Got my Saviour Socks!!!

My Sockapalooza Socks are here! My sock saviour is from the Netherlands. Bianca sent me socks of her own design: cables and a wonderful cuff. They arrived together with some autumn tea, a pencil and a little sketchbook. She also sent me a letter in German. Thank you, Bianca!
See, they look great to jeans, match my carpet and the stripes are almost similar on each sock! They have my favourite heel. See the cables and the cuff:Now, that I was not forgotten in Sockapaloza 4 I'm waiting for number 5 to appear! (Thank you, Alison!)
Until then I promise to blog more often... Since I started back to work I'm too lazy to take the time. But there are some knitting and quilting fo's I should write about.

Cats and Whiskey

First the cats:
My best friends birthday is this Saturday.
I tried the Gracie bag pattern I bought in Concord, Mass. The pattern was easier than expectected. I think there will be more bags in the future. The bag took me one afternoon.

To complete the present I added an 'Almost Free Tissue Holder' and made another shopping bag. My friend has two cats (at the moment) and two dogs. A little while ago she complained that everyone is giving her cat stuff as presents and nothing with dogs... but I could not resist to buy this fabric for her. Sorry, doggies! Maybe for christmas!

I finished the my husbands Whiskey socks: Spey Valley from Nancy Bush's book Knitting on the road: Sock Patterns for the Traveling Knitter. The yarn is Regia Stretch in a dark greyish variegated colour. I think the pattern on the cuff would show better in a solid colour.

I think my sockpal received her socks in Finland. I got a note from the database. But she hasn't blogged about her package yet.
My upstream sockpal left another comment here. She is not finished yet. So I have to wait patiently... but it's difficult!

The socks are one their way to ...

The green 'Kew' socks are on their way to my sockapalooza pal! If you get this package, you are my pal! The socks don't have to travel alone. I included a letter to my pal and some goodies: some chocolate leaves made in Bremen (matching the leaves in the sock pattern), some chocolate for my pal's kids (featuring the Bremen Town Musicians, not shown in the picture), some jelly frogs ( when it comes to frogging, a knitter needs sugar), the left over wool, the socks (of course) and if you wonder, what the red thing in the right corner might be...
It's a shopping bag, that you can fold in this little heart shaped bag. It fits in every purse. Maybe she can use it at one of her next visits to her LYS?

Back home!

Wow, it took me one month to start blogging again! And: it's not the fault of the Telekom. They needed only one week to set internet and phone sevice back up. So, it must have been my laziness...
Everything arrived fine. Even my sewing machine was no problem at the security screenings. I took it as my carry-on luggage. The security at Logan Airport were really fond of the machine and showed me the x-ray screen. Now I know what 'Mrs. Singer' looks like from the inside.

The secret socks I started for myself turned out to be no good idea... I finished 2/3 of the first sock but already used half of the skein. So far I didn't frog it, but stopped knitting. But since I am pretty sure that I will only take a photo and rip them afterwards: The pattern was Pomatomus by Cookie A.
I started a pair of Spey Valley from Sock Patterns for the travelling Knitter for my husband. He collects whisky, so they are his pattern.

That's it for today. Pictures are going to follow.

Made in America!!

... but it was close! After grating #2 three times, I finished my pals socks in America. They will be blocked in Germany though. These socks have done a lot of traveling. I think about including a world map with all there travel routes, when I send them off to ... somewhere!
Sorry, but besides Lobby there was no small feeted foot model available at the moment. For the other animal friends: No, I did not threaten him with putting some boiling water on the stove to make him pose for this picture! If I find another human model this afternoon I will post another picture.
I really like the way the pattern came out and I still like the yarn. But when I ripped the toe of the second sock 2x I had the impression that the yarn is already starting to felt a little. But maybe it's only my weird impression, I hope so. The dark stripes that you can see in the picture are not so dark in reality. The yarn did not pool at all and shows off the leaves really nice. Another picture, this time seafood free:Specs:
yarn: Cherry Tree Hill color: green, blue, brown (but there's no brown in the sock)
needles: 2.5mm Bamboo (the old ones) size: 6.5
pattern: Kew heel: Hufeisenferse (horse shoe heel)
alterations: I cast on 60 stitches instead of 70sts => 6 repeats on the leg, 3 repeats on the foot
Note to self: Take the grafting instructions from One Skein or IK, not knitty!!!

