Finished One, Start Two

At this current rate, I'll never finish my WIP!  I finished a pair of my plain vanilla socks so I had to start another pair.  Besides, I need to try out my new Twist Minis Red Lace Interchangeables by ChiaoGoo.  I also need to get started on some Teacher gifts for one of my girls.

My finished socks.  It was from a sock blank from Gale's Art.

My start of a cactus.  I need to get some small clay pots from Walmart.

                                                                            

My new socks on my new needles.

Sometimes You Just Have to Call Quits

I was almost done this sock.  I even had to rip out the heel to redo because I messed up the pattern on it.  It's Riff Socks.  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/riff-socks  It wasn't hard but I had to start the increase for the heel section really early.  The pattern wasn't going right and I even tried tinking back to see if I could save it.  The nail in the coffin was that it was too big.  The heel was just hanging off the back of hubby's foot.  It's not a pattern you can stop to make a short sock either.  Hubby luckily doesn't like tall socks (he has 11.5 size feet!).

So I ripped it and started this sock instead.  I like it much better.  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/diamond-gansey-socks-guernsey-rautenmuster  I need to make sure I make the sock smaller because the yarn will expand when its washed and blocked.  I can make this short too.

Pictures of Spinning Progress

This is 4.4 oz of 50% Merino and 50% Silk from JulieSpins in the colorway Raspberry Swirl.  Here is a series of pictures I took of the spinning every time I finish spinning for the day.

All that is missing is the finished plied yarn!

Caking Yarn

Winding up yarn for future WIP.  The gray yarn is for felted slippers.  Hubby managed to wear a hole in the last pair.  Since he finances my knitting and spinning habit, I will knit him a new pair.  The other 2 variegated ones are for a Kallara.  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kallara  I've been trying to fight off the urge to cast on but I really love Ambah's patterns (I tested 2 of her patterns).  So its a losing battle.  The purple is WM and is for another test knit.

Started another WIP.

This will be a felted slipper.  My go to pattern is http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/felt-slippers-for-adults  The hard part is figuring how long to put it in my front load washer.  It probably would be easier with a top load washer.  Last time I felted them too long and then end up child size.  These will be for me or the other purple lover depending on what size they come out.

All Done Testing For Now

I finished this sort of test knit.  I've test knitted for Stephanie before.  She gave us patterns to knit up by Aug 30th that needs some more projects (3 or less).  For doing this "test" knit, I also got a pattern.  This basically meant I got 2 patterns for free!  An awesome deal for me.  I don't know why this cowl isn't more popular.  It wasn't too hard and it looks really complicated.  Another bonus for me was that my daughter requested a cowl so perfect!

Needles:  Size 3 and 4

Yarn:  Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted Solids & Heathers in 1033 Medium Lavendar

Pattern:    http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tiltawhirl-cowl

This was a double knit cowl test.  For some reason it came out bigger but my gauge was smaller then the project called for.  I also went down 2 sizes of needle.  I ran out of the dark yarn (which is actually dark purple like below) but I ended up using a dark brown for the last couple of rows.  I don't think you can tell the different color and weight (it was sport instead of DK).

Needles:  Size 2 circular (cast on with Size 4)

Yarn:  Cephalopod Yarns Traveller in Detour and Peshawar, The Sanguine Gryphon Bugga! in  Rhinocerous Beetle - Chocolate

Pattern:  Coming Soon!

What I need to do is work on my current 19 WIP.  Instead I keep wanting to start new projects.  This is a cardigan that I started Jun 2014.  I'm on the easy but long part of plain knitting.

Needle:  Size 5 and 6 circulars

Yarn:  The Sanguine Gryphon Free Range in  Delegorgues Pigeon

Pattern:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tidal

This is what is on the wheel right now.  It's my favorite 50% merino and 50% silk.  This is fiber from JulieSpins and its in the colorway Raspberry Swirl.  I think I have 3 more days before I ply.  I can't wait to see how it turns out.

More Testing

I am doing 2 more tests and trying to finish some knitting for the fair.

 Both are cowls.

This is yarn from JulieSpins.  It was from her Unclub.  She doesn't have club yarn but occasionally she will have yarn and colors that you can order as much as you want from her.  I've been wanting to get some of this Stella yarn.  It really does sparkle as much in real life!

This is yarn from HeyHollyHoHum.  It's another sparkly yarn.  I been on a sparkle yarn kick lately