Starting Over

Ok, so Socktoberfest didn't fly. The socks didn't get done for Christmas, and neither did the shawl I was making. Argh! Oh well. I've restarted the kelp socks in a new pattern, the Undulating Ribs pattern just wasn't doing it for me with this yarn. The new ones are going much better and I seem to have rediscovered my sock knitting mojo.
I have made a few New Years knitting goals, as most have, and I'm pretty sure that I should be able to stick to them. They are: 1. knit one pair of socks a month (2 if the mood strikes me)
2. knit as much from the stash as I can
3. finish the WIPs that I have in the basket (or frog them, whichever seems most reasonable)
4.design and knit a sweater that fits me well.

I think that I should be able to stick to most if not all of them. Here's to a new year of knitting!

Soctoberfest!

I've decided to give Soctoberfest another go, and so far so good. I technically finished a pair already. Although two decrease rounds and some toe grafting don't really count. So what's a girl to do? Why start another pair!
While I'd like to finish 2 pairs (xmas is soon you know) during Soctoberfest, I'll be happy if I just finish these. So far the pattern seems good (Undulating Ribs by Ann Budd) although what can you really tell from 4 rounds of ribbing. I think the yarn was a good choice as well, patons stretch sock in kelp. I hope the recipient of these will enjoy them, he hasn't gotten socks in a while, so he better.
I'm unsure of the other pattern. I have the yarn, fleece artist merino sock, but have started several patterns with it and haven't been impressed with any. Maybe I'll wait on those until I get another gift done. But who knows?!?
(photos will follow, just trying to find the time)

Still Here

I'm still alive, and more importantly, still knitting. I have lots to photograph and post about. I've been a good girl and already started the Christmas knitting. I'll be starting another one tomorrow to kick off Socktoberfest, which I'm super excited about. I've kind of put socks on the back burner for a bit in favour of larger projects, but I'm ready to jump back in.

Bad Blogger

I have been a bad blogger. A lot has happened since September and I just haven't been that into blogging. I have felt the need to start again so hopefully I've gotten my second wind. I have lots-o-knitting to share and many projects in my head so maybe I'll get around to telling about it.
Cheers

Still no photos, but slightly less insane

The moving is done. I'm in New Brunswick now, as is our stuff (it arrived yesterday thank god). N is on his way to the airport in Toronto to fly to Cairo. He'll be in Africa for about 2 months and then in the prairies for Christmas, then he comes east. Needless to say, I'm missing my boy and it will probably only get worse. But in the mean time I can do lots of knitting for him and won't have to worry about him seeing it.
I started a leftover blanket with all the bits of sock yarn I have in the stash. It's going to take a long time, it's huge. I've also become addicted to Ravelry. Other than that I haven't been doing much knitting. I"m going to get the yarn for N's Christmas/birthday present soon and probably start other Christmas knitting. I've decided that I'm not going to buy gifts this year, or anymore at all ever if I can help it. I never really have a lot of people to buy for so making stuff shouldn't be a problem and for those I know who wouldn't know what to do with a hand knit item, they will be getting something from Heifer of another charitable organization. I know some won't get or appreciate this gesture either, but I've realised that we all have too much stuff and we glorify stuff too much and i really think that needs to change.

checking in

i don't know where august went. it was a flurry of guests and a really long road trip to a wedding. i have been knitting though, it gets me through the stress of packing up the apartment and moving back to nb.
i foolishly packed up the stash, but did leave several wips out. they're all socks that need mates so i'm hoping that this will force me to finish them. so far it's working, i cast on my second sidewinder yesterday. that pattern is freaking great.
i also been spending lots-o-time on ravelry. my queue is huge.
back to cleaning and packing

Weekend Goodies

I hope everyone had as good a weekend as I did! For starters it was a long weekend and it was my birthday! On Friday our good friend Jason came to visit from Winipeg. On Saturday we had our annual Sangria party. This is the Sangria bucket:

That's about 24 litres of wine my friends, with lots of fruity goodness. N stuck the ladle through a rubber duckie so it would float, he's so smart. On Sunday there was lots of recovering from the party, mostly in the form of napping, and dinner at our favourite restaurant, Buddha's (666 Dundas st W). If you live in/around Toronto and have never been, go now. It's the best vegetarian asian food I've ever had. Massive portions and amazingly cheap.
Monday was my birthday, 26th to be exact. I got some pretty nice gifts, my favourite being a purple leatherman tool from N. He's totally turned me into a camping nut. We walked around downtown for a bit, tried to go up the CN Tower but really didn't want to wait the 2 hrs in line so we went and bought board games at the Hairy Tarantula.
It was a really nice birthday.
Now what you're all waiting for, my socks! I fully believe that had mail been delivered on Monday they would have arrived then, but they arrived nice and early Tuesday morning. My pal turned out to be from knitty-kat from London, Ontario, and she sent me this fantastic little package:


The sock pattern is Friday Harbour by Nancy Bush ( I heart Nancy's patterns) and the yarn is this great Opal variegated in the colour 'Neon'. She also sent me a mug with a sheep on it, I love sheep, and the Stitch 'N Bitch design journal, which I have been meaning to buy for sometime now.
These socks are freaking awesome. I love the colours, the leg length is perfect and even more important, they fit my feet PERFECTLY!



(Sorry for the crappy photos, the sun was not cooperating.)
I can't say enough how much I love these socks. Thank You soooooo much knitty-kat, I can't wait for it to be cold again!