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: Shalom!

Shalom, friends!

My lovely sweater, called Shalom, (pattern by Meghan Mcfarlane) is finished. Take a look-see:


I'm very happy with it. It was a nice, easy knit. I knit it up exactly according to the pattern. I used Eco Wool, which is perfect for this project because you only need one skein....NO ends to weave in! Just the start and the finish ends....perfect! I LOVE the waist shaping, although I'd like the front sides to close a little bit more...but that may be fixable with blocking. I highly recommend this sweater!

My Fibers on Friday might be a little off the beaten path next week because I have these goodies which I can't wait to get my hands on:

Purple lovin' girl is getting a quilt!


Now on to Fibers on Friday! This fun little party dedicated to knitting and crocheting.

Fibers on Friday: Rainbow Sherbert Hat

Welcome to Fibers on Friday, a party dedicated to knitting and crocheting or anything yarn related!



A whole week since posting! I'm sorry I did not comment on any of the links from last Friday, as I mentioned last week, we were off to our second annual ski trip with some good friends. It was a blast! We are all still in one piece and can't wait to go back. My kids enjoyed their first lessons:

Check out this ice sculpture!

I did not get as much relaxing knitting done after our days on the slopes as I had anticipated. I was just too beat down tired! All I could muster was a nice cold beverage and food:


But, I did complete Madison's hat which I call the Rainbow Sherbert hat. Look at these beautiful colors....oh! I love this yarn! Here it is on Ravelry.


Now I only have one project on needles; the Shalom cardigan. I will finish this before I start anything else (I think). Originally I had planned on making this a long sleeved sweater, but when I got to the point of dividing for the arm holes, I had to make a decision. It looks right now as though we'll be moving to Florida this summer, so I decided a short sleeved sweater might get more use during the cooler winter months down south. So, I'm sticking with the original pattern exactly.

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:

Fibers on Friday: Cuffs

How are your socks coming along? Are you having fun? Ready for our first sock link-up? Let's hit it!

Here are mine.

I knit the cuff and leg to just a tad over 6" as called for in the pattern. I would have gone longer, but I am trying to avoid needing another ball of this yarn since I don't know what it is or where I got it. So, if it will do two socks in total, I'll be happy! My next pair will be longer. And I can already tell you there WILL be a next pair! I am really enjoying these so much more than my prior attempts. Why? I'm not sure. I think the challenge is helping to keep me motivated. I think this pattern is just better than the ones I've tried in the past. And perhaps I'm a slightly better knitter than I was a year or two ago.

Last night I started the heel flap. I caught my self just in the nick of time for a major mistake: the pattern says to knit rows 1 and 2 of the heel flap and then repeat for a total of 29 rows. Well, I was well on my way to knitting those rows 29 TIMES....so I would have had double the amount of rows I needed. I'm thankful for that little voice that whispered to me....."Beth, read the pattern....read the pattern more carefully....something is not right.....read it! read it!"

So, tonight I will start Turning Heels....oh yeah, baby!

Here's where we are in our timeline 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 can't wait to see who is participating and how you're doing! No worries if you're not doing socks, you can still link up any knit or crochet project you've been working on.

Fibers on Friday: Turning Heels Challenge Starts NOW

Are you ready for this? Have you gotten your supplies and checked your gauge? Are you ready to

TURN HEELS IN THE NEW YEAR?

I am! I spent the week finishing the sweater for Afghans for Afghans. I'm proud to report that this is my second sweater I've knit and donated to the cause. It feels good. Do what feels good! Take a look at my sweater, if you will, and also hop on over and read about the cause. Depending on how this sock challenge goes, we can do a charity challenge in the future!



I had to knit 3....count them THREE swatches in preparation for socks. My gauge was just too big, so I'm ending up with size 0 needles, something I was really hoping to avoid. Oh well. And want to hear what else? I'm using a yarn that I had in my stash....one skein...and I have no idea what it is! So, stay tuned for the debacle that's sure to ensue when I run out of yarn!

So, I cast on last night and took some pictures along the way just to sort of guide those of you who have never cast on the double pointed needles for knitting in the round. This is what we need to start now so that next week we can link our cuffs and the leg of our sock. If you'd like to read my proposed time line for this challenge, please read here.

Cast on 64 stitches on to one of the needles

Divide the stitches onto 3 needles as outlined in the pattern; 16....32....16

Now, join in the round. I do this by slipping one stitch from the left needle over to the right needle. Then, I slip the second stitch that's on that right needle over to the left needle. You're just criss crossing stitches and that secures the work and you're ready to start knitting the cuff.

Ines, over at Forward Tumble, wrote a detailed tutorial on casting on and knitting socks, complete with tons of pictures for those of us who need a visual.

Make sure your stitches are not twisted before you start knitting!
Make sure you're knitting in the direction you're suppose to be! I've been known to put down my knitting and when I pick it back up, I've gotten it backwards so I'll actually be purling where I should be knitting.

Knit the cuff in knit 2, purl 2 ribbing. Come back next week to show us what you've got! I can't wait to see who's participating. Got questions? Need help? Post a comment and I know you'll get help from me or someone else!