Through round 4

I've finished up another pair between rounds, these cute colorwork socks.

Traditional Stitch Motif Socks, which I like to call OrangeWheel Slice socks.

And then these lovely High Button Socks for Round 4.  Still in the cometition!  We're down to 18 per team and we're waiting on some slower teams to continue. 

So, I'm working on a couple shawls, painting rooms and furniture, learning to spin... More on that later. And entered into the Sock Competition that will start on June 1, Tour de Sock where monies go to Doctors without borders.  Very cool and progressive patterns too!  Keep the stashbusting going, eh? 

Oh!  And I finished this really cute colorwork bag!  Very enjoyable mystery kal during May.

Steeks will be in June.  Yay for new techniques and cutting knitting...intentionally.

Optional round

We usually get a freebie round. It gives the moderators a chance to catch their breath. It's just that, totally optional, and we can even modify the pattern to our liking. I did no such thing, alough I am considering gifting them to larger feet than I... So I might rip the toes and knit another rose motif for the receiver, since they kinda fit me perfectly!

I feel the need to share this one. :)
Next pattern specs around May 8, so I got a little time to change them, spackel a room, knit something else... Like a test knit!

Rose Water by Heatherly Walker

Between competition

Socks between the socks? Sounds great to me! Lol
Here's a pair that sorta revolves around my bro and sister in law, because they provided 2 of the 3 yarns (the orange and the super dark green) and then I used the white in some sweet uke socks for Charles. So, these are all leftovers too, but they just sang together in this pattern, so, here we are!

Pattern is called Traditional Stitch Motifs Estonia, my title? Orange Wheel Slices.

I'm also working on the first sanding in the studio room, a shawl, and a beaded stole. So, plenty to alternate on while I wait for the next Madness pair. I have a strong feeling the next pair will be optional, there is one round of "breather" in the competition, and I have a feeling it'll be one of them with buttons... But will it have the zippers? The optional round is just that. Optional. One can knit it or not, there will be a designated window for completion, and noone will be eliminated.

Cheers!

Round 3, Completed.

Only a few hours over 2 days! I wanted under 48 hours... Snap! Almost. Soon maybe.
These were challenging and required some fierce focus, but I had no major problems as other knitters have gotten really confused along the way.

I think I'm about number 5 of the 26 that move on in my team. The fastest team has 13 done already! Woosh!

Greenhouse Socks by Swedish designer, Anita Grahn
I knitted them in Dream in Clor Smooshy and am quite glad these are shorter socks, so I can knit with the same yarn some more! I have quite a bit left over! I'm planning for something in 2 colors...
Features: fairly classic top-down construction, until just after the heel, gusset shaping ended up on the sole but kept the sleek ribbing, very unique sole shaping, and then that got added to the top of the foot after the last diamond, and a very unique bind off using a slip stitch decrease style creating a most interesting border around the toes.

Time for a FEW pics since they're so difficult to capture.

Pair #7

Here are pair #7 for this year. A fast thick, comfy, cottony, cabled and ribbed cute and relaxed pair... Mistake Braid Socks, by my friend, Tanja Fleischer. I have now completed all 3 of her sock patterns as she is a great new designer. She is one of my personal cheerleaders out in Ravelry and I cherish knowing her. Charles' uke socks are also her design.

Mistake Braid Socks: princess sole, unique gusset shaping, toe-up, worsted weight yarn, cables and ribbing.

Also, a progress shot of round 3.
Greenhouse Socks. Using Dream in Color Smooshy in Chinatown Apple, a gorgeous colorway.
My own yarnslayer watching over the delectible cake along with a lovely mix of green and black tea in one of Grandma's cups.

Although I'm quite tired from removing an old washing machine from our home yesterday, maxing out my muscles ina way I don't believe I have ever felt before, I think it a great morning. Muscle fatigue and all. Must keep knitting! What's also awesome, is we got rid of the 2 full size fridge and freezer units yesterday too! Oh my the open spaces!

Get ready for Round 3

Ok. 45 hours to go.
I've decided to use a gift of yarn my bro and sister in law gave me a few years ago. The test knitter used the same kind of yarn, I think it serendipity. Chinatown Apple, here I come.

But in the mean time, I will show you my Sock Scrap socks. I have thick comfy braid socks on the needles and will finish them before the next pattern, for sure. Pics very soon.

Sock Strap. Colorwork, unusual construction, cables, and cables right to the tip of the toes, and behind the heels. Very cool pair. Loved making these.

Flying Dutchmans

Round 2, I finished the Flying Dutchman pair with Lena's feet in mind. I do think they will be lovely and comfy, where ever their sailing adventures take them!

