It's so good to have a plan

And I finally feel as if I have a general one for the Blankie in regards to how to proceed. I'm going to try to even out what I have; meaning I'm going to go one row over the new purple square and go from end to end.

This means I have to:
1) create at least 5 more starter squares
2) join the separated parts of the Blankie
3) add the side triangles
4) add the bottom triangles
5) put in the right side corner triangle
6) find my other stroll yarn in black (and buy more if I run too low)

I still want to try out more complicated colourwork squares. I guess I'll eventually sit down and figure it out.

From books to socks

Knit to Flatter. I have been keeping a web page open on my phone for the past 2 weeks on the Webs store for this book. This is going to be another one of those books that will be added to my collection but I have no idea when. I guess because I am still loving the Shapely Boyfriend cardigan that I am wanting a useful book to reflect this. It happened with socks; I have 6 books and an ebook about socks.

Tulip Socks. These socks are going much more quickly than anticipated. I finished the gusset without knowing I was finished. I'm pretty sure if I worked solely on these socks, I'd have this foot done by late tomorrow night.

I tried on this sock for the first time and I should have gone smaller. They leg feels like my Monkey socks which were knit with needles that were too big. If I do these again I'm going with the medium instead of the large.

Unfortunately for the Tulip Socks, I have been eyeing the now full jar of sock yarn leftovers and it's calling me "work on the Blankie!" I think I'm going to answer the calling within the next couple of rows.

Heel flap done

I honestly didn't pick up the Tulip socks since Friday. As much as I wanted to just fall asleep when I got home tonight, I wanted to watch "Married to Jonas" and finish the heel flap. And with me, I can't do the heel flap and not move immediately to the turn heel...so I did that too. Tomorrow will be the picking up of stitches.

Off to bed...

Ready to crash

I was at church from 10:30 this morning until 11 tonight. All because of a fundraising concert in support on the scholarship fund. It was very successful and I am happy. The group I sing with rocked! I am off to bed.

Crap on a stick

This is what I get for trying to be productive on a bus. I started the heel flap of the Tulip socks and managed to do 4 rows before one of my DPNs slipped out. How? I don't know. I didn't lose the needle and I managed to pick up all the stitches. But I lost one of the last of my cookie shaped stitch markers. They are my favourite ones and in the course of the past year I've managed to loose all but this one (I think). Just another thing to add to the "I will buy it when I have the money" list.

I purchased them from Winemakerssister on Etsy. I'd provide a direct download link but I can't do that from my phone.

So I am not the only one...

Someone on Ravelry complimented me on Peacock Fury. I told them I dyed it myself. And then I had to tell them that I don't know exactly what's in it anymore. I felt so bad.

I received a gift today. T came to me today with a bag full of left over yarn for my "50 year" Sock Blankie (although T has amended it to 40 years). I haven't even properly been through the bag but I can't wait to knit some knew squares. But not until I make more progress with my Pirouette and Tulip socks.

I got the help I needed for the Pirouette Socks. I am well and ready to continue. I'm actually excited to continue again. I'm still working on the Tulip Socks. I'm not at the help flap but I plan to be ready to start it before I go to bed. Forget about finishing the flap tonight. I got a long day ahead of me tomorrow and I need my sleep.

Shout Outs! Springtree Road

Springtree Roads was my first foray into Independent Dyers.  By the time I had discovered it (through Ravelry's USEFUL advertisements), I had only used commercial yarns like Patons, Knitpicks etc.  And like every new knitter, I thpight the prices were way too high; "Like seriously! $11 for 100g of yarn?" I honestly think the only reason I tried Springtree Road was because of the banner advertising for 15% off.  I chose the Red Delicious colourway in the Muscadine line, because it was the cheapest...I sound like such a cheapskate.

I was excited when it came to my house.  Upon opening the package, I stared at it and petted it like there was no tomorrow.  I FINALLY understood why people were willing to pay more for the yarn (in reality and with comparison shopping, it's a really reasonable cost).  It felt so much nicer than the big box store brands.  Heck!  This merino felt much nicer than the merino I had gotten before.  Of course I couldn't do a full assessment until I knit with it.

