Projects- House work or knitting?

Well I look around the room this morning after getting the girls to school. I wanted to do a couple of things. So I started with the yarn stash cleanup. Putting the yarn in groups of projects was my goal. As I was digging around I found some sock yarn I had forgotten about. So of course I had to have a sit and start a new sock. The total of sock on the needles is three. One pair half done and then the two starts. I will be okay.

So after a while I took a break to do some actual housework; dishes and laundry. Maybe later some vacuuming will get done. I need to keep up some of these things.

I have also been searching for my Harry Potter Ravenclaw house sock swap mates pattern. I have the yarn ordered and on it's way soon. Being a fairly new sock knitter I need to make a careful choice. I do not what to pressure myself and since this is my first ever swap I want it to be fun and received happily.

Some people have gone so far to design their own, these are people like my SockPixie friend that are true artist to the fiber world.

I have never received a pair of handmade socks. So whomever my sock mate is and what they knit up is going to be treasured as my first pair of handmade socks for me! I am truly excited.

Well off to do something; vacuum, knit, more laundry, dust, knit, or sort out small clothes from the girls, or did I mention maybe knit?

Cheers

Breaks!!! What Breaks?

When life gets going sometimes it goes faster than you recall. First going to dance classes for the girls on Monday. Then horse lesson for the eldest on Tuesday. Then school basketball meet in which Victoria team won both of them. Getting all the packing and notes for a conference in Burbank, California. Things seemed very crowded. And it is not normally like this. So I am happy to say that this week is going smoother.

The conference that I went to was Cal-Ed/Impact They provide assistance to the educators and parents for deaf and hard of hearing children, all the way up through College. In starting my non-profit I felt this would be a great resource location for the group. Coming back my mind is filled with so many more ideas, and I have a bigger drive, passion if you will about starting this group. Deaf education even for the hearing child has such an overall effect that they also become better scholars. ALL tools are used. Visual, tactical, and beyond.

While in Burbank I went to a local store called Unwind. A very cute shop. Locals invited me for cake and champagne. I was tempted, but had friends with me that are not knitters. I got a hold of some sock yarn Lorna Laces and a skein of Jitterbug. While there I also passed along the FREE pattern for the mini sock project. They were quite excited about helping.

As for knitting…..I started a sock last Sunday and finish the first from a pattern ___________ I have one sock done and working on its mate. I have two other patterns in queue for my next projects. Still looking for my Harry Potter swap mate’s pattern to work up her socks. Any ideas? She is from the Ravenclaw house.

I will have pictures soon. The battery is on the charger.

More Soon

I will be back to posting Sunday night. Going to Burbank for a conference. It is all about parents groups for deaf and hard of hearing kids. I am planning on stopping at the Unwind yarn shop. Hope to bring back some sock yarn.

I have photos to post. Updates to tell you about. It is all good.

Weekend Adventures

Dear husband Ken and youngest daughter went to the in laws; aka: Grandparent’s to take care of the animals while they were at “Weekend to Remember” in Tahoe. So that left Victoria and I home alone for the weekend. Looking at all the things we could do at home to get it tidy before school started today we decided to set off on an adventure Saturday morning away from the home.

I joined a knitting group in Petaluma called yayayarndivas. They meet every Saturday from 12:30 until 3pm. I was impressed with the quaint coffee shop and the different gatherings they offer. We got a up of hot chocolate. While there I told them about my non-profit sock project. When they found out that Sockpixie was helping they were eagered. So I passed out what patterns I had and then directed the others to Sockpixie and my blog sites.

L to R: Carla, Kathie, Victoria, myself(Kathleen), Ruth, Keener, Roxanna and Madeline

After a while working on my sock Victoria and I went to the Knitterly to see what they had to offer. Quite a big store! All in all we found a project for Victoria to work on. She is going to make a “rockstar” purse.

