Jewel's Purls

F! FK!*

*Finally!  Finished Knitting!

To accompany my voting socks, I got around to knitting up my Democrat Hat.  I got the pattern and yarn from Jimmy Beans Wool.  It's knit from Berroco Merino.  I have to say that the yarn is very very nice and knits beautifully.  I'm going to wash and wear this hat this November and if it doesn't pill, the yarn may be on my stash-worthy list.  It's definitely next to the skin wool.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Kim and The Woolen Rabbit yarn.  I had plans of making socks in the color of Mia The Cat.  That would mean they would need to be black and chartreuse.  The chartreuse was easily taken care of by using left over Jacob's Ladder from the Mahona shawl.   I asked Kim if she would dye some black Harmony sock yarn, which she gladly did.   Now, if any of you have seen a black cat or own one, you'll know that there are times when the gray/white skin shows through the black fur.  I'm glad I was sitting down when I unwrapped the skein of black yarn from Kim because without even saying a word, she captured this very thing!  See?

She calls this color "Raven" and I hope she puts this color up for sale on her website.

So...without further ado, here are my Meemalicious socks!

"I have sniffed them, groomed them, and schmutzed them, and give them my lick of approval. They're quite tasty!" --Mia

P.S.  Just to let you know - I lost the rest of my left over Jacob's Ladder by the time I got to the heel of the second sock.  Despite an immense inconvenience to Kim (she was on vacation), she went out of her way by dying me another skein of Jacob's Ladder sock yarn so I could finish these socks.  Thank you Kim!   Of course, that means I now have enough left over for a pair of socks out of this color.  Isn't that a pity?   Despite grueling interrogation, none of the cats chez Miller has confessed to any wrongdoing in the disappearance of the left over yarn.  The yarn is still missing and its whereabouts remain a mystery.

Sock Love

Every fall and winter I curse myself for not knitting myself more socks during the summer/spring.   Out of all the knitting I do, I only own one pair of hand-knitted socks.  The socks I've managed to knit have been gifted and I'm left with my only lonely pair of socks. 

Not this year.

I've been stashing sock yarn for several years with the intent of knitting myself socks.  I've always had a thing for socks.  Way before I started knitting socks I'd buy socks.  Lots of em.  Heavens, one year I found some flannel with a sock print and made myself a pair of pajamas.  So clearly my love for socks pre-dates my knitting them.

Yesterday I was surfing the innernets and found this.   Yes.  I ordered two of them.   It's pretty cool, huh? 

Anyway, I'm a firm believer in knitting what makes you happy.  Yeah - I've got quite a lace stash going and I've got a huge sweater stash too.  But they will be there waiting.  Meanwhile, I'm feeling the sock love.  I'll thank myself this winter.

Finished Knitting

I actually have some finished knitting to show for my blog absence!  It's little stuff, but sometimes I just need simple little projects.

I finished this a long time ago.  It's a Noro striped scarf.  I used Silk Garden in colors 224 and 234.  It was a great carry along project and whipped up really fast!

Next, we have a pair of Lorna's Laces socks in the color Charcoal.  I made them for a lady at our dentist's office. 

I've finished Kilkenny too!   It's still in pieces, though.  It's just been so icky sticky hot that I haven't felt like having a pile of wool on me. 

That's about it for all the finished projects.  For now!!

Golden Oak Socks - Finished!

I got these socks finished and thought I'd do a quick fly-by posting before heading out to the Yarn Tasting Party at Yarndogs.   These photos will show you that the camera on my phone is crappy and that the colors aren't really oranges and blacks, but rather oranges, browns, and rust browns.  It's gorgeous colors and a wonderful yarn.  I got it from Brooke at her Etsy shop.

Mia graciously modeled with the socks.  She insisted that she needed to be the backdrop to show you that she is the only black in this photo.

Here is a closeup of the knitted socks to show off the gorgeousness of the coloring.  Brooke does such a great job, doesn't she?  I like how the colors never really pooled.

I'm off for the evening with Celia.  I'm bringing my camera and I hope to get my blog updated tomorrow. Mia is not amused that I will not be here this evening to watch TV with her.

"I can't believe you're leaving me here with the cats and the Y-chromosome humans." - Mia

Golden Oak Socks

This is a blog post from my cell phone. I figured I'd better get something posted or Lorraine will send the blog posse after me.

Here are socks I'm finishing from Brooke's sock yarn. These are just plain jane socks which fit so well. You can find the pattern at www.wendyknits.net. I haven't figured out how to do links yet so you're on your own.

Saturday night Celia and I will be going to a yarn tasting party. Wine, chocolate, and yarn will be served.

While You Were Sleeping

What does one do when the cats chez Purls are sleeping?  Block lace, that's what!

I finished the Mystery Stole 3.  I knit two pieces and grafted them together.  All in all I really enjoyed this but I'm glad it's done and I can move on.  I used Bendigo Woollen Mills 2 ply in the color Peony.  I used clear beads because that's what I had at the time.  I probably should have used darker ones.  Oh well.  Here is the stole pre-blocking:

Here she is blocked with wires and drying.  I'll post a photo when it's off the wires.

In other finished projects news, I've had these finished for quite some time but am now just getting this photo posted.  These are my Lorna's Laces Flamingo Stripe socks.  I used Wendy's  fingering toe up pattern because I just loved the heels.  Easy as pie too! 

Baby H is 3 weeks old tomorrow and I got his sweater finished!  This is a completely rewritten Debbie Bliss pattern knit from Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino.  I think the colors were baby blue and off white.  Or something like that.   Obviously this little guy is going to have to grow a bit before wearing this.  I'm really thrilled with the way it turned out considering the pattern was real pain.

That's all that's finished for now.  I still have Luskentyre but I think she's on vacation in the Bahamas. I'm not sure when she'll be back.  I still have Alan's Dale which I'm working on but I'm still doing the stockinette thing so not much to show until I get a little further along.

I recently inherited some lovely Zara yarn in a color which I'll call "hotdog puke".  It's screaming to be put out of its misery but I think I'll give it a makeover.  I'll post more when I've done a little more investigating in the overdying thing.

Shhh.... Meems is sleeping.        "Zzzsnorezzz......" -- Meems

MYSTERY STOLE 3 UPDATE....

Here is the Mystery Stole blocked and hanging around showing off her good looks.

Vacation Knitting

Going on vacation in the car means only one thing:  Lots of car knitting!  So, in preparation I have cast on two new projects.    I didn't want to have to haul around a lot of different balls of yarn but wanted something fun.  I think Ruth's Cardigan fits the bill perfectly.

I recently purchased some Flamingo Stripe Lorna's Laces for  stash enhancement and it's pink stripes!   How can I not take this on vacation??  I'm knitting this on size 0 needles.  I like a tight fabric for socks.  I usually knit cuff down but thought I'd try something new and go toe up.  I like to live on the wild side. 

Meems thought she would pose for May and Chaos and show that she has a cute tummy too!

    "Mom - rub my tummy.  Please?"