Regia Socks

I don't know what it is about spring that makes me want to knit socks. 

I've been searching for Regia Super Jacquard for awhile now. It's been discontinued so I've searched eBay, Etsy and Ravelry. Why are the coolest lines always discontinued? I found this skein on eBay for a reasonable price. The one I really wanted (kolibri #7204) was about $38...I think I'll keep searching different yarn shops for it instead. Anyway I love the way this one is striping.

I know I keep promising the pattern for the stripey hanging basket. I promise I will post it soon. I just don't know which day yet. 

Have a great Sunday✌

I'm Tired

I haven't felt like blogging or crocheting/ knitting much lately. With being super swamped at work, keeping up the housework and Ireland finishing the school year... I'm just tired. That's all I know to say. I managed to finish one of the online socks and started the second

I found this berroco sox on eBay for another pair

I also booked a trip to Disney and a Disney cruise. So, thanks to Pinterest, I made this countdown project

She's so excited. I am too. Ahhhh Florida (my favorite state), I can't wait.

The baby chicks are no longer babies

Hopefully I'll become more motivated in the near future. I think what I need is a vacation, but I have six months to wait for that. Sorry for such a depressing post. I don't have the energy to act happy and energetic. I think I just get overwhelmed with all the chores and work that I'm responsible for. My job is mentally tiring. I love it, but sometimes it can be overwhelming. I'm the only social worker in the facility with over 160 residents/ patients on my caseload. Outside of work the stinkin housework never ends. The car stays filthy. The weeds never stop growing. And now I have six chickens to take care of thanks to Ireland and Michael. Of course they promised me that they would take care of them...yeah right. That was before Michael started working from dawn to dusk six days a week. (Added to the three outside cats, 1 inside dog, betta fish, and hermit crab). I think I have decided to hire someone to come and help me with the cleaning once or twice a month. I just might deserve that trip to Disney. 

So now that I have moaned and whined and totally depressed you about things you probably know all about....

Have a peaceful week✌️

Finally Baby Chicks

Ireland has been begging for baby chicks for a very long time... we finally gave in

Michael worked all weekend on a chicken coop and I tried to educate Ireland and myself on how to take care of them. I also tried to explain to her that the babies would grow into chickens

 

She didn't care to hear all of that... all she sees are cute little things. We got these on Saturday and they seem to be growing like crazy. It may be my imagination but I'm sure they are already slightly bigger. They are Rhode Island Reds... I heard the eggs are the best. Hopefully they will survive and grow into chickens and will still let Ireland pet and hold them.

Sunday we spent the day with my family. I took a couple of pics and really love this one

 I've been pretty busy so progress on the socks has been slow

I really messed up the gusset, but there is no way that I'm going back. I'll just have to remember to mess up the second one, so they'll match. Maybe I can show more in a few days.

Have a peaceful week

Spring and Wool Socks

Spring and wool socks...what a combination

I've been enjoying the wonderful weather here in NC. I'm soooo happy that spring has finally arrived, but all I'm motivated to do is knit these socks that I've started. I'll go outside and weed the flower beds for like...10 minutes, and then come back inside or go to the porch swing to work the socks. Addicted!
This self striping sock yarn is addictive. It makes you want to keep going to see each stripe form.

 My worsted ones are also coming along. The second one has been started.

  I worked on the striped ones yesterday while watching Ireland at gymnastics. These are the perfect take anywhere project. Speaking of Ireland and gymnastics, here she is proudly showing off her new leotard. She wanted me to take her pic

We switched gyms last week. I really hope she learns alot here. I'm just as excited as she is, and I hope this is an activity that she will continue to love to do. I really don't mind going on Saturday mornings. It gives me an uninterrupted hour to crochet or knit.

And here is the pitiful hydrangea that I mentioned in my previous post. Who knows if the poor thing will even bloom this year. It's trying to form little green sprouts, so maybe it'll be ok.

Michael, uuuggghhh!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Worsted Socks

I've crocheted nothing in this past week. Instead I started a pair of worsted socks

When I received my swap package with the Cushy Chroma sock pattern, I knew I wanted to make a pair. Worsted weight yarn produces such a fast project. So here I am with one done and getting ready to cast on the second.

This one fits great. The only moderation from the pattern was with the cuff. I only wanted an inch or so of ribbing. A little boring to look at, but good practice for me. I need to work on the details...like kitchener stitch and losing the little hole on each side of the ? whatever that is called. (still learning the sock terms)

These are not the prettiest, but the next pair will be more colorful. I've already started another pair (remember I have crafting ADD) using ONline Supersocke.

I think I am addicted
As I "speak", Michael is outside butchering my plants again.  He was so proud as he showed me his "trim job" of the hydrangea in front of the house. It's about a foot tall now. What am I going to do with him? It was getting ready to grow green and bloom. I would post a picture, I still might.

Have great Sunday!

Slow Progress and a Box of Goodies

I'm still working away at Ireland's blanket

I'm trying to be creative with the squares, which is making this a slower project than I would like. Who am I kidding? Even if every square were the same, it would be a slow project for me.

Sorry for the photos, I snapped these with my iphone in a hurry

I decided to add a couple of Minnie Mouse squares. We have Disney on the brain (planning a trip later this year)

I'm making this a little differently than other crochet mood projects. I notice some are making their squares according to their mood for the particular day or week, and then placing them in order as they go. I'm doing the same in a way. I'm placing them where ever I feel like they look best. So is this truly a crochet mood blanket? I don't know.

The sock knitting is going pretty well. I'm now at the toe of the first. Hopefully, I'll still be motivated to finish the second.

This was a few rows before starting the toe

 Don't judge, remember, it's my first

Earlier this week I received a package from a Ravelry swap that I participated in.

I love it. I racked up, 3 skeins of Wool-ease, crochet hook grips, candy, handmade soap, buttons, a sock pattern, notepad, postcards from Minnesota, a knitted dishcloth...even something for Ireland. Fellow knitters/crocheters are the best aren't they?

Have a great weekend,
Liz

Sock Knitting

I've become obsessed with socks. I've always been intimidated by the thought of knitting them. But Instagram has motivated me to try

I have lots of sock yarn scraps left over from crocheting shawls. So for these I'm using Noro, Spud and Chloe, Universal, Wisdom, and a couple unknowns.

My apologies for the photos, these are not set up well. I'm being lazy.

They're not perfect. This first one is a little big. My stitches are sloppy. My feet and ankles are slim, so the fit is a little loose. Hopefully they'll be pretty and colorful even if they may not be a perfect fit. I've learned that socks are way easier than I thought they would be.

dpns are a breeze for me...why are circulars so hard? Anyway, I hope I won't lose steam after the first. I'm reading that socks are addictive so I'll try to make my second pair look and fit better. I'm looking for some colorful sock yarn for the next pair. Any recommendations would be nice.

Ireland's blanket is coming along, but of course I've lost interest. I'll force myself to keep crocheting a couple squares every other day or two.

The pattern for these are from Purl Bee, the Sporty Striped Peds.

I don't know why I'm so obsessed with knitting lately, but I'll post a pic of Ireland's blanket in a day or two.

Have a great weekend!