March socks.............................

I finally grafted the last toe last night. The new wooden blockers are lovely. They are the second 'extra' in the Socktopus Bells and Whistles Sock Club. There is a lovely cut-out motif of a ball of yarn and needles, thank you Alice.

The socks are No Purl Monkeys in Posh Yarns Emily ~ Pomegranate. Dpns 2.75mm and a 14 stitch pattern instead of 16 stitches. The cuff is a 2x2 rib instead of twisted rib. I just think it suits the yarn better. :)


I also finished the first of another pair of No Purl Monkeys in Fiesta Baby Boomerang ~ Rainforest. Dpns 2.5mm and a full 16 stitch pattern. This sock also has a 2x2 rib cuff. :) I really like this yarn, it is sleek and well twisted, a bit like STR or Jitterbug. As you can see, no pooling either. I got the yarn from The Loopy Ewe.
One more sock to go and then to cast on for my Monkey Sock Swap 4 socks. :)

More socks.........................................

These socks were finished a few days ago but I have had nearly a month of the pc behaving badly so I am only now getting to post these pictures.

Monkeys with a no purl mod in Wollmeise Sockenwolle: Paul.




Micro Monkeys in Fiesta Baby Boom: Wild Oak

More Knitted socks.........................no really :)

Another pair of Monkeys in Skein Queen Plushness, colourway Sugared Almonds. 56 stitch no purl modified pattern used with 2.75mm. :)



I have cast on for another pair of Monkeys, this time in Wollmeise Paul Sockenwolle.

More socks..................

Another pair of socks for January. These are knitted to my own pattern which I still need to type up. This pattern was created specifically for the Evolution yarn from Chameleon Colorworks, which I displayed yesterday on YPF. The cuffs are a little short, although I personally like short ankle socks, however there is enough yarn left over to knit another 2 inches of rib on the cuff if that is preferred. I was just afraid of running out of yarn initially as these skeins are smaller [2oz/154yds (~57g/141m)] than some but ?sportweight :) These socks were knitted on 3mm Knitpick Options DPNs. The socks are for a UK size 6 Foot length 9 3/4 ".

I also cast on another pair of Monkeys. I had been wearing the No Purl Posh ones and just had to have another pair to wear while the other one was drying! These are cast on in SkeinQueen's Plushness (same base yarn as Posh Emily) the colour is Sugared Almonds. The yarn reminded me of the little 'favours' we had on the tables at our wedding reception. Here is the progress pics. One done............I also used my Harmony Options Dpns 2.75mm for the first time and I love them!!





I must add a word or two of Congratulations to Kerrie et al at Yarn Forward Magazine. This edition is the best yet! I loved the 'real life' models way better than airbrushed stick insects . Lots of very interesting articles which held interest for my children too! Loved Tess' Rabbits but the kids CANNOT have one! Lovely knits in the magazine, new techniques (to me anyway) and a very easy to read layout. I enjoyed my first skim and am looking forward to more in depth reading and knitting. I will definitely be renewing my subscription!





Another Congratulations to a Forum Friend Anni from YarnAddictAnni blog on her sock design. Diamonds are very pretty and are a girl's best friend after all :D

No Purl Posh Monkeys

I finished these on Sunday but had to wait until today to graft and photograph them. They are georgeous and I can hardly wait to wear them :) They fit into my projects for: SAM5, SockDown January on Ravelry, Sock Yarn Project 2008 and my knitting from Stash challenge on Craftythreadsnyarn forum :) I got this particular skein from a forum member Ali


Detail on the heel. I used Grumperina's Pretty method to do the heel gusset.

Evolutionary processes........

