Sleepwalker socks in BMFA Rose Quartz

It’s always a thrill for me to finish knitting a pair of socks! I started these on July 18th, and got them done this morning. To me, these are really like a little work of art  that I’ve thrown myself into - the colours, textures, composition….they are NOT just functional, stick these on your feet and walk on them staples…they truly are my objets d’arts…The pattern “Sleepwalker Socks”, designed by Monica Nappe, was super easy to follow and knit up quickly.  Not totally mindless, but certainly not difficult. The yarn, BMFA Socks that Rock  in the colourway “Rose Quartz” was pure bliss to work with. I don’t necessarily pooh-pooh the cheaper less expensive commerical yarns available, and some folks would think that some of us are nuts to spend small fortunes on  hand dyed yarns, but, you just have to work with this stuff to realize that, YES, there is a BIG, BIG difference.

The colour, Rose Quartz, was more in the purple-y zone -I took some photos of the socks along side some purple cone flowers, and the colour is pretty close. I had been looking for something more pinky, but in the end, I really like this colour. So, I got these finished just as we come to an end of our mid-summer long weekend. Next long weekend will be for Labour Day, and honestly, but not officially, summer will be over. That’s a little sad. We’ve had awful weather so far this summer - NO SUMMER - so far….We got 50/50 this long weekend….that’s better than it’s been.

It’s now time to start thinking “autumn” colours…and  to decide what new sock project to start (don’t mention that I’ve got like 4-5 plain jane socks already on the needles)….

Two more weeks at work, and it will be holiday time for us, and son and his GF will be coming home for a 3 week visit.

Can’t wait…………

We are having a cool, but lovely spring this year. This suits me fine. Erwin and I enjoy taking  lunch hour walks at nearby trails, and all kind of little springtime babies have been popping up over the last weeks. Unfortunately I’ve been having knee problems and we have not been walking as much as usual - but, we’ve shortened our walks and we can still get in tune with nature - a little. Physio seems to be going nowhere - I think I’ve just been too hard on this old bod.  But, I just love getting out of the office for an hour or so. That little break just seems to re-energize enough to tackle the afternoon work.

On the knitting front, I hear that RSC has shipped out the May sock kit, and some lucky people have received theirs. I won’t give it away, but apparently something to do with Fraggle Rock.  I’ve got my fingers crossed that mine will arrive soon.

Even though I’ve been knitting every day, progress has been slow since I am so caught up with knitting the Flame Wave socks from Interweave’s Favorite Socks: 25 Timeless designs book. It’s taking forever. I read on Ravelry that this pattern knits up quickly. So, I don’t know why it’s taking me an eternity. I think that the one little M1 is driving me crazy. I mean, I thought that this sock was going to go quickly, being that the needles are sz 3.75 & 3.50 mm versus the usual 2.5 I usually use. And the Cascades Fixation is a lot thicker, but it’s stretchy and doesn’t slide on the needles as well. I’ve got one sock completed and about 1/4 on the other. I’ll get a picture up soon.Good news! The Spring Foward socks recipient, and I can now name names, was Anna (my son’s girlfriend). I sent them to her for her birthday and she loves them!! I am so lucky to have such great sock and quilt recipients.  Anna phoned and was so thrilled to have gotten them, and she said that she has them on all the time. Chris then spoke to me and he told me that she wanted more! The list grows and grows….Does it get any better??

Okay, I think that we can safely say that spring has sprung! And how appropriate that I’ve just finished two pairs of  socks — one,  a pretty blue/green Fleece Artist 100% merino knit up in the “Spring Forward” pattern .  And, two, finally - and I mean FINALLY -  I got around to finishing those “bad” Jaywalker socks (read the post about the good, the bad and the ugly). Justine  put dibs on those Jaywalkers, and who else but Justine would love these…hmmm…not-to-my-liking weirdo socks. I guess that is what artsy twenty-one year old daughters are for hehehehe.

But, what a strange colour combo & unsymmetrical patterning (did I ever tell you I like symmetry?):The socks are from the same skein….how the heck did they turn out like this?

I am much happier with these Spring Forward socks knit up with Fleece Artist (AND, symmetrical):These are a pair for a someone special whose birthday is coming up. I love this lacy pattern and it was quite easy to follow. This is the first pair of semi-solid knit in a pattern that I’ve done - and I’m quite pleased with them.

I’m also happy to see some flowers finally blooming in the gardens.

Bleeding Hearts

Mini Daffodils

very invasive Violas growing where they shouldn't be

violas somewhat controlled

Primrose

Hey! It’s Easter! Did the bunny visit your house? I’ve been searching high and low and can’t seem to find anything special that’s been left here. Well…actually there was a special delivery made about two weeks ago (that is, we shopped for easter goodies) - but, it’s all been devoured by now… So, Easter for Erwin and me is basically taking it easy, missing the kids, making and drinking lattes. The kids left for Vancouver last Monday - we already had our special meals with them, so tonight it’s Chinese food (can’t wait!). I’ve been putting together a Queen -size bed quilt (see my quiting blog about that).

It’s very hard to blog when so little is going on! I did go through my yarn stash this morning to discover that my yarn colours are identical to my quilting fabrics (mostly darks - burgundy, blues, hunter green, etc.). As a matter of fact,  this is the only light colour skein that I own:

Fleece Artist "trail" sock yarn

That’s pathetic! So…then…the quest is on to buy some lighter yarns — some pinks, light blues, pastel greens etc. I can only hope that I get some pastels from all those yarn clubs that I’ve joined this year!

Non-edible easter eggs for me!

My sister-in-law, Laura, is an expert knitter yet has never knit socks. I’ve been raving to her about how addicted I’ve become to sock knitting,  the portability etc. With very little prodding she has crossed over to the dark side — and with my help is learning how. Of course we had to take a little trip yesterday to one of my favourite yarn shops, Janie H Knits in Perth, ON. Low and  behold, March is sock month at the store, with great deals on for sock yarn and sock-related things. Laura stocked up on a bunch of yarns, and sock knitting accessories (gotta love those Go Knit pouches from KnowKnits ). I picked up some Regia cotton blend - Weekend - wool.

Regia cotton "Weekend"

and, some Fleece Artist 100% merino.

Well, the day has FINALLY come! After leaving Ottawa on September 22nd, my lovely daughter, Justine and Stephen, her BF, are coming home!!!!  They fly into Toronto this evening and we’re heading off there to pick them up! Watch out for the exploding lady at Toronto Pearson today! That will be me exploding with JOY!

Just had a brief four minute call from my daughter, Justine, who had just landed at the airport in Barbados, and she said to me “mom, we’ve escaped from Nepal”. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m sure that the kids have had an eye-opening experience that will stay with them for the remainder of their lives, but I’ve never been so happy to hear her voice and to know that both kids, and their significant others, have landed back on North American soil (well, the West Indies is technically in the Americas, right?)
To make a long story short…Justine & Stephen left for India back on September 22nd - found India to be intolerable - went to Nepal - finding it to be slightly better than India - then for a month in Thailand (very civil) - then back to Nepal for 2 months, which they found to be “this gong-show of a country” (quoting Justine).
Chris & Anna’s trek began the first week of November with two weeks in Thailand with Anna’s family - then to Nepal with Justine & Stephen.
Needless to say, as a mom…As of this afternoon, I’ve expelled the huge breath that I have been holding since September…The kids are all now in Barbados visiting with family - and all is well with the world.