Shapely Sandal Socks

Ever since I saw this pattern, I was in love and wanted to knit this pair. I rarely purchase a sock pattern, unless it's different, like this one. This is the Shapely Sandal Sock pattern by Heart String Fiber Art . The pattern calls for two strands held together or as I choose to do it, use a worsted weight yarn. I've chosen Artyarns Supermerino in the color # 102, which was in my stash and I didn't know what else to do. For my size 10 1/4 feet, two skeins where not enough.

Look at this construction! See the diamonds? And - hold your breath, they are knit cuff down! Oh yeah! I had to kitchener the toes! I did that - soso, not invisible, but it will do. I had to rip out the second kitchenered toe, but for some reason, I did it differently, after another instruction and it turned out just awful. Ripping out kitchenered stuff is not fun and not easy. Thank god it was only a few stitches!

They fit very well, but are on the very warm side, which is a good thing, since we've had -25 degree here (but not today, it's +2 C outside and my lovely snow is m-e-l-t-i-n-g!!!)

Look at the heel! Isn't it a beauty? I LOVE it!

The best part about these socks is, that this pattern is so easy, it's unbelievable! I didn't need the instructions for the second sock. I got it real quick, and ahem, I'm usually not that quick to memorize something. And they are a fast knit. I did this pair in two days, just in the evenings! Didn't I say they are quick?!

I'm sure I'll knit them again, and again, and again. Right after I knit some other stuff! ;o)

Couldn't leave you without a dogie picture. Biko is sun bathing (not today though, today is dreary.)

Oh, and I almost forgot. Once again, Sybille made a wonderful Patchwork shawl with her left over sock yarn! One day I'll make one too. This is so beautiful!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is my moms 65th birthday. She almost didn't make it. She was very ill some time ago, but she's back in full swing, and having a p-a-r-t-y! She's a very social person, and one party will not do, of course not. And right she is, because you'll never know, when it will be your last party!

So, happy birthday, mom! I wish you lots of fun (wish I could be there)! ;o)

I made this heart sachet for her. The pattern is from Interweave Press by Vicki Sever. I've wanted to do this heart for a long time, well, since I first saw it's picture.

I used Trekking XXL, color # 103 (only 9 g, Hannah is knitting socks, with the left over ball).

I filled it with lavender. Unfortunately, I could NOT find genuine dried lavender ANYWHERE! Do any of you have an idea where to get this? I found a little paper bag at Michaels, but it's only scented paper dust? Very awful. I wish I could have gotten the real deal! It does smell good, but if you hold the heart, and don't even squeeze it, the "dust" is coming through the tiny wholes.

Happy Valentin's Day!

I wasn't going to say anything about Valentin's Day today, but when I got home from shopping, look what I found on my doorstep! Such wonderful roses from Karl, who is still in Germany. Wow! How beautiful!

Last night, a little after midnight, the long awaited winter snow storm just started to blow. Boy was/is it ever cold. I took three pictures and my fingers almost fell off!

This morning, right after it was light out, the snow was still coming down, but not as hard as last night. I LOVE snow!

Well, at noon, the sun was out, no more snowfall, but now the fun could begin.

Biko and Sam out on the balcony. They were on their way down the stairs, but I've made a barricade, because the stairs are too dangerous right now. See Biko squint her eyes? She knows, from painful experience, that standing behind Sam, she gets slapped with his tail pretty hard.

This is my new sewing machine. I'm still mourning my old Singer, though. I don't want to learn new tricks on this machine, but I better. I've some nice fabric, with which I'd like to make a tote bag - soonish.

Of course, today of all day's Hannah had an eye examination appointment, that was before the sun came out. A couple of hundred meters down the road, we encountered cars in the ditch. Thank god we didn't have to go far. While I was waiting for her, I started a plain sock, because I wanted to try out a new yarn. It's Tofutsies by SWTC. It's 50% Superwash Wool, 25% Soysilk Fibers, 22.5% Cotton and 2.5% Chitin from shrimp and crab shells! The knitted fabric is soft and cool to the touch, but the strand splits easily. We'll see how I like it, after wearing it and how it holds up after washing.

That's it for today. Have a very nice Valentin's Day!

Country Bumpkin meets City Slicker!

Back in November 2006 I bought Simply Knitting magazine, issue 21, only because there was a small picture on the cover with this cute little hedgehog fella, called Hibernating Harry. Since I just made (h)adorable Hermann, I knew right away, that I wanted to make Harry as well. Well, times goes by so quickly, but finally I did it.