I didn't know what to start next. My quilting is already packed and I wanted another small project, that I can knit on the plane and at the airport. So I started another pair of socks, this time for me. I know that my upstream sockpal hasn't yet started the socks she/he's knitting for me. So, maybe it's no good idea to knit myself some socks right now... I don't know. But socks are so practical...
Idea: I am not going to post yarn, pattern and work in progress until the socks are sent off. Just in case she/he picked the same pattern or color. That way I won't destroy any plans she/he already has. (I AM SO CURIOUS!)
And if I get the same pattern there won't be a problem, because I love it and having two pairs would be three times the fun. And: I have to admit, that right now I'm not sure if the pattern may be to complicated for me... It's definitely no TV knitting. So let's wait until I get more than one repeat done.

Adventures of the Green Sock

Sockapalooza Sock Number 2 keeps growing and growing. The socks had an interesting week. On Wednesday both socks tried to convince me to take them to Fenway Park. Number 2 almost convinced me by reminding me of the knitting time I would most probably spent on the T. But I told them the Home of the Red Sox is not a good place for 1 1/2 little Green Socks. They had to stay home, together with my Colorado T-Shirt. When we came home, I told them they had not missed much. Colorado won 12:2. The T-Shirt does no longer talk to me.

Yesterday I took Number 2 with me for an adventure. My husbands work group went on a group trip to Block Island, Rhode Island. We went on a bike tour, spent some time on the beach and later had seafood in Point Judith. I got a good deal of knitting done on the ferry and later on the beach.The sock saw the ocean and then relaxed on the beach (unfortunately it has the same colour as the beach towel).
After a very long but nice day Number 2 came back home and told her finished friend all about it. Now Number 1 does no long talk to me.
I think I have a serious problem here. Maybe I should stop talking to fabric objects...

What do you think Number 2?

Time is running...

Today in exactly two weeks we are going to leave for Germany... At the moment I am pending between 'I don't want to' and 'If I really have to, than make today'. Of course I am looking forward to seeing my family and dear friends again who could not visit us here. But saying good bye now is different from one year ago in Germany. We could be pretty sure, that we would see the people again one year later. Now in some cases this won't be the same.
Okay, enough of this. I finished my last quilting project, before packing my sewing machine and other quilting stuff: 2 place mats as a small gift for a house warming party tonight. They are all machine made. I especially like the asian print with the herons. I found it very cheap in the left over bin at the quilt shop. The fabric in the upper right corner may be a little to light, but if I have a little time this afternoon I will quilt the couples names in there. I think that will highlight this corner.Next is 'Green Gables'. Sorry for this picture, I forgot to ask my husband to take a shot of me before he left this morning. In reality it looks much better. The only thing is, I'm never going to wear it because I like too much. I really enjoyed knitting it. And again: No seams! This time not one. I hate seaming in knits. In my opinion they belong in quilts.
Another picture without content:
Here the colour is much better. You can get an idea of the little shine the yarn has to it. Maybe it's the merino part. 'Green Gable' is not blocked or washed yet. Right now one swatch of the yarn is enjoying a ride in the washing machine and another handwashed swatch is drying pinned to the sofa (Thank you, secret pal!!!!!).
Now back to my 2nd sockapalooza sock! I really would like to finish it this week. If I am really good, I can cast it off tomorrow at my last knitting meeting... sniff...

By the way, someone asked about the Baby Surprise Jacket. The pattern is by Elizabeth Zimmermann. You can get it here. I never worked a pattern that was written with so much humor and whit. I think it is also published in one of her books.

