What to do with leftover sock yarn and lots of figs

Mom bought me this jar at IKEA a while back. She had seen it filled with yarn somewhere (Hmm... don't remember where) and said it was cute. I filled it with round skeins of green and purple yarn and it just looked squished. I set it aside, and for some reason it occurred to me the other day to make little balls of yarn and put in there. So I tried it with my leftover sock yarn, and I must say it is cute.

And on another domestic note, Nolamom, Emily, and I made fig jam. We have a fig tree in the back yard that is, after 10 years, giant and bursting with black mission figs.

We started by peeling the figs, and putting them on to boil with powdered pectin and some lemon juice.

Once that boiled, we added sugar and let it come back to a rolling boil. Then, after a minute, it was jam!

Here are our finished jars of jam. Tasty!

Two socks and one small crafter

Second sock is in the books. Yay! I had mentally moved on days ago, so I'm glad I could buckle down and finish the second Nutkin sock as to not let down my peeps at Twisted Tuesday Knit Night. Hair appointments are great for uninterrupted knitting time.

I am happy with the way they turned out. It is funny how this pattern twists. The photo doesn't show the pattern very well, but it is a larger size mock cable swirly pattern.

Love the yarn. True Love Fiber!!


Grace got a birthday present in the mail from Jean, a couple of crafty kits to keep her busy this summer. She has started with the loom kit, remember those? I remember them.

We had fun creating this together:

She is very proud of her creation and wants to make more. And she wanted me to blog her craftiness. She apparently gets how important it is to document your creativity!

The most easy craft in the world

I've been crafty! OK. Here's how. Grab some cute silk flowers, some floral tape, a package of pens and set aside about 5 minutes of your time.

Cut the stem of the flowers about one inch down like is shown here.

Grab your pen, hold the flower up top and begin wrapping the flower and the ink pen with your floral tape.

Wrap the whole thing, carefully avoiding getting the floral tape stuck to the cat. If you look really closely, you will see that both of my kitties were helping me with this project. Grande is just camera shy after the last time she was pictured on this blog. Click here for the naughty details: http://yarnpaperscissors.blogspot.com/2007/12/naughty-new-year.html

Now, do the same thing with your whole package of pens and you will have a bouquet of flowers you can stick in a glass vase.

Now you won't ever wonder where you've left your pen!

Lots going, nothing finished

I was cruising along in sock land, when I was reading the Ancient Pathways group on Ravelry and it was mentioned that lots of our group had the Juno Regina stole in our queue, and we should do a knit - a - long.

No one had to twist my arm. Two days later, I have this:

I'm using Redfish silk in a fabulous green color. I got it two Stitches ago. I am doing the two ends at the same time on one circular, and then I will graft it together. Since I have two skeins, it was meant to be. Plus, I like the idea of having both come out identical. I don't enjoy tangles so much, so I may put one aside on a holder (Lisa's idea) once the lacy part at the end is done, then do the other, then graft. We'll see when I get there. That's the plan anyhow.

Anyway, sock guilt overcame me last night, so I picked up the Nutkin again and did a repeat or two just to say I did.

Oh, and just in case you think I had abandoned my My So Called Scarf, not to worry. I am at the end of skein one. I think two will be more than plenty, and I have three, so I need to decide if I want to make two or if I have something else destined for the third skein of this Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend that is too lovely to waste.

All three of these projects use lovely yarn that is a pleasure to work with. It is not so much knitting as yarn fondling. Yum!

Knitters and Nutkins

Now that I have a new charger and I'm back in laptop business, I need to update the universe on Worldwide Knit in Public Day, last Saturday. I was invited to join my new knitting pals from Ancient Pathways at Borders, where we sat and knitted for a few hours. Most of us were working on our socks from the KAL I'm doing at Ancient Pathways.

Lisa, her daughter Abby (who was reading "The Mitten" and also knitting at age 5), Angela (of TrueLove Fiber fame), and Janice (of French 75 fame) smiling for the camera.

I'm sure you noticed how I'm cozying up to the sock yarn dyers. I assure you my motives are pure, mostly, even though a skein just happened to jump into my knitting bag. The skein on the top is what I'm referring to, and the skein on the bottom is the one I had to take home with me last Tuesday. The ladies are actually very charming knitters, as are the rest of the Ancient Pathways gang. I'm having a REALLY good time joining them on Tuesday nights for this knit a long. I know I'm living on borrowed time since the schedule gets a little crazy during the school year, but for now I'm hooked.

