Good Yarn Related Week? It feels like it

WIPS
-Soft Stones by Ela Torente
Progress is feels like it's actually being made.  I finished the upper back, did the boatneck and now I'm working my way down the front.

-Cabled Helix Socks by Karen Buhr
The progress I've made is barely worth a mention.  I'm half way through the heel.  Since the last update, I was right before the heel...I will hopefully have more progress to show for this next update, like a completed sock.

-#100DayChallenge
As much as I love the Blankie, I have managed a couple of days without adding anything new...like Friday and Saturday.  I still manage to get some knitting done on other projects.

Almost an FO
-Plain Ol' Strippy Socks 
Eeek!  I had put these socks down months ago because I was struggling with picking up the stitches of the afterthought heels.  Tanya, lovely woman that she is, took my sock home with her and did it for me.  The only thing I have to do now is put in the heel.  I could have technically done this the same day she brought it back for me but somehow I didn't do it.  Next update, it will definitely be an FO.

Why this picture looks like it's a part of a romantic movie with soft focus is beyond me

Coming Back on the Needles
-Quick Silver
This shawl is so addictive and the only reason I put it down is because I wanted to make some progress on my other timed projects, which I have done.  So this week, I going to pick it back up again, especially since I have about another 2 weeks to get it done.

Stash Enhancement
It was mostly a pattern stash enhancement but of course, I do like what I got.
-Celtic Myths by Asita Krebs
A crescent shaped shawl, celtic themed cables with a bit of lace work that is available for free on Ravelry.

-A Little Old Fashioned by Lalie Roque
A Captain America themed circular shawl with a little crocheted edge.  The regular price is $3.50 USD but if you use the coupon code by May 31st 2015, you can get it for free.  (coupon code: language)

On a side note, as soon as I saw the pattern, I had to send a message to my friend JB because I knew she would LOVE it!

-Niamh by Woolly Wormhead
Cabled hat with buttons.  That was enough for me.  I love cables and if you can stylistically place buttons on it as well, I am all for it.  The regular price is £3.50 GBP

Stash Enhancement Amendment
This is kind of a stash enhancement but not quite since I already technically owned the yarn.  I dyed my first skein of  self stripping yarn.  I didn't turn out exactly as I was expecting however I have made adjustments to the colour recipe to fix that problem.

I call it The Evil Queen (or Regina).  It's a 4 stripe, 3 colour pattern.  The only problem as of yet is that it is very hard to see the purple.  I wanted a royal purple and somehow it turned into a navy-ish purple.  The other problem is that it's sandwiched between the blacks making it even more difficult to see...although now that I think about it this gives me 2 different colour way idea still based around The Evil Queen /Regina from Once Upon a Time.

I am anxious to dye another self stripping skein however I have realized I am getting low on acid dyes therefore, I need to learn how to use it more sparingly and to buy some more.  On top of that, I need more white or undyed yarn to continue with my expirimentations.

More than 5 days past since I was supposed to do this

I really can't say anything else other than I just didn't feel like it.  It definitely not that there was no knitting related things going on in the past almost week and a half.  I managed to cast on a shawl, enhanced my stash, participate in a VKN...I'm even currently dyeing yarn. Let's just get going on this.

Casted on
I was finally able to start my Quick Silver shawl and let me say that I love it and I am surprised with how much I have done so quickly. I'm also kinda proud since the blue yarn I used is my first attempt at dyeing with an acid base in my slow cooker.  The changes in the blue go from a dark sapphire colour to a really pale blue that's almost white.  The black yarn is from my shopping trip in my Stash Enhancement.

WIP
Soft Stones Sweater
Not much has been done on the sweater for this week since I have been focusing my attention on the Quick Silver shawl.  I have until the end of June, I think to finish it.  I did finally manage to get around to taking a picture and it definitely looks cool.  See?

#BBSC2015
I'm still making progress on my May socks.  As much as I like the Cabled Helix Socks, I didn't want to do the same design as stated in the pattern for the foot.  I have an idea in my head as to what I want to do and since I have never modified a pattern as much as this, I'm going to have to pull out some graph paper and draw it out...keep in mind I'm still on the halfway through the leg.

