Tatting thread in the mail and knitting baby booties

 It felt like my birthday finding this in my mailbox!  Thank you, Diane, for sending me some Perfect Quilter Thread to try out.  You are so kind and generous!

As you can see, I'm tatting the Spinning Wheel and it's going to be gorgeous!

Kim sparked a knitting frenzy in me to knit these baby booties up.  These are knit with Dale Baby Ull in Inox US sz 0  double points.  I've got two pair finished.  I am going to do as Kim did and knit an I-Cord for the lacing's.  Mine will be cranked out on my Antique Circular Sock Machine.

You can find the pattern for the Jane's Baby Booties on Kim's website as well as some great notes and photos as she knit them.

Undyed Opal turned into this!

My friend, Kimberly, dyed this sock yarn. I love, love the colors and the yarn bloomed just the right amount.

This pair was knit on my CSM with a 1x1 rib for 1 1/2", 1x3 rib all the way down the leg and the top of the foot.......and it knit up like a dream.

To find out what else can knit up on the sock machine, visit Jenny's website.

Jenny Deters and CSM's are good friends....

....CSM's have been around for a very long time. I barely learned about them in 2004 and own two now.

I've gone to a few retreats to learn more about what else can be 'cranked' on the machine.....and that's when I met Julie. Julie is a friend of Jenny's and was demonstrating how to do fair isle on the CSM! OMG!

Jenny has compiled her lace sock patterns into the first book. In her second book, you get socks and much more than socks! You've just GOT to check it out!

If you want to read more about this fantastic designer, it's here! While you are there, check out the FREE pattern.

If you want to check out her two books, you go here. I have these two books and [with no affiliation] am very impressed with her work. The patterns are super easy to understand.

CSM Socks

I took a class from Amelia, to learn to dye sock yarn, at one of the CSM (Circular Sock Machine) Lacey Retreats in WA.
She had all kinds of dye colors, tools, microwave.....everything you would need.
I finally cranked out a pair of socks from my Verdun 47 - 72 cylinder.
I did a 1x1 rib for 1 1/4", switched to a 1x3 rib for 4" where I continued that rib down the front/top of the sock.
I love the way these look and feel. :)

What takes more brain cells to do than knit?

You've got it! Genealogy!
I've been away from my beloved blog learning to weave, spin better, and figure out new knitting techniques.
There's been the many, many Power Surges I've been having and it does not make me happy that I am unable to wear my hand knit sweaters! I looked forward to winter just for that.
Is there anyone else out there that wears T-shirts all year round?
I'll be away at the semi-annual CSM retreat in Lacey, WA starting Sept. 11-13. It's the sort of retreat where you play all day until someone yells that it's time to eat.......Oh my, I thought.....this must be what it feels like to be a man. :)

Socks for my ex...a second pair

My ex said he liked the socks so much that I couldn't resist asking him to pick another color so I could knit another pair.

He picked black for daytime wear in Iraq.

I am happy to report they are finished and have been sent off on Tuesday.

My son loves my socks!

Here are some socks for my son. I used my CSM for the ribbed legs and am knitting the heels, feet and toes by hand.

The yarn is DG Confetti 100 superwash, color 14.04.

I am a loose knitter and have to resort to US sz 0 needles when using fingering weight yarns. It's a bummer when I read how others use sz 2 or 3!

I think I'd like to knit some fingerless gloves with this yarn to match his socks. Hmmm.

My 3 Scarves are HOT!

Well......they're hot to me. :)

The first one was made on my CSM for my son who is attending college in a cold climate. I used Austermann Step and oh, is it silky feeling. I have to make a matching pair of socks to go with it.

(Jalapenos given to us from a grand couple we know, who grows them....and they are hot and delicious!)

The next two scarves I knit for my hair dresser. She isn't a knitter but, while on vacation in Canada, stopped at a yarn shop called "Mad About Ewe" and fell in love with the color and texture of these yarns.

The multi-colored bronze yarn spoke to me right away. The blue was holding out on me for weeks! I tried lace knitting but it got too stiff. I tried tiny 2-stitch cable knitting - no good. I went for the drop stitch pattern again but with a little twist.

Using US sz 15 needles, I cast on 15 stitches and knit 6 rows in garter. Row 7 is k1, yo....all the way across, ending with k1, turn; Row 8 is k1, drop yo.....all the way across, ending with k1, turn; Rows 9 & 10 - knit; Row 11 is where you repeat Row 7; Row 12 - repeat Row 8.

Here is what you must remember when knitting a drop stitch pattern: keep the plain rows (whether in garter or stockinette, etc.) knit in even numbers or your scarf will be lopsided. The yo's must be knit as an odd row.

Well, that's it for now. Did I tell you all that you make my day when you leave a comment or email me about knitting? You do and I thank you. :)

My socks match.......by color

Here is a pair of socks made on my CSM (circular sock machine) with Austermann Step. I absolutely love the way the yarn feels.

I also love the place where I bought it from ~ Double Diamond Knits! Don't wait another minute to check the site out! Judy is quick with your order and answers your emails. My order arrived as promised.

Yeah, I know the stripes don't match but I just can't have the added stress of matching them and then running out of yarn or having to splice 'em.

When I hand knit, well.....that's a different story. I do like my stripes to match.

Again, you will be missing out if you don't take the time to check out what Judy has!

Socks for my son

These socks (Sport Sock with a Hemmed Ribbed Top) were an experiment on my CSM. Just like the pattern said ~ a bit time consuming but worth the effort. The pattern could easily be adapted to hand knitting. I used Trekking XXL in Color 03 and had plenty left over after making them long enough to fit shoe sz. 13.

They were so much fun to do, especially since I was making them for my son. He truly appreciates everything I make or do for him.

I wonder what I'll be making for him next.......

There's a new kid on the block...er, blog

Yes, there is a new kid blogging and he's very, very interesting! If you love fiber, sock knitting and learning new techniques, you'll enjoy reading what Doug has to say. His link is also listed on my side bar under Blogs, Blogs, Blogs!

What needles do YOU use to knit socks?

These are the needles "I" use to knit.

They may look small but they sure can crank out a pair in no time at all!!!!

I use them on my antique sock knitting machine or CSM. The shorter one makes the purl stitch and so that leaves the taller one to make the knit stitch.

In the knitting process, the shorter one lays horizontal while the taller one sits vertical.

So, once again, what needles do YOU use to knit socks?  Hmmm? ;)

What is a CSM?

I went to the Lacey Retreat, this past weekend, with my antique circular sock knitting machine. It's a Legare 47 and was built to knit socks for the troops during WWI.

When you click on the picture, look for the two black cones of wool and scroll up.
I mainly knit socks by hand since I love to do a lot of fancy stitches. The CSM is a great one for ribbing and stockinette stitch. Lace patterns and flat work can also be accomplished. Every time I work with my Legare, I learn something new!