Lovely

As a recovered blog reading addict, I have surprised myself by failing to post to this blog for almost a full week. I've discovered that when you spend your time working, you can't sit at the computer. So, here's proof that I have been working.

I will be heading over to Sealed With A Kiss OKC in about an hour. I did not go on Saturday because I wasn't quite ready. Even now I have some yarn that is cooking. I will have to show a picture of it separately. It is very pretty. I am going to call it Christmas Magesty. The colors are bold and regal. I have also made bags, which have been the most time consuming project. I don't have time to take pictures of the one's that you haven't seen, but there are some pretty ones and some school themed ones.

Stuff to do....places to go....people to see....and all that jazz.

Thanks Ivy for allowing me to use your camera. Have a great day everyone!

Socktoberfest Sock Progress

Finally, after about 4 attempts, I have accomplished the short-row toe. I know well how to work a short-row, and I also know well how to work a double-wrap short-row, but for some reason when I tried to follow Wendy's method, my comprehension was dull. So, I just frogged it and did it as I know how.

The pattern that I've chosen is found in Ravelry. It is the Harris Tweed and is very simple. I had to change some things since it's toe-up and so far it just looks like K2, P2. I'm not going to change it since what I'm really trying to do is learn this new method.

Back to knitting. Have a Super Saturday!

Carrot Cake

Last night I started my socktoberfest sock. Thinking that it would be fun to do something different, I began a toe-up sock. The progress is slow and I haven't gotten past the short rows yet. So, I will not be showing a picture today. But, as consolation, how about some carrot cake?

This yarn was hand painted yesterday for Ivy. She is the young lady that I taught to knit and she requested a custom dye job for Socktoberfest socks. The yarn is yummy and soft. I mixed yellow, brown, and pumpkin. That is the recipe for carrot cake. Have a super great weekend.

What I've Been Up To

A couple of weeks ago, I had the idea that some of my yarn base would be dyed to match some of the knitting project bags. This sock yarn shown is red, green, soft yellow, and pink, which matches the bag below. I cannot say enough good things about this yarn. It has a very tight twist, is superwash, and is amazingly soft.

The project bag/yarn combo would make a wonderful gift for someone who is maybe just learning to knit and, of course, a long-time knitter would enjoy it as well. Once the socks are complete, the bag has versatile uses. It could be used as a make-up bag, for instance. Does this sound like an ad or something? I'm not trying to sell it. At least, not yet. :)

The yarn has been dyed in a one-row stripe and my daughter says that the colors remind her of Spring. It would be fun to wear some warm, wooly, Spring colored socks during the dead of winter. I think that I will put it in my Etsy store as a pilot idea. If it goes over well, I may open another Etsy store. Keep a look-out. However, if you are interested now, just leave a comment.

I am hyped about Socktoberfest which begins tomorrow. Are you all ready?

Some Pretty Things

The yarn from the last dye job has dried and I will get it reskeined soon, but I just wanted to show you how it turned out.

First of all, the bad dye job originally shown here turned out beautifully with the dark brown overdye. It still has the purple in it, but it is now very dark and accents the brown nicely.

Secondly, the fall-ish colored yarn is also an overdye. It started out as a yellow semi-solid. When I took it out of the pan to rinse it, I unknowingly had traces of red dye on my hands from cleaning after some of the other yarn that I will show you later. Ughh! Yet, I rebounded and thought to add brown and yellow dye together in the cup, which made a beautiful golden ochre, then because of the red spots, I added red, and because it was so pretty and Thanksgiving-looking, I added dark brown. Also, this yarn is heavenly, it is a two-ply tight twist superwash merino. Very soft. I am anxious to see the knitted fabric in both of these. Once I get the samples knit, I will certainly post pictures.

Dyeing yarn is, like knitting, addictive. I thoroughly enjoy it. I need duplicates of myself. One to knit, one to dye, one to sew, one to clean the house, etc... Well, since there is only one of me, I had better get back to work. Have a great day!