Fall Back to Knitting

As much as I would like to post more regularly, it does get crazy around here.
I've tried to pinpoint what distracts me from writing posts for the blog. I don't think it's the writing, really I don't. There's my own personal problem of failure to finish things. And by finishing things, I don't mean not knitting them. I have at least 10 projects that are knitted, but need some finishing touches, like blocking and weaving in ends. Those are the things I dislike about knitting, which is odd. I guess it means I'm not destined to be a seamstress, huh?
I actually think it's the photography aspect that keeps me from posting on a regular basis.
I am not a photographer, and that is a problem, my friends. My husband is a great photographer, yet he is not so much interested in photographing knitting. So, until I can convince him that knitting is a worthwhile subject, you will have to endure my iPhone photographs.
I must admit that it's a big challenging at times to get good light and angles, even with a point and snap phone!


Esjan Shawl - Design by Stephen West. Knit in The Plucky Knitter Primo Worsted.

A Low Brow hat, also in The Plucky Knitter Primo Worsted. Yes, Plucky is my favorite yarn!

Some socks knit from deep stash in Autumn House yarn, and promptly delivered to my Nana, who lives in them. I love it when people appreciate hand-made!

And finally a fun knit.....Knit picks Felici self-striping yarn. I know, I know. It's a strange choice for a yarn snob like me, but they were fun, and the price was right. Who can argue with $7 knitted socks? Not me.

Happy Fall! It's knitting season again. Hallelujah!

Summer Knitting

I am a knitter who knits all year long, though I must admit that it is more difficult for me to find the "appropriate" time to knit during the summer.  The warmer weather makes it a little harder for me to knit as much as I'd like.

I like to do smaller projects during the summertime to combat the warmer weather, and my affinity for knitting with wool.  Socks are the perfect project for summer for me, but I had lost my desire to knit socks, possibly because I just couldn't reconcile how beautiful the multicolored yarns looked in skeins with how they knit up into socks.  I'm not a big fan of flashing or yarn pooling, which seemed to happen a lot for me with variegated yarns I had previously purchased and knit.

But I found some great needles - some 9" circular needles to just simply knit in the round for the leg and foot of the sock (the biggest portions).  This makes knitting vanilla socks even more simple than my preferred method for knitting socks - magic loop....
I do however, still knit the heel and toe on magic loop needles.

To recover my sock mojo, I started by knitting my Nana a pair of socks for winter.  She loved them!  I knit her plain vanilla socks, and since then am on my third pair this year.  This is about a pair every other month, which is pretty good for me with our busy schedule, and way better than not knitting socks at all.

Here's the current pair on my needles:
Vanilla Socks:
Yarn - Into the Whirled (75% merino wool/25% nylon) - LOVE this base.
Color way - Abercrombie
Needles - US #1 (2.25 mm) for the leg and foot, US #0 for the heel and toe.

There is a little pooling happening here, but not so much that I can't tolerate it.  As of tonight, I am almost done with the toe.  And I'm the kind of knitter who immediately casts on for the second sock, which is an unusual trait in sock knitters.

Here's hoping you enjoy the week ahead, and that the weather allows for some knitting time in the outdoors!

Knitting Update

There's knitting happening here.

That's Spighe di Grano.   It's a small shawl that had been waiting awhile to be blocked.  I decided to try and do just that last week, and I succeeded.  It's a simple knit in gorgeous colors -  Skein yarns BFL sock, in her famous "Static" colorway.
My Ravelry project page has details to help your sort through my personal modifications to the pattern. Follow the link above.....

I've also acquired a new little project bag.  How could I pass up this bag with knitting sheep on the fabric?  Too funny and whimsical.  It came from a new, small, local yarn store in our area.
The bag is made by a local Pennsylvania artist, so bonus all around in supporting local companies.

And I'm on the verge of finishing another small shawl - details in upcoming posts!  It's knit with a beautiful merino/nylon/cashmere blend from Three Irish Girls yarn.  YUM!

Here's hoping everyone is enjoying summer.  We look forward to warm weather this week in PA.  That means the last softball game, swimming, and knitting at night.  I might even get in some knitting and spinning on my front porch.  Bring it on, I say!  Happy knitting to you and yours!

Around here.....

A year full of pictures. Around here.....