Spinning Sue

Sockapalooza Finito

Well, obsession can sometimes be a good thing. :-)

After finishing the first sock for my Sockapalooza pal I was going to give socks a rest for a few days and work on some other knitting.

The sock had a different idea.

It called to me. Cajoled. Whispered. Pleaded. Downright demanded that it be started immediately.

So Monday afternoon I cast on. Wednesday morning I cast off. The socks have had a bath, done their photo shoot and now need to sit around waiting for almost two months before being packed off abroad. Yes, my socks will be off on an international adventure come the middle of July. I also have plenty of time to think about what else to put in my pal's parcel!

:-)

Oooops! Forgot the nerdy bit!
Yarn: Opal Feeling colour #1703, heels in Opal Uni colour #1419
Needles: 2.5mm metal dpns
Pattern: Ridged Feather from 'Sensational Knitted Socks' by Charlene Schurch
Modification: Short row heel rather than the 'forethought' heel from the book

Sockapalooza 4

The first sock for my Sockapalooza 4 pal is finished. I decided to do a short row heel rather than the afterthought heel in Sensational Knitted Socks.

Now to cast on for sock two.

Errrr....

Yup - its socks.

I know I said I wouldn't be knitting any socks while I concentrated on a few other things but whaddaya know? I lied! ;-)

These were started on Saturday, 5th May and finished just over a week later on the 14th. They are the usual toe up, 60 stitch short row heel non-pattern only this time I used Wendy's new cast on. I like it and will use it again. The yarn is Opal Rainforest Doktorfisch knit on 2.5mm dpns. I started them because my cousin was visiting and I wanted something small and plain to knit so I could concentrate on catching up on all the gossip.

I love my cousin, she is one of the world's bestest people. I also taught her two kids to knit. George almost got it but Sophie was too easily distracted although convinced she would have knitted a teddy bear by the end of the day! Who knows if it will stick but at least they've had a go.

Next are a pair of socks for Mum for her birthday on June 8th. The pattern is the Bells & Whistles socks from IK Holiday Gifts 2006 and the yarn is Opal Uni colour #1411, quite a dark brown. I think I started these last Friday and finished the first sock yesterday, the second sock is already in progress. The pic on the right is a close up of the toe. I've wanted to do this toe for a while and like it even more now that I've knit it. This pattern is an absolute delight to knit and I will definitely be knitting a pair for myself.

Last sock - for my Sockapalooza 4 pal. I thought long and hard about what to do for this. My pal is easy-going about pattern but quite specific about colour and yarn. She wanted machine washable so I decided to go for Opal Feeling in colour #1703, shades of blue and black. The pattern I eventually settled on is 'Ridged Feather' from Charlene Schurch's 'Sensational Knitted Socks'. There's no rush for these as I need to have them done by mid-July so I can post them in time to arrive for August 2nd. Hint, hint - need long time to arrive at destination... ;-)

I did have a play with some other knitting. I initially cast on for a bottom up raglan for myself but it was ginormous rather too large! So I've re-calculated for a top-down this time and will cast on for it when I finish Mum's socks.

A rainbow picture from Monday.

Just because.

And that is the week that was! :-)

 

Doll Doll

Latest pair of socks finished last Friday. Yarn is from Piece of Beauty in the 'Doll Doll' colourway and was a gift from Purlpower in the Hot Socks exchange. Knit in my standard 'non-pattern' - 60 stitches, toe-up, short rowed toes and heels.

There are now no socks on the needles!!! I've decided to give sock knitting a break for a bit and concentrate on a couple of other things. This will probably only last till about Wednesday...

;-)

Sockapalooza 4

I thoroughly enjoyed last year's Sockapaloooza swap so I've signed up for this round.

Sign-ups are open for 48 hours only so go here to join in the fun!

Fibre Swap

Hmmmm been a bit quiet haven't I?

I've just read about a fibre swap that may go ahead if enough people are interested. Its the idea of Shelby who has been a hostess for many of the Secret Pal swaps. If you're interested go here and leave her a comment.

