Parts Of Craziness

American Sock Knitting

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 00:26:00 +0000

I am very excited to announce that the book American Sock Knitting is up and available for Pre-order!

I am so happy with the way everything looks and very excited to have been lucky enough to be able to take part in such a great adventure.

(The original test sock)

Go on...Click Here and have a look for yourself. So many great patterns to choose from. All come from a different state representing the area in which we live.

Below is a picture of my design Appalachian Trail Socks that is in the book. I had so much fun coming up with this design. Originally It was named something else to represent the Susquehanna river that flows through our town, but I changed my mind in the end. The process of sketching, then actually coming up with what stitches would make up my design was crazy fun. I couldn't believe how easy it all came together.

To be honest, I think a solid colored yarn would look much much nicer on these because it shows off the stitch definition, but yarn was not my choice here.

Photo courtesy of Beth Moriarty: American Sock Knitting

You can also find my newest design on Ravelry

Here are some of the details:

The Appalachian Trail is the holy grail for American hikers. As it winds its way along the Appalachian mountain range from Georgia to Maine, intrepid hikers are rewarded with mountain, pasture and forest views along its 2,184 miles. Started in 1921 and built completely by private citizens, the trail is managed by the U.S. Park Service but maintained by thousands of volunteers.

Kimberly de la Cruz designed these socks with a winding trail of leafy twists and a lush, fresh color to pay tribute to the Pennsylvania section of the AT. They are too pretty to hide in hiking boots, though.

Finished Size: Adult Medium: Foot circumference 7″ (18cm); leg length to ankle 5½” (14cm); foot length 8″ (20]cm) (unstretched)

Project Gauge: 36 stitches and 50 rounds = 4” (10cm) in stockinette stitch; 45 stitches and 46 rounds = 4″ (10cm) in Winding Trail Pattern

Yarn: Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock (80% Superwash Merino; 20% Nylon, 435 yards/398m); 1 skein Catalpa #310

It's been a long time!

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:54:00 +0000

I haven't really been posting much on here. In fact not a lot lately at all. I am currently enrolled in college and between that, work, and kids my free time is zero. I do have some really good news though; I received an email from the publisher of the book I have a design in.

I am very excited! It will be back in the publishers hand the beginning of July and shortly after I will be able to share some details with you. This has been a long wait and I hope you like what's inside!

Kimberly D.
:)

Torsdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:09:00 +0000

Well the KAL is just about over and I have not succeeded in finishing 3 sweaters. I did get one done 100% Another one is 80% done and the third is about 20% done. Not too bad I suppose.

I could have been done had I not been weaving on my new loom!

I managed to finish a table runner. I ended up teaching myself how to weave as I had nobody here at the house nor any books. I did find some stuff online that I checked out about 3 weeks prior to owning the loom. I read it carefully and when I got the loom home I put the legs on and started measuring for the warp.

However, I do not have a warping board which made things tough, but in the end I managed to make this.

It started out as a scarf, but it was far too short and is now a table runner. I cut off all the fringe except 4 inches and it looks really nice actually!

My next project is another scarf, this time with a long enough warp, and I am going to do a tweed design.

Torsdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 23:12:00 +0000

So one sweater has been finished for the Luvinthemommyhood KAL

And sweater number two (or is that three?) is moving along quite nicely.

I have chosen 5200k by Suvi Simola

I am knitting with Universal Yarn Pace in the colorway Olive.

A fingering 4 ply 75% wool - 25% Nylon blend

I made a few changes already by using a Us 5 for the collar and knitting a ribbed collar

instead of the garter it called for. Then I switched to Us 6 for the body.

I am unsure if I will make any changes to the shaping of the sweater, as the last sweater I made had no shaping and I actually preferred it to the ones that did. We will see what happens.

It's moving along quick quickly for fingering thanks to the size needles. My last fingering sweater was knit on Us 2's, which would be why it took me a year and a half !!

Tonight though I think I am going to make a change of pace, I am going to spin some wool for sweater #3 of the KAL. I am almost done, but it has been waiting patiently for me to actually sit at my Ashford and spin!

Onsdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 11:32:00 +0000

So in the middle of my KAL I decided to tackle some Wip's that I had sitting on the sidelines.

This was the first.

Cruiser Mitts by Cailyn Meyer

These were made for a co-worker that I started this past winter. She was very pleased to see that I bit the bullet and finished them.

