My Mom's Birthday Socks

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Originally uploaded by kelly.pratt42

Here are the socks I finished last week. My mom likes muted shades of color or lack there of. I am her polar opposite as far as socks are concerned. They are finished, I have to get them to her but they are complete and it is still her birthday month! That is what I get for starting a sock 4 days before her birthday. The pattern is Cookie A.'s Glynis & Chameleon Colorworks in Dove, I hope my mom loves them.

Holden's Flip Top Mittens

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Originally uploaded by kelly.pratt42

First, these mittens are a much deeper red than the picture. Holden chose these cabled mittens as they are flip top. The underside has a interior cuff and the top flips over and has a button to secure it. They are pretty nifty and that way he can do all his important kindergarten stuff that you need fingers for on the playground. Rob tried to steer him towards a more "manly" color and it cracked me up. Holden just looked at him and said "no Dad, I love that red color". He was suggesting the heathered brown. These mittens are from my book Knitting New Mittens & Gloves. The pattern is called Jack In The Box. I just have to sew on the buttons and he is good to go. C'mon snow!

Lance Armstrong Hat

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Originally uploaded by kelly.pratt42

I received this roving of merino & silk from my participation during the Tour de Fleece. Delaney wanted some mittens and a hat and I spun the yarn and knitted the requested items. She got a new winter coat that is silver and wanted some accessories to compliment it. It was hard to get motivated during the last few weeks of weather in the 50's & 60's. I noticed that the snow was coming so I plied the yarn, washed, whacked and dried it last week. I started the hat on Wednesday night and knitted steadily on it. I finished it tonight which is Friday, I think the freezing weather is due tomorrow. The pattern is Lisa's Beret from Kirsten a.k.a. Through The Loops. A nice knit with an easy to remember broken linen stitch pattern. The roving was from GLBLF, which stand for Girls Like Boys Like Fiber. They are a seller on Etsy and this was hand painted merino silk. The colorway was Racer and I will enjoy seeing her in it. It reminds me of being up north this summer during the Tour de Fleece and spinning away.

Mom's Birthday Socks

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Originally uploaded by kelly.pratt42

I have been knitting non-stop during the month of March. My Mother's birthday was March 14th. I called her the Wednesday before and offered some sock color suggestions. She is a boring sock wearer, it is a wonder I wear anything other than beige! I say that with much love as she has great taste & style for someone any age. She chose grey and the yarn is from Chameleon Colorworks and the colorway is Dove. I wanted to keep this yarn for myself after skeining it up. Who cannot use a pair of grey socks? These are the first pair of socks that I have knitted out of Cookie A.'s book Sock Innovation. The pattern is called Glynis, and the knit 3 together that is throughout caused some serious pain in my left wrist. I am a tight knitter to begin with, but trying to get the k3tog off of the left hand needle was agony. I decided to opt out of the pattern on the foot and just have it on the leg. I don't think it made a difference, it is still an awesome looking sock. I knit this sock quickly considering I started it Wednesday night late and finished Tuesday night. I also worked 30 hours during that time period & volunteered in the kindergarten classroom! One down and one to go..............

Bad Blogger

Well it has been almost two months since I have written. The last couple of months have been very busy for the family. Cooper, Holden, Wilson, and Rob all have hockey. The younger two have learn to skate and Rob & Cooper play on a team. Cooper has practice twice a week and games on the weekend. Delaney has piano & figure skating so that keeps her busy. Rob is also coaching the "B" girls basketball team, and teaching cathecism. We have also had our share of illnesses just to keep us on our toes. Last week Easton had the flu and I was in the house with him for four days. It was a bit long and draining and I was very happy to get out of the house on Saturday even if it was for an 11 hour day at work.

On the knitting front, I have been very busy. I have knitted two pairs of mittens, a pair of socks, working on a handspun shawl and weaving a panel for a woven blanket. I have also spun some merino silk for a hat Delaney requested. It is in the colorway Racer, it was a given to me for my participation in the Tour De Fleece. The colors match Lance Armstrong's team colors. I am anxious to finish the shawl & move onto another project. I have 2 lbs of superwash merino in Dragonskin which is a teal colored fiber. It is beautiful and it was dyed by Funky Carolina. It is destined to be a sweater for myself. This is the biggest project I have taken on and I hope it all works out. I have read on Ravelry that others have attempted this and failed due to no enough yardage. They start and run out, colors don't match, have to knit a different colored yoke. I want a solid color sweater, so I have to swatch & reswatch to make sure I am on target.

It has been warm here for over a week which makes spinning/knitting winter wear not as much fun. I love knitting when it is snowing, not so much fun when it is sunny and 52 degrees. I am not complaining I love the sunshine. It doesn't have as much inspiration for wool as snow. I am off to take pictures as I have a sunny day and then will have something to post.