Go on.... you know I have! :-)

Knit Mitt Kit Swap

I received a lovely parcel from Eve today for the Knit Mitt Kit Swap. The bag is handmade - how clever is Eve? Lots of goodies including chocolate. The Mitt Kit part of the swap included some Debbie Bliss Aran Tweed, 5mm bamboo dpns (I didn't have this size - perfect!) and a Patons pattern booklet.

Thanks very much Eve - I love it!

Knit Mitt Kit Swap

Hello my name is Sue and I'm a serial swap-a-holic...

Yes I've joined another one. This time its Scout and Bev's Knit Mitt Kit Swap. (Waving madly to pal who has already been in touch!!)

My answers to...

The Questionnaire:

What are your favorite colors?

Purple, green, blue, black, pink. I’m not into pastels.

Are you a new mitt knitter? How long have you been knitting mittens?

I’ve knit several pairs of mittens and gloves, first pair was knit last year sometime.

Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn?

Either, it depends on what the pattern calls for.

What fibers do you prefer in mitten yarn?

I prefer natural fibres but a wool/acrylic mix is okay as long as it feels nice.

Where do you usually knit mittens?

They’re a good carry-a-long project so anywhere!

How do you usually carry/store small projects?

I have a lovely small red Lantern Moon bag that I was gifted as part of the Dye-o-rama swap.

What are your favorite mitten patterns?

I don’t have a favourite.

What are your favorite mitten knitting techniques?

I don’t have a favourite.

What new techniques would you like to try?

I haven’t made any norwgian/fair isle mitten patterns yet and would like to have a try at them.

What are your favorite needles for knitting mittens?

Double pointed needles.

What are some of your favorite yarns?

I don’t really have favourite brand name yarns. Fibre-wise I like merino, alpaca, cashmere and silk. Not necessarily all in the same ball of yarn!

What yarn do you totally covet?

Just because they don’t ship here and I’ve heard sooooo much about them – Knit Picks

Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object?

Not really.

Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)?

I prefer wood or bamboo and I use either straights or circs or dpns.

If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be?

I’d be hand-spun, hand-dyed merino/silk/alpaca.

Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack?

Mmmmmmm chocolate! :-)

What’s your favorite animal?

Dogs, wolves and otters.

Would you prefer super warm mittens or something more like fingerless mitts?

Super warm – I really suffer with cold hands during the winter. Its my thin Aussie blood not coping with the colder-than-I’m-used-to British winters.

If you were a color what color would you be?

Deep sea-green.

What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature?

Forests and trees.

Do you have a wishlist?

Yes on Amazon.co.uk - search on my real name!

Anything else you’d like to share with the group today?

Nope!! :-)

Hot Socks Parcel

Oooooh! Lookie here - my parcel has arrived from my Hot Socks pal! The yarn is from Piece of Beauty Yarn Store. I've not come across this seller before but let me tell you the yarn is delish! Its a really squashy, sproingy 100% merino superwash. My colourway is called 'Doll Doll' and is sold out - nyah nyah! I also received some Green & Black chocolate, clotted cream fudge and some coffee (that I just keep sniffing. I lurve the smell of 'real' coffee beans).

Thanks very very much HS pal!

I can't tell you for certain who my pal was because they are still being very secretive! (no, I'm thick I tell ya, the CD didn't give it away... but I have an idea... definitely Geordie accents in the area... so come on now... out yourself!)

There are tales to come of loom wrestling, extravagant spending at Ally Pally and the real pleasure of teaching someone to knit and seeing their face light up when they realise they 'just got it'! :-)

A Monday Post - Gasp!

Its a rare and marvellous thing... I'm posting on a Monday!

The reason?

Hard carders! Most amazing is that I can do it! I can card wool. My technique sucks but will improve with practice and I plan to get plenty of practice. :-) I've put off buying a fleece because I didn't have any carders but now there's nothing to hold me back.

I bought these off Ebay (yup, yet another reason why I said I'd been bad) and they've arrived from The Netherlands in just over a week.

Really exciting news now - I got a post card from my Hot Socks pal! Thanks very much HS pal, that was very thoughtful and made my day. :-)

I did a bit of shopping for both my Hot Socks and SP9 pals today. I don't know who my SP9 spoilee is yet but I thought I'd get a few fairly generic things for starters. If I find out that my pal doesn't like that sort of stuff, well, I can always keep it for me. hehehehehe

Now, what can I card next...