A Not-So-Good Day Ends In A GREAT Day!

Okay - to start out with the not-so-good day, I went to Part II of my Toe-Up Sock Class at my LYS to learn how to do short-row heels. I think I'm thoroughly confused, but we'll see how it goes when I try it on my own socks. Today we just used scrap yarn and practiced. Seems very difficult to me - guess I'm kinda dense.

From the class I went to my local knitting meet-up group at Forza Coffee, had a great latte and sat back and enjoyed the conversation. I needed that "wind-down" from the tension of the fingers doing the short rows.

Then from there I went home and in my mailbox was my wonderful Sunshine Yarn from their latest update. I haven't decided what to knit with either of these for the Sunshine-A-Long starting tomorrow, August 1st. Probably will knit a pair of socks.
The top yarn is Sunshine Yarns Classic Superwash "Hunting Wildflowers", and the bottom color is "Over The Rainbow".

Great Give-A-Way

Over on Peacefully Knitting's blog, Tina is having a super give-a-way of a new book: Gifted by Mags Kandis, known for her colorful knitwear designs featuring gorgeous and very creative embellishments, features more than 30 knit and crochet designs that celebrate the pure joy of crafting. I know there's a ruffled scarf pattern in there that I would surely like to make. Be sure to go over and enter your name in the contest before it closes on Sunday, August 1st at 8:00pm PDT. Good luck!

Friday Wrap-Up

I've been working on my Toreador socks whenever I get a chance and I'm really pleased how they're coming along. They're about 6.5 inches along the foot and I'll have to stop soon, as my next class isn't until next week where I learn how to do the "short-row heel". Socks are fun and portable. I need to practice the Judy Magic Cast On so that I can get it right for the 2nd sock.

Leaving shortly to get a cortisone injection in my sacroiliac joint. This is still pain from the rear-end auto accident we were in on Halloween 2008. Getting tired of this!

We're supposed to have a week of no rain and beautiful sunshine with temperatures in the 70's and 80's. Looking forward to that!

Toe-Up Socks

Yesterday I took Part I of a Toe-Up Sock class at Yorkshire Yarns in Lakewood, Washington. This is my progress so far. I'm using the Magic Loop method of knitting. The yarn I'm using is Zen Yarn Garden Superwash Sock Yarn in the Toreador colorway. It is 60% merino wool, 30% bamboo and 10% nylon. I made a pair of worsted weight socks several years ago (top-down), so thought I'd give this method a try. So far, so good.

Picture Blanks

Don't know why there are a number of pictures missing on my previous blogs, but I apologize. I'll try to re-load them tomorrow. Took a "Toe-Up Sock" class this morning using the Judy Magic Cast-On. Looks nice and I'm anxious to knit some more on the socks tomorrow.

Aaaaah! More Jam, More Iced Mocha and Knitting

I don't know why, but I've been on a "jam kick" of late. My last post was the result of a half-flat of blackberries, and today I preserved a half-flat of raspberries. Here's the results, along with my favorite iced mocha. Hubby's golfing, so I'm now taking some computer time, then on with knitting!
From this: to this:
I also finally finished my two shawlettes and got them blocked for picture-taking: Wide-Eyed in Sunshine Yarns Classic Superwash Sock, colorway Peony and my Simple Things in MauiYarns Superwash Merino Fingering Weight Yarn, colorway West Maui Mountains.

Stocking the Freezer - 2010

This is what I spent part of my day doing. Bought 1/2 flat of blackberries from Spooner Farms and made 10 pints of yummy frozen blackberry jam. This is my favorite jam, and also that of my grandkids. When they come to visit this is what they want on their PBJ sandwiches, and on occasion I send a jar home with them.

NEXXXXXXXT.......

Yesterday, I posted the blocking "Wide-Eyed Shawlette", which I'm not too pleased with. Across the top it is straight, but the two sides still roll up a little. Don't know if I stretched it too much or not enough. That was my first attempt at blocking.

Here's my second attempt today - the Simple Things Shawlette

Summer's Coming!

We finally have some sunshine that's going to last more than part of a day. Today it's supposed to be in the 70's and up to the 90's in a couple of days. Then it drops back into the 80's next week. Just had to go out and take some pictures of things in my yard - they look so good with the sun shining on them!
Hubby's golfing, and I'm spending the day working on my One Row Lace Scarf (see post below), finally blocking my Peony Wide-Eyed Shawl, making a run to the grocery store, and catch up on paying bills and bookkeeping. All in all, a great day!



My first attempt at blocking: Wide-Eyed Shawlette - sorry for the poor picture quality - it just blends right in with the comforter. Better picture tomorrow after it dries.

Tour de Fleece/Team Sasquatch

I originally "signed on" to the Tour deFleece (July 3-21) in the Team Sasquatch group and was going to knit a couple scarves for the next Special Olympics in Washington State. Their requirement is that the yarn must be Red Heart in cherry red and in white. That yarn is so scratchy and hard on my hands, I gave up.

I already had been working on a One Row Lace Scarf and after tinking it back several times (while riding in the car home from Boise), and again today at knitting meet-up, I tinked all the way back and started over. So........it's going to be one of my TourDeFleece projects.

I also got some beautiful bamboo/wool blend yarn to make a second One Row Lace Scarf. For some reason, it's also green (called "Willow"), I guess I'm in a "green" mode. This yarn is so drapey and soft I can hardly wait to start knitting it. I'll try to get it done during the "Tour" also, but maybe not.

Home from Travels

We had a great time on our recent trip to Boise, Idaho this past week. We spent the first night at our daughter's home in Richland, then drove south from there to Boise. We had our oldest grandaughter and one of the younger ones traveling with us, which made for some cute and interesting discussions in the car. The first night of the family reunion was a pizza party at Louie's, where we had wonderful food and a crowd of 30-40 family members. Lots of good time chatting with everyone. It's been 9 years since we've had a reunion, so lots of catching up to do. Friday, we all went to Julia Davis Park where the kids played softball and the grownups sat around doing more visiting. We had a great picnic lunch with the usual lots of food. I spent a good deal of the time talking with a cousin who is very excited about genealogy (which I do in my spare time), so we compared notes and I've promised to send her what information I have on parts of our family. Sunday afternoon after lunch at a brother-in-law's house, we traveled on to Nampa, Idaho and stayed with friends for 2 nights. Hubby played golf on Monday in the 100 degree temperatures! We also went to a barbecue at another friend's house.
As for knitting, I worked on my One Row Lace Scarf and it was up to 30 inches long when I discovered an error back down at around the 10 inch length. Because it is a lacy and columnar looking pattern, the mistake really showed up, so riding home in the car, I tinked it clear back to the mistake and corrected. This is a photo from the front seat of the van as we neared home, showing the trees and beautiful sky (and much cooler).