More Joining

Yes, it's true. More socks! Socks and swaps. Does it get any better? (Love that colorway too... I love brown and turquoise together.) This one really gets underway after Sockapalooza, so if you like socks, please join us. Thanks, Amy for keeping me sock swapping!

Now, on that note, Amy and others have finished their Sockza socks. I just got the yarn, and am feeling like I'm waiting until the last minute. It's more than a month before I should ship them off, and I know the pattern will fly off the needles, yet all these early birds are making me feel behind! Pout!

In other knitting news, the back of the vest is finished. I doubt I'll show pictures until it is finished, including blocking. This baby is definitely going to need it. At the very least, it wants to be steamed and pressed before anyone else ganders at it.

Sockin' Along

And the first Sock of Summer marches on! I love two circs, although there is still some moving of stitches, but that must be the norm, regardless of what kind and how many sticks you use to make said sock. However, the sock would likely be done if I hadn't decided I really want to finish that vest before it's too hot to enjoy it. So, the sock will become my portable project and the project I grab when my hands want a bit of a break from the somewhat tedious stockinette and garter stitches of the vest, and/or from the weight of the vest. Bamboo is a light, fun yarn, but in vest proportions, it still weighs a lot!

I also have a bit of housekeeping to do here on the blog. Anne has opened sign-ups for round two of the dishcloth exchange, which is aptly called Dog Days of Summer. Of course, the boys think Auntie Anne must have named it just for them, and they're thinking up some fun contests and prizes based on that theme! (Mugsy is *SURE* the wet, white dog is an artistic rendering of him.) Please sign up before midnight on June 30th and join us in this bit of summer fun.

Next, being the joiner that I am in the online knitting world, I had to join Michelle's Christmas KAL. I haven't even started thinking about Christmas knitting yet, so it's good to have a friend and a KAL to smack me into reality. Tune in here for an upcoming list, although I suspect there will be a few mystery items, as my friends and family have started to check in here too. The more the merrier, and Christmas is all about being merry, so do join me there too.

We now return to the knitting already in progress...

Ready, set, SOCK!

You're only getting a post because the dogs are still out, and I can't cast on and hop up and down to let them back in. As soon as they get back from their perimeter check, we're off to the first Summer of Socks sock, and my first sock on two circs! See? Cat Bordhi's Columbine Peak and the Fortissima Cotton Color my Felted Bag pal sent me. (One more time, THANK YOU, oh still secret pal!)

If you need me, I'll be with my sock.

What to do when there's no sock to do

(Mugsy and I scared a squirrel when we went out on the back deck for the photo. Sorry!) The Oat Couture vest in Plymouth's Royal Bamboo is a little yellow-greener than my monitor shows. (Those point guards are coming in handy already, Felted Bag pal!) I'm knitting it on my Bryspun needles, and I like them a lot. Great tip, some flex to them, warmer than metal... but not my Knitpicks Options. I do like those best, but these are a nice straight needle. I'll have to order them in a #7 for dishcloths.

Before I forget again, happy Bloggerversary, Nancy! She's having a little contest too, and while I'm not sure my answer is the right answer, I'm trying anyway! Pop over and wish her well, will you?

The best news is that tomorrow, Summer of Socks begins! I will be casting on my first two circs. sock, maybe even tomorrow morning, if I can get to bed at a decent hour tonight, which isn't likely. (A meeting, and another tomorrow night, DARN IT!) I will decide firmly on the yarn tonight, and a pattern too, so that all I have to do as soon after 5AM tomorrow as possible is pick up the yarn, the circs and cast on!

Birthday meme

Interestingly enough, I was thinking about a famous person with whom I share a birthday this morning. Good timing, Anne!

Three events:

1. (The one I knew off the top of my head - thanks, Daddy!) 1863 - American Civil War: the Battle of Gettysburg begins.

2. 1963 - ZIP Codes are introduced for United States mail.

3. 1979 - Sony introduces the Walkman.

Two births:

1. 1961 - Diana, Princess of Wales (d. 1997) (The one I was thinking of this morning.)