Plus, I finished my first Nutkin sock! Tracy this morning at Knotty Knitters volunteered to be my sock model. I knit this sock per the pattern using the cuff I hadn't done before, and their short row heel, but I cheated and used my own regular toe. The sock is a quick knit, but it does twist a little. I also don't know if I like the cuff, it doesn't really hold the sock up. It does make a nice finished edge though.

Isn't the yarn pretty? Very Van Gogh. This is a True Love Fiber sock yarn, wool and tencel. Nice! Now for the second.

Stork's Nest Scarf

Finished the scarf - and blocked it too, using my blocking wires I bought awhile ago but had not broken in yet. They worked well, but boy, it takes a long time to thread each stitch onto them! I don't have patience for blocking apparently.

Specs - Stork's Nest Scarf by Nancy Bush, from Piecework Magazine. I need to subscribe to Piecework, I really like the historical articles and they always seem to have Nancy Bush patterns.

Next up - back to the scratchy Noro sock, and starting tomorrow I start a knit a long at Ancient Pathways. We are making the Nutkin sock. I'll post more about that later.

Giant Weekend

Look who popped back into the family--
Hey, we survived May!

At times, I was not so sure.

We capped off the "month o'craziness" with a trip to SF. Of course, you see the Blackberry is never more than inches away.

Recognize this?

We were here-

Although the game wasn't very good (lost big time), being there was fun and it was nice to get out of town.

Enjoyed some gelato-

and went yarn shopping. I was waiting to see if Imagiknit or Article Pract had the Rowan Pure Wool DK I was looking for. No luck. Although Article Pract said they could order it. Such a hard decision, support the LYS or save on tax and order online? Haven't decided yet.

I need to take photos of the yarn I did console myself with. I was actually good at finding yarn for Mom (Panda Silk in reds, perfectly her) and Carey (multicolored alpaca, perfectly her too). I did get a little tiny bit for me too. I have been contentedly knitting Stitches yarn for the past few months, and I didn't go crazy wild , but I did find some sock yarn....

Happy Birthday to Alexander - He's 13 !!

Grace turns 7 on Father's Day.

And Bella starts Puppy School tomorrow night. My babies are growing up!

Doughnuts!

In honor of national doughnut day, I felt it was my duty to pass along this link. You simply must check this out. And, while you're there, do some exploring. I just love this site.

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2008/06/felt_doughnuts_tutorial.html

Two four-letter words!

Lace!

Can you see some yarnovers in there? Such an easy pattern, amost as relaxing as straight stockinette.









Work!

A photo of me, with a bunch of cute kindergarteners at the first annual BOOKtastic day at our school. The best school ever, I might add. (Hi Kim!) Two more weeks of school, not that I'm counting or anything.
I was also tagged to do a meme, and if you want to read about me, click here.

Decisions, decisions

Can't decide between socks and lace?

Do both!

What's a little "startitis" between friends? I am trying out my Noro Kureyon Sock Yarn. Now if you don't know about Noro, it is this Japanese yarn that has fabulous color changes. Their yarn in my opinion is scratchy, even Silk Garden, which I used for my entrelac scarf. It even has bits of "organic matter" for good measure, mostly bits of hay I guess. I used Noro Kureyon worsted weight for my Chevron Scarf that has gotten lots of "hearts" on Ravelry, but it is so scratchy I have never even woven in the ends and worn it.

Anyway, the sock yarn is scratchier than ever. I can't believe it is supposed to be a sock that is worn on human skin. Why did I buy it? I guess I wondered what all the hype was about. Why am I knitting it? I don't really know. I have looked at all the projects with it on Ravelry and some people think it is great, and some don't. I guess I'm seeing for myself.

Then, just to shake up the sock production line a bit, I am using sock yarn (Pagewood Farms Yukon, color Navajo) to make the Stork's Nest Scarf by Nancy Bush from Piecework Magazine, issue Jan/Feb 2008. I haven't done lace in awhile, and it is fun. This is the first time I'm using sock yarn, so it will be a little more substantial than my normal Zephyr.

Anyway, I knew you would all be dying to know what I chose, so I thought I'd let you get back to wondering who the Bachelor chooses, if Kristi Yamaguchi can win Dancing, and which David wins American Idol. Too much suspense isn't good for the soul.

