This weekend is the Treasure Hunt/Shop Hop at 7 Twin Cities Yarn Shops.

Here’s my adventures so far…
I started off at Sheepy Yarn Shop in White Bear Lake. I found a yummy luvly yarn in the clearance bin that’ll be gifted, and a ball of black tweed sock yarn also jumped into my bag.

I then proceeded to The Yarnery in St Paul. Lots of yarn called to me, but nothing called strong enough to be taken home. (The impossibility of finding parking didn’t help either. I love this shop, I don’t love parking on Grand Ave.)

Then I raced down to Three Kittens, also in St Paul. I saw the cutest hat, so I had to buy it’s pattern and yarn. I tried to cast on for it this morning, but don’t have the right size needles for the ribbing. *sigh* add that to the list for today’s shopping.

ok, that’s it for now - the library’s about to close, and I’ve got 4 more shops to hit today!
(sorry for the crap lighting - the sun was a bit too bright for the camera’s liking)

the 2007 Dulaan challenge
5 items between now and June 2007? I can do that. She’s hoping to get 2007 people to commit by the end of the month.

I did the toe decreases and kitchnered it (which looks much better than the previous pair. yay for practice and realizing I should pull the stitches tighter) on the bus this morning. so no pics yet. (hmm… the copier scans into jpgs. I wonder how big a file that’d be…) haven’t cast on for it’s mate yet. maybe tonight’s bus ride (if another pumpkin doesn’t put itself on the needles instead)

as a side note for others who might knit it: the Welt Fantastic stitch pattern (from Sensational Knit Socks) doesn’t stretch much. kind of like what I’ve heard about Jaywalkers (which would make sense, they are kind of similar).

here’s hoping my niece can get it on her foot!

When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?

I started making socks last October - a toe-up pair that’s still not finished. I took a class for it because the first time I tried toe-up on my own I failed miserably.

What would you have done differently?

Used a different yarn. I’m using Wild Foot in the red/black Geranium color, and it twists up on my constantly. It’s a pain in the arse.

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?

I finished a pair of socks in Dale Baby Ull earlier this year, and I’m currently working on a pair in Emu DK Superwash. Both are quite nice to work with.

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?

I don’t crochet (yet). DPNs are my preferred sock method, though I’m planning to try 2 socks on 2 circs for dh’s pair, in an attempt to get them finished quicker.

Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)

I like both. We’ll see if I still like short-row after the second attempt on the first toe-up sock.

How many pairs have you made?

I’ve finished 1 pair (purple beaded socks for Lilin) and currently have 2 pairs on the needles (the red toe-ups and the rainbow socks for Amelia).

I’ve been in a great cleaning/organizing mode lately. I still don’t get much done, but I’m making a bit of a dent. I managed to return the contents of one box to their file cabinet drawer (it’s been how many months since we moved?), I put up my bulletin & white boards, I made a list of WIPs to hang on a clipboard on the wall (so it can threaten remind me what needs finishing), and I cleaned up the top of the yarn-case where knitting gadgets (needles, stitch-a-day calendar, i-cord maker, notions, etc) live. I’ve also been going through the knitting library a bit, trying to decide if I really want to keep all my Half-Price Books finds.

I was getting close to going through the basket o’ WIPs (not to be confused with the crate o’ WIPs, which also needs going-through), when I discovered the Mother Bear in-the-round attempt. Nearly finished, just in need of her head and arms (well, and her skirt and scarf too - the Build-a-Bear’s I bring home can be nekkid, not so for the Mother Bears I make). So I pulled it out and got to knitting. The head is now mostly finished (need to seam the other side and give her a face), but we got stalled when attempt one at adding an arm failed miserably (too few stitches picked up - it would have looked like the Ernie doll I had as a kid). The goal is to get this finished by the weekend so I can drop it off at one of the shops while I’m treasure hunting.

Socktoberfest has now officially begun. Amelia’s socks are progressing nicely - I turned the heel earlier this weekend and finished decreasing the gusset stitches on this morning’s bus ride.

There are also more pumpkins to be made. I also want to make the pumpkin basket from the new issue of MagKnits. I see lots of orange yarn purchases coming up…