Once Upon a Sock: July Edition

Welcome to this month's edition.  I missed the June edition, well because last week's of school and I had not been knitting or crocheting either....

I have no finished socks....but I have cast on for a couple more...just can't help myself...I think I have 9 on the needles at the moment....so let's update where I am:

Socks:
Kai-Mei: (April 2012) - has not changed 
Carlos and Arne socks (July 3 2015)- using a 9" needle...keep losing stitches. 
Espalier Socks (Jan 10, 2016) - started and stopped...
Just Keep Swimming - (6/16/16) 
Candy Cane  - 6/21/17Muertos - 8/13/17
Games Socks- 2/15/18
I'm Irish - 3/3/18
Cloudy Rainbows - 5/11/18 
Sunny Skies - 5/12/18
Northampton Socks - 5/26/18

If there is no picture, I have linked to my Ravelry project page.

Okay, so the Kai-Mei have been in timeout for awhile.  These are my oldest socks and really the reason I learned to knit...I pulled it out the other day and there is a dropped stitch...so I need to take some time and figure out where I am on it. 

Carlos and Arne socks:  I had put these on a 9" circular and stitches kept dropping off of it.  So I recently transferred the sock to Karbonz DPNs AND cast on the second sock.

So I'm almost at the heels of both socks, where I always seem to stop.  I'm just going to continue on with probably a slipped stitch heel....

Espalier socks - have not worked on these in forever...they are not very far along....I will probably frog them...going to pull the pattern up and decide after I take a look at it. The yarn is a self stripe that was part of a Hunger Games Club..

Just Keep Swimming - Again, I'm at the heel and I still haven't taken the time to learn the FLK heel, which is the one I want to do for this sock. So it's been in timeout.

Candy Cane - I need to decide on the contrast heel...again, I'm at the heel....yarn is Mothy and Squid

Muertos - so I have added a few more stripes....it is at 8" now, so again I'm at the heel....need to decide what contrast color I am going to do...The yarn is Desert Vista Dyeworks.

Games Socks - The yarn is from Eat, Knit, Dye, inspired by the Olympic rings.  I am trying to decide what color to use as the heel...the green came with it, but I'm thinking it might be too close to the last green stripe.  What do you think?

I'm Irish - I do love these so much!  I have decided on using the yellow for the heels and maybe toes..The yarn is from Brazen Stitchery.

Cloudy Rainbows - Yarn is from Manic Pixie Dream,,,,I also really love these....not sure what I'll do for the heels...maybe follow the pattern from Susan B. Anderson's Smooth Operator.

Sunny Skies - not much has been done on these...think I'm just going to again do the Vanilla Latte as I really want to see the clouds in the socks...

Northampton Socks - These are going to be shorties, so again that darn heel is holding things up!

Going to cast on for the second one, since I have two balls...maybe....

AND, I have a few more planned....I joined the Socks for Busy B's by Shannon Squire....I have the yarn for Free Time

AND, I ordered the Hermione yarn from Nomadic Yarns for Hermione and Crookshanks...

Think the contrast yarn is going to be the recently purchased Araucania Huasco Sock...what do you think?

I also bought some self-stripe at the recent Shop Hop

And since I'm re-organizing the stash, I just found a bunch of other non-indie dyed self stripe from Online and Regia, among others...I think 8 skeins....so we'll see what else I cast on....because I've also been collecting 9" and 10" circs...

This is in addition to the 8 socks that are on needles at the moment.....

Phew!!!!  That's a lot.....I hope to have at least 2 pair done for the August edition....please come and join us....the link-up is at Paula at Spin A Yarn.

Stitch Along: Week 26

and

Hello, hello, hello and Happy Fourth of July, if you are in the States....I doubt anyone will actually read this, as you'll all be out celebrating!!!!

So I started my four day sweater challenge.....the Beekeeper Cardigan...

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

There is no way I am finishing it in 4 days...technically I have 5 days, as I'm doing a larger size...but still...I am enjoying it....and I think I'll wear it quite a lot...

The Colourscape Cowl is just...colorful...it's very bright right now, but the colors do get darker....

Look at that green! Be still my chartreuse loving heart!

The crocheted Venetian Cowl also got a good start to it...this will be GORGEOUS when completed!

Someone asked if this was a CAL...yes it is...it's on Facebook in a group I belong to called Fine Fiber Crochet

I am almost done with the Sockhead hat for my friend....I am on the decreases...so may have a finish on Friday.....

And I have put a few rows into some socks too...I'll have to do a Once Upon A Sock update on Thursday...come back and join us.....

So what have you worked on this week?  Please link up and share.....

Due Process

So I'm going to write about something that may be triggering for some people....

Chris Hardwick......I believe him....

I've been a fan for several years, having been introduced to him through Wil Wheaton.....