Time Warp Socks and Don't Sheep Get Hot?

Hey -- it finally happened. The entrelac socks are finished. I feel like I worked on them FOREVER. Two months. That's a long time in sock knitting land.

They are tight. Entrelac doesn't stretch well. But since I spent an eternity on them I will MAKE them fit. Of course, once they are on, I may be wearing them awhile since I can't get them off, and since it will be 102 degrees here today, I pried them on for a quick photo and then pried them back off. They can stay in the drawer for awhile.

I've gotten myself some new reading material. I finally got my copy of Irresistible Gifts to Knit from England (notice my chicken as cover girl?) and now want to make everything on every page.

Carey brought me two books (aren't sisters great!). One was a mother's day gift (although I am not her mother, so she scores extra) and the other a "here have this". Either way, I'll take it.

The Harlot book is of course, funny so far, and I like it better than her last one. The other book is knitting with fine gauge yarns, and they have some nice designs. Especially these legwarmers/leggings that have cables and are very pretty. I do not need legwarmers. It is 102 degrees. But they are nice. Anyone with cold legs out there? I need to stick to knitting chickens and such things one does not have to wear.

Next on the knitting agenda is to finish my scarf I have started and find something else to knit. Here is where the ADD kicks in. I spent some time this morning thinking "Oh, maybe I'll make a pair of socks with the Cherry Tree Hill that has been staring at me for a few weeks." Then I think I'll knit them plain, then I decide that's too boring, then I look at patterns on Ravelry awhile, then I think "Ooo, how about lace?" Then I go look at the yarn from Stitches, then I see my Socks That Rock, then the cycle repeats itself. Verdict, nothing. I have basically rotated the yarn a little.

I have learned from this so far is that Ravelry is the best thing ever. I need a Ravelry for every other thing in my life. Ravelry for Librarians, for moms, for cooks (not that I cook, but it would be handy). All the possibilities are right there in front of you, linked to everything. FABULOUS. Now if I could just make a decision.

My So Called Month of May

Quick update-

1. Socks are coming along at a snail's pace. I turned the heel on sock #2, and am coming up the leg. Not a lot of knitting time lately. Lots of distractions (remember the puppy?).

2. I'm all hot and bothered over the Kaffe Fassett cardigan in the new Vogue Knitting. Received part of the yarn. Haven't exactly ordered the rest. It calls for the background in Shamrock, but I'm thinking Black, so it is on hold until I'm in the shower and have a revelation. That's usually where they hit.

3. The sewing bug hit me a little. (Jean's fault) I found a cute pattern for a purse. I have now pulled out fabric and am letting that marinade in the brain.

4. While all that gets settled, I'm working on a "My So Called Scarf" in Manos Silk/Wool. The texture of this stitch pattern is amazing. If I set it down for more than a day I forget what I'm doing.

This is Stitches yarn, specifically door prize yarn. Three skeins, so it will be nice and long. Love it!

May is such a crazy month for everyone around here, if I can make it till the end I will be rewarded with a trip to SF for a Giants game and trip to my favorite LYS's. That's where I plan to look more closely at the Rowan Pure Wool DK that I need to get going on the cardigan. Big plans!

Meanwhile, entrelac awaits. These socks have been fun.

Meet Bella!

Look what we did this weekend!

Our first dog! A collie/border collie mix, 4 months old, named Bella.

I'm now a dog and a cat person.

Whoa.

Isn't she cute? Can I knit her a sweater?

We interrupt this knitting blog for some sewing

...not of my own free will. It was a "mommy" project, one that I used to enjoy but now that I am working and time is precious, sewing a costume is not something I look forward to. I read in the paper the other day that "sewing is the new knitting." That sounded to me like when you hear ____ is the new black, but that never really happens, black always rules. Likewise, knitting will always be better than sewing. No contest. Right?

It did turn out pretty nicely. Alex made a dashing "lord" for the medieval feast for school, complete with a jaunty hat with peacock feather, and doublet jacket that called for eleven buttons and button loops down the front. I did sew buttons on, but the time consuming loops were replaced with hidden velcro to hold it together.

