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.

Stitches West...

I will be heading off to my mom's today. The plan is to have dinner with my Grandma tonight and then tomorrow morning we're off to Stitches West.

The plan...don't have one. I'm not really shopping for anything in particular. I’m sure I’ll pick up some sock yarn, it doesn’t count as stash, and maybe some stitch markers. And if I’m really lucky, I’d like to get some sock blockers with Doxie cut outs. But if I don’t buy anything at all I’ll be ok with that.

I Finally Got Out...

with my camera last Friday. There are days on my way to work that I wish I had my camera with me and that I didn't have to go to work because the light is so beautiful and there are so many migrating birds. There are perks to living right in the middle of the Pacific fly way for migrating birds. During the winter months we see geese by the millions. This flock was a mix of Snow Geese and Canadian Geese.
This one was a brown goose and snow goose mix but I'm not sure what the brown geese are. And of course I can't find my bird book to look them up.

They were feeding in this mown corn field and they didn't appreciate me driving up next to them on the road.

We also see thousands of Sand Hill Cranes. They are so beautiful with the red patch on their head. The mountain in the back ground is Mt. Diablo.

Red Tail Hawk perched in an oak tree.

Again, can't find my bird book so I have no idea what kind of duck...I really need to find that book.

The duck in the back is a Spoonie and the one in the front is a female mallard.

Cat Tails.

Another Red Tail Hawk.

And of course cows. We've got a lot around here. Even though we're only about 30 minutes outside of Sacramento, we still live in the middle of agriculture. It's one of the things I love about living here.