On Hold Socks

On December 31, 2009 I started knitting on these socks. I have been loving knitting some of the different socks from Wendy D. Johnson's "Socks from the Toe Up" book. I am totally hooked on knitting socks from the toe up now. I love knitting socks either from the top down or from the toe up, so I don't really have a prefrence as to which one way I like the best.

These socks were knit using Alchemy Juniper Soft Turqoise sock yarn. I cast on 13 stitches instead of 15 for the toe and then continued increasing until I had 33 stitches on both needles of my size 1 circular needles. I found this pattern to be fairly easy to knit after a while, so didn't have to refer back to the pattern too much, except when working on the heel turn. That area I alway have to look at in the book so as to make sure I'm doing it right.

The foot has 5 repeats + 4 rows before starting the gusset. The leg had 6 repeats + 8 rows before starting on the cuff. The cuff has only 10 rows (which equals in my knitting to 1 inch). The foot measures 10 inches and the leg measures 7 inches. These socks fit a size 9 Adult Ladies Socks.

Knitting 4 myself first in 2010

This year I decided I wanted to knit something for myself first, and socks were the first thing on my list. I really needed a new pair of socks to help keep my feet warm on the days when the temperature droped to 10 degrees above zero. I had a lot of left over Alchemy Juniper Sock Yarn and didn't know what to do with it, then the light bulb went off in my head. I could knit myself a pair of socks using up this left over yarn. Then I thought about whether I wanted to knit them from the top down or from the toe-up. I ended up deciding on knitting them from the toe-up using the Gusset Heel Basic Sock pattern in Wendy D. Johnson's Socks from the Toe Up. I then grabed my size 1 circular needles and started casting on.

I cast on using Alchemy Juniper Jade, then I changed colors every 21 rows, using Joshua Tree, Pine, Champagne, and Amethyst. When I finished these socks I wove in all the loose ends and washed them as they were a tiny bit baggy on my feet. Once they were washed and dried they fit perfectly on my feet and the yarn became very soft and supple. I just love my new socks!

http://www.simplysockyarn.typepad.com/

Now I just need to knit a few more things for myself.

Riverside Handwarmers

Today I started knitting on this project http://www.chiagu.com/knitting-patterns/handwarmers/. This pattern calls for 44 stitches for a small and I have increased it to 52 stitches. I'm using Alchemy Juniper Jade Sock Yarn for these handwarmers. Right now I only have 8 rows knitted so far. I still need to knit 22 more rows before I decrease for the thumb. I love that these handwarmers are simple for my first pair ever to knit. This pattern is fairly stretchy since its a k2, p2 stitch throughout the pattern. This will make it easy for putting on and taking off.

New at Spinning Ginny's

Handmade Vanilla Bean Sheep Goats Milk Soap

The bar is a large bar of approximately 4 oz of Vanilla Bean Goats Milk Soap. Each bar was individually poured into a Sheep Soap Mold. Then when cooled were individually wrapped to preserve the soap. Ingredients: Glycerin, Palm Oil, Coconut Oil, Lauric Acid; Purified Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sorbitol, Triethanolmaine, Sodium Chloride, Goats Milk Powder, EDTA, Titanium Dioxide, Vanilla Bean Fragrance Oil.

KySpindles Mare Spindle (Maple)

New on the Kentucky-made product front. The Mare weights between 1.4 and 1.8 oz. This spindle is very nicely balanced and spins for a good long time; and is finished satiny-smooth,a pleasure to spin with.

Knitting 4 myself first in 2010

I have read several blogs where more knitters are resolving to knit more for themselves this year. Some may find this very selfish, however, in this bloggers oppinion, I find that its about restocking my sock drawer with socks, while enjoying the knitting process, as well as reminding myself that I am worth keeping an item every now and again. Since I can appreciate the time, love and patience it takes to make one of these items, I'd like to gift myself with one of these items this year. Especially since all my other hand knitted socks are starting (after 3 1/2 years), to show signs of wear, and that my hubby took over my handwoven scarf.

I'm finding that I deserve something too!

So on Jan 2, I ordered some sock yarn from Simply Socks Yarn Company to knit myself some socks. I am really looking forward to knitting up myself a new pair of socks. I haven't decided on a pattern yet though. Although, I do have 3 different books to (More Sensational Knitted Socks, Socks from the Toe-Up, and Sock Inovation), choose from. I hope to also knit up a scarf from some of my handspun yarn to keep my neck warm when its only 8 degrees outside.

2009 Finished Projects

Its the beginning of a new and wonderful year. So here's my list of projects from 2009:

Tonks Toddler Socks Size 4

Tonks Toddler Socks Size 5

Dumbledore Toddler Socks Size 7

Draco Children's Socks Size 8

Ron Children's Socks Size 9

Harry Children's Socks Size 10

Harry and Ron Children's Socks Size 11

Baby Blanket

Pear Dish Cloth

Lighthouse Dish Cloth

Warren's Basic Socks

Crocheted Shawl

Intertwining Leaf Socks

Pink/Peach Merino Beaded Scarf

Patrica's Basic Socks

Anastasia Socks

Berlin Muster Socks

Puss & Boots Socks

Diagional Lace Socks

Lacy Rib Socks

Dead Simple Lace Socks

Tic-Tac-Toe-Up Socks

Tony's Socks

Butterfly Socks

Snowy Night Gansey Stocking

Toe-up Socks with Gusset Heel

Tri-Loom Shawl

So that's 29 projects in all. Here is the break down: 4 pairs of size 4 Toddler socks, 4 pairs of size 5 Toddler socks, 4 pairs of size 7 Toddler socks, 4 pairs of size 8 Children's socks, 4 pairs of size 9 Children's socks, 4 pairs of size 10 Children's socks, 4 pairs of size 11 Children's socks, 1 baby blanket, 4 pear dish cloths, 4 lighthouse dish cloths, 2 pairs of men's socks, 1 crocheted shawl, 1 beaded scarf, 12 pairs of Ladies socks, 2 stockings, 1 woven shawl. Not bad for a years worth of knitting, crocheting and weaving! I can't wait to see what will go on my needles, hooks and looms in 2010.

Happy 2010!

2009 was a year filled with many blessings and some disappointments. For my own part I am looking forward to 2010 with the hope that it will have far more blessings then disappointments. I am looking forward to spinning more yarn, weaving more products, knitting more products, and making more soap. I am even looking forward to adding new yarns, drop spindles etc to my store.

As my little spinning business grows, I really want to reach out to all you guys all the more and give you many more products for you to look at. Thank you all so much! I hope you all have a wonderful New Year!