A new month with new colors, so a couple of new projects:

Jaywalkers in Sockotta

This sock has had some gauge/sizing issues. I cast-on 84 sts on 2.5 mm needles and had an enormous sock, so I swatched. Now I have 76 sts on 2.5 mm and it fits perfectly. I took it with me to The Sound of Music and it grew quite a bit. I love the simplicity of this pattern and am thoroughly enjoying Sockotta’s striping qualities.

Rusted Root in Cotton Fleece

Cotton Fleece is one of my favorite yarns, and I’m excited to make a garment with it (I have many more I’d like to make with it in my Ravelry queue)!!

Katja, of course, is purple. I’m finished with her, no crochet edging. Once I weave in ends and block lightly, I’ll have a FO to show.

This bag is the Checkers Tote from Weekend Knitting. I made it with CottonEase last year and have yet to line it… because I’m not exactly sure how to measure and sew lining in a circular bag. If anyone knows of a tutorial, that would be great. I will be googling some info and post any exciting finds.

I hope everyone else is having as much fun with Purple as I am!

I’ve been reading Harry Potter. Not the new one, however, I’m currently reading the 5th. I began the 1st on my trip to Missouri this month and should be onto the 7th by next week. I can’t wait! Additionally, I went to see the 5th movie yesterday and loved it, despite its differences from the book. I loved Luna’s sweaters: the purple crochet in the forest and the blue knit in the Dept of Mysteries. ( I will look for pics while I write this post)

Anyway, what I’ve been knitting this sunny week:

Clapotis

Cotton makes for an excellent beach knit. I’ve made quite a bit of progress. The plan is to have this done by August 15 for (beach) grandma’s birthday.

Adventure Bag

I know this is a hideous picture, but it’s almost done!! I bound it off last night, but I also put the stitch holders in the wrong place, so I’ll definitely have to fix it. Probably during the 12-hour car trip home tomorrow, while reading HP5! I can’t wait to finish this bag- I’m thinking bottomless pit for all of school’s must-haves.

Swatching for Sideways Socks

This is what I worked on during the HP5 movie, so the sideways socks should be cast on pretty soon. They’re going to replace the Cable Nets as my sock in progress since those were just too fiddly for me.

And now, some Friday eye candy:

I’ve caught the bug: socks are all I can work on this week. The weather finally cooperated for a Cable Net photo shoot.

I hate working with size 0 wooden needles- I’m afraid I’m going to snap them in two every stitch. I’m also having some issues with the Fortissima Socka, it’s a little scratchy. I’m sure once they’re washed, they’ll soften up immensely.

The cables, however, I’m loving. It’s so fun to see the design come alive with each row. Once I fixed some of the beginning issues, the rows are “flying” by, or as much as a charted cable pattern can on size 0 needles. Here’s another quick shot of the cable crossings.

Cable Net Socks

I’ve been knitting on my socks quite a bit these past few days, but I keep forgetting to take pictures. And today, it’s raining. So it will have to wait until tomorrow.

The charts for these socks have been kicking my ass- I hopped into the socks and Chart A, when I was supposed to use Chart B. Luckily, the charts are nearly identical except for the last 10 or so sts; but I understand them now and just have to finish fixing some mistakes on previous rows, which is taking a lot longer than I bargained for.

New Sock Yarn

I went to one of my favorite stores yesterday and bought some sock yarn for my pathetic sock stash.

Panda Cotton in Rosewater (socks for my mom)

Any thoughts on what pattern would work well with the Panda Cotton?

Regia Tweed in Green (socks for Hunter)

Regia Silk in Burgundy (socks for me!)

While I was at the LYS, I had a job interview! So I may work there part-time and it’s right next to school next year!

Other Goodies

Hunter took a two-week canoeing/fishing/hiking trip in the Boundary Waters starting in Minnesota through Canada back around to Minnesota. He had a great time and even thought of me enough to bring home a few souvenirs:

I also got a t-shirt, but it’s such a great color that I want to take a picture when it’s sunny.

Hope everyone’s having a great weekend!

…Ravelry, of course. Since I got my new computer, I haven’t had a chance to upload old FO pics to flickr, since they were on my family’s computer. Now I have, so hopefully I’m done and organized. Although that’s probably not quite the case.

Anyway, I’ve been knitting on my Regal silk sweater quite a bit and making progress. The back is nearing the end and I’m happy it’s moving along quickly. Some of my lace rows have been a stitch or two off. I’ve made the yo’s work w/ the pattern. I’m not too worried about it, but on the next lace section I will correct stitch counts and all. I’ve decided that if the lace panel is one stitch off from the one 13 rows below, it won’t be too obvious, right?

Imagine my delight when I was eating a wonderful TCBY cone and I noticed the colorway. Just like my sweater, only the pink’s brighter.

