Chrissy Gardiner Class (aka: My Sock Summit 2009)

I went to Textured Colorwork (really a sock class) today with Chrissy Gardiner. She just published this book:

We learned stranding techniques, colorwork and the phrase "whatever works" (as a good reminder that sometimes there is not a "right" way to do a technique). Reinforces that we all come to knitting (or whatever) with our own skill set. We know stuff. About stuff. Now, I know more stuff. We studied Bohus design. Amazing.



I took this learning opportunity to go shopping. I bought Chrissy's book. NOTE: I can call her Chrissy as I have met her in person. I think she'd be okay with that. She's originally from Minnesota, which makes us almost related.

And some nice yarn in mini-hanks that will make their way to The Sock Blanket.





And a VERY nice Project Bag from the Yarnery. It is crafted by their own talented "Sarah". It's kindof a green thing to do. Nice bag, too!














Afterwards, I had a nice lunch with a nice friend. Good day!

Sock Summit KAL

This is my Sock Summit KAL sock . . . since I am still trapped in the house. I bought this yarn when I ploy-ed my daughter to go to the yarn store after our grocery store excursion. I seem to be able to get to a yarn store from just about anywhere!

The yarn is Happy Hands Hand Dyed Yarns Toe Jamz Sock Yarn (superwash merino 75% and nylon 25%; 450 yd per 4 oz approximately) at happyhandsyarn.com or available at Knitter's Palette in Lakeville, MN.

Very nice yarn . . . it's a bit Harry Potter-like.

Community Knitting

(from The Yarnery e-newsletter, August, 2009):

Promise Blanket 2009
The Promise Blanket is a charitable project that began last year. You may remember that together we created and auctioned off a blanket made of sock yarn squares. This year the project will have a few changes.

We will still be asking for the help of all of you to knit (or crochet) some squares - this year in worsted or DK weight. Instead of making one large blanket, we hope to make many smaller blankets to donate to KidsCan of Minnesota.

KidsCan of Minnesota is an organization created by families for families who have been touched by childhood cancer. KidsCan recognizes the unique needs of the entire family as they journey through and beyond pediatric cancer. Because of this they put together resource totes for these families. Please feel free to check out their website at www.kidscanmn.org.

How can you help? We would appreciate any of the following:

• A 7 inch square made of machine washable worsted or DK weight yarn.
• Donate any of your left over machine washable worsted or DK weight yarn to The Yarnery. We will be making that stash available to anyone who would like to knit squares for this project.
• Check out the KidsCan website at kidscanmn.org for a list of other items that can be donated for the resource totes and add one or two of those items with your square.
• Mention our project on your website, blog, store, class, etc.
• Drop off or mail your completed square to The Yarnery between August 10 and september 14, 2009.
• Join us at The Yarnery Sunday, September 20, 2009 from 6:30-8:00pm for an "old-fashioned" sewing bee to seam the blanket together.

Questions about the Promise Blanket can be emailed to Sarah at incaknits5@gmail.com
Thank you for your support and good will.

sokkgirl plans on being part of the "we" this year . . . hope you will, too!

Sock Summit 2009

I ordered some Sock Summit yarn . . . (and a pattern) because I just have this notion that "sokkgirl" should be at Sock Summit. So, instead of going to Sock Summit, I went Sock Summit shopping!

I visited the Dye for Glory Voting on Ravelry and pre-ordered this:
here:
http://www.threeirishgirls.com/catalog.php?item=275

I had to look up "estuary" in the Google "dictionary". Just think, new knowledge AND new yarn!

Happy almost Sock Summit . . . there should be a KAL for those of us sock knitters at home--like Tour de France or Olympic Knitting. This all has to do with Yarn Harlot and Tina (my sock yarn superhero).

Oh, and The Yarnery cool people will be there!

Pee Ess: This is cool . . . a whole Sock Museum!

Mending

Last week, I called The Yarnery to see if I could take the second leg of Shelly Kang's Mitered Square class. It was cancelled. Gasp. I know. I was afraid that it would be FULL. So, I printed out all of the information from Shelly's blog and started this blanket. I did not follow directions (for the first stitch and the last stitch of a row) right off, and had some whompy edges, but after re-reading, I was able to replicate Shelly's smart edge.

This whole knitting time, I have been sick with some mystery flu slash virus slash bacterial infection slash yucky stuff. So, this was really nice calm, knitting for me to do in between trips to the sink (hydration) or bathroom (un-dration). I had been sick since May 3 or so but did not start The Blanket until May 29. See why I did not follow directions so swell at the onset?

Today, I proclaimed FIGHT on this thing (not the blanket, the bug). Firstly, I appealed to God, the shaman in Peru, God some more, and for general mucho mojo. Nextly, I went to Wonder Chiropractor for an alignment. I felt like dancing afterwards. Soon following, after a series of kismit, the mucho mojo and action, I received a diagnosis with antibiotics from the medical people.

Back to the blanket--this is all left-over sock yarn of my OWN (so far). Yikes.

That's a lotta socks, sokkgirl.

Noro

This is such a weird thing . . . 

In February, I went to Madrona Fiber Arts Retreat (and market).  I purchased the yarn at the top of the photo.  I stuck it in my suitcase, toted it home and stashed it in The Knit Room (unpacked) for a treat some day.  

While visiting My Mom last week, I thought I should purchase some yarn "just in case" I run out of knitting at Gold Rush (Oronocco, MN). Riiigghht.  We ran in to Kristen's Knits in Rochester, MN. Kristen's had a LOT of Noro sock yarn colorways . . . green and grey and black; purples with greys.  Too many to choose from, really.  I bought the yarn ball on the bottom.

I started knitting the sock (with the yarn on the bottom of the photo) on Thursday this week and knit more on Friday . . . 

The whole time I was knitting on this sock, I was thinking "this yarn might be the same yarn I bought at Madrona".  Hmm.  Well, the Kuriosity Kitty got me this morning and I dug in the suitcase. WhahLah.  Same yarn.  Same colorway.  Same dye lot.  Same yarn.

I have an abundance of this Noro now.  Maybe 18 socks worth of yarn. It is quite fun to knit; however, long time on one colorway.  That's a lot of blue . . .