The Sock's First Day at Disneyland

We spent Tuesday and Wednesday in Anaheim. What Anaheim trip would be complete without stopping at Disneyland? We went to Guest Relations & Sock got a 1st timer's pin.


A highlight of the day was when Sock & I got our picture taken with Captain Jack Sparrow.












Spending the day with a newborn sock (she was only 4 days old) is not as easy as you would think. She wouldn't stand nicely in the 75 minute Finding Nemo line. I hate to think what would have happended if we were there during the 2 1/2 hour wait! Here Sock climbed over the railing to get to sit on the rock. Luckily DD#1 fussed at Sock and Sock came back before a cast member saw her.




The ride was worth the 75 minute wait but I won't wait that long next time. It had some really cool special effects including movie clips.









Sock went into a pouting fit when she wasn't tall enough to drive the Autopia cars by herself. I wasn't going to let her drive even with a passenger. She apologized so sweetly after her time out . . .








I decided to let her drive with me in the car anyway. I don't know why she acts so spoiled.

Ouch!

Yesterday I was making great progress on my Summer Skinny Dippin' Sock until I sliced my finger with a size 1 (2.25mm) knit picks needle. I often use my finger to help push the needle when I knit. This is the first time I hurt myself. Every time I knit I kept poking myself again in that exact same spot. I ended up putting my sock away and knit on the Adara shawl for a while. I don't push as much with larger size needles. I don't really like the pattern for this yarn. The striping on the sock is much prettier without the patterning and I think the design gets lost in the stripe. I will keep knitting because I don't want to frog them.


I cast-on the second sock for my 1776 socks at DD#1's softball game. I was able to knit while I was in the score booth. My finger is still sore so I was making slower than usual progress. I was asked about the yarn for these socks. It is a self-striping yarn, Schoeller & Stahl Fortissima Socka in the 1776 colorway. If you can get the guess the correct guage & number of stitches, the yarn makes perfect stars. You can view the first sock of this pair here.

Unfortunately, Dory's team lost so they are finished for the season. Having 3 kids playing softball/baseball sure gave me quite a bit of prime knitting time.

Start of Summer

Whew! The girls and I finished school on Tuesday & Worm finished today. Next year all four of us are on the same schedule. It will be the first time in 8 years. I have mixed feelings about it - it will be easier on the family but i enjoyed the days when they were in school but I had the house to myself.

I didn't wear my Icarus to graduation. We used it to cover a dress code violation (a bare back dress). I still hope to get better pictures of my shawl.


I finished one of my 1776 socks. I tried to do a sewn bind-off. I was really happy with it until I ran out of yarn about 8 stitches too early! It took me a couple of hours to undo the bind-off, attach longer yarn, and re-do the bind-off. It leaves a loose edge but the sock is hard to get over my heal. I'll need to do it even looser next time. I made it with a longer than usual cuff so I can fold the cuff over. I like the warmth it gives my always cold ankles.



Today starts the Summer of Socks Knit-a-long. I decided that The Loopy Ewe Sock Club Summer Package would be perfect. I'm using All Things Heather in the Skinny Dippin' colorway. The pattern is knit cuff down on dpn. Of course, I'm knitting it toe-up. I am impressed with how the yarn shines. The picture doesn't do it justice.

Icarus Completed!

It took me a week to bind-off but I've finished my shawl. I'm pretty happy with my first lace project. Here's a close-up of the edging.



Hopefully I'll have pictures of me wearing the shawl at Monday's graduation.

I love to knit socks & lace. I don't normally wear shawls, ponchos, & lacey stuff but knitting this was fun. I think using lace weight yarn is perfect for the Antelope Valley's warm days. I was able to knit this when the thermometer was close to 95.

I've cast-on the Adara Rainbow Shawl from elann.com. Adara is a linen cotton blend. I just love the colors & the yarn feels cool & smooth to knit with. I don't think I'll ever wear it though - my DD#1 is trying to claim it.

TTFN

A First Concert

My DS, aka Worm, had his first school concert tonight. We were all very proud because the entire band did an excellent job. It is nice to see all the hard work & practice pay off for all performers.

In knitting news, I have about an inch left on my 1776 sock. It might be finished this week! I am really enjoying magic loop more than I ever expected. Thanks, Darcy, for converting me. I've begun the bind-off on my Icarus Shawl. I'll block it this weekend in time to wear for Monday's graduation. Pictures of both projects to follow.

1776 Patriot Sock

I've finished 4 pairs of socks, a Kitty Pi, camera cover, & nearly finished an Icarus Shawl. Instead of going to the past I'll blog about my current WIP.


My current sock is in Schoeller & Stahl Fortissima Socka in the 1776 colorway.



It is a toe-up, magic loop sock. I started with 11 stitches per needle, increased to 32 per needle. It has a K3, P1 rib.

Here she is mostly through the gusset.



I have almost finished the heel turn. I really like how the striping & "star" pattern is coming even though no matter how many swatches, I couldn't get my stars to look starry. My DD thinks these stars make the sock look like it is waving.