and the blanket is back on the needles.

Turkey Weekend Knits

One Christmas gift finished and blocked. You can't quite see it in this photo but it is some of that yarn with strands of silver in it..very sparkly and festivus.

A prototype cowl for another gift (might keep the prototype for myself:)

Another tasty and fun gathering of friends that have become like family!

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend!

Painfully Cute

Why are miniature things so damned cute? I've always been a total sap for them. As I knit these, I was overwhelmed by their cuteness. I have 4 pregnant friends (Geesh! Anyone ever heard of overpopulation?) Anyhoo, I'm taking the opportunity to use up all the little leftover balls of sock yarn rolling around my house. Cute, cute, cute! I can hardly stand it!

Fetchings for Leisl

Happy Birthday to Leisl!

A new plant blooming in the garden

Distractions/ .5 FO

I was hoping to have an entire finished object to show after the 3 day weekend.

I stalled out on the first sleeve of the February Lady Sweater. I ran out of yarn and this brief (but valid) distraction was enough to take me off on the following tangent:

Pattern: Bird in Hand by Kate Gilbert
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted merino in Verde Esperanza and Lettuce
Needles: US 2

It is beautiful and fits pretty well. It is so thick I am having a hard time imagining ever needing them in Portland. Also, the gauge is a killer, I might need to give my hands a rest and get back to that lacy sweater for a bit.

Then again, I have a birthday party to attend next weekend, maybe I should whip up a quick pair of Fetching for a gift.

Miscellaneous Weekend Post

A new garden sentinel. His mushroom is a solar powered light!

A finished pair of socks!

The next sock to be ready to go

Garden Frolicking

A new project

My sock drawer is getting full and very colorful!

Still Fitting...

OK, so sorry, still no pics but I have made progress on the sweater and tried it on again last night and it is still fitting! I am so happy about the latter I cannot even tell you.
The pattern calls for 2X2 ribbing for the collar, cuffs and hemline. I would like to do something a bit more interesting...any suggestions?
I suppose a picture would aid the brainstorming eh?

Waving Lace Socks for Mom

Waving Lace Socks for Mom, originally uploaded by Courtney Knits.

So, terrible picture (see the nursing school scrub top as background) but here they are. I mailed them off to mom yesterday. They knit up really fast and I had plenty of yarn left over.

I included a couple Cedar balls as the socks I made her for Christmas 2 years ago were riddled with moth holes (it gave me nightmares just thinking about it).

I will have better photos with the lace stretched out once she tries them on (I didn't want to stretch them out on my giant size 11 feet).

Great pattern! I have come to expect no less from Evelyn Clark!

Back in Action

I'm back to the needles. I am only working on current, unfinished projects.
I visited the Naked Sheep today and purchased nothing. The stash is disturbingly large and I expect it to come to life any day now and swallow me whole.
Anyway, I have a few projects, finished in January that I finally got around to photographing yesterday.


Warm, double stranded hats for myself and the hubby for cold bus commuting mornings. Both yarns were cashmere wool blends that were leftovers in the stash. More details on Ravelry.

Rainbow Skull coffee cozy. I have been using this guy quite a bit so it is fuzzy. I buy coffee at work pretty often and often forget my cup and have to use paper. I thought at least if I carried this in my purse I could reduce my waste by not needing the cardboard cozies that protect your hand from the hot cup. It works well and I get lots of comments on it!
Once again, leftover Cascade 220 and Noro scraps, felted.


Finally my Glazed Carrot armwarmers. I made these before I went to Wisconsin and they definitely came in handy. If I were to do them over I might add a real tipless thumb but overall I am very happy with this improvised pattern. The yarn is Malabrigo worsted which is dreamy to knit and I picked the cable pattern out of one of the harmony stitch guides.
P.S. There really are two of these but no one was home to model them for me.