The project I decided on was the BFF Socks by Cookie A.  there was so much preparation just to use this yarn.  I even signed up for a class at The Purple Purl in Toronto to learn how to cable (the YouTube videos were just not working for me...and I wanted to feel the Tanis Fibre Arts Yarn for myself).  I was determined to get my full monies worth for this yarn.

Let's just say, the BFF Socks are still my absolute favourtie socks and I wouldn't trade them for the world.  I even learned to embrace my mistakes (ie: the 5th cable on each foot is missing).

But it's not just the one skein of yarn that complete sold me.  It was also the little things like the hand written "Thank-You!" notes, the willingness to answer an inquiry about the base yarn (which resulted in me purchasing a base skein of Muscadine aka: the Nekkid Skein).

At this point, I don't even know how many skeins I have off the top of my head but I'm trying not to use them up too quickly until I can purchase some more.  One day, I hope to be able to purchase a sweater quantity's worth.

So Thank You to Maya at Springtree Road!  Please continue with making your beautiful yarns.

Website: Springtree Road | Yarn on Ravelry: HERE | Group on Ravelry: HERE

Projects I have used Springree Road Yarns for (project | colourway | base):

BFF Socks | Red Delicious | Muscadine
Dark Isle Socks | Late Dusk & Nekkid dyed by me | Muscadine
Ernie Socks | Calends | Julep
Pirouette Socks | Tea Rose | Muscadine

Argh! I wish I had taken notes!

Since I have been knitting with the Peacock Fury skein and re-dyed successfully (the one time), I have been wanting to re-dye more. I went looking for my dyeing instructions...they are no where to be found. I looked in my notebook, through the notepad on my phone, this blog and my posts on Ravelry. I did not keep any notes.

So I guess this is a one time dye. It will take some work to figure it out again.

Knitting with Peacock Fury - Part 2

This Tulip pattern is knitting up so well! I've completed the cuff, the set-up and one leg repeat. I may make it to the heel flap by tomorrow evening. Of course I could have waited until tomorrow to do this update but I've gotten so used to posting an entry at this time, that I wrote it anyways.

I think it's really bad how much of a procrastinator I am. I have had this mini plot rolling around in my head for awhile and as of get, I still haven't written anything down but a character's name: Neil Harrow. I think I'll be going to the library early tomorrow since I seem to be very productive when I'm there.

Knitting with Peacock Fury

For the Tulip Socks, I'm using the BFL yarn I dyed called Peacock Fury. I'm not even finished the cuff and I am liking the way this yarn looks. The only thing that could make it better is if it did indeed have a sheen to it. It's like a turquoise colour that leans towards a mossy green sometimes and then towards navy blue. I definitely want to redye this colour and perhaps attempt some other colours dyed the same way. I so need to buy more undyed yarn. At the rate my mind and my life is going, I am going to be starting a side business.

Almost Unmovtivated

I keep looking at the bag with the Pirouette socks and get frustrated.  I don't even have to open the bag or move it from its spot hanging off the headboard of my bed.  I don't know if I think that I messed it up or if I'm too scared of doing it wrong.  I still need help with it...and as I type this and remember that it's Tuesday, I could have gone to see T today to get help...excuse me as I bang my head on the keyboard ;jlaksfd

I haven't reached the point where I'm going to frog it but I wanted to knit again and still being otherwise frustrated with my DPNs situation from yesterday, I casted on for the other sock club socks called Tulip.  The plan was to use Grapfruit Sunrise from the Tosh-Along that I dyed earlier on this year but the skein is frustrating me (see a lot of frustrating me).  The skein came from Knitpicks and is the Bare Stroll Sock.  It doesn't seem to come skeined like everyone else, including their skeined sock yarn.  I did somewhat notice it when I was dyeing it but figured I was just not looking at it correctly and it would "fix" itself when I was ready to use it.

Well it didn't.  I couldn't even place it properly on the swift.  I didn't want to cut the starting string so I skeined it back to the figure 8 and put it back on the shelf.  It's reasons like this that make me not want to order it again.  I pulled out my BFL Peacock Fury.  It caked beautifully and I casted on no problem for the Tulip Socks on the 1.5 US DPNs, one of the few sizes where there are no missing or broken needles.

This also gives me another project to do.  I did one successful re-dye of Carol's Eyes so in theory, I should be able to re-dye Grapefruit Sunrise if I get another undyed skein right?

I'm currently travelling with the Tulip Socks, the Hermione whatever-whatevers, the Shapely Boyfriend Cardigan, which are all stashed in my backpack while I hem and haw over which project to work on while at the Tuesday Knitting Circle.  I think I can save the Tulip socks for when I reach back home to watch Dancing with the Stars, Jimmy Fallon and Castle.  I think the Shapely Boyfriend might be the project of choice, especially since I do have to finish fixing my error.  Maybe tomorrow will get a progress picture of it.

For the want I needles

After this last dilemma regarding my Harmony DPNs, I have been tempting myself by looking online for DPNs that I cannot afford.

Take my primary choice, for example, Signature Stilettos. T has a set of these and she can't stop raving about them. But at $47 for 1 set, it is quite pricey. It would be nice to try them in the sizes I most commonly use. But of course I have the "gotta catch 'em all" syndrome. That means I start putting together a 6 set and start putting on a sad face when I look at the price and compare it to the money in my bank account. I may just get the complete set for a birthday gift for my self; next year with a mini gift of a 1US and a 1.5US DPNs sometime before that.

I'm still happy that I'll be getting the Dyak needles. Just not happy about the wait but I understand why I do have to wait. It's just inconvenient with my other DPNs going on the outs.

Today boarded on productive

It's the third Sunday in the month; food bank at my church. I get to do something charitable while also hanging out with some friends and family. Saw a lady with a beautiful hat pin. I thought it was a feather on her cap. She informed me it was an arrow which just made it all the funnier. As much as I would love to track one of those down, I wouldn't have a use for it. I barely wear hats, much less ones that would require a pin.

I received a birthday gift from my best friend's mother; a Guess charm bracelet. I'm not much one for labels, or at labels they stamp all over the product however for Guess it's quite tame. I will wear it with pride and sound like Santa everywhere I go.

After the food bank, one of my cousins drove me home. You got to love generous family members. We even stopped at Costco and while I and her youngest daughters indulged our selves on fries and a hotdog, she found a printer for $60 off and picked it up for her middle daughter who is in need of one. I wouldn't trade my family for the world.

Knitting was slim to none today. Within this weekend I managed to break my 3mm Harmony DPN the only way I know how ( misplacing it somewhere on my bed with brown sheets and accidentally kneeling on it when I try to get on the bed) which left me with 4 and then I somehow misplaced another 3mm Harmony DPN from last night until today. I may be decent at knitting but I can't figure out how to knit a mitten with only 3 DPNs. I had to pull out my interchangeable set and it's creating ladders. I may have to just make another order at Knitpicks when I get some kind of income. Who knows how long that will be...

That was not as appetizing as I thought

I finally got to go to a restaurant I wanted to go to...meh... My friends who gone before said it tasted much better before. All I know is that it tasted like there was far too much salt. I actually left most of the meat and ate the fries instead. I'll give it another try but not anytime soon.

Late night

So tired...

I finished the thumb of the Hermione whatever whatever and started on the right hand. I just finished the cuff and will continue tomorrow, as long as I don't keep putting on the right glove and petting it saying "pretty".

I think I may have my first commission

I have been making good progress on my Hermione whatever whatever's. I just have to start decreasing for the top of the mitten, then the thumb and the. The actual convertible portion.

A couple of days ago I dyed the other DK skein that I had in order to make the second hand and hopefully the hat. Don't ask me what made me decide to look into my drawer of caked yarns but lo and behold, there sat the other half of my first skein, all caked and ready to go...I think I'll have enough. At the very least, it's was an activity of duplicating colours and I think I passed the test.

One of the ladies from the Thursday evening knitting circle was admiring the yarn and then asked me how much I would sell it for. I told her the cost of the base yarn, added a few dollars and told her I could attempt to dye a skein for her. She said she would be willing to buy and that she would bring the scarf she wanted me to try to match. Cool! I think another order from ACME Fibres may be necessary since I have none left. Mate I should get 2; one for testing the colour and another for the actual dye.

1:09 am Friday
Am I happy or what? I closed the hand of the left side of my Hermione's whatever whatever! I'm going to add the thumb and then start on the right hand. I JUST managed to finish this cake of yarn. I had about 6" left to sew in.

Shout Outs! ACME fibres

I've decided to implement a new type of entry on my blog.  It is a pleasure to introduce to you Shout Outs.

The main premise of shout outs is to give my thanks and appreciation for a company and/or a person for something that has positively affected me.

What inspired the creation of this is the wonderful customer service I have received from Cheri at ACME Fibres, a Canadian-owned undyed yarn supplier (who also sells Malabrigo yarn, Hiya Hiya Needles, Spindles, soaks, etc).  This is as of yet my favourite company to buy undyed yarns from.

I heard about ACME Fibres from an advertisement on Ravelry; you know the ones on the bottom of the forum pages that are actually useful. I ordered a couple of skeins of sock yarn and smaller Hiya Hiya circular needles.  I was shocked at how quickly it arrived to my house.  It could be a bonus of being in the same province but with Canada Post, you never know (it took a week and a half to get a skein of yarn from another Ravelry user and we live in the same city).  I dyed the skins of sock yarns I received and was very pleased with the results.  I ordered a couple more sets of needles and a  skein of BFL sock yarn (which became the Peacock Fury) and they all arrived with the same speed and quality of service.

The big appreciation came after I found myself in need of a DK weigh yarn for the 'What a Kool Way to Dye' April Challenge - Dye to Knit.  The first place I thought to purchase it was ACME Fibres.  There was none to be found.  I sent an email to Cheri just to make sure I wasn't missing it on the page.  She emailed me back quite quickly to inform me that there wasn't any on the site (me: phewf! I'm not as blind as I thought).  She offered me some of her own undyed sports/DK weight yarn, 100% superwash merino.  She put them up on the site for me.  I ordered two skeins and dyed Carol's eyes for my Hermione's Flip Top Mittens.

So thank you Cheri at ACME Fibres! From now on, you're my go to for undyed yarn :D

I'd rather not repeat today

Let's just say today was not a good day. Moving onto knitting.

I have done the thumb gusset (I think that's the term) and I'm about to close off the palm before continuing up the hand and having to start decreasing. All for the Hermione whatever-whatevers.

I think I was generally accurate for dyeing the other hand. It's a little bit darker in places but it still looks okay, as you can see in the side by side pic. I'm really wanting to dye a skein of sock yarn in this colour. I think it would look lovely on my feet.

A day of domesticity

Wednesdays are the day that I try to cook for the family.

First I decided that I was going to do the Lavender Shortbread Cookies from Cookie A. I even got assurance for B1 that she would help me with it. Mind you lavender seems to be in short supply at my local grocery stores so I'm making them with no lavender and a batch with cocoa powder. I hope they'll turn well. I want to send some for one of my brothers who's allergic to eggs and the son of my friends who shares the same allergy. Now there's only one other problem. I had half of a pack of butter in the fridge and apparently someone has been using it. I'll have to send B1 to pick it up after school today.

I have been wanting to try making meatballs for a while now . However trying to get help from the people in my house to make something never goes well. My mom takes over and leaves you sitting in the corner, if not just leaving the kitchen. My aunt prefers to direct while watching her soaps. This means she's not getting up to check what you're doing. I have had to come up with my own solution for things that I don't know how to cook. Look up the recipe and do it myself

One is apparently not enough

As I continue to knit my Hermione Fingerless gloves, it becomes apparent that I need more yarn which means I have to redye Carol's Eyes. It's my first time attempting a redye but it's looking right. I guess I'll see how it turns out soon. It just has another 2 minute nuke and then it's to be hung out to dry. Hopefully by morning it will be generally dry and hopefully it will match. I have no more undyed DK yarn to do it again. Also this time, my fingers are less blue.

For the gloves, I started the thumb increases and it's coming along nicely. I think about 1-2 more pattern repeats before the thumb hole will be done. I hope I can get everything done before the end of the month.

I've decided to put the Pirouette socks on hold until Thursday so I can get help from T.

Off topic: I'm watching a little mini doc on the release of Star Trek Enterprise season 1. Imagine my shock and surprise when I looked up the show on iTunes and saw the cost for the season to be $54.99 per season! This show has been off the air for like 10 years. I don't want to watch the show that badly.

It's finally mine

A lot has happened today.

I had a consultation about laser correction for my eyes. I want to do it and apparently I would be the perfect candidate. The only problem is OHIP won't pay it which means it will be completely out of pocket. Anyone have $5400 they want to donate to the cause?

By the time I got home after the visit, I was ready to get something to eat and then take a long nap. Before the nap could occur, the mail arrived and I got a package. What was it? The copy of "The Enchanted Sole" by Janel Laidman I ordered from back in December plus a copy of "The Sock Report". Just by flipping through the books I have discovered that I need more yarn. Most likely this will be through buying more undyed sock yarn from Acme Fibres and dyeing it myself. Yup! Liking the plan :D

I managed to work on the Hermione's Flip-Top whatever it's called. I was planning to make them shorter than recommended due to not having enough yarn dyed however after seeing the hat these gloves were based on, I am going to make the matching hat. This means I have to dye the other DK skein which means I will have enough yarn for the projects. This will also be the first time I will attempt to to match a previously dyed skein. So here's hoping for the best.

I'm planning for Wednesday to be a baking day. It'll be shortbread cookies. I'll also make a batch for one of my brothers who can't eat eggs and the son of my friends' who can't eat eggs either. It was sad to let everyone taste the cookies but they couldn't eat any. My brother has perfected the puppy dog look.

Go Raptors Go!

Today was not much of a knitting day (however I am currently working on the heel flap on the Pirouette socks). My bestfriend, brother and another friend went to a Raptors game. We won! And I fell asleep during the second quarter. I am so not a sports person...

Knit free day but that's okay

It was a FULL day today. Church as per usual was a full day event for me from 9a to 5p which included restocking the food bank with donations. I then went an hour east to go to a concert at my grandfather's. I saw so many people that I haven't seen in YEARS! It was nice to catch up with them. Dinner at Boston Pizza with the BFF.

I am stuffed and I am tired. Good night!

Because...hold on...two isn't enough

I started on the heel flap for the Pirouette socks and instead of working furiously to finish the heel flap, I pulled out my size 2US DPNs and casted on for Hermione's Flip Top Mittens (with flip top to truly cover my fingers). I have to say it; I am LOVING the yarn I'm knitting with. It's the DK weight yarn I dyed on Sunday. I'm calling it "Carol's Eyes" due to a Ravelry user saying it looks like her eye colour. Also keep in mind I have never actually seen Carol or her eyes.

I don't think I'm going to knit them full length since I don't have enough of the Carol's Eyes to do it.

Trying something new

Let it be known that I don't like to clean but I like to have things organized. It makes me such a contradiction.

I had some T-shirts to put away and realized I no longer had the space to put them. It's not because I have too many shorts. It's because I fold loosely and just stuff everything into the drawer, on top of the mess that is already there. I looked at the drawer and was reminded of Alejandra's YouTube videos of organizing (HomeOrganizing) that I watch well over a year ago.

Just about everyone lays their folded clothes flat in a drawer . Alejandra's suggested method is a tri-fold of the folded item, and then putting it on its side. Genius idea! I've managed to fit 9 T-Shirts where I could fit about 6 while struggling to clothes the drawer.

I'm going to try to finish this drawer today and as time goes on, then I'll work my way through the other drawers. Only place I not looking forward to is my closet. I still have boxes in my closet that are from when we moved into the house...it's been 4.5 years.

Twirly Whirly

Still working on the Pirouette socks and I should be starting the heel flap soon and you know what that means. Heel Flap=Sock almost done! The plan is to progress onto the next April sock Ed the Tulips. I had to get a second opinion for what yarn to use. I was going to use a solid yellow from Tanis however I saw someone else's Tulips in a variegated yarn and I decided to use one of my hand dyed; either the Peacock Fury (BFL) or the Grapefruit Sunrise (Merino), both have nylon.

I showed T the newest skein I dyed. She loves the colour but agrees with me that it's too thin for the fingerless gloves I wanted to knit. Therefore, I found another pair of fingerless gloves with a flip top.

The weather today was ridiculous. I had to pull out my winter coat and boots.

Four and a half inches

That is how far I've reached on the Pirouette socks. I'm going to try to reach to row 24 again before I go to bed; just another 8 rows to go.

Tonight was the art exhibit at the library. I got to display my batik vases and I finally got to see the art work of the other students. I am really hoping they run this again over the summer. I definitely enjoyed at and would love to make another one.

Better times ahead

So I went ahead and restarted the Pirouette socks. There are looking much better and...yea, I'm liking the progress. I think I've decided that I will do the other sock pattern as well, Tulip socks. I've read from others that it's kind of like the Monkey socks, perhaps in Tanis Blue in the Sunshine colourway. It's about time I started using the Tanis I have in my stash..

On a sad note, I just realized there will not be a Sock Summit anymore. I was looking forward to attempting to go. I guess I could try to do a staycation, and go out and buy yarn and different LYS's and spend a week or so working on socks; providing I have a job where I can actually accumulate vacation days to do a staycation. It is a plan though.

I didn't touch the the Shapely Boyfriend today other than to show it to Knitting Circle #1. It was to be expected since I am working on my socks.

Now to plug into a podcast until 11p while knitting the Pirouette socks.

Printed up and ready to go

Certain things have to go on hold for now. I just downloaded the next set of patterns for the Cookie Sock Club 2013 and I doing the Pirouettes first, although I may rename it "Spin for me, my darling" on my project page. I'll be finally using the Muscadine Yarn for Springtree Road in the colourway Tea Rose.

I casted on and I was ready to go...but now that I'm on the leg and I'm seeing all the errors I have made, I'm going to have to restart or at the least go back to the end of the cuff. I may just change all the many types of 'make ones' to yarn overs instead.

Here's a view of the yarn I dyed yesterday. I still love the colour. I'll try to cast on later on this week.

Still picking up stitches

The intention for the day was to sleep in, pick up the stitches to redo on the Shapely Boyfriend and dye the DK weight yarn.

That's not quite what I did today. I did sleep in. I pulled out my interchangeable set and stared at it and went to my phone to read fanfic.

When I got tired of that, I went to dye my yarn. I had a little helper, B2's bestfriend Nas. She is definitely a crafter in the making. I wasn't trying for it but I a got a variegated blue that is currently drying on the line. And then I went back to reading fanfic.

I washed my hand knit socks and went back to the fanfics.

My mother called me, describing a couple of dresses that she saw in the store. Let me just say that I love my mom but I'm not a fan of her clothing style and apparently she cannot describe clothes if her life depended on it. She tried to describe them anyways and brought them home. Suffice it to say, I am now the proud owner of 2 new dresses. She did good!

I finally made it back to my room at 11pm and finally started picking up them stitches. I'll finish doing this and the. I'm going to bed.

Too soon...sigh...

Things were going so well. I was ready to start the waist shaping. I just wanted to try it on and then write the blog update. I told myself not to worry. Obviously the stars were aligned and nothing would go wrong.

Yeah...that didn't happen. I put it on and a swear I felt the stitches pulling off the needles. I tried to save the stitches and I managed to do it on one side but the other side looks horrendous. Therefore I'm going to do something I have never done before. I am going go back a few rows and redo it. You don't know how happy I am that I learned this technique from the afterthought heel on the Dark Isle socks.

I am now in the last few minutes of my birthday. It was a good and simple day. My mom made me a birthday came I could eat. You don't know how rare that is. I like baked goods very simple: chocolate, vanilla and marble. No mousse. No icing. No dipped fruits. Real simple. I got a hazelnut crunch cake. I don't know what the crunch part of this cake was but I was good.