Friday, Finally!

This weeks knitting has been all about Ruby My Dear's, with a little Jóhö thrown in.  Because of that, Ruby is/are nearly finished, only a toe to go!  This sock pattern has been a challenge, a good challenge, and fun to knit.  The second sock was much easier and I rarely needed to check the charts or pattern.  The red yarn is so, so lovely...call me very happy! (Photos next week)  Sadly, or maybe not, the Shockwave socks have taken Jóhö's place in hibernation.  I just can't face them right now.  Their day may come...don't hold your breath.

The last week of August looms...it is just amazing how quickly the last two months have gone by even if it seemed like the excessive summer heat was interminable.  The return of the heat they thought would come this weekend will now stay away and we have had a few cooler nights. This August's weather is turning out to be what August should be like.  Still, it has been the hottest summer on record...just in case you thought there was a bit  too much complaining around here.

So, back to the last week of August...two main projects are on the needle, only two!  If I stick with the Kelly Cardigan and Jóhö, stay true to only two, I should make headway, don't you think?  The finishing flurry of the last few weeks has been rather enjoyable and it would be nice to keep it up.  There are plans, formulating now, that will cover the next few months of knitting time and, said plans, should also slosh over into 2008.  So, rather than tell you about what's up my sleeve (in time my dears), I'll stick to talking about Jóhö and Kelly.

Kelly is a very classically styled cardigan by Erika Knight from the Classic Knits collection. Erika's choice was Kid Silk Haze, but the yarn I'm using is Grayce's Plain and Fancy Sport.  This is a lovely hand dyed yarn spun from the wool of Grayce's own sheep.  It can only be purchased at Estes Park Wool Market or the Taos Wool Festival (coming in October!).  Grayce dyes it in the most beautiful combination of colors and Magenta is one of my favorites.  As with any hand dyed/hand painted yarn there can be subtle differences from skein to skein.  To keep dye lot/pooling/flashing problems at bay, I'm knitting with two balls, two rows per ball.  The photos appear a bit eye-shearing but in reality, it looks great.  So far I've got about half the back finished. The wool is so soft and the fabric has a nice hand.  The color changes keep the plain ol' stockinette very interesting and entertaining.

That's all I have today, no flowers for Flower Friday as they are mostly spent. It's the first sign of fall...the lack of perennial, showy flowers. Instead, I give you a picture of Moxie. He needs a little grooming, but he's still a cutey. Have a super good weekend!

Comments

[Carole]

I know how much you love Grace's yarn so I know you will love your new sweater. Have a peaceful weekend.

[Stacey]

Moxie is the prettiest flower I've ever seen!
I think the "cool" out here is an illusion - 110 degree days make the past week of 95 seem cool. Of course, it has been in the 60's overnