Sock Needle Case and Coffee

I finally figured out how to combine 2 things I love - knitting and coffee. Mom is visiting from PA, and today we made a case to hold my sock needles from some coffee fabric I purchased at a local quilt shop a few years ago. It turned out great! The bag folds in thirds and secures with a lavender tie. I LOVE IT!

Alpaca Socks Finished!

They are finished!!! My first pair of men's socks for my husband!! He loves them, and although it's almost too warm here to wear them, he promises he will. They are made from Frog Tree sport weight alpaca, and they are SO SOFT!! My cat loves them, and you're seeing part of her in the photo....
I used 56 stitches on size 2 dpn's and roughly followed the Beginner Sock Pattern by Knitting Pure and Simple. That pattern is the easiest for this sock novice to use...now I'm off to finish another UFO...

Knitting Sock-a-holic....

Here's what I'm laying out trying to decide what sock to knit next. I LOVE the LORNA'S LACES Shepard Sock yarn on the right - just touching it makes me happy. I've already wound the second skein into a ball. The colors in the Regia are great beautiful blues...the Sockotta is soft, the tweedy Trekking XXL is for my husband. The skein is misshapen because I started a sock with it and didn't like the pattern so I pulled it all out and rewound it....if I don't knit something twice, I don't feel like I've knitted it....




This is my current sock on size 1 dpn's. The yarn is another Regia self-striping, and it's working out great so far - almost time to start the heel. I'm using a Knitting Pure and Simple Beginner Lightweight Sock pattern that's easy to follow.

Just joined the Six Sox knitalong on Yahoo Groups and am looking forward to starting a new sock pattern April 1st. Check back later for updates.

My sock yarn addiction....

It's here - after coveting, er..., wanting some Lorna's Laces sock yarn, I finally have 2 skeins. It's Shepherd Sock yarn in the Seaside colors, and it's GORGEOUS. It's SO SOFT, I just pick it up and hold it in my hands. I might even put eyes on it and make it like a stuffed animal and not knit it into socks....I want to try a pair of socks with it, but I've got 2 different socks on the needles now, and it will have to wait. Since there's no store nearby that sells small double pointed needles, I'll have to either order another set, or wait....waiting is SO hard.... and there's so many more COOL colors of this yarn I want to purchase. I think I need one of those 12 step programs for my yarn addiction....either that, or an addition onto the house to store it.

I've decided I have startitis, the disease that makes you want to start something new every few days. I am trying to stay focused and finish what I've already got started and today made progress in that direction. As long as I don't get any more yarn, I think I'll be ok.....

Going to do a sock yarn search on ebay.....

Anyone have these patterns??

I was wondering if anyone had these patterns. The 2 color slipper was made for me by my next door neighbor when I was a teenager - I got a new pair every Christmas. She's dead now, and I'd like to knit these for my kids. The gray slipper I found in a gift shop in Lititz, PA and my daughter is wearing them out. Thanks for your help!!

Here's the Knitting Olympics Medal

Here it is - the coveted Knitting Olympics gold medal. I DID finish a complete sock, and maybe going OnMission to the coast of Mississippi for 5 days at the end did deter me from finishing the second sock, but the work I did in Mississippi had eternal benefits, not olympic benefits...

I did see a Knitting Olympics team button that I should upload, but won't...it's team, "What the _____ was I thinking???"

I do plan to finish the second sock this week! Off to knit on it now...

Olympic Misery....

I've failed....thought I'd finish the second sock and earn my gold medal, but I didn't get it finished. I chose to spend the last 5 days of the Olympics on a mission trip to Long Beach, Mississippi to help Hurricane victims. I thought I'd have time to knit at night, on the van ride, etc., but every moment was busy and I slept most of the way home. The news media has failed us in showing Katrina victims in Mississippi and even now, 6 months later, folks are STILL living in tents or waiting for their FEMA trailers. We helped Central Baptist Church put a new roof on (insurance company decided NOT to pay...) and delivered household items to folks in FEMA trailers. The Olympic knitting competition was great fun, and I hope to compete again in 2 years.

