One Jay

Since it's the day after her birthday, I'm still humoring the little woman, as I sometimes call MJ. Her first question this morning, upon arriving at work was, "Is my sock on the internet yet?" (meaning here, in the blog).

"Um... no..." I replied with some shame.

"Why not?!" with much indignation.

So, without further ado, here's her first knitted sock, in all its glory. Have I mentioned how much I love this yarn with this pattern?

Has anyone else noticed that Ravelry likes to crop photos, even if you use the little drag and drop thingee? That's why the sock isn't any bigger in that photo. I'm trying to figure out what the right size for Ravelry might be.

For the unJayed out there, here's a close-up. It's a very simple pattern. Row one is knit all the way around, and row two repeats on each of the four needles (assuming dpns). The colors are a little deeper and darker in person, but you know the drill with me and my lack of photography skills.

The mate is coming right along. They won't match, because I have no idea where in the skein that thinnish pink band (at top of sock #1) happens. In the second sock, it's an EVEN THINNER band, of the likes not seen in sock #1, more like the very narrow pink band in the foot of sock #1. So, I decided not to even try to match 'em up. The colors are the same dye lot, and she'll wear them with jeans and clogs most of the time, so...

Also, don't forget Anne's contest ends on the 15th! I'm glad I didn't have time to enter before we left for the beach, because this pattern is going to be one of mine, even though I know Anne isn't likely to suddenly take up socks any time soon.

Second Wind

For those of you dear souls who actually read all of my posts, this is really a continuation of the Marathon post below. Otherwise, jump in! There's actual knitting content here.

First though, we have to take care of some coffee swap business. Holly wants to know:

As the cold of winter approaches, do you change the projects you work on? Do you work on gifts for others or do you continue working on projects for yourself?

You mean other than socks?! I'm supposed to be doing some lace and other holiday knitting, but there are November/early December birthdays that require some knitting too. I'm not working on anything for me right now, and the goal is to not knit for myself until after the holiday knits AND my Pay it Forward knits are complete. As this was my first calendar year of knitting, I did find myself picking non-wool, smaller items in the heat of summer, save socks of course.

No, I haven't finished the Jaywalker yet, but thanks for asking. It seemed like a good plan at the time to knit my child-footed mother inlaw's socks on #0s, but - DUH? - little needles mean little stitches, which all adds up to taking forever to knit one friggin' sock. I do love the pattern, so that helps, but after whipping out the Knight's pair in no time, this is a humbling reminder that even short woman socks can take a long time.

So how 'bout those finished Fred socks? They're lovely, the really are. (And yes, the Knight wanted them that short.)

Details:

Pattern - Beaded Rib from Sensational Socks.

Changes - I'm in love with the magic cast-on from Cat Bordhi, so that's what I used. Yes, toe-up, with a short-row heel.

Needles - Size #2 circs, my Harmonys.

Yarn - Alabama Fiber's custom, Fred's Yarn

And now, those pesky, tiny Jaywalkers. They're being done in KnitPicks' Felici, in Hummingbird. I am in love with this pattern. It might replace the Monkey as my favorite sock pattern, but you know I'm fickle. I'm almost done with the foot decreases now, and with a not quite size five ladies shoe as my goal and a 2" toe, I really think I can finish them tonight. That is of course, if I quit blogging and return to knitting, but a girl's gotta' eat, right? I can blog and eat, but I can't knit and eat, so cut me some slack, will ya'?

The other thing that slows me down on these socks is about every ten rows or so, I have to stop and admire 'em. If I didn't know that I'd get to see them nearly every time they're worn, I don't know if I could give them up. Soft yarn, pretty stripes... Yeah, that's why they call it yarn porn. I do have more Felici for the Knight - in the Firefighter colorway! - but I'm thinking I need another colorway for me too. I might not get around to knitting them in the next decade, but when I do, I'll love the way this yarn and this pattern groove together!

I'm doing beach laundry and missing the sound of the waves breaking. So to console myself, I offer this:

It's the view off the front porch on a clear day. I miss you, OBX. The good news is, we'll be back. My aunt and I spent 40 minutes on the phone today, talking about the beach. They're headed down tomorrow for a couple of days.

Last, but hardly least, I offer some evidence of non-knitting crafting. I've mentioned before that a group of us gathers monthly to scrap and stamp. Last night, they got all organized and we had both a scrapping "take away" and a stamping workshop. I know some of you enjoy those crafts too, so here's what we did:

Creative Memories door journal box:

Stampin' Ups gift tags and card:

Please note all of the purple. Gah! It's growing on me. Especially when paired with a green, I'm starting to like it. Not that I had a choice; these colors were pre-selected for the mini workshop.

Well, dinner's done, so that means I should wrap it up here and return to the sock. Thanks for reading!

Everything's Better at the Beach

Before I wax poetic, I must mention Anne's latest contest. Scoot over and talk patterns and get in on another of Anne's great prizes.

First, some sock love. It's kinda' ironic to be grinding out socks at the beach, where socks aren't much of a priority for me, but I was delighted to finish my second Tofutsie, after so very much ado. Isn't it pretty?! (There's no sun at the beach today. Sorry.) Mugsy's beach towel is a rather blah background, but the socks are colorful enough for everything.

That takes us straight to Fred's Yarn in the Knight's socks. It's a low-maintenance pattern for a no-frills guy, the beaded rib from Sensational Socks. The second sock is well underway, and I hope to finish it tonight during House.

The Knight earned another jewel for his shield again today. First stop: Knitting Addiction. Sigh. We're just going to have to come down here often enough to call it my LYS. Maybe beaches just have great yarn shops (Knitting Up a Storm, Myrtle Beach), or maybe there's just no LYS like a shop owned and operated by a female volunteer fire fighter. I wanted one of everything, but paced myself, a bit. The first shot is of the wrap pattern I couldn't resist and the yarn Jeanne helped me me select for it. She wound everything almost without asking; a simple, "Here, I'll wind that while you continue shopping" began what I hope will be a real friendship.

There were a couple of if they see it they'll know it is for them purchases, but here's the rest of my haul. I'm sure several of you recognize the Blue Sky Cotton. This color just called my name, and will most likely become Cass's eye pillow. My Bryspuns are my favorite straights, so I've always wanted to try the circs. If they are so wonderful, I'll be calling Jeanne; she does ship.

I'll be doing a "real" write-up for the LYS review blog in due time, but folks, if you're ever anywhere near the Outer Banks, North Carolina, stop in. I can't believe this shop is only a mile from my aunt's beach house, so I'm calling it my LYS, and it will be another reason to swing down this way as often as possible. While chatting with me about a mutual friend and winding my yarn, Jeanne greeted the regulars by name, and helped two other customers. I don't think any of us felt jilted; she easily and graciously multitasked as only a great woman can do.

Looking for my Benefactor

I arrived home to find not one, not two, but FIVE packages on the porch for me. Amazing! Two were Pampered Chef supplies, so we'll gloss right over those. Take a look at what the rest of them had inside! All of that, for me. Well... maybe not, but we'll say it is.




The mass on the left is Carodan's own wool. Evidently, on the last Saturday in September, I already knew I wasn't going to make it to the Fall Festival and I purchased a little extra when I ordered by October Tofutsies Sock of the Month Club. (That's on the right, with the pattern peeking out at the top.) The replacement Harmony needles from KnitPicks are the blur in the lower center, and that awesome book on the bottom is the big mystery.



Are you my benefactor? I'm positive I've never ordered from Powell's in Oregon. Heck, the only thing I've ever gotten from Powell's of Virginia is a hope chest, and I didn't buy it. Besides, I was still using my maiden name then. Also, the ship to/bill to are to my name you all know me by, and there is a super-secret (shut up Anne) first name, by which all of my online shopping happens. The order was filled/placed on October 3rd, which was the day I left home thinking both dogs were healthy and all was right in my world, so there's no good reason for me not to remember making such a special order. Whoever you are, THANK YOU from the bottom of my Amazon left me high and dry on this one heart. I am taking this book with me tonight to my training class, carefully tucked into my portfolio, so that while I'm supposed to be learning how to use all the neato features on the new website, I can really be learning how to knit the perfect sock. (I mean, if I can blog and knit, can't I figure out how to do whatever on a website?!)





Here's a close-up of *MY* Tofutsies. October is my favorite month, green, a favorite color, so... MINE! A great apple green with dashes of black, white, and maybe some grey too. Have I mentioned lately how much I love this yarn?!





I would also be remiss if I didn't blow kisses to Caroline or whomever re-addressed my package and still got it to me in a timely fashion, all while either preparing for or being at Stitches East. They didn't even charge me an idiot fee or the additional shipping I'm sure they had to pay. Now THAT is customer service. Thanks, Carodan!





