Socks, Socks, Socks!

Phew! I now know the difference between the hunting socks and these.........teeny tiny needles and teeny tiny yarn! Actually, it is mindless knitting and doesn't take to long. This is the first sock and what I like to do is stop before I begin the heel flap, put this sock on some other needles and start the next one. That way....I don't get bored as easily and I can check to make sure sure that both socks are going to be close on gauge etc;

My yarn diet is not going very well......I keep thinking about buying more and more yarn and making more and more things! To remedy this I give myself projects or goals that I need to do before I can buy more yarn! For instance, I told myself "Self.....you can't buy anymore yarn until you clean out your half of the closet!" Well, guess what I did clean it (it took me 6 hours!) and now I get to reward myself with more yarn! I should start a group similar to AA and call it YA (for Yarn Addicts) We could just sit around and talk about the addiction we have to yarn! Anyone care to sign up?

A Hunting We Will Go......

The socks are finished! My son Mitch is the model! They weren't difficult at all to make and I already have an order from one my good hunting friends to make him a pair. Now I need to start on the "girl" socks.......

One Down.....One to Go!

Here are the "almost finished" hunter's socks! All I have left to do is finish the decrease on the other one, graft the toe and then I'm done! Next I plan on starting a pair with the Paton's sock yarn and make a pair for myself! I was so intimadated by socks because of all the needles you need to use, but I found out how easy and simple they can be! Also, they are so easy to take along "on the road".

I'm now looking at making a tank top I saw, but I've told myself that I need to go on a yarn diet until I get through 1/2 the yarn I already have. I wonder what's more difficult, quitting smoking or the yarn diet!

Sock it to me!

The left one is worked up until the "heel turn".

Here's a closeup of the shawl.

More Knittin' than Drinkin'!

I've been a very busy knitter, lately! I've finally begun working on the other half of my Vivian Hoxboro shawl. My goal is to have it finished by the end of summer. I've also begun a new skill and that is sock making! So far I've done pretty good! I'm an impatient knitter and I love to work ahead so I watched a video on how to turn the heel on www.diynetwork.com! It only took two times for me to figure it out! My husband loves the way the socks are turning out. He awaits for the day when he can slip them on to keep his feet warm. With the extra yarn I plan on making another london beanie! I'll have Marsha model it when I'm done! Happy Knitting to all!

Marsha! Marsha! Marsha!

Here's "Marsha" (that's the name that was picked) modeling the ruffle scarf I finished. It took me one day to bind off 648 stitches! Phew! Notice how the scarf compliments Marsha's blue eyeshadow?

Hats Off To All My Fellow Knitters!

This weekend we had a "knitting retreat" at Greenlake. Not pictured is Anne (who's taking the pic) and Nancy who had to leave for a prior engagement. From left to right is me, Peg, Joan and Chris modeling our hats that we made through Anne's guidance. Anne had this project for us to do and it was a lot of work! What's great is how each hat is different. We did a lot of knitting and enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere at the lake. Anne also taught Joan how to knit! I just need to make sure that Joan continues! The weather was a bit chilly, but that's the perfect kind of weather when you want to knit. I'm hoping we can make this a yearly event!

This is Anne getting the balls ready for our "project". 

After you have finished wrapping the ball with wool, then you take two pairs of nylons and place it over the wool. You need to pairs to cover the leg hole of the first one. You then scrub, scrub, scrub, with a little dish soap and water until the wool sticks to the nylon. You then pull the nylon off very carefully, then begin to hand felt it until it shrinks. 

Here's how the hat begins. You lay the wool horizontal in thin layers, then you lay them vertical. You keep up this process until the ball is covered. 

Here's Joan wrapping the ball with the wool in layers to make the hat. 

Scrub-a Dub..Here's Joan and Peg scrubbing in the tub!

Here's Joan and Peg scrubbing their hats to make them felt!

This is a picture of Anne teaching Joan how to knit! Once Joan had mastered the cast-on, Anne made her rip it out and do it over again! (that's Chris in the background working on a project) 

Here's a closeup of the scarf! I love the way the ruffles look! 

Here's my latest work in progress...the Koigu Ruffle Scarf! All I have left to do is bind off the 648 stitches left on the needle, press the ruffles and give it a good stretch! The cast on takes forever! I think it took me one day to cast it all on, therefore I'm thinking it's going to take me a one day to get them all off. I really like the way it looks and it will make a great xmas gift! I'm now getting ready for my knitting retreat this weekend! I'm hoping get a little more done on the shawl, and start knitting up some socks! I've never knit socks before, so it should be interesting!