Fibers on Friday: By The Skin Of My Teeth

It's Fibers on Friday!!

ON Friday, not Thursday night!

Why?? Because I was still knitting my socks on Thursday night!

I have no idea how this year's schedule was so hard for me. Last year I felt ahead of the game the whole time. Oh well! They're finished. Now I'm done with socks for another year. Yes, I will do this challenge every year :-)

I think the one on the right is a little shorter than the left. Oops. I guess that would be another benefit of knitting two at a time on circulars...maybe next year!

Next week I will be on vacation, so no Fibers on Friday. We'll be skiing in the Poconos....possibly wearing t-shirts and shorts at this point! At least they can MAKE snow!

Fibers on Friday: WIP

Hi Guys! Here we are in our sock challenge where we should be able to show our works in progress. Next week....woooohooo....we should be done! So, here's my second sock as of a few minutes ago. Tonight I'm working on the heel flap.

Fibers on Friday: Moving Right Along

Another wonderful Fibers on Friday!! I'm happy you're here!

I've finished one whole sock and am on to the leg of the second. How are you coming along?


I've got my plan for what to knit after this sock challenge! I'm going to knit the NY Cardigan pictured here:

(image source)

I've ordered and received my yarn from Knit Picks. I went with the Gloss DK in Fedora. I'm excited.

I've also decided to knit another pair of socks. I know!!! So soon??? I'm going to knit a pair for my kids and I'm going to MAKE MYSELF knit them using the Continental method of knitting in order to speed along my knitting. If I'm going to be a sock knitter, I need to train myself to be quicker.

If you're participating in the Turning Heels Challenge, here's where we are in the schedule:

• By Dec. 30th everyone needs to have gathered their supplies and checked their gauge.

• January 6th we'll show off our cuffs and leg of the sock.
• January 13th we'll show off our heels. Yes, Turning Heels in the New Year!
• January 20th we should be done our gussetts and foot and be ready to close the toe.
• January 27th we'll be well into our second sock and we'll display our works in progress.
• By Feb 3rd we should be able to take a picture of our feet adorned in TWO fabulous socks!!

Fibers on Friday: There's An App For That

It's Fibers on Friday and we should have TURNED HEELS IN THE NEW YEAR this week!! If you're participating in the sock challenge, and you've never knit socks before, I hope it went smoothly! I can't wait to see your progress.

I want to share a little "techy" thing I found this week. But, I'd like to preface it by saying I'm NOT techy!! In fact, when my husband got his iPhone a few years ago, I refused to even touch it. Like, I would not lay a finger on it. If it rang, I wouldn't grab it to hand it to him! I think I went a full 6 or 8 months without touching it. But recently, a terrible thing happened. My ipod AND GPS were stolen from my car (that made me LOL....I'm NOT techy). So what's a girl to do? Replace both of those gadgets or roll them into one by getting an iphone?

I went for the iPhone. The young dude at Radio Shack LAUGHED and RIDICULED me when he saw how ancient my phone was. It was funny. I was proud.

But now I have to embrace this technology. I have to remember there are lots of resources right at my fingertips. So, the other night as I was knitting my socks, I needed to track my number of rows. I was about to grab a scrap of paper, but it occured to me.....there might be an app for that!!

Low and behold, here's a free app for counting stitches and rows. It's adorable. A little confusing at first, but play around a little and it won't take long to figure out how to use it. And here ya go....if you have an iphone....I've done a little of the work for you (check out the screen shots.....oh yes, I'm high-speed!):

My search in the app store:

Install the one by KAZE and create a work list

You plug in the number of rows you need to knit (or stitches) and every time you complete a row, you tap on the little kitty in the bottom right corner and it keeps your tally.

There's even a spot for disabling the sleep function of your phone, so it will stay awake while using this app.

So, that ALONE, is worth having an iPhone, right? RIGHT!!!

