barter socks

This is the first pair of socks I made for someone else. . . For some reason I had a hard time finishing them. Other projects kept getting started, and then finished. I knit them on two circular needles which was a learning experience, and I also did a short row heel which was a new experience too. Both of those proved challenging as I knit these socks from my mind, vs. from a pattern and for new things I'm an instruction kind of girl.
These are for my dear friend Vicki. We bartered for some great Haba toys for Zuri that her daughters are done with and this is the first "installment" of payments. There will be more payments to come as I get the things done.
I hope Vicki likes them. I know it's tempting at this point to keep them for me!

happy 4th birthday Charmie!

Well Charmie's birthday is tomorrow. My sweet firstborn will be 4! I cannot believe it, yet I have to, he's so big and mature. I'm one proud momma. For one of his gifts we wanted to get him a new case for his GameBoy Advance SP. His game collection has outgrown the first one, also Mardie needed a case for his. We found this larger case today and it was on clearance. Rocky suggested I embroider a design onto it for him and he picked one of his favorite heroes, Larry Boy!

On a completely different note here's a sock monkey I finished up last night while watching the season Finale of Grey's Annatomy. I don't know if it's a boy or girl yet. It's rather large. I made it from ladies knee socks. I LOVE SOCK MONKEYS! I think I will need to make some friends.

Birky socks

I finally finished these socks on the drive back from Michigan last week. . . lots has happened since I blogged last. Let's just say it's too much to blog in detail but the short is that there's been crazy things happening. I plan to be blogging more soon, but I've also got many things in the pot so I may not have time.
1. I need to cut, sew and fit the boy's recital costumes by Saturday for photos.
2. Start working on Rocky's Father's day present
3. Paint my sewing room and get the shelves up so I stop tripping over the stuff that belongs on the shelves
4. re-cover a barstool for my bil
5. finish Jada's bassinet
6. sew covers for SBS, name her, and with one for Grace
7. get a belt for Grace
8. finish the cotton socks I started
9. work on the blanket I'm knitting
10. there's probably more but I can't think of it right now.
Stay tuned, there will be updates as I get to blogging them.

Sock Beetle Bag

Now that I'm knitting socks I wanted a small project bag for toting around my socks in progress. Socks are substantially smaller than my other knitted projects as are their balls of yarn and skinny needles for the most part so project bags that are larger just kind of loose it all within imho.
I saw a cutesy little bag pattern for sewing or knitting notions or as a child's purse that looked like a bug a few years ago at my local fabric store, but at the time I wasn't knitting socks so I didn't see a need to buy it.
More recently while looking on Etsy at knitting supplies I found these cute bags for sale by Sockdiva. I loved her color combinations and the personality she gave each one so I decided I wanted one. After thinking about how I wanted my bag to be and seeing her photos I wanted to try without the pattern. Here's my attempt.

The main body of the beetle is a soft and rich velvet/denim fabric from some Levi Jeans I planned to recycle into a purse. The other fabrics are cotton prints from my stash and scraps. I twisted multiple strands of wool and sock yarn into a rope for the drawstring closure. I am still deciding if I will add a strap for carryng it around. If I make another one of these bags I have a few plans for changes, but with no pattern this came out almost exactly like I wanted it to.

This is my first stash buster bag/project of the year. My fabic stash has grown significantly from donations from my boss so I plan to make many many more before the close of 2007. This one is not for sale but most of the future ones I make will be for sale in my Etsy store.

Here's an inside view showing the pocket I put inside for 7" or longer dpns. It's on a diagonal to help the needles stay inside.
The exterior pocket with a few stitch holders, a chibi and some saftey scissors. this pocket overlaps but I put velcro for additional security. I also pin my stitch holders to the inside of my bag vs. letting them swim free so I have no fear of them getting away.

Here's another look at the bag from a different angle. It measures about 7"x11".

