I'm Melting.................

It has been too hot to do anything besides sit under the fan and melt. This weekend saw Australia Day (like the 4th of July for us aussies) (also friday) being 42 degrees c, sat being 41 and today right now is 39. Way to hot to knit, blog, move. But here is a pic taken by someone that was on the paper's website- the humidity caused a double fireworks display in the city on Australia Day.

WIPs, Pressies, Porn and Dog

Maybe I shouldn't say porn in the heading but if you got here thinking to get hot and heavy- Nah hah!!! Its Yarn Porn goodness from my CASP!!

ohhh and If she is reading this- I forgot to ask you the purple wool in the last package, what is it- it is soo soft I am using it as my pet yarn- it sits by the computer getting petted daily!!

ok, porn- well my amazing and yet unrevealed CASP sent me this great package:
















which included Mountain Colours Sock yarn in Larnspun colourway- seen here.
















As for the blogstalking- it was photo your wip's - well I am a wimp- I do not want to look at them in fear of never getting up the nerve to start the new projects that the yarn is bought, wound and ready to rock for.

So you get a list:

First up: SSS
1) Anastacia toe ups- only one done as my bind off is too tight and I don't know how to do it any looser- so will be frogged and become a different pair of socks.

2) Secret Sockret-Pal socks- one down, one to go, one month to do it in- must find and finish it!!

3) Baby sock- one knitted, mother didn't like them, will finish anyway as I disagree on the 'too loud for baby' comment.

4) Baby bootee- am finishing no 1 again as I miscalculated and K3tog instead of k2tog somewhere and ended up somewhere where I shouldn't of.

By the way if anyone knows of another bootee or basic baby sock pattern where seaming is little or none please let me know


5) Baby cardigan- on hold because of number 6

6) Baby kimono (from Summer IK 2005) being knit at rapid rate due to baby shower being on monday so EVERYTHING else is on hold.

7) Somewhat cowl- still on hold - knitted on every now and then

8) Fairisle jumper (Vogue Fall or Holiday 06) - see above

9) Flower Basket Shawl- Still needs blocking.

10) Fake Fur Sirdar Bear- Is painful to knit and seam so looks like getting dumped in favour of knitty norbert pattern.

And I really don't want to add more to this list. So please help me not start anything new for now- but if you know where I can get some olive lace yarn so I can make a shawl to match my olive silk dress for my sister's wedding that is the only purchase I will make. (for now)

And cause she is soooo cute- gratuitous skeeta shot!

Love and Mistakes

I love my sockret pal (or as I call her my sockret mum)

when the box was opened screams of oh my god were heard around the house, causing both the dog and sis to come running to see what was wrong- or in this case right!!

my sis - being a non-knitting muggle didn't understand why a skein of CTH is cause for jumping around the house nor why I immediately sat down (still petting the CTH) to read the Knit Fix book, claiming it my new Bible.

do you want to see:



and a porny pic of the CTH (Life's a Beach) colourway- very appropriate!



Sockret Mum you are the best, absolutely amazing- I had to wrestle my sis not to take the body lotion ( pink grapefruit) and am about to take a crochet class so wow for the entire package. Did I mention I want to be adopted!! :) LOL

I could fill up the page with thankyou's and it would still not be enough. But thank you again.


BTW: I have a problem. (Yes, yes besides the obvious :) LOL )
I am making the Debbie Bliss garter stitch bootees from Quick Baby Knits and for the life of me cannot figure out how to do the back seam properly - as there are 6 stitches on the sole to incorporate into the seam. The shoe on the left is ready for seaming, the one on the right- finished. But see how it puckers- I am not very fond of that but have no idea how to fix it. Any ideas?




And just because- the front, complete with the background CTH- I can't stop looking at it.

WIP On Hold

Dear Fellow Knittyhead Blogstalkers

Photos of WIPs have been put on hold to next week as another weekend vacation to Rottnest is planned (3rd in a row- I love summer) and a pair of baby bootees must be made before leaving on friday morning- as I am a slow knitter this is a challenge.

Wish me luck...

luv kate

ps... in case you can't remember the drool-worthy photo of rottnest from last summer here it is again.

In 2007

In 2007 I promise to....

