Jofrog is Knitfrog!
June 29 2006
Well, not much, but I did knit a sock, and socks count, right... especially if you are in the "Sock a Month" KAL and it's Thursday the 29th and your internet connection will be down on Friday the 30th and you are moving on Saturday July 1st! Project Specs: Melanie liked this yarn so much that she asked me to bring her some, so look forward to some similar socks on her blog. I'm sure they've been her top priority. ;-) So, my next project... well, there is some Koigu that has been waiting for these needles, nice greens and browns, another manly pair of socks. Also, I have a super cute bootie/sock pattern for the Tadpole that I want to use this yarn for: The veriagated is leftovers sent with my Sockapaltwoza socks from the lovely Liz, and the green has already been used in two other pairs of socks... the Tiptoe Socks and Sappho's Socks. This yarn will not be exhausted! The pattern for these booties is already packed away, but no worries... the cooking and knitting books will be very high priority in the unpacking! I'm so glad that we have a holiday to give us some extra time. Well, this is me signing off from our wonderful old apartment where we've lived for 5 years. This is the first home Mike and I shared. We got Naomi here, we got married here, we accumulated a lot of stuff here, but our next big adventure will have to happen elsewhere. Goodbye apartment! I Knit Something!
June 24 2006
So, I joined the Knit Sock Kit Swap and I've been a bit lax on posting my questionnaire. I've never done a swap requireing one before, but when I see them on someone else's blog I always feel like it's a post only for one person. One of the requirements of this swap is that the gifter contacts the giftee after recieving their name. My gifter hasn't contacted me, so maybe this will bring him or her out of the woodwork. Here goes, maybe the rest of you will learn something about me too! What are your favorite colors?I've always said that my favorite color is blue, but my husband will swear that it's green. He's right, but I'm too stuborn to admit it. I love greens, and purples, and browns, but I'm always willing to put crazy colors on my feet! Are you a new sock knitter? How long have you been knitting socks?I'm not a new sock knitter. I've been knitting them for three years or so, but almost always as a side project. Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn?Definitely multicolored for socks. The rare exception is if the sock has an intricate pattern that would be lost in a multi. What fibers do you prefer in sock yarn?Wool/wool blends. Cotton yarn and my feet do not get along! Where do you usually knit socks?Outside of my home. Socks are an on the go project for me. At the park, at a friend's, in the car if I get somewhere early, at the doctor's office, definitely there! How do you usually carry/store small projects?I usually keep them in here or here. What are your favorite sock knitting patterns?I don't really have one. Most of the self-striping yarns do so much for themselves that a simple stockinette sock is all that's needed. This is my favorite patterned sock I've knit though. What are your favorite sock knitting techniques?I've become a magic loop convert! What new techniques would you like to try?I'd love to knit a pair of mosaic socks, but I'm worried that there won't be enough stretch. Do you prefer circulars or dpns for sock knitting?I usually knit magic loop now because it's more portable, but I'm certainly not giving away my dpns! What are some of your favorite yarns?Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock, Regia, Matchmaker 4-ply What yarn do you totally covet?For sock yarn, I've always wanted to make a pair out of Cherry Tree Hill. I've recieved a pair out of that yarn, but never knit with it. Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object?Hmm, not really any that come to mind. Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)?I love the Inox needles, though I have one pair of Pony Pearl DPNs size 1 and I LOVE THEM! Nowhere around here sells them, but if they did I'd definitely buy some other sizes If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be?Eh, probably Rowan. I'm high quality without being showy! I like a good thing, and I'd like to think I have staying power. Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack?All candy is good candy these days! I love Nerds, gummies that you buy at a bulk candy place, Crunchies, ooh or Maple Sugar candy! Yup, I have a sweet tooth! What’s your favorite animal?Frogs, always have been! Do you have pets? What are their species/names/ages?At the moment Naomi, our 8+ year old Puerto Rican rescue dog is the only one. She lives a good life and will be sharing my yarn room with me in our new home! If you were a color what color would you be?Green to blend into the forest? ...maybe. Describe your favorite shirt (yours or someone else’s)..I just threw out my favorite shirt as part of packing to move. :-( I loved it, I'd had it for years, it was cranberry in color, with both shoulders ripped to shreds. The neck was once a slight v, but then that tuck came lose and it became a scoop neck, bordered with a matching ribbon. Sniff, sniff. I'll miss that shirt! What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature?I really don't have an answer for this one, so if I have to think about it too hard I'd just be making something up. Just trying to keep it real. Tell me the best quote you’ve ever heard or read.Never use vinegar when you can use honey first. It's definitely the way I live my life. Do you have a wishlist?Nope, but we'll have a baby registry soon! Anything else you’d like to share with the group today?We are expecting a baby in December, baby blog here, and we are moving in a week, and I just quit my job and started another until the baby comes, so life is a bit up in the air, but it's all good things and we are definitely excited, tired and excited! Congrats if you made it through that, regular blogging soon? Maybe!No One Said There Would Be Homework
June 23 2006
One week to go. All of the important stuff is packed. Busy, Busy, Busy
June 21 2006
