One more day till 52 Pair Plunge

1 day to go. I have got my first pair picked out. I am going to use Socks that Rock lightweight Count Chuckula made into a pair of Monkey socks by Cookie A. but modify it to no purls. I think this yarn will look good in the pattern. I've made several Monkey socks but not without the purls and I know it is an easy pattern and I should start out on time schedule with a week a sock.

My next sock will begin on June 7Th, I'm doing Death by Sock it like Sock Wars just not as big. The pattern is a cable type from what we have been told so I still have to go through my yarn and pick on out. I guess I will need a semi solid or a striped pattern so the cables will show up. My victim lives in Australia so I have to knit them fast because the post will take most of my knit time away from me.

I'm almost done with my test knit Cable Lagoon They are looking great. I like the cables but they do take a long time to knit, I've had to follow the pattern on each row so I don't get lost or go the wrong way.

My new interest is podcast I'm enjoying the different knitting cast that are out there, my fav's are "Socks in the City" "Faery Knitting" "Knitmore girls Podcast" "SSK" these are the ones I have listened to so far but there are lots more out there. I also enjoy "Betty in the Sky with a Suitcase" an airline stewardess with a major airline telling story's about things that happen in the sky. It is lol. I also have a podcast called "The Secrets of Harry Potter" by a catholic priest, "Old Time Radio Thrillers" and "Hometown Tales". I listen to these while I strip and make beds.

The family is doing good not much happening on the home front. The garden isn't in the ground yet but I hope to buy my plants on Monday and get the garden planted then. It seems like I'm late getting it into the ground but others are just as far behind along with the farmers some don't have their corn in yet. I have a long weekend coming up the hotel is full and that means lots of rooms to clean and I picked up a shift in banquets on Saturday. Sunday we have over a hundred check outs and a hundred check ins so we have to push everyone to get everything done and ready to turn over. This group will be with us for 3 days and then they check out and we re fill up.

I have gotten some new yarn ordered I got some "Yarn Pirate" coming in, she has some new colorways and I had to have them. I also got some of the new colorways from "Socks that Rock".

Well that's it for now I fill you in on how my plunge is going and when I get the garden in I have to have fresh vegetables in the summer. So till later keep those sticks aclickn'.

Happily knitting socks, Bye.

4 Days till the 52 Pair Plunge

I've got 4 days to get organized for the 52 pair plunge. I've asked almost everyone in my department, housekeeping and laundry, their shoe size so I can begin to start my knitting so far I have 1-size 5, 2-size 6, 8- size 7, 5-size 8, 4-size 9 and 1 special pair size 6 and 4 odd size feet. So I should have fun for awhile. 21 pairs there should be a fairly good start on my 52 pair plunge.

Work was busy this weekend and long. 10hr days are to long for me. It was nice to have a short day only 7 hours today. I was nice to get home early and not right on top of dinner and then off to bed.

The family have all been busy doing their own thing what ever that was. Tony worked and mowed the grass. Micheal went to Twisp in Eastern Washington with the fiance family, got the greatest text, Ugh..........this is going to be a long one. He made it through even if if he had a long weekend and doesn't plan to go back anytime soon. Chris was himself he worked all weekend I guess? He spent most of the time with his girl.

Well off to fix dinner and to finish this pair of socks. So till next time, keep those sticks aclickn'. Leave a message to say hi to let me know what you think.
Happily knitting socks, Bye.

Test Knit of Cable Lagoon

Here is sock #1 of Cable Lagoon by Knifty Red. I love this pattern it was a pleasure to knit. The only problem I had was doing cables they are not my favorite but I would work this pattern again. Just for the true challenge, I guess I have that challenge coming up with the second sock.

The first picture is of the side of the sock, the front and the back so there is a lot of cables and that is what makes this pattern sooooo beautiful.

With the holiday weekend upon us everyone drive save or be safe at home. I plan to work through the whole weekend. So keep those sticks aclickn'.

Happily knitting socks, Bye till next time.

The Sun is Shining

We've got sun in the low 80's high 70's got to love it. The sun just make you feel good all over at least I have a better mood. Here are some pictures around the house. The Rhodies are starting to bloom
The Pink Dogwood tree is in bloom and looks good this year. Last year we did have as many blossoms.


Here's a picture of our Japanese Red Maple and the weed patch in the background in my garden we have to move Chris's truck to get to the tractor to start tilling the ground.

Here is a picture for the test knitting that I'm working on its turning out good I really like this pattern. I'm using Dream in Color Gaia Sock 230 Blue. Working this sock toe up with a short row heel.

Well have to get back to the sock so keep those sticks aclickn'. Happily knitting socks, Bye till next time.

Socks, Yarn and Life

Here is what's been going on as of lately.

Life

I made it through Mother's Day brunch, the day went fast and it wasn't too bad I still am glad its my last large public buffet I want to do. I had forgotten how picky the pubic can be. I glad to be back to cleaning rooms and out of the public eye for awhile. I'm not for sure when the next banquet shift will be just have to wait and see. I also bought myself an ipod, so now I can download knitting pod cast, There is a lot of good ones out there. I also found a few free audio books you can download. It mades working outside more fun.

Tony's Mother's Day brunch went great he had over 800 people through the food line. I don't see how he did it. He came home from work dead tired, sore legs and a headache. And now he has a cold which I hope he keeps to himself.

Micheal has started his new job and he likes it but misses the casino just because he can't see Abby as much. She has a job and works after school at Sears in Bellingham, she starts work about the time Micheal is getting off so no Abby time. He's not a happy boy, boohoo.