No-Palooza Monkeys and EZ Baby Surprise Jacket

One good thing about a new blog is I can post pictures of some old things:

This BSJ was great fun to knit! Knitted in only one piece, it looked really, really odd while on the needles and there was almost no seaming. It's for my god child and will hopefully fit him in three weeks. It's Lornas Laces Shepherd Sport in Ravenswood. I finished it in 04/07.
His mom got a pair of socks against cold feet in long nights or at early mornings. I knitted some Monkeys for her. That was before they turned out to be the Sockapalooza4-Hit! But people, I really can understand why you all like knitting them. They are great and there will definitely be a second pair of Monkeys for myself one day!
The yarn was Regia Silk in a cream/off-white colourway until I discovered koolaid dying and had to try it. Now they are orange, red and still have a few original spots. The button is a little pewter kitten for my cat loving friend.
The Socka-Kew-Loozas decided to take a little break to make more time for 'Green Gables'. I think on monday there should be some pictures of finished 'Green Gables'. Maybe you can help me out here: How can I block cotton? Can I block cotton? Advice is appreciated.

I finally fulfill my duty...

Okay, a little while ago before I went on my vacation Kate tagged me to tell you 7 facts about myself. Here you go:
1) I do not like my feet.
2) Three days ago I got my first manicure ever.
3) I never knitted a real sweater, but someday I will try it.
4) I'm going to miss the big american Coffee chain with the star. Because I got addicted while living here...
5) But I won't miss the styrofoam and paper coffee mugs! I love to sit in a café or teahouse, look at people passing by and having my tea or coffee in a real nice china mug. There are so nice mugs in this world and you can reuse them. Yes, it works!
6)My poor husband asked during our vacation in New Hampshire what he could do to get me out the bad mood I was in, because I was really frozen, and I said: 'I want a coffee. And I want it in a real mug!' Hard job for him, but he finally managed to get one. Amazing.
7) Last week we had our second anniversary.

Cowboy sock is back from 'Way out West'

I spent my last week doing this:
My final treat for my year in the US was a cowboy vacation at the Colorado Cattle Company. I had so much fun! I spent up to 7hours a day in the saddle, learned how to drive cattle, learned (tried...) to rope, helped branding calves. Oh, I want to go back...
I fell asleep every free minute, because of the fresh air and all the fun I had. Yes, I really enjoyed getting up at 5.50am to catch horses, having sore muscles all over my body and being dirty and totally worn out by 9pm. Only horse people can understand that, I think.
Of course my second Kew went with me, but I did not make as much progress as I had planned. The flights were too bumpy to knit. Since I don't know, if my pal has any allergies and I did not want to ask, I kept it away from horses, cows and dogs. But there is one picture of the cowboy sock:The sock says: Yieeeeh-ha!
On the ranch it really missed its already finished sock companion, that had to stay home. After having seen enough horses, cows, rattle snakes and coyotes it was happy to get back in its knitting tote. Maybe it was a little afraid of being roped and branded...

An apple for the teacher

Yesterday was my last quilting lesson... We cleaned the closets, organized the fabrics and raffled the friendship quilt. It's going to Korea! Before we had a potluck lunch, everyone got a little 'diploma' including a half yard of New England fabric. Since I am leaving the group I got a goodbye present. 5 fat quarters named 'An apple for the teacher'. I was really surprised and there were some tears involved... I'm really going to miss this group!
I gave the Lily purse to our teacher and think she really liked it.
I think my fabrics call for an Apple Core Quilt... but I do not like curves... So maybe something with some Schoolhouse blocks in the border ... or Boston Common, wouldn't that be appropriate? But it will take a while to decide what project to start with it.

Sock Number One: Done!

I finished my pals first sock. The Kew pattern is a lot of fun. I was really a little sorry, when I had to stop... But there will be sock No.2 which is going to travel with me. Next week a friend from Germany will be visiting, so there won't be much time for knitting and blogging. The following week she and I are going to travel together. (Un)fortunately there will be several hours waiting in airports involved. I intend to make the best of it.

Everything green

If you look at my WIPs, you will think, she likes green! First a green purse, now a green sweater and green socks for my pal. I assure you: I can knit other colours, too!