Another project that I am going to work on while my KAL is still ongoing is

TTL Mystery Sock 2012

I have one sock completed, The other I am decreasing the gusset.

I think if I keep this up I can have all my Wip's done by the end of the year!

The idea that I had was while I am spinning at home for my sweater is that I can be working on the wip's in the office in between work.

IF I am not too busy. I'm hoping for the best.

FO

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:42:00 +0000

Done!

One sweater done for my KAL challenge.

Torsdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:46:00 +0000

Sweater #1

95% complete
5" of collar left to go and arm ribbing. That's it!

KAL deadline is end of September.

I still have 1/2 of another sweater to go.....

Onsdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 01:36:00 +0000

And so here we go with a little recap of my Summer Sweater KAL

I have my handspun Acer Cardigan on the left, and my Plain & Simple Pullover on the right.

So far I am still working on some singles for the Acer. It's going a bit slow as I haven't had much time for spinning. The Pullover however is making quite the progress finally!

I'll be glad to have both of these done for fall.

Onsdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 23:34:00 +0000

I haven't exactly been the greatest blogger as of late.

But I have been a busy bee.

Well that and I stopped knitting my cardigan so I could join a KAL!

It's probably not to late to join in if you'd like.

You can go to the Ravelry group & sign up.

I was able to join in even though I had already started a sweater. But, I had to stop where I was.

The rules were that if you had already started, then you can join, but late.

I asked if I were able to join at the start with everyone else due to my disadvantage of having to scour, card, spin & set the twist on my Romney fleece. They said yes :)

So today I get to pick it back up and start knitting.

However, I am soon out of yarn and will need to wash more fleece. I figure if I alternate between knitting till I run out & making more yarn, then I will stay interested enough to finish the sweater in a timely fashion.

Unlike the other sweater I am about to show you.

A sweater that I started May 1st 2011

Life got in the way and it became something to do in between kids, life, knitting deadlines etc.

But now that I have been waiting for the KAL to get started, I actually made headway and have started on the front top. This is where I am and where I will be stopping yet again.

It's time to work on my KAL sweater now. I am hoping by fall/winter that I will have two pretty sweaters to wear.

Måndag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 16:17:00 +0000

Things have been quiet around here lately.

I have been busy spinning and knitting and hiking.

I do have some progress photos which I will share later,

and some wonderful pictures from Saturdays hike.

But, for now I have work to do.....

The cast on.....

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Wed, 30 May 2012 22:46:00 +0000

I've begun.

Prematurely so.

Will I regret it?

Possibly.

Do I care?

Mmmm not really.

Well I can say this...

I'm spinning really consistent and I'm checking often so I'm fairly confident I'll be alright.

However,

I'm thinking I might need to change my cast on.

I'm not so sure about it, yet I keep going, telling myself....

"It'll be fine. It'll work out"

Errmm. I'm not so sure about that.

I almost always use a specific cast on & this time I didn't.

I fear the edge might be wonky.

Will it block out?

I doubt it. UGH!!!

I really don't want to re-cast on, but I don't want to get so far then realize I wasted all that time with a crappy cast on and a horrible looking edge.

So, before I get any further than the measly 4 rows I knit already,

rip, rip, rip, rip.........

Onsdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:45:00 +0000

I can't seem to get it right.

I was spinning and spinning and thought I was getting sport weight?

No...

More of a dk/worsted.

I'm ok with that, but that means I have to change what sweater I am going to knit, again.

This is actually a good thing because what I was going to make had a lot of stockinette. I want something to keep me interested.

I have my first hank of yarn (only 188.33 yds.) and I set the twist, knit a swatch, and I got 18 sts/4" on a Us 6

That is worsted right there but I can get 20sts on a Us 5

So as long as I get gauge I can make the Acer Cardigan

I just started carding more fleece last night. I think I carded enough to get me a full spindle, then I have to keep going and going and going....

At least until I have enough yardage and then some to make this project.

Wish me luck!

Måndag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Tue, 22 May 2012 02:03:00 +0000

The thing I like about Romney is its sheen.

This is the first time I have worked with this type of fleece before and I love it!

It's spinning up really well and I have to say that this is the most consistent I have ever been.

I'm getting a nice sport weight for my cardigan and I am very pleased with the first hank.

I have to soak it in the morning, a bit late right now, but soon as I hang it to dry I am going to count the yardage.

