Monkey No More

My monkey socks are finished!
I am so proud of these socks for some inane reason - I think it's because they are the first socks with a pattern I have ever done and because they were my holiday knit - loads of nice memories every time I put them on.
Anyhoo, here they are:



A close up of the detail:


Knit using Araucania Ranco Solid on 2.5mm Bamboo dpns.

A thoroughly enjoyable knit, and definitely one I will do again.

In other news, I was thinking about what to get brothers and sisters in law for Christmas, and I thought, why not knit some dishcloths/washcloths and wrap them up with a nice bar of soap?
So, I found this pattern:
Garterlac Dishcloth
I am on my 4th attempt to get it right, so there is no guarantee that they will get one at all, but I am determined now to get it right! I am using some cotton yarn I got a while back that I previously have used for my Summertime Tunic as I believe that cotton is best.

We''ll see how I get on.

Yarn Pr0n extravaganza

***WARNING - PICTURE HEAVY POST AHEAD***

O.M.G. I have just spent about 2 hours putting all of the yarn I have bought on vacation into my Ravelry Stash. I had no idea I had bought so much!

Let me start by saying I had a great holiday. It was so much fun travelling to all of the yarn shops and squeezing all of the lovely offerings!
Apologies for the pictures of Mickey Mouse's foot in the background of most of the pictures, it's the throw on my sofa bed.
So, without further ado, let me begin.

Purchased from Knit 'N Needle Nook, Mt Dora, Fla:
A lovely store only recently opened.

Jade Sapphire Lacey Lamb:

100% Wool from Mongolia I think. Really light laceweight and soo soft!



Misti International Lace Baby Alpaca:


Again, really soft yarn!



Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino in Foxy Lady:


I'd been looking for some of this yummy sock yarn.

Tilli Tomas Voile De La Mer in Decco Coral:

I couldn't get Handmaiden Sea Silk, so this is my substitute for the Montego Bay Scarf.

Next up, my purchases from Sip & Knit, Maitland, Fla. Another lovely store with a really helpful owner!

Ella Rae Classic:

I'm unsure what to do with this yet, but it's 100% wool, so will be very adaptable.

Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool:

Yum, yum, Tangled Yoke Cardigan here I come!

Cascade 220:

This is purely a stash indulgence, I've heard so much about how versatile this yarn is I just had to have some!

Dream In Color Smooshy:

How gorgeous is this sock yarn? I hope I can do it justice!

Feza Kid Mohair:

A total impulse purchase. I don't really know why I bought this, not being a fan of mohair. Suggestions of what to knit with it are welcome!

Jagger Spun Zephyr Silk/Wool:

Simply gorgeous. The color is Coral, a gorgeous pinky peach shade. I have a pattern in mind for this, I just can't remember what right now.

Mountain Colors Bearfoot:

The color is called Wildflower. More sock yarn goodies. I'm a bit of a sucker for a nice sock yarn and this one is really soft!

Koigu Premium Merino:

I really wanted Painters Palette, but I couldn't get any, so this was a good second.

Prism Lace Wool:

This yarn is gorgeous. So soft and fine. It's hand dyed in St. Petersburg apparently. The yardage is huge too. I think I'll probably get a couple of shawls from it.

Colinette Jitterbug:

Another yarn I had lusted after. I have heard of splitting and pilling issues, but I still think it looks lovely. Amazing to think this is made in Wales, a country right beside Ireland but cannot readily be got here.

Then on to Jo-ann's on E. Colonial Drive and Michael's off I Drive, where I got these:

Lily Sugar n Cream:





I thought I might attempt some of the really cool washcloths I've seen.

Lion Brand Wool-Ease:





I thought I might try some color work with these. I saw a pair of fantastic gloves on Ravelry that had Hubble Bubble Toil and Trouble on the wristbands that look like they'd be fun to knit.

From there, on to the Interweb and Knit Picks
I got a set of Options Nickel Interchangeable Circulars (which look fantastic) and...
Knit Picks Palette:







Again, no idea what to do with these, but at $1.99 a ball, how could I refuse?

Knit Picks Gloss:



Cocoa and Pumpkin. Luscious names that I think might make a nice pair of socks.

Knit Picks Shimmer:



Pure gorgeousness. Particularly in love with the second one!

And so on to WEBS

Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece:

A beautiful shade called Tea Rose. I plan to use this for the Cable Down Raglan from IK.

Reynolds Soft Sea Wool:





Oh yes, the Reynolds Soft Sea Wool is mine, all mine! The Spiral Boot Socks are imminent!
The Red and Yellow are for the Peek a Boo Cloche hat.

Lastly, on to Lisa Souza

Sock! Merino





I couldn't get any Socks That Rock or Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock so I consoled myself with some Lisa Souza in really evocative names. Mulberry, Joseph's Coat and Blue Flame. Aren't they fab?

