Vacation knitting

Rule #1 of knitting: If you knit a pair of socks, 

Basic Ribbed socks

someone will snap them up. Surprisingly, Youngest Child and I apparently share a sock size.

Perhaps I'll make my next pair out of this loverly red sock yarn - a vacation-to-Pennsylvania souvenir:

Pagewood Farm's Really Red Yukon sock yarn

That's the ticket . . . girl colors!

Wednesdays on the road

No, we weren't lost. But our vacation in Western PA has ranged from the woods . . .



to the city. Pittsburgh has some great views! This was from the top of Mount Washington after we rode the Washington incline up from Station Square.



I eventually ripped out the bonnet portion of Lillie's Little Sweater and reknit it on size 5 needles. This is a much better gauge!




I've also been carrying around Mr. Daisy's Gentleman Socks - this pattern has an enormous heel but it fits his very large foot very well. I'm not so sure I like the two needle technique but I'm giving it the old school try.

I only have a few Cool Wednesday sites. According to our friend Alex T., I must be one of three knit bloggers in the world (HA!) but the other two probably want to know about:

Companion Gardening.



When I had a larger garden, I found this technique worked very well.

Also, Yarntini (a Western Pennsylvania favorite!) has an update going out on July 12 over at her Etsy store. I love her color ways! Who wouldn't want a Lemon Drop or a Mimosa?

Well, time to beat back the clouds and collect my family for a trip to Moraine State Park.

Hope you are enjoying your vacation as much as we are!

Little to Big

After a peaceful Christmas holiday in Pennsylvania, I thought I should show some of my holiday/travel knitting. Although I got a few books for Christmas (and a WII Fit!), relaxation for me mostly meant knitting!

First off, I had a quick pair of Knucks to produce for Youngest Child when he vetoed the pair of mittens I'd started for him. I skipped the embroidery but I used a lovely bright shade of green yarn.

Originally, I'd picked up a great pattern for Felted Mittens by Nancy Lindberg over at Ingebretsens in Minneapolis but - once again - I'd mislaid the ball band so I wasn't entirely sure what yarn I had on hand. Could be wool, could be a blend. Since I wasn't going to waste time making and felting a swatch, I decided to make the knucks instead.



I think they make him feel like Ash from Pokemon! He wore them all the time in Pennsylvania - even on the coldest days. After that, I worked on a pair of moccasin slippers for him from Felted Knits. That was a fun pattern but I haven't photographed them yet. They are still a bit damp and need a little more shaping. I think I like them better than the ballet slippers from the same book. They just seem more tailored.



On the drive home today, I finally started on a pair of the Nancy Lindberg Felted Mittens. I don't have the full skeins of Brown Sheep Nature Spun as called for so these mittens will be a hodgepodge of colors. I do wish I'd brought a circular needle - I used every size 7 in my bag as well as a few size 8 dp needles to help hold on all the stitches.

I did have one knitting stop while on vacation - Wolf Creek Yarns in Grove City, Pa. I bought some needles and a gorgeous red skein of Cascade Yarns Eco Wool + yarn. It is shade 8450, a very rich red and 478 yards! This may be for my own felted mittens.

After these mittens, I have to start planning the New Year's knitting. Maybe a finish-a-thon of UFOs?