Getting Ready for Rhinebeck

I have a Rhinebeck sweater. I'm working on another. I really need to stop that and get my wheel out, since I'm taking a class (I sound so blase about it... quite the opposite!) I was lucky enough to get a coveted spot in the sold-out Jillian Moreno, Yarnitecture: Building Exactly the Yarn You Want class. I'm feeling half excited, and half terrified that my spinning isn't up to snuff, and that I'll be shamed out of the class. Luckily, fiber folks tend to be accepting, kind, and helpful. I can "spin a consistent yarn" as the class requires, it's just that I spin the same yarn every time.  Boring.

This is where I am with sweater #2.  It's a pattern from the new Amy Herzog CustomFit system. I couldn't stop myself from casting on and knitting like crazy. Using some lovely Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Shire Heather .I'm about 15 rounds away from splitting and shaping the arm holes. I have a week. Plus work. Plus kids. Plus spinning. No pressure, right?

In other news, I've had sales of my Roadtrip to Rhinebeck sock pattern to strangers. Non-family/friends have bought it. ::Happy Dance:: 

{I really do love these socks. As soon as Rhinebeck is over, I'm back to designing - I've got a Fingerless Mitt pattern bounding around in my head, begging to be knit and written up.}

Roadtrip to Rhinebeck Pattern available!

Holy nerves. I've published Roadtrip to Rhinebeck.

Beta testing Roadtrip to Rhinebeck

My dear test knitters are approaching the slightly tricky but very cool part of my sock pattern. The leaf motif on the back of the sock begins at the bottom of the heel - perfect for when you wear your open-back clogs (or birks). I hope they don't have a problem with the instructions. I can't wait to get this pattern out there!

First leaf of Fall

My kids hate me for it, but I love Fall. The crisp mornings, the changing leaves, the back to school, and best of all I can start wearing all my hand-knit socks again. 

I have sent a sock pattern out to some beta testers. I plan to post a sneak peek in the next few days. I really love this sock. I hope others will too!

Snow and Seeds

It's snowing.

Again.

I think we've made up for the past two years where we had little to no snow. It can be done now. Really.

I went out for the mail and was surprised to find what had looked like flurries had covered the road and the yard. No wonder the birds were complaining for me to fill the feeder.

We have a fabulous window feeder that allows us to easily fill it and to view the birds up close and personal. The birds don't even seem to care when we stand next to the window and watch them eat. The cardinals are the only ones that are shy. I do love the little chickadees.

Ah well. The upside to that trek to the mail box was that there was a Burpee seed catalog waiting for me, which made it all worth while. I will be sitting down with the curly girl tonight to start planning this year's garden. Happy times.

Second Sock Syndrome

Sock one. Dog in the background
hoping for a treat.

I love knitting socks, and have never suffered from second sock syndrome. Until now.

I am forcing myself to make the second sock. I don't like this pattern. It's not a bad pattern. It's well written. It's creating a very pretty sock. Great designer. But it has a yarn over at the end of two of the rows in the lace pattern. I hate that. It's making me crazy. I was trying to do the pattern as written - needles included - since it's from the Sock Knitters Master Class book. The yo at the end of the row on 4 double point needles was making me pretty stabby. Not a good place to be when you're already holding little weapons. I switched to my standard circular needle and it's better now.

The upside, is that I love the Knit Picks yarn I chose. 

Of course (never fails), the birthday for which these socks are being knit is approaching very quickly. Guess I know what I'll be doing tonight...

Sky Scarf

I'm actually keeping up with the row (ok. Two rows - across and back) a day depending on the color of the sky - sky scarf project. This year so far has been pretty gray. I'll be happy to add more blue!