The designer, Alan Dart, promised hours of knitting pleasure, but forgot to mention hours of sewing (pleasure?). No wonder! Make something out of this pile of knit pieces and all those ends.

I made a huge mistake in assembling Harry. Because I didn't come to this project with an open mind. I made Hermann, and thought this one had to be constructed in a similar way. Hence the mistake. You see, his fuzzy back was not supposed to be sewed on, like I did in this picture, and then stuffed. It was supposed to be sewed on later, after the body was done!!! Didn't read the fine print, and didn't take my own advise, to read through the whole pattern before I started. Well, that's one reason my little Harry is on the bald side, and he's fat!

As soon as I realized my mistake, I lost all drive to finish him, but Hannah said, Harry is cute, and I should finish and love him. He has his own charm, with his lop-sides head and his drunken stance, but with a winning smile, don't you think? And he can stand on his own! It was a delicate balance to give him legs and as you can see above, with no arms, he had that balance. After he got his dressing gown, the balance was somewhat off, hence the dorky pose.

Somehow he reminds me more of a Kiwi bird, then a hedgehog, but that's O.K. I'm not a doll making expert, and never will be. At first I thought I'll make another one, this time correct, but I don't feel like sewing tiny pieces together, right now. And one other thing, better not spoken off too loud, because there was a fatality in the making of Hibernating Harry. Ever wonder where he's got his eyes from? ;o)

I hope I don't come down with something. I sure could use a hot water bottle right now and a cuppa tea!

P.S. Hannah also suggested making him a wig. ;o)

Kaernten Omi!

I've been meaning to tell you about my grandmother for some time now, but I never thought it was the right time for it. Today, my mom called to tell me, that my grandmother is in the hospital, has been since Tuesday! Well, the smoke signals took a little longer to get here, over the big pond, I guess.

My grand mother, Aloisia (she was never happy with her name) was the first of 17 children! (no, that's not a mistake). Funny thing is, I've been thinking of her a lot lately, probably because I've read a story about his grandfather on Dave's blog. This got me thinking of my grandfather, and that led to my grandmother and so on. I even ended up thinking about a tenant, my grandparents had, a really long time ago. I was a little girl, like in the black and white picture below (it's a picture of a picture). This tenant was an old man, pretty much, as you would think Santa Claus looked like, but at the time, I have never heard of Santa Claus, since we had the Nikolaus and at Christmas time there was the Christkind, which was so kind to bring us all the lovely presents!

Anyway, this old man had a room in my grandparents house, and whenever I stayed with them, which was as much as possible, if I could help it, we kids where reminded to be quite, at least passing the floor, where his room was. I think his name was Herr Reichl. Boy, what the mind can come up with sometimes. I remember being in his room several times, for a short period of time, just doing an errand (bringing coals or fresh towels or something like that). I was a little afraid of him, but that couldn't have been that bad, because I also remember, standing on his feet, and we were dancing in the hallway, to some old music he's put on. We all had a good laugh, and even though I remembered being quiet when passing his door; I think I didn't mind him too much.

Back to my grandmother. She was a farmer's wife. I do not know how she could have managed everything she did. Of course my memories of her at that time, and all what was going on, was that of a child. You don't know what's really going on around you, most of the time as a child. Anyway, they had livestock of course, fields, a big house, stables and everything you need to make a living as a farmer. My grandmother took care of the pigs, the chickens, the house, she had also three men to take care of, her husband and two sons. My mother did not life there anymore. My grandmother had a wood stove in the kitchen, as well as a gas stove, but we used the wood stove most of the time. She also had tourists throughout summer and sometimes in winter too. She baked her own bread, mended clothing, and if it was slaughter time (in winter), she made the most delicious sausages and double smoked bacon and so on.
As a child I ate cooked pigs tail!, because everybody said it was yucky and it made the grown ups laugh, when I chewed into that thing! (shudder)

What I want to say here is, how could she do all that? I don't know how much help she had, but I was right there beside her, "helping" whenever I could. I loved to be with her and she taught me so much. I was paying attention with whatever she did. I wanted to know how it worked, and I guess she liked my companionship as well. I always thought I was her favorite (being the middle child of three, I really needed to think that). Since it was almost like playing for me, I loved to get those beautiful potatoes out of the black soil. I laughed when I hacked one in two pieces and threw them in a bucket. I also liked chopping wood, which I did, when I was older. My grandfather showed me some tricks, yeah, you can do it the hard way, or the easy way, and after that, I chopped wood for fun.

