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