Monhegan Island Retreat 2011

Friend Carole arrived at my house on Thurs. 9/8 and we left the next morning for a "sleep-0ver" at my cousin Jean's home on the Maine coast. Left Sat. AM for the island with about 20 more knitters and had a most delightful late summer week-end of knitting and talking into the nights. Everyone had a project to work on - mine was "Portland" from "A Fine Fleece". Made good progress despite all the errors in the pattern and tinking because I was talking instead of

paying attention. The yarn used is Plymouth Galway .
Also managed to finish the September sock from the knit.sock.love KAL on Ravelry. This is "Ins and Outs" by Cookie A, from her book knit.sock.love. This was the ninth month of the KAL and so far I have loved every sock. I used Springtree Road Julep Sock, color Citron.

We had the most wonderful weather all week-end, warm and sunny in the 80's. Great time was had by all. Reservations for next year are already made!

Cookie A Sock Club - August Sock

DSCN0285, a photo by quiltingknitter on Flickr.

Here is "Daphne" - the August pattern of Cookie's Sock Club. A very quick knit in "A Verb for Keeping Warm" Metamorphosis 70% superwash merino/30% silk sport weight yarn. Used 2.25 dp needles and whipped through the pattern in no time. The color is "Sugar Jets".

Oslo Walk Shawl

DSCN0281, a photo by quiltingknitter on Flickr.

Have finished the 34 chart rows, should go pretty quickly now. I know there are some errors in the first rows but I couldn't see them until I was way past that point - so there they will stay. It's a learning experience and if there is a second shawl it will be much better.

August Sock

DSCN0274, a photo by quiltingknitter on Flickr.

"Twisted Flower" socks by Cookie A, the August sock in the knit.sock.love KAL. Knit with Hiya Hiya 2.25mm dps and Grant Creek Cushy Merino/Nylon in "Peachy Pink". This sock was quite easy to knit even though it looks very difficult. It went quickly and the only mod I made was to shorten the heel flap a bit for a better fit.

Cookie A Sock Club - June Sock

DSCN0270, a photo by quiltingknitter on Flickr.

"Orange Pekoe" socks knit with Hazel Knits Artisan sock in a color dyed for (and she helped) Cookie called "Oh My Darling". The pattern is tea leaves. These should generate heat just from the glow of the orange yarn and will brighten up many a cold winter day! Fun to make, another wonderful pattern from a great designer.

Asymetrical Cables by Cookie A

DSCN0268, a photo by quiltingknitter on Flickr.

I am really so stuck on socks but having lots of fun using up stash. Seems as though I am buying more faster than I am using it but what the heck - cold weather is coming and I need lots of warm socks. This pattern is new and is published in Sock Knitting Master Class, a great collection of socks by different designers. The yarn is Knit Picks Stroll in Golden Glow and I knit them with my trusty 2.25mm Hiya Hiya dps. Quick and easy!

"BFF" by Cookie A

DSCN0266, a photo by quiltingknitter on Flickr.

"Best Friends Forever" is finished. This sock was a pleasure to knit, went very fast and was very easy. It was a break from the usually more complicated Cookie A socks and I am now looking forward to the August sock - "Twisted Flower" in the knit.sock.love. KAL on Ravelry. The Younger Yarn "Twisty String" was nice and gives great stitch definition. Now I have to find something to keep my busy until August 1st!

My BFF

DSCN0259, a photo by quiltingknitter on Flickr.

Sock # 7 in the knit.sock.love. KAL on Ravelry, "Best Friends Forever" is an easy knit and is one of the nicest fitting socks I have done so far. The yarn is Younger Twisty String in the Robin's Egg color-way on 2.50 mm needles. Great stitch definition with this yarn.

Baby Sirdal

DSCN0262, a photo by quiltingknitter on Flickr.

Made for my nephew's expected first child, Sirdal has always been on my list to knit. What better way than to do a pint-sized one. I used Dale Baby Ull and size 2.5mm needles. It was fun to knit and I am very pleased with the finished sweater.

Granada

DSCN0246, a photo by quiltingknitter on Flickr.

Granada is the second sock from Janel Laidman's "Illuminations" sock club. Knit with jwrayco's Scottish collection yarn in "Flowers on the Beach" and "Lerwick Harbour". I knit the first sock on dps and it was too small re-knit on one size larger needles to get a good fit. Knit the second sock with two circs and liked the way it looked much better - so ripped sock one out one more time and re-knit with the circs - much better. I had the pattern down pat by the time I was finished!

June Sock KAL

DSCN0249, a photo by quiltingknitter on Flickr.

This is Cookie A's "Stricken" for the Ravelry knit.sock.love KAL. Knit with Hazelknits Artisan Sock in "Cotton Candy" with 2.25mm dps. It's a slow knit with all the ktbl and cables but is my favorite in the book so far. This yarn has wonderful stitch definition and I will be sure to use it again.

knit.sock.love KAL for May

DSCN0245, a photo by quiltingknitter on Flickr.