So, I wanted to check in here so that no one was worrying about me! ;-) I started a new job this week to fill in the days that I was at my old job (but no more weekends! woo hoo!). It means a much earlier start to my day and either Naomi gets a good walk, (or a walk at all for that matter), or I blog. Naomi's winning! Honestly, even if there were lots of time for blogging, I'm not knitting enough to blog about it! Last night we picked up a carload full of boxes from some friends who just moved and now it's crunch time. We have to pack this home up NOW! We are moving a week from this Saturday. Thankfully we have lots of help, and it's a short move, but still... I really can't be spending the evenings leisurely knitting on the couch. The great news about this new apartment, is, in addition to it being awesome, and huge, and wonderful, Naomi and I will have a room all to ourselves for loungin' and knittin'! Can you imagine, a yarn room! Wow. Give us a month or so after we move in and I'll tease you all with pictures. Fillin' Ya In
June 19 2006
I've got nothing to report today, but the probably blogless "winniegirl" left a comment that needed to be mentioned in a proper blog post. Have you seen this free pattern for an almost seamless teddy bear? He's done from the top down in the round! He's so cute. You can make a Fair Isle sweater for him, you could put the child's name on it, I LOVE IT! I'm still looking for other toy patterns, so still send in your suggestions, but this one is a keeper! Winniegirl, and all others interested, the body for the Pea Pod baby sweater is all done, and waiting for sleeves. I have some deadline knitting to finish up first and then I'll be sleeving it. I promise it will be finished, I even picked up THE BEST buttons for it last Thursday!Commenting on A Comment
June 15 2006
I whipped up this little guy over the last few days. Awe, isn't he cute! I used the "Magic Friends" pattern. It can be bought as a separate sheet or it's in The Knitter's Stash which is a much easier way to find it! Cute, easy pattern. I've made quite a few of these in the past (look on the left under FOs 2005!), but this is my first kitty. No, this is not for the Tadpole. It's for a little girl's 10th birthday! ...before you go thinking she's too big for this, she asked for it specifically. It's very cute when kids are at that inbetween stage. Are they getting older, or are they just little kids? The answer is : YES! I do want to make some sort of stuffed toy for the Tadpole though. I could make one of these, but I've done it so many times. I've thought about the one from the cover of this Bouton d'Or magazine: Do you have a favorite toy pattern? It doesn't have to be simple, this is for my Tadpole here... anything will go!Meow
I made him out of Teddy rather than a fur yarn.
I think the boucle yarns work great for this pattern as well!
June 14 2006
Hey, I'll be back later with a FO, but for now... Any of you who know me from work, or at work... I no longer work there. Just wanted you all to know from me. This is a good thing, not a bad thing, and will allow for a much more mellow pregnancy, and a lower stress life. I really hope to not lose all of the great connections I've made, so please, come by here, come by Knitsmiths, I hope to see you all or hear from you soon.Work
June 11 2006
I spent my day off organizing my yarn stash for a move next month, going through some old paperwork and clutter, and knitting a mermaid sock! Alison gave me this Regia yarn last year after she returned from Germany. She said that it reminded her of my yellow cardigan, and I immediately thought of mermaid socks. It's been waiting for some empty needles and the right time since then and Friday morning I cast on. This is a TIGHT pattern. It's in multiples of 6. I usually cast on 64 stitches, but I thought I could go for 60 with this one... should have gone for the 66. I can get them on, but it takes a bit of time. Someone related this lack of stretch to the Jaywalker pattern and I think they were right on. Oh well, I'm certainly not starting over now! Off to knit, before I buy yarn, before I go to Knitsmiths! What a wonderful Sunday.The Fruits Of My Day Off
June 9 2006
I'm not working today! I have no plans, I didn't know early enough to set up something else for today, so it's really a day off. What am I going to do? Knit on some deadline knitting? No. Finish up some loose end projects? No. I'm going to knit a fun new sock for ME, from yarn that a wonderful friend brought me back from a country far away! Ahhh. Oh and I'll probably go out and get a bagel and lox too! Ahhh. Now this is a vacation day! Maybe if you are lucky you'll even get pictures later... but don't hold your breath, I'm only working for myself today! Ahhhh. :-)Unexpected Day Off
June 7 2006
First off, thanks so much for all of the wonderful comments over the last two days! You guys are great, and it's fun to finally be able to chat about this Tadpole openly! Like many of you have suggested, this means lots of baby clothes to knit. The truth is, I've been knitting baby clothes for this little one for years. I'll try to pull them all out this weekend for an inventory! The newest one is the Pea Pod Baby Set. I was trying to wait until the body was ALL done to post it, but I feel like it might languish with six rows to go to finish on the back for a little bit, and it's so cute I had to show: This pattern has so much attention to detail. No half leaves at the top or bottom because there are begining and a finishing leaf charts to complement the repeated lace chart. My only problem is row gauge, so my armholes are a bit longer, but I'll make my sleeves a bit bigger and it will fit the baby for longer, right? Also, possibly because of my row gauge, I'm using SO MUCH LESS YARN than was called for. I've only just broken into the third skein! Lots to return means more yarn money to play with. "Oh, only store credit for returns? What ever will I do?" Happy knitting, and thanks again. I'll be sure to keep you updated with both the Tadpole and the knitting!Not So Mellow Yellow
June 5 2006
So, I've been a bit absent lately. Life has been exhausting, my schedule has been busy, and ... I've been growing a fetus inside of me! That's right! Of course this calls for a new blog right? So come on over to visit Jofrog's Tadpole. See you there!The Reason For My Exhaustion
