Thursday, June 26, 2008

Heading Towards the Summer of Socks ’08 and beyond

Started on June 20th before I went to Stitch ‘n Pitch at National Stadium.

It’s almost the Longest Day of the Year, and the Summer of Socks starts at 12:01 a.m. on June 21st. In preparation for the start of that, I’ve been busy knitting second socks, to at least get several pairs done, and out of the queue. I’m not getting all the socks that are waiting for mates, mated, but at least three should be done by tomorrow midnight.

I finished these Gentleman’s Shooting Socks with Fluted Pattern from Nancy Bush’s Knitting Vintage Socks (only was ten months from when I made the first one!), and a nice basic pair out of a self-patterning yarn – those only were started about a week or so ago – both pairs are for my husband.

And now, 2/3rds of a sock to go to finish a third pair –these are from Opal — Hundertwasser ones. They are for me! I’m off to Stitch ‘n Pitch at the Washington Nationals’ ballpark night, and figure it might get done by midnight –at which point I plan to cast-on my first Summer of Socks sock – the Gentleman’s Shooting Socks with fluted pattern again, in Regia medium blue wool/silk. The pattern works in the chocolate colorway , but it doesn’t show up as much as I would like it to, so in a lighter color it should work wonderfully. And then I’ll make one of my Socks that Rock Sock Club socks for ’08, and maybe a pair out of Rainbow colorway from Lorna’s Laces for my goddaughter – I’ve owed her a pair for a LOOOOOONG time!

And the other thing that is grabbing me, is my main knitting when at home project – I’m in the home stretch on my first Year of Lace project – the glorious Phoenix Rising shawl out of Claudia’s Handpainted silk – one of my favorite lace yarns in the world – not sure if I love Claudia’s more or Cheryl Schaffer’s Andrea — . I’ve got 31 rows more of edging to go, and then it’s the border WITH beads – love it!
Meanwhile adding to the menagerie I live with – we’re getting a second dog – our wonderful Guthrie really needs a canine partner – so Saturday we’re off to pick-up a little girl puppy to be his “life partner!”

And today would have been my father’s 94th birthday, if he’d made it this far – he’s been gone 27 years now.

Nearly a week later – life has been hectic!

We went to Stitch ‘n Pitch, which was great fun – I heard there were at least 400 stitchers there – they had 400 gift bags they gave out. We were up on the third tier of seats – great view of the ball field, and in the shade! In my section were all folks that got their tickets via A Tangled Skein – Karida of Neighborhood Fiber Co. was in the next section, having gotten her tickets through Knit Happens – but she came over and joined our group. Amy O and she reunited their wonderful Lexie Barnes messenger knitting bags.

2 Sistah's Knit Together were two rows in front of me –

Cici and Chelette
and Cici’s daughter and granddaughter were in our row, while Carol of Hooker to Cats
sat with us on one side and Shelley and Sandra of the Wednesday Night Regulars at A Tangled Skein were on the other.Another Wednesday Night regular, Jessica was thrilled with getting her photo taken! And well on her way to finishing a lovely cabled sweater in just TWO weeks!

And here's Amy O with the knitting needles she got in her goodie bag -- she looks FIERCE! Codiak Alaska better watch out! (She moving there in July! WAHHHH)
It was lovely company, lovely weather, decent game – we left at the end of the 8th inning when the score was tied – we were heading to Richmond to pick-up our new puppy in the morning, and didn’t want to be out late. Turned out to be a 14th Inning Game! We didn’t know who won when we turned off the TV and lights to go to sleep – surfed the channels in the a.m. before we left.

And here she is! Our new baby – another Cardigan Corgi.
Our boy is named Guthrie, and will be a year old next week. The new one is just eight-weeks old, and we’ve named her Maybelle! If you know traditional/folk music – you may see where her name came from – Mother Maybelle Carter of the Carter Family performers from the 1920s on. Mother Maybelle was Johnny Cash’s mother-in-law!

Anyway Maybelle is as sweet as she can be – learning fast, and her ears are more upright everyday – I expect in another week or so they’ll be fully up like Guthrie’s. She’s weighing in at just six pounds, while Guthrie is 33 pounds. They’re getting along great, he’s being a wonderful “big brother” to her!

Meanwhile, I dropped stitches off the needle on the Phoenix Rising shawl, and had to tink back about five rows to rescue it – and because I had knots and other problems with the winding of the yarn, I’m almost out of yarn – with one more edging repeat and the border to go. More is on the way – with the NEXT Year of Lace project. Hopefully here by the end of the week – maybe just as I reach the point of can’t do anymore until the yarn comes.

And then, I’ve started ANOTHER shawl, also in Claudia’s Handpainted Silk lace weight (which is what the Phoenix Rising is knit in), in a wonderful color called Urban Legend –coppers, rusts, greens – it’s a pattern from the Winter 2007/08 Vogue Knitting – I love it – it calls for 1,000 BEADS! A customer, Arnetta at a Tangled Skein had made it, and it was so glorious – AND a FABULOUS (dangerous!) Bead Store has opened in the same building as A Tangled Skein – Beader’s Workshop – so once I decided on the yarn, I took it over there, and the delightful owner Vivian helped me find the most glorious copper colored beads for it. If the extra yarn for the Phoenix Rising shawl doesn’t come soon, I’ll get totally obsessed with the Beaded Shawl!

As for Summer of Socks . . . I didn’t finish the pair of Hundertwasser socks for me – but I did cast-on, right at 12:01 a.m. for the second pair of Gentleman’s Shooting Socks with fluted pattern out of Regia Silk. Almost to the heel on the first one, but I’m soooo shawl obsessed that it’s languishing when I’m at home, as I’ve been working on the two shawls instead.

And now, to update my ravelry photos, and then get back to Phoenix Rising.

4 comments:

Chelette said...

Awww Maybelle, I like her. Great pictures. Love the update. You have been quite busy.........

Anonymous said...

Ears!

Maybelle looks like a such a sweetie.

cici said...

Ahhh Maybelle is sooooo cute. I see why you couldn't resist her. What a great choice.I know Guthrie must be happy. I can't wait to see your shawls.:D

ibcmeir said...

OOOOOOh! Baby so cute!