Christmas Year-Round

Blue Moon Fibers Socks That Rock in the Christmas Balls colorway—ultra festive. I used a cute little dippity-doo pattern on the leg called Little Shells by Judy Sumner, from the Yahoo Knitlist group. I also used the STR heavyweight yarn for a change. It was much heavier than I’m used to, and produced a stout, tight weave using size #3 needles. They will be great socks for the winter, but not summer socks by any stretch of the imagination. All of you who live in cold country might want to try this yarn. I guarantee it will keep your feet warm!

So another pair finished and I immediately started STR in Rhodinite, a hot pink and purple blend. Now I am in a hurry to finish the Rhodinite socks because I have just ordered STR in the Little Bunny Foo Foo colorway (chocolate and pink), and I can’t wait to get started. I might even give the Rhodinite socks to DD. How many pairs of pink socks can one woman use anyway?

Other news—I have been working with a web development group to create a new web site for Comfort Zone Needles. The old one has been with the same host for two years and we are finding that it will not perform some of the functions that we want to offer to our customers. The new site will include a new blog, which I hope will stimulate me to post more often (at least every other day). I have been promised that everything will transition seamlessly, and link with the present site and blog for a while. This will all be taking place over the next two to three months, and is more exciting than I can tell you. It would seem to mean that Comfort Zone is growing, and the way needles are flying out the door, I would say it is true! More info as changes occur.

Life is good….

Mélange Malabrigo

First, the last beautiful remnants of Valentine's Day.




And now knitting....


The set is set. What started with the Malabrigo Autumn Forrest hat, ended with a hat, scarf and fingerless mitts set done in a Rojo Intenso and Arrecife Malabrigo combination. This is what I mean when I say, “What I start out with isn’t always what it ends up to be.”

That’s a weird sort of creativity! I discovered, mid-way through the scarf, that the Rojo Intenso was much too bold for the Autumn Forrest. It took something as audacious as Arrecife to stand up. I think the colors blend well, and the hat, scarf and mitts are certainly warm. Because warm was the objective, I’m happy.

I have developed a passion for Malabrigo! It is soft—almost as soft as the cashmere I am using for a pink hat. In addition, it comes in beautiful, exciting colorways. I am 40 inches into a feather and fan scarf using an olive and black variegated Malabrigo. I’m already thinking, “I want to wear this scarf year-round.” It is somewhat amazing to me that a yarn can be so versatile that it lends itself to bulky patterns as well as lace. Surely, it is one of the most versatile yarns around. I once said that I would keep buying Blue Moon’s Socks That Rock until I have a pair of socks in every colorway. Now I have developed the same passion for Malabrigo, and don’t want to stop until I have a knitted item in every color. Maybe I’ll knit a sweater or vest next. I wish you all a lifetime full of STR and Malabrigo!

Pure Elegance

Blocked

Unblocked

This scarf is called, “elegant ribs masquerading as skinny scarf.” It looks good skinny (the way I choose to wear it) or blocked into stylish ribs. I picked up a couple hanks of Malabrigo—my favorite—and started knitting. Many times that has turned out to be a disaster. I’m not a “fly-by-the-seat-of-the-pants” knitter at all. I usually have to have a pattern, or take the time to write out a pattern before I start. This time, when I started knitting I really didn’t know where I was going with it. I just knew I wanted an elegant scarf. I thought, for about 2 seconds, that I would opt for lace, but the yarn is somewhat thick and thin, and gorgeous without fancy stitches. I quickly decided that long and uncluttered would be elegant, so after four rows of seed stitch I started with k3, p3 ribs. I slipped the first stitch of each row, thinking it would help prevent curling. That didn’t work, and I’m glad, because the slight curl on each side contributes to the charm of the skinny form. The longer I worked on this scarf, the more I liked it, and after 70 inches, I was in love. Some days are better than others!

The Christmas Balls STR socks started at the same time are finished too, as well as the hat that goes with this scarf, in a different colorway, and fingerless mitts in the combined colors. The hat and mitts had ends to be woven in, so I will post photos of the “set” next time.

Yes, I have been knitting like the wind! There are only a few months before we leave warm country to go to frigid country. I want to be prepared. There is also the Something Red sweater in blue that is half finished. If I grow wings on my hands, I might be able to finish it too. Is there anything better than having an excuse to spend your free time doing nothing but knitting? Life is good….

Froggy Socks

These socks are TCU Horned Toad purple. I didn’t really knit them to wear at TCU football games, because that would mean I would get to wear them once every couple years, when TCU plays Army (DH’s alma mater) here in Fort Worth. Nope, I had this Monarch Fly Dyed yarn in my stash and decided that everyone needs a pair of purple “Froggy” socks, including me. I wore them yesterday, and when I sat down, and my jeans slid up just enough for my socks to peak through, I thought, “Oh my gosh, those are PURPLE!” To top off this “what-was-I-thinking” experience, I used what I thought was a nice dark blue fingering weight yarn to reinforce the toes. It turned out to be a much brighter marine blue in the harsh light of day. (Darn those fluorescent light bulbs DH has been using in all the light fixtures). I’ve decided it’s about time I bought myself a nice big Ott light! The eyes are not getting any younger.

Speaking of getting younger, lately I have become aware of the amount of junk I purchase every year to stay young looking, and I’ve decided it’s time for me to age gracefully. There have been numerous face creams and scrubs, there used to be the hair dye before the $60,000 haircut, and now there are pastes, gels and goops to spike the fashionably short silver hair. Add to that, all the “young” clothes to stay up with fashions--and considering just the amount of money I’ve spent since January, I should be 20 years younger by now. Okay, I admit it—it’s not working! Besides, youth is a state of mind. My grandkids keep me young, DH’s love keeps me young, and gratitude for just being alive keeps me young! Wrinkles notwithstanding, life is good.

Now for some youth inspiring doggy love…Macy in her stylish sweater, ready to go out and “swing” with the squirrels.