#100DayChallenge aka: Sock Blankie
I am not even sure how many I've done since the last update.  I missed Saturday.  Oh well.  I've finally made it to the other side of the blanket.  It's almost even and it makes me so giddy and happy.  I'm working my way back across.  Oh yeah, I also calculated how many squares I'll need for this...1446...yeah, I'm currently about 220.  This is going to take awhile. 

Stash Enhancement
Last week Friday, I met up with an old friend named JB.  We had so much fun.  We went to Lettuce Knit and Romni as well as a restaurant called The Grilled Cheese (absoulutely yum!).  At Lettuce Knit, I discovered many Canadian Indie Dyers and I wanted to leave with just about EVERYTHING!  Suffice it to say, I was reasonably good and left with a skein of Ancient Arts Fibre Crafts 100% BFL Yarn in the colourway Le Chat Noir and a set of fixed circular needles from ChiaoGoo (6US/100cm).  The yarn is so much softer and squishier than I thought it would be.

We then went down to Romni Wool.  Let's just say it was hard to leave with only 1 skein but I did it.  It was Regia World Ball Color Schachenmyer Nomotta (I think).  It's discontinued and I had to guestimate on the name of the colourway since it only had numbers on the ball label.  When I compared it to other skeins I saw on Ravelry, I looked like the colourway Madrid so we'll pretend that's exactly what it is.

JB also brought me a gift of mini-skeins to add to my Sock Blankie.  I haven't used any of them yet but give me time.  I know there's some self-striping yarn that I'm looking forward to using it. 

She even added some stitch markers she had made.  They are such a bright orange it's next to impossible to miss them but somehow I managed to misplace and not find it until the next morning.

Off week?

Quality time with mom
It's sad that my mother is recovering from a broken wrist but I must say that I love getting to spend time with her.  She just can't stay at home though.Twice this week she comes to my room and tells me that we're going out.  Monday we made it to Promenade Mall, close to our old house.  She made sure I came home with 3 dresses, 2 shirts, 3 tank tops and a sweater.  After that, we went out to Swiss Chalet and ate dinner together.  She actually ate something.  Today, she came back to my room and said that we're going out again.  This time we went to Vaughan Mills.  We found 2 dresses that she wanted to get for me.  I wasn't too fond of the price so we decided we'd come back later and hope that they were on clearance or sale.  We went to 2 more stores out of the mall and we each came home with new purses (mine is awesome and green and can fit a knitting bag so I definitely can't complain).  I told her next time we go out we're not allowed to spend any money or else we'll both be broke.

Happening...
I got a tea to go to.  I have never gone for tea.  I don't even really like tea however this is an opportunity to see some of my old co-workers (and maybe they'll have the option of hot chocolate instead).

WIPS
#BBSC2015
I finished my April socks over a week ago and I pulled out my May sock yarn.  I pretty much stared at the yarn up until Tuesday evening, when I finally cast on a pair of socks.  It wasn't the Maeve socks like I planned.

I'm doing the Cabled Helix Socks by Karen Buhr (I had done the test knit for the pattern last year) and the yarn is Groverkill by Indigodragonfly.  I refused to go to bed until I finished the cuff.  I started on the leg this morning and it's coming along well.

Soft Stones Sweater KAL
I casted on the Soft Stones Sweater by Ela Torrente last Thursday night.  It's coming along well but I'm still on the first section.  I had hoped to be further along before this upcoming Friday since I'm supposed to be starting the Quick Silver on Friday.

#100DayChallenge - Sock Yarn Blankie
For the first time since I started this challenge I not only missed one day but I ended up missing 2 in a row.  I came home after my last exam on Friday, talked with my mom while preparing food for church the next day and then promptly went to sleep.  I didn't wake up until the next morning.  On Saturday, I went to church and after we came home, we left again to go and visit a family friend and didn't come back home until almost 1 o'clock in the morning.  Believe me, knitting was the last thing on my mind was adding in a square.

I didn't even attempt to make any extras to make it up.  What's done is done but I got myself back on track and made progress on Sunday.

