The Second Pair of SOS 08 Socks is OTN!

Thanks, Chris! I'm having so much fun watching this pattern emerge....

cast on 6/28/08

First Pair SOS Done!

Well you could have knocked me over with a feather! I had no idea I had it in me to knit a pair of socks in EIGHT days!
But I did!
(please note the tail of my Knitting Assistant - she was trying hard to get into the photo without getting the flash in her eyes, and she succeeded!)

These are the STR Pink Granite socks. The pattern is a corruption of one from the Knitting Stiches Calendar Fancy Slip Stitch Rib - EXCEPT I goofed! This is knit in the round.

So I changed the pattern without meaning to, and when I was into it a few rounds decided that rather than fix my mistake I'd live with it. So let's call this one "Knitnana's Trial and Error Slip Stitch Rib?" lol

Yarn: STR lightweight in Pink Granite colorway - I LOVE this colorway...black/pink/cream/dusky lavender - JUST gorgeous...
Needles: Harmony circulars (2) size 1.5
Pattern Stitch: Row 1: *K1, sl1, K1, P2* around on 60 stitches for the cuff
Row 2: *K3, P2*
(I used Judy's Magic Cast On and knit my standard foot (52 stitches) and heel...then increased to 60 stitches for the cuff.
Time to Knit: June 21, 2008 (12:01 a.m.) till tonight! (June 28, 2008)

Here's a close-up of the rib (I kinda like it even if it's nowhere near what I intended to do...!):


My next sock (to be cast on tonight, I hope!) will be a plain vanilla stockinette in Meilenweit Meeting that Chris sent me ages ago - in a blue/white/grey/black combo. With the cat show looming next weekend, I don't need to be knitting anything complicated!

Speaking of cat shows...I cut and prepared 4 bags for sewing today! That's a LOT. And here is my faithful sewing assistant in her new "office:"

That's directly under my sewing machine, and just behind the trashcan I use for threads and scraps. I've noticed that this is the spot she goes to (other than under the bed) when there's a thunderstorm (and we've had a lot of those, lately!).

She's right next to my feet here, and I guess it seems like a protected spot!

I like her being down there more than being on top of the cutting table with the fabric!
lol!

T.G.I.F. (Ain't I Original?)

I'm more than ready for the weekend, but we've got to get thru Friday first...

I'll share a couple of bags ready to head to the Star City Cat Show next weekend here in Roanoke:

Ears N Whiskers Grace and

Michelle Meow Grace...

Then someone asked if I had any of that Asian Calligraphy fabric left (just a bit, was the answer) so here's a Posy...


Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Quick SOS 08 Post

Today was a challenge confronting an HMO with it's own stupidity (I know, it's really a lost cause, but I feel compelled to try...)

And as a reward for enduring in spite of the futility of it all (as well as attempting to lower my blood pressure just an "ooch"), I stopped and picked up a bottle of Columbia Crest Merlot.

Two glasses later, sewing was off the agenda, and sock knitting on it...and when I got close to bedtime, I realized it was going to be a late night, because I could not stop till I'd finished EZ's Stretchy Sewn Cast Off:
Voila! Pink Granite Summer of Socks 08 sock #1 is finished! (#2 is already cast on)

I don't think I've ever knit a sock so fast in my life!

I do not understand this human fascination with covering the feet...I do not understand it at all... The Meezer

Another One Bites The Dust!

Sigh.
Is tomorrow really Monday - again?

I guess I can't complain. I really did get a lot done this weekend - All the Sedalia orders are complete and shipped/delivered; My Big Sis's order is complete
In the background, the Blackberry Bramble Knitnana, and in the foreground, A Note of Pink Dogwood Kerri...

I also managed to cut and prepare three more bags for sewing - but with the storms that started rumbling through here at noon today and are still grumbling around the edges now (past 10 p.m.!), it's been a challenge to coordinate sewing while the storms moved out and cutting fabrics when the next one started threatening the computerized sewing machine!

Oh. And 6 loads of laundry (up and down the basement stairs).

During the news tonight, I turned the heel of the Pink Granite sock...I'm debating a pattern stitch from my pattern per day calendar rather than the feather and fan...the color changes in this yarn are striking, and I'm not sure F&F is quite the right thing...