It will give me an idea of about how many spindles I will need to go.

I could have over filled my spindle and cranked it on there, but I didn't this time. For the next ones that I fill, I am going to make sure it's a really good fair amount.

I started this project on 5/15 and we are now on the 21st.

Normally it wouldn't take me so long to spin one hank, but I have been gone for the weekend on my motorcycle and I can't exactly take my wheel on the back of the bike. Though I bet that would be a sight to see!

Change of plan

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:53:00 +0000

Originally I had planned to knit a cabled sweater, and then I couldn't spin my singles up to be the right thickness. I had gotten so used to spinning fingering and lace weight yarns, that I struggle making a thicker yarn. From what I hear this is true for a lot of spinners.

I am able to spin up a sport weight yarn. This is quite the miracle for me.

So I will just change what pattern I will be knitting to suit my yarn making skills.

Larch Cardigan.

By: Amy Christoffers

I love this little number.

It's simple and it has this little panel on the chest that just...

I don't know exactly, but I love it!

What I can't decide now is do I leave the yarn I am spinning the natural creamy white color, or do I dye it and risk an uneven dye..??? It's possible. I am not a professional dyer.

It's a chance I might take.

Onsdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

I am a sad, sad person.

Since I have no more deadline knitting for the time being, I have resorted to trying to finish a sweater I started....a year ago.

Yup I did say a year ago.

I took a new picture of it today, loaded it onto my Ravelry project page, and because I keep track of dates etc...It shows I have been knitting this sweater, in stockinette, for exactly 1 year and 4 days.

I have only 10 1/2" done.

I blame this on a few things.

#1 Deadline Knitting

Reason: Well I think the title explains it all. I had ~~three~~ a few deadlines in fact, so I had to set the sweater aside while I worked on those projects and the pattern writing etc etc.....

#2 Good Weather

Reason: Well in between my deadline knitting there was summer which makes me want to be outside. But it was more than just being outside in the good weather that put my sweater on hold. See #3

#3 Motorcycle

Reason: (yes that's me on my bike) If not for this ~~love of my life~~ fine piece of equipment, I would have been sitting outside in the sun knitting away on my sweater. Instead I was enjoying the breeze in my hair. Then came along deadlines #2 & #3.

So now I have resorted to taking it to work and when I have a minute to spare, I put on a few stitches. When I have a ten minute break, I add on a row or four.

When I come home from work, I am spinning my fleece for my sheep to sweater project.

So all in all by this coming fall/winter I hope to have 2 sweaters ready to wear. If I can accomplish this, then I can do anything!

Happy Knitting!

Tisdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:46:00 +0000

I was undecided what to do with my fleece that I had purchased from MS&W.

Should I wash it myself?

Should I take it to the mill?

My first small test batch did not wash so well and considering last year, I ended up taking it to the mill.

I decided that I would just do the same again this year.

Well last night I decided to wash a second batch, but go about things a different way and read up a bit more on it before I tried again.

Viola!!!

Success.

So I am thinking I will avoid the mill and continue on in my progress on making that sweater 100% myself.

I did the math on the cost of buying yarn for a sweater versus buying a fleece and doing it all by hand. The savings are ridiculous. The time and effort put into it is so worth it in the end for me.

Also I enjoy everything that goes into it:

Preparing, scouring, carding, spinning and knitting.

So far I have half a spindle full of singles that will be a dk weight yarn, which is perfect for the sweater I will be knitting. I only need about 1500 yds.

Oh boy, wish me luck!

MS&W Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Sun, 06 May 2012 22:52:00 +0000

I wasn't supposed to be going to the Maryland Sheep & Wool festival this year (even though I was going to Maryland anyways) But somehow I ended up there! No complaints from me.

I had a great time with two of the greatest people I know and I came home with a bag of 7.5 lbs of Romney fleece. I never spun Romney before but I thought I would give it a go.

I did wash some of it already and started to spin up some singles, but the rest is going to the mill. It's a lot to wash and hand card and to be honest, I truly love the way the mill has it all ready in a 'rope' for me to spin.

This is what I had spun up so far, not quite a bobbin full.

My plan of action for the rest of the wool?

Sweaters.

This being first on the list!

