More Smocks Spotted

Working away on my Smocking sweater (back done, on to the other sleeve!) I've really come to love the smock. What a great little technique. I was thinking how neat it would be incorporated into a pair of socks, when low and behold I find these!

(thanks to the Mystery Sock KAL)

They were made by Costumechick and are simply incredible! The pattern is from Woolworks - they have a complete list of patterns with no pictures to choose from. This is a pattern I will be doing in the future!

The exiled CTH yarn will happily be winging off to a new (and hopefully more appreciated) home in the coming days. Sarah offered to give it a new home in exchange for some yummy looking merino/tencel sock yarn in a grape type color from Dave's Cabin Cove. I haven't tried his yarns, nor tried merino/tencel, so it will be fun to try.

I have NO socks on the needles right now (GASP!) and that must be remedied immediately. I promised my sister I'd make her a pair for her new job down in Baltimore. Once a pattern and yarn are picked (from my stash) I will be calm again.

The first sleeve from Smocking is blocking (hee - a rhyme!) to see how it does. If it can't keep the slightly stretched shape I had to do to get the measurements I needed, it'll be ripped and re-done. Figured I'd better block early so I'd know what knitting lies ahead.

Smocking on the Move!

I'm not even going to talk about the socks. Let's just say they now look the same as in the last post. This yarn is on a time-out and is going back into the stash until I can decide what to do with it. I might just try and trade/swap it for something solid or semi-solid. Any interested parties?

Knitting was pretty productive this weekend. I got the back of smocking done about halfway through the armhole shaping. It's a really quick knit, and I'm liking the results so far. It's a very drapey fabric, so I think it will make a good layering sweater for fall. The color is very pretty too. A nice, neutral olive type green (which I have yet to capture in photos accurately. If I had to pick, the bottom picture is more representative of the color.)


The back should be finished tonight, then on to the front and second sleeve! I should have this one done before fall!

I'm in such a sock battle right now. I so want a sock to knit, but I'm just having a hard time deciding what pattern and what yarn. I think the CTH did me in. So, for right now, I'm just going to start in on some mittens and hats from some handspun that a friend sent me. I agreed to knit up some items for her to sell in her shop out of her handspun. I figure mittens and hats will be pretty quick, and I love helping her out. Her yarn is really nice. She spun up a worsted weight in all kinds of nice neutrals that I can mix and match. The weather was pretty icky this weekend, so I didn't want to post a sub-par picture. So, I guess I'm on sock hiatus right now until a pattern, yarn and I can come to an agreement!

Nothing to see here, just look away

Conwy is no longer. Pomatomus has risen out of the ashes (the ribbing so far anyway). I'm hoping the bolder stitch pattern it will be a better match with the yarn. Time (and knitting) will tell.

No more heavily varigated yarns for me. It is just too hard picking a pattern that works. I don't mind true varigateds like some of the Koigu where the color repeats are so short there is no chance for pooling or striping, but for me, I think I'll stick with solids or almost solids. Maybe on occasion a light colored varigated that will show a pattern. They are just such a challenge!

Thanks to a tip from Veronique I tried a swift new smocking technique last night. It was much quicker and easier than the one outlined in the given pattern, and you can't tell which I did with Veronique's new way or the original way! Yay for learning new things!

I should get a bunch of knitting time in this weekend. I have a few of my best buddies coming over and we are planning on watching Sex and the City from beginning to end. One of our friends has never watched it, so we are going to initiate her! We also plan on taking the canoe out for a bit to get some sun and fresh air. It should be a great weekend!

Indecision

Progress has been swift on the Smocking sweater – knitting on #10 needles will do that! It’s funny how huge they feel after only knitting socks all summer. I got the first sleeve done a few days ago and have started the back.

The smocking part is kind of weird. You take 6 stitches and place them on a cable needle held to the back. You then wrap the working yarn around the base of the stitches 3 times. The stitches are then knit from the cable needle.
It was kind of weird to do the first time, but creates a neat effect.

In the end, the sweater is basically ribbing with a few smocking rows thrown in every once and a while. My deduction of a quick knit was a good one. It only took a little over a skein for the sleeve, and I have ten total, so I should have more than enough. I’m not sure on sizing. Being that the yarn is half rayon, half wool, I’m not so sure how it will block. I made one size sleeve, and one size bigger back. I want a nice roomy, comfy sweater for fall. It will be easy enough to rip out the sleeve and do a bigger size if it doesn’t block up big enough. My gauge is right on, but the yarn isn’t staying “expanded” like pure wool would. I plan on doing a test block and seeing what happens.