'Green Gables' by Zephyrstyle is making good progress. For the shaping I did not really stick to the pattern. I really like the construction of the pattern, one piece, no seaming. The stockinette stitch starts to get a little boring now, but you can knit it without having to concentrate. Oh, and how could I knit a sweater with this name in any other colour than green? It's Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in olive. Imagine the little red haired girl from Avonlea wearing this colour... I read all the books. When I first saw the pattern I knew I liked it, when I read the name I had to knit it.
My sock pal's socks are making some progress. I reached the heel flap today. The Kew pattern is very addictive. It was a good choice to change the pattern. And I really like the yarn. It knits up wonderful. I started the heel flap today.
My pal's feet are quite small, much smaller than mine. I decided to CO only 60sts instead of 70sts as asked for in the pattern. One of my husband colleagues was nice and tried to get the cuff over her heels. I was relieved when it worked.
The sock pictures do not really capture the real colour ... may be next time.

I am so thrilled, that my pal takes a look at my blog from time to time and leaves comments. I am so glad, that I have heard from both my pals up and down stream. Poor knitters who are still waiting for contact with their pals...

My first quilt

My blog title tells you I want to write about knitting and quilting. So today some quilting!
During my year in the US I had the great possibility to take a quilting class at the Harvard Neighbors, a great institution for spouses of visiting scholars at Harvard University. They offer different classes, meetings, outings... The quilting teacher is one of the nicest persons I ever met.

We (16 newcomers from Japan, Korea and one from Germany) started to learn the basic techniques by making a baby quilt for donation to a local clinic. A very good idea since our skills were still in development. For my part I know that in my baby quilt there are some toe catchers and the quilting stitches are quite uneven. But hopefully the new moms, who are really in need, will enjoy the quilts anyway.
For my donation quilt I chose some nine patches in various children's prints, shoe flys and a bow tie in every corner combined with some alternating blocks of unbleached muslin. The quilt measures 24''x30''. The backing is one piece of very narrow striped blue and white cotton. The whole quilt is hand pieced and hand quilted, even the bias binding has been made and put on by hand. Okay, this was due to not having a sewing machine at that time. But it was a good feeling to have it done all by myself. The quilting design includes some trucks, a lot of flying things like bees, butterflies, planes and a helicopter. There are also some numbers in the quilting and in the blue bow ties. That's what happens when a math teacher starts quilting...
26 quilts , the oldcomers did their part too, were donated on valentines day this year together with some knitted baby garments. I knitted 3 little hats and two pairs of baby booties.

Second final pattern decision

My first final decision was this german leaf pattern (Hope this link works this time). After having completed 2inch of the leg I still was not able to memorize the pattern, made mistakes, had to frog and was quite unhappy with my pals sock. And I managed to break one of my dpn's while k3tog....
I'm going to travel a lot in the next weeks and until then knitting time will be rare. That's why I really want a pattern I can memorize and knit on the train and on the plane. So I frogged the whole thing and again searched for patterns. I liked the leaf motif because it reminds me of my pal, why will be told later. One of the other sockapaloozers posted a link to 'Kew' on her blog. I tried it and finished about half of the pattern. I think this is my second final decision. The leafs are bigger but I think even better to see than in the first pattern.

I'm getting started!

Okay, the sun is shining in Boston. I have my yarn: Cherry Tree Hill in wonderful greens.
My sockapalooza pal loves hand painted, so I hope she will like it. A cup of tea and a chair are waiting on the deck. I'm about to start my pal's socks now. I haven't yet decided about the pattern. It's either going to be Monkey or a leaf pattern from a german website. I have some rounds of 1x1rib left before I have to make up my mind.

Lily of the Valley

This is my latest felted creation. It's my 'Lily of the Valley' - purse. I 'm going to enter it in a german Spring Knitting Competition: Fruehlingserwachen.

material: Brown Sheep Lambs Pride Bulky (oregano)
The leaf and stem are knitted and felted extra and later appliqued. I felted the purse, stem and leaf in a hot washing machine. It turned our really nice.
The blossoms I knitted from a leftover from my stash and later sewed them on.

Why I finally started my own blog

I spend the last year in the US and a lot of my time working over the internet, or in my free time knitting and learning how to quilt. On my search for patterns I read and discovered wonderful knitting blogs from all over the world. So I started thinking about having my own blog someday, maybe...

Now I signed up for Sockapalooza4, my first swap, and seem to be the only blogless participant. That was the last kick I needed: When all the others have it, I want to have it, too! I hope my secret pal will drop by from time to time.

I will try my very best to keep you updated about my sock knitting and my quilting projects.