Shiny Happy Beginnings

This is the beginning of an autumn Clapotis. I'm going to modify the pattern to fit 1 hank of  Blue Heron Metallic. I picked this up in a Seattle yarn shop, So Much Yarn. A cute shop, with really friendly people.

I have had to start this project twice. Even after knitting for the past few years, I'm not very good at reading patterns, I sort of fumble my way along. I think I was watching a documentary though the first time I cast on, or it was very late, and I wasn't convinced I had properly increased ... anyhow, here I am.

I have also slowly started reading A Red Herring Without Mustard. 

This is Book 3 of the Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley. I have a stack of books (pensive and perhaps very emotional) I've been meaning to read, but I don't want to work for it. I want escapism, so I can't promise you I'll ever read those books. I am really unable to commit to reading right now anyways. All my free-time is envisioned with yarn and needles :)

A common ground is just a cast on for now. Hopefully I'll have something to show you soon...

Have you started something new lately?

Finished in October, posted in November

"October is officially over!" says the CIA's official Zombie hunter. (yeah, didn't know they had those did ya'? - me neither, till Halloween.)

I finished an Autumn in New York because  I wanted to KAL for both Evelyn of ProjectStash and Kepanie of Knitspiring Odyssey, and it's a fabulous excuse to revisit my Tosh dk stash. hehehehe.

I love New York and have a strong desire to visit it in Autumn -- or spring, since I have been in summer twice and winter once. Who am I kidding, I'll take New York whenever I can :)

Some Questions About Sock Knitting

At long last here is my first pair of socks.

As you can see, I am already thinking about a second pair for some fall/winter knitting. I picked this yarn from the fall swap with Kathy. My package came from Nancy the amazing knitter and life adventurer of Wyoming Breezes :)

But sock making has me a thinkin'. I have so many questions:

Blocking Techniques: Does getting those foot shaped blocking things make a big difference? What's an agreeable way to block socks?

Turning the Heel: When it says slipped stitch at the beginning of the row, I slip knitwise for the knit rows and purlwise for the purl rows, is this right?Where is it best to insert / pick up extra stitches when it seems I do not have enough based on the slipped stitched edges alone? I feel like I force it and get a bit of a gappy heel seam.

Patterns: What are good beginner patterns? Toe up or cuff down? Magic Loop? dpns? I saw that Wee Pleasures knits two bloody socks at a time. Les Wow! Do you do this too?

What is your sock wisdom? Do tell.

We Have A Winner

You're all winner's in my eyes. However we have a yarn winner for the October Yarn-Away and that is Evelyn at Project Stash. The random number generator picked #4 and that is Evelyn!

Evelyn, I will contact you via Ravelry to get your mailing address and the Sitka is yours.

Wishing you all a lot of happy knitting. I value every visit. We'll have another give-away soon. 'Tis the season.

Matching Finished Objects

This is my Stripe Cocoon. It is inspired by Andi's hat and anything that can use up those leftover balls of yarn in an ever growing stash :) I also knit it for MySistersKnitter KAL and Knitspiring Odyssey's Beanie Along With Me.

I was a little unsure of the gauge and tension of the broken rib stitch on this project. The yarn is a worsted, heavy worsted, (maybe) in my opinion. Ravelry defines the yarn as bulky, hmmm. Anyhow, I did not modify the needle size or stitch counts, and it seemed to turn out. I was already wondering what other yarn I had that I could try this pattern again when ...

I realized, it's even prettier on the "wrong" side.

I think I'm going to block it. I know, crazy pants.

And look I knit a coffee sleeve from my leftover yarn. It was a prototype for some soccer team ones I want to make later.

Finished project takeaways:
My head is ginormous and I must always knit bigger / longer than a pattern dictates if I ever want to make a hat for myself.

October Yarn-away

My good friend HM knows:

a) I love yarn

b) I have a blog where I love knitters & the internet, and we all like to share the happy.

So this really nice person gave me some yarn to give to you. 5 4 skeins of Sitka, Cascade Yarn. 80% Merino Wool, 20% Kid Mohair.

It really is in the spirit of Autumn. :)

If you or your knitting pal is interested in some PSL (pumpkin spice latte) looking yarn, leave a comment and the best way to get in contact with you. (Ravelry ID, email etc.) from now until end of day Thursday October 31st, and I will enter you in the October yarn away.

Happy Knitting!

Update: It's actually 4 skeins, I thought I had fixed that typo before publishing. Sorry for the false advertising! I did a strike-through above, so in case you saw 5, it is not your sanity, but once again, my lack of attention to detail! 

Do Ahead Dinner

I have decided I really enjoy a good Thai vegetable curry. Red or green preferably. I am a meat eater, so I can just roast and slice something and put it on the side, which is what I did for Middle School Mom night. (A group of us, with no older children are beginning the touring of Middle Schools. We are one of the last years in our public school district that allows us to lottery for a school(s) of our choice.) 

Anyhow, curry is like Asian stew, the leftovers were pretty tasty the next day, and my husband offered up an unsolicited compliment :)

We are scheduling a follow-up chat in December (which will hopefully devolve into laughter and chatter again as well.) I'm thinking maybe a braised white wine chicken (borrowing from the Manfriend's repetoire), Stuffed Italian Cabbages or Braised short ribs this time (things that go with mashed potatoes, ha!). I like something I can leave on the stove to simmer or sit on low in the oven. What do you like to make for "do ahead" lunch or dinners?