I have attempted to get better pictures in sunlight with no flash. The colors are still not perfect. Everything is about right except what appears as light blue is actually a deep teal green. They are also unblocked, because I don't have sock blockers this small.
Details about the project - Tropical Punch Socks - are in the entry directly below this one.
Pattern: Sleepy Eyes Tipsy Sock Pattern (free pdf)
Designer: Gina House
Yarn: Vesper Sportweight yarn in Tropical
Needles: Addi turbo size 3US/3.25mm - 2 circulars
I love this pattern! I hope to get a better photograph outdoors if I can get something besides rain or overcast skies. This pattern is great for variegated yarn. I modified a couple of things. I began with 3 rows of stockinette and a purl row (to stop the roll) before beginning the pattern. I also replaced the standard heel flap with the Fleegle Heel which I talked about at length in this post. This is a very nice fitting heel, and no picking up stitches around the flap - woot! These socks are also my second Christmas gift completed. (The Kauni Shawl is the first, but still needs blocking.) We won't discuss how many there are to go.
I had a little help as I finished up the second sock this evening. There is a fun group on Ravelry called Knitted Furmiliation. People post pics of their dogs and cats modeling knitted items. Who can resist that? Winston succumbed to his fate.
Pattern: Knitting Pure and Simple: Easy Baby Cardigan (free-pdf)
Designer: Diane Soucy
Yarn: Duet Sock Yarn - A Swell Yarn Shop
Color: Paradise
Needles: 4.25mm Clover bamboo circulars
Hat Pattern: based loosely on Beginner's Fair Isle Baby Hat (free)
(I used the pattern for the numbers only for a 6 month size)
This is a gift for one of my caregivers who is awaiting the birth of a grandson this month. I love the way the Duet Sock yarn worked up in this pattern. I made the 6 month size and did the collar version as opposed to the hood, as I was afraid I would not have enough yarn. I think you could complete the sweater with hood if you knit a size 6 month or smaller, as I had enough left over to make a hat and there was still some yarn of the multi-color yarn left.
Don't forget to enter the contest here.
Gasp...the Christmas socks for my sister are finally completed. I love knitting, and ordinarily I love knitting socks. I thought at times these socks might be the death of my sock knitting love. Not only is my sister wool sensitive, which limits the kind of yarn I can use - she asked for black.
Black yarn and these old eyes are not a good mix. That may not be entirely accurate, because I have never had good eyesight...but I know for sure I can't see black yarn well. The pattern was lovely, and I will knit it again. But goodbye to black sock yarn - see ya. If you are related to me or a friend I normally knit socks for, let me take this opportunity to tell you - if you want black socks...BUY THEM.l Whew.
Y'all know my photography skills are not good at best, and it is never easy to photograph black socks. I have slipped white paper behind the pattern, hoping you can see it better. I also managed to cut the toes off in the picture. Oops.
Pattern: Dublin Bay Socks
Yarn: Elann Esprit in black
Needles: Addi turbo circulars size 5 on the cuff, switching to size 4 on the heel and sole
I did modify the pattern to fit a bigger gauge and a stitch count of 60. It is a great pattern, and I wish it showed up better. However it is a very popular pattern, and FREE, so you have seen it on many knitting blogs if you have been around longer than ten minutes.
Thanks for your continued prayers and good wishes. I am doing much better, and expect to get a good report on Friday when I return to the wound center. The blood pressure is down to normal, without any nasty side effects. Yay! My pain level is mostly tolerable.
I have become totally preoccupied with someone the past week or so. I have this guest in my home who is just delightful. What's even better, is she doesn't mind that I can't cook for her - she doesn't care if I don't dress up, and she is so much fun! Come back soon, and I will introduce you...
Updated later: When I changed my blog format that made all my pictures enlarge to fill the middle column, it did something weird to the above sock picture. I swear there is nothing resembling food, wiggling worms, or other assorted yucky stuff on our sheets. We do occasionally find dog biscuits hidden there, but that is just par for the course of doggy ownership.
Wow...another FO. It feels good to be knitting again.
PATTERN: Bubble Wrap Cap
DESIGNER: Lark Meadows
YARN: Plymouth Outback Wool - color #909
Needles: Clover bamboo circular size 6 US (using one 16 inch until crown shaping, then using two circulars for decreases.)