The first of the adult size version of the little ribbed socks I did for my son is now completed. This wonderful yarn Chameleon Colorworks Evolution is 100% wool but because of the treatment it receives during processing it loses nearly all of the stretchiness that you expect of 100% wool. The challenge when knitting socks with it is to use a pattern which will compensate for that loss of stretchiness. This pattern I believe does that. I will test knit the second next and write up in a future post for anyone else who wants to have a little silky soft evolutionary sock. :)


This sock is for a UK size 6 foot and is knitted with 3mm needles. As you can see there is enough yarn over to make a bigger sock than I have knitted. I was being cautious with the first skein. The colourway is Peacock and I bought it at Socktopus. I also received Cat Bordhi's new Sock book from Alice this morning. Wow!!! I will be busy for a while reading that...........

Having a Blue Period!!!!

I've noticed a blue theme with the last 5 WIPs. I wonder why, any ideas? I'm not feeling blue.

First: Progress with my Salish Sea Socks by Cat Bordi knitted with STR-M Coola Bella (RSC dec 07). I'm disappointed that the blog is now closed and help with these is no longer available through the usual channels, rug and off feet springs to mind!

Second: Progress with an Adult version of the Evolution Rib socks I knit for my DS2. The colourway is Peacock and I got it from Alice at Socktopus.

Third: My first knitted dishcloth, this is small at the yarn is fine fingering weight/knitted on 3.25mm needles. I tried a pattern, can you tell what it is?

Fourth: the first of my Posh Emily Monkeys in Stormy Seas colour.


Fifth: The Haven scarf for my aunt in Hipknits Silk/Cashmere 4ply, also blue.


I am going to finish at least 3 of these before casting on another knit!! I promise. :)

Works in progress...........................sock yarn

I am posting some progress pics of the current projects which happen to meet the requirements of several Ravelry, KAL or CraftyThreadsnYarn challenges. Both of these are luxury yarns, I've just noticed, maybe I feel in the need to spoil myself? I really do need to finish these and get cracking with PIF gifts next. :)


This is the first of a pair of No Purl Monkeys in Posh Emily: Stormy Seas. The pattern is adjusted for gauge by casting on 56 stitches and using a 14 stitch pattern ( just leaving off the last stitch on either side) over 4 dpns. These are for me and a UK size 6.


This is another Haven from Kim Hargreaves Heartfelt in Hipknits Silk Cashmere sock (4ply yarn) at the request of my Aunt.

2 more FOs....................................

I have finished 2 more items. These are 2 pair of socks for my 3 year old (my biggest fan of my socks BTW). The first one is a pattern I wrote myself to suit the yarn and foot size. The Yarn is Chameleon Colorworks Evolution in Figgy Pudding given to me by the lovely Piglottie and bought at Socktopus. I started this over the Holidays and like the feel of the yarn so much now that I ordered more for a pair for myself. I will try toe-up for these, I think as the skeins are only 154yds albeit in Sportweight. :) Both these items count towards SAM5 and Sock Yarn Project 2008 on CraftythreadsnYarn. :) A few more WiPs finished and I can start something new :D










Micro Monkeys in Interlacements Tiny Toes: Grape Harvest, size UK size 7 (child)



I am imposing a finish some of the long standing WiPs before any new major knits are started as I am running out of project bags to keep them in....................................we will see how long this lasts.

Converse Blogging

One might imagine that having almost 2 weeks leave would enable more blogging not less. Conversely I have had less time not more for blogging. I have knit though. I am working on a new bag using all or most of my Wollmeise test skeins. I really love this yarn, it is very soft and very like Lion and Lamb to touch. The vibrant colours are just a delight to knit with, each skein unfolds to tell a different colour story. Simply beautiful. I want another wrap now having seen more of the colours in real life. :)

I have a few ideas about the bag project but nothing concrete yet. I have also been trying to get through WiPs to leave a clear way to doing some bigger projects this year. :)

I also joined SAM5 which Zonda is hosting this time round. It should give me encouragement to knit at least one pair a month. :)

I would like to take the opportunity to wish all the lovely people who visit here (and the even braver people who post comments :)) a Happy, (Healthy) and Prosperous New Year for 2008. "Athbhliain faoi Mhaise Daoibh" if you prefer it in Gaelic. BTW Happy Knitting too.