Update ...

finished my stripey leftover yarn socks! they are so eay, i think i should just keep making them, none of them have to match and i'll never suffer from second sock syndrome.

pluto has actually been using his little house for small spurts of time. i guess i got the size right on the second try even though it looks lumpy.

i went to the fiona ellis fair isle workshop on sunday. unfortunately i was too sick and too high on cold medicine to get much out of it. i was falling asleep by the afternoon and had to take off early. still, it was a great course, she was very accessible. i highly recommend it for anyone interested in taking fair isle further or designing their own fair isle.

No, it is not a penis warmer (or that is not it's intended purpose).

I FINALLY started my ribbed knee socks! i don't know why i procrastinate. i kept trying to find the perfect fancy solution to my mulitvalent problem:

• i want the socks to stay up, so they need to be ribbed (i want to wear them with my rubber books, keep my leggies warm and cozy)
  
• i want the colour of the yarn to look as good as it can (or not look ugly and pool in a strane way)
• i would'nt mind if i could make them a cool kind of styleanyway, i tried a K2 P3 rib, but it didn't really work

anyway, i tried a K2 P3 rib but it didn't look great and the stretch wasn't springy. i tried a K1 p1 rib but it looked yuckier. i tried a 2.5 mm needle for the rib but it was too loose. so, it aint glamorous, but for the sake of speed and expedience i decided to go for a K2 P2 rib, the toe knit on a 2.5mm needle and the ribbing on a 2mm. i'm almost at the heel.

Freebies

Misti Alpaca Cosmopolitan Sweater Jacket
this was a very lucky freebie because i thought for sure it was going to be a pay pattern. plus, i've actually seen it in the flesh (or fibre?) it was REALLY nice! we might just have to knit a store sample!

i found these gems in a pile of rowan rejects:

• Adele 3/4 gloves
  
• Hardy cool zip-up cardigan (biker jacket style)
• Cara pocket handbag
  

i love surveys, quizzes, etc:
choose knitting daily's next free pattern


Update

i added a ravelry button to the blog, it links to me. if you want to find me and you are logged in. if you aren't on ravelry yet you should be, it's great!

my third shot at a play house for pluto. don't be deceived by the picture, she didn't spend for than 30 seconds in there.

the cold weather has motivated me to get back to my mismatched scrap socks.

i've started knitting a turtleneck from lopi book 24 with jo sharp silk road aran tweed in ivy, size medium (their sizing is pretty large).

i'm pretty happy so far. i don't like yoke necks, i'm going to do saddle shoulders. the stitch markers are a technique i use to keep track of my increases and decreases. i use them initially to see how many more incs/decs i need to make, how many rows from my last inc/dec. i'll keep them in so that when i knit the other arm it will be the same as the first.

how cool is this little vegetable ?!


on to my negligible achievements this week ....

Pluto's love nest ... second try. he's not really into it but knows it's there. i haven't got the shape right yet.

and michelle's hat. don't be fooled, the picture looks
good but the fit isn't right. on to version 2 ... but i'm going to felt the latest nest first.

Catching up ....


Freebies

• Patterns for Jo Sharp Silk Road Tweed Aran : Beret, Cabled Shawl Collar Cardigan, Blanket, socks & a tank

i finished a solid coloured version of the sunset cabled beret .... Misti Chunky C815.

i got half wauy through the cable-bobble beret for michelle and the yarn was too thick (although i REALLY like the look!). it was ripped back and after a few days vacation i'm back at it.

and i'm working on a birdhouse for Pluto. my first version didn't work out too well. it looks like a tele-tubby pelt!

Freebies

• fable baby alpaca baby blanket
• Gord & Doug Crochet dolls
  
• Ines Lace Knee Sock
  
• Handmaiden Triplet Toque
  
• Handmaiden Wavy Scarf
  
• Mr Funky Amigurumi Bunny
  

sooooo, what i've accomplished lately ...

i finished katie's hannukah hat!

i finished my dad's hannukah hat! all my hannukah gifts are finished! i wrote & published the pattern for the men's metrosexual toque too (see below).

i'm currently working on designing a cabled beret for michelle. i've also put adise some sock yarn to make knee stockings for myself for utilitarian purposes (looking forward to wearing them with rubber boots!). getting ready to cast on for a winter sweater, an alpaca turtleneck. i think there is also something else lingering in my knitting bag ... i think the sunrise hat in a solid colour. other things are milling around in the back of my mind ..... i have to get back to the babette blanket but i've been warmer this winter than i had expected ;-) maybe the book i'm working on should be titled '100 hats and a spouse'