And now here's my sock progress. I turned the heel

And picked up the stitches for the gussets and worked about an inch of the foot last night.

Fibers on Friday: Show Us Your Legs!!

Helllooooo!!! How's everyone doing on their socks??? Here I am leading this challenge and I barely made the first deadline. My pattern calls for a 6" leg, measuring from the cast-on edge. But I like to make it about 7", so I'll work a little bit more tonight. Here's a pic from earlier this afternoon and I've since knit another inch.

Furthermore, I finished off this super easy, super quick drop stitched scarf. Our February ski trip is fast approaching, so the girls needed new scarfs.

I can't wait to see your sock progress! If you're having any difficulties, please reach out and we'll try to help! And if you're behind, don't worry! Just have fun!! Here's the rest of the plan:

• By Dec. 30th everyone needs to have gathered their supplies and checked their gauge.
• January 6th we'll show off our cuffs and leg of the sock.
• January 13th we'll show off our heels. Yes, Turning Heels in the New Year!
• January 20st we should be done our gussetts and foot and be ready to close the toe.
• January 27th we'll be well into our second sock and we'll display our works in progress.
• By Feb 3rd we should be able to take a picture of our feet adorned in TWO fabulous socks!!

Fibers on Friday: Charitable Knit, Anyone?

Hi there! Welcome to Fibers on Friday!! I'm happy to have you join this fun party dedicated to knitting, crochet, or anything else fiber related!

Would anyone be interested in a small, charitable, knitting project? My Mom is a horse riding instructor who has a barn and a business teaching horseback riding. Part of her program is a therapeutic riding program designed to help those with physical, emotional, or social differences (you can read more here on her website).

On May 22nd she's having a fundraising event for this program. We all know times are tough. People don't have the money to spend on "fun" things like horseback riding. Unfortunately, this means financial struggle for Mom and her business. So, the event she's planning is going to be lots of fun. Live music, pony rides, a bake sale, and games. I told her I'd try to think of something crafty to make and donate. Of course, I go directly to knitting projects. But what can I knit for such an event? Ohhhhhh, I know! This:

It's called Pete Dishcloth on ravelry

***** Edited to add: the pattern shown above is not a free download. Sorry I didn't realize that sooner.

But here's an equally adorable one that is written out and available for free. I would say perfect for the beginner knitter.******************

I know I won't be able to pound many of these out in under a month 'cuz I'm a pretty slow knitter (evidence is in my sock progress). And today I had a brainstorm. Ask my knitting friends to contribute!

So, if you're interested in knitting a washcloth and donating it to this cause, please let me know. Of course you could knit any horsey pattern washcloth because I think these horse people will FLIP over such a thing. First, because everyone loves a knitted washcloth. Second, because there's a HORSE on it.....So adorable! I would just need it sent to me before the 22nd of May and I'll put it up for grabs at the bake sale table and just ask for a donation in return. What do you think?

I haven't told Mom about this idea, but I know she'd be so happy! And I'd love to show up with more than 1 or 2 washcloths.

OK......thanks for considering my proposition! Now, onto Fibers on Friday! I've been knitting my second sock like a crazy lady. I'm actually back into it, thankfully! I really appreciate all of your advice on cable knitting from last week. I have bookmarked several of your ideas and intend to start a cable project as soon as I can make it all the way over to the yarn store (an hour away, soo sooo sad).

Fibers on Friday: I'm Stuck

********* Don't forget to enter my first Giveaway!! *******
Details on how to win a Thirty One Tote bag can be found here.

Hi there! Welcome to Fibers on Friday!! I'm happy to have you join this fun party dedicated to knitting, crochet, or anything else fiber related!

I totally thought last night was Wednesday, so I'm late at getting this party going. It's Spring Break for my kids, so I'm a little out of whack! Also, it's their Birthday this weekend....on Easter Sunday actually. So, we have lots of stuff going on.

I need advice por favor: Where is the best place to start in terms of learning how to cable knit? That was one of my goals for this winter and it never happened. So, now I'm trying to choose something to knit for my Mom and I'd like it to have cables. I LOVE Elizabeth Zimmerman's Hand-to Hand Aran, and she says use whatever cable pattern you like. Thanks for your advice!

Here is sock #2 on my needles

I'm LONGING for a bigger project....must find time!!
For more Fiber Arts Fun, visit Wisdom Begins in Wonder!

Fibers on Friday: My New Friend, Gus.

Hello! Hello! Welcome to Fibers on Friday....this fun party dedicated to knitting and crochet and occasionally some fabric projects (like quilts :-)....

My quilt is a mere binding away from being complete and keeping my happy girl tucked in at night. I took my long arm class on Tuesday. I was there for 3 1/2 hours and did not complete the quilting. Yikes! So, I scheduled some time to go back and finish it up today, which only took an hour...plus, I was able to get some pictures of "Gus", the long arm machine, in action!

And here are the fabrics I'm swooning over for Madison's quilt:


What? Have I been knitting? Barely.....but here's my lonely little sock in progress:


I'm engrossed in a really, really good book. I saw it recommended on NPR showcased for Women's History Month. It is heartbreaking. It is tragic. It is beautiful. It is unbelievable. It is real. It makes this Ani lyric play over and over in my head:

why don't you just go ahead and turn off the sun
cuz we'll never live long enough
to undo everything they've done to you

FoF: Did I Shave My Legs For This?

Why, yes I did! (and pssssstttt; I've hit 100 followers! What a way to start my day!)

Our January Challenge is over! Who has socks to show us? I hope if you participated in this challenge that it provided fun and encouragement and knowledge and inspiration!


I finished my socks just under the wire! And this is only because of the two other projects I have going. Why on earth would I pick up the sweater or the rainbow hat when I have a challenge to fulfill? So, here they are:

Adorable little face poking through, huh?

I, for one, had a lot of fun knitting these. I now feel skilled enough to knit socks that I will actually wear. I enjoyed having this project going because they are easy to pick up and mindlessly knit around. For next time I will knit a longer leg and I hope to tighten up the gussetts....and tips for this problem?

And now I will be dedicated to the Shalom and Swirl hat for a while. I am going skiing next week, so I hope to have some nice relaxing down time in the evenings to knit.

Fibers on Friday: Socks in Progress

Welcome to Fibers on Friday, a day that we can all come together and parade our crochet and knitting projects! And more specifically this month, to participate in a sock challenge, Turning Heels in the New Year!



Here's where we are in our time line to knit a pair of socks by the end of January:

• By Dec. 31st everyone needs to have gathered their supplies and checked their gauge.
• January 7th we'll show off our cuffs and leg of the sock.
• January 14th we'll show off our heels. Yes, Turning Heels in the New Year!
• January 21st we should be done our gussetts and foot and be ready to close the toe.
• January 28th we'll be well into our second sock and we'll display our works in progress.
• By Feb 4th we should be able to take a picture of our feet adorned in TWO fabulous socks!!

Here is my sock #2. I've been asked by a few of you what the yarn is. I had to go to the yarn store (an hour away!) to find out! It's Schoeller Stahl Fortissima Sock yarn color #25.


Did I confess you to a few weeks back that I was a one-project-at-a-time knitter? Then, do tell, how did this happen? THREE projects on needles! Here is the Shalom. It's coming along nicely. It's very nice to have this sweater going on such BIG needles (in comparison to my toothpicks for the socks), for a nice change of pace. I'm just about ready to divide for the arms holes.


And here is project #3. A hat for Rainbow loving girl. When I stopped into the yarn store for the sole purpose of finding out what the yarn is that I'm using for the socks (I threw away the sleeve a while back). Madison saw this yarn and actually started crying because I said I wasn't there to buy yarn, but I'd come back later for it. I'm not trying to raise a spoiled brat, but my girl was begging for YARN of all things! I couldn't resist. It's called the Sheepy Time Swirl Hat. I'm not getting a good feeling about the ribbing....I think it's going to be too big. But look at those colors about to emerge!

