One down.....

Well here it is. The completed Diamondback. What do you think? It is freakishly huge on me, but its ok cause my sock pal has feet one inch longer than mine. Hopefully they will fit her. I wish I could have her try it on. I am concerned I won't have enough yarn. Oh that will upset me.



Think she will like them? That is the best pic I could get of the back. The toe seems really pointy to me. But, it may just be me.



I have decided to make monkeys for my mommy friend. Here were the yarn choices.


I polled some friends and they all agreed that the multicoloreds were the way to go. So now I will start my first pair for the Summer of Socks......Monkeys. My mommy friend deserves only the best, and Cookie A. is the best.


I miss my knitting mommy friend.

Here she is!

The booga.....

I wish this represented the true colors. But, alas it doesn't. The brown looking stripes are really a mossy green. The pink isn't so bright, neither is the purple. Its way more muted than this picture shows.

I LOVE IT!! Chris wants to make me one double the size. He too was disappointed at how small it turned out. I still love it nonetheless.

I am making myself start some new socks today for the Summer of Socks. My blog reader is super cool, I loved checking out her site. You should check it out too! I am already realizing that in no way, shape, or form would I ever win the "most socks" contest. There is a person with already two pairs finished. I wish I got that much time to knit!!!!!!

In addition to starting some new socks, so that I will have progress to show, I have got to get my first Sockapalooza sock done. Its been sitting on my needles probably wondering why it has been neglected. I wanted so badly to finish a project so my booga took priority. I will now make myself work several rows a day on my pal's sock. Want to get it done. I have until August 2nd, but the longer I procrastonate, the more likely I am to push it to the deadline. I refuse. And, if that is hanging around on my 2s, its harder for me to start more socks for the SOS. See, I'm finding motivation. I also got some from a mommy friend. She made Wyatt the CUTEST wall hanging with a frog on it. So now she gets socks as a thank you. Those pop to the top of the list!

Next time....a finished Diamondback!!!

The Booga Boogie

Well, I finished the booga last night. I have no pictures because I am a dork and forgot to take pre-felting pictures. Right now, it is upside down blocking on a box. It is soooooo pretty. I heart felting now. After my last felting fiasco, I am so glad that this turned out well. It will dry in 1-2 days and I can put the I-cord in and take pictures!!

I am up to the toe on the first diamondback sock. Its been slow going because the past three weeks have been insanely crazy. Too much going on. The kids are out of school. Need I say more?

Wyatt has two teeth, is sitting up by himself, and is really freaking me out by attempting to get up on his hands and knees to crawl. Not cool. My baby is disappearing before my eyes.

I joined the summer of socks and I have plenty of friends who have requested them. I hope to get caught up on the plunge this summer. I also have a gazillion pregnant friends who need baby knits. I AM STOKED!!! So far we have one we aren't sure the sex of (she didn't find out, how crazy), two girls, and three more that are unknown yet because they aren't far enough along. I love babies. Gives me baby fever.

Ok, no pics, I am a loser. But in the next day or two there will be picks, there will be knitting content to show off and discuss. I have socks to start, socks to finish, a booga to enjoy, and I even started on a summer top. I'm such a knitting ho.

What I have been up to

It has been a while!!! Sooooo sorry :(



Chris made me a swift. And he bought me a ball winder!! I've been busy winding.


I've been knitting too.

Sockapalooza sock 1 nearing completion!!! Like the pattern? I'll take one in better light soon.







And.....the oh so late booga!

I love it!!!

I am behind with the plunge, darn it!

I have so much baby knitting to do all of a sudden!!! Five preggo friends including my awesome knitting mommy pal!! I'm so excited!!!!

And, I made something for a mommy friend, but failed to take a pic. I mailed it off today, so maybe she will take pics of it being used!

The one where there is yarny goodness

Yarn porn, Yarn porn!!!!


Courtesy of......The Loopy Ewe. Ohhhhhh anticipation. It is so sweet. I ripped the box open to reveal.....this.


And inside that little plastic bag?







THIS! Three........oh three is my favorite number. Oh what is behind that teasingly almost see thru tissue paper?