Victoria working away on her Rockstar Purse

Off to the bookstore to have a look at what reading would capture me. Victoria had a suggested book-list which always helps. So quickly she found not one but two books. Me over at the crafty book section looking for ideas and such I came across the Yarn Harlot’s book. Yep the new one-Cast off. So that is now part of my reading.

By this time we were getting hungry. In ~n~Out burger was our choice for junk food. Delish it was!

I have not even gotten to Saturday evening let alone to Sunday...back later

Pattern for Sock Project

Materials: left over sock yarn, circular of dpts size1 Gauge: 9 stitches/inch

Cast on 20 stitches, and divide stitches over your needles। Join the round. Knit for 1/2 inch in K1P1rib, continue in stockinette stitch until the leg including the rib section is 1 1/2 inch long.

Heel flap: Work back and forth in stockinette stitch on 10 stitches only, while slipping the first stitch of every row as if to purl. Continue until heel flapis 1/2 inch long.

Heel Turn: R1: slip 1 as if to purl knit 5, ssk, k1, turnR2: Slip 1 as if to purl, purl 4, p2tog, p1 turnR3: slip 1 as if to purl, knit 4, ssk, turnR4: Slip 1 as if to purl, purl till last 2 stitches, p2tog, turn

Knit one row.

Pick up and knit 1 stitch in every slipped stitchalong heel flap, pick up 1 stitch at the intersection of the heel flap and the instep, knit the instep stitches pick up 1 stitch at the intersection of the instep and heel flap, pick up and knit one stitch per slipped stitch along the heel flap, knit the 1/2 of the heel stitches. Your sock should be in profile, with either half of the stitches of each circular needle, or split over three dpts, and the beginning of the round should be at the center of the heel flap.

Shaping the gusset with circulars:Place markers to separate the 10 gusset stitches (knit till 5 sts are left on needle one, PM On needle2, knit 5, PM, knit to end.)
R1: knit to 3 stitches of the marker, K2tog, k1, slip marker, knit to end of needle, go to second needle,knit to the marker, slip marker, K1, SSK, knit to the end of the needle.

R2:Knit

Repeat R1, and R2 until you are back to your original number of stitches which is 20.

Shaping the gusset for dpts: Do the above decreases at the end of needle one, and at the beginning of needle 3, alternating decrease round and even round.

Foot: Continue to knit in stockinette stitch without decreasing until the foot of the sock is 1 3/4 inch.

Toe decreases for circulars: R1: knit to 3 stitches of the marker, k2tog, k1, slipmarker, k1, ssk, knit to the end of the needle, repeat the same decreases on the second needle.

R2: knit.

Repeat row 1 and 2 until 4 stitches are left on each needle. Break yarn and with a darning needle gather the remaining stitches.

Toe decreases for dpts:Rename needles: With instep stitches on needle 1, 5 sole stitches on needle 2, and 5 sole stitches on needle 3.

R1:needle 1: K1, ssk, knit to last three, k2tog, k1Needle 2: K1, ssk, knit to endNeedle 3: knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1।

R2: Knit

Proceed as for circular needles.

Weave in ends.

Connections

It never ceases to amaze me…LIFE! The way each and everyone person has a connection. A connection with an object, a person, or even a place. And when these connections are formed and then built upon most often good things come from these connections.

One is such in a friend whom is helping me with a mini-sock design. This will help raise money to build my non-profit. To benefit the deaf and hard of hearing children in my area. Please visit her blog to read her entry about the subject. www.sockpixie.blogspot.com

It is my hope that this project will grow nationwide. And that our connection to yarn and help will have an abundance of mini-sock’s on the doorstep of Caroline or me.

I will soon show you the finished card and have a button for you to show your support.

Thanks again

Hogwarts Sock Questions

Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionnaire

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into? I have been sorted into the very amazing Hufflepuffs!!!!!!!