Chris is working like crazy and still finds time for his new girl. I don't see him much anymore always on the go.

Yarn

I don't have much here to show. Here is the payment yarn I received for a test knitting for Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark I got Kollage Luscious yarn colorway Moonlit Love its a cotton nylon blend. Not a bad yarn to knit with it is splitty, which doesn't make my top 100.

I also received my much awaited Sock Club Romantic Comedy's this month theme was Pretty Women, the whole kit came in a see through bag to carry my SIP's in yarn in browns, cream, champagne and a reddish/auburn, A tape measure, red and brown candies, a sock pattern, I got Rococo Socks by Lisa Parker and a brown and cream stitch marker. A great kit. Jana from tvyarn did a great job. Can't wait to see the next kit its the last one in this series.

I also order a pattern called Twined Hearts Socks by Phyll Lagerman I found her on Raverly and loved these socks so I had to get the pattern and the same yarn to make them in, this is something I have never done and I can't wait to do them figured I would do them next month. The yarn is by Fiesta, Baby Boom, colorway Carnation.

Socks

I finished one pair so far this month. I finished my Tidal Wave socks for yahoo group SocknittersSam. I used SWTC Tofutsies colorway 739 one of their Limited Edition Collections, its a pink and black blend with a white strand running through. The yarn is made up of 50% superwash wool, 25% soysilk fibers, 22.5% cotton and 2.5%chitin, shrimp and crab shells, it's natural antibacterial. The pattern doesn't show up the way I would like to.

I have been working on Nautical Ropes, I'm not sure that I like the yarn in this pattern it doesn't stand out so I might frog it and start over. Not quite sure yet, will knit a little more to see how it looks. I do like this yarn its Fleece Artist Sea Wool in Cosmic Dawn, its a little bit slippery and that make doing the cable a little harder.

I've been working on my 2009 SKP sock Berlin Muster it is and intricate lace pattern which I have to pay attention to what I am doing. Each row is different and DON'T drop a stitch you will have to frog way back. I didn't know about this yarn for the pattern it called for a solid or semi-solid yarn. But it is turning out good. I'm enjoying working on this pattern I haven't done an intricate lace pattern in awhile. Makes me remember how much I enjoy watching the pattern turn out. The yarn is Claudia HandPainted, Fantasy Dots.

Here it another test knitting I'm going to start. I will be test knitting for Knifty Red, from Raverly, her pattern Cable Lagoon.

I thought about using Dream in Color, Gaia Sock colorway 230 Blue. All I have to do is proof read the pattern and knit to make sure it is workable to everyone. And I'm a good one for that because if its not wrote out simply I have problems. So this should be fun.

Well I can't think of much else now. So keep those sticks aclickn'.

Happily knitting socks. Bye for now.

Knitting Updates and Life

Life in General

Life is going good. The job is still fun I don't know how but I've been enjoying it even when I have to clean a room of two. I've worked a few banquets and have the Mothers Day Brunch coming up so I should have some fun there.

At Homestead for Tony, Mothers Day brunch is giving him nightmares, he has over 700 on the books and doesn't know how he's going to get them all in and seated and all the food prepared. But as always he'll get it done and time to spare and have a great brunch.

Chris is working like crazy and trying to juggle work and a social life. I don't quite see how he does it, more power to him.

Micheal is on his last 2 shifts at the casino and will begin his new life at Overhead doors. He will be working all over the area next week. He will be on a job in Marysville and on Lummi Island in the coming weeks. He's all excited now all he has to do is learn to sleep at night. Good Luck to him.

The Knitting Front

I finished my Jaywalker sock out of Socks that Rock "Rocktober"

as always I can't say enough about this yarn it is one of my favorites to knit with. the socks turn out great and everyone at work enjoyed watching them grow. As you can see there was only a small ball of yarn left not that much to spare. The pattern is an easy one to memorize and easy to knit. I am going to do something I don't do very often I'm going to work on several different socks at one time. But this is May's sock to do list

The first is Tidal Wave by Deby Lake for Socknitter Sam Group on Yahoo Groups. I am using Tofutsies sock yarn one of the limit edition collection colors #739. The yarn is 50% superwash wool, 25% soysilk fibers, 22.5% cotton and 2.3% Chitin (fiber from shrimp & crab shells). I don't really like the yarn is does split very easily but it is so very soft and knits up well.

The second sock is for yahoo group Sockaton. This one is called Nautical Ropes by Jeanie Townsend. The yarn is by Fleece Artist, Sea Wool, color Cosmic Dawn. It is 70% Merino 30% Seacell. The yarn is a little bit slippery and I have been having trouble with the cables that's why I have stopped and working on another sock. I love the colors of this yarn and the pattern is great once I get in to it I'm sure that I won't have any problems at all.

Now the third and last sock for this month is for Sock Knitters Pentathlon 2008. The pattern is Berlin Muster by Kristin Benecken from Germany. I am going to use Claudia Hand Painted yarn called Fantasy Dot, 100% Merino wool. I hope this yarn works for this pattern it is a lace pattern the yarn called for was solid or semi-solid I just hope this will work.

Let see what else, I am going to to Death by Socks again and that starts in June, I am doing a Pair of Socks a Month group, Summer of Sock, starting June 21 till September 21 and the 52 Pair Plunge, that begins June 1 2008 till June 1 2009. But all the group blend well with each other so one sock will work for all groups and I can just knit, knit, knit.

Well I think that's all for now, so keep those sticks a clickn'.

Happily knitting here, Bye.