Knitting in pink

I signed up for Secret Pal 9. Here is my questionnaire. I will also link it in the sidebar.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I like to knit with wool and wool mixes, especially mixed with alpaca or silk. I like cotton blends. I do not like acrylics, and most of the funky stuff. I havent worked with mohair yet but own some. I dont think that I'd like more quite yet.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
My circulars and dpns each have a special case. My straights are currently held in my knitting basket and I am looking for an alternative. I'd love a matching case with little gnomes like my other two. Added 10/10/06: I just ordered a matching straight knitting needle case from the same etsy shop I bought the other cases from)

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I started knitting almost a year ago. I dont think that I am still a beginner but I dont know if I can say intermediate yet.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes, Amazon wishlist in sidebar

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
Warm vanilla, brown sugar, chocolate.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Love chocolate, but not with fruits or mint. Especially love Swiss chocolate.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
Own a spindle, but havent spun in a couple months. Enjoy quilting too.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Current love is Il Divo. Love that kind of music. My computer can play MP3s.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Love pinks and reds. Enjoy some blues and greens. Dont 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?
I love scarves, hats and mittens. No ponchos though.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I enjoy socks, and baby items, even if I dont have any babies to give them to.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Socks, socks and socks

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yeah, most of the time.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I am beginning to really enjoy my circular needles, especially in aluminium

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

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
4 months old, that's it!

18. What is your favorite holiday?
I like Christmas time a lot, and my birthday! : )

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Not really, except yarn!

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
For books that I'd love to have you can check my Amazon wish list, it is kept updated. I dont have any magazine subscriptions but would love to get IK. I am dying to get my hands on some Socks That Rocks, especially Mist and Apple Valley Rd. Any other color would do.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I'd like to learn so fair-isle. 2 socks on one circular and more lace.

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? (mm/dd)
May 28

between one yarn and the other.

I think he might be right!

You and I can tell the difference, but to the untrained eye those 3 yarns might look really similar.
From left to right: Hill Country Yarns Instant Gratification Self-Striping in Chocolate covered Kisses, Colinette One Zero and Colinette Wigwam.

The 2 Colinette were bought from Amanda in her latest destashing spree. I couldn't resist the beautiful pinks and getting my hands on some Colinette. She had planned to work the two yarns together in a scarf and I'll probably do the same. The cotton tape is very pretty and soft. I could definitely see myself getting more of the same and making a summer top with it.

I've also been working on my Anastasia sock. My second try at the short-row heel was the right one and things went pretty smoothly. I've been working on the leg and hopefully sometimes next week I'll have another finished sock.



Did you notice the color similarities between the yarn used and the ones previously shown? I think it is time for me to start using different colors, add some variety in my life! lol!

Yup! I have 3 FO's! I can hardly believe it myself! Wait a minute, there's gotta be a catch somewhere... 2 of these projects took me 2-3 days each to make. The other one has been on the needles since June!

First FO: the Rolled brim hat with huge pompom

The hat was given to one of my good friends that came to visit last week. It will fit perfectly (I hope!) her 15 months old son. I also gave her a one skein-novelty yarn scarf for her 4 year old daughter. Once she sends me pictures of them I'll make sure to post them. I love my friend, when I told her she could machine wash cold the items she told me: "Oh no! I dont want to ruin them! I'll hand wash them!" Wow! I know I can make her more handknitted stuff and she'll always take care of them!

Stats
The hat was started on September 18 and finished September 21.
Yarn: Zitron Loft
Pattern: Basic Roll Brim Hat from Last minute knitted gift I believe
Mods: followed pattern almost to the letter. Used remaining yarn to make gigantic pompom. I hadn't made a pompom in about 20 years, so it was interesting to say the least!

Second FO: the now famous MDK ballband dishcloth



Stats
The dishcloth was started on September 22 and finished September 24.
Yarn: Sugar n' Cream
Pattern:MDK's Ballband discloth
Mods: Besides a couple mistakes... followed the pattern! : )

Third FO: Fîrst Garted Rib sock of pair



Stats
Sock number was started sometimes in June, finished September 25.
Yarn: Trekking XXL Color 110
Pattern:Garter Rib sock from Sensational knitted socks
Mods: Leg on US#3, foot on US#2. Ribbing only on leg.

