Days of mini-posts and roses.

i. "what i did on my labor day vacation."







I spun *all* weekend. Even outside in the sun (yo quiero mi Joy!!), watching my kid play with other little people. The white turned into the pink navajo plied skein, the black in navajo ply and another little hat in the making, and the brown/white is 2 ply.

Is navajo plying the best thing ever??! Survey says, yes! :) Its not terribly awesome looking at this point, but my goodness my guinness is it a miracle to watch and supercool to execute! Makes me almost not be afraid of ::gulp:: crochet as much.

I dyed the navajo plied white skein in acid dyes, pink and a twitch of black. I think it may be a nice (gasp) HAT for me, sometime. The brown/white should stripe in places and remain marled in others, I'm thinking a hat for a big head or a chunky mittens would be best (90 gm and not soft enough for scarf stuff).


ii. "my mailman missed me."







Brown Sheep roving mill ends, from The Sheep Shed Studio.

$7.50/lb, a pound each of "medium brown with wide stripes" and "grey with black dye error." Dude. (The brown/white 2 ply above was from the roving pictured here). All are uninterrupted looong strips of roving, no breaks... except for the little extra more-brown bit at the front of the brown/white picture-- that was quickly felled in my first navajo ply attempt. No pics, the horror!

They even tossed in a 3 oz+ sample of some caramel colored top. Very cool, and very fast shipping (received via parcel post about a week after the order was placed, parcel post can be hit or miss though.) I only paid $2 extra in shipping than what was paid to the post office, a good deal figuring everything was packaged in plastic and had to be boxed up, etc. (It seemed high at the time, but really isn't.)

iia. "what i did with my knitty honorarium."


Henry's Attic "Silk & Ivory" 50% wool, 50% silk
2000 yd/lb unscoured, 1 lb cone
aka "carrera"


Henry's Attic 64's superwash merino roving
5 lb (!!) bag
aka meow!!!

The honorarium I received from my Summer 2006 knitty pattern went to help pay for all this undyed glory here :) It just arrived and I'm in love.

Someone have good links or tips on dying roving? Pretty please, mangosteens on top? My ultimate goal in spinning is to spin my own sock yarn someday... :)

I love you, knitty.


iii. "i still knit!"



Blue wool tweed handspun cap
Started: August 29, 2006
Finished: August 31, 2006
US 4 dpns, 4 (+ a spare addi when it got too big!)
Handspun dyed with acid dyes

Last time I checked, that's not my kid's head. No no no no NONONO, he doesn't want to wear it. Oh well. Too bad I've already started another (the black, above) :) I see a lot of top down hats for my big headed kid in the near future, nice way to eat up the practice yarn without guilt.

Btw, Whip Up's September Whiplash challenge is "hats" and they have some decidedly awesome knitter/crocheter slanted prizes this time around (can you say yarn, knitting books?)...

As for my too long for socks project...



Uh, yeah. These are *pre-rip* back to the knee... I just started knitting them again after working on the blue hat during last week and spinning all the long weekend, and I realize my intention of creating a super-tight knee, while it worked in theory and practice, makes for a very uncomfortable object when wearing them for more than a second and a half. (Oh, and a hoot in watching me try and cajole them up over my "jaunty" calves too.) So, this is my pre-rip to the knee pic at the same place I was more than a week ago, but eh-- what can you do? :) I'll be ripping the longer one just to where the one on dpn's is, to give you an idea of my pseudo-pain. (Not really a big deal, I want to be able to wear them at least once, so its worth it to make them wearable. At least I'm not knitting them both at the same time!)

I also started working the leg on the addis so I could easily try them on as I went along, but I find it takes me soooo muuuuch loooonger to knit one sock on 2 circs than I'm used to (used to 2 on 2), and its driving me a little mad. I may just put them back on the dpn's and knit them onto addis during the rounds I want to try them on.

I'm still undecided about the buttonhole tops-- purrl (who knows way more about this than me!) says that the holes won't help me as the stockings will eventually stretch and the repositionable snaps on garters help alleviate that... but I like the idea still! I still have a loooong way to go though, so we'll see! But I am awfully glad for the advice, just what I was looking for! :)


iv. who, me?