Another knitting quandary is my Conwy sock. I have done a few repeats, and can’t decide if the pattern is being totally obliterated by the yarn variegation. Some obscurity is not a problem, but I want to be able to at least see the pattern I’m trying to create. What do you guys think? I’m getting some pooling (which I have no problem with) so one side is yellow, and the other is the pink mix.


I just can’t decide if I should just frog the whole thing and find another pattern that will show more (Hedera?), or just keep pressing on to see what happens.

There is a section of absolutely screaming electric yellow in the yarn – every time I come to knit with it, I keep thinking that I just HAVE to have a full skein of it. It will make some ear-piercing socks! It is close to the yellow in this picture, but the yarn I have has a touch of neon green in it also. Being that the skein I have is a potluck, it’s probably a freak of dying and never to be reproduced again. How sad….

It’s been neat to see everyone’s launch into fall all over blogland. Seems like the slight cooling of the air has triggered lots of looking towards fall! There are some great pattern books that have come out recently – I’m off to do some web browsing and most likely pick some favorites!

Almost glad to be back to work!

What a crazy weekend. We had a fundraiser for the local animal shelter at the kennel, so I was there about 13 hours a day. I was completely exhausted. The good news is that we raised over $1000! I'm glad to be back on schedule today. I'm still a bit tired from all the running around, and looking forward to some lunch knitting.

In other exciting doggie news, Terri's Red Merle girl, Deuce won BEST IN SHOW in New York this weekend! Her first! She is ranked #6 dog in the country right now, and I'm sure this will get her into the top 5! Yay!

I finally got around to some knitting on Sunday. I started Smocking on the Move, and it is a quick knit! I'm using #10 needles (quite a change from the sock size I've been using all summer!) and am already at the sleeve cap. (picture is from earlier in the day - I wanted to take advantage of the glimpse of sun we got!)

It is a really pretty green color with a nice drape and sheen. It can be a bit splitty when knitting with it, but not too bad. I actually managed to get both row and stitch gauge with this one. That is pretty much unheard of for me! Must be a good sign for this sweater!

I also finished the Gents Socks!

I love how they came out, and they fit perfectly! I think the yarn was a great match for the pattern. You can still see it, but it still shows off the yarn. The colors are just beautiful!


Pattern: Gentleman's Fancy Socks from "Knitting Vintage Socks"
Yarn: Trekking XXL #100 bought at MDS&W this year

Edited to add: I should note that I did modify the pattern - I cast on 72 sts and did not do any of the decreases as I made the leg shorter than the pattern called for. I also did a short row heel - looking back, I would have rather kept the pattern "pure" and knit the heel Nancy called for. Live and learn.

I think I finally decided on my next socks - they won't be my only project as I'm working on the sweater also, but they will make a great lunch project as the sweater is too big to lug around. The Conwy socks from Knitting on the Road. I plan on using my skein of potluck brights from Cherry Tree Hill.

The colors are nice and bright, so the cables should hopefully pop!

I'm off to read all the stuff I missed over the weekend. I feel like I haven't been on the 'net in ages!!

It's that time of year

With that little chill in the air the past few nights, my thoughts have turned to fall. I know summer isn’t over quite yet – there are still a few weeks left to enjoy it, but feeling that chill got me thinking.

Soup is one of my favorite fall dishes. I can make a big batch one night and have enough for lunches all week. Easy. After seeing this Spicy Bean Soup recipe on Jessica’s blog, I knew I had to try it! I made it up the other night and it is deeeelish! Nice and spicy but not overpowering, and tons of veggies and beans to fill me up. A winner!
Fall sweaters have also come back into my head. After a summer of knitting exclusively socks (which I have looooooved!!) I think I am ready to venture back to the world of sweater knitting. I am not giving up sock knitting – no way – but I have a few sweaters worth of yarn I’d like to find projects for. There is nothing like that feeling of completing a sweater and wearing it out for the first time!

So, I looked at the yarn I had: 1 bag – 10 skeins,1360 yds – Berroco Softwist Bulky: 16 sts 4”, wool/rayon blend in a bright olive color and 1 bag – 10 skeins, 1200yds – Rowan Cork: 14 sts 4”, merino/nylon blend in a light beige color. I grabbed my magazines and books and set to work.

I came up with ten (yes, ten!) designs that I liked between the two yarn possibilities that I had enough existing yardage for.

