A history of my world in 100 objects #25

A quarter of the way there…wahoo!

This is my first (pitiful) attempt at a sock from 2008. It’s pretty atrocious. It’s too small. It’s mate is missing. The toe is twisted because I thought I could just do the decreases any old place I pleased. My stitches are twisted because I was still knitting backwards. I never weaves in the ends.

But I wore them with pride. I still would, if I had both of them. They were a case of sheer sticktoitiveness. They were hard.

I’ve knit dozens of socks now. But I still keep this lone sock as a reminder of where I started.

Knit Happens

I’m super excited today, because though my knitting mojo seems to have been waning a bit lately, my designing mojo has skyrocketed!

I’ve released my first for-sale pattern on Ravelry, the Well Traveled Socks. These socks include traveling cables on the cuff and leg, and then a heel flap and stockinette foot. I adore them, and am really proud.

Well Traveled Socks

If you Ravel, they are available for $5 as a PDF download HERE.

Yay!

The Final Brit Knits…

I can hardly believe that in just over three months we’ll be moving back to the states.  Our time here in the UK really has flown by.  We’re still trying to squeeze in a bit more traveling, and planning to enjoy the time that we have left with all of the wonderful friends we’ve made overseas.  I can’t believe that I’m casting on knitting projects now that could potentially see me through the rest of my time in the UK, depending on the rate at which I knit them (and how many other projects I cast on when startitis hits).

I’m knitting my “Back to the States” Vest.  It’s Stefanie Japel’s Back to School U-Neck Vest, in Cascade 220, Peony Heather.  I’m about 6 inches into the 8 1/2 inches of ribbing at the bottom of the vest, so I’m making decent progress.  It’s turning out lovely so far, and I’m excited to start the top of the vest for a bit more variety.

I’ve also been working on my mom’s second sock.  Barbara’s Blues should be done in plenty of time for her arrival and our trip to Cork in early March. They knit up beautifully and speedily in Claudia Handpainted Sport, in the Ingrid’s Blues colorway.

Of course, I know these won’t be the only projects I work on in the next three months.  But the realization has certainly hit me that the end of my Brit Knits is in sight.

Three months is going to fly by, I think.

The Journey

Well, as I mentioned yesterday, we are here in America safe and sound and relatively unscathed by the transatlantic travels.  

Of course, there’s always the build up to the big trip, which this time, was riddled with holiday gatherings on Tuesday.  The girls had their toddler group Christmas party first thing Tuesday morning, including a stop in to see Santa, some face painting, and some playtime.

Erica, having her face painted

Sam and Kicka in the ball pit

Then we headed to Moms and Tots Mass, where Father Apollo treated for pizza after mass, and the kids all made gingerbread houses.

Getting the Gingerbread Houses "Just Right"

They were exhausted by the time our travels arrived the next morning, and, in rare form, Marcus managed to read and watch three movies in flight, and I managed to knit, read, and watch some Sex in the City.  Woo-hoo.

I finished a pair of socks for a friend, too, which is always exciting.

Pom Pom Peds in Lorna's Laces Solid

So, now the travels continue as we head down to North Carolina until Tuesday.  It should be a relaxing few days, thank goodness!  After all, we need it!

On the Needles

I’ve been waxing poetic quite a bit lately, and I thought it seemed prudent to get back to the reason we’re all here…the knitting.

Right now, I have (gasp!) 5 knitting projects on the needles, without an end in sight for any of them any time soon.

1)  Arwen.  I am slowly but surely making progress on my first cardigan.  I continue to hope that she’ll be finished miraculously without me knitting on her at all, but in case that plan fails, I’m hoping that she’ll be finished before Thanksgiving.  If I had to venture a guess, I’d say that she’s about 75% done.

2)  Big Brown Blob.  Marcus’ Saranac is slow going.  But it’s quite an easy knit thus far, so I do it when I don’t need to pay attention.  I have used up about 4 balls of wool so far (Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, which I’ve been surprisingly pleased with), so I’m about 20% finished.