I do have somewhat of a picture of the current state (before the last added squares).  It's too big for me to take a full picture.  It's almost all 4 squares deep!  I am very proud of the progress that has been made.

I haven't managed to finish anything this week and I've been good and haven't added anything to my stash.  I nearly did though but it turned out I already had the pattern in my library.

This week of knitting

Meeting other crafty people
I had everything planned for this weekend.  I was going to go to the Toronto Knitter's Frolic.  I have never been before and it sounded so exciting to go to the marketplace.  And then a wrench fell in my plans.  My mother had an unexpected surgery on Thursday and I stayed home with her on Saturday...the only day of the marketplace.  Sad as it is, I'm much more concerned with my mother's health than buying more yarn, especially considering I could go to an LYS in Toronto  at any other time of the year.  So suffice it to say I'm planning to go on an LYS trip in a couple of weeks.  I wish I did have the opportunity to meet more knitters though.

While waiting for my mother to come out of recovery on Thursday, I saw a woman crocheting a hat.  Despite not usually being a person to talk to people that I don't know, as an interested crafter, I started a conversation with her (and it also helped that she didn't like she was crazy or anything and she had a cool name - Hermione - never met anyone in real life with that name).  We sat there discussing crafting and the program she runs at her church to teach all kinds of crafting.  I pulled out my socks and she was fascinated by them since she's never tried to knit socks but she has done booties.  I plan to make my way to one of meetings at her church to see how it is once exams are done.

WIP
Vanilla Latte
The heel has been turned!  I love the FLK heel :)  I just have a good chunk of the foot to do but it seems quite feasable and I hope to be finished by the end of this month.  I am looking forward to wearing these socks!  The first one fits perfectly other than wanting it to be a bit longer on the leg.

Sock Blankie
Progress is being made!  I had to find the instructions on how to do a side triangle but I did it!  I think I only have 2 rows more to even out the top row but I don't know how long that is going to take. The hardest decisions for the blanket is picking out colours that I haven't used close together so to speak...and that sentence does not make sense.  I just need to spread out the colours and types of colours a lot more

Stash Enhancement
Nicole C. Mendez Yarn and a Stitch Marker
I have always wanted a pair of rainbow socks...or at least since I've gotten into the self stripping kick.  Random search on Etsy brought me to Nicole C. Mendez.  She seems to do rainbow yarns on a variety of yarn weights.  And the price is very inexpensive, especially considering the fact that it came from Germany.  On top of the price it arrived in just over a week.

Let's not forget about the stitch marker I got from her as well.  It's called Tree of Life.  Absolutely simple and beautiful, just my style.

Creations by Uli
Ever since I heard Ginny from Penguin Soup talking about her chain mail bracelet and stitch markers, I added Creations by Uli to my Etsy favourites and well as following her on Instagram.  When I saw the set with the Eiffle Tower, I realized this was the time to buy and I was not disappointed when I got it.  I showed them to Hermione and she asked me to order her a set.  I am definitely willing to buy more.

Soft Stones Sweater by Ela Torrente
This is what comes from stalking the "Patterns: Sales & Promo" thread on Ravelry...again. This pattern by Ela Torrente is exactly what I was looking for in a sweater.  It's a boat neck and it's got positive ease.  I can change it a 3/4 sleeve if I want to.  This one had me giddy.  It's on sale for 50% off until April 26th, Rome time...and that time has passed for the sale.

Quick Silver by Melanie Berg
I have been eyeing this pattern for a month or so after seeing on a podcast but I can't remember which one. 

KAL & Plans
#BBSC2015
Haven't selected the yarn yet since I'm not finished the Vanilla Lattes yet.  However, I really want to knit with Must Stash Yarn's Dark Side of the Moon, especially since there's a KAL going on starting on May 1st I think, or it's already started.  No prizes involved which is perfectly fine.  It's just for fun.

Soft Stones Sweater (by Ela Torrente)
First of all, got the pattern for 50% off.  I cannot complain.  It's a boatneck sweater which I wanted to make for a long time.  I think I have the yardage required in stash (or at least I will once I pull the Explorer Station shawl that I am obviously not finishing since I still can't Brioche...but I'm not bitter.  The KAL starts on May 1st and goes until July 1st.

