I Am Wearing the SnB Page-a-Day Calendar Yarn of the Week!

This is sooo random. I decided today that I should wear my Zombie Sock I made in the Scout's Swag Socktoberfest. It is fall and getting close to Halloween. So I couldn't resist.

And what should be the yarn of the week on my Stitch-n-Bitch Page-a-day calendar for today? The very yarn I am wearing. This may be the first time I even owned the yarn they mentioned. Much less wearing it on the day they post it. *laugh*

Kinda funny!

Thanks Silvercat for swapping some of your stash with me!

Oodles of Finished Object Photos & My Lovely Birthday Pressie

I finally got all the pics together. Hooray! So this is a picture intensive post.

First I have to share the pics of the knitting bag Silvercat made for my birthday. I love this bag!

This has been a weird couple knitting weeks. I worked on the Zombie Sock. They were done on the 13th which was cool. I cast on the Quick No-Purl Keyhole Scarf which was as the name said. Super quick. I finished it in less than 24 hours! *chuckle*

Then, I didn't put anything on my needles until six days later!! *blink* Weirdness.

I admit part is I didn't know what I wanted to do. I tossed around some ideas but nothing was talking to me.

I have still been spinning most mornings. But no knitting. Bizarre.

I should take some pics of some of the spinning too. But hey, I finally got the project pics done. So it is progress. *chuckle*

So here are the items in order of completion.

Zombie Socks in Scout's Swag Socktoberfest

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Cast On:

August 29, 2008

Completed:

September 13, 2008

Pattern:

Zombie Socks by Sheryl Giles

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/zombie-socks

Made for:

Me in Size 9

Needles:

Knitpicks Options & Harmony Circs 1 1/2 / 2.5 mm

Yarn:

Scout's Swag Superwash Merino/Tencel in Socktoberfest colorway

http://www.scoutsswag.com/

1 skeins = 375.0 yards

Trade from Silvercat http://shinysilverstrands.blogspot.com/

The photos don't show the yarn well. The colors are grey, orange & purple. The thick stripes are the grey. The orange & purple look mixed. Also, the tencel gives it a beautiful sheen. And I am hoping it will help it wear really well.

I have been debating what to do with the Scout's Swag in Socktoberfest that I got from Silvercat. I was worried that the Zombie pattern might be too busy for the yarn. But I really like the way it looks.

I did these toe-up. The pattern is cuff down but the pattern repeat doesn't matter which end is up. So it is easy to switch to toe-up instead.

Some striping happened that I think is interesting. Though it isn't as neat on the leg as it was on the foot. But it still looks good I think.

I worked the toe up to the 64 stitches recommended in the pattern. It fits my foot well. It is a little loose, but I am hoping that it will tighten up a smidge when I wash it.

Given the orange in these, I want them knit by Halloween. Unfortunately, there isn't enough orange in the yarn for them to count for the September Sock Knitter's Anonymous KAL on Ravelry. Ah well. I really enjoyed the pattern & the yarn.

Quick No-Purl Keyhole Scarf in Handspun Merino

Cast On:

September 13, 2008

Completed:

September 14, 2008

Pattern:

Quick No-Purl Keyhole Scarf by Saralyn Harvey

http://fireflowerknits.wordpress.com/2008/02/02/quick-no-purl-keyhole-scarf/

Made for:

Not sure. Maybe me, maybe a present

Needles:

Knitpicks Options US 13 / 9.0 mm

Yarn:

Handspun made from Merino Wool Top Roving

Purchased at Adirondack Woolery

http://www.adirondackwoolery.com/

I didn't realize this one was still waiting to be posted. It was a super fast knit.

The photos really don't do justice to this fiber. It has a beautiful sheen to it.

Cast on 23 stitches to add 2 more pattern repeats.

I made a mistake with the slip 1 purlwise. I got a good way into the pattern and realized that it specified to bring the yarn forward. I hadn't done that.

I placed the hole in the wrong spot. It is too close to the center. I am debating what I want to do with it. I may pick up some more fiber & spin more, adding to the ends. Or I may just accept it is a bit funky. Not sure yet.

I will check out the Adirondack Woolery when I am up in the Adirondacks again for Columbus Day weekend. If they are open, I will pick up some more fiber and add some to each end. I might make another pattern for the ends just to mix it up. We will see.

Basic Socks in Handspun Superwash Wool

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Cast On:

September 20, 2008

Completed:

September 23, 2008

Pattern:

Improvised Toe-Up Pattern

Made for:

Me in Size 9

Needles:

Knitpicks Options & Harmony Circs US 5 / 3.75 mm

Yarn:

Handspun yarn made with a Ranches Angoras Superwash merino batt in Ember

Purchased from http://theranch.etsy.com

4 oz. ~ 235 yards - used most of it

I spun the superwash wool I got from theranch.etsy.com (Ranches Angoras). It is their Ember roving. I really love the way the fiber came out. It is red and grey.

Given I didn't know how much yarn it would take, I decided toe-up was the better choice. This way, I could see if there was enough stretch in them to make decent socks. If not, I would rip it out and do something else with the yarn.

I decided that a simple 2x2 rib was a smart choice. It has a lot of elasticity to it which helps.

Honestly, I am surprised that they seem to have enough stretch. I was worried. But they fit pretty nicely.

The thicker yarn made these a super fast knit! 4 days total.

They are definitely house/boot socks as they are thick. But I like the way they came out. And I am super happy about the yarn having enough elasticity. Hooray!