Also, I've finished up my mystery Step into Spring socks. I plan to finish the unusual construction Sock Strap, probably today!

Flying Dutchman had some fantastic intarsia in the round technique and a lovely lacey waves motif. Very cool design.
The spring pair have stranded knitting a new heel for me, the Sweet Tomato Heel, but I don't think this one fits very well. The Fleegle heel, first tried by the Sockdolager pair would be so much bettter here. Oh well. I think I can wiggle them enough to wear anyways. But they do poof under foot.

Check back soon for the unusual construction and Round 3! I think round 2 will finish out real soon as we await some last finishers. Then, we'll get specs for round 3! Also, fyi, the tem I'm on, Yarnslayers, finished out our 33 first! Out of 7 groups! Holy smokes Batman!

Round 2

Oh wow oh wow.
Here's the first sock folks!
Flying Dutchman. In saphire blue and springtime lime green.
Making them a little longer than my own feet, for a gift. I'll make that reveal with the set ;)

Oh the excitement...

Sheesh, I just knew within 24 hiurs of the 'within 48 hours' was too soon, but did I sleep well?
No.
Way to nervous and excited.

These are the team names:
Team Yarnslayer - my team!
Team What!
Team Mission Accomplished
Team Mighty Minnows
Team Inconceivable
Team Sockeroo
Team Twinkletoes

So, I'm just gonna keep going with other socks on other needles in the mean time. And paint another last coat of paint in our first nearly finished bedroom, whoo hoo!

Here's my pic for my icon in ravelry, a little yarnslaying, from my perspective. A lot seem to know of a dearly departed pet who is infamous in yarnslaying. Hmm, not really my story.

Following the orange sacrifice, are my choices for this 2-color project. I'm leaning towards the light blue and red wine. Toodles!

In-between the socks

More Socks!

I have been working on a couple mystery kals. Here are the clues from the unusual construction pair.
Clue 1 was a strip of cable.
Clue 2 was a strap of colorwork from cuff round the heel to cuff.
Clue 3 was the front cable strip.
Clue 4 coming out friday! Final clue too.

Madness round 1 ends today. Then teams, then round 2. Don't know when these things will happen. Part of the madness I guess.

Finished Round 1 and wait.

I did complete the first pair when I said I would! Yay! Here's a pic of these long beauties. They are lovely and hope they fit well. Ginger? These are scrumptious! But seriously, if they are too long or whatever, I can mend them to fit. But I think they will be a smashing success!

Now, I will continue working on a couple pairs of mystery sock knit-a-longs, yes 2 pairs, and another kal with a friend designer. Not to mention a shawl or 2. So, those pics will come soon in the Waiting Game, since there's still a whole week before the first round ends. Then they might take another week to sort out our teams! Well, then, the race begins.

Without further ado, Sockdolager Socks, Pair 1, for Ginger.
I am so thrilled I have a few feet to knit for this year! Yay yay! Thanks feet!

Round 1 progress

Sockdolager, designed by Adrianne Fong. A fantastic, stretchy, lacy, ribbyish design.

• A super comfy elastic caston, the german twisted cast on.
• A brand new heel for me, the fleegle heel, made entirely without a usual heel flap but still worked in the round with a gusset to accomodate the heel, of course!
• We were encouraged to choose a busy striping or wild hand-painted yarn.

I was deciding between this brown tone stripe and a turquoise yarn. I chose by which was softer! I think these will indeed be more soft and comfy.

I enjoy this yarn so much, bamboo, supwerwash wool and nylon. Stripey.  And I am constantly thinking of yummy drinks!  Coffee with cream, cafe latte, mocha, hot chocolate, strawberry something, crushed mints... :). Good fun.

I hope to finish today.
So, more pics to come.

Round 1 Specs are out!

Just about 24 hours ago, we gor our specs for the first pattern.

They say they will release thepattern within 48 hrs.... 1/2 way done and no pattern!!

This first pattern acts as a qualifying round to compete on a team. After yhis one, they willput us into teams too. If we only complete one sock, or essentialy half of both. Then we can get the patterns, but competition stops there.

I am beside myself.
Since it's the first round, we actually get 2 weeks to complete it, after that, it's a race. I remember the second round ended up around 2 weeks too though.

This first pattern is for self-striping or wild handpainted yarns. I have both, and have no idea what to choose! Perhaps the patterns will help me decide ;)

Here's a pic of my top 4. The two on the left are stripey and the two on the right are handpaints.
Feel free to vote!  1,2,3 or 4!

Bricks and Tiles

I have just finished the warm up pattern for Ted, and I just love them! They're soft, they have a masculine rib, they have a very ingeniusly created afterthought heel... A huge success.

