Never Go Back

I am completely spoiled now.
Beware, Beware. Never knit with ArtYarns 100% Merino yarn. Once you do, you will never be able to work with lowly, scratchy wool, ever again.

The blue stripy sock has been set aside, possibly for a very long time. This week I've been working only with ArtYarns yarns.

I've completed sock #1 of the Supermerino after much ripping and trying various heels.



Then started the toe of the second sock and realized that as much fun as this is to work on, it is quite brain free.

Swatching of ArtYarns Ultramerino commenced and continued for a while, trying something like 20 stitch patterns. None satisfied so decided to just work a toe anyway and wing it. Here's what resulted.

Summer of Socks Kick Off

First day of summer, Thursday, and I cast on for Summer of Socks after a long day at work wishing I weren't there but at home with needles in my hands. That evening I did cast on and began the short toes for the first sock, and disappointment set in. I wasn't loving the yarn. Steinbach Wolle, Aktiv Effekt. It's a sticky yarn but that's not the annoying part. It has a tendency to split. Paying close attention is neccesary. I continued working on the sock over the weekend and a lovely weekend it was too. Escaped the city to the family's country house on the water and just hung out on the screen porch, listening to birds, watching the birds, watching the neighbor's cat watch the birds, and knitting this sock.

On the way home I pass by an LYS, Knit Happens, and couldn't stop myself from stopping. Didn't take long for me to have superwash merino yarn in my hands, of both the ArtYarns and Lorna Laces variety. As soon as I got home I swatched the ArtYarns. Tonight I did a toe.

This time I chose to try the easy toe. The yarn is a little to heavy for short rows. I had to rip back the toe once. Ah, learning the hard way is a painful process. Above is the second try. Still not perfect but good enough, I'm thinking. Now, I've gotta do research to find toe-up heel flap methods.
Single Socks completed: 0
Socks in progress: 2

Training Sock #2 Done!

Ta Daaa! A 'mostly' wearable sock! Created by me!


I took a little sock break and made these! Stitch Markers! The bead habit contributes to the yarn habit! Poetic!


Sock yarn yummies have arrived. Various fingering and DK weight and various fibers in stripes and solids. Such a huge variety of possibilities in one small pile! The bead stash is starting to turn green in envy of the yarn stash for pure volume, if not quantity.

Training Sock #2

Here it is!
The second sock in progress, ready for the heel.


Lion Brand Magic Stripes
on US1 DPNs
using Wendy' generic toe-up sock
The only thing that I don't like about this are the ladders. Gotta scan the web for suggestions on how to deal with those. Anyone?

Mom and my First Sock

So many to-drool-over photos of socks on the blogosphere I finally made the plunge and made my first sock. It's definitely NOT something to drool over, in fact, it's completely unwearable. But, Hey, I learned alot from doing it. I'm gonna keep it for posterity.



Using Alison's ankle socks pattern and Lion Brand magic stripes on US3 DPNs. The short row heels are very bad but I did better with the short row toe. Then came the grafting; I screwed that up big time. pulled the stitches to tight. such is life and then so we learn.

I cast on another sock right after; jumping back on the horse. This time using Wendy's general toe-up sock formula. No grafting! heehee. So far just have the toe done and the short rows are looking good. Photo later.

I made a brief detour back to the beads to make a present for Mother's Day.




For my standby project I have this seasilk scarf in progress. So nice working with seasilk!

A Brief History

For many years my crafty obsessions have revolved around beadwork. Below are some examples of my work.
Clutch purse woven in the Peyote style using 11/0 Delica beads.











Necklace and earrings in a lace weave using 11/0 Czech beads.










Lariat in a spiral weave using 11/0 Czech beads and pearls.

Eventually, and after many years admittedly, the came a time when the challenge diminished. I'd learned and mastered all the techniques that interested me and was making jewelry and beadwork designs that constantly garnered compliments and statements of amazement. Hmm. Modest, aren't I? :-) I began to look for more challenging ways to play with beads and at the same time, enviously watched friends as they worked the gorgeous yarns available today.

Finally, I decided that I could try working yarn. I would have a BIG learning curve since I'd never tried knitting or crochet before. And which one? A-Tinkering I shall go. Off to the craft store, for me that's Total Crafts, to peruse the available instruction guides and materials at cheap side. While tinkering I decided that I preferred to pursue, at least initially, KNITTING. The loop is on a needle. no need to search for it. Learned my cast on, my knit stitch, my purl stitch, make some swatches, and then tackled a scarf. That was okay. Tried some nicer yarn and WHAM bang-o I was hooked! So far I've only done scarves. Here's a few.

Likey the lacey!

Bowl o Beads

Making beads is one of my most favorite activities. They're small, quick to make, and sooo pretty. Then later I make them into earrings and incorporate them into bracelets and necklaces. These little 'gems' always get lots of compliments accompanied by amazement.
Here's the bowl o beads that as yet do not have a home.



And one of my most favorite necklaces which includeds beaded beads. And yes, those pearls are knotted. Yet another thing I've learned to do. I love the luminesence of pearls.