Ok, so I’m back to socks for awhile.

I’ve put the lace aside for awhile and working on my Bellatrix socks.  I have to finish them by the end of June for them to qualify for the Sock Knitters Anonymous, May-June challenge.  I started them BEFORE I started my Forest Canopy Shawl or the Heartland Shawl.  Well I’ve gotten a few more rows since this picture, but here’s how they look so far.

I also have to come up with my own sock design for the June-July challenge.   I have to cast on before June 30th.  These girls don’t let a sock knitter sit idle, that’s for sure.  You can join the group on Ravelry…come on over the water is fine….

 

Another lace project…I guess I’m hooked

I’ve started the Heartland Lace Shawl, by Evelyn Clark.  I got through the first repeat and now I can’t, for the life of me, get past the second repeat of the first chart.  I’ve frogged back to my lifeline three times already and maybe doing it for the fourth time.  I’m going to try tinking back first….but doggone it….I’ll never finish it at this rate!

 

Forest Canopy Shawl

Forest Canopy Shawl

Originally uploaded by bellavitafarm

 

I finally did it! I finished my first lace shawl! This was my third attempt to find a pattern that I could do successfully and finish without utter confusion and frustration in trying to figure out the pattern. I added two additional repeats but still would have liked it bigger. I had the yarn to do it bigger but alas, live and learn.

 

My first big lace project

lace first 20 rows

Originally uploaded by bellavitafarm

OK, this time I’m really going to do it…..lace that is. I’ve finally decided I SHOULD be able to do an “Easy” pattern from the book A Gathering of Lace. I picked the Beginner’s Triangle to do for my first lace project. I started on US #6 needles and made a few mistakes that I tried to fix but wasn’t happy with. I got to about row 15 and decided to rip and redo. This time I used a US #4 needle and I’m much happier with the results. I want a very warm shawl that will hold up to lots of use and abuse. I plan on leaving it on my chair in the living room during the cooler months. It will probably get sat on by a dog or a cat at some time or other.

I wanted to really be successful with the pattern this time. I started doing the Mystic Light Shawl KAL on Ravelry but before I finished Clue #1, I realized that pattern was to advanced for a beginning project. I don’t want lace to frustrate me to the point that I give up on it. I KNOW I can do this!!

Heck the first 20 rows took me all day to do (right). I’m seeing a much better version this time. The holes are all in the right places….LOL

 

I’ve moved…blogs that is

I decided to move my blog over to WordPress instead of using blogger.com so please excuse me while I finish getting everything set up. I wanted a cleaner more professional looking blog where everyone could find what they needed easily by category. I know I could have revamped my old blog to do this but I’m always looking at new ways to do things, new looks, new adventures….call me daring.

The latest project on my needles are a pair of socks, Cascading Leaves by Jeannie Townsend.

I’m knitting them for the Ravelry Socknitters Anonymous group for the April Sockdown. The theme this month is Jeannie’s patterns or a Mystery sock (pattern without a picture of the finished sock). The object is to cast on no earlier than April 1st and cast off no later than May 31st. Each month brings a new challenge, it keeps me knitting more socks. I have other projects on the needles that I need to work on but somehow the socks keep jumping into my hands and getting knitted.

 

First Fair Isle Sweater

Well, this year I’m really sttttrechinnng my horizons with knitting. I’ve decided to do my first Fair Isle sweater this year. I’ve gotten a pretty good start on it, now if those socks would stop jumping on my needles in the meantime…
I’m working the Luna Jumper pattern from The Art of Fair Isle Knitting. I’m using a fingering weight merino that I dyed to match the colors that were used in the pattern. There was a bit of a learning curve dyeing this wool compared to the superwash merino I’d done before. The superwash really grabs the color a lot more than the regular wool does.

I’m also working on a pair of Monkey socks by Cookie A. for the January KAL going on at Sock Knitters Anonymous on Ravelry. I have to have them finished before the end of February to qualify for the drawing. I’m starting on the toe of the first sock, so I have some real knitting to do!

Do you plan projects way in advance, or is it just me? I’m hankering to do some lace this year too. I’ve already picked out a beautiful pattern I like and I’m working on figuring out the errata and how to get started with a shawl pattern.

I’ve also planned an Aran sweater sometime in the near future for my husband. Then there’s my lovely Shetland lamb’s wool yarn that I just back from Spinderella’s that is queued for an Oregon Fair Isle cardigan pattern by Alice Starmore. Geesh….so much knitting and to little time! Until next time, keep the needles clicking!

 

Camo socks for DH

Camo socks for DH
Originally uploaded by bellavitafarm

Finally finished, just in time for Christmas the Camo socks made using the Vintage Sock pattern, Yarrow. I dyed this semi-solid green using sock weight yarn, but only did 166 yds. which ran a bit short to complete the sock. I dyed some more yarn to match in a solid color to finish off the toe section.

 

Coral Hedgerow socks

Coral Hedgerow socks
Originally uploaded by bellavitafarm

I dyed this superwash Merino fingering weight for a pair of Hedgerow socks. I’m really happy with the way the colors turned out. The sock is knitting up beautifully.

 

Sockpile

My sock pile is growing, so many socks and so little time!

I’m currently working on a pair of socks for my daughter. I told her that if she wants more, she’ll need to learn to knit socks!

I have at least 3 other projects to finish at any given time. I don’t want to have UFOs (Unfinished Objects) lying around my house.