I know it is difficult to see the bubble wrap pattern in my picture, but this is a really cute hat. It is also quite stretchy, which would make it a good choice for someone with unknown head size. This is a second hat for the granddaughter's birthday. Kiddo wants one of these as well.
Okay, who has come in and replaced MY Kiddo with one who wants me to knit her things? Hmmmm? Oh wait, she doesn't mind me knitting her handknits...it's the wearing of them she minds.
Speaking of Kiddo, here she is doing a self portrait with my camera...
Those braces come off in a couple of months. Then the praying starts. You know, where you pray she doesn't leave her retainer on her lunch tray and throw it away.
Here's a gratuitous puppy pic...
They are huddled up together with Daddy on the love seat. All the puppies are equal opportunity snugglers. Anyone who sits on the love seat gets puppies, whether they want them or not.
Notice Remy is all curled up in a tiny ball. He and Sachi went to the doggy spa this week and got their hair cut. Remy is doing an imitation of a chilly dog - heh. Notice also Sachi is wearing a new sweater. A new sweater NOT knit by me. Daddy felt sorry for her cold little self and bought her the sweater at Wal*Mart. Yes, Winston, I know - I should be knitting you all sweaters.
Last night Sachi had two of these HUGE dog biscuits like the one on top. She is used to getting half of a small puppy biscuit like the one at the 
bottom.
She came to me whining with two of those big dog biscuits in her tiny mouth. First she hid them under my computer chair. Then she decided that was not a safe place, and she begged to be picked up with them.
Once on my chest, she dropped the biscuits and tried to push my shirt over the top of them with her nose to hide them. It was hilarious!
Remy is learning to sit for treats. The old dog, Molly, sits immediately when she sees or hears treat - heh. Sachi dances for hers. I give the command up, and then she twirls around. Now she can twirl twice without stopping. Winston gets treats because he is so cute. Actually he is the most verbal dog, and we are working on saying "Mama." I taught a Pomeranian and a Scottish Terrier to say "Mama" very plainly. I have high hopes for Winston.
****Short Health Update****
I'm better - woohoo! The nerve pain has been greatly reduced by some meds. After 7 months of nerve pain hell, the pain that is left is mostly tolerable. Unfortunately the meds cause some horrendous side effects, but we won't speak of those now.
I also managed to walk 8 steps...I sat...and walked 8 steps back. Oh yes I did! I have been able to do it on more than one occasion. We tried 15 steps, and I did okay getting there - coming back was a problem. I guess I am not quite ready for Rachael's 100 Miles by April 1st...but I'm excited nonetheless. Although I don't mind being in a wheelchair for the most part, it is still very handy (leggy?? footy??) to be able to walk a few steps. The hubster is doing well too, and is rid of his staph infection. Wahoo!
Knitting. I know, the surprise must just be killing y'all! I had more fun knitting Amy's Fake Isle Hat, than anything I have knitted in quite awhile. I knew as soon as I saw this pattern, I wanted to knit it.
What little knitting time I have had the past couple of months has gone to knitting my sister's socks of doom, Christmas socks. No they aren't quite finished. Yes, I am aware that Christmas has come and gone. Ask me when I might consider knitting another pair of socks in BLACK any time soon. Before my eyes glaze over, I hear terms like "hell" and "freezing over" circling in my brain.
I can no longer get to my yarn room, because of my handicap inaccessible house. I know! The horror! Thankfully I participated in a little thing called Flash Your Stash back last year, and those pictures of each cubby, drawer etc. have become my life savers. They have allowed me to direct non-knitters like my family and caregiver attendants to my yarn room to retrieve specific yarn.
There is lots of Kureyon to choose from in my yarn room. M went in and came out with Kureyon #95. This was funny, because I believe it is the same as what Amy used in her pattern. That was fine with me, because I wanted it to be one of the brighter colorways.
Pattern Specs:
Pattern: Magknits, Fake Isle Hat (free pattern)
Designer: Amy King
Yarn: Kureyon #95 from stash, and Knit Picks, Wool of the Andes in coal
Needles: Bamboo circular, size 6.
Modifications - none. It's perfect as it is. I know my granddaughter will love it. She Who Refuses to Wear Handknits - Kiddo has requested one just like it. Once my heart palpitations cease from the shock; I'll make her one. Warning - this is one of those patterns you won't be able to make just one. My mind is already thinking of solid yarn combinations, too. Amy's use of Kureyon though is sheer genius.
