Red Hot Pryroclastic Socks

Details:
Yarn:  Cascade Heritage in Red (1 Skein)
Needle:  1.5US

I started these as a Christmas gift for my grandmother.  Gave her one sock for Christmas and had most of the second one done.  Figured I'd finish it the next week and mail it off to her and be done.  Nope, just finished it over the weekend. I have never had second sock syndrome before and the really sad part is that it took me only a couple of  hours watching TV to finish these.  Now I just need to mail it off to her...wonder how long that will take.

Pyroclastic Socks

I spent part of Saturday evening and Sunday morning trying to find a pattern that I really liked to knit up my new sock yarn for my Gram. Ravelry is a great tool but sometimes it can be overwhelming trying to find a new pattern out of the millions out there.

But after some searching I finally found Pyroclastic by Marlowe Crawford.

My Gram likes her socks a bit taller so I'm going to add at least one additional repeat of the pattern for the leg.

The bottom of the foot is interesting with the decreases. I haven't done a foot like this one before.

I love the mock cables.

I decided to use the Cascade Heritage in Red for this pair for my Gram. It'll be a red hot pyroclastic.

I got started on the socks on Sunday evening and did three repeats of the pattern before bed time. It's really easy to memorize and I love that. I used it to hide behind during The Walking Dead season premier.

I actually finished a project during my time off. Amazing, I know. It was only a pair of socks but still.

Pattern: Alpine Glow by Stephanie van der Linden

Needles: 1.5 US

Yarn: Cascade Heritage in 5626

Mods: None, pattern was clear and easy to follow. Loved the finished project.

I finished the socks I started for my Grandmother back in April. So without further adue, Tea Time for Gran...

It's Tea Time by Stephanie van der Linden
Yarn: Little Traveler by The Sanguine Gryphon (purchased at Stitches West)Needles: US 2
Started: 04/21/2011
Finished: 05/16/2011
Mods: None
Notes: None really. This was a pretty simple, straight forward knit.

Socks! Finished!

Pattern: Rattle Snake Creek Socks by Anne Podlesak

Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll

Needles: Size 2, 3mm

Started: 2/25/10

Finished: 4/16/10

Mods: None

A lot has been going on at the Dropped Stitch household lately. My office moved. Again. This is the 2nd time in less then two years this has happened. And the crazy part is that I moved back to the last location I moved from. I'm right across the aisle from my old cubicle. It's crazy and I really didn't want to move back to this old location. Moving means that I have to drive myself instead of commuting with Hubbs so it costs us more and there are no coffee shops or nice places to eat within walking distance anymore. I didn't leave the office that much to begin with but still. It was a nice treat to run out and grab a cup of coffee with a co-worker.

After the trip to Alabama I decided to go back to school and finish my degree in Administration of Justice. I'm not sure that it's going to help me much in advancing my career but at least I will have finished. At this time I'm only two classes short of finishing and if all goes according to plan I should finish by the end of the year. I'm planning on taking one class during the summer semester and one during the fall. I'm nervous about it and scared that I won't be able to do the work.

Hubbs and I have planned another trip back to Alabama. We agreed to go back, rent a truck and drive all of my Aunts things back to California. We have to make a stop in Tucson to drop off a dinning room set to a distant cousin. I have to call her this weekend to make arraignments with her to drop off the furniture. We're planning to make some stops during the trip to visit some tourist sights and see The Grand Canyon among other things. After we get back from that trip we'll be headed to Oregon for a week too. It's going to be a crazy couple of months

In knitting news, I'm still working on my Thermal, my Central Park Hoodie and Celeste. I'm also working on a pair of socks. The pattern is called Rattle Snake Creek Socks. I've finished the first sock and am working on the second one now, hoping to finish it this weekend so I can move on to something else. I started these socks the day before I left for Alabama in February. I had to rip out and re knit twice. But now I'm finally making progress. I learned how to cable without a needle on this project. I love learning new techniques. It's so fun! Pic's soon!

Have a great weekend!

I actually finished something! Seems like it's been a while since I finished anything.

Pattern: Embossed Leaves by Mona Schmidt

Yarn: Kraemer Yarns Saucon Sock in Lime

Needles: Size 2

Started: 03/27/10

Finished: 04/05/10

Mods: Didn't do the toe that the pattern had, did a standard toe. Other then that, nothing.

