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Wip Wednesday

It's been a long time and I actually have Fo's also, but I will post those on Friday of course. I have been knitting socks like crazy. I finished the duckies just like my mom's and it got me in the mood for more handknit socks. I guess that's inevitable, right? Well then my mom asked me to teach knitting and touch on sock knitting at her Relief Society meeting, so that got me thinking of the different ways to knit socks. I started a cuff down pair and a toe up pair, it's funny I started this project of comparing the two methods then about a week or two later I saw on facebook a post by Craftsy on "The Great Sock War". Well I'm not sure which side I'm on. I learned while preparing with my mom to teach the class that I'm not loyal to styles when it comes to knitting. My mom taught me the European way to knit (what some people call left handed knitting), I learned when I was probably 8 or so and then didn't do much because I didn't have any decent patterns at the time and I had no use for hot pads. Fast forward into my twenties when I had my first son and I was ready to knit again. I saw a knitting magazine at the store full of cute patterns for my baby. I looked at the pics of how to cast on, knit, etc and it just came naturally, I thought I was doing it the way my mom taught me. So just because I learned to knit socks cuff down first doesn't mean I have to keep doing it that way if I happen to like the toe up method better. It may depend on the fit of the socks in the end.


I am also doing a favor for my sister, a couple of years ago she had my knit socks for here whole family (all 8 of them plus my nephews fiance). Well now my nephew has 2 sons and my neice got married so 3 more stockings have been requested. I started my nieces hubby's cuz I had the right colors in my stash.


So here come the pics

Cuff Down

Toe Up

Christmas Stocking

The Vow

First off I loved this movie!  My Honey was so sweet to take me to it last night even though it was clearly a chick flick through and through. The story was great, inspired by true events and all, but the what I kept thinking the whole time was that Channing's character Leo wore the most awesome sweaters! I just kept thinking oh ahh my Honey would look so hot in that one too, and that would be so fun to knit. I guess I wasn't the only one: http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/interviews/a363075/channing-tatum-rachel-mcadams-the-vow-interview.html . I totally recommend this movie even if it's just for the knitwear.

FO Friday

I know it's not Friday anymore ( it's actually 12 am as I type), but since I haven't gone to bed yet it's still Friday to me. I didn't have time to post earlier today, it was one of those one thing after another days. Then it was GNO and we can't miss that especially when it's ogling over love-struck vampires and werewolves on the big screen. Enough about that here's what I finished this week:

Tracy's(my bff)slippers

I actually finished knitting and felting a while ago, but it took a while for them to dry and then I got doing other stuff and I couldn't decide what color of buttons to do I hope she likes the yellow.

Pattern: French Press Slipper by Melynda Bernardi

Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes worsted

Colorway: Fairy Tale

Needles: US 15

Bootees for Emma

My neighbor just had a baby girl, her 6th child WOW! I feel every baby should have something new even though they are sure to get hand me downs.

Pattern: Saarte's Bootees by Saartje de Bruijn

Yarn: Stash yarn I bought a long time ago and I don't have the label, 

but I'm sure it's pima cotton.

Needles: US 3

This pattern is really easy once you figure it out. If you plan on making them watch this video on youtube for a tutorial on the button holes on the straps it will make the process much nicer than trying to guess by the pics of the tiny bootees.

WIP Wednesday

I've had these booties on my ravelry queue for a long time, 

but I just haven't gotten around to making them. My neighbor just had a baby girl 

so I decided what a good excuse to do some baby knitting. 

Pattern:Sarrtje's Bootees by Sarrtje de Bruijn

Yarn: Left-over yarn that I lost the label to. It's pima cotton if I remember right.Sport weight

Needles: US size 3

WIP Wednesday

French Press Slippers for sil Heather and my baby girl Sophia

Pattern: French Press Slippers by Melynda Bernardi

Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes

Colorway: Blossom Heather

Needles: size US 15

*For Heather's I am following the pattern exactly, but for Sophia's I am following the adjustments made by Melynda's sister for girls age 4-5 (found here).

FO Friday

Socks for the Woman who walked me through life and really let's face still does!

Pattern: Duckies by Samantha Hayes

Yarn: ONline Supersocke 100

Colorway: Melange

Needles: size US 4

Raveled

 

I really enjoyed knitting these socks they knitted up so quick.

The best part is look how much yarn is left over.