As I got older I spent all my school breaks with her, I liked to be there as much as possible. We had fun, and what is unbelievable to me, we had some free time every day to take a break and sit down to coffee and cake every afternoon! We would sit in the living room, with windows overlooking the street which led to the village, so we could and would see who came and went, and she knew them all. She told me stories about them and it was very entertaining for me. Sometimes a window would be open, and we would call out to the person passing by. They said a happy Hallo, and exchanged a few words with my grandmother, and went on their way.
During hot season, we would sit in the garden, in the shade, and she would mend some cloth, sunbathing at the same time. I've got a great shot of her, but I know she would rather the earth opens underneath her, to swallow her, than to see this particular picture of hers on my blog! ;o)
We called her Kaernten Omi, because that's were she lived (and still is living), and we had another grandmother, so we would not confuse who we were talking about.
By now, you probably ask yourself, why in gods name, am I telling you all this? Well, there's some knitting content in here pretty soon. It's just so overwhelming thinking of this time in my life, before I became an adult myself. The following picture was in the local newspaper at the time, because we were five generations in one picture. My great grandmother Josephine, my grandmother Aloisia, my mother Erika, myself and my baby girl Hannah.
I was lucky to have known my great grandmother as well. I helped my grandmother take care of her for a short while. She's the one with the 17 children! Unbelievable! And there where no twins, and all survived!

five generations

This is me with my grandparents and dog Waldi, with a snowman my dad made.











This is my grandmother today. This picture was taken this past January. She's knitting socks! At the end of last year I asked her, how many pairs she made. She could not remember, but said, that from July to the end of November she made 19 pairs. She's 85 years old and still knitting! I want to be able to do that as well.

She sent me this pair of socks and I sent her some sock yarn, so she'll not run out of yarn any time soon. ;o)

She might not be knitting right now, but I'm sure she likes to be taken care of in the hospital. She's getting mud-packs for her bad leg. Well, I did talk to her today, because when my mom called, she said, that whenever my Omi heard my voice, she's feeling better right away. No that's healing power! (I'm sure the doctors and the mud packs will help a little too) ;o)

So I called. We both were happy about it, there were some tears involved as well, because she said, of all people, I had to move away so far.... indeed.

Here's the baby girl Hannah, knitting socks now.

One other funny thing is, Hannah wants to learn cooking and baking, and we have a "Kaerntner Reindling" in the oven. Tomorrow we'll bake some sourdough bread. My grandma was very pleased as I told her. ;o)

While I was writing this post, the "Kaerntner Reindling" finished baking and here it is. It's a yeast dough, filled with sugar, cacao and cinnamon and the dough was brushed with melted butter. Kind of like the cinnamon rolls, or sticky buns, but much better! It's usually baked in a pan, but Hannah wanted it to look fancy so we used a "Gugelhupf" mould. ;o) It's still hot!

I know you don't need to see dog pictures right now, but I do. Biko's so happy outside. Today the sun is shining, and she's running like the wind, and chewing her tennis ball. Happy dog!

One last time ...

I promise this will be the last time I show you these socks. But they are done!!!

For the first pair I didn't have enough yarn to make the second row of squares, but they are the same length as it is. The squares eat up more yarn. I've worn them yesterday, and they are incredible soft and warm. The glitter doesn't bother me at all (was a concern first).

The second pair is waiting to warm my husbands footsies. Nice yarn, nice colors. Love them.

The third pair, my lovely Trekking XXL socks, did not surprise me with the unpredictable color changes. The second sock, which I've finished last night has a very bright red part on the foot, smokin'! This is just a wonderful color, and guess what?! I have another ball of the same colorway. Yeah!

Once again, please let me know, if you find mistakes in the pattern. I'm embarrass that I've overlooked this one. Sorry! :o(

So, now back to my mysterious new project. So far it's going well. ;o)

Oh boy, ....

I was afraid of that! A mistake was found in my Smoking Hot Socks pattern, and I pray that this will be the only one, but please let me know, if you find anything else.

Here it goes:

Slip Stitch pattern:
Multiple of 5

please correct where it says - 4 times - to 5 times, in row 1 and 2 of the slip stitch pattern.
Of course there should be 30 stitches on top and 30 stitches on the sole part.

Monkey see, Monkey do ....

