Happy Monday!  It's feeling like fall here today.  We had a very warm weekend and I even got sunburned on Saturday at my son's baseball game.  I love the cool, crisp mornings and evenings and am looking forward to the cooler weather being here to stay.

What's Finished:

Ta-Da!  I finished my Stripey Socks for several podcast KALs.  I did the afterthought heel and The Knit Girllls' tutorial is wonderful to watch before you try it. I like the heel because of the way it stripes the heel, but also for the way it fits my foot.

In addition, I spun the first 4 ounces of my Into the Whirled August 2012 fiber and started on my second 4 ounces.

What's Going On:

I'm still working on the Ravenclaw Scarf for my 11-year-old niece who is a rabid Harry Potter fan.  I don't have a picture, since that project stays in the car - forcing me to work on it.  It's stockinette in the round, 25 rows of gray, then 25 rows of blue.

I made some progress on my Monkey Socks.  I started these in July, while on vacation, then they hibernated for almost 2 months while I worked on other things.  I really hope to finish these before October 1st, when I seem to have overcommitted to KALs!  I've finished one leg to the heel, and need to get the second one to the same place, put the waste yarn in position, then work on the feet.

My Stonecutter's Cardigan made an appearance this weekend.  It really is difficult, at least in the beginning, since there are many flips through the pattern for each row.  I think charts would make this pattern much easier.

What's Next:

So many podcasts are having KALs in October, that I think I may be overextended!  However, I'm going to try and participate in as many as I can...

The 2 Knit Lit Chicks are doing a KAL of any shawl in gradient yarn.  I'm going to knit the My Hope, by Laura Linneman, using my handspun Loop Batt.

The Knitabulls Podcast is hosting a Monster SAL/KAL in October and I'm planning to combine that with RetroLemon's KAL using one of her monster patterns.  My plan is to use some yarn I spun earlier in the summer.

The Wolfe Farms podcast is hosting a Cakewalk Yarns Harvest KAL and I just received the yarn for that.  I'm still not sure what pattern I'll use, but am leaning towards the Harvest Dew Socks.

What's New:

I am really trying to reduce the additions to my stash, but seem to be failing terribly!  This week, I received my order from Blue Moon Fiber Arts for a sweater I'd like to cast on, once my Stonecutter's Cardigan is finished.

Blue Moon Socks that Rock Heavyweight in Tanzanite

I mentioned my order from Cakewalk Yarns for the Wolfe Farms KAL.

Footsie in the Sincerest Color

And, I also received my Loopy Ewe Camp Loopy yarn for completing all three Camp Loopy projects this summer.  

Dream in Color Smooshy Cashmere in the Sleeping Under the Stars Color

Finally, my September Into the Whirled fiber arrived and it's so beautiful.  I really need to finish the last 4 ounces from August quickly.

Other News:

There is not much to report in other news.  I'm making slow progress in my yarn room.  I am forcing myself to clean out and throw out the mass of stuff in that room before I can paint and convert that room to be my yarn room.  I'd rather be knitting!

Have a great week,

Angela

I think we're all getting into the swing of things as we start the 3rd week of school.  The worst issue seems to be Shiloh, our 4 year old beagle.  He misses the kids and cries when I drop them at school.

Shiloh in his yard

What's Finished:

Absolutely nothing!  Usually after I've finished a couple of things, there's a bit of a dry spell.  I think I'll have a pair of socks next week, though.

What's Going On:

My Stripey Socks for KALs with the Knitabulls and Traveling Sock Knitter Podcasts are coming along nicely.  I adore the Vesper Sock Yarn.  The pattern's been a bit of a challenge, since I am doing an afterthought heel, rather than the heel in the pattern.  I have one finished, except for the heel, and the other is on its way!

with my bag from Birdleg Bags' Etsy Stop

I started, after MUCH research and thought, the Stonecutter's Cardigan.  I was hesitant, since only 2 projects had been knit when I started and I am using a bulky yarn from my stash.  I also detest math.  But, after help and advice from some plurk friends, I decided to take the plunge.  It's complicated for me, but I think it will be beautiful and I'll use it quite a bit.

with my bag from Ewesful Things' Etsy Shop

I'm also still working on the Ravenclaw Scarf and I have 4 stripes completed.  It's definitely mindless, more like mind numbing!  And I spent some time spinning this week.  I've almost finished the first 4 ounces.

