Summer of Socks 2007

2006 was decidedly the summer of lace here at L2BK, but this summer, besides the ripples, it's all about the socks! Currently two pairs of socks are in progress.

The first is Monkey version 2, since my version 1 just didn't cut it. Instead of the Regia I had thought about using in my last post on the subject, I went with Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino in Wild Cherries. I did some modifications I read about on Ravelry~~changed all the purls to knits, because if a girl doesn't have to purl, why should she? And turned the yo into M1, due to the fact that I didn't want lacy (holey) socks. Oh yeah, and the obvious mod of working the socks toe-up two at a time. I didn't try to reverse the pattern, just working it as written, so the pattern will be upside down from what you are used to seeing on a Monkey sock. I love how they are turning out and am looking forward to getting them finished so I can start another pair~~maybe in the Regia. Or maybe in another pattern altogether.

The second pair in progress is the Mystery Monkey socks being designed by Rebecca at Socks-for-Mum (note the change of blog address~~she's a Wordpress gal, now.) I'm using Baby Ull for these and they are so soft, if a bit splitty. I'm hoping they will hold up well, because if they do, Baby Ull could be my go to yarn for solid color socks.

In addition to knitting socks, I've recently acquired more sock yarn for the stash. I've been stalking A Swell Yarn Shop and the Duet yarn in Army Girl. Seems I can never snag a skein when she updates her shop. Well, recently she announced that Army Girl was one of the colorways that will be discontinued. I couldn't let that happen without getting some for a pair of socks for me. Still, she had none on her site, but did list several shops that would be receiving shipments from her soon. I found some Army Girl at Yarn Grove, and now have a skein of my own! Whew.

That one yarn purchase must have loosed the floodgates, because within the next week 3 more pairs of socks-worth of yarn somehow made it home with me. I guess it is due to the lys having a sale on LL shepherd sock colorways that are being discontinued. I've been looking for some colorways that included a bit of black~~Embers and Safari fit the bill admirably. I also wanted a solid color, and brought home some Poppy which I hope to make into these knit by Pat. You must take a look; they are gorgeous. Go ahead. Go. See that didn't take long. Aren't they great? Now just to track down a copy of Knitter's Fall 2006.

Ripple Progress Update

As you can see, work has been moving right along on the ripples in my life. CD's is to the left and is a little over 2/3 of the way complete. It stretches from the foot of my full size bed, almost to my pillows at this point. Still should be right at 6'2"or more in length. The Girlfriend ripple is at right. I just completed the second repeat of 12 colors--I'm planning on 5 repeats of each color for a total of 60 rows. This should wind up being a bit longer than CD's--it is already a good 6 or 8 inches wider. The last few times I've worked on CD's, I've tucked it around by feet and with legs stretched out it reaches my chest easily. Plenty of room on the sides for snuggling. Whereas The Girlfriend blanket will be big enough for a bedspread on the twin size bunk she'll have in the dorm. I hope to get CD's finished this weekend, as we have 20+ hours of driving (I don't do the driving, Mr Fix-it will handle that) ahead of us. It takes me an hour or so to do each stripe of three rows of the same color. I'll get a few more stripes done before we leave, so it should be doable to have the crocheting on it finished by the time we get back home.

Don't call out the search and rescue......

I'm still here. Life is just a bit hectic at the moment. I've been working on both the blankets. Math Guy's is past the halfway point! I'm also working on a pair of Monkey socks. The initial pair was frogged and yarn placed back in the stash. I settled on Cherry Tree Hill in Wild Cherry, I think. This yarn came as a gift in some swap or another. I'd have to look it up. Maybe the tea swap 2006 edition. I've modified the Monkey socks by knitting all the purls and working M1 instead of yarnovers. I didn't want a lacy sock. Loving the way they look--hope to get a photo soon. I've been reading a bit, too.

But the lion's share of my time has been devoted to The Terror. He has been bugging me every day to start school, so I finally gave in. We've been working for 45-60 min per day this week and have already visited the library twice. I'm also in the midst of planning his schoolwork for the coming year. I'm doing things differently with him. I ran across Charlotte Mason style educating with the older two and had actually planned on implementing it with them, but then The Terror came along and threw a wrench in the works, so with him I'm getting to do things the way I had wanted, but didn't have the time or energy to do. I'm trying to get things organized for the coming year--still a couple of books to buy. Right now we're just doing phonics, handwriting, nature walks/journal, and math. We'll add more in August after College Dude (formerly known as Math Guy) leaves for school. CD is actually away at a camp/conference/class these two weeks--he's getting a taste of college life, and I'm getting a taste of life at home without him here. I miss him. That's all I'll say about that or I'll start blubbering :o)

I'm hoping to resume a better blogging schedule. See you guys soon!

