Excited for Fall!

I was flipping through my newest copy of Travel and Leisure magazine and found this: knit goods! I've been thinking about knitting so much this month, with it being featured in magazines and on Fancy Tiger's Blog- the owners just went on a trip to Iceland-how cool is that?

Now I must go knit something! And all this has me thinking about Christmas...oh boy the work that needs to be done!


Any hand knits on your horizon? I saw that knitinsage is doing a mystery knit along-very cool. And the Yarn Harlot always has something (well, multiple things, really) on the needles. I'm thinking socks and hats myself. I would love to have some nice wool items by winter this year!

Oh and did you see the Fall Getaway cover? I'm really lusting for a vacation right now and that was such a tempting cover. I dropped everything to start browsing the pages for more info. But in the end, the hand knits got me-and they're a little more accessible to me than a trip to the Carribean for a spa getaway (at least so far anyway...one can dream).

Enjoy!

Rachel May

Craft File: Purple Socks

I could've sworn I've blogged about these socks, because I started knitting them forever-ago, but I couldn't find it in the archives! Anyways, sometime soon (hahahaha) these will be my purple socks. You may remember that I made socks for The Boyfriend on Valentine's day of last year...well now I want some. Hopefully they turn out better this time. I'm slowly churning away on them, it's my nighttime knitting project.


Details: yarn is merino sock yarn, don't know much else, but I bought it here, needles size 2.5, aluminium dpns (4), knit in the round using the Yarn Harlot's Basic Sock Recipe from this book.

Tips/Tricks: Try to focus on your tension. I didn't do that when I knit my first pair of socks and the first sock fits perfect but the second sock is HUGE!

Enjoy!
Rachel May

Behold!

Here is the sock. I'm so proud...we will see if it ever gets finished.

Rachel May

Proof!

Today, I have two wonderful things to share with you! First up, the socks I made for the boy, modeled by him. You will notice that the sock towards the front of the picture fits like a dream, but the toe is a little funny-that was my first sock. I'm not ashamed, I'm really proud. You will also notice that the sock toward the back is improved in the toe action, however fit's WAY looser.

I knit the second sock extremely fast in order to meet the deadline of Valentine's day, but as it was 3 months after the first sock was knit, apparently I knit looser now. I was SO upset when I noticed this, but the boy assured me that he didn't mind, he really liked his socks (this is why he's a keeper). However, he went on to saying that he didn't want to wear the socks, because he might wear a hole in them. I informed him that he would be in BIG trouble for not wearing the socks after all of the hours I put into them, and that I would try to fix anything that went wrong with them, and knit him new ones if he's really upset about it.

Even though this pair of socks took me eons to complete, I would really like to make more. I do think that sock knitting is addicting. I really want to try it on circs though, because I think that would be faster for me. I would love to have a drawer full of handknit socks one day, that sounds wonderful! However, I should start with a single pair of socks for myself first:)

Also, proof that I have a degree! I got it in the mail the other day and framed it this morning. You see it pictured here on top of all the jobs I've sent my resume in for and haven't got. The most expensive piece of paper I will ever own, this degree. I thought it would seem more...prestigous. Oh well. Oh, and I put it in a frame I already had (yay for free!).

Rachel May

Preparation for Valentine's Day

I got this tea bag idea from Martha Stewart (not directly, she won't talk to me, but from the online database of craftiness). Being low on the funds, I am trying my hardest to use what I've got. I took regular black tea in tea bags, filled it with the boy's favorite loose leaf teas, and repackaged it. I put the entire thing in a paper bag that I made by reusing kraft paper and double stick tape. I tried to make it look like a huge tea bag by adding ribbon and a heart. I'm also REALLY close to being finished with the second sock, so it will definitely be done in time. I can't believe how fast the second one went, after I finished the ribbing it only took two days, but I'm trying to remember how I grafted the toe of the first sock so they match when I do sock two. Now I need to make an AMAZING Valentine card, but I need inspiration.

How will you be celebrating Valentine's Day?

Rachel May

Just Keep Knitting....

I'm making progress. I got to the heel yesterday and now I'm much further, and hope to get all of the plain knitting up to the toe done today, if not tomorrow. I'm really surprised by how fast this is going. I was worried that I wouldn't finish, but I can't believe how fast I got the plain knitting for the leg done. Anyhow, that's all I can post for now...I need to get back to work! Just keep knitting....

Rachel May

Blonde Jokes

I got this joke in an email forward this morning:)

A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway. Glancing at the car, he was astounded to see that the blonde behind the wheel was knitting!

Realizing that she was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren, the trooper cranked down his window, turned on his bullhorn and yelled, 'PULL OVER!'
'NO!' the blonde yelled back, 'IT'S A SCARF!'