One Sock

I finished the first of a new sock for myself. Now that I have the understanding of the basic sock pattern I like trying out new patterns to it. For the first time I decided to try a different coloured toe. I like how it turned out. This one came together quickly. For some reason I always find the second one harder to start but I have started the second one and it came together more easily than before.

Christmas Socks

I managed to finish socks for my husband a couple of days after Christmas. I could call it a New Year's Eve gift. It was nice to have an excuse to sit down and rest for a bit because I really wanted to get them done for the Holiday. Since starting the socks I have bought some more sock yarn and I am going to look for new patterns to make some for myself. Accomplishments always feel good.

Socktober

I finally took the time to finish the socks that I had been working on over the summer. I only needed to use them. I then started on some socks for my husband.

 

Just like the shoemaker's children go barefoot I had never made socks for my husband. It is a nice project to have for the fall and I hope to have them done by Christmas.

Linking to Can I Get A Whoop, Whoop.

Knitting - Friday Night Sew In

Busy times. I have yet to post about my Friday Night Sew In. I was going to work on more of the border I was doing but I ended up working on some socks that I had just started. I am using the pattern Petty Harbour by Rayna Curtis. I am enjoying making these socks. The pattern has texture to it but not complicated enough that you cannot watch a show while working on them.

All You Need Is Tea & Warm Socks

All you need is tea and warm socks is one of my mottos. I would include books and chocolate as well. I am always amazed at how a ball of yarn can end up becoming so many different things.

My ball of yarn became a wonderful pair of socks. It has been a long time since I made a pair of socks.

It was like riding a bicycle. Once I started knitting again it came back to me. I have worn them all day and they have are so cozy and warm. Handmade socks are going back on my to do list.

Inspiring Quilters

As today is International Women's Day I thought I would talk about some of the quilters that inspire me. I don't have much time to look at blogs anymore but these women have inspired me for a long time. In the past week their blogs have encouraged me to continue with my quilts.


Nicole from Sister's Choice Quilt showed a buzzsaw quilt that she has been working on. I have one that has been tucked away for years and now I have the urge to work on it.

Ariane  from Ariane Quilts creates beautiful quilts with lots of fabrics and small squares. After seeing her beautiful blocks I want to get out my 2 1/2 inch rainbow blocks and get them finished.

Cupcakes and Daisies creates gorgeous quilts. Every time she makes one I want to make the same one. She has made some great Miss Rosie's patterns and is having a Miss Rosie sew-along. It has encouraged me to get my Miss Rosie pattern started.

Mary from Making Scrap Quilts from Stash not only has an amazing blog but many great free patterns as well. I am making a quilt right now from one of her patterns and my son made a quilt using one of her patterns. I saw this stunning quilt that she was quilting and knew I want to get back to my pink log cabin quilt.

My daughter is an amazing quilter as well as having many other talents.

Years ago, she made this small mat for me and now she is teaching me how to cork so I can make one for myself. She is an excellent teacher and has a lot of patience.

Here is the start of my corking.

There are so many others who have inspired me as well. I thank you for all that you are and all that you do.

Linking to Let's Bee Social and WIP Wednesday.

Sunshine has been knitted!

My sunshine socks have been knitted. They are much needed for the gloomy week we have had here. My daughter tried them on last night. They are a touch big for her but she is growing so fast, that it feels as though it will only be a couple of weeks and they will fit her perfectly.

I started on my next pair of socks already. Another pair for my daughter. I had started these socks in another pattern, but then noticed that Michelle at Michelle's Romantic Tangle was using the same yarn (Lemon Drop) to make socks. I liked the pattern she used so I decided to be a copycat and make the same ones. I like the pattern it is making, and like she said it is easy to follow.

Linking to On the Needles, Finish it Up Friday, Can I Get a Whoop Whoop.

Trying to Knit Sunshine

We've had had a lot of gloomy days lately, so I have been spending more time lately working on these socks. The colours are so bright and beautiful, that it makes one hope that Spring will soon be here. After these one are done, I think I will go back to something with more of a pattern. Sock knitting can be very addictive and I am glad I have that addiction!

Linking to On the Needles.

If the socks fits it's a labour of love! - On The Needles

I had to buy some new socks for myself this week and found quite a few for 50% off costing me less than 75 cents each.  It made me realize and appreciate how much work and effort go into knitting a pair of socks. Much more than the cost of 75 cents. I finished up these socks for my son for Christmas and he loves them so much. I am appreciate too that I have people to knit and sew for who in return appreciate me back. It's definitely a labour of love which I am happy to do!





This is the one that I am working on now for my daughter. She is as bright and amazing as these socks!

Linking to On The Needles at Patchwork Times!

Cactus Wreath - Work in Progress Wednesday

I have all the blocks done for my Cactus Wreath and now I need to put them together. Probably my least favourite part about quilting is trying to organize the blocks and arrange them in a pleasing way. I tend to save some scraps or extra bits in case I find I have a few blocks that are too similar.

 

I have also started working on socks for my daughter. I love the brightness and boldness of the colour. Socks are so nice to work on. Even doing a bit at a time makes you feel like you are getting somewhere.


Linking to The Needle and Thread Network and Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday.

Forward Momentum

I have started getting my momentum back. The first sock was done in a week and a half.   That is pretty fast for me, considering the limited amounts of time that I have. It always seem to take the longest to get started, but once you do the ball keeps rolling! (Pun intended)! It feels like that is the same with life as well. I am looking forward to taking a break at Christmas and having time to spend with my children in our homemade socks.