Next up:

Finishing sock one of toe-up Anastasia and trying out Lizard Ridge with stash Kureyon.

Found this tonight, thought it would be fun to do it!

-----BEGIN KNITTER'S GEEK CODE BLOCK-----

Version:1.1

KE+++$ Exp SPM+ Steel Wood Bam Pl+++ Cas- AddiT Den? Boye? Syn-- Nov-- Cot Wool+++ Lux Hemp? Stash Scale+ Fin Ent-- FI? Int? Tex Lace- Felt Flat Circ++ DPN+ ML+ Swatch KIP+ Blog++ SNB++ EZ FO+ WIP Gauge@ L- F+ S DK W+ B ALT(quilting/spinning) Cr- Q+ X-- Em-- Sw! Wv Sp+

-----END KNITTER'S GEEK CODE BLOCK------

You can do it too here or read about it here in Knitty.

Since June I've been working on a project, a big project. The owner of the yarn store that I used to work at and I have opened an online store dedicated to sock yarn. We've been working on this since the beginning of June. We searched for yarns that we liked, tried them by knitting socks and more socks, searched for more sock yarn and came up with a wide variety of yarns. Then we started ordering the yarn, and it started coming in, a little at first until we had most of our inventory. As the yarns were coming in, we took pictures and started entering the products in the store. A couple days ago, everything was ready and we were able to launch!
We are currently carrying ArtYarns Supermerino, Austermann Step, Cascade Fixation, Fleece Artist, J.Knits, various Lana Grossa and Regia yarns, Schaeffer Anne, Seacoast Handpainted and Sisu. We will also be adding Trekking and Lorna's Lace to our current inventory.
Alongside the store, I've been working on a blog, there we will be advertising our new arrivals and coming sales. We are also showing pictures of socks knitted by us in our yarns.
So if you like to knit socks and can't have enough of sock yarn, it's time to add yarn4socks to your favorites!

Wednesday, at my SnB group, Bethe mentionned Rhinebeck Blogger Bingo and said to go check it out at Stitchy McYarnpants' blog. I think it is just an amazing idea and going to be a lot of fun. I definitely signed up and will be a player and a square. So fellow Rhinebeckers, look for a t-shirt, possibly pink, with my blog's name on it...

On the knitting front, I finally finished the Basketweave scarf:

The scarf was begun sometimes at the beginning of August as my Project Spectrum for August. Sadly I wasn't able to finish it on time but finished it the first week of September. It could have been worse! I will have to block it before Christmas.

I cast on Thursday for my first MDK Baby Kimono, the back is done and I have started on the left front. It is a fast knit so I should have a completed picture before the end of the week.

A few days ago I saw on someone's blog a picture of their sock in progress and decided to do the same.

From left to right: Garter rib sock in Trekking (top-down, dpns), Anastasia in SweetGeorgia (toe-up, magic loop) and Jaywalker (probably top-down, dpns).

The Garter rib socks were started sometimes in June, the Jaywalkers sometimes in July and the Anastasia sometimes in August and it is about time that I work on the first two again.
Other than that, the only WIP I have is the Basketweave scarf. I have only about 10 inches to go, so one good afternoon of work and I should be done. This scarf is a Christmas project, after it is done I only have 2 hats and a scarf to make and I'm all set. Well, maybe I should add a pair of socks to that list, but that is yet to be decided.

August was the only month of Project Spectrum where I wasnt able to finish the projects I had set out to do, namely a mate for my Jaywalker and my Basketweave scarf. I definitely will try finishing up on the scarf and the socks this month because I have bigger projects awaiting me this fall.

