Monkey Off My Back

Monkeys - I love them!

Pattern: Monkey by Cookie A.
Mods: Added one more pattern repeat on the leg, eye of partridge heel, short-row toes (I love the look and feel of this type of toe)
Yarn: Claudia Handpainted Yarns in Pink Cloud (soooo cute!)
Needles: Crystal Palace dpns US2 (I used 5 needles)

I have finally finished my silly Monkeys that I started at the end of June. I am so mad about these dang things! I finished the first one fairly quickly (or so I like to think) and then had a bout of SSS. After a little while, I finally got started on the second one. I thought that the ball of yarn looked a little smaller and maybe even not quite the exact same shade and perhaps a tiny bit "fuller" in the twist. However, I was so intent on doing the second sock quickly since I had such a hard time getting it started. Once I got to the heel, I should have taken my head out of my butt. I started to run out of yarn. So I went and got the next ball which also seemed like it might have been a little small, etc. So when I literally started to set up to do the toe, I look in my knitting back which I haven't really used since the end of the first sock. Lo and behold - my MATCHING skein of Pink Cloud was in the bag. I failed to acknowledge prior to this that I had purchased a matching pair of skeins together (they were the last two in stock at the LYS) and felt that I needed one more, just in case (or for a pair of anklets later). The third skein was purchased at a different shop, different lot no., etc. However, if I needed it for the toes or anything else, it was close enough so that NO ONE would notice, right? Apparently, even though I divided this extra skein into two equal balls (one extra one for each sock), I even failed to recognize (aka acknowledge) that this was not the yarn intended for sock number two. So what does any good knitter do? When she's at the toe of the second sock? That was so hard to get through in the first place? Why, she frogs it, of course! So I immediately frogged the dang second sock with the dang "backup" yarn and dang it - I knit that dang thing up so fast that my head spun. If it weren't for Aron's wonderful offer to knit a few stitches into the toe of the second sock (they were to be given to his mom), I'd probably have a burning ceremony for the dang things. Lucky for Wendy, and the socks, Aron's stitches saved the day. Thank you, Sweetie. :) By the way, technically, I do love the socks. And the pattern. And the yarn, for that matter.

Stage 5 And On...

I can't tell you how many mistakes I've been making on my Birch Shawl. Luckily, my mom "never sees" my mistakes on anything that I make for her. If I don't point out the mistakes, I'm hoping that they will be hard to find (it's not really big enough to really tell whether or not the mistakes will be glaring or not just yet). Either way, I'm still plugging away... slowly. I feel like Vinokourov - I have a huge gash on my @$$, I've just given the dang hill all of my engergy, and I've still got to hit the Alps?! Tomorrow?!!! Sheesh!

Well, no pics of my sad little Birch (more like a limping Birchette at this point - it will grow big and strong some day, I promise!) today. However, while cruising some great cycling sites, Aron and I found this amazing shot (I was unable to get permission from the site to put it up here, so please click on the link). The tranquility of the scenery is very deceptive. You can almost forget what it is that these men are there for - the competition! Onward we go!

Le Tour and Birch

Birch's progress seems slow, but there are sooo many tiny stitches that I feel like I did a lot.

The Tour de France has kicked off and this is the first year that Aron and I have not been watching it every moment as it records at home. Well, the good news is that the Tour de France KAL has been keeping me honest. We both have been sooooo busy that it has been hard to find the time, but we have nonetheless. My "progress" on Birch is slow and steady, but I think that that's what it takes to be Queen of the Mountains, right? I have included a picture of my "progress" to show that I've done something. The problem is that I had to rip back my first three rows (which took me forever to do in the first place) only to end up cutting the yarn and starting over. Anyone who has ever worked with Kidsilk Haze knows that ripping back is a joke, right? I am now in the middle of row 6 (row 8, look out - I'm on my way!). I'm trucking along slowly now and hope to be finished by my mom's birthday in early October. If I can't, we'll see how Christmas works as a new deadline. ;)

Yeay!

I got my Ravelry invite today. Yeay- I'm so excited to check it out! I figured that I'd be one of the last people to get invited and I was totally ready for that. I was so surprised to see the invite in my JUNK folder. Thank goodness that I caught it! Anyhoo, I know that they are slowly getting through the waitlist, so hang in there if you haven't gotten yours yet! See ya on Ravelry and Happy Knitting!