Lets find out, shall we?

Panda Cotton. Soooooo squishy soft.

I do believe one of these may be Monkeys. And the other....maybe Anestasia.






Louet Gems. Those are for my new Cookie patterns.

Red for this one......indigo for this one.







Another Louet Gems (on the right). For, big shocker here, another Cookie pattern.

And then....Lorna's laces. No clue what this is for. Its just sooooo beautiful I had to have it.





Next month....Knit Picks Options. I am SO excited.

Lets talk about The Loopy Ewe. Order from them. I insist. Along with that order of massively amazingly soft and beautiful yummy delish sock yarn....I got this.

It is a hand written note on my receipt (which I cleverly covered up the total on so that you would not know exactly how embarassingly much I spent on sock yarn) from Sheri along with cute little cards to keep track of my needle stash with and two sample cards of Regia sock yarn. She is a very, very enabling person, that Sheri. Those sock yarns WILL be on my next Loopy order.




I have no pictures, but rest assured my friends that there is very good progress on the sockapalooza socks. I will be taking pictures soon to share. I still love them, maybe even more so than I did before. Yes, I am in sock yarn heaven.

The one where I am in love

This.....is what I have been working on. See me and my messy desk? There is enough space cleared off for my kick butt Jitterbug sock yarn, my SIP, needles, pattern, and pen. Otherwise, its a disaster area. And I just cleaned it off!! Anyway, these are the Seize Diamondbacks for my sockapalooza pal.




Here is an up close view. Beautiful blue yarn. Beautiful SIP. I am IN LOVE!!!!!! This pattern is fantastic, and believe it or not, I would call this a very quick knit. I just cast on last night, before we went to dinner, got the ribbing done (can I just mention this quick little opinion......1x1 rib is evil. I hate it.), and this morning I started the pattern part of the sock. It is amazing, I love it, I love it, and in case I haven't mentioned. I <3 it.

Sure am glad I picked myself up my own Jitterbug yarn to make me some :) A few things to say. Jitterbug yarn. Knit with it. A lot. I LOVE IT!!!!!!! Its so soft and way fun to knit with. Minus the 1x1 rib. As far as the Diamondbacks. Buy the pattern. Make lots of copies because you will make many pairs of socks and if you write on your patterns like I do, you will want fresh copies for your next pairs. I can't say enough about this pattern. Seriously. Buy it. And encourage others to also. They will love you for it.

Moving on.....this is going around the net like crazy, so I figured I'd put it in here too. It will be a neat reference a year from now to see how much I have progressed.

Here's the key: Bold for stuff I've done, italics for stuff I plan to do one day, and normal for stuff I'm not planning on doing.

Afghan/Blanket (baby sized) (though, in progress)
I-cord (will do on the booga)
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn (HUH?)
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dyeing with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cozies…) (just joined a dishcloth KAL!)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn (Maddie got me some for Mother's Day!)
Knitting with DPNs
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dyeing yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener
BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/arm warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair (Seriously, someone has to be kidding)
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Boy I have much to do :)


And just because I can't resist showing this adorable little face. I <3 him too.....way more than to socks, though. A lot of bloggers have their kitties....I have my Wyatt.

Oh yeah....a look ahead. I will have yarn porn. And lots of it. Hopefully by Tuesday or Wednesday. Check back. You will be jealous. I CAN'T WAIT TO SHOW IT OFF!!

The one where I get tagged

I got tagged!! I was a tagging virgin until now. My awesome mommy/knitting friend tagged me. She apologized. It was really cute, but I am not at all wigged out. I think meme's are fun!!!! So here we go.

Here are the rules:
Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and need to read your blog.

7 Random Facts about me

1) I have been crocheting since I was little. Like weeeee little. My mom taught me. I don't like it as much as knitting, but I can do it.

2) My husband and I met at a truck pull. Seriously, there is such a thing as a truck pull and there was a time that we frequented them. Yep, redneck central up in my house.

3) I have a huge phobia of meeting people for the first time. I am always afraid that I won't know what to talk about or will look stupid to them. Thusly, I don't do well in large crowds. Especially if it is a large crowd of people that I don't know well. By large, I mean more than three people all together. I totally wig out.