I guess I'll be knitting some for myself because the colors match my Belfast Hoodie

WIP Wednesday

Raveled

Holy Freakin' Felting Cow!

This is a picture of the French Press Felted slippers all knitted up.

All sew together.

Now time to felt it can't be that hard so I looked it up online. Ought oh I don't have a top loader! Okay look up how to do it by hand here. 

Okay cool I buy myself a brand spankin' new plunger and get to work. 

I practically broke my back doing this. By the time I finished I was in shorts and actually in my tub straddling my bucket.

It is not easy, so I put my kids to work. What's that, child labor laws...what?

Anywho I am really worn out truly it's so hard. My arms kinda feel like jelly.

The slippers are blocking now and need the flaps and buttons sewn on. 

Hopefully tomorrow I will have an FO for my Friday.

WIP Wednesdays

Socks for Mom

Pattern: Duckies by aquaknits for sKNITches

Yarn: ONline supersocke 100

Colorway: Melange

Needles: US size 4 dpn's

WIP Wednesday

Tracy's Christmas present

Pattern: French Press felted slippers

by Melynda Barnardi of French Press knits.com

Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes worsted

Colorway: Fairy Tale

Needles: US 15

FO Friday

Sophia's Headband 

Pattern: Rose's Hat by Verla Younker

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Mulberry Merino

Colorway: 5605

Needles: US size 10

 Gift socks for the Man who walked me through life and made it possible 

for me to walk my own children through life.

 Pattern: Mr. Pitt's socks by Kaitlyn Wong

Yarn: 1 skein ONline Supersocke 100 

Colorway: Linetto

Needles: size US 1

Now I get to look for a nice sock pattern for the Woman who also walked me through life.

I'm thinking Duckies by Samantha Hayes

WIP Wednesday

This is not your average WIP Wednesday, but who wants to be average anyway? Because I promised myself that I wouldn't start a new project until I finish dear old Dad's socks, I really don't have any 'knitting' wip's to share. I do however have a work in progress.

My Craft Room!

Really I should say that this is my honey's WIP, but it's for me. When he gets past the hard part, I will be the one to paint it so it's kind of my WIP right? 

I get to do fun things in it, like ball yarn with these fun tools I just got.

And I will fill the walls with shelves full of yarn. Like this fun yarn I just ordered to make French Press Knits slippers.

And of course I do other crafts like sewing and some occasional low key scrapbooking.

I am so excited for it to be done I hound my honey often, poor guy!

Passing on the tradition

Not this weekend but last my sweet niece came up from Mona to stay with me for the weekend. My little ones just love her and request her often; so when I needed a babysitter for Zac's b.day since Max would be coming with us to the dreaded (I dread them, the kids love them) arcade for the party, Lydia came immediately to mind. She is such a sweetie and gets along with everyone in the family, I've always thought of her as a little bit mine even though she has a 
wonderful mother ( my awesome sister).

So it was conference weekend and while the men went to priesthood meeting us girls did girly things and the kids played. Lydia taught me how to make jewelry and feather headbands and while watching conference on Sunday I taught Lydia to knit. 

 Zac took some goofy pictures of us but notice the cute feather earring I'm wearing and the cute feather headband on Lydia's head.

Listening to the spoken Word on Sunday

I bought Lydia some essential notions, but we'll have to visit the lys soon because Hobby Lobby didn't have the needles and of course the yarn I like!

She learned quickly and I wrote her a pattern for an easy bag that we'll later sew to some liner fabric for a notions bag. I can't wait for our next lesson, I love passing on the knitting tradition. 

Just Like Karate Kid

Since these socks have already been posted about as a WIP and they are not totally done I can't post them as an FO, but I am so proud that I finished one sock that I just had to post about it. I know I can do some fancy schmancy magic loop knit 2 at a time thing, but I don't know how so for now I'm just doing one at a time.

At the end of knitting a sock from the top down you have to close up your sock and the best way I think to do that is kitchner stitch. If you're not acquainted with kitchner then a good place to learn how is here. She says to chant knit, purl, purl, knit which is a good idea to keep yourself on track. I take a tip from Daniel Son and chant knit off, purl on, purl off, knit on. check out the link and you'll see why. Now on to the next sock!

Happy knitting!

FO Friday

Here is my latest FO. Another 

slouchy hat.

Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes; Jalapeno

Needles: size 7 US

Pattern: Slouchy Beanie by me

WIP Wednesday

Happy WIP Wednesday! I love progress, but it's hard when it's slow so I'm not even showing you my dad's socks I was working on last WIP Wednesday. It's not that I'm not making progress it's just that well it doesn't look like I am when there are 2 socks. It's like starting over when you start the new sock and I'm not even that far...Boo Hoo.  I get bored when things don't move along fast enough so I start new stuff. Plus I just bought gorgeous yarn so who can blame me? This first one is the Ethereal Triangular Shawl in Cascade Yarns Alpaca Lace. It's for Nate's Grandma for Christmas. I really hope it turns out good. I started it and then realized that I need a chart keeper so this one may sit like this until I find one.

Next we have the Lovely Belfast. I'm using Berroco Inca Gold which is being discontinued. So sad because it is truly a joy to knit with and it knits up so beautifully with such a nice twist.I am really excited for this one and I work on it a little too much I even brought it up to my cabin and knit it there. I usually don't get the chance to knit there because we go on hikes and stuff, but my nieces and I had a little impromptu craft circle. They were making friendship bracelets and so I joined in and knitted. Now they all want to have a craft sleepover and I'll teach them to knit. So fun! I really should work on Christmas presents so next week will probably be full of those. 

FO Friday & Happy Yarn Shopping Birthday To Me!

So I've been a bad blogger and an ADD knitter, starting projects left and right and then abandoning them to take care of my children's hectic sports & music schedules. So finally I have an FO to share. I actually finished the sweater part a while ago, but I didn't want to show it until I had the flower done which isn't actually part of the pattern. I think the flower is too big though :( but it will have to suffice for now. And just so you know it's paper clipped on in the pics because I don't have anything better right now. I know crazy that I could not find one single safety pin even.

Here is a pic of the flower alone:

Pattern: Ross's Hat ( just the flower from this pattern)

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk Aran

Needles: size 10 US

I think it looks better here on the bed, cuz I'm a total goofball posing in my closet.

See TOTAL goofball!

Pattern: Antropologie-Inspired capelet by Julia Allen
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky in Pewter
Needles: size 11 US

 Now for my birthday my hubby didn't get me a present. In his defense he and the kids got me a cake, ice cream and made me a really cute movie. I was pretty mad about the no present thing (a new phone that I hinted at) cuz it just made me feel unimportant. Anywho he said he thought I would just want to go buy yarn (which of course I always do)...I hope he doesn't regret it and I actually think I was pretty thrifty about it. Isn't it pretty?

Here's what I got:

 Cascade Yarns ALpaca Lace (blue-green)

Plymouth Yarns Mulberry Merino (pink)

  Plymouth Yarns Mulberry Merino (purple)

Berroco Inca Gold (blushy red)

Gotta love my LYS Unraveled Sheep in Sandy!

               I am totally loving this last one it is so soft!

I couldn't wait to start gauging for my next project. Normally I hate gauging (neccesary evil) but Inca Gold (a travesty that it's being discontinued) is such a joy to knit with I don't even mind gauging. Belfast Hoodie here        
     we come. See you on WIP Wednesday!                                                                                      



Here is my lovely gauge swatch with Inca Gold:                           

WIP Wednesday

Christmas in July, er I mean August. I had hoped to start all my Christmas knitting last month, but I came home from Lake Powell in such a funk I didn't get much of anything done really my house was a mess, then football started and that's a whole other story. But now it is August, the kids are back in school, my house is finally tidy most of the time so I can focus a little better. I am really excited that I have gotten this far on these socks because the last time I attempted them my stinky Milo pulled all four DPN's out. GRRR!!! Really can you blame the guy it must be quite an interesting thing for a 2 year old. Anyhow I was very upset and needed a brake before I started again. So my dad did not get a pair of Mr.Pitts socks for Christmas last year, but maybe this year will be different (I hope).

Pattern: Mr. Pitts Socks

Yarn: 1 skein ONline supersocke 100 in Linetto

Needles: size 1 US

WIP Wednesday

Another slouchy hat is on the needles this week. It's a different yarn so I hope it turns out. I'm getting faster at the pattern since it's the second time around.

Hopefully I can make a bunch and sell them. Hopefully they are cute enough that people will want to buy them. I'm trying to think of a name for my brand. I thought of Emma Sue but that is too girly, I may want to make stuff for men. Another one could simply be EM with a funky font or something. What do you think?