The 5-hour baby sweater really is a five hour project - maybe less. Of course I was knitting it on smaller needles and made it an inch or so shorter to be preemie sized.
The red glasses case is for scale. I may have to make another bonnet or sock-type hat, as this one is pretty small. The baby weighs 3 lbs now, but will probably be weighing 4 lbs or so when going home. I want to make sure she has the correct size hat and booties to go with the sweater.
Here are some pictures of details in macro closeups:
You can click on the pictures to make them larger. From L-R: sweater bottom detail, bonnet detail, yoke detail.
Design Stats:
PATTERN: 5-hour baby sweater of which there are several versions. I used this one. There is a link to the bonnet on this page as well. Although there were booties on this page, I opted for easier ones, and incorporated the pattern on them.
YARN: Plymouth Encore Colorspun in worsted weight - color#7065. It shades from white-peach-lavender with some yellow and pink tones. Very pretty in person. I bought this awhile ago from an excellent EBay seller. Roxy provides wonderful customer service. When I saw some yarn in her store I liked, she quickly ordered more so I would have all matching dyelots. She also offers free shipping!
NEEDLES: Size 6 rosewood circulars. Anyone familiar with this pattern knows it is normally worked on size 10 1/2 needles.
MODIFICATIONS: Besides the change in needle size, I also shortened the body and sleeves a bit. I exchanged the eyelet row at the bottom of the sweater with the other pattern stitch, because I thought it looked more balanced. I made other slight alterations to the bonnet to make it smaller, and I crocheted an edge and slip-stitch crocheted the bonnet flap to the sides. I incorporated the sweater stitch pattern in the booties.
I haven't knitted any baby items (other than bibs) lately, and this reminded me how fast and fun they are.
And just because I want to see how much cuteness I can cram into one blog entry - we have puppy pics!
Sachi is 11 weeks old and now weighs 1 lb. 10 oz...
The little bow says "I love you," although she was not loving getting it put in her hair.
Mommy pulled my hair when she put in the bow, and I cried. Remy and Winston laughed and called me girly. I'm not girly, I'm tough. This is the traumatized face I showed her when she picked me up. I looked so pitiful. It made Mommy feel bad, and she gave me lots of kisses and some tiny treats. Heheheh. Works every time!
What do you call a male diva, because I seem to have one? Guess who shows up whenever the camera whirs on...
Got Yorkie? Winston D. M. (Dog Model) at your service.
It appears impossible for me to get good pictures. I never have been an apt photographer, but knitting pics are tough. I tried outdoors first, but between the temperature and the windchill - we are at a windy 20 degrees. The vest did not want to stay put and neither did I!
I present the photos of Dominique. The pattern is my own design. I want to reknit it a couple more times using different yarns and techniques. Then I will release the pattern. Click on pics to see them larger.
This is a birthday present for my step-grandaughter who is 13 years old today.
The baby sweater is finished!
Here is a peek at the Dominique Vest...
On the non-knitting front. I went to the dentist yesterday and had an interesting procedure. They drilled my tooth without Novocain and I was pain free! They used a TENS (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulators) unit. A little electrical impulse doohickey about the size of a pack of cigarettes that has electrodes that are affixed with sticky pads to nerve areas. They have been around for years for people who have back pain.
This was so totally cool. They stuck the little electrode/pads on either side of my nose (sorta in that smiley crease) and I could feel a tingly thumping on each side. Not painful. Then he was able to totally drill out a filling in a front tooth and replace it while I stayed completely pain free! Then the best part was when he was done, there was no waiting for the numbness of Novocain to wear off.
If you get the opportunity to have this used on you, I highly recommend it!
We have a completed project for the hubby! Patient soul that he is, has watched me knitting fervently for everyone but him.
The completed hubby hat. Yarn hand picked by hubby (total suprise to me) and turned out to be the exact yarn Rob picked for me for my Lily kit! It is Cascade Quartro #9440 (pink/purple/green).
Very soon, I need to cast on for the special scarf for hubby. Who knows, I may even root around in my UFO collection and find the sweater I was knitting for him a couple of years ago that is completed except for 1 and 1/4 sleeves.
Today he is a happy camper because finally something was knitted for HIM.
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