I will keep this post short, as I have to head back to the animal hospital to check on our cat's recovery.
I hope you will enjoy the Alice in Wonderland Collection.
Alice in Wonderland Collection
The new collection, the Alice in Wonderland collection was inspired by the famous story. I let my creativity express itself, to give of the famous characters their "true" colors.
I will keep this post short, as I have to head back to the animal hospital to check on our cat's recovery.
I hope you will enjoy the Alice in Wonderland Collection.
I will keep this post short, as I have to head back to the animal hospital to check on our cat's recovery.
I hope you will enjoy the Alice in Wonderland Collection.
Store Update
Due to an animal emergency, the SockPixie store update will be rescheduled to Monday by 6 p.m.
Basic Thick Socks
Here's a pair of basic socks - two worsted weight yarns knit together with 32 sts on size 7 (I think) dpns. I'm bored with these socks though so I started another pair of the Log Cabin Socks from Handknit Holidays. I really hope to update the scrunchie sock pattern and get you that list of worsted weight sock patterns soon.
So far I've sent $210.83 to the New Mexico rabbit rescuers - that is half my May Ravelry earnings along with all of my Amazon and Lulu earnings for May. (Obviously with such enormous earnings I'm right on track to becoming a millionaire by 2010!!!) All my patterna nd booklet sale earnings through the end of July will go to them - I figure it will be around $400 more.
Here's a KRQE article and video on the rescue which says their expenses so far are over $3600:
Easy Scrunchie Socks
Thanks to everyone who helped me decipher what color mauve really is. The answer is who knows??? The world of color names is a mysterious one.
Now when I said I was making a pair of socks in Cascade 220 that was the color of Pepto-Bismol, everyone probably guessed the color exactly.
These are the Easy Scrunchie socks (pattern in previous blog post) knit in size 6 dpns instead of size 7. I realized I forgot to put the gauge in the pattern last time so I'll add that for both sizes and add the pattern as a PDF on Ravelry for those of you who prefer to work from PDFs. This is a busy week but I'll get to it as soon as I can.
I've decided to devote the summer to knitting myself some really thick socks. I've found a few interesting patterns online so I'll post a set of links for those of you who also like socks from worsted weight yarn.
Now when I said I was making a pair of socks in Cascade 220 that was the color of Pepto-Bismol, everyone probably guessed the color exactly.
These are the Easy Scrunchie socks (pattern in previous blog post) knit in size 6 dpns instead of size 7. I realized I forgot to put the gauge in the pattern last time so I'll add that for both sizes and add the pattern as a PDF on Ravelry for those of you who prefer to work from PDFs. This is a busy week but I'll get to it as soon as I can.
I've decided to devote the summer to knitting myself some really thick socks. I've found a few interesting patterns online so I'll post a set of links for those of you who also like socks from worsted weight yarn.
It is a Birthday!
SockPixie is 2 years old, and we are celebrating with the English Arts and Crafts Collection , and special party favor bags in every package!
These have been a wonderful 2 years, and I am looking forward to many more color filled weeks. Thanks for being here to celebrate.
These have been a wonderful 2 years, and I am looking forward to many more color filled weeks. Thanks for being here to celebrate.
What Color Is This?
What color do you think these socks are? I call this color mauve but Elann calls it violet heather. I don't see it as violet at all. I always thought mauve was a grayish-reddish-purple but according to dictionary.com it is a light blue-purple. Wikipedia agrees and says mauve is a pale lavender/lilac color. That sounds like periwinkle to me. To add to my confusion, this True Value paint color page has a sample of royal mauve and the sample is the color I thought was mauve.
Anyway, here is the pattern for the few of you who also love to knit thick socks that only take a couple of days. I am knitting another pair in a Pepto Bismol pink of Cascade 220 using size 6 dpns to fit my narrow feet.
EASY SCRUNCHIE SOCKS
Size: Women's Medium (To change size, go up or down a needle size)
Materials:
Size 6 (US) dpns - set of 4
2 skeins Elann's Peruvian Highland Wool worsted weight wool yarn color 0741 - violet heather, 50 g/109 yds.
