Another FO for 2006

There you have it! My socks made from the recycled sweater!! I am ready to wear them to work with my pseudo mary janes. If you look closely, you'll see I made a goof...that's what I get for all the laughing and whooping it up at last week's knitting meet. I made a decision not to rip and redo. Why? Just because.
Here's the specs:
Pattern: Panorama socks from 2006 Knitting calendar a Day (July 21st?)
Needles: socks on 2 circs...first size 2 addis only 16 inch...then Susan Bates size 2 24"-much better
Start date: 3-12-06 Finish: 3-25-06
Cost: $1.94 for this nice 50% merino/50% acrylic
There's plenty of yarn left over, so for now it's banished into the ever burdgening stash.

In other news, I met one of my goals for 2006 knittingwise. Kim was kind enough to show me how to do magic loop. Uh...I hated it. I will never use this method. It's not that I don't want to become more efficient at production, because I do. I simply found it uncomfortable and more of a pain in the ...you know where.

And Kim, if you're reading this....yesterday at the LYS, she remarked how I flashed my sock yarn stash. She said "oh, I know you will never use all that yarn. Especially the LB magic stripes." I then pulled out the skein of LB magic stripes in "regatta blue stripe" to cast on for Yukon Leaves. BUSTED!!

And, yeah, I couldn't help myself. I bought a skein of Artyarns Ultramerino 8 in color 130-it's their version of neopolitan. I'm in love......but not with the price. Holy sheep poop! So, I'm waiting for Kim to become the expert I know she will be at dying yarn. She's taken 2 classes so far, and I gave her my recycled silk/cotton to work on. As Artie Johnson used to say..."verrryy
interesting."

I'm flashin' my sock stash!!

No, I am not doing this because I have no other blog fodder...(or am I?) I just thought it would be fun since I've seen others do it, and I have enjoyed the images. So, I'll start with vintage yarn...

ok, here's the list, but not in order by the photo:

1. 4-Bernat 50/50 -wish I could get more of this...ebay hasn't helped

2. 2-Plymouth Wool Ray

3. 1 Bear Brand Evermatch..the navy blue disappeared at photo time

4. 2-Filo D'Oro Filato Acrilico

5. 2- Lady Galt Kroy-...again, I'd love more in some other colors...this one's pretty dull

6. 1-unknown yarn "cake"...if you remember, I'm using this to make basketweave socks

7. 1- Junghans-Wolle Dralon Perle

8. 1- Junghans Fidelio

Now for the current stuff...

1. 6-Lion Brand Magic Stripes

2. 7-Bernat Sox

3. 1-Online

4. 2-Lang Jawoll Jacquard

5. 2-Regia Stretch

6. 2-Regia Silk

7. 2-Regia Fadig

8. 2-Patons Kroy

9. 1-Austermann Step

10. 2-Brown Sheep Wildfoote

11. 12-Cascade Fixation

12. 2-Plymouth Sockotta

13. 4-Lorna's Laces

I figure this is enough for 38 pair of socks! Unbelievable. I knew I stashed, so now I HAVE to knit it up. Part of the problem for me is finding a pattern I like. Any suggestions? I rarely like to use the same pattern once I've knit it ....the exception being Grumperina's Jaywalker. Probably the Fixation will be the hardest to find anything for, and yes, I do look at the ones on the sock knitter's webpage as well as Knitty, and other internet resources. I have been considering getting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush(?) . I hope that's the right author. The other thing I might do is join the 6 sox along. I hear they post patterns there, too. Unfortunately, I'm gonna run...gotta make dinner-Oh, how I HATE to cook!! And, yes, I will be going on Saturday to sit and knit with Kim and A! I can hardly wait!

Debbie Stoller in Tampa!!

Remember my last post about getting Tampa on the knitting map? Well, when I went to the monthly knitting group, Wendy handed out this flyer. I couldn't believe it. Sure, it would be fun to go, but it's basically to promote her latest book on crochet, and I don't suppose she'd appreciate me bringing my knitting book for her to autograph. Not only that, but it's on a Wednesday at 3 pm, and I'll be at work. Kind of a bummer. On the up side, maybe this appearance will lead the way for other knitting celebs to make Tampa a stop--like the Yarn Harlot!

I did get an update on the Knit Out...first, I mentioned it at group, and of course everyone there hadn't heard a thing. I went back to the blog, and she had posted. She mentioned it would be at the Fresh Market, but no other details.

For a change of pace, I went to another yarn shop to knit with gal pals, Kim and A. I had been to this shop once before about 8 months ago, and thought I remembered it's location. What an idiot I am! I ended up driving around for an hour and a half...and then stumbled on it after I had given up! After I related my locational stupidity to the girls, it set off a series of directionally driving impaired stories from A and Kim! We laughed so hard and long that I'm surprised we didn't scare the customers away from the shop! And we were loud!! The tears were streaming down our faces...I needed that. I must say, that even though I didn't go on a spending spree for yarn, the owner was so gracious, and even joined us to sit down and knit when she could. I really enjoyed myself, and I definitely will go back.

And if you're wondering what's happening knittingwise...here's what I did Saturday morning.....oh, and March is for frogging, too!

Knit Out-Tampa?

Yesterday while knit blog surfin', I ran across a blog from a gal in Gainesville. In one of her posts she mentions a Knit Out here in Tampa scheduled for March 25th. I commented on her blog, but so far no response. I then went to the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce webpage, but no such event is listed. What's up? I think this is a fantastic idea, and when I read it, I thought..wow! Now maybe Tampa will be put on the knitting map!! Oh, and I also searched the Craft Yarn Council's page, but only old knit out dates were listed. I want a knit out!!!