Completed sock

At my sister's urging I finished the 2nd sock and it did go much faster so thanks Janet for the tip.
The fabric is a looser knit than I wanted. I think I used too big needles for this yarn. Now that I've convenced him to keep them on Mardie likes his new socks. Charmie is begging me for a pair. I see though that if Mardie's feet grow at all these won't fit him since they are almost an exact fit now.
I've got to experiment with making some more socks for them. I'm thinking though that the next pair will be dk or worsted weight but I may use some stash sock yarn.
These were from some Dancing Knit Picks yarn scraps my sis gave to me. There was just enough to make these with less than 5 yards to spare!
I have been turning around in my mind an idea for a scrappy project using sock yarn remnants.
I'm trying to decide if it will be a cardigan front with little squares, or a lapaghan. A dormmate in college made me a scrappy cardigan sweater with squares and like an idiot I either lost it or gave it away after I graduated. I know she put lots of time into that sweater now and I am so sad that I no longer have it.
If you have ideas or scraps to spare let me know!

Mardie's 2nd pair of socks

I finally started a knitted pair of socks for Mardie. I crocheted him a pair when he was under 1 year old, but this is my first knitting pair. I used the formula pattern that I used for my socksbut made a few changes. I put ribbing for the whole cuff and top of the sock. I also had 2 extra stitches per needle on the sole of the sock to give it more fullness. My sis showed me this trick and I loved the shape of her child/baby socks.
I don't know why but even though this sock had fewer overall stitches and was obviously much smaller it took 5 times what it took to make my socks. I was beginning to think it wouldn't get done. I finished it in the car on the way back from Myrtle Beach and have yet to start it's mate. Unlike some, I can't knit for long in the car without getting queasy.


Here's the sock sans Mardie's foot.
Speaking of MB, SC, we were there for a church youth weekend. On the way back I asked the 3 girls riding with us if they had interest in me teaching them how to sew, they said yes so I will be planning a weekend of sewing for them with some of my sewing machines. I'm not sure when it will be since I will probably need to afford materials for them, but I'm excited to be working with them. They seemed very interested too! One of the mom's also came with us and she's inerested in her daughter learning how to knit and crochet as well.

Sockstravaganza!

Here's the mate to the the 2nd pair from my Christmas gift. I had more interruptions with this sock so I had more errors. Socks are not completely mindless for me yet so it takes some concentration for me to make them. I want to find a new pattern for my next pair. I think I know this one by heart by now.

Sock-a-thon

I started another pair yesterday. Here's the first sock. I guess if I get time later today I'll start the mate. This is worsted weight Reynolds' Odyssey 100% Merino wool. Very soft and cuddly. I can tell there's no synthetic stabilizing fiber in this yarn. I used size 5 needles and these knitted up even faster since I had a bigger gauge.
From looking at the ball of yarn I imagined a bigger differentiation in the striping pattern, it's very subtle without flash and at a glance hard to tell there are stripes at all. These will be great jeans socks with these colors.
Other projects in my mind but not yet started. . . camera bag and sock knitting bag. Stay tuned, but not too closely. Knowing my life it may be a while before I get around to them!

The 13th hour sock

I started this 2nd sock (on the left) yesterday morning at the Dr.'s office. I've been working on it on and off and just finished it up. I took a few breaks here and there, but it's finally done. My first pair of completed knitted socks with heeels. My feet are so happy now!
Time for bed. . . if only I could get to sleep.

1st 1/2 of Pink Stripe socks

Here's the first sock knit from the goodies my sister gave me for CHRISTmas! I wil start the mate tomorrow but I am already itching for it to be done! This one is so comfy and I am excited to see how the yarn knits the 2nd sock. This yarn is self striping but I cannot discern a repeat. It appears to be random and I LOVE IT!
This has also peaked my interest in the other yarns to see how they will knit up into socks.
I am looking forward to having several pairs of handknitted socks because they are so freakin' comfortable!

Merry Christmas

This is really weird. Blogger is super fast. . . I already did this post though and it's lost in cyber space.
This is a gift from my sis for Christmas! We had dinner at her home for Christmas Eve and exchanged gifts since they have other plans for Christmas day!
She gave me a sock extravaganza, knitted me a scarf, and made a beaded pin for me! I'm very excited to delve into these new yarns and use my new needles!
Thanks Janet!