Socks, Sweaters & my Sweet Knitted Babe!

I've been quiet, but knitting on my socks. They're coming along rather nicely ... Altho, I'll be happy to get them done [this is only the first sock] and go on to the next project. But I do like the pattern and have enjoyed knitting something a little more challenging. Want to know more about the Fetzenmuster-sock? Check it out here.

But I'm forever thinking ahead!





With Fleece Artist yarn from Two Wooden Sticks waiting in the wings ...
patterns are whirling in my head!

What sock pattern would look great in these delicious candy colors? M-m-m-m, I'm still looking. But what do you think of Tropicana? These colors do look tropical to me. The pattern looks good in all those colors without getting lost, don't you think? I just might go Tropical!!


I got so many nice compliments on the Pinwheel sweater. Thanks!
Here it is all blocked, dry, and with my button choice stitched on. I plan to take it to the little recipient this Saturday ... I love this sweater!

And I can't wait to see it on Jayden!!




Can you see the purple wooden button? I just used one of the loops on the edge as the button hole. When Jayden gets bigger, I can just take the button off, repossession it on the other side with a smaller collar and whoala ... a sweater that still fits!


And now for the Fashion Statement of the day.
Outfits were sewn and sent to me from Sammie in Naples, Florida ... for Lola Lolly. Of course she made one to match for Lola's sister, Lucy.
I just LOVE this outfit so much!

Here's Lola dressed in Style ...
Oh ya, and that bag laying next to her is the storage bag Sammie made for her ... but I think I'll just put her clothes away in it instead.

And have Lola sitting in a place of honor in my bedroom ...
Well now it's time to put my toys away ...

Another FO and Knitty purchase!

I finished the Pinwheel sweater for my grand daughter, Jayden and it on the blocking board now ...


And check this out ...

the cutest little stitch markers ... I just purchased these from
Designs by Tami.

It's almost like owning a little farm, LOL!
[but without the clean up!]

Another slideshow of fun MIT activities ...

Just to show you that I don't always get a chance to knit, LOL ... but I spend some time with friends also! [co-workers are friends too] I love MIT!!

Enjoy the tour!

Wild and Wooly Weather ...

For around here ... it was a wild afternoon on the Northshore yesterday. Got a call from the DH to tell me, "Don't come home!"
.... "Well not for an hour or so anyways." He adds.

There were tornado warnings [not a common event around here] and it was hailing 1 inch size ice balls at that very moment. The wind was so strong he thought the roof was going to come off. This storm included thunder & lighting as well. I had evidence of the lighting when my train was delayed getting into the Salem Station later on ... lightning had hit the signal box.

And alas, we even lost one Hugh branch from the American Lynden tree in the backyard. And we'll loose another limb also. There's one just hanging on. We'll have to have someone take it down. It's waaaaay up there!







But I made it home with my knitting!!



Mail Call ... waiting for me at home was this fun package from Florida.
Aren't I the lucky one?!
My friend, Sammie has done it again. She saw these things and thought of me ... so mailed 'em.

The book is A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber ... one that I hadn't read yet. Sam said that it's about a SOCK knitter, so she thought I would like it. I know I will! [I'll tell you about that cross stitch Santa later.]

And then the silver bracelet is made by Hand & Hammer Silversmiths.
You're not going to believe what's written on there. LOL, I'm embarrassed because it isn't true ... YET.

It says ...
"My Stash is Bigger than Yours"


Well I know it isn't, but Sammie said she thought of the "Flash Your Stash" event we had not too long ago and couldn't resist getting this for me. She got one for herself also since she has a Stash of Fabric. She told me today that whenever she wears and looks at her bracelet tho, she thinks of me and YARN. Go figure!

I think I'll go admire mine ...

Knitting right along ...

So much to do and so little time to do it. But I`m moving right along with THE sock ... the Fetzenmuster-sock!

Oh ya ... the English translation on the chart ...

Thanks to Dipsy Doodle for the translation. If you go look at hers, you'll see how very different they're going to look on!

I've even already decided what I'll make with the left over yarn as well [there's always left-over yarn]. Check it out ... Perdita from knitty.com.

I can see it in Orange! As Knitting History says, "The answer is Orange" and I believe her. Since I live in Salem, MA ... well I'll be wearing them for the whole month of October, LOL.

Yup, the answer is always Orange ...

Possible Obituary ...

What will your obituary say?' at QuizGalaxy.com

While reading a post by Rabbitch, no doubt!

Just a quick note ...

I have to show you what my friend & co worker, Carol gave me at a WGSSI [Working Group on Support Staff Issues] workshop that we went to a few weeks back. I miss placed the pictures, but just found them again yesterday. Anywho ... here's the bag of goodies and my very favorite is the funny bookmark of what looks like ... can you tell? ... a sheep in a sheepdog suit. Yah, really!
Thanks, Carol !! [p.s. I hold him while I'm reading. So soft & comforting.]



About my previous posting ....


I need to provide some links and explanation to the sock I posted Friday. LOL, Angie it was so funny when you asked about it because it's the one from ...



YOU!!
Dipsy Doodle from Austria. She posted it from a German pattern from this web site Fetzenmuster-Socks. I had asked about the unusual yarn and the pattern translation and this is what you said. [I hope you don't mind that I post your note?] Mine looks so different because I'm using a solid color yarn, Bernat and not that beautiful German handspun yarn that you used.