Now, knitting has been happening, but you know we can't talk about what you can't see, because then Anne begins going gangsta' on our friends, trying to get them to tell her about her surprise. Like she really wants to ruin it. Silly girl...


So, I decided I wanted to finish my first pair of Tofutsies. I cast on (love that magic cast on!) while playing fetch with Mugsy. No need to do more than glance at the pattern and go, much less look at my notes or the first socks, right? Erm, uh...

As you can see, it *DOES* make a difference whether one casts on 14 stitches on EACH needle or TOTAL stitches. Not only is the sock on the left wider at the toe, it's toe portion is actually SHORTER before the pattern begins, because, well, it's faster to get to 36 stitches on a needle when you have seven more stitches to begin with. Sadly, it seems that the second sock is the version intended by the pattern's designer (am I right, Deby?), but since #1 is done and I liked the fit... I'm leaning towards frogging and repeating sock #1, but I'm also wondering how I ended up with 36 stitches when I started with an odd number and increase on each end of each needle. The socks are for me, and will always be work with closed-toe shoes, so... ?? Thoughts? Opinions?

Shrug This and Cuff It

Only because Amanda is awesome, and she wanted to see the shrug made in her yarn... Y'all know I'm not apt to win any photography awards. The Knight rushed off to the firehouse, because he has crew AND bingo duty tonight, and his good friend was there "opening" alone, so I was stuck trying to get a photo by myself, of myself. I tried outside, but it just wasn't happening. I think between the three, you get the idea. I lurvers it, and will be wearing it as soon as Mary reclaims her oppressive, unseasonable heatwave. I'm quite certain even my mother inlaw could snap a shot that would do the shrug, the yarn and me more justice, so keep checking back for a "real" photo. Gals of all sizes, this is the shrug pattern for you. Adjust the gauge a bit either way, and you can make this shrug fit your frame. I am exceptionally pleased with the way the perfect yarn and pattern met in this little semi-garment!

In other knitting news, in the precious few minutes the Knight did spend sitting in his recliner checking email, I *FINALLY* finished the first Tofutsie's August sock of the month, in the featured pattern Summer Daze. It's my first toe-upper, and I'm in love. See the ruffly little cuff?! How cute is that?! And the colorway is as close to true as I've seen anywhere online. There's some of everything in there, even orange.

It fits like a dream. (I swear my calves are not small tree trunks. Hagrid is not a part of my family tree! I actually rotated the photo 180 degrees, so maybe?!? Yeah. Let's blame it on that.) Some have fussed about the pooling in this colorway, with this pattern, but I don't mind at all. It's a cheery, busy, comfy sock, and I might just ignore Anne's bag this week and see if I can't churn out the mate in time to wear it before we get another tropical heat wave. I can't wait to try more of Deby's patterns, especially her yet to be released shawl pattern, done in Tofutsies yarn.

The good news is my October Tofutsies Sock Club yarn shipped out on Friday, so it should be here tomorrow. It's a green and black colorway, so I'm excited! Of course, I still have several balls of Tofutsies in the stash...

PS - Any spots on the mirror or other visible grime must be forgiven. I had to use the Knight's bathroom, as mine would have had echoes back and forth from the two mirrors, and I think y'all know why he didn't care to clean his bathroom this past weekend.

Uptown Girl!

My good pal fortune continues. In Sock it to Me, a very light-hearted "Tink" had been emailing regularly. She sent me the mother lode of teaser packages early in the swap, proving that she'd read my questionnaire and then some, and really making me curious. From that package, I knew we shared a Loopy passion, and yet again, I tried to guess my pal's identity. I was dead wrong, of course, and do hereby renounce future hunches! Thanks Ana, although I do feel guilty that it seems knitting socks for me led you to call your blog the Frog Pond.

So, feast your eyes on my Uptown Boot Socks in Cherry Tree Hill, in Cherry. They fit like a dream, and feel like a cloud. I love red, but I'll be on the lookout for more red tops now, so I have every excuse to wear these socks very regularly. (Yes folks, my feet are that short. Lucky Ana, huh?) Oh, and don't tell the Knight, but I'll need another pair of clogs too, because my favorites are brown and a multi-colored felt, and these want a navy and/or black pair.

