Monkey Sock Swap ready to go!

I have finished the monkey socks and all the items are packed up ready to go!



I really don't want to part with the bag that I made. It turned out way better than I thought it would.




I think I am going to have to make another one for C. I have plenty fabric left over for another. They aren't very big. Enough space for a small knitting project or little girl treasures =)

No More Hum-Drum Mittens Swap

I have signed up for another swap! I don't have any gloves or mittens for winter and thought it would be neat for someone else to make some for me! Of course I have to return the favor, but the best part about a swap is the other stuff you put in the package =)


1. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn?

I have been knitting for almost 3 years. I taught myself from a book my brothers ex-girlfriend gave me for Christmas 3 years ago.

2. Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I think I would call myself intermediate. Patterns and charts and techniques don't scare me. I haven't tried designing my own stuff yet though.

3. What are your favorite colors? Any you dislike?

My favorite colors would be blue, red, purple, gray. I'm not a fan of dark yellow or dark green.

4. Do you like Latvian type patterns? If so, what are your favorite patterns?

I like Latvian type patterns, I can't say I have a favorite though.

5. Do you desire mittens for yourself, your "special someone else" or your child?

For me =D

6. What other things do you enjoy knitting?

I mainly knit socks at the moment. I have also been known to knit scarves, hats, fingerless gloves and an occasional sweater (which was worn a grand total of one time before being tossed aside and declared too itchy. C has now announced that she would like a new sweater "A snuggly one this time mommy")

7. What sort of needles do you enjoy working with? (straights vs circs, bamboo vs aluminum)

My favorite needles at the moment are the knitpicks metal dpns. I think I am going to try to get my hands on some of the new Harmony ones. I told my husband to add them to the 'What to get Jess for Christmas' list. Somehow I think I will be buying them for myself.

8. What’s one project you’ve not yet tried but are dying to make?

The Deep V Argyle Vest by Eunny Jang. I'll get the pattern and the yarn one of these days...

9. What’s one yarn you’ve not yet tried but are dying to work with?

I'd like to see what all the fuss is over Malabrigo.

10. What other hobbies do you have? Do you spin? Sew? Garden? Cook?

I do counted cross stitch (like Mirabilia and Teresa Wentzler). I sew costumes and clothing and bags with my trusty Singer I 'borrowed' from my mother. I mess around with polymer clay and making soap sometimes too.

11. Besides yarn, do you collect anything?

Dust in my house? Dog hair? (It isn't long enough to spin even if I were a spinner.) I used to collect frog figurines and stuffed toys and such before I had my daughter. I'm not sure why I stopped.

12. What kind of goodies do you enjoy? Sweets? Salty? Anything you hate or are allergic to?

I enjoy anything that is tasty. I believe this is the reason that I have gained back 20 of the 50 lbs I lost last year...
Cookies, fudge, toffee. Cookies with fudge and toffee. Mmmm....
I have a tactile peanut allergy (it irritates my eczema) so no peanut brittle for me =(

13. Do you have any kids? Pets?

I have one human child (3), one fur-child (yellow labradog as my daughter calls her) and one husband.

14. What is your favorite part of Winter?

Hot chocolate. Snow. Snuggling under blankets.

15. What is your least favorite part of Winter?

The snow melting and leaving everything gray and dull =/

They're here!

(Well, in all honesty they got here on Friday but who is counting.)
My Sockapalooza socks that is!



My partner was SandyK. She sent me the softest most comfy pair of socks I have ever come in contact with. The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill in 'Misty Moor' and the pattern is one she made up herself (she says it'll be available on her blog soon.





She also sent along a cute little sheepy (which was swiftly whisked away by the pixie in the pic above) and a keychain sockblocker sock with a wee pattern. I think my Christmas tree may be full of bitty socks this year.

In other knitting news I ripped two socks last night. Conwy and Pomatomas were never to be, at least not in those yarns/colorways. I had gotten past the gusset on both of them and came to the realization that I really didn't like how they were knitting up and decided that even if I was to finish that sock I wouldn't be bothered to cast on for the partner. So instead of having singletons that I wouldn't wear, nor would make a mate for, I set up the old ball winder and zipped those suckers off the needles. Now I have hit the sock knitting blahs. I looked through the three sock pattern books I have and have gone through my free pattern bookmarks and I can't find a single pattern that is calling to me. It isn't just socks either. I picked up Mirabilia's 'Petal Fairy' this morning with the intention to finish the stem she is standing on (that's pretty much all I have left - the stem, her legs and feet and the beading) and I realized that I had started the second stem about 5 stitches farther over than it was supposed to be. Had to rip all that out too. I was almost done with the second stem. So I put that back down again. Now I sit with nothing to do and no burning desire to start anything new. I think maybe C and I will go take a nap...

Hey hey we've got ...

Monkey Socks!

Please excuse the dog heiney, she thinks she needs to be involved in any and all photographs that I take.

Started August 25, Finished August 30

Yarn = I'm not exactly sure... I know it's 100% superwash (I tested it!), but there was no tag anywhere to be found. I have some other yarn that is wound in a skein and tied with the same yarn so I think it's part of some loverly stuff I got from the ebay. Seller was 'kbrece' I believe.

No mods on these fellas. Pattern knit exactly as written by Ms Cookie A. Super quick knit and very easy to memorize. I think I'm going to have to finish the mate for the Scottish Highlands STR ones I've got floating about.

My Monkey Swap package is almost ready to be sent out. Just waiting on one more monkey related item in the mail and the package should be ready to head out!

I have also finished the ankle socks in the Chewy Spaghetti sock club yarn.



There's a second sock done, just not when that picture was taken. I don't have one of the pair of em. Just a basic top down ankle sock knit on size 3 knitpicks dpns (I'm in love with knitpicks dpns. I think it's the points). This colorway isn't something I would have chosen for myself, but I totally love it. I think I'm going to call them my Las Vegas socks because they kinda look like the swirly changing lights on the strip. I'll try to get a picture of the two of them once I find out what hubbo did with the camera. Can't wait for her to send the September colorway! Wheee!