The Metoo movement has done a lot of good, has shown the light on some really nasty people...

I also have had my Metoo moments in life, I'm a woman, most of us have.....my first was when I was a child and was molested by a cousin...I was in first grade, he was older......his sister brought me to his room, she was a couple years older than me.....I blocked it out for many, many years and still don't remember the extent of it.....and there were several other incidents with different guys throughout my life.....

But I also think that the Metoo movement needs to have due process.  It is so easy to ruin someone's life through an accusation....

And, because of the history of women not being believed, it seems that everyone's gut is to believe the woman over the man in these accusations....

I've read her statement, I've read his statement, I've read the emails between them.....he specifically states in his final email/text to her that he'd "be a dick" if he didn't let her try to "find herself"  That does not sound like controlling to me.....she continued to plead with him not to break up (and yes I do know about abused women and some of the psychology behind their actions)

she says she has proof, which she has not produced...she has not gone to law enforcement....

He has had several long term girlfriends come out in support of him...

So until there is more than she said/he said....I believe him......

I just needed to say that......and I know I've lost readers over some of my more political posts and if this also loses readers, I'm sorry.....I just feel as if before someone's life and livelihood is blown up, there should be due process...isn't our country's laws built on innocent until proven guilty?

Year of Projects: Week 26

I am halfway though my year, while most of the group will be starting a new Year of Projects....they go July to June....I go January to December

**Some of this was posted Wednesday, for the very small number that read it, I apologize for the repeats**

So looky there!  I started moving totes up to the attic room...my newly dubbed "Stash Space" It looks like this right now

I have about 20 more totes to go!!!!!

I have cast on another new project, the Colourscape Cowl....I don't have a picture of it yet...but I'm loving it so far....

I did pick up my Carlos and Arne socks after a long hiatus..I cast them on 9" circs, but I kept losing stitches off of them, so I put them on some Karbonz...I also started the second sock...it's about double the size of what is shown in the picture, but not matching, which may drive me mad...

I did pull out the Meandering top, but still not sure where I am in it...looks like I separated for the arms....and it looks like it's going to be HUGE, so I have to really pull it out and look at it...

And I am pounding away at the Sockhead hat.....I have about 4" to go before decreasing for the top..

Sunday is the cast-on for the Beekeeper Cardigan.  I'm all set and ready for that....my yarn is Malabrigo in Sunset

It is also the start date for the Venetian Cowl, this is crochet.  I'm excited to have a beautiful crochet project to work on...this is the yarn I am using.

MadelineTosh in Magnolia Leaf.....

I'm thinking of casting on a pair of shortie socks for July 4....but am resisting...also wound a whole bunch of skeins yesterday for some upcoming projects....I will be busy the month of July...

I'll need to get a new goals list up for the month, probably next week.

And I'll be getting up early on Sunday to shop in the #titsoutcollective.  If you have not heard of this, it's here on Countess Ablaze's blog....I have my eye on several things, so we'll see what I'm able to snag....this will be the last "big" yarn buying until Rhinebeck...not saying I won't buy other yarn, I know myself too well....

June goals:
- finish or close to finish the Kiss Me, I'm Irish
- figure out and work the Fish Kiss Lips heel on Keep Swimming
- possible start moving yarn totes up to attic room, after logging what's in each tote
- swatch for the Waves Tank, then knit
- pull out The Meandering Top and see where I'm at (it's been hibernating)
- cast on for the Tegna top, the Vintersol sweater and the Rainbow Cardi  

2018 Finished Projects:
Millennial Slytherin Mitts - Jan 6, 2018 
KG AMi - Jan 10, 2018
Shamrock Hat - Jan 20, 2018
Snowflake Hat - Jan 20, 2018
Elephant Reserve - February 11, 2018
Bunny Hat - February 12, 2018
Blue Wave - February 12, 2018
Folding Chairs - March 4, 2018
Jessica Jones 2 - March 7, 2018
Chicken Scratch Sock (test knit) - March 8, 2018 (only one sock)
Zombie Latte Socks (Zombie Valentine) - April 8. 2018
Fortune's Shawlette - April 11, 2018
Hudson Bay Socks - April 12, 2018
Chemo Hat for Deirdre - April 16, 2018 

Works In Progress:         
WIPS: Crochet:
Round Ripple: (Started 2006 (?) Aiden)-not sure he'd want this anymore, being a high school freshman and all, but I think I'll finish it for him. He is now a sophomore.
Around the World Afghan: (April 2010): about ¼ done - I looked at this recently and I'm still liking it, so I'll keep it...maybe make it a baby blanket instead.
Sunrise Sunset Afghan: this has been hibernating awhile, 6 squares done. I still love the look of this.
Tabard Tunic (NW Diss 2/1/14) - Haven't made a final decision on this yet.
Throwback Poncho 2/19/17 - would like to finish for the fall
 