1) Not go 2 months without blogging- Going to try for once a week

2) Get over SSS (especially for my sockret pal!!)

3) Finish what I start

4) Knit from the stash

5) Lose 12 kilos (26.5 pounds) preferably at least half of that before my sisters wedding at the end of March

6) Get over the fact that I am not a bridesmaid at said wedding and enjoy it

7) Not push boyfriend away by doing usual tricks of being selfish, breaking dates, never ringing, and not paying for anything

8) Get a part time job

9) Ask for help!!! (knitting and otherwise!)

10) Finally post picture of sockret pals amazing birthday present
















11) Untangle a skein of the above laceweight yarn (knitpicks shimmer in deep woods for the here be dragonne shawl) that ended up like this:















That will do I think.
Tomorrow the UFO and have-yarn-must-knit list

The Postie Came

Well yesterday the postie came
and he had goodies...

My death in the sock wars was in one



With added yarn porn: STR in Scottish Highlands (I am soo lucky- thanks Laurie)


and the second was some great stitch markers and row counters from Cristi- I am a lucky girl!!


Also if anyone has a spare Winter Ik (yep its that (begging) time of year again) I would love to take it off your hands.

Knitting wise- I frogged the anastacia socks and have reknitted the toe, and as the storyteller socks are for my sockret pal they will not be photographed, but i am onto the foot of the first one. Also it is exam time of year so knitting updates and blogging will be put on the backburner till after my birthday (which is also the day of my last exam)

Another Pair of Socks

Whoo hoo

Another pair of socks finished for socktober! only one more unfinished pair to well, finish and then I can start the toe-ups!



yeh for socktober!!

Finally Something to Blog about!

A long time between drinks, it has been. But due to a finished object, and an extension on my university assignment I can blog. I finally finished my Mystery Socks for the KAL (see button on sidebar). Now I must admit they were not a favourite to knit, but I like them now they are finished.!!



So that concludes item no 2 on my socktober list.
socks no 1 has one finished, and one up to the heel flap.

absolutely no other knitting to report. Its been a no-knitting-must-study week here at home and unfortunately is going to be that way for about another month. Then uni is over for the year and I can knit all I want!

BTW: Apparently I am still alive in Sock Wars- Wow who would of guessed!

teddy

This is why i haven't been knitting socks after finishing the socks of doom. which are below as well.

its ted the Harry bear from berroco. soo cute- he will be off to a child in need as soon as i can figure out what charity to donate him to.

As for socktoberfest- i haven't forgotton: my to-do list consists of the following:

1) plain stockingette sock in opal yarn (on foot on sock one)
2) sock two of mystery socks in koigu
3) finish (finally) the UFO sock below
4) try for the first time ever a toe up sock- (again prob just st. stitch)
and 5) try a pattern!!! am thinking jaywalker or pontomous on the leg of a sock.

so thats the to-do sock list. Also on that list is the other sock turned arm-warmer from vogue, but as its technically not a sock not on this months list.

UFO Sighting

Hmm how many hits will that get me

too bad its a knitting UnFinished Object. Not my oldest- i couldn't find that one. This sock pair was started before I left for London and Europe last year- I think about April 2005.

So here it is in its UFO SSS (with its finished partner) glory:



Also in the pressie (we aussies like to shorten things- its presents) department:

From Dee: Stitchmarkers!!! so pretty and autumnish



And from my colourswap pal Ulla: A great pink and red package.

Sock-Ret Pal Questionnaire

Ok its a bit late! But here it is:

The basics:
How long have you been knitting?
I have been knitting for about 3 years now.

Do you consider yourself a beginning sock knitter, an intermediate, or have you been doing this so long you could probably knit a pair in your sleep?
Intermediate- still learning different heels/toes/patterns- but have 'my perfect fit' plain pattern down pat.

The measurements:
Well I am a size 6 Australian, standing on a ruler gives 23cm and i normally cast on 56stitches on a 2.75mm needle in normal sock yarn, (going down to 52 after the gusset decreases) 60 rows before toes (see perfect fit comment above)

(fiber related) Favorites:
What colors do you love?
I love blues, greens and browns. However with socks i like to go abit crazy so use all colours.

Do you prefer solids or variegated? variegrated

What fibers do you most love to knit with? socks- anything that can go in the washing machine!!!

