Friday, May 29, 2009

New tricks for an old dog

As a die-hard top-down sock knitter, I finally decided it was time to try some toe-up socks. I had tried once before, but my cast-on was such a mess, I gave up and cast on for the cuff. And why mess with something that's going so well? Top-down socks and I were BFFs. This past weekend I headed over to Border's with my 40% off coupon in hand and I picked up Wendy Knits' book "Socks from the Toe Up". I'm not afraid to admit it: I'm shamelessly hooked on these patterns. I love them, and the book is really pretty to look at too! The instructions are really clear, and I managed to whip up Judy's Magic Cast-on with no problems. Another thing I really like about the patterns in this book is that the lace patterns are really easy to memorize, and not some 18 row chart of sheer headache-inducing insanity.


This is the Diagonal Lace (Rav link) pattern and I'm totally in love with it. I'm also using some of our Yarnadoodledoo sock yarn in the Cerise colorway. Erin and I tried out a variety of yarn bases, and I think we've settled on the one we want. This yarn is so sproingy and funt to knit with! Awesome pattern + lovely yarn = KNITTING JOY

I've also been spinning and planning a sweater, because summer in the South is the perfect time to knit a sweater, right? Right. I'm thinking top down raglan with handspun yoke. I'll have picks of the handspun this weekend.

Oh, and we've been dyeing. Lots of dyeing.


Last night the mister and I watched that last episode of The Wire that we hadn't seen. No more new (to us) Wire episodes ever! I'm so bummed! That being said, when's the new "East Bound and Down" season start?

I found out today at the allergy clinic that I'm going to have to keep on going 3 times a week for 4 more weeks. A normal person would probably be discouraged by this fact, however I immediately thought, "More morning knitting time! Excellent!"

Monday, May 11, 2009

Can you have too much yarn?

I keep inundating y'all with yarn photos, but this time, I just have to share as this yarn makes me want to jump around like a kid who's had too many pixie sticks.


I bring you: Verve - 480 yards of a 90/10 superwash merino/nylon blend. It's up for sale in the shop, which was a hard decision for me. I wanted to keep it and roll around in it (don't tell anyone).

Also, have y'all seen the mods for the Monkey sock pattern by Cookie A.? Here it is! (link goes right to the .pdf) And if you've got big clodhoppers like myself, this is where the party's at. I'm knitting them out of some hand dyed purple variegated yarn, and it's so pretty I squeal everytime I look at it. I'll post pictures soon!

Thursday, May 07, 2009

Yarnadoodledoo, take two

Oh me. I can't stop dyeing.

Here's some more for you:

This is an Alpaca / Superwash Merino blend. Nom nom nom. This actually was dyed by the lovely Erin.

I think I might knit this one up next:


They're all up at the shop, if you'd like to browse. Yarnadoodledoo!

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Yarnadoodledoo!

So, my friend Erin and I have been complaining for ages about sock yarn skeins that don't have the proper yardage for large lady feet (we're both US size 11). So, instead of whinging and moaning (as we're wont to do), we decided to start dyeing our own! And bringing it to the masses! Behold, Yarnadoodledoo!

After some fun and successful dyeing attempts, we decided to open up shop.

Berry Stained! 460 yards of superwash glory!

Bantam! This one is so gorgeous, I may want to keep it.

This one isn't for sale, but I wanted to put it up here for posterity. The first yarn dyed! It's like an Easter Egg!

Yay, sock yarn! Yay knitting!

 
design by suckmylolly.com