Frankie

Frankie socks are finished! I worked on them today while watching my DVR'd shows (Heroes, Glee, and ANTM... it would have been Eastwick too but it wasn't on last night). I had to fudge the toe on the 2nd sock because I changed it from the pattern directions and I (very smartly) didn't write it down. It's at times like those when being able to read your knitting comes in handy!

Today has been amazing, by the way. My boyfriend finally got a day job (Working at Safelite as well, actually) and he's at training today so I had the house to myself. I knit and watched TV today. I also had a photo shoot (that you will see the results of shortly) and an amazing hot shower (After which I immediately put on a sweatshirt and socks because I was cold before and if you put that stuff on right afterwards you stay toasty warm and retain all the heat from the shower [Parentheses seem to be my friend today]).

I have dinner in process, I'm just waiting to get it in the oven. What's on the menu? Pre marinated turkey tenderloin, roasted sweet potatoes with some butter and brown sugar, twice baked cheesy garlic potatoes, salad, and an apple cobbler for dessert made with local apples. After I finish this (or in the middle, depending on how long this takes) I'll go get everything but the potatoes in the oven and in an hour or so dinner will be ready.

So, without further ado, I give you, Frankie Socks:

Specs:
Yarn: Socks that Rock Mediumweight in Manly, Yes! But I like it too!
Needles: Size 2
Pattern: Francie Socks [Ravel it!] by Rebekkah Kerner
Mods:

• I used size 2 needles and a heavier yarn.
• I only did 1.5 repeats of the leg chart
• I did fewer rows on the heel flap (due to different row gauge). This, however, ended up affecting the rest of the sock because I couldn't pick up the right amount of stitches for the gusset and I ended up use a KFB to increase so the ribbing flowed (I did this on the 2nd knit stitch, the little bump from the KFB looks like a purl stitch so it's a really easy and practically seamless ribbing increase).
• I changed the toe. Because of the row gauge difference, the socks were long enough before the travelling ribs met in the middle. So, I just kept that up and in the column of 8 knit stitches (I started toe decreases after a knit increase) I decreased in a similar manner. After that, I got rid of all of the remaining purl stitches and then did a final round of decreases, leaving me with 20 sts that I grafted.

Thoughts: I really loved this pattern and I am seriously considering making myself a pair of these socks in the near future. The pattern is interesting and just challenging enough so that it's not boring, but it makes for pretty good TV knitting. However, as you can see in the photo of the foot the left leaning increase, assuming I did it correctly leaves holes along the bottom. I am hoping that this works itself out a little with blocking, though. They're currently drying.

The pattern is very well thought out and involves a lot of detail so it's pretty easy to modify. It is a pattern that you have to pay for but I think it's worth the money. I love the results and I'm a little sad that these are going to be a Christmas present.
For: My dad!

As you can see in the toe shots above I hade a little oopsie when it came to grafting the toes. On the first sock I did it the wrong direction! I figure I'll pick it all out and fix it sometime before I gift them, or maybe not, it makes them extra unique, right? The thing is that I can't figure out which way I like better, although neither of them are particularly appealing.

Something else great about these socks....

The leftovers! That's about 1.4 oz for anyone who's not impressed with 38 grams. ;-) I'll keep it around until after Christmas but it may become a smaller version of a toy from Amigurumi Knits, an awesome, awesome book I got from Knit Picks.

Till next time!

Only 4 months late

Okay, so these socks I actually finished at the end of July for WIPs wrestling (they were the only things I finished in July.. sheesh). But I haven't gotten around to taking a FO picture for.. well.. only God knows why, really. Anyhow I've been wearing them whenever my feet get chilly and I just love them. I love the color and they're very warm. And not only were they finished 4 months ago, but they were actually cast on in March. How's that for a delay!

Leyburn Socks:

Specs:
Yarn: Mountain Colors Bearfoot in Burgandy
Needles: Size 2
Pattern: Leyburn Socks [Ravel it!]
Mods: I started out with 10 sts at the toe and I increased more to accomodate the width of my foot, the extra stitched were on the bottom of the foot and not included in the quilted pattern. Because of the extra stitches I had to fiddle a little with making the pattern work after the heel, but it all ended up okay.
Thoughts:

• The toe is too pointy or the foot is too long, one of the two (that's not really the pattern's fault)
• The ankle is too wide, I'm pretty sure that this is because the pattern stated that the quilted/lattice pattern was not very stretchy so I wanted it to be a little bit big. The extra stitches I had from the foot accomplished that and now I wish I'd decrease a little after the heel.
• My sewn bind-off wasn't tight enough. I was worried about making the bind off too tight so I didn't, and the extra loose bind off coupled with the too wide ankle make for a sock that's a little to stretchy
• All in all, I love the yarn and I really do like the pattern, I just wish that I'd been a little bit smarter about it. These are quite lovely to wear, though so I will keep doing just that. ;-)
  

Also, the day of the photo shoot I was finishing up my mom's hat and I noticed that the yarn was almost the exact same color as my socks. Check it out:

I certainly do have a color palate.

