Ferile Knitting

Hi,

We made a shopping outing, today, with one of the stops at a book store, perfect for Christmas gift purchases. I couldn't resist browsing the knitting section, and I picked up Alice Starmore's "Book of Fair Isle Knitting." (So, I got something for myself, too. That's life.)

I read several sections to Chris, after we got home, because he has Scottish family background. The early sections of the book give a history of Fair Isle knitting and the evolution of knitting in the Shetland islands in general. The writing is quite interesting, actually. Chris started paying attention part of the way through, and he said, "What is this called? 'Ferile' knitting?" Hee, hee! I envisioned wild, obnoxious sheep, attacking Scotsmen. Too funny.

I have been tempted on numerous occasions to start playing with colorwork, and I noted once again the "December Lights Tam," by Mary Jane Mucklestone, in latest special issue of Interweave Knits, the "Accessories" issue (Nov '09).

The same pattern has been published before (2007's "Holiday Knits" issue). I looked at it longingly, then, too, but I still wasn't ready for colorwork. Now, I'm thinking of giving it a go... Hmmm.

One of the intimidating factors in Fair Isle is the "steeks." (You have to CUT your knitting. Gasp!) A tam would be a nice way to start some colorwork without taking on steeks in the very same project. I'm such a chicken.

Happy Knitting!

Lisa Kay

Monster Socks

Hi,

I finished my "monster" socks for the monthly knit along, which are intended to be using "leftovers" from other socks.

The orange is Creatively Dyed Calypso, color "HotHotHot," leftover from my "On Hold" socks, and the green is leftover Creatively Dyed Calypso, color "Good Will," from my "Sea Weed" socks, both other monthly KAL socks. I used about 2/3 skein of each for a pair, so 1/3 skein of each just about used up the rest.

I used Meg Swanson's Jogless Stripes Technique, shown on Interweave Daily. It makes it look like there is one less row in the first stitch of the round, but it removes the "jog" associated with the beginning of the round at a color change. In the picture below, the needle is pointing to the first stitch in the round. I used three rows per color, and you can see that the first stitch in each round looks like it only has two rows per color... but no jog.

Happy Knitting,

Lisa Kay

Happy Thanksgiving

We're making dinner for the grandparents, all four, tonight. The turkey is in the oven. Last night, we had dinner at Maggiano's with Dave, Stephanie, Dane, and my folks.

We had the "family style" dinner... they bring you as much as you want! Wow! Two appetizers, two salads, two pastas, two entrees, and two desserts. It was out of control, and the food is amazingly good, too.

Dane was really laid back and just took it all in. He got a bottle at the end of dinner and was ready for bed time.

Mitchell was excited and talking to everyone and wanting to hold Dane. He entertained the table next to us with magic tricks.

Now, we're just going to have turkey... and some family time.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lisa Kay

Nice November

Hi,

While it rained all week, we've had two gorgeous weekends in a row, and we made another trip to the park, eeking our last hurrah out of fall.

Chris seemed to think this was a silly hat. I like it, but then, it's mine!

Do you have your turkey, yet? I've got mine ordered... I pick it up on Wednesday!

Happy Turkey Week!!!

Lisa Kay

Dane's Christening

Hi,

My nephew, Dane, was Christened last Sunday.

The poor little guy was fighting an ear infection, but he did really well during the service and seemed happy through the party at his grandma's. It was great to see my brother and his family.

Happy Knitting,
Lisa Kay

Mitchell Visits Santa

Hi,

We spent our normal Friday, lunch with Gma E, a visit to the mall, the usual outing. We really look forward to our Fridays. Today, I was actually at home in the morning, because Gma W was having surgery, and I kept Mitchell for the whole day. When we woke up, the first thing Mitchell said was, "Is it Friday?" I think he looks forward to it as much as I do.

