What is it?

It's a sneak preview. Of a project only half finished.
It'll be a few days before you see the final photo because there's much to do around this house before the snow flies.

Can you guess what it is?

Sweatshirt Gray Socks

Sweatshirt gray.

One of my favorite neutrals is sweatshirt gray. You know, the one you always grab for in your closet. It's comforting. It goes with everything. Somehow it just works.

I can't seem to get enough of it.

Yarn: Fortissima Socka - 75% Schurwolle superwash, 25% Polyamid - Colorway #1056

Pattern: My own-inspired by this sweaterNeedles: Sizes 2 on leg and 1 (2.25mm) on foot
Comments: These socks were inspired by a black and white photo of a sweater I'd seen in a magazine. It was a man's sweater, smashingly bulky and lushly adorned with rope-like cables. The sweater would have made me (and many men I know) look like the Michelin Man. But, oh, it was beautiful! I opted for socks. What, you're surprised?

Reversible Socks?

Lately reversible patterns have been dancing in my head. By that I don't mean double knitting but patterns that look like either side could be the "right side." Especially for socks, but for scarves, too. Here are my socks shown on the "right side." Yarn: Pagewood Farm Hand Dyed Sock Yarn. Nice, squooshy yarn!
Pattern: Personal pattern knit from the cuff down.
Needles: #1 (2.25mm) dpns
Comments: I like the striping on both stockinette and the purl sides. The pattern would be suitable for either men or women and the Strong Heel by Gerdine Strong makes it more adaptable to being reversible than a flap heel might.

Here's the view of the "wrong side" and the right side of each sock.

Which do you like better?

Fall Retreat

Our book club does a fall retreat in Wisconsin. This is the view we wake up to each day.

We worked on a puzzle with 1500 parts...

and finished it with only one piece missing.

Of course, between eating, talking and puzzle-solving, there was some knitting among those of us who are knitters. At this retreat, knitters outnumbered the non-knitters 2 to 1. We have tried to convert the non-knitters, but they have their own hobbies, thank you very much! One of them jokingly made reference to her "knitting bag." We knitters take a lot of guff, doncha' know.

Little Cable Anklets - Finished.

Yarn: Opal, Colorway 1991, 75% wool, 25% Poly.
Pattern: Cabled anklets from from the booklet, "Socks for Men and Women." See this post.
Needles: #1 (2.25mm) dpns.
Comments: These are a gift for someone very dear to me. They are anklets, but with a 7" leg, they wear nicely with the cuff up.


Not sure about this project, as I've frogged, ripped, and redone it more than a couple times. The kettle dyed Malabrigo's softness is making my brain snooze. And as you can see in the background, new yarn in my favorite neutral colors.

Knocked Over First

October 1st. I had a brother who was exactly three years younger than I. When he was a toddler, we would ask him ,"When is your birthday, Jon?" And he would answer, "Knocked Over First."
Jon is not here to celebrate our birthdays any more--I miss him. But the Judge always makes sure it's a good day. A dozen American Beauty roses.

And a new stove with convection oven and combination convection/microwave was installed yesterday--woo-hoo! Now I have to do more cooking and baking! Anybody have some good tips or recipes for convection baking? And do I need to change the knobs on my cupboards to match the stainless? Burning questions.

But we're having dinner out this evening!