Mandi Knits

After a very slow start, I’m finally making progress for the Summer of Socks ‘08 KAL.

I finished my Nanner Socks yesterday.

Summer of Socks ‘08 - Sock # 1
Pattern: Nanner Socks by Wendy Johnson (of Wendy Knits)
Yarn: ShibuiKnits Sock in “Jonquil”
Needles: two US size 1 circulars

I’ve discovered (*gasp*) that I’m really enjoying knitting toe-up socks.  I’ve always preferred cuff-down, till this pair.  What made the difference?  Judy’s Magic Cast-On.

In the past when I’ve done toe-up socks, I’ve always done the figure-8 cast on, and my stitches were so tight that I could barely knit them, and usually they’d start falling off the needles while I was attempting to knit that first row.  Judy’s Magic Cast-On made all the difference.  It’s just so darn clever!  And easy!  (Two of my favorite things.)

I decided to stick with toe-up for a while and do another of Wendy’s patterns.  I actually have a rather large stash of her patterns because I tend to impulse-buy them from The Loopy Ewe.  (Hehe.)

So this morning as I was getting ready for work, I flipped through my 3-ring binder of sock patterns, and I picked the Loopy Laces pattern to knit.  I cast on for it during my lunch hour, using two size 1 circulars and Claudia Handpaints yarn in “Peppermint Mocha”…

Tags: Socks, Summer of Socks '08 // Add Comment »

Happy Independence Day!  I hope you all had a lovely, relaxing holiday.

I had a very quiet day.  My husband worked today, so it was just me and the fuzz-butts hanging out around the houe.  Spent the morning and early afternoon knitting and watching trashy TV.

I finished my first Nanner Sock!  I love it.  I cast on the second one tonight.

I’m really, really itching to cast on a baby sweater though.  I bought this yarn a week or two back at my LYS and it just does not want to live in my stash — it wants to be on the needles now.  It comes with two baby sweater patterns, a pullover and a cardigan, and duckie buttons.  Seriously.  Duckie buttons.  Now you see why I want to knit with it RIGHT NOW.  I’m trying to force myself to finish the second Nanner sock before I start on this though.

Also, I wanted to point out Zero’s Etsy shop.  It was mentioned on the latest episode of Lime & Violet, and when I heard them mention freshwater pearls, I went there to browse.  OH MY GOSH, ya’ll.  If you love freshwater pearls like I do, you need to go check these out.  They’re beautiful.  I ordered two sets.  I also love her shop because she will switch out the size of the ring on the marker for you at no additional cost.  You can get them to fit up to US size 2, 6, 9, or 13 needles.

Anyway, hope you all have a relaxing holiday weekend with lots of picnics and free time to knit! 

Tags: Shopping, Socks, Summer of Socks '08 // Add Comment »

I’ve been bad about doing these, so I guess I better start!  This week’s Secret Pal 12 questions are:

1) What yarn (that you don’t have/haven’t used) would make your stash “complete”?

I’d love to try Hazel Knits.  I’ve had their Etsy shop bookmarked for quite some time and keep meaning to buy some.  I think Sheri at The Loopy Ewe said she’s going to start stocking it, so maybe I’ll order some then.  I’d also like to try Koigu one of these days.  Also Sanguine Gryphon and The Dyeing Arts, because I’ve spun rovings from both of those dyers (and love them!), but have yet to try their yarns.

2) What yarn do you never want to be without?

How do I narrow it down!?  Of course, I love my Wollmeise.  (As Miss V. says, it’s a collection, not stash.)  I also have recently begun a love-affair with Malabrigo (both the worsted and the lace, and I can’t wait for their sock yarn to become available).  Plymouth Encore Worsted is one of my favorites because it wears so well and comes in so many colors.  (I used it to knit my Harry Potter scarf, which is the best scarf ever!!)

LOOK!  I haz Nanners!