2. 1906 - Estée Lauder, American entrepreneur (d. 2004)

One holiday:

Canada Day (formerly Dominion Day) - national holiday of Canada.


Here are the rules: The rules: You go to http://www.wikipedia.org/ and type in your birthday (only the month and day). Then you write down 3 events, 2 births, 1 holiday, and then you tag 5 friends.

I'll tag anyone wishing to play along, because not everyone enjoys meme...

Button up!

I have been remiss in adding an important button to my blog. I do knit daily, even if it's like yesterday, when I only get in a few rows. If you sign up, click on any of the patterns, and it will take you to a page full of patterns, including my beloved Squatty Sidekick.

Bead-dazzled

Thanks to the internet and tracking information, I knew before I left work that there was Loopy goodness on my front porch. Two skeins of Misty Mountain Farm's Blue Ridge Yarn Jubilee in different colorways, and sweet Loopy herself there. I have one skein in front of me now, and honestly, I can't stop petting it. I won't give anymore details, as one skein is for my Sockza pal's socks, and the other is of course, for me. However, having calculated my yarn purchases from the Virginia Yarn Crawl, that might be my last Loopy purchase for a while. (Think? No Sue, you're right... I won't be able to help myself, but it sounds good to admit I have a problem and pretend I'm in control!)

This little pretty was also in the Loopy box. I love bracelets, so the idea of a row/stitch counter that I can wear while I knit in public really appeals to me. I swear, I think all of Mary's purple writing must be wearing me down, because I find the blues, teals and PURPLES in the bracelet very pretty. Now, if I can just figure out how to best utilize it...

This little happy marker was also in my Loopy box, illustrating another reason I love shopping at The Loopy Ewe. Customer service, little gifts with purchase, and the best selection of sock yarn out there... what's not to love?! Yes, I buy sock yarn elsewhere, especially in person, but Sheri is the best, and has a cute blog too. (Pssst! Wanna know a secret? Sheri gives some SERIOUS hints about the sneak ups on her blog!) Is it just me, or does that blue, purple, teal and silver look simply wonderful?

Speaking of the talented and dear Mary, a second package addressed to me waited on the porch. (There were actually FIVE packages, but they were for Mark.) I knew it was coming, but was expecting it tomorrow, and I most certainly was not expecting all of the wonderment within. Just look!

Those are the stitch markers I was expecting. I'm breaking my own rules here and posting about goodies going out to others, but I can't help it. All of you need to see this lady's talent and help me pester her into business! I tried making stitch markers, and all I'm going to say is that the remainder of my starter kit is heading out to Mary later this week. It's the very least I can do for the incredible array of stitch marker awesomeness that arrived at my house today.

I was kinda' expecting these gems, as I'd shamelessly sent Mary a whole string of the milifori beads not long ago. Note the happy little sage green ribbon - one of my favorite shades of green, one of my favorite colors! I am so blessed to have found so many talented, generous, kind, friendly knitters online. So much for boring, dreary Mondays at my house. Second Monday in a row with outpourings of knitterly goodness on my front porch, and I still don't even know the name of one of the dear souls responsible for the great gifting...

Mary sent two sets of the milifori markers, and these, for me. I'd apologize for all the photos, but I know you want to see them all too! Aren't they sweet? I only wish I was more suited for something so pretty and classically ornate, but I'll enjoy feeling elegant and loved when I use them - all of them. The queen of charm bracelets is fast becoming a lavish stitch marker collector, all by the kindness of others!

There were three more sets in my little package (good things really *DO* come in small packages!), but I've changed my mind and will reveal them later, as they are gifts. I had to show you the purple dice though, which I suspect will be Blume's Accessories signature item, as they are very Mary, at least until she can convince her hubby to move! ;) So everyone, feel free to leave comments here, as Mary drops in for a cuppa' and some reading with her crocheting regulary, or pop on over to her own blog and tell her how badly you need her to set up shop somewhere online, post-haste, so you too can own your own Blume's Accessories custom-made with you in mind stitch markers!