Curious Cables

A month ago, I read this post over at Karen’s and saw the prettiest cable socks ever! I commented and asked Karen if the pattern was available on Ravelry. Not yet, she said — it’s her own pattern and would I like to test it for her?   Would I???  I jumped at the chance, as I’m a BIG fan of cables.

So, I set about test knitting and had the best time. I had big plans to be able to take the sock pictures in our pretty snow, but it’s been raining here and the snow is almost all gone. I was able to muster up enough for a little bitty snowman. With a little bitty hydrangea hat.

But I digress — we’re talking socks here! Karen’s pattern is beautifully written. It has several pictures (her socks are a much prettier blue than mine) and she writes the instructions for the cables three different ways — row-by-row, on a graph, and formula-like — so no matter what kind of “learner” you are, she has you covered.

The yarn I used is a Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock hand-dyed yarn in Cookies’ Deep Dark Secret colorway. I wanted a plain yarn so the cables would really stand out.

Thanks to MyDadLovesMeBestSister for being the sock model.  We were taking pictures on top of this wall, then decided to hang her feet over the wall.  When we did that, Mr. Snowman yelled “Wait for Me!” and jumped over the side.  He managed to cling to the edge for approximately 7.3 seconds.

Poor little guy — he’s all melted now. But, the cables are still around and if you love them like I do, you can get Karen’s pattern here, on Ravelry. (And in case you’re wondering, I don’t get a bonus or anything — I just think these socks are darn cute!)

Oh, and I have one more teeny little recommendation for you. The Young Victoria. We saw it this afternoon and I loved it. It made me cry. Did I tell you, I loved it?

XOXO,
Anna

A Random New Year’s Start

Thank you so much for all the gingerbread love!  You are all so kind!  After SweetiePie read my post, she noted that I forgot to show you the inside of her house.  She and TheFirstChild very carefully created two little workers folding up parachutes and placed them inside of their Jump School.  I hadn’t even noticed them!  So, here for SweetiePie (and you) is a picture of one of the little workers.  Can you see him back there with the big parachute on the ground?

I’m so sad that the holidays are over — even sadder that I have to go back to work tomorrow.  BooHoo.  I spent most of the weekend cleaning up around here.  The house is all nice and clean now — too bad I can’t have a few more days off to enjoy it.  By the time I’m off work again, it will be messy again.  {Sigh.}  When I was cleaning up this weekend, I couldn’t quite bring myself to throw the gingerbread houses away, so I put them out in the snow on the patio table.  Maybe one of the seven little squirrels that were chasing each other around the patio a week ago would like a sugar high.  Or maybe not.  In any case, it made me smile every time I looked out the window while I was cleaning.

Normally, about now, I’d show you all the homemade gifts I made this year.  Only I didn’t really make any.  On December 22nd, I read this post from Jessica and was inspired by those beanies.  I saw them on A Friend to Knit With when they were originally posted, but seeing them on Jessica’s blog too, gave me an idea.  I called up my oldest niece and suggested we have a knit night and make some for the girls in the family.

She came over that night, and we had a fun time knitting in front of the warm, cozy fire and watching old episodes of The Office.  By the next day we had six hats all knit and packaged up to give to the ladies when we all went bowling.  There really are six — four in the picture above, one on me behind the camera and one for MeMum who wasn’t with us.  We had lots of fun looking dorky together!  (And ahem.  I like them much better hugging the head — some of us were a little worried about our bangs!)

I love this pattern and will definitely be making it again.  It’s very comfy and knits up just as quickly as Leslie promised.  Thanks for a great pattern Leslie!

And one other note: I’ve tried to change my header and background — the holiday look really should go, don’t you think? The new header is drab for winter, but I can’t get it to appear.  (Maybe it’s a sign?) I was on the phone with tech support for too long and they’re blaming it on Wordpress.  (Gee, funny, I was able to change the clock back from red to blue….)  I’m not buying it, but don’t really know what to do at this point. So, we may be enjoying peppermint for Easter.

XOXO,
Anna

Socketty Socks

Haha — that was some serious fun, reading all the comments on my last post.  I really enjoyed seeing where you all stand wrt the holidays.  There are a few of you over-achievers who are all done with your shopping (!), but I’m happy to say, I’m not the only one still sitting around waiting for the lightening bolt.  I will say that I’ve at least…Oh Wait.  I can’t say anything — there are big eyes lurking and I wouldn’t want to give anything away.  Oh well, it wasn’t anything earth shattering anyway — just a little start.