Can you hear those distant Sleigh Bells?

Okay, so, you can't say you didn't know it was coming. It happens at the same time every year. The holiday most knitters love and dread simultaneously: Christmas. I hope that everyone has at least started your Christmas knitting, unless, of course, you want to stay up all night Christmas eve weaving in ends and blocking gifts on the floor vents (Not that I've done that... *cough*). I mentioned earlier that I've got one Christmas gift finished already.

And I do!

Specs:
Yarn: Plymouth Encore Sock DK (they're OSU colors!)
Needles: Size 3
Pattern: No pattern, I just cast on 54 sts, knit some ribbing, stockinette cuff, reinforced heel flap with a Round Heel courtesy of Heels By Number (I followed the 52 st directions). Knit a foot long enough for 12.5 US Mens' and make a toe.
For: My step father. He requested a pair last year and well it took a little while but I got 'em!

My second project isn't finished yet, but I took an in Progress pic:



These are for my dad in the STR Mediumweight I bought at Rhinebeck. I love the way these are turning out. You can find the pattern here. I've loved these socks ever since I saw the Yarn Harlot's. The shaping on the foot is just so attractive and the pattern is really cleverly written, I would reccomend it to anyone. I'll probably be making myself a pair of these as well... eventually. And that's saying something considering how much I dislike knitting ribbing. I'm finished with the gusset on my 2nd sock and on to the foot. It'll be finished by the end of the week. Thursday probably (Thursdays are one of my days off).

Oh, and also, do you see the bit of mulch in the upper left hand corner of that photo? The finished Francie (Or Frankie as I like to think of them) sock ended up being left behind after the photo shoot and spent 3 lonely days hanging out with the mulch. I freaked when I found it, but it wasn't damaged by weather or bleached by the sun. Yay STR!



I'm also making a shawl for my grandmother. No worries, not complicated lace. Just some warm garter stitch. It's Wool Weaver's Mini Shawl. I'm knitting it with Knit Picks Gloss Heavy Worsted in Oregano. I'm ~80% done. I have less than half of a 1 of the 2 skeins left so that may be finished by the end of the week also.

Tone it down

Since there have been so many pictures on my blog lately I thought maybe I would give you all an update on how I've been doing in a more non-knitterly sense.

I graduated, as you may or may not know, on the 31st of August. After graduation I was inbetween jobs for about a month before I started at Safelite Solutions. Safelite takes glass claims for a whole slew of insurance companies so I spend my evenings 3pm-8pm MTW, FSat on the phones filing claims for people with glass damage. It's really not a bad job, the people there are generally great and the pay is decent although it could be better (Couldn't it always?).

I'm also working 10AM-2PM at the Downtown Endoscopy Center for my mom. They needed help in the office and so since I had helped out with the patients before and I was on the payroll. I mostly scan patient charts into the computer.

Neither jobs are incredibly stimulating (especially the scanning), but I can't complain about either of them, because at least I have a job. I also really like pretty much everyone that I work with.

At night I come home and watch my shows and knit or spin, lately mostly knitting Christmas presents. I finished one and am over halfway finished with 2 others. (Hehe, don't tell me you didn't know Christmas was coming! Jealous? =P)

I spend time with my friends and my boyfriend.

All in all it's not a bad life, and yet I am unsatisfied. I live with my mom and have two jobs that don't have anything to do with any college degree, let alone the one I spent 4 years earning. At the same time I don't have a lot of drive for any particular profession. Just perhaps one that I enjoy and that earns me a decent paycheck at the end of the week.

I've also probably gained about 8-10 lbs since I've graduated. Most of that was becoming sedentary but a good amount of it is that I stopped watching what I ate and paying attention to when I was eating for boredom and when I was eating for hunger.

I joined a gym and try to go a few times a week, and I do, but not as much as I should and I don't exercise as hard as I should.

I'm inbetween.

Hopefully something shifts for the better soon.

In more knitterly news, I do have some actual FO pictures to show you. I've also sewn buttons on the Vine Yoke Cardigan and it's ready for a more specific FO photo.

With Love,
Abby

Rhinebeck Part 3: The people

PEOPLE!!

Me, my Vine Yoke Cardigan, and a Llama

My friend Jenna, aka Jinxgirl

Okay, not people. Just delicious lamb ravioli and sauteed spinach (Mmm, Rhinebeck food!)

The Fab MrKnitterotica.

