Splitting the Set

Here our lovely model, aka The Daughter looks out while showing off my latest finished projects. Perhaps she is contemplating her bright future in her new apartment? She moves in with friends in September. Where did the time go? 

Sadly, this cute little beret does not look good on me at all which is strange because berets are kind of my thing. Perhaps it is too floppy. As The Daughter remarked, "mushroom" shaped hats look better on me. So this blue hat is now hers. Adorably so. The wristers I will keep for myself and there is still a small ball of yarn left for something else. This Indigo Dragonfly MCN Sock sure has great yardage.

Beautiful happy girl.

Some Blue

Still water at Sunnyside Pool on a muggy night.

Indigo Dragonfly MCN Sock in colour Fringe Over Troubled Water

TTC Knitalong 2014

Saturday July 12 was the annual TTC Knitalong. I've lost count of how many I've done now. Is this my 5th or 6th? regardless, this year was the best ever. The weather was fine and the company even better. Even the TTC co-operated with none of the major crisis that have slowed us down in the past.

I took on a bigger role this year - liaising with our charity, Sistering, doing press and communications and gathering prizes. I even got to see how pinback buttons are made! Fun! I'm not working right now, so it's certainly easy for me to take the time. Also, I just enjoy the work. It makes me feel good to use my skills organizing a fun event that helps such an amazing cause. The more I learn about Sistering, the more I realize just how special and unique they are. The services they provide are truly amazing.

The volunteers that make it all happen. I love these people.

I was very happy to see that one of our LYS's, LadeeBee, carries pottery made at Inspiration Studios which is a Sistering run micro business incubator. I bought that soapdish on the right.

Of course, I have to captain a team that includes my own LYS EweKnit.

My co-captain this year was Christina. She is charming and delightful and I could not ask for better company. The  whole team loved her. We had such a pleasant day.

Finished Something. Ha!

Yes it's a basic pair of socks but, after days of false starts on other things, it feels great to see these come off the needles. I used Glenna's Nice Ribbed Sock as usual but spiralled the rib for more texture..Glenna's math is perfect. This pattern makes a heel that fits me beautifully. The yarn is one of the Regia Kafe Fassett line that's been in my stash for a few years. There's no point in questioning how Fassett's colours look in the skein because you just know they will be charming on the sock. That's why he's Kafe Fassett and we're not.

This pair of socks is for a teen girl. I know she will love them.

Now back to my hat. I finally managed to get a good start on it this morning. The sweater is still waiting.

Getting Gauge

The gauge gods are not with me. 

Despite much swatching, the sweater I cast on earlier this week was coming out far too large. I was knitting the extra small and using a half size smaller needle than recommended. Still, my cardigan was shaping up to be fit for a giant. I ripped it back yesterday and then spent a good amount of the morning doing the math to make the sweater smaller still. 

After all that I hadn't the heart to cast right back on again so I decided to start a simple hat today with my Indigodragonfly MCN Sock. This skein was given to me by a good friend as consolation after my unfortunate losses from nasty yarn eating insects. It has 10% cashmere and is delightfully sumptuous to hold and knit. It's a good thing using this yarn is such a pleasure because after working about an inch of the hat brim, it became obvious that it was coming out much too small. What on earth? I've made this hat at least a half dozen times before. It should be a cake walk. More ripping ensued.

So, after several days of knitting, I've absolutely nothing to show for it. Knitting can be like that. I intend to spend this evening closing the toe on an almost complete pair of socks. Then at least I will have something to show for the weekend.