I'm Knitting & I Can't Stop!

 Today was a beautiful day to attend the NC State Fair.  We had a great time.  And now with photographic proof, I present my Swan Lake stole, designed by the talented Melanie of  PinkLemonTwist.  



I knew this was a beautiful stole, and knitting a mystery was a great deal of fun.  Never, did I imagine this.  Not only did it win a blue ribbon (in the hand knitted accessory category) but also won Best of Show for Hand Knit Garment.   I'm delighted to say the least.   I mentioned the KAL and Melanie when I was interviewed by our local paper's blog reporter too.  Not all of the quotes are completely accurate (I was talking fast), thank goodess this wasn't a vital story.  The reporter seemed interested in the whole concept of an internet knitalong.  What fun !!

Unless my dh dd, and dd's bff's mom are are LYING to me.  My Swan Lake stole, designed by PinkLemonKnits, won a ribbon at the NC State Fair!  I'm pretty exictied to say the least and plan to attend the fair when the gates open tomorrow to see for myself.  

Thank you Melanie for such a beautiful design, well written pattern, and getting me up early each Friday morning for the next clue.  I had a blast and hope there will be another Mystery Stole next year.

I love the Broadripple Sock!


Yarn: Elann Espirit, French Navy
Needles: 2.75mm bamboo dpn

What is the journalistic explanation for displaying Cho's self-dramatizing poses and self-justifying crap over network and cable news?  I find this even more offensive than anything Don Imus, Michael Richards, or Mel Gibson have spilled. 

I am not discounting is tradegy but shouldn't the media cover the victims, the survivors, the heros, and those being killed in Iraq and Darfur rather than pimping Cho's manifesto?

I didn't expect to love these socks but now that one is complete and second is already to the heel I've been converted.  I love the garter toe and heel and the ribbed foot is very cushy!

I was able to get three repeats of the cable chart on my cuffs.  These are my first toe up socks!  I split my yarn in half using my new digital scale! I love being able to knit a longer cuff without worrying that I'll run out of yarn. Toe ups are awesome!

I love the way this yummy yarn knits up and am so glad that I joined the 2007 Rockin Sock Club. Woot!





Details:
Pattern: Alternating 2X2 Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks,  by Charlene Schurch 
Needles: #1, 2.25mm bamboo dpns
Comments: I love the garter stitch edge on the heel flap, and the instructions about closing the gap are very clear!

Broadripples are quickly becoming my favorite sock to knit and wear.  Good thing I have 24 balls of Fixation and Esprit!



and on the feet



Details:

Pattern: Broadripple from Knitty (as written, no mods).
Yarn: Elann Esprit in Licorise Allsorts (2 balls, making a 7" cuff and 8.5" foot used all but a few feet of the yarn)

These are my first pair of Broadripples. 

The two balls of yarn were slightly different (despite being from the same dyelot) but I love them anyway.  This is the perfect sock throughout the year in NC!

Details
Pattern: Broadripple from Knitty, no mods
Yarn: Cascade Fixation, Purple Passion #9843 (2 balls for one pair of socks)
Needles: #2/ 2.75mm bamboo dpns

We don't have too many days like these in Raleigh NC! 



 Wait, don't throw that at me!!

First socks of 2007...Jaywalkers!




Pattern: Jaywalker by Grumperina

Yarn:  Opal Rainforest Collection, Ladybug

Needles: US #1, 2.25mm

This was a fun and easy knit.  I cast on the first sock way back in July, completed it in a few days, and immediately cast on the second.  I made it through the gusset decreases and then the heatwave hit. This yarn was just too warm and wintery to even touch. This week I finally picked it up and was done in one afternoon.  If only it were cold enough to wear them!

Eye Candy Friday - City of Oaks



This sculpture appeared in my neighborhood about a month ago.  I spotted it two weeks later when I was looking at Christmas lights.  Seeing it as I turned the corner I gasped, "What the H*** is that?." My daughter replied, "Oh yeah, that acorn's been there."  I respond, "There's a giant, copper acorn around the corner, and you forgot to mention it?"  

The Acorn belongs to the City of Raleigh and will be dropped at midnight on New Year's just like the ball at Time's Square.  Why drop an acorn?  Raleigh is the City of Oaks.  The artist that created the acorn lives down the block and brought it home to clean/polish it for Raleigh's First Night celebration.

This beautiful creature is a Red Shouldered Hawk an increasingly rare sight in the Southeastern US. This photo was taken in my front yard! I've often seen hawks circling high above my heavily wooded neighboorhood but this close up is a special treat.

the rpm socks that is off gauge and large enough to fit my husband but too loosely knit to make him a good sock.  why didn't i notice this 1-2 inches into the sock.  damn it.