Here is my finished Rhombus socks by Cookie A. This was a slow knit for me with all the twisted stitches and Make 1 P stitches. I found my Knit Pick dps with their sharp points were a necessity and watching TV while knitting created quite a few tinks! I'm glad they are done and I do like the pattern so that makes the time worth it!

Mona by Cookie A

Mona by Cookie A, a photo by quiltingknitter on Flickr.

knit.sock.love KAL April sock. Knit with Grant Creek Yarns "Mermaid's Perspective" and 2.25mm dps. This was a very quick and easy pattern, lots of fun to make.

Mona Socks

DSCN0235, a photo by quiltingknitter on Flickr.

Cast on last night, the April sock for the knit.sock.love KAL on Ravelry. Cookie's "Mona" is a joy to knit. I'm using Grant Creek Yarn's "Mermaid's Perspective" and my trusty Hiya Hiya 2.25mm dps. It's going rapidly and won't take long to finish. I think it would have shown the pattern better in a solid or semi-solid yarn, but it is still going to be pretty.

And Charleston

DSCN0233, a photo by quiltingknitter on Flickr.

Started in Florida and finished at home, these socks are Named Charleston and the pattern is drawn from the ironwork in that city. This is the first installment of Janel Laidman's Art & Sole Sock Club. I used Madeline Tosh Sock and 2.25mm dps. This was a toe-up sock and I started with 16" circs and finished with dps. Picture does not do the sock justice.

Haleakala Socks

DSCN0229, a photo by quiltingknitter on Flickr.

While vacationing in Florida I managed to work in some knitting while sitting by the pool in the wonderful warm sun. These are the first sock in the 2011 Cookie A Sock Club. the yarn is a wonderful wool/cashmere from String Theory (from Maine) and is wonderful to work with. Cookie's directions are so good and easy to knit. Can't wait for the second installment!

knit.sock.love KAL for March

DSCN0046, a photo by quiltingknitter on Flickr.

Cookie A's "Thelonious", the third sock in the KAL was knit while on vacation in Florida basking in the warm sunshine beside the pool. What could be more relaxing than that? I found this to be an easy knit and very enjoyable to make. I used Alina Shea Creations Crescent Moon in the Lavender Sky colorway with 2.25mm dp's. It didn't progress quite as quickly as some socks I have made as there were four other ladies joining me by the pool and lots of conversation and breaks for a dip! Back home in Maine now where most of the snow has gone away and there is hope that Spring will come soon.

Cookie A's "Sunshine

DSCN0023
Originally uploaded by quiltingknitter

From Cookie's book Sock Innovation. Knit with Cascade Heritage Sock Yarn and 2.25mm dp's. A very easy knit. the yarn is not one of my favorites but bloomed some when washed.

Cookie A's "Kai-Mei"

DSCN0017
Originally uploaded by quiltingknitter

With Monkey finished I needed another sock to keep my fingers busy. This is Kai-Mei from "Sock Innovation". I am using Mountain Colors "Bearfoot" in Glacier Teal. The mohair in this yarn is making it very slippery, the stitches tend to slip right off the needles. Keeps me on my toes! The yarn is very soft and warm. The pattern was a little confusing on the set up round, didn't make much sense to me but i finally just did what Cookie said and it came out just fine!

Monkey Finished

Monkey Finished
Originally uploaded by quiltingknitter

Cast on 2-1-11 and cast off 2-5-11. This is an incredibly fast knit. The pattern is very easy to memorize and looks great! I used Opal Sockenwolle in the colorway Rosenbeet and 2.25 Clover dp's. It's knit exactly as written in the small size.

1" ribbing
6 repeats for leg
2 1/4" heel flap
16 sts.picked up for gusset
5 repeats for foot
decreased toe to 24 sts.

I Love Them!

"Monkey" -knit.sock.love Feb. KAL

P2020001
Originally uploaded by quiltingknitter

Cast on 2/1/11 and have finished 5 repeats of the pattern. I'm using Opal Sockenwolle in the colorway Rosenbeet that has been aging in my stash for several years . This sock is very easy to knit and it is quite interesting. It's Cookie A's "Monkey" and to me resembles the risen dough of monkey bread. Maybe that is where the name came from. Needles are Clover bamboo in size 2.25, quite bendy, but they cling to the stitches nicely.

Hedera Finished

P1060009
Originally uploaded by quiltingknitter

The first sock in the Ravelry knit. sock. love KAL, Cookie A's new book. If I finish this I will have knit every sock in the book. Each sock has 2 months to finish and a new sock will start each month. This one was incredibly easy to knit and went very fast. It's a beautiful, lacey sock using Slackford Studio's Hedonist in "Siren Song". Very soft yarn, 80%wool, 10% Cashmere and 10% Nylon. I used size 1 (2.25mm) double points and got exact gauge.

Cookie A's Hedera

P1010005
Originally uploaded by quiltingknitter

I've joined the knit. sock. love Cookie A KAL. The first sock is Hedera, cast on after the New Year came in at midnight last night. I'm using Slackford Studio Hedonist sock yarn in the colorway "Siren Song". It's such a soft yarn, should be a joy to wear. Needles are size 1 (2.25mm) in bamboo. All socks in this KAL are from Cookie's new book - Knit . Sock . Love.