I'll make up my mind tomorrow at lunch, I'm sure!

Off to bed...for another busy week at work!

Sale Day at Knitter's Knook!

I've been waiting for this, and after listening to the grrls from RVSpinners/Knitters group on Ravelry, I was a bit worried about what I'd find when I got there, today - tho' Becky assured me there was plenty left, this sale weekend has generated a LOT of excitement! Many of them got down there yesterday, while I held down the fort at my office all day...I was afraid the walls would be bare!
But this is just the entry wall - the wall of cotton and cotton blends, right now...(I love the sheep on the top shelf!)
Considering Summer of Socks 08, I bought more sock yarn (yes, I know I already had a lot, but still, these CALLED TO ME...). There's Trekking, Austermann Step (Becky's favorite!), Louet Gems in Eggplant, and Blue Ridge in aquas!

And that sweater I wrote about? Forget it. Becky was agonized, painstakingly looking for a substitute yarn for me (I simply can't afford what the pattern calls for), and finally said, "I just don't think we're going to do it and it's the ROW GAUGE that's the problem" - at 28 rows to 4 inches, the pattern is knit across the width of the sweater, not the length (which, if it were longer wouldn't be as much of a problem!). With the cables ALSO knit across the width, ending it in the right place and having it all come together? Well?
I decided that at least for my first sweater this did not bode well for the project. So I chose this yarn and am looking at the simplest of cardigans to knit. I'll let you in on the pattern when it finds me, but the Louet Riverstone was priced right and a gorgeous shade of turquoise (called Carribean)...my mom would have loved this color, and it looks really good on me, as well!

And yes, I started my first SOS08 sock last night just past midnight...
Pink Granite STR. I'm going to do my favorite Feather & Fan pattern from Wendy, because I truly love these colors and I think the lace will be really nice in the yarn...OH! Thank you Miss Muffin for modeling the toe so sweetly!

The Meezer wishes to tell you that she's decided this isn't her season at all...she's been under my feet or under the bed all afternoon - the thunderstorms are raging again, and she's very much unhappy about it! Poor grrl...
(((hugs)))

Twas the Night Before Summer of Socks...

AND I FINISHED THESE JUST IN TIME!!!
Whooohooo!
I'm ready to start...are you?

Thursday Madness!

What a day!
Our office had our annual picnic for our consumers (aka clients) today - it's a stressful event for all of us, as we do everything - the cooking, the serving, the cleaning up, and, of course, BINGO. By the time we're back to the office and everything's put away, we're wiped out. And we do not open the doors, we all just go home...to crash.

BUT. This year, in addition, my Red Hat's group had it's monthly dinner tonight, as well. So I came home from one feasting event, pulled out the red and purple, fancied up, and strutted out in style to one of our nicer restaurants in town...Coach & Four. And feasted yet again this time on yummy prime rib. I would not have missed it for the world...!

Before everything got underway today, Dani emailed to tell me she'd finished the crocheting together all the squares everyone made for Rae after the fire that destroyed her home and all her belongings. Knitters from all over contributed 6 inch squares of mostly sock yarns (Rae is an avid sock knitter, and only wears handknit socks!) and Dani generously devoted a lot of her time to sew them all together to form:

A lap blanket of many colors!
Dani dropped by my office before we closed up for the day and delivered this into my safekeeping for passing on to Rae tonight at Red Hats!
And you know, if it was in my house, it had to pass The Meezer's test....

Dani? It did! And Rae was delighted! (I didn't have my camera and we were too tired, but she tossed it over her shoulders and said it was wonderful! And sends her deepest thanks to everyone!

(oh. I believe there's to be a photo of a certain Knitnana in baseball cap, knitting a sock at the annual picnic today...CW has promised he'll email it, and I'll post it for all to chuckle over! But I am determined to finish the last of the Flaming June second sock before 11:59 p.m. tomorrow night - in time to start Summer of Socks 08!)
(((Hugs)))

Another Classic Design (my favorite kind!)

This came today: Gathering Roses by Louisa Harding...I bought it on Ravelry in the ISO book detash group...

