First Lacy Diamonds Sock Finished

This month's Eat.Sleep.Knit Malabrigo project contained a ball of sock yarn and a sock pattern. After knitting for a while on that pattern, I realized that it was going to be too small. So, I frogged it and cast on for this month's Sockamania pattern, Lacy Diamonds Socks. I did add a pattern repeat so that this one would fit with the size 2.25 mm needles and the Malabrigo Sock yarn which is on the thin side. I'm loving it and have already begun the second sock.

Socks Finished

I stayed up a little late, last night, but just had to finish these! :) They are from the February Sockamania pattern, Simply Love. I used 2.25 mm dpns instead of the 2.75 mm recommended by the pattern. I also only knit 2 repeats of the leg pattern, rather than the 3 called for in the pattern. This way, they are the perfect length for me. I did end up with quite a little bit of yarn left over. The only other change that I made in the pattern was that I accidentaly omitted 1 row of the heart pattern! As a result, the hearts are not quite as wide. For the yarn, I used Meilenweit 100's Marmi. The colors are fuscia (pink and purple and white.) They fit very well and I'm wearing them today. They really make me smile.

Projects, new and old

I finished the knitting on the Blue Swing Cardigan last Saturday and allowed myself to cast on for a pair of socks. This time, it was the Simply Love Socks, from the Sockamania group. This is February's pattern and as such, has lace hearts knitted into the top of the foot and the leg. I'm enjoying the pattern and it is going quite quickly. I cast on on Sunday afternoon and already have the 2nd sock half done! I'm excited to wear these as I love the colors and the first one fits perfectly, after going down a needle size from the one suggested by the pattern.
Now that the Sockamania pattern is almost finished, I am looking forward to restarting on Arietta. I have all the colors that I need, now, and they're all about the same hue, so that they will work well together. (There is a small picture on the side bar of the yarn before I received the pink that will replace one of the tans.) I hope to finish the Simply Love sock tonight and start working on the sweater.
I still had finishing left to do on the Swing Cardigan, but just couldn't bring myself to do it until last night. I did finally sew on the ribbon and buttons. This pattern calls for ribbon to be sewn to the area of the fronts for the button & buttonhole bands. The process was quite fiddly and even after spending a great deal of time on it, didn't come out as well as I had hoped. I do tend to over do the perfectionism aspect of most things, so I am reasonably sure that Elann will still be happy with the finished project. For a FO picture, I'll let you know when they post the picture on their model.

Serpentine Socks

On Saturday, I started this month's Sockamania pattern, Serpentine Socks. They are toe up, with a gusset heel. I finished to this point, last night. The cabling is fun, but it makes for slow progress. In order to make the cables without a cable needle, I knew that I waould need to use metal needles as the stress is too much for my wood needles. (They bend nearly in half, otherwise.) However, the metal needles rub on fingers, so I can only work on these for a while, and then I need to put them down. Because of the complexity of the pattern, these are not riding with me too and from work. That certainly helps the fingers.
Instead, I've been working on the Green Tea Raglan as my commuter knitting. I've become accustomed to the moss stitch and am able to work it without watching what I'm doing. Every so often I make sure to look at it, just in case and once in a while have to tink back because the knit stitches are all lining up, instead of off setting. Such is the way with knitting moss or ribbing stitches for me. Its no problem and I'm pretty used to this. Its all worth it for the beautiful fabric that the Bamboo yarn is becoming. Only 2 1/2 (out of 10) skeins of yarn to go! (I think that I may be cutting it kind of close, so the amount of yarn is a fairly good means of determining how much knitting is left to complete.)

Only 22 Rows to Go!!

I've been working on the Civil War Shawl, more. I've actually completed 30% of the stitches. When I've completed the body of the shawl (another 17 rows) I will have it about half way done. The edging takes so much knitting! I'm really looking forward to starting a new section on this project, even though I am still enjoying knitting on the body of the shawl. I often find myself just stopping to admire my own work. Is that too silly? I come by this trait from my mother. She often does the same thing and must have taught me to do the same!

Oh, and I almost forgot! I finished the River Valley Socks, last night.

I finished the Rainy Day Socks, yesterday!! They are probably the best fitting sock that I've ever knit for myself. Oftentimes, I am in a little too big of a hurry to get the project finished and so I don't rip it back, like I should, when they turn out a little to long or short. This time, I did! It took 3 time of knitting the toe on the first sock to get it right, but I am so glad that I went to the extra work. The yarn is a sport or maybe even a dk weight, so the knitting on these went very quickly. They'll be great for wearing around the house on cool days or evenings. My feet always seem to be a little cold, so finding a good time to wear them should not be a problem!

My next project in line to be started was the June Sockamania pattern, River Valley Socks. I took the yarn and pattern with me over to my parents' house, yesterday, in hopes that I would finish the ones above. Since I did finish, I cast on for these. I'm knitting the toe up version, but used the Magic Cast On from Knitty. It worked well, especially because I did not have the waste yarn with me that would be required to do the crochet cast on called for by the pattern. I like the way that it is turning out and am excited to see how the pattern will begin to zigzag. So far the lace "holes" seem to run straight up the foot, whereas the pattern picture shows a zigzag or scalloped pattern to them. (I've only knit one pattern repeat, so far, and I can see it starting a little, but expect that it will show up even better

Sock Update

I have finished the heel and am over half way through the gusset on the first May Day sock! All is well and this project seems to be the one getting the most attention, lately.

Last night, dh had dinner waiting when I arrived home from work. It was so nice, as I had a not so great day at work...Then, he drove so that I could knit, while we finished a few errands. I had a book to return to the library, and 2 on hold to pick up. I only brought 2 home with me, as the other was not what I expected. I checked out Pursenalities. I took some time in the car to to flip through it. There are a couple ideas that I like and may incorporate any particularly good ones into my design for the International Tote Exchange IV. Last time, I designed my own bag and it was a great hit! After the library, he took me to the driving range. He has been wanting me to take up golf, so this was a natural first step. We each hit a some balls. It was nice to spend some time together, just the two of us without the TV on. I'm sure we'll try it again in a week or two. On the way home, we stopped at the video store. He rented A Night at the Museum, which we watched while eating popcorn that I made at home. It was the perfect end to a not-so-perfect Monday.

More Snowmen & Skates

I worked on Snowmen & Skates some more, last night. I have started knitting the steeks. Its looking great, but I am glad that I'm making the smallest size. Its a ton of work and I tend to grow tired of a project before its done. This project is no exception, but I'm committed to this one. (It is easier to be committed on smaller project! LOL)
The Lacy Mock Cable socks are also getting there...I am working the gusset decreases on the second sock. Sockapalooza and Sockamania have both begun, so I want to get the socks done & start working with Anni's great, new pattern.
Tomorrow, I'm taking the day off from work to meet a friend for lunch and a trip to the Village Yarn and Tea. I'll probably spend the morning knitting or cleaning house. There is so much that could be done.