3)  Headstrong Hedera Halfsies. This heavily modified version of Cookie A’s Hedera socks is probably the project that I have closest to completion.  I’m in the process of turning the heel on the second sock, and have decided to knit the foot in simple stockinette and leave the lacy bits just at the cuff.  I should be finished with her within the next week.

4) Lively Livia.  I am knitting these socks for the October Sockdown Challenge.  They are really going to be a challenge for me, with multiple charts, knitting through the back loop, and cables.  I suspect they will take until the end of November to complete, especially with all the other projects that I have on the go.  I only just cast on yesterday, and am still working on the ribbing chart.

5)  Purpura Cardigan.  I am also working on my mom’s Christmas present.  I won’t link the pattern here, because she is a nosy, nosy woman!   I was going to do the Tilted Duester, but opted instead for a top down raglan construction with seed stitch and no buttons.  The yarn is Berroco Peruvia in the Purpura colorway (hence the title).  It’s coming along swimmingly, and should be done for Christmas with time to spare.

Not to mention a handful of other Christmas presents that need to get knit before the holidays, including Kiki’s cardigan, too!

What am I doing wasting time blogging?  I should be knitting!

Finally Met Their Match

It only took 3 weeks to pair these guys up correctly.

Ahh to my Headstrong Hedera Halfies in the much-sought Malabrigo Sock Yarn!

Off to See the Wizard!

It’s a fact, she must be a wizard to do all that she does.  The Yarn Harlot knits (a lot…and quickly!), speaks, travels, writes, and raises a family (with 3 teenage girls…holy moly!).  She has a following of which I am proud to be one, and I am going to hear her speak tomorrow at I Knit in London.  Not only will she be there, but there will be a variety of other speakers, workshops, and knitting and fiber related stalls for shopping.

It really is like going to see the Wizard and Oz!

I spent a great deal of today trying to figure out what the heck to bring with me to knit.  After all, I’ll be spending 6+ hours on the train, and knitting during the Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s session (that’s the Harlot’s real name) and meals.  There’s no room for error when packing, that’s for sure.  Forget a needle?  I could have to sit on the train and do nothing!

I decided to stick with socks, which make a perfect travel project.  I’ll be bringing a simple stockinette sock in the Lorna’s Laces Pilsen that I showed off yesterday:

and I’ll also be bringing the Halloween themed Horcrux socks that I’ve been knitting:

You can’t see the Horcruxes (it’s been raining for days…there’s not much I can do without natural light), but they are there, Harry Potter fans!

So, I think I’m prepared.  I’ve got my knitting notions/needle case, so I should be good to go.

And of course, I am going with three other knitters and traveling to a knitting show…so I could always buy anything I’ve forgotten.

Good to remember.

Post Script

I finished that other pair of socks last night.  How beautiful are these!?

Simple Stockinette; Claudia Handpainted Fingering, Blue Fields

 

That’s the Chesapeake Bay in the background.  Is it really time to leave already?

Did You Finish ANYTHING?

These words were spoken (with a smile) by my mother after she read that Arwen didn’t get finished during the Ravelympics.

Silly Mommy.  Of course I did!

Evangeline; Malabrigo Worsted, Olive

 

Melting Sherbet Socks; Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, Sherbet

 

Fetching; Artyarns Supermerino

 

FLS; Malabrigo Worsted, Dusty Rose

 

Gloria Cowl; Malabrigo Worsted, Tuareg

 

Dolores Park Cowl; Lorna's Laces Shepherd Bulky, Red Rover

Not to mention that I am still working on one pair of socks.  And Arwen of course, though I don’t expect to work on her anymore until I get home.

So see…I finished some stuff, after all!

Socks on Vacation

I have entered a contest hosted by Zarzuela.  The contest was entitled Socks on Vacation, and the object was to photograph…you guessed it, a handknit sock on vacation.  I entered, and am really pleased with the photograph that I took while on vacation in Tuscany.

Please read the directions for the voting here, at Zarzuela Knits and Crochets.  The directions lprovide a link to a flickr set, where you can view all of the entries.  Of course, vote for your favorite (but if your favorite happens to have a bottle of wine in it, I’ll be all the happier!).  Voting will only take a few minutes via email, and you’ll help someone (even if it isn’t me) walk away with some great prizes.

Thanks for the support!