Knitting Log for August 3

Yes, there has been some knitting going on in the heat. I'm happily down to three projects and enjoying each one in its turn. Three seems to be my project number of comfort.

A new Mystery Stole 3 clue (a clue is the next part of the pattern) comes out every Friday. Knitting this stole is most fun if I'm ready for the new clue when it appears, so I've been making this my number one knit each Friday until I catch up.

The clues are small enough so I can get them finished in a few days at most.

Today we learned the theme: Swan Lake. The final three clues are going to create a swan wing on the final end of the stole. What fun. There's still some mystery. We don't know how the wing is going to look when finished. I can hardly wait to start Clue 5 this evening.

Project details and picture of my finished Clue 4 are here.

For the August Sock A Month KAL 4 I'm knitting myself a plain, wide ribbing pair of socks out of Opal Rainforest Raupe.

I tried several stitch patterns, but none of them were pretty with this colorway. It just begs to be by itself and show its caterpillar colors.


Raupe is German for caterpillar. I found this picture showing the caterpillar that almost perfectly matches the color patterns I'm getting on 56 stitches with #1 needles.

Identification of the corresponding butterfly has not been accomplished yet due to painfully slow dial-up connection and a desire to go knit instead of searching.

Anybody know what kind of raupe this is?


Last, but not least, is Herbstlied/Autumn Song.

One piece is the front, the other the back. At this point it doesn't matter which is which.

The first section of my chart is done on the big piece. It's time to work on the second piece until it gets to the same row. Then, it's time to cut and paste together a new chart for the next section up.

The stitch patterns all have different row repeats - 8,24,14,6, and 52 rows for the oak leaves. It's easier to knit if I can follow the same chart all the way across.


Pattern: Herbstlied (Autumn Song) from New Style of Heirloom Knitting.

Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes, 100% wool.

Color: Firecracker heather

Needles: Options #5.

Gauge: 5.5 stitches/inch, 8.4 rows/inch in pattern

Click on the label Herbstlied at the end of this post to see all posts on this blog mentioning Herbstlied.

Thinking it would be fun to knit the Sock A Month KAL 4 completely in the month of required completion, I whipped up a pair of CIC socks the last week of July while postponing the start of my August socks.

I like to have something simple around to pick up when I'm tired and/or want to pay attention to something other than my knitting.

They're knit from worsted weight Knitpicks Swish, obviously red, on 40 stitches and #3 needles. Made the pattern up as I knit.

Peaceful Saturday

Finally we're getting a few minutes of rain. It's been a long dry spell here and we desperately need it.

So far it's been a peaceful, gentle type of rain and not anywhere near enough to satisfy the thirsty plants. I'm hoping for more.


After writing Thursday's post, it was obvious the quickest way back to knitting peace would be to finish the Red White Gansey.

By Friday bedtime the Red White Gansey was done - really done with every last end woven in.

This morning it got a bath. It's wet in the picture.

Once the sweater is dry, the weather is dry, and I can snag a photographer, there will be modeled shots.

The knitting scheduler in my head is happy and knitting peace reigns once again. From now on swatching will count as a project and I will not exceed three projects on the needles at one time.


Pattern: White Gansey from Beth Brown-Reinsel's Knitting Ganseys

Yarn: Knitpicks Swish, a worsted weight superwash wool

Color: Pepper Red

Needles: Knitpicks Options #3

Gauge: 6 stitches/inch, 9 rows/inch in stockinette. A very firm gauge for this yarn but great for showing stitch definition.

This morning I picked up Mystery Stole 3 and finished Clue 2.

With the knitting urgency gone, less mistakes were made and it didn't take long at all to complete the second chart.

Clue 3 is printed and ready to roll. It's only 50 rows so there will be no problem getting it done by the time Clue 4 is published next Friday.


Pattern: Mystery Stole 3 By Melanie Gibbons

Yarn: Regia silk fingering weight. 55% merino wool, 20% silk, 25% nylon.

