Free Fingers!!!

They're Free!

Free fingers...

I couldn't very well sing you "Free Falling," now could I? That would make you worry. Because I fall down. It would make ME worry, too!

In any case, my fingers are free from their captivity, and they are pretty glad to be knitting and typing and just living their "digit"-al lives. :) On Wednesday morning, the doc looked over my X-rays and declared my fingers "well on their way to recovery." He said they will continue to be swollen and sore for another 6 weeks or so, but they are healthy enough to start using them all the time. Cleared for knitting? Well, you don't have to tell me twice! (I actually confessed to the doc that I had already started knitting, even before the clearance...he laughed, and assured me that knitting is good physical therapy, and I should knit as often and as much as my fingers would allow - Yay!!!) I've already finished the first in a pair of socks (that I started while still wearing the brace):

And, after knitting a pair of fingerless gloves (for Dollface, one-and-a-half knit before the cast, the second finished in the brace) with Chroma in Midwinter and a cream-colored alpaca/wool/nylon fingering-weight yarn... 

I've actually knit a third one in the last couple of days!

Can you see the color variation? Yeah, I love the gentle gradient that is Chroma, but after I had knit the second mitt, I noticed how different the colors were on each one...hmmm. So I thought I'd knit a third, and just match it to the closest of the other two...well, do you see what happened? Yep! Three mitts, each totally different in Chroma...lol! So, since Dollface said not to bother trying for a third, and since she liked the first two together anyway, I'm just going to give them to her and call it done. (If I have enough of the cream yarn left, I may make a fourth so I can have a mismatched pair that match hers...kinda...haha!)

In other Knitting Knews, it turns out that I've made quite a bit of progress on the alpaca scarf, even knitting on it a bit while I had the big cast on! So, this morning, it looks like this:

The variegation in the yarn (which I spun myself - squee!), is just so lovely! In the sunshine, it almost sparkles...it is the happiest brown I think I have ever seen!

It makes me so happy that I am taking it on a field trip to That'll Do Farm this afternoon, along with some spinning for a fiber day! If you're not doing anything fun yet, you should totally come on out to Farm Days and see us! (Or you could come to see the alpacas, or the very friendly chickens, or the very hungry goats, 

or the very busy bees, or even the sheep...they have sheep! So fun!) 

It's going to be a great day! Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope that you have lots of time to Knit in Good Health this weekend!

Hi-Ho, Alpacas, Whoa!

So, on Saturday, I went to the Farm. I knew I had arrived at the farm when I saw the farm van...

...and the alpacas (and baby alpacas!)...

...and the steps to the farmhouse!

I love That'll Do Farm! I love the alpacas, and the green, and the bees, and the farmhouse! Saturday was a Fiber Fun Day at the farm, so I loaded up my Little Joe (spindle), and a fiber mix that came from the farm (including alpaca, merino, camel and bits of colored silk)...

...and in I went! While I was there, I saw knitters and a rug hooker, but I was a spinning fool...

...and by the time I left, I had a tall, skinny bunch of singles AND a short, fat bunch of singles. I do not discriminate based on cop* size!

I spun this yarn a little thicker than I normally would, and I've spent the last few days creating a two-ply that is about 12 wraps per inch (DK? Worsted?)...sooooo pretty! 

I have about 71 yards of this two-ply, close to 45g and about 12 wraps per inch (for my fellow spinners and knitters). Here's what it looks like in the skein:

I wonder what it will be? I'm open to suggestions, by the way!

I cannot wait until my next Fiber Fun Day! Until then, I wonder what else I will spin? 

*cop (from wordnik.com)

n. A cone-shaped or cylindrical roll of yarn or thread wound on a spindle.

Every picture tells a story, don't it?

What do you do when you find out that some of your knitting friends are going to the New York Sheep and Wool Festival (in Rhinebeck, NY, which was on the map for knitters waaaay before Chelsea's wedding, by the way), and you can't go? Maybe your finances are tight, or maybe you can't get away from your job for an extended weekend. . .it's not that you don't want to go, you just can't. . .sigh!

Several of us in the Cleveland Knits West group over on Ravelry were in just that predicament last weekend, but I think we made the best of it. After all, when life gives you alpaca. . .
. . .large and small. . .
. . .and a llama says, "Hey, Bay-bay!,". . .
. . .and gives you a kiss. . .
. . .well, then, maybe it's time for a West-of-Rhinebeck YARN CRAWL! You know, just like a beer crawl, but with yarn. . .just the thing for some enthusiastic knitters on a beautiful October Saturday! And really, we didn't miss the beer at all. . .we like wine better anyway! But even beyond our beverage of preference, when you talk about yarn (and acquiring more of it), knitters get pretty giddy! I think Andrea was even willing to hitchhike for yarn!
None of us thought that was a very good idea, tho. . .so we piled into two cars and headed out to four different shops that are fairly local to us. Thank you Andrea and Judy for driving! (See Andrea, you have a perfectly good car. . .no extra thumb activity required!)
First stop: Studio Knit (in Medina), where I contemplated silver and gold yarn for Christmas ornaments. . .
. . .and Michelle contemplated the giant wall o'yarn. . .
. . .and Annie contemplated which color(s) warranted the fact that she was signing over the rights to her firstborn. . .it didn't really matter. . .there was yarn to be had!
Then we were on the road again, passing the people in cars who were not as excited to reach their next destination as we were, forgoing rest areas and racing ahead to. . .
Our second stop: Black Locust Farm (in Lodi), where I picked up this funny book of "Kniticisms" and some sock yarn, as well as a couple of knitting knotions. . .
. . .Judy and Michelle frantically fondled the sock yarns. . .
. . .and Annie and Michelle contemplated the Zauberball!
We all loved this small store (she has limited hours, so call ahead or check her group on Ravelry), but it's soooo worth it! One side note: she does not take credit cards, so have cash or your ATM card, there's a machine on the corner!

We were hungry after all the shopping, so we stopped in at the Lighthouse in the center of Lodi, where the people eating lunch gave our giddiness a sideways glance, but still we gorged ourselves on good food! The burgers and onion rings are to die for. . .really! So, full and focused, we filed out and piled back into the cars and headed to our next destination!
Third stop: Soft and Sassy (in Broadview Heights), where I had to decide between these two lace weight yarns (I chose the Legacy, even tho Daphne was gorgeous) for a wedding shawl that I hope to make for College Girl! There was also another ball of sock yarn, I think it was Trekking XXL. . .I was into the earth-tones and naturals apparently! Oh, Annie and Michelle ended up with a sweater's worth of bulky yarn to knit Aidez from Berroco. . .I am pretty sure it was the yarn that the pattern called for. . .and now (surprise, surprise), there is a knitalong! To join or not to join, that is the question. . .
And after that, our fourth stop was River Colors (in Rocky River). Honestly, I did not see what anyone purchased there, but I did see the bags of yummy yarns in the back of Andrea's car as we left there! lol
After a full day of yarn shopping, and inhaling those intoxicating yarn fumes, what can a knitter do? Well, since we all ended up back at the farm, Andrea showed us how to "call" the chickens. . .just throw a tomato, or a piece of squash, and they go running after it, with the roosters cock-a-doodle-doing all the way! (I even heard a little William Tell Overature in the background. . .)
If you are out of tomatoes and squash, just bust open a pumpkin. . .
. . .that's right. . .a pumpkin. . .seriously gourmet meal here!
At the end of the day, all the knitters were tired from the shopping, and the laughing, and the riding, and the throwing of the produce, so we all went home to cast on something new. . .after we said good-bye to the chickens, of course!

And now, after 3 days of recovery, I am working on some Baby Booties, and socks and new baby sweaters shall be cast on soon for the coming of Grandbaby Number One! Stay tuned, and. . .

