Has Anyone Seen My Needle?

So I am almost at the heel of my second sock when...I lose my needle.

Sock down, Swatch Complete

Well, here it is...my first sock!

I am definitely hooked! To be able to produce something wearable in just a few days. I actually finished this yesterday. I cast the other sock on today. I haven't hit that "second sock syndrome" that I hear about. KGF did a great job teaching me how to do this. It helps to see it in person, but the pics on her website are really useful too. I recommend checking them out if you are a sock knitter.

Here now are some pictures of my first ever attempt at lace knitting. It is the swatch for MS2. I am really excited to get the first part of the pattern, but I have to wait until July 7. I actually had to wait to cast on my socks because I used my sock needles to block the piece. I just let it soak in water for half and hour and then put it on the sock needles and pinned it down. Voila, swatch done!

In the Irish Dance world, we had a competition again today. Unfortunately I couldn't be there due to injury, but the rest of the team did awesome!!! Our medal count is now at 39 for dancing plus 4 for singing for a total of 43!!! That is between 5 of us and 3 feiseanna (competitions). Congrats to the dancers for today!!!

Afghan Complete!

Here is another project I managed to get finished. It is the afghan I have been working on for...ok well forever. I am going to surprise my BF with it all wrapped up. He has been patiently waiting on it as I start, finish and restart other projects.

Here is a shot of it all pretty over the back of a chair.

And here is a shot of it all wrapped up to surprise my BF.

It was actually a really easy pattern that used Lionbrand Homespun. The color is discontinued so I was a bit nervous about having enough yarn to work with. It is extremely soft which is just what you want for an afghan to snuggle in :).

Sockotta

Here is an updated photo of the sock so far. I am having so much fun doing this pattern. The yarn color from Sockotta just says purple on the package. I need to fix the tiny ladder problems I have going on though. They aren't bad, and they don't show up down by the toe. However, they still annoy me. I will hopefully be ready to turn for the heel tonight.

I have also been working on my swatch for MS2. If you want to see beautiful lace knitting go here. This in my opinion is what lace should look like :). Good thing because KGF is the one helping me with my MS2, best to learn from a pro. Hopefully I'll get some pics of the swatch posted soon. To do that though, I have to put the sock down!

A New Addiction

This weekend, I had earned a day off for good behavior through the Stashalong. I went shopping with KGF and we had a really good time. She took me to some really cool yarn shops. I purchased Misty Alpaca lace for the Mystery Stole 2, and some Sockotta for my first pair of socks. Then she helped introduce me to the world of sock knitting and I'm hooked! They go so much quicker than I thought and I love the short row shaping method used. Here is a picture of my work so far...

Luna Moth

This is a picture of a luna moth that my dad found at my parents house. I was there when he found it which was really cool to see it in person. I was reading up a bit about them, and it turns out they don't have a mouth. They only live for about a week. They are also a member of the silkworm family. Apparently they are a rare sight, so it was a special treat to get to see this one.

My dog...the genius

At least, I like to think of her as genius. She seemed to enjoy the Pooh sprinkler (drinking from it) more than my niece. Myra dove right in and started running through it and drinking from it with no hesitation. My niece on the other hand, I had to hold her hand and run through it with her. Although that is rather intelligent on my niece's part, as she was getting her aunt all soaked.

Still going...

Well I am still working on: legwarmers, tote exchange bag and Irish Hiking Scarf. I had to frog the legwarmers down to basically the beginning, because I just wasn't thinking when I made them. I was making them much more complicated than they should be. I mean really, they are a large tube knit to fit up your leg...but I was a bit overexcited with increasing and decreasing (don't ask). Progress is going much better and I hope to have the pair done by the end of the week (a bit ambitious).

I did manage to get creative and add the lovely ticker to the top of my page. I plan on rewarding myself this weekend for holding off on the yarn buying by going out and buying some lovely yarn for socks and some laceweight yarn for MS2.

I also created this button for my blog, which I had fun creating and going through millions of different samples before settling on this one. Feel free to grab it and add it to your blog.

Pulled outta that funk!

I finally pulled out of the knitting funk I was in. I decided to cast on the Irish Walking Scarf, and I am still working on my own pattern of legwarmers for dance. I have some pictures to show the progress I have made. For the scarf I couldn't pick the picture I wanted to use so I am going to show them both :).

First here is a good picture of the cable pattern. I think it is rather pretty.

Next is a picture that shows the color better. It is a really pretty pink. I am using baby alpaca yarn for the scarf, which is the softest stuff I have ever worked with.

Here is a shot of the legwarmers. I noticed at the feiseanna that many of the dancers were wearing them. I figured hey, rather than pay for them, I'll use up some of that stash yarn. I am using some Lion Brand WoolEase. I'll post the pattern for them as soon as I am finished.

I used a simple twist cable pattern that doesn't show up very well, but I'll post a better picture later.

I have decided to join the Mystery Stole 2, which KGF found the information on. We thought it would be a fun project to work through together, and as she is very good at knitting lace, I shall learn from the best. She is also going to teach me how to do some socks, so I need to use my stashalong day off and go to my LYS and get the right needles and sock yarn. Other than that I have been busy cleaning the house and trying to get our hot tub fixed for summer use. Summer is such a nice bonus of being a teacher.

Boy am I exciting

You Are a Plain Ole Cup of Joe

But don't think plain - instead think, uncomplicated You're a low maintenance kind of girl... who can hang with the guys Down to earth, easy going, and fun! Yup, that's you: the friend everyone invites. And your dependable too. Both for a laugh and a sympathetic ear.

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Knitting Funk

I am sort of in a knitting funk right now. I have completed one legwarmer for a set I designed myself. I saw many people wearing them at the feisanna I have been to this year, so I figured I could work something out from my stash yarn to wear. I am pretty pleased, but having made one, I know the adjustments I'd like to make so I'll end up redoing the first one. They didn't take too long so that isn't a biggie. Other than that, I am going to ask KGF (knitting guru friend) to help teach me how to do socks. We are planning on creating a list of supplies (goodie shopping) at dance practice on Thursday. I don't really like dpns, but I have only worked with 4, she is going to show me how to work with 5. Maybe I'll like that better. School is also out for the summer, so I get a nice little teaching reprieve...more knitting time too!