Color: Black. As part of the KAL (Knit-A-Long) we were told that white or black best fit the stole theme.

Needles: Options #4.

For the first time ever, I'm glad it takes a Knitpicks shipment with free shipping over a week to arrive. The Acorn Sweater yarn was ordered last Saturday and still isn't here.

This weekend I'll be listening to Harry Potter audio books, knitting the last swatch for the Acorn Sweater, and sketching out a plan to knit the sweater so it will fit.

Sock Update

Daughter Heather's birthday socks are done and ready for the party in two weeks.

I'm so happy to have them done in plenty of time to avoid pressure knitting.


Pattern: Lilac Sock Pattern by Jean Townsend.

It's free! All you have to do it ask and she sends it to you in .pdf format. Can't beat that deal for a great pattern.

Yarn: Opal sock yarn, 75% wool, 25% nylon

Color: Smoke 1657, available at Fun Knits.

Needles: Addi Turbo #1

Gauge: 8 stitches/inch, 10 rows/inch


Another pair of birthday socks is on the needles.

Mom with a June birthday asked for multicolored socks and a scalloped top. I gave her the choice of several yarns last week, and she picked this one.

Opal calls this color Rainbow, but we all know these are not rainbow colors. They're Skittle colors. I'm calling these the Skittle socks.

I had the skein split to make matching socks. About two inches into the cuff, it was obvious these socks are way too happy and colorful to match, so I changed the plan.


Pattern: Stitch Pattern on cuff from Lacy Scallops Socks by Sockbug. Variations from pattern: A garter stitch top instead of picot cast on and a purl trough in place of the knit in the twelfth stitch.

Yarn: Opal sock yarn, 75% wool, 25% nylon

Color: Rainbow, available at Fun Knits.



Needles: Addi Turbo #1

Gauge: 8 stitches/inch, 10 rows/inch

Resolution Compliance Report for March

In 2007 I half-heartedly resolve to have no more than three unfinished knitting projects at one time.

Three months down and nine to go on my New Year's resolution.

Today, April 1, I have no projects on the needles. It feels strange. I'll be casting on a pair of socks before the night is over.

To get into this rare situation, I had to finish up three pairs of socks this weekend.

Stitch Pattern: Boxed Cables from Vogue Knitting Stitchionary 2.

Yarn: Opal sock yarn, 75% wool, 25% nylon

Color: UNI-Solid 1264. I'm not sure what Opal calls it, but I call it Blue Spruce. It's a little too green to call Teal.

Needles: Addi Turbo #1

Gauge: 8 stitches/inch, 10 rows/inch in stockinette

Inspiration: A friend gave me this yarn from my birthday. When someone gives me yarn, I like to knit it up as soon as reasonable so they know I liked the gift.

Stitchionary 2 was a much appreciated Christmas gift from daughter Heather. Now I can show her the socks to demonstate her good taste in presents.


Pattern: Winging Worsted Weight Socks with a 48 stitch cuff, 42 stitch foot. Small scale gansey type patterning on cuff.

Yarn: Knitpicks Swish, a worsted weight superwash wool

Color: Red pepper

Needles: #3 double points

Gauge: About 6 stitches/inch. Haven't washed socks yet for accurate gauge.

Inspriation: I'm auditioning this yarn for a gansey sweater. With this simple pair of socks I can check out the color, the gauge, the stitch definition, and how it feels while being knit. Most important, especially with superwash yarn, how does it look after being worn and washed multiple times?

Knitpicks advertises this yarn as the "superwash of knitter's dreams." So far I can't argue. It's wonderfully soft merino, a pleasure to knit even at a tight gauge, and has acceptable stitch definition. Final opinion must wait until I've worn and washed these socks a few times.


Pattern: Winging Worsted Weight Socks on 36 stitches.

Yarn: Knitpicks Swish, a worsted weight superwash wool. Opal fingering weight sock yarn carried along.

