Krafty1

Wendy KAL

It's been a long time since I've signed up for a knit-along (KAL for my non-knitting readers).  Then along came the Socks from the Toe-up KAL on Ravelry in conjunction with Wendy Johnson's book.  Each month, there is one sock pattern chosen from the 23 in the book for everyone to knit.  Plus, there is a second pattern chosen from all of Wendy's free toe-up patterns.  Knit either or both and be entered in a drawing for prizes.  Seemed like just the "low key" KAL I could handle these days.

So, for June, we could choose between Lacy Rib socks (p48 from the book) or Sprucey Lucey socks.  Can you guess which one I chose? Yes, I own a copy of the book.  However, which one sounds more fun (and a lot like a nickname given to me by a substitute teacher in junior high: Lippy Lucy)?

Yep, these are my new socks.  Better known as Mum's School Spirits.  See what I mean about the striping?  In the past, I might've frogged it because of the striping.  However, since the striping also happens to be each of the girls school colors (purple & gold, blue & white), plus the colorway is Zen Yarn Garden's "Flaming June" what could've been a better color yarn to use for this first pair of KAL socks!?!

Low pressure...one (possibly two) pair of socks each month...can't beat that!  Now, on to July...the choices: On-hold socks (p61) or Nanner socks.  Any guesses which one I'll attempt first?

Thanksgiving Knits

Did you guess socks?  Then you guessed right.  Besides, what else would I knit while brunching with the in-laws...surely not lace!

Notice the pooling?  The left sock was knit while "visiting".  The right sock was knit on the ride home.  Guess my gauge tension was a bit looser for the right sock.  Interesting.

These are for Panda.  The pattern: Crosshatch Lace from More Sensational Knitted Socks.  Toe-Up over 48 stitches; size US 2 needles.  The yarn: Duet Sock Yarn in Middy weight Chocolate Crunch colorway. (Something else that came with the sneak up Wollmeise.)  It was yummy to work with, even though it smelled faintly of vinegar. 

The car ride to the Twin Cities was the perfect opportunity to work on Clue 5.  All but two pattern rows were complete by the end of the drive north.  The remaining two rows were finished at the beginning of the car ride home.  Then the second sock (from above) filled the remaining hours of car journey.

Notice that the shawl is now sufficiently large enough that it needs to be at least five feet beneath me in order to get it entirely in the frame. 

Yes, those are my toes in the shot.  They need socks...hmmmm, know where I can find some!?!  There seems to be enough leftover yarn from Panda's socks for a second pair...though maybe not for my size 11 (EU42) boats! Maybe with more brown they'd make some fab Mad Cows!  Post Turkey Chocolate Crunch Mad Cows.  Sounds like fun.

Clue 4 and socks

Clue 4 is finished.  Since finishing Clue 3 on Friday, Saturday there was NO STARTING Clue 4 until x, y, and z (household chores) were finished.  Yes, fiber bribery does work as an excellent incentive for me!

I'm excited to have caught up.  I'm excited about the pattern.  I'm excited to have a day or two off from it to catch up on other things...okay, maybe that's an exageration.

Don't fret.  Socks have not been forgotten at Chez Krafty1!

Tis the season and all of that.  One secret pair of socks is completed and will have its own post once the giftee receives them.  (That would require my going to the post office and shipping them first, of course.)

The other pair, should be finished Wednesday.  Unfortunately, it won't be able to come out of the shadows and make an appearance here until Christmas Day.  Shhhh!   ________ is going to love them.  The yarn is ________ that I brought home with me from Europe last year.  (What kind of sad blogger am I!?!  There isn't a photo of my yarn purchase in the archive!!!  Shame on me!)

Once these are finished, and clue 5, and the fair isle caridgan, and a pair of socks for Panda, and....no, there may not be any other Christmas knitting around here.  _____ may be the lucky one and only!

Missing the Boat

I'll admit it: there have been Mystery KALs that I've signed up for that never even made it through the "purchase supplies" phase.  Then there was the time that I purchased the supplies but, by the time they arrived, enough clues had been revealed that I no longer wanted to knit the "mystery".

But THIS time, the description and first clue inspired me to find the right yarn and get caught up.  Tonight, Clue 2 is finished, Clue 3 is started and Clue 4 came out this morning.  Soon it'll be all caught up.  The boat has not been missed OR passed me by.

But, since it's Web Wednesday, time to share a few that have been missed.

• Meg Swanson's Christmas Stocking KAL: this thing had flown under the radars!  Thanks to Nancy (now with her very own blog!)  They aren't finished and you can still KAL.
• Mystery Fair Isle Hat: the mystery is over, but the hat looks great! It looks like it would have been a fun mystery to play along with. (But you can still knit the pattern.)
• Sock it to me Twice: sock swaps are so much fun!  Unfortunately, sign-ups closed for this one as I write this.  (Though there is a call for "one more".  You, maybe?)

I'm sure there are many others that I've missed. No regrets.  Are there any boats you wish you hadn't missed?

Clue 1 Complete

Anna really touched on one of my nerves when she designed the Mystic Waters shawl.  It is entirely mesmerizing!  Clue 1 is complete.

However, so in love am I with this design that it was with great difficulty that it managed to get photographed.  But, since the next clue needed to be "assembled" anyway, it seemed an appropriate time to lay it out on the bedsheet (white backgrounds are much better for a good visual) and snap a photo.

Mum is going to ask about the second button band...still hasn't happened. Thankfully, clues for this design only come out once a week.  There will be a day when I DON'T have any more instructions to knit from...maybe...soon...maybe...

Do you have (or have you had) something that has completely "stolen" all of your attention?

Let the water wash over you...

...figuratively, anyway. 

That's what I decided to do last night instead of blogging.  Imagine, a knit blogger who knits!?!

This week the third clue was unveiled for the Mystic Waters shawl.  So far, all that I had to show for it was the yarn...not anymore.

After the crazy week that had been, last night the idea of yarn, needles and a comfy chair were incredibly seductive.  Granted, at the end of the evening the only thing I had was a swatch, but it was more than was there previously.  It hasn't even been blocked yet, just layed out on the mat. At least I know that I have the right yarn and needles.

Tonight, Chart A of the first clue is finished...only 3 more charts and I'll be caught up!  (At least until Wednesday when the next clue comes out.)