These are my first socks in cotton. I like the stitch definition and the color. I would use it again. Also this is the first time I've used this brand of sock yarn. I broke my resolution of not buying any sock yarn this year until I used up everything I already had in my stash but I have a good excuse! A new yarn shop opened recently in Mid-town and the hubbs and I stopped in to check it out. It's a very small shop called Fig Tree Alley and I had to support a local yarn shop! The lady running the shop was very nice and I enjoyed my visit very much. I figured one skein of sock yarn was worth buying to help keep her shop going.

I decided to move on with my Top 10 Banned Novels reading and just skip reading the book by Voltaire. I'm just not into reading anything that heavy right now. Work has been really stressful and home has been really stressful so I'm going to go on to reading something else for a while. I'm going to keep the list on the side bar in case I decide to come back to it later in the year.

I read Pride and Prejudice and Monsters and Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter and am currently reading The Long Walk, The true story of a trek to freedom by Slavomir Rawicz. Hopefully the library comes through today with a couple of more books I requested. Hubbs and I are headed off to Lake Tahoe this weekend for a friends wedding so I'm going to need some reading material and The Long Walk is almost finished.

I cast on for a new pair of socks yesterday and I'm still working on my Thermal. I'm doing the placket on the front right now and for some reason I seem to have a block on finishing this part which is why I've gone back to making socks. I still need to finish the sleeves for my Central Park Hoodie but haven't made any progress on that either. I know this weekend won't be very restful but I'm hoping for at least some down time to relax by the lake before we head back home. I have knitting that needs to be done!

Finished Object!

Pattern: Summer Lovin' Socks by Knittingnonstop

Yarn: Knit Picks Essential Kettle Dyed in Gold

Needles: US 1.5

Started: 02/04/10

Finished: 02/12/10

Mods: One additional repeat on the leg to make the socks longer.

I knit these up with with some of my birthday yarn and my new needles that Hubbs gave me. It was a very fun pattern that really helped bring me out of my grey winter sky's funk. I'm so ready for spring!

I also finished up my Central Park Hoodie only to discover that the sleeves, while a perfect length are too small. They are so tight that I just don't think I could wear it comfortably. I'm afraid that it might cut off the circulation to my hands. I'm going to take the sleeves back off and then rip them out. I have one extra skein of yarn left so I think that I can make them again one size larger and reattach them. I've never had to do anything like this before so it's going to be a learning experience.

My Thermal is on hold for the moment. I finished the body of the sweater but I decided that I didn't want to deal with using double points that have very rounded ends to knit the sleeves. I ordered a set of 8" Harmony Double Points from Knit Picks last night. Soon as they come I'll be back on the Thermal.

In the mean time I'm going to work on ripping out the sleeves for the Central Park Hoodie and trying to Finish the Tuxedo Vest. It's blocked and just needs to have the cowl neck tacked in place and it should be ready to wear...fingers crossed that there is nothing wrong with it. lol.

I have the best husband! My birthday is coming up on Tuesday and he knew that I've been dying for a set of the Knit Picks Harmony double pointed needles. The set is 2.00mm through 3.25mm. Each one has 6 needles per size and are 6 inches long. And he got me 4 skeins of sock yarn! I was so excited yesterday when it arrived. He's the best!

So naturally I had to cast on for a sock last night. I love the gold color that he got me. Yesterday was so grey here and my day at work was terrible so I had to choose the happiest color. I cast on using a pattern called "Summer Lovin Socks" by Knittingnonstop. It's a lacy pattern that it going to be really fun. So far I've finished the cuff and one repeat of the leg pattern. These needles are a joy to knit with. The sharp points make it so easy to pick up a dropped stitch or pick out stitches when I make a mistake (which happens often).

My thermal is coming along too. I'm almost ready to do a three needle bind off on the left front and back. Once that is done, I'm ready to move to the right side and then on to the sleeves. I can't wait to finish this project and start on something new. It's not that I don't love it, because I do. I just can't wait to wear this sweater. It's so cute and the color is perfect for me. Anything blue makes my eyes turn very blue. My mom picked a great yarn and a great color for me. Can't wait to wear it!

Finished! My first toe-up socks!

Pattern: Azure Socks by Deb Barnhill
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll in Make Believe

Started: 12/26/09

Finished: 01/02/10

First toe-up socks and first finished object of 2010!

Apparently I like to get a jump on my goals. Well, I'm getting a jump on my 2010 goals anyway. I started my pair of toe up socks.

Pattern: Azure Socks by Deb Barnhill

Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll Hand-painted in Make Beleive

Started: 12/26/09

These have been very challenging for me. It took quite a while for me to get the hang of the cast on to start at the toe and then the heel was heck and I had to rip back and redo a couple of times. So far I'm about 1/2 way through the first sock.