Today, Santa was at the mall. I knew he was coming soon, because the area was starting to be assembled, last week. Mitchell was excited and wanted to go see him. We only had to wait for one family in front of us, which is a nice part of going early in the season. :)

Mitchell was a bit shy and wouldn't talk, but he did willingly get on Santa's lap and smile, this year, which was an improvement over last year. I did the talking, telling Santa Mitchell's name and what he wanted. Mitchell had already told me he wants a Bat Cave (Imaginex) and sperm whale (Playmobile). In point of fact, Santa's little helper (your's truly) has already assured the postive completion of the mission. (Little stashes are already being created around the house...)

Ah, the season... Now, I need to order a turkey...

Gobble, gobble!

Lisa Kay

First Sock Homespun

Hi,

I finished my first sock yarn. It is a three-ply fingering, made from "Spunky Eclectic's" April '09 club fiber, wool and 10% nylon. I hadn't spun nylon fiber before, but it went fine. The colorway, "Soul Windows," has the colors of eyes. It ended up seeming mostly blue, but I spun it quite thin, going for sock yarn.

The three-ply should make a nice "basic" sock for the Nov/Dec sock club. It will be a bit thicker than other sock yarns, I think. (Not as thin as some "fingering" weight, but not "sport," either.) It may be about like Fleece Artist Somoko, which I had to knit at 58 stitches for a sock instead of the normal 66.

I have over 1000 yards (from a "double dose," 8 oz of fiber), so it will either be more than one pair or perhaps a gift of handspun for another sock knitter.

Happy Spinning!
Lisa Kay

Sunny November

Hi,

This November in St. Louis has been sunny and gorgeous. We took the opportunity to go to the park, for a last hurrah.

Mitchell was on the run, constantly, and I had a tough time catching him in frame. I just got lucky with this one. Thank goodness for digital cameras, because I only get one good one for several dozen shots!

The bright sun and the red plastic tunnels made Mitchell look like he glowed.

I kept poking into the tunnel to try to get a shot. The little urchin kept trying to dart away, making it especially tricky...

At the top of the slide, he seemed to be playing peek-a-boo.

He carried his little puppy with him everywhere. He did a good job of keeping up with it. I think he is a bit "burned" after yesterday, when he lost two of his little pets (the sheep and the cat) in the grocery store.

The puppy had to climb up all the equipment...

... and Mitchell showed him to all the other kids.

He had everyone's attention!

On the way home, I stopped to pick up a wooly worm I saw crossing the road. After all, he was about to be run over!

A wooly worm is good for hours of entertainment!

Happy Knitting!
Lisa Kay

November KAL Socks

Hi,

The November/December Knit Along for the "Socks From The Toe Up" (Ravelry Link) group is using the "basic" sock patterns (plain knitting), or any previous SFFTU KAL pattern. To make the "basic" socks more interesting, there are four categories: plain (use self-striping or interesting yarn), "monster" (use left-overs from previous socks), "colorwork" (multi-strand/picture knitting, typically), and "holiday."

I've finished my first plain sock with self-striping yarn. This is Opal's Harry Potter series yarn in the colorway "Tonks." (I have "Harry" in my stash, too. That one is mostly blue tones, but in similar striping patterns.)

I've also started my "monster" socks using leftovers from previous socks ("On Hold" and "Sea Weed"). This is the Creatively Dyed Calypso in "HotHotHot" (orange) and "Good Will" (green). I actually kinda like these...

Happy Knitting,
Lisa Kay

Halloween Knight

Happy Halloween,

Here is our knight in shining armor.

Mitchell enjoyed his knight costume. We dressed up early to go get photos with "Rapuzel" and her little brother, the dragon, but the timing didn't work out... they were eating dinner.

We did manage to get several good shots while the sun was still up, though, so it was not to no avail.

Note the spider in the background in the photo above. That is our neighbor's yard. The spider is animated and lights up, so Mitchell goes to visit it whenever we come home after dark. They also have a small fish pond in the front yard that Mitchell likes to peek into. Occasionally, we find a frog visiting the fish, too.

