Knitting, With Beads

Easily Amused

I've admitted more than once to being easily amused.  Here's proof:   This week's completed Socktoberfest socks were knit using a Broken Rib stitch pattern.  Get it?  I'm working on healing a broken rib.  And knitting the Broken Rib.  Hardy-har-har.

Yarn is Kona SuperWash DK weight 100% wool from Wool2Dye4, dyed with acid dyes.    Knit on US size 3 dpns over 50 stitches for the cuff, decreasing to 48 stitches for the foot.  I'm particularly pleased with the way the Eye of Partridge heel came out.  On the right side, I knit through the back loop... I think I read somewhere that accentuates the stitches.  As always, click for a larger view.

Speaking of being easily amused, I just love the magic way glass colors emerge, often reacting in unexpected ways.  For these beads, I used only two different glasses - Copper Green and Clear.  The copper in the green sometimes turns pink, especially when encased in clear.  Cool, eh?  These are on
my JustBeads list this week... go here to see more views.

One of the recent topics of discussion on the Yahoo Socknitter's list is using up leftover sock yarn.  Someone showed pictures of her solution, knitting socks using black striped with the leftover bits.  I really like the way those looked, and have had an idea percolating.  I still need to work out the specifics, but soon I'll be announcing a trade offer of beads and/or buttons for sock yarn.  Stay tuned!

Mystery Solved

Like pretty much everyone else, when I come across a pattern online without a photograph, I skip it.  So the Mystery Sock KAL was an interesting challenge.  I found myself analyzing stitch patterns of some of those pictureless patterns.  There were several I liked the looks of (including this one, this one, and this one), but since I was searching for a fairly simple sock, I settled on the Lacy Sock by jp.  And since it was lace, I decided to dive into my birthday loot from Joan, choosing the solid color Wildfoote in Lilac.  I really liked knitting with this wool, and have added it to my approved sock yarn list.  As always, click on the picture for a larger version.

Sister Jane, Luida and I picked tomatoes and peppers yesterday.  Ruth, Jane's next-door neighbor, has always been generous with her garden bounty, this year especially so.  She told us about a month ago that she was done canning tomatoes, and to feel free to come pick some any time.  I knew there weren't many days left (before freezing weather hit), so we filled several bags.  I didn't bring a whole lot home, but Jane plans to pickle some peppers.  Maybe even a peck.

If at First You Don't Succeed...

Welcome to the newest member of my little fambly, Iris the truck.  She's a 2002 Ford Ranger with 5-speed manual transmission.  Isn't she a cutie-pie?  Sister Jane and the girls and I had a very nice visit with Brother Tim, Ian and Katie before I drove the truck home.  Thanks Ian, for spotting such a bargain for your old Auntie Teri!

Tomorrow I'll go to the BMV to complete the ritual necessary to transfer the title and register Iris.  I would love to be able to find out approximately how much that will cost, but the BMV's computer system is down.

Besides adopting Iris, I celebrated Socktober first by completing the Undulating Rib Cashmere Blend socks.  Yarn was gifted to me by Dave, included in my KSKS package.  I love this stuff...  The pictures were taken after the socks had a bath, and the yarn has started to bloom a little. 

Then I cast on a new sock in Kona SuperWash Merino  from Wool2Dye4, dyed way back in June along with the yarn I dyed for Ruth's Dye-O-Rama package.  It tickles me no end to be using a pattern called Broken Rib on this sock.  The yarn on the right is KnitPick's Worsted Weight Bare, dyed with black and turquoise.  It's destined to become a Klein Bottle Hat for Isaac.  Yeah!  I know!  I'm actually planning a non-sock project!!

Love to Love You, Baby

Meet Ewelalie, my most recent version of a glass sheep bead.  The life of an artist is not an easy one.  I've suffered so many decisions; still am not happy about her ears, and just can't decide where to place her tail.  Ewelalie is the first sheep I've made with a blank face, and I like it.  All previous incarnations had cutsie eyes, which are fine but not the look I'm striving for. 

That's a dime in the photo, by the way, to give some perspective on her size.  As always, click for a larger view.

Sheep are not all that's emerging from my kiln the last few days.  I've been busy, busy, busy melting glass.   You can see more of what I've been up to on JustBeads.

As long as I'm hawking goods...  If you're a Frank Lloyd Wright fan, or a cross-stitcher, check out the books I have listed on eBay.  My mom's been busy clearing her bookshelves.  Making room for a sock-yarn stash, Mother?