4) You can't make me eat a carrot, I just won't do it. Just thinking of eating a carrot or squash....it makes me queasy. YUCK!

5) I passed the real estate licensing exam when I was 18 years old.

6) I type 110 words per minute.

7) The only way I eat peas is a) Leseur peas and b) they have to be mixed in my mashed potatoes. Otherwise, won't touch a pea.

Now....do I know seven people to tag? Probably not. I guess it wouldn't be good for me to tag people like Cookie, Stephanie, Kathy, Wendy, or Vickie.....oh well. I'll see who I can come up with and I'll edit later.

I, however, will NOT be posting on knitting progress. Cause I have none. No booga progress, no sock progress, nothing. I've been working and napping as much as I can because Mr. Wyatt is on a strict no sleeping policy these days. I was up with him from 10 last night until 2:30 or 3. Then he was up at 7. I'm sooooooooooooooooo sleepy!

And to my super cool sockapalooza pal....read my comments a few posts back. I answered you, I just didn't see your post until today :(

The one where I jump on the bandwagon

So I was reading my super way cool knitting mommy friend's blog and saw her yet again doing 10 on Tuesday. This week is of particular interest, so I figure, what the heck. So here we go:

Ten songs that make you sad:

1. That's My Job - Conway Twitty. My dad died when I was ten. This song reminds me of him. I bawl like a baby EVERY time.

2. Hurt - Christina Aguilera. This song says exactly what I would want to say to my dad if ever given the chance.

3. You'll Never Walk Alone - The Righteous Brothers. Jordin sang it on American Idol this year and I just cried and cried. It was amazing.

4. In My Daughter's Eyes - Martina McBride. This song is so amazing, and with three little girls of my own, it truly hits home. My oldest loves that I cry when I hear that song.

5. Go Rest High on the Mountain - Vince Gill. I sang this song at a very close friend's funeral.

6. Love Can Build A Bridge - The Judds. I've often thought of sending this song to my brother one day.

7. God Blessed The Broken Road - Rascal Flatts. This song is definitely for me and my hubby.

8. Baby Girl - Sugarland. One line in there does it every time....."This time I'm gonna make our dreams come true. Well I love you more than anything in the world. Love, Your Baby Girl." I know I feel that way about my mom and I just hope my little girls will always feel that way.

9. You'll Always Be My Baby - Sara Evans. I really believe if you are a daddy's girl, a believer, and/or you have a son, there is NO way this song can leave you unaffected. It's amazing.

10. What Hurts The Most - Rascal Flatts. See #1.

The one where there is #2

Fuzzy socks. Yummy. They don't match. I didn't even try to make them match. This was my second sock ever, but I had only finished one. So I pulled it back out and I think it was very happy that I did. So the sock started a year ago finally has a mate. It is funny how much my knitting has changed in a year. I learned how to bind off looser (the first sock can be tricky getting on with the tight bind off) and my kitchener has improved. A non-knitter will appreciate these socks!






Obviously Maddie likes them.










Although she has a bit of an unconvential way in appreciating them.





She is strange. A tween. What can you do with them? Apparently make them socks to play with. No, you can't have them. My feet need knitted socks right now Mad. Yours are coming.





And in booga news. This is how far I have gotten. The bottom is done, stitches picked up, and I am on row 5/64. Can I say....I LOVE THIS COLORWAY?!?!?!?!?! Its amazing.

So now, I work on booga, and I start sockapalooza pal socks. Lots to do, and I want to do it all NOW!

Oh.....and I went to Chris' mom's house this weekend. We passed a sheep farm who has a yarn store on premesis, makes sense right? Their sign said open M-Sat 10-5. It was Sat. So we went up to the door, opened it, and stepped inside the door to the most amazing wool heaven EVER. No one was there. I had to leave all of that store unshopped. Talk about disappointing. But I did learn that I can leave yarn behind, unloved, uncuddled, untouched, and not have a heart attack. Only a minor panic attack. MUST. SEE. THAT. STORE.

