Freeing up some sock needles - nearly done with Jacob's Camo socks. This stitch pattern is great - it broke up the ribbing just enough for me - size 13/14 manfeet means many, many rounds of of double rib.

Wool socks are always appreciated and worn often in this house.  Does my heart good. 

Bright happy pink, a simple, fun knit...

A certain fabulous future sister-in-law of mine already guessed her birthday gift... well, more like weasled the gift idea out of me in email by pretending she was going to make one after she saw my last bolero on the blog even though she knew darn well this is exactly the type of thing I like to make her and had probably already cast on and everything... so I don't feel bad about posting this picture.

I'm totally not falling for that again, though.

(A little late on the questionnaire - which I have mooched from Bunnysquirrel and LittleWit!)

Crafts: I knit, crochet, spin, sew, cook, and scrapbook. I don't have a spinning wheel but I love my drop spindles very, very much.  I don't have any magazine subscriptions; I usually buy Interweave, and I'm very intrigued by Spin Off.  I love working with wool and alpaca in knitting and spinning, even though I live in LA and it really is warm.  I haven't spun silk but it intrigues me. 

Colors: I like greeny blues, bluey greens, and earth tones, but happy bright colors make me smile, too.  I think my stash gives a good idea of the colors I like.  When in doubt... teal. 

Allergies/Food:  No allergies that I know of.... I don't like white chocolate though.  The darker and more bitter, the better.  I like tea and I love coffee - always strong, black coffee.  I don't mess around with flavors and sugar and cream...

Aside from knitting/fiber related things:  I listen to a lot of music (my taste in music is all over the place, and it often involves a good banjo pickin').  Also, as I mentioned before, I cook and I scrapbook.  I read a lot of non-fiction history - women's history and American history are my favorite genres.  I watch a ton of movies and will watch the same ones over and over... and over.

Future Crafts:  I used to play with fabric dyeing in high school (I had a whole batiking setup and everything) but I haven't done that in years - I just don't have the space or a good bathroom setup (vintage charming tiny sink).  Someday I'll probably get into it again, but for now it stresses me out to think of the cleanup.  I guess that's not really helpful at all... sorry!  Right now, the knitting, spinning, and sewing are keeping me plenty busy and I'm learning a lot.

Thanks!! 

And because I don't have a good photo for this questionnaire, and I want to be able to see this video whenever I want, I give you a video of Radiohead doing a Smiths cover. This is just... words fail me... I'm freaking out... I love it.

Yesterday I photographed a project I began last winter (I literally was pulling out the wool in my apartment... that wasn't just a catchy title folks!).   Like so many other folks, my crafts over the next month are going to be mostly for holiday gifting, but this afghan is going to get some serious attention when I'm done!

 I took pictures of the backs and fronts of some of the squares and used the handy mosiac maker on Flickr (FD's Flickr Toys)... oooh I love it.  Such a simple idea; get a million balls of Manos del Uruguay, and knit up each ball in a different stitch pattern.  I've seen other afghans like this online; I think Manos even has a published pattern for one.  (Oh wait! Quick check on Ravelry - yes indeed! They do! I heart Ravelry.)  For this one, I've just busted out the Barbara Walkers and am trying any knit/purl stitch or twisted stitch pattern that strikes my fancy.

The pictures above are of both the backs and the fronts of the squares so far, and were randomly ordered.  I just love those colors!  There are actually two very different blues - a deep teal and a brighter turquoise.  They photographed very similarly yesterday (which is why it looks like mostly the same blue above).  You can see inklings of each blue in the yarn ball below - I've reserved four balls of that colorway (my favorite Manos ever... ever!) for the border.  Or, possibly, borders... I'm not sure yet whether I'm going to make one big giant blanket or two smaller-but-still-cozy lap blankets.  I kind of feel like either way I can't go wrong... I love the idea of one big giant blanket for our bed, but then again, having our own lap blankets would be cozy, too. 

Sometimes it's just nice to pull out a project I haven't seen in a while... and still like it!  That does not always happen to me.  I'm not sure if this blanket (these blankets?) will be finished this winter, either.  I have many, many balls of Manos to knit up.  I just want to savor this seriously long-term project!

As the weather gets colder, I find myself pulling out my unfinished wool projects and rummaging in my stash to start something new.  I've wanted a sweater made of this beautiful Silk Garden colorway for a long time - I started a top-down raglan a long time ago, ripped it out (it looked pretty, but really - way too warm, and the horizontal stripes were not a good look for me), and the yarn has been waiting for inspiration to strike ever since.

I had a flash, finally, of what I want this yarn to become - and I'm enjoying the process of creating this sweater so much.  The colors change in the light, brighten and get richer; knitting in the evenings at home, the subtle, deep tones are soothing.  I love it.  If it continues to go as planned, I hope to sell the pattern here on my blog.  I'd like to finish this in plenty of time to wear up home for Christmas - cosy, cheerful, warm.  In between the gifts I'm working on, this project is soothing me.