Knitting in pink

I've been inching along on my Hourglass Sweater, but I am finally up to the yoke on the body and have started sleeve #1.

I have already made some changes to the sleeve. I started with a smaller amount of stitches so as to have less of a bell shape. As it is I think it is wide, but I think it will be ok once the sleeve is complete. I might have to fudge the increases when I get there but I think it will be fine.

After finishing the Lemonade Stand socks I had planned on waiting until the Socktopia newsletter came out so I could see the April themes and pick a pattern accordingly. But I couldn't wait... So I cast on this, my hardest lace project yet.



This is Child's First Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks using STR in Apple Valley Road, just like Clothesknit's! (She was the inspiration for this pair).

As you can see I am doing toe up. I might be the first doing it that way but I've found that the short-row heel fits me better and I just like better starting socks toe up. The pattern works fine knitted that way too. At first I was really concerned that at the first mistake I would have to frog the whole thing. But it seems like my tinking abilities have improved greatly. I had to think about 3 rows in the first pattern repeat and 2 rows in the second pattern repeat. No tinking was done in the 3rd pattern repeat. So I'm crossing my fingers that I will not forget any more yarn overs...

I really do hope that mine look half as good as Domesticat's once I'm done with them. Because hers are really beautiful!

Both of WIPs will be perfect for the next Project Spectrum, yay!

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I will be putting some of my stash on the Destash blog in just a little while. Some Koigu, Yarn Pirate, Woolen Rabbit... I have to pay for the 3 skeins of Vespers sock yarn I just special ordered! : )

Look what I got to play with this morning...

You want to know what it is, don't you?

These lovelies are all Fleece Artist's new Sea Wool that we just got in in the store. ETA: The Sea Wool yarn is 70% Merino and 30% Seacell.

I couldn't resist so I kept one for myself



Here is another shot next to another Fleece Artist I own



On top is Fleece Artist Merino Sock in Moss. On the bottom the new Sea Wool in Ruby Red.

Out of all the beautiful colors I picked the red because: 1. It was a color that has appealed to me for a while and 2. It's a color I don't have in my sock yarn stash yet! : )

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Regular knitting pictures will resume tomorrow. I've got lots to show you!

I never won anything in my whole life. Until I started participating in knitting blog contests. And then I started winning, here and there and once in a while. It is a great fun and I've been extremely lucky. Now it is time I gave back and let someone else win something!

So whoever gets the 500th comment can pick one of these out of my stash:

You can see close ups here and here with short description.

I apologize in advance to the non-sock knitters out there. Sock yarn is the only thing I have plenty of! : )

Also, if you know anything about Tampa, Florida or the area, now is the time to comment about it!

Thanks and good luck!

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ETA: The 500th comment has just been posted! Kris with a K is the lucky winner! Go and congratulate her on her blog! Thank you everyone for participating, it was a lot of fun seeing how fast people start commenting when there is sock yarn to be won! Have a great weekend!

Today I'll just share this with you:

This is yarn that was waiting for me at the post office when I came back from vacation.

From left to right:

Gorgeous One Sheep Hill* won on a contest on Pam's blog Flint Knits. The yarn is super soft and the colors are really, really pretty, I love it! Thank you again Pam!

2 skeins of Duet sock yarn in Army Girl and Merlot from A Swell Yarn Shop. The day after I purchased them I learned that their price would be raised $2 per skein, so I'm glad I scored some more before that! I really loved knitting with that yarn. Knitted up, the socks are super comfortable and soft on my feet. So I look forward to knitting a couple more pairs out of this yarn!

* According to Pam, One Sheep Hill is an artist that handdyes sock yarn exclusively for Yarnzilla. The color above is #463. It comes in 500yds skein and is superwash merino. If it is not available online yet it will be in the near future.

Before going on vacation, a smart pair of socks-to-be makes sure everything is in order.

First, they make sure that their pattern will work and test it before actually leaving:

Once they know that everything works fine and that the pattern won't need any fiddling with, they can leave and go enjoy their vacation at the beach.

A few hours of work later, #1 sock is done. Well, almost... Look at all those ends that still need to be woven in:



The sock learned that to be threatened with a trip over the balcony railing is a valuable threat and needs to be taken into consideration:



Did you notice the way the sock is shaking from fright? After that she let me weave those ends and didn't give me any more trouble.

To help her relax after this horrible experience, the sock took some time looking at the waves crashing on the beach below:



The next day, the first sock is now in company of her sister. Like the divas they are, they enjoyed a trip to the beach. All cares were taken so that they would be shaded from the sun, sunblocked and watered:



Finally, the socks were able to make their way back home. One of them had taken a bit of a sunburn but all in all they were happy.



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The socks accepted that I share with you their personal details

I had a really hard time getting them to tell me their age, but this is what they told me: 3/6/07 - 3/15/07 for Diva #1 and 3/15/07 - 3/19/07 for Diva #2.
Yarn: Duet Sock yarn in Lemonade Stand by Swell Yarns
Pattern: My own toe up magic loop. Used reinforcing thread at the heel and toes. About 7 inch leg. Plain stockinette. Short Row heel.

