Sock Monkeys Attack!

I had something fun happen to me at my last "class" at Jitterz in Kenton.






Last class at Jitterz (Thomas Jitterz Coffee Company)
EPS (scroll down to read a definition)
Flower Basket Shawl
Baby Surprise Jacket
What classes did they want me to teach in the fall? They wanted me to teach a Sock Monkey Class.  Ew. Did you know there is an entire website dedicated to knitted sock monkeys?
Monkeys
"Pet the Monkey, the monkey likes you." Heads Up Trix
Gasp! Did you catch all the things I said?

I bet you can come up with lots and lots of monkey references.  Leave a comment in the blog post. Perhaps the best comment wins a prize? Perhaps. Post by August 22, 2010. Random Number generator selects winner.

umm, UFOs

Hey, this turned out to be straight-forward on my MacBook Pro. I like to talk so I thought I would use a video to start blogging again.

UFOs are "unfinished objects" when related to knitting. I discovered this as my stash was being moved around as we were clearing up areas of the house. I got distracted and started to "shop from stash" and discovered some amazingly wonderful yarns. Before I cast-on another project, I want to complete some projects. The UFOs.

1. d'zined yarn. This sock was cast-on during the fun of the Magician's Nephew that took place in March/April. I just cast-on and started knitting. The feel of the sock is comfortable so it has merit to be finished. I think it's more of a fall and winter sock because of the tight gauge.
2. the "Lopi Sock." I learned to knit socks using this pattern and Lamb's Pride Bulky. These knit up fast on size 10 or 10.5 needles. I've knit 9 pairs of these socks. They are wonderful to wear around cold houses to keep your feet warm. A fast knit and short so they don't go up far on the leg, so it's a slipper sock. This one has a twisted cable pattern. I'm using ends of the Lamb's Pride Bulky so the colors are mis-matched, bright and cheery! I will finish this. Now, who should get this pair?
3. Elbac Scarf. This pattern from knitty. I'm using Nashua Handknits Creative Focus Worsted yarn in a blue color. I'm halfway through the scarf, almost. I found the knitting a bit too detailed to be "mindless" and I've had to keep track of rows and st repeats and such. bleech. Nice sound effect, eh? Who will get this scarf? The ribbing scarf does have some stretch to it so it will get a bit wider. This one might be in the "finish" pile.
   
4. The Placerville vest. It's LOFTY LOU'S YARN SHOP in Placerville, CA. Lou spun the yarn herself and I like that I purchased a handspun yarn that no one else would ever have. I got creative by introducing a purple yarn to make the vest. I'm using the EPS system to create this vest to fit me. I will finish this. What I need to do is determine how I'm going to decrease the v-neck of the vest. I've got three steeks going (two for sleeves, one for neck). The lighting doesn't show the colors well at all. (n2s: better lighting)
   
5. the Prayer Shawl. the M's gave me lots of acryllic yarn which is good for a prayer shawl because it's washable. The colors remind me of peonies that my grandmother gave to my Mom. Those huge pink blooms with a dark green framing and slight bits of dark pink. Wonderful memory for me. This one is knit length-wise with fringe, not tassels. It's knitting up fast and I'm only knitting on it around friends and people who love me. Nothing better to go into a Prayer Shawl than love and support. I'm giving this to my mother who will donate it to her church.
6. Maryland Sheep and Wool Sock out of the claudia (I think). One sock is finished. I got lost in the middle of the second heel using Don's toe-up sock pattern from two years ago. If I ask, I wonder if Don could actually tell me where I am in the pattern. I'd like to finish this second sock. I mean, I'm so close and the sock has great memories of my first trip to MS&W.
7. Scallop Scarf my own variation out of Jitterbug. I like my pattern a bit better because the color shows up a bit better. I've got about 1/2 of this scarf done. The thing that is tough is that I knit three other complete scarves for a class that I taught. That explains the "time-out" for the scarf. It wouldn't take much to finish the scarf and it's reversible and won't curl. Thoughts on this? I mean, the yarn could turn into socks, right?
   
8. Baby Surprise Jacket out of Cascade 220. I used this as a class sample for the BSJ class I tought. I need to seem this BSJ with some interesting i-cord trim. I'm hesitating a bit because I've not done this technique before. Finishing this will be time consuming and buttons. This one is in the finish pile.
   
9. Gale Shawl out of Grandma's Blessing from Briar Rose Fibers. Love the pattern. Love the Yarn. Love the recipient. Absolutely to be finished. Will I take it on the "fishing trip?" I've not decided. "wooster" Guess who walked in on the recording of this? See him in the back? He's like...what are you doing?
   