"Best Sock Blog" via Lucia's "Addict's Choice Knitting Awards"

"Yarnival" contributor: Vol. 1, graciously hosted by Eve

Linked on the Victoria and Albert Museum's website, via their fashion/knitting collection page


ps... gratuitous kid pic.



Could I help myself? No. :)

Am I jealous his form is prolly better, and he looks better sans pants? Maybe :)

Did he have to help me pick up the spanish/english flashcards? Yes :)



...the non-staged pics are the best, even when they show the house in disarray. Monkey see, monkey do indeed-- I'm raising a spinner here!

Have a good week yall!

dead man's curve

At the knee...



Blame the shakiness on the kid behind me (toes to prove it!) who thinks its absolutely hilarious lately to run full tilt, face first, into my backside.

Both stockings are at the same point (more pics below!)-- just at the knee and I just didn't want to shoot both :) I finally sucked up the fear of shaping and just dug in and I'm happy I did. I didn't really use any charts or patterns at hand, just the measurements of my leg and trying them on as I went every few inches.

A few calf shaping pics...


Obviously on my leg :)


Shaping off the needles.
(Look for the "line" of raised stitches, the seam between them...)

I knit up the leg as far as I could, a bit after the calf muscle juts out. Then I measured the widest point of my calf (15") and compared it to the circumference of my leg at that point in the knitting (10") and figured a 20 st increase over the next few inches would do the trick, and it did. I then knit even for a few inches up the calf muscle, and then started decreasing for the knee. My thinking is that I want the knee with a higher amount of negative ease-- both to help as a false "cuff" to keep the lower portion of the leg stuck in place, and also to stave off any bagging that may occur there (the horror!) I took in 16 sts for the knee decrease, staggering them (10 then an inch even, now 6.) I think (in taking these pics) I will take it in even more.

As for the increases, I used the "faux seam" up the back as my guide. I knit to 2 sts before the seam, picked up the lower st on my needle & knit into the back of it, k2, p2, k2 & then lifted the st below and knit into the back (2 sts increased)-- every other row. I like the line it makes... I need to get a better pic of it, its a little overcast today.

I've kept notes on the construction and maybe will post them when they're said and done, with a huge caveat that they're written for my legs! :)

A little preview of my mind's eye... I think that I may be doing something a little unorthodox for the top edge of the stocking. Namely, I will be using a folded-over band at the top as planned, inserting a band of elastic inside for extra support. In addition (and knitting that band deep enough for this to happen with the elastic below), I think I'll be inserting buttonholes into the fabric I'm making (both side of the fold over top, so they meet) and overstitching them together for support. I have an old (cheap) garter from Frederick's from ages ago (what, you didn't secretly wear gartered thigh high stockings under your jeans in high school?!) that I think I may modify by adding buttons and removing the snaps-- the buttons will face outward, the straps will go inside the top edge of the stocking to attach. The buttonholes shouldn't interfere if I choose later on to buy a more expensive garter with metal snaps, but the buttons may be some good support/assurance that they will stay up.

Advice or insight on this would be appreciated, as always! :)


(which one is fresh off of my drumstick? the "miracle" of blocking!)

As for other sock progress, the striped "Simple Sock" only needs as few rows and a bindoff (and a mate!)



Dave asked me (innocently, right?!) where several of my half-finished pairs' mates were... (cloverleaf sock, entrelac sock). Perhaps I'll start working on pairing up my socks? (Did you know I haven't finished a pair in August? The very first month of the sock-a-month-along 2 and I've already failed?) Eek.

As for several of you who were concerned about me and my first handspun that I could do anything with (certainly not the first sneeze of roving off of my wheel, i tell you what!)...



I knew (hoped!) I had enough for a toddler sized hat, but didn't like the color... it looks nice, but a little too "layette"/babyish for my son. You have no idea how many times a day I am literally stopped in my tracks and the words, "he's a BOY!" come out of my mouth, as if I haven't lived with him for 2+ years and watched this progression every day. Anywho, I wanted to dye it up but after I plunked it in the water to soak before the dye (and posted my last post) I realized that it may not have been such a great idea-- this was my 1st time dying non-superwash wool, and I was also terrified of the yarn just falling apart in the water due to my lack of mad spinning skilz.



