What Else Have I Been Doing?

by Caroline


The last time I showed any of my knitting on this blog was back in November during the Disney trip. I had about an inch and a half of sock on the needles. That sock, a basic sock pattern in Trekking, slowly grew to the heel and a little past (maybe almost to the toe). It was a real slog for some reason. Well, I'm about to frog it. I like the yarn, a bright stripey colorway, and I have always enjoyed knitting socks but the basic sock pattern just wasn't doing it for me anymore. I think it is time for patterned socks. I've done only one patterned pair so far. So, I'll frog it, let it rest, and begin again with a pattern.

I've kept up with my monthy wee tiny sock swaps; I don't get those up on the blog often enough. September's Back to School was followed by October's Halloween theme.

I forgot to get pictures of November's wee tiny socks. Oops!

For December's swap I wanted to make a peppermint sock. I double stranded red and white cotton. I didn't get the look I wanted but I liked the effect. It was a killer to knit, though. I think the second sock is Trekking. The picture is awful, I apologize, Orange formica and fluorescent are not the best for pictures.


January's theme was winter and I chose a nubbly white to represent fresh snow, a blue-gray to represent the winter sky, and a metallic silver for sleet. By the time I was done I was steeped in cold. Too much cold.



For February, I decided to warm things up: Watermelon, Pink Lemonade, Dayglow, and Blue Hawaii. I threw some patterns and textures in there, too. I'm very happy with them.


I started and frogged a ski hat for a friend's brother. I was hoping to get it done this winter but I don't know if it will happen. I started a baby sweater in Sokatta; the sleeves and ribbing around the edge are left. Well, also I need to block and sew the pieces together. I still have the Doctor's Bag from Knit2Together on the needles. I started the Lisha Lace Scarf from SleepyEyes designs while I was in Chicago and absolutely love it! I am using a green Suri Alpaca that I bought in VA at the Fall Fiber Festival. I started the Dream in Color Sleepwalker Socks (what a great pattern) using an awesome pink on pink from Spunky Electic, but I don't have enough yarn for this pattern. I'm going to frog this as well and use the yarn for Fetching Mitts. I did manage to finish a project: the iPod Touch Sock, a free pattern on Ravelry from smariek knits. And now I am also starting a couple pairs of kids socks for a co-workers daughters with Sereknity's Watermelon.

I don't seem to be finishing much, except for wee tiny socks, but until I started listing everything I hadn't realised how many projects I had going. Oh, and on top of all that, I picked up the drop spindle again. I haven't touched the drop spindle in months. This is not a skill that can be allowed to sit. It took me a while to get going and, not that I was real consistent before, but I was all over the place with thick and thin. But I did enjoy my spinning.