Pattern: Nanner Socks by Wendy Johnson of Wendy Knits
Yarn: ShibuiKnits Sock in “Jonquil” (2 skeins)
Needles: two KnitPicks US size 1 circulars (one 16″, one 24″)

Ok, well really I have the beginnings of Nanners.  This actually marks my first pair of socks cast on for Summer of Socks — only several weeks behind.  *ahem*

This is actually my first time knitting one of Wendy’s patterns, though I have almost a dozen of her patterns in my stash.  I’ve been avoiding them because I’m a bit intimidated by toe-up socks.  But now that I’ve started knitting this one, I don’t want to knit anything but her patterns!  I’m also really enjoying the Shibui yarn, which is new to me.  It has a nice twist to it (but is still very soft) and has great stitch definition.  I will definitely add more of it to my stash once I knit some of the rest down.

Finally, I have to tell ya’ll (’cause I’m SO excited) … I’m going home!  I got the time off from work approved this morning and booked my flight.  I’m going home for an entire week next month.  I’m so thrilled.  My grandparents aren’t doing very well, and I just feel like home is where I need to be, if only for a week.  I can’t even tell you how much I’m looking forward to it.  Trust me, if it wasn’t a big deal, there’s no way you’d get me on a plane again.  I’m not fond of flying.  I’m staying focused on the fact that the flight and layover time (in Detroit) will give me plenty of uninterrupted knitting time.  So now I need to plan what knitting I’m going to pack…

Tags: Secret Pal 12, Socks, Summer of Socks '08 // 1 Comment »

It’s so hard to believe that it’s already July.  Being that it’s the first of the month though, you know what that means…

Yup, it’s time for Jimmy Bean’s Wool to put up the new limited edition Lorna’s Laces color for the month!  I already ordered 2 skeins of the July 2008 color, “Fireworks”, in this morning.

I’m such a sucker for those limited edition colors.  I have 2 skeins of Shepherd Sock in every color since January this year.  (You can see all the limited edition colors here.)  Have I knit a single darn skein of it yet?  No…  I know, I’m bad.  But it’s all so pretty!  And Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock is really lovely yarn.

AND a very special delivery arrived today, all the way from the Wollmeise herself, Claudia, in Germany…

The four skeins on the left (2 Sonne, Dornröschen and Red Hot Chili) are ones I’m keeping.  (I think Sonne will be a shawl!)  The four skeins on the right (Campari Orange, Indisch Rot, Birkenrinde and Vincent are gifts for my mom.  I’m working on (hopefully) planning a trip home, and I can’t wait to give them to her!

Tags: Yarn // 2 Comments »

I’ll be teaching a knitting class for the very first time tonight.  I’m extremely excited and a little nervous.

I’m teaching a very simple baby sock pattern that I designed.  I’m calling it “Quick Wick Baby Socks” because they’re fast to knit and they’re made from Knit One, Crochet Too’s Wick yarn.  I’m going to be using this simple pattern to teach the technique for knitting socks two at a time on two circular needles.

I’ve assisted with classes teaching this technique in the past, but this is the first time I’ll be running the show.  I just hope I can answer everyone’s questions and that everyone will learn a lot!  We’re doing the class in two parts, so my goal for tonight is to get the students cast on and knit the cuff, ankle, and heel flap.  I’m going to wait till our second class for the most complicated part: turning the heels and picking up the gussets.  I think that will be a good way to break up the class.

And just in case I stink as a knitting-teacher, I’m bringing along some good old fashioned bribery: cupcakes.  I baked them last night and man are they yummy (Nick and I had to sample a couple).  I made them using my mom’s “No-No” cake recipe and topped them with homemade buttercream frosting and red, white, and blue sprinkles.  I thought it would be fun being that our Independence Day holiday weekend is coming up soon.

Anyway, wish me luck.  Hopefully I don’t arse anything up. ;)  And if I do, I hope my students like chocolate enough to overlook it… heh.

Tags: Teaching // 3 Comments »