It's madness!

So a friend convinced me to sign up for Sock Madness (I have no idea what I was thinking when I agreed to it). The first pattern was released yesterday, and I got this much done:

I'm plugging away. Some people are already done! Yikes!

Oh, and Tuesday was my last day at work. I'm spending time on my resume and on applying for things, but I do have more time than usual for sock knitting ;)

Easy come, easy go

So a few days after my last post, I found out that I'll be losing the job I've had for the past 8 years. My company is closing down the business unit I work in. I don't know yet when my last day is going to be, or any other details, but it's very sad. Yes for the money, but even more so for my sense of identity and losing the experience of working with such a great bunch of people. As of now everyone is really wanting to keep in touch with each other - I hope that sticks.

I suspect you will see fewer stash acquisitions around here for awhile, but possibly more knitting projects.

Anyway, keep your fingers crossed, eh? ;)

Spoiled

Spoiled is the only word I can think of for myself tonight.

I did a little order to support Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm and got this:


And inside was this:

Nice supersoft sportweight in Lilac. It's a fairly heavy sportweight too. Haven't decided what to make with it yet. It is so soft and I can tell it is not the tiniest bit itchy.

Also, my Loopy Swap package arrived today!

Before Unwrapping:



After unwrapping:

Entangled Stitches gloves, Reeses hearts, a sock blocker keychain, and 3 glorious yarns: CASBAH in ultraviolet, too-beautiful-for-words handspun, and Wollmeise in Rittersporn. LOVE.


Modeled shot of a glove ;)

Thank you so much Rebecca! You're the best :)

BFF Socks

Pattern: BFF socks by Cookie A.
Needles: Size 1.5 Knitpicks circulars
Yarn: Noro Kureyon Sock
Started: January 12, 2009
Completed: February 19, 2009

Almost done...

The knitting on my Clapotis is done...but I still need to block it. It's alpaca, so it's quite floppy and needs a nice hard blocking.






I wore it this morning to Starbucks and the barista complimented me on it ;)

In other news, my next "conquest" is going to be the top-down wrap cardigan from Knitting Pure & Simple. I picked up the pattern yesterday morning. Also got this to make it with:

Berrocco Ultra Alpaca :)

Aaaand I have a sock swap to knit for. Need to figure out the yarn/pattern very quickly so I can get moving on it!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Interlocking Leaves socks

Pattern: Interlocking Leaves
Yarn: Malabrigo Sock, Velvet Grapes colorway
Needles: Size 0 Knitpicks circulars
Started: January 1, 2009
Finished: January 31, 2009

End of an Era (in a good way).

I love President Obama. That is all.

Mom's Manos Scarf

Pattern: Men's Cashmere Scarf, by Joelle Hoverson
Yarn: Manos del Uruguay 100% wool, colorway 100
Needles: Size 10.5 Clover bamboo straights
Started: January 16, 2009
Finished: January 17, 2009

Winter Break

I've had the past few days off work, which has been really nice.

I went to see my mom in Cleveland. It was a little hard to get around while we were there, due to this:


I did succeed at scoring a little yarn, though :)


Colinette Jitterbug in Florentina colorway - never knit with this before, should be interesting.


Elsebeth Lavold Silky Cashmere in Silver


Elsebeth Lavold Silky Cashmere in Gold

The silky cashmere was a really good find - but I refuse to give up my sources until I scrounge a little more ;)

And here is a just-completed sock (first of the pair):


I took today off to do grocery shopping and stuff around the house (also a little knitting) and got the added bonus of being able to watch the inauguration. Yay!

First FO of 2009!

Pattern: 'Vog On by Aleta Fera
Needles: Size 2 Knitpicks circulars
Yarn: Handmaiden Casbah, Midnight colorway
Started: December 23, 2008
Finished: January 10, 2009

Note: Casbah is my new FAVORITE YARN EVER.

Anguish

The last few pairs of socks I've knit have been toe-up, which I really like for some reason. And they've all had a gusset-and-flap heel, which I think is the easiest heel out there.

I have messed up the heel on the last five socks (not pairs, but I'm heading toward 3 full pairs). I knit one pair that was finally successful, another where I am on sock #2, just having recovered from tinking and reknitting the heel, and another where I am on sock #1, just did the heel turn at knitting tonight...and it is beautifully executed, but not centered.

Sigh. None of these mistakes have even been the same thing.

I think it's time for bed.

Goals met, and goals set.

I am not into the whole resolution thing (the hordes that descend upon my gym every January really annoy the crap out of me). But, I had some goals for 2008.

1) Knit 20 pairs of socks. A quick look at my 2008 FO list shows I made 24 pairs. Woot! I also made 2 sweaters, a few lace scarves, a pair of fingerless mitts, and a hat. Not bad at all!

2) Swim 500 miles. I hit that milestone on December 27th, and finished out the year with 506.

So there we go :)

I'm not planning to set specific number goals this year, really. On the exercise front, I'm not going to count miles anymore, but will keep with my standard 5-times-per-week (it has been 7 times per week for the last couple months to push me to the goal, but now that the holidays are over I can ratch it down a little). I do want to do yoga again at least once a week - it's been about a year and a half since I've done that.

For knitting, I want to get caught up with both my sock clubs and stay there, and also knit a Clapotis and at least one lace shawl. I might do a sweater if I can stand it. I'm sure I'll do additional socks as well, since I love it so much.

I also want to post on this blog AT LEAST once per week. We'll see how that goes but it's been driving me crazy that for the last few months all I've had are some FO posts.