I've been chugging along on the garter rib socks whenever I get a few minutes to spare and they are coming along nicely...I think another inch or so then I'll start the regular ribbing at the cuff.

You can kind of see the change in stripe sequence where I changed needle size. I usually go up a size an inch or so into the leg of the sock. It is my personal pet peeve when ribs/patterns aren't evenly stretched down the sock so I change needle sizes to make myself happy...

I've also been doing a little spinning....still working on that Celebration from Spunky Eclectic. I get a double helping of each month's yarn because I like to have enough to complete a (somewhat) substantial project with the yarn I make. Of course, I haven't actually knit with my handspun....but I'm about to change that.

I've been swatching...and I'm in love.

This is a little design I've had in my head while I've been spinning up this yarn. Its super simple but I think it highlights the handspun's long color changes quite nicely (and also disguises the few thick and thin spots in the yarn).

I still haven't decided on the final design. Either a v-neck pullover or a zipped cardigan. Either way, it will have deep corrugated ribbing at the bottom and at the cuffs. The other yarn is Rowan Yorkshire Aran Tweed, which I like ok. I have a skein of Debbie Bliss tweed I might also swatch up if the mood strikes.

Theres also a little project I've been working up...dyeing some of my own yarns. I get a lot of inspiration from munchkin's kiddo books. They are full of such amazing color combinations--here is my first skein:

The colors come from the Dr. Seuss books and the base yarn is a really soft Merino-Tencel Blend (from Paradise Fibers). I can't wait to start knitting it up!

I also caved and signed up for the Sumptuous Sock Yarn Club by Zen Yarn Garden. I just couldnt resist the potential of silk and cashmere sock yarn. yum!

Posted by fruitychick at 05:30 PM | Permalink

I'm furiously trying to finish the Secret of the Stole clue 1. This whole knitting under a deadline is weird--I feel like I'm making great progress on the Stole but my other knits are languishing...

Here is how I'm guessing things will go:

1. I will stay up too late trying to finish the first clue.
2. I will barely finish and drag myself to bed only to be awoken 25 minutes later by the munchkin
3. As soon as we get up in the morning, I'll print out clue 2, adore it for a while. I might even make some notes on it.
4. I'll knit a few rows
5. I'll lose interest and knit/spin other things until--oh, Wednesday of next week at which point I'll realize its almost time for the next clue to come out and I have limited time to finish clue 2.

rinse, lather, repeat.

I'll post pictures when I finish clue 1. (notice how I didn't "tomorrow"--I'm leaving myself some outs here people.)

Posted by fruitychick at 06:11 PM | Permalink

I think I might need to join some type of support group or something. I've become totally addicted to Ravelry...

I spent the morning taking photos of the (sadly) small amount of stash I have here with me in le crappy apartment. Its amazing--even with this small amount here, I've realized just how much I had forgotten. Like this:

I love this KPPPM. Its so colorful. I ordered it from an online yarnshop and, by mistake, got two different dyelots but, you know, I think I like them just the way they are: matching but not exact.

I also fell back in love with this tilli tomas sweater kit:

The yarn is for the Simple Knitted Bodice. I bought it quite a while ago and it got buried in the depths of the stash where it was quickly forgotten. I even have a second tilli tomas sweater kit as well..

I think I am really going to enjoy doing some stash digging when I'm reunited with it in (hopefully) a few weeks once we get moved...

until then...all I have is some pictures of the old tubs-o-yarn.

On the left is the sock yarn and on the right is the rest of the yarn stash (both as of Februarish). My fiber stash isnt pictured but its about an additional 4ish tubs. I can't wait to go digging in there and find all the great yarns I know I already have!

Posted by fruitychick at 10:02 AM | Permalink

Doesnt it look great?

Well, it didnt feel great. After a period of fierce denial and repeated counting, I finally realized the problem: I knit an odd number of short row sections on the leg portion, which made the whole thing off kilter. I had to rip back an entire naptime's worth of work. GRR!!! I'm back to working the leg now....its going to be longer than I had wanted but it will all be ok.

Secret of the Stole starts today! I printed out my instructions and chart already and now, I'm just hoping Webs will come through and actually deliver my yarn today so I can knit the clue up over the weekend. I dont know why I always expect webs to have speedy processing and delivery--I guess because most places do. Bella knitting, for example, shipped my order within 2 HOURS of my order. Webs took fourish days. I realize they are busy but four days? how long does it take a person to walk to a shelf, take two cones of yarn off of it, throw them in a box and stick a mailing label to it?

I do have some back up yarn (Lornas Laces Helen's Lace in a lovely burgundy color); however, since my swift is in storage, I am not relishing winding 1250 yards of laceweight by hand since I will most likely end up with a 52 dollar silk/wool knot rather than a stole.

Posted by fruitychick at 08:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)