Mystery Quilt Finished...an olympic diversion....

I've finished it!! The mystery quilt from Planet Patchwork that I started Super Bowl Sunday!! It's for my daughter, Sally, and she really likes it. My friend is going to hand quilt it for me as a gift to Sally.
Now I must get back to the Knitting Olympics and finsh that other sock!! Why is the first sock in a pair so much more fun than the second....

One sock down, One to go....

One sock finished with 7 days to go until the Olympics are over! The toe is a bit pointed...tried the kitchener stitch to finish the toe, and I don't think I did it quite right....but Cosmic Ray likes it and is ready to wear the pair. Here's a photo of him modeling - think he's ready to be a foot model??

Saga of the Olympic Sock....

Work continues on the sock...after messing up the heel and taking it out TWICE, we're finally making forward progress again. On to the instep....only 9 days to go until knitting olympics GOLD medal at the end of the Olympics~~!! Hopefully my husband will have 2 socks by then....

Happy Knitting,
Lisathemom

Olympic Progress....

Work is progressing on the Olympic knitting project - alpaca/wool socks for Cosmic Ray. A few stitches have been dropped and recovered, and I abandoned the pattern I was trying to create in favor of the straight stockinette look. Just an inch or so to go, and I'll be turning the heel...going to make it plum like the cuff. Better get back to work! I WANT THAT GOLD MEDAL!

Let the knitting Olympics Begin!!

Just after 2 pm today, while the opening ceremonies were beginning in Torino, I cast on for my Olympic Knitting project. I'm making a pair of socks from alpaca/wool sports weight blend of deep purple and gray. I have 16 days to finish these socks, and I'm off and running...er, knitting....with over 4000 of my closest friends, most of whom I've never met, but with whom I share a close bond of craziness and knitting. While other athletes are testing the limits of their endurance on slopes and skates, I'll be testing my limits to knit with sticks not much bigger than toothpicks. Hopefully I'll experience the "thrill of victory", and not the agony of defeat...

Later,
Lisa

Turned another Heel

I think I'm finally getting the hang of making socks. A good pattern helps, and the Beginner Lightweight Sock pattern from Knitting Pure and Simple is a good one. Now if I can get the sashing strips to line up right on my current quilt project, it will be a great day....

Getting ready for the Knitting Olympics which will begin tomorrow. I'm going to attempt to make a pair of socks from some lightweight alpaca yarn I found 2 weekends ago at the Main Street Fiber and Yarn shop in Watkinsville, GA.

Later,
Lisa

Socks I have knitted

My first pair of knitted socks. I'm very proud of these socks, even though the one on the right might fit an elephant's or hippo's foot. I'm getting better at learning what "gauge" means and how important it is for knitters to know....

Knitting Olympics

I've always wanted to be in the Olympics, and now it's MY turn! The knitting Olmpics!! I will cast on a project during the opening ceremonies, and finish before the end of the closing ceremonies. This, of course, will mean that several of my unfinished objects (UFO's) will remain unfinished, but who's counting those...unless the UFO patrol decides to scope out this place and report me to the UFO authorities. Has anyone ever been reported or checked up on for not finishing their projects? Between the knitting projects and quilting projects, I could be on the UFO's MOST WANTED LIST! But I WILL finish this project during the Olympics and earn a special seal for this site.

Until tomorrow,
Lisathemom

When I grow up, I want a Mini Cooper S convertible! Here's one with JoePa's photo on it in Penn State colors! 

Here I am at Penn State - Borland lab, home of the Food Science dept. and the best ice cream in the WORLD! 

Lisathemom's Spot

Greetings from Georgia!! I'm mom to 3 wonderful kids and wife to Cosmic Ray, an agricultural research scientist. I'm also a Penn State Food Science grad, and love cheering for my Nittany Lions!!