Fairy Footprints

This is Colinette Jitterbug in Moss - obviously from The Loopy Ewe. I think it looks like a fairy just tiptoed right over the green moss, leaving little streaks of color where her feet touched the ground. I've never used Jitterbug before; I always drool over it, pet it and then move onto something else. Someone once told me that I couldn't get 2 socks out of one skein and I believed them without reading the label. Foolish me, this is so nice to work with. I love the tight plying, it's not at all splity. Plus, I saw that The Loopy Ewe will do half skeins of certain colors.

I'm combining Moss with a beautiful soft Fig pink (that color doesn't seem to be anywhere online) to make extremely girly toddler socks. This is my first time designing my own pattern, so it's taking me awhile to find just the right stitch patterns to make my idea come to life. It's really fun though. And since it's only a toddler sock, the knitting portion doesn't take a ton of time.

I have no illusions that I will win. I'm just doing it for the fun - and the chance to see Addie's eyes light up when she sees her socks. I tried the top portion on her this morning and it was an all out battle to get the sock back from her! If you're interested, more information can be found at Think Outside the Sox.

It looks like the folks from Colinette will be the judges in this category, so if you've got connections, put in a good word for me!

Finished Object = Good Karma

I finished something I finished something I finished something! Yeah, they're baby socks/booties. That still counts, even though they're small! This took me awhile to finish the second sock only because I'm working on a few other projects all at the same time. That's probably why I'm so happy to finish something. :) It's the Chevron sock from Better than Booties than I posted about earlier. It's going to Warm Woolies today. I knit them as part of a Good Karma Swap on Ravelry. The idea is that you knit something for Warm Woolies (building up Good Karma) and then you send a package of luxury yarn and yarn items to someone in the group.


I got my package yesterday and it was really exciting to open it! The girls each got little gifts which they loved. I got a skein of Yarni (yahooooooo!) it's my absolute favorite sock yarn and I think I might just design a sock for a Sox contest out of this. Eeeee.... I know I won't win, but I may have a lot of fun trying. Anyway, back to the package. I got a tape measure, a box of beautiful chocolates, a Yankee candle, some homemade stitch markers and a row marker, a children's party book, the new Vogue Knitting and the Winter '99-'00 Vogue Knitting that I needed to make a beautiful wrap that I have queued. Oh yes, and a Godiva box that contained something better than Godiva.... cashmere!
Wheeee! I'm pretty excited about the cashmere. Right now I'm just petting it. I don't have any idea what I'm going to do with it yet. Whatever it is, it's got to be good. I'm in knitting heaven.

Tum, Ta-Tum, Tum, Tuuuuummmm....

Tums the Hippo on the Loose!

Tums the Hippo was recently spotted grazing in the potted plants in Mona Dude's dining room. The recently completed Hippo (originally from MochiMochiLand) was reported missing from the gift bag she should have been placed in. Her young owner to be, Ellie, was unable to comment on the missing hippo. Reports that Ellie was crying in her bassinet appear to be true. Although the young Tums is missing her teeth, she is known to be dangerously cute. Please use caution while knitting.

Details:
Pattern: Tums the Hippo from Mochi Mochi Land
Yarn: Cascade 220 - in a slightly darker purple than it shows here, Cascade 220 in white (thanks D!) for the missing teeth - the drier ate the teeth, and white angora with embroidery floss for the eyes.
Modifications: None really which is pretty amazing for me! I did leave off the teeth, but I'm considering re-doing them before I send it to my niece.

Sockilicious!

Patternworks caught me at a weak moment, I joined their Sockilicious Sock of the Month Club. It's a monthly mailing of yarn, pattern and whatever extra they want to send. It's kind of a pricey little number, but I like that you pay monthly and can cancel at any time. Plus, I have a self imposed deadline to get the sock done before the next one comes.

This month's sock is May Flowers. 2 Skeins of Regia Silk and a cute pattern. After knitting the sock, I'll embroider lazy daisy's on the white portion. I am amazed at how fast this sock is going. I've never done just a plain jane sock before, so it just zips along compared to the lace socks I'm used to.

I was originally thinking that this would be a pair of socks for myself, but now I'm thinking they would make a great Mother's Day gift.

Too Cute

I'm working on some socks/booties for Warm Woolies for a swap on Ravelry. I decided to whip up a few using a pattern on Knitting Daily.

Pattern: Better than Booties Baby Socks
Yarn: Cascade 220 (everything sent to Warm Woolies should be 100% wool)
Needles: 2's I think
Modifications: The pattern calls for sock yarn (Lorna's Laces to be exact). However, I thought these would be much toastier in a thicker wool so I subbed Cascade 220. To make a child's size sock, I ended up only casting on 30 stitches. I did the chevron stitches on the sides, but not on the foot, thinking this would help keep a kid's feet warmer. Fewer holes, warmer feet - right?

I've never done a picot edge before, so I was amazed at how easily it worked. Like butter. Well, like butter after I realized that the K2 should have been K2tog and ripped out the original work. Oh well, it sure is cute!
And speaking of cute, Addie did her first bit of knitting yesterday. I taught her to knit with her fingers. Basically she's just making a chain - I'm not even sure that it counts as knitting, but as a proud Momma I get to call it whatever I want. Besides, she's really proud of that "snake." I'm going to pick up a little knitting dolly for her today to see if that might be easier for her. I think she'd love to make some Knitted Babes. I may need to add that to my Amazon wish list. She keeps asking me to turn her snake into a princess. I think it may take more than a kiss - this isn't a frog prince we're talking about!

I'm Such a Geek

I'm posting weekly menus over on my family blog. Check it out and tell me what you think. Although please remember what Thumper says, "If you can't say nuthin' nice, don't say nuthin' a'tall." Really, be honest. But remember, my feelings are somewhat fragile. :)

Package

I got something very very special in the mail the other day! Maryanne knew I was feeling down and she went way above the call of duty to send me a little package.

It's a gift certificate to be used for the purchase of the Fiddlehead Mittens kit at Hello Yarn. Maryanne and I have been talking about these mittens for awhile now. We've decided that once Hello Yarn catches up with the demand for these mittens, we may do our own Fiddlehead KAL. I showed the kit to Adam the other day and he thought they were very nice - That's high praise for knitting! Hello Yarn also sent along a sample of Soak Wash and a little skein of Fat Sock Yarn. The skein is 170 yds so it's really not all that little! I think I'm going to whip up a pair of baby/kid socks to donate to Warm Woolies. It seems appropriate to share the love. Thank you Maryanne, this was just so amazingly sweet of you!

Here is the finished product! I put them on Lily and she immediately started screaming, "NO Momma!" She hates them. I couldn't even take a picture of them on before she was trying to rip them off.