Mystery Started

The 2015 Through The Loops Mystery sock has started!

The first clue is the cuff and 8 or so rows of the lacey pattern.

The pattern called for 1" of ribbing. I did 1.5 cause I have 

lots of yarn.  The yarn is "A Touch of Twist" purchased

at Rhinebeck.  This is the third year I have used this yarn

for Kristen's mystery sock. Kind of a tradition now.  It has 

a lot of alpaca, so a little fuzzy. I have to wear these myself

since they are so delicate.(Like its really hard to wear these myself,

they feel amazing on my feet, and my hands love knitting

with this soft yarn.  I went down a needle size from suggested in

pattern to 1" (rather than 1.5").

It is a little splitty  so not for the faint of heart.  :)
I picked a cinnamon color this year. I don't have any socks this
color, so why not!  I'm really loving it so far.

I worked hard to get Joe's sock done before this started, but
not hard enough. Still have a good amount of foot left to knit.

I was working on these yesterday and Joe said "who are those for?"
"I said you. I said they were going to be for Christmas this year, but
I think I will tuck them away for next year since you won't remember
by then anyway".  Oh and the colors. Not typical Joe colors.  They have
a lot of bamboo in them, which his feet love...and I did show him the
yarn before I bought it....

Ruth is working on the Ann Hanson sock for Ray. (tall blue one).
She is also working on the Through the Loops Mystery sock.
(short blue one in  Miss Babbs Yummy in the Tardish color way.)

The Miss Babs looks dreamy.

Martha, bless her soul, is still working on the beautiful baby
blanket.  As of this morning, she had 1.5 balls of yarn left.
She is excited to see how big it will be once it's blocked.
I bet it will be amazing.  I do not like to knit blankets...I did my
fair share when I was a beginner.  They take too long and I need
satisfaction.  This one is soooo nice.  She is anxious to make something
for herself soon!

In other news....
Probably no blog post next week.  I will be on a little medical leave.
Hopefully, I will have tons of knitting time and have a lot to
show you in two weeks.

Happy knitting dear blog readers.

Little progresses

 Dangling Conversations Shawl is blocked
and ready to wear. 

Reminder, yarn is Wonderland yarn

 I used this yarn for the Summer Wendy Knits mystery shawl also.

Really love it.  The colors are fabulous, though they look so dull
on this post.

I am just turning the heel on Joe's 2nd sock. It seems to be taking
forever, but I have to remind myself that I spent most of last Sunday
(my big knitting day) darning socks.

Ruth is so close to finishing her sweater!

Sweater is Oak Meadow Alpaca Farm. Alpaca and cormo blend. Pattern is Amy Herzog's Kittiwake. Free in Knitty.com.  She reblocked the sleeves ad stretched them out and now
they fit perfectly.

Sock is Scandinavian weave and knit yarn . Yak, silk, and Merino. Pattern is Anna Hanson's Jazz Strings

Martha is working on a baby blanket
the yarn is Punto Su Punto Filati Mito. The pattern is free from Ravalry, the Constant Baby Blanket by Tina Laiho. Hers has stripes, but not mine!

In other news, Joe is off of work for two months so doing a lot of the cooking. This
is the roast dinner he made.  Delish!

We got a new computer for Christmas - yea!  I lost most of  my
blogs - ugh!  Send me  your 5 favorite blogs.  I remember  my five favorite:

Yarn Harlot, Through the Loops, Wendy Knits, Grumperina, Pink Lemon Twist.
I did a little googling on Knitting Blogs and everyone loves:
My Sister's Knitter.    She has a list of blogs she follows so I have been
perusing them and now have a few new favorites.  Coming from Western New
York, its fun to see pictures from out west.

Have a great week.

Happy 2015 !!

Seems like its been a while...but I guess it has!
I managed to finish up the  Bosc scarf. 

 I really love the way it turned out. See previous post for details.

 Tiffany modeling. Swore she would never model again
if I showed her face.

 Mark loved his hat. He barely takes it off. WIN !!

 Joey wore his socks all day. (no picture). Previously said he would never
wear handmade socks. His mind is now changed.  WIN !!!!

The girls loved their hats.

They walk to/from school, so I hope the hats help them keep warm.

I finally (Wednesday) finished up Joe's first sock. I really struggled
with it.  I want to get the 2nd one done before January 14th. 

 Bamboo yarn.  The heel is a different color to help stretch the yarn.

My own purly/swirly pattern.

Why do I want it done before January 14th?  Because
Through the Loops Mystery Sock 2015 starts on the 15th.

Ruth and I are all signed up.

I was determined to knit something for ME while I have been
on vacation.   I started some little neck thing that was a total
FAIL.  And, I spent a good amount of time trying to make it work.

I then started the Dangling Coversations little shawlette. Started
it on Tuesday and finished up today.  I made a few mods.

Pattern calls for 6 sections, I only had 5 different color yarns.
So I increased each color by 10 or so rows.

Yarn is Wonderland Yarns, Cheshire Cat, mini skein 
gradient kit in grays.  
Purchased from The Loopy  Ewe.  One regret is having so
much yarn left over, but I didn't want the shawlette to turn
into an ackward shawl.

Pattern is super easy. Super!  And Fun !  I love how one color has subtle
shades of another color in it.

It needs blocking and the ends sewn in yet. 

I was determined to darn some socks while I was on vacation.
The lady on youtube made it look so easy.

I did about 7 socks. 

Some turned out better than others.

Some were awful

and I don't really care.  I  hate sewing. Of any kind.
Three or four more and i'm done, till the next hole pops
through. The thing that gets me, is that I ALWAYS wear slippers
with my socks.  I keep my heels nice, and most always use a
strengthining thread or yarn with nylon.  Oh well. It has
to be the way I walk.


Ruth is working on socks.  In her own words:
Here is my current sock. Anne Hanson's Jazz Strings sock pattern. Yarn is silk, yak, and merino from Heirlooms Scandinavian weave and knit. I bought it at the annual draft snow in Brantingham near our camp. The people also have a booth at Rhinebeck so they get around! The color is a little lighter than the photo shows.

The other photo is the sweater I have been working on piecing together. The first sleeve feels very narrow to me. I will not be able to wear a  tneck under the sweater. Is that really a problem, or am I just used to roomier sleeves? I am mulling over what I want to do with it. Pattern is Kittiwake by Amy Herzog from Knitty. Yarn is from Oak Meadow Alpaca Farm. An alpaca and Cosmo blend. Purchased at the Hemlock Fiber Feat.

 I got to fondle her sweater in person and it is stunning !

Martha is just back from Germany. She delivered all of her baby
items. She has been sick so no new knitting to show this week.

Here are a few pictures from Christmas.

 The trees are down, but I still burn the candles.

 Abbey's looks says it all...glad it's over till next year...