Mistress Stash Enhancer - project_spectrum

Fancy Silk sock meets L5 the clown car

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Fri, 9 Jun 2006 15:30:00 -0400

I don't know what it was about this project, it just dragged. Most of this week the kids and I have been playing outside in the lovely sunshine, cleaning up the yard, getting all the outside toys cleaned up for a summer of fun, cleaning, cleaning and then some more cleaning. The strangest thing keep happening this week, I would watch tv and I wasn't knitting, while the kids where playing outside, I was just watch them play and not knit. I didn't feel like knitting. This totally freaked me out. Last night I (finally) finished the toe decreases on my Fancy Silk Socks using Koigu KPPPM. This morning after I dropped the Van off for her new brakes and oil change, we came home with L5 the clown car* and the kids ~~destroyed~~ worked on some arts and crafts I kitchenered up the toe.

With out further ado, I give you my finished Fancy Silk Socks and L5 the loverly Clown Car:

Pattern: Fancy Silk Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks. April/May sock for the Knitting Vintage Socks a long

Yarn: 2 hanks Koigu KPPPM color P52267. This colorway reminds me of yummy watermelons.

Needles: size 1 metal dpns, 5 of 'em.

Time: Started: May 25 Finished: June 9. 2 weeks these where on the needles! Poor neglected sock!

My though's: I love the lace cuff! The lace panel is very pretty, and the little s1k2psso every so many rows, so cute! I'm thinking about modifying the pattern and just using the lace cuff and the lace panel for a pair of socks in the future. (Leaving out the little bumpy things) Now that the socks are finished, I need to give them a nice bath in hopes that the koigu will relax a bit and to get the lace cuff to lay down a bit more. (I casted on too tight it seems!) I'm so happy that I joined the Knitting Vintage Socks a-long, I don't think I would have attempted to even try any of the patterns in this book, (other than the ribbed ones in the front) with out having a knit a-long. When I looked at the directions for most of the socks, they seemed so hard, used tiny needles (000 should be left to tiny socks, not men's size 11 shoe socks) and the measurements wouldn't fit my foot with out modifying the pattern. Next time I need to remember, just one row at a time and remember its just yarn, you can rip-it!

L5 returned happly to the dealorship after our photo shot with the fancy silk socks. L5 is awaiting our visit next week when the recall of whatever will be fixed. Yippie.

*I have to say, I think its fantastic the dealership we bought the van from has loaner cars for when your vehicle is in the shop. What I think sucks, is that they are teeny tiny neons (no offence to people who like neons!!) and it almost impossible to fit 1 car seat and 2 booster seats in a neon. When all of us get out, it feels like we are all spilling out of the car, like the clowns in a clown car. Allysa (who is 2) called it "baby car" when we walked out to it this morning!

Project Spectum: April a little late

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Mon, 29 May 2006 10:35:05 -0400

Somehow with everything that went on during the month of April, I didn't put a photo collage together. With my little boy Bryce's favorite color being "llellow" I had to put one together even though May is almost over!

Projecct Spectum April; Orange and Yellow things around the house

"llellow" is one of Bryce's favorite colors, he loves "llellow" cookies, yellow was also one of his first few words.

Knitting content to come soon, Mike and I had a looooong, fun weekend! We went furniture shopping on Saturday and to a family party on Sunday. Today I have more cleaning to finish as the new furniture is coming tomorrow! Ack! Hope everyone had a safe and FUN Holiday weekend : D

In the interest of full disclosure

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Sun, 14 May 2006 23:20:00 -0400

In the interest of full disclosure I am going to admit that yes, I am a moron, and yes ya'll have proof.

uh huh.

Bryce's game was not in a different town 15 minutes away, it was in the same town, on the field, wait for it,

right next to Corra's.

GOOD GOD!! DUH!! My friend MandyJ found the perfect tee for me. (edited to add: I was asking where I could find one, she was surfing about yesterday and found it! Perfect timing, no?)

Hardy Har Har. I already have a dumb blonde tee. (MandyJ knit up a super cute hedgehog, and needs help choosing a name for him, go help her out! I'll wait) ya back? ok good.

I finished up Hedera socks late Saturday night, Sunday morningish. These where my *ahem* Project Spectrum March socks. yeah, well... umm...

The Specs:

Pattern: Hedera from the Spring Knitty

Yarn: 2 hanks Lorna's Laces Lucky Stripe, bought by Mike at Knit Happens. There is a lot left over, probably 3/4 of a hank.

