Just Knit

Celebrate New Socks!

Well, I just finished my newest socks...And I call them celebration. Actually they are a combination of SockBug's River Rapids pattern and typical sock pattern. I finished the instep in plain stockinette. But I loved the stitch pattern...looks like cables, without the cable needle! I joined socktopia at the beginning of the month...And these socks remind me of the theme celebration, especially since I am giving them to someone special. The rest of the story needs to stay secret until she gets them! The photo does not do them justice! I used CiderMoon yarn. They are from Utica, Ohio. Just a hop, jump and a skip from here!

And on the UFO front:                                                                                                                                        

       I have an entire skein knit and have started the next one! Half wayto finished and it is only January 21st!
The Blue Socks are not fairing as well, but I did trun the heel! (Those little needles drive me crazy!) Plus, I got hit with the stomach bug on Friday...does not bode well for knitting! 

                                                 

See there is the proof!!!! It is cold! And my internet is slow! And I hate Swap-Bot...I cannot get to my screen and my swaps. Ugh! Maybe later it will work again! Until then I cannot get to the Coffee and Yarn Swap I did or to post that I sent my last 2 swaps! UGH!
Goes well with the stomach bug!

Socks! And More Socks!

I joined SockTopia last week. Yippee! I will have 12 pairs of socks by the end of 2007! This month's themes:

January-

1 - Celebrate Good Times !! C’mon !!

2 - Blue Monday

3 - Snowflakes and Stary Skies

Hmm, seems to leave a lot of room for creativity. But since I am kind of new to this sock thing...I seem to get stuck! I really like not following a pattern exactly. Who has time to constantly check a pattern!?! I have found that I like Yarn Harlot's book. I made a copy of the basic sock pattern and that is what I had used for my first couple of pairs. Then I decided that I could use any stitch pattern that was based on a multiple of stitches that fit my number of cast ons. Ok, why am I rambling on about this? No clue. No one else around here will let me ramble on about my knitting!

Well, I have started a Blue Monday Sock...just a basic sock pattern with a K3 P1 Rib.

                                                

I have finally finished both Trekking XXl Socks (with my eyes crossing I might add!). Again another basic sock pattern thanks to the Harlot! These were driving me crazy! Just endless knitting! But I felt like I could not start too many other pairs and ignore this poor guy! And the color is great!

                                              

I had won the yarn from  Carola at Sheep and No City! She sent me this great Trekking XXl and some great candies and a CD. (Of course, this was way back in the early summer! And I just finished in Jan...hmmm not too bad!) I do love the colors, but the needles were killing me!

On the UFO Ressurection front, I have pulled out my Irish Hiking Scarf that I started eons ago! I actually complete 20 some rows last night.

                                             

I have until the 31st to finish this! I can do it!!! I can do it!!! I can do it!!! (bit  repetative huh?)   

Happenings on the Lake

Ok, so it really is not a lake but this was the view when I got up onthis fine soggy morning:

                                             

Crazy huh? And the roads are not even flooded yet! The pond has overfloweth!

And here is my DH sitting on the dog:

ok, so he really is not sitting on the dog. Red is being the helper that he is. Quite funny actually! He is such the little helper...I wish. The day I can train him to pick up socks, take them to the laundry room and have him clean the tub is when I'll believe how smart he actually is!

I recently hosted the Coffee and Yarn swap on Swap-Bot. I think it was actually considered a success. I did have a few swappers who snuck in with bad ratings that I missed (really was only 1 in the beginning) from banning and then some of the new folks turned out to be bad swappers...ratings came in after the deadline. But overall it went well.

I will have to find some angels next week and maybe all of our cheated swappers will recieve some coffee and yarn.

Here is the great package that I recieved! This great stash was from Lisa at Plath's Adventures! Thanks Lisa! This was a great package and I am loving my coffee. Can't wait to cast on some new socks in that great coffee brown!

ok, really need to do some more work on my becoming Nationally Board Certified in Elementary Art!!!! Long story!

A New Year with New Resolutions

I was actually blog reading (I know, who has that much time!?!) when I stumbled across                Kat With a K and her UFO Ressurection Challenge 2007. I am signing up...ok, I know a New Year's Resolution is meant to be broken. But heck, this one sounds like a plan...I dig out some UFO's 1 a month and work on it or frog it. What could be simpler?
Well, I intend to try my best!
On the actual Finished object Front, Lookie here:

                                       

                                 Then there is the

                                                

Here are Wendy's Rules. But I decided to alter them just a bit below

Knit From Your Stash 2007: Guidelines for JustKnit

1. The Knit-From-Your-Stash-a-Thon will start January 1, 2007 and run through September 30, 2007 -- a period of nine months. (ok, I may have to really shorten this...say 6 months. I need a head start on Christmas!)

2. We will not buy any yarn during that period, with the following exceptions:

    2.a. Sock yarn does not count. What? You think we are made of stone?

    2.b. If someone asks for a specific knitted gift that we really and truly do not have the yarn for, we may buy yarn to knit that gift.

    2.c. If we are knitting something and run out of yarn, we may purchase enough to complete the project.

    2.d. We each get one "Get Out of Jail Free" card -- we are each allowed to fall off the wagon one time every 2 months (I have no will power!)

3. We are allowed to receive gifts of yarn (Big Hint! Hint! Hint!)

4. Super Sale Yarn is also Exempt...as well as yarn for a secret buddy or swap!

(We are headed to see the Interweave Trunk Show tomorrow and a LYS in Columbus is having their pre-inventory sale...25% off everythiing, what a good deal...really!)

Hopefully will have a few great shots to show you!