On to work some other projects on the needles, to clear out a few things for attention on socks in March and wall prep in our 2 main bedrooms. Oh, a second round of spackeling, then sanding, putting in doors to both with a bit of wall above them, and paint to finish. Just a bit really, lol. But we did just finish our wood flooring over the weekend! It looks fantastic!

Warm up progress

Ted's Mortars are coming along.
So are recruiting my Madness materials... Mom helped me find tiny shank buttons, now to find a couple zippers and buttons to match up with one or another yarn. Bizaar materials!! We'll see how they pan out! Soon! (Can you tell I'm getting excited by the day?!)

2013 Warm ups

Looks like the warmup pattern is fantastic and sweet for unisex design! So, I took this nice and early chance to knit big ones for my bro. Only after knitting did I realize how cool deep red and cream would be for these, "bricks and mortar" socks! Sorry Ted, snazzy dark brown will just have to do, lol

They look like they'll be tremendously comfy ribby socks, with a totally amazing afterthought heel with a planned in gusset! Very clever. Totally diggin' it.

Sock Madness preparations

So, it's Februaury.  I should say, "Whoo hoo, skip to my loo!  It's Feruary!  Time for signups baby!!"

Yeah, that's better.

Soon, requirements list, and well, March will be here all too quickly this year, and the Madness will begin, officially.  More on that as the stages come and go, with pics of my finished socks, hopefully.

And to test that out since it has been so terribly long since I last posted... Here's a newly completed pair from a January Mystery KAL with Rachel Coopey.
Echeveria.



Now to lick this flu,
Cruise on knits in progress,
Stock up the pantry and the freezer with some good eats and snacks,
Get my bin of sock yarns at the ready along with all needles, stitch markers, etc.
And maybe try to finish the wood flooring in the foyer and 2 bedrooms. :)

Christmas in July

I thought I'd finally reach out and show and tell what I've been up to.

Really, there's so much.

• I knitted like a mad woman for last Christmas and I thought the gifts turned out beautiful. I'll have those pics up in just a bit.
• I studied at one of the best massage schools in Sweden, Hälsoteket, and am now ready to do Swedish massage for a living. Studied from Feb to June. Turns out I have to sort of start my own practice to survive, so I've resumed serving coffee to help my pregnant boss out while I form some picture of design and web and image and paperwork for my idea.
• I've knitted like crazy since Christmas. It's my new passion and I can't get enough of it. I've even done 2 special request pairs of socks for girlfriends of mine here! They turned out just as beautiful as the first pairs!
• Doug and I have renovated our entire hallway, only walk-in closet and much of our living room, with tearing down a wall and cabinetry, putting up a different wall, new door, new paint and floor trimmings, new floor... much has been done! Pics on that later some time.
• Garden planted and tomatoes and herbs are the most flourishing, woo hoo!

I thought I'd show a few pics from the Christmas gifting because I find it very unlikely even the whole family has seen each others gifts. I thought they all turned out very lovely.... and that brings me to this year. I have lots of yarn peeps! I would love to knit some more presents... but I don't want to just guess. I hardly talk with so many of you, so I don't know what you might need or even desire. This goes mainly for the family for gifts, but I'd be happy to try to squeeze in some special requests by others as well, depending on the demands. I'm quite certain I can work something out.

After this blog, I'm gonna post some more pics of stuff I've made since Christmas and then of course ideas for y'all to ponder that you might enjoy.

My sisters-in-laws each received a scarf. Sarah bought this chunky alpaca soft yarn with me and I turned it into this handsome chunky cabled scarf. I thought of Seattle weather being similar to here, and thus did this bamboo woven look for Ali because I thought the color fun and bright, but the fabric soft and light.

Then I made a pair each of coffee clutches and ice cream clutches for Ali and Charles in Seattle since many Chicago family members already got a coffee clutch or 2. I used left over organic natural shades of wool from Jason's convertible glove-mittens to make them. I thought that was cool! Jay's turned out beefy, but I still imagine him enjoying them on his never-ending drives... especially for Periphix.

I made sunny yellow leaf laced but double padded sole socks for my mom. I tried to think of something comfy around the house since they have so much cold tile! But yet, a nice warm and springy color to bring out the brighter days of February and late winter when we're all sick of the grays. And since my mom's birthday is in January, I made and sent this little hug scarf. the sleeves, or rather main scarf body in dark purple and the fleshy tone hands. What a funny treat for anybody! My cousin Yiota has just placed an request for one of those! Girl! I got you covered!