Mitchell practiced some sword play with the skyrocket junipers in our front yard. Since we have been battling bag worms over the last few weeks, I didn't discourage him. I'm about ready to cut them down and burn them, anyway!

"On guard, you dasterdly tree! Defend thyself!"

Running with a sword in your belt that is longer than your legs can be a tricky business.

The neighborhood is safe for another Halloween of trick-or-treating.

Happy Halloween,
Lisa Kay

October Sock Done

Hi,

I finished my October knit along sock last Saturday, and I've been waiting all week for sun to take pictures. It has been raining in St. Louis all week. It is gorgeous, today, though, looking good for trick-or-treating.

I really enjoyed this yarn, Ellyn Cooper's Yarn Sonnets, Zohar Sock. You can get it at Crazy For Ewe, and Ellen has pictures up on her blog.

Here's my earlier post on the sock and pattern.

Happy Knitting!
Lisa Kay

Bubble Bath

Hi,

A traditional treat for little ones, the bubble bath remains a favorite.

I had to resurrect the jacuzzi bath from long dis-use with a couple gallons of bleach and three dry runs (well, not so dry, but without humans in the tub), to get it back usable. Mitchell had never used it with the jets on, before. I've had duct tape over the jets for years.

It was somewhat tame until I put the jets on high, and then the foam really got going. Daddy was moderately alarmed when he saw what was going on, but I coaxed him to get the camera. Excellent!

Happy Bathing,

Lisa Kay

Mitchell Gets Around

Hi,

You can go to Mary's (MLiz's) blog to see some pictures of Mitchell from today, with a neighbor's granddaughter, over where he spends the day (Gma and Gpa's house).

He also has another good friend, Madison, he enjoys playing with during the day. She is going to be Rapunzel for Halloween, and Mitchell is going to be a knight. Hmmm...

Mitchell says he is going to marry Madison. He has kept up this refrain over several months. I have resorted to saying that he has to ask her dad. One time when we were arguing over who was the boss, I told him he would be the boss when he grew up and had a little boy. He said, "When I have a little boy, Madison is going to be the mommy." Goodness.

Happy Knitting,
Lisa Kay

October Sock

Hi,

I ordered some gorgeous sock yarn from Crazy For Ewe, when Ellen got in the wonderful Ellyn Cooper's Yarn Sonnets Zohar Sock colors.

Strazzberry:

Aquamarine:

Black Olive:

I used the first one, Strazzberry, for the October KAL from Wendy D. Johnson's, "Socks From The Toe Up."

I've got one sock done... These are the, "Mock Cable Socks."

Happy Knitting,

Lisa Kay

Fall Photos

Hi,

We went for a drive, looking at leaves and generally just getting out. Mitchell said he wanted to, "go for a long drive."

We stopped in Elsah and played at the park. Mitchell and Daddy went up on a footbridge to look at water bugs.

I also snapped a shot of the high chair. Mitchell is just about grown out of it. We like to use it, because it keeps him in one spot. We are going to have to give it up soon!

Happy Knitting,
Lisa Kay

Lattice Sock

Hi,

I finished the second Lattice sock and got all the pattern updates, made. It is a long pattern (10 pages) because it has all the math for any size/gauge. There are example tables for a baby bootie, child's sock, and the women's "lattice" sock, with instructions for modifying gauge and size. It can be downloaded here for free. It is called, "Formula Toe Up Socks For Any Size."


Here is the previous Lattice sock post.

Happy Knitting,
Lisa Kay

Little Boys

... like their toys. Mitchell likes his trains. Actually, I think Daddy may like the trains even more. We have a hodge-podge, growing GeoTrax set.



Stephanie started a blog for Dane. I put it in the link list, on the right, too.

