More Yarn and some FOs

... and then, you know how maybe you have another friend who takes a trip and brings you back as a souvenir a couple balls of Regia sock yarn (because she understands that a girl can never have too much sock yarn). Thanks Courtney!

So. Okay. Some FOs to report on. First, last week I finished my Ribbed Lace Socks (from SKS). I think these turned out swell. And did I mention how I love the eye-of-partridge heel? (Yes, I believe I did, but it bears repeating.)

Next: I actually took a break from sock knitting when I caught sight of this tote on Ashley's blog. The original pattern, Elisa's Nest Tote, can be found at the fabulous Purl Bee. Ashley's photo is way cuter than mine. My nephews are, sadly, too big to fit inside this tote, even though it does stretch quite a bit. So I opted for the more traditional photo of tote-with-fruit. As if I just returned from the farmer's market--where, actually, I haven't yet taken my tote because, well, I wasn't quite finished with it on Saturday morning in time to shop there.

Although this project took me longer than, as the pattern puts it, "a few hours," this was practically guilt free knitting because I used up a couple balls of 1824 cotton that I had in my stash. My tote is just a little smaller than the measurements given in the pattern--partly because I suspected I didn't have enough yarn and partly because I made it a comfortable size for my 5'1" self to carry. Accordingly, I opted for the shorter (8") handles.

And, finally, I tried my hand at this lacey bookmark from One-Skein Wonders. The knitting was quick, although I didn't love working with crochet thread.

But the beading. Oy. I read the pattern and thought--okay, string some beads. How hard could that be? And, as it turns out, it's not the beading, but the knotting. See those ugly white knots under the last bead on the bottom? You don't see those in the picture in the book. I checked. So how do you not have those knots at the end? Beats me. I looked online, but maybe wasn't using the right search terms because I only found info about working with wire, not waxed thread, which is what the pattern calls for. I did get some helpful advice about how to hide the ends of the string. (Thanks, Courtney's friend.) Also, note to self--next time match the string I use for the beads to the yarn color. Duh.

Water, water everywhere

Yesterday we had an honest-to-goodness rainy day. Not a thunder shower and not a flood, but a legitimate rainy day. A real treat in the middle of the summer, if you ask me. If you ask Katie, however, she'll woof you another story.

Kate spent most of the day moping and pining, asking to go out, and then coming right back in because, well, she didn't know it was STILL raining, and, hey, could we please take a walk, but OH NO, it's RAINING! And like that. Out in out in out in. All day.

But back to me. Among yesterday's accomplishments--a completed ribbed lace sock (well, except for the kitchener-ing).

And check out the eye-of-partridge heel. Ain't it fancy? (Pattern deets available here.)

End-of-June WIP

As promised, pics of WIP. Well, some of them, anyway. Below are "Classy Slip-Up" socks from Knit Socks! 15 Cool Patterns for Toasty Feet by Betsy Lee McCarthy. Yarn is Knipicks Gloss, which I'm not loving because already the fabric is looking kinda fuzzy.
Next is the first of my Lichen Ribbed Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks. Except instead of "lichen," mine are Baltic Sea. This is my first experience kniting with Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock yarn, which is just as fab as promised. Needles are Knitpicks #1 nickel-plated dpns (ditto for all the socks pictured below):

I also started a couple things from Sensational Knitted Socks. Here's the leg for one Ribbed Lace sock, in Lang Jawoll cotton:

And here's one leg of the SKS Chevron pattern knit in Crystal Palace Panda Cotton, which may have been a mistake on the nickel-plated dpns because this yarn is v-e-r-y-v-e-r-y split-y. Of course, the needles' extra sharp points are also really great for picking up split strands--so--maybe it all balances out in the end. And, once knit, the colors in this yarn ("fern") are really pretty (I think), esp. in this pattern.

And last but not least: a little crochet. Here's the "Fit to be Tied" clutch from Happy Hooker in Cascade 220 (Pale Yellow), as called for in the pattern. I need to add the finishing deets, including a lining and some ribbon woven through the eyelets.

Somehow, even though I've been trying not to start new things, I have a lot of stuff IP. Some of these will probably be Christmas presents (but which ones? I like them all for me!).