Mid-year execution review...

A post wherein I apologize for not writing a post in nearly 3 months, and I try to make up for it by updating all knitting-related things.

That's right, it's been nearly 3 months since writing a post. I didn't miss it as much as I thought I would. To tell you the truth, there's been a lot going on. Since it's mostly non-knitting related, it really has no place on my knitting blog. That doesn't mean that I haven't been knitting! So on to the knitting content!

At the beginning of the year, I laid out a few loose resolutions for 2007. I'm proud to say that the only new yarn that I have bought this year was for my less than stellar efforts to take part in Sock Madness and the shipments that I have received as a member of Rockin' Sock Club™...all sock yarn. I haven't even used my "Get Out of Jail Free" card!

I haven't been as committed to the 1st seven of '07. So far, I have only finished one project from the list, the Aran Tee. I have also been *slowly* chipping away at the Log Cabin Blanket. Of the 35 squares that I need to complete the blanket, I have finished 12. That's about a third...with only two and a half months before the recipients are to be wed. (EEK!) I also have a few more finished objects that weren't on the 1st seven list that I am hoping to share very soon.

out, but not down...

I decided that I would continue to knit the Sock Madness socks, even though I'm not in the competition any more. I restarted the week 2 sock last Wednesday after finding a more suitable yarn, and managed to finish them in about week...Not too shabby!

I finished these yesterday afternoon, just in time for the release of the Week 3 pattern. I'm not all the crazy about the idea of a sock with cuffs...I don't imagine they will make my legs look all that flattering. But, I'm still going to knit them. I'm making mine in a solid color, though. So far, I have knit one of the borders. I'm going to make both before picking up stitches for the sock.

Since, I'm no longer competing, my goal is to finish these before the next pattern is released.

sock madness...I'm out.

First, I want to congratulate Kellie for moving on to the nest round! She completed the 2nd pattern just over two days.

Unfortunately, my endeavour wasn't nearly as successful. I seemed to have a lot of things going against me this round. First, there were lots of time obligations -- practice the night that the pattern was released, a dinner Friday night, and general business all day Saturday. By the time I had more than 10 minutes to sit and knit, it was Sunday morning. At that point I had made it only to the heel of sock #1. But, I kept knitting.

I had decided to make this sock using Elann's Esprit yarn, since I already had it in my stash. I even took time to do a swatch last week, and everything looked good. Well, after turning the heel of sock #1, I thought I'd try it on. That's when I decided to throw in the towel. I couldn't even get the sock onto my foot. It was just too tight. I think I would need to go up a couple of needle sizes for it to work out.

I'm out of the competition, but I'm still going to knit the socks. I looked through the stash and have a couple of other yarn possibilities. Maybe I can even finish before the next round begins.

sock madness: round 2...

This week, I'm gearing up for the next round of Sock Madness. The first round officially closed on Saturday...Although there were several people who knit this pattern in 2 days, a new pair of socks finished in a week is nothing to sneeze at.

The new pattern is supposed to be released some time Thursday afternoon/evening. Until then, I will be swatching and picking yarn. All I know is that this pattern calls for a sport weight yarn, yet it should be knit at 7 stitch per inch. The organizers recommend a variegated yarn, but say that any color will do.

In round 2, I am paired up with Kellie. To advance another round, I will have to complete the socks and submit a picture before she does. I'm hoping that the pattern will be released before I leave work on Thursday, so I can cast-on on the way home from work. I'm busy all day next Saturday, and will have to make up some time on Sunday. I have a feeling this next round will take me longer than 3 days.

round one...done.

Due to severe illness, I was home sick yesterday. On a positive note, I was able to finish my Mad Cow Socks.

The first pattern was very straight-forward. I think yarn selection really makes this sock special. Thankfully, I had the right yarns already in my stash. Mine are made of Patons Kroy (hunter green) and Knit Picks (Redwood Forest), using size 2 needles. This was my first sock with short row heels...definitely something I could use more practice executing. I made them top-down because I didn't want to stress about how to do the toe and the heel. I am pleased with how they turned out.

I'm not sure what round two will bring. I'm pretty sure I can't afford to take too much time off just to knit socks. Plus, there are some super speedy knitters out there. When I checked the Sock Madness site on Sunday morning, there were already people posting finished socks!

sock madness: round 1

The first pattern for Sock Madness, Mad Cow Socks, was released early on Saturday morning. I took a few false starts before finding a color combination that I thought would look good with the pattern. Thankfully, I had yarn already in my stash! Here are some progress shots:
After turning the first heel.
First sock complete!
Second sock on the needles

madness!

Sock Madness, that is...I'm really not sure what came over me, but I just signed up for this competition-based knit along. Every two weeks, the organizers will release a new pattern. You get paired up with someone out in the blogsphere, and try to finish knitting the pair of socks first.

Since I have only completed three pairs of socks, I signed up as a novice. I'm not jaded enough to think I could win, but I think it will be a lot of fun. And, at the end knit along, I could have 7 new pairs of socks!