A Couple of Flannery's (Adriana)

For those who don't know, our friend Spillyjane has become quite the prolific sock designer. I think she is designing faster than she can knit the prototypes (which is the real reason why we often only see one foot modeling socks on her blog). She recently released the very beautiful Kethry, a lovely lace pattern based from a Japanese stitch pattern, I believe. I really wanted to knit it using the gorgeous Cherry Tree Hill yarn I won from B way back when, however, my life is much too busy right now for knitting from a chart. That's why I was thrilled when Jane came up with another new sock pattern, one that is easily memorized and thus much more practical for my life. She has called this one Flannery (I have no idea why).

I started Flannery a couple of days ago in the gorgeous purple and blue yarn that Heather dyed for me last summer as part of our Sock Yarn Challenge. Unfortunately, the yarn and the pattern didn't agree and it started pooling unattractively.

See, pretty pattern but not right for the yarn.

Usually I'd find a new pattern for the yarn, but since the purpose was to knit Jane's new pattern I had to find myself some different yarn. Luckily I have plenty to choose from so I selected the FA merino I got for my birthday from Heather and Gen and off I went again. Thankfully this yarn seems better suited to the patten.

I hope you can see the lovely pattern. I really enjoy the little cable knots and the straight knitting is a nice relief from the cabling.

Jane, I salute your madd designing skillz!

Mail Day! (Adriana)

It was a big day at the post office for me yesterday.

This may look like a huge haul but, actually, none of it is for me.

I really enjoy knitting for loved ones and so I wanted to make something for my friend Ev. But as much as I love surprising people with knitted goods, sometimes it’s worth ruining the surprise to make sure that they have something they like and will wear. For her birthday Ev is getting a bolero made from a pattern and yarn of her choosing.

This is Wool of the Andes Bulky in Emerald, coincidentally the same yarn I used to make a cardigan last fall so I was able to use the remaining two balls.
The white yarn in front is for the sock dyeing challenge created by Rosemary for herself, Heather and I. There will be more about this once it gets off the ground.

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. My mom and I both fell in love with Heather’s log cabin blanket in progress, and we agreed that a new house warrants a new blanket. My mom picked out the yarn and paid for it, and I get the fun of knitting it! I love this kind of deal.


This is Noro Kureyon 92 and Peruvian Wool Antique Rose. (12 balls of Kureyon are hard to find; I devoted an entire morning to the task.)

I had my doubts initially about the colour combination but now that I see them together I think they are stunning! I’m so psyched to play with the Kureyon. The colour changes makes everything more fun. I can’t wait to start knitting this up but unfortunately I can’t cast on right away. I need to wait until the arrival of the lovely Lady Genevieve on Friday evening with my 5.5mm Addi needle. Gen is set to arrive around 9pm so I plan on casting on at 9:10pm (I’ve allotted 10 minutes to hug and squeal and get her set up in the guest room. Then we knit).

Lately my thoughts have been drifting towards sewing projects but now it’s time to concentrate on knitting. I need to have the socks done by May 20th, the bolero by June 16th and the blanket by the time it gets cold outside (ok, so maybe that’s not much of a deadline but I would like to have the first two done to show my mom on May 20th which shouldn’t be a problem).