The Fall Top Ten

1. “Bless” from Rowan Cork Collection
2. Yellow Sweater with Cables from Rebecca #28
3. Light Blue Cabled sweater from Rebecca #30
4. “Smocking on the Move” from Winter 2003 Interweave Knits
5. “Fur Trimmed Wrap Sweater” from Fall 2005 Interweave Knits (I’d do it without the fur trim!)
6. Keyhole Neck Sweater from Spring/Summer 2000 Vogue Knitting
7. “Cables in Chamonoix” from The Yarn Girls Guide to Beyond the Basics
8. “Marseilles Pullover” from Summer 2006 Interweave Knits
9. Pullover in Alaska from Drops 79 #24
10. Cabled Pullover from Drops 57 #1

There they be. Any favorites, or ones you have done that I should avoid for certain reasons? It’s quite a range – from the very simple wrap and keyhole sweaters – to the more complex cabled ones. I’m a fan of both. I think a nice, simple sweater has it’s place in a wardrobe. I would ideally like something comfortable, easy to wear and just “throw on” to head out. In looking, I actually found a few that I hadn’t considered before in flipping through all my mags and books. Strange how your eye and tastes change. That’s why I keep all my magazines! You never know what you will like or what will appeal to you in the future! Two I didn't include are the Urban Aran and Easy Street - both from the Patons Street Smart book. Not sure why, they were on my list, but I just got a little over anxious I guess and uploaded before I was ready!

The Gents socks are so close to done! I have one more 8 row repeat to go, then I start the toe! I was hoping to finish them today on my lunch, but I forgot them at home! (though I am tempted to drive home and get them, I think maybe I’ll just go for a walk) I should hopefully be able to finish the knitting on them tonight, and maybe graft toes tomorrow.

Friends, Pizza and Knitting

What a fun weekend. The weather couldn’t have been any more perfect – warm, sunny days and cool crisp nights. We had a 30th birthday party for my friend John. He is the last of our circle of friends to turn the big three-oh. (I am the oldest of our little group at 35) It was so much fun. The guys all went out and saw Talladega Nights, and we girls hung around and talked and played with their new addition

Is he not the cutest thing ever!!!! So soft and very mellow. I wanted to put him in my pocket and take him home! (the dogs would have been overjoyed – they love chasing cats a bit too much!)

It was such a great day. Since we all live in different states we don’t get to see each other that often, so we really enjoy it when we can all hang out together.

Of course, hubby couldn’t leave New Hampshire without one of these (ruler for comparative purposes!)


That, my friends, is a Big John pizza from Constantly Pizza in Concord. When we lived there we were very frequent customers. It is not nearly as greasy as it looks in the picture - that was after sitting the hour and a half car ride home in the trunk, and in the fridge overnight. Theirs is the closest to New York style that we could find. So now, whenever we are in New Hampshire we bring home a pizza. Not necessarily the Big John, but a pizza from there. This pizza is HUGE (that is an understatement). It is a 24 incher! It does not even fit through a doorway flat – you have to tip the box slightly to get it through!! Crazy! It is really good though. We have yet to find pizza as good at home. Sad.

Sunday was a nice day – I did work at daycare for the morning and evening, but in-between I had a nice chunk of time to relax. I actually did nothing but knit and sit on the deck. I can’t remember the last time I just sat (except on vacation). It felt great. Another perfect weather day.


The lawn really needed to be cut, and I did try but the mower kept dying every few feet, so I abandoned it about ½ way through. There will be time for that today.

The Gents socks are coming along great. I have done both heels and am chugging slowly down the foot. I have yet to do short row heels without a glitch of some kind. I keep doing them because one of these times they will come out perfect! These were very close. I fudged a tiny place where a stitch got dropped. I still cant’ figure out how to pick up stitches on a short row heel without ripping the entire thing out. That was not going to happen! So, a tiny hole to sew up later. I can live with that.

I’m not sure what the heck is up with the ribbing – I honestly first noticed it as I edited the picture! It just looks like I increased or something. Very strange. Was someone else knitting on my socks????

The new Rebecca preview is also up. A few things caught my eye, but I know that the magazines have way more patterns than what is shown. I’d have to see it in person to make final judgement!

River Adventure

The weather has definitely turned for the better here. Yesterday was pretty much perfect – low 80’s, a nice breeze and very low humidity. Being that hubby goes back to school in a few weeks, we decided to take off and go canoeing. We haven’t used our canoe yet this year, so it was the perfect day to break it out.

We drove a bit and ended up at East Brimfield Lake. We unloaded and the views were beautiful against the bright blue sky.

After paddling across the lake, we headed to the Quinebaug River Canoe Trail. It was a nice paddle – no rapids or anything, but a great, relaxing ride. I think we ended up doing about 7 miles total. Needless to say my shoulders and arms are a bit sore today! Tons of greenery, turtles and herons were seen as we paddled.



The canoe rest stops were very cute. Easy access spots along the river with benches and picnic tables and fire pits. We’ll have to bring a lunch next time!