It worked, a little fuzzier than it went in but its okay. The flecks of color didn't dye but make the yarn look a bit tweedy... pretty neat. The dye is "gunmetal" acid dye from Dharma Trading - jacquard acid dye (?). I saw a hint of this color on Jen's blog a while back and liked it, I think it looks cool here too. I'm knitting the hat top down since I can never manage the right length (or circumference, for that matter!) in hats. We'll see :)

The pic is blurry as my camera is focusing on the beautiful stitch marker-- part of a set Heather sent me during my spinning supply search. I love them, they look so alien* and bumpy and perfect, right up my alley.

...are you still with me?? this will wake yall up!



The skein of Helen's Lace I won from the Vintage KAL! :) I have no idea what to do with it, definitely a shawl but something big enough to take advantage of this huge yardage (1250 yards, 4 oz.) I love the look of circular shawls, think I'll do a half-pi shawl in the red Schaefer Anne I have... but for this? I have no idea. (I saw a beautiful "more than circular" shawl knit from the Knitter's Shawls and Scarves book -- but don't know the yardage required or even if I could manage something like that.)

One.Last.Thing.
(you'll be glad you waited!)

Check out this *adorable* shirt from threadless!!


"recycling" -- new this week (August 28, 2006)

I just SQUEALED when I saw it, and of course ordered one. (And another, any guesses on which?) Threadless (if you didn't know) is a pretty rad concept; people submit drawings and art for shirts that are "voted on"-- winners are printed in small batches for human consumption. They also use American Apparel shirts for all of their women's shirts-- good deal at $17 each with a good mission (men's are $15 fruit of the looms, some AA sometimes-- not sure how they decide that).

(Full disclosure: yes, that's my affiliate Threadless link above! I wouldn't throw it around except that I actually love and bought the shirt, and thought some of yall may dig it too :))



* when my son was born and they handed me my little wet, red bundle of joy... he had these huge inquisitive eyes and every blink made them look larger and more amazing. he has a bit of an asiatic eye, pulled at the corners (does he look like me??!); the combination of his eyes and the shape of his face when he was born was just striking to me.

beautiful, because he looked just like the baby alien squid from men in black.



my mother was so pissed that i told *everyone* he looked like the alien baby from men in black, but a mother knows. alien, bumpy and perfect indeed.

Onwards y upwards...

...something about slow & steady winning the race?



Progress so far on my thigh highs inspired by the Vintage Knit Along, no increases done (yet). Be sure to get posts and comments in over at the KAL today, its the last day for the Miss Personality Contest over there! :)

Sorry about blurry pics, its a bit overcast outside (my light source). Fabric stretched reaches just where the calf muscle juts out, approx. 9.5" stretched. Off the needles, the fabric is about 8" (from "fold" of short row heel to work on needles). My foot is 9.25" long and the unstretched foot is 8.75"-- like I said earlier I am using the vertical stretching to help "pop" the lace panel and also to simulate stretched, fitted stocking fabric (though the foot is very similar to "regular" feet in my socks).



I placed a faux "seam" up the back of the leg-- when I started the short row increases at the heel, I placed 2 purl sts at the center of the leg and have been carrying it upwards. I think its more visually interesting, and will serve as a good marker for me to place the increases around (on each side).



I wanted to take a pic of the stockinette for the color, but what's more apparent is how non-sock like the fabric is, quite loose. (You can see the sole of my foot beneath the fabric). I'm using the Henry's Attic Kona Superwash fingering, 2,240 yd/1 lb on US 1.5 (2.5mm)... its too bad its so open, because the fabric is very soft. I wonder if I need a US 0 for regular socks... or if I just need to make some more soft, loose socks :)



Pic of stockinette against window light. Nothing doing-- its just hanging from the needle, I didn't stretch it. (Better illustration of what I mean for open fabric on these needles.) I think the fabric is perfect for stockings though...



Final pic of the stockinette fabric unstretched/on the needles. 8 sts/inch.

