WWKIP Belated Update

I hope most people got out to knit in public back on
JUNE 14. There were 13 locations in my state alone of
Massachusetts...It's an annual event and so much fun.
I brought 2 girlfriends with me and we chose a spot
closer to our house in Bellingham, Mass....
we were a small gathering, but
I knew no one there and met some really lovely people
and made some great new knitting friends...
The weather was perfect and we were located on a town
green complete with bandstand with nearby (across the
street) coffee shop and bathroom.
http://www.wwkipday.com/






The whole event was put on by a wonderful "LLL" from Ravelry
"Lovely, lively, lady" who brought a tent all decorated with knitting
items to help attract potential knitters over to our spot.

Thanks Mimi for all your organization of a great event...we'll be
back next year!

52 Pair Plunge Sock Update...
knitting fast and furious...finished Campfire Socks by Cider Moon. Absolutely
loved this pattern...





Had leftover yarn so made a little boy's hat. Used a
brand new cast on for this hat...The Stretchy cast on done with a crochet hook
and knitting needle, perfect for kid's projects that require lasting stretching.
see Utube for how to do this by Scarletzebra.com....she explains it perfectly!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAaOQb03wec&feature=related
Had leftover yarn still, so made a pompom using all the colors that were in
the socks for the pompom for hat. Another great charity project.



and of course had more yarn left...so started a rug on the style of
braided rugs, but using soft cording I bought at a local upholstery department
and a crochet hook. Since the sock yarn is lighter weight...I crocheted it
double stranded. Plan to keep adding to my rug as I finish up sock pairs...
and so far I am using up each skein to the very end with no leftover thanks to
all these cool side projects that use just the scraps.



The coiled rug pattern can be found in Knit Simple Magazine Spring/Summer 2008 issue.
The cute baby hat is from http://www.knitfoundry.com
The Pom Pom how to is from http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/tips/pompom.htm

A Tribute To Brenda Dayne

Anyone familiar with knitting podcasts has probably heard of "Cast On"
a very popular podcast with fellow knitters. Well at the end of every
podcast, Brenda always closes off her podcast by saying, "And remember,
If you are cold...put on a sweater, that's what they are for."
She is always so supportive and encouraging to knitters to try and knit a sweater...and though I have tried and tried in the past to make a sweater...
I always got stuck somewhere...mostly at the seaming point,
or I ran out of yarn, or the sizing was wrong...but this time I persevered
and with a lot of help from my knitting guild friends I was able to seam,
do a button band, and collar, and amazingly the finished product
really fit me just right and I love it....so thanks to all of my friends
who helped me particularly with the button band, and especially
to Brenda for your monthly words of wisdom and encouragement...
and if I can do it then I think anyone can successfully knit
themselves a sweater too! I live in New England, a sometimes very cold
place, where I will put on my new sweater, that I made because that's what
it's for...Thank you Brenda.







Also some improved photos (or at least not scrunched into my scanner!) of the blueberry picking time socks I just created for the 52 Pair Plunge II KAL
on Ravelry right now... and my very first toe-ups...hurrah!

Blueberry Picking Time Socks

Hi, it's been such a long time since my last blogging...
and so many things to share...between me working almost
every day, and the weather being mostly overcast or rainy
(so no photos)...it's hard to share all my new knitting...
I have to admit I love, love, love the 52 Pair Plunge challenge...
it is a little nutty knitting so many socks...
but the way I approached it, has made ALL the difference!
I am trying hard to make new patterns, and have a huge list of
techniques I hope to accomplish before I reach either my 52nd
pair or the time I finally call it quits and raise my little white
flag (knitted of course).
My knitting want list for socks is to knit first ever toe-ups,
socks on circulars, two at a time socks,
cable socks, lace socks, round toes, other toes, assorted
heels, my own original sock pattern, and as many cast-on's and off's
I can come up with.
And so far....I am thrilled....the very best part is I now just pick
a skein of yarn from my STASH, and go to Ravelry and see which socks are
possible...and once the sock is finished...the new rule is to use up
every last scrap of that yarn before going to the next sock...
So another great feature of this challenge is that I have turned it
into an AWESOME STASH BUSTER as well....
photos as soon as rain stops of things to do with leftover sock yarn...
But for starters...I have started the Babette Blanket, a Crochet project,
and also a braided rug (GREAT for sock yarn), another crochet project...as
well as baby socks and baby hats. (all to charity of course)
Today's sock...since it's blue scrap yarn, which is blueberry colored, and it's
now July and Blueberry picking time here in Massachusetts...I did as my first
ever toe-up sock...yee haw! this is my second attempt and it WORKED!
when I got to the leg of sock, I thought I can knit whatever I want...so I did
a bobble blueberry motif with leaves and named it the Blueberry picking time socks.
I did a lace cast off, as they were my first toe-ups and really did not have
a clue as to how people go about casting off for these.
No good photos unfortunately...my usual squish the finished product
into my scanner and hope for the best.
If tomorrow is sunny...will photo sock and other 4 pairs and my finished
sweater tribute to Brenda Dayne.