Ella enchanted

I love this pattern. I'm into the 3rd repeat of section 2 and I can't wait to finish so I can wear it. This art yarns supermerino is so soft.


As promised, handpainted cashmere from my wonderful secret pal. She also sent me a Halloween e-card. She's so thoughtful. Thanks Shelley!!

One Shall become two

I made it!!I finished the second sock during socktoberfest. Even though, I didn't officially join. I can say I am the proud owner of 2 handmade socks. I need to throw them in water and block, but they are done. It really wasn't as bad as I thought.I was afraid I'd succumb to the dreaded second sock syndrome. As I mentioned previously, I love the 2 circ method, it seemed much easier than DPN's. Now I'd like to progress to 2 socks on 2 circs, and the toe up with short row heels.

Now that these are done, I can finish some of the other projects on my side bar or cast on Ella. I received some very pretty handpainted laceweight cashmere yarn from my Secret pal. I'll post pictures tomorrow if I can get a good shot in daylight. Now I must find the perfect project to showcase this yummy yarn. Thanks so much SP.

Gotta Finish

So, I'm working on the dreaded second sock and all I can think is I gotta finish, gotta finish now. Why?? My new yarn was delivered today. All I'm going to say is Luscious!! I'm trying to resist casting on for this, with my new, super soft yarn. Sigh!!

Anyone going to stitches west?? I'm seriously contemplating it and I know if I don't sign up soon, the classes I want to take will be full.

Ok that's all folks. I have a sock to finish. Lovely pics tomorrow.

One down.....

First sock completed. Changing to addis's really helped sliding the stitches back and forth. I loved doing these on 2 circs. It was so much easier on my hands than the double points. I'll cast on the 2nd sock tomorrow. I'm very happy with them, although I have some changes for the next pair I make. I added an inch after the ribbing which, I really didn't need. I almost ran out of yarn because of it and I had to increase rapidly at the toe in order to have enough yarn. If I knit socks with koigu again, I'll have to buy three skeins. Me and my big feet are too much for 2 skeins.

Socks, Socks, Blah!!

So, I started the wonderful Koigu Socks on 2 circs. It took me a little while to figure it out and to be sure I was on track. After a few hours of knitting as I started a few rows of the heel flap, I decide to try them on.
exhibit A:



exhibit B:




As you can see they are too big. RIP, rip, rip. I'll restart Friday, I need to buy some Addis. I don't like the join with these bamboo needles. With all of the moving of stitches back and forth, they were getting stuck. I'll pick up the Addis on my way home Friday and start over. I'm determined to get this right. In the mean time, I've ordered more yarn.......

What to do??

That is the question.
I've finished the minisweater, and my daughter likes it, but now I can't decide on my next project. I want to challenge myself with a sweater, but I can't decide on a pattern. I've thought about knitting a sweater with set in sleeves, a collar and perhaps cables. The problem is, if it doesn't turn out well, I'll be very disappointed. I've realized I've been playing it very safe and it's time to branch out. I've been surfing knit blogs, looking for the perfect project, as well as my notebook, which is full of patterns and nothing is saying KNIT ME.
So instead of making a decision, I've cast on socks. I've wanted to knit socks, socks, socks for a while, but the small needles have put me off. Since it's Socktoberfest, all of the knit blogs are full of pretty and comfortable looking handmade socks, out of very luscious looking yarn. At the knit out on Saturday, many of the ladies in our group were knitting socks as well. I've knit one test pair about a month into my knitting foray. They were knit with size 10, yes size 10 DPN's and woolease. Lets just say they are very thick and heavy, but they look like socks. So now I've decided to dive in with real sock yarn and teeny tiny needles, size 2 I think, and become a true sock knitter. Wish me luck. I plan to use the 2 circ method and knit ankle socks, those are the only kind I wear.

Knitting in the City

I went to the Knit in the City event yesterday. What fun we had. Wendy organized a So Cal knit blogger meet up. Let me just say, Knit bloggers are very very nice. We spent most of our time sitting on the grass, talking laughing and of course knitting.

Our group consisted of Jillian, Teresa, Ariane, Lori, Gina, Kate and a few more. Unfortunately I can't remember everyone's name and I didn't write down everyone's website. Please forgive me if I missed you. I enjoyed meeting all of these awesome knit bloggers and I look forward to our next meetup.Check out everyone's website for additional pictures. We all had our cameras out and they were active.

Knitting, Nipping and Reading

Not much knitting has been happening in my household. I'm in a reading and TV watching mode. I have worked on my daughter's minisweater. I should finish this week. Here's the progress so far. River and FBS have been sitting.



This is what I've been watching. NIP TUCK. My girls bought me season 1 and 2 for my birthday. I've been watching intently and drooling over Julian McMahon. I watched all of season 1 this weekend and I can't wait to watch season 2.



The other reason I haven't spent much time knitting are these.


I have been in such a reading mode. What I like to read most of all is historical romance. I have not mastered the skill of knitting and reading so my knitting time is suffering.

I plan to attend this Knit for the cure on Saturday. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to meet other Southern Cal knit bloggers

Happy Birthday

To me!! It feels kinda cheesy to post this on my blog about myself. It's feels like I'm asking for happy B'day comments, I'm really not. Here's the hubby and I earlier this year in Acapulco.

I received a very nice B'day card from my secret pal to start the day out nice.
Hopefully progress pictures soon.