October 1st is the best day ever

October. This month always brings up memories of Halloweens past or the Oak Glen apple orchards. This year it has taken on another meaning. I am doing Socktoberfest. It makes sense with my sock stash busting I am trying to do.

I will be working on my Ziggys made out of Noro. I am currently working on the second sock. I was actually proud of myself that the sock fit. This is my first color work project so I was hoping I would not make it too tight. Sock 1 is good.

When I finish that one, I will move on to my unfinished Pomatomus. I have the leg of one sock completed. Hopefully I can figure out where I left off.

My life is not only socks at the moment. I have been working on scarves for my boyfriend's sister who is currently studying in Paris. She requested more soft scarves. I have one completed and another one is half way done. Pictures will be coming soon.

I was bad today. The Yarn Deli was celebrating their birthday. I ended up going over there and bought way too much yarn. I really want to knit a vest for some reason. Hopefully part of my purchase will help me reach that goal.

Sock #1

As a way to kick off this stash busting I decided to take on a task with a set deadline. My mother's birthday is coming up. A hand knitted pair of socks would go nicely with the rest of her gifts. She's been requesting a pair of black socks that she could wear to work and show off.

Grabbing the skein of Cherry Tree Hill I had in my stash and Charlene Schurch's More Sensational Knitted Socks, I casted on the first 72 stitches of my journey.


I decided to work the Crosshatch Lace pattern. It didn't quite turn out the way I wanted it but it still looks nice. When not stretched out they look like a slouch sock from the 80s. My mom loved those. The pattern was easy to memorize. This is my second successful sock from that book.

My mom will receive the socks next week.





My next sock is already on the needles. I am trying out a new technique for this pair and possibly using up 2 skeins :)

The socks begin

Finally got around to pulling out my sock yarns. I found 14 (plus one, more on that) sock yarns in my stash. I have a few ideas and others I have no idea.

(Numbering is from left to right, top to bottom)

1. Chamelleon Colorworks Footsie - this was the mystery yarn for the Yarn Deli's mystery sock 2. I love the yarn but I'm thinking about frogging the sock and starting a new one. I like the pattern just not with that yarn.

2. Lambs Pride Superwash Sport - I have used this yarn for another sock project I did. I am thinking about trying two socks on 2 circlar needles.

3,6,12. All Noro sock. I'm thinking the Noro Stripey Socks for some of it. Possibly a non-sock project for one skein.

8. Will be a pair of socks that will be used as a Christmas gift.

9. Cherry Tree Hill- This needs to be watermelon inspired. I might actually design a pattern for it. I have been dreaming of this pattern since I bought the yarn.

10. Claudia Hand Painted Yarns - Its pretty and rainbow-y.

11, 13. Cherry Tree Hill and Chamelleon Colorworks Bambino - I would like to use these together as part of a color work pattern. I haven't seen the perfect pattern yet.

14. South West Trading Company TOFUtsies - This is a WIP with the
Pomatomus pattern.

4,5,7. Not sure what I will do with them.

The plus one I was referring to above is Cherry Tree Hill in black that I am currently working on for a gift. I have one sock done and almost halfway through the 2nd.

New (school) Year goals...

I miss back to school. I used that as my new year rather than January 1st. I have been out of school for a while yet I still get the feeling of new beginnings when autumn rolls around.

I have decided to take this time to institute some new plans in my life.

I have many interests in my life and right now I feel as if I keep putting off certain things because I have so much I want to do.

Right now I have two main categories I want to work on: decrease my stash and improve my programming skills.

First off my stash. It's not taking up an entire room but it is slowly growing beyond my control. My first task is to work through my sock stash. Over the next couple of days I'll be doing an inventory of what sock yarn I have and any WIP that might be associated with them.

The following rules will be used to keep me on task:

1. One sock project at a time.


2. At least one pair of socks must be completed a month.


3. I must make at least one status post a week.

I am hoping this will get me in the right direction.

I have a few ideas for the technical part but that will be part of another post.

Stanley Cup

I am not a "by the pattern" knitter. I tend to make it up as I go. I tried my best to create a pattern. Feel free to manipulate to your needs.


Knitted Stanley Cup:

Size: about 8 inches.
Yarn: Worsted Weight Acrylic.
Needles: I used size 7 dpns.


Cast on 40 sts. Join work in the round.

Rounds 1-30:
*Knit 5 Rounds, Purl 1 Round* 5 times creating 5 bands.

Rounds 31-37
Decrease 2 sts each of the next 7 rounds. 26 sts remain. I would recommend not making the decreases in the same position each round. Scatter the decreases.

Round 38
Purl all sts.

Rounds 39-53
*Knit 4 Rounds, Purl 1 Round* 3 times

Rounds 54-58
Decrease 3 sts each round for 5 rounds. 11 sts remaining.

Round 59
Purl all sts.

Round 60-62
Knit all sts

Round 63
kfb k1 *kfb, k2* 3 times (15 sts)

Round 64
*kfb, k2* 5 times (20 sts)

Round 65
kfb k1 *kfb, k2* 5 times (25 sts)

Rounds 66-70
Knit all sts

Round 71
Bind off

I put rolled up paper to help the Cup keep its form. You could put fiber fill in it also.

If you notice any errors please let me know. I was writing this as I was watching Game 5 of the Penguins vs Red Wings series that went into triple overtime.

envy of all those who write

I am not a writer. I might have been one many years ago but college ruined it. I have some super funny stories from when I was younger. I was a story teller. Being an only child, I had a very active imagination. I had an imaginary grandmother and my grandpa was Phil Collins (I think in recent years he married someone my age. Also, Phil if you are reading, I was never implying that you were old, I just loved Genesis). I miss my imagination.

Well, back to the present. I am currently working on some project specs for my job. I sat down at my computer and opened up the template. I realized that I haven't had to write anything beyond code in such a long time and now I was being asked to write a document that the end user would have to understand. When I read the rough draft for this document, I was mortified. The grammar was horrible. Also you could hear "me" in my writing. It was hard to take what I consider my language out of the document.

I believe that the internet has to be partially blamed for my professional writing taking such a horrible turn. Instant messaging made LOL a common part of our vocabulary. The social networking sites emphasize "individuality", so their common slang comes through on their pages, message, tags, etc. I really am considering taking a writing 101 class because this could be a big problem down the line.

I still envy those who are able to make their blogs sound professional while still being able to hear their voice. Hopefully with practice I can become one of those writers.

Soundtrack to Project Spectrum: Fire

Since I am such a music nut I decided to search through my Itunes library to find songs/artist with fire, orange, pink, red in the title. Here are a few:
OK Go- "There's a Fire"
The New Pornographers - "Streets of Fire"
Modest Mouse - "Fire It Up"
Franz Ferdinand - "This Fire"
The Bens - "XFire"
Rymes with Orange - "Taking of David"
Rymes with Orange - "Brand New Day"
Johnny Cash - "Orange Blossom Special"
The Shins - "Red Rabbits"
Say Anything - "Yellow Cat/Red Cat"
Otis Redding - "Try a Little Tenderness"
Butch Walker and the Lets Go Out Tonites -"The Taste of Red"
Ben Folds Five - "Your Redneck Past"
AquaBats - "Red Sweater"
The Psychedelic Furs - "Pretty In Pink"

Hopefully I will be able to get an earth one out much faster.