Sock Madness

Yeah I know most people only know of March Madness in basketball. Yep, we know that at our house Go Huskies.

But, a while back Adrienne Fong told me I had to join Sock Madness. Not even knowing anything about it I did. When Adrienne tells ya to do something just go do it.

I joined and waited. I read the postings about it. Oh my. 200 knitters start in 4 divisions. First round 40 in each division move on to the next pattern. The excitement was building. How much fun this would be was unfolding. I spent the time before the start cleaning up the house, grocery shopping (wonderful items to have, grapes, baby carrots, quick easy foods that are not messy), I ball up the yarn and plotted my knitting time. I planned meals for the days I would be spending knitting the socks. I tried to clear my days and nights to be ready.

March 19th was the tip off date. Pattern to be emailed between 6 - 9am EDT. Well here that is 3 - 6am. Ya, got to be kidding?

I did wake up at 3:30 am but thought no not gonna do it, pattern may not be out, then 4:30, still pattern might not be there. Well when I woke up at 5:30 I thought I may as well get up. Going to the computer the pattern was there. Wow 10 pages. Downloaded them the hit print, decided to make coffee while printing.

Now I have coffee and the pattern I am ready to go. What a cast on I have never done? Back to the computer to learn that as one must follow the pattern exactly. After 2 different videos of it I think I got it. Gotta thank Youtube here for that save.

So cast on has began but oh, crap coffee is cold. Get up to get a warm up and off to the madness again. Sock was getting longer then an afterthought heel???? What the heck??? Pattern was wonderful and walked on through it with no problem.

Then off to the toes. Oh no it looks like I might run out of yarn. This worried me for a while. I did finish the sock with 5 yards to spare. Golly Gee Whiz. Still not sure why the pattern had you do that 4th row at the toe.

Twas a long day. I knitted most of it. Well I did check the computer to see if any changes were made to the pattern a few times. Checked to see if any one had any tips.

16 hours later I worked the final end in. Now this sock had a cast on I had never done and an afterthought heel. Afterthought heels not sure why one wants more ends to work in.

Ken took a picture of my new socks on my feet.
This picture was taken late at night so the pattern does not show well. I was hoping for some sun (oh that's right we do not get much of that here). I know in sunlight they will look like they have a pattern. Below is a quick daylight picture of them.

What a fun pattern. Very well written. Bring on Round 2 hopefully for the UW Huskies also.

Oh and now I get to be the bartender and pour the virtual Bailey's for the rest of the group.
Go Division One/For Whom the Ball Rolls and any other divisions.

More UFO's become complete projects

I am still trying to finish up old projects. In truth I do not want to start new ones before Sock Madness that starts tomorrow.

I had this on the needles for a long time. When I picked it up this week it looked like a dishcloth. But I created the design as I went along. Kinda enjoy making there Market Bags.

I am not sure when I started this green one also. I again did not follow any pattern just winged it. I do like the handles on this. Handles are recycled from a garage sale purse. Might need to recycle a few more of them. (thanks Margo for the garage sale purse).

This has been a work in progress for years. The yarn is no longer sold in this area. I finally purchased enough to finish it on-line. Over the years I have made many of these for babies. This one is going to my daughter Jess to give to her new charity "Project Linus".

Clearing up the Needles and stuff

Miss Cook's quilt that I finished up for her. I know not a knitting projects but come on how cute is this? These are the hand prints of last years class. Miss Cook is my sister.



OH the animal farm. Seems this are wanted by many so decided to knit up a litter (?) of them. The ones with the blue cuffs are the only ones completed. Love needle felting, I just wish I could do the faces I really want. But, oh well I love them.
Blue socks from the sock of the month club. This kit came when I was test knitting for Knit one Purl too. The yarn in this kit and the test knit were the same so these got put away. Glad to finally have them done. I am trying to keep up with the kits this year and to get all the old kits done. We shall see on this.
I really do not care to ever knit with this yarn again. It almost felt like it had been starched. Was very stiff. Another sock of the month kit. Both pair of socks are from Wooliedi.

Sock Madness starts this Thursday so I am trying to clear things off the needles. I have been lining bags, knitting and crocheting market bags, and just plain getting ready. I have not wanted to start a new pair of socks until I start on Thurs. Wish me luck.

Shawl Blocking

I am going to try to help show how to block a shawl. If any one thinks I should add something or that I have forgotten something let me know. Also if this helps you let me know.

Here is my shawl getting its bath. I use a wool wash but you can use Hair Conditioner also. I run hot water. Add the wash so it is all mixed in with the water. I then add my shawl. I do not more it around too much as I do not want any chances of felting it I hold the shawl under water to make sure it is completely wet. This will stay soaking for...at least until the water is completely cool longer does not hurt. I go set up the mats for blocking.

After the bath, I pull the drain to let the water go out. If you used conditioner you may need to rinse in cool water at this point. I then gently squeeze out some of the water. I then place the shawl in a large towel and roll out the extra moisture. Sometimes it takes 2 towels, some people use a salad spinner at this point (I don't have one).

I use Stainless Steel Welding Rods to block with. They are 1/16". I purchased them by the pound at a welding shop. I wiped them down to make sure they are clean. I weave the rods in the areas I want straight. I am hoping these next 2 pictures show how I use the rods. I over lap the rods if I needed. I then pin against the rods to give the shawls a straight line. I start at the center and work my way to the edges. I do gently pull the shawl to stretch it out moving it along the rods as needed. The first time is for general shaping.

I then slowly work my way along the shawl pinning by rows back and forth. I keep going this way until it is all pinned out. I sometimes need to go back and re pin some parts as they become loose.


Clicking on the pictures you can see the pin placements.


Another picture to show rod weaving.

A picture to show using the rods to block points in a shawl.

Thanks Debbie H. for my mats that make this process easier.

4 day Shawl

Here she is my shawl. Yes it only took 4 days to knit. Was a great stress buster this week. I took this picture on my bathroom floor to give size. The tiles are 13"x13". I will post in more detail later as I took blocking pictures. But, just had to show this baby off today.

Time Flys

Wow where did Jan. go? I am happy as the weather is getting warmer. We are seeing Robins around here. I am not sure if they are confused on where they should be or if they had budget cuts and lost their winter homes so had to come back early.

I have been knitting. I did not take pictures of most of what I knitted in Jan. The month went by way to fast. Not sure why but my blog is not doing what I would like it to do. I am sorry things do not match up.






This pair of socks went really fast. They were knitted on size 2. They seemed to fly off the needles. They are the Dec sotm kit from theknitter.com.




The top light pink pair I was lucky to test knit.

The pattern is Bejeweled Diamonds designer Knittinpixie.

A fun pattern. I love the way the beads add a touch of class to these.

Both beads and yarn have been in stash for awhile. Close ups of the beaded. The beads are a Lavender but look pink even in person so all is good.

The bottom darker pink are going in the mail today. Jess is getting these for Valentines Day. They are the Jan. sotm kit from theknitter.com.

Both pairs of socks were knit in the same week.

My new shawl I am knitting. I have never played with Kanui before. I am knitting this as a KAL on Ravelry. It has a long way to go. But I am enjoying this knit.

Puppies new parents.

Yep, that is my puppies with their new owner. I think the puppies look really happy to be worn by the bride Devra at the reception. Congrats to the puppies on finding such a wonder Bride.
Cindy received a pair from me for Christmas. I am guessing the Bride's Mom loves her puppies as much as the bride.
I am so sorry I could not be there to see this. But oh Cindy and Dev how cute. Love ya.