I'm particularly enthralled with this:

Ok...my photo is lousy - it's Evelyn. You can see a better photo if you click the link above.

Never have knit a sweater. Never really wanted to - except every now and again when I see something truly classic with cables. Hehehe. But frankly, the neckline on this? Might keep me "air conditioned" enough to enable me to wear it. This is knit in a yarn that is "suede-like" - don't think that's going to be my choice for it. That would defeat the purpose of the air-conditioned neckline, I think!

Off to sew now...

Another of My Idols Falls...

Cyd Charisse was, to me, the epitome of class, style, and incredible dance talent. It appeared her legs went on forever, even tho' she was only 5'6" tall! Her dancing was smooth as silk. She was who I wanted to be when I grew up!

(Another woman falls to heart disease...the only comfort is this woman lived a full and wonderful life...)

Bags Bags Bags!

Yes, it was a busy weekend, as usual....

Bags were completed. Others put in process. A needle case was made. See below:
A completely out of print fabric, Alexander Henry's Kanji in parchment for one Mavis Knitting bag...
A darling navy and beige Sheep Toss Mavis knitting bag...
and a Bright Squares Glady. I didn't dare try to photo the insides of this - the customer said "bright - yellows, oranges" - well...those don't photo all that well, and I decided to spare your eyes! It's wonderful, don't get me wrong. But for some reason, those colors cause wacky things to happen to cameras!

I also got my business client's books done for another month - always a huge undertaking and I get to breathe a sigh of relief when it's done!

And so...today was back to work.
Huh?
Yes. Work. It's a 24/7 thing in Knitnana's world!
lololol
(but some of that work is almost like play...thankfully!)

I also managed to knit 4 cloths to send out. I know there is one Independent Living Center that's underwater in Iowa, as we got the word today. I'm hopeful that I can reach another one to see if we can find where to send cloths - so stay tuned to the Cloths for Crisis group, okay?
(((hugs)))

Saturday

Like a lot of people, I've been completely blown away by this over the past 24 hours or so...I can honestly challenge the "too young" sentiments that are going around. I was 43 when I had my heart attack. It's not too young. Not when there are risk factors involved. (Like the Red Dress campaign slogan "heart disease doesn't care what you wear," it also doesn't care how old you are.)

But I'll tell you, I agree that it was too SOON. He and his family, and even those of us in the nation deserved a longer time...more time. Of course, that's my opinion, and I know that when we're called, our opinions on the matter don't matter much at all...

Still. It's a hard, and sad thing.

I've knit and worked on my bags today. But I've just been very sad. Tim Russert will be missed...

So I'll leave you with the Royal Personage who inhabits my home. She has been a support and a reason to smile today.
Here she is on one of her favorite perches today - a suitcase still packed with art from the move (no, it's not up on the walls yet). Moments before she'd been stretched full length to try to get to the top of the dresser. She knows Mommie doesn't like that...

Harrrummph! And I don't much care that Mommie doesn't like it, either

Another Crisis - Cloths Needed!

The flooding in the midwest is all over the news, so of course, Cloths for Crisis Yahoo group (also on Ravelry Here) is gearing up to get cloths into the area to let folks know knitters and crocheters care.
This is a shot of an earlier stash of my own cloths, sent last fall to CA in the wake of the terrible fires there...


If you'd like to join us, please do, at either group location. And if you are aware of agencies, shelters, or groups that will accept our cloths, please email me (the address is in the sidebar over there on the right ----->)
(((hugs)))

That Time of Year Again!

My busiest, as I begin preparations for two cat shows and complete orders from the spring events. This year was a bit calmer in the spring, as I only did the Sedalia Fiber Festival. But now? The crunch begins!

Here's a cute little Posy:

Knitting Basket Cats

Then I promised Roxie that I'd post a photo of Boing! in the discontinued watercolor yarn. This shot is 7.5 repeats of the 21 Anne calls for in the pattern. I know it's hard to see in the unblocked lace!
(click to embiggen!)
It's a lovely pattern, easy to knit, tho' I'm not one to memorize 12 rows of a pattern! That's not a problem, fortunately...it flows nicely. Not sure yet if this will be a gift, or if I'll keep it, we'll just have to see...

