Moving My Blog

I've moved my blog over to WordPress. You can find it at Knitting is my Free Therapy.

*Poke Poke* Are You Still Alive?

Yes, yes I am. Crazy busy though! I got a job in August, although it's only a temp job through May. But, for awhile at least, I am employed and I can afford a bit of yarn.

I know that I've kind of left this blog behind, even though I've been thinking about posting. It took me a while to log in tonight because it apparently my password was wrong, even after I reset it. So, after 2 resets, I was able to log in

I don't know how much I'll be updating until after the holidays, and perhaps then it will be a fresh start. Perhaps a fresh start on another blog server.

Sock Plunge III, End of Week 4

Start of week four already. I've got another good start on this pair of socks. I've completed the leg, heel flap, and turned the heel. I've gotten all of the stitches picked up and ready to start on the gusset. This is the best start on the week I've gotten so far.

This week I'm knitting up SWTC Tidal Wave Sock (pdf) pattern using Premier yarns, Deborah Norville Serenity in Sapphire. My color of the yarn is not the same as on the website though.

I was debating on continuing the pattern down the instep, but I don't think that I will. It will make the instep and sole quicker to knit up.

Here's to the fourth week!

Sock Plunge III, End of Week 3

For the third week, I have accomplished my goal. This week I finished my Grey and Pink Lady Jaywalkers. I also started my next sock. I have one more repeat on the leg, then it's off to the heel!

Project June: Jaywalker Socks

Month: June

Project: Jaywalkers

Completed: One sock, up to the toe on second sock

I've lacked on post a project for this month. I've been so busy just knitting socks and knowing that I've got to get a pair done each week. I wanted to stay on track with this for the year, so I've picked a project.

This is the third pair for the month and for the year. I thought it would be more difficult to stick with this pattern, the same two rows over and over, but it hasn't been so bad.

Just have the toe to complete on the second sock and I'll be done with another pair.

Sock Plunge III, Week 3 Goals

So here we are, the start of week three, and I'm still on track. Yesterday I achieved a huge head start on this week by getting the entire leg knitted of the first sock of my third pair. Today, I've finished the heel flap, turning the heel, and the gusset decreases. I've got a good bit of the instep already knitted. I'd feel extremly accomplished if I could have this sock done tomorrow! It's quite possible, but life has a way of happening and destinies change. I just feel good about having this much of the sock done at the end of Monday.

I'm knitting the Jaywalker pattern in Patons Stretch, Sugar colorway.

Sock Plunge III, End of Week 2

I feel like I did really well this week, completing my two socks, plus almost one leg of a new pair. When Thursday rolled around and I didn't have one sock completed, I wondered if I was going to make it this week. Lots of knitting. And yes, I did a lot of other things this week. So, for what I accomplished this week.

Sock Plunge III, Week 2 Goals

Here we are on week two, and I successfully completed week one! For this week I plan to finish the second sock from each pair that I finished last week. I have the cuff completed, ready to start on the leg of the darker socks, and I'm through one pattern repeat on the bright colored socks, with one and a half repeats to go before I start the heel.

I feel like I've got a good start this week, so we'll see what happens!

Sock Plunge III, End of Week 1

I finished two socks this week, plus got a start on both socks for next week. Not much of a start, but a bit is better than nothing. I met my goal for the first week of Sock Plunge III. Only 51 more weeks to go. 51 more pairs of socks. Yeah, I can totally do this.

Socks on Left
Pattern: Tessellating Lace Socks
Yarn: Yarn Bee, Walk Away, Toe Hold

Socks on Right
Pattern: Socks A La Carte
Yarn: Patons, Kroy Stripe, Mulberry Stripe

Sock Plunge III, Week 1 Goals

Sock Plunge III enters it's first of 52 weeks. Goal? knit 52 complete pairs of socks in 52 weeks. Crazy, no?

Since this adventure starts on a Monday, my week will start on a Monday. Hopefully I'll be a proficient enough blogger to remember to make a post each Monday with that week's goals. And perhaps I'll be a proficient enough blogger to remember to make a post each Sunday with what I accomplished in the week.