The main colour yarn I've chosen is Wollmeise Twin in the colourway 13 AL.  I'll decided on the other 2 contrast colours later.

Quick Silver (Melanie Berg and Stitch Addiction)
It's all Kate's fault (host of the Stitch Addiction Podcast).  Before I even saw the latest episode, I saw the thread called Shawl KAL.  I went through my list of shawls that I wanted to do and narrowed it down to 4 patterns.  Then while browsing through that list of 4 trying to figure out what to do, I noticed that Melanie Berg, the designer of Quick Silver, is having an Any Shawl KAL, provided it's a Melanie Berg shawl...so why not?  The Stitch Addiction KAL starts May 1st and ends June 30th.  Melanie Berg's KAL starts on May 8th and goes until June 12th.

I don't think I have enough yarn in my stash, or at least I don't have yarn that I'm really inspired to work with in my stash...but I could always attempt to dye a couple of skeins...hmmm....ideas....

To Dye or Not to Dye
It will be called either Regina or The Evil Queen
Obviously procrastination is a big factor for me.  I can plan for ages and months to years later, I still haven't done it.  I have been wanting to do my first skein of a self stripping yarn.  The plan was to buy glass jars and dye it this weekend.  But what had really happened was that I bought 2 deep plastic containers and still didn't dye anything

Nightwing or Robin
I told one of my cousins I call 'kilah that I was going to knit her a pair of socks based on Young Justice.  By the time we finished on the discussion about colour, it as determined she just wanted it centred about Robin/Nightwing from the cartoon.  I'm pretty sure I can get the colours from what I have but since I have not dyed self stripping before (hint hint), I just don't want to mess it up since it's not for myself in the end.

On TV/Netflix this week
A Different World
This show is still pure awesomeness despite the fact it's from like 25 years ago.  I think I'm in season 5.  Dwayne and Whitley are engaged.  Ron and Kim are dancing around each other.  Ron and Freddie had a make out session on live radio without their knowledge.  Col. Taylor is about to become a father again.  Terrence and Lena are hilarious!  I don't know what I'm going to do when I finish watching all the seasons.  I seriously wish that there was a continuation of the show like 25-30 years later.

Arrow/Flash
I just don't know what to say without this becoming spoiler ridden for those who watch the show.  It is just awesome and I am looking forward to the spinoff that is supposed to come with the Atom (love Brandon Routh).  And Black Canary is really starting to come together!  I'm so excited.  There's only one thing that I didn't really like but I'm sure the characters will get through it and head in a better direction.  Maybe in the summer I'll go further into this...when people have had a chance to catch up and this season is over.

Orphan Black
Excuse me as I drool on the floor.  The clones are back!  While I am excited to see the Leda clones are back, I am seriously more interested in the Castor clones.  They seem to be a lot more self aware than their Leda counterparts.  I am still trying to figure out how Tatiana Maslani does it.  She played Sarah, pretending to be Rachel and you could tell that it really wasn't Rachel.  They're played by the exact same person!  Tatiana deserves all the awards for this show.  I could have used some more Felix this episode but I know he'll get more time as the season goes on.  Helena and her dream sequence was so sweet too bad it wasn't really happening although I do want it to happen for her.

This week in my Knitting Life

This week has actually been pretty good in general.  My birthday passed and I didn't work on it either.  I spent it with family.  I had a blast with my much 2 of my brothers and my sister.  My dad and step-mother and the kids took me out to dinner.  When I got back home, I took selfies with just about every member of my family, looked through a ton of old pictures that my grandfather had.

I had my last day of work for Target Canada and I couldn't be happier.  It was a great place before liquidation started.  After it did, the customers seemed drastically different than the ones that used to come into the store before and it just made work no longer fun.  I got an email about a job the day before my last day, did a successful phone interview and I have a group interview on this upcoming Friday

#100DayChallenge
I spend way too much on Instgram.  That is a given.  I love to go through the Explore tab and this time I saw the #100DayChallenge.  Basically it's about starting a new habit or challenge for 100 days, take pictures and put it on Instagram and tag it....so I've got the first one going pretty good and the picture taking part but I think I'm going to nix putting it on Instagram because putting pictures of knitting squares seems kind of repetitive after the 2nd day.  And the reason for the repetitiveness is because I decided to add a square a day on my Sock Square Blankie.