I'm very glad that tomorrow is Friday. I'm fully recovered (I think!) from last weekend's strep, but I'm tired. I have bookkeeping chores to do for my client, but I'll also be sewing (which I should have done last weekend!). If you're involved in WWKIP Day activities, have a blast! Since my regular knitting group is meeting out-of-doors (a no-no in my world as Lupies don't "do" sunshine!) I'll be with you all in spirit!
(((hugs)))

Road Trip!

We won't go on about the whys and wherefores of said trip. Suffice to say, I got a chance to go for business, and my boss (the driver) agreed to allowing me a few minutes for retail therapy! And since she's also a pizza nut, we stopped a my favorite pizza spot in the world - Backstreets - for Greek pizza (my favorite pizza). Garlicky goodness with feta and spinach...(I'm not sure this piece will temp you, I almost forgot to take it and yes, the boss thought I'd lost my mind...but she doesn't understand the reasons behind blogging at all...it's okay - even if she doesn't knit and doesn't blog, she still qualifies as a neat grrl!)

The retail therapy? As I hinted yesterday, I was in the neighborhood, so we stopped HERE:

I don't believe last summer (my last time in the store) that I had my camera with me, so here you go...the back wall:

The front wall:

And me, with proprietress, Gina, of Skein Cocaine:
Okay...she looks way better than me...what gives bosslady? (guess who took the photo?)

Did I buy anything? Oh yeah. I think I remember muttering Koigu and Fleece Artist when I mentioned this trip before? Well, how about this?
Koigu P7435-72.

And this?
Yes! More Sea Wool...I see another Clapotis in my future (I know, I say that about all the wondrous variegated yarns I find and don't have a plan for!)...Or, you know? Maybe another Star of Evening?

Actually, I think my boss, the animal-lover, was surprised to see Purl (Gina's black Pug), and I'd forgotten to mention her in advance. They became fast friends in seconds...I think Purl just might have figured out that my boss has a strikingly handsome little boy-dog, a Brussels Griffon named Max.

I smell Eau De Purl DAWG - how could you?

It's My RED Knails I'm SURE!

2 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Poor (Failure) Take the test!

Mail Call!

I went back to work today, which was a good thing. It wasn't the best day, it was all I could do to get started, but as I've heard before with a z-pack, somewhere along the middle of the fourth day, it gets better and it did. So I think I'm going to live...IF the heat wave will allow me to, that is! My car thermometer read 99 when I got off work and headed to run errands. (Speaking of which, before the night is out, there'll be an updated post on Nana Sadie's Place - I know, it's been forever, I'm sorry!)

When I got to the office I discovered that some packages had been delivered and then another arrived today. I can't show you the Art Walk Club selection for June yet, but I can show you the yarn I asked Roxie to make for me, along with the prize I won over at Wendy's last week:

I swear, I didn't plan that color palette in advance, but when I opened the two packages I couldn't help but notice! I send my thanks to both lovely gals for their delightful packages...and Wendy, I can't wait to read this book!

Ok...I watched too much news tonight (yes, I'm a junkie) but at least, in between doing the dishes, and getting a few other tasks I normally accomplish on the weekends out of the way - but not too much, 'cause I've still got a way to go to feel right as rain, again - I worked on Flaming June Sock 1:

Yup. A simple picot edging a la Wendy will finish these off...now if I can just remember where I put Margene's instructions for knitting off and sewing the hem at the same time? That's a trick I've got to learn....

OH. My boss and I are heading to Blacksburg on a roadtrip for work tomorrow. Lunch will be my favorite pizza restaurant Backstreets (and GREEK Pizza! Whoohoo!). I'm hoping, Gina, to convince her to let me stop in for a few minutes at Mosaic! I promise to be good, but I haven't been up to the shop in almost a year, so at least a bit of sock yarn goodness (Koigu? Fleece Artist?) is in order...

BUT...my BOSS is driving - and she doesn't "get" my knitting nuttiness...so I can't promise. (fingers crossed!)

And please stop by my pal, Birdsong's blog and offer her a hug. She's had some life-changing news.
(((Hugs)))

How To Waste A Sunday Afternoon When You Feel Too Lousy to Do Much...