Knit: 
Learn to Knit Afghan: (started 2010): 3 squares done, I put this in the giveaway yarn bags..not thrilled with colors....will use squares at school for water bottles..
Shark in the Woods (11/27/14)- I really love this, but it's a lot of cabling and I'm not a fan..about 1/2 done.
Vanilla fingerless mitts (12/25/15) - Think I'm going to frog and do different mitts or crochet them.
Zombie Vixen mitts (10/17/15)- why I may crochet the others...have these and still working on them, again cabling
Garter Path Shawlette (5/30/16)- I have frogged this a couple of times...
Swinging with Winkle (6/4/16)- I love this so much!  Just need to finish it! Added a few rows
Meandering Top (5/20/16) - Took it out, at the separation of arms, looks really big!
Multnomah (8/21/16)- stuck on feather and fan edging, have too many stitches, in timeout. Stitch count continues to be off.
Bulky Cowl - this hurts my hands to work on...think I need slippery needles...
Splediferous Blanket - (4/15/17) Roald Dahl club, mitered blanket
Selbu Mitts - 3/26/18
Farewell Sockhead - 5/13/18, 

Socks:
Kai-Mei: (April 2012) - has not changed, 
Carlos and Arne socks (July 3 2015)- using a 9" needle...keep losing stitches. 
Espalier Socks (Jan 10, 2016) - started and stopped...
Just Keep Swimming - (6/16/16) 
Muertos - 8/13/17
Games Socks- 2/15/18
I'm Irish - 3/3/18
Cloudy Rainbows - 5/11/18 
Sunny Skies - 5/12/18
Northampton Socks - 5/26/18
 
Scarves/Shawls:
Splashy Flowers: (May 2011) - add a motif scarf, don't see that being finished soon...
Light in Shadows (1/14/14) - I love this so much...need to start the new direction, so need to sit down and figure it out.. 
Willow Fields (9/6/14) - ran out of yarn, waiting on yarn 
My Shelly Valentine (2/10/16) - should finish for this year's Valentine's Day, yeah, that did not happen


Bags:
Beach Bag: (started May 2010)  Just needs lining sewn in, I used it this year without the lining...so may just call it a day on this.... 

 KAL/CALs: 
Fire and Blood (5/4/14) - not anytime soon
Outlander MKAL (8/8/14)  - possibility of finishing this..the yarn is so yummy

Stash Acquisition Post

Haven't done one in a couple of weeks and have some stash to share....some of it has already been shared in other posts...

This is Malabrigo Arroyo in Sunset for the Beekeeper Cardigan KAL....Such a perfect color for it..looks like a dark honey color....

I stopped in at a LYS that had moved locations and picked up a couple of skeins...

It's Urth Uneek Fingering.  It self stripes, but is also a gradient...Can't wait to see how it works up.

I'm not usually attracted to blues, but this skein intrigued me...It's Araucania Huasco Sock...the lady at the shop was using it, so showed me how it knitted up...not sure what I'm going to do with it yet...maybe a baby sweater...

I already showed the yarns from the recent Shop Hop here and my Fibreshare package here

So I don't think I ever showed my acquisitions from the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool.  I didn't take a ton of pictures...

Natural mohair from Red Cardinal Farm

Fiber Stash Twinkle Toes in Potluck

Worsted in It Never Ends, which I used for my friend's Hope hat

Merino Worsted in Bushel....I plan to use the rest of the pink and this skein to make a cowl for that same friend...

Flying Finn Yarn in Lichen

I bought this...and then had to go back and get some more...

I'm not sure what I'm doing with this, but gosh I love it!!!!

And while I was typing this up...this arrived in the mail..

Nomadic Yarns Self Stripe in Hermione....I bought this for a specific pattern that I fell in love with!
Hermione and Crookshanks

What about you? Any recent stash acquisitions?

Just This

Stitch Along: Week 25

Good morning!  Late morning, but still morning.....I am enjoying my vacation, so far....although we have a heat wave coming in tomorrow for 8 days....I'll be holed up in the bedroom, as it's the only room with air conditioning.....

Spent a great day yesterday with friends and colleagues at a friend's beach house...

It was a nice relaxing day...I did work a bit on the Sockhead hat...

It's getting there......

The past couple of days, I've also been looking at my WIPs....my Carlos and Arne sock was frustrating, as I'd put it on a 9 inch circular and it kept dropping stitches, so Monday night I put it back on Karbonz DPNs (I think I started it on them)...I also started the second sock....

I don't think they are going to match up though....

I also cast on my Koigu Colourscape Cowl

I have serious caston-it-is, but I am controlling it, as I have the Beekeeper Cardigan cast on in a few days....and I'd like to get the heels done on all those socks.....So how about you, what have you done this past week?