Resurfacing

The last 2 weeks have been crazy! Lots of subbing for teacher conferences, babysitting and another (paying deadline) job... and no blogging. I didn't even read any email or blogs for 3 or 4 days last week, (practically unheard of for me)

Anyhoo.. here are a few things I've finished:
a sweater for Lexi (he named the sheep)
I used the pattern from Last Minute Gifts -the sweater ornament and some Magic Stripes Yand- done in an hour! I'm doing story/snack at kindergarten and reading Farmer Brown Shears His Sheep, and wanted to have a few props on hand. I'll have fleece, combs and a spindle to show the kids too...
I love story/snack! I'm making Haystacks for the snack part. Hope the kids like them.

Next up I did a Knitted Kitty (ravelry link)

I really have issues with embroidering faces. Really.

This one went to the little girl I baby sit- the head is already wobbly. whoops. I'll fix it up later

Last FO for today, socks for Carol.
Sorry for the bad pic, but I totally forgot to take one while they were blocking. I used the toe up, mock cable pattern I tested for Kristy (btw, anyone heard from her? I've emailed and called- no response) My standard 1's on 60 stitches. She likes them - the yarn is possibly Socketta, but since she gave it to me without wrapper, we can't be sure.

That's it for bloggable knitting! Easter was great! The bunny hid The Mayor's basket, but left pieces of a map in the eggs. He had to find the eggs, tape the map together, then find the basket. It actually took up a good chunck of time and was lots of fun.

So, how's you's doin'?

Noro Socks

I traded Nicole for this yarn and I’m pretty glad I didn’t spend $19.95. While I really love the colors, the knitting experience did not compensate. I guess I've come to expect certain things of my sock yarn. Not that I'm a yarn snob- heck I've crocheted baskets out of twine and nylon cord, but not on tiny needles. I guess that's the big difference -( needle) size maters.

I used my standard 60 stitch cuff down sock, with slip stitch heel.

The yarn is super thread thin in spots (N. had breakage issues, I did not) and slubby in other spots to the point of making the stitches themselves hard to see. (especially on the purl row of the slip stitch heel)

Can you see the slubs in this last picture? It does give the plain sock some texture to go with the color...

Noro is a single strand with a lot of twist which meant that the yarn did not pull smoothly from the skein- it kept getting tangled and knotting on itself- very annoying.
Also, the socks are finished and still pretty rough- I have not washed them yet but when I tried them on I really noticed a lack of elasticity in the yarn (the cuff is already saggy).

I wore them to school today (kids loved the non matchyness and color) and they are comfortable, but a bit more saggy/inelastic than I like. Perhaps if there is a next time, I'll switch to 0's? (but there is the size issue again...)

specs: Noro Socks

Pattern: standard 60 stitch cuff down sock with slip stitch heel

Yarn: Noro Kureyon Sock color S182

Needles: 1's- 2 circs

I don't know... I've read so many rave reviews on this yarn I wonder what's my problem? I really do love the colors and how they transition- I might try to do that with some spinning. But the crazy inconsistency of the yarn and its harshness plus small needles = no future purchases by me.
What do you think?

Funny on many levels

25

especially since I WORK with 3 & 4 yr olds! Those 5'ers are a tough crowd

Saturday Sighting

Check out this guy/girl... I've seen him around but this is the first time I was able to get a pic! I was washing my hands in the kitchen sink and there he was. Anybody know what kind of bird this is?

I figured out how to get an Etsy badge on my blog- yeah me. Business is pretty slow right now, but I'm hoping to get lots more in the shop so maybe things will pick up. We have a car payment now. sigh.

OTN: the Noro socks, Monkey socks and Kararina sweater. I printed my Ravelry project queue hoping that I can get my projects a bit more organized- fingers crossed.