Patons Classics in Kroy

The Amazon Wishlist--making wishes come true!

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.

Knittie and Foodie

Well, I am just bubbling here . . . and knitting from all ends of the house . . . I am focused on working on my "work" mittens and I have started a pair of "whew, I gotta put this down for a minute and relax and knit" socks. I used a new-knitting-knowledge two-end (kind-of) cast on from Nancy Bush's Estonian Socks Class (at Madrona Fiber Arts Retreat 2009) to start these socks, so they have a little bit of knitterly interest, otherwise, they are my regular plain sock.

And, then there was a little whompey stitch waaaaaayyyyy down on the K3P1 cuff of the socks (for My Husband) that I started with the STR yarn from BMFA, so I did not rip. Repeat, I did not rip. I just took that one stitch down about 14 rows and un-whompey-ed it, picked up the "dropped" stitches and wahlah! I fixed it.

That's my report for the day . . . I am watching ALL of the cooking shows on TPT and not really listening until something that I think is interesting comes on, then I missed the "good" part! They all have websites, so I can easily retrieve my missed information. Like I found when the woman added the pasta to this on "Gourmet: Diary of a Foodie":

http://www.gourmet.com/recipes/diaryofafoodie/2009/01/pasta-with-beet-greens

and the pasta turned PINK, I was sssoooooo interested!

Fruits of my labours . . .

The fruits of my labours in the garden . . .














and the fruits of my knitting labours . . . this is the first sock of a pair of Noro Sock Yarn socks . . . I just cast on, knit, did some decreases and put up a heel, followed by a foot and toe. I do think the foot part looks quite narrow; however, fits my foot . . . the ankle is a bit whompy. I like it a bit slouchy, tho. And, maybe they will be fine boot socks. Which is what I was aiming for. Boot socks.

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 . . . 

Red Socks

I was just off reading Lene's blog (Dances With Wool) as I have not read her for awhile and wanted a nice summer morning treat . . .

She's so smart. She said this:

"I love these red socks. I truly believe that red socks make steps lighter, longer and happier; they bring out strength and good spirits and smile on your feet. The one wearing red socks never drags his feet."

about her red Monkey's she crafted.

I just need to weigh in . . . I am working on brown socks. It does not make me feel like Lene about the red socks.

Gratefully, I have red socks. Whew. Maybe one cannot have too many red socks?

Dirty

I am so dirty. I have sweat on every body part. I have soil on all those places as well. Really, I mean soil as in earth dirt from the garden. After being wet and rained on for day after day after day, it is exhuberating to be in the garden and digging and pulling and digging.

Ohmygosh, I forgot what it was like to sweat and get dirt all over me.

We planted tomatoes and onions and four different basils and some spinach and some tomatoes (Did I say that again, well it's worth it) and some cucs. That is the vegetable section. My passion is pulling crab grass. That is right next to knitting socks on the list of Most Favorite Things To Do When I Get To Do What I Want To Do. It would look like this:

Most Favorite Things To Do
When I Get To Do What I Want To Do

1. Knit socks.
2. Pull crab grass.
3. Think about knitting socks.
4. Think about pulling crab grass.
5. Read.
6. Read books about knitting and cooking garden goods.
   

Well, it is sunny and I am not wet and rained on, except for the sweat part that I told you about.

Pee Ess: I have been hunkered in teaching suburban elementary school students and trying not to listen when they want to tell me how many days to the last day of school. I usually just keep teaching until somebody tells me it's time to go home for the summer. It's been fine that it's been raining.

YH Prep

I am packing my bags and wardrobe planning for Yarn Harlot's St. Paul gig.

1. Really cool sock project to knit while waiting in the audience.
   
2. Camera for possible Kineering (or whatever she calls that camera sneakiness).
3. Good walking shoes.
4. Something to wear that will get people to say "Did you make that"?
5. Mints. Good breath is necessary.
6. Snow boots. It IS April.
7. Notebook and working writing utensil. She does say noteworthy things.
   

Fun Facts

My smart and savvy friend sent me a few fun facts on my VIP (birthday, April 4) day:

• On this day in 1881, a centrifugal separator was patented by Edwin J. Houston and Elihu Thomson which enabled the cream to be separated from milk.
• Around this time, in the Netherlands, Casparus Van Wooden patented a chocolate powder which could be stirred into milk.
• And on this day in 1812, the Territory of Orleans became the State of Louisiana. (and the beignets were grand!)

So I'm (she's) thinking that you were born on the "Treats" day! Cream, chocolate milk, and Louisiana.

I do not know about Louisiana (my smart friend does), but I DO know about cream and chocolate.

I wonder who was born on the same day that sock yarn was improved greatly by the addition of a little nylon.