This weekend was mostly filled with construction projects (Trav’s adding on to the barn) so there was a lot of post hole digging and tamping and measuring going on and not a lot of knitting, but I got yarn in the mail! And boy is it yummy.

Sock yarn - both sport weight for the pattern I’m going to use to show some friends how to knit socks.

First, we have some Mountain Colors Weaver’s Wool in Sierra

100% wool and very soft. I think this yarn will make a nice thick pair of ribbed socks.

Next, we have some Icelandic Sport-Weight sock yarn from Tongue River Farm

There are 600 yards or so in this skein and I plan to use some of it to knit Travis a pair of warm winter socks. Something simple, but durable to keep his toes warm while he works outside all winter.

I manged to work a bit on the Ombre Blanket and finished the first color (5 1/2 inches equals 40 rows in case you were wondering). I’m still working in the dark brown color range (now one stand of the dark brown and one heathered brown) and since we didn’t have much sun this weekend, all the pictures look like a big brown blob. I’ll try to get a better picture to share with you. I’m still working with the addi turbos because I haven’t found anything that works better. The Boye needle should be in today, so we’ll give that a whirl and see what happens, but I think I’m getting used to the addis.

Happy Halloween.

I’ve been tagged by Purly for the Knitting Meme Carolyn created (she’s a smart one, that Carolyn). I think the questions are great, and I always enjoy finding out more info on my favorite bloggers.

What’s Your All Time Favoite Yarn To Knit With?
This question has been causing me some trouble because I honestly don’t think I have a favorite yarn. I like some yarn more than other yarns, but I tend to like the yarn I’m currently using for the project I’m working on. I think my lack of favorite yarn is in part due to my lack of a yarn store. I don’t have anywhere to go and fondle yarn and really get a feel for what I like and don’t like. I generally order yarn based on the pattern requirements and just go with it. However, I really like the Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed I ordered for my turtleneck shrug for SYNO. I’d like to use this yarn again (in either the aran or dk weight) for a sweater.

Your Favorite Needles?
Without a doubt, Holz & Stein.

They’re wood (mine are ebony, but you can also get rosewood), have nice pointy tips, flexible cords, and good joins. They’re expensive and I have to order them from Germany, but I’m going to order some more because I like the ones I have so much.

The Worst Thing You’ve Ever Knit?
This might depend on who you ask, but I’d have to say the red fun fur scarf I knit last Christmas. It really isn’t that bad, but I guess my taste has just changed a bit since I knit it.

Your Most Favorite Knit Pattern? (Maybe You Don’t Like Wearing It, But It Was The Most Fun To Knit)
I haven’t knit it yet, but I have to say Butterfly by Jade Starmore.

I love the pattern and the yarn is fabulous. If I can get past the technique, this will be a great pattern to knit.

Most Valuable Knitting Technique?
Knitting in the round and mattress stitch because without one of these I couldn’t have sweaters.

Best Knit Book or Magazine?
Montse Stanley’s Knitter’s Handbook. It has just about anything you’d ever want to know about knitting and has good illustrations and detailed, step-by-step instructions.

Favorite Knit-A-Long?
The Stitch Ya Neck Out Scarf Swap was a lot of fun and a great way to make something you wouldn’t normally make out of yarn you wouldn’t choose (or don’t have available in some cases). I got to knit a great scarf for one of my favorite bloggers; it was a wonderful experience.

Your Favourite Knitblogs?
This is a tough one because I like all the blogs I read (or else I wouldn’t read them).

I enjoy Wendy because she makes such great progress and is a very accomplished knitter. I always feel like I learn a lot just by reading her blog. She’s also always willing to answer a question or provide a bit of advise. For someone without a LYS to go to, her generosity is greatly appreciated.

Diana has a great blog (and does great blog design). I think we have similar taste in knitwear and she always gives me great inspiration. I admire her wonderful photography and so wish I could learn to take pictures like her’s.

And Grumperina. What can I say about her blog that someone hasn’t already said? She is one of the nicest ladies I’ve met in blogland. Always willing to answer a question or lend a hand (Frieda sleeve redesign anyone?). She knits amazing things and isn’t afraid to try anything.

And honestly, I like every blog on my sidebar (and some that aren’t there). The thing I like most about blogs is that you really get to know the person. Each one is so very different and unique. It’s like a whole separate circle of knitting friends and that’s a valuable addition in my life.

Your Favorite Knitwear Designer?
I don’t have one. I like some designs from lots of designers (and dislike some too).

The Knit Item You Wear Most Often?
Tivoli without a doubt.

I wear it to work with skirts and pants and under suits. I wear it out to dinner with jeans. I’m glad it’s cotton because I wash it all the time and probably wear it two or three times a month.

I also wear my handknit socks and other sweaters quite a bit (I have Frieda on today).

I’m going to tag Rebekah, Caitlyn, Blossom, and Wendy. Thanks for participating ladies.

It’s amazing that when I actually dedicate some time to a project how quickly it progresses. I’ve been working on Ronnie a little bit every day - it is now my exclusive commuting knitting, which translates to about 2 1/2 hours of knitting a day (including lunch knitting). I’m almost to the armhole shaping, which means the end of the front is in sight. So, the result of all this knitting is that I’m not stressed about finishing Ronnie by Christmas.