I've made a trip to the library today, to pick up a book which was on hold for me. I saw this gorgeous hat at Pat's blog and had to at least have a look at the book where she's got the pattern from. Luckily it was not checked out. I own and love Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks, and "Hats ON!' as well as "Mostly Mittens" are sensational as well (don't own the last two, but wish I would). Thank god for libraries! While I was browsing through the knitting books section, which is very small, I found "The Children's Collection" by Alice & Jade Starmore. Alice Starmore's name came up here and there, so I was intrigued. I was flipping through the book, when I fell in love with the "Secret Garden" coat for girls. Oh, my, how I wish I had a girl between 3 and 7 years old, just to be able to knit this coat for her. And there was "Sand Dollar" an amazing knitted dress! I liked all projects in this book, but these two stood out to me. If you can, you should get a copy of this book and feast your eyes on these beauties!

I'm not at all sure, I will ever knit anything out of these three books, but just looking through them is pure pleasure. O.K. I might do a hat or two, and maybe some mittens in the not so near future, because I've something else in mind for my next project.

I've finished three more squares for Hannah's Magic Mosaic blanket. This would be squares # 7, 8, and 9 out of 63!

Don't laugh at the uncoordinated picture presentation. It's not my fault, and even if it would be my fault, I don't have time right now, to play around with this. I'm spending too much time on the computer as it is.

That said, bye for now. ;o)

Wow! - you can download the pattern now!

I'm overwhelmed with the response to the Smoking Hot Sock pattern! Thank you for your interest! So far I've send it out 140 times. For those of you who didn't get it, a few emails came back, or I didn't even have an email address, (hallo Mercedes!). Please let me know, I really would like to send it to you.



Since this is my first sock pattern, I do hope it's clear and not riddled with mistakes! I would love to see pictures of your finished socks and some feedback would be nice. I'll put every pic I get up on my Readers Gallery. If you include what yarn you've used, and needle size, that would be great!



I've started the mate for the Trekking XXL last night, the other two socks are pairs now.



I need a sock knitting break after this and already know what I'll be knitting next. You will never guess! ;o)







And since posts without pictures are not fun, here is one more pic with Sam trying out Biko's round soft bed. He fits right in, don't you think? He does. ;o)

I will send out the pattern to whoever asked for it today. But - hurray!

you can download the free pattern now!
please go to the side bar where you can find the button to download it.

Smoking Hot Socks! - The free pattern is done!

Hurray!

All right, here are my "Smoking Hot Socks". Until I can figure out how to put the free pattern I've written in WORD up on any place on my blog, you'll have to send me an email, if you want it. Sorry about that!


For the last week and a half I've been knitting socks, in different sizes, with different yarns and needle sizes, to figure out the best combo to write up a pattern. I was very excited and motivated. I hope you like the outcome! I do. I like the third and last sock best. It's made with Trekking XXL color # 100. I've had this yarn in my stash almost a year now, waiting for the perfect pattern, and wouldn't you know it, I think this is it! With this pattern, you don't have to worry about, how the color and stitch pattern go together and even if the mate is identical or not. It doesn't matter, well not to me. They are close enough and I LOVE Trekking XXL with all it's colores!







The second sock was made with a German sock yarn, I've got from ,Sybille as a Christmas present. I like the colors a lot, the only thing I don't like is, that I've knit the sock with 2.5mm needles, which is too loose for me or my taste. They will be for my husband, as soon as he comes back from Europe. By then, I think I can manage it's mate. It's cast on already anyway. We have the same shoe size, but his feet are way wider.


This was my first try. The Cherry Tree Hill Super Glitz sock. I liked it very much until the others came along. It's a thick yarn for sock yarn. I've knit it with 3mm needles. It's warm, but I could not finished the second sock with just one hank (for my size 10 foot). I've only made one mitered square row and K2, P2 until I ran out of yarn. In the end both where the same height on the leg, but if would not have been enough otherwise. Doesn't matter to me, as long as my feet are toasty warm. Good enough for wearing them around the house. The yarn is lovely though, I like the glitter in it, but even for my they are almost too bright. I lean more to green these days.



Here's my darling Trekking sock. Isn't he gorgeous?! I've got the toe part for the second sock done. I've cast on as soon as the needles were empty, so I don't get any ideas of not finishing this pair. No worries though, I really really want them.





Close up of the jojo heel. I've included the instructions and the web link to the instructions on the Lana Grossa website. I've asked for their permission just in case, and got it today.

Here you can have a closer look of the toe part. I always make Judy Becker's magic cast on. It's very fiddly the first couple of rounds, but well worth it. I think.