Knit in Good Health!

That was fast!

The older I get, the faster the seasons seem to change. . .it seems like only yesterday that I took this picture of the blossoms on the crab apple tree outside my office, but I know that it was April.
It was nearly just yesterday (ok, the day before yesterday) that I took this photo of the ripe crab apples! Yikes!, where has the time gone?!?

Oh! That's right! The time has been spent knitting! (Ok, there was some playing and shopping and fun with family, too. . .summer is a pretty fun time for Pretty Knitty family and friends!) And now, as I feel the need to prove to you that my knitting has been more than just a "time suck," that something productive has come of the knitting, here is the proof:

Two more sock reviews!
Originally, I was just going to do the August Wickerware socks today (which I loved knitting, by the way). . .

. . .but then I also finished my September Squall socks on Monday, so I figured that I would just finish up the 2010 reviews right here and now!

First the Wickerware, which I knit with Serenity Sockweight yarn, color Denim. Once again, this yarn is really thin, and I had forgotten that since the last time I had used it, so I went with the 2.25mm needles (my faves, but a little too big for this yarn, in truth). I cast on and knit the cuff and leg as written, knit my fave eye of partridge heel. . .not even sure how the heel is written on Wickerware. . .and finishd up with texure on the instep, stockinette on the sole. As you can see in the photos, the basket-weave texture shows up very nicely, even in the striped yarn! All in all, I don't think I will buy the Serenity again for socks. . .I think that I am just about "over" the self-striping yarns, because I like to knit in patterns, but I would like to knit the Wickerware pattern again! :o) These are sock love!

And I could have waited until Saturday to review the Squall pattern, but I did finish them a couple days ago. . .and, since I am a project knitter and blogger (apparently), in that I like to finish what I start, and unfinished items make me twitch a little. . .I have to finish the sock reviews! I loved Squall! I knit these on 2mm needles (metal was all I had on hand in that size - owwie!) on 72 stitches with Zitron Trekking XL yarn in Storm, which was pretty thin. The pattern is a simple 2x2 rib, with a little "twist" thrown in every 6 rows, so it's not too complicated, and it was just a fun knit! I have used Trekking before, but it's been awhile. . .I would use it again. I am anxious to wear these! Double sock love!!!

Want more proof that I have been knitting the hours/days/months away this summer? Well, if you know me "in person," that knitting bag constantly over my arm is a good indication! Otherwise, here's another finished projet! A pair of fingerless gloves in 90/10 Alpaca/Merino from Charm at That'll Do Farm! These were a quick knit, and I love the silky-soft yarn. . .I have a big hank of it (over 250 yards, sport-weight) for I think a scarf. . .but these Charming Mitts have won my heart over to the Alpaca (and her yarn!) in the meantime!

Knit on size 5 needles, in a lace pattern stolen from the Knit 1, Breathe 1 shawl/stole/scarf (also a link in the side bar --->), these will be a staple in somebody's fall wardrobe for sure! Soooo soft. . .

As fast as the spring and summer have gone, I sure hope that fall sticks around for awhile! While this "mystery project" is now finished, I am not at all anxious to wear items of this nature, double-thick wool for warmth in the frigid winter. . .brrrr!!!

I'd like some more time to wear my fingerless gloves and light sweaters before I start thinking about long underwear and leg warmers! ;-) But I guess, as always, I will take it as it comes, and I will be glad when I have needles and yarn close-by! I hope that you are making the most of every fleeting moment, and that you are stealing some quiet moments to find contentment, wherever your life has taken you in this season.

Thanks for stopping by, and thanks to Connie and Corrie for the Meatloaf recipes. I hope to try at least one of them on Saturday. ;o) Until then, I hope that we all will Knit in Good Health!

Thundering Forward!