The Ombre Blanket is another matter. I’ve been working on it at home every night this week and I like the yarn and the pattern is quite simple, but genius. The needles, however, are causing me problems. I have an addi turbo that I used for a baby blanket awhile ago, it’s the only size 11 needle I have and despite the extremely blunt tip, I thought it would work just fine with the 2 strands of sportweight alpaca. I. thought. wrong. This is not the needle for this project. The stitches do not slide on the needle. The stitches aren’t tight (at all), but it really seems like they are. I don’t know what to try. I’ve considered Bryspun, but the longest they’re available in is 29″. That’s a little short for this project. I’m currently considering a Boye - long length and pointy tip and maybe the material is different enough to make a difference. I’ve never used a Boye circular, but Grumperina likes them so they must be good. I had the local yarn store order me one and I’m hoping it comes tomorrow, but Monday is more likely. If you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them. I think once I get the needle thing figured out, this will be a project easily finished by Christmas.

Be careful of Wendy, she seems all nice and helpful, but she’s dealing crack on the side. Have you seen her mittens? Crack. Seriously. Or maybe it’s just that I’m weak, but I had to order a mitten kit. At those prices I just couldn’t resist. I’m telling myself it will be practice before I start on Butterfly, but I could just be crazy. I guess only time will tell.

Have a great day.

Today is my dad’s birthday. A nice day in itself, but since he doesn’t know what he wants, it is a day without a gift. This makes me feel horrible and guilty and like I’m a bad daughter. I mean really. I should have just bought him something. I should have said, “well, he doesn’t know what he wants or needs, but I’m going to get him…” The problem is that he is like most men I know (and my sister for that matter), if he wants something he buys it. Right then and there - no waiting around for a gift giving occassion. Makes buying things rather difficult.

The reality check came about because my dad’s birthday is October 25th. That’s two months before Christmas - every year without fail. Holy crap, Christmas is two months away! This is not good. Why? Well, because I still have knitting to do! Lots of knitting. I’ve known about this knitting for months and yet I’ve really just gotten around to thinking about most of it (and by thinking I mean actually getting off my butt and casting on/working on these projects). I did finish the Gryffindor Socks, but those are a birthday gift, not a Christmas gift - no progress there. So, as for actual Christmas knitting, Ronnie is still in the works (and has been for months). I’ve finished the back and am working on the front, but it isn’t very exciting stuff. You want proof? Here ya go.

That is plain stockinette stitch (like miles and miles of it) in the lovely, but splitty Jo Sharp SoHo Summer (that’s cotton in case you were wondering). So, I will continue to plod along on it and hope like hell it fits and I guessed the right size because not fitting will make me cry. I also just cast on for the Ombre Blanket. After minimal knitting time I have 4 rows completed - 215 stitches even on size 11 needles takes awhile. I hope it speeds up a bit because at this rate I won’t be finished until summer and who wants an alpaca blanket in May. When it progresses past the point of looking like a blob of brown fuzz, I’ll take a picture. Then there are the thrum mittens and maybe some socks! And all I want to knit is Butterfly. I promised myself I’d get Ronnie and Ombre finished before I started Butterfly. Maybe the fear of not having Christmas gifts will motivate me to stick to the plan.

Thank you all for your wonderful response to the magic loop “tutorial”. I hope some of you try it and have success. I worked the heel and gusset of the second sock this weekend, so I thought I’d share those steps with you as well.

The heel and gusset are done just like you would with dpns, but you have to reposition the stitches on the two needles. The first thing to do is work the heel as specified in your pattern. Reposition your stitches so that you have rearranged them with the heel stitches on one needle and the instep stitches on the second needle.

Then pull the cord out just like when you started.

You work the heel stitches and keep the instep stitches on the cable.

Then turn the heel according to the pattern instructions.

Once you’ve completed the heel it’s time to pick up the stitches for the gusset and rearrange your stitches again. I knit the heel stitches over to the left edge of the heel and picked up the specified number of stitches.

After I picked up the left side stitches I rearranged the stitches so the cord divided the stitches between the instep stitches. This left half the total stitches on each side. The first couple of rounds after you pick up the stitches for the gusset are a little awkward, but it gets easier as you go. I use stitch markers to indicate the end of the foot and the beginning of the instep.

After that you just cruise along until you’re finished.

Look at those matching stripes! I’m so excited that they match.

Project Specs:
Pattern: Conwy from Knitting on the Road
Yarn: Harry Potter Gryffindor Yarn from Sunshine Yarns
Needles: Size 1 40″ Addi Turbo - magic loop method
Modifications: None, except using the magic loop instead of dpns.
Thoughts: I really like these socks. I was unsure about using a patterned sock for a self-striping yarn, but I think they turned out ok. I love how the ribbing fits and I’m pleased with the pattern - hopefully the recipient likes them too. This is my first attempt at top-down socks for quite awhile and I enjoyed them. The toe turned out nice and fits well and the use of chain stitches on the heel flap makes picking up stitches very easy. Nancy Bush recommends picking up only the front half of the stitch and then knitting through the back loop. I found that it made a nice row of stitches without any holes. I’ll definately try another pair of socks top-down.

I’m on to finishing Ronnie and I cast on for the Ombre Blanket. Knitting on size 11 needles after size 1’s is like knitting with trees! Hopefully it will get better as I go. Have a great Monday.