Who do you consider your favorite yarn vendors? regia is better than opal, normally use patons and online (thats all i can get over here), ADORE lornas laces, would love to try STR, CTH

What projects (other than socks, of course*S*) do you most enjoy knitting? im on a lace kick at the moment. also have the pattern but no yarn for the simple knitted bodice, and sizzle.
I have a great lace pattern called the heree be dragon shawl. only trouble is it calls for 1750yds of lace. I was thinking brown/gold or silver/ice colourways but have no idea how to find or get good but not too expensive lace. If you can help me withthat i shall be ever in your debt.

(fiber related) Dislikes:
What fibers can you not stand to knit with? To wear?What colors would you never wear?
I am not a fan of novelty yarns or anything too starchy or acrylic. dont mind a bit of lycra or model in the yarn as it makes it lighter. i like cotton. to wear- black, greens, blues, neutrals- i would never wear purple, red, orange, or pink

The Tools:
Plastic or Metal? Bamboo or wood?
I normally use metal straights and plastic dpns but have recently discovered bamboo dpns and they are my new favourite.

Circs or Straights? straights- i love the susan bates crystailites but mine have broken so am always on the lookout for them as they are not readily available here.

DPNs or Magic Loop?Are there any knitting accessories you don't have in your collection but would like? I am a dpn girl. I tried the magic loop but just couldn't understand it! Accessories- hmmm I would love some coil-less safety pins- i cannot find them anywhere here in perth.

The Extras:
Do you have a wish list?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/3JTVD07RDC5S7

Do you like sweet, sour or salty?
sweet of course, major chocolate, coffee and gummy lollie addict here

Do you have any allergies your pal should know about? nope

Favorite scents? Scents you can't stand? love musk, vanilla, citrus sents

Do you collect anything (other than yarn and knitting toys of course)? i cross-stitch and am experimenting with beaded knitting (does that count)

When is your birthday? (month and day is fine!) 24th november (and counting down the days)

Do you spin? Dye your own yarn? nope and never tried but have been thinking about it.

Your favorite author/band/vacation spot, anything you think will help your pal know you better... well I am a student who lives at home and does part time work for my father so hence never has any money for yarn, would love to learn to crochet (even bought the happy hooker but couldn't figure it out) and wishes knitpicks would ship internationally.

Hope this helps

Back to Normal

Wow it has been a long time between posts- and all because of uni (university) assignments !
I missed the blogstalking tools, library and am not posting my movies as i don't keep the covers and they are all in cd carry cases. (all 300+).

Anyway thankyou for all your patience. Now i have a week free from uni and i can do all the things I need to catch up on, like knit, and catch up on study for the other subjects and organise my pattern files, ufos, wips and to-knit lists. PHEW! It will take a while.

In present news I received my first set of stitch markers today from jessica! thanks so much they are a fantastic first time effort.

Her ones she sent me are here:




These are the ones i sent off about the 14th so hopefully everyone has got them by now.






Also I have been doing some knitting:

A ball band dish-cloth for a present:



Half a teddy bear (no pic)

AND THE SOCK OF DOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!! (ruler to show i can actually knit large socks) 2nd one to be cast on tomorrow....



So thanks for being patient with the non-postings.

Next up : a WIP list


PS: forgot to add also joined Socktoberfest, sock-ret pal and CASP 3
yes i am a joiner- buttons to be added later

We Remember

ok so i have been a bad blogger but have been receiving patterns galore last week. from bezzie- the book Big Girls Knits- thanks bezzie, also got the SKB pattern, the heere be dragons lace stole pattern, and the falling leaves fibretrend pattern. All this on top of getting the knitting nature book from the library.

wow pattern overload.

but today i am not posting (much) knitting progress (none to speak of) or the reason why (uni assignments)

todays post is to remind (like you needed it) to spend some time today remembering all the victims of 9/11- australian and american (and all others from around the world) though the attack was on american soil it affected every country in the world, through its total disregard fo human life. I am not a religious person but god bless all those who lost loved ones- whatever their colour, nationality or creed. PEACE

Hi Bananas

Hi Bananas

With the tencel yarn, I want to use it to make the Rockstar Cardigan. For that I need 15 balls. I have 4. If you can get your LYS to hold 11 more balls (colour 2066, lot 724924) I will talk to you about the $$ element through email.