Even though she'd already sent goodies above and beyond expectations, the awesome Ana sent more. How 'bout that Scout's Swag yarn in "secret colorway"?! I love it! The Godiva is resting up for its big moment, after dinner. I'll have to put both dogs outside, because they can't have chocolate - like I'd share. (I mean, I guess I could, but you're not here, so it's all theory and conjecture anyway.) The cute yellow thingee is the result of an especially strange question Ana asked a couple of weeks ago. Out of the blue, she emails me and lists a very odd assortment of animals and asks which would be my favorite. (No, dogs weren't on the list, nor were horses. Go figure.) It's "Kooly the Koala" a kritter craft case. He's already holding the notions I use the most - my chibi, measure tape, scissors, etc. Isn't he cute?!

Thank you, Ana. And thanks AJ, for hosting a fun sock swap. It's always a little bittersweet when a swap winds down, but I still have three in the works, so I should get back to knitting. Tomorrow? Knitting and shopping. I hope to mail my Vegan Pal 2 swap out next week, and then, you still won't get to see the pictures of the secret project!

No More Monkeyn' Around

With a nod to my Knitter's Knight for the photo, here are the Monkeys. Done. They are a titch big on me, so I hope that means they'll fit with the negative ease my Sock it to Me pal says she likes. I don't mind pooling, so I hope she doesn't either. Sorry for the blindingly white legs, but that's what I have. They brighten up the photo anyway.

The stats: Knitpicks Memories, in the Red Hat colorway. Size 2.5mm/#1.5 dpns, the bamboo Addis. Only a few yards left over. Each size 9 sock took nearly a whole ball. I enjoyed the Monkey pattern, but have decided that for me, toe-up, short-row heels fit better. (But hey! These aren't for me...)

So, the socks and their pals will hit the road tomorrow, along with my tea pal's package, and my portion Jessi's prizes for winning the bingo game. Congrats again girl!

Now, if you'll excuse me, it's past my bedtime.

Monkey Pooled

Sock it to Me pal, we're halfway there. It's a terrible photo, but there it is. It is too big for my sock blocker, which means your foot size is average or better. I will block them when both socks are done, which I hope will improve the presentation. The pooling doesn't bother me, so I hope you'll appreciate it as the way the yarn flows too. (Funny thing about pooling - hate it or accept is as part of the art?) However, I am crazy about the pattern. I now understand why Cookie A patterns are favorites of sock knitters everywhere.

In other knitting news, the yarn for my tea pal arrived Tuesday. Now, the big decision is whether to cast on for the bag for that package, or the second Monkey? I won't have much time for either tonight, or Thursday night. Wow. When I talk like that, the weekend is almost here! Any big plans for your weekend?

Let's Go to Vegas!

Luck is a man. He's hot, and he's dancing with me. I wonder if the Knight would like to skip work and scoot to Charlestown? He's a natural card shark, and Luck is with me.

PHEW. That's me, breathing a sigh of relief. Amanda got her socks, and they fit! It was a great little pattern, and I'll be doing it again when ankle socks seem in season. It does my heart good to know that the second pair of socks made for someone else fits. That means that statistically (did I mention before that I love statistics, the math concept?), I should stop fretting over the Monkey socks for my Sock it pal. They fit me, and I wear very "average" socks, and pal says she does too. The wicked Knight suggested I should keep them, but I won't. With a little luck, by week's end, both my Sock it pal's package and my Tea pal's package will head in their directions.

And speaking of Sock it to Me, guess what?! I hereby renounce my right to pout out loud that I never win anything. Contest #2 simply required me to gush about my favorite yarn. In return, I've won gift certificates to here and here! Thank you, thank you!!


There's really not a lot to report here, but what else to do in the middle of the night when sleep is elusive? Monkey #1 will be done Tuesday evening, and my search continues for just the right things to send with them. I bought the ribbon for my Mandy's Candy Bag Monday night. Those of you who scrap or sew already know you can buy ribbon with ANYTHING on it, but I was still filled with toddleresque glee when I spotted it. No, you can't see, but you'll get a finished object photo soon enough, maybe even in the next day or two!

Froggin, a Monkey, Harmony and a Penguin

Well, after about a dozen false starts, my poor Sock it to Me pal has a sock in progress. Recognize it? Yep. It's a Monkey. I'm really enjoying the pattern, and the way the Knitpick Memories is working up in it. And yes, those are DPNs you see. Turns out I miss the little buggers when I stay away too long. They're the Addi 2.50 mm #1s I bought during the Sockza crisis. I like them too, but I think I'll be buying the lot of the Knitpick Harmony needles. Every size, every style... Seriously.

