I get involved

Everyone, be proud of my unsocial, ungathery self, for I have done the previously unthinkable and joined a knit-along. Sockapalooza 4, everybody, Sockapalooza 4 and I are BFF's!! In fact I was so excited to get my pal's information last night that I immediately casted on and finished a sock!

Tada! Isn't it a beauty???

OK not really. I mean the part about having started the sock last night. It is definitely, without question, very beautiful, so much so that I will buy for my lovely little sock a little sparkly tiara and build her a little runway so that she may sashay her pretty self around the house for all to admire. You can thank CookieA for this brilliant pattern, called the Twisted Flower Sock.

I started it several weeks ago and have been knitting it very off and on. Through the first round of pattern I had a sneaking suspicion that it was going to be too big for me. I kept chugging along though, one because the pattern is, well, so drop-dead gorgeous, and so fun to do, and second, I was hoping that perhaps I would be assigned to someone who might specifically mention liking 
- sock yarns with that tight beady twist (as Cherry Tree Hill Supersock has)
- solid colored yarns (this one's in Burgundy)
- and had a slightly bigger foot than me, maybe half an inch or so longer and wider...

If all applied I would be able to just go ahead and knit this for my pal.

And wouldn't you know it: Check, check, and check on all three counts!

I didn't follow the pattern through to the heel, fearing it would too loose.

But I might very well change my mind. It is only May (May!?!) afterall...

*****

So speaking of swaps, I'd like to take this final opportunity to thank everyone who participated in the Knitterly Letter Swap. I hope everyone enjoyed writing and receiving their letters. I did. There was a period where I had a letter waiting for me in the mailbox for 4 consecutive days. It was better than Christmas! I owe several replies...Anyway, there were a few snafus with lost letters, returned letters, etc. and I tried my best to follow up with people, but of course it's impossible to police and to make sure every letter gets to where it needs to go. Last week I paired up all letterless folks who contacted me with a "savior," and they sent their letters out to you almost immediately (thank you saviors! and those who volunteered but didn't get used). So I really hope all of you who joined have received at least one letter, and that you've got your letter-writing juices flowing enough to continue writing more!

Comments [32]
Filed Under: Letter-writing | Socks | Sockapalooza | Twisted Flower

Weekend outfit

I like to knit. And to layer.
My outfit I wore this past weekend to a little house party,
topped off with a dash of Chevron Scarf.

Not all knitted projects work out the way you might initially envision it to,* but I don't think I would knit at all if I didn't like some of what I make enough to wear it out in public.

The Apricot Jacket is nearly two years old. It's practically vintage, and given the haphazard way I "sewed" on the buttons, I can't believe that small children haven't yet choked any! And how little the yarn has pilled! Go Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, go!

Do you wear what you knit?

* Some FO's that have departed to the Great Knitted Graveyard in the Sky:
Electra, due to poor color choice and ill fit (I gave it away).
Ballet Top from Loop-d-Loop, due to incredibly stretched-out fabric that led to unflattering drape.
Tank from Rebecca 29, due to undeniable fugliness. What was I thinking with that one?

Comments [35]
Filed Under: General Knitting | Rebecca 27 | Apricot Jacket

A show of hands please

OK, all ye members of Club Knitterly Letter Swap. Two things:

1) If you have not received a letter from your initial pen pal yet, please send me an e-mail (scroll to the very bottom of this page), and please type "KLS I didn't get a letter" in the subject.

2) If you have received letters and would like to write another, e-mail me and please type "KLS letter savior" in the subject.
- You do not have to be in the swap initially to be a letter savior, so those who missed out in the sign-up round can sign up to be a letter savior now.
- HOWEVER please be prepared to write and send a letter within a day or two of receiving an address, which I hope to send out tomorrow at the latest. There will be no two-week waiting period for this.