We know that won't happen, so go ahead and laugh.

So, onto this week's goals.

First, of course, is to finish two socks. Two makes a pair, even if they are just one sock from two different pairs, right? Oy, did that make sense to anyone?

My plan is to have two different pairs going each week. One pair on my size 1 needs and another pair on my size 2. I'm hoping that it will break the boredom of a sock pattern, not cause second sock syndrome, and keep me going through this plunge.

Pictures will be posted on Sunday of completed work for the week.

Project May: Spiral Socks

Month: May

Project: Spiral Socks

Completed: Both Socks

Aside from working through printing errors in the book, the socks came out fairly well. They fit, which is the most important thing. I was worried about the second sock coming out in a similar stripe effect after the cuff started to pool,but with the stitch count and pattern, they both worked out to be very closely matched. I'm thrilled with the yarn, and have some more already wound into cakes, waiting to be made into a wonderful sock.

Pattern: Socks A La Carte
Yarn: Premier Yarn, Deborah Norville Serenity Sock Yarn, Amethyst

(Yes, I did back date this...)

New Scale & Fiber Converter

I got myself a kitchen scale today to weigh a skein of yarn after I've knit something with it so that I know how much I used for that project. I know, the 1st picture doesn't look that great, but that's just how it's going to be. I love that you can place the scale in the weighing bowl and place a lid over it. That feature will make it a joy to travel with. I don't know if I'll use the bowl when it comes to weighing the yarn. I'll try it out a few different ways and see what I prefer.

Now, I'm not a math person at all. I suck at math. Conversions I'm even worse at. So of course, I search on line to find a converter to do the work for me (I mean, why not?). This converter I've come across is great for fiber lovers. It converts yards to meters, meters to yards, ounces to grams and grams to ounces.

I can't wait to start trying this out. I'll be posting the link in one of my sidebars. You can also click here to get to the converter.

I've found another yarn count converter that I like much more. Click here for that one.

52 Pair Plunge

I just joined a group on Ravelry called 52 Pair Plunge III.

I must be crazy.

52 pairs of socks in a year. 52 pairs of socks between June 1, 2009 and May 31, 2010.

Totally crazy.

Time to add another goal widget!

At least socks are portable....it will be the only thing I work on I think. Guess what my projects of the month are going to be?

How many pairs do you think I'll finish? Place your bets now!

I Have a Case of Startitis

I have a major case of startitis.

I started a pair of Musica Mitts today during my evening knitting group.

Then I came home and casted on for another Weekender Lace Wrap (No picture yet!).

There's a shrug that I want to cast on and start working on, raglan style. I want to cast on for a Booga Bag with some yummy Malabrigo.

Oh yeah, and there are these socks that I just started. I've finished the heel and the gusset for the first one. Socks are from Socks A La Carte.

I also have a hat that I've started, Selbu Modern.

I've got an unfinished shawl I'm working on when I feel like it. I think I'll be good on projects...For now!

Flip Page Errors in Socks A La Carte

Wanted to make anyone with this book aware with some printing problems I've come across. Taking this directly from a post I made in the Ravelry group for Socks A La Carte.

I was using my flip pages and found some problems in my book, so you might want to check yours. I’ve only done this with the heel/toe part because I think it’s just a case of mislabeling.

In my book I have two flip pages labeled for:
Dutch Heel with Star Toe
V Heel with Origami Toe
Round Heel with Star Toe

In my book I don’t have flip pages labeled for:
V Heel with Double Decrease Toe
Dutch Heel with Double Decrease Toe
Round Heel with Classic Toe

I hope that everyone can follow the next part. Post any questions you may have.

1. V Heel with Double Decrease Toe - This is the 1st flip page labeled V Heel with Origami Toe. This is the 7th flip page.

2. Dutch Heel with Double Decrease Toe - This is the 2nd flip page labeled Dutch Heel with Star Toe. This is the 15th flip page.

3. Round Heel with Classic Toe - There is not a flip page for this heel/toe. Both flip pages labeled Round Heel with Star Toe are that heel/toe combo. These flip pages are 12 and 13.

