Finally a pair of socks

Ta Da ! The Sockapalooza socks are finished. After much deliberation about choice of pattern and yarn , and more than a few false starts, I finally have a completed pair of socks . I'm happy with the pattern (Math Whiz socks from http://www.knitspot.com) . The yarn I used was Opal Neon and 2mm DPNs . I changed the heel (originally short row heel ) to a heel flap , but otherwise the socks were knit as called for in the pattern.

Already on my needles is the Japanese Feather Stole , by the same designer . I was looking for a fairly open , lacy stole to wear with my dress for Casey's wedding . As it's a beach wedding I didn't want anything too fussy or stylized .I that think this one fits the bill perfectly. I've done the first of 10 pattern repeats . So far , so good . I can't believe that I've signed up for the MS3 KAL .I joined awhile back when it was first mentioned , but haven't knit any of the clues yet .I'm not one of the speedy knitters who manages to knit up each clue just after it's posted .The previous mystery stoles were spectacular and can't wait to see what Melanie is giving us this time . I'm thinking this will be my summer of socks and stoles . I've got it covered from top to bottom , so to speak .

Stick a fork in me - we're done !

We're done ! As of today Casey and Chantal are home owners (well at least mortgage owners) . We're doing small finishing details and clean-up , but today is officially the last day at the house. Seven and half weeks from start to finish , after the lunch break , that's it that's all ! I'll post some pics later , right now the camera battery is re-charging . I could use a little re-charging myself ; plug me in to the closest lawn chair , please ,with a nice glass of sangria and re-charging will commence .

Understandably it's been very quiet on the knitting front . I did work on the sock pal socks , which were also supposed to be my June socks for the SAM3KAL . I'm at the gusset decreases on the foot , so almost done. I'm happy with the socks and really hope that my pal is too . I've never been so anxious about knitting for some one else before . I guess it's that this person is a complete unknown and a knitter , which for some reason added pressure . Anyway they're just about done and ready to go . Bring on the Monkeys !

A time capsule

This is how far I've come along on my sockapalooza knit . I'm so frustrated with the barber pole striping . It seems no matter how many stitches I cast on and what pattern I knit , this is what I get . Apparently Lorna's laces does that quite frequently . I guess I'll just keep plugging along to the gusset and heel and see what happens . I still have time to find an alternative knit as these socks aren't due to be mailed till August.

Knitting time has been at a premium this week . I'm desperately trying to catch up with the garden work . When I have the time it's raining , and naturally when I don't it's sunny . Looks like rain again today. Ah well , more knitting time .

Here's photo of the crew that's been working on the house construction . The new home owners to be are seated on the bottom step. My DH and and son Max are directly behind Casey . They've all worked so hard and it's been an amazing experience in so many ways . A couple of copies of this and another photo of the crew have been have been laminated and placed in behind the dry wall as a sort of time capsule . Everyone signed the pics and Chantal wrote a small dedication on the back . Will be interesting for whoever finds it in the future . We're still not done but it looks like they'll make their target date of July 1st. I think that life after this will seem awfully quiet . Oops, there's wedding plans to be made , how could I forget !

We have a pattern !

After much knitting and then subsequent ripping , I think I've found my sock pattern for Sockapalooza . After doing one and a half repeats of the crosshatch lace pattern from More SKS , I'm satisfied that this yarn isn't pooling as with all my previous attempts . The pattern isn't getting completely lost in the colour . My sock pal likes hot colours ; hoping that this " Tickled Pink " colour from Lorna's Laces qualifies.

I had my breakfast outside this morning . It was a little cool yet , but a good start to the day . Birds singing , good cup of tea and a little knitting . What more can you ask !