Pool Injury

Last night my husband brought me out to play pool. I haven't played since I was a teenager, and that was once or twice in someone's basement. It was pretty fun once I got the feel for it, and I look forward to doing it again. Unfortunately I guess my form wasn't very good, because I woke up this morning with a sore wrist. I'm able to knit some things, but definitely not the socks I was working on. I'm taking it easy and working just a bit to keep my hands from feeling antsy. The baby blanket I'm working on is nice and loose and works fine. I have a few more birthday items to post about soon, and a couple of other posts floating around in my head... I have some outdoor stuff to do tomorrow, and some church stuff over the weekend, but I'm planning on knitting a fair amount, and trying to get those posts up! ...maybe over the next couple of days!

More pictures of socks

I just realized that I had not posted any pictures of the socks my sweet husband made for me. So, here they are...

He uses the Priscilla Dream Socks Pattern, and used US0 and US1 bamboo dpn.



He's already working on two different sock projects (both for me), one of them using one of the tofutsies given to me by my swap10 pal. (I plan on using the other one)



There is plenty of this ball of Tofutsies yarn left, unlike the pair I'm making for him (I split it in half and have a small ball left after finishing the first sock)



I already cast on the second sock. I did the first couple of rows of the toe with dpn, and now I moved it over to the circular needle. It's still a bit tight on that, but it is a lot less bulky than the 5 dpn, at least to me.



I also forgot to mention last time, I received the stitch markers I won from Tammy. Thank you!

My daughter also got into the spirit of mommy's many projects tonight, she declared the she needed a pink bunny, like her sister. She wanted it. "Start it. Start that now mommy." I haven't started it yet, but I think she's already got dibs on it when it's done.

and so it begins...

there is a hole in my mind....

sorry, back out of babylon5 mode now.

Actually, there is a hole in my mind, it's the part that deals with the fact that I already have many projects on the needles. It's also that part that deals with the fact that I have many projects in various stages of planning. So instead of working more on those many projects today (although I did work on ribbing for my husband's sock 1 today, and will probably work on the current baby blanket during heroes tonight), I did a gauge check for my next new project.



That was from the smaller (somewhat more consistant) skein, which I measured at about 113 yards. One of those was done on my knitpicks US 1 and the other was on US 0. I'm not sure which one I like more, so they are sitting there until I decide. Since the other skein was 533 yards, ... I took 8 oz and turned it into 646 yards of 2 ply. I will have to check a swatch and make sure it washes nicely as it is a superwash/nylon blend.


Of course, this weekend as the huge skein dried, it somehow managed to get tangled so I couldn't put it back on the swift. So I spent quite a while untangling and winding up all those yards. Today I finished and then took the hand wound ball and made a nice yarn pie on the winder. Here's both sides of the pie, the colors are nicely shown between the two sides.




I really am almost done with the first sock for my husband - only a couple more inches of ribbing. I'll probably be casting on the second one within the next day or so. I also need to start the spinning for his before I forget the feel of this blend.


Comments:

Anne, who said: "Ooh, very pretty! I get so jealous of all you spinners, but have so much knitting to do that I just fight the urge!!"

Anne, my budget, or lack there of, is one reason why I spin, at least that's why I tell myself, and since my husband reads this blog that's my story and I'm sticking to it. The other big reason is the control I feel over my choice of yarn now. Take these sock yarns, I ordered them custom dyed, and am spinning them up, and now I get to knit with the yarn I wanted. Of course there is a learning curve where you end up with yarn you don't like, which you either felt or work into projects, and the yarn still costs money.... but, it's so much fun :) so yes, continue to fight the urge so there will be more for us ;)

and to my secret pal, I can't wait to find out all this information during the reveal :) and I will keep tempting you with various yarns and knitting projects, maybe throw in a couple of old finished objects. You will succumb and knit even when you don't have time for it... especially when you don't have time for it, as that's when you need to the most!

Oldest Yarn and Newest Yarn

The latest contest for Swap10 is to dive into your stash and come up with the oldest yarn. This was actually hard for me as I have a fairly small stash and a fair amount of lopi on top of the bucket. Usually when I buy yarn I do something with it... so almost all of my stash has been opened and used somewhat. The yarn on the left is the exception to that. I bought it cuz it was pretty and then haven't actually used it yet. It's about a year old I would guess, which isn't that old, but I think it's the oldest non-opened yarn in my stash (my husband has a bit of yarn that would tie or slightly beat it I think)



The yarn on the right however, is the oldest yarn still in my stash. It's left over from my first pair of socks...



Which are kind of sad, as they are very simple (no heel) and square toe. This was probably early to mid 90s, and it was my first attempt at knitting with small (US 2?) needles and I loved the colors. I have no clue what yarn it is, and I would do things SO differently now, oh well... I still do wear these every once in a while, as they are great colors and are very very warm.


Now on to my newest yarn:


I finished spinning my sock yarn.

I had a huge skein and a small skein - the picture is of the small one, which i don't know how many yards it is right now, but the huge one is 533 yards. I'll measure the wpi once both are dry (which is why there's no picture of the huge skein). It looks like it will work for socks though. I'll take a short break before I start spinning my husband's color.

I'm still working on the ribbing (toe-up, remember... almost done) of the first sock for my husband, I'll probably cast on the second soon, and maybe even start another project sometime. ...I've got a few that are calling me.

nice weather

With weather in the 70s over the weekend much work was done outside. raking.... digging.... cleaning... lots of flowers blooming and trees budding. very exciting.

I also managed to turn the heel on the socks I'm making for my sweet husband, and he finished his pair for me (I just need to kitchner and weave in ends). I've also been spinning and spinning the pretty colors for my sock yarn. I'm almost done and ready to ply - then I'll have good pictures to share. I'm still working on another baby blanket, and of course, my lace scarf sits patiently to have a couple rows done every once in a while.

The fact that it was rainy today and is supposed to continue that way through part of the weekend should help my knitting and spinning.