I am liking doing this.  There has already been a day where I added 3 instead of just 1.  I still have to do a square a day no matter how many I went over the day before.  I can see a lot of progress being done on this project by the end of the 100 days.

I also added onto the challenge to drink water at least once a day.  I have a tendancy to drink a lot of soda and juice and if that's not available or the water is not room temperature, I have been know to just not drink anything at all for the day.  And since I got this cute tumbler from Target (one of my final purchases) with a feather on it, I drink at least one of these a day.  It also doubles as an alarm clock first thing in the morning.

WIPs
If I haven't been working on my Sock Square Blankie, I have been working on the Vanilla Latte socks.  I just finished the toe on Saturday night and tried the sock on.  I absolutely love it.  The FLK heel I did was the absolute best I have ever done.  I only have 1 little hole on the side but I'm working on perfecting my technique.  The sock yarn I'm using is from my stash.  I wish I had more...or that Knitpicks still made the colourway but now I do want to get other varigated sock yarns from Knitpicks.  It's been awhile since I've made an order.  We'll see.

I haven't done anything for the Plain Stripy socks but if I do manage to get the Vanilla Latte socks done this week (crossing my fingers that I do), I'll get cracking on them afterwards.

Stash Enhancements
A few weeks ago, while watch The Canadian Knitter Podcast on Youtube, Sarah mentioned a thread to watch on Ravelry called **Patterns: Sales and Promos.  It has now become a thread I check every day.  From there, I have found lovely patterns that are discounted for initial release (and sometimes that means free!).  From stalking the thread I have aquired:

• Rorqual Shawl by Laura Aylor
• Flieder Hat by Olya Bagi
• Leafy Lisa Shawlette by Kelli Slack
• Equinox Cowl by Nat Raedwulf
• Dragon to Butterfly Shawl by Dragonbird Creations

I think I'm on a "let's put it around the neck" kick.

Sarah mentioned specifically mentioned a pattern called FivebySix by Ellen Kardell.  It's free until April 13th so I took advantage.

On it's way
This is a wonderful week (or 2) for the mailbox for me.  I got a email notification that the first month of the Firefly: The Shiny Club by Penguin Soup is on it's way.  You can't see meright now but there is a huge grin on my face.

On top of that I went on Etsy and purchased a set of stitch markers by Creations by Uli.  I saw a set that she had made for Fibres West.  It had an Eiffle tower on it.  I love anything that reminds me of France (I'm also have a hankering to decorate my room in a Parisian theme and eventually get around to it). I just had to get, even though it's been weeks.

And because while scoping Etsy after my Creations by Uli purchase, I saw that a Rainbow Sock yarn by Nicole C. Mendez was available...so eventhough I said I was not going to be making any purchases due to an event at the end of the month, I saw the total for a tree stitch marker and the yarn and including shipping it was less than $24 including shiping.  So that's on it's way too.

On the other hand...
I need to pick out a pair of socks for early Friday morning.  I have no clean handknit socks.  I am half way through quite a few pairs.  I'm really wanting to wear the Vanilla Latte socks that I'm currently working on but I don't know if I'll finish it within the week.  I know I could get the Plain Ol' Stripy socks (Part Deux) done in time but I'm not sure if those are the ones I want to wear.

Knitting First World Problems...

Another week of knitting

Surprisingly (no...not really) I have no FOs this week but I do have a lot of progress, or at least I think so.

Works in Progress
I have 2 pairs of socks on the needles that I am loving like crazy.  Last week I casted on the non-April socks.  I have passed the heel for both of them since I am knitting both socks of the same time.  I tried on 1 foot and it fits pretty good but it feels like it could be tighter closer to the ankles.  I'm not sure how I'd accomodate since my calves require a 72 stitch count and so does the area before my toes.  The rest of my foot is slimmer but how do you accomodate that and still be able to put on sock?