Color: Coast Gray Swish and Opal Petticoat left over from Gail's Birthday Socks

Needles: #5 double points

Gauge: 5 stitches/inch, 7 rows/inch

Inspriation: Cold kids in Eastern Europe. These socks are for CIC.


Are you wondering about the grim sounding title on this post? It's in memory of all the silly, time wasting, non-productive status reports I had to write during my working career. It makes me smile and count my blessings. Retirement is wonderful.

Saturday Sky and Peerie Brocade

Early this morning the sky was blue with white fluffy clouds - like the left side of the picture. By nine o'clock, picture time, the rain clouds (lower right side of the picture) were moving in between the blue sky and earth.

Now it's late afternoon and we're enjoying a nice, gentle rain. It's 51 F/ 11 C. The predicted high of 61 F/16 C is not going to happen. The extended forecast for next week includes the "S" word. (Snow)


Peerie Brocade was on the needles for about nine months. Regular readers heard many progress reports without much real progress along with reasons why I was knitting on something else.

When I finally picked it up again to finish the sleeves, it was like having a new project that was 95% done. So I finished it.

Yesterday I wore it to Kalamazoo to run errands and have a delicious pizza lunch with Mom. She was nice enough to click a few pictures in front of the restaurant.


Pattern: Peerie Brocade from Fall 1999 Knitter's Magazine. Designed by Charlie Hada.

Pattern Modifications: The original pattern is as long as a three quarter length coat. Mine is shorter, but still plenty long. Also, I left out the button holes and buttons. They won't be missed.

Yarn: Elann's Peruvian Highland Wool

Color: Dusty Teal

Needles: US #4

Gauge: 23 stitches/4 inches in pattern

Inspiration: The pattern caught my eye while I was looking through old Knitter's magazines. This yarn was sitting in plain sight without an intended purpose, so I cast on.

I thought the brocade stitch pattern would hold my interest like knitting a gansey. I should have thought a little longer and realized the stitch pattern never changes in this sweater, unlike a gansey, and there's a lot of yardage to knit.

There I go again. I'm still making excuses for taking so long to finish.

The end result is a warm, wool, super practical sweater. I like it and I'm going to enjoy wearing it on chilly days. It's even big enough I can pop it on over a sweatshirt.

Blue Sky and Blue Sweaters

Blue Sky
It's below freezing in SW Michigan. The ground has refrozen, but there is no snow.

Sympathy to all my online friends who have new measurable snow this weekend.

I'm not gloating, though. There is sure to be more snow here before spring wins the battle over winter.

The oak trees in the picture are still about a month away from having green leaves.


Blue Sweaters
I've been inspired to finish up these two projects by knowing four Japanese knitting books are due to arrive in my mailbox any day now.

Pattern: Peerie Brocade from Fall 1999 Knitter's Magazine. Designed by Charlie Hada.

Yarn: Elann's Peruvian Highland Wool

Color: Dusty Teal

Needles: US #4

Gauge: 23 stitches/4 inches in pattern

Inspiration I had skeins and skeins of Dusty Teal wool purchased to knit Eris. After deciding not to knit Eris, I found the Peerie Brocade pattern and though it looked perfect for a nice warm sweater jacket in Dusty Teal.

The sleeves are not done yet. I knit each sleeve down to a length where I though they were almost long enough. At that point I was out of skeined yarn.


Never fear, though, I had over three skeins worth of Eris swatches to unravel and reuse.

This morning I washed and blocked the sweater to get an accurate feel for how long I need to make the sleeves. I also unraveled and washed the three biggest swatches to have enough yarn to finish. Peerie Brocade is almost done now. As soon as it's dry, it's going to be my primary project until I'm wearing it.


Pattern: Cosy in Cables Big Kid Sweater with the front and back seed stitch center panel replaced by a cable pattern from Lavold's Viking Patterns for Knitting.

Knitting size 40 inches for the CIC big kids challenge.

Yarn: Lamb's Pride Bulky in Brite Blue

Needles: Addi Turbo and Options 10.5

Gauge: 12 stitches/4 inches in SS

My third and last sweater for the challenge ending March 31 is done.