I expect posts to slow down around here since this is the only project I'm working on (and its so boring to see the same thing over & over, esp. when its neverending!), but I wanted to say thanks to everybody for the comforting comments about my bad mom day last week. All of them made me feel better (so did time & healing!)-- the one that really struck me was from fairygodknitter: "It's kind of like knitting something that gets frogged a million times and has moments that look like crap until you block it out. Kids are tougher than we are."

:)


(asleep on the *edge* of the couch, lots of pillows underneath. good thing, he tumbled in his sleep and kept right on sleeping.)

this is one of those days...

...where i apologize in advance for being all over the place.*

My knitting hands in action, for the random contest over at Jerry & Maxy's place (have you entered yet? all the cool kids are doing it :))


i can't believe i'm outing myself in photo as a finger pushing knitter, but there you have it. how the hell am i going to learn holding 2 strands of yarn with the same hand for fair isle? ergh. and anyone wanna guess the movie playing in the background? 7 am, mini me asleep fare. *and*-- (lots of "ands", i'm feeling a mood to irritate the gramma queens today. my excuse? a bachelor's degree in english from cal = i can talk bad ingrish all i want; the canon and i are tight like that. mah party vein, fo sho.) ...i am also a rabid nail biter. they're not bleeding today, but the day is still young.


my hands at rest. you can see i'm feeling cheeky, having taken these before monkichi was awake. ha. farking hubris.

oh yeah, my feet aren't (that) dirty, teva tan lines.

A pic of the stockings i'm working on...


one feet, two feet.

The plan is to work one's leg til I have the calf shaping done, repeat the next. Work again til the knee decreasing is done, repeat. The "sock" portion as they are are pretty close to my normal sock knitting, its the leg that's going to be tough (how much "negative ease," how much stretch.) I'm going to hold off on increasing for a bit, so I can tell just how far I can push it/pour my legs into these things to get a nice tight fit without screaming for mercy.

I do notice that when I knit lace socks (not that I'm a lace expert or anything), that the most important part of getting the lace to pop isn't horizontal blocking/stretching, but vertical-up the leg stretching. I've noticed it in these too (I neglected to take a pic of them on, one of those days things again)-- so part of the goal is to place the increases along the stretched route of the leg, praying the not-yet-purchased garter will help me in keeping them stretched onwards y upwards.

***

Beginning sheer randomness (I do try to do the segue thing, but again, just one of those days)...

I've meant to take pics of my Red Cross Knit Kit, had it on my desk for a while. WhipUp had a writeup about it and reminded me...


Red Cross Sock Knitting Kit
4 oz wool "olive drab" yarn, 4 plastic w/ metal rod inside double pointed needles, one pattern, one plastic darning needle.

Nice idea, I dig the box. The yarn is nice (it is soft), the closest it reminds me of is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock:


Lorna's -- Bold Red (not true to color)
Red Cross -- Olive Drab

The LL has the nylon content, none in the RC yarn. I don't know if the RC is machine washable or not (doesn't say). The RC has less loft, but simulating tautness they're quite similar. Now that I look at them together (the Lorna's was sitting on my desk, waiting to be Baudelaire... now I need to find a new yarn I think, Interlacements Tiny Toes in solid red for the bauds instead...? I want red socks on the needles next)-- they look kinda good paired off. I wonder if I can find a white Lorna's and perhaps do the "red cross symbol" on a sock cuff or throughout a sock? (who am i kidding? i can't even hold yarn correctly. do they make a white lorna's? eek, no more yarn spending... the box is almost too heavy for me to move now.)

(edit: of course lorna's has a "white" yarn-- natural. argh... simply sock yarn co., a vendor after my own heart, has it in stock. somebody stop me please... why am i ogling allison's site *again*? :))

I don't see myself knitting this yarn with the needles they enclosed. I'm not a snob about plastic needles-- they're size 5! The pattern calls for 7 sts/inch, I have no idea if I'd get 7 sts/inch on US 5's with Lorna's, but its just madness :)

An upclose of the side panel:


"As legions of servicemen and servicewomen answered their country's call during the Second World War, they were joined by more than 7 million American Red Cross volunteers, who worked at home and overseas to provide comforts and necessities for American soldiers and prisoners of war. As part of that effort, knitters from shore to shore took up their needles to make millions of socks, caps, and sweaters. Join the American Red Cross as we celebrate the tireless bands of an extraordinary generation and knit a bit of their history."

