Lots of Jaywalking

I've been working on the Clapotis and the Jaywalkers as much as possible. It is so hard to photograph the colors in this yarn! You either get this (flash outside - way too bright) or (no flash outside). The Jaywalkers pattern is so easy to remember, but looks more complicated (at least to non-knitters). I'm enjoying the Magic Loop and may try to do it for two socks next time. I can't decide if these are going to be for me or my mother. Guess we'll have to see if she likes them or not. Her feet are a bit smaller than mine, but not too much.

Apparently, she wore her last pair to the Gyn for her annual. As she's on the table with her feet in the stirrups her Gyn asked if she'd knit her socks. A discussion of my knitting hobby followed and my mom could just picture her staring at the socks. (She commented that the "stitches were so even!") She's a knitter as well, but I think mom said she does afghans. Maybe mom needs a new pair for Christmas to wear for her next appointment.

The Clapotis is coming along fine. I'm trying to do one section each night (the reward is getting to drop the stitch!) The Jaywalker is my "grab a few minutes" knitting during the day. I'm trying to decide what to take on the trip this weekend. I'm worried about having trouble taking my needles, so I may take the Jaywalker off the #1 circular and move to bamboo dpns. I'm planning to pack a SASE in case they won't let me take something on. Keep your fingers crossed! I know they're supposed to let you, but I haven't flown out of KCI for a very long time (15 years or so.)

Jenn

Happy Mother's Day!

What a great day! Doug got up with L and took her downstairs in the morning (I think that's the first time I didn't get up with her.) She was fine with it and when H got up he came in and snuggled, then went downstairs with them. I stayed in bed and knit for a while, then when I was getting hungry we went out to breakfast. We went to see Doug's parents and grandparents for lunch and then came home for a rest. We had dinner at Subway and then ice cream at Baskin Robbins! The only downside was I lost my keys! Searched all day and was so confused... I used them to get in the house Saturday evening! Finally, right before bedtime, I found them on my bed under a sweater! I could have sworn I moved that sweater and I know I didn't sleep with them there. I guess I'm losing my mind at the ripe old age of 37!

I'll post pictures of socks soon! Today we're off to visit friends, drop H at a neighbors to go swimming and pick up our little friend, S, from preschool. Only a few more days until we go to New Orleans, so I'm not sure how much knitting will be happening before. I have to clean, do laundry and get packed.

Happy Mother's Day and hope everyone had a wonderful day!

Jenn

MMMmmmmm, yarn.....

I cast on for my Sockpals socks. I'm using the Waving Lace Socks pattern from Favorite Socks. (They're the ones on the cover.) I hope to show some progress soon. I had a little help removing one from the needles (L loves yarn!) I didn't have the brain power to work on it last night, so I started a Jaywalker with STR in G-Rocks using Magic Loop. I haven't started Doug's socks because I need to go get some dpns in a different size. The colors in the picture are much brighter than they really are. No morning light, just foggy and grey here at the moment.

I started my Clapotis a few days ago (since I couldn't start Doug's socks). I'm using Brooks Farm Four Play in Nantucket. This yarn is so soft and beautifully colored! It's going well. I'm trying to get one dropped row done each day. It's good knitting while we watch TV after the kids are in bed or when I have an odd moment during the day.I'm finally getting over this crazy sinus infection. I've been sick for almost 3 weeks. Hopefully, I'll be completely over it by the time we leave for New Orleans! (Next weekend)

I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day. Mom's make the world go round! H said he wants to get us and come crawl in bed with me while Doug gets up with L. I haven't been able to lounge in bed since I had H over 4 years ago. I'm all for it! We'll also be seeing my mom and my grandmother! They're both great women (and mothers).

Jenn

Just a quickie...

I found this meme on several blogs lately. I thought it was interesting to actually see what I've done or want to do! (Can't get back to sleep, so what do I do? Read blogs!)

Mark with bold the things you have ever knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
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
Baby items
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
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies...)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items)on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else's handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
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 mits/armwarmers
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
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Socks, Socks, Socks

Well, here is a picture of the Opal socks (very boring to knit stockinette, but very UN-boring stripes!) When I showed them to Becky the other day and she tried one on they were "her". She's a very natural person and she's a musician. They just said "I am Becky". On a side note, I just want to state that matching socks is not a big deal to me. I like pooling. But these started out perfectly! Until, the toe... see the grey stripe and blue stripe next to each other? The blue stripe starts grey for a round or so, then turns blue... What happened there? There weren't any breaks in the yarn? I actually like it, but I was quite confused as I was knitting!
Now, I'm starting two pairs of socks... One for hubby (to wear when he goes fly fishing - under his waders). I'm using Prairie Silks in red, grey and black and I'm using the resoleable pattern from the Favorite Socks book. The other pair is for my Sock Pal. I'm still vacillating on the pattern (I've got two Cookie A. patterns that I think would work well, but there are several lacy patterns in Favorite Socks that are nice.) I decided to go ahead and start Doug's pair so that when I didn't have the mind for a chart I'd have some plain stockinette to fall back on. I've also got 3 months to finish the SP socks and I don't want to finish them too fast and just look at them until August 2.

I somehow don't see Sahara being finished before our trip to New Orleans. Oh well, it will be started sometime soon.

Oh, I already sold some yarn (Lorna's Laces, some Frog Tree and Elsebeth Lavold). Mom is coming over today and I'm going to run to the P.O. to mail. I'll just wait patiently to see if I hear from anyone else. I've also got a few other things to post. If they don't move in the next week or two I may try placing them on EBay. It's always so hard to get rid of things, but once you start doing it (whether it's a garage sale, salvation army or on the web), it feels good!

It's dreary and rainy here today! Hope someone is enjoying some sunshine today!

Jenn

SSP and Destashing a Bit

I've contacted my Secret Sock Pal and I've picked out the yarn. It's Dream in Color yarn in the Some Summer Sky colorway. I think my SSP will like it! I'm still trying to decide on the pattern. After that the only thing left is to cast on and get started!

I'm also going to try to destash a bit. I've got a lot of Frog Tree alpaca, Noro, Elsebeth Lavold, Brown Sheep and a few other miscellaneous things that I don't envision using anytime soon. I need to make some space for all the things that I really do want to keep. I've posted pictures and prices on Flickr.com. Shipping is included to the continental U.S.

On to socks tonight!

Jenn

Sockapalooza 4

Well, we have been matched with our Secret Sock Pals. I've got two Cookie A. patterns that I'm trying to decide between (my SSP likes lace). She also likes wool in pinks, blues or jewel-tones. So, although I already have a pattern, I need to find yarn. I have sock yarn, but not really any in the colors she prefers. hhhmmm, I'll have to give it some thought!

Now, I wonder who My SSP is?

Jenn