****

I wish I had more to say, but I have not knitted very much in the last week. The reason is not a loss of interest, but a demotion in priority. Knitting - and maybe blogging - will have to take a backseat for the next couple of weeks more. Which is ironic because, ready to start fresh in a new home, I bought a new domain name for this site two weeks back. Now there's no time, and no content. Bleh.

So for now I leave you with photos from this weekend. Turns out I wasn't the only one rejoicing in the glorious spring sunshine.

La la la! So happy to be outside.

Comments [17]
Filed Under: Cats | Letter-writing

I've got blue skies

And it's in my yarn.

I love Koigu Kersti

I have just been all over the place lately, especially knitting-wise. I finished a pair of socks, but not a matching pair, and then I picked up something new, so that's 4 different socks that I've started in the last couple of weeks.

Cannot. Focus.

Help.

I also started on this little number using Koigu Kersti, a yarn I have never used before.

The beginnings of Tate's sweater

The yarn is perfectly scrumptious, the colors oh so blue, the texture oh so soft. Just perfect as a baby sweater. I'm hoping to finish it this week and send it off - and Charlie! - to its intended recipient who just arrived a week ago. He's my high school buddy's first child (and in some weird way I feel like he's my first child too?), and his name is Tate. Tate. Love that name.

Comments [18]
Filed Under: Vestee

Everyone's received at least one letter. Right?

It's been two weeks since participants of the KLS have received their penpals and I hope I hope I hope most everyone has written and sent their first letters.

Yah? Please?

Here's my little pile of letters that I have received over the last few weeks.

Happy happy! Joy joy!

Ah, such a small wonder how letters can bring about a case of the warm and fuzzies inside. I particularly enjoyed being addressed as "[My name] & Feline Staff." That gave me a good chuckle.

I'd love to see photos of your letters, so if you've received yours, let me know!

And if you have not received your first letter yet, also let me know and I'll uh...I will...er...well I don't know what I'll do exactly, except to make sure that a letter gets to you asap. I have plenty of stationery left!

Comments [44]
Filed Under: Letter-writing

Another swap, anyone?

I have: Two skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Amethyst Stripe
I want: Two skeins of the same yarn in a solid/semi-solid colorway (or equivalent sock yarn in a solid colorway). Firefly and Cranberry are really nice though I'm open to any colors - just need them to be solid.

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Amethyst Stripe
color 503 | dyelot 8610 | 215 yards each

Interested in trading? Lemme know!

Comments [11]
Filed Under: Yarn Stash

Definitely a favorite

I can't wait to finish these (Nancy Bush's Meida's Socks from IK's Favorite Socks). Fingers crossed that I don't run out of yarn. I've got only a skein of Lorna's Laces to work with. :-\ I figured if I was able to get away with these Child's First Socks using just a skein, I could probably do it with these. We shall see.

Comments [21]
Filed Under: Socks | Meida's

Desperate for Spring

Oooo. I am in a foul mood. Today we are experiencing what meteorologists up here in Boston love to call a "wintery mix." It starts as rain, with flecks of snow thrown in. That goes on for a hateful amount of time until you add some wind to it to get a hateful mix of driving rain and snow. Add some more of that hateful "blast of cold air coming in from Canada" now you've got an all-out blizzard. It's April and I hate it I hate it I hate it. These shenanigans would never happen in Barbados. Or Santa Fe (right?). Why am I still here?!

In knitting news. Kooch is at a point where I can actually start seaming. And yet, instead closing in on my first FO in over a year, I have this:

The Triumvirate of Sock. They can not be stopped.

Anna socks from Rowan 40 in Koigu.

Anastasia socks by pepperknit in Koigu again.

Meida's socks from IK's Favorite Socks, in Lorna's Laces.
LOVE this pattern.

What can I say. Tulips, magnolia and cherry tree blossoms and blue skies will not make their appearances here for another month yet. This is what I must do to tie myself over.

Desperate needs, desperate measures.

Comments [33]
Filed Under: Life | Socks