I'm now more then half way through Uncle Tom's Cabin and I'm really enjoying the book. It's hard to believe that this book was written during the time of slavery and by a free black woman. I guess the view I have of slavery in my mind is different then what she portrays in her book. The story line is great and it's interesting to see what happens to these poor people. Right now I'm just dying to find out if Uncle Tom does get to go back to the plantation where his wife and children are. Can't wait to see how it ends.

But knowing that I'm likely to finish this book very soon, I'm starting to think ahead to the next book. I have six books to choose from and I'm having a hard time deciding. My choices are Ulysses, Madame Bovery, Brave New World, Lady Chatterley's Lover, Moll Flanders and Candie. I don't really know anything about any of these books so I think I'm going to have to do some research to help me decide. Right now I'm leaning toward Brave New World just because I like the title. I know you shouldn't judge a book by the cover but what else do I have to go on right now?! lol

And now for another finished object.

Pattern: Primivera Socks by natalja

Yarn: Patons Kroy FX in Cameo Colors

Started: 12/10/09

Finished: 12/17/09

I cast on for another pair of socks in addition to the several other projects that I currently have on the needles. Hubbs actually asked for a pair of hand knitted socks, so I'm working on that for him. I took me a while to find a pattern that I thought wouldn't be too girly for him and that would have enough staying power that they wouldn't fall down if he wore them to work. I'm hoping to finish them before the end of the new year to bring my total for knitted socks to 19. My original goal was 12 so I think at 19 I'd pretty much accomplish my goal.

The only problem I have with knitting is that there are so many things that I want to knit and only so many hours in a day. If only I could afford to quit my job and knit all day.

This is my 100th post. My goal with the blog was to post once a week for the entire year. And while I didn't always post once a week I feel like I've made my goal since I did post 100 times (counting this one) and I still have a week to go before my blog-aversery. I started writing this on 12/31/08 and have been going strong for the last year. Out of the 10 or so goals I had for myself on 12/31 last year I think I've done well. I haven't stashed any yarn or fabric, I completed my sock challenge and I blogged. I think for me who never finishes anything has done pretty well.

So far my list for 2010 is as follows at this point: 1. Read all 10 books on the list of Top 10 Banned Books, 2. Learn to knit a toe up sock and 3. Knit something with Alpaca. My list is very short but I still have another week to decide (or not) to add something more to it. Hopefully I can come up with some more things because 3 things seems like an awfully short list to me. Is it sad that I can't come up with more things? I don't know but some times it's nice to have a short list instead of a long one that you know you wont be able to complete. So for now it's 3. Later it will be more.

First Finished Object of December! Nutkin Socks

Pattern: Nutkin by Beth LaPensee

Yarn: Patons Kroy Stripes in Cascade Colors

Started: November 26, 2009

Finished: December 3, 2009

Mods: I did a standard toe instead of the toe that was called for in the pattern.

Now I'm off to work on my vest. Hopefully I can finish it this weekend and get it blocked.

Well, it's offically fall in Northern California. Well, as far as I'm concerned it is. I noticed over the weekend the evening light as it came through my kitchen window was soft and light and that a few trees were starting to change color. But the biggest change I've noticed is that I have had to switch from dark glasses in the morning to clear glasses. I hate that change but it's just too dark in the morning to try and fool myself anymore. Not to mention how dangerous it is when you can't really see what's in front of you on the road becuase your glasses are too dark.

And now for some knitting.
Pattern: Shadow Rib Socks by Charlene Schurch and Beth Parrott
Yarn: Patons Kroy Stripes in Mulberry Stripes
Started: August 8, 2009
Finished: August 19, 2009

Pattern: Rapid River Socks by Sockbug

Yarn: Patons Kroy in Flax

Started: August 20, 2009

Finished: August 23, 2009

These are #14 and #15 for the year. I'm not done making socks for my sister. I've knitted up all the yarn she gave me and with the exceptiong for these last two I have given her all the socks that I knitted. She was really happy about it and my mom told me that she took them with her to her quilting class to show off. She's super sweet and so supportive. I'm sure she'll like these too.

I'm back from vacation and I don't even know where to start. It was the worst vacation I've ever had. It was drama from start to finish and I'm sad about it. I was really looking forward to a relaxing time with Hubbs and finally getting to spend some time together. But as it turned out, it was terrible.

