through the loops
My kids' band, The NowhereNauts, made this Christmas video in front of our tree yesterday. And just so this isn't a totally knitting free post, if you look behind them you will see the (ginormous) stockings that my mother made for each of my kids. Anders's stocking is the easiest to see behind Hunter's (guitar) shoulder as she moves to the side.
Wishing everyone a peaceful holiday, filled with love, family and good food!
It's hard for me to believe, but this year's TTL Mystery Sock will be our 5th! The Mystery Sock KAL is a favorite of mine because each year I make new friends and reconnect with old friends. I hope you'll join us this year. I'm very excited about the design. Read on for the details.
TTL Mystery Sock 2012 Pattern Details (help us spread the word by favoriting/queuing the pattern on Raverly.)
Size: S [M, L]
Finished Measurements: 6.5 [7.5, 8.5] circumference at leg and foot. Foot length is customizable.
Yarn: Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, 80% Superwash Wool / 20% Nylon, 435 yds per skein, color: Tarheel Blue, 1 skein
Needles: 1 set US 1.5 (2.5mm) circular needles.
1 set US 1.5 (2.5mm) double pointed needles (dpns) or size to obtain gauge
Gauge: 34 sts & 47 rows = 4”/10cm in Stockinette St, always take the time to check gauge
Other Materials: stitch markers, tapestry needle, cable needle (CN).
Price: $6.00
The sock is worked in the round from the cuff down.
Select your size based on the circumference of your foot and leg. The overall foot length is customizable.
Gauge will impact your size selection and the amount of yarn used. Since socks are meant to fit with negative ease choose a size that is 1-2” smaller than your foot and leg circumference. The sample sock which measures 7.5” relaxed fits my 9” circumference foot nicely.
A Note About Yarn Choice: This sock has a lot of stitch pattern detail. These details will show up best if worked in a solid or semi-solid yarn. Medium to lighter colors will also show the stitch pattern best.
KAL Details
One new clue will be released each week throughout the month of January, 2013. The release dates are:
Intro & KAL Details: December 17th
Cuff: January 1st
Leg: January 8th
Heel: January 15th
Foot: January 22nd
Toe: January 29th
Please Join Us!
We will have discussion, share photos, answer questions, and cheer each other on in the Through the Loops Group on Ravelry. To join the KAL simply purchase the pattern and become a member of the group.
Help Us Keep Each Week’s Clue a Surpirse
We will have “Spoiler Alert” threads for each week where you may post photos of your progress. Please be considerate of other knitters and only post photos in the appropriate spoiler alert thread.
Many knitters enjoy the Mystery and choose not to peek at the spoiler threads until after they have knit that week’s clue. Please place a “Spoiler Alert” image as your first image on your Ravelry project page.
Questions
Please post all of your questions in the Through the Loops Ravelry forum. If you have a question someone else may well have the same question.
HAVE FUN! I look forward to seeing your socks and joining the discussion!
TTL Mystery Sock 2013 Price: $6.00
While I was in North Carolina my sisters and I pulled out my mom's Christmas ornaments and carefully divided them up. We are a good team, my sisters and I, so sorting through and dividing my mother's cherished decorations, although sad, went very smoothly and gave us a chance to sit and share memories. One set of decorations in particular brought us all back to our childhood – Lisa, the oldest, was probably no more than 10. There was and still is something magical about these charming woodland scenes and the day we made them. We made many Christmas decorations over the years, but these are the clear favorite of us all. Luckily enough have survived that we are each able to have a nice little group.
Although I was very young, I still have vivid memories of that day.
We started by going out into the fields around our home and gathering the dried milkweed pods that were abundant in our neighborhood.
Then my mother lightly coated each one with gold spray paint, both inside and out.
Next, armed with supplies of Spanish moss, miniature critters, dried flowers and glue, we set about creating sweet little scenes in each pod. It was a simple enough project that even at the age of 5 or 6 I was able to participate.
The final step was to add a string to each so that they could be hung on the tree. These had sewing thread that was frayed and knotted from years of use. I'll be threading new ribbons or string through the tiny holes that my Mutti put in the tops of each all those years ago.
If you have a ready supply of milkweed pods I highly recommend giving this project a try. And if you do, may yours provoke wonderful memories in another 40 something years.
Thank you for all of your sweet comments on my last post. They really mean a lot.
Today I have several items to tell you about.
The first order of business is the winner of the Dishcloth Diva contest. I used a random number generator, and Joann was chosen. Congratulations Joann! Thank you to everyone who entered the contest.
I'm very, very excited to be involved in this (more information here). I'll write more on the Shepherd and the Shearer another day, but do follow the links and then go read what Kate Davies has to say about the project.
I'll be teaching my Kanagawa Mittens pattern at Looped Yarn Works on Saturday, February 23rd. This pattern works great in as many as 11 colors or as few as 2. If you love the look of colorwork patterns but have always been afraid
to try, or if you've tried colorwork in the past and struggled with
things like tension and what to do with those long floats in the back,
this is the class for you. If you're in the DC area I'd love to see you.
A final note about my kids band, The NowhereNauts, and here. Their second album is coming out in January and I am very excited. I know I'm a proud momma and all, but I think they just keep getting better and better.
They could use your help, their Facebook page has close to 5000 fans and they are eager to pass that milestone. If you like what you hear – you can listen on Jango, (the first song on the list, "Warned You", is from the new album), please hit the like button on .