How Green is my Gansey

The photo isn't that great but is does show the color of the Gansey Socks pretty well. The yarn is Dream in Color Sock in Happy Forest. The bright leafy greens make me smile. I have the first leg done but need a camera battery. The pattern really pops in the semi solid colorway.

I now have all the gift knitting done with the exception of my in laws. I still have time too. I really should knit another pair of socks for Hubby too, and maybe socks for the kids, and something for the teacher... Yeah maybe I'm not so much done. I do have the must knits done so at least that's something. Right.

I took a part time job. I am working 3 nights a week from 6-9:30 and one day on the weekend. My first real work day is Sunday. The hours are perfect. Still lots of family time.

One more thing... VOTE! Sorry to scream but please go vote next week. It really is important.

Update

So life just keeps moving here at the funhouse. I am starting a part time job tonight. We really need the money and I need time out of the house so its win/win. Hubby's show closes Friday night so I will more nights free to work. I just hope I can still find time to hang out with Hubby once in a while.

In knitting news: I got new winter hats knit for MB and myself. MG's still has hers from last winter and Hubby still loves his We call em Pirates I made last winter. The gift knitting is almost done. And the muff has been frogged yet again. I just did not like the way it looked so back to the drawing board for that one. The turtle neck warmer pattern is done. I will post it soon.

In shop news: There are some new colors in the shop right now. Go check them out. Please?

Politics: 1 week to go! Make sure you get out and vote. I had a call from Lee Terry(R house NE) last night. he was doing a tell- town hall type thing. I found it very off putting. I hung up only to have them call back and leave 5 minutes worth on my voice mail. The dude will not even say what party he is with. Looks like he may lose next week. The national press is not even talking about Nebraska but I think it could go either way. There are no McCain/Palin signs out but lots of Obama signs. Could NE go blue? Unlikely but I bet Omaha/Lincoln will. I plan to take MB and vote right after I drop the kids at school. I am guessing the lines will be long but I don't care I will wait as long as it takes.

Turtleneck Warmer

Here it is. What do you think? I hate the color on me so this one will be gifted this year but I love the fit and everything else about this project. MG took the picture for me. Not bad eh?

This pattern is my own. I will write it up today and get someone to look it over for me before posting it. Pattern will call for about 350 yards of worsted weight. ( I used Artyarns Supermerino). This yarn seems to stretch quite a bit with blocking but is soft and warm.

2 new patterns in 10 days time. Go Me!

Silly Season Poltics

I just feel the need to comment on the latest political news. $150,000.00 for clothes for the Sarah Palin? At a time when 95% of American families are hurting? Bad move RNC. And Obama is the elitist? Yeah right.
I can not wait for this election to be over. I sure hope my team wins. I worry about what will happen if they don't.

Socks for Dad

Here are Dads socks. This colorway is so hard to get a good photo of. The yarn is BMFA Socks That Rock. The colorway is Rauen form the Raven line. I have found that my STR socks grow a little with washing. These fit Hubby fine so fitting Dad should be no problem. You know the theroy that us girls Marry a guy much like our father? Well I did. Hubby and Dad have the same shoe/sock size.

I have started a new pair of socks already. The Lighthouse Gansey socks for Knitty. It is a fun pattern but slow going for me. I have to keep looking at the chart. So far so good. The pattern is well written and easy to follow. More on those when there is something to show.

My other projects are all moving forward. The new neck warmer should be done this week and then back to the muff. I resolved the gauge issue. I am pleased.

Holiday sock kits

Here is a new item I will be putting up in the shop this weekend. A little gift bag for the sock knitters! The kit includes a skein of BunkyBobo's Superwash Merino sock yarn. Colorway shown is Jangle

A set of 2.25mm dpn's, a sock blocker key chain, darning needle, a split ring marker, a tube of Bunky Girl Lip Balm and a little surprise. All in a cute little canvas bag. What do you think? cute eh? And the price is right at $28.00.

In other shop news, every skein you order in October comes with a free Bunky Girl Lip Balm!

I will have more fun shop news later today! Stay tuned.

In knitting news: MG took the Squared Mitts I finished the other day. She grabbed them the minute they came off the needles and has had them on since so I guess they are a hit. I need to make myself a pair. The new neck warmer pattern is coming along. This one will fit an adult human and not get bunched up under a coat. I am not crazy about the color though so I may try to over dye it when its finished. I hope to get it done today. The December bride muff had to be frogged. The gauge was way off so that one is back to the drawing board. There are new socks in the works too but that will have to wait. I have a play date with Monster Boy.

Squared Mitts a Free Pattern.

I give you a new pattern by me, Squared Mitts



Yarn: color 1: Knit Picks Merino Style, black. any worsted wool will do for both colors.

color 2: Blue Moon Fiber Arts STR Heavyweight. Don't remember the colorway. Leftovers from socks.

A note about the yarn. You can use and 2 worsted wools you have in your stash for these. You could also knit the cuff in the main color. That big lump in the picture is my watch. sorry about that.
Gauge: I knit these at 6 1/2 stitches to the inch over the colorwork.


Needles US size 6 dpn's


With Color 2, Cast on 40 stitches. Join to knit in the round. Knit 10 rounds of K2,P2 rib. Knit one round. Switch to color 1, knit one round.


Next round starts color pattern. ( I have not found a good way to get the charts on the blog. If you need the charts leave me a comment and I will e-mail it to you. I tried to write it out here. Please let me know if you see any problems. )



chart 1
row 1:* K2 Color 1, K2 color 2* repeat to end of the round
row 2: same as row 1
row 3: *K2 color 2, K2 color 1 *repeat to end of the round
row 4: same as row 3
row 5: same as row 1
row 6: same as row 1
Row 7: knit all stitches in color 1

chart 2
row 1: *K1 in color 1, K3 in color 2, Knit 2 in color 1* repeat to end of round K1 in color 1
row 2: repeat row 1
row 3: repeat row 1
row 4 K all in color 1

repeat chart 2 twice more
Knit 15 rounds with color 1

thumb: I used the Thumb Trick from Elizabeth Zimmermann. On the thumb set opening round I knit the first 7 stitches on to waste yarn. Then slip those 7 sts back on the needle and knit the round like normal.

Knit 5 more rounds with color 1
Work chart 1
Knit 8 rounds of K2,P2 ribbing.
Bind off all stitches.

Thumb: Pick out the waste yarn at the thumb opening. (You should have 8 stitches on top and 7 on the bottom of the opening)Pick up the live stitches picking up an extra stitch in the gap between the top and bottom rows of live stitches (17 st total) knit 8 rows K1,P1 ribbing. Bind off. Weave in ends and block lightly. If you find any problems with the pattern please let me know. I am new to the whole pattern writing thing.

I am going to knit at least 2 more pairs of these. Bunky wants a pair for herself and I think her teacher might like one too. Best part is you need very little yarn. Yeah stash busting.