Author: kountingsheep

At the beginning of the year I decided to challenge myself to attempt using up all of my sock stash. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m going to be able to reach that goal, but thanks to summer I’ve definitely made a good dent.

I actually didn’t make my first pair of socks for the year until Mother’s Day. Since then, I have made 5 additional pairs of socks–4 for me, and a pair for my dad. So here’s a look at my new socks, even thought the pictures don’t do them justice:

Dad’s Socks

This was my celebratory cake that I ate after I found out that I got a job at a bank as a Teller. I’m so excited about this new job, even if it’s bittersweet to leave Michaels Craft Store, where I’ve worked for over three years. New phases are always exciting and scary at the same time.
There may have been some celebratory yarn purchase as well, but I’m declining to admit it with pictorial proof.

Wouldn’t it be nice to be tucked away in a cozy log cabin somewhere in the snow-covered mountains, with a crackling fire, a mug of hot chocolate, and a cozy blanket? Yeah, instead it’s July, which feels like being in a fire or a hot beverage or under a heavy blanket every time I step outside. So making this knit Log Cabin blanket last month definitely wasn’t fun as far as the temperature goes, but fun as far as the knitting goes.

Pattern: Mason Dixon How To Log Cabin

Over a year ago, my designer friend Anna of Mochimochi Land asked me to help test knit a pattern for a book project she was working on and provide feedback for one of the designs. I was so excited to see sneak peeks and glimpse of her book along the way, and now it’s finally here: Knitting Mochimochi!
Anna was nice enough to send me a signed copy for helping her test knit, so mine arrived in the mail yesterday.
The pattern I tested was for “Grouchy Couch.” This pattern was actually a one-of-a-kind piece that she had made, and due to overwhelming response for the pattern, she ended up including it in her book. From the first time I saw Grouchy, I knew I had to do this pattern, so when I saw it as an option for testing, I responding immediately.
This was a fun and challenging project to complete. For my piece, I decided to leave the cushions off, due to the fact that I was over my finishing deadline, and also because I think I overstuffed my piece a bit. I still think it turned out great, and I have some tiny object sitting on this couch on my knitting book shelf.
Being a huge fan of Anna’s over the years and being privileged to test knit for her on a regular basis, it’s hard for me to find one favorite pattern in her new book. So here are a few:

The photography in this book is great, as are the patterns. The whole layout of the book works well together, and the extra info about how to make toys and design your own add that extra special touch to this book. I can’t wait to make more Mochimochi toys,

Today’s temperature reached 115 degrees where I live, and by any standards, that’s just plain HOT. Just because I live in Arizona doesn’t mean I actually like the heat here. In fact, quite the contrary. I would rather live in a colder climate, as evidenced by my obsession with knits and crochets, but we don’t always get to choose where we live, do we?
I could tell I was getting a really bad case of the summer blues when I started the month of June knitting these items:
A lace beret and matching fingerless mitt set. Not really a necessity for June, but I couldn’t resist making these cute patterns. I needed reassurance that yes, the cold will come back in a few months, and then I’ll be able to wear stuff like this.

Pattern: Looking Glass Lace Beret

As a break from the heat, I’ll be going to San Diego this weekend for a little vacation and to attend a conference that my church is involved with. I’m looking forward to the highs only reaching about 70 degrees. It was weird to pack jeans and sweatshirts today in preparation for my trip. And to think that it might actually be too cold to swim in the ocean while I’m there.
If you don’t hear from me ever again, you’ll know where I am.

I also made this crocheted blanket to go with the hat. It’s one of my new favorite baby blanket patterns. I just love it.

Pattern: Spider Web Blanket from the book Our Best Baby Afghans
[weird pattern name, lovely pattern!]
with modified simple ruffle edging
Yarn: Snowflake (Hobby Lobby); Acrylic/Wool Blend
in colors Creamsicle and Primrose
Hook: Size H

Here’s the proud mama at her baby shower opening up the blanket just shortly before baby’s arrival. Congrats, friend, on your sweet baby girl.

When I found out that Heather’s best friend was going through the same loss as myself with the death of her brother, I knew I had to make her a shawl. I don’t know why it had to be a shawl, but I knew I had to make it. I already knew the pattern I wanted to use, and I got started right away.

Although the calendar doesn’t say that it’s officially summer yet, last week we hit the triple digits here in Arizona, which means that summer is well under way in our books. Luckily the weekend cooled off just a little bit, so I was able to wear this beauty to church on Sunday (air conditioning is wonderful for wearing summery hand-knits inside that would otherwise be useless in Arizona).

This pattern was simple, easy-to-follow, quick and produced a finished project that has a nice understated beauty.
I only had 400 yards of yarn, which was a little less than the pattern, so I shortened it a bit by leaving off the last repeat and shortening the ruffle. It turned out a great size, just enough to drape over the tops of my shoulders and just enough to be fastened with a pin at my neck. During the winter I’ll be able to bundle it up around my neck to look like a cozy green cowl.

To continue the sock theme, here are the ones I made for my mom for Mother’s Day.

Pattern: Heart to Heart Socks from the book

I really enjoyed knitting these for several reasons, the first being that I love to make things for other people, especially when I live with those people, so then I have to plan time to work in secret.
Secondly, this was my first time using both the Magic Loop Method and the toe-up method. Usually I work socks from the cuff down, which makes it difficult to guess how much yarn the sock will use. With toe-up, you don’t have to worry as much about running out of yarn because it’s more predictable.
The Magic Loop Method was something I tried when I first started knitting socks, but could not get the hang of it. I decided to try it again, and voila, it clicked! I have yet to try two socks at a time on Magic Loop, so we’ll see how that goes when I try it out in the next few days. (See here for a basic description of Magic Loop.)
And third, this was the most complicated lace/cable pattern I have made on socks before. I’ve done things much harder on a larger scale, but wasn’t sure if I was up for putting the time into an intricate pattern on something that goes on someone’s feet, but surprisingly it didn’t slow down the process that much or make it less enjoyable. In fact, it made it more interesting to work the sock.
So overall, I’m very happy with how these came out, and my mom liked them too. Too bad it’s too hot to even contemplate wearing them, Loved the pattern (love the whole book, highly recommend), and I look forward to making more socks this summer,

What do you get when you mix a little bit of leftover sock yarn, size 1 dpn sock needles, a funky monkey pattern, and a few extra hours?

A little sock yarn monkey.
I’ve been wanting to make this pattern for a long time but just haven’t gotten around to it. Yesterday afternoon I was kinda “trapped” in my room, waiting for the freshly cleaned carpets in the house to dry, so it was just easier for me to stay in my room and knit. My current project was downstairs, so I decided to work on this monkey instead.

This was such a fun little clever knit that only required minimal seaming. The legs, tail and mouth were all worked on the body using waste yarn holders that you then unpick to work those sections after working the main body. You can get the pattern for the Funky Sock Monkey here.