10. Yoke Sweater using Lopi Yarns. The blog history of this error can be found in the archives by clicking here. The colors are my own combination. I've got to tick back to correct the error. Really, all that is left is the fair isle knitting on the yoke. I'm more than half way done. I wish I had pulled out the error before I put the sweater in hibernation. If I take this on the fishing trip, I need to be ready to knit on it. It's not car knitting for me.
    

What you didn't see are the 6 other projects sitting on the side table. Now, these are UFOs and not the "promised projects." That's a completely different post.

Thanks for watching and reading. Please leave a comment to let me know if you enjoy the new format and why. BTW: I went with youtube because I couldn't stop talking after 90 seconds. Flickr limits to 90 seconds.

Weekend plans

I'm heading to Cleveland this weekend to visit the M's (the amazing person who taught me to knit.) Then I'll be a medical guinea pig for some diabetes research on Monday. I'll tweet all the tests and fun/excitement for you all to experience with me. That will be fun, won't it?

I'm enjoying the BSJ that I'm making out of the Noro Sock Yarn. I'm almost finished. It's been a good knit.

Surprise!

I've been burning through my yarn stash lately. I've made five pairs of short socks with a twisted cable out of Lamb's Pride Bulky. Using bulky yarn and size 10.5 dpns really make a fast house slipper/sock. KnitSB is happy because two of the socks are his. I'm working on my sixth and need a recipient.

KnitSB and I are doing a knit-along for the baby surplice sweater from the Vogue Knitting from Meg Swansen. She found the pattern among Elizabeth Zimmermann's notebooks and published it. It's a nice pattern. Garter stitch throughout with decreases placed at the beginning and end of every other row and strategically placed increases to create arms. I finished one in April for a new baby for someone I worked with. I didn't take a picture.

The most recent completed object is knit out of cotton yarn (from statch) using the Knit Picks options needles. The perfect point for the yarn.

I was scanning my bloglines and saw a post from Needles & Hooks about an EZ Baby Surprise Sweater. Isn't this one cute? Another nice surprise from b r o o k l y n t w e e d.

Of course, if you're really interested in all things Zimmermann, there is a blog dedicated to projects from her books. Check it out.

What Vivian Hoxbro Do You Have?

The RAINBOW Jacket in color 11, thanks for asking.
KnitMary was looking at the picture of my stash. Her keen eye immediately sees the kit and asked me about it via email. No, I've not started it yet. I don't know when I will start it to be honest. I bought it in November or end of last year because it was a good price and the colors are great and nice design and it is rainbow.
What are these things called? � *wondering*
I called Schoolhouse Press today because I wanted to make sure I understand the Surprise Jacket pattern. Guess who I got to talk too? You got it. The question about the pattern was passed to none other than Meg Swansen. She's so charming and enjoys having her designs appreciated. She answered all my questions so I can begin knitting on the sweater. (I really didn't want to make a mistake and frogging out the work. I happened to mention KnitMary's excitement of her yarn arrival ("UPS is a wonderful thing" KnitMary says). Meg gushed that KnitMary's idea to do the Celtic Swirl in natural colors is so good she wanted to knit another one for herself.
I'm meeting KnitMary on Saturday to see the yarn and then stop by the new shop. A report will be posted on Saturday.

Surprise Jacket and Weekend Update

The casting on of the Suprise Baby Sweater went fine and I've knit about 22 garder ridges. A picture wouldn't be much fun right now as all you'll see is garter stitch *yawn*.
I've continued on the Bluberry Scarf in Noro but on size 9 needles. I'm happy with the color wave and the feel of the fabric. I began the second skein yesterday. A picture will be posted soon.
Friday had a great lunch with highschool friend scOtt at Panera. Four hours flew by! We should do this again!
Worked on Saturday and went to learn to play Mah Jongg at Mike's house with Lady Julie and Jeff. We decided not to play Mah Jongg and enjoy company wallowing. Good food and excellent company was enjoyed. Watched Down with Love which I thought was fun.
Sunday was quiet and allowed me to spend time on taking care of myself and my yard.

Casting on a Baby Surprise Jacket

Have you knit one of these? (bottom of the page) Got any suggestions that might be helpful? I've swatched it out and will be using Blu Jeans Indigo Cotton Yarn. I bought lots of the yarn very inexpensively when I first started to knit for about $2.00 per skein. The colors go well with the baby's room and will fit him when he needs it most. I also made booties out of the same yarn but expect his feet will be too large to wear them at the same time.
I might even be able to knit something for myself out of this yarn, especiallyl nice for stash depletion.