Wednesday, September 30, 2009

***SPOILERS***

Spoiler pics below . . .





Socks That Rock September 2009 sock kit . . .





Here they are . . .






Some very pretty yarn - River Rocked - in mediumweight; a great pattern - Knetted by Cat Bordhi; and a neat little blue wristband which reads Notorious Sock Knitter.



It is made of really beautiful fall colors, but not your traditional fall colors, more muted, I think. Can't wait to get started on these (I love mediumweight - they just knit right up before your very eyes). I have a couple of things on the needles that I need to finish first. But these are next on the list.



I'm also lovin' these We're Different skeins of Wollmeise. They're really great. The colors are just a little different from the original skeins. I think some of them are even better. What really makes them special is that they're one-of-a-kind for the most part. I got this skein of WM Paul in a trade on ravelry.









This skein is Wollmeise Die Auster, also We're Different, that I got in a trade on ravelry.








So pretty!!!



I've finished 4 fingers on my glove in WM Brombeere. The wrist and hand part of the glove was a fun knit; the fingers are a little tedious, but they're so nice.



Have a great week!!!





Monday, September 28, 2009

Awwww . . .

Aren't these beautiful? They are the pattern and yarn from the last Wollmeise sock club installment. She used the pattern that came with it (I never did that all year), and the Bluebell yarn. She gave them to me this weekend because she said a) I always knit socks for everyone else and no one has ever knit socks for me, b) blue is my favorite color and c) she knows I'll never make a sock pattern that complex with so many twists and turns and cables. Aren't they great? And they fit perfect too. Thanks, Sis, you're the best. I think I'll wear them this week after the cool front comes through and the temperatures drop into the 80's. LOL.





And, finally, drumroll please . . . may I present . . . THE GIRASOLE . . .

First, in its unblocked state . . . I measured it and don't remember where I wrote it down.



In a nice warm bath . . .



Layed out on the floor in the foyer . . .




All done . . . it measures about 46" across . . .



















I am really pleased with it and think it came out beautifully, if I do say so myself. It is made from Louet Gems in Fine/Sport Weight on a size 7 needle. I started it on 6/7/09 and finished it on 9/20/09. I did leave out a couple of sections (don't remember which ones) here and there because I didn't want it to turn out too big. I used about 4 and a half skeins of yarn, about 1020 yds. by my estimate.
I can't wait to give it to our friends' daughter, whose baby is due in January. They're in another state, so I hope I can deliver it in person to see their reaction.
Have a great week.







Thursday, September 24, 2009

Not Posting What I Said I Would Post About

I know I said I would post pictures of my Wollmeise grab bags. I know I said I would post pictures of my recent New York trip, but the week has just gotten away from me. And it's time for the weekend again. And you know what that means - football.

I got some yarn in the mail this week (I know, how odd, huh). This is some Wollmeise I got in a trade on Ravelry - Amazonas - very pretty.




This is one of my faves, as you know, Numma Numma Saucy, which is a laceweight with 1000 yards. The colors are Make Mine Pink, Tickled Pink (can you see a pink pattern here), and Seafoo. There's going to be a lace KAL on Ravelry that I'm thinking of joining using one of these. Don't know which pattern I want to do, maybe the large version of Ishbel or a wide Undulating Scarf.





Here's more Numma Numma from an update from the previous weekend. It's Babyboo in Snips & Snails colorway. I'm going to save this for a baby blanket. It's an 80/20 blend of wool and bamboo, a very nice weight for our climate and it's machine washable.



More Babyboo in Applesauce and Pruney Prunella . . . don't know why this picture turned sideways like this.



This is the baby blanket I've been working on in STR Goody Goody. It's about 10" long and I'm almost finished with one skein of yarn. I have 3 total, so it should work out to be a nice length.




I also started a bag in Cascade wool to be felted and donated to our high school for an auction. They ask me to make one every year because it seems to be a popular item. I usually donate a pair of socks and maybe a scarf or hat.


I just realized I also promised pictures of the finished Girasole, and I haven't done that yet either. Soon, I promise.
Have a good weekend.




Monday, September 21, 2009

Random Monday

On the road again . . . to Dallas this past weekend to watch OS play football. We went to Austin College just north of Dallas. We won (by the skin of our teeth) by kicking a field goal with 2 minutes left in the game, and we were behind the entire game!! It was so stressful!! I had to take a nap after the game. LOL













Some of my Wollmeise goodies that arrived last Friday - Grab Bags. These are filled with skeins that are labeled "We're Different", because for one reason or another, they don't exactly match the description given for them on the website. They are very beautiful, nonetheless. You can purchase them by color - Green, Red, etc., Kunterbunt (which means all in a tumble, mixed colorways, not matching), or Gemischt (a lot of different harmonic shades). They are so fun to order because you don't know exactly what you're going to get!



This first one is a Grun (green) grab bag. Included in it are: Wasabi, Grashupfer (grasshopper), Raupe Nimmersatt (German name of a children's book The Very Hungry Caterpillar), Farn (fern) and Pinie (pine). I just love the color combo of Raupe Nimmersatt. The Pinie is already on its way to a raveler who needed it for a sweater.



The backs of them . . .



Then there is the Rot (red) grab bag. Included in it are: Rotkappen (Little Red Riding Hood), Gazpacho (named after a soup), Dunkle Kirsche (black cherry), Rhabarber (rhubarb), and Merlot. I thought I already had Rotkappen, but I don't. I have several reds, but not this one. It is a true red. Gazpacho is a new colorway that looks a lot like Rhabarber except with red in it. Rhabarber is one that I already had. Actually I had 2 and TD took one home with her the last time she went shopping in my stash. This one seems a little more streaky or blended that the one I already have. And last but not least, Merlot, oh Merlot, the most beautiful, a little semi-solid piece of gorgeousness. I may sleep with it tonight.