The one about sock yarn

This will be a rambling post. I can tell. Its an effort to get my sock yarn thoughts on paper, because obviously I am going to drive myself bonkers until I get it down.

So Cookie A. has all of her awesome patterns, and I am going to purchase five, yes I said five, of them. I want Flicker, Gothic Spire, Mona, Thelonious, and Twisted Flower. Now, that isn't to say I don't want the others. But. The others. They are knee socks, my friends. No knee socks yet. I gotta see how I do with the regular socks first. Knee socks, well, they scare me. But, I want some eventually so I will work up to those. With these patterns, I'm going with the suggested yarn. And I'm getting it from the Loopy Ewe. Free shipping after 75 bucks. Why not? We won't even get started talking about all of her patterns on Knitty. Those are on the must do list also. I'm a Cookie Groupie. I'll admit it now and we can move on.

I have tried Sassy Stripes, and that leads to a discussion on self-striping yarn. I'm kinda over it. I thought I would like it, but these daggone Horcrux socks that I did, really convinced me that I'm over it. The stripes just really mess up any semblance of seeing the pattern. So, note to self. Self-striping yarns are nice, just use them for non-fancy patterned socks. And, don't fall back into the Moda Dea Sassy Stripes trap again.

I have to try Cat Borhdi's Coriolis socks that she did on Knitty Gritty. That uses Austerman Step, one I am DYING to try. But, it is self-striping. I know. But she is so awesome, she takes care of that by double stranding. I love it. No stripes in site. That rocks my world. And, I'll also get to try out two circulars, which I am wanting to do. That will rock!

I am doing an order from knit picks and I am going to hook myself up with some Gloss. That will be interesting. Going to use that for Thermal though. I have three different colors of essentials, but not sure I love it as sock yarn. I also have dancing, parade, and simply stripes from Knit Picks too. None of which I have tried yet. I know, I'm a loser.

I am dying to test out the Jitterbug and the Cherry Tree Hill I just got yesterday. I also want to try out some Lorna's Laces, Koigu, Claudia Handpainted, and Panda Cotton. I have some Opal and Regia in my stash already, just one color of each.

So, that is my feeling on sock yarn. Now I feel more organized in my head.

The one where there are two

Here are the Horcrux socks, cute baby for effect.







Here is what irritates me. Two rows shy of being perfect matches. Next time I will count rows from the heel. It urks me. To no end.





Chris said they were ugly. Well, he didn't SAY it. But he *said* it.

The shorter sock decided to console the bigger one.

I'm ready to move on.




So I got myself this little goody. WOOOOHOOOO!!!!!!

The first pattern may well be Anniversary Socks by Nancy Bush. This may well make it so that I require Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush also.

And now.....YARN PORN!






This is for my booga bag! Noro Kureyon #148. Too beautiful. Now my awesome friend and I can start on our KAL.








And this, my friends, is Cherry Tree Hill Super Glitz DK weight, Tropical Storm colorway. Need I say more? Its freaking AWESOME! All those specks? Glitter my friends. Glitter. Glittered socks. I am a princess. Its official.







Colinette Jitterbug, for Seize Diamondbacks. On the left, Lagoon colorway for ME! On the right, Blue Parrot colorway for my super secret sockapalooza pal. Yeah buddy, all the best for her. She likes blue. But not pastel blue. So, I thought this was PERFECT. I will be starting after I purchase the pattern, probably tomorrow!

The one where I'm SO EXCITED!

Did you see it? Did you read my comments? My sockapalooza pal left me a message. The sneaky one *they* are. Is it a he? Is it a she? Local? Far away? It is so exciting! My Palooza buddy is making ME socks! Isn't that great? If you didn't join, :( but.....this is Sockapalooza 4, so I am SURE there will be more opportunity after this one. In the meantime, watch and see all the fun. I'm so excited. And....I commented to MY pal too! I have to pick a pattern, pick some yarn. I may need help. I want to do THIS pattern cause it is beautiful. But. I'm scared. I'm afraid the magical stuff you need to do to make those diamonds is too tough for me. We'll see. I have until August 2nd. That is plenty of time, right?

