Knit-A-Way is finally underway. Here are the complete details for the event.

Date: April 29 – May 2, 2010.

Location: Lexington, MI (on Lake Huron, this is just over an hour from Royal Oak)

Price: $100.00 per person Thursday – Sunday – A $50.00 deposit is required to reserve your spot.

Meals: Everyone will be required to provide at least one meal for all guests, including preparation and clean-up.

Classes & Demonstrations: We will be taking a pole on what type of classes/demonstrations everyone is interested in and will plan accordingly.

I look forward to another great weekend retreat. Please email me if you have any questions or would like to reserve your spot.

A few weeks ago, I had lots of fun dyeing up yarn for my Sock Yarn Blanket. I have wanted to attempted the whole dying yarn process, but have always felt too overwhelmed with the process and the possibility that the yarn wouldn’t turn out the way I expected or as something that I didn’t like. And having never wanted to ruin a full skein of sock yarn I just never took the plunge.

Recently when I started my Sock Yarn Blanket I was in need of a variety of different sock yarns, and although I have joined many swaps to get a variety of yarn for my blanket I decided this was the perfect opportunity to experiment with dyeing. Then with the help of the Ravelry Group What a Kool Way to Dye I decided to just go for it.

So I took two different skeins of Knit Picks Sock yarn and divided them up into 20 mini skeinlettes. Don’t they look fun even before they were dyed.

Using Wilton’s Icing Dyes I mixed up my colors and just went for it. Not really knowing exactly how the yarn would turn out, but not too concerned because they were only little skeinlettes. Here are two skeinlettes in their after bath.

And then on to the drying stage. We have the perfect place to hang up the skeinlettes right in our kitchen. Don’t they look yummy. I couldn’t resist just standing there looking at them and my accomplishment.

And this is what they look like when they were back in skeinlettes.

I had so much fun and the outcome was better than I expected. Even when I screwed up on a few of my skeinlettes, I decided to over dye the yarn and even the over dyed yarn came out pretty cool, although dark. I don’t have any pictures because it is very difficult to see the true beauty of them in photograph form.

And then last weekend I really took the plunge and dyed a full skein.

This too was destined to be part of the Sock Yarn Blankets, but it was for my first Dye-It-Yourself Swap. 

Now I can’t wait to dye some yarn that I will actual make socks with, and I can see many more dyeing sessions in my future to creating yarn for my Sock Yarn Blanket as well as hand-dyed socks.

I had my first hand knit sock casualty this week.

I am not sure how well you can see the mishap, but it is at the back of the leg about halfway up. The only thing I can think of is that it was a weak spot in the yarn and after wearing them and washing them a number of times it just gave way. Because I really don’t know how else that particular spot would get worn out faster than the rest.

I considered repairing them, but I have so many skeins of sock yarn to knit up for new socks that I am okay with letting this pair go to the grave. What I might do is unravel both socks and reuse the yarn in my sock yarn blanket. What better way to let the socks live on.

Materials:

1 skein worsted weight yarn – 220 yards
US 7 – 16″ circular needle or needle for gauge of 4 sts per 1″

Finished Measurement: 25″ circumferance

Using long-tail cast-on, CO 100 sts, join in the round.

Row 1: *k1, p1, repeat from * to end

Row 2: *p1, k1, repeat from * to end

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until desired length.

Cast-off loosely.

So much for keeping my WIPs limited. I now have 10 projects on the needles with expectations to cast-on another in the next few days. I know it is a little out of control, but with Christmas knitting going on and so many things I want to knit I just couldn’t help it.

My primary project, over the last two weeks, has been my Sock Yarn Blanket. Knitting little squares, dyeing yarn, and swapping with other Blanket makers, not to mention winding all the yarns into little balls, takes a lot of time. I am very much enjoying this project though. The little squares don’t take very long to knit and I get to change yarn with every square so there is always something to look forward to. So far I have completed just under 50 squares.

I have put a both Icaras and The Beach Cover-up on hold until the Christmas knitting is complete. Both of these projects are for me and not something I need in my wardrobe right now. And although I should provide my complete attention to Christmas knitting, I just can’t seem to put down my Sock Yarn Mohair Scarf, Wicked, or my current pair of basic socks. All projects are for me but all can be used this Fall and Winter so there is a reason to get them completed. I am trying to divide my time as equally as possible to these projects and Christmas knitting, but some projects I just can’t put down as easily.

As I look back over the projects I have finished and started since May it baffles me that I accomplished so much. Now don’t get me wrong, I know I knit a lot, but what you probably don’t know is that during the last four months, in addition to all that knitting, I also read more than 20 books. And although I can knit and read at the same time, many of the projects didn’t lend themselves to doing that, so much for the knitting and reading were done separately. Plus, I am not a very fast reader. It amazes me that I did anything else this summer, like clean the house, which did get done on occasion. Plus, about a month ago, I was introduced to the website Goodreads and I have gone crazy adding new books to my To-Read list based on what others are reading and recommending. I don’t know what it is about summertime, but I always seem to want to read a lot.

