Socks!

Good news! I've gotten my first pair of socks done! I am pleased with them and love them as only a mother could. You see, they have a lot of flaws but they are the most beautiful socks in the world to me. :)

I have started on my second pair of socks. This time I've decided to do toe-up socks. I've completed the toe and the foot. I've started the heel numerous times but cannot seem to get it right. I'm following the Lifestyle Toe-Up Socks pattern seen here so if anyone knows of an easier pattern to follow (or can help me with this one), PLEASE let me know.

Here's the deal, on the pattern I can nicely knit THROUGH the part in BLACK below BUT when I get to the directions in RED, it looks like the directions are in Russian as I have no earthly idea what they mean since I'm a new knitter!

Here are the directions:

Time to knit the heel
Knit the no muss, no fuss, no crazy yarnovers short row heel designed by Priscilla Wild and used with her permission. Of all the methods for making a short row heel, this one wins, hands down.

Ignore the needle that holds the stitches that are the top of the foot, time to focus on creating your heel. With the stitches on your "heel" needle, follow these directions for creating a short-row heel.
(This is Priscilla Wild's recipe using 30 stitches. Adjust to the number of stitches on your heel needle.)

30 sts k to next to last stitch, turn
slip stitch (SS) , purl 27( to next to last stitch) turn
SS, k 26, turn,
SS, p 25, turn,
SS, k 24, turn,
SS, p 23, turn,
SS, k 22, turn,
SS, p 21, turn,
SS k 20, turn,
SS, p 19 , turn,
SS, k 18, turn,
SS, p 17, turn,
SS, k 16, turn,
SS, p 15, turn,
SS, k 14, turn,
SS, p 13, turn,
SS, k 12, turn,
SS, p 11, turn,
SS, K 10, turn,
SS, P 9, turn,
SS, K 8 turn

**Go to first stitch next to the first hole , p2tog, (note, you are purling together the 2 stitches on either side of the first hole) pick up 1 stitch with right needle ( put needle through the top loop of the gap and pull through a new loop with yarn, as if you, were picking up instep stitches) in the next hole, between the next two stitches.

Turn,
Slip that picked up stitch to left needle, knit across to stitch next to first hole, k2tog, pick up one stitch in next hole with right needle,

Turn**
Repeat between the** ’s until all stitches are back in work, simply picking up a stitch on the end loop when at the end of the increasing .

Note, once you have done a few rows on the decrease portion, you don’t need to count, just make a hole by turning next to the last stitch of the next hole. On the increasing portion always k or p together the 2 stitches on either side of the next hole, then pick up stitch in the space next to your needle, turn and slip that picked up stitch. The picked up stitches are, in essence, increases filling in a hole and making up for the k2tog decreases that close a hole. This method leaves no loops and no holes.

All I can say is HUH?????

I sure wish I could figure this out because this sock is LOVELY. I'll take a photo of it soon so you can see the beautiful yarn. It's gorgeous!

Well, until next time,

xoxoxo

PattyAnne

I WAS Discouraged

I'm knitting my second sock and I have made a mistake. I tried to fix it then dropped some stitches etc. etc. etc. I have frogged several rows and still cannot get the dang loops back on my needles. Whenever I put a loop on my needle - ever so gently - another loop gets sucked into a black hole. I carefully rescue that loop with my crochet hook only to have the next loop fall into the black hole.

Do I sound like I'm whining?? I AM.

I need Thorn!!! She rescued me last time. I was just about to frog a project because of that stinkin' black hole effect when Thorn yelled (ever so sweetly) D.O.N.'T. I can help! I can fix that!! Thorn.....where are you???? My fingers are just itchin' to frog these 8 inches of sock.... well, the sock is probably 3 inches now.....



UPDATE!!!! I was sitting in the living room knitting a bit of my orange handspun/dyed when my DH came in and asked where my sock was that I was working on?? He really thinks these socks are cool and can't wait until I'm able to knit him a pair! Anyway, I told him about my disaster with those dang socks and guess what???? HE FIXED them!!! I guess his old fly-tying skills came in handy once again!! I still cannot believe he did it!
Thanks snookums. ;) Mmmwwahhhhh!

See...the needles are back in the loops. Oh, one of his tricks was that he used tooth picks to hold the loops from being sucked into the black hole. YEAH!

My very FIRST sock is DONE!

I am so pleased that I have finished sock #1. Yahoooo!!
I sure have learned a lot of what NOT to do on sock #2. This first sock is "wearable" BUT I won't be dragging it outta my bag at the knitting meet to show anyone else up close LOL. I had to fudge a LOT to get this baby done. You should see (ahhhh, no, you shouldn't see LOL) the way I did my kitchener stitch. I think it should be called a pattyachener stitch (PattyAnne and kitchener stitch combo!).

