{ Sock Therapy }

We've got some fixing up happening in our apartment, an upcoming college graduation with family coming in from out of state, and some scheduled furniture delivery that requires removal of the old furniture first. { Really heavy old furniture} I needed to start a new pair of socks right away to help me relax in the evening.

I decided on a new pattern, Charade, which is free on Ravelry and a yarn that I hadn't used before. It's from Hampton Artistic Yarns .  I purchased it at the Long Island Fleece & Fiber Fair last year and was waiting for the opportunity to use it. It's a super soft hand dyed, hand spun superwash merino blend. The colors are beautiful and it even has a little silver bling. It was really hard  sliding off that yarn band and winding it up.

I had a bit of a sizing  problem with the pattern and had to rip out several hours of knitting, but I made an adjustment and started again. I love this yarn! Luckily in two weeks the LI Fleece and Fiber Fair is returning to Hallockville Museum Farm and I can pick up another hank. { Buying it online is not as much fun as seeing it and petting it in person }

I've been doing some quilting too but I can't spoil the surprise. Post with photos to come soon.

{ Socks, did I hear someone say socks? }

I'm on track with my goal of one pair of knit socks per month. Actually,  I'm ahead of the goal so far, I cast on my fourth pair this morning. Both of these pairs are being gifted to friends we'll be meeting in Colorado next week.

The first pair is knit from Knt Picks Felici Sport. The colorway is Stream Bed. This yarn is a dream to work with. It's sooooo soft. Merino wool is definitely my favorite yarn to work with and Felici is priced right too. Well, it was priced right. {Sniff, sniff} The Felici Sport line was discontinued some time ago and I believe the Felici fingering weight is going bye-bye too. I have enough yarn for maybe 5 additional pairs. I wish I had bought more.

These socks were knit with DROPS Fabel 75% Superwash wool/25% Nylon. I love the Vanilla Latte pattern that's free on Ravelry. I think these are the third pair I've made using that pattern. This wool isn't as soft as Merino but they feel very comfy on the feet. And yes, I must try on every pair I knit even if they're not for me.

{ 2014: The Year of the Sock}

I'm not really one to set long term goals for myself. When I've done it in the past I've failed miserably. This year I've decided to try again. My goals for the year 2014:

1. Knit one pair of socks per month. Some for me {yay} and some for gifting. I certainly have enough yarn stashed for 12 pairs. { or maybe even 24 pairs, shhh.}

2. Start and finish some quilts. I have one baby quilt to do before anything else since the shower is in March. I already have the fabric from my stash.{yes, there is a stash for fabric too} The other's on my to-do list are:

*Finish 'Oh My Stars'. It's already cut out, I just have to start sewing.
*Finish the 2012 Mystery Block of the Month Quilt from the Fat Quarter Shop. I already have 10 of the 12 blocks pieced. {yes, I realize it's 2014 and yes, I do have the 2013 Mystery Block of the Month lining up behind it}
*Quilt for my niece using {Flirt} by Sandy Gervais. All the components are sitting patiently in a project box just waiting for release.
*Finish the 'Quilty Fun Quilt-a-long' blocks.

3. Lose 40 lbs. {hubbie and I joined a gym yesterday. Let's see how this turns out.}

Here's my first finish for 2014.......

These were made using the pattern Simple Skyp and Knit Picks Stroll Tweed yarn. I love this pattern and have already picked out more yarn for another pair. These babies are taking up residence in my sock drawer.

{ Island Waters }

The last pair of knit socks designated a Christmas gift is finished!

The pattern is Duckies by Samantha Hayes. The yarn is Knit Picks Stroll Sport. The pattern was very easy to follow for a relative beginner like me. I already finished a pair using fingering weight yarn. You can see that post HERE. 

Now I have to start making hats. Three of them before Christmas Eve. Ready, set, go!

{ Beach Plums }

Another pair of Christmas socks is complete. I'm finding it can take me anywhere from one week to one month to finish one sock. I still have at least one and a half pairs to complete. I was hoping for some shorty socks to be finished too, but that may be too ambitious.

I really wish work didn't conflict with crafting time. Between kniting socks and finishing my daughter's quilt I have to squeeze in cookie baking for Thanksgiving. I'm trying out the cut sugar cookie-royal icing cookies for the first time. All my supplies arrived today and Thursday they and I have a date.

{ Can I Get a Hell Yeah? }

I love when I've finished sock #2 of a pair, kitchenered the toe closed and weaved in the tails.  It took me just over a month to finish these socks. I love the yarn color. Woo hoo for self striping yarn. It makes non-knitters think I'm doing something very special.

I may not be able to wait until Christmas to give these to Steph.

{ It's Never Too Early to Start Preparing for Christmas}

I have officially started getting ready for Christmas. I have one gift down...these socks for Breann. No risk of her seeing them as noone knows about this blog. I tried very hard to make the stripes match. I got close, kind of.

All the girls and boys will be getting hand knit socks this year. I've been stashing sock yarn for past few months with the plan to knit them all up for gifts. There are one or two, well, maybe a few more than that, that I will be knitting into socks for me.  Who else would appreciate socks made from this yarn called 'Zombie BBQ' ?

{ Can you say...socks?}

Pair number 6 was finished this morning! I started this pair May 3rd and finished up two months later. I feel really slow. There was a diversion a few weeks back when I tried to make a pair of ankle socks for Steph but ran into a glitch after the first one and went back to these. Having a full time job really cuts into the crafting time. I wish there was something I could do about that.

How do you like my tomato? This is my first attempt at doing the urban garden thing. This baby is the just starting to ripen. I may have him bronzed.

And, there is some quilting on the horizon. I have the fabric and pattern chosen and I'm just waiting for some down time to get started. I've been missing it!