2. Shoe size? Size 8 here in US of A for me.

3. Foot Length? Heal to toe tip is 9” inches

4. Foot Circumference? The widest part of my foot would be 9” inches

5. List your three favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length.
a। Clover size 1 (7 inches)

b। Addi’s 2 set Circlular size 1 (16 inch)

c. Addi’s 2 set Cirlcular size 3 (16 inch)

6. Would you like to try a new brand needle? If so, which brand? Size? Length? Just getting into socks and learning so much. Willing to try anything that has been tested true for you.

7. If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book? Do you have a strong preference? N/A

8. Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal? Since I have family and friends from several places around the world I would welcome this for sure!

Harry Potter Sock Swap

WIDTH="88" HEIGHT="130" ALT="Want to Get Sorted?">

I'm
a Hufflepuff!


I am looking forword to doing my first swap. I have been placed. Soon I will have the offical invite and questions to answer. Stay tuned.

Good Friday Indeed!

Waking up this morning...Coffee....Get the girls up for school...Breakfast.....Clothed and then into the car for delivery. Returning home in silence as my car hummed along I had a chance to reflect on the day I had yesterday. So I am happy for today! Why? You ask. The reason is because today is another day to work on my non-profit and to knit for my non-profit, Thanks to Sock Pixie for her idea.

I suppose you are a bit curious as to what my non-profit is and for? I hope you are anyway. A little background......


Hubby and I have two beautiful girls. Victoria whom will be 12 in May and Gabriella nearly 8 in July. Because there is a family inheritance of hearing loss on my side. Both of my daughters were tested at birth for hearing loss. Victoria came out fine. She has what I call "selective hearing" loss. (being a tween) Gabriella test failed. So from birth she had a profound to severe hearing problem. Over the years I have had to work hard to find resources and avenues to benefit her socially and medically. I am happy to say with hearing aids and WORK on her part she is a happy second grader in a mainstream school.

Being in the mainstream school like many hearing impaired kids they get scattered. Then there is no opportunities for them to get together for playdays and shared activities. Girls Scouts, Boy Scouts, soccer, softball. All these activities that may seem simple would be great for these Deaf and Hard of Hearing kids. Along with these things we would provide services to family members. What there rights are as a parent with a deaf child. Getting ASL (American Sign Language) classes, getting help with going to the dentist, doctors office and many other services. Raising a hearing child is VERY different from a child who is deaf or hard of hearing. I know from experience.

So the first fundraiser is going to be.......well let me tell you this. It will help you as well as help me. The extra stash of sock yarn will disappear and the knitting you do will be cute and fun. When I have all the details, the fundraiser button, and pattern I will let you in on all the information. Stay tune.

Here is some Lorna's Laces Shepheard Sock in Glenwood. I found a pattern that requires DPN'S. So I am going to give it a go and try my luck on these. I learned on two circlers.

I am a "knit-wit"

I am working on trying to get this blog site. Trying to learn to add links, "buttons", and other goodies as I find them to my site. I sure hope to get some time and read the "how-to's". Better for me would to fine a local blogger to walk me through the steps.

With that said be please be patient with me as my site remain SIMPLE for the time being.

The adorable tank top with ruffle is nearly done. I hope to have photos up soon to show you all.

Another project that I am working on is socks. I am doing a ribbed sock using yarn hand-made from a friend. This friend was my youngest daughter's kindy teacher. I got her started with knitting and she took it to the next step and learned to make and dye her own fibers. This one is a wool with "bubblegum" blue colors. This is going to be the first pair of socks by myself with out my sock teacher who has moved to Boston. Her blog site is www.sockpixie.blogspot.com She is a wonderful writer.



Well until next write......

New to this!

Wow is this an April Fool's joke? Or am I really doing my first post? What can I say......I love to work on knitting projects and family projects. I have quit a few of these going at the moment. I will need to come back to posting later for Sunday is busy. Got to get the dinner, baths and bedtime done quickly enough so that I can work on finishing my latest knitting project. A cute ruffled tank top from the Knitty