Guess what?! That color is also as close to accurate as I can get. It's a fun colorway, and I do hope it will please my pal as much as it is coming to please me. (For those of you serving as my confessors, pause for the SNOL at the irony of that statement. You've earned it.)

Of course, I couldn't stay away from Summer Daze. (More irony; it was in the mid-40s this morning. No Indian summer happening here.) If you click on the photo, you can see my happy, beloved Harmony circs. Honestly, had I ordered a larger size (these are wee 2.25 mm #1s), I think I would carry them around and/or wear them in my hair. They're that pretty, even with the diminished colorations in the wee needles. I'm not a metal girl anymore. I suspect my tried and true metal KnitPick Options will alway have their purposes (wool?), but these lighter, warm, little works of art have my heart. A couple of reviews on the Tofutsies group have challenged their use with variegated yarns, and I don't think you can get more colorful than this one, and I had no trouble at all. Now, I will have to set this treasure aside and focus - FOCUS! - on the socks with a deadline.

Friday night, I made an attempt to channel my inner scrapbooker. She wasn't quick to come out, but she did join hands with my not-so-inner shopper and swipe a couple of baby-related items so I can (get this - multi-crafting!) scrap my photos of the babies and blankies I've connected with my gifts this year. She did leap to the front of the bus during this little project. I love to journal in my scrapbooks, so a cute journal box is always a hit. My sweet consultant punched and cut out all of the pieces for each of us, so all we had to do was follow along with the adhesive of choice, but he's a doll. My stepson likes "pingwings" so it will go somewhere on a page about him.

Sit, Knit, Heel

So, I frogged back last night, re-knitted the first part of the heel, and this afternoon, flew through the rest of the heel with ease. Go figure. And there's the misleading photo on the left, that makes the colorway look sage and pink. Poo! I wish...

Anyone else have great luck when you approach a troublesome pattern with a fresh outlook on another day? I couldn't believe how easily it flowed this time. Actually, I missed one little sentence in the instructions, and it made all the difference in the world. (I used to think I had good reading comprehension skills.)

There's a close-up of the happy little heel. (Pardon the glare, but at least it gives you a realistic view of the colorway.) I'm sure it could be prettier, but that will come with repetition. There's at least one more with the mate to be done, and I think I'll do toe-up again, at least after my pretty new Knitpicks arrive. Have I mentioned lately that I hate these Susan Bates Quicksilvers? (Free to a good home... seriously.)

I hate to cut this short, but House is on, and Mugsy is now using the Tofutsies skein as a pillow.

Unheeled

I don't think it's a coincidence that I often type a mildly naughty word instead of heel. My friendship with Devon was born of my first failed heel, and now Jessi is trying to help with the first toe-up short row heel, which after chatting with the pattern writer, I fear is a bigger mess than I thought. (Are the pictures any help at all? Can anyone see what I've done wrong!?)

However, the pretty little sock will have until Friday or Saturday to be heeled (that's for you, Anne!), as when I head home this afternoon, I'll have to finish packing and head to the airport. Cookbook University, here I come! I'm very sorry I won't get to see any of Nashville while I'm there. It's been over a decade since I've had time to putz around that city.

Oh - and someone remind me on Friday to submit my Short Story first line for the contest, okay?

Tofutsie Up!

I can now add Magic Cast-on and Toe Up socks to my resume. Sure, I'm a long way from complete, but there's a little toe and foot for ya. I don't know why all the photos of this August limited edition Tofutsies makes it look all sage and pink, because the toe is much more accurate; it looks like a hodge-podge of summer colors with yellow, orange, a Caribbean blue, and a little black for contrast I guess. The photo of the yarn is much more accurate. It took some dry runs, but I got the hang of the Magic Cast-on soon enough, and my M1s up the toe turned out better than I could have hoped. I think I might like toe-up better, but we'll wait and see how the heel goes first.

See the little divot/dimple/crimp on the needle to the left front? That's what will keep me from using these Susan Bates Quicksilver circs again. The point is fine, the surface is fine, but that dimpled join is a bear, as is the odd, gentle bend in the needle just above the join. I've also decided that I really prefer the 16" length for socks, so I'll be ordering more Knitpicks when I get a chance. Right now, I need to head to the fire house for dinner and a membership committee meeting. I'm taking my sock with me. Summer Daze, an exclusive pattern available only with the limited edition colorway, was easy to memorize, so I won't need to bring the paper along.