Into the Whirled August 2012

What's Next:

Since I've cast on the cardigan, I really don't have any plans for the immediate future.  I do plan to participate in a few KALs for October.

What's New:

When my husband decided to surprise me with a spinning wheel, he snooped through my email and discovered Lisa Beamer, also known as Fibernymph.  He knew how much I love her yarn and contacted her for spinning advice.  She was so helpful, recommending the Ladybug, which was exactly what I wanted, and he included a gift certificate for her shop with the gift.  I knew Lisa had a lot on her plate getting ready to vend at SSK and I wanted to take my time to pick out my favorites, so I sent her my list later in the summer.  So....

There are My Favorite Flannel Jammies and Soft Kitty in Bounce, Byzantine Gradient in Sunshine, and Froot Loops and Deep Distraction in BFL/Tussah Silk fiber!

I also won a small Hiya Hiya bag from a KAL with the TV Knitting Podcast.  I really enjoy Sharon's podcast, since she combines two of my favorite things!

And, finally, I had ordered a Fleegle Beader, after Paula from the Knitting Pipeline Podcast, recommended it for placing beads on knitting projects.  I have never found a good beading method, since my crochet hooks never fit through the bead or are too small for the yarn and other methods just seem too tedious.  The beader was backordered for several weeks, but arrived this week.  I'll have at least one beaded project next month, so I'll know more then.

Other News:

Thinks have been relatively quiet around here.  My St. Louis Cardinals are hanging in the Wild Card Race and the schedule for next year has been published.  There will most likely be a trip for the Jenkins family to St. Louis next June!

Have a great week,

Angela

It seems the Friday Update has moved to Monday!  I just can't get it all together on Friday, but Monday seems to work better, so here we go...

What's Finished:

Early last week, I finished the Tumble Twins socks for my oldest niece for Christmas.  These were part of the Dramatic Knits KAL. 

 

We took a quick overnight trip to Washington, DC to watch the St. Louis Cardinals play the Washington Nationals.  We won one and lost one and had a great time with friends.  I worked on my Katniss socks and finished them.

I just love this yarn.  It's dyed by Rachel Frank and the yarn is so soft.  

What's Going On:

I started my Stripey Socks for the Knitabulls Podcast KAL.  I chose the Jaywalker pattern and pulled my Vesper Sock Yarn from my stash.  I really like the pattern and the yarn is so beautiful.  Those colors!

I also started the Ravenclaw Scarf for my youngest niece for Christmas.  It really is a tedious knit, but was great for the baseball games.  

There was a tiny bit of spinning this week.  I tend to spin a lot and knit less, or vice versa.  I really need to find a comfortable spinning chair.  I'm still working on my Into the Whirled August Club fiber.  It's so soft and easy to spin!

What's Next:

As soon as I've finished the Stripey Socks and possibly the scarf, I really want to cast on a cardigan.  In fact, the last two days of lovely fall weather have made me want to start that NOW.  I'm just having a hard time figuring out which cardigan I want to knit.

What's New:

I did a little (and I mean very little, since I'm the only knitter and the three dudes who were with me were a tad impatient) shopping at Fibre Space in Alexandria, Virginia, on the way to the ball games.  I got a skein of Miss Babs Yummy Sock and Baby Yarn in Envy Me.

I ordered a skein of merino/tencel yarn from Gnome Acres.  She was having a special for the skeiny dippers (yarn dyed from the dye remaining in the pot) and she added another skein to my order!

Rosemary

Like Butter

My Cloudlover Fiber Club shipment came and it's lovely!  It is a superwash merino called Cher Ami and the colors are beautiful.  I've never spun with superwash, so I'm really looking forward to it.

And, last, but most definitely not least, I won a project bag from Amy, of Ewesful Things.  I was so surprised to receive this large, beautiful, well-made project bag.  I know some knitters are fearful of zippered bags, but I never use anything else.  I'm always careful when I zip my bag, but nothing ever falls out and that's a huge deal for me.  I carry a large purse and typically have a few projects in there among other purse-like things.  So, here's my beautiful new bag -

Other News:

School has started.  I dread the first of school as much as the kids do.  I really enjoy the time we spend together, they spend with friends and the luxury of a flexible schedule during the summer.  I've met all but one of their teachers through freshman orientation and back to school night and am very pleased.  They've both had a great deal of work for 4 days of school, but that is to be expected considering the courses they are taking.  They're smart, could be a bit more hardworking, boys and I'm very proud of them.

On the way to school with Shiloh, who didn't stay!