Mini-Skein Blender Socks

I got through the second color and started the third.  I’m now at the start of the gussets.

I’ll admit that the 2 strands of yarn and swapping of colors isn’t all that.  But I do like the effect.

Paul’s Chicago Bears Socks

I also put several inches on Paul’s Bears socks and I’m ready to start the gussets.  These are supposed to be his 2013 socks but given we’re 3 days away from 2014 I suspect they’ll be a tad late.

Paul’s Pismo Hat

Fortunately though I also started his Pismo hat in 2 shades of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino.  I began with a tubular cast on that only took me 4 tries – that cast on is SO fiddly.  And then once I got the cast on right, I knit the first row with the tail.  Awesome.

But now I’m at the last round of the red stripe so it should be easy sailing until the decreases.

I’m calling this Paul’s I Love You This Much hat because I wouldn’t do all that twisted ribbing for just anyone.

And that probably includes myself.

SKA January 2014 plans

I decided to to the SKA knitdown for January – the technique of the month is lace and I love knitting lace socks.  The longer repeats make the knitting go quickly and the results are gorgeous.  I’ve narrowed it down to 4 designs

and 4 stash yarns

I was shocked to discover that I have very little solid sock yarn in my stash.  Enough to get me through a few pairs but they’re all in the pink/red/purple shades with the one lonely skein of orange.

Right now I’m leaning toward Isabella D’Este in the orange.

I have two more cast ons that I didn’t take pics of yet but the dark and dank day is making that impossible so I’ll show you them next time.

I’ll catch you on the purl side.

Shaw Hill

I was concerned about knitting with such a big needle but it’s been fun – and quick progress isn’t hard to be happy about.

The dye has rubbed off on everything it touches though – my hands and the cuffs of my sleeves both turned a bluish-purple.  Luckily the dye came out completely in a laundering with a dose of bleach.

Mini Skein Blender Socks

I stalked the tracking on this one as it made its way across the country.  You do that too, right?

I split the skeins in half so I could use them up fairly equally.  I’m onto the second color now and I feel a mini skein obsession coming on.

Probably best if I knit through this batch first, right?  In case you’re curious, etsy has a bunch of sock weight mini skeins.  I’d like to find a set in colors I don’t normally knit – maybe orange?

I won’t buy more mini skeins.  I won’t buy more mini skeins.

If I knit these fast enough I can buy more, right?

I’ll catch you on the purl side.