The first night we were there it was great. We were with some good friends and their friends and family. We were all having a great time. We all hung out and had a few drinks and generally had a good time. The next day, another couple arrived and brought with them 11 teenagers and a 5 year old. These people are people that my husband and I have known for years. I've never really like the wife but the husband is generally ok. But after what went on...I don't think I ever want to be around them again. I actually deleted them both from my instant messenger this morning.

I don't really care that they brought a bunch of kids but they purchased and allowed this kids that were all between the ages of 14 and 16 to drink alcohol. They also allowed them to all drive over to the coast without adult supervision and told them that they could drink but if they told their parents that they would never be allowed to go on a trip with them again. From what I understand, some of these kids were drinking until they were throwing up. I don't care if you give your own kids alcohol but how do you give it to kids that you're responsible for and tell them to lie to their parents? I just don't understand this kind of behavior. What kind of parents encourage kids to drink and lie? Besides bad parents that is. Not to mention that they let their 16-year old daughter sleep in a tent alone with her 22-year old boyfriend.

I'm so glad that I don't have any children and when/if I do, they won't be of age to be friends with this couples children. Unfortunately, my best friends daughter is friends with these kids and was on this trip. Her mom suspected that something was going on and did tell her that she was NOT to be drinking. Apparently, the wife of the couple that brought the kids went to my friend and said, "Sorry about letting A. drink. I forgot that you were her mom." WTF?! If that had been me, I would have smacked her in the face.

Before we even left on this trip I was afraid that I was going to have a run in with this woman. We've had problems with them in the past, but the husband belongs to Hubbs off road club so we've had to deal with them in the past. But most of the time she doesn't participate in any club functions so I don't have to see her that much (Thank God). They also used to live right down the street from Hubbs and I but have since moved to another neighborhood about a mile a way. Even though it's a small town we hardly ever see them anymore.

I don't know what I could have done about this situation. Most likely, nothing. But part of me wants to call all those kids parents and let them know what was going on. But I don't know who they are or who their parents are.

Ugh. But I feel better for having talked about it here and to some other friends.

I have some knitting that was worked on over vacation too but nothing got much work done on it. I've almost completed another pair of socks and hope to have them finished over the next couple of days. Only one more pair of socks after these to do for my sister. Then hopefully I can concentrate on a shawl for my grandmother for her birthday. And I want to cast on Central Park Hoodie too. My grandmother gave me yarn for my birthday in February and I've been being a weenie about casting on for it. Anything that requires guage scares me! Yikes! But it would be a good challange from doing 11-ty billion socks this year.

Cross your fingers for an actually knitting update later this week!

While I wait for my yarn to arrive, I have to have something to work on or I will go insane. I seem to have a habit of needing to be doing something all the time. I can't just sit quietly and watch TV without having something in my hands. Sewing is fine, knitting is fine but just sitting...not fine. Usually it's the just sitting that gets me into trouble. That's when I start thinking about all the little projects that need to be done around my house and with 20 min's or so Hubbs is about ready to kill me because I've scheduled his life for the next two months with no time off. So knitting really keeps happy harmony in our house.

So for the current project:Sorry for the bad picture, dang camera phone.

Pattern: Monkey by Cookie A.

Yarn: Patons Kroy Stripes in Krazy Stripes

Started: 08/03/2009

Hopefully I will finish this pair of socks this week so that I can get restarted on the shawl for my grandmother before Hubbs and I go on vacation next Wednesday. I want to work on the shawl while we're gone. Not that I think I'll finish it and socks are probably better for travel knitting. I might have to take that new sock yarn and a pattern with me too just in cast the shawl gets to be too much. Either way, I can't wait to go on vacation. We normally just take 3 days and go for a weekend but this time we're going to be going for 5 days! 5 days at the ocean! I can't wait.

What did you do for vacation this year?

Finished #12! I finally completed my goal for 2009 of knitting 12 pairs of socks! Yay!! So without further ado I present Soybean Socks.Pattern: Soybean by Christabel Seneque

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Heritage Solid in Green

Cast on: July 28, 2009

Finished: August 2, 2009

This was a very easy pattern and I was very lucky to be one of the test knitters for Christabel. It was an easy and fun knit. As soon as the pattern becomes available, I hope that more people will knit this sock. Christabel is very talented. I hope to see more patterns from her.

I cast on for a shawl for my Grandmother on Sunday but as I worked on it I realized that the more I worked with the yarn, the more I hated it. I chose Lion Brand Baby Soft in Cream but I don't think it's all that soft and it feels itchy in my hands. I knew when I purchased it that I didn't really like it but I was trying to go inexpensive because with my 15% pay cut from my employer we really couldn't afford to be spending a ton on luxury yarns. But the more I worked the patter which I do love and think would be beautiful in a different yarn. So I ordered some yarn from Knit Picks yesterday. I chose Shadow Kettle Dyed Lace yarn in Atlantic.

