Sockapal-two-za

I've signed up for Sockapal-two-za, the return of the sock knitting exchange. I have a really cool pal that I'll be knitting for, but I can't say why she's so cool, because she'll know it's her if I post about it. WHen the sock exchange is done, then I will!

However, before I get started on that, I'm actually knitting something for myself... some socks!

This time I'm knitting the "You're Putting Me On" socks, using the Generic Pattern. One of the things I like about the generic pattern is that I don't have to try and get yarn and needles to match a specific gauge for the specific sock size, I just choose some yarn and needles, swatch to find out what my gauge is, measure my feet, and then plug in the numbers. It's great!

Sock number one is well under way. The figure-8 cast on was a little fiddly, but I managed to get it to work, and the toe increases were nice and simple. Then knitting most of the foot and trying it on as I go, and I'm now up to the gusset increases. The astute will notice that I'm using the Magic Loop method.

I've already completed sock number two. "What are you talking about, Timothy?" I hear you ask. Well, it has been noted by many, that one of the problems is knitting socks is that there's such a sense of satisfaction in completing the first that if you don't cast on for the second sock straight away, it can be a very long time before you start the second sock, let alone finish it. One of the ladies of the Greater St Louis Knitters' Guild suggested that the solution to that is to knit the second sock first. So I did.

Karyn Knits!

Karyn has also been knitting - she's been working on baby blankets. Firstly, one for the aforementioned nephew, with a diamond relief pattern.

The second is a work in progress, knit in the round, with a pinwheel look, and the pattern is free!

I am alive and I have been knitting!

I have indeed been knitting, for my new nephew. I knit another Baby Surprise Jacket, this time in stripes. And I found some wonderful buttons for it.
I also knit matching hats and booties in two colours.
So they can be mixed and matched.
Yes, they are a little on the large side, but I don't expect them to be used until the autumn.

Downtime...

Apologies - My hosting service moved, somewhat sooner than expected, and there was a small transitional problem. As you can see, it's now back as it should be. Normal service, as they say, has been resumed.

Memorial Day Games

Like I said, I've been trying to find time to post :)

Memorial Day, the St Louis Boardgame Meetup Group had an extra all-day event.

Some of the games played were Ave Caesar, Blokus, Fluxx, Hammer of the Scots, Hamsterrolle, Louis XIV, Pitchcar, Risk 2210AD, Santiago, Squint, Twilight Imperium, and War of the Ring.
They are the ones I got pics of anyway. And here are the pics, in that order.




As ever, click on a pic to view the larger version.

Knitting update - another baby blanket

I've been meaning to put a pic of this up for ages. Only just found time.

This is my Parquet Squares Baby Afghan.

Using size 13 needles (probably using circular needles for length - not knitting in the round), and two strands of worsted weight yarn. 2 colours (that's two strands of each colour, not one of each together).

Colour A (blue), Colour B (yellow)

Cast on 45 sts
Row 1 & 2 : with A, knit
Row 3 & 4 : with B, knit

Repeat until you have 45 stripes (23 of A, 22 of B)
Cast off in colour A, until you have 1 st left. Turn the square a quarter turn clockwise, and pick up 44 sts (one per stripe). Treat that pick up row as row 1, and follow the stripes pattern until once again you have 45 stripes in this quarter.

Complete the third quarter in the same fashion.

Pick up the stitches for the fourth quarter the same way, but pick up an additional stitch from the first quarter when you get to the end of the row. This will give you 46 sts on the needle, so pass that last st over the previous one to compensate.

Knit the last quarter the same way, but at the end of each odd numbered row, pick up a stitch from quarter one, and pass it over the previous stitch to keep the st count at 45.

Once you've bound off the last quarter, break yarn and thread through the last stitch.

For the border, take colour B, and pick up 90 sts along one edge. Knit one row then bind off, leaving the last st on the needle. Turn the blanket, and pick up 89 sts, knit a row, bind off. Repeat two more times, the last time picking up an axtra stitch from the beginning of the border, passing it over the previous st, as when doing the last quarter.

Break and weave in ends.

I used Caron Simply Soft acrylic yarn, a little over 2 skeins of each colour.

Kitchen gadgets.

I'm a bit of a cook. I enjoy cooking, and enjoy the gadgets one needs for cooking. A good set of knives is imperative. As is an excellent knife block to hold them in.