More Vanilla Socks

I posted about my Leftover Blackberry socks yesterday. I did manage to complete the first sock and boy it is a shortie! It’s an ankle sock for sure. But it’s got an issue for another blog post. And the second sock is ready for the gusset. Not very conducive to easy knitting without looking or counting. So I dug out new needles and new yarn to start ANOTHER pair of vanillas.

  
The yarn is some Premier Deborah Norville Serenity sock weight in the Picasso marble color way. It’s 50% merino, 25% rayon bamboo, and 25% nylon so I’m hoping for a hard wearing sock. I’m undecided about the bamboo content. I got this yarn for $1 a skein at Joanns on a whim so no harm done if I don’t like it.

This pair is going to be a toe up vanilla with afterthought heel since I have two full skeins. Above is my progress just this morning. Being able to knit makes me both love and hate training, lol.

Happy Knitting!

WIP Wednesday: Leftover Blackberry Socks

After two days of all day training I have made some progress on my Leftover Blackberry sock. I’ve turned the heel and started the leg!

  
I know, I was going to work on my Training Socks but they were just too bulky to tuck into my special yarn pocket. What, you’ve never seen a special yarn pocket?

  
Okay maybe it wasn’t designed for knitting but it’s a small discreet way to hold my yarn and sock without being obvious. And believe me knitting was necessary to stay awake during hours and hours of lecture style “class”.

And we are back at it today….yay?! Maybe I can have finished socks by the weekend?

Happy Knitting!

Training Socks

As a reward for getting my Checkerboard Socks off the needles I pulled yarn from the stash for the next pair. I’m going to be in training and conferences for work on and off for most of August and into September so I need a pair of traveling vanillas.

I pulled the Saki Bamboo (light fingering) from my stash in a nuetral grey with short rainbow striping. I got this as a Mother’s Day yarn splurge back in May. I’ve been dying to knit with this. I’m thinking I’m going to model these after my Maple Vanilla socks and do a 74 or 76 stitch sock on US 0s. Again to ward off mommy brain and forgetting I gathered up yarn, needles, notions and loaded a project bag.

Now to just cast on! Happy Knitting!!

A Question Of Leftovers

I finished my Jacoby mitts and posted yesterday. I only used 40 grams of yarn out of 100 total. That meant I have 60 grams of yummy yarn goodness leftover. I considered making another pair of gloves. But my brain wanted a change up. So I thought why not split the leftovers into two balls and knit two toe-up socks until I run out of yarn. I’m thinking my basic 68 stitch vanilla sock worked from the inside of the ball with afterthought heel worked from the outside of the ball. That way I can finish the heel and maximize my leftovers. And to make sure I’d get a start on this during Jellybean’s nap time I weighed and wound up the leftovers, pulled. the correct needles, and got everything including notions pulled into one project bag.

I have no excuse to start these ASAP right? What do you do with your leftovers?

What’s On My Needles #11

I’ve had some training seminars this week, aka lots of time in dark ballrooms and computer labs. So my Checkerboard Socks have seen some action. ( I’ve never knitted where it bothers other people or the instructor, only when it’s appropriate.

 

I’m past the heel waste yarn and almost to the ribbing/cuff. I have more training coming up so maybe these will join the FO pile soon! I’m totally digging the subtle variations in color. 

Happy Knitting!

All But The Spikes!

As hoped I managed to finish the hat portion! It’s looking a bit big even for growing boy. But jellybean is not in the mood to try this one so I’m not sure yet.  

 

 I even started one of the spikes!

 

I’m not sure if it’s my execution or the pattern but it looks a bit messy to me. I think I’m going to play around with the next couple of spikes to find what I like. The pattern I’m using is this one. I’d like a smoother edge so I’m going to slip the edge stitches to see what kind of holes/edge that makes.

Happy Knitting!

A Dinosaur For Jellybean

I had to put this hat into time out after my Dino-Uh Oh a few weeks ago.

  
But I’ve picked it back up and it’s FLYING! During nap time and daddy time I was able to knit the brim correctly including the ear flaps this past weekend. And then I worked the hat to where I need to start the crown decreases.

  
I’m hoping to get the hat portion done this week. Maybe I can start the Dino spikes over the weekend? But with a wee one that might just be wishful thinking…

One thing I know for sure is that this hat will be warm and soft! Now I just need to teach him how to leave on our hat!

Happy Knitting! 

So Close Yet So Far!

My lunch-time knitting seems to be progressing at a glacial pace but really I know that I’m so close!

  
I’m past the heel lifeline and four stripes into the leg ribbing on my Maple Vanilla socks. My internal goal is to get one stripe worked in the ribbing each work day. I think I need 13 total so I should be able to knock that out. I just keep reminding myself that a few stitches here and there really do add up!

Happy knitting!!

A Growing Minion

 Thanks to some 4th of July grandparents time I’ve made some progress on my mini minion hat!

   

I’ve completed the goggle band and ready to start the crown decreases. Unfortunately I’m out of the sunshine yellow (insert face palm here). I’ve been to two Walmarts and a Joanns so far with no dice. Apparently neon yellow is in and sunshine is out. My last hope is Michaels so fingers crossed!

I also attempted to make eyes for the minion using YouTube tutorials. Let’s just say I need more practice. My mom saw my attempts, giggled and then promised to make them for me. So I left the yarn in her hot little hands!

Happy knitting!!

Always Have A Backup

Yeaterday at lunch I pulled out my Vanilla Maple socks and saw this….

  
A dropped stitch that had laddered at least eight rows down. Now I’m at work with just my project bag and no tool kit. I had also had a terrible morning and was in need of some knitting therapy. I was grumpy because I didn’t want to rip back to the drop I just wanted to ladder it back up but had to wait till I had access to my tiny crochet hook. I was going to be very unhappy with nothing for my hands to do…

Then I remembered my Squirrel like nature and ran to the car for my “car” knitting as a backup. Day saved! And I have since fixed the dropped stitch and stashed a crochet hook and tapestry needle in my project bag. I learned my lesson….always have extra tools. And if all else fails, have a backup project!

Happy Knitting!