I love this color. It's so dramatic. I hope it's the same in real life. Excluding the shipping, I actually spent the same amount for this beautiful 100% Merino yarn as I did for the yucky acrylic yarn I'd already bought. I know my grandmother is going to love it.

I also ordered enough yarn for two sweaters for me and a skein of sock yarn.

This is Swish Worsted in Tide Pool Heather. I'm going to use this to make the February Lady Sweater.

This is Shadow Kettle Dyed Lace Yarn in Grasshopper. I'm going to knit Celeste from French Girl Knits.

And last but not least I ordered Stroll Hand Painted Sock Yarn in Make Believe. I don't know why since I'm not a big purple person but I love this color, adore it. I can't wait to make this into a beautiful pair of socks. The combination of purple, green and blues is just rocking my socks off. I can't wait for the yarn to arrive!

Finished another pair of socks, #11 for the year. Goal for 2009 is 12 pair and that is defiantly in sight now as I've already cast on for that 12th pair. But before we get to those, let's look at #11.
Pattern: Double Basket Socks by Charlene Schurch and Beth Parrott
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks Stripes in Bronzed Berry Stripes
Started: July 24, 2009
Finished: July 28, 2009
Mods: After working 5 rounds on the cuffs in size 3 needles I realized that they were going to be way to big if I worked them in a size 3 and switched to a size 2.

#12 is a test pattern called Soy Bean Socks. I can't wait to show them to you. Seems like it's going to be an easy pattern but a fun one.

There was camping and there was knitting. But there are no pictures of either because I was too lazy to even take out my camera. But a good time was had and I'm feeling much better this week.

I cast on for another pair of socks last Thursday before we left for the camping trip, had to frog them back on Friday and re-cast on because I discovered half way down the leg that they were going to be way too small unless my sister suddenly loses weight and ends up a 50 pound pre-teen girl. Some how I doubt that's going to happen (thank goodness). I re-cast on using size 2 needles and they're going to fit much better.

This pair is going to pair #10 for the year. I think I might actually make my goal of 12 pairs of hand knitted socks for the year. I still have to finish my birthday knitting before I can start my Christmas knitting for the year. The only gift I have left to even start for birthdays is the shawl I want to do for my grandmother. But I didn't want to try to take cream yarn camping with me. For some reason I saw that ending badly. If I don't get started on it before the next camping trip, I'm planning to take it with me then. The next trip is to the ocean and the camping is a lot cleaner.

We spent the weekend at Cisco Grove near the summit of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It's about an hour west of Reno. It was much cool there then in the Sacramento Valley. Valley temps were topping out at about 104 degrees over the weekend and we were in the mid to upper 80's at camp. There was lots of talking and laughter, some dog walking and some swimming in the river near the camp ground. To say the least I'm not the brightest bulb when it comes to jumping in the river. I jumped in without a swimsuit in all my clothes only to discover that my short, when wet, were see through! Ooops! Oh well, we were among friends and I had underwear on so it wasn't like you could really see anything! LOL!

The dogs didn't really enjoy the swimming much since neither one of them are much of water dogs. Rex did jump in once and I pulled him in a second time which he didn't appreciate. I accidentally pulled him in and he wen completely under the water for a second before I grabbed him and pushed him back up onto the edge. After that he didn't trust me much for about 30 seconds. I felt bad but I had no idea that he was going to sink to the bottom of the river like a rock!!! But he's a very happy dog and went right back to running up and down the creek, sniffing every and anything he could get his nose near.

Now we're planning a trip to the ocean for next month. We're going to take a couple of extra days off and go for 5 days. I can't wait for that trip. I really need to take some time off work to recharge my batteries. I've gained back some of the weight I lost and it's really been effecting my energy level. I need to get my head straight and get back to eating the way I know I should. But I'm going to have to take some baby steps to get restarted. Step one: Log on to Sparkpeople and log my food. Step two: Plan my meals for the whole day instead of trying to figure out what I'm going to eat when I get home. By the time I get home, I'm starving and will eat any (and every) thing. The weird thing is that my work hours changed and now I get home an hour earlier then I used to. But I'm still starving when I get home. I need to to take less food to work since I'm not working as many hours so that I can have a snack when I get home.

I guess I'll have to wait and see how I do. One day & one meal at a time!