Sunday, August 31, 2008

Still playing catch up

Every August I truly believe that once the kids are back to school, I will have more free time, and every August I am wrong. I still can't explain this phenomenon, but I should know by now.

The Ravelympics are done and I have managed to finish to more socks:

December Socks

December Socks
Pattern: December Socks by me for FTA sock club
Yarn: LuLu's Yarns Panda Sock, 1 skein in Rosso di Sera


Fall Fire Socks

 Fall Fire Socks
Pattern: Fall Fire Socks by me for Robyn's Nest Sock Club
Yarn: LuLu's Yarns Supersock, 1 skein in Fall Fire.


Since I do not have to knit socks anymore, I spent much time fantasying about sweaters and so (fantasying mostly because I haven't had much time for actual knitting), but then ended up casting on for a project with sock yarn:

Fingerless Gloves
Pattern: Mikado Ribbon Fingerless Gloves by Cathy Campbell
Yarn: Monarchby flydesigns


It only looks like a sock!

Sunday, August 24, 2008

SP12 Question of the Week #11

What is the best thing you've ever received in the mail?

Since I own a business of Italian imports, I get tons of stuff in "mail", being regular mail or freight. Lately the best was this:


Chianti Cashmere Care Fabric Wash

No, it is not Chianti wine, but cashmere care wash from a cashmere goats farm in Chianti (actually, the only cashmere goats farm in Italy.)

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Awake at 6 a.m.

Being awake at 6 a.m. without an alarm clock going off means serious jet lag for me. I am not a morning person and my "natural" awaking time is between 10 and 11 (not that I can do that many often, hence the need for alarm clocks.)
But I am up, and I even had breakfast (me hungry in the morning? something is wrong with me!)

As I said before, my plan for the Ravelympics was socks, so let's talk about socks.

I knit the second Swim Team Jaywalker on my way to Europe:

Swim Team Jaywalkers

Yes, it is right, definitely bigger than the first one. I had forgotten that the sole has fewer stitches than the instep. Rip rip rip. Then I knit the heel three times, because I could not remember what I did with the first one (I did remember that I had some serious problems like it is documented here and here.) But at the end I won:

Swim Team Jaywalkers
Pattern: Jaywalker by Grumperina
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Multi, 2 skeins = 430.0 yards in Jungle Stripes


The there are the Upstream Socks:

Upstream Socks
Pattern: Master Upstream Pattern by Cat Bordhi
Yarn: LuLu's Yarns Supersock Merino Light, 1 skeins = 483.0 yards


These were a relatively quick knit since I did not make them very long; glad I made them, but really not sold on the whole "let's put the gusset increases someplace else."

Coming soon ...... December Socks.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Catching up .....

I came home to a wonderful package from my SP12:

SP12 package

She sent me books in my reading list, and lots of yarn, 10 balls of this beauty:

Filati Sailor

I think it will be perfect for this.

Thank you so much, Secret Pal!

And since I am on the SP12 subject .....



SP12 Question of the week #12


What is your favorite supper for a hot summer evening?

Caprese.

SP12 Question of the week #13

Have you ever entered your knitting (or anything else) in the fair? Would you ever consider it?

No and no.

SP12 Question of the week #14

What Olympic event would best describe you knitting/knitting style?

Wresting, me against my knitting. I usually win. Not always.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

The sock and I are back

Well, the kids too - I really need to get them back, after 2+ months in Italy with the grandparents.

The sock and I


Jet lagged, hundreds of emails, packages to open, and so much work waiting for me that I feel like I have been gone for a year.