October 25, 2006
No Remote Blogging, But...
A finished pair of socks. Oklahoma was ok, not great, but ok. It was a really long trip - 12 hours in the truck each way, early mornings, late nights, and not a lot of luck on the team roping front. We left the hotel before 8 o'clock every morning and didn't get back to the room until about midnight. All I did was knit and watch team roping. Well, I guess I also fed horses, cleaned stalls, ate a lot of concession stand crap, and visited with Travis' brother and sister-in-law. The good news is that I finished the Spey Valley socks.
Project Details:
Pattern: Spey Valley from Knitting on the Road
Needles: Addi Natura 2.0mm 6" dpns
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Island Blue
Thoughts: This is a really good basic pattern. The design is, of course, clever and well-executed - it is a Nancy Bush pattern after all. I like the 3 ribbing patterns. The cuff is done in a purl 2, k2, p1, k2 rib that mimics the look of the leg and foot ribbing, but provides a bit more stretch to hold the sock up. The second ribbing is done in a diamond pattern and I think adds just a bit of interest to an otherwise basic sock. The leg and foot is made up of a 5x2 ribbing and provides nice stretch, but is a bit different than your basic 2x2 ribbing. The very best part of this sock is the round toe. I just love how it looks and fits. These socks are not for me, they're a gift for a friend, so I'm going to block them tonight so they're ready to send off next week.
I didn't start another project while I was gone. I have to tell you that I was little burned out after knitting for 10 hours a day for 3 days. I know, it's a shocking statement, but rather than start a new project on the way home yesterday I read a book. And now I'm feeling energized to start something new. I wound the yarn for the knee highs, but I am going to finish the Kimono Sweater and work on the squares I promised Cindy for her wedding. I'm thinking something with cables. I've been in the mood for cables lately. I have a lot of blog reading to catch up on, and hopefully I'll get that done in the next day or two. For those of you who are interested, the new computer rocks. I absolutley love it.
Posted by Stephanie at 2:25 PM | Comments (27)October 19, 2006
One Down, One To Go
The first Spey Valley sock is finished except for the weaving of ends. I'm quite pleased with how stretchy it is and I just love the toe (maybe the round toe - I'll have to look that up to be sure).
I actually finished this sock before I started Fetching, and snuck Fetching in between the first and second sock - a little variety is a good thing. Travis and I are driving to Oklahoma City over the weekend (we're leaving Saturday and coming back late Tuesday) for a team roping. Travis is roping, I am not. I am knitting. So, I have a whole lot of driving time which equates to a whole lot of knitting time. Travis' team roping partner and his girlfriend (the partner's, not Travis' - obviously) are going with us, so chances are good I won't have to drive. I do believe I'll have time to finish the second Spey Valley sock, and I need to decide what to do next. If I don't get the Kimono Sweater seamed before I go, I'm taking it! I have had it with my procrastination on this project. It's a really cute sweater that I know I would wear a lot (I really wanted to wear it today, but I can't because it isn't freaking done yet), but what the hell is my problem? I don't even mind seaming. I've reached the point of being really annoyed with myself on this project, so I'm going to finish the Kimono Sweater before I start something else (and maybe even before I finish the second Spey Valley sock). I think the second travel knitting project should be socks - for a couple of reasons. First, I have a whole lot of sock yarn I'm anxious to knit and second, socks are so small and portable and I doubt I'll have a whole lot of room in the truck for a lot of yarn (like Butterfly would require - although now that I think about it maybe I should take Butterfly. Hmmm...). We will have the horse trailer with that very large front tack room. I could put a whole lot of yarn in there. Ok, realistically, I'll have 4 days of knitting time - most of which will be done around lots of people (and I suppose I'll be expected to participate in a conversation every now and then), so socks make the most sense. The ultimate question - if I'm taking sock yarn, should I take the yarn for the knee highs or for the Jaywalkers?
October 9, 2006
Sock Progress
This weekend was productive, but not as productive as I'd hoped. I did make a nifty new needle organizer. It isn't quite done, and I still have the one to make for the dpns, but then I'll take pictures. I promise. This project is part of the continuing craft room organization project and I do believe it is shaping up quite nicely. More on that later.
In knitting news, I turned the heel of Spey Valley and finished the gusset.
I had to try it on last night because all that ribbing makes it look really tiny, but the good news is it fits just fine. What a relief. I always get so annoyed with I get to the point of just having the foot left and then discover it's too small (and that's happened to me a time or two). I think I might have to cast-on for some fingerless gloves this week. I have some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in my newly organized stash and those little gloves are going to be very useful this fall/winter. We'll see how thing shape up this week. I still have some sweater finishing to do (cough, cough) and I might be going to Ft. Collins tomorrow night to meet up with one of my favorite bloggers for dinner. I'll keep you posted.
Posted by Stephanie at 10:56 AM | Comments (9)October 2, 2006
A New Sock
The Kimono Sweater has been blocked and is ready for seaming. I'll get that done this week. I had high hopes for doing it yesterday, but I ended up building fence all day yesterday with Travis and my in-laws. Since the kimono sweater is done as far as the knitting goes, I started a sock. I was going to start a pair of Jaywalkers with some Yarntini I have, but I ended up casting on for Spey Valley from Knitting on the Road. I thought the turquoise Lorna's Laces I had would be just perfect and it's a nice basic pattern with a new technique - a Vikkel Braid. I am just enamoured beyond belief with those 2 rows of horizontal stitching. I just love how that works.
Socktoberfest has officially started and I thought I'd have time this month to do 2 pairs of socks (maybe even 3!), so Jaywalkers will be coming your way shortly, along with a finished Kimono Sweater.
Posted by Stephanie at 9:11 AM | Comments (15)
