socks, socks, more socks!

i just finished this pair last night.  that's 2 pairs finished in less than a week!  this pair was my June/July vacation project...a pair of socks is easy to take along.  but i didn't have enough knitting time on the trip to get 'em done.  i spent a good portion of our 2 week trip out west looking at scenery and trying to take pictures instead of knitting.  ah well.  they're done now!

pattern: Twilight from 2-at-a-time Socks by Melissa Morgan-Oakes
needles: US1 40" circular
yarn:  Knit Picks Essential Kettle Dyed in Bordeaux

since i still haven't posted anything about our trip, i'll just mention that we took a road trip out west with my parents.  our drive took us through Glacier National Park, across Idaho, to the Spokane,WA area where we visited with my cousin and his family and then on to Mount Rainier.  from there we went over to see the Pacific Ocean and then up the coast through the Olympic National Forest with its beautiful rainforests!  fans of the Twilight series will know that the story's main setting is Forks, WA.  that's right...we went right through Forks and even took the drive over to La Push {beautiful!}!  if you haven't already figured it out, I am indeed a Twilight fan--i can't wait 'til they get all the movies done but so far, the books are still better!  so now take a look at the name of this sock pattern and you'll see why i chose it for my trip project.  (besides, it doesn't scream "I'm a crazy Twilight fan!" but i still thought it was fitting!) after touring the northwestern part of washington, we headed down to Yellowstone and after a couple days at Yellowstone, we headed back home to minnesota.  it was a busy, but good trip!  and one of these days i'll go thru my hundreds of pictures and maybe post a few!

new socks

at last!  i've been working on this pair since november 9, 2009.  of course, i've done a bunch of other projects in the meantime, but it feels so good to have these on my feet instead of still on my knitting needles!

pattern: Elfine's socks by Anna Bell 

needles: size US2 

yarn: Jojoland Melody Superwash yarn in MS16 (blues/greens)

sock knitting

i finished a pair of socks for my 3 year old. they turned out so cute!


Yarn: Zitron Trekking XXL {color #52} leftovers
Pattern: The Classic Sock by Melissa Morgan-Oakes from her book 2-at-a-time Socks
{adapted for toddler size}

the only problem i've discovered with making toddler socks is how slippery they tend to be on our kitchen floor. since i don't want my son to fall on his face every time he tries to walk thru the kitchen, i decided to add a little grip to the soles of his new sockies. i dug out my old puffy paints from my craft stash and made a pattern of tiny dots on a good portion of his sock soles. {i used the blue paint since it was the best match!} after letting it dry a couple days, we tried them on again and tested them on the kitchen floor once more. it worked! cj can safely walk in the kitchen wearing his new knit socks without slipping and falling! yay! and since the paint dots are so very small and not very puffy, it doesn't appear to make them uncomfortable like the grippy stuff i've seen used on some slipper-socks.


Yarn: Zitron Trekking XXL {color #52}
Pattern: Muscari by Suzi Anvin
{adjusted pattern slightly to knit 2-at-a-time on one 40" circular needle}

as you can see, i used up a bit of leftover yarn from this pair of socks i made for myself back in march. cj's aren't quite as fancy as mine, but ever so cute on him!

all in all, i'm very pleased with the results!

getting ready...

...for a trip to new orleans next week! i've never been to louisiana, so this will be a new place to experience.

i really don't have time to blog but i want to post something so here's a few pics.

first, my "frogparty" socks. finished at last. (sigh of relief.) *smile* now what to do?

and yes, if you look close, my legs were slightly hairy when i took the pic. what can i say? i didn't shave that day. and my leg hairs grow way too fast if you ask me.

next we have T and cj sitting and veggin' together after getting haircuts. cj has been practicing scowling at us lately too. i'm not exactly sure what face he has on in the pic. it's not quite a scowl, but not a smile either.

and finally, there's bubba. being a goofy 9 year old.

don't look too close to his teeth. they're yellow. again. can't seem to get him to brush enough. amazingly he's never had a cavity (yet). we have dental appointments next month. i wonder what he'll do if (and when) he has to get a tooth filled. (actually, i know what: he'll freak out.)

my crazy 2 year old is screaming in his crib cuz he doesn't wanna nap. too bad. momma says it's naptime. no arguing. but i'd better go calm him down and tell him so.

yummy yarns!

i finally took some pics of my new yarns today. these were the ones gifted to me (via cash) for Christmas. thanks, mom and dad!

yarn #1:
Valley Yarns Franklin Kangaroo Dyer sock yarn
color: frogparty













i have to admit it. i especially enjoy the name of this yarn's color. but i do love the pink & green combo and knitting with this makes me think of spring! so it's a good yarn for me in the dead of winter.

here's what it looks like when knitting 2 socks at the same time on 1 40" circular needle. it's quite ingenious and i'm really enjoying working like this!













here's sock A. you can tell 'cuz it's the one with the stitch marker in the corner!













here's sock B. i stretched it a little so you can see how the pattern and yarn will look when i'm finished and can wear these.













yarn #2:
Plymouth Yarn Company Happy Feek DK sock yarn
color: 52 (blues/greens)













this is a little bit thicker sock yarn so should knit a little faster. i only bought one skein, so might have to make ankle socks with this. not that that's a problem!

yarn #3:
Regia Design Line by Kaffe Fassett sock yarn
Exotic color: Pool (purples, blues, greens)













i've been accused of being a lover of all things blue. maybe it's true since two of these yarns are very blue-ish. hmmmm.

yarn #4:
Zitron Trekking (XXL) sock yarn
color: 52

















as you can see, this particular yarn is very colorful. there are oranges, reds, blues, greens, browns, pinks, and purples!

all in all, i love my new yarns and hope that i don't knit too quickly with them since i can't afford to purchase more right now!