Back to the beach

I finally got the Pebble Beach socks done. These will be sent to my daughter in Seattle, where the weather is colder than it has been in years. Did I pick the right year to move to SoCal, or what! Actually, I finished them last Saturday at the WeHo SNB.

Then promptly cast on another pair of socks.This yarn has been in my stash for a few years. It is Froehlich Wolle from Switzerland. I especially like that it comes with its own toe and heel reinforcement, all wrapped up on a card and color coordinated. However, it does make the gauge a bit different and that part of the knitting a bit stiffer, but they will most certainly be warm! The color 1271 is a combination of blue, green and a touch of purple. All my favorites.

I so enjoy the ladies at the SNB at Farmer's Market! The are all so much fun and very helpful. Since I am new around these parts, I have to ask about good yarn shops, fabric stores, etc. You know, the essentials of life. Ellen, who is an L.A. native, is my first source for all things fiber. (of course, that could also mean a good ethnic restaurant, but let's not go there right now...) Last week she steered me to the Black Sheep Knittery in Hollywood. If you are in the L.A. area or just visiting there, GO! GO! GO! see Kristal at her shop. As I have sworn off all yarn purchases until October (except sock yarn...that doesn't count), I had to be prudent. I did get a ball of sock yarn, LANA GROSSA Meilen-whatever. It is the type that simulates Fair Isle, which is as close as I am ever going to get to knitting Fair Isle socks.

Still number 2

As I have yet to receive my notebook full of knitting needles from Washington, I am still using only the #2 circs that I brought with me. Okay. I will make do with what I have right now. It beats buying new sets of Suzanne's Ebony needles or worse, not knitting at all!

These mitts were made for my youngest daughter after I told her about the Arrgyle socks I was planning on making this year. Since she doesn't wear socks in SoCal, I thought she might like mitts instead. Well, she liked the idea a lot! So, I made up the pattern and here they are. I duplicate stitched the skull and crossbones on after the mitts were done. I used Rowan 4 Ply in black. I was somewhat disappointed that the color crocked on my bamboo needles and all over my hands. I guess I expected Rowan yarn not to do that. Whatever.

Not to play favorites, I am now knitting a pair of socks for my oldest daughter. She lives in a colder climate and wears handknit socks that I have made for her all the time. The yarn is Socks That Rock in the Pebble Beach colorway. I really like the light and dark turquoise, tan and brown tones in them. Instead of making just a straight stockinette sock, I decided to use the Eyelet/January 11 pattern from my 365 Stitches a Year perpetual calendar. It is a simple pattern and the repeat fits perfectly. Again I am using size 2 circular needles and am knitting from the toe up. Since her feet are narrow, there are 48 stitches around instead of the 60 I used for the last 2 pair of adult size socks.