Blackberry Cabled Cardigan, By: Alexandra Charlotte Dafoe

Oh yes, I am going to make myself some sweaters & cardigans. I am putting myself on a sweater project for the year. I have been wanting to do this for some time, but never have I gotten around to it. I read another blog, Knit/Wit, by a fellow Pennsylvanian and she did it last year and this year, and now I am getting my butt in gear to do it myself.

I just needed some motivation!!

Onsdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:22:00 +0000

So yesterday I have started another project for the boss lady using yarn from her own alpacas.

This time I am crocheting. I'm not very fond of the look of crochet unless it is a doily, however I am getting arthritis in my thumb and it is making it difficult for me to knit.

I am making

Crochet Baby Set #106

I do like it. Though it took me some time to find a crochet pattern that I did not think was ugly. No offense to anyone who does prefer to crochet! We each have our preference, but clothing I usually choose to knit.

So we will see how this turns out and hopefully it will go fast. So far so good!

Torsdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:04:00 +0000

Nefertem

By: Kirsten Kapur

I used a yarn that came straight from my boss' alpacas. It was more of a sport weight but it will be nice for winter. She has a show coming up next week and wanted some samples and this is one that will be there at the show.

I'm very pleased with how it turned out. Just waiting for it to dry and I have one more to finish up for her for next week, then I have more samples for her winter show to get knitted up!

Onsdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:49:00 +0000

I started another Rae, again.

By: Jane Richmond

I think this time I'll have success in finishing it.

It's for the boss' wife.

She and the bossman have an alpaca ranch and she has a show in two weeks. So I have till then to finish a shawl I started in her yarn and this.

No excuses!

Fredag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:04:00 +0000

Though my Nefertem is quite larger than the picture shown,

It is coming along quite nicely.

I'm about to start the border.

I think my guess was a two day project, considering how far I am now and the fact that I was working full days, I would say that is still a fact.

Nothing exciting yet but wait till I start the border. Going to watch a movie & hopefully get close to finishing this puppy tonight!

Torsdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:30:00 +0000

So now that my deadline is finished and I am getting some real knitting done, I have started Nefertem by Kirsten Kapur.

At the moment I am knitting it for my boss, knitted with yarn from her very own alpacas.

She has a show she is doing and wants some items to be knit with her yarn and she asked me to help out.

I have some of my very own handspun that I will be using to make another of these for myself. I am very much in love with this simple, easy and beautiful design.

I would show you a picture, but I will save that for later when I have accomplished a bit more when there is something to show.

From the way this is going, I am guessing this is an easy two day shawl project!

Photo courtesy of Kirsten Kapur:

Through The Loops

Måndag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 22:31:00 +0000

So things around here have been quiet lately. Too quiet, but I have been busy knitting up & finishing my deadline project for the book. Hoping for it's release this summer!

So now that I am free to knit whatever I want, I decided to pick up my Hap Blanket.

I love this knit because it is quick & easy and very squooshy with all the garter stitching.

I'll be excited for this project to be done.

Even though summer has almost hit us, the office where I work is like a meat locker & I'll need something to keep my legs nice & warm :)

This is my progress so far.

Fredag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 12:11:00 +0000

Things have been quiet around here lately. I've been trying to finish up my secret project before it's due by the end of March. I'm excited to see my work in a book!.

Last night I needed to do something different. Just a wee bit of a break, so I started the Hap Blanket by Ysolda Teague in some Shetland wool that I bought at my LYS on sale.

The picture does not do the color justice. It's a deep rich raspberry-maroon.

The color shown here is close, just not spot on.

Here's to hoping I can finish my secret project this weekend and resume normal knitting soon!

Happy Knitting.

Tisdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:37:00 +0000

Things have been quiet over here lately. But I have been quite the busy bee. I have been working on a secret project with a deadline looming in front of me. One of my newest designs will be published in a book and should be released & in bookstores by summer. I am so excited about this. I have been published before, but a book just seems like a whole new level.

Here is just a peek. This is all I am allowed to show you. I know you can't tell what it is, you're not supposed to, but you get the idea of colors.

In the meantime, I have partially finished a KAL. I was about done with sock #2 until I received the yarn for my secret project. I had to set it aside for the time being. But here is sock #1 finished.

I did not complete it to specifications. I stopped the pattern partway down the foot. The reason? I was bored & wanted to be done. Not the fault of the designer, but a fault all of my own. I love socks, but I get bored quickly & want to finish quickly and always end up doing something to make it go faster.

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Knitting!