He even looks good with his "lady" sitting at the feast rehearsal. The entire class had nice costumes, it was impressive. Although I don't think real medieval courts had so many jesters. Ha.
Good Things met at Tracy's the other day. She made herself a brown button tree, and had it on display. Nice.

We made two cute magnets for the frig out of the cardboard coasters that you get at bars. Carey did the dirty work of visiting all the bars to collect them. Ha again. Why doesn't my camera take good close up photos? Is it me?

Tracy did her usual fabulous job with dessert.

Now it is time to get back to business on the entrelac socks. My sock needs a sibling.

Oh, one last thing. Tracy got the socks. I think she knew that the minute she saw them. You couldn't ask for a better "knitting gift receiver." She knows just when to show them off, and she wears them proudly. Looks like this won't be the last time.

Just don't ask me to sew.

Blog Spring Cleaning!

It's time for a breath of fresh air for spring! I made a floral banner to lighten up the blog. Enjoy.

- Emily

Socks galore!

Now, don't fall over from shock that I am posting again. Miracles happen, especially when there are sock picture to post.




As promised, here are the finished Sauvie Island Socks -



Not too shabby. They were the most fun socks to make, and I could easily make more. I would substitute my own short row toe and heel and find a different bobble, but the fair isle parts were great. I can think of a lot of color combinations that would be awesome. Black and something would be fun.

Here is the up to the minute progress on the entrelac -



The foot looks very very long, but when it is on, it fits. I guess because it is not that stretchy width-wise. Anyway, I am liking it overall.



Today is the last day of Easter break! Back to real life tomorrow.

Aloha!

We just got home from a week full of knitting and not knitting.

I started the vacation in an airplane trying to remember Cat Bordhi's magic cast-on to start a pair of toe up socks. By the middle of the short flight to LA I had this -

Not exactly an entire toe, but a start. This was to blossom into an entrelac sock, pattern from Interweave Knits, Spring 2007 by Eunny Jang. I am using two colors of "Toe Jammies" one is Olive and the other a blue color that I forget the exact name. I bought them both at Stitches. Yay for knitting with Stitches yarn! Double yay for knitting backwards while doing entrelac!

I spent the week here --

looking at this from our room window (distracting me from knitting). We spent a lot of time by the beach/poolside, in which I was the only one it seems knitting a wool sock! Imagine that. Now, entrelac in the round is slow business, especially since I had never done it before, and I had the magazine close at hand pretty much all the time.

Here is the poolside shot of the sock in progress. By the flight home I was doing the short - row heel. No photo of that. Sorry. Now two days later I am only about two inches above the heel.

Our trip included a visit by the Easter Bunny to the beachside lawn, a little known perk of Easter in Hawaii is that you don't have to fill and hide your own eggs.

There are some other perks to spending Easter vacation in Hawaii, including getting to kiss a dolphin (and swim in dolphin-christened water, a fact they left out of the brochure.).

Now, in case you were wondering about the fair aisle socks I was working on, never fear. I have finished them, but they have yet to be photographed properly. More next time, including an updated photo of entrelac.

I haven't forgotten you blog

I have been turning this "door prize" yarn - won at Stitches at the student banquet- into the sock I first saw on a knitter named Peg two years ago when we went to see the Yarn Harlot in Los Altos. It is the Sauvie Island Sock from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. This is my first attempt at fair isle socks.



Verdict, love the sock. Hate the bobbles. The corrugated ribbing isn't stretchy enough and I can barely get it over my foot. But once it is on, it is a very cool-looking sock. Don't know how it fits into my wardrobe, but it is cool.



Of course, I have encountered little issues along the way. The biggest being that I am about to run out of the orange yarn. I then quickly consulted the internet and ordered a skein which is on its way to me. That turns the free socks into not-exactly free sock. Meanwhile, I am knitting along on the little ball I have left. I did the short row heel as the pattern said, but think I like Lucy Neatby's heel better. I'll try that one next time.

I also forgot to blog the pair of socks I started at Stitches as my "easy sock on the go" socks. These are made from Panda Wool, a bamboo/ wool blend in the Basil Curry colorway. I liked the yarn and the drape of it, excepting for that one knot! Argh. This pair was spoken for by my lovely sister, and since I really just knit them for the heck of it, sure, take them sister! Wear them in good health!

Now I know of a person or two which would like to put their name on the other pair, but I'm saving those for me I think. I'm a process knitter, but I do have my limits.