WIP Wednesday: Irresistible Socks & Dancing Sheep

As I mentioned on my blog earlier this week, I was able to snag the third-to-last limited-edition colorway in Bijou Basin Ranch's Tibetan Dream sock yarn which was hand-dyed by Miss Babs. Even though I'm test knitting a sweater, participating in the Chill Chaser KAL and also doing the FreshStitches Mystery CAL this month, I have thrown all caution to the wind and cast on for another pair of Wedge socks by Cookie A with my pretty new sock yarn:

This pattern is really fun to knit, and it's absolutely perfect for variegated yarns. The first pair I made ended up being a bit large, so Tyler ended up being the lucky recipient of the finished socks. Though I didn't keep detailed project notes in my Ravelry notebook, I was able to find the pattern I'd copied for knitting-on-the-go, which had all of my handwritten notes on it. I'll be making the next size down so that I'm assured these socks will fit my feet this time around!

I printed out the second clue for the Mystery CAL on Monday, but I probably won't get to it til later this week since I'm working on a top-secret project for my nephew's upcoming birthday. However, I have made some progress on my Chill Chaser, this week - though it's not very exciting to look at, I do have 12 inches of stockinette under my belt:

If you're thinking of joining the Chill Chaser KAL, there is a fun new video to help you pick your colors which was animated by my husband Tyler (and it features an instrumental version of a Shalloboi song!):

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Overdyeing A Finished Knit

Even after just a few years of knitting or crocheting, you're bound to have some finished projects lying around that never get worn or used. After 10+ years of crafting, I have more than just "some" or "a few"....and with my ongoing quest to declutter my house this year, I've become obsessed with going through these forlorn projects and making some Big Decisions. Sometimes, they are perfectly fine and just need a new and loving home. Other projects may have not turned out quite right: there might have been some mistakes in the knitting that I thought I could live with, or the yarn was gorgeous but not well-matched to the pattern, or my taste has drastically changed since I finished making the project...in any case, why on earth did I keep knitting?! Who knows, but I don't feel good about gifting anything that falls into this category to someone else. These projects have been relegated to the "frog pile" (or should I say, frog pond?), to b...

Easy DIY: Beaded Vintage Snowflake Ornament Kits from Solid Oak Inc.

I was really excited to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new as part of my "Christmas in July" theme this month. The kind folks at Solid Oak Inc offered me a chance to review one of their Nostalgic Christmas beaded crystal ornament kits I couldn't resist. My tree is already full of ornaments I've inherited or been gifted from other family members and friends, so these pretty crystal beaded ornaments will fit right in I think! I was super impressed with this compact little kit , which includes everything needed to create three gorgeous vintage-style ornaments - just add a pair of round nose pliers (I found mine on Amazon for less than ten bucks). The instructions had some fabulous tips for newbies like me; for example, it recommended sorting the beads and laying them out in order on a towel or beading mat to prevent them from rolling away. That may seem obvious, but I was totally ready to start beading on my kitchen table without a...

What If I Didn't Add Heels?

Last weekend, I finished the first sock with my Waterlilies yarn , and just for yuks, I tried it on even though it was basically just a tube sock. Much to my surprise, it fit really well, even without a heel. Who knew? So, that got me thinking: what if I just didn't add the heels? I never thought a tube sock would actually fit nicely, but I genuinely like the fit, so...why spend time to add the heels? As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.... Let's say I decide not to add heels once the second sock is done - there will still be placeholder yarn for the afterthought heels, as you can see above, so should I leave it in and just weave in the ends? Or should I remove it, put the live stitches back on needles and at least graft them together using more of the Waterlilies yarn? I plan on mulling all of this over as I knit the second sock, and I'd love to hear your opinions of what you think would look best (or if you think this whole "n...

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