Licorice Whip

First of all, I want to thank Lolly - she came to my rescue! If it wasn't for her special package that arrived on Saturday, a completed sweater would not be possible!

The one thing we were both worried about was the color matching. Thrift store finds have often been used and abused in many ways - especially when they are bought 300 miles apart! Our fears were unfounded. They couldn't have matched any better.

So, I set to getting some yarn to finish. I didn't need much - just enough to finish the bottom.

I ended up using about half of a sleeve to finish. With the sweater being an extra large and my original sweater being a medium, I think she will have more than enough to make something really neat with it. As payment for the yarn, I ripped the rest of the sweater for her and will be mailing it back all ready to knit!

The sweater came out just as I had wanted. A comfy, semi-fitted fall sweater. It hasn't been blocked yet, I'm hoping it may even out the stitches a little. If not, that's ok - the rustic look kind of fits with the style of the sweater. It's an acrylic/wool blend, and soft enough for next to skin wear. Perfect for some fall apple picking.

Of course, I have puppy pictures too. They turned three weeks old on Sunday. A couple are now over three pounds!

Nine

Shiner

Dekker

Bountiful Harvest (yes, and puppies!)

Our weekly CSA delivery has just been getting better and better as the season progresses.

They have been keeping me well supplied with salad greens since early June. I have been able to take a HUGE salad to work every day and have never run out. The nice surprises this week - Pattypan Squash and peaches! It is really helping me to eat right when our fridge is busting full of good things.

I finished up both arms on Licorice Whip last night. I have about 3 yards of yarn left. Now, I'm just anxiously awaiting my rescue package from Lolly and have been secretly praying the color will match. There is only about 2" left to do on the body and it is DONE! It will feel really good to finish up a sweater. Getting me geared up for fall. Not that I really have any fall sweater stash to knit from. I have some cotton/linen and some DK weight angora mix, but that is about it. I guess this will push me to finish the Street Smart Hoodie. Yarn will also be found when I frog a past project. Banff was my first sweater. Knit in Tahki Soho Bulky Tweed it is big, itchy and really warm. (see photo evidence here) I am planning on ripping it, but I'm not sure if I even want to make something new out of it. Whatever it is would have to be able to have something worn under it (this is not next to skin yarn!). Any good suggestions?

OK - so what you really came for....

In The Blink of an Eye

Sometimes you just need to finish a project. That urge for completion and casting off. Enter the Uptown Scarf from Weekend Knitting. Knit on very, very huge size #35 needles (thanks again Sarah for letting me borrow them!) it knit up super quick in just a night. I used some stash yarn - not my favorite, but it worked pretty well for this project. I opted to add the fringe because, well, I was in a fringy mood.

Since Tucker is my usual model, I let Otis have a spin. This scarf is looooooonng. I do wish it was blockable though. The Lion Wool Ease Thick and Quick is soft, but not enough wool content to be blockable, so the garter stitch rows don't stay as open. (check out Lolly's great scarf to see what I mean) It was future gift knitting though, and it will make someone really warm!

I am happy to report that I have finished both the sleeves for Licorice Whip. I just need to do the cuffs and a few inches at the bottom of the sweater itself. The yarn is pretty much gone (I will get one cuff out of what I have left), but Lolly to the rescue! Thank goodness we have similar tastes in thrift finds. She actually had two of these sweaters she picked up at a thrift store right around when I did. I was so lucky that one is the same purple color and that she is willing to part with some of it! I won't need much, but it will be nice to be able to finish it off.

The Turret sock is growing slowly but surely. I'm about 3/4 through the leg. When I do have time to knit on it, it progresses quickly. Naomi and I have some heel decisions to make. Carry the pattern down the back? Plain short row? Plain heel flap?

And, of course I have some puppy pictures. They are growing by leaps and ounces every day. Gaining a good 2 ounces each day, you can really see them changing (and their bellies growing!) The next big event will be their eyes and ears opening around 10-14 days old. Sometime mid week.

"Shiner"

"Decker (L) and Nine (R)"

Maybe a Vest?

Brace yourselves - actual knitting content ahead! (but, I do have some puppy pictures for the end).

I've been knitting when I can on Licorice Whip. The body is done for the most part (except for a few inches at the bottom) and I have started the first sleeve. Most of it was done when I went to bed last night.

Now it's back to the armhole again. Too big. I debated for a while whether to rip or not, but where I have a limited supply of yarn and I am really afraid I'm going to run out, I decided to rip back and make the decreases every 5 rows instead of every 7. I could easily grab a fistful of extra fabric at the sleeve. The pattern is strange - my gauge is spot on, and I'm knitting a size Small (I am usually a M/L) and the measurements are a bit off. Huh. Oh well. Luckily it's a top down sweater and you really don't have to follow the directions once you are off and running. I have the sweater on DPN's and am hating knitting it. I was using my Denise needles magic looped, but the join kept coming undone. Have I mentioned I hate using DPN's? I will persevere though - I need a larger FO than just socks. Good for the knitting mojo.

The lack of yarn is still a HUGE concern. I'm hoping against hope that I have a smidge left over when I finish the sleeves and can finish the body. I only need about 2" more. If not, maybe I'll finish the sleeves and body with an inch or so of contrasting trim - have to start thinking of ideas in case the knitting gods are messing with me again.

Naomi's sock is very slow going. I can't knit on it in front of the TV as the rows are so different I get lost easily. This is one of those knits I need complete concentration for...

Ok - so what you really came for....
This is Orb - so nicknamed for the shape on the top of his head. He is one of my "potentials".

One of his brothers sleeping peacefully.

You Asked For It

More puppy pictures! It was great to read all the comments. I think (dare I say) puppies may be more popular than knitting! (I'd have to do some major blog re-vamping!)The little ones are now a day and a half old as of Monday evening when the pictures were taken, and are plumping up. Deuce is doing a great job keeping them clean and well fed.

They are a bunch of little miracles! It's amazing that even only hours old, each had it's own little personality already - the bossy one, the shy one, the always hungry one...

As promised yesterday - knitting!

Naomi's sock (I so need a better name) is about 10 rows into the colorwork. This is going to be a while - the repeat is a whopping 60 rows so I'm just doing one for the leg. Each row takes a while as no repeats means no memorization! It is fun to be doing colorwork again. I did miss it. The colors are working nicely together so far. They do remind me of another pair of socks I made not to long ago. Huh. Note to self - branch out the color choices! I'm not sure if I should have done a column of plain colored stitches between the two colorwork panels (the repeat is 40 stitches wide, I'm doing two repeats). I kind of like all the colorwork mushing together at the sides. The repeat should be invisible on one side where the two repeats meet, and I will make the messy jog side the inside anyway. So far so good, but a long way to go.

Licorice whip is now past the waist and I ended the current ball of yarn I was on. I plan on doing the sleeves next and seeing what yarn I have left. I ended up never increasing back out for the hips. Ashley finished hers so it's spurring me on to get mine done. I decreased down to where I wanted it at the waist and just went straight. The fit seems pretty good. For the sleeves I plan on looking back at the notes on my Houglass Sweater - currently my best fitting shaped sweater.

We also got our weekly CSA delivery yesterday. I just barely finished last weeks supply (eating a lot and giving some away) in time.

Luckily I also started a new diet last week. I have cut out all processed foods, sugars, beef, pork, starches and starchy veggies for now. A cleansing. My body needs it! I was not kind to it this summer, and it deserves to be treated better. A week has passed and I feel really good. All the veggies I have been eating have been organic, I have not eaten anything with anything artificial or that has any kind of preservatives. We only get one body. I'm trying to do it right!

Lichen Rib

For some reason, sock number two took forever to finish. It must have been that sock number one was done in the 11 hour ride down to the outer banks - my knitting time hasn't been that plentiful since we got back. I did manage to sit down and get them done the other night. Hubby wasn't around for a photo session, so you get my feet - the socks are a touch big (Thank goodness! His feet are about 4 sizes bigger than mine!) but the yarn is wonderful. (the photograph is horrible however - I took them the night I finished and had to use the flash)

Pattern: Lichen Rib Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks
Yarn: Interlacements Tiny Toes in color #220
Needle: #2 (2.75mm) Inox circular
Modifications: I used an eye of partridge heel and increased the stitch count to accommodate hubby's bigger feet.

The yarn is really nice. The colors are beautiful and the twist is really tight. I'd highly recommend getting some from Alison.

It seems that is the only positive knitting progress I've made this week. After reading all the comments and advice about Licorice Whip, I decided to rip back to the armholes and start the decreases there. Per the pattern they are every 5 rows, so I may just keep that interval and start right at the armholes. I like the fit across the chest, so I'm reluctant to rip back and make the chest smaller. Running out of yarn is a huge concern. I hate trying to race the yarn to the end!

Finishing the Lichen Rib socks gave me permission to start on my sister, Naomi's socks. I promised to design her a pair of colorwork socks. After she saw the Mamluke, Turkish and Heart Crook socks, she wanted a pair of her own! I looked through many books to seek just the right colorwork pattern. I wanted something a little different. Inspiration struck when I saw the preview of the Fall 2007 Vogue Knitting.

I fell in love. The pattern was beautiful! (if only I could wear a dress like that!) After looking at the chart and having Naomi approve the pattern, I started on the ribbing.

I'm using Tess Yarns Supersock & Baby purchased at this year's Sheep and Wool. It looks like sherbet! (as a total aside, why is there no "r" in SherbeRt? That is how everyone says it!) The contrasting color will be a dark blue Tess yarn purchased at Stitches East last year. This should be a fun one! I'm not sure if I'll do solid color heels and toes, or continue the pattern down the heel. That's up to Naomi.

Puppy watch continues. She is growing bigger and bigger every day!

Relaxing

What a beautiful summer weekend. I actually managed to have a day to myself on Sunday and got some rare relaxation time in. Hubby and our friend John got up early and headed out to go Scuba diving for the day. That left me and the boys to our own devices. I made sure all the chores were done early so that I could have the rest of the day free and clear. I did laundry, the dishes and straightened up. The plants got a good watering also. Check out the tomato plant - it's getting huge!

I'm not sure if we'll actually get any tomatoes from it as we got it late in the season. Fingers crossed we get one or two just to taste - it's a heirloom plant we got from the CSA.

After all the chores were done, I spent most of the rest of the day here.

It was wonderful. Sunny and warm, I even managed to fall asleep for a little nap in the afternoon. I can't remember the last nap I took! The boys and I went for several walks, and they got a good brushing along with "Doggie Trail Mix" as hubby has dubbed it - a container full of diced apples, carrots and bananas all dumped on the floor in the kitchen. They love their fruits and veggies!

I manged to get the rest of the leg, the heel and about half of the foot of the second Lichen rib sock done. I hope to have it off the needles in the next day or so. No true SSS for me, but the second sock always seems to go so much slower than the first....I'm anxious to get started on my sister's colorwork socks. I just have to gather the yarn and cast on! Not until Lichen Ribs are done though!

Licorice Whip didn't get much attention yesterday (I didn't want a big wool sweater on my lap on a 85 degree day!), but I did get it onto scrap yarn and try it on. So far, so good!

It seems to fit ok, and I put it on to decide when to start the waist shaping.

I am probably going to start earlier rather than later! I have been debating with ripping out up to the armholes and decreasing there to use less yarn as that is a big concern with this sweater. Opinions? Will it make it pucker or do something weird if I decrease right away for a few rows, then go straight, then do waist shaping? Some ease is wanted, but not quite this much. I can also just do more waist decreases. It may work out pretty well - make the sweater more fitted all the way down. I'll just keep trying it on until it's where I want it! The one thing I truly love about top down knitting!

Generosity

Knitbloggers continue to be one of the most supportive, helpful, friendly and generous group of people I have ever met. (the dog agility community comes in a very, very close second! Knitting Dog people are definitely the tops!)

Kimberly was here in the States on Cape Cod on vacation from Germany. Exchanging comments on our blogs, and emailing for quite a while now, we tried to schedule a meet up, but it was just not meant to be. Both of our schedules were crazy, and the planets just didn't align for us. Hopefully another time! She did, however, send me a little German care package.

Some orange Trekking (this will make some killer textured socks in one of my favorite colors!), a yummy (ask me how I know) chocolate hazelnut bar and some absolutely adorable stitch markers! They came in the little tin - she said they are the closest thing to Altoids that they have in Germany. They look yummy - cherry! Thank you so much Kimberly! One day we will meet in person!

A few weeks back, I got a mysterious email from Kristy. Turns out I was the 1000th commenter on her blog! She sent me some incredible yarn.

Silk! I have never even really touched silk yarn, now I have some! And the color - it's like lavender with a touch of gray. Beautiful. Don't let the picture fool you - she sent me not one skein, but TWO! As I oogled over the skeins, I went to pull the rest of the tissue paper (purple also!) out of the box. Low and behold another goodie!

A zip bag! As we all know, you can never have enough project bags (or bags in general!). This one is stunning. The fabrics are so pretty.....

I already have a project in mind for the silk. A little something for my mom.

The Montego Bay Scarf from the Summer '07 Interweave Knits. I think she'd really like it, and I haven't knit much other than a few pair of house socks for her, so more mom-knitting is in order.

Thanks so much Kristy!!!! Another great blogger who I hope to be able to hang out with a bit more in person one of these days! (and check out her newest addition - how cute!)

And, lastly, Jillian selected me for a Rockin' Girl Blogger award!

According to the rules, you nominate 5 other female bloggers and they in turn nominate 5 more and so on, and so on. (somehow I'm thinking of an old I think Breck shampoo commercial.....) So, my nominees are:

• Elinor for her ability to find the time to knit, sew and do other crafty things even with having an adorable little girl to take care of!
• Jessica for her unbelievable organization of both Summer of Socks '06 and '07! Plus, she knits some really amazing stuff and now spins too!
• Terhi for what else - all her amazing creations - especially socks.
• Sarah for many reasons. She knits, she sews, she spins, she has an ultra cute doggie. She's just the best.
• Aija because she is one of the first knitbloggers I ever really had a "non-comment" blog relationship with. We emailed, discussed sock yarns - now she's a star with her rocking Etsy shop.

I really had a hard time narrowing it down to five. There are so many wonderful girl bloggers out there....

In knitting news, Licorice Whip progresses. I still think I may run out of yarn though. The scale may need to come out to get some general ideas as to where I am and how much I have left. The yarn is recycled, so I was never truly sure as to how much I had yardage wise to begin with. It finally feels like I'm getting somewhere though. The sleeve stitches are now on holders and I'm starting to do the little bit above the waist.

I'm thinking (and hoping!) it will go quick from here. Ashley is already on the waist shaping for her fourth incantation of the sweater....looks like that center lace panel will need a little blocking.

I think I have a decent amount of knitting time this week. I'm working on hubby's second Lichen Rib Sock and have started (ribbing only) my sister's colorwork sock. I think we finally decided on a pattern.

Good Intentions

Well, I was planning on posting pictures of both progress on the new sock for hubby as well as Licorice Whip. Yeah, we all know how the best laid plans go.....between packing for our vacation, working both my jobs and other errandy and life stuff, it just hasn't happened. Both projects did have one thing in common these past few days besides photogenic absenteeism - they both took a fun trip to the frog pond.

I was happily knitting away on Licorice Whip and started to really look at it. Something wasn't right. After a trip to Ravelry to scout out the other Whips, (isn't Ravelry the best for project research? No more Googling and searching everywhere for a picture!) I noticed my center and side lace panels looked different. Turns out I totally excluded the twisted stitches on either side! Plus, after doing the collar and trying it on, it was a bit high for me. So, a date with the ball winder and we cast on again. Now that I have the pattern right, it looks much better. I'm really hoping for a comfy fall sweater with a little flattering shaping. We'll see what happens! Since I'm knitting it with size 10.5 needles, my yarnover holes are a bit bigger than average, therefore making my lace a bit more "lacey" - undergarment will definitely be required on this one!

The socks trip to the pond was a bit more dramatic. I started off really nicely - the ribbing was done and I had knitted up about an inch of the Lichen Rib Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks. No pooling, no striping. It was all good. Then, I saw these socks on Lolly's blog. "That pattern would really work with this yarn!" I thought. Plus, hubby had hinted that he would like a pattern of some kind on these socks as he knows how I like to challenge myself in my sock knitting. His best fitting and probably favorite pair so far are the Madder Rib socks I knit for him a while back. Ribbing seems to fit his feet very well, so I wanted another well fitting pair. Especially with this super variegated yarn, I figured ribbing was the best choice - let the yarn do the work.

Well, I ripped the inch or so of ribbing (the Lichen rib is basically a k3p1 rib) back to the cuff and started in on the Classy Slip Up Socks from Knit Socks! (yes, the title does actually have an exclamation point in it.). I was knitting away when I noticed something horrible happening. My once nicely variegated sock started pooling. Horrible, icky, ugly pooling! One side of the sock was all teal and purple, the other was green and blue! I tried to take a picture, but the camera refused to document the repulsiveness that was ensuing. So, I ripped again. I do have to say, this yarn is holding up very, very well to all the ripping and re-knitting. The twist is still super tight. Back to the Lichen rib, and - whoosh - there goes all the pooling and we are back to variegated once again.

I probably won't be posting again this week - we leave tomorrow at noon for the Outer Banks! First, we are making an overnight pit stop in Baltimore to break up the 11 hour drive. Then, we leave bright and early Sunday morning to spend a week in a beautiful house at the beach with lots of family.

How nice is that! My aunt always gets such pretty houses. This one is right on the lake and is a short way to the ocean on the other side. It has a pool and a foosball table! I see lots of knitting out on one of those decks.

The boys are heading out to their grandparents tomorrow - they are quite excited. My dad loves to walk, which luckily is one of the boys favorite activities. We will have Internet at the beach, so I hope to be able to post once or twice while I'm there. Maybe I'll have some progress to show!

We're Expecting!

So NOT what you were thinking - it's a puppy! But, you still get a neat ultrasound picture!

(each of the black blobs is a puppy!)

Terri and I took Deuce for her ultrasound yesterday to confirm that she was pregnant. The vet spotted about 6 little ones incubating in there. Around August 19th they will be on the ground and as cute as can be. How can they not be with parents like these?

Razz (black tri) and Deuce (red merle). The proud parents. I have known both of these dogs for almost 4 years now. I have lived with them and watched them show in both agility and in the breed ring. Both have won more ribbons than I can count (or that can fill up an entire wall at the kennel!), have been in the top 10 (Deuce was #2) Australian Shepherds in the country, and have incredible personalities to boot. They perform exceptionally well in the breed ring as well as the agility ring. How could I not get a puppy from this litter? I'm looking for both a performance dog for the agility ring as well as a great house dog. It will be fun picking one out from jumble of fuzzy cuteness that is to come!

As for my case of startitis the other night, I felt strangely non-monogamous to my socks and cast on for Licorice Whip with some recycled wool blend that I unraveled from a Gap sweater a while back.

Not so sure I like the collar, so I may end up ripping and starting over. On size 10.5 needles, this goes pretty quick. Not like I have another sweater (Street Smart Hoodie) waiting to be finished, but for some reason I just felt the need to start something new. I really like the lace pattern - simple but adds some flair. Not so sure about the lacy raglan increases though. That may be another reason to rip. I'm going to knit a bit further and see what I think.

The second Mad Color Weave sock is on the heel - I haven't had much if any knitting time the past day or so.