Tickled pink socks

Tickled Pink Socks

Yarn: Shibui Sock in Peony

Needles: #2 Addis (Magic Loop)

Finished: October 19, 2008

I bought this yarn whenever we visited The Loopy Ewe during out vacation in May. I think I was drawn to the name. Peonies remind me of my grandmother. She always had them just outside her back door and they smelled amazing. The pattern, in the event you can't tell, includes Xs and Os. I thought that was kinda clever. I actually completed some socks as part of Socktoberfest. Miracles do happen.

In frame

From the top:

Peppers at the Farmer's Market, where we picked up some locally-grown, fresh produce which we will dine on this evening.

Finished Austerman Step socks, using some yarn gifted to me by Kissed Knitter some time back. They don't match and that's by design, kinda liked that they seemed random and patternless. The yarn, by the way, is to die for, truly wonderful.

Found a rug for my studio, a painted canvas one, just big enough for me to spread out and work on projects.

Another dishcloth and Tribble set, this time it's in a color called Earth Ombre.

A metal box that I snagged at a yard sale over the weekend, not sure what I'll store inside, but something tells me it will be yarn. I am pondering keeping all of my journals here.

22 skeins of this yarn were gifted to me by my parents, who picked it up in Ireland. By the way, they came home yesterday. . . safe and sound.

Here a dishcloth, there a dishcloth, everywhere a dishcloth

I sometimes have trouble finding dishcloth cotton in colors that I actually like. However, in a recent visit to a chain craft store, I found a few that turn my crank. So, I cranked out three more sets, getting a little closer to having enough for our house blessing party, which has yet to be scheduled. I have to admit these are incredibly satisfying knits: most take about one night to knit, they are so utilitarian and I get to play with neat stitches on a small scale. Oh, and I knit little Tribbles to go along with them.

Here's the information for those knitters among you:

I used size 7 straights on all three cloths; all use Lilly Sugar 'n Cream cotton.

Top photo:
Colorway: Guacamole (how could I not love it)
Pattern: My own, just knitted four rows, gave it a garter edge of about 4 stitches and stockinetted the rest.

Middle photo:
Colorway: Desert Rising
Pattern: Chinese Waves Dishcloth

Bottom photo:
Colorway: Tubleweed (This name does NOT fit the colorway)
Pattern: Tiny Fern Stitch Dishcloth

Also in the works:
Socks using some Austermann Step (with jojoba and aloe) yarn that was gifted to me by Kissed Knitter some time back. Lovely colors and so wonderful to knit with.

A puffed sleeved cardigan from Fitted Knits that is starting to seem too big, but I am just not sure; so it's on the backburner.

And some cute Tickled Pink socks using some Shibui in a colorway called Peony.

There! How's that for some boring knitting news?

What's a girl to do in the big city

Well, first of all she finishes a wool cowl in the middle of summer and then tries to figure out a way to steal the table lamp when she leaves.

I actually finished the cowl on the way here, but I did tuck in the ends and steam it with the hotel iron just in time for a horrible mirror shot. Details here:

Birthday Cowl
Pattern from: Novamade
Needles: #8 Addi, 16-inch circular
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted in Bijou Blue
Completed: July 23, 2008

I'm not sure why I made a cowl. I've never worn one, but those darned Ravelry pictures made them look so cute. I envisioned this one worn with my brown sweater and denim jacket on autumn days. It's also made of Malabrigo, so it doesn't get any better. I started this a while back, but with the move and such, it's just been dragged around in a project bag waiting for me to wrap it up. How classy that I took a shot in the hotel mirror wearing my pajamas. This is why I shouldn't travel unassisted.

As for the lamp, it rocks, don't you think? It would be loverly in the new house, but I think it's glued down. The hotel is sweet, the bed comfy and the flat screen awesome.

The trouble with Tribbles

In my quest to make dishcloths for each our guests at our theoretical house blessing party, I came across this pattern. It was much quicker and required less thought than patterned dishcloths, which is good given my mind is on anything but knitting these days.

The pattern is called "Tribbles" and if you are a Star Trek fan, you will know the trouble with Tribbles is that they multiply and in my case have become addictive. I'm embarrassed to say I made all but one of these in one night.

In the event you don't understand what they are: think dish scrubbers.

Knitting up the stash

Amidst all of the action at Chez Ragged, there has been some knitting going on. Atop you can see something that was knit on a bit of a whim. Who doesn't need a green hat with earflaps and tassles. I make no promises that it will be worn, but darnit, it's so very gnomish and cool. The yarn was thick and thin, making it nubby and interesting when knit up.

Next you see the Jaywalker socks that I FINALLY completed. The first sock went quickly, but due to lack of concentration, poor notes or too many butter cookies clogging my arteries, I found myself ripping and re-casting on repeatedly. I just kept getting hung up. Not pleased that they aren't very stretchy, but loved the colors and love the pattern. All-in-all the struggle was worth it: they are a hit.

The photographs do not do the colors in either project justice. Unfortunately I am not getting full use of the extended sunlight hours. For details, check the finished objects section at right.

Isn't she fetching. . .

Fetching
Pattern: Knitty.com
Yarn: Rowan Cashsoft Aram 57% extra fine merino; 33% microfibre; 10% cashmere

Needles: Size 8

Completed: February 1, 2007

Notes: I followed this pattern pretty much verbatim. However, I decided, after looking at the picot bind-off, to use a regular bind-off instead. I struggled with the thumbs a bit, and fiddled with them a bit to assure there weren't any gaps on either side of the opening. I love, love, love this yarn. It felt wonderful to knit with. It feels awesome to wear. I must make more of these. I really think this is a knit I'll wear repeatedly.