I Think I Like Socks

These pictures say it all...Mind you, this is just what I have upstairs and could find....I know there's at least one 100g ball missing.

And yes, I did take the time to turn the balls into cakes. Cakes are better than balls.

Yes, I'm aware that sounded a bit dirty. That was the point. :)

Project May: Spiral Socks

Month: May

Project: Spiral Socks

Completed: One sock

Getting through this pair quickly. Aside from dealing with a few errors, they aren't all that bad to knit. The toe decreases didn't have any errors, so that was a plus!

I'm hoping that I can get the second sock to stripe as this one did. I'll keep messing around until I can get it close to the same effect.

Worst. Project. Ever

I'm glad that I got this kit for free, because I would have hated to think I paid the amount it retailed for. I despised knitting this with every stitch I knitted. I'm sure out there somewhere there's someone that enjoyed knitting this. The kit is for a elephant shaped baby bib, a hat, and rattle.

I have my reason for disliking it, as did someone else who knitted the same bib. The yarn supplied varied in thickness, even though it was the same brand of yarn. Along with that, the yarn seemed to be too thin to really work up well. Doing the intarsia wasn't enjoyable because of the yarn. Using metal needles wasn't a wise choice, but it was all I had at the time. As this was a gift, I needed to get it done.

I was knitting it for a friend of my aunt's. Her friend and her friend's husband are originally from India. It's good luck for an elephant to have it's trunk turned up, from what my aunt tells me. So when I was offered this kit, I knew it was perfect.

Off I went, started knitting, and disliked it from the start. It was difficult to work on because I just wanted to be done with it. I stuck with it to get it done and was thrilled when it was off the needles. I pinned it out to block it before sewing a backing on it. The bib stayed pin for a few weeks.

Finally got around to backing it, forgoing the crocheted edging. Lets just say the the backing didn't work out too well. That got removed, and I just gave the bib to my aunt. I was sick of looking at it and wanted it out of my sight.

And the finished project looks....Kind of scary. I've started the peanut shaped rattle, but it's not priority. The bib was.

If you would like to knit this kit, you can purchase it here.

Project May: Spiral Socks

Month: May

Project: Spiral Socks

Status: Leg completed on first sock


I just started these socks from the Socks A La Carte book. I'm work with Serenity Sock yarn from the Deborah Norville collection in the Amethyst. I am loving this yarn! This colorway isn't long enough to self stripe, but I cast on in just the right spot to make it stripe. I'm hoping I can achieve the same effect on the second sock. Despite working around errors, these are coming along quickly and shouldn't be a problem to complete. These are also the socks I started on while waiting in line at the Vera Bradley sale.

May's Project of the Month

Pick Three...With Three Errors?

I love the Socks A La Carte book. I love the concept of it. What I don't love is that I think I've found three errors...In each of my choices for my first pair of socks from the book. That's not real reassuring.

I'm posting this to my blog to see if it's just me, or if it's the book. One I know for sure is an error, the other two I need confirmed.

Cuff: I chose the Upward Spiral Cuff, page 29. There are four rounds to complete this pattern. Rounds 1 and 3 are the same, and those are right. Rounds 2 and 4 can't be done the way they are instructed and the stitches line up correctly.

Leg: I chose the Spiral Galaxy Leg, page 36. Rounds 13 and 14 should be omitted, otherwise you'd have too many knit rows and it would not come out like the picture shows it should.

Feet: I chose the Dutch Heel with Star Toe, page 50. I have just done the Dutch Heel, so this is the only thing I know to be wrong on this section thus far. I have checked with someone else on this one, so I know that this one is wrong. Row 3 doesn't work with the number of stitches you have.

If anyone else has found any errors, post them in the comments. I'm wondering how much errata there is. There has only been one errata posted to the SWTC website for the book, but I'm planning on e-mailing the address provided with what I've posted about. I do hope that this had just been a fluke and I'm not going to find anymore with the next pair of socks that I do, but with the one that's been posted, the one I know for sure, and the possibility of two others, I'm not too hopeful.

So, is it just me, or are these errors?