Kate

Socked Feet

Feet- ok I'm a week late, but i'm not fond of my feet (except being small makes socks quicker to knit!) so you get socked feet.



On left- hand knit mystery sock KAL sock. (Finally cast on for the other one) On right- sheep footlet sock gifted from knitty SP7. Note the spots on the bottom for non-slip sole action. WHoo hoo- my new favourite house socks (I have wooden floors).

Ands its Father's Day here in Australia, so I'm off to be nice to dad.

One Finished Object

To join my single socks, I give you the single sock arm-warmer. This was going to be the meg swansan VK sock but i got confused, then a bit bored with it so decided to end it off and create the arm-warmer. Its great, now I just have to muster up the energy to start the second one.

I Got Mail

I got mail today

lots and lots of mail- well ok only 3 packages but let me tell you what they were.

Letter 1) my felted toy patterns from fibretrends. (the hedgehogs and felted fido)

Package 2) the stitch-and-bitch 2007 page-a-day calender. Not the best for patterns (had a quick flick) but could be fun



Package 3) my sp7 package from bananas. Still no idea who she is but wow, this girl has done her homework. It all arrived in paper of my favourite flower,



included gorgous blue yarn (i have to get more of this- am going to use it to make sizzle), a frangipani needle case and amongst other goodness- a HAND MADE BAG- it is sooooo cute- with dog fabric lining and a felted dog on the corner. I LOVE IT (also in the big stash were some stamps and stickers of the australian post kid's marketing tool- postie kate (no joke), some point protectors, a jeweled pen, and some non-slip sheep socks (so cool)



THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU
SP you have been the greatest.

now if i can only find out who you are.....................

Mystery Sock done

Well I finished the other mystery sock last night. And here it is.................
(does this count as a feet, fellow blogstalkers?)



And a close up of the mini (fake) cables (no cable needle required).



Here is the LINK for those wanting it. Its from the About list. I also have pictured my progress on the VK meg Swanson socks. I tried them on after doing one and a half pattern repeats and my calves are a lot bigger than 80 stitches, so started the decreases earlier. Also doing them every 4 rows, so will end up with 56 stitches, 2 and a half pattern repeats in. Then comes the heel. Speaking of which, did you notice on the mystery socks the garter stitch heel flap and square heel turn. It was a 'new' heel turn 'way' for me, and not crazy about it, but am glad to have learnt something new.



And I am a joiner- I finally joined the sexy knitters club. And what do you know the next knit-along is for the below mentioned bodice (and sizzle). Its fate.

Only problem is that this is up next.

I even bought all the yarn (just have to nip back to the LYS for needles). So wish me luck. In between unfinished projects galore, sock wars, sexy knitters, and yarn stash busters I will try to find the perfect yarn to make the bodice. Bring on the uni break.............

Can anyone say... I WANT

Oh to be able to knit everything at once.

And I found yet another OH MY GOD I MUST HAVE THIS pattern. Its this one. The Stitch Diva (Glampyre) Simple Knitted Bodice. Oh My.

In other news: I have more yarn for the VK fair isle jumper, have cast on the Meg Swanson VK sock, have cast on a new mystery sock, have done no progress on either the somewhat cowl or the mystery shawl, have arranged a 'swap' with bezzie for the Big Girls Knits book, and hopefully this week my stitch n bitch 2007 calender will arrive.

I must organise my to-do list. Too many 'wants' and not enough time. hmmm

will check back later for feet postings and organisation tactics.

What is Wrong with this Picture?

Well I finished my 1st mystery sock (singular) today and then found this:



Can anyone say OOPS! Yep thats right- no heel turn, I knit the flap then when straight into the gusset decreasing.
If any one has any suggestions of how to add the heel turn without totally killing the sock please let me know.

Also in a perfectly timed sugar-needed rush arrived my project colourswap package from Celia.



Thankyou sooo much. In this was alot (now only one bar left) of chocolate, some handspun alpaca (the brown skein) and 2 balls of soft beige mohair- destined to be soft, beige, beaded scarfs. Thanks again Celia!