Needles: 5 metal dpns

Time: these puppies have been warming my needles for a month now! I finished the first sock, casted on the second one, and then had to start on Lady E.

My though's: I worked 15 repeats on the leg, and 18 repeats on the foot. This was a very easy to memorize lacy pattern, by the time I reached the foot on the first sock I had the pattern down! I wish I would have omitted the last lace repeat and knit for a half and inch before started the toe decreases. Now that I've finished my first LL socks, I'm very glad I have lots of this good stuff stashed! very happy!

One more pic? A close up? OK!

Also, Have you seen this? Cynthia of Two sticks and a ball of wool she started by collecting pink squares to make a blanket for her niece Grace, and one for Grace's friend Simone who are both sick with cancer. (I hope I have this right) Grace's friend and boyfriend Justin at the Alberta's Children's Hospital is dying of liver cancer and living on borrowed time. Cynthia is in desperate need of Blue Squares to make him a blanket. She needs 63 5" blue squares to make a blanket. If your able to help, leave Cynthia a comment with your email address in it. Thanks.

I still can't believe, I drove all the way to the other town to only discover that I had the games mixed up! DUH!

Itty Bitty Teeny Socks and stash enhancement

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 16:49:58 -0400

Dude, guess who (finally) called Dell?? I gots my power cable!! *dancing* yay!

Check out these little itty bitty teeny little socks,

don't they just make you wanna go "awwww!!! They are just so cute!!"

I used a mini cadbury egg for scale. If anyone is interested in a pattern, leave a comment and I'll make one up.

I wonder if these little cutties will count for the 200socks a-long and count your socks.. hmmm...

The Lucky Stripe (orange and red) where apart of my Project Spectrum postcard swap, here is my card and the super cool shiney card from my pal

Thank-you Aliastriona, your card is super cool!! I love the artwork that you created! And the little poem on the back

A sun for orange and yellow month...

light, heat, life, death- all

are encompassed in one simple symbol

amazing! Thanks! : D

I'll leave ya'll with my recent stash enhancements

Claudia's Handpainted sock yarn in Passion Fruit (which I had to distract Mom with her early Birthday/Mother's day yarn so I could sneak it into my suitcase!) 1 bag of Debbie Bliss Cathay in color 09 (pink) 2 bags of Debbie Bliss Cathay in color 15 (purplely blue) and 2 just in casers Debbie Bliss Cathay in color 14 showcased in picture 1. In picture two we have Craft gloves, two sets of needles and two hanks of Noro Cash Iroha (very yummie yes!!) and 7 hanks of tweedy cotton classic in color 466.

Throwing it at ya: a couple of weeks ago, I emailed Julia at Knitterely things, asking her if she would be kind enough to create a skein of yarn for my Mom. She came up with the beautifulest of colorways for my mom, even naming it after her Crazy Jane. Thanks Julia, you are the best! I gave Mom her yarn when I saw her last weekend I just couldn't wait till her birthday in June! She loves it! She showed it to everyone at the Harlots event! Mom loves loves LOVES her yarn! Go look she has 4 inches knit already!! WOW! Julia, I don't think I've said this enough, thank you!!! Mom, enjoy your present, I love you!

Confessions

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 23:01:33 -0400

I...I... have a few uhhh... things I need to confess to.... umm... *ahem*

1. Its April...

click to see another view of scarf

and yes, Christine my Christmas tree is still up! *sob* I'm debating about giving out Mike's email address so we can all power nag him. He would love that. Upon that Christmas tree is the second to last Christmas gift. yessss, quit looking at me like that!! Its a Christmas present promised last Christmas, Christmas of 2005 to be exact. oh, good Lord! *ahem* At least its only been four months!!! geesh!

Project Specs:

Pattern: Branching Out from knitty

Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold, silky wool olive color.

Needles: size 8 bamboo 10"

Time: Started in December, and has been marinating in the basket for 4 months. I had completed 4 pattern repeats when I put it down, I picked it back up before Thursdays soccer practice and blocked it Sunday afternoon! I enjoyed the flowing movement of lace. I need more lace on my needles!!

2. Even though I have a few skeins of Lorna's Laces In my stash (click to see) are you ready for this? Its a dozy!

I've never knit with it before.

uh huh

you read that right.

Last night, I started my project spectrum socks.. Hedera from the new knitty.

I don't know why I've waited so long to use this beautiful yarn!! Just look at how the sun gleams off of the needles! I'm loven spring!!

Now that I have a few things off my chest, I feel a little better... now I just need to get Mike to put the Christmas tree away!!