First of all: Thank you to all those who wished me a happy vacation, I really appreciated it! : )

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Back from Puerto Rico. Vacation went well although the weather didn't cooperate too much. 3 days of rain, 3 days of sunshine. The only yarn I found was at Walmart. Knit most of a pair of socks while there. Started the first sock before and finished second one back at home. Will post a few pictures later. Meanwhile, you can see all my pictures here.

A couple teasers:

More blogging later.

Tomorrow I will be leaving for a week in beautiful and warm Puerto Rico.

DH and I will be staying in a condo in Isabella, on the west side of the island.

This is our condo:

And this is the view from our condo's balcony:


It will be nice to get out of the freezing cold that we are having right now and enjoy the beach and the warm weather.

I am bringing a little bit of knitting with me, the Lemonade Stand socks. I should be able to get some nice knitting time waiting for the plane at the airport and on the beach or by the pool...

Sadly there probably any yarn buying in PR. Apparently it is just too warm there for any kind of yarn industry. But I might see some sheep.

I hope to be able to find some internet somewhere during my trip, but I can't promise I'll be able to check my email.

So I'll see you all in about a week!

Guess what I ordered a couple days ago?

You can do these fancy little cards here.

The wheel that I am getting is this one. It is the Fricke S-160-DT and I am getting it from the Twist of Fate Spinnery. Twist of Fate is a tiny little mill in the back of a house in Portland, Connecticut.

I had been looking at Fricke wheel for a while since I knew that they were really good wheel and were on the low end of the price range. When I found out that there was a retailer within one hour and a half of my house I called them up and asked them if I could come down and try a wheel out.

So last weekend I went down there and did just that. The only wheel they had was the single treadle but I still got to try it out. I then had to decide if I wanted the single or the double treadle. After a few days I made the decision to go with the double treadle. So now it is ordered and I will get it in 4 to 6 weeks. The guys at Twist of Fate will put it together, make sure everything is in order and I will drive down and get it!

I have a bit of fiber to start spinning with but I'll soon be trolling spinning fiber websites for more!

I've also added a bunch of spinning books to my amazon wish list to buy in the near future so I actually know what to do when I get my wheel! : )

Do you remember last week when I asked you all to guess what project I had just started working on? Today is the big reveal. There's not much to see yet, only a few inches of stockinette, but at least it is the beginning of something.

Let me introduce to you, my own Hourglass Sweater. So far all is going well, I've done the decreases and am about half an inch away from starting the increases. The size looks ok compared to one of my sweaters, but I do wish I could try it on... I know I can put the whole thing on scrap yarn but I guess I'm just too lazy to do it quite yet. But I know I should, just to be sure it will fit! : )

The yarn I am using is Classic Elite Skye Tweed, that I bought on sale at Webs back in December. I knew it would make a perfect Hourglass. And I was not disappointed. The yarn is a bit rough while working it, but the swatch softened quite a bit so in the end it should be comfortable to wear.

My other WIP is, of course, another pair of socks! I am using a DK sock yarn called Duet Sock yarn from a Swell Yarn Shop. The color I am using is called Lemonade Stand. I chose this DK yarn to have a quick pair of socks by the end of the month. I am going to be going on vacation next week and might not have a lot of time to work on the socks. And the Hourglass sweater is definitely not a traveling project, at least not for me.



I really want to keep these socks for knitting on vacation, so I have to stop myself from picking them up and knitting on them! I need to remind myself to work on the sweater instead...

Here are my answers to the Secret Pal 10 Questionnaire. Some of the answers are different than for SP9 so I decided to republish it.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I love sock yarns of all types, but mostly the handpainted type. I love tweedy yarns too. I don’t like mohair, it would drive me nuts if I had to knit with it. I also don’t like novelty yarns for the most part.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a matching rolling fabric case for my DPNS, circulars and my straight needles. I have the Options Needle set that I keep in its own case.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I learned a little over a year ago. I would consider myself intermediate now I think.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yup, in my side bar and kept up to date.

5. What's your favorite scent?
Vanilla, brown sugar

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Love dark and milk chocolate. Love Toblerone and Lindt and Godiva chocolates

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I like to quilt but rarely do it. I started spinning in May 07.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I like Soft Rock, music like Il Divo, Andrea Boccelli and Josh Groban

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Love pinks and reds. Enjoy some blues and greens. Don’t like yellows and oranges on their own, but will stand them mixed in with colors I love.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Married, no children no pets.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes to scarves, hats and mittens, No to ponchos

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Socks of course! : )

13. What are you knitting right now?
Socks

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Love my circulars, got the Knit Picks Options set and couldn’t be happier. I can always use more Addis in the lowest sizes in 32" or 40”.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Yes to both

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
about a month

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas I think

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Besides yarn and knitting books, nothing really

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Would love any of the books on my amazon wish list. Just subscribed to IK for 2 years.
Would also love any of the sock yarns listed in my sidebar.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Lace and more stranded knitting

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I am a sock knitter. Foot measurements are 7 1/2" at ball of foot, 8 1/2" long foot. Shoe size 5 1/2-6

23. When is your birthday?
May 28