And the backs . . .






With all the flying and driving we did this weekend, I finished my Loopy sock club sock.


And I finished binding off the Girasole last night. It took a nice little bath in Soak earlier today and is presently drying on the foyer floor. Pics of that later. Oh, and there are more grab bags to photograph. Stay tuned.





Friday, September 18, 2009

* Can't Come Up With A Catchy Title Here *

Wanted to do a little updating since it's been over a week since my last post. The reason for this is a fabulous trip to NYC with the HWWTM. I guess it's a good thing that he works too much, or I wouldn't have had such a great expense paid vacation. I really only spent a couple of nights there due to YS needing supervision and all. I'm not comfortable leaving him for a full M-F during a school week. We're gone so much on weekends already following OS around the country watching him play football. Anyway, pics of NY at a later date. I did go to Purl Soho and got some Koigu (love Koigu for baby blankets).



A little stash enhancement while I was gone . . . some Wollmeise Versuchskaninchen II (which means "experimental rabbits") via a ravelry trade. I love this colorway, as I do pretty much every Wollmeise colorway.






A great Woolgirl Sock Club kit also came in while I was away. The yarn is Miss Babs Yummy in "Lady Bug" colorway with a small skein of "Lady Bug Toes" for the heels and toes. The pattern is called Fly Away Home Socks by Lisa Dykstra. She also includes a ton of goodies in her kits as well. Everything came in a 7" Fibersphere, a really cool yarn thingy to hold your yarn.






The colors are very pretty - various reds and pinks - and the small skein is an almost blackish burgundy (or a burgundyish black), very yummy.



The goodies include a mini ladybug sphere to hold your stitchmarkers, a ladybug stitchmarker, a ladybug pen/tape measure combo, a ladybug emery board, a heartshaped notepad, eraser and refrigerator magnets, as well as some stickers and tattoos.




A couple of projects I've been working on include a baby blanket for my hairdresser's wife. Most of this was done on the plane (especially on the way home when I was stuck on my plane at the gate in NY for almost 4 hours). The pattern is Embossed Diamonds by Alison over at SpinDyeKnit. I already have about 8 inches done and love the pattern and yarn. The yarn is Socks that Rock Goody Goody in heavyweight, done on size 6 needles. Gotta get busy on this - baby due in December.





A close-up of the pattern and colors . . .






My Loopy Sock Club socks have been neglected since I started the baby blanket. I have finished the heel and have the foot to do. I think I'll take these with me to Texas this weekend when we go see OS play football.


The Girasole remains untouched this week. I have less than 100 stitches to bind off, but will probably not get to it until next week. See ya then. Have a great weekend.





Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Y & W

Yarntini & Wollmeise . . .


First up, Yarntini Summer Sunset (a beautiful orange semi-solid) and Iris Stripe self-striping. Both are monthly club offerings. They would be great together using the orange for heels and toes.





Next up, Wollmeise Skandal um Rosi - I have been wanting this for awhile now and finally acquired it in a trade on Ravelry.







A FO . . . Yarntini Fig & Plum no-purl Monkeys, made on 2.25 mm needles. All I can say about these is "It's about time." I can't remember the last time it took me almost 3 weeks to make a pair of socks, especially a pair of Monkeys.
I guess I've been spending a lot of time on the Girasole. I think I'm going to gift these to a friend's daughter who gives YS a ride to school every morning, which is soooo nice.





I started these a couple of days ago. This is one 32-row pattern repeat of The Loopy Ewe sock club - Wollmeise Guide to Galaxy. I need to find out the story behind that name. Love 'em.



I've been plugging away on the Girasole. It is taking me almost as long to do the edging as it did to knit the whole darn thing. I only have about 100 stitches left to bind off.
Have a great day.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Loopy Spoiler

Ok, the title says it all . . .





Loopy Spoiler . . .




September Sock Club is here. . .




It's a keeper . . .



I already have mine caked and will be casting on in a little bit . . .




Here it is . . .







Wollmeise Guide to Galaxy, a Loopy pouch, cute sheep notecards and a great pattern Zig Zag Diamonds . . .



The yarn is beautiful.







Have a Happy Labor Day!



Sunday, September 6, 2009

Wollmeise




Petit Poison Nr. 5 Light


100% Merino

Friday, September 4, 2009

Not Even Close

It's turning out really pretty . . .



. . . the knitted-on edging, that is . . .





I thought I was about halfway, but I'm Not Even Close . . .


It looks pretty close, doesn't it. But it's not. I still have a little less than 400 (out of 640) stitches to bind off. And it's going so slow and tedious. I guess it's me though. Usually when I get to the binding-off of a project, I'm tired of it and ready for it to be over and ready to start something new. And it is turning out so beautifully. I can't wait to block it and see what it looks like. But this is taking me F.O.R.E.V.E.R. . . . . . . .
Stay tuned to see how much longer.


Thursday, September 3, 2009

My Goodies

First, some Numma-Numma from Sunday's update . . .

From top to bottom: The Special in Ned's Ruby Trout, The Usual in Pudge, a Special Edition 80/10/10 Merino/Cashmere/Nylon in Berry Chocolate (sosoftandsquishy).




A little Wollmeise pyramid. . .






Mistelzweig (mistletoe) . . .




Another Roter Himbeermund (red raspberry lips/mouth) . . .




Spice Market . . .





Another Dunkle Kirsche (black cherry) . . .






Taube (pigeon) is more purple/violet than this picture . . .







Kurbis (pumpkin) . . .








Altogether now . . .

Have a good weekend!