Travel Projects

I'm on the road 3 weeks in July. I'm especially bummed because I was in Seattle last week, sick (again) and didn't get to go to any of my favorite places. Especially to Crossroads to see the Eastside Stitchers .

So - I'm not chatty. I've got another cold that turned into a sinus infection, so lots of late night coughing and very little sleeping. Travelling while sick is not fun, and I'm sure my plane partners and the people I was in town to meet probably wish I had stayed home. But the meetings sort of had to happen - and all things considered it was probably good I went. but that doesn't mean I have to be happy about it!

Next week - I'm in Atlanta for a company conference and meetings. Grrrr.

But then the week after that - we head to Asheville to take Janeen to Summer Camp. Smile. Finally, a trip I'm happy about!

So - while on the road - I'm knitting socks and crocheting.

First - My flat feet socks:



See the fabric, you can see the results of unravelling, but as I've said before, I sort of like it. It should all block out though. I also like the mini-stripes that are forming in the foot. Better than the pooling in the ribbing.

As if I didn't have enough socks on the needles - I felt a desperate need for some travel socks. Soft ones. Panda Wool is very yummy and fits the criteria nicely.



Travel socks you may say. Typically - I'm not really a sock person most days. I like my feet free and loose and wear flip flops most of the summer. I do wear my handmade socks in the house, in lieu of slippers. But rarely are my socks seen in public - except when I travel. I hate taking off my shoes barefoot and I also hate wearing shoes on the plane. Now that I make my own socks - they are perfect for travelling. Comfortable and perfectly fit for me.

Here are my feet with Socks and my favorite travelling shoes in Minneapolis - waiting for the plane during a thunderstorm. The picture was taken with my cell phone, so excuse the quality.



So - if you haven't started knitting socks yet. You have to give it a try!

Lastly - My crochet shawl was my travel project of choice this trip. And she made progress:



Not as much as the socks...

Next week I hope to visit Knitch in Atlanta, that will be a nice little side trip? If only I can go and keep my wallet out of danger - I'll have to let you know how it goes next post :)

Little bit of this, little bit of that

I have several big projects I want to do - but for some reason I'm gravitating to little projects these days. The Charity wash clothes are the perfect project for this mood. Especially - with the bright and variety of colors available in the cotton yarns.



Each one is fun and colorful, but I'm done before I get too bored. I can also finish a row while waiting for the kids to get off a ride at the Carowinds or Spash Country - so it's a great travel project too.

I finished 3 this week, and am working on the 4th.



I've been making this from the booklet "Knit Dishcloth Sampler" I like that these are all large - 50 stitches across. Except for the one I knit diagonally, that's just a plain diagonal, garter pattern. My default pattern when knitting totally mindlessly.



This yarn - Salt and Pepper in Lily Cotton - makes me think of Cows. :) I knitted most of this at Carowinds after the "Night of Fire" fireworks on the 4th. The fireworks were truly impressive. But even more impressive is the total lack of ability to leave the parking lot for 2 hours. With - 3 cranky, tired and thirsty kids. If we ever go back - we will leave a lot earlier! I can't believe they planned the traffic control so poorly.

I've also been knitting socks for the same reason - small and mindless.



I started this one on Sock-Ease - I wanted to test out the new Lion Brand yarn and I like the colors. I so far have not been able to tell there is any Aloe Vera in the yarn, but it's not bad to work with. May be a tad bit crunchier than most yarns. Definitely not as nice as the high-end yarns, but a nice yarn for $9 a pair of socks. Good yarn for kids socks.

I also have been working away of my Flat Feet socks.



I do love the feel of this yarn, very soft. Because it has been knitted, it has a crinkle too it after knitting - but the sock yarn maker said it will block out. If it doesn't - oh well - I sort of like it :)

I found some crochet flowers I had made using craft floss - I love the colors - and the yarn is glossy and very colorful. I was playing with the color combinations. I would like to find something to make it into - a throw or shawl. But I haven't decided and am not looking forward to sewing a bunch of flowers together. So who knows. For now - they just look pretty on their own :)



I also found some Bookmarks I crochet as gifts. I had forgotten about them, but they do make nice quick gifts. I made these out of Opera crochet thread, but I wonder how it would look with a lace-weight wool, starched.....hmmmm...







Just a few :)