(NOTE: For my size 9 feet I barely had 4 yards of yarn left so buy 3 skeins or make the cuff shorter if you don't want to live dangerously.)
Gauge: 4 1/2 sts per inch
Tapestry Needle for Weaving in Ends
CO 42 sts. Join, being careful not to twist.
Rolled Cuff: K 2 rows.
Slouch Pattern:
K 6 rows.
P 3 rows.
Repeat these 9 rows 4 times or until desired length to heel. K 1 row, decreasing 2 sts evenly across row - 40 sts.
Heel:
K 10, turn work and purl across 20 sts.
Rearrange remaining sts on 2 dpns to work later for instep.
Work back and forth on heel sts as follows:
Row 1: (RS) Slip 1, K1; rep from * across row.
Row 2: (WS) Slip 1, K1; rep from * across row.
Rep rows 1 and 2 until 20 rows have been worked.
Turn Heel:
Row 1: (RS) K across 12 sts, SSK, K1, turn work.
Row 2: (WS) Slip 1, P5, P2TOG, P1, turn
Row 3: Slip 1, K to 1 st before gap, SSK, K1, turn
Row 4: Slip 1, P to 1 st before gap, P2TOG, P1, turn
Continue Rows 3 and 4 until all heel sts have been worked, ending with a WS row.
Heel Gusset:
K across all heel sts and with same dpn pick up and knit 10 sts along side of heel for needle 1. K across instep sts for needle 2 and with needle 3 pick up and knit 10 sts along other side of heel and knit across 6 of the heel sts for needle 3. Round begins at center of heel.
Row 1: K to last 3 sts on needle , K2TOG, K1, K across instep sts on needle 2, at beginning of needle 3 K1, SSK, K to end - 2 gusset sts decreased.
Row 2: Knit
Repeat Rows and 2 until there are 10 sts on needles 1 and 3 - 40 sts total.
K for 4 1/2 inches or until desired length to toes.
Toe:
Row 1: On needle 1, K to last 3 sts, K2TOG,K1, on needle 2, K1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2TOG, K1, on needle 3, K1, SSK, K to end - 4 sts decreased.
Row 2: K
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until 20 sts remain.
Repeat row 1 only until 8 sts remain.
Knit sts from needle 1 onto needle 3. Kitchener sts remaining sts together.
Weave in ends.
Make a second sock.
Copyright Nanette Blanchard, 2009. All rights reserved.
Anyway, here is the pattern for the few of you who also love to knit thick socks that only take a couple of days. I am knitting another pair in a Pepto Bismol pink of Cascade 220 using size 6 dpns to fit my narrow feet.
EASY SCRUNCHIE SOCKS
Size: Women's Medium (To change size, go up or down a needle size)
Materials:
Size 6 (US) dpns - set of 4
2 skeins Elann's Peruvian Highland Wool worsted weight wool yarn color 0741 - violet heather, 50 g/109 yds.
(NOTE: For my size 9 feet I barely had 4 yards of yarn left so buy 3 skeins or make the cuff shorter if you don't want to live dangerously.)
Gauge: 4 1/2 sts per inch
Tapestry Needle for Weaving in Ends
CO 42 sts. Join, being careful not to twist.
Rolled Cuff: K 2 rows.
Slouch Pattern:
K 6 rows.
P 3 rows.
Repeat these 9 rows 4 times or until desired length to heel. K 1 row, decreasing 2 sts evenly across row - 40 sts.
Heel:
K 10, turn work and purl across 20 sts.
Rearrange remaining sts on 2 dpns to work later for instep.
Work back and forth on heel sts as follows:
Row 1: (RS) Slip 1, K1; rep from * across row.
Row 2: (WS) Slip 1, K1; rep from * across row.
Rep rows 1 and 2 until 20 rows have been worked.
Turn Heel:
Row 1: (RS) K across 12 sts, SSK, K1, turn work.