I almost forgot the farmyard animals I knitted for my niece, Cadence! That little cutie lined up the tiny animals into a fun row, and they're knit in 100% cotton for easy care too. Sarah took this cute photo of them, thanks again for that. I love the pic. I bought a fun red box as a make shift barn to hold them all when not in play. There's 2 cows, 2 horses, 3 pigs, and 3 geese. Turned out so cute, I had made a green horse for a friend and a monkey for my best friend, Rebecca, wearing the red scarf above. And one little piggy made it to Doug's work computer!

And I've just finished this beautiful alpaca red and cream blanket for my bosses, Cristina and Sebastian. Their baby is due in August and I hope to give this fun treat, colored with their business in mind, all red and white too, next week. Ted E. Bear couldn't help but be in the photo shoot!

More photos soon of all the cool, or rather warm creations since Christmas 2008!

gloves, cozies, and stoles

Happy Birthday Dad! These lovely green gloves are for you and your (at times) chilly home... and along with this snazzy pair, are a pair of matching opposite stitched java sweaters too! Hope you like 'em!

I must say, I really do enjoy how they all turned out. In case you readers haven't noticed, I used the same yarn from my Mary Jane slippers in the little java sweaters. They really are smashing together. So, in that note, here's a pic of the first slipper done and knitted! Just the second to whip out. I must say, the one is really comfortable and stretchy... they're gonna come with me whenever I travel... perfect for cold floors, and even probably airplanes!

I've been continuing on my light blue t-shirt and am nearing the end of the first piece, the back side piece of the shirt. I think I'll still wait to take a pick. ha ha!

However, I've had a blast beginning the knitting of this fabulous lacy 100% Organic Pakucho cotton stole! I love it already. If the white matches well enough, I'm offering my soon-to-be-sister-in-law to borrow it for her big wedding day in October! They call this a heart pattern, and it sure is supper lovely! Seriously, isn't it gorgeous??

And just for fun, (as if all of these projects weren't already!) I've whipped out an adorable little stuffed cow! How cute is this little guy?? I'm pondering a few of these and other animals for a cute gift for my niece, come Christmas time. Not sure of farmyard or zoo or Noah's ark... I'm open to suggestions folks. Whether it be themes or specific animals or collections or what not. Open to what your kids (if you have had or have some) enjoyed or perhaps something you wish you had as a little 4 year old.

Next week, I hope to just keep going, along with this week, but I will be headed to Gothenburg to attend a huge horse show and serve espresso for 5 days. Should be long, slow at times and busy-crazy at times. Minimum 3 hours drive north of here. Wish me luck and fun!

Beaded Socks

I finished these really cute socks... last week? Maybe even a little earlier actually. Aren't they so so lovely?! I was so bored knitting them around the heals, but I'm so glad I kept to them and knitted a few rounds each morning. Because, when I finally got into the foot portion, I started to get back into them and before I knew it, I was knitting the toes and closing them shut! I've worn them, much thicker than I really thought they'd feel, but they're a ton of fun! Whoo hoo!.


On the needles now are a pair of fingerless mitts for my dad. I found this absolutely gorgeous dark green tweedy yarn with wool, merino wool and viscose in it. I absolutely adore the colours. The yarn was not cheep at all... especially here in Lund. For each standard 50 gram ball it was 72:-, which is about $11 each! I bought 2 due to the uncertainty of needing just more than one ball or not. So, Dad? You're getting some seriously fancy gloves! They're knitting up famously though... which just adds not only to the joy of knitting, but to the joy of giving them as well. :)

Also on the needles are a pair of Mary Jane slippers. Here's a cute photo of the butterscotch wool and nylon yarn I've chosen for them. Sadly, the photo looks a little muted. I'm learning about Photoshop, so soon, I'll be able to adjust the photos to help make them represent a little better. It's a fun twisted yarn of 4 colors, dark yellow, orange, blue and brown. They've got a really comfortable sole too. I can't wait to keep working on them this week as well.

The on going t-shirt, which, when I eventually get more done, I'll take pics. I'm expecting that one to take me all summer to make... so don't hold your breath, but it's coming along nicely... even if all I have done is the hem and lower back side panel of the shirt!

And then I'm swatching up 2 yarns for 2 other patterns. One lovely light yellow for a pair of footies that will have double knitting on the sole for added padding and comfort, and the other in a natural tone of organic cotton for an absolutely gorgeous heart lace shawl/shrug.

Perhaps, the next post will be about the auto show I was serving espresso at. Very fun show, to put it shortly. Happy Spring everybody! Not much else happening, except for my self learning Adobe Photoshop, knitting like a mad woman, reading a book in Swedish, and designing a new website and blog for my dear friend Bekki and I to post our artistic endeavors... very excited about that.