Happy Knitting,
Lisa Kay

Autumn in the Air

Hi,

It was a beautiful fall weekend, fall crisp in the air, and we got out for a drive. We stopped to see some horses on our way to Lebanon, IL. We thought there was a craft fair, but it was only one day, apparently. We drove around the campus, and Mitchell saw the fountain. He likes fountains, especially throwing in pennies, so we stopped to let him run around.

Happy Knitting,
Lisa Kay

Tweed, Glorious Tweed

Hi,

It seems that the knitting world has been overcome by a resurgence of tweed. And who can blame us? The textures are lovely and classic, and the cabling and other stitch patterns interesting to knit and very versatile. We can wear the hottest fashion trend while, in the very same garment, having a timeless classic that we can wear for years. What could be better? Could it be that the hot, hot, hot knitter of the last couple years, Jared Flood, and his blog, Brooklyn Tweed, have made us all re-evaluate our basics? I can't help but believe that his influence is a factor. The very name of his blog has us searching our stashes, LYS's, and the internet, for twists of marl and flecks of donegal. The articles in every major knitting magazine have picked up the topic, with historical descriptions of tweed origins and the latest tweed yarn comparisons.

Berocco has introduced a new yarn, Blackstone Tweed, which intrigues me with its colors and patterns. Berocco has caught my eye with their designs for the last several seasons in a row, and it is hard to compete with Norah Gaughan, their design director, for wearable yet intriguing patterns that are both interesting and easy to knit.

While the latest Berocco tweed and patterns have captured my attention, it is an older Norah Gaughan pattern that actually made it onto my needles, the "Uptown Toffee" pattern from "Knitter's Magazine," republished in a "Best of Knitter's" book, "Jackets For Work and Play."

Picture from, "Jackets For Work and Play."

Norah made hers in Classic Elite's "Inca Alpaca" yarn, which I have also used (for the Cozy Critter Cowl and Cap), but I chose for this pattern a tweed in a DK weight. It is Jo Sharp's "Silkroad DK Tweed," in the Emerald colorway. It has a small amount of cashmere, and it seems to have a softness that some of the other tweeds don't. I really like how it is knitting up. The cables are interesting, and the double moss stitch has a nice firmness and drape at the same time.

I had made some cables in the past (such as the Central Park Hoodie), and I had heard of "cabling without a cable needle," but I hadn't really looked into it. I finally added that skill recently, and it has been a big help. There is a great tutorial in the Fall 2009 Interweave Knits, also available on their Knitting Daily site.

I've also got another tweed cardigan in my "queue," this one from the Winter 2008 "Interweave Knits," the "Ropes and Picots Cardigan" by Laura Grutzeck. I chose the yarn used in the pattern, in another color, Rowan "Scottish Tweed DK," mine in Thistle (purple). I had some left from my Almeara Gloves (by the ubiquitous Jared Flood), and I picked up some more. (I'm not too worried about dye lot, with Rowan.)

Picture from "Interweave Knits," Winter 2008.

And, of course, speaking of Jared Flood, I have one of his tweedy items in my queue. Yesterday, I picked up yarn to make the "Green Autumn" mittens from the Fall 2009 "Vogue Knitting" (cover pattern).

Picture from "Vogue Knitting," Fall 2008.

I'll use Jamieson's "Silk and Lambswool," in a purple colorway. I picked up this yarn, yesterday, at Knitty Couture, in St. Louis (The Loop). Jamieson's, now renamed Simply Shetland, has many wonderful tweed yarns... and patterns... and... well, I'd better stop blogging and go knit. :)

Happy Knitting
Lisa Kay

Ruby

Hi,

Another finished object...

I made a quick vest pattern from Lisa Lloyd's, "A Fine Fleece." The book is geared toward spinning, but it makes up each pattern in one hand-spun and one commercial yarn. I picked a different commercial yarn (Classic Elite's "Fresco") to make the "Ruby" vest pattern.





I like the stitch definition. The "Fresco" also has a nice "halo" due to the alpaca and angora content. It is very soft. It turned out beautifully. Two thumbs up for, "A Fine Fleece."

