Porch Knitting!!

Last Tuesday night it was finally warm enough to knit on the porch at Yarn Haven.  Woot, woot!!



Note Karen's dazed expression.  In celebration of Sarah's birthday, Karen had recently put away four blue margaritas and had been deemed too impaired to knit.  She was trying to hydrate (water bottle she's clutching) and sober up so I might allow her to drive herself home.  (If you hadn't heard, the physician in the group is responsible for all necessary sobriety checks.)  At the time this photograph was taken, Karen was meeting motor skill milestones for a typical 3 year old, so I prescribed more water and a piece of the peanut butter pie (which Karen made for Sarah's birthday - it was completely awesome).

With all this chaos and hilarity, was any actual knitting completed?  Well, I am happy to report that I have finished my Southwest Ocean Toes.



I really like the Comfort sock yarn.  I love my new sock blockers.  I REALLY LOVE this sock pattern.  Cat Bordhi is a freaking genius.

Now, this pattern is not a walk in the park.  I had to have the pattern with me at all times and consult it every row.  The only "mindless" knitting was the 10 extra rows of stockinette I added before the toe shaping so they would fit me.  That being said, there are not any advanced techniques or complicated maneuvers once you get past the very top of the cuff.  Cat's pattern calls for Judy's Magic Cast-On, which I have decided is only magical if you are using two circs.  For a double-pointed needle gal like me, it becomes Judy's #@$%@ Cast-On.  For sock number two, I used a provisional cast on instead and was infinitely happier with the process.

Now that the Ocean Toes are done, I'm back to Salto.  Kate hasn't posted any progress for awhile, so I'm not sure where she is but I have just started the cable pattern on sock #2.



Dude, that yarn is pretty.

Theoretically, I should be farther along on my socks, but I've been spending some time at my wheel as well.  I used cream, yellow, and orange for my second color-blended batt on my drum carder and spun a two-ply FINGERING weight that I have christened "Peachy Keen"



I am so excited to have finally achieved fingering-weight.  I have two little skeins of this, so a pair of little socks is possible - maybe for my little niece Aidan who I just realized has a birthday coming up very soon.  Something with a lacy cuff - dontcha think?

One more skein to show you - this one is teeny.



It was also nearly impossible to photograph.  This is a 0.2 oz two-ply skein I spun from a tiny fiber sample that was included with a roving I ordered from Enchanted Knoll Farm.  Look, Sarah , it's sparkly!!
There is only enough of this to make a stripe on something, but I might just keep it as a pet.

I have to do some cleaning up today, but then I might just take another swing at spinning the gray alpaca blend.  I'd be pretty thrilled if I could get some fingering weight from that if the peach yarn wasn't just a fluke.

Anybody got special Mother's Day plans?  I'll be on-call, which probably means a hospital visit for a mom and baby celebrating their first ever Mother's Day.  Awwwww!

Comments

[Kate]

Dude, that yarn is more than just pretty, that yarn is freakin' GORGEOUS!! And I love the "Peachy Keen" fingering weight - you are so, so clever!
Did Karen get to drive home in the end? I'm guessing your legal alcohol limit is higher than ours, because four margaritas would put you well over the 0.05% that is in force here in Oz.

[Kim]

Peachy is fabulous and congrats on the fingering weight. Little socks would be adorable.

Have a Happy Mother's Day!

[Karen in Toledo]

The legal limit is .08 here. But I want to know if Karen drove home, too! LOL

Hooray for the porch being open!!!

[Becky C.]

Worry not, dear readers. Karen had several hours to sober up before she hit the road and all ended well. Happy Mother's Day to all!!

[KTMay]

OMG! OMG! I am soooo gonna kill you....OMG! THEY WERE VERY LITTLE MARGARITAS!!!!!