Resolution Compliance Report for February and More Red Socks

In 2007 I half-heartedly resolve to have no more than three unfinished knitting projects at one time.

Two months down and ten to go on my resolution.

Today, March 1, I have three projects on the needles and two more pair of finished CIC socks to post.

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Pattern: Winging Worsted Weight Socks on 40 stitches. k3, p1 ribbing on cuff and instep.

Yarn: Red Patternworks Bretton (70% superwash wool, 25% nylon, and 5% alpaca) with various leftover Opal fingering weight yarn used to bring it up to a worsted weight thickness.

Needles: Pony Pearl #5 double points

Gauge: 5 stitches/inch (approximate, I didn't measure)

Inspiration: Warm socks for the CIC_Knit List big kids challenge.

My personal goal for the challenge is five pair of socks. With these two to send, I'm up to six. An extra pair to finish up the red Bretton yarn seemed like the right thing to do.

See that little scrap of yarn on the left? That's how much Bretton I had left when I finished the last pair. At the end, I was knitting one sock off the outside of the skein and the other sock off the inside of the skein, alternating socks every other row to make sure the toes would Kitchener before the yarn ran out.

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I've started another red pair of socks out of Knitpicks Swish, a superwash wool.

These are for me if they fit. I'm knitting them as a sweater swatch.

More on this project in a few days when I'll have more to show and more to say.

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Pattern: Cosy in Cables Big Kid Sweater with the front and back seed stitch center panel replaced by a cable pattern from Lavold's Viking Patterns for Knitting.

Knitting size 40 inches for the CIC big kids challenge.

Yarn: Lamb's Pride Bulky in Brite Blue

Needles: Addi Turbo and Options 10.5

Gauge: 12 stitches/4 inches in SS

Instead of knitting the sleeves for this last weekend, I knit the socks in the top picture. It's all for the CIC_Knit List big kids challenge, so order of knitting doesn't really matter.

Now that I've exceeded my sock goal, the sleeves will be next on my CIC knitting list.

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Pattern: Peerie Brocade from Fall 1999 Knitter's Magazine. Designed by Charlie Hada.
Yarn: Elann's Peruvian Highland Wool
Color: Dusty Teal
Needles: US #4
Gauge: 23 stitches/4 inches in pattern

Now that thoughts of spring are in the air, I'm getting the urge to wear this.

I need to knit a pair of birthday socks for mid-March. As soon as they're done, Peerie Brocade is going to get finished. After months of not looking at it, I'm looking forward to finishing it.

Crunchy Winter Walk

We've had approximately 40 inches of February snow in SW Michigan. Because it came gradually, the snow on the ground had time to compact as new snow was added.

We've had some days where temps got above freezing with the melting snow freezing into ice when the temperature dropped at night.

Yesterday we had some freezing rain, making a slippery layer of ice on top of everything.

Today it's lightly snowing. There's about a half inch of new snow on the ice layer, making it less slippery.

The complete layer of snow, which is now mostly frozen slush, is about a foot deep. Depth varies depending on how the snow drifted while it was still light enough to be blown around.


For the first time in several weeks, I walked to the back of the property with Glory and Pappy.

Glory, the big dog, broke through the top crust.

Pappy, the 14 pound dog, quickly learned that if he stayed out of Glory's tracks and my tracks, he was able to walk on top of all the accumulated snow except what fell today.


Since I posted the first picture when these socks were almost done, it's a bit redundant to post a finished picture. But I like to be consistent, so a finished picture it is.

All sock details are here.

Worsted weight socks have been my comfort this winter. I finished these Saturday evening and immediately put them on my feet.

The freezing "winter mix" arrived before I went to bed Saturday, and I enjoyed waking up in my bright socks to inspect the damage. Thankfully there was not enough ice to bring down tree limbs and take out power lines, but there was enough ice so I didn't think it wise to walk around outside or drive to church.