All in all it was such a great day! The dogs stayed home this time as we are still dog-sitting a Rhodesian Ridgeback, and I’m not so sure she’s a water dog! (plus, she’s HUGE! We weren’t sure we could fit all three dogs in the canoe with us)

I did manage to knit some last night. The Gent’s socks are coming along – I have only about an inch left to do in the legs, then on to the heels! I’m not doing the shaping called for in the pattern as I’m making them a few inches shorter than it calls for.

I’m really liking the Trekking. It is hard if you drop a stitch, but I really like the way the plies gradually change and it seems like a workhorse yarn. There will be more of this in my stash in the future!

Switzerland

(or, I choose to remain neutral.)

With the start of August begins a new Project Spectrum! This month is all about neutrals.

(from the top, L to R within pictures)
- Rowan Cork for a cabled sweater of some kind (too many to choose from right now!)

- Koigu for hubby’s future Crusoe socks and

- Cone of Henry’s Attic Kona Superwash for dying and making socks

- Cream color Naturelle 8/8 for either Raspy, Bomber or the Corset Pullover

- Small skein of leftover WoolEase Sportweight from hubby’s Thuja socks

- Some brownish "Softie" wool/angora blend from Kimmet Croft fibers purchased at MD Sheep and Wool a few years back. I have 1200 yds of DK weight. Just not sure what to make with it. It blooms wonderfully and is incredibly soft! (suggestions?)

I had a bigger neutral stash than I thought! Lots of great yarns destined for some patterns I’ve been eyeing for a loooong time. All kinds of fibers, and a nice range of neutral colors, which I really like. I’m a huge brown fan!

I also spied a few neutrals lingering around the house….

- Our new (to us) fridge
- Tucker – a view from the top
- Otis
- Kitchen table and Chair

I so love the black spot on Tucker’s back. I call it his “Snoopy Spot” as it reminds me of the one he has, and it’s in the same place!

The kitchen chairs (we have 4 total - 2 in a dark green and 2 in this off white/cream color) actually used to be chairs in my grandfathers waiting room when he had his dentist office. I never met him, but took the chairs with great joy when we were cleaning out my grandmothers house a bunch of years back. They are great, sturdy retro looking chairs that have held up incredibly well over the years! (The table is your basic Ikea model - maple top, stainless legs)

The Gent’s Fancy socks are coming along nicely - I’m onto the second pattern repeat. I haven’t decided if I’m going to do the shaping the pattern calls for, or just knit them straight down. I’ll have to look and see how high they are supposed to come up. They are a fairly simple knit, but I like the way the Trekking is looking in this pattern. Even better stretched out a bit on my leg.

The heat finally broke last night really late. This morning it was about 70 degrees and a lot less humid. The dogs and I had a great walk and I wasn’t drenched in sweat by the time we finished. The weekend is supposed to be beautiful and I plan on starting up the agility training again. We have a big group training session planned at a big field not to far away. Our first fall trial is Labor Day weekend, so time to get working!

Also, check out Yarnival. A great idea to add some new reads to your bloglines list!

I'm Melting!

Seriously - if I lived in Arizona or somewhere similar, this wouldn't shock me nearly as much. But I live in New England. (which, I guess nothing weather wise should shock me anymore) Our lovely forecast for today:

It's not only the high temps that are bad, but it is bright, sunny and huuuuumid too. The dewpoint is in the 70's. Makes for some great hair days. Just plain uncomfortable.

But ironically, I am sitting here at my desk at work with the heater going. Yes, that's right. It's 100 degrees out, and I have a heater going. To keep my toes and fingers from turning purple from the excessive amount of air conditioning set at a crazy low temperature, I have a great little heater that sits under my desk. I've been tempted to sleep here at night....

The Gent's socks are underway - once I re-learned how to cast on and start two at once top down on one needle (used the deceptively simple cast on instructions here) I am about an inch into the ribbing. I didn't cast on the recommended 80 stitches - that just seemed like a lot. My Lorna's socks were with 72 stitches and fit great. The gauge looks about the same (I scientifically compared ribbing sizes to determine this) so I went with it. I really like how the rainbowy colors are working up so far.

The dogs are doing OK in the heat. I've been walking them at 5am (it was already 83 degrees this morning!) then they relax all day in the shaded semi air-conditioned house. Daycare has about 60 fans going (they have the really huge ones that fit an entire doorway!) and we've been filling the pools and hosing down the dogs that like it (and even some of the ones who don't!) They have plenty of shade, and none seem too out of sorts. I'm hoping it will cool down a little by Thursday night for our agility lesson - we've done nothing in weeks!