Argosy Scarf & Zombie Socks

I finally got around to editing the pictures I took. Yay me! *grin*

Here is the picture inspired by the Yarn Harlot's pics. *grin*

Argosy in Unique Designs by Kathy Handspun

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Pattern:

Argosy by Vyvyan Neel

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTargosy.html

Size:

80" long

32 of the repeat #2

Needle:

US 6 / 4.0 mm

Yarn:

Handspun Wool/Silk by Kathy at

Unique Designs by Kathy Withers in Tucson, Arizona

http://www.uniquedesignsbykathy.com/

257 yards and only a little bit left

I had been wanting to knit this handspun I bought at Unique Designs by Kathy while I was out in Tucson, AZ. It is a beautiful yarn and wanted a pattern that would feature it. I think this should be a good one for that.

The repeat on the pattern was pretty easy. So it is ideal for some social knitting. It was a great summer knit as it could be social, but given it wasn't too wide, it wasn't too hot to knit. It was an ideal project to take with me.

There is something about this pattern that keeps me wanting to knit it. I really like the pattern. Enough going on to make it interesting yet easy enough to make it okay for social & tv knitting.

I really like the way it came out. It is definitely a decorative scarf, not one for warmth given it isn't very wide. But I like it. And I don't normally think about scarves as accessories. So it should be fun to wear it.

Maybe if Rhinebeck is at all chilly this year... *crosses fingers* But then do I wear my dragon scarf instead... Decisions decisions. *grin*

Zombie Socks in Scout's Swag Socktoberfest

Pattern:

Zombie Socks by Sheryl Giles

Ravelry Only pattern - http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/zombie-socks

Made for:

Me in Size 9

Needles:

US 1 1/2 / 2.5 mm Knitpicks Option & Harmony

2 socks on 2 circs

Yarn:

Scout's Swag Superwash Merino/Tencel in Socktoberfest

http://scoutsswag.com/gallery/gallery.html

1 skeins = 375.0 yards

I really should have taken more pics of these. I am past the heel and into the leg. *chuckle* But at least this is something, right?

I am doing these toe-up. The pattern is cuff down but the pattern repeat doesn’t matter which end is up. So it is easy to switch to toe-up instead.

I have been debating what to do with the Scout’s Swag in Socktoberfest that I got from Silvercat. I was worried that the Zombie pattern might be too busy for the yarn. But so far, I really like the way it looks.

There is definitely some striping happening that I think is interesting. Though it isn't as neat on the leg as it was on the foot. But it still looks good I think.

I got to the 64 stitches recommended in the pattern & it fits my foot well. It is a little loose, but I am hoping that it will tighten up a smidge when I block it.

Given the orange in these, I want them knit by Halloween. Unfortunately, there isn’t enough orange in the yarn for them to count for the September Sock Knitter’s Anonymous KAL. Ah well. Still enjoying the pattern & the yarn.

Yarn Harlot & Sock Yarn Dilemma

I got to go see the Yarn Harlot last night! It was a lot of fun. And of course, she was hilarious. And I love the theme that she is smart which lead to ending with knitters are smart. *grin*

I also got a copy of the new book. I have only read a few pages so far. But it seems to be similar to the topic she discussed about how knitting does good things for our brains.

It was also very funny. Someone from Ravelry recognized me from my user photo! She was a very sweet woman who live in Jersey City as well. It was definitely fun getting to talk with her.

Though it cracked me up. She said I was her new knitting hero because I was working on my lace shawl project. I told her that wasn't at all the case and I knew enough to stop when Stephanie came on stage.

The funniest part about that was that I *don't have any socks on the needles*! It wasn't about brave. It was about being stuck. I have the lovely Scout's Swag Soctober colorway that I still haven't nailed down a pattern for. I keep looking and looking. But nothing is grabbing me.

I kept saying I was going to pair it with a Jeanie Townsend pattern to participate in the April KAL for Sock Knitters Anonymous. She has some lovely patterns but none that I am seeing work with the colorway. I could force it and do the Cascading Leaves pattern, but I feel like it is pushing the two together.

I was looking at patterns today as I *really* need a pair on the needles for my trip. And I found the Primavera pattern.

http://platzhalter.blogspot.com/2007/11/primavera-socks-free-pattern.html

The good part is that it is a very simple repeat. So it is good knitting while visiting with Karen. My friend Karen is wonderful. And I know full well I won't be able to keep counting lace stitches while talking with her! *laugh* So having something I can do while we are talking would be great.

Also, I think the pattern is one that will really show off the yarn without being too busy so the pattern gets lost. I am not sure yet, but I am heavily leaning towards that pattern.

I have to head to a work conference in Arizona on Saturday. So this week is really crazy. I would love to say more, but I shouldn't have even written this much! So much to do!

Pics...Hopefully....

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What To Do...What to Do...

A terrific woman from Ravelry did a swap with me. I sent her books, she sent me yarn. I am pretty thrilled.

The yarn is Scout's Swag Superwash/Tencel blend in the Socktober colorway. It feels wonderful. The colorway is definitely lighter than the one on Scout's site. But I think it is lovely. I am so thrilled.

I haven't heard back from the woman I got it from yet. But there were some beautiful stitch holders on a safety pin attached to the Scout tag. I don't know if they came with the yarn or if she sent them. I am hoping to hear back from her. I did try to take some close up pics, but they came out fuzzy. Maybe I will take some this weekend along with the letter markers I made for the Coriolis Socks (ravelry link).

Blogger is acting up and won't let me post the photos. So I am doing them in a seperate post. *grumblegrowl*