The slip stitch pattern on top of the foot blocked out really well. At first it pulls together, but no worries. These socks are quite warm, with all the garter stitch and cushy. I like when the decreases on the mitered squares make those ridges, I think it gives some texture. Of course, if you don't like them so prominent, you can always decrease a different way. Your prerogative!

I'm still thinking about what to do next. Of course there are still two mates to be knit. I still have two blankets, which I haven't even glanced at, to finish. I don't want to do lace exactly. I want to do something, but what? Something very different and exciting. What will it be?

Now, if you would like to give the Smoking Hot socks a try, I've put a link on the side bar with my email or you find it with my profile. Just let me know, that you want it and I'll send the Word file to you. Have fun! Keep warm! Knit, knit, knit! ;o)

Question for blogging geniuses!

Well, I've written my "Smoking Hot Socks" pattern in Word, and have NO idea on how to get it up here or anywhere on this blog for that matter. I've included photos in the document and the usual copy/paste is not working out. If you can help, please do so! I'm a point and click kinda girl, need precise instructions.

Thanks,
Monika

Is the whole world watching Super Bowl???

Some days it's hard to get to the computer, but not today. Guess why? I have no feelings about Super Bowl one way or the other. I would have, if I were forced to watch it, but as it is, I'm enjoying my peace and quite around here.

Hannah's finished her third Calorimetry. With 3.75mm needles and DK weight yarn. She didn't change anything else in the pattern. This size is perfect for her. Now she's my Calorimetry Queen. She's got it down now and wants to make a few more for presents (in the future).

Sam was outside for FIVE minutes, until his paws froze. It's just too cold today. But, you can see, that he's playing with his beloved snow shovel, once more. AND he's running free. I always hold my breath and watch him like a hawk. I'm always relieved when he's back inside, with no damage to his knee. It feels like Russian Roulette. His shaved leg is getting fury again, but you can still see the scar.

About a week ago, or even longer, I made these mittens for Hannah, since she always took mine to go outside. I've used self dyed left over yarn; the almost neon green and multi red. I've made her a cap and some socks with it.

I took this picture after freezing rain and they had no trouble sticking to the car window. Both are a bit funny shaped, because I think I've pulled too hard, when I changed colors.

I'm as good as done with the "Smoking Hot Socks" pattern. Just waiting for permission to use the jojo heel instructions from Lana Grossa. We'll see if and when I hear back from them. Otherwise I have to think about it some more, how to do this another way.

Silent Poetry Reading Day

I saw this mentioned at Not Plain Jane and I liked the idea. Here's my contribution to this silent poetry reading day, in honor of Brigid.

Knitting.

An old-time kitchen, an open door, Sunshine lying across the floor; A little maid, feet bare and brown, Cheeks like roses, a cotton gown, Rippling masses of shining hair, And a childish forehead smooth and fair.

The child is knitting. The open door Wooes her, tempts her, more and more. The sky is cloudless, the air is sweet And sadly restless the bare brown feet.. Still,' as she wishes her task were done, She counts the rounds off, one by one.

Higher yet mounts the sun or June; But one round more!___a joyous tune Ripples out from the childish lips, While swift and swifter the finger-tips Play out and in, till I hear her say, "Twenty rounds! I'm going to play!"

Up to the hedge where the sweet-brier blows, Down to the bank where the brooklet flows, Chasing the butterflies, watching the bees, Wading in clover up to her knees, Mocking the bobolinks; oh, what fun It is to be free when the task is done!

Years and years have glided away. The child is a woman, and threads of gray One by one creep into her hair, And I see the prints of the feet of care. Yet I like to watch tier. To-night she sits By her household fire, and as then she knits.

Swiftly the needles glance, and the thread Glides through her fingers, white and red. 'Tis a baby's stocking. To and fro And out and in as the needles go, She sings as she sang that day in June, But the low, soft strain is a nursery tune.

Closely beside her the baby lies, Slowly closing his sleepy eyes. Forward, backward, the cradle swings, Touched by her foot as she softly sings. And now in silence her watch she keeps; The song is hushed, for the baby sleeps.

Up from the green, through the twilight gray, Comes the shoats of a troop at play. Blue eyes, black eyes, golden curls - These are all hers___her boys and girls. Then wonder not at the prints of care, Or the silver threads in her braided hair.

Does she ever pine for the meadow brook, The sweet-brier hedge, the clover nook? When sweet winds woo, when smiles the sun, Does she ever wish that her task was done? Would you know? Then watch her where she sits Smiling dreamily, while she knits.

by Ellen P. Allerton.