Red Scoks for CIC

These socks were knit for the CIC_Knit List big kids challenge ending March 31. This is pair four of my five pair personal goal for the challenge.

Pattern: Susan's Mystery Socks, official sock name not yet revealed.

Yarn: Red Patternworks Bretton (70% superwash wool, 25% nylon, and 5% alpaca) with leftover red and gray Austermann Step 18 carried along.

Needles: Pony Pearl #5 double points

Gauge: 5 stitches/inch (approximate, I didn't measure)

Inspiration: Seeing Pat's red socks.


It was Monday evening and I was settled into my knitting spot wondering what to pick up. My mood was tired from shoveling and I wanted to knit something mindless but interesting.

Looking around at my knitting mess, I spotted the red Bretton from Patternworks and two balls of Austermann Step leftover from my birthday socks.

At that point, I remembered admiring Pat's red socks knit from Susan's Mystery Pattern. I quickly printed off the pattern, sat down and cast on.

I used the smallest ball of Step for the first sock, knit until it was gone, and finished up the foot with some gray Opal UNI-Solid. Then I knit the second sock to match.

For once I followed a pattern exactly - almost. When I got to the toe, I realized I hadn't printed that part of the pattern so I finished with the same toe I always use. It turned out to be the same as Susan's toe except for having one extra row of knit without decreases.

Since the socks are for CIC, I didn't need to worry about fit. Lengthwise they fit me (shoe size 6), but they are a bit too wide for my narrow feet.

As part of writing the pattern, Susan wrote an excellent tutorial on how to Kitchener . Using her 3 basic rules and 2 easy steps, anyone can master the Kitchener stitch.

Knitting Log for February 19

Pattern: 66 stitch basic sock. Stitch pattern here along with closeup view.

Yarn: Special Blauband fingering weight, 80% wool, 20% nylon

Color: Washington Redskin Maroon, as requested by son John for his birthday socks.

Needles: Addi Turbo #1.

Gauge: 8 stitches/inch, 10 rows/inch

Son John's birthday socks are done a month early. I'll probably wait a few weeks before mailing them.


Pattern: Cosy in Cables Big Kid Sweater with the front and back seed stitch center panel replaced by a cable pattern from Lavold's Viking Patterns for Knitting.

Knitting size 40 inches for the CIC big kids challenge.

Yarn: Lamb's Pride Bulky in Brite Blue

Needles: Addi Turbo and Options 10.5

Gauge: 12 stitches/4 inches in SS

When this is washed, the purl troughs will open up making it wider and in the right proportion of length to width.

My hands need a rest from the big needles. Next weekend I'll knit the sleeves.


I've figured out enough of the Japanese Knitting Pattern Book 250 (details on book here ) to start a swatch of the stitch pattern on the cover.

This is only the first 16 rows of a 32 row lace pattern.

The swatching has no purpose other than to prove to myself I can figure out the chart. I can, so I'm not sure if I'll take time to finish it or not.

The swatch is fingering weight left-over Opal UNI-solid knit with a US #2 needle.

I'll write a post with links to helpful aids in figuring out Japanese knitting soon. There doesn't seem to be as many of them as I imagined there might be.

Cold Weather Inspires Warm Socks

Pattern: Winging Worsted Weight Socks. 40 stitches around. k3, p1 ribbing in cuff and down instep.

Yarn: Patternworks Bretton in navy and Opal Cool Ocean 226

Needles: Pony Pearl dps #5

Gauge: 5 stitches/inch, 7 rows/inch

Last autumn while searching for the perfect worsted weight washable sock yarn (I found it - It's Jarbo Garn Raggi), I ordered a few skeins of Patternworks Bretton to try. The blend, 70% superwash wool, 5% alpaca, 25% nylon sounded perfect for making tough, warm, winter socks.

When the yarn arrived, it was nothing like I imagined.