I am in love with this yarn.  I had to stop myself from buying another skein online last payday since there's a plan for the end of the month which does not involve me ending up with a ton of yarn with no money left.

Anyways, sock #1 of the Vanilla Latte socks is almost done.  I'm pretty certain I have less than an inch left before starting the toe :)  I was going to finish the sock tonight but somehow I got distracted with watch "19 Kids and Couting".

Kinda random but not quite
On Instagram there's a 100 day challege that started on April 6th (so I'm a day behind).  To participate, I pulled our my Sock Blankie and decided to do a square a day for the next 100 days.  Quite possible since I'm at home every evening and it doesn't take long to do a square as it is.  I have a lot of left over stash plus mini skeins to go through.  I'm pretty sure there's still going to be a lot of work to add to it after the 100 days but here Day #1's challenge:

 

Wow, those pictures did not turn out the way I wanted tehm to.  Got to work on that.

As I was saying before, I'll finish up this square before I go to my bed tonight and get it ready for a new square tomorrow (aka: pick out the next colour ready to go)

My Knitting Life for the past 2 weeks

FO
I had a quick FO in the past week and a half.  I started it on Thursday on the bus on the way to work, finished it the next Monday and weaved in the ends on Tuesday morning.  I made the Bankhead Hat by Susie Gourlay.  I saw the a WIP and FO by Sarah of the Canadian Knitter Podcast and decided on Thursday that I needed to make a hat so I did.  I did a good amount of that work on Saturday night at a housewarming with people I've known my whole life staring at me in awe that I can knit and that I do in fact actually knit.

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted Multi

Colourway: Black Purl

It is bigger than I thought it would be but it's good to cover hair that is not actually styled the way I want it to be soon.  I'm going to make another one with a smaller set of needles and casting on 10 less stitches.  I think that should be enough.  The only problem is that I barely have any worsted weight stash that is not acrylic.  I have to do something about that.  It's quite appealing to have a project started, finished and able to be work so quickly.

WIP
It's almost a HO thought!  I working my way through the Smokestack Socks by Tanis Lavallee.  It is a beautiful pattern and it makes this sock yarn look much better than I thought it would when I got it in the skein.  I'm further behind than I wanted to be but with good reason.  I put the socks aside to work on my sister's cowl and to make the Bankhead hat but excellent progress was made since, especially considering my prime time of knitting at my knitting circle was barely used since I left early due to not feeling well.

Yarn: Knitpicks Stroll Tonal

Colourway: Folliage

Stash Enhancement
With a lot of hemming and hawing, I joined a 3-month yarn club.  It's by Penguin Soup (aka: Ginny).  I have been wanting to buy a skein of yarn from her since I started watching her podcast just under a year ago.  She got me this time.  It's Firefly themed and she said there's going to be a skein that matches Jayne's hat.  How could I say no to that?  And I might as well take advantage of it while I still have money to get some sock yarn.

I recently added my first skein of Desert Vista Dye Works.  The colourway is Zombody Loves Ewe.  I felt like I should have bought just for the name alone.  I love it and I plan to purchase more at a later date (job pending of course).

Yarn: Dessert Vista Dye Works Viso (self-stripping)

Colourway: Zombodie Loves Ewe

I had the intention of going to the Purple Purl today (as in Friday) before I went to class.  It is clear on the otherside of Toronto but the store opens at 10 on a Friday right?  Wrong.  It opens at 11. Much to my disappointment I couldn't get there, come back for lunch at school and then class afterwards.  Since I knew exactly what I was looking for (Turtle Purl Stripped toes sock yarn), I looked online and found only 1 other location in Toronto sells it, The Knit Café.  There weren't too many options for colours but I left with the Snow White colourway which is perfect since I'm going through a Once Upon A Time phase (the show is awesome and Pan is a grade A jerk).

Yarn: Turtlepurl Yarns Striped Turtle Toes

Colourway: Snow White

And what will I be doing with all of the skeins of yarn?  Stash 'em of course. I'm in the midst of going through my Red Paper Bags of socks still (I've finished 2 and I'm working on the 3rd out of 11).  They'll be added to my sock stash that shrinking for after I finish my challenge.

