Join the Round

¡Ay Diós mío!

So, I'm still runnin' around with my ass on fire, and I figured I'd better catch-up on my b-logging before I run off to fetch Steve at the airport. It's been a busy week, but I've found time to knit to keep the stress away.

I finally finished up my little baby knitting project for my next-door neighbour who is great with child, and is ready to bear any day now. I like the booties, and was desperate to finish the bonnet, so I just bound off, knit some i-cord, and added tassels... ahhhhh... done.

I ran across these cute Flip-Flop Socklets on The Blue Blog And decided they look fun and easy. I knit one up last night and am almost done with the second one. Normally I don't at all like knitting with cotton, but Marie, My yarn Sensei, suggested Cascade - Fixation... a cotton/spandex blend, and it has so much give it's fabulous! So I'm hoping my friend Amy likes them. They're simply not manly enough for me.





And finally I'm halfway through a fun pair of Silja socks. I'm liking the Waffle Rib these days... these are for another friend. Perhaps I'll finish them up soon, and start on another pair for me.

My Sockapaloooza Socks Arrived Yesterday!!

My secret sock-pal, Heather - from BC, Canada, made these Lovely socks of her own design for me. As I think I was the only man in the sock exchange, poor Heather had to knit socks for my size 10 1/2 feet. They are the most perfect colours, with beautiful little cables.

Now, I only hope my Sock-Pal likes her Spectacular Speckled Sockatta Socks.

Thanks Heather!!

Oh Mother of Pearl Bailey!!

Obviously it's been a crazy month if I haven't had a chance to catch-up with my Bloggity Blog!

We are sooo busy these days. Oy veh María! We're selling one house in New Jersey, and building another one in the mountains, and still trying to figure out where we're gonna live in the meanwhile, and where the furniture is gonna live too.

Steve and I got back from Asheville last week. Wow! The view from the house is going to be spectacular.

Ok... now imagine it with fewer trees.

And this is the view of our mountain...



OK... gotta run... I finished my bamboo sox, and am now making a pair of booties for my expectant neighbour, and I'm working on my Silja socks... pics to come soon.

So we've been burning through about 20 lbs. a week in birdseed... I know the squirrels are smart, but this is just wack!

Ok... So I completely have Second-Sockitis! I finished my first Bamboo Panda-Snack sock, and am about a third of the way done on the second one, and I just can't focus on it. I'm daydreaming and planning planning my next two or three projects. More socks... my Uxbridge sweater, or maybe some more baby socks for my great niece. Oh and I just got my lovely umbrella-style yarn swift today. Finally... now I can wind my other hank of Cherry Tree Hill. The last hank I tried to wind turned into a massive wad of spaghetti! Oops. Thank goodness Steve is a patient man, and sat in his recliner and untangled the whole mess. I knew I married him for a reason.


Any-hoo-ha... I just wanted to catch up on my li'l blog, and say howdy.... so, "Howdy!"

Yaaaay... I'm really loving this bamboo yarn. Gavin asked if they would attract Pandas... I think they just might. He's gonna be a hot a tasty Panda-Snack!!





These socks are going very well. I was determined to put a short-row heel on these socks, but they just weren't coming out like I wanted. I tried making a couple of practice heels using the Yarn Over method, so now I'm gonna make a couple of Wrapped Stitch short-row practice heels. I just didn't feel like I was proficient enough to include them on these socks. I think the Eye-of-Partridge Heel-Flap is quite attractive, and comes out cleanly, especially if I do 4 stitches of Garter stitch on both sides of the flap. I had originally made my heel-flaps with Stockintte borders, but the chain-stitch selvedge didn't come out evenly for me on the stockinette, so I figured Garter would stay nice and flat, and the selvedge would be the same on both sides. I love it... and... it was super easy to pick-up the side stitches.

The bamboo feels nice in my hands, and leaves a clean fabric. I like it better than cotton, because is has little more give... but I still prefer wool.

Hoo-rah! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrroberto has finished his first Sockpaloooza socks. I really hope my Secret Sock Pal likes them. For some reason, I'm extra inspired to start my next pair of 100% Bamboo socks for my buddy Gavin. I can't wait to see how they some out. The yarn feels so silky and exotic. I'll get pics of that yarn up soon.

So I'm definitly gonna try to learn the short row heel. I have some junk yarn I'm gonna practice with, I've found two concise sets of directions, but if anyone has any hints... let me know. If it comes down to it, I'll run down to the yarn store, and ask Marie.

So... Steve is gone for the week, and I'm here alone for the week, so I'm gonna have prenty of time to get some knitting done. I really feel like I have to knit everyday. If I don't knit, I feel a little sad, like my yarn hasn't had a chance to really breathe and live, and become what it needs to be.

That's all for now...
-Rob

My Sockatta Sockapaloooza Speckled Sock is on it's merry way. I'm glad this sock is coming along. I'm not particularly fond of knitting with cotton. It has a certain "Squeak" to it... I'm looking forward to knitting with my wool, oh... and I'm planning to whip up a pair of 100% Bamboo socks for my friend Gavin. I'll get a pic of the bamboo up soon.

I got my new Crystal Palace 8" DPN's in the mail the other day too. OMG... I love them... they are 'Like Buttah..." I had tried a pair of 4" DPN's, but they are just short enough to poke me in the palm, and leave a slight blister. So, I use the little shorties for toes, and for finishing.

On my next pair, I'm bound and determined to learn a Short Row heel/toe. I'll have to consult Marie, my knitting Sensei.

Rob's Knitting Gallery

Oy Veh María!
I'm having sock trauma... well, it's not that bad, but I can't seem to get my act together. I'm now on my third attempt in two days to get these socks started... I started knitting up the pomatomus socks, but the yarn wasn't bringing out the pattern, so I switched to Trekking from the Sockatta, and was just not liking it, and my new Crystal Palace needles were driving me crazy, so I ripped that out too, and started over.

So, I did go back to the Sockatta, but have decided to go with a more traditional pattern, to bring out the nice tweeding of the sockatta. I'm making progress on them now, but silly me, I've promised about three other people socks, so i need to get crackin'!


Check out my new Knitting Gallery

Finally I have time to get started on my Sockapalooza socks!! Woo Hoo!! I'm finishing up the second pair of socks I knit for Steve, since he felted and shrunk the last pair... I gave those to my mom... His new ones are a perfect match to the first pair I knit for myself over the holidays. I'll be sure to get a pic of those too soon. I'm totally psyched about being part of sockapalooza. My secret pal lives in warmer climes, so I'm using a cotton/wool blend, light, washable, and a great palette. I found this rockin' pattern on Knitty.com--> Knitty Pomatamus Socks Since my pal is near the ocean, and loves the beach... I thought these would be perfect. I'm a little nervous about starting this new pattern, but I have plenty of time, and extra yarn... and if worse comes to worse.... I'll just use a different pattern. I'll update soon, and get more pics up soon... Peace... Rob

a journey begins...