Alpha and Omega

Did you hear the wagon creaking? I had tried unsuccessfully with different yarn before, but I just jumped on the Monkey bandwagon (again) and knit up my first pair:

The yarn is Apple Laine, Apple Pie sock yarn in the Sunrise colorway from The Loopy Ewe . They are gorgeous and fit like a dream. I only did 4 repeats for the leg and I changed the heel to the slip stitch version. I am addicted and started a new one already, but I am trying a picot edge for that one.

So, for the contest that Quiddity is having, here is a picture of my first and last socks. The first socks are the brown, orange and green stripey ones that I knit last May/June (I think). The pink pair are Cookie A's Twisted Flower socks in STR lightweight, colorway Lover's Leap or Lane--the pair I finished just before the Monkeys and then the Monkeys. My first socks were on two circulars from the toe up in a Knit Picks yarn that I don't remember the name of. I also did an afterthought heel, one of which unraveled the 2nd time I wore them. Needless to say, I've come a long way baby! I know now that I like to knit on DPNs (bamboo preferably) and I am pickier about which yarns I like to knit. For first socks, though, not too shabby, huh?


And I leave you all with a picture of an orchid flower that I managed not to kill. When my parents retired and moved from Minnesota to Florida, my Mom gave my a bunch of their orchids. I have only killed one (out of 4) I think from underwatering. But I know how to take care of them now and love having them around. Pretty, no?

Peapods and skeins

I finally finished the Peapod sweater (pattern from Interweave knits-by Kate Gilbert) for my niece...it is made from Plymouth Suri Alpaca and I did it on US size 5 needles in the largest size. I love the buttons (which are more cranberry than pink in real life).


Here is a picture of Kira in Galena, IL--my brother and his wife attended a wedding there and I was brought along to babysit. Isn't she cutie pie? We didn't bring the sweater with us, but I will make my brother or SIL take a pic when I send it to them.


Here is the view from our balcony of Lake Galena (I think that is the name of the lake):


On Saturday, we all had some free time and we went into the town of Galena (I think the birthplace of Ulysses S Grant?) and I found a very nice yarn shop called Fiber Wild. There, I got some sock yarn raised by a local woman named Suzy (the shepherdess). I can't figure out how to do hyperlinks on blogger from Safari, so here is her url: www.SuzyBeggin.com. The yarn is 50 g and is 235 yards. The color is achieved by mixing white, black, brown and gray sheep! Very cool.


I also got my loopy ewe order in...from left to right is: Zen String Bambewe fingering in Tramanto, Spritely Goods in Windblown Mallow, Perchance to Knit sock in Hedera Helix, and last but not least, Shibui Knits in Autumn. I was very disappointed that ALL the Wollmeise was gone in just TWO hours, but hopefully I will be lucky next time!

Good ol' Yarny Goodness

I had gotten some yarn from the Loopy Ewe (thanks Sheri!) I hadn't posted...from left to right is Woolly Boully in Luna Moth, Duet in Cowgirl, Perchance to Knit Lace (yummy silk and wool) in Wildflower (anyone notice how GOOD her yarn smells????), Interlacements Tiny Toes in Tapestry and Misty Mountain Farm Jubilee in Toucan.

Here is a beauty shot of the yarn in a basket:

And here are some socks I knit up in Interlacements Tiny Toes color 203 (I forget the name). The pattern is from Favorite Socks and is the Diagonal Cross Rib Socks

And a closeup of the detail:


I just placed another order but the Wollmeise was already all gone. And I was saving my $25 credit for those. Oh well, maybe I'll get some next time Sheri sneaks them in!

Goodbye Madeleine L'Engle

I am very sad that one of my favorite authors Madeleine L'Engle has passed away this past weekend. She was my introduction to science fiction and one of my most treasured items is a book that she signed when she spoke at Wellesley. I love both her children's and adult fiction.

On a more fun note, I went to the website for The Golden Compass (another great book and series by Philip Pullman) and created my deamon:



Pretty cool!

Ravelry

I just signed up for Ravelry...I am 30,510th in line, 19,146 people are in front of me. Since I signed up this morning (about 2 hours ago) 6 others have signed up.

*SIGH*

But I did join Flickr and am having fun looking at pictures there!

UFOs

Here are some things I am working on...

This is the peapod sweater by Kate Gilbert (free from interweave if you belong to knitting daily). I am making this for my niece (1 year old).

Here is some detail of the peapod lace.


I am also working on Anne Hanson's Bee Fields Shawl. I am using merino laceweight in Tupelo Gold from Wooly Wonka Fibers.


Here is some detail of the beehive portion.


I am knitting up a storm these days! So many projects, so little time...