Delphinium Cashmerino Socks

I am knitting the hubby a pair of socks with my cashmerino sock yarn in delphinium.  He had me repaint a yarn I had previously kettle dyed.  I chose to over paint it with a darker blue and thus delphinium was born.  The yarn is very soft but, it makes me insane.  I like a yarn with more strength than this particular yarn.  Call me picky but, I know what I like and this yarn isn't it.  I chose to do the quirky pattern Shurtugal by Alice Yu,.  I found it on Ravelry and thought it was a pattern I would love to knit.  Boy, was I wrong.  Both with the pattern and with this yarn.  I don't think this yarn has enough substance to knit a pattern with. It is more of a soft and squishy stockinette yarn.  It does do ribbing quite well.  I will say that for it but, anything complex, forget it.  You will end up screaming at it. 

I am doing to forge onward since I really don't want to rip back this much leg.  No way.  Anyway, the hubby wants them with mistakes and all.  I was going to frog them and start the pattern over but, he said he likes them the way they are.  Well okay. 

I also think the pattern isn't showing up at all since there is too much contrast between the darker blue and the lighter blue of the yarn.  This is what he wanted and I do what people want when it comes to yarn.  I am using Addi turbos in US 2.  See, I needed that other set of needles from Knit Picks to help me out.  :) 

I think the hubby decided he wanted them with mistakes and all since he knows he will get them faster this way.  I am notorious about starting a pair of socks for him and growing bored in the middle of them and finding something else to knit on.  I am going to finish these socks if it is the last thing I do. 

Palette Yarn

I am currently knitting a pair of size 3 toddler socks for my great nephew, Eli.  I am using Palette by Knit Picks.  I normally use this yarn for stranded color combo mittens and it does a beautiful job.  I decided to go ahead and break into the 100 skeins the hubby gave me for Christmas. So far, the yarn is doing a beautiful job.  The sock is a simple one.  I chose to do simple since the sock is so little.  I feared that a pattern would get lost in the little sock and I think I chose well. 

As you can see from the pics, the sock is coming out nicely.  I am using size 2 US Knit Pick needles with cables attached, I do not use their screw on jobbies, they suck!  I had so many socks on needles that I broke down and bought these to help me knit new socks.  For those of you who don't knit, you wouldn't even begin to understand, it is a knitter's thing. 

I love how well this yarn shows stitch definition.  I know from previous experience with this yarn how well it works with stranding on mittens.  I love to use it and it is very soft.  I have noticed like I previously mentioned at how well the heathered palette yarns are much softer than the straight colors.  I have noticed this on several of their heathers.  I thought this would work well for little Eli since he has such sensitive skin.  I also want to see how well it will hold up to a baby.  So, Eli is my test subject.  I will have to ask his Mom how the socks are holding up after he gets them. 

Current Sock Pattern

I am currently knitting Shurtugal from Ravelry and I hate this pattern with a purple passion. Too many right and left twists for me to contend with and along the way, holes and of all things, more stitches than I started with on each row.  WTF!?  I have no idea what is happening but, it is making me crazy.  I am not a beginner sock knitter.  I have done RT and LT before and never had this problem.  Then there is the yarn, the cashmerino sock...I despise this crap yarn.  It hasn't lived up to my expectations at all.  It is too flimsy for my tastes.  I prefer a sock yarn with more substance.  I am waiting to see how long it will survive with my niece's socks.  I made her custom knit socks into slipper socks with puffy paint on the soles.  I have a pair of puffy paint slipper socks and I adore them. 

I have one skein of bfl here that I have plans with.  I love the silkiness of this sock yarn and how well it glides on the needles.  If you want a fast knitting yarn, go with the bfl.  Amazing.  I also have another standard favorite, it is one of the best knitting yarns I have ever used and it wears very well...the merino/silk sock I sell.  It is simply amazing and it takes the colors so well.  It is by far hands down my favorite yarn.  I have worked with thinner yarns and I always come back to that yarn. 

My MIL even commented to me the other day asking what yarn I painted for her and I let her know it was the merino/silk sock.  She said she loved it.  It is well worth coming back to again and again. 

I have a sock on the needles right now being knit out of Knit Picks Palette and it is working out nicely for the little sock.  It is the cutest little buddy around.  I do love knitting socks for children, they are quick works and it also helps me keep in rythmn my sock knitting.  Practice makes perfect.  This pair of wee bitty sockies as I like to call them are plain stockinette stitch.  I was thinking of puting a pattern on the wee bitty thing but, then decided it would be overkill.  It would also be wasted on a baby sock. 

I also have a mitten pattern I am currently test knitting.  I need to finish it and possibly enter it into a contest.  I haven't decided if I want to share the pattern with the world or keep it for myself.  It is a nice chart to work off of.  It isn't one of those boring ones, it has plenty of action in it. 

New Year, A New Blog

The old year is almost gone and a new year is almost upon us.  With this thought in mind...a new blog.  What to expect?  More yarn and more knitting for this enterprising knitter.  I will also be sharing my views of knitting and my views of life as I see it.  Sometimes it is crazy around here and sometimes it is quiet.  It just depends on the  season and how life is going.

Yarn plays a major part in my life.  My business is centered around it.  I love yarn and every knitter I know is obsessed by it.  My cat is even obsessed by yarn.  Maybe I should call this blog yarn obsessions and the knitter behind those obsessions.  Without yarn we wouldn't knit.  I would be insane by now if I didn't knit. It helps me cope with life and all the things it throws at me.  So, if you have issues pick up a ball of yarn, get some needles and hang on for dear life...it is going to be a bumpy ride but, you have a life line with yarn.  Ask any knitter and they will tell you...knitting saved their lives at some point in time.  It is cheaper than a shrink as my MIL, tells me often enough...she is right.  Not that I have ever priced a shrink but, from what I am told, they aren't cheap but, yarn can be.  Yarn can also be down right expensive.  Have you ever priced quivet?  Be prepared to fall over when you see the price tag.   Have a nice comfy cushion around when you see that one.  I nearly fell out of my chair...that is some of the priciest yarn on the planet.

I have 100 skeins of yarn to start the new year off right.