"Once more with feeling!"

One of our local craft stores is going out of business later this spring. I am sad about this and have been stopping in to pick up a skein of sock yarn here and there while I still can. What I loved about this yarn store was the huge selection of yarns! They carried yarns from most of the big companies, but also many local Wisconsin producers and small batch dyers too.

This is "Once More with Feeling" by Brew City Yarns, knit up in the Hermione Everyday Socks pattern.

As you can see, I was still working this sock with DPN's - maybe I'll give the second sock a try with two circulars?

From the toe up

One of my New Years resolutions was to learn how to knit a sock from the toe up (with a bonus of learning how to knit a sock using two circular needles). I'm proud to report that I have tackled this project and also learned Judy's magic cast-on.

This book has been a huge help, and I am following the ribbed ribbon lace pattern for this first pair. The yarn is "The Upside Down" by Leading Men Fiber Arts - I love that I am learning how to knit this pair of socks "upside down!"

I have been playing around with different circular needle lengths too - I found 9-inch to be too short, 16-inch to be comfortable, but a bit unwieldy, and 12-inch to be about perfect. I am enjoying these 12-inch driftwood needles by Lykke for the time being.

Wings Cowl

What a labor of love! But I adore this Wing Cowl.

The question remains about whether to block it - is is super-cozy as is and think that I will give it a trial run this winter without blocking. I adore the colors; far out of my comfort zone.

Socks for Daughter #1

I started these back in the fall and finished one sock. I had just completed the first cable sock for my husband and needed a quick break. But that meant that the second sock waited until I finished the second cabled sock.

But not matter - I finished it up today while waiting at the orthodontist for the twins to have their braces tightened.

I love these socks. They are simple, colorful, and the distribution of the blues is perfect, IMO.

My three oldest girls (all whose feet have likely stopped growing) now have teenage-appropriate socks.

Socks for Daughter #3

This pair came together quickly and have been on her feet ever since. Time to get them in the wash though...hand knit socks and 5th grade gym class don't make the best companions.

Socks for the Stocking

Here's the start of the holiday socks for my husband. Some lovely cables with a grey super wash yarn from KnitPicks. They are a bit on a thick side for socks, but he's going to love them!

FINISHED!

Owl Mittens

A fun WIP that I will get back to someday this winter...

New Sock Yarns

It's that time of year again. On the needles are a new pair for my husband, with a pair for my 11yo in the queue. She picked the cream yarn with black flecks. She said, "I wonder if it will look like a piece of music when it's all knit up?" What a cool question.

Ball Winder

In the late winter I got myself a knitting present! While I still prefer the look of a hand wound ball of yarn, this sure gets the job done quickly and with less stress on my hands.

Drachenfels Shawl

And just in time for the really cold weather, I finished off this shawl.  It is thick, cozy and super functional.  It took a long time to knit up, but I am glad that I stuck it out.  Thanks to Craftsy for a fun kit and lovely yarn!

Longstocking Monkeys

And a cozy new pair of socks for me to welcome the cooler fall Wisconsin weather.

Hats: Flower + Moose

Somehow Daughter #3 lucked out with two new hats this summer - the first is the Wildflowers Cap.  This was made from a cute kit by Barrett Wool Co. The hat knit up small, but fits my 10yo perfectly. 

The other hat pattern was the Moose Hat by Sisu Designs that I purchased during a quick stop at Sisu Designs Yarn Shop while on vacation in Ely, MN.  What a fantastic store and owner.

The hat fits me quite well, but it was made for my 10yo (she picked it out at the store, along with the yarn and colors), so we'll block it and line it with a bit of polar fleece.  What a great trip memory and project.

(2.5) of (4) French Hens

These adorable french hens are staring to populate our house.  I've completed 2.5 and have them on hold for a bit.  I just might need to give myself until the holidays to finish the last two - wouldn't they make perfect stuffers, though?

Each of my daughters is getting one that is unique, but using the same three colors.  They are just adorable.  Yarn is from my stash; pattern is by Susan B. Anderson, published in Taproot Magazine.

Mind the Gap!

Finished up with just enough time to still wear them a couple times - a pair of fantastically colorful socks.  The pattern is the basic sock (7sts/inch) by Ann Budd.  I knit these a bit on the snug side, just because.

The yarn is a specially dyed, self-striping, fingering weight nylon/wool blend by Trailing Clouds.  It was specially ordered and delivered to me in a matter of days.  Global commerce is incredible.

The colorway is inspired by the 12 colors of the London Underground.  It reminded me of my trip there in January 2009.

Night Creatures

For my birthday my girls gave me some yarn to make these fantastic Night Creatures mittens.  I was inspired by one of the color combinations I saw in ravelry and went for it with a great red accent.

The pattern calls for a knit lining, but I've had pretty good luck with upcycled mittens and decided to make a quick cashmere lining instead.

I made a quick trace of the mittens, machine sewed them to fit my hand, pinked the edges and then hand sewed them in place. 

Sweater Ornaments

I decided to challenge myself to make one sweater ornament per week for the next year.  I am considering participating in a small neighborhood maker fair with some friends and this would be the base of what I would offer.  I've got plenty of sock-weight yarn around the house so my supply is well-stocked.  At about 2.5 hours per sweater I am hopeful I will be able to find the time each week.

Purple Kale

 

My Mom got a gift certificate to a local yarn store for the holidays, but she doesn't really knit.  So we made an exchange of sorts and I decided to pick out some yarn she would like and knit her a pair of socks.  The colorway is 'purple kale' and they are knitting up pretty funky so far!