Sock # 1 is done! It is not perfect, and it was a bruise-braining process, but not only do I have one sock done, it actually fits my foot!

Now onto sock #2!

FYI: HO = Half-Finished Object

I’m attempting another knit along. This one is run by the Knitbulls Podcast and requires making socks using self-striping yarn. Of course, there is no way in the world that my knitting skills are up to the level required for socks, but I checked with Diane (aka knitbulls), and she said it was okay to crochet sock. As a native Floridian, I have to admit that socks are not a huge part of my life. When I’m home, I’m usually barefoot. When I’m out and about, I’m usually wearing sandals or flip flops. However, at night when the AC is cranking I do tend to wear socks at least for part of the evening.

Pictured is what I have so far on my first pair. This is actually my second attempt because the first pattern I tried to do was like reading Chinese. I really could not figure out what the heck the instructions were trying to tell me to do! Both the pattern I’m using now and the other I tried are from a book I got during the 50% off sale at Knitpicks. It’s called Learn to Crochet Socks for the Family. There are 15 patterns in this book, and all are at the intermediate level. That sort of tells you something: there is no such thing as an “easy” sock pattern.

The KAL deadline is mid-October, so hopefully, I can continue to have some success with this other pattern and get these made in time. Most of the stitches are single crochet, working in the round, so it’s fairly fast once I figure out what I’m supposed to do.

Oh, and notice the cute little owl project bag? I got that from Freshstitches. It is probably one of the smallest project bags I have, but it is perfect for socks, and I love the little owl pin.

Here is an update on my Cascade shawl: it is now an obsession! I am determined to get this finished by the end of the month. Now whether that will actually happen or not is hard to say. I’m just a smidgen from the halfway point. I started this on 8/26/12, and it was a casual project for awhile. But then I started thinking of all the CAL/KALs on Ravelry that are allowing double dipping (Dramatic Knits, Positive Knitting, Knitty Knatter, Knit Me Happy, and so on), and this urged me on to get this puppy done by the end of September. Plus this would mean one more Christmas gift will be done.

Nicole from the Positively Knitting podcast is running a “Sacred Skein Craft Along.” By “sacred” she is talking about skeins of yarn that we horde because they are too good to use or you are looking for that perfect almighty pattern before you break it open. This happens to crafters in general. I used to be really bad about buying gorgeous beads and then not using them because I was afraid the finished piece would not do them justice. I think I have gotten much better about not hording the good stuff when it comes to my craft projects, but I still felt the urge to participate in Nicole’s craft along.

Pictured is my progress so far on the Cascading Stylish Shawl pattern by Michelle B. of MyDailyFiber.com. It is a $1.99 pattern available through Ravelry.com. She uses Wisdom Yarns Poems Sock yarn, which is fingering-weight. So I decided to crack open my fingering-weight Chroma yarn in the Guppy colorway. I’m loving it so far. I think this is going to be a gift, but we will see if I am able to part with it when I’m done. The total finished length is 68 inches, and I’ve only got 9 inches done, which means there is a good chance I won’t finish this by the end of the month and be able to submit to Nicole’s craft along. However, her idea did urge me to get started on this and use this yarn that I have admittedly waited to use until I found this perfect pattern.

School is starting back for fall, so my summer productivity when it comes to my fiber fun will probably start to slow down considerably. I have a few projects I’ve really wanted to start, but before I do, I have the following to finish. I just can’t stand not finishing something, and if I have too much started, I start to lose focus and actually get a little anxious.

First, I have another knitted wash cloth. This one I’m doing all in purl stitch, and it is a little holy here and there, but I’m keeping at it. Since taking this photo, I’ve made more progress. I’m a little past the halfway point. I definitely like knit better than purl stitch, and my purl gauge is really super loose.

I’m also working on a shawl. I started this back in early July and almost frogged it a few time because I wasn’t falling in love with it, but after making more progress on it, I’m starting to like how it is coming out. I’m using The Windsor Lace Wrap pattern, Chroma yarn fingering weight in a colorway called Fossil, and a G hook.



Next is a pair of fingerless gloves I’m making as a gift for a friend who loves red. I really hope to get these finished this week because I have tons more of these to make for holiday gifts. I may even give these to her early. I’m using an F size hook and a KnitPicks sock yarn called Cochineal Felici.



Finally, this afghan is also going to be a gift. It is my evening crochet project because there is no pattern to read, just all double crochet. I’m holding two strands together of Bernat Baby Soft purple yarn and an N size hook. I plan to alternate with sections of yellow yarn as well. I’m trying to use up some of my baby yarn stash. For some reason, I have a ton of purple.