So next week, my friends, the challenge is over. We will show a picture of our two beautiful socks! Maybe some of you have been secretly participating in this challenge and will surprise us with a big reveal!

Fibers on Friday: A Sock!!

Welcome to Fibers on Friday, a day that we can all come together and parade our crochet and knitting projects! And more specifically this month, to participate in a sock challenge, Turning Heels in the New Year!



A sock! A sock! I have a sock that I love and can't wait to wear! This is a first....I love firsts! Thanks for taking this journey to sockhood with me, guys! My second one is on the needles, I've completed the ribbing and have about 2 inches of the leg knit. It's such slow going. I'm convinced the Continental method of knitting will help on future socks, I just wasn't ready to employ it now....would have had unequal socks, I'm sure.

Have you closed your toes? Did you have any problem with the Kitchener Stitch? It's a really nice seam, but I don't foresee myself memorizing the steps any time soon.

Last week I showed you my sweater, The Shalom, that I started. Thanks for all the lovely comments. Little did I know at the time, I was already pretty deep into a several row mess-up. Seems I don't read patterns very well, since I've already had to frog twice on this sweater! I had to rip out about 7 rows at that point because I was past the point of needing to start my increases. Then I got that worked out and was right at the point that I needed to increase once more and I messed up one row, so I frogged that. I need to pay more attention.

Next week we'll show our works in progress. In case you're deciding now to join this challenge, here was my proposed time line. You're not too late...especially if you're fast like Forward Tumble....that girl can put out some socks!

Here's where we are in our time line to knit a pair of socks by the end of January:

• By Dec. 31st everyone needs to have gathered their supplies and checked their gauge.
• January 7th we'll show off our cuffs and leg of the sock.
• January 14th we'll show off our heels. Yes, Turning Heels in the New Year!
• January 21st we should be done our gussetts and foot and be ready to close the toe.
• January 28th we'll be well into our second sock and we'll display our works in progress.
• By Feb 4th we should be able to take a picture of our feet adorned in TWO fabulous socks!!

Fibers on Friday: Heels!

Welcome to Fibers on Friday, a day that we can all come together and parade our crochet and knitting projects! And more specifically this month, to participate in a sock challenge, Turning Heels in the New Year!



How are the socks coming along? I've had much success and I'm still thrilled with the progress. I feel a sock addiction coming on, I must say! I really love the pattern I've suggested for this challenge, it's knitting up so nicely.

Here is our time line for the sock challenge:

Here's where we are in our time line to knit a pair of socks by the end of January:

• By Dec. 31st everyone needs to have gathered their supplies and checked their gauge.
• January 7th we'll show off our cuffs and leg of the sock.
• January 14th we'll show off our heels. Yes, Turning Heels in the New Year!
• January 21st we should be done our gussetts and foot and be ready to close the toe.
• January 28th we'll be well into our second sock and we'll display our works in progress.
• By Feb 4th we should be able to take a picture of our feet adorned in TWO fabulous socks!!

I did decide that I need to teach myself the Continental style of knitting in order to speed things up a bit. So, I watched some videos and started on a washcloth; a project that doesn't mean much, doesn't have to be pretty, but would give me practice. Here it is; the tension is not even, there are some mistakes, but overall I'm happy. I'm not ready to put the new method to the test with socks or a sweater, but I will move on to bigger projects using it.


And as if that wasn't enough knitting, I started a sweater. The Shalom. Ahhhh, I've been waiting and waiting to start this. I put it on the back burner in order to finish the sweater for Afghans for Afghans. Well, that has been mailed off, so onto Shalom!

My list of link parties is listed on my sidebar, but this has been a pretty big week of link-ups which has introduced me to a few more parties: