Finished: Vanilla Latte Socks

Well, that didn't take long. I was able to bang these puppies out in less than two weeks, partially thanks to my husband being stuck in the hospital all day for gall bladder surgery. After having to check in at 5AM and not getting dismissed until 3:30PM, it's easy to see how I got so much done. Including several naps in a pretty uncomfortable plastic chair.

Anyway, he's home and resting now, and I'm loving my new finished socks - only my second finished pair! I haven't accomplished any of my other goals for 2015, but at least I'm blowing through my one goal of "finish one freaking pair of socks". Now I've got two off my needles :)

For more information, or to download the free pattern, click here to visit my project page. This is such a great pattern for beginners and experts alike, and has enough design features to keep you interested in knitting around and around and around for 7" (or sometimes more!)

In the meantime, I'm...

Knitting: Anne's Sweater + Another Pair of Vanilla Latte Socks
Reading: To Kill a Mockingbird
Listening: Chappo - What Are You Kids On?

In Progress: Vanilla Latte Socks

It's no surprise to any of my Instagram followers that I've fallen in love with sock knitting. To be honest, I never thought I'd be that person. I've attempted making socks so many times, an each time, it was a doable project, but I got bored. Oh-so-bored.

But after the success of my Rose City Rollers, I feel like I can't stop. Better yet, I can finally indulge in more beautiful sock yarn that will actually get knit up into socks (not shawls).

Which means I've also succumbed to the wonder that is Knit Picks Felici. I'll tell you what: there's something magical about self-striping sock yarn, in that it keeps you knitting. For someone who gets bored after x-number of stockinette rows, maintaining my interest is important. So may God bless Felici.

(PS: Knit Picks only launches Felici in special reserve colors once or twice a year, so if you'd like to pick up what's still left, you'd best head on over there now before they're gone).

I've knit these up using a 2x2 rib and an Eye of Partridge heel, which I think will be by new go-to heel because it's so pretty and will jazz up even the most vanilla of socks. The best part is it's only a slight variation on the standard slip stitch heel, so it's not like you have to fudge your way through a new technique.

Can't wait to have these done so I can stare at them until it's cold enough to actually wear them :)

In the meantime, I'm:

Knitting: Vanilla Latte Socks + Anne's Sweater
Reading: Lady of Hay
Listening: The Good Life by Cracker

In Progress: Anne's Sweater (Green Gables Knits)

After waiting impatiently to receive the yarn I needed (and after absorbing myself in the world of sock knitting), I was finally able to cast on my Anne's Sweater last Sunday morning while relaxing with a bunch of built-up knitting podcasts on my "Watch Later" playlist.

I don't want to get into much detail because I'm reviewing the pattern and overall book (Green Gables Knits) in an upcoming publication, but let me just say: WOOHOO!

Anne was my childhood hero and she still holds an important place in my heart, so I'm more than excited to knit a project that reminds me of innumerable days and nights spent reading her books.

In the meantime, I'm:

Knitting: Vanilla Latte Socks + Anne's Sweater
Reading: Lady of Hay
Listening: Jungle by Emma Louise

In Progress: Exploration Station

This picture of my Exploration Station is a bit dated (at least two weeks old), but I'm happy to say it's done. IT'S DONE!

Well, mostly. I still need to weave in the ends, but since I was knitting it while visiting friends, drinking wine, and biting my nails during Sharknado 3 this past weekend, I couldn't concentrate on anything so tedious as sewing in wee bits of yarn.

I'm not saying I'd buy more yarn and dive right back in, but I'd definitely make a second one just to experiment with more color combinations. The possibilities are endless and the pattern is straightforward enough that it's a fairly quick and easy knit. Except for that brioche section. Oy.

I'll be blocking it up within the next week, then taking photos on a new backdrop I bought. Don't get too excited; it's plain white. But it's larger than what I've been working with and will lend itself well to showing off the colors in my projects.

In the meantime, I'm:

Knitting: Vanilla Latte Socks + Anne's Sweater
Reading: Lady of Hay

Finished: Rose City Rollers Socks

And they're done! My first pair of finished socks. Turns out all I needed was a bad week full of frustrating experiences to make me focus on anything other than the axe wound that is my life. Oh, and it helps that the leg on these socks barely exists, so it's essentially just turning a heel and making some toes.

Indeed, Rose City Rollers is the perfect sock pattern for newbies. It's straight-up stockinette stitch, so you don't have to worry about purling if that's not your thing. Also, the pattern goes into enough detail that you begin understanding basic sock construction, and two toe options are provided so you can alter the sock to either fit your foot or visual preference.

I flubbed up a bit on the toe, but I'm pleased nonetheless. I even managed to almost perfectly match the stripes. As a result, I've officially been bitten by the sock-knitting bug, as I've already cast on another pair in some Knit Picks Felici that I scored from their latest limited stash release (which is nearly sold out, so get it while the gettin's good).

In the meantime, I'm:

Reading: Lady of Hay
Knitting: Vanilla Latte Socks
Spinning: More Hobbledehoy fiber on my new AaronMakesStuff spindle (review coming soon!)