Happy Knitting,

Lisa Kay

Bobble Cardigan(s)

Hi,

I finished the Bobble Cardigan from Jane Ellison's "Knitting Noro" book. It took me a while to find buttons, and then I had to order them... but it is done. It relaxed a little when I washed it, and it doesn't fit quite as well as it did, before. Maybe I'll try a few minutes in the dryer, the next time I wash it.

Previous post on the Bobble Cardigan.

I like this cardigan so well, and enjoyed knitting it, so I started another one. This one is in the red called for by the pattern.

Happy Knitting!

Lisa Kay

Lattice Sock - One Done

Hi,

I finished the first lattice sock. I've been off doing other things... I have a sweater done (pictures need to be taken), and a vest all done but the bands. I've just been working this sock on travel (CA last week) or in the car on the weekend (going to the grocery store with Chris driving, obviously!)



Here's the previous post on the lattice sock.

Happy Knitting!
Lisa Kay

Latzer Homestead

Hi,

Every year on the second weekend in September, the Latzer Homestead in Highland, IL, has their fair. We got married at the Latzer Homestead on the following weekend, five years ago (September 18).

Mitchell enjoyed the costumes, puppies, tents, train rides and the corn box...

It was sort of nostalgic, just being there.

Here's what it looked like five years ago.

Happy Knitting,
Lisa Kay

Computing Lad

Hi,

Chris got Mitchell really going on the computer, yesterday. In the past, we've had him look a things, like the "Dinosaur Song" (and others by "squetch") on YouTube, but he hasn't ever really gotten the hang of the mouse, himself. Yesterday, he got started playing some games on Sprout, and he started understanding how to, "Point and Click." Oh, boy. I think we've created a monster!

So serious!!!

Happy Knitting,
Lisa Kay

Seaweed Sock Done!

Hi,

I finished my August KAL sock. I only did one this month, due to working on Ingenue.

I really like how these turned out. The Creatively Dyed Calypso really works up beautifully, and is a springy, luxurious yarn. I didn't get as much color variation through the skein as I did with the orange colorway. The socks pretty much match.

Previous post with pattern links, etc., is here.

Happy Knitting!

Lisa Kay

Ingenue Finished

Hi,

I finished my Ingenue sweater in just over three weeks. I like the fit, though I have to agree with Sally Melville (in the classes I attended in St. Louis) that raglan sleeves are not the most flatterning.

My original post with the yarn info and pattern picture is here.

I added a couple of increase repeats before separating for the arms. I started with the M size and ended up using the st count for the next size higher. Then, I put in six short rows (six turns each side) starting 3 sts from the side marker, turning one st sooner on each turn. The shaping ended up a little lower than it should be, but probably better than if there were none. This is the first time I tried to throw those in myself, so it was a learning experience.
I did waist shaping for two extra repeats than the pattern instructed. This also added some length. Folks on Ravelry seemed fairly unanimous that it was coming out too short. I didn’t change the waist shaping increases, though.

Happy Knitting!
Lisa Kay

St. Louis Excursion

Hi,

It was a perfect weekend in St. Louis. We had an excursion into the city, seeing the Arch, and generally wandering around.

The Arch is one of Mitchell's favorite outings. He likes the Indians and animals in the museum. We like to go into the mercantile shop, too. We got some chocolate-covered cranberries. (Any trick to get him to eat fruit.)

We made our way into Soulard, and we stopped for lunch at Llywelyn's Pub.

They had a nice coloring sheet for Mitchell, and so he had a good time. He also enjoyed the Oreo's that came with his kid's meal. :)

Two thumbs up for the fish and chips. Yummy!

Happy Knitting!
Lisa Kay

Pet Rocks

Hi,

We painted pet rocks, today.

We just used Crayola kids paints (washable, thank goodness), and then put on "googly eyes." Mitchell said the yellow one doesn't get eyes because, "It is the sun." The plain red one is the sun at sunset.

