Short Row Toe

I have this lovely yarn that's been marinating in my yarn stash for awhile. I'm intrigued by the pattern in the new Knitty, called "Falling Leaves". Over the past two days I have knit the short row toe FOUR times. The first three versions I tried my darnedest to following the pattern as written. You see, like recipes, I think that at least one time you should try to follow the directions exactly as the author wrote them.

Now, you have to understand, I'm no fan of knitting socks from the toe up. It's not that the toe is that big of a deal, but I have yet to find a cast off that works for me and my ample ankles. (However, I do have a new plan that I'll reveal later in regards to the cuff.)

Anyhow, I don't know of the pattern has an error, or if the knitter just ain't happy, but when I followed the pattern directions, I got large holes and that ain't good. So, I found some instructions for short row toes where the short rows are wrapped. (In a previous edition of Knitty.) And it worked better. I still wouldn't give it an A plus, but I believe I won't reknit the toe again.

As far as my UFO's -- the Whitby socks are complete and I have them on my happy feet as we speak. The "More Fun than Cables" socks are nearing the heel flap on the second sock. And I haven't even cast on for the second blue and white mitten. (I'm not allow to until the "More Fun than Cables" socks are done.)

The porch project is finished. Back to looking like a Victorian house.

On the knitting front. Mitten No. 1 is completed. Even the 11 year old thinks it's pretty neat. Of course, it's in school colors.

Here's a shot of the palm. Overall the mitten is really a bit small for me, but fits the kid. Next pair gets made with larger needles.

Home stretch action on the Whitby socks. I kinda of had a lapse and had second sock syndrome for a bit. But I'm back on track. Whitby should be done tonight. Then I need to get the second mitten done (before cold Friday night football weather sets in). I also have to finish the second "More Fun than Cables" sock and "Cascading Leaves." I also have a couple Christmas projects in the hopper. It's time to get on the ball!

The ride home

Sandy is having a little contest on her blog by asking folks to enter sky photos on their blogs. Here's my entry. A few weeks ago we were on the ferry from Ocracoke, NC coming back to Hatteras, NC at sunset. I was a great way to end a great day!

Blue and White

I wanted to get at least one mitten done over the weekend, but our internet computer at home is having spyware problems that won't let us log on. But I'm ready to start the decrease on the first mitten. Here you can see the thumb gusset. The red stitches will come out. I'll pick up the stitches and knit up the thumb.

And here's the front. I just LOVE knitting with colors. I've never done it much before and it's SOOOOOOO... much fun.

I just couldn't resist more of the KnitPicks yarn. Here's a pair of mittens I started earlier this week. The pattern is from the Fall 2003 Interweave Knits.

Here's a view of the back and the thumb gusset. I've never done any stranded colorwork before. Actually, it's pretty fun. The pattern is basically a chart which I scanned and enlarged so it's really easy to follow. The hardest part is to remember to twist the two color together over long stretches so there's no long pieces of loose yarn inside. Fun project!

Some new stuff for fall

I got my first ever order from Knit Picks. WOW! The dusty blue, gray, and pumpkin colored yarns is earmarked for socks. This is the first solid color sock yarn that I've had. I really enjoy the self-patterning and striping yarns, but I find I'm less bored if I pick a sock pattern with a bit of a stitch pattern. And to really see stitch patterns solid color yarn is really the best. The blue and white is earmarked for mittens. (School colors, you know.) I'll need to search around for a simple colorwork pattern for mittens. I'm sure I can find something. I might even borrow a pattern from Elizabeth Zimmerman's Doublemosa cap.

And of course, I had to test out how the new sock yarn is going to knit, so here's the start of a pair of Cascading Leaves socks. Pattern from the Townsend Sock Knit-a-long Group on Yahoo. This pattern has four pattern rows with a rib pattern row in between. I wrote out each line on a a 3 X 5 card, punched a hole in the corner, clipped them together with a large split ring and I was off to the races. I had to enlarge the pattern to suit my fat feet, but that wasn't hard and there was good information on how to do that through the group.

One down, one to go

More Fun than Cables sock No. 1 is completed. And yes it was more fun than cables!

Here's another close-up of the leg showing off the stitch pattern. It was a very enjoyable knit.

Here's my hanging basket of portulaca, white million bells, and pink begonias. Even though it's been really dry and I've had to water it alot this basket is sure looking nice. I did have some trailing dusty miller in it also, but it died (didn't like being dry) and since I've pulled it out, everything else is much happier.

Last but not least is my wandering jew. It was a baby last summer that my MIL gave me. It almost died over the winter, but it's just outstanding now. Hopefully I can keep it happy over the winter.