Like an Olympic hurdler who hit too many hurdles, my Ravellenics’ dream of making a four foot knitted rib scarf has crashed and burned. I now call this project the Scarf from Hell because it looks like a cat swallowed it and hacked it up a few days later.

My original intent of going to the end of the four feet no matter what without stopping and frogging just could not be realized. At one point, I had the hole the size of the Grand Canyon and wacky loops hanging off. In my ignorance, I thought I could fit it by just frogging a few rows.

Um…yeah..um…that did not work. Somehow I didn’t get the cast on back onto the needles correctly, and my knit, purl, knit, purls turned into knit, knit, purl, knit, what? purl, purl, what?

So then my thoughts were that I will do a few rows of knit stitch and then start back over with ribbing. Of course, I didn’t think about the fact that knitting stitch would be much wider than ribbing.

I’m thinking now that ribbing just does not like me.

Today I had a chance to catch up with a friend I haven’t seen in years. Neither of us are mall people, and both of us are crafty types. So we agreed to make a trip to a downtown area, stroll down the streets, stop by a few boutiques, and do lunch. We had a great time, even though, sad to say, the downtown is obviously struggling since there were many empty shops.

One shop that is thankfully still open is a bead store that I would estimate has been there now for around 10 years. It is really a beautiful store, well-lite, colorful beads and awesome and sparkly finished jewelry everywhere. However, as usual when I visit this place, I have a little sticker shock. I had the idea to buy some size 6 beads for doing some bead crochet. Normally, I’ve bought these in 40 gram tubes. I buy them on-line, and I have gone to a few retail bead shows over the years.

I was thinking of doing a bead crochet rope, which meant I would need a fair amount of beads. I figured that I needed at least two 40 gram tubes. Ah, yes, well….20 gram bags of size 6 beads were going for seven to eight dollars each. I just could not bring myself to buy them. Yes, I know the owner has rent, electric, insurance, and so many other overhead costs. All of this went through my mind while I was looking at all the fabulous beads in the store. And, I did not walk out empty handed. I spent a little over $20 and got a few small strands of Czech beads (which are working for my crochet jewelry experiment so far), two foil lined glass beads, and a few collapsible twisted needles.

My tiny bag of beads fit easily into my purse, and after my friend made her purchase as well, we were off to do more exploring. I’m happy with my purchase. I plan to make a simple pair of earrings with the larger beads, and hopefully, some kind of cool crochet necklace with the others. I know, too, that the high prices have probably helped to ensure that this shop is still open when so many other small shops and boutiques in the same area are now gone. I wish I was able to just buy any bead I wanted no matter the cost, but I can’t.

Luckily, the shop has somehow found a clientele to support it on a regular basis. It was pretty quiet downtown, no big surprise since it was August in Florida and at least 90 degrees. My friend and I are both Florida natives, so we are crazy enough to handle the heat. I suspect normal customers for this LBS are what we call “snow birds” down here. They have winter homes on one of the islands and only live down here from around January to April. They probably stop by and take a few beading classes and don’t have to really concern themselves with cost that much. Maybe they are the type that really have to see the beads before they feel okay buying them. I’m not sure. I am happy to still see this shop open, but wow, I am also very grateful that I know of lots of on-line vendors that I can afford to shop at as well.

Yeah for me! I’ve made it past the first foot on my scarf for Ravellenics! I have about three more feet to go!

After finishing a knitting scarf kit recently, I have not cast on any other knitting yet. Though, I do plan on tackling a ribbed scarf again soon. I’m going back and forth on the size needles and yarn to use for that. My cross stitch is hibernating right now. However, I do have a few things on my hooks, two of which are fairly large projects though not necessarily difficult to do.

I’m probably about half way done with this ripple shawl. I’m loving the jewel tones of the yarn. I normally work on this a little in the evenings if there is enough light. Hubby likes to watch TV in a cave.

I should have this monster toy finished this weekend. It will then ship off with a frog and another monster next week if all goes as planned. The monster above is from a pattern by Stacey Trock called Mr. Toothy.



Finally, here is another shawl I’m working on using Chroma yarn fingering weight in a colorway called Fossil. The pattern is called the Windsor Lace Wrap, and it’s a free download on Ravelry. Once I finish this, I will probably put it in my office at school so I have something neutral colored but handy for the occasional AC getting too cold.

I am having some major success with my second attempt (see first attempt here) at making a pair of fingerless gloves for guys. This time, I’m using a G size hook instead of an F size, and they are coming out better and are way easier to stitch too. I’m using a colorway called Taffy, which is a mix of dark blues and a little brown, and the yarn is again Sock-Ease from Lion Brand.

I have one finished and one on the hook. Life is getting busier now that summer school has started for me, but I’m hoping to finish this next pair in the next week or so.