The pink one started out as a caterpillar, but now is called a centipede. Mitchell has been carrying him around all afternoon and named him, "Incher." I painted the legs and spots, and Mitchell painted the "hair" and mouth. He has twelve legs.

Daddy painted the frog with the brown spots. I made the ladybug, and Mitchell added a mouth. I'm not sure whether the "lip" appearance is on purpose or not, but it is pretty good for a 3-year-old!

Happy Knitting!
Lisa Kay

Little Swimmer

Hi,

We take advantage of the pool at G&G W's development. It has a really nice shallow area where Mitchell is learning to like the water. He isn't really learning to swim, yet, but we're working on blowing bubbles.

Well, here he seems to be working on dancing and air guitar, but at least we have fun. Isn't that what it's all about?

Happy Knitting,
Lisa Kay

Ingenue

Hi,

While I'm still working socks, and I have about half the second sock done on the "Seaweed" KAL, I started an Ingenue from "Custom Knits," by Wendy Bernard. Here's the book picture.


Here's my progress. I'm using Tahki Yarns "Shannon," a multi-strand twisted tweed. I could probably get some hand-spun to look about like this... Hmmm.

This pattern eats the yarn up fast. This is the start of the third ball.

Happy Knitting!
Lisa Kay

August KAL - Seaweed Sock

Hi,

I started my August KAL "Seaweed Sock" with another color of Creatively Dyed Calypso. This color is called, "Good Will." The color seems like a great match for a seaweed themed pattern.

Happy Knitting,
Lisa Kay

Dane is Here!

Hi,

My brother's son, Dane, arrived safely this week, and he and his mother are very well. Mitchell and Chris and I went down to their house, today, so that Mitchell could meet him. Grandma went along, too, to see the grandsons together. Yea!

Mitchell was pretty good with him. He was very intrigued with Dane's hands and feet, and I was little worried he would pull things in the wrong direction, but Dane didn't seem to mind.

Happy Mothering,
Lisa Kay

On Hold, Take Two

Hi,

I finished my second pair of On Hold Socks, well in time for the end of July. (KAL due date.)

The Creatively Dyed Calypso works up wonderfully (no pooling), though the color is a bit inconsistent throughout the skein (yes, these are both from the same skein). The color difference is more noticeable in the toes.

Up the calves of the sock, the two socks are about the same color, which you can see in the picture of the folded socks. The folded picture is to show that the calves are about as tall as the feet are long. (Nice symmetry.)

Happy Knitting!
Lisa Kay

Dinosaur Climbing

Hi,

While Mitchell has many photogenic moments, I don't seem to have my camera handy at all the opportune times. I do seem to remember to take it to the park, though!

Happy Knitting,

Lisa Kay

On Hold Socks, Take Two

Hi,

July 17 is awefully early in the month to be done with both KAL pairs, so I started another On Hold Sock. I'm using Creatively Dyed Calypso (also from The Loopy Ewe, though you can also go directly to Creatively Dyed's site to order). The colorway is aptly named, "HotHotHot!"


The yarn hides the stitch pattern a bit, but I was really excited to try this yarn. CD is a sponsor of the KAL, and I also just really like it. :) It is very springy, dense yarn, and the dying is very unique. It has random spashes on it instead of being dyed in blocks, so there is no repeat at all. Very interesting and lovely!

Happy Knitting!
Lisa Kay

On Hold Socks Done!

Hi,

I finished my second July pair of socks on the 17th.

Pattern: "On Hold Sock" from Wendy Johnson's awesome book, "Socks From the Toe Up."

Yarn: Dream in Color, Smooshy

Color: "Don't Be Blue" (this was a "consolation" yarn from The Loopy Ewe for not getting in the sock club.)

Needles, size 2.5 mm

Started July 5, Finished July 17.