Ok, so here's what's going on.. I went to the thrift store again. Sorry the photo quality sucks, but my camera battery is on it's last legs...this is a beautiful cable sweater by Kate Hill (Who is that?) made of merino wool and acrylic in a deep cranberry. I snatched that puppy right up and ran out of the store with it for $1.94. I've been dying to have a pair of socks in this color but wasn't able to find any yarn suitable in my last yarn stashing event. I've also been lurking the Rekal blog for a year...I think it's a super idea, and I've been wanting to try it out. I came home and frantically ripped the sweater apart...ok. I actually only got one sleeve done, but that's not the point. I washed and wound the former sleeve into a hank, and now it's drying. I couldn't get the yarn unkinked! I read that some others hung weights on the yarn, and even had used just another hangar at the bottom of the hank, but it didn't work. I'll bet it's because of the acrylic content! I've decided that I have to try it, and if the kinks make the socks look bad..oh well! However, if it turns out ok, then I'll have a new pair of socks for $1.94. Ya can't beat that! Think about how much you've spent on sock yarn.

Now a gripe. The second thrift store I went to had only 2 lonely skeins of vintage Fleisher's yarn. Aha! I cried. More socks!! But, no price tag. I take it to the counter where the guy at the register rudely said to me.."I'm in the middle of ringing up another customer." I said I only wanted to ask a question. He felt like a fool then. Ok, so he points out the mgr, and says to ask her if she'll price for it for me. Again I was encountered with a person of attitude. She gives me the song and dance about how it will have to go to the backroom to be priced, and then it won't come back on the floor until Monday. I thank her and walk off. She never took the skeins away from me "to be priced". In other words, this was all B.S. Here's why I'm soooo mad. The stuff is donated for free!!! What would it have taken for her to say..take 'em for a buck or what ever. They are in the business to make a profit to support homeless people and give re-education to those who may be unemployable by society's standards! WTF! I could see if I were asking her to price a sofa or something...but please! 2 skeins of yarn!! My rant could go on forever and ever about this since I've been in retail for over 20 years. Let me just say this...you get what you pay for...or in this case, what ya don't get, and what ya don't pay for.

I'm high on yarn!

First stop...the LYS that's not so L...here's what I got.

Six skeins of Cotton Fleece and some new sock yarn called Austermann "Step". I've never seen this around. It's a very generous 420 meters, but get this...it has aloe and jojoba oil in it so that when you knit, your hands become soft! Who could resist that? Not me, obviously. It was very pricey at $18.50, but I'm all about wanting to try something new. The color isn't the best, but basically there were only 2 colors left, so I chose the one with more browns and olives since I have a lot pants in olive. Oh, and the color of the cotton fleece is "pink diamond". Somehow the vintage knitting mag didn't get in the pic. Oh well...I'll stick to the yarn..

Next stop was Uncommon Threads.. how I love going there. I walk in and there are 2 people from the knitting group....a little while later, a 3rd showed up! I felt like it was old home week! The nice weather certainly brings out the shopper in us! Anyway, what ya see is 6 skeins of Encore for the Must Have Cardigan, 2 Lorna's Laces-colorways Sweetie and Safari- and Regia Silk! I've never tried Encore and I guess it will have to do for the MHC....see, I can't wear wool. Itch City! Sure, there were some other choices, much pricier, but I view this as an everyday type item, so I didn't want to go too crazy. (I was tempted with some soy silk and bamboo yarn at the far LYS). For the Lorna's, I will try very low sockees and see what happens. Get this. I'm even thinking of trying toe up....there's some trepidation here. And how could I pass up Regia Silk??? C'mon.

If you noticed in picture 1, there was a skein missing...yeah, I've started YET another new project!! Some one shoot me now! Those darn people at Rebecca. If only they could have ugly sweater patterns. I'm doing #20 from issue #31. Since I don't gauge swatch...the waistband is the swatch, and I got it dead on. I am having one dilemma, though. The difference in size is 4 inches on the waistband, and now I don't know what to do. I usually make the larger size when it comes to their patterns, but this one might be different. I don't want a saggy baggy cardi...I guess I want it to fit like the model. (Ha! If only I were her size!) And ya know what else? What a dope I am. I have been stashing cotton fleece-2 other yarn hauls-and never knitted it up. This stuff is like crack cocaine cotton! I'm lovin' it! Sorry cotton ease...I have found your replacement.

One last thought...no, I didn't sign up for Project Spectrum, but maybe I should have with those yarn choices! :)

Thank Goodness it's March!

February was all about the Frogging...so what will March be? I haven't made any progress knittingwise since I opted for overtime at work...and I plan to do it again next week if my body will let me. I'm pretty pooped and my arms are aching, so we'll see. The good news is that my income tax refund arrived on schedule, so you know what that means??? A trip to the LYS!!! Oh yeah, baby! There's a summer cardi in the latest Rebecca that I'm dying to start...also, a sock yarn stashing never hurts. This particular LYS isn't so L, and they are the only ones that stock Brown Sheep, so away I'll travel tomorrow! I can't wait.
Do you check out Anthropologie? Well, I do and here's one that I'd love to imitate.. It's the June Bug sweater! Seems like it could be done top down, no? I've never done one before....something to think about. Oh, and I was super disappointed in the latest patterns from Tahki-Stacey Charles. Sure, there were one or two goodies, but please...I'm not spending $12.00 to get a pattern book with only one good pattern in it. I think spring is officially here, so I need to start planning for those lighter weight knits!