Rhinebeck Cash

Have I gone too far? 
Do I have stash acquisition problems?

Just Call Me Kermit

No, I'm not doing any frogging.  It's just that I've noticed that all of my WIPs are green, or have green in them.

Above is the beginnings of a sock in the Lisa Souza, Lime n Violet colorway that my Sockret pal sent.

This is the first in a pair of stockinette socks in Lorna's Laces, Shepherd Sock.  I'm into plain old stockinette socks right now.   It's just a phase, I'm sure.

The green blob above is Kiri, for DD#1 in Kidsilk Haze.  I like this pattern so much better than Birch.  Birch is just too unstructured.  Kiri, with it's center line of increases and it's garter stitch edge, is more my type of shawl.  I guess I'll be borrowing it from DD#1.

A simple cabled vest.  I'm not sure I'm loving this.  I'm afraid the cables might be a little too bulky for me.  If it doesn't look good on me, I can always give it to one of the DDs.

My Elizabeth Zimmerman, Norwegian mitten, waiting for it's mate.  On the mate I plan to switch the green and blue.  I'm just a fool for fraternal mittens and socks.

I am lucky enough to have some pretty cool friends.  On the way home from the DDs school yesterday, my friend Bev (blogless), pulled up alongside my car and handed me a gift.  It's not my birthday or anything, she's just really nice and really thoughtful.  She saw this and knew I would love it.  I do.

It's Life Magazine, from November 24, 1941, the caption on the cover, "How to Knit".  How cool is that!?!
My mom was 12 years old when this was published, the same age that my daughters are now.  They thought that fact was pretty amazing.  We had a wonderful time reading this, laughing at the quaint ads and marveling at how the world has changed.  Here's a photo from the knitting article.

There are no patterns, it's more of a beginners "how to" article, encouraging people to knit for the soldiers.  The photos above are just for inspiration I guess.

Thank you Bev.  I will cherish this.

Camping Socks?

S'mores Socks
Yarn:  Knitpicks Sock Colorway: S'mores
Pattern:  Sensational Knitted Socks
Needles:  Addi Turbos US size 2

There was a bit of conflict deciding who got to model for  this photo shoot.  DD#1 won!  Don't worry about DD#2, she and DS each had some s'mores too!

My Favorite Toy!

On Saturday morning I had a little fun with my ball winder.  In the spirit of Socktoberfest, I wound up most of my sock yarn.  Now I am prepared to simply grab and knit!  Whoopee!  Ah, but what to choose?

Top Row:  Cabin Cove Mercantile, my own handpainted, Lornas Laces Shepherd Sock
Middle Row:  my own hand painted again, two balls of Sundara gifted to me by my wonderful KSKS pal; Keohinani, my own handpainted
Bottom Row:  Socks That Rock, Cabin Cove Mercantile, Lisa Souza Lime and Violet colorway,  Lisa Souza Can't E Lope; both from my Sockret Pal

There is of course, much more sock yarn than this in the stash.  I've got a basket full, as well as some hidden away in my yarn chest.

In my little world, all is well.  I am a girl with a lot of yarn!  :)
Happy Monday!

My Sockret Pal Strikes Again!

When I went to check the mail yesterday, there was another package.  I knew it would be knitting related because of the cute little sheep on the outside.

I opened it up and found this charming little package inside, along with a wonderful card telling me that my Sockret Pal had struck again!

And this is what I found in the bundle:

Beautiful stitch markers!  Aren't they bright and cheerful?  I love them.  Thank you once again Sockret Pal!  I am feeling very spoiled!

Socktober Fest is moving along nicely for me.  I've completed the first sock for each of two pairs.  Maybe I can wear these together and skip the other two. . . hmmm, maybe not.  The yarn on the left is Lorna's Laces, Shepherd Sock that I purchased at Purl Soho.  The sock on the right is knit from Knitpicks sock yarn in the S'mores colorway. 

Have a great weekend!

Happy Yarn Dance!

Yesterday my Sockret Pal sent an e-mail asking what yarn, that I've never used, would I like to try.  It wasn't a difficult question, I love all of the wonderful independent hand dyers, selling their yarn on-line.  I have tried many, Keohinani sent me two beautiful skeins of Sundara for KSKS Swap, I have indulged myself with Scouts Swag, Cabin Cove Mercantile, and Socks That Rock.  But, there was one that I've been lusting after,  I've filled my cart many times, and had a difficult time not hitting the "buy now" button.  So I easily answered "Lisa Souza". 

On my way to pick up my kids from school today I checked the mail.  "What's this,"  I thought, as I reached into the box, "a package?"  It  was from Lisa Souza!  Inside was a card that read simply, "From your Sockret Pal".  I was elated, amazed, thrilled, and there was nothing to do but the "happy yarn dance".

Even my feet were happy.  Look at that beautiful yarn.  The colors are "Lime n Violet", and "Can't E Lope".

Driving home, one of my daughters observed that "perfection is in the eye of the beholder".  I couldn't agree more.  My new yarn is perfection in the eye of this beholder.

Thank you Sockret Pal.  I don't know who you are, but you got me to do my happy dance today!

I've been happily knitting away on my Elizabeth Zimmerman Norwegian Mittens.  It is such fun to watch them grow. There is so much depth to the colors of the Reynolds "Whiskey" that I am using.  I might need to make another pair of these in another color combo.  I am playing with the idea of making these mittens a fraternal pair.  I'd like to combine the same three colors in another way.  I'd probably take the plum shade that I used for the i-cord cast on, and use that for the main color.  We'll see.



My daughters and I have largish hands, and my row gauge is a little off, so I'm knitting an extra pattern repeat before I start the decreases.



I love the contrast of the i-cord cast on edge.



DD #1 made bread again today.  This time it was French bread with garlic.  The garlic flavor was very subtle.  It was heavenly, and gone within an hour.  Mmmm. 

Happy Socktoberfest!!!