This weekend, my parents came down from Quebec to visit. My mom and I worked on a project I had on my mind for a while; inaugurate my sewing machine that I got for Christmas and make a quilt out of some fabrics I had and some that she brought me. The quilt top had to be very simple, a nine-patch I think it's called out of 4" fabric squares. We spent Sunday morning cutting up squares and the afternoon sewing up the nine-patches. The next morning we were able to finish up the last few nine-patches, assemble them in strips and sew the whole thing up together.

Let's just say that I am quite pleased with the results, my mom and I did a great job and the quilt top is really pretty. Now I have to buy some more fabric for the backing and the border and some batting and I will be ready to assemble quilt.

So is that all that I've been up to lately? Maybe you'll find out in a couple days...

2 days ago I received my Project Colorswap package from my pal Stacey from Montana. Her goodies were mostly following the food theme: Almond Mocha Chocolate Chunk biscottis, Vanilla Ginger snaps, English Toffee hot chocolate, a big mug, a "good food" dishtowel and a discloth. The knitting theme items where a nice little notebook with a cool pink flower, two small hanks of some 4/8s wool and Twizzle by Mountain Colors and some Lion's Brand Microspun. The yarn will be a nice addition to my small neutral stash!

Thanks to Chris and her listing of contests happening all over knitter's blogland, I won my first contest. Kristin @ Yarn & Order had a contest a couple weeks back where all you had to do was post a comment and a number would be picked out and a comment would win. I happened to be this time the lucky one! And I won some sock yarn, more precisely some Trekking XXL, the self-patterning kind!

A couple weeks earlier I won another prize, from the Boston Knit Out. All I had to do was send an email saying that I would put a button of the Knit Out on my blog, and be one of the first 25 persons to do it. I think the post on their website had just been posted because I was the first one to send an email! My prize is still unknown, I have to go choose one when I go to the Knit Out on September 25 on the Boston Commons.

I have never won anything in my whole life, so it is really cool to win something! Especially something related to my favorite activity!

****

Last weekend, i started playing around with some Sweet Georgia yarn, trying to get gauge for a pattern I saw in "Vintage knitted socks", the Madder Ribbed socks. According to my gauge I needed to cast on an extra 10 stitches to be able to do the pattern and still have something big enough. So I cast on on the size needle i thought would work and knitted a couple rows. It looked way to big so I ripped it out. Then I started to think how good a toe-up sounded, no need to cast on 70 stitches, I do hate casting on for socks!
A few days earlier I found Misocrafty's Turkish cast on tutorial and decided to give it a try. I tell ya, it's pretty awesome! No need to fiddle with waste yarn...
I also had found a pretty cool toe-up pattern on Pepperknit's blog. She created a pattern called Anastasia, and it really was gorgeous! The problem was that I didnt know how to do toe-up, and I didnt know how to read a chart for a little lace. So I didnt think i'd be trying that anytime soon.
So when I decided to try toe-up I came back to that pattern, checked out the lace chart and decided that I was up for the challenge.
I sat down in front of my computer with the tutorial on the screen, my yarn and my size #3 needles. I had to do the turkish cast-on a couple times before understanding it but it was very simple so soon I was on my way and had the whole toe done. That evening I was at Stitch n Bitch and dared starting on the lace part. After a few rows I tried it on and realized it was way too big. Bethe and I came up with the plan of ripping the lace part and switching to smaller needles after the toe increase. I didnt dare ripping it myself so she did it for me and transfered the stitches to stitch holders. The next day, I'm sorry Bethe, I unraveled everything and started the whole thing over on size #2 needles. And I knit, and knit.
As of this morning the sock looks like this:



I have to say that I am pretty proud of myself, so far. But I have yet to understand what happens when I get to the gusset, and figuring out how to do a short-row heel.
There is much searching in my future...

If you are still reading, I thank you for having listened to my beginner's ramblings!

Yarn: Cascade Fixation color 9478
Pattern: "Winter socks" from the Magic Loop booklet
Mods: 1 inch 2x2 ribbing, rest of the sock in stockinette instead of beaded rib pattern
Needles: Size US 6 40" Inox circular needle
Started June 28, 2006 / Finished August 20, 2006