It's a delicate feeling yarn, not tough. And it's a silky feeling yarn, not fuzzy warm. It was listed in their catalog as worsted weight, but if someone handed me an unmarked ball I would call it sport weight and I think they should too. The socks shown in the Patternworks catalog knit with Bretton are knit on #3 needles. I don't think I could knit worsted weight yarn on #3 needles.

Fast forward to Saturday. I finished Frode and it has two sleeves! There will be pictures sometime this week after it is washed and blocked.

The Saturday weather was cold and almost frightening and I decided to knit myself another pair of worsted weight socks before picking up the Peerie Brocade sleeves.



I grabbed the Bretton and a leftover wad of Opal Cool Ocean 226, and used them together to get a worsted weight gauge and a very pretty dark blue tweedy looking pair of snuggly warm socks. For me.

They're so nice, I might even use this yarn combination again for heavy socks. It could be a fun way to use up my leftover balls of Sock yarn.


The official temperature at the Kalamazoo airport last night - not the windchill, but the actual temperature - was 15 below zero (F).

The little dogs can only stand to have their feet on the ground for a few minutes at a time. We've been taking them out one by one on a leash.

The leash keeps them in the shoveled area, which helps keep the snow out of their paws and maybe gives them an extra minute or two before their feet freeze.

Going out individually, they don't waste their outdoor minutes trying to play with each other instead of doing their business before they can't stand up anymore.

It's supposed to warm up to 20 degrees (F) by Friday. It's going to feel like a heat wave.

Resolution Compliance Report for January

In 2007 I half-heartedly resolve to have no more than three unfinished knitting projects at one time.

One month down and eleven to go on my resolution. Maybe by the end of the year having less projects on the needles will be a new habit.

Today, February 1, I only have two projects - both sweaters - on the needles.

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Pattern: Frode (with modifications) by Elsebeth Lavold in Viking Patterns for Knitting
Yarn: Knitpicks Shamrock, 100% Peruvian wool, heavy worsted weight
Color: MacNamara
Needles: Addi Turbo #6
Gauge: 20 stitches/4 inches 28 rows/4 inches
Note: Size XS, 37.75 inches. Knitting for CIC_Knit List big kids sweater challenge.

If you're curious about the pattern modifications and/or my thoughts on the yarn, I wrote about both here.

The right sleeve (on the left side of the picture) is done.

The left sleeve (on the right side of the picture) is six inches long.

Normally I have no idea now long it takes to knit something. I started an audio book at the beginning of the sleeve and now the six hour book is done. So, that six inches of sleeve took six hours to purl. Doesn't that seem like a long time for something with no stitch pattern?

This sweater is going to stay as my active project until it's done. That last sleeve is getting narrower and narrower. It won't be long now.

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Pattern: Winging Worsted Weight Socks 40 stitches around

Yarn: Knitpicks Shamrock, 100% Peruvian wool, heavy worsted weight

Color: MacNamara

Needles: #5 Pony Pearl double points

Gauge: 5 stitches/inch

Since there is going to be leftover yarn from Frode, there are matching socks.

Earlier in the week while I was sore from shoveling snow, I cast on this pair for a little relief from the endless Frode sleeve purling.

This is the third of five pair of socks I plan to knit for the CIC_Knit List big kids challenge.

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Pattern: Peerie Brocade from Fall 1999 Knitter's Magazine. Designed by Charlie Hada.
Yarn: Elann's Peruvian Highland Wool
Color: Dusty Teal
Needles: US #4
Gauge: 23 stitches/4 inches in pattern

I could have worked on these sleeves for purling relief instead of knitting socks, but decided against it. Next time I pick up this sweater, I don't want to switch projects again until it's done.

Seems like I remember I was going to wear this on the cool autumn days of 2006. It's a few months overdue. Maybe even three projects on the needles at once is too many?

No, I don't think so. Three seems to be working for me. I just need to be realistic about how long it takes to knit a large sweater at 23 stitches/4 inches when other projects keep grabbing my attention.

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Since getting the new camera my picture folders are full of bird pictures.