I also purchased 3 books/magazines, IK Holiday 2007, One Skein and Sensational Knitted Socks.

And that concludes the yarn pr0n for today. If you have read all the way to the end than your addiction must be as bad as mine!
All I have to do now is figure out how to pay my Visa bill!

Holiday Knitting Progress

Well, I'm back from my holidays tired and very poor from all the yarn shopping. I'll post pics (LOTS) tomorrow of all that I purchased.
I have published them in my Ravelry stash if you really want a peek first.
For now, here's my holiday knitting, the Monkey Sock by CookieA from http://www.knitty.com/.

The yarn I used:

Arauncania Ranco Solid

The Progress:

Not bad, huh? I'm really pleased with the knit so far. I've finished the first sock and am currently turning the heel on the second. Thank God I could bring it on the airplanes, I think I would have lost my reason otherwise. I didn't get much done while on holidays, too much to do! I got the foot of the first and the rib of the second done there, all the rest on the 4 flights. I'm quite pleased with that, I'm not a very fast knitter yet. I need to block the sock to really see the pattern I think.

That's it for today, I'll post the mega stash tomorrow!

Progress Report

Hello,
A bit of progress to report. I've been a busy bee!

First up, progress on the Premiere Pullover:

Not a lot, as you can see. I'm almost finished the armhole shaping, about 2 more repeats of the cable pattern before the shoulder shaping. It's a slow knit, this one! I'm a bit worried about it actually, it looks a bit small to me. I'm knitting it in the 34" bust size (which I am far from lol) so maybe it's just because I'm not used to garments looking that small! I hope I haven't knit it too tightly.

Next up, Socks for Dad:

The first one is finished! Doesn't it look good? I love this Lana Grossa self striping yarn. My first knit on dpns. I must admit that I've started the second one on my trusty circular again using the magic loop. I'm just more comfortable with it. I found the toe decreases very difficult on the dpns. Needles everywhere!
But, I'm glad I know how to do it now, as I'll be casting on for my Monkey socks with the Araucania yarn I recently bought for my airplane knitting.

Lastly, Mam's Lacy Stole:

I'm sorry to report that I didn't get it finished in time for her birthday last Wednesday. I substituted with a bunch of flowers instead, I just didn't have the time. I knit on this almost constantly at home but to no avail. I have about 25 or 26" done which I suppose is not bad going! I have to get to 72". I think I'll give it to her for Christmas instead. I know she'll love it!


I hope to get another post in before my holidays (yarn travels) begin on Thursday, but if not, watch out LYS in the Orlando area, I'm coming!!!

It's a Slippery Slope

Oh dear. It's a slippery slope once you begin to descend. I went to the LYS yesterday to buy a set of bamboo 2.5mm dpns for my airplane knitting and left with the needles and this:

It's Araucania Ranco Solid 75%wool, 25% polyamide hand dyed Chilean yarn. Everybody say "mmmm"... Isn't it just a yummy colourway? I think my Monkey socks have transferred their loyalty from the yarn I got the other day...

I have the willpower of a gnat. So much for no more yarn until Florida... sheesh.

Thanks for the comment Del, I tried to wind this skein using the back of the chair into a centre pull ball. It was working ok, but I found it much easier using the flexible arms of my 6 year old daughter. I don't think the center pull part is going to work though, but at least I gave it a try. Not bad for my first ever wind I think.

A couple of nights ago I woke up in the bed and nearly gave my husband a heart attack saying "Oh My God, it's Mam's birthday next Wednesday!" I don't know how I left it so late to remember! So, Monday morning I cast on for this:

http://cache.lionbrand.com/patterns/kms-lacyStole.html?noImages=0

(free registration may be needed on the Lion Brand site to see the pattern)

using this:

It's some old yarn I found in a shop last year that I think must have been on the shelf forever. It's acrylic, but really soft and has kind of silver metalic threads in it. Perfect for a glamorous shawl or scarf.

My progress so far:

Not bad, no? I kinda like it. I know it's meant to be a shawl, but I think it would make a lovely scarf, maybe folded over. It's an easy knit, an 8 row repeat with only 4 of those rows lacework.

I hope to have it finished in time!

Dad's sock is progressing, I've turned the heel and am knitting down the foot of the first one. The only reason this is progressing is because it's my car knitting for the commute every day. I'd do the shawl/scarf if I could, but I can't keep count with the radio on and my daughter chatting and my husband yelling at other motorists!

Look! New Yarn!

Look what came today!
The hand painted yarn I ordered only last Thursday from Etsy! mmmm Merino sock yarn. I think this definitely calls for a pair of Monkey socks, don't you? If you think it would be better suited to another sock pattern, let me know!

All I need to do now is figure out a way of winding it into a centre pull ball. I haven't the foggiest idea how to do it, so off I go searching on Ravelry!