Left overs!

Not the refrigerator kind, but:

There's more where this came from!  I've thought of combining scraps for socks.  Then I saw the "Think Outside the Sox" book and patterns that use lots of colors.  As I tentatively began these socks, I thought of how wrong this could be, but the pattern (Dripping Candles from think outside the box) is truly amazing!  I love these!  What a stash buster!

 I can see a great future for this pattern!  So far I have 6 different yarns and ready to repeat. Only two colors are used at the same time.  Heaven!!

Startitis Again

I'm super happy with my new Skew socks.
They look crazy good with my birks:

I'm super duper happy with my birthday gifts:

Thanks, P & K!
With taxes and concert behind me, life is Gooo-oood!

Summer anticipation

Trying to finish taxes, play for a school program, sort out banking (like I have to do every year--grrrr), carry on with church commitments (it's my JOB!), and yet I feel compelled to plan my summer jaunt to Norway.  Poor me, you say!  I know... it only requires I get a replacement at church, tickets, and a place to stay.  Or so I thought...  Two years ago, I had my own place to stay, since my daughter and family have a VERY small apartment.

Hotel to the left, apartment to the right.

 It's beautifully centrally located, a visitor's dream!  Steps from everything:  Shopping/yarn shops, groceries, bus, train, harbor, sights, museum, library, parks, concerts, well, you get it, all within walking distance.  I really enjoy it there.  Last year I stayed with them, however, this summer, with a two year old, I didn't invite myself, but instead, I booked the 'cheapest' of hotels I could find within a few blocks.  It would mean I'd have my 'stuff' (i.e. yarn/projects) somewhere else, and I would leave them every night to party with the rowdy summer crowd that inhabits cheap hotels in summer Norway.

An odd sculpture for music festival

It's a Sun thing...
The nights get a bit dusky, but not dark, and students and young adults stay up.  They drink, and shout, and sing and smoke...every night (not just weekends). Amazing, yes, as an older woman, I just shake my head.  I probably wouldn't get so much sleep, but we'd all be happy.  When I announced my plans, it was immediately vetoed.  They would rather have me spend my money on their groceries, which I would do anyway! LOL

Beaded Dale of Norway mittens

At the moment, I'm hesitant to cancel my reservations.  Maybe I'll try the first week with them, and keep the reservations in case.
Note:  Norway is in no way 'cheap' for tourists or accommodations in general.  $75 will get you a single room with shared bath.  I reserved a double with shared bath for $100. Luxury!!

Concert in the cathedral

Finished Skew

Maybe I've lowered my standards, but I'm getting used to the looks of my new Skew socks.
As reported a few days ago, here are the final pictures.

From every angle.

Definitely a winter sock...

Next in line:

I have TWO summer tops started.  I'll probably do a little on each one of them, and suddenly be in love with one or the other...  here's the newest:

Lots of yarn-overs and it should knit up fast.  This is a stash buster... one of those 66 yarns I bought ages ago.  Yet impulsive:  Got the magazine last week!

Pattern:  Drop-Stitch Delight by Trish Warrick from Creative Knitting, May 2011;  Yarn:  RYC Cotton Jeans by Rowan, Worsted / 10 ply, 100% Cotton, 82 yards

I've slowed considerably on the top I started first:

 I like this one because I've knitted one before, and still wear it.  This bamboo will stretch in all the right places, with 3/4 length sleeves.

Pattern: Green Gable by Rachel Bishop from Knit Lulu; Yarn:  Bamboo by Be Sweet, DK / 8 ply, 100% Bamboo, 110 yards

Museum knitting this week:

 This is the same yarn as the ugly socks from yesterday, only in nicer colors!  This is going to be my fave!

A finishing weekend

A few things to report:  My mind is racing wildly on to new projects, as I get a grip on a few of the old ones. Anyone else feel this way?  As I see a project nearing the end, I almost always start several more, just to be sure I don't lose the knack of carting around huge jugs of yarn and yarnobilia.

And there's something about finishing a second sock (the chore of it all - #2 is never as much fun as I think it should be) that makes me yearn for a more challenging/exciting pattern like endless charts and outside the sox patterns.

I'm this close to starting new socks:

Even closer... I'm on the final 5 rounds now, and plan to be finished by Sunday evening.  Too bad for you, that I don't want to embarrass myself by modeling them.  Even though Eskimimi says it's pretty difficult for socks to be ugly, I think these are competitors for the cup.  Even my hub, who rarely comments (or has learned to be very careful of his comments) remarked that they looked like I didn't know what I was doing.  Yes, that's a very good assessment of Skew socks.

Pattern:  Skew by Lana Holden from Knitty, Winter 2009;  Sport- & Strumpfwolle by ALWO, Fingering / 4 ply, Acrylic, Wool, Nylon, 459 yards

 While I've been dawdling, and recording what everyone was doing on knit nite, I didn't include myself.  I finished the knitting on the little bolero.  Alas, this would match the dress had it been a year ago, but the dress has been around the world, worn at birthday parties, campsites, and ocean cruises, more than circumnavigated the globe and the colors have faded.  I'm pretending it isn't so.
I don't see anything out of the ordinary.  Do you?

Pattern:  Bow-Tied Bolero by Debbie Bliss from Special Knits: 22 Gorgeous Handknits for Babies and Toddlers;  Pima Cotton & Silk DK (Solids) by Misti Alpaca

Ready for a second birthday!  I re-knitted the top of the dress.

It's always the beginning of an excellent week, when I can cross off TWO projects!

Why is that?  I love to knit.  I enjoy every bit of it.  Getting that last seam sewn, and the blocking and drying:  Nothing like blocking in the middle of the kitchen counter to hurry up the process!  And that final picture posted... AHHHH! sigh

More Knitters at Night

Our hostess with KNON KNITTING.  She was a little busy keeping the cats out of the yarn heaven we had created.  What a gorgeous quilt!  This is the center, plus 14 blocks, all finished. Each one more stunning than the last one.
And Bee kept busy--creating yarn barf (check that gauge!)

Kee has lace and cables!
Here's the back, beautiful and ready for Spring.  She spent time knitting sleeves.  Can we expect to see it worn in two weeks?  YES, she can!

And MeeBee wishes the seam fairy would make a visit to her house tonight:

I'm so sorry I didn't borrow a camera soon enough to catch Loo's visit with combs in hand: Knitting without needles!  We certainly are branching out!  See Ravelry for her works-of-art.  Cupcakes, anyone?