Here's a male cardinal looking like he owns the world.

I stocked up on bird seed today. There will be some serious weather whining this weekend as the wind chills dip below zero and the snow just keeps coming down.

Sleeve, Socks, and Snow

Some knitting is getting done, but not as much as you might think considering we're up to our knees in snow.

Yesterday we had to dig out so I could make a two hour crown prep appointment at the dentist twenty miles away. Wouldn't want to miss that fun.

Today there's more snow and I could star in a BENGAY ad if I had some BENGAY. I'm not planning to shovel out again just to buy some.



Pattern: Frode (with modifications) by Elsebeth Lavold in Viking Patterns for Knitting

Yarn: Knitpicks Shamrock, 100% Peruvian wool, heavy worsted weight

Color: MacNamara

Needles: Addi Turbo #6

Gauge: 20 stitches/4 inches 28 rows/4 inches

Note: Size XS, 37.75 inches. Knitting for CIC_Knit List big kids sweater challenge.

To see a post with picture of pattern, list of modifications I'm making, and discussion of the Shamrock yarn, go here.

One sleeve done, second sleeve not started. Maybe this afternoon, maybe tomorrow. Or, I may do the neck next for a break in the sleeve action.

The marker pins are counting the decrease rows. The aqua pins are one decrease row, the coral pins are five decrease rows. I'm leaving them in until the second sleeve is done so the second sleeve will match even if I can't find the little piece of paper where I wrote it all down.

Even more likely, I'll be able to find the little piece of paper but won't be sure what I wrote on it. The pins are way more reliable than my notes.

Pattern: Winging Worsted Weight Socks 40 stitches around

Yarn: Paton's Classic Wool Merino

Color: Red

Needles: #5 Pony Pearl double points

Gauge: 5 stitches/inch

This is the second of five pair of socks I plan to knit for the CIC_Knit List big kids challenge.

Worsted weight socks feel like comfort knitting while I'm sore from shoveling. The third pair is on the needles and will be done soon. Maybe even before that second sleeve.


Pappy thinks if I really loved him I would shovel out more places for him to do his business.

I do love him. He can go in the driveway if he wants a shoveled spot. And he better hurry, the driveway is filling up with snow as I write.

Sky, Socks, and Shade of Purple

When the sky is monotone dreary, I like to include some bleak landscape in the Saturday sky picture for more interest.

My personal rule: If it's winter and the roads are safe and the power is on, I will not complain about the weather. So, if this sounds like complaining, it isn't.

Last week we had unseasonably warm weather, but the temps have fallen back below freezing today in preparation to deliver the snow and sleet forecast for tomorrow (Sunday).

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The little balls of Raggi left over from my Raggi socks were sitting on the table near my favorite knitting spot.

A few evenings ago when I couldn't face knitting another row of Peerie Brocade (yes, I'm plugging away at that second sleeve), I picked up some size 5 needles, took a guess at how big I could make CIC socks with the leftover Raggi, cast on 32 stitches, and enjoyed knitting these pretty little things.

I think they're just big enough to qualify for the CIC_Knit List big kids challenge. If not, some little CIC kid can wear them and be warmer.

Pattern: Basic 32 stitch sock with k3p1 ribbing cuff and instep

Yarn: Jarbo Garn Raggi, 70% wool, 30% nylon, heavy worsted weight available at Patternworks

Color: 1562 - denim surprise

Needles: Addi Turbo #5

Gauge: 5 stitches/inch, 7 rows/inch in stockinette

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This quiz does an excellent job of taking some of my personality challenges and stating them as positive attributes. Also, I like the color grape a lot.

You Are Grape

You are bold and a true individual. You are very different and very okay with that. People know you as a straight shooter. You're very honest, even when the truth hurts. You are also very grounded and practical. No one is going to sneak anything by you. People enjoy your fresh approach to life. And it's this honesty that makes you a very innovative person.

What Color Purple Are You?