That's what the Alpaca do at That'll Do Farm when Farmer Gal opens the gate so they can head out to play on the hill. I think the goats were a little miffed that they were still stuck in the barn, but I am sure they will also have their chance to romp in the pasture. . .and I know that a goat hill is in the planning phase, so there will be ample opportunity for goat's-play in their future!
I visited the farm for the first ever "Sit-n-Knit" there yesterday (I played a little hooky from work). One of the farmer gals writes a pretty good blog, "laugh-out-loud-in-a-room-by-yourself" funny, about the going's on of the livestock and their keepers. Since my visit, this place promises to become one of my very favorite places, especially since the chickens are friendly and the proprietor gives yarny gifties from time to time. . .see that mitt there? A little sample from Charm, one of my new alpaca friends. I think that this is my first experience with knitting alpaca, and this soft and fine, silky yarn (mixed 90/10 with a little merino) has me and my needles hooked! This mitt was turning out a little large, so I pulled it out to start over on a few less stitches. . .secretly, I am glad that I get to knit it again! It is luscious! I will be buying more of this. . .yarn diet or not!

Not nearly as luscious, here is another yarn that I havespun (or over spun) and just recently plied. I am calling it a success, although not a smashing success. . .but, it is plied. :)
However, just like the knitting machine, I may be finding that spinning really is not my thing. I tried Navajo plying with these singles that I had spun some time ago, and while I was plying, I thought it was going well. It felt mostly soft, and did not seem over-spun or kinky. . .until I gave it a soak, which I have read that you should do with your plied yarns before knitting them. However, when my yarn hit the water, it really kinked up, and I had to weight it pretty good while it was drying. . .the resulting yarn is a little kinky, a little wiry, and doesn't really seem like it will make for fun knitting. I guess there's not that much there (maybe a bookmark?), so it's not such a big deal, but I am getting a little frustrated with the spinning.

I am quite happy to report that I am NOT frustrated with the knitting! As a matter of fact, I am quite enjoying the September socks, Squall in Zitron Trekking XXL, which is a funny name for a super thin yarn! I am knitting these on 2mm needles, 72 sts around for my "average woman's foot." I love that this yarn looks "stormy (not sure of the colorway, but it's dark blues/greys), and the pattern is squall. . .and it's fall, when the rains come and the days get a little gray. . .perfect! More of a review on this sock when it is finished, I promise!
However, if you absolutely need a "Sock in Review" today, well you are in luck! Up this week are the Catnip Socks I picked for the April edition of my Sock Club, although they were completed before April even began. . .more about why that was a good thing on Saturday! These socks were worked in Lion Brand Sock-Ease, in the Rock Candy colorway, which I did not realize was a self-striping yarn until I was well established on the first sock.

This pattern was not my first toe-up sock, but it was my first toe-up with a reverse heel-flap and gusset. The lace was not too taxing, and the foot and leg sections seemed to knit up very quickly! For me, however, I really did not enjoy the reversed heel shaping. . .it was fiddly, and I was unfamiliar with the technique on such a small scale. (I used a similar technique on a larger scale to knit a top-down, set-in sleeve right into an armhole, and it did not seem as difficult. I am still not sure I like the way it looks, though.) I may try this heel-style again, and I would knit these socks again, without a second thought. . .I really like them!

If you are adventurous, and you like to try new things, give this heel construction a shot! Otherwise, knit it toe-up or top-down using your favorite heel. . .it's a wonderful sock!

And just like the Alpaca, I find that I am "Thundering Forward," in knitting and in life! There are Christmas projects on the needles, and a wedding, baby shower and bridal shower in the planning phases. I am so glad that the cooler weather has descended upon my little corner of the world, and I am knitting with wool to celebrate so many occasions. I hope that you can find something to celebrate in your life today!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Contest at That'll Do Farm!!

Wanna win some fiber-y goodness??? Head on over to That'll Do Farm's blog, and name the baby alpaca to enter! Good Luck!
Knit in Good Health!