Ktb38 and her awesome entrelac Sauerball Stole/Scarf.

HoneyChild and the infamous Cake.

The lovely Jesh.

Cyd, Pixisis, and Cake.

Knitting content eventually!

Lots of love!

Rhinebeck Part 2: The Fiber

Okay, so I'm posting part two. I know. You're shocked.

I'll give you a minute to get over it.

...

Alright. Now, I picked up some really lovely fiber at Rhinebeck. I mean like.. well... a lot of it.

This is 4 oz of a BFL cross sheep. I can't remember the other sheep and the bag is downstairs so I'll have to get back to you on what kind it is exactly.

As you can see this is a Merino/Cashmere/Angora blend. I'm really excited to spin this up. It should turn out just lovely.

One of two BFL tops that I bought. I just love the colors in it. I can't wait to see how it spins up.

This is approximately 4 oz of bleached camel down. The lady at the stand said they were more like 1/10th of a pound than an ounce because her scale only weighs in ounces. I was pleased because they were only $2.50 a bag. =)

This is 8 oz of correidale. I can't remember the name of the place I got it from, but it's on the tag... also downstairs.

Some of the fiber I got I've already spun into yarn.

This is blue correidale from the same place I got the white from.

And this is the 2nd BFL top that I bought, also from Into the Whirled.

I know, I know, you're asking yourself, how in the world did she spin all of that yarn so quickly? She doesn't own a spinning wheel.

Well, my friends. My largest and favorite purchase at Rhinebeck was a spinning wheel! My very own wheel. =D I love it. It's a Kromski Sonata and it's gorgeous...

A not very good angle on the flyer.

The orifice.

The attached lazy kate with the leftovers of the BFL top.

The double treadle

And of course, the wheel.

As you may notice there's some fiber fuzzies on the wheel. I've spun almost a pound of fiber in the last week and I'm thoroughly enjoying myself. Luckily I had Ktb38 (A Rav Friend) to help me get used to the wheel. She has the same one. I just love it. It's acutally a travel wheel. The top part with the flyer comes off and it folds in half and goes in its own carrying case.

Stay tuned for Part 3: The People...

Rhinebeck Part One: The Yarn

So I went to Rhinebeck, NY this weekend for the Sheep and wool festival. I can only say that it was an amazing time. Not only were there tons of amazing vendors and products, there were a ton of like minded people who were extremely friendly. I met so many people, those I knew only online, and those that I'd never met before at all. Everyone was nice (with the exception of one of the people at one of the booths, but I digress...) and I had such an amazing time. I have tons of pictures to share with you all. Since today was my day off I wanted to make a point to take some pictures of the haul to share with you all, I also have several pictures of the people that I hung out with, mostly people from the VLT in the CPaAG on Ravelry.

Since I did get a lot of fiber as well as yarn (and OMGSOMETHINGELSEAWESOME) I'm going to stick to yarn for this post.

I give you... Yarn Pr0n:

Two 750 yd skeins of worsted weight yarn from Briar Rose.

Blue Moon had a booth and I got some much coveted Socks That Rock. I got it in both Mediumweight:

And Lightweight:

The Mediumweight will be a pair of socks for my dad for Christmas (I think this pattern [Ravel it!] would be great. I'm not sure about the lightweight, though. It was really interesting, they had several colorways that were black with the purple in the skein and another color, one had a goldish color another was just purple and I think one other had blue in it.

Gorgeous Alpaca Laceweight from Burgis Brook Alpaca farm. The tweedy look comes from silk nepps.

This lovely yarn is from Hope Spinnery. The actual color of it is a little softer than in this picture. It's probably my favorite skein, though. It was dyed using all natural dyes and it was spun using wind energy. It's smooshy and wonderful. I adore it. I'm planning on using it for the Snap Dragon Tam and Mittens, but we'll see if there's enough for both as it is a little lighter weight than the pattern calls for. I do have about 40 extra yards and that should be plenty, but we'll see.

Last but not least we have the yak yarn! It's from Bijou Bison Spinnery. At the Ravelry party on Saturday night we got coupons in the goodie bags for buy one get one on all the yarn in their booth, which is amazing. This sock yarn was $65/skein and so out of my price range earlier in the day. I just couldn't pass up the buy one get one, though. They had many lovely choices but the sock samples are what got me. This yarn knits up beautifully and I can't wait to play with it. ;-)

As you can see in the photo, the brown yarn is fluffier than the white yarn. The lady at the booth told me that the cream colored yarn was the first one that they spun and so it was spun fairly tightly (It is sock yarn after all) but the second they wanted a big squooshier and so that's what they got. They're both awesome.

Okay, so that concludes the yarn portion of our program. Stay tuned for the fiber and people portions!