Catching Up

We'll, I've returned from a very hot and fun-filled Florida vacation. While there I finished a few projects...








The Swallowtail Shawl from IK in Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud. And on the way there I finished...





The River Rapids socks from Sockbug in Socks that Rock Scaponia. I finished the 2nd sock in the dark car, and am happy to report that it was perfect when I was finished. We stopped at South of the Border to mark the occasion.

We also picked up this guy...




His name is Hurley and he's a Yellow-Bellied Slider. Butterfinger, our 1 year old Red-Eared Slider, thinks he looks delicious.






Obviously they won't be shackin' up until Hurley gets a little bigger.

Vacation!

I'm going on vacation until August 24th! Here are a few of the knitting projects I'll be taking!



River Rapids pattern from Sockbug and Socks that Rock in Scaponia. They're my August entry for Sockdown through the Sock Knitters Anonymous Group on Ravelry. I'll probably finish these before we even get there.



This is my Swallowtail Shawl from Interweave Knits in progress. I will get most of my work done on this when my husband is reading the last Harry Potter book. It works out because I need to concentrate in silence when I knit lace, and he becomes completely engrossed in Harry Potter books for long stretches of time. Perfect.

I'll see you all when I get back!

Monkey Swappin'

I have joined the Monkey Swap 3 and here is my Monkey Swap 3 Questionnaire:

The basics:

Do you consider yourself a beginning sock knitter, an intermediate, or have you been doing this so long you could probably knit a pair in your sleep?
I have knit many socks, but feel like there is always more to learn!  

The measurements:

Shoe Size:7.5 or 8
Foot circumference:  8.5”  
Foot length:9.25” 
 
Yarn Preferences:

What colors do you love?
I love purple, green, pinks, and most other colors.  

Do you prefer solids or variegated?
I like them all!
 
Do you prefer wool, cotton or acrylic yarn?
For socks, superwash wool. 

What colors would you never wear? 
I don't know. Bright yellow, I guess. 

What are your favorite brands of yarn?
For socks, I love Socks that Rock, Trekking XXL,

Are there any new brands you would like to try?
Wollmeise, Pigeonroof Studios, any Indie dyers


Cookie A. Patterns:

Which of her patterns have you already knit?
I have knit Monkey socks once before.

Which pattern(s) would you like to knit and don’t already own?
I think Mona looks nice, and I'd like to knit Pomatomus and Baudelaire someday.


Other pertinent information:

Would you be willing to have an international Monkey Pal or do you prefer one in the US? 
Either is fine! 

Do you have any allergies?
Not on my feet!

Will your knitting be exposed to smoke or animals?
I have a dog and a cat, but no one here smokes.

Are you on Ravelry yet? If you don’t mind having new friends, what is your Ravelry name?
I am! My name is convmiller. Stop by!

I'm so excited to do this! I love me some monkeys!
Sign up is until August 31st!

Block This!

Hello!
I'm really excited because I just made some new sock blockers using this tutorial and one 99 cent place mat from Target. It was so easy!





I can use them for all of the women in my family (we're all size 8), and I have a blue and green dot print place mat to make some manly ones.
Now I can retire the sad wire hanger blockers. Yay!