Anyone else getting some long weekend knitting done? I'll work on the laundry when I get home...

Anne's First Pattern

Anne has designed her first pattern, and she's having a contest! Here's my cloth, or rather, the cloth I knitted from the pattern. The Knight has already claimed it as his own, quite pleased that Anne made it large enough for a man-sized washcloth. I don't know what the colorway is, but the remainder of the Sugar & Cream ball will be used to make baby booties! If you want the pattern and/or you want to enter the contest, head over and get the pattern, and then post a photo of your finished cloth. There are other instructions, but you'll see 'em on Anne's blog. It was a quick, fun pattern!

The details: Yarn - Sugar 'n Cream. Needles - #7 straights. Method: Continental, all the way.





Also, does a single finished sock constitute a finished object? I'm just curious, because technically, the socks are a pair... At any rate, the first of Amanda's socks is complete. It's a cute little pattern, and it also knits up very quickly. I'm so glad she offered to take in the little fella', saving it from an uncertain future.

My first efforts at two socks on two circs died before the first round was complete. I'm just not coordinated enough for that challenge right now. I'm casting on with Tofutsies for the Summer Daze toe-up pattern, just because it is a little different. The fun, quick little pinky will be my travel project next week, and if it is anything like my trip to Chicago, I'll have it done before I get home. This time, I fly out of my local airport with a friend, but I fly home alone, so delays will mean I have no one to talk to and plenty of time to knit.

Back to socks now!

Two Circs, Two Socks

So, finally, some non-baby related blogging and knitting, eh? This arrived today, courtesy of UPS. I can't wait. I think I'm going to dump my current sock - or maybe frog it, since I don't think it will fit the intended recipient - and jump right in here. There are even a couple of patterns with Fixation, which I happen to have on hand! There are nine wonderful patterns, lots of clear instructions with pictures and detailed explanations, and I don't think I can wait to get started. There are three sizes (women's small, medium and large) for each pattern, but the handy-dandy chart every sock book should have with shoe sizes, measurements and more is in the front in case you want to get really personal. I've only flipped through it, but I can't wait. (You're lucky I'm finishing this post.)

Here's the sock in progress, which I briefly considered frogging. Maybe I'll give it to one of the teeny-footed gals on my Christmas list. Okay. That's the plan now, because you know frogging gives me heartburn. Thanks for helping me work through that little bit of indecision. Just because it isn't right for the person I had in mind, doesn't mean it isn't a great sock. There. That's a pretty fair representation of the colorway, which is some Sockotta. I'm not crazy about the yarn. It's just there. There are other blends that feel better slipping through my hands, but it knits up well, and I do like the colors. (See my Sockza bag in use?) The pattern was quick and fun, and I'm about 1/4" from turning the heel, so why frog? Heck, *I* am a rather small-footed gal myself...

The colorway isn't that blue, but evidently, you can't have accurate color AND a decent shot of the pattern. Go figure. It's from Learn to Knit Socks, Little Pinky. Fun, easy to memorize pattern, in an ankle length. I think it would look great on one of my skinny-legged friends. So, no frogging. Can't do it, but I am moving on so I can knit two socks at the same time. I also want to do the toe-up thing, especially since Surviving sent me the cool You Tube link to the Magic Cast On and more. So many socks, so little time!

PS - My Pay it Forward list is full, but I hope you'll find someone whose isn't!

Grace, Hope and Love

It's hard not to hold a very newborn baby and fall in love. Everything seems right with the world when you watch first-time new parents gush and coo, and share their precious gift and their joy with their family and friends. Thank you PoG (Parents of Grace) for bringing a little more beauty, joy, hope and love into the world.

Here is Miss Grace, showing off her first pair of socks. (Good thing I didn't knit newborn size!) There's just a bit of growing room, but they were so well received that I'll be making a couple more pairs in this size, and lots more in the next. No, the photography isn't even good, but she's barely 48 hours old, and isn't fond of light yet, much less a flash. You've seen the socks before, so just admire the Sleeping Beauty wearing them. She snoozed through most of our first visit, and her dad has a shot of my Knight cradling Grace in his left arm, while coordinating fire training with his cell phone in his right hand. Heart-warming...

