Off the Clock

And I can't even really call it "snail" mail; I only ordered it Thursday evening, and it's here on Monday! It's Sirdar Salsa in Moss, a 50/50 Merino wool/acrylic blend in DK weight. It is REALLY soft. (I can't keep myself from petting it!) I'm going to make a top based on Tempting to go with my green leather pants (background in pic). I can't wait to have at it! Must... finish... second... sock...

This is the before shot taken last year. The sweater is way too short and loose in the waist (which explains why I'm holding it in). So I added 2" in the front but 2" was not enough in the back, so I added another 2" in shortrows (a scathingly brilliant idea if I say so myself!) for a total of 4". Then I reknit the ribbing on smaller needles this time. Check out the "after" pic; I'll actually wear it now! ;) Thanks for frogging the ribbing for me Mom!

I've been off work this week and making lots of progress on the solid socks. This is sock number one. I did the extra row on the shortrowed heel in the middle and it's the best fitting heel I've ever done! I'm really pleased with how this is turning out. I've only used this yarn for heels and toes before and I knew it was a little thicker than the sock yarn I've been using, so I had to work out a pattern from scratch. The other thing I'm working on is fixing the sweater I made last fall. It's a little short and too baggy at the waist and it never looked "quite right". So Mom frogged the ribbing for me (yes, she's awesome!) yesterday and I'm adding a couple of inches to the length and working the ribbing on smaller needles to bring it in a little. I'm hoping it will fit better so I'll actually wear it.

Ok, I know this isn't knitting, but this is the birthday gift I got from my best friend tonight. Is this not the coolest or what?! Not to mention that she FLIES! She's going in my office at work. That'll give the guys something to talk about! lol And what's that say on her stand? "Justice League"? Somehow seems appropriate for the office, I'm thinking.

But first a word from our sponsors. My girlfriends took me out for my birthday tonight and spoiled me rotten, including getting me "The Cool Girls Guide to Knitting". Do I not have the best friends in the whole world? This adds to my blossoming knitting library that Mom started for me the other week. Now back to our regularly scheduled program- ming. I've joined another "Along" with the Solid Socks Sock-Along (button on the sidebar). I've chosen a skein of Briggs and Little Sport sock-weight wool in light green out of my stash. I'm getting better at this de-stashing thing! ;) I haven't made up my mind about the pattern yet, but it'll probably be either a basic rib or else the lacey pattern I did on my last two pairs.

And not a minute too soon! It's 39F and rainy outside right now. I call this the 26 year scarf because I originally bought the yarn 26 years ago to make a scarf which didn't turn out, and have started many different projects with it over the years before finally making it into the scarf it was destined to become. Here it is posing with the beautiful flowers my honey bought me for my birthday! Here's a close-up. I used about 140g of Donna by Wendy, 77% acrylic, 15% mohair, 6% polyester and 2% nylon and it measures about 6" by 7'6" including 5" of fringe at each end. I wasn't originally planning on making it that long until I saw Cameron Diaz' scarf in "In Her Shoes"; I loved it! I just did a basic k2 p2 rib over 32 sts with 4.5mm (U.S.#7) needles. I cut the yarn for the fringe before joining the last ball so I could just knit until I ran out of yarn. Isn't that great? An FO with NO leftover yarn! B) And here's the "...

I've finished "Diced Tomatoes"! Since I've had a couple of requests for the pattern already, I've posted them here . I have to say I'm looking forward to making a couple more; it's the perfect size for me, and I'm really pleased with how it's holding it's shape with no added support.