On The Needles - Sept. 4, 2015

I am still working on my Rose City Roller little footie socks.  I went camping a few days last week and hoped to finish the whole pair, but there were too many other fun things to keep me busy.  I did finish one and started the 2nd.

Rose City Roller pattern - free on Ravelry

We went camping at Montauk State Park in southern Missouri.  It is a beautiful park and the Current River runs right through it and is known especially for trout fishing.  Close by we found a shop called "Rootin Tootin Alpaca Yarns which sells alpaca and many other yarns plus fabric!  Well you know I had to take time out from fishing and check it out.  I resisted buying fabric, but did buy a couple skeins of yarn. Unfortunately they were very low on the alpaca hand dyed and the colors available were dark and drab, so I didn't get any of those.  I bought a variegated Serenity which is superwash merino wool and bamboo in a color called "Purple Spice"  It looks more reddish than purple to me, but since there was purple in the name, I had to buy it. lol  She had lots of patterns, fabrics and notions.

Check out more knitting projects over at Judy's Patchwork Times.

On the Needles

I finally took time to make 2 cakes of this yarn and get a sock started.  I had trouble deciding what pattern to use since the yarn is very different than what I'm used to.  No wool in it and it is very stretchy.  Way back in July I posted more about this yarn.  The yarn is meant for summer socks and I know I'm a bit late for summer, but I'll be early for next year, right?



Here's what it looks like so far.  My first experience with self-striping yarn.  I'm liking the colors and the uneven stripes a lot.   I had wanted to try two socks at a time on this pair, but haven't quite gotten the confidence yet to tackle it and I was anxious to get to have something on my needles quickly, so I could get started.

 To get inspired and see lots of wonderful knitting projects, stop by Judy's Patchwork Times OTN.

A Yarn Finish and Stash Report - Week 36

It's been a few weeks since posting anything because  my life took a sudden and unexpected turn.  I lost a very good friend and quilter.  Barb and I shared so many fun experiences together and we liked many of the same things. I could always count on her being up late like me and we'd talk on the computer or phone about anything and everything.  Her illness was very sudden and she went so quickly that no one could believe it was real.  She was too young to leave us the way she did. It is still hard to believe that we were just on retreat together in mid-July.  Her passing has left an empty place in my heart and life.  I miss her very much.

I have been trying to keep busy with a lot of sewing and knitting the last few weeks.  Not much has been used from my stash, however.  But I did have some fun this week on a mini-shop hop on my way to see Bonnie Hunter in Bloomington, IL.  I picked up fabric for a backing on my Celtic Solstice (this may motivate me to get busy finishing the top) and a couple other small pieces that are for a block exchange and a baby quilt.

I also finished my purple variegated Slip Stitch Ridges socks.  I'm happy with the way these turned out and the fit is better than my last pair.  My only complaint is that I could have made the leg longer had I known so much yarn would be left over.  That is a strong motivation for me to learn the toe up method of making socks so I can use the remainder of the yarn on a pair of socks and not have leftover yarn.

The real color is not as dark as it appears on my computer screen.  They are a softer purple or amethyst color with gray.  Now I'm anxious to try a new pattern and one of my stash yarns to try my luck with the toe up technique on circular needles.

Stash numbers:
Fabric Added - 7.25 yds
Fabric Used - .125 yds
YTD Added - 26.5 yds
YTD Used - 22.72 yds
Net added for 2014 -3.78 yds  

I am linking up with On The Needles (a little late) and the Stash Report over at Judy's Patchwork Times.

On The Needles - Friday, July 18

This week I have another pair of socks started.  They are from a yarn called Serenity by Deborah Norville Collection.  The content is 50% superwash Merino wool, 25% bamboo and 25% nylon.  I bought this yarn about 7 years ago to learn how to knit socks, but after 5 tries and lots of unknitting, I gave up and put it away.  Actually I forgot I had it and just found it in my yarn area. Since I'm starting my 3rd pair, maybe this time it will become a complete pair of socks.  I still love the color and they are so soft and cushy feeling.  Can't wait to get them finished to see how they feel on my feet.

The pattern is called Slip-Stitch Ridges Socks from the book "Teach Yourself Visually" Sock Knitting. The easy leg design and that cool heel is what caught my eye.,  It's new for me and is called the "eye of Partridge heel flap. It's been very easy so far and I really like the way it looks with this yarn.

To see more inspiration on the knitting front, visit Judy's Patchwork Times.