Sockstravaganza

Currently working on Sockstravaganza also from Brave New Knits (don't worry, I already checked for Errata).  I am loving color work now that I've done it a couple of times.  I picked up this yarn the other day while I was waiting for my hair appt.  The yarn shop is right across the way and very convenient for days my stylist is running late.  I'm surprised at how fast these are coming along.  They are going to be so awesome when they're done.

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.

Orchid Theif Shawlette

Details:
Yarn:  Terilyn Needleart Heather in Maize (1 Skein)
Needle: 6US
Mods:  None

I enjoyed knitting this but enjoyed blocking it even more.  Lace is so deceptive in that it's a wad and until you block it out, you have no idea what you've really got.  I liked the yarn that I used, I picked up earlier this year at Stitches West but while it's classified as fingering weight which is what the pattern calls for, I think it's a very light fingering weight, almost lace weight.  But the color is beautiful even if the texture is a bit rough.

I used the pattern that is in Brave New Knits.  Let me tell you, if you're using this book make sure you check for the errata for this pattern.  The pattern in the book is a mess and I would have saved myself a lot of heartache if I'd checked for the errata.  I did row 86 like 10 times before I finally decided to check and see if anyone else had any problems with it. Once I got that cleared up, Chart 4 went smoothly and I finished the project no problem.  But wow, that's a lot of stitches by the end of Chart 4.  I swear all I did was purl back for days!

I Heart This Shawl

I Heart this Shawl...I saw this in Filati's Yarn Shop up in Rocklin when I took my mom up there a few weeks ago.  I fell in love with this.  I'm not normally a shawl knitter because I don't really used them but I couldn't help myself with this. 

 

I love the heart detail that runs down the center of the  shawl.  It looks difficult but it was really easy.



Details:
Yarn:  Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in Early Grey (2 Skeins)
Needle:  6US

I knitted this whole thing up, did the picot edging and then realized that I put on of the wings on backward.  I had to rip it out and re-knit the whole wing.  Thankfully it's an easy pattern to memorize and didn't take long but I hate finishing a project and then having to redo almost 50 percent...explains why my Gnarled Oak Cardigan still hasn't been frogged and reknit. 

Fornicating Deer Hat

Finally, a finished object!  Well I have a few that I need up upload and update here but I seem to be a finishing machine right now. 

I've seen this pattern around on Ravelry several times but for some reason it just clicked for me that Hubbs would love to have one of these.  However, he did insist that I take the antlers off the doe.  He pointed out like 5 times that does don't have antlers.

 This was a very easy and fun pattern and a good way to practice my recently obtained color work skills.

Details:
Yarn:  Lion Brand Wool Wool-ease in Gray and Natural (1 Skein each color)
Needles: 8US
Mods:  Removed antlers from female deer
Details:  Cast on 96 stitches.  Worked 6 rounds of k2, p2 ribbing.  Followed pattern.

Oh My.

Chicken bag.  Really?  Oh Amazon, how you amuse me.

Less then a week...

Less then a week to my next half marathon. I’m running the American River Parkway Half on Saturday, On Saturday, April 28. I think I’m going to do great but I’m nervous because the girl that has been pacing my for all of my long runs isn’t running the race with me. I love running with her because I can run a nice steady 11 minute mile that I feels like I can run that speed for a million miles. Also I missed one of the long runs, 11 miles, because I was sick.

Goals for this race:
-Finish (as always)
-Finish under 2:30, even better if I can finish in better then 2:29:30 which is what I ran Shamrock’n last month. A new PR would be nice.
-Feel good after the race. I was half dead after Shamrock’n and hurt for days afterward. I don’t want to feel like this again.

This race will be the first race I have ever run where I will be listening to my iPod. I don’t normally run with one but I’m wanting something to distract me from thinking about it. Our temps here have jumped over night into the 80’s and I’m worried about the heat. It’s supposed to be cooler this weekend but I don’t trust the weather guy. They’re just guessing. I’m praying they’re right but I’m trying to plan for the worst.

I’m also planning on carrying my water with me, which I don’t normally do but I want to make sure that if it’s hot, I have enough water. I also want it because it will give me a more convenient way to carry my fuel then just pockets. I’m also planning to fuel more often than I have in the past. I’ve noticed that the more I fuel the better I feel. So no fueling at 5 miles and again at 10. I’m going to fuel every 40 minutes no matter the mileage.

I’ve already run almost the entire course at one point or another with my training group so there shouldn’t be any surprises on this course.