UPDATE ON MY MADNESS

Round 2 has begun in Sock Madness IV. I received the pattern on Friday morning via e-mail. And as luck would have it, I had to work all day before I could cast-on. Blast it! Once I got home, I set out to cast on this lovely set of socks...called Cool Beans by a wonderful designer in Northern California. I love her stuff! Coffee beans marching around the leg and foot. Here's a shot of my progress as of this morning....quite a bit of colourwork...at which I'm NOT adept. I'm learning to hold yarns in both hands...and knit both English and Continental at the same time.



I'm using a creamy white yarn, the name of which is unknown to me, and a Socks That Rock Lightweight fingering weight yarn called Cockamamie! It's knitting up quite nicely and I believe I'll be knitting this pattern again...maybe with bright Easter colours so the beans look like eggs....or maybe in my favorite slime green so they look like the dreaded lima beans...who know where my imagination will take me....keep tuned in for updates.

On a totally other note, we talked to some really dear friends this morning. We've known Rick and Nancy Sasso for over 30 years...John and Rick served together in the Navy. They still live in Southern California and we haven't seen them in over 10 years. Rick and Nancy just got Skype last weekend and we Skyped with them for almost an hour this morning...except for us all getting a tiny bit older, they haven't changed one bit...still the delightful folks we have known for years. And, Nancy is still a smart a$$ whose sense of comic timing I envy! Love you guys!

I need to get back to the studio and get back to knitting....only 26 folks from each team are going on to Round 3 and I intend to be one of the ones on my team, "All We Need is Yarn" that makes it though. Wish me luck!

Thanks for stopping by.

Random Thursday

Barring anything of import to say, but feeling entirely too guilty at allowing this blog to languish, I'm indulging in randomness today. I asked my officemate to give me 10 random words that came into his head and I would then answer with what pops into my own head.

JOHN: ............ME:
Garden............spring flowers
Run...............not me!
Computer..........technology
Bread.............warm, comfort food
Van...............big
Magazine..........quilting
Manure............crap
Book..............ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, peaceful
Coat..............warm
Alarm.............noisy

Now, I'm not saying this is scientific or anything. Just a way to fill up some empty space - no, honey, not the empty space between my ears!

Stay tuned, the pattern for Sock Madness V, round 2 comes out tomorrow...I'll be spending the weekend knitting on a new pair. Will post next week.

Thanks for stopping by.

MADNESS UPDATE AND AN OLYMPIC FINISH

My local yarn shop, One City Market in Rogersville, held a Knitting Olympics this year and invited folks to participate. Well, you know me, always up for a competition! I entered the "Cozy Up to the Fire" event with my knitted wine glass charms. I won Silver! The first picture shows the charms. I made 2 of each motif. Next you will see my award - 2010 Fiber Calendar, thermal cup, handmade soap, and a booklet with post-its and memo pad.




And now for an update on the Madness. I started my Simple Side-to-Side Socks last Wednesday, the day it started. Finished them yesterday, the 16th. The problem with these socks is that we were required to knit EXACTLY to the specifications of the pattern. That made the socks almost impossible for some of us to get on. Note, I said some of US. There is no way those socks will go over my arch so they might have to be gifts for someone...anyone with small feel out there? Maybe a size 7.5 or 8? Let me know....cause I've got a pair of socks for you!

I've qualified for Round 2. Round 1 will close on Tuesday the 23rd...a few days to move everyone who qualified into one of 4 groups, and then Round 2 will begin. I can't wait to see what they have in store for us next! I've pulled all the yarns I want to use for the Madness...now hoping that the ones I've chosen will work for the patterns the moderators have chosen. Keep your fingers crossed for me.


Must heigh myself to work....thanks for stopping by.

THE MADNESS HAS STARTED!

Sock Madness IV started at approximately 8:14 this morning with the release of the first pattern. The first sock is usually the least difficult one to get everyone started. Each pattern that follows is increasingly difficult. This one today uses several techniques with which I am unfamiliar. Fortunately, I checked out the Youtube video the designer suggested for a new way to cast on the sock. Then I cast on....2 at a time on one long 40" circular knitting needle. The sock is knit sideways and then knitted together along the back. It includes a heel and a toe that is knit in after the sock is made into tube along with the cuff portion of the sock. I'm only able to write this missive to you because I'm at work and can't knit. But once I get home tonight, very little computer work till the pair is done.

Keep tuned....I'll post the pair when I get them done. Wish me luck!

Thanks for stopping by.