Now I feel a bit bad in not knitting the pattern :)

***

... and here i slip into total randomness about stuff I want to do, eventually...

* I've joined the Mystery Sock KAL...



...haven't chosen a pattern yet.



* I'm contemplating SOCK WARS...



(the girl from auntie has a great question about it though...)



* I'm going to make some dpn protectors a la Sherry's TOO FREAKING AWESOME diy teK (for reals, check this out)...



*Did you notice the word "yarn" made the Choka On It "top 100" words concordance, from my last contest I'm guessing? I did, so I'm going to go and try to write up some more couplets containing the word "yarn", maybe try and get "sock" on there too. Come join me :)





* I'm going to nominate some blogs for the "addict's choice" knitting blog awards... (I've already done one-- I love "let me explaiKnit" though I love lots of others, too-- that one just popped up in my head when I read about the awards...)



* I'm gonna stalk etsy and hope to see some knitters in their etsy/CRAFT magazine contest (submissions due August 21!... dig Jess Hutch's robot army on the front cover of the new mag!)



*I'm going to write my indigo girl a letter, cos I've stopped and started half a dozen of them.



...and I'm gonna go lay down.

**

*one of those days... I fully don't expect sympathy, but as this blog is a bit of a release for me, today its definitely one-- I feel a lot better here at the end of this post than I did up there at the beginning. Day started fine... til my kid and I were playing on my bed and he jumped/bounced over my body (as I held onto his hands), and he hit the wall/window. Hard. On a metal outcropping. Gash, thought-there-would-be stitches, my-god-is-that-skull fear. He's fine. Cried a lot less than me. Big hole in the head, still. Definite scar material. My heart's broken.

Fast forward to snacktime, I turn my back and he's gotten on his toes and into the utensil drawer. (New thing.) 1 second later he's waiving a serrated bread knife with a 7" long blade like a freaking jedi lightsaber. No joke. Its kinda (almost) funny now, because I say "no!" and reach for it, its a game and he starts to run. And I just die inside, following my train of thought. Again, he's fine-- no harm no foul except to my too tense heart. New drawer locks are being purchased instead of my much-needed nap when this is done.

Lunch is over, mister-mister walks into the edge of the table. Hard. This is in addition to falling all over clean socks (white cotton ones, thanks!) atop hardwood floors he's pulled from the sock drawers to dance on, twice.

See, he has a bad day and I have an absolutely worse one. I just, yeah. Someday remind me to tell you about the "v for victory" on his forehead. Don't worry about us, this is just my feeble attempt to explain away my rabidity and my scatteredness... and also to thank you for listening and giving me an outlet for something unrelated to the bad-mom-day I'm having.

We're fine, and no pics of his more-bumpy-than-usual head forthcoming. :)

Fainting in coils.

You say cthulhu.
I say the fisherman's wife ain't got nothing on me.
(Especially after this weekend with my favorite tentacle wielding toy ;))



Nautie from Knitty Spring 2006
Started: August 5, 2006
Finished: August 7, 2006
Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, Mist - Fog - Pumpkin
US 6 dpns, 4

Anne is to blame for midnite nauti-ness. This was too fun to knit... no mods except for the dpn size, wool, and stripes every 4 rows instead of every row. I did try it every row and it was just a huge mess. Every 4 rows was a good pace for me-- row 1: change color & coil shell, row 2: stuff, row 3: knit, row 4: m1.

Oh! And I picked up and knit the "head" on the inside edge of the shell instead of knitting it seperately and sewing it on.

I have a bunch of all colors left over, even this is a big toy. I'd guess I have enough for 2 more nauties... I'm glad I bought all of those random balls of WOTA just for quick obsessive knits like this (and lending them out to friends who want to learn to knit! Once an enabler, always an enabler...)



The coiling wasn't perfect, but hey! Its a kids toy. (At least in this house.)