This is also my first time posting on WordPress and when the pictures showed up instead of html a la Blogger, I let out a gleeful squeal.  I’m really loving the switch so far and expect to love it even more, the more I get used to it.

The last order of business for my knitting today is that I cast on a pair of socks. Cable Nets:

Today was rainy so progress pics coming soon.

I got my Ravelry invite this morning! It was very exciting: I’ve already added many projects and as much yarn as I could before my camera’s battery died and I got tired of taking pictures. It’s definitely as much fun as I heard it was– hats off to frecklegirl and her husband for taking on such a project.
I bought a few books the other day:

Knitting Lingerie Style is such a beautiful book and with many patterns I love and cannot wait to knit. I ordered some elann Esprit last night so I can make the basic bra and panty set(Orchid Pink) and the thigh-high stockings(Chamois). Very excited!

I’ve been eying this book for a while. What drew me to it initially was the French Twist part, but Simple Sewing with a French Twist has many simple projects that I think even I could make.

Last, but most certainly not least, is Amy Sedaris’ new book I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence. It is amazing. I was reading it yesterday in the same room as Hunter and I kept bursting out laughing. He thought I was a little crazy, but I never said I wasn’t. She makes me want to throw amazing parties and be just the quirky woman that I am. Love it… it’s been my night-time reading for the past two days!

Also, I’ve been anxious to make nona’s sidewinder socks, but I didn’t have the right size circulars. I ordered a few of KnitPick’s classic circulars so that I can knit them as soon as the needles arrive. They will be arriving with a couple more books, ones I’ve also been lusting after for quite a while.

Until next time, I will be wasting hours upon hours of my life, and possibly losing real-life friends, while I play with Ravelry!

Summer Projects
I have cast-on/swatched/purchased yarn for 3 different summer tops:

White Silk Sweater from Rebecca 33

I even took it with me to NC for Memorial Day:

This pattern is originally written to be knit flat in two pieces, but I wanted to knit it in the round, so I had to re-chart the lace, cast-on, etc.

Collared Tank from KnitSimple Spring/Summer 07

Cotton Twist

Rusted Root

Cotton Fleece

Summer Socks

After I modeled for Loopville, I bought some yarn (and they gave me a discount!)


I’m hoping to make nona’s sideways socks

Knitting with Fixation is a lesson in patience for me. I love the way it looks and stretches, but the tension is a pain in the neck.

I sat and finished the first sock while reading The Blind Assassin. The second sock I cast on at work, knit the ribbing, turned the heel and decreased the foot and knit it around for a few inches. That night I finished the toe, but didn’t graft the toe together until this week. They still need the ends woven in and to be washed, but I will have a great pair of summer socks shortly!

Once I finished the Fixation socks, I’ve been working pretty much exclusively on my Somewhat Cowl, but I had a row or two of tension issues due to being used to knitting with Fixation. The rows aren’t very obvious and I’m nearly done with the bottom ribbing. Once I have the body finished I will try it on and make sure everything is as it should or I may be ripping back a few inches to correct the gauge and/or waist increases.

I’ve not sewn another project but I’ve been doing lots of research and trying to organize a space for sewing. My family also went out of town this weekend to visit an aunt who is a master quilter and I have plans to “study” with her this summer. I’m really looking forward to it. Hopefully I’ll have some more time to sew this coming week!

More pictures will be coming soon and I am combing my stash for projects to work on for the April/May Project Spectrum Colors. Some might even include sewing projcts, I hope.

Cable Net Socks (Project Spectrum):
I enjoy making socks (granted, this is only my second pair), but the tiny needles do hurt my eyes a little bit. Once I’m through with the ribbing, the stockinette and cables will be easier… I HATE purling in the round, or at least switching the yarn like in the ribbing.

Wicked:
I’ve been making this sweater while reading Wicked and listening to the Wicked soundtrack. I put the sleeves on scrap yarn last night and I haven’t had a chance to try it on yet. But hopefully I will do that tonight or tomorrow.

Central Park Hoodie:
I have the back and both fronts finished. The ribbing on the sleeves is pictured below and I am hoping to finish this sweater by the end of the month, with any luck!

Well, I was swatching for my Cable Net Socks for Project Spectrum, and I’m 2 stitches off! So instead of buying needles, which I can’t currently afford, I’m just knitting the socks a few sizes smaller. It’s nice when I actually use my head. So I’ve cast-on my socks and knit the first row of ribbing.

This time, in order to avoid SSS (Second Sock Syndrome), I will knit the cuff of one sock, then the other, etc.

Loving lace so much! I am well into the second chart of the Hidcote Shawl and I am LOVING this pattern and so excited with every pattern change. The worst part for me is knitting the WS rows… so many tiny stitches to purl!!

My goal is to finish Wicked by the end of this weekend, so wish me luck. I love the color, pattern, yarn, and the Knitpicks needles. Basically, it’s one of my favorite knits and I am very excited to see it coming along.