I may actually have time to do three pairs this month. I have almost half the month, left. A lot will depend on how much knitting time I can manage during my "class" next week. I'm doing a class for work that involves four nights away from home. I'm not sure how much time I'll have for knitting, though.

Happy Knitting,
Lisa Kay

Watching TV

Hi,

Mitchell watches a lot of TV, and he likes to climb on the furniture. (Well, he's a little boy, isn't he?) So far, no catastrophes...

Happy Knitting,

Lisa Kay

On Hold Sock Progress

Hi,

Here's some progress on the second sock pattern for the July KAL, "On Hold Sock." (It's called that because Wendy drafted the pattern while waiting on hold on the telephone.)





Mitchell wanted to get into the pictures. He's a bit of ham. :)

I really like the double border going up the side of the sock.

Happy Knitting!
Lisa Kay

Good Knight

Hi,

Mitchell likes to put various things on his head and say they are helmets. Here is a white T-shirt, one of the more innocuous items. Some of the other would be black-mail material some day... think underpants...

He has a lot of knight toys, a couple of castles, a boy-size sword, etc. I have a bruise on my arm that I think is a sword wound! The Playmobile knights and castles are pretty neat. There is "working" cannon. (Spring-powered).

He really enjoyed this book from the library. He asked for it after we took it back. Maybe we should buy it. It is about three little dragons who agree to take care of a wizard's kitties, but they can't read his instructions. They use the pictures in the instructions, to interesting results. The Good Knight helps them out and teaches them to read.

Happy Knitting!

Lisa Kay

Second July Sock Started

Hi,

This is "On Hold Sock" from SFTTU, in Dream In Color, Smooshy, in the color "Don't Be Blue," which is an exclusive "non-club" color from The Loopy Ewe. (It was part of a consolation kit for not making it into the sock club. Sheri does a lottery for her sock club. Another possible name would have been Boo Hoo Blue. Ha!)

Happy Knitting!
Lisa Kay

Finished First July Sock

Hi,

Here are my finished "Nanners" socks from the July KAL. I have enough yarn left to make a pair of booties, but no girl babies in my life. Only little boys!

I like the Louet Gems. I have a few solid colors, now, too. They'll be good for some of the "gansey" patterns. (For you non-knitters, that is just a textured sort of pattern, not lace.)

Happy Knitting,
Lisa Kay

Bow Boy

Hi,

Mitchell has a somewhat improvised bow, and he enjoys hunting things... usually Mommy or Daddy.

It is just an old plastic cup rack (I used it in my dorm room in college), with a piece of scrap yarn tied on it. (I don't have any yarn around here...)

Happy Knitting,
Lisa Kay

July KAL Sock

Hi,

I've started "Nanner Socks," one of the two socks for July. I'm using Louet, hand-painted by Cherry Tree Hill, which I found at Crazy For Ewe on my last trip to Pax.

Happy Knitting!

Lisa Kay

Another Formula Sock

Hi,

I'm working on another test sock for the Formula Toe-Up Sock (for any size). It is supposed to allow for any pattern stitch, but this one is a lattice pattern based on "Koolhaas Hat" by Jared Flood (BrooklynTweed). I made the lattice have six stitches instead of four, though. I made a Koolhaas Hat last year with Dream In Color Classy, but the sock yarn is a lot more pain-staking to cable. Oh, well... Only one pair of these, then. I'll work them at the end of each month, after KAL socks are done...

I've put it aside for the moment, while I do the July socks for the "Socks From The Toe Up" KAL. I'll put my progess for that in another post...

Happy Knitting,
Lisa Kay

Mitchell's First Hand-Knitted Socks

Hi,

I had enough green (Interlacements, Tiny Toes, in color "Taiga," 402) from "Sprucey Lucy" (Sock #9) left over to make these ankle socks for Mitchell (and maybe some booties... we'll see).

