Thanks

Thank you to Beth, and to my SP for answering my question about my sock. I think I have it all figured out. I am almost finished with sock number one. I will post a picture soon.

I had a wonderful trip to Aspen. I only have one picture. I was in meetings from 7 am til 4 pm almost everyday. And I took my camera, but I didn't have a chance to take any pictures. I'll have to keep those images in my mind. The weather was good. It rained almost every day. And the one afternoon I had free, I was going to go hiking, and the sky looked like it was going to fall. So I went shopping instead.

I went to the Aspen Yarn Gallery. Who could not check out the yarn shop. And to my surprise, they were having a sale! I bought some sock yarn, cause I still couldn't afford anything else in there. I am feeling strapped for cash these days. But they had some nice things.

I also found this store called Lush. They make all there own "cosmetics" they say. But it is really just skin care products, hair care, etc. It is good quality stuff, that is not that expensive (except for the $78 moisturizer that I kindly left on the shelf). Wish they had a store that was closer, but I am glad that they have a web site. I may have to buy some other stuff. I am a skin care nut, and I am always looking for good quality stuff. I bought some henna for my hair, but I am nervous to use it. $15 a block, instead of what I pay to get my hair done was enticing. But I'll have to see how it works. Makes me a bit nervous. They also had this "deli" where they had there own facial masks that are all freshly made and kept on ice. You can't buy those on line.

Well, I hope everyone in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama is doing okay. The pictures are making me sad. The power of nature is truly awesome. It makes me appreciative for all that I have. I wish I could go there and help. I may look into it.

I have a question

I am tryng to knit the basketcase sock. All is going well, but I am a little nervous I cam going to run out of yarn before I get to the toe. Anyway, I have a question, as this is the first top down sock I have knit. The sock has 60 stitches. I have gotten to the heel flap part, and there are thirty stitches I have left behind, and I am knitting away on the flap. I have two questions.
1. Next I am supposed to turn the heel. I now have 30 stitches on the needles. These are the instructions:
Turn heel
Row 1: Slip 1, Knit 19 stitches, SSK, turn.
Row 2: Slip 1, Purl 10 stitches, P2tog, turn.
Row 3: Slip 1, Knit 10 stitches, SSK, turn.
Repeat the last two rows until all stitches have been worked (12 sts remaining). Slip 1, knit across.

I think I can figure this one out. Maybe another question later.

2. This is the real question I have. The instruction for the instep are as follows:
Instep Pattern (18 stitches):
Rows 1 & 2: K 8, P 2, K 8
Rows 3 & 4: P 6, K 2, P 2, K 2, P 6
Rows 5 & 6: K 8, P 2, K 8
Rows 7 & 8: K 2, P 2, K 10, P 2, K 2
Rows 9 & 10: K 2, P 2, K 2, P 6, K 2, P 2, K 2
Rows 11 & 12: K 2, P 2, K 10, P 2, K 2

Okay, now the instep pattern in the continuation of the sock patter, so theis is the top part of the sock. But I have 30 stitches on those needles and this says 18 stitches. I am very confused about what to do when I get to this point. Can someone help?

Thanks

I am headed to Aspen on Wednesday for a conference. I will have to figure out if there are any yarn shops, and what projects to take. And if I can't figure out the sock thing, it may have to be something else, which is no big deal. Anyway, thanks in advance for the help.

Finally some pictures

I warn you, I finally have pictures.

My dad was in town this weekend. We didn't do much except eat! We went to two great restaurants, one to which I had been before, and the other I had been wanting to try. We had an awful thunderstorm yesterday, and we were stuck out in it. There are over 140,000 people in our area that no have no power. I am luck, mine never even went out.

But I was able to get some knitting done. I finished the placket neck pull over from the Last-Minute Knitted Gifts (I actually finished it last weekend, but I have been lazy taking the pictures) It is knitted in the Knitpicks yarn called crayon, in this beautiful red color. The pattern called for a wool yarn, but I thought the cotton would be better. And the boucle of the yarn makes is look very different. The seed stitch time is a bit hard to see, but I think that my friend will like it.

After finishing the sweater, I decided to start a new pait of socks for me! I found this pattern on line, and I swatched for the sock Wednesday night at the Knitting meetup group that meets at Barnes and Noble. I have never been to this group meeting before, and I met a lot of nice people. But here is the sock progression.

This is the Lorna's Laces that I bought when I was in Reno. The colorway is called Circus.





This is what the yarn looks like wound in a ball.







And this is what the sock looks like so far. I love the way that it is striping. I hope the next skein will do the same. Well, I think that I better go to bed. I am a tired cookie.

Christmas in August

I got home today and I had two boxes waiting for me! One was my second Secret Pal package (really my third treat). It contains a skein of Noro Silk Garden in color 34, with a pattern for a Silk Garden Beanie from And She Knits Too. Along with the beautiful yarn is a sweatshirt from University of Calgary. My SP graduated from there and now work in admissions there. I am excited to have a college swetshirt from across the border. And it will keep me nice and toasty on Labor and Delivery, which is freezing these days. (Despite the temperature being above 100 today, one of the residents had his fleece lined jacket on when I walked onto L&D this morning.) You know what I love about my SP, she writes with a fountain pen (I do, too). And she sent the most beautiful picture of irises on the card that came with my package. I love irises.

And in addition to my SP package, I had my contest prize from Cara. (I have to give Cara credit for this picture, cause I borrowed it from her site). It is a beautiful purple Jagger Spun Zephyr Wool Silk (50% Wool, 50% Tussah Silk). I may have to venture into something lacy with this yarn. I had thought I would not take part of this lace craze, cause I really don't have the time. But I think that I am going to have to jump on the bandwagon. There is also a box of her Sheep and Wool Cards. These cards are beautiful. I can't wait to send them to someone.

I have finished the baby sweater for my friend. I have to seam up the underarm and weave in the ends. And then I can give it to her. I spent most of today, which I had off cause I worked yesterday, running around doing errands. I have been so busy with my case list and the abstracts that I haven't had time to do anything. One thing I had to do was take my cable box to the place and trade it in. Then when I got home, it wasnt' working, so they sent a signal to it and they zapped it. Now I don't have any movie channels. Ugh! I am not very happy about it. In the last 2 years of living here, I have had more trouble with this cable service, but I don't think I can get satellite here in my building. I may have to look into it.

Anyway, I will post some pictures tomorrow when there is some light.

Finally....

A knitting Post. I am almost finished with my baby gift sweater. That is my goal tonight! I also have two abstracts due by the end of the week. The first one - C'est fini! I have some more data to look up on the second one, and then hopefully I can get that one finished too. Then I will have more time to KNIT!

I am enjoying my new computer. Except that the mouse is so sensitive that it I hit it when I am typing it moves the cursor all over the place. I can't complain though.

I will try and post some pics of the sweater later tonight or tomorrow, depending on if I finish. Hope all are well.