Well, here it is. BTW, I just cast on sock #2. I can't wait to get started.


xoxoxo
PattyAnne

What's On My Needles?

I've got a gorgeous sock on my needles! I really didn't think I'd like this sock yarn UNTIL I started knitting it.

This is my first sock AGAIN. The is the farthest I've gotten yet in sock knitting. I think I'll get this one DONE!! Yahooo. :)

I'm headed out of town tomorrow. Going to Cincinnati to my nephew's graduation party. Luckily I won't be the one driving all the way soooooo I'll get to KNIT my sock.

Maybe when I get back home my sock will be done. If so, I'll post a photo. Wish me luck.

xoxoxo
PattyAnne

Booga Bag Felted

I finished the bag today and ran it through the washing machine - hot wash/cold rinse one time. I think it turned out pretty good although maybe a tad bit more colorful than I had expected.

Question: Has anyone out there done a felted bag? Do you think this needs another 'go round' in the washer? I could throw it in with the i-cord straps when they're done.

Dyed Bluefaced Leicester (with Wilton Cake Colors) Take ONE

Below you will find the results of yesterday's dyeing.
(I've learned several things from this first dyeing attempt.)

1. Soak the wool in HOT water to which a splash of white vinegar has been added for about 1 hour prior to dyeing
2. Add a splash of vinegar to each of the dye solutions
3. When done adding the dye to the wool, wrap it in plastic wrap and place this wrapped wool into a ceramic bowl.
4. Microwave on high for 2 minutes.
5. Remove from microwave and let the wrapped wool cool for 2 minutes.
6. Repeat steps 4 & 5 three or four times.
7. Allow wool to cool a bit
8. Soak wool in water that is the same temperature as the wool.
9. Hang wool to dry.

You won't believe the difference adding the vinegar and heating in the microwave made! Ooh lah lah. ;) I'll show you the finished product soon. Nice colors!

So here's what I did for "Take Two":



Now, back to yesterday's dye. It didn't turn out at all like I expected although I think it is a nice soft variegated pink.



Until next time. (I'll probably be blogging from Chattanooga again - I'm going to visit my daughter.)

xoxoxox
PattyAnne

Basket Weave Dish Cloth

Happy Saturday! I hope you're having a grand day!


As you read this, my friend Robbie and I are paddling our kayaks downstream hoping to get in some good birding before we go to our nature photography class tomorrow. Actually, we're on a birding mission. We're hoping to see the Painted Bunting. Our binoculars are ready!



Well, back to knitting....

Here's what I just took off my needles before leaving on Friday. I've got a question about it. Do you see those two ends of yarn on the left (where I began and ended this dishcloth)?
What am I supposed to do with them? I realize this is just a dishcloth BUT if I someday learn to make something 'fancy smancy' I'd like to know the "proper" thing to do. ;)

Happy Knitting!
xoxoxo
PattyAnne

Sock Bag

I found several patterns online today for making a sock bag that can either hang from a belt or from my wrist. (I DON'T know how to knit socks yet but when I learn.... I'll be ready!)
Here are the bag 'parts'. The video shows the finished product. Sorry about my hand and arm getting in the way. ;)
Oh, I got the pattern here.

K 2, p to last 2 sts, k 2....

Hi!! I'm in Chattanooga again visiting my daughter and son-in-law! :)

I've gotten a lot of knitting done while I've been here - well, actually, I got a lot of knitting done sitting in Marshal Mize Collision's waiting room for 3.5 hours. (It's a long story about cars, car wrecks, a check engine light that keeps coming on and that awful clicking noise coming from the belly of the car. Well, I'll spare you the details right now.)

Oh, before I forget ---- I GOTTA tell ya--- my shawl should be done today (assuming that I can figure out these finishing directions)!!!

FINISHING
Leave sts on needle. * Insert crochet hook through the next 3 sts and slip off needle, yo and draw through all sts on hook, chain 7; rep from * to last 3 sts, insert crochet hook through last 3 sts and slip off needle, yo and draw through all sts on hook. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

If I figure out the above directions and finish the shawl, I'll be sure to model it for you. :) Remember, it's my first shawl (actually it's my first anything other than the bookmark and washcloth I made) so I KNOW there are holes where there should not be holes and no holes where there should be holes... I'm just excited to finish it. I can't wait to cuddle up under it. :)

Speaking about finishing my shawl, my friend, Rose, would be so impressed with me. I've known Rose for about 27 years and I bet she can count on one hand the projects that I've finished in that time! (Rose always finishes her projects!!) Anyone else out there like me?? I mean I have projects dating back oh, I'd say about 27 years!! The earliest I remember is the cloth books that Rose and I were making for our babies.

Well, gotta get back to my shawl.
xoxoxo
PattyAnne