In the meantime, I FINALLY finished up this pair of socks.  Since I rarely travel for work anymore, I’ve lost my prime sock-knitting time so it’s harder for me to accomplish much in the knitting department.

I love the blue and green colors.  But, oh dear.  My friend the camera has rudely pointed out a little bitty (well, not so bitty) mistake in these socks.  Do you see it?  That left heel down there — right across the middle.  It appears I’ve missed a row of pattern.  Ooops! I didn’t even see it until I was downloading the pictures.

Oh well, it’s WAY too late to fix that little problem now.  That’s ok — they’re super comfy, just in time for winter.  I have no idea what the yarn is (sorry — I bought them from a pile at Cami’s and they didn’t have a ball band).  I just used my standard sock knitting method and knit a plain ol’ stockinette stitch for the bulk of the sock.  Easy Peasy!

In other news, remember when I told you about Penny’s big drive to get everyone to sign a petition to bring back Flea Market Fancy?  She’s having a big ol’ jumbo giveaway over at the Flea Market Fancy Blog — you should definitely RUN over there and check it out!

Bring on the weekend!  TheManoftheHouse and I have a BIG closet cleanout scheduled for tomorrow. Hopefully boxes won’t fall on us and kill us….wish us luck!

Have a great weekend!
XOXO,
Anna

Just Playin’ Around

A few weeks ago, I won an adorable brooch kit from Dear Fii. It arrived a few days ago and I couldn’t wait to sew all the buttons on my little kit.

Looking at the picture of my brooch, I realize that a) I need more practice to become as good as Dear Fii, and b) my brooch needs one more button there in the middle, to cover up that little gap.

It was super fun to sew this little brooch together. Thanks Fiona – I just love it and it will look so pretty on my winter coat!

Speaking of winter (oh, wasn’t that a sad segue?), I always want to knit more in winter. No time lately to drag out the needles, so I’ve amused myself with a few games. I saw this meme on One Dropped Stitch awhile ago, and had fun filling it out.  Bold for things you have done, italics for those you want to do, and normal for ones you don’t plan on doing. There aren’t many italics – guess I’m not very adventurous.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffitti knitting: knitting items on, or to be left on the street
Continental knitting (I’ve done it — didn’t say it worked!)
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Household items: dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…
knitting socks- or other small tubular items- on two circulars
Dying with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with selfpatterning/selfstriping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Let me know if you do the knitting meme — I’d love to read what you’ve done/not done!
And from Daily Yarns ‘n More, you can go find out what kind of Ewe you are — here I am:

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  I’d love to finish my nine-patch this weekend, but we’re expecting beautiful weather, so I’ll be outside wrangling leaves!

XOXO,
Anna

A Birthday Week

It’s been a big birthday week here in ThimbleannaLand.  First off, today is TheFirstChild’s 25th (Eeek!) birthday — Happy Birthday Big Boy!  I know I’m his mom, but isn’t he a cutie?

When he was little, people used to stop us and tell us what a pretty baby he was.  One time, when he was out having a sandwich with TheManoftheHouse, a man stopped to say “I’ve heard of looking like your father, but that’s ridiculous!”  I’m happy to say that’s no longer the case (Yay!  He has my eyes!), ’cause don’t you think after all that childbirth and labor that your baby should look just a little bit like you???

And then we have MeMum, whose birthday was on Tuesday.  She was a cute baby too — naked and all!  Look at those curly little yellow locks.  We all love this picture documenting her early days into stripperdom.

MeMum collects beaded purses, so for her birthday, I made her this little blue beaded purse.

Thanks to Marsha’s kindness — I won a beautiful little white beaded purse from her a year or so ago, and knew right then that I’d want to make one for MeMum.  Marsha was more than willing to share all the info on how to get started in beaded purse knitting.    I ordered a beginner’s kit from Purse Paradise and thoroughly enjoyed knitting this little purse.   Super fun, and I’ll definitely be doing beaded purse knitting again.

Marsha makes beautiful purses and she shows some of them on her sidebar (I love the gorgeous white wedding purse and the black purse!) AND she sells them — you should go and check them out! THANK YOU so much Marsha for all your help — you’re a peach!

Well, I’m off to spend the day with MeMum for a belated birthday get-together.  I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

XOXO,
Anna