I'm better. Really. But still not concentrating well, so while I waited for my nails to dry...I thought this might be fun as I've got almost nothing here today.

But you know what? I must be incredibly inept.

Because I did this thing twice and I still for the life of me can't get the bottom middle photo to show up and it's one of MINE. So...


I'm going to post that photo down below so you can see it...it represents my creativity.

If you would like to have fun looking at a lot of folks photos on Flickr - have at it - I won't tag anyone. But here are the instructions....

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.

The Questions:
1. What is your first name? Sallee (I got a ton of vacation photos and wedding & reunion shots for the surname Sallee)
2. What is your favorite food? Prime rib, but then this shot appeared - and my second favorite is seafood, so....)
3. What high school did you go to? Patrick Henry
4. What is your favorite color? Purple, go figure? (yes, I know there's no surprise there...)
5. Who is your celebrity crush? It was originally Richard Chamberlain and I read this question in the past tense...currently? Definitely Harrison Ford - D**N he still looks fine...!
6. Favorite drink? Diet Coke, de-caf
7. Dream vacation? Paris France, of course.
8. Favorite dessert? Anything Chocolate Raspberry, but this also had ginger, so...
9. What you want to be when you grow up? Me!
10. What do you love most in life? The Meezer
11. One word to describe you. Creative
12. Your flickr name. I had to type in Knitnana, b/c my flickr name wouldn't work.

Oh. And here's the photo that won't show up, even if it IS in my Flickr account (it didn't matter what one I chose, it wouldn't show up. The first time? It wasn't my photo! I have no idea why...)

Saturday - Climbing Back

Thank you all for your well-wishes, there's no one more unhappy to be down with something again so soon, as I am.
:(
Yesterday was mostly lost. I slept all day and night. I couldn't even knit.

Today? I've mostly done the same, tho' I managed off and on to work on this:
(The Flaming June socks)
I have to admit, I tried to put a pattern on the cuff. My brain can't handle it. These will be very simple socks. Maybe by the time I'm ready to cast off, I can handle a picot edging?

Ok. That's enough. Back to Bed.
(((hugs)))

TGIF - Remember That "Sleep" Comment?

Oh, I'm getting some sleep. I woke this morning to a 101.2 temperature. Me, not the outside.
Chills, aches, a bit of a lump in my throat...I called in sick to work. I called the doctor. I dragged myself to the early (9:15) appointment.

The verdict?
STREP.
(sigh)
Antibiotics, and sleep. I'll catch you on the other end of this.
(((Hugs)))

Heat Wave!

Well, it's been interesting to say the least...we've had a cool and comfortable spring that's gone on longer than some folks wanted (but not me!) and then of course the tornado earlier in the week. And today? Apparently we're beginning a 7-day heat wave - it's been in the mid 90s with high humidity all day. Oppressive.

And you know Knitnana doesn't "do" heat, right? The headache began early. Oddly enough it doesn't seem to matter if I am in air conditioning (but I expect it would be so much worse if I weren't!)...I came home tonight, ate dinner, and thought, "well, it's better, I'll go to Knit Night!"

Of course, in this shimmering heat, the sun is brilliant, too. (sigh)

By the time I got to Mill Mountain Coffee (where we meet ahead of our library group - b/c we can't use the room till 7), I was hopeful that the teensy bit of caffeine in my iced decaf mocha would help. But the coffee house wasn't air conditioned either, so that didn't help things one bit...

I didn't last 45 minutes once we got into the library. It makes me really sad, because I love my knit group, and next month I won't be able to go (cat show preparations) and August and September are usually not good times either, for the same reason). Nana Sadie Rose makes bags bags bags in the summer for lots of shows!

But I was glad I could at least see everyone tonight.

We've gotten to be such a large group.

Anyway...I'm going to share something with you tonight - I was taking a stroll through the sock yarn stash in advance of Summer of Socks, and found these:

They'll be the socks I try to finish up during the KAL. I hope I can get that far - thatsalotta socks there...! (STR, ZYG, CTH, Meilenweit, and Sock-It-To-Me...Unless I change my mind, of course! Because there's more where that came from...)