My son bought this bag for me at his school with his own money. He gave it to me last week and I love it. It fits my sock project perfectly. My children are very thoughtful. Life is good!

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at The Needle and Thread Network and Freshly Pieced.

Moving Foward

Life can be hectic. I am definitely feeling the moving one step foward, two steps back lately. I can't seem to get any momentum. Life has not been that nice lately, but I am trying to keep it all in perspective, especially since I have so much to be grateful for. That is one of the things I love about crafting. Usually, with persevance, and joy you can see something beautiful being created. I am hoping to apply that to my life as well.

I suddenly realized last Tuesday that Christmas is fast approaching. While I don't have any quilts that need to be done for Christmas, I do have a number of small gifts that I want to make. I decided I had better start working on a pair of socks for my son. I had gotten the yarn in the summer time when they had a sale, and it was picked out by him. It has a very nice feel to it. It has been a while since I have knitted plain socks and it feels good to get back into it and know that I am knitting faster and easier than before. It reminds me that I am moving forward!

Linking to Linky Tuesday.

Cable Socks - Off My Needles

 

I am so thrilled! My cable socks are finished! They were very easy to make and I love how they look. They are quite warm, and luckly or not so luckly, there is still lots of time to wear them with the winter we are having. I have to say I have become quite addicted to making socks. They are so easy to take anywhere, fast to do and feel great to wear. I have a couple more skeins of yarns ready to go and I am eager to find my next pattern.

Linking up to On The Needles, and Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop!

On The Needles

I got my sock problem figured out. I went back to the store where I got my sock yarn and the woman who works there told me that yes, socks can take more than one ball to make.

I bought another ball, and then couldn't resist buying another 3 balls of the same yarn in a very pretty colourway. I am back to knitting again and it will be perfect to do while watching the Olympics!

 

Go Canada Go!

Check out what others have On The Needles!

FNSI - Cable Socks

I have had a bit of a cold lately, so I decided to relax and doing some knitting for my Friday Night Sew In. I decided to branch out with my socks and try one with a cable. I got the pattern from Raverly. I love the look and how quickly it has gone. I only have one issue though I am near the end of the sock and I am positive that I am going to end up short of yarn. The pattern did not specifically say how much yarn was needed to make these socks. Has anyone ever had this issue before? Suggestions would be appreciated.

Christmas Wrap Up

As I start to organize my quilting for this year, I realized that I did more than just quilting for Christmas gifts.
I made quite a few homemade gifts done this past year for Christmas. I got quilts finished, socks, pilowcases, a Christmas stocking, Christmas tree and some microwave bowl.















I enjoyed mixing it up this year with some big and smaller projects. I think I will continue that this year, but my first priority is to get three quilts done by June. Time to get back at it!

FNKI not FNSI

Well, my Friday Night Sew In turned into a Friday Night Knit In. I did get my sewing room organized and then decided I had better get working on my second sock if it is going to be a Christmas gift. I love stripe wool but I always find it hard to match up when I start the second sock.

I ended up rolling the yarn into a ball before I got to the right place. I have it started now, have some PVR shows to watch and feel much better now about having it done by Christmas.

Check out what others have done for their Friday Night Sew In.

Rainbow Bright

 

I got my Bright Stripes finished and I love it! When I initially bought the kit years ago, I was a bit concerned because it came with pink rather than red. A blue, red, yellow and green quilt seemed great for a boy, but I was not sure if a pink, blue, yellow and green quilt would be good for a girl. I am happy with how it turned out, and it will be going to a sweet baby.

 

 I am also so happy that I finally got these socks done! It was my birthday gift to myself to get them completed which I did today. I decided for my birthday I wanted to work on something for someone else. These socks are for my sister.  Now I get to move up a difficulty level with a new sock pattern and some new yarn. I find yarn to be as addicting as fabric! I had a wonderful lunch and afternoon with an amazing, incredible friend who I feel so blessed to know, and tonight I am having dinner with my incredible family. A great day for sure, and I did not even mind all the rain we had today.

I am linking to Finish it Up Friday, TGIFF, and Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop!

On The Needles - Getting Closer

I am so close to having this sock done. I have a few more rows to do, then I can start working on the toe. I want to get the second one done soon, so I can start on a pair for my mother.  I really enjoying having projects that can fit in my purse and be taken anywhere. I am linking to On The Needles at Patchwork Times.

16 X 2 = 32

I am embarassed. Much like, Grover in one of my all time favourite books "The Monster at the End of This Book." I won't give away the ending but to say I am embarrassed is an understatement. I started knitting these socks in March. I was not happy with the gauge I was getting so I ripped them out and started again with a smaller needle. Then I was having a hard time picking up the stitches for the gusset. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't come up with 16 stitches. Let's say I ripped out that section twice, or how about one more for good luck. I was very diligent in marking the rows I had done, so I knew that wasn't the issue. The pattern was excellent. It was from the same company that I had used for my daughter's socks. Finally when I was ready to give up I read the pattern again. It said to repeat rows 1 and 2 16 times, for a total of 32 rows. I had been repeating the rows so that my total was 16. Big Mistake! Well, I have fixed it now, turned the heel and hopefully turned the corner! How embarrassing!