I'm playing with a "Formula Sock" pattern that will work for any size and any gauge. This is the first test sock, so it will be a little while before I "publish" the pattern on Ravelry. I need to do some more test socks in different sizes. I'm planning to have test socks for baby booties, women's average, and at least one men's size. I'm also going to make at least one of the test socks in "sport" weight.

Happy Knitting!

Lisa Kay

Quilts for Dane and Mitchell

Hi,

With a nephew, Dane, on the way, I'm making baby gifts and off to another shower, today. I started with the checkerboard booties, but the main gift is a quilt. The nursery colors are blue, red, and brown, so I picked out some fabrics that seemed to fit. I also got enough to make two quilts, so that Mitchell would get one. The only difference is that Dane's quilt has some brown in the backing fabric, and Mitchell's backing is just blue, and Dane's is quilted in brown thread while Mitchell's is quilted in blue thread. And, of course, the tags are different!

Mitchell refers to Dane as "Cloudy." He's been very consistent about it. I'm sure he means in a very billowing, white, summery cloud sort of way, not a dark, thundering sort of way, since he is quite excited. Whenever anyone talks about a baby, he says things like, "I'm getting a cousin!" or "When is my baby coming?" He has also been asking, "What month is it?" When I've said, "May," or now "June," he says, "What month is Cloudy coming?"

I took these pictures last weekend, when I finished the quilt. You might think I'm so efficient and early, but if you knew that the shower was originally scheduled for the 6th, and then slipped, you might realize that I'm still a "just in time" finisher...

We can't wait to meet our nephew/cousin! Yea!!!

Happy Knitting,
Lisa Kay

Lacy Rib Finished... Sock #10

Hi,

I finished my KAL sock from the Lacy Rib pattern in "Socks From The Toe Up." This gives me a hiatus until the next KAL starts July 1. The yarn, Araucania Multy, is a pretty color, but it isn't a very yummy base. It feels a bit like Opal, which I used for my first sock. It seems like a sort of "utilitarian" base. I have some Louet Gems, which I picked up recently (a gorgeous "Wild Cherry" variegated pink from "Crazy For Ewe" and a solid from "The Loopy Ewe,") and that base seems much more luxurious, springy and soft to the touch. The Louet colors are all very rich, also, so it is no compromise... I'm also waiting for just the right sock pattern to use my Creatively Dyed Calypso... It has a lot of color changes, so it is more a appropriate for a pattern without a lot of detailed stitching, cables, and so forth that will get lost in the color. Hmmm...

I'm working on some socks for Mitchell from the leftover green yarn from Sprucey Lucy. I have the first sock done. I think I'll have enough yarn for a bootie out of each skein, too. :)

Happy Knitting,

Lisa Kay

Visiting Varmint

Hi,

Chris went out to mow today and found a turtle hunkered down in the middle of the yard, dug in. It seemed very strange. He came in and got me and Mitchell to go see it (her). It seemed like maybe she was laying eggs. Hmmm.

She just sat there until we backed up, and then she rambled off across the yard.

I took a look at the hole, and I was amazed how deep it seemed to be. I couldn't see any eggs in there. Either I interrupted the process, or they are really deep down... or maybe I just don't understand what was going on.

As she powered off across the neighbor's yard, she kept looking back at us. I felt bad for bothering her.

Happy Knitting,

Lisa Kay

Lacy Rib In Progress

Hi,

The second sock in this month's "Socks From The Toe Up" (SFTTU) Knit Along (KAL) is the "Lacy Rib." I'm using Araucania Multy (Color 312). I have the first sock done and the second up to the gusset. I like the way the semi-solid yarn is turning out for this pattern. Many of the KAL socks on Ravelry for this KAL are either multi-color variegated or striped, and most of them aren't the greatest for this pattern, though some are pretty, of course.

I have a little over 1/3 of the yarn I started with for the first sock. If I make a suitable partner for the yarn and have similar yardage, I could use the 1/3 and 1/3 balls to make a striped sock the same height. Hmmmm... perhaps purple...

Happy Knitting!
Lisa Kay