A Two-Fer!

The first part of this "Two-Fer" is my first skein of spun silk. The second aspectis my first beaded yarn. Behold! Approximatley 95 yards of 3-ply silk yarn, 2 plies are spun silk and 1 ply is commercial sewing thread to which I strung on 100+ size 11 seed beads in a variety of coordinating colors.
Too bad my camera doesn't handle close-ups very well! You can see some of the tiny seed-beads spun in there on the right-hand side. This stuff is SO shiny!
Here's what I started with- a length of hot pink and electric blue unspun silk. Purchased from ThreadBear in Lansing last week 2/13/08 when dh and I managed to get out of the house without the kids to see "The Blind Boys of Alabama" in East Lansing.

Working on a pair of shorties (Detroit Red Wings theme this time) for a cloth-diapering friend, along with the Noro Socks (one is DONE! Second one is casted on!) and the hibernating Autumn Cardigan. Don't know why I can't get it in gear to work on that- I tried last weekend and only managed about 8 rows on one sleeve before I switched to something else. :sigh: I think it's the tiny DPN's. With such a huge body going, row after row on little DPN's doesn't seem much like progress. I've heard others have stalled out at this point in this pattern too, so I'm chalking it up to "normal."

Malabrigo Baby Sweater

First up today is a teeny-tiny baby sweater made from one skein of Malabrigo (colorway "Curacao") for Baby Sainz. A co-worker of mine just found out their firstborn will be a boy, and thus I had to "get busy" with the tiny clothes. This sken of BUTTERY soft merino has been itching (not literally!) to become something adorably tiny, so I sat down and "winged" it, no pattern. I wish I could write up the pattern, but it's not a 'perfect' design by any means. The arms are a bit skinny, but newborns tend to have wiry arms, eh? (Mine did!) I'm so excited for them, I can hardly contain myself! This baby has been a beautiful blessing, and has brought new life into a tough work environment.
Picked up some silk to spin while stopped at Threadbear in Lansing before the "Blind Boys of Alabama" concert on Friday night. I truely wish I'd had more than 20 minutes to spend in there. Absolutely going to have to make it a day trip next time!

Scored some merino/alpaca roving on Etsy last week, a fantastic shop called "All Spun Up." I can't hardly decide what to spin first!
Although truely, I should be working on some WIP's, right?!?

Wyatt's "Hot Legs" Longies, half-of-one Noro Sock, and "WhatIfKnits" Raffle

1. Recently completed (except for installing the elastic in the covered waistband) longies for a dear friend's ds, Wyatt. Dad's a huge Jeff Gordan fan and wanted a pair that would mimic his colors/theme:

2. Showing off the start of my Noro sock yarn sock. Simple stockinette with a tiny cable running up the front of the foot. I might add one later that runs up the back of the calf, but I haven't decided yet! (The cable shows now on the 'side,' since this sock-fetus is currently laying sideways. Not that the picture shows it well anyway! LOL!) I'm really loving this yarn, even with it's unusual pseudo-single ply and a touch of thick-and-thinness. It's softer than I expected, and coming together nicely on 2.5 mm needles. (US size 1.5)
3. WhatIfKnits is hosting a rafffle with some AWESOME prizes in exchange for making donations to chosen animal welfare or protection groups, or your local equivalents. I donated to Harbor Humane Society's "Hope Fund," and hope you will consider entering this raffle and supporting a good cause.

Sam's Stripey Socks- DONE!

Here's my February socks! Started them yesterday, 2/2 and finished tonight before half-time 2/3/08. They're made for my 6-year-old son, and he LOVES them already!Yarn: Regia Stretch Color, 50 grams (tiny bit left over.)
Pattern: Improvised toe-up, 2x2 rib on top of foot and all of leg, gusset w/turned heel.

Colorway repeats were not exactly the same length in each repeat, which bugged me but Sam says that makes them "special," so it works for me! :)

Sam's Stripey Socks

Taking a break from the Autumn Cardigan has given me a chance to make a pair of socks for my son, Sam. He's been asking for socks since I finished Emily's handspun rainbow socks (below) so I picked up a ball of Regia Stretch Color (he only needs 1 ball to make 2 socks, lucky me!) and got started yesterday. Even though I had a raging headache, I finished one sock yesterday and hope to have these finished today. Good mindless Superbowl Sunday knitting, for sure!