Row 2: (WS) Slip 1, P5, P2TOG, P1, turn
Row 3: Slip 1, K to 1 st before gap, SSK, K1, turn
Row 4: Slip 1, P to 1 st before gap, P2TOG, P1, turn
Continue Rows 3 and 4 until all heel sts have been worked, ending with a WS row.
Heel Gusset:
K across all heel sts and with same dpn pick up and knit 10 sts along side of heel for needle 1. K across instep sts for needle 2 and with needle 3 pick up and knit 10 sts along other side of heel and knit across 6 of the heel sts for needle 3. Round begins at center of heel.
Row 1: K to last 3 sts on needle , K2TOG, K1, K across instep sts on needle 2, at beginning of needle 3 K1, SSK, K to end - 2 gusset sts decreased.
Row 2: Knit
Repeat Rows and 2 until there are 10 sts on needles 1 and 3 - 40 sts total.
K for 4 1/2 inches or until desired length to toes.
Toe:
Row 1: On needle 1, K to last 3 sts, K2TOG,K1, on needle 2, K1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2TOG, K1, on needle 3, K1, SSK, K to end - 4 sts decreased.
Row 2: K
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until 20 sts remain.
Repeat row 1 only until 8 sts remain.
Knit sts from needle 1 onto needle 3. Kitchener sts remaining sts together.
Weave in ends.
Make a second sock.
Copyright Nanette Blanchard, 2009. All rights reserved.
Kate's Wonderful Bunny Christmas Stocking
Kate from San Francisco (okate on Ravelry) sent me this incredible bunny Christmas stocking to possibly be used for rabbit rescue fundraising. She suggested they fill it with bunny toys and auction it off which is a brilliant idea. Kate says the 3-D rabbits are from this free pattern by Little Cotton Rabbits and she improvised the beautifully embellished stocking.
Aren't the rabbits adorable? I love their tinsel scarves.
Each snowflake has a little pom pom center and a bell. It is just adorable and I know it will be a great help for the bunny rescue efforts Kate!
Aren't the rabbits adorable? I love their tinsel scarves.
Each snowflake has a little pom pom center and a bell. It is just adorable and I know it will be a great help for the bunny rescue efforts Kate!
Bunnies and Carrots Hat
Here is the Bunnies and Carrots Hat by Barbara Telford (link to pattern in my previous post) in Cascade 220. I didn't make as many carrots as are called for in the pattern and I did the rabbits in duplicate stitch and elongated the ears. I don't know if can go ahead and make more of these as I get bored making the same pattern over and over again. I do, however, have one of her other similar patterns that involve blue jays and cherries so I am going to see if I have any blue yarns that will work.
Through the end of July 2009 100% of the money I receive from the sale of my knitting booklets and individual patterns sold on Lulu, Ravelry, and Amazon will go to the New Mexico House Rabbit Society. The number of pet rabbits taken from one person's backyard is now over 230 and most are baby bunnies so they can definitely use all of the money I can donate. Thank goodness for all the other shelters across the country willing to help and to the Bunderground Railroad which was set up for just such an occasion. The NM HRS web site has info on how to donate and a list of all the wonderful organizations that have already helped out in this crisis.
The situation has been tough so what do I do when things get tough? I revert back to my beloved bright colors. I can tell a lot of knitters choose colors by the season but I wonder if many other knitters choose colors to actually affect their mood?
I'm making some Bunnies and Carrots Hats (a great pattern by Barbara Telford of Woodsmoke Woolworks) in Cascade 220 for a few of the rescuers to show my gratitude for their exhausting work transporting rabbits to the vet and to other states, caring for newborn litters, and scrounging up cages and food . I think they'll like the hats.
Speaking of bright colors - look at what color DH painted this bench this weekend. I call it sunshine yellow. I absolutely love it.
The situation has been tough so what do I do when things get tough? I revert back to my beloved bright colors. I can tell a lot of knitters choose colors by the season but I wonder if many other knitters choose colors to actually affect their mood?