No Longer MIA

I'm back! Actually, I've been back since Saturday evening, but exhaustion and much needed housework kept me from posting until now. The convention was a great success curriculum wise. I was able to pick up just about everything I need for the two kids (The Teen and The Terror) for next year. In fact, I don't think I need anything else. The Teen wants to start Algebra II this summer and has even mentioned that fact several times, so I will strike while that iron is hot and start her off with that when she gets back from camping with her grandparents.

While away I did start a pair of socks. They were much more portable than either of the blankets, and I had some down time to fill, so on the needles they hopped. Cookie A's Monkey pattern has been haunting my dreams, but I'm not loving it in Yarn Pirate Friday Harbor. Is it that the pattern needs a lighter shade of yarn maybe? I bet YP's Rosie would be awesome as Monkeys! Anyway, since I don't have any Rosie I'm thinking they would look much better in this Regia Color from the stash. I've never knit with Regia before, so I don't know what it does--are the stripes wide, narrow, just a variegated look? What do you guys think? Should I continue on with the YP yarn or visit the frog pond and give the Regia a try?

Before I left on Thursday I also was able to crochet a bit on both blankets. Math Guy's just looks longer--I miscalculated last time, btw, I am not close to halfway yet. Sigh.

I love, love, LOVE the colors of The Girlfriend blanket. Still haven't gotten all the colors worked in yet, but I'm close. She loves it, too. After consulting with her we nixed the orange skein of yarn and went with white. I had pretty much decided this on my own, but ran it by her just to be sure we were on the same wavelength. We were. Always nice.

For the last hour or so I've been playing around with my Ravelry account--adding my stash yarn and photos. Really cool. Rest assured that invites for all are on the way. The two owners are still working out the kinks and releasing the invites slowly so that the site is not overwhelmed by all 5000+ people on the waiting list trying to register at once. If you haven't already, check out the screen shots available here. There are several pages worth, so make sure you see them all.

Thank you to one and all for the well wishes and congratulations on MG's graduation. Things have settled back into routine here. He'll be leaving this weekend for a two week class and then home again until the middle of August. Time, it is a flyin'!

Just have to add, I stayed up until 1:45 this morning finishing The Knitting Circle what a great book! Just checked the reviews and found that the story is semi-autobiographical. No wonder it was so well done. Focuses on the healing power of the friendship of women and two little sticks and some string. Highly recommend it. But if you do read it, make sure you have some tissues handy. Next in the queue~~hold on while I rummage through my pile~~oh yeah, have to finish Triple Witch by Sarah Graves, then I think I'll do a serious read Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali.

Gotta scoot. The time is going off on my rising bread. Yummmm.....in half an hour I'll have hot, crusty bread coming out of the oven.

One Down

Whew! What a great weekend!!! Math Guy is officially a high school graduate, and I am officially exhausted. There was a great turnout of friends, family, and church family for the six home educated students who graduated on Saturday. We were all overwhelmed by the display of love and support for our kids. MG, your dad and I are so very proud of you!

Well done, son, well done!!!!
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Now that the festivities are over I have one last hurdle, a convention this weekend, to overcome before regular posting, knitting, and crocheting will resume. I have been working on the ripple blankets, but scored a new toy over the weekend~~a Ravelry invite. How cool is that site?!?! I've been over there playing around. You will notice in the above photo that I am not wearing Isabella. I could have finished. I had all but the cap sleeves finished on Thursday night. I sewed the shoulders together (knit in the round) and tried it on. 'Nuff said. I can't decide whether to frog it or finish it up for The Teen. I don't think she'd wear it much, and I could make something else (or the next size up) with the frogged yarn plus what was left.

So, I'll see you guys when I get back from the convention! Looking forward to starting some new projects--Summer of Socks is rapidly approaching, and I'm already planning the ones I want to make, and the yarn I want to use. I'd like to have at least one of the ripples finished by then. We'll see.