I love knitty. Every issue should have one sock pattern from Cookie and one toy, and I'd be happy. :) (Isn't it awful amy must hear stuff like this from the 376,894,097 people who read knitty? It'd drive me to drink. Or leave the house.)



Another side pic.

I tried being all cute and hang it in the trees for pics, but its a little windy and nautie is a spinna at heart (while i'm a speakerhumper, made in heaven!)... only good pics of one side. So I took a small movie of the spin (Hosted HERE) with my digicam, uploaded it to the 1st site that popped up when I googled "avi hosting," and there you go. I dig the idea of knitting in motion :)

Reminds me I need to get my hands in motion for Jerry & Maxy's knitting in motion contest...

***

Nautie was actually a little diversion from my latest obsession, black wool thigh high stockings on black wood needles...



These are the pair inspired by the Vintage Knitalong hosted by purrl... They're actually going very quickly. I have one foot and a few leg repeats on one, and started the second. I wanted to knit them both at the same time to be able to keep the size/increases the same, but really wanted to knit them in the round (I've been on a dpn kick lately)... so this is my compromise.

I'm super happy with the henry's attic lightweight yarn I dyed, its very soft. I'm knitting this at a looser gauge than I'd normally choose for this yarn (US 1.5-- 2.5mm, it is almost too holey for me at 8 sts/inch), but it makes for a really soft sock. I'm not as worried about wear with these, can't see wearing them enough to wear them out. I'm feeling a bit reticent to knit another tight gauge sock right now too, the toddler Wyvern was koigu on US 0's and is like iron, and not in a good way. So I'm avoiding and praying feet don't grow for a few weeks while I finish these :)

I used black & lilac acid dyes, and its *just* a bit interesting in tonal variation-- but I don't think you'd see it unless you look (or have a great eye!!)

Phew. One more thing! :) When I was winding the yarn for these (I split an 8 oz hank in half), I took a pic of my favorite DIY knitting "thing..."



My "swift"-- toddler high chair back :) Actually works really well, the regular chair depth is too deep for me, but this was one of those serendipity discoveries that just makes me grin. The unexpected, super good things are always the best... at least they have been lately :)

What's *your* favorite do it yourself knitting thing?



confidential to indigo anon-ner: do i know you? my email's @ the bottom of this page if you want to drop me a line.

Mailbox knitting

(eta... check out the "random knitting theory" contest over @ Jerry & Maxy's place... :))


Thanks to Eleni's headsup, I was able to stalk Interweave's Hurt Book Sale this year with a "list" in hand and get everything I wanted (notice a trend?)...


The Art of Fair Isle Knitting, Ann Feitelson
Folk Knitting in Estonia, Nancy Bush
The Children's Collection, Alice & Jade Starmore

The books were 50% off retail (I saw only the Weldon's Practical Needlework 10 volume collection for 75% off), you didn't know how "hurt" the books would be and were warned with a 3 week shipping estimate. Mine arrived Tuesday (I wasn't home to greet my UPS man though), so it was only a week from order to shipment arrival-- not bad :)

The sale's not great if you're looking for only one book, when you figure in the shipping (4.95/1st book, 1/each add'tl.) and compare to Amazon. The Feitleson Fair Isle book was 17.48 + 4.95 = 22.43, where Amazon has it for 22.02 + eligible for free shipping. I approached the sale with an eye to the books I wasn't able to find for a good price direct from Amazon, namely Folk Knitting in Estonia & The Children's Collection... I knew I could buy FKiE from Nancy Bush's Wooly West (+ free autograph!) and TCC from Virtual Yarns (the Starmore enterprise), but both purchases thru Interweave's sale were less expensive.

(Grumperina just posted a link where you can get Folk Knitting in Estonia for a good price new; I've been watching the ebay listings for the book & they regularly go over retail... maybe since people don't know you can buy from Nancy Bush herself for the retail price + shipping?)

The books weren't very badly "hurt" at all...



The worst was the Art of Fair Isle, which had a small slit/indentation in the front cover that made an impression on the hardcover inside (the cover isn't torn but just indented), perhaps from a knife opening a box and this was the 1st on top?



