Thanks Are Over/Due

I listed these in order of when I got them.

This first thanks goes to Deb at Fearless Fibers. I thought that I had posted this, but I can't seem to find it. So I must have thought of the post in my head and just never put it down in type.

She was having a contest and I won a felted bag kit with her wonderful yarn. Look at those colors! I love blue. Thanks Deb! Head over to her blog and check out the things that she has for sale at her Etsy store.

Speaking of Etsy she has a wonderful post about them. Go over and check it out.


Next thanks goes to my friend Susan. She was lucky enough to go to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival this year. I requested some yummy spinning fiber if she had enough room in the car after all her shopping.

She brought back this:


Can you guess what it is?



Here is a close up.

It is California Variegated Mutant!!! The colors range from white to a creamy brown. It is so pretty.


Also she brought back this:


Yummmmmm Look at that brown fibery goodness.

This my friends is Dark Blue Faced Leicester (or BFL for short). This stuff is like crack.

Thanks so much Susan!!!

If you happen to be in the Cincinnati, or Tri-state area you should stop by Susan's Store. It is so very cute and chalked full of fibery goodness. She not only has yarns that you don't find in other stores, but she is also selling roving and fleeces!


Last, but certainly not least, is this:



I won a contest at Mandy's blog. I got a skein of Lisa Souza sock yarn and 2 sets of way cute stitch markers.

Thanks Mandy!!!!

Also if you are looking for charity knitting Mandy heads up Caps for a Cure. Head on over and check it out. LOL HEAD on over LOL. She also has and Etsy store.

Thanks to everyone. I am excited about all my fibery goodness.

Secret Scarf

Not only did I send something to my friend's son, I also sent something to her too.

I found this yarn of course at my NSLYS. Sadly when I took these pictures there was no sun out so there was no natural light. I had to settle for using the flash and it completely washed out the color. I know it looks completely blue, but I swear that there are purples, pinks and hints of grey in there too.





















The yarn is Wooly Feathers by Mountain Colors. The color is called Sweet Lavender. If you look at it on their web page it looks completely different than what I photographed.




















Details:

Needles: Sz. 13 Straights

Yarn: Mountain Colors Wooly Feathers Sweet Lavender (1 skein)

Pattern: Completely garter stitch

This was another quick knit and the only pictures that I got of it is what you see. Wish I would have gotten more pictures, but I was more concerned that I got it out in the mail and to the recipient before Christmas. I was so glad to hear that she liked it.

Do These Look Some What Familiar?? :)

Well here are the secret socks that I was making for a friend's son. I can show them now since we have revealed who had who in the ecxhange. They are made from the same Cascade Fixation that I made James' out of (different ball/dye lot).


I said that I loved this yarn and I wanted to make more of them. Well I was true to my word. :)
















I do have more of the Fixation in different variegated color ways and solids. I like the softness, stretch and cushieness of this yarn knitted up. Honestly I was a bit apprehensive at first, but once I tried it I was hooked. If you have never tried it get a ball or two and I think you will love it. It will take one ball for baby/toddler socks and two balls for adult socks. I know that my NSLYS sells it for $4.60 for the solid and $5.5o for the variegated. I think that is a really good price for sock yarn. Especially something that will be a good yarn for a child.















Here are the socks almost finished. All I need to do is the foot, the toe and then Kitchener it together. As quick as they went that part didn't take me long at all.















I really like how they look like some sort of weird zebra. Everyone that has seen them in person think that they are really cool too. Anja said that she loved them. So I am glad that they were liked and are appreciated.


On to the details:

Needles: Sz. 4 DP

Yarn: Cascade Fixation 1 ball (Black, Grey, White)

Pattern: Same as James' K1, P1 rib for cuff, plain stockinette for leg and foot, Round heel and classic toe

It is time to cast on some more of these in different sizes for James. I think that this might be my travel knitting. Small, compact and a quick knit.

I didn't get a picture of the second finished sock or a picture of it all cutely wrapped up in it's label. I was in such a hurry to get it out in the mail that I completely forgot.

Up next will be what I made for Anja and I think I will be pretty close to being up to date on my knitting.

Mom's Christmas Scarf

Still on the Christmas gift tangent here. As for 2007 knitting I have been working on pair of socks for Kevin. The man has a size 17 shoe! Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I knit these. LOL

I made my Mom a scarf this year as one of her Christmas gifts. Of course with the weather being so warm lately I don't foresee her needing it if the weather keeps it up. I guess she will be ready for next year if this winter doesn't get any cooler.


















I used the Yarn Harlot's One Row Handspun Scarf Pattern. The pattern was so easy to memorize and it was a fun knit. It knit up fairly quickly as well. I am very happy with the pattern and the way it looked and I would love to make more of them. Maybe I will list a few on my Etsy store.

Here are a few close-ups of what the pattern looks like knit up. Cool hu?



























I can say that the above pictures are washed put quite a bit. The picture below shows the color more true to what it is. It is a nice deep red.


















Details:

Needles: Sz 8

Yarn: Yarn Source Sol 100% Wool Burgundy (this is my NSLYS's own line of yarn click the link below the picture on their web page to see all the colors and to order it on line, plus check out their own line of silk called Passion the prices are really good for both of them)

Pattern: Via Yarn Harlot

I am really ready to knit this pattern again. It was fun and pretty much a mindless knit. If you can count to 4 you can do this pattern.

So my question to you is from all the colors of the Sol which one is your favorite or top favorites?

Knee Warmers

No you didn't read the title wrong. These are not leg warmers. My mother-in-law is always saying that her knees are cold in the winter, especially at night. So my father-in-law gave me the idea to make her a pair of knee warmers for Christmas.

I think the hardest part of these were getting the measurements without her knowing it. My father-in-law said that she had tried some leg warmers and they fit, but after a little while they felt like they were cutting into her thy. So I asked him to look for them and I would just make them a little bigger. That was a no go. He searched high and low and couldn't find the dang things. I then saw that Cat Bordhi was looking for measurements of people's feet for a new book, I thought "ahhh haaaa! That's how I can get the measurements!" So I took all the measurements of her that I would need for socks and then some. She never questioned it. LOL So now I at least have her measurements if I want to make her a pair of socks. :)

I used a wool and soy blend that my NSLYS** had just recently got in. It is from Rowan and is called Tapestry. I used the Rustic colorway. I bought a bag of it since I had no clue how much one leg warmer would take. I only used just a little over 1 ball for each one. Of course with my mother-in-law leg measuring 15 1/2 inches at the largest part I didn't need much yarn. LOL So that added up to 2 and not even a half that I used. I really loved the colors of the yarn and I debated on taking back the rest, but I decided to keep it and make socks or something else. I bet it would make a lovely scarf as well.

I didn't get many pictures of them as they went along. I had so much knitting to get done that I didn't take the time out to take photos. Heck I thought that I took a picture of it with it's label and all, but I can't seem to find it, so I guess I thought about it and never did it.

Up Close and Personal













Beginning of Knee Warmer













First One Done













It's Twins













Another View


Details:

Needles: Sz 3 circulars

Yarn: Rowan Tapestry in Rustic (see above for link)

Pattern: Made it up on the fly. K2,P2 rib for cuff. Then changed to K1,P1 rib until the knee section. Knee section done in stockinette except for either side of the knee that has a few rows of 1x1 ribbing for more flexibility and hopefully won't bunch. The repeat the rib rows just the opposite as before.

My mother-in-law used them that night to sleep in and she said that she loved them. She said that they stayed up all night and didn't cut into her. She said that they were perfect. I am so glad that she likes them. I will knit for her again ;). Maybe I should make her a pair in alpaca. Oh that would be nice. Heck I could see her wearing both pair together. LOL

Thanks for all the sweet comments about the little hat in the last post. They will be off my list for sure. Come to find out my Mom went to visit them while they were still in the hospital. She had taken a gift for them and she said they didn't look in the bag to see what it was or say thanks. I am just dumbfounded. Needless to say the family is invited over to the new baby's grandparent's house today to see the baby. I had originally planned on going and of course I would have taken something for the baby, but not I am really thinking about not going. I am wondering if I should really waste my time with them. Maybe I will go to my NSLYS** and look at some yarn or something. At least there I feel welcome and appreciated.

Sara thanks for the info about the books. I swear I have the mitten book, but I don't see it on my list of books I have. I will have to look and see if I have it, if not I will have to see if Christina still has it.

Have a lovely day.

**NSLYS - Not So Local Yarn Store

FO #1

Here is the first FO that I had promised in my last post.

It is a little hat made for a new baby in the family. We had a mini baby shower and Christmas celebration wrapped up together. I was afraid that it wouldn't go over well and my fears came to fruition.

It was taken out of the little bag it was lovingly wrapped in and looked at for a second then tossed aside with not even a thank you. I had spent many hours working on it and it was my own pattern. I wanted something nice for them, but obviously they didn't feel the same. The grandmother to be thanked me for it and all the work that I put into it. I guess at least one person appreciated it.
















Sadly the only person that they thanked was my Aunt and Uncle. I believe that was because they had bought them a stroller and a few other things. So it seems that it is the price and size of the gift that counts not the thought for them. That is sad since they really don't have very much. You would think that they would appreciate anything that they got, but I guess not.













At least I know that my blog friends know the amount of work that goes into something like this. As well as my Mom and a few other of my family members.



I guess it is time for me to stop complaining and give you the details of the hat.

Needles: Sz. 2 DP
Yarn: Dale Baby Ull in Bright Blue and Green
Pattern: Made up as I went (fair isle pattern of k 2 blue, k2 green around next rows shift pattern to the left by 1 stitch).

It came out better than I thought it would and I was quite happy with it. It is really cute. Not quite sure if i will make another one. I need to work out some problems with the decrease sections. Guess it is time to get out the graph paper.

Well I have some more FO for you later. I can safely say that they got better receptions. ;)

SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!!

ETA: I will leave this post at the top of the blog until the sale is over. For new posts look below this one.

Yep you read it right. I am having my first sale at my Etsy store. It begins December 1 and will run until Christmas. So please stop buy and if you feel so inclined purchase a sweet little hat for that little one that could use it this winter. Most hats have been marked down at least $5.00!!!!

Just click on the link above or the picture in the sidebar or below to get there.



Thanks so much!


ETA: I will leave this post at the top of the blog until the sale is over. For new posts look below this one.

Done Done Done

Did I mention that I am done?.

My niece's socks are done! I finished them last night in the wee hours.

It seemed like it took just as long to weave in the ends as it did to knit them. I really dislike the process of weaving in ends. No matter how I go about it, it just takes forever. I have thought about using the ends like stranded knitting and wrapping them in as I go. I wonder how well that would work. Anyone ever done this or use this method?

Any way, they are brightly colored that is for sure. She is so into the bright colors now. She just got a new bedding set and it has all the bright colors in it with big flowers. The socks should match. LOL

Details:

Needles: Sz. 1 Ebony 5 Double Point Lantern Moon

Yarn: 1 Ball Regia Sock Yarn Bright Orange (Sorry lost the label so that is all I have)
1 Skein Lorna's Laces Rainbow

Since there was only one skein of the LL's I used the Regia for the cuff, heel, and toe. They were knit from top down with a round heal and classic toe.

I hope that she likes them.



After finishing them I cast on for the toddler socks. They will be black, grey and white. They should look zebraish (yes it is a word in my mind LOL). I did a few rows before I headed to bed at 2 this morning. Hopefully these will go quick. They are much smaller and are on larger needles, so they should go faster.

I am using Cascade Fixation for these and size 4 needles. Here's hoping that I can bust a move and get them done quick.