Meanwhile back on the farm, I have completed my one Horcrux sock.




















I started another one in a solid color because I wanted to see the pattern better. Waiting on yarn for my booga bag.





And just to show off, I will leave you with this picture, cause its pretty. I took that at my MIL's house last spring. Just pulled it off the cam. Talk about procrastination, huh?

The one where there is one

Well here it is. In all its glory.


First sock done.












Here is the stitch pattern, as best you can see.












Side view.....its so pretty.










I made it a little shorter than I was supposed to. There were two reasons for this. One, I was kind of scared I would run out of yarn. And two, I am so bummed that these are a little big, I just wanted to get them casted off to see if it would work itself out. It didn't. Oh well.



Details

Yarn: Holly Spring Homespun hand dyed by Kathy
Needles: Size 4 DPNs
Pattern: The Knitty Gritty Cookie A. socks

What I loved: I really, really enjoyed knitting this. The pattern for the lace was real simple to memorize so it made my first attempt at lace really fun and easy. And they are Knitty Gritty socks. And even better, Knitty Gritty Cookie A. socks! Need I say more? I didn't think so.

What I will do differently: When I make myself a pair, I will use STR in a lighter color so that it shows the stitches better. That's it. Oh, and I will do one more pattern repeat at least for mine.

And more sock news......I worked on these socks.



The Horcrux socks. Got to the toe on the first one.








And then I remembered these little guys.










See why I joined the 52 pair plunge?

The one where there is a heel

Welp, now that I have gifted the first felted object to my daughter, I must make one for myself. I hope mine turns out half as beautiful as my way cool Felting Queen friend's did!!!!



Here is what I have been up to since deciding that the fun fur was not for me (although, honestly the more I see it the more I get used to it).









Socks. I love you so.









I just could not wait to get to here.....so that I could do this. (see my Virginia Tech jammies?) But.....why?






Why, why, why? I followed directions. I listened. I even played back Cookie on Tivo repeatedly so I would do it right. Why are you too big?






I still love you. I still have hope. And, just in case you do remain too big after completion, rest assured my beauties, that you will find a good home. I will gift you to a deserving person with big feet. I know a few. I am just not one of them. I hear you if your original intention was to be for one of those big footed lucky people. And I also understand that it would only happen in that way so that I could re-make your beautiful pattern in some Socks That Rock yarn. Oh how I love you so, my beautiful Knitty Gritty Cookie A. socks. You are so on my must do again list. And again. And again. Have I mentioned I love you? Well. I do.

The one where it is done

First of all.......What in the world is going on these days? Please remember to stop during your day and say a prayer for the vicitims and families of the senseless tragedy at Virginia Tech yesterday. I have no words, there just aren't any that are sufficient.



So.....here it is!! It was still wet in that picture. Kinda looks like a drown rat doesn't it?










Here it is dry, sitting in my glider rocker.








And here it is, beside cute baby for effect.






Maddie loves it, she wants me to make her one. I may give her this one. I'm not loving the fun fur. I have enough left over to make one minus the fun fur, and like my friend said, it was a quick and easy knit!!! She is felting hers today. I can't WAIT to see it. And I'm still waiting for my other friend's hubby to find her camera so that we can see her progress!

I see more felting in my future. I really did enjoy this project. Might have to hook up with the runner up in this KAL. I really wanted to do that bag. I mean if it is this easy, why not?!?!?!

Also........look at this, from Knit Picks.


Oh my. I'm in so much trouble.

The one where I felt

Well....here is how knitting has been this weekend.

I got to here on my sock. I love it!!! It has started to look much better. Much less wonkiness. My friend was right. Patience, my dear.






And then.....I finished my KAL bag.






I did stripes!! With fun fur thrown in here and again just 'cause.












And so I did this.









And then I reluctantly put my little friend in his felting vessel.









And then I stood there for ten minutes with the bag about here.....

And then I closed my eyes and dropped the little guy in the hot water.



I checked it about five minutes ago and I shreeked....IT FELTED!! Well no duh, huh? I don't know why I was shocked. But I was none the less. So it rinsed. And when done......I will have my very first felted bag.

Alert the media.