The edges of all were slightly scuffed as well, nothing I wouldn't pass over at my local bookstore myself. Interweave has a high bar for its books (pretty cool!), these aren't really badly hurt at all. The Folk Knitting in Estonia book is the 1st edition like Stacey's-- the Juta stockings directions are incomplete (I've been borrowing my library's copy til now), I need to poke around for errata, not sure what else needs updating.

I also received my acid dyes...


One pound of Henry's Attic Kona Lightweight Fingering for thigh high stockings
(+ Sodor aquarium car for scale, this is my favorite of the Thomas the Tank Engine cars)

I went ahead & dyed the entire pound-- just so I wouldn't have to worry about running out. The extra will be good for something! I've decided to go toe up on them, so I can use the lace panel that I really like... I'm going to use the stocking formula Severina referred to in making hers in order to help me see where to place the increases... I like the shaping of her finished stockings quite a bit. (She is also the designer of the Asphyxiation pattern in The AntiCraft's new edition, I love it. Need to learn to crochet. Someday.) I think my alterations will officially take these out of the vintage knitalong category though :)

Closeup...



I like the "pouf" of the yarn once dyed and washed.

And finally (I promise)... finished one toddler Wyvern sock...



20 gm of yarn goes a long way for little feet.

A pic of the new-to-me m1 increase from my last post...



You can see the ridge of lifted sts along the center of the photo and also to the right hand side. Also, another shot of the short row heel from Simple Socks: Plain & Fancy... no wrap and turn, no holes. :)

Off to go wind a monster ball of black yarn...

Blonde chicken birthday bash! Vintage legs!

In bizarro me world, I get presents on YOUR birthdays. Or so it is when I won a contest over @ Tara's blog and she sent me gifts to celebrate her birthday :) I almost feel guilty but I like the yarn too much!


Classic Elite Montera, 4 skeins 50% llama (!!)/50% wool
100 gm/127 yd

Its actually green but my camera isn't cooperating with me... maybe it doesn't like llamas or something.


Classic Elite Inca Alpaca, 100% sooooft alpaca
50 gm/116yd

Again, more green than this, but who doesn't like alpacas?? (Or Anthony Michael Hall for that matter?) :)

I'm thinking my son will have a SUPER awesome wool coat this winter, and I'll have some rockstar alpaca glovage going on. Or any other suggestions?


100% wool sock yarn, over 400 yd
greens, lavenders... pretty pretty feet will I have, yoda styling!! :) Yall know me and sock yarn!



Stitch markers. I am too lackluster of a wordsmith to describe how much I dig these... Tara collected the seashells HERSELF and beaded them into markers, for me. I can't begin to say how cool these are... I've already replaced the one in my Opal sock and will be reaching for these first for my upcoming projects.

And since we all love the yarn pr0n...



How'd you LOVE to get one of these in the mail? Blonde Chicken Boutique postcards for Tara's soon-to-be-launched online shop :) (For now, you can always mozy on over to her Etsy shop and partake there!) I love that center purple skein's variegation/not so solid color... very zen.

Thanks so much, Tara!!

Man. I can't top this yarn extravaganza with another shot of my Pomatomii in progress, so I'm not going to even try. I will go on and show yall what's going to be going on here over the next few MONTHS here though...



The Vintage Knitalong hosted by everyone's favorite bitch (!!), purrl of The Kitchener Bitch. She's been uploading way cool vintage patterns to her blog and look at these...



"Morale Booster Stockings."

Yowsa. I tried to resist, really I did, but so many of the KAL participants seem to be heading their way and I loved them at first sight. They're going to take FOREVER, starting with a 2" hem cuff that's FOLDED OVER... eek. And, just between you me and the gossipmongers, I am going to *seriously* have to upsize this pattern... as written it is for a woman with a 12" thigh circumference. Uh, yeah... no. :)

I'm going to use my Henry's Attic Kona fingering weight for this, dying up an entire pound to make sure I have enough. A little overboard but I'd rather not run out... I'll be using acid dyes for the 1st time, in red of course! I can't seem to get enough red in my life these days it seems ;)