Sheep + Wool

Many knitters (especially those on the East Coast) know that Maryland Sheep & Wool is THE event of the year. And it's almost here! And I will be there!

So if you see me, and I know you in real life (or if you read my blog), say hi! For those who don't know me, I look like this:



I will probably be standing in front of The Fold's booth, making a stupid face like this:



(Can you blame me? All that Socks that Rock ...)

I'll also be at the Fiberspace afterparty Saturday night. I am rather shy and have a feeling I will chicken out on saying hi to others I recognize from the interwebs ... but I'll try not to! I promise!

One lacy sock.

This, my friends, is one easy, lacy sock.



Pattern: Lacy Ribs by Wendy Johnson (from her book "Socks from the Toe Up")
Yarn: Wullenstudio Sock (Colorway: Bad Moon Rising)
US 2 needles
Rav details

The pattern is super, super easy. The sample in the book is variegated, but I didn't want the variegation to obscure this pretty pattern. I'm glad I went with a mostly solid yarn.



I had switched to US 1 needles for the ribbing, finished it, tried it on, and immediately lost blood flow to my foot. Ick. So I frogged the ribbing, re-knit it on 2s, and it fits much, much better now!

I knit this sock in 13 days. It's 12 days until I leave for Maryland Sheep & Wool. I'm hopeful I can start and finish its mate before then, but realistically, I'll be finishing it while I'm there!

Marbles socks - check!

I finished the Marbles socks for my friend Jamie. We were classmates and dorm neighbors in college and often shared shoes (when you wear a size 11, that's a real thing of beauty!) -- so I took the opportunity to model these socks I knit for her.

I gave her one of the first pairs I knit, two years ago, and she still texts me all the time to let me know when she's wearing them. I figured she was due for another pair. =) I'm going to wash/block them and then they'll be off to New York City!



Yarn: Socks that Rock lightweight in Marbles (a prize from a blog contest over at Irishgirlieknits - thanks, Carrie!)
Needles: US 1
Toe-up, 72 stitches, 2x2 rib at cuff
8g of yarn leftover
(Rav details)

I've already cast on for my next sock project ... a pattern out of Wendy Johnson's "Socks from the Toe Up." I am digging this amazing blue yarn, purchased at MDS&W two years ago ...



I'm hoping to finish 'em before MDS&W in three and a half weeks. (Holy moly, it will be here soon!)

Happy Easter!

I hope you have a wonderful Easter (or a wonderful Sunday, if Easter's not your thing).

Today, I'll be trying to finish these socks:



Perfect Easter colors!

I'm making pancakes in a little bit, enjoying the day, and then it's off to work. (Yep, on Easter.)

How will you spend this Sunday?

There are few things in life I enjoy more than giving handknits to good people. Yesterday was one of those days!

I gave my friend L the shawl I blogged about a few days ago. Turns out, when I tried to deliver it over the weekend, she was in Iowa for the funeral. Her grandma died last Wednesday. She really, really loved it. And we both totally cried as we talked about it.

It's uncanny how similar our experiences were - both slowly losing a grandparent to kidney cancer, both right before a trip to the Pacific Northwest. (She and I have a little joke going about how she and her boyfriend are doing a very similar trip to the one Josh and I took in October.)

In other news, my pup Gracie seems to be over a stomach bug, thank goodness. She has had an upset tummy since the weekend, but after a visit to the vet and many, many, many 3 a.m. trips outside, she seems to be doing better!



I've been pretty sleep-deprived this week with all the middle-of-the-night dog walks, and I made the executive decision while falling asleep in the shower yesterday that I would go to Maryland Sheep + Wool this year. I'm only four hours away, I wouldn't have to take any time off work for it, and I've been really good about socking money away the past few months. A couple of my local knitty girls have a pull-out couch in their room, and voila! All of a sudden I'm going to the festival. I am super, super excited. I went two years ago and had a wonderful time so I am really, really excited to go again!