Since I last posted at the beginning of May I have been doing a lot of knitting. I will try to catch you up quickly; you can see the complete details of all these projects on Ravelry just click the link above each picture.

Lace Jacket

Lace Mobius

Bramble Berry Pullover

April Sockdown Socks – Bob’s Party Socks

Hot Pads I and II
  

Basic Socks – Pink Tart Socks

Mistake Rib Scarf and Hat

Swiffer Dusters

Swiffer Dust Mop Replacement

Dishcloths

Not quite done, but in progress:

Garden Rows Sweater

Day at the Beach Cover-up

Icarus Shawl

Sock Yarn Blanket

More Basic Socks

Sock Yarn Mohair Scarf – pattern to be posted soon
 

Wicked

Triple Play – Stripe Socks: currently in a time-out

And I have already started my Christmas Knitting.

That’s alota knitting.

Wow! I can’t believe it has been over three months since I last posted. As I look back at my blog since I started it, it seems that I have always been going in spurts, posting regularly for a few months, and then not posting anything for months upon months.

I would like to rectify that and post more on a year round basis, even if I only post once a week. But one of the reasons why I haven’t posted since finishing up the knitting for hire jobs, that were due the beginning of June, is because I have been trying to decide if I was actually going to keep blogging. Sometimes I wonder why people read my blog, or any blog for that matter. Is it just to see what projects I am working on, or to find any helpful tips that I might be able to pass along to other knitters. Those are reasons why I read blogs, but is that the norm, I don’t know. I guess I am just wondering what direction I want to go with this blog, because I don’t want it to be just about my knitting woes and accomplishments. 

So please let me know why you read blogs in general, knitting blogs, and this blog. Hopefully your responses will help me decide exactly what I want to do with this blog.

I am currently in full blown knitting for hire mode. So you might no hear too much from me over the next few weeks. I can tell you that there are pros and cons to doing Knitting for Hire jobs.

I have found that there are two different categories for Knitting for Hire Jobs: Test Knitting: where you are actually testing the pattern to make sure it is clearly written and doesn’t contain mistakes; and Sample Knitting: where you are not only reviewing the pattern for clarity, but also producing a sample garment that will be returned to the designer.

For Test Knitting, there are many designers that recruit knitters to review their pattern before they publish it. A lot of these designers look for knitters who will use their own materials and don’t expect to be paid for their time or materials. I have found that it is fun to work for these types designers because you can usually get a copy of the pattern for free, both when you test the pattern and usually when the final pattern, without errors, is published. Plus, you are one of the first to knit the project. The drawback that I have found is that sometimes it is necessary to make a purchase to meet the requirements for the pattern. Typically, I will only do this type of test knitting if I have the materials already on hand.

Sample Knitting is a different ball game all together. Designers requiring Sample Knitters will provide the materials and will also pay for the knitting, usually by the yard. Now don’t think you will get paid and also get to keep the item. No sir, the designers require the items for what they call Trunk Shows. They take their garments around to different shows to sell the pattern to the wholesale market.

One of the things I love about sample knitting jobs is that I learn so much and typically, I get to use yarn that I have never used before and might not have selected on my own. Understand that sample knitting is not a huge moneymaker, but I find it fun as well as educational.

Don’t get me wrong, there are the drawbacks as well. For starters, when I am in a time crunch to get a project completed for a designer I get little, if any, work done on my own personal projects. This makes it very difficult to knit up my stash, but I have found the benefits outweigh the drawbacks in this case.  Because it also means I am less likely to want to purchase more yarn.

Here is a progress picture of my KAL sock for the Sock Knitters Anonymous April Sockdown. At first I really didn’t like the pattern, but once I was able to try them on and spread out the lace pattern I found I really do love the pattern. It is a simple pattern to follow so I don’t need to drag the written pattern around with me.

Earlier this week I completed the short-row heels on both socks and when I tried them on I was a little nervous that they would be too short. But instead of frogging back and adding some length I proceeded forward.

Today, after working about 1½” up the leg of one sock I tried it on again and could barely get it over my heel. Once, I got it over my heel I realized that it was in fact too short, and also very tight around my ankle. So both socks have been frogged back to just before the short-row heel. I think I will change the needle size to 2.25 to make them a little looser. Unfortunately, I only have a 2.25 in the Harmony needles and I so much prefer the Nickel plated, so I just placed an order with Knit Picks and will be able to continue with my socks later this week.

Until then I leave you with some additional pictures of this project. Not the best pictures I have taken, but all I have right now.