Oh my...

It has been so long since I posted that I barely remember how it works.

We took our annual trip to Mammoth Lakes and it was as relaxing and lovely as always. I can always feel the stress and worries drain from my body as we spend time in nature. It might be just a tad on the quiet side, only because we've done it so often, but we always manage to find something new-to-us to see or do.

I was working on these socks while we were there and they are still not finished. I'm almost to the toe of the second sock, but that doesn't count as finished. I love the color of this yarn. It felt like Fall in Mammoth since the nights were in the high 20s/low 30s so it was the perfect color.

Take care,

I need to update the following chart, but I'll do that later.

Started 2018 with UFO projects: 23
New YTD:7
Gave away YTD:0
Trashed/dismantled YTD:
Sold unfinished UFOs YTD:0
Finished YTD: -7
So far 2018: 23

Socks... a new pattern for me.

I just realized that I never wrote a post about one of the last pairs of socks that I knit. I started and finished these in August and knit another pair of Tesserae's in November. This one was a new-to-me pattern and I found it interesting to knit. I will definitely make more of this pattern as it fits really well. Waffle Creams by Anne Hanson. Her patterns always make me happy!

I used BMFA STR Lightweight in Pond Scum colorway. To this date, still my very favorite yarn for socks. If you've tried it and like something better, I would love to hear from you.

Take care,

Started 2018 with UFO projects: 22
New YTD:2
Gave away YTD:0
Trashed/dismantled YTD:
Sold unfinished UFOs YTD:0
Finished YTD: -1
So far 2018: 23

Shawls, a finished hat, and the start of socks...

I've managed to block all the rest of the shawls that I made between October and December 2017. These are all made from the same pattern... the Forget Me Not Shawl pattern by Adrienne Ku. It's easy to knit and it's a pretty "fabric" when finished. I used sock yarn scraps for all three of these shawls and just combined as I went along.

Here's the first:

The darker shade is a dark purple, although it might almost look black in the photo. It looks purple IRL.

Here's the second:

... and here's the third one:

Forgive the photos on this one... irl the shawl is much brighter, more blue, more green, and more magenta... if that makes any sense. I'll take outdoor photos and I'm sure they will look more realistic when I take the "pretty" photos of all five so I can list them for sale in my etsy shop. My husband is going to take them into his workplace first so maybe I won't be listing all five. :)

The Liatris Hat is finished and I'm quite happy with it! It's a beret-style and looks cute when it's on. Too bad I don't have a model for the photos! :)

Last, but not least, I started a new pair of socks. The Go With The Flow sock pattern. I've made it before, it's easy to knit, and an interesting design. The yarn is BMFA STR Lightweight colorway Pop Rocks. They're going to be pretty!

Happy Weekend!

Take care,

Started 2018 with UFO projects: 22
New YTD: 2
Gave away YTD:0
Trashed/dismantled YTD:
Sold unfinished UFOs YTD:0
Finished YTD:1
So far 2018: 23

Socks and a little trip!

I started the first pair of these socks in early September so I would have something to take along on our road trip to Lake Tahoe and Truckee. I was originally planning on working on my Lucy Boston blocks but found there wasn't adequate lighting in our accommodations to enable me to see to do hand stitching. So I knit instead. It's relaxing and very enjoyable anyway so I didn't mind at all. This pair is the Tesserae pattern by Anne Hanson that I love so much. Such an easy knit!

The second pair is a pattern called the Roger Sock also by Anne Hanson. I love her patterns as they are always so easy to read/understand. I much prefer written directions rather than a chart and that's what she provides.

Both pairs of these socks will be in the shop shortly.

Our trip to Lake Tahoe and Truckee was fun and both Donner Lake and Tahoe (below) were gorgeous. We had wonderful weather while we were there... it was in the high 70s during the day and really cooled off during the evenings. One afternoon/evening there was a rain/snow storm which left the mountain tops in South Lake Tahoe covered with snow (quite a bit which melted the next day). And, believe it or not, it was 19 degrees the next morning as we left to head home. As luck would have it, we had our nice warm jackets with us! :) It was just so nice to get away for a few days.

Take care,

It was cold today!!

On Tuesdays, our mini-group meets at Jane's house from 10-4pm. We sew/quilt in her garage, which has basically been coverted to a sewing studio... large enough to accommodate 6 or 7 of us. It's wonderful sitting outside to sew, but today I have to admit that it was c-o-l-d. My feet still have not warmed up.

I took this photo in Jane's backyard of the latest pair of socks I finished (my 2nd finish this year). I liked the idea of using the rocks to contrast the socks. This yarn is the new Australian Merino wool sold at Joanns. I have been wanting to try it since I first saw all of the beautiful, muted colors it comes in. It's 8-ply and it knits up beautifully, but it's easy to separate the strands as you knit. The socks feel wonderful to the hand, but I haven't worn them yet so don't know how they will wear and/or stretch. For $14.99 a skein (and it takes two for a pair of socks), I'm not sure I recommend it. If you can get each skein for 40% or 50% off, then it's a good deal.

Karen brought another of her embroidery quilts to ahare with us today. We still all marvel at just how quickly she does the embroidery, but also gets the quilt completed. This is just the top, but I guarantee you that it will be quilted within the month.

Those blocks are adorable and look at all the embroidery on them!! That's a lot of work!!

Take care,

Bags and socks... that's my life!

I've been making lots of bags this last year and knitting socks, but I have done practically nothing that I could call quilting. Except purchasing quilt fabric, of course! I have one more commitment in each of these categories and then I am free to do a little quilting. Don't get me wrong - I enjoy making bags and knitting socks and when someone wants to buy them, well that's the icing on the cake. But, I do have a couple (more than that really) quilts that are close to being finished and it would be wonderful to call them done! :)

This is the latest Caravan tote I made. Again, it was fabrics supplied by my "customer/friend" from which I was able to choose. I love doing it that way since then she gets something she knows she'll like and I still get to feel creative.

The Caravan tote is a wonderful pattern. It's the perfect size with lots of pockets and it looks so sophisticated. The only modifications I make are to use Soft & Stable and to make a recessed zipper.

And, these are the latest socks I knit. I've been using the Tesserae pattern over and over because I love it, it fits really well, and it's so easy I don't have to think about it while knitting. As long as it fits the foot it's made for, I'm happy. I used BMFA Socks That Rock Lightweight in the Sassafrass colorway. And... they're for me! :)

On a different note, we have been having the exterior of our house painted and they will be finishing up today. Our painters have done a great job as it looks wonderful! Just in time for the El Nino rains. We also had our gutters cleaned and our drains cleared so we're pretty much ready.

Today I changed to flannel sheets on the bed so it's actually starting to feel like fall. We're still having warm days, but the nights are a lot cooler. Yea!!

Happy weekend!

Take care,

Mango Tango Socks!

It's been awhile since I knit myself a new pair of socks. I started these with the intention of putting them in the shop, but I tried them on and I'm hooked. They are so comfortable, the fit is perfect, and I love the pattern... it's called Go With The Flow and the yarn I used is my favorite - Socks That Rock Lightweight. This colorway is called Mango Tango.

This pattern is a very fast and very easy knit. It took me a little over a week, knitting only in the evenings. 

Take care,