Here is the young lady of the week (month, year?) enjoying her first nap with blankie. It dwarfs her, and leaves me wondering what the full 42 inch version suggested in the pattern would have done! Her auntie made sure the cute socks showed too. I'll remember that Auntie, and when you are a new mom, your baby will get handknits too. (And just to record my bet for posterity, I bet brand new Uncle that in 10.5 months, we'll be welcoming his first baby into the world...)

Last, but hardly least, Auntie wanted a photo of her niece with her eyes open. In an effort to capture it, we both took a photo at the same time, from slightly different angles. If you look hard, you can see the dark of Grace's eye! That's her dad's proud arm (and chest) holding her. Thanks to all of you who have sent good wishes to Grace, her parents and the rest of us who love them all dearly. She's perfect, truly. Of course, that's easy for me to say, because there are no poopy diapers yet, and the Knight and I will sleep soundly tonight...

Pass those favorite baby girl patterns this way, will you?

Cass's Contest and Stash Building

Well, part of this was easy. Cass wants to know my favorite vegan yarn. Sigh. She knows. She really does, but because I'm a good sport, I'll tell you too. (Bet you can guess!) Wick. I love it. It's so squooshy and yummy, knits up quickly, and the fact that it draws moisture away from the body is too cool. I used it first to knit my yoga socks, but I bought more (and was swap-gifted still more!) so my female relations and a couple of friends are getting Wick footies for Christmas. (You don't know it's you for sure, and you don't know what pattern or color, so quit acting as though I've spoiled a surprise. Geeze.) Yes, it splits a bit, especially with my love of wee, sharp needles, but no yarn is perfect. Wick is as close as it gets, at least until they make it in a fingering weight...

Cass is lucky I love her. I hate to have my picture taken, so the thought of taking my own picture knitting in public was PAINFUL. I thought about taking it at the firehouse, sitting on the tailboard of an engine, but it was raining HARD Tuesday, so I didn't take my knitting or my camera. (I don't generally knit at the station because of diesel smoke and cigarette smoke.) So, since I had my can-travel sock at the ready while at the vet yesterday, I snapped a photo. This sock was actually cast on in the parking lot in front of the Northside Library on Monday night, and I got the stitches divided onto two needles in the vet's. I wanted Fred to pose with us, but he was busy having a nervous breakdown. I'm sure if you click on the photo and enlarge it, you can see a wad of Fred's hair in the corner.

This is also my first effort at taking a dpn pattern and knitting it on two circs. I find it easier to travel with circs. I can just push the working portion off the needles, and it rests safely on the cord(s) until I pick it up again. No waiting until the end of a needle, no shoving the little pointies into a keeper of some sort, etc. Yeah Anne, gloat. (I'm rolling my eyes, okay?) I can't see ever giving dpns up entirely, but I think I am headed towards being a two circs gal, with dpns in second place, and Magic Loop remains a very distant, non-ribbon-worthy third.

I hate admitting the Knight is right, and he's insisted since the first moment he saw those canister-style yarn "jars" that I needed the large one. Whatever, walk away, roll my eyes... Oh, how I wish I had that STILL honkin' big hunk of Pound of Love in one. It's a good thing blankie is going to a home with two dogs, because I think I've knitted Mugsy hair in on every row, with a Fred hair here and there too. So, when I slipped into my local Michael's to buy a magnifying glass for my boss (Hush. My father inlaw is my boss, and he doesn't mind if I do some stash building while I shop for him. Really.) I couldn't find the canister (it's too late anyway), but I found this thingee instead. The picture on the right shows it being used with three different yarns, and I figured it might come in handy on the Knight's blankie, which will be done in secret, and will need to be tossed into hiding when I see his lights coming down the drive. I also picked up some of the much-recommended Caron Simply Soft in a cheery red, for baby's first Christmas kimono, and a TLC variegated that caught my eye.

In the most exciting news of the day, I'm a Loopy Groupie! I didn't take a picture of the tote, nor will I share the details of the "couple of surprises" but I can assure you, Sheri treats her loyal customers generously. I picked up some Panda yarn, which is sock yarn speak for "Bamboozle in a finer gauge." The blue is for me, and the green is for... someone else. The All Things Heather in the center is also for a gift, so I'll say no more, other than that when Sheri answers your recommendation request and the drool stains come through the email for one yarn in particular, order it. You won't be disappointed.