I'm making some Bunnies and Carrots Hats (a great pattern by Barbara Telford of Woodsmoke Woolworks) in Cascade 220 for a few of the rescuers to show my gratitude for their exhausting work transporting rabbits to the vet and to other states, caring for newborn litters, and scrounging up cages and food . I think they'll like the hats.
Speaking of bright colors - look at what color DH painted this bench this weekend. I call it sunshine yellow. I absolutely love it.
SockPixie is on Vacation
SockPixie is on vacation this week, and will be back next week on June 21, to celebrate its second birthday!
Have a great week.
Have a great week.
HERE is the link to the upcoming reprint of the Charlene Schurch mitten book. I think I'm going to organize a mitten knitalong on Ravelry's Stranded Forum when both books are reprinted this winter.
Neither of my pets likes having their photograph taken so I haven't done a good job of showing them here. Here's a photo of Jack and you can see he looks annoyed. He is 15 1/2 years old and still going strong. The only thing I notice is that he sleeps a lot more these days but that is to be expected.
HERE is an update on our local rabbit rescue situation and all the traveling the rescuers have been doing to find places for all the rabbits - scroll down to where it says Rabbit Crisis. There's also a photo of some of the rabbits captured - interesting that most of them are not lop-eared although all the original rabbits were lops. I think they are going to go with a bake sale instead of a garage sale so my sock yarn is safe for now.
Neither of my pets likes having their photograph taken so I haven't done a good job of showing them here. Here's a photo of Jack and you can see he looks annoyed. He is 15 1/2 years old and still going strong. The only thing I notice is that he sleeps a lot more these days but that is to be expected.
HERE is an update on our local rabbit rescue situation and all the traveling the rescuers have been doing to find places for all the rabbits - scroll down to where it says Rabbit Crisis. There's also a photo of some of the rabbits captured - interesting that most of them are not lop-eared although all the original rabbits were lops. I think they are going to go with a bake sale instead of a garage sale so my sock yarn is safe for now.
I can't believe I haven't even finished one mitten yet. It seems like everything is in slow motion when it heats up here - perhaps my knitting process slows down as well? Plus I'm working on a self-published mini-cookbook of New Mexican veg. recipes so I'm spending more time in the kitchen.
I've been meaning to post a link to THIS - it looks like Anna Zilboorg's wonderful book Magnificent Mittens will be reprinted in November. I've always thought that book had some of the best knitting photography ever. Also, I have heard that Charlene Schurch's mittens book will be reprinted then as well so there is no need to pay high prices for these books used.
The local rabbit group is dealing with a rabbit over-population problem - over 130 pet lop unneutered bunnies (and counting) breeding and tunneling in someone's yard. The rescuers have been hard at work catching and transporting bunnies to other rescue groups in various states for the last few weeks. There will be another garage sale soon to try to raise funds and I'm thinking of giving them some of my sock yarn stash to sell. (I really prefer thicker socks for myself.) I'll let you know when the sale will be if you want some good deals on yarn which will help out the bunnies as well.
Of course Bubbles could care less about those lops. She absolutely refuses to share any of her cilantro or her bunny toys with the less fortunate rabbits.
I've been meaning to post a link to THIS - it looks like Anna Zilboorg's wonderful book Magnificent Mittens will be reprinted in November. I've always thought that book had some of the best knitting photography ever. Also, I have heard that Charlene Schurch's mittens book will be reprinted then as well so there is no need to pay high prices for these books used.
The local rabbit group is dealing with a rabbit over-population problem - over 130 pet lop unneutered bunnies (and counting) breeding and tunneling in someone's yard. The rescuers have been hard at work catching and transporting bunnies to other rescue groups in various states for the last few weeks. There will be another garage sale soon to try to raise funds and I'm thinking of giving them some of my sock yarn stash to sell. (I really prefer thicker socks for myself.) I'll let you know when the sale will be if you want some good deals on yarn which will help out the bunnies as well.
Of course Bubbles could care less about those lops. She absolutely refuses to share any of her cilantro or her bunny toys with the less fortunate rabbits.
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