Weekend Round-up...sort of

Friday Night I managed to finally get out and to the knit in at KnitWitz. I've been so sporadic with going what with work, being sick and just stuff. Glad I went Friday though. Managed to purchase the new Cat Bordhi book "New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One". There were only 2 copies left and I snagged one when I figured out what it was. Let me just say this book is so very cool. So very different...and so very totally making me want to sit and knit socks. So, Friday night when I finally got home after knitting and eating fabulous Mexican food, I found a single skein of yarn that I was fairly certain would work and did my little gauge swatch like she tells you to, well almost like she tells you to, and then started the 1st of the practice socks. I worked on it Saturday and then finished it Sunday evening. Between the book and working on my HP year 2 Sock Exchange sock, all I did was knit from Friday until Sunday. Actually I only knitted yesterday for Labor Day (what a funny name for a holiday...Labor Day and we get it off, well some of us do at least.) Anyway, it was an all knitting long weekend.

But back to the new book....I highly recommend this book. It has great pictures to help those of us who need visual aides as well as great written directions. I haven't quite figured out that very cool cast-on she shows you, but I'll get it eventually. I was too excited to really sit down and concentrate. Just had to get started on this first pathway sock. I've started it's mate, so it will eventually go to some deserving child. Just have to figure out which one.

In other knitting news. I also put together my Eliza Tank on Friday at the knit-in and got to ring the bell! I haven't posed for pictures with it on yet, stay tuned for those. Finally I did work on my Lynton cardigan yesterday while watching football. At least I managed to do something constructive during a game that for at least half of it I was not feeling the love, or the football for that matter. Let me just say that I have hopes that the rest of the season will go a bit better now that they have that nastiness out of their system. But I'm a realist and know that an almost entire new offensive coaching staff and a few months does not a National Championship make. But like my Michigan friends I have other things to look forward to in the season and I'll set my sights on those little tidbits of possible football joy. (BTW, yes, I did graduate from Florida State, so I earned the right to be a 'Nole. I fully believe that if you graduated from any school you have the right to be a huge fan. But that's another post, for another time.)

A quick stitching note. September is "September Smalls" month, which means working on any of those small projects that have accumulated in my WIPs/UFOs/Stash. I deviated from the normal Tuesday Christmas Ornament stitching to pull out "the cubie" and have a go at it. I have fall and winter side done, so opted for Summer, since hey...technically it's still summer. Managed to get a bit done. I'll try to take some pictures and post them tomorrow.

I think that does it. Happy knitting and stitching!

I present some finishes

Finally something to show for all the work I've been doing.

I found the right size of dpn's to complete the knitting of "the hat". I love the colors and I just know it will be so cute when I get around to doing the felting part. I need to felt a couple of other things, so I may have a "day of felting" soon. I just love how this pattern, from Pick Up Sticks, does the brim. Even though it looked like a really simple pattern, it did teach me a new technique, so I was really happy with that. Making the "tuck" is really cool and I think when it felts will really add to how it is shaped.

Second, I finally have a picture of my completed Monkey socks!!!!! Made from Jitterbug in the Jay colorway, I just love these. If there weren't so many other sock patterns I want to try I'd probably sit down and make another pair of these. When I was making them I wasn't quite sure if I'd have enough to make 6 repeats of the lace pattern on the leg, and when I measured it on my leg I wasn't sure I wanted the socks to be quite that high, so I did change the pattern and did only 4 patern repeats. Works wonderfully on me, so I'm happy. This was also my first experience with Jitterbug and I really liked working with it. It's got a great feel. This skein was a gift from my dear friend Jill, but I'm sure I'll be purchasing more in the future.

Finally I leave you with a glimpse of the socks I'm working on for the Harry Potter Sock Exchange. My pal is in Ravenclaw and I finally recieved my yarn on Friday. I sat down and started right away, so you see a bit of where I've gotten to. I have hit a snag. I had designed something to do at this point in the socks, but it appears I miscounted. (Really I do know how to count, but sometimes....) anyway, I've had to go back to the drawing board, so to speak and no progress can be made until I figure out what I want to do. The yarn is Louet Gems and I think it's very appropriate for Ravenclaw colors. Notice I went with the movie colors as my pal said she didn't care either way and I love the silvery color with the blue best. I really hope she likes them.

Speaking of the HP Sock Exchange, I've had an idea for a little extra something for my pal as she's an avid reader. I'm hoping to have a prototype made this weekend. If so, I'll post a picture and see what you all think.