Christmas socks for my FiL!

If you know me, then you've definitely heard me say that I have the best in-laws in the world. And it's true. I mean, I really seriously want to challenge anyone that thinks theirs are better to give me a call so we can put all the cards on the table and figure it out. I would bet Berger and Puggie that I'd win. So yeah, I'm pretty sure.

Earlier in the year I made my MiL some cotton ankle socks that she could sleep in (special request), and as we were getting things together for Christmas, I decided that I really wanted to knit my FiL some socks. Why? Well, the reasons are many:

1 - I knew he would appreciate them. He's definitely a sentimental kind of guy, and the fact that I spent 30+ hours on these socks would be completely lost on some, but not on him. Bonus: I dyed the yarn as well.

2 - We're taking a family vacation to Alaska next year. Can you think of a better place to wear hand-knitted socks? I mean, I'm sure there are a few (Antarctica, Russia, the North Pole), but Alaska and comfy socks seem like a perfect combination. And he will be visiting his friends in NY, his other kids in MN...he'll have plenty of cold places to wear them.

3 - There's nothing I can buy him that he doesn't have or can't get himself. But...he can't knit. So I spent lots of time dyeing the yarn, tweaking the pattern, and knitting them up to show my love.

And if you don't mind my saying so, I think they turned out pretty well!

If you're interested in duplicating it, I just made a few adjustments to the Yarn Harlot's Earl Grey pattern. One that you'll notice right away is that I didn't do the cable. I like it, but I wasn't feeling it with this yarn. So I ended up with a very hip stripe down either side of the foot. Additionally, I did cast on 70 to begin with, but when I did the gusset decreases, I stopped at 72 so that I could do the round toe. I hate the kitchener stitch.

WIP Wed...wait, Monday: Everyday Wrap

I'm working on the Everyday Wrap in Noro Taiyo. I saw the pattern and picked up the yarn during the Autumn 2011 Yarn Crawl. The project is a bit stalled because I need to confer with my friend Meg about the alterations that I'd like to make, but overall I'm pretty excited. Noro is always a favorite. I wish I could knit with it every single day. I guess I could if I knitted the Everyday Wrap every day. Chuckle, chuckle.

P.S. The question is not do you, but how much do you love the solemn, artsy Pug in the background?

ROLL TIDE!

I love sharing the tradition of Alabama football with the people I love. This year I'll be watching the Iron Bowl with Jose's whole family, which is really exciting. And scary. I'm kindof a serious watcher, but they've all been warned.

Speaking of the people I love - I wanted to share some pics of my little Bama muffins. They don't look like this anymore, but they are still seriously cute, and very into cheering for the Tide.

a special yarn deserves a special pattern...

I love the colors in this yarn, I really do. But I bought it at a time that I was really buying yarn for what it looked like in the skein, and not for what I might do with it. I've cast on with it several times and I've frogged and frogged and frogged. I'm not frogging because I don't like the way it looks, it's because I'm waiting for it to be SPECTACULAR.

My friend Melissa made a sock in the Kiertoradalla pattern, and I'm thinking that this might be the one. But before I cast on again (and hopefully for the last time) I want to see if anyone has any better ideas. I'm always impressed with the yarn/pattern combos that you all pick, and I'd like you to weigh in now. Doesn't have to be socks, just has to be awesome.

Bring it.

boil, boil, toil and...yarn?

Some of my friends have asked to come over the next time I'm dying yarn so that they can "witness the magic". Honestly, I laugh every time. Why? There's no magic here! I use a pretty straight forward dye. In a pot. On my stove. I guess the magic is in the color mixing, which I'm constantly testing and working to improve. The strategizing never stops. I'm forever jotting down ideas and notes...it's a fun, constantly evololving process.

It kinda looks like a witches brew, no?



If you like what you see, mosey on over to my Etsy shop and pick some up!

walkin' on Pugshine...

If you're ever looking for Puggie and you can't find her, check the sunny spots of the deck. Her foster mom said that lying in the sun was a favorite pastime, and I believed her, but I didn't really understand. I'm feeling really bad for the Pug now that the temps are cooling and and the sun is setting earlier and earlier. How will she find time to sunbathe now?

meet Boss

I snapped a bunch of pics of my brother's best friend...his Bulldog, Boss. He's a super cute dog, so it was hard to narrow down the ones to post. Don't you want to just pinch his face?

When Boss is super tired, or when he gets really irritated, he plops down on the tile hearth. It cools and soothes him. He has a tough life, with a big backyard, treats, and constant attention. He spends a lot of time on the hearth.

Here Boss is shown conquering the boy child. With his superior strength and agility, it wasn't really a fair fight.

The girl child likes to wrap Boss in soft blankets. This is part of his rough life as well.

What a buddy...

bell pepper stuffed burgers

Sometimes I just want a good burger. It isn't often at all, but when the craving is there, it's real. My stuffed Greek burgers were so good that I thought they could never be topped. But then...

Last month we were getting a crazy influx of bell peppers in the garden and we could hardly cook them fast enough. Side note: it's so frustrating how the bounty seems to come in waves. Anyhoo, we were going to grill the peppers and add them to the top of the burger and I suggested grilling and stuffing them instead. We topped the burgers off with crispy bacon and creamy gorgonzola, and served them with a side of an old childhood favorite - tater tots.

As another side note, Udi's gluten free buns are pretty delicious (especially when toasted on the grill). So much more satisfying than going bun-less.

This was just one day's harvest. I think we picked just as much the next day:

swimming in the ocean

I had a quick "girls' weekend" beach trip in October. As it turned out, the weather was pretty perfect. Not too hot, nice breeze. Fun stuff. I got a little bit of a sunburn, but I swam in the ocean for the first time. I use the term "swam" loosely. But it qualified. It probably doesn't sound like a big deal, but for me it is. And it was good. So good. I can't wait to swim in the ocean again...preferably in the Carribean. Preferably with turtles and tropical fish and snorkeling gear.

I only snapped a few photos, but as it turns out, there were some really good ones in the mix. Enjoy!

too much to dream

I resisted the temptation of the yarn I was dying for a long time. And by a long time, I mean one month. There was something about this blue that I couldn't pass up. I dyed two skeins at once and called the colorway "I had too much to dream last night". Working on some socks now, but can't quite get the pattern right. They have to be perfect. Stay tuned...

Ravelry Update and my WIP

I was inspired by the number of my knitting friends that keep their projects list current in Ravelry...so much so that I spent a few hours bringing mine current. Well, almost current. I still have a few outstanding items that need to be photographed, but you can see most of my work here.

If you're not a Ravelry person, you can check my Flickr Photostream.

My current project of focus is the Madeline Tosh Honey Cowl. I have a long way to go, and my goal is to have it ready to wear for my library association banquet on December 1st. I'd say there's a 50% chance of that happening.