Many things to show you.

How about a FO to start with?:



Those are some finished Primavera socks. I can't recommend this pattern enough. I pretty much followed it to a "T", except for adding an extra purl stitch to the repeat so that I could have a 72-stitch sock. They fit great, and the Trekking XXL is highly entertaining. I will probably be making more of these.

In other news, I started another pair...and finished another single:



I knit this one using the Stansfield 304 stitch pattern from More Sensational Knitted Socks and some Panda Silk I scored from the new yarn shop in town, Knit Happy. I went toe-up with these so I could have a very long cuff and did increases up the back to accommodate my thick calf. I really like this sock, and the yarn is a dream...I really do think it should cost a lot more than it does. I'm hoping to score some of it in a solid color at the Haus of Yarn (that is if they have been holding out on me like I'm guessing and have been saving some for next month's sock knit-a-long). Here's another picture, because I like you:



I started a pair of Embossed Leaves Socks using some semi-sold red Jitterbug, but I have yet to take pictures. They are fantastic, though, and I can't wait to show you.

In other news, I have taken up spinning, as most of you know. I'm still learning, and don't really know how to ply, but I like it. Here's a picture from a spinning gathering I went to earlier in the month:



I don't remember her name, but here is one of the ladies showing off a shawl she made out of her handspun. Amazing! You can see half of my new Ashford Joy in the corner. Good times.

And finally, I'll leave you with this:



What's that? That's my good-looking boyfriend standing next to my sweet ride and the new vanity plate he installed for me...that's right. It says "I <3 2 Party". Hee, hee, that is so ridiculous.

Smiles,
Erin

Have you seen these?

Holy cow, these are adorable. I may need to order the gnome.

It's a new year. What's new?

It's a new year, so I thought I'd start out with a bang:



I just completed these tonight. Yep, everybody, that's a completed pair knit with Noro Kureyon Sock (colorway S182), inside the best shoes in the universe. Seriously, I've worn them everyday since I bought them about a week ago, and I'm considering buying a few backup pairs while they're still available. NERD ALERT! The pattern I used is the Pennant Stitch from More Sensational Knitted Socks. I think the pattern gives the socks a cool texture and takes advantage of the long color repeats, but I think next time I knit socks with this stuff (I have 3 other colorways now, making me a total yarn whore), I'll probably knit them toe-up and in plain stockinette to take advantage of the awesome thick and thin texture. Here's one more shot:



Oh, and a close-up:



In other news, I'm working on the second sock on another pair:



These are some Primavera Socks knit using Trekking XXL (colorway 110). I modified the pattern to allow one extra reverse stockinette stitch after each repeat with in the row so that I could have my standard 72 stitches. I am enjoying this pattern immensely and highly recommend it - it's very easy to memorize, and is essentially five rows of ribbing with one pattern row. The sock also fits very well, since it's a ribbed pattern.

I also finished the Gauntlets from Not Just Socks a while back:



These were knit with JUST ONE ball of Regia! The pattern is very simple and a fun knit. I wear these all the time.

I also had a fantastic Christmas - seriously, I think it may have been my favorite Christmas...ever. I was able to spend time with both my family and Jake's family, and had quality time with everyone. It was really fun. It also probably didn't hurt that I got a trip to San Francisco from Jake (going in February!) and a spinning wheel (Ashford Joy) from my parents, although I think I already told you that. I am a little frustrated with spinning right now, but I'm hoping to get some help from some friends this weekend. Oh, joy. Pun intended.

Lastly, I've decided to start taking care of my nails. By taking care of my nails, I mean getting fake ones, done in the nail salon. I don't really know why. It's awfully girly of me and if I keep this up, I could be qualified as "high maintainance", though I not sure I'd give a shit if that was the case. Check it out:



Totally worth it, no? Don't worry, they don't get in the way of knitting.

Smiles,
Erin

2007 meme

Taken from the Simply Socks Yarn Co. Blog...

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
I tried spinning!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I think I vowed to lose weight last year. It didn't go anywhere. I haven't made any new ones for this year...I think last year's should probably carry over to this one.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My co-worker, Sam, and his wife, Catie, had a baby girl right before Christmas. It was fun to hear stories about him going through the pregnancy process.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes, actually. My Aunt Jenny, who I hadn't really seen in about 10 years, died this summer. It's kind of a mystery as to what went down, but my family was very close with her when we were growing up and lost touch as I grew up, unfortunately. Also, my best friend Amy's father died this year, and I enjoyed his company very much.

5. What countries did you visit?
I didn't even go to Canada this year!

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Another cat. I'd really like a third cat. I'm not holding my breath.

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I'll remember the day we sold the house. I don't remember the exact date, but it's memorable. I'll also remember leaving my first "real job", and my birthday party at the Gerst Haus. Good times.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I'm not too sure. Probably not killing anyone at work.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Again, I'm not really sure. I wish I had saved more money.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not at all.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
About 80 pounds of sock yarn.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Probably Jake's. He's the best boo in the world.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
New York, from Vh-1's "I Love New York". Talk about lame. I have to admit that I watched the show, though. It's a true trainwreck, and I cannot look away.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Going out to eat. Oh, and yarn.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
A spinning wheel!! I blame Leah for this. I needed another hobby like I needed a hole in the head, but it's all good.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
"Philadelphia Freedom" by Elton John (it's been in Jake's head for 3 weeks now) and "Killer Queen" by Queen.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder?
Happier.
b) thinner or fatter?
I don't know. I would assume fatter.
c) richer or poorer?
I really don't know. I'd assume poorer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Traveling. I didn't take enough trips last year.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating out.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
On Christmas morning, I opened gifts with my immediate family and Jake, and then at lunchtime we went to Fort Wayne to open gifts with Jake's family. A good time was had by all.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
I was already in love!

22. What was your favorite TV program?
That's a four-way tie, between "Late Night with Conan O'Brien", "How Do I Look?", "Project Runway", and "The Office".

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don't hate anyone.

24. What was the best book you read?
I didn't read many books. I started to read The Devil Wears Prada, but only made it half way. Lame, I know.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I got the new Collective Soul album, but they're not a discovery at all. I have been kind of soured on the music industry lately.

26. What did you want and get?
Please see question #15.

27. What did you want and not get?
This question will remain unanswered for fear that someone very close to me might kick my ass.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Hmmm. I really liked "Superbad".

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Please see question #7. I was 27!

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having more money.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
No muss, no fuss. It's sad, but true. I wear easily washable cotton tops with jeans, and most times hand knit socks.

32. What kept you sane?
Knitting, Jake, candy, ice cream, my friends, my family, and my cats.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Kenny Rogers.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The price of gasoline. Is that a political issue?

35. Who did you miss?
My family.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
My co-worker, Sam.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
Look before you get up from bending over. I can't tell you how many times I bashed my head into something.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I don't want to. There's really nothing appropriate anyways.

I plan to do another "year in review" post shortly. But, since this is a blog about sock knitting, it will be a review of all the new sock yarns I tried out in 2007. It won't disappoint! ;)