Sock Summit 2009

It is Friday night and tomorrow I'll be going to the sock summit. I'm planning on buying more yarn at the marketplace and have an all day class. The class is beginning sock which is a beginner class. Since I've made two pairs of socks I'm hoping that this class will give me a good foundation. On Thursday I attending the SS and took two classes. The first was Judy's magic cast on. It was just a short workshop and I'd already done it from you tube. It was good practice and I was happy to meet Judy Becker. In the afternoon I took choosing among choices. I wasn't really happy with this class but found later that it had given me the basics and when I looked up the processes in Cristy Gardiner's book it all came together.

I'm currently working on a pair of socks for Terry. It is taking a while since the stitches are very small and his feet aren't. I have a skein of Opal which I'm dying to try. I think I might make socks for myself!!

Off to bed because I have to be up early for the SS. It has been a great experience and I've already learned a bunch.

Finished Anny Purls jacket

I finished the jackets for Ella and Brady. I did Ella's in an off white chunky shetland yarn and Brady's in a brown camo. I had trouble with the i-cords and i-cord knots. I ended up making the i-cords with a smaller needle than the pattern called for. I used the camo on Ella's jacket and an off white on Brady's. I think the jackets are really cute.

I also made a couple of candy cane hats for the Christmas season. The baby one is a little small for Brady and the child's size for Ella could have been bigger. I'm going to keep the baby hat for a newborn and Brady will get Ella's hat. It is a little big but better big than small. I'm remaking the child hat with a larger needle to fit Ella better.

I'm back to traveling for work. I'm off to Las Vegas in the morning. In a couple of weeks it will be Christmas and my traveling will be over for awhile.

Anny Purls Duck Soup

I've seen sick the last few weeks so I've spent a bunch of time sitting and knitting. I made Anny Purl's Duck Soup jacket for Ella and I'm working on one for Brady. The pattern is really easy and the jacket is adorable. I'm doing Brady's out of a camo yarn and the more I knit the more I love it. It should have been obvious but it is taking sooo much less time to make Brady's sweater. I'm planning on making sweaters for my sister's granddaughter and my cousin's grandchildren. This is a great pattern and I think I'll make them Duck Soup Jackets.

I started knitting at about 8 years of age and knit for years. I put down my needles many years ago. So many things have changed in knitting is a whole new world. I've been learning new techniques and there is so much more out there! I made my first pair of socks and I'm anxious to try toe up. So I learned to turn a heel! yahoo! I tried a long tail cast on for the Duck Soup and I love it. I've tried continental but need to practice. I'm just too slow. The new love of my life are my Addi Turbos. I asked for the interchangeable set for Christmas and my husband just rolled his eyes. I guess I'll buy it for myself. I was amazed by the short row hat I made for my grandson and I'm looking for a larger pattern.

When that was a great opening for me next topic. I've been learning about changing the pattern and I'm thinking about creating my own. So many are similar and it seems to me with some experience it shouldn't be that hard. My sister made Christmas stockings for my kids years ago. I asked her to make more but she has a problem with her hands and can't knit. I've searched for a similar pattern and after much frustration I realized that I could make my own. I can read the gauge, yarn size and calculate enough to copy the stocking. I have to go dig them out of the Christmas box and take a look at them.

The knitting has filled up a part of me that was missing. I didn't have any creative or challenging outlet. I don't know if it would be so exciting if knitting hadn't changed so much. I've been reading, camping, traveling and trying to journal but nothing is as satisfying as watching your knitting grow in your hands. The act of knitting challenges me to try now things. I think the next step is to visit the yarn shops for classes and companionship. It looks like Portland is a knitting center. I see posts and patterns but a number of people in the area. I'm so impressed with all the fabulous projects. I've just scratched the surface and have so far to go to become the knitter I want to be.

Well back to my Duck Soup jacket for Brady....

finally

It has been months since I posted to my blog. Today I finished my first sock and I'm now working on the second one. I bought the book 2-at-a-time Socks but ended up just knitting one. Since I'd never done a sock before and I was kind of intimidated I decided to just make one. After a couple of inches I was sorry about that decision but decided to just move forward. I made a top down sock from the book and did some reseach and review on the web. After reading and researching I took a deep breath and cast on. Actually I watched a short video and did a long tail cast on for the first time. It was actually pretty easy one I got the hang of it and I'm sure I'll use this again. I think I'll try a toe first sock next time because that looks easier. I debated about leaving this sock and using the remaining yard for something else but my husband suggested I do something for myself for a change.

I'm waiting for yarn to arrive for two projects. I'm planning a blanket for Ruthie and a sweater for Ella. Carrie asked for a cardigan that Ella can use in place of a coat/jacket. I found a pattern and ordered the yarn. I have a number of projects waiting until these two are completed. Ella's sweater I started last March wasn't completed until September and it is too small. I'm giving her top priority when the yarn arrives.

Well back to my second sock!

kathy

Wow! Things are different now...

I began knitting in 1959 and recently picked up my needles again. I don't remember knitting with two circular needles or all the various methods of casting on. I made a baby hat with short row knitting and was fascinated watching it come together. I've been amazed at all the new things there are to learn. Thank goodness for the internet which has videos of things like how to use the Magic loop! Who knew!



I've tried knitting with two circular needles and I think it is wonderful. A few weeks ago I tried dpn and it was ok until the needle slipped out and I had to start over. I've been working on a sweater for my GD and I've used one circular and one straight needle. The circular needle is the size specified in the pattern but the straight needle is one size smaller. I felt that the stitches were too loose and know it feels right.



This sweater is an intermediate level pattern. The pattern consists of yo, ssk, psso and knit two together. I think I made an error is one of the first rows of pattern and need to start over. I think I'll start again with another skein so I can compare and see where I went wrong. It is frustrating because I'd done about 8 inches and I'm not happy about starting over but I want it to be perfect so there is no choice.



I've been fascinated with knitting socks but I've vowed to finish all the project I've started before giving them a try. I'm a little concerned about second sock syndrome so I'm planning on doing them both at the same time. My husband says not to make him any socks because he won't wear them. I think that is interesting because I've read that wearing hand knitted socks is what makes people keep knitting them.

Almost the weekend

It is almost Friday and the end of the week. This has been a really scary week with Citibank and Chase dropping my schools. I've heard of more layoffs. I'm worried about my friends. I don't know if I'm naive but I think I'm safe. People I never thought would be laid off have been.

I've started a baby sweater for Grace and Chris. It is a really easy pattern and may be too easy. I think I may embellish but that all depends on what it takes to complete it. I also want to make a baby yoda but I'm not sure about the yarn.

I'm hoping we'll have some good news soon!

next step

I managed to get over my hesitation to post a message on my blog. I think I'm getting used to this blog thing. Last night I went to Jo-ann Fabrics to buy more yarn and found that it was on sale. I needed more to finish the hoods on the two hooded ponchos I'm making. One is a dark blue for Grace's baby and the other is a light blue for my new grandson, Brady Charles. I've been thinking about knitting a wrap for a friend of mine and found this beautiful light blue yarn. There aren't enough hours in the day to work and to knit.