Birthday Socks Done

Pattern: Basic sock with wide ribbing on cuff and instep

Yarn: Austermann Step with Aloe Vera and Jojoba Oil, a Christmas gift from John, Anne, and Sydney

Color: 18 (grays and red)

Needles: Addi Turbo #1

Gauge: 8 stitches/inch, 10 rows/inch

Thank you John, Anne, and Sydney for this wonderful, soft, pretty sock yarn which is now my finished pair of birthday socks.

The socks are going to sit by my knitting place for a few days so I can fondle them. I'm going to wait until my birthday, January 20, before wearing them. I'll even plan ahead and have something red clean to wear with them. Because who wants to wear gray on their birthday?


I'm conservative enough to like my socks to somewhat match what I'm wearing.

Here is the quiz to prove it:

You scored 76% which means you are

conservative.

You believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values and a strong national defense. Believe the role of government should be to provide people the freedom necessary to pursue their own goals.

Conservative or Liberal
Create MySpace Quizzes

The Socks Are In the Mail and Silly Coffee Quiz

Pattern: Basic 64 stitch sock with k7p1 wide ribbing on cuff and instep
Yarn: Opal sock yarn, 75% wool, 25% nylon
Color: Magic 1044
Needles: Addi Turbo #1
Gauge: 8 stitches/inch, 10 rows/inch

Last night I finished them up and early this morning took a few pictures and packaged them up for their trip to DIL Anne in Idaho.

It wasn't the right time of day for taking pictures. The colors are more accurate (and prettier) in yesterday's post.

Just so you don't think I'm superknitter, the progress picture in yesterday's post was not taken yesterday. I don't remember what day it was taken, but I can't finish a pair of socks from the bottom of the cuff to the Kitchener in one day.

You are a Black Coffee

At your best, you are: low maintenance, friendly, and adaptable At your worst, you are: cheap and angsty You drink coffee when: you can get your hands on it Your caffeine addiction level: high

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

You can't expect too much accuracy with only five questions.

The black coffee coffee part is correct. And, I am addicted to coffee but I ration it out like a drug - one cup first thing in the morning, a second cup at lunch. Anymore than that and I'm totally over caffeinated. Not a pleasant feeling.

"Angsty" is not in the dictionary. Is it a slang word I don't know?

I looked up angst, just to see how insulting this quiz was being.

An acute but unspecific feeling of anxiety; usually reserved for philosophical anxiety about the world or about personal freedom

Maybe that explains what I could be if I didn't have my knitting to keep me calm.

Test Knitters Wanted for Big Kids Cozy in Cables

Pattern: Cozy in Cables size 32 inches

Yarn: Lamb's Pride Bulky

Color: Deep red

Needles: US #10.5

Gauge: 3 stitches, 4.5 rows per inch in stockinette


Anyone interested in test knitting a Cozy in Cables sweater pattern for the big kids in one of three sizes, 32", 36", 40"?

This is how it will work -

I supply: the pattern, support, communication, and corrections as they're found.

You supply:

• Yarn - The 32" size takes about 600 yards of bulky (3 stitches/inch) yarn. I haven't knit the larger sizes so you get to tell me the yardage required.
  
  
• Time - Ideally the sweater should be done by Monday. (That's a joke.)
  I'd like to get the sweaters knit by January 15 so we can share the pattern with the rest of the list.
  
  
• Knitting skill - The pattern is easy, no sew, drop sleeves, boat neck. You do need to have enough knitting insight to recognize when there's a typo or other problem.
  
  
• Feedback - I need to know every problem you encounter so I can edit and correct the pattern for the CIC_Knit List.

Our reward? A pattern the list can use to create easy, attractive, warm sweaters for the CIC_Knit List big kids.

Interested? e-mail Me or leave a blog comment with questions and/or to sign up. I will let you know where the pattern is and add you to my distribution list of test knitters.

Not sure you can get done in time? Give it a try. Worst that can happen is you'll have a big kid sweater to send to CIC for the challenge after the pattern is published.