First Sock

Here's my first sock. I followed tutorial at http://www.cometosilver.com/. Scariest part was grafting the toe. I had not had success with grafting before following the tutorial. It really helped. Yarn is Elann Esprit which is elasticized cotton. I think the colorway is English rose garden. I'm becoming addicted to sockknitting. I love handpainted yarns and interesting colorways but knitting other garments with them is way out of my budget. Socks will allow me to use them. I'm also considering dyeing my own yarn.

Also I'm working on modular coasters from Knitty Gritty. I've knitted entrelac dishcloth a couple of times but I keep having to frog these coasters. I'm knitting one of Brian McGaunn's bookmark patterns.

Bookmarks and project progress

These are my versions of the August 7 bookmark KAL. I used 4 different yarns. From the left, yarns are Elann Adara, Knit Picks Shine Sport, Patons Grace and LionBrand Microspun. I liked the Shine and Grace best. This pattern is available at www.knitwithkt.blogspot.com.

The bookmark on the left is made from Adara and from another pattern found at www.knitwithkt.blogspot.com. There are other free patterns on this site. The bookmark on the right is my second attempt at the July bookmark KAL.

Other projects progress: twin set about 12 inches up the back of the shell. I start armhole shaping in another inch. Hopefully this will be finished by the end of August. Then I'll start working on Christmas gifts. I'm working on my first sock and am about 6 inches into the gusset. I want to finish it by Thursday so that I can work on the second one on my Lake Junaluska trip. I'm also working on a prayer shawl that should be finished in about a week and, of course, I'll have KALs to do this week.

First week of August

I'm beginning to use different yarns for bookmarks. The one above was made using LionBrand Microspun on size 3 needles. Pattern is a freebie from www.knitwithkt.blogspot.com. I really liked the pattern. It is pretty on both sides.

This is Dudley the dolphin designed by Janet Nogle. He's Aug 1 KAL from monthly dishcloth group. I used SnC.
This is one-piece bathing suit from www.knitsbyrachel.com. It's made using SnC. I used it for an exchange.

This is a prayer shawl that I sewed using a quilt panel donated by Chaseline. It has the Serenity prayer. I "lined" it with flannel. Chaseline is a local company that makes sample quilts. They donate material for our local Project Linus chapter. Our coordinator gave this to the shawl ministry as she felt it was better suited to adults. I have 33 more of these to make. Anybody know where I can get a deal on flannel? I'm watching our local Walmart and Joann which are the two closest fabric outlets.

The rest of the story

This is Bumbles. He's made from yellow SnC from a pattern from http://www.knitsbyrachel.com/. He's a gift for someone. I really like Rachel's patterns but have decided that I need to use size 5 needles as cloths are fairly large. She also recommended blocking by spraying with water and smoothing out with fingers. I've found this to work very well.


This is Knitdishcloths Christmas in July KAL. It's red SnC on size 7 needles.







This is Rachels_knitting_room KAL. Beep-beep. I entertained
my co-workers at VBS last week by explaining how kals work. Everyday they'd ask "what is it?"

I got my first "puffy" today. Seeing someone else's handy work and checking out all my goodies was fun. My exchange partner's knitting reminded me of my mom's.

I also received some hand dyed yarn that I commented on from one of the Monthly Bookmark group members. I'm beginning to be interested in hand dyeing and am beginning to check out sources.

I'm working on another "gift" dishcloth and a prayer throw using a flame pattern using persimmon TLC Amore. I plan to start working on my twin set again on Wednesday. I'm also working on my first sock. I'm thinking of frogging this and trying one of the two needle cast on methods. I used larger needles but by problem is that I pull my "long tail" pretty tight which doesnet allow much elasticity. I'm concerned that sock will not go over my heel.

As usual I'm posting at bedtime. So goodnight...

Monthly KALs

In response to a comment, I belong to 3 dishcloth KALs and the bookmark KAL. All are Yahoo groups.
Dishcloth KALs are MonthlyDishcloths group, KnitDishcloth group, Rachels_Knitting_Room group. Bookmark KAL is MonthlyBookmarksKAL group. I enjoy all these groups. I've been knitting for 40+ years and really like KALs and learn a lot through them. The first 2 dishcloth groups and the bookmark KAL have 2 KALs a month.

Mid July

It's been a busy week. I worked with VBS and so even though KALs were finished didn't get pictures made. The center bookmark is mid-July KAL. I used DMC Traditions and size 1 needles. The other two were made using an angel from a dishcloth designed by Carol Callaway. I'm thinking to make the next one with some metallic thread around the angel.

Two of my dishcloth KALs were made with red yarn which didn't show well when photographed. I'm going to try pictures again tomorrow. This is the one from monthly dishcloths and it's not showing too well either. I like this yarn. It's SnC Twist Naturals. It's "tweedy."

This is prayer shawl I made for friend who had back surgery. I used Elann Adara and a pattern from Elann called Rainbow Shawl. This is the one I had such a hard time keeping up with the pattern for some reason or other. When I washed it, I discovered a dropped stitch that had to be repaired.

I also made a "quilt" by lining a serenity prayer panel with flannel and tying. It was my first quilt attempt and I delivered it to a young man who's just out of rehab. I forgot to take a picture.

I'm making dishcloths for exchanges and also my first pair of socks. I'm going to start working on my twin set again Wednesday. I hope that I can get back on my schedule this week.

KAL--KAL--KAL--KAL

These are bookmarks made from the July 1 KAL. All are made with DMC Traditions #10 cotton and size 2 needles. I liked this pattern. The pattern is available to members of the Monthly Bookmark KAL (Yahoo group). I pray when I make these and they'll be given to friends as gifts.


Click on any of the pix for bigger view.



From the Heart of Texas is a charity oriented Yahoo group. This is the July 1 KAL. Yarn is Red Heart supersaver acrylic. I'll send this to Colleen Ponzani for her "spare squares." She sews the squares together to make afghans for kids at a hospital near her.






This is Knit Dishcloth Group KAL. I used SnC yellow. This one will be used as a dishcloth. I'm donating some to a fellow group member for a charity craft show so this will probably go to her.








This is Monthly Dishcloth KAL. I cheated. This is an afghan square. It is made with acrylic. It's some I bought in a surprise package from e-bay. This will also go to Colleen.





Now I'm all caught up and it's time to KAL again. Fortunately only one of the KALs I belong to started today. I'm ready for tomorrow.