New Toy Alert!!

I am talking everyone who likes to collect things, acquire new toys and just keep up with the "knitting Joneses" that the newest toy is here!!! And I have one....whoohoo!

I had forgotten that I put my name on the list at KnitWits for this baby...it's all the rage. I will show you why.

First it is a little big larger than a packet of birth control pills (which I haven't taken in more than a long time but remember the size), but it's more of an oval shape. It's flat and a beige color with pink buttons that operate some cool features. I think this is many a knitter and crocheter's answer to airline travel hassles. Carry this and there won't be any.

So now for the features...first there is a retractable tape measure. The pink button you see there on the top is the one that retracts the tape measure. Just out of curiosity, I pulled out the tape measure and it will measure up to 60 inches. Good?

Next... there is a little cutter that is way smaller than the Clover disc cutter. I doubt that the TSA will object to that. It's so small, you can't even cut your own fingernail with it. Good #2.
...and it has a tiny plastic crochet hook. It would be tough if you are knitting lace but in a pinch I think that you can make it work. One sized hook almost fits all. It's better than losing your hooks to the TSA as lethal weapons of mass crocheting.... Good #3
It's hard to see how large the crochet hook is so I held it up for you to see. It's really not very large. I measured it and the whole thing from top to bottom is 3 1/2 inches and fits snugly on the side.
Wait there is more! This is on the back side of the container. There is a little lid sort of what the lids look like for batteries, but when you open it, you get to see these. Cleaver huh??
That little compartment contains a pair of mini scissors, that the TSA might let you have since the blade is less than 4 inches. If I had any doubt, I would leave these at home and just use the little thread cutter on the front. You wouldn't want to break up the set. Plus you get two needle protectors and three sizes of rubber stitch markers. (UPDATE: I did see on the Knit Kit site that the scissors are approved by the TSA.)
Sorry it's a bit blurry, but you get the general idea. Good #4. Just when you think there can't be anymore, well there is of course! Then you have this...there is a row counter. It can also lock. Good #5.
Well that's about it and I got it all for $20. Such a deal! If you live in the Virginia Beach area you can pick one up at KnitWits where I got mine. Totally cool!

Not My Usual Obsession

I do love making socks. I feel such a sense of accomplishment when I finish weaving in the very last loose end. I almost could never wear them and still continue to make them. I could make them for strangers and still feel so good about them, but the strangers have to wear a size 7 1/2 shoe. So I am feeling pretty good about myself today! I finished another pair of socks.

Having a new puppy in the house may have slowed me down but I managed to get them done. I am still plugging away toward my goal of one pair of sock a month. So far I have managed to make three pairs. Pretty much all the socks I make now are going to have to be stored away because spring is here and things are warming up.

Speaking of warming up, I tried to steer myself away from my usual obsession of green socks with this latest pair. I have some violet and pink sweaters and thought that I might need some socks that would go with some of my winter sweaters.

The yarn is Opal and the colorway is Mississippi. Personally I thought the colorway should have been called Easter. The colors remind of Easter. They are springy and fresh. Hopefully when I wear them next winter they will help me hang on until spring comes again!

I did reinforce the heels with some grayish thread. It dulled the nice springy colors a bit but will give me some more spring in the heel and hopefully more wear.
I have found that reinforcing is great but I tend to wear out the socks on the ball of my foot. I am still trying to figure out how to reinforce the ball of foot so that my socks will last longer. I posed that question on a sock board and someone said, just make more socks. Sounds like a splendid idea to me!

I used different ideas from different patterns that I have knit over the last few years. The ribbing is just a 2X2 kp. The body is a 5X1 ribbing. The heel is taken from Cookie A's Monkey socks. I liked how simple it was and it works with an even number of stitches. The rest of the sock is just stockinette. I wanted a simple sock to knit because I knew that I had two other projects to work on and couldn't give my sock the time it needed for a more complicated pattern.

So another month done and another pair of sock to add to the pile. Whoohoo!

New Kid in Town

I have been absent from blogging for a bit because we have a new baby. By baby I mean a new puppy. After a near break in of our house we decided it was time to get a home security system. DH looked at the boxed hardware stores and the internet to find something we could afford and something we could live with. We got a dog instead.


We have been talking for months about getting another dog since our herd is aging. We wanted a larger dog and did consider getting a friend's dog who was relocating to another state. They ended taking the dog with them and it worked out just as well. It gave us time to research breeds and to take our time.


Having a new baby in the house who has a curiosity about everything and sharp little teeth to explore that curiosity is exhausting at best. I have had to put my shoes away, pick up everything that isn't supposed to be on the floor, close doors and secure my knitting.

Here is our new baby. She won't be a baby for long ...they just grow up so fast!



Here is our Lucy. She is a Boxer and is 10 weeks old. We are in the process of getting her used to the rest of the herd and to us. She is potty training pretty well and running us ragged. We just love it. So my knitting time has been cut done to next to nothing. I am playing doggie door man, nursemaid and personal trainer. Lucy has her own blog which I am building in between naps and potty breaks. So please hang in there with me and I will getting back to blogging here shortly.