Emptyknitster

(Although the family drew lots on Easter to see whose socks would be knit first in the end I skipped #2, The Tiger's sock blank. I am worried the feet will be an unfortunately feminine color for the boy. With some discussion with his Mom and Dad they reassured me it is the dyeing of the yarn not the colors The Tiger is interested in. So these socks will be next.) I jumped into the saddle, knitting SadieLouWho's sock blank and really like the springy like the results! Pattern: Toe the Line Socks by Amanda Bourke Yarn: Knit Picks Bare Stroll Single Strand Sock Blank Colorway: Not So Secret Horse Lover Needle Size: US Size 1

After the kiddos finished their Easter egg dyeing we started in on the sock yarn dyeing! I was surprised how much everyone enjoyed it.They understand the socks will be fraternal and they don’t mind a bit. Sarah painted five sunflowers with blue sky in the background on her sock blank. Socks are done! The Flying North Pattern was perfect for this busy yarn! As these socks were progressing I sent photos to the artist/dyer and she loves them.    We couldn't wait to wind the yarn up into cakes. I knit one sock from the outside of the cake toward the inside and then I started the second sock from the inside out. I did this because of the different shades in the yarn, ending in a fairly close match! Pattern: Flying North by Maria Montzka, Fish Lips Kiss Heel Yarn: Knit Picks Bare Stroll Strand Sock Blank Colorway: Sunflowers Needle Size: US Size 1

Last month I dyed some yarn using ice cubes . What started out as a disaster was over dyed into some pretty nice yarn. Not wanting to knit a vanilla sock and having used the usual male patterns I went on the hunt for a new one to try and Syncopation Socks fit the bill. I like the look of the unworn sock but when worn the pattern stretches out a bit and loses the unusual texture. Pattern: Syncopation by Mary Henninger Yarn: Knit Picks Bare Colorway: Blackberry Cobbler Needle Size: US Size 1

The Chick That Flew The Coop and NorDakFamily arrived last Tuesday and soon the Easter Festivities began. I had discovered a new game for the kiddos called Tenzie .  The rules and supplies are simple: Each player needs ten dice in an individual color. Everyone rolls the first roll at the same time, decides what number they are going to collect, and after the first roll there are no turns - just roll the dice to collect all of the number decided upon. When the player has collected  all ten of the same number he calls out "Tenzi!".  The kiddos liked playing, there was no pouting from anyone because as soon as one game was played (it took about two minutes) another started! Fun!! I also had some spring sun catchers for them to paint they loved doing them after running around outside and visiting the neighbor's horses. We had Easter early as the NorDakFamilly had to head home Easter morning so egg dying happened on Thursday: This year we used Koolaid to dye the eg...

Growing up I often heard Mom recite this poem when I became a bit of a challenge: "There was a little girl,             Who had a little curl, Right in the middle of her forehead.             When she was good,             She was very good indeed, But when she was bad she was horrid." Mom holding me about at about 2 years old Mom said it was a Mother Goose rhyme but recently after seeing a darling little girl with curly hair I did some research and found out that in fact it's a Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem. The rest of the poem goes like this:    One day she went upstairs, When her parents, unawares, In the kitchen were occupied with meals, And she stood upon her head In her little trundle-bed, And then began hooraying with her heels. Her mother heard the no...

I love this colorway and I seem to be able to duplicate it fairly well! This time I used Wilton's food coloring. English podcaster, Tilly Trout, recommended the pattern which looks very nice in this colorway!  When I'm a bit worried if I have enough yarn I like to do the toes, heels, and ribbed tops in a contrasting color. Pattern: Slip Stitch Lines by La Maison de Saba, Fishlips Kiss Heel Yarn: Cascade Sock Yarns Heritage, Knit Picks Bare Stroll Fingering Sock Yarn Colorway: Turquoise and Poolside Bitch Needle Size: US Size 1

On Saturdays, when the gurls were young I'd often make waffles for breakfast and just for short time called them "Awful Waffles." Until middle daughter, who HAD loved them for breakfast, no longer would eat a single bite! Oh my, it was because I'd been calling them awful for several weeks, and years later she still claims not to like waffles.... I've improved my sock knitting technique in the last few years. When I began this sock knitting adventure they all went into my sock drawer but as I got better at knitting socks, they became gifts for friends and family. Now, as I look at the socks in my drawer, I long for the much improved versions! Kendy, from the WyomingCowboyFamily, has told me on several occasions that although she has been receiving her Birthday and Christmas socks she'd never turn down sock drawer hand-me-downs.  I'm pretty sure that she should be looking in the mail for a package soon! And then I'm adding these socks to my sock...