Monday, June 23, 2008

SoS 08 Has Begun .....

I had my empty needles waiting and yarn wound and I was ready to go at 12:01 June 21 for the Summer of Socks 08. This should help me in my 52 Pair Plunge 2 also, since I am behind already in that. I cast on for 3 pair of socks. I need a variety , you know. All three are pretty much mindless knitting (or semi mindless). Given the time of day (or middle of the night) they were started, I needed them to be mindless. Sock knitting then commenced for a good part of the night.
First on the needles was Koigu KPPPM (I don't know the color # as the label is long gone) I won this yarn last year in a knitting contest, or maybe it was 2 years ago, I don't remember. I was supposed to work Saturday night, but was put on call instead. I hate to go to sleep before 2 or 3 in the morning when I am on call, just in case that phone does ring. Well it didn't, and I was up until almost 4 working on these. There is a huge difference on the shades of these two balls of yarn. The one is much brighter than the other. And in the one there is a lot of orange and yellow, where as in the other it is more gold. At first it bothered me, but I am over it now, and I will love wearing them as they are.








Also on the needles, the OnLine sock yarn I got a couple weeks ago. I am making good progress on these too. At first touch I thought this yarn was going to be very similar to the Regia Cotton Surf (which I like), but it is not quite as thick or soft. It isn't as rough to work with as the Sockotta but doesn't have as much give as I would like. This is the Beach color. Just a plain stockinette stitch sock, it will no doubt go in the van for the emergency knitting while waiting for kids.... And I will have a lot of that in the next few weeks, as they have all started new vials at the allergist and need to go more frequently to get back up to maintenance dosing for their allergy shots.


The other one I started, was the other ball of OnLine in the Africa color. I am knitting this one in the Tiger Sock pattern. It is a fairly quick and mindless knitting pattern, but not so boring as stockinette. Anyway, I hope to have 3 pair of socks finished by the end of the week and 2 or 3 more cast on.














I got some yarn from TLE too. I am not sure if this is a yarn that is a short time offering, or just what the story is with this. I haven't seen it anywhere else and I didn't even see it on the Cherry Tree Hill site when I looked last. It is called Summer and is a Merino/Cotton/Acrylic blend. The color is Little Boy Blue. I will have to wind this so it is ready to go when I get one of the other pair finished. More summer socks!!!



Friday also brought the first clue for the Casablanca Kal ( I think sign ups are closed for this group now, but I am not sure) I don't know what possessed me to join another shawl KAL . I have a terrible track record with them as I have not finished even one of them so far. I have even frogged one to use the yarn for something else. The plan was to use some lace wt yarn I have had in my stash for years. Did I end up doing this .... well of course not. I ordered some Dream in Color Baby in the Deep Sea Flower color. Oh my !!!! I love this yarn. I have knit with the Smooshy and liked it, but this I love. I am sad that I don't get another clue until Friday. I am hoping that the love of this yarn will keep me on track with this KAL. I will have to buy some 3.75 Addi Lace needles though, the regular Addis are driving me crazy with the knit togethers. It was a very short first clue. I am knitting mine sans beads, I am just not much of a bead person, although I love the ones I have seen with beads. I really hope this weeks clue will be longer, so I can enjoy this wonderful yarn longer.


I think that is it for knitting. It is sunny here today, things are drying out. The Hospital is getting a Mobile Emergency Room set up, so they will be able to have emergency service again. I think it will be several weeks before the entire hospital will be able to open again as they sustained a lot of damage in the flood. We have continued to have thunderstorms off and on throughout the last week but nothing like 2 weeks ago. These sunny days are most welcomed. I hope the weather is good where you are too!!!!

Have a great week!!!!

14 comments:

Janice said...

Oh my gosh! You are the most amazing sock knitter!!! My goal for SOS 08 is to do 3 pair over the course of the summer. You'll do it in the course of the first 5 days. You are my hero and inspiration. :-)

Karen said...

I love that first sock (as soon as you write it up I would like it...PLEASE). I'm glad to see you have your summer planned out...socks and shawls!

Helen Knits said...

All the socks are gorgeous as always, my favorite from this lot is the Koigu. Love the pattern and the colours of the yarn. I am way behind in my 52 Pair Plunge 2.

Glad to hear you finally have some sunshine!

Alisha said...

I guess I better cast on some socks since I joined. I know what yarn I wanna use...its just I have been making market bags for teacher gifts.

Did you enter for most pairs for the summer? You'd win for sure!

Diane said...

For my SOS08 I've cast on .... nothing. Yup nothing yet. Gonna be a long summer. lol

Allison said...

Wow you are amazing at those socks! Where is the Tiger pattern from? I think I need something easy in order to finish a pair - perhaps I should just do ankle socks - what's your favorite pattern for that?

Jane said...

Love the socks. You amaze me, Monica! Glad you're doing Casablanca too...

hakucho said...

Love all of your socks!! You always amaze me with your sock knitting. my socks always seem to take forever to knit up.

Caroline said...

Soooo it seems that you will knit three socks in the time it takes me to knit one. Do your fingers ever get cramps? Are you a continental knitters? I've always hear that that' a faster method, but it it isn't hat way for me. Oh well, I'm happy "snailing" along.

gypsyknits said...

Oh my gosh! I love the first pair of socks. The color, the pattern gorgeous!
I am always amazed at how many socks you and Diane get finished. Oh that's right, I actually have to sit down and knit them, don't I? LOL
Shawl KAL: You have the same track record I have with those things. I start them but never seem to finish. Glad I'm not alone:)
Sunny Days! Yeah!

Beth N said...

Oh my gosh--I have not been on the computer very much to see all the wonderful things you have been making--everything is wonderful! Love all the socks and shawl.

Knitting Kris said...

Good gracious! That's a lot of socks in one week! I'm totally envious.
I never sleep that well when I'm on-call. I hate it actually. Would totally love my job (most days) if weren't for the on-call status. Can't be complaining as they just laid off 400 people at a hospital in upstate PA! YIKES!

Shelley L. MacKenzie said...

The socks are all looking great. What is the pattern for the first one? I don't think I saw the name mentioned...thought it could be there but because I'm half asleep, I didn't see it...and I'm too lazy to go back to look, lol. Love the pattern in that one.

pedalpower said...

I just subscribed to your blog...because you seem to be addicted to socks! I am starting my 4th pair and I can't seem to stop. In the last 2 and a half months I've done 3 and a half pair.

You have so many pretty pairs!