I've been doing good otherwise.  No new patterns either paid or free...no wait, I downloaded a free pattern.  It was Speargrass by Susie Gourle, the same designer of the Bankhead hat.  And I got the official pattern for a test knit for a pair of socks.  It is absolutely gorgeous however it won't be available for purchase until March 2016 as it is a part of a sock club

2015 has arrived!

I reached the television by 4 seconds before the stroke of midnight.  I raised my glass of cranberry-raspberry juice with with the household who had managed to remain awake and went upstairs to my room to get ready to start knitting my Victorian Birdcage socks by Cat Bhordi.  I've have never actually knit anything by her before but I've had the Sweet Tomato Heel book for over a year and have only glanced through it.  This should be interesting.

I love the yarn so there's no issue with that. I'm going cuffdown and hopefully I'll have a few rounds of ribbing before I go to bed.

I've been working on my Plain Ol' Strippy socks on my commute to work.  By doing this I've

1. met 2 litttle girls who seemed to be on their way to becoming the best of friends despite just meeting each other for the first time.
2. Given people directions to The Purple Purl where I bought my skein of Trench Coat by Turtle Purl
3. Met a bunch of knitters via TTC
4. nearly frozen my fingers off because I just had to finish the row before I put it in the bag and somehow I knew that I would have shoved stitches off the needles by placing the unfiished rows
5. knit from one colour change after the heel to half way through the cuff and 1 sock and about to start the ribbing of the cuff for the 2nd

After the cuffs are done for both socks, the heels have to be added and then they will be all done and I'm going to be sad because I have no more self stripping socks to knit while commuting.  I think I have to go to a yarn shop and buy another skein of yarn and/or find another Indie dyer online selling self stripping yarn that is merino/nylon and no stellina since I have never been a fan of sparkly anything.

I ordered my first skein of Gynx Yarn yesterday morning.  Unfortunately therewas no self stripping still available but I chose a variagated skein called Mulan in Strong Sock.  I almost immediately recieved the notification that it was being shipped.  I was shocked with the speed.

And now I'm tired so the VBC (Victorian Bird Cage) is going to go back into the bag and will be worked upon when I get up in the morning.  Good night and happy new year...and I'll hopefully remember to put up progress pictures tomorrow..

First bag chosen

I picked a bag for the Brown Paper Bag Sock Challenge. I was crossing my fingers for something not too challenging...didn't happen. 

I pulled out my beloved skein of MissBabs Cosmic Hand Painted in the colourway Inkwell and hunted down to the bottom of the bag to see what pattern I had chosen.  It's the Victorian Birdcage by Cat Bhordi.  I have been admiring this pattern since I bought the e-book Cat's Sweet Tomato Heel.  I didn't realize that the pattern is for a DK weight yarn but lucky for me, Ms. Bhordi has thought of everything and showed a conversion from DK to fingering weight yarn so I can continue to plan to make these socks.  I still have to cake the yarn and figure out what needles to use but at least I already have an empty bag to put everything in and be ready to start on January 1st.

Am I ready? Just about.

Last night (or maybe it was the night before) I mentioned the paperbag sock challenge which is really supposed to be called the Brown Bag Sock Challenge.  I actually got 11 bags together in lovely red paper bags.  There's supposed to be a 12th but we'll see what happens.  I would like to get one more skein of self stripping and if I do, I'll probably do the other pattern I had on my list for self stripping yarn.

Inside each bag is at least 100g of sock yarn from my stash and the name of a pattern from my queue.  I don't fully know what goes with what since I put a label on the top of each bag describing if the yarn was self stripping, varigated, tonal varigated or solid.  For each pattern on my list, I noted what kind of yarn would be most suited.  Without looking in the bags, I attached a pattern that matched the label, rolled up the bag so it would hide the label and taped it shut.

Around January 1st 2015, I'm going to grab a bag, pull out the pattern and get the needle size recommended and get started on a new pair of socks.  I hope I don't get the one with Smokestack by Tanis yet.  I didn't realize until I had sealed up the bags and then went on Ravelry, I don't actually own the pattern.  Makes it kind of difficult