Ok..tonight I'm heading to bed early. I'm sure I'll be better tomorrow...and

TGIF tomorrow! I'm so ready for a chance to sleep in a little come Saturday and Sunday...
(((Hugs)))

Today, Display Your Peace Globe...

And think, do, and be PEACE wherever you go...



Because it truly does begin right here, deep inside each one of us. We can only change ourselves.

Namaste.

An Exciting Night...

An apparent tornado touched down directly behind my house tonight (literally just one block away), causing damage, but thankfully no injuries.

I was blissfully unaware...having heard there was a severe t-storm warning, so I'd turned off the TV and put on my headset to listen to the radio...and was knitting on Star of Evening.

Something, I don't know what, caused me to turn the radio off. And I decided to see what was on the TV. Lo and behold? Funnel clouds? And as more and more reports came in, and videos...it's not official, but there's really no doubt, it was a tornado. We'll know for sure tomorrow.

Many years ago, when I was a child, I was told that tornados do not touch down in the bowl that is the Roanoke Valley - that if one ever did, it would spin round and round till it wore itself out (impressionable child that I was, I believed this).

Not true. But the fact is, tornados only rarely hit Roanoke City proper. The last was in the 1970s. And now tonight. I'm not sure what I'll find when I venture off my hill and in to the office tomorrow...

I don't envy anyone who lives in Tornado Alley. This is frightening enough - and it probably was just a "baby" tornado...

I'm really glad I was successfully caught up in the knit! And that it wasn't more severe...

Help! Someone! I Need A Good Case of Finishitis! Please?

It's a sickness.

SOS '08 doesn't begin for 19 more days. When I frogged the Watercolor socks in order to cast on for Boing! I thought that little project would satisfy my need for a portable, fun, and relatively fast project.

Nope. (sigh)

I have to have socks OTN. And I'm not silly enough to think that I'll finish these before June 21st when the Summer of Socks begins. I'll put them aside and start them again when it ends...that will be fine.

These are the Flaming June colorway of the Art Walk Sock Yarn Club (and my standard size 1 Harmony circulars, of course). No. I have no idea what cuff pattern I'll use. But I did use Judy's Magic Cast On. Again. I love it!

I've realized that I have to have socks going all the time now. It's a bit like lace...and I now have 3 current lace WIPs going.

I tell you, I need a terminal case of Finishitis! Anyone know where I can find someone with the germs so I can catch it?

The Meezer is resembling a stretch limo these days...must be summer approaches! And considering the heat and humidity we've had the past few days (with t-storms, too!), I guess that's true - OH, YEAH! Summer of Socks starts on the first day of summer!

Gee...I get it now. That's only 19 days away...no wonder we're having summer weather now...?
lol
(((Hugs)))

So Much to Talk About!

Wow...and it's only (the wee small hours of) Sunday morning!
Ok...I've been busy sewing, but most of what I've done you've seen in one iteration or another...except for this:

I had to show you. See? I don't just "do" cats on my bags! (Yes, this is a custom order!)

And remember the Watercolor Feather & Fan sock? Um. Well. I knew that yarn was trying to tell me something when I tried the (easy lace) pattern on the cuff 3 times and made more errors than I can tell you. I've done that pattern many times, and it IS easy...that yarn did NOT want to be a sock and frankly, it was too soft to be a sock - it wouldn't have worn well at all inside a shoe - and it kept telling me that all the way up the foot and while turning the heel. I just didn't listen to it till I couldn't make the cuff pattern work! (I will learn one of these days...)

What did it want? Apparently, it is besotted with Anne's Boing!. See?
I'm not surprised. The yarn is perfect for it. I even pulled out the old pink aluminum needles for this one! (And tried to go with the little jeweled stitch markers, but they got hung up in this ultra-baby soft yarn, so out came the rubber rings again! (sigh)

However, please note the Knails?!? Those are mine, all mine, not a touch of acrylic anywhere. I'm not in love with them, but they've grown out and tho' I'm a rotten manicurist, I did get them painted. Now if I can just keep them from breaking off!

On a far more serious note, I've signed up again for the next Blogblast for Peace on June 4. Won't you join me?