"Hi Rhonda, me again :) I searched the net a bit, but unfortunately couldn't find that sock pattern in English, so I translated it for you. But beware: These are the typical German knitting instructions, very "spartanic" to say the least! They won't give you instructions for all of the sock, just for the pattern itself, the rest is done as you want it or as you're used to from other socks. So, I cast on 64 st, depends on the size of your foot of course - just use the amount of stitches you'd cast on for normal socks - the pattern is a bit elastic. Then work the pattern on 4 or 3 or 2 needles, any way you're used to knitting socks with patterns. As for the heel, I used the instructions of the "Hedera" socks from Knitty.com for the heel as I like this version best, and afterwards continue working the pattern on the upper side of the socks (the side below is done in normal knit stitch) till you reach the desired length. The toes will be done "my way", I explained this in my last blog entry, but again you can use any toe-version you prefer. Oh well, German knitting instructions... They sure ask for experienced knitters, a novice would probably get nightmares with that. :) If you have any more questions concerning the pattern or the socks, please feel free to ask and I'll do my best to help you! Attached is the pattern, just work these rows up to the desired length. I hope I could help you a bit with this translation? Have a nice day!" ~Angie

Thanks Angie... I love the sock pattern & will keep you all posted. Anyone else wanting the pattern chart, go to the Fetzenmuster-Socks.

Happy knitting!!

Short week?

Even with Monday & Tuesday off for the July 4th Holiday, this week has been so busy and so long while at work I can hardly wait to get home. We celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary [which is on Monday] on this Sunday. We'll go out to eat some place nice, I think.

I have a couple of things I'm knitting on. One of which is this sock ...
I'll be blocking the Pinwheel sweater also and I'm knitting something extra to go with it. I'll show that later in the week. But I'll leave you right now with a little garden update...

A Visit with the Grandchildren is always the best ...

Medicine for the heart and soul. A quick touch of life with another reality to it. The life of raising kids. I just love receiving the real love they give to me. The happiest they show when I arrive.

"Grammy, Rhonda; Grammy Rhonda! Grammy are you staying over?
Yayyyeee, Grammy's here and she's sleeping over this time!! " "We love you Grammy."

Gee, is it ever wonderful to be loved AND to be loved by these little munchkins. The girls showed me that they even still have the dolls I gave them for Christmas. "I sleep with mine," says Ashlee. "We play with them all the time." they all say. And off they all go to show me ... of course they had to get them dressed first. I had made them all clothes and I said, "Well since you all have them then they would all love a new outfit for Christmas right?" Well I think the cheers meant, Yes.

And their Mom even showed me how little Samantha has taken to doing some sewing now. Made this litte change purse for her for Mother's Days ... sewed by hand ... is it so cute?
I love when kids do that!

Speaking of cute, here's Jayden. The little munchkin I'm knitting the Pinwheel Sweater for...

And with my Daughter, her new Mommy. She is such a happy baby.








I did do a little knitting while we visited ... I finished the sleeves on the sweater. Since the border wasn't done yet, I could only take a picture of it laying next to her. It's going to be so cute on her when it's done. Don't you think?

Help me decide ...

I'm now ready to do the border on the Pinwheel sweater. I like the double border on the adult size sweater better than the child size's single loop. That means I need to pick a color that works best along side of the Hollyberry. Have you ever seen the magic marble in action? It's a neat way of seeing colors reacting in a pattern together.

Which color do you think works best with the Hollyberry?

Sailing on Boston Harbor ...

The department I work for at M.I.T. gave a luncheon for the staff while sailing on a Boston Harbor tour boat. It was one of the few really beautiful days we've had so far this Summer. Here are a few pictures that I took ...

[BTW, I had my sock knitting with me ... just in case.
And guess what ... I never opened my bag, LOL!]

I'm still here knitting ...

It's the Pinwheel Sweater for Jayden that I'm working on. So there's no rest for the wicked knitter ... and too early in the morning to get my mind into writing. That's because ... [no offense]

I'd rather be knitting!

Look what I got in the mail today ...

Do you know where this might have come from? Oh ya .... you guessed it. Cynthia from Two Wooden Sticks in Canada and I bet the Maple Syrup was the give away too. No? Then it was the yummy sock yarn then because we all know that Cynthia is one of the 'Sock Knitting Obsessed'. Or maybe the "sock knitting bag" from Jen's at Cafe Crafty. [She has an Etsy Store, if you want one too, BTW!] You've seen it right? And Cynthia has been waving them on her blogspot and of course I was drooling over 'em. Well Cynthia must have know that I was dyeing to carry my 'socks-in-progress' in style ... and this bag fits the bill. Don't you just love the retro colors!?


Speaking of colors ... can you believe this sock yarn? It's Fleece Artist Sock Yarn from Nova Scotia, Canada. A lovely 100% Washable Merino Wool. Oh Cindy, you are too good to me!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I guess she thinks I need encouraging huh?
LOL, this will do it too!






And I'm finished with...

the socks for my Grandson, Nicky. Well I do hope they fit him. They fit me, but he's a growing 12 year old boy and you know they don't stand still for long.






Thanks to Cynthia's encouragement [calculating enabling ways], I've really added a lot to my sock yarn stash lately. And with really good stuff at that. And guess what ... I'm now cleared to start a new pair. What timing!!
I guess I don't even need to go digging into the stash right now... I've got Sock Candy right in front of me!

Rock & Weave is on my feet!

Once I got to the toe and grafting, I was finally able to use my darning egg ... something I purchased and has been proven to be an invaluable tool for socks!

So now I have my first pair of STR from the Blue Moon Sock Club!

I love the color and the feel of the yarn, altho it's a little thicker than what I'm use to for sock yarn. The color is SO ME!!!




BTW, notice that they didn't pool the same way in both socks. You would think that was strange ... but the yarn came to me with two ends tyed together in the middle of the skein ... and obviously they didn't match up . That's okay tho, I like to be different these days!






















I'm finished and I love them! But see that flap at the bottom of the cuff? You can see it in the 3rd picture from the bottom. I had to tack that down on both sides as you can see in the next picture.

NOW, I love 'em!