I suck at seaming (but look, sock progress!)

I just cannot seem to get the hang of this seaming thing. I've looked at all the little how-to pictures, and it makes so much sense when I look at those- but when I start the seaming, it all looks like crap. Rather than risk pulling all of my hair out, I may take advantage of being home and having access to Mom's sewing machine (graduating from college, not being able to find a job, and moving back home has at least one perk!).

In more cheerful news, I started, and have been making significant progress on, a couple of new socks: Pillar Socks and Nine-to-Five Socks.

The Pillar Socks are part a knit-a-long in the My8KidsMom Ravelry group. However, I can't seem to memorize the repeats, so I also cast on the Nine-to-Five Socks, which are really easy to remember. I'm working o n the Pillars in Patons Stretch Socks in the Mineral colorway, and the Nine-to-Five in Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Solids in Purple.

FO: Cables and Ribs Socks

I finished my Cables and Ribs Socks, and I'm somewhat pleased with how they turned out. While the color isn't as "fun" as I might like, it is a nice, sedate sock for the workplace, if I can ever manage to get a job. There's something bothering me about the finished product, but I can't quite put my finger on what it is.

Pattern: BFF socks by Cookie A.

Yarn: Elann Sock-it-to-me 4-ply, Slate Blue colorway

Ever since I learned how to cable, I've been kind of addicted. Cables are fun! The cable increases and decreases were a new concept for me, but pretty easy after I got the hang of it.

The yarn was a nice basic sock yarn, and very inexpensive. I'd probably use it again, but I wouldn't order it unless I were already placing an order for something else from Elann, because shipping is so expensive that the yarn isn't worth it by itself.

FO: Cabled Coffee Cup Cozy (Happy Mother’s Day!)

Mom drinks a ton of coffee from Starbucks, and I thought that she could use a nice accessory for that. It's washable and more environmentally-friendly than a disposable paper cuff.

She said she didn't need anything, but I felt that it would be appropriate to at least make her something small.

I would have suck a Starbucks gift card inside, but that's the gift that my brother always gives her (yep, the same thing for every holiday), and I didn't want to step on his territory, so instead I filled it with some dark chocolate Hershey's kisses (her favorite).

I like the way it turned out. The pattern is Cabled Coffee Cuff (rav link). The cables were enough to keep me interested, without being overly complicated.

I knit it in Paton's Kroy Socks 4 ply in the Winter Eclipse colorway. My only complaint was that there were a few less=dyed spots in the places where the color changed, which is something that I haven't found in the other multi-colored Paton's yarns that I've used.

FO: Thira Halter

I was absolutely determined to wear my Thira halter to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, so I was up late Friday night finishing it. It turned out wonderfully; I think it's probably the most flattering halter top I own.

I love the way it fits, although I may shorten the strap some. It took some time to get used to working with such a stretchy yarn- I'm still not sure whether I like doing so. I think I prefer working with a nice wool, although I like the way that this yarn knits up.

Pattern: Thira Halter, available from Knitty

Yarn: 3 skeins Elann Esprit, Colorway African Violet

Mods: none

Sheep and Knitters and Yarn, Oh My!

Okay, so it's a corny title. But I got a little excited about the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival- it was amazing! I have never seen that many knitters, knitted objects, sheep, or yarn in one place in my life!

Unfortunately, I couldn't get a good picture of the inside of the vendor buildings- there were just too many people! But I did get some nice pictures of some of the animals.

Look at the horns on that guy! Pretty impressive, in my opinion. 2 sets!

I also saw some other pretty sheep.

This one wanted to visit the sheep next door.

I also got to meet some llamas…

…and some alpacas.

This poor little guy got stepped on by his mother when he was born. She broke his leg and hip, so he spent the first month of his life casted. He just got the cast off, but he hasn't figured out how to walk with four legs yet (he learned on three!)

I also bought some very nice sock yarn.

Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Solids in Purple and Turquoise…

…and Sock Hop Superwash Merino.

In addition, I couldn't resist the beautiful silver rayon yarn from Shel B. Yarn.

I love how it shimmers!