Pop's Sox

My wonderful husband is modeling the newly-finished socks

These beauties were knit for my Dad for a belated Father's Day present. Though I did finish them a couple of weeks ago (I think just one week after Father's Day), I wasn't able to give them to him until yesterday. My MIL had everyone over at her house for the 4th and a good time was had by all. Of course, Dad and Wendy did have a showdown playing cards. It was a long time coming! Hopefully, Dad will enjoy his new socks... once Winter gets here. Dang! Should have thought about that since he lives in his sandals for nine months out of the year. ;)

Yarn: Claudia's Handpaints in "Oops" colorway, 2+ skeins (just a little from the third skein for a men's size 12 1/2)
Needles: 5 dpns, size US2
Pattern: Simple Trekking Socks, using a short-row toe instead of traditionally decreasing toe

What's Next For The Red Wagon?

Hi, all. If you're coming over here from the Sock A Month Knitalong 3, you already know my dilemma. I am wondering if you can help me decide which type of sock pattern to make this beautiful Claudia's Handpaints Red Wagon colorway into. Please leave me comments and let me know if you think that it should be a cable pattern, a lace pattern, a rib pattern, or any other ideas that you may have. Also, if you have a specific pattern that you are in love with, tell me about it - I'm always open to new ideas. Thanks for the input!

Oh! And if anyone wants to add comments to the Chevron Scarf in the post at the bottom of the page, I'd love to get some input. The picture was taken pre-frogging. I had to frog it because I was pulling the side too tight where the yarns were changing. I'm re-casting-on, though, and I don't know what others think of it (I think that my taste is not quite what others think as "normal," sometimes). Thanks for the input there, too. You are helping me get through my yarn issues. ;)

Sheep Gone Baaaa-aaaaa'd

Oh my gawd. This is so hilarious. I see that I am once again probably the last person on the planet to know something, but it's still funny. Who hasn't seen the trailer for this movie? I was laughing hysterically when I saw the trailer. The thought of our coveted mascot being turned into such a deadly beast is hilarious. I laughed extra-hard when the flock is seen coming over the hill as the scared onlookers fear for their lives. And when they cut to the freshly-sheared ovine bleating with his tongue sticking out, well...words cannot explain. Please watch and be warned: it is intended to be a horror flick, so there's some blood and gross stuff. But it is sooooo hilarious!

Much Love

I have to write a non-knitting post here. I love my husband so much. Right now he is on a looooong bike ride over the beautful hills near our home. He loves riding the hills in the Bay Area and doesn't ride enough of them, lately. His job has been kind of challenging lately. Just this morning, he was faced with a huge dilemma- he was concerned about not seeming responsible for doing his ride despite the fact that some people at his job are not fully competent at the moment. I reminded him that he is always putting in too much time and he hasn't officially had a weekend off in almost a year (except for a couple of three-day trips that we've taken). Anyway, I just needed to tell everyone that this wonderful man deserves some fun in his life. Besides, look at how handsome he is! Can you tell someone this good looking not to get on a bike? :) I love you, Babe! I hope that your ride ends up being the 100 miles that you wanted (crazy man!). Oh - and I didn't plan on having his team jersey match my blog. He's just loving in that way. ;)

Return of the Ribby Pulli

Okay, I know that I've mentioned this in previous posts, but this is for a good cause, I swear! Lotus Knits is having a contest for some of her wonderfully beautiful yarn. I love her yarn, though I have yet to buy any. Since we are going a little crazy with our cc (and we freakishly pay it off each month), we've got to take a break from online purchases. If only I could mail her some cash. Sigh. :) Well, I think that I just need to explain what I'm casting on for next. I will be using the above STR in Fire on the Mountain and Cascade 220 in something or other (pretty color, though, huh?) to make the Ribby Pulli. I love this pattern and can't wait to cast on for it.




Unfortunately, school is heading into finals this next week, so I won't be casting on until the end of the week (and no, I don't mind that I'm always at the back end of trends ;) So, if you visit Lotus Knits' page, you can enter the contest, too. You just need to mention the contest on your blog, and explain (with pix) what you want to cast on next (or post what your first project was, I think). Details on her blog! And go buy some of her yarn. It's beautiful!

Mom's Embossed Leaves Socks - Finished

So Mom's socks are finally finished. Though I finished them last week, I finally took pics today. I am now working on Dad's socks and I'm hoping to finish them by Saturday. Ha! We'll see about that - his size 12 feet are working against me. And so is school - a midterm today, three group presentations next week, two essays due next week, and studying for finals (they are the week after). Hmmmm... too much on my plate? Nah! ;)