Monday, May 25, 2009

aaaaaaahhhh. US 3. Addi Turbo.

So fast. I love big sock yarn and big sock needles:Specs:
yarn:
ATH (all things heather) colorway: Bucky
needles: US 3
pattern: plain old socks - no pattern

I knit that baby up while on our family vacation up north. I brought a friend with me - Mr. Loopy



Here he is at the mouth of the
Kawishwi River which is one of the entrances to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. (The Loopy Ewe has a photo contest of places you take your Loopy).


Leo meets Loopy.


And a little extra special bonus for us - we've been selectively removing some flora in order to make room for more wild blueberries to thrive near our cabin. This year we will have quite a bumper crop of tiny little wild blueberries! These are the early blossoms. We'll be back in July to pick a few handfuls.

I am so jealous of all you who will be attending Sock Summit this year. Be sure to take loads of pictures!!

Friday, May 22, 2009

I've updated BookMama. If you get a chance - come on over for a visit!
ps. I had trouble with pictures on the BookMama post this morning.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Hello, FO in Malabrigo!





Ah spring. I can smell the lilacs even from the ugly asphalt parking lot of our local strip mall. It smells wonderful and fresh.
The crab apples are in full bloom.

I finished a little pink shrug, which is a proto-type for my sisters wedding. There are three flower girls - 2, 5 and 6. I tested out the pattern to see how difficult it would be to twiddle with size and yarn and needles.

And guess what.
This is the easiest pattern!!!!! I used a US 10, a worsted weight yarn . . . achem . . . Malabriiiiigoooooooo with a darling colorway name of "Molly". The pattern is Anthropologie-Inspired Capelet by Julia Allen and it's free! You can also access the pattern through Ravelry.

And NOW I know what all the fuss about Malabrigo is about. I bought the stuff ages ago and found it wadded up in the bottom of my yarn bin. To be honest, when it was in it's coiled little skein, it felt scratchy and, other than the brilliant color, was unimpressive.

However, after knitting with it - I now understand the obsession. It's like knitting with cotton candy, but without the sticky fingers. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm. And it makes a wonderful squooshy fabric.

PS. Those darling baby ducks belong to my daughter's first grade classroom. We took them home for one day just after they hatched and gave them their first swim. We also managed to keep the Prince-of-Poopness from eating any of them. I believe they are soon on their way to "the farm" which I choose to believe is a wonderful, happy place full on vegetarian duck lovers.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Baaaabies

Foster Babies


Bunny Baby


Sweater Baby



My very special stitch markers are from Glastonbury Glassworks. You may be familiar with the wife of this talented glass artist - Live and Let Learn!

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Girlie Socks

An FO!Sassy socks for my sassy girl. Pink and sparkles and picot - so girlie and sweet.

Specs:

Yarn: Berroco Sox Metallic (a bit scratchy)
Pattern: Leyburn Socks - heavily modified
Needles: US 1 1/2 or 2.5 mm

Modifications: (top down)
CO 58 knit a picot cuff
Used the Leyburn pattern across the front of the sock and did a k2, p2 on the back of the sock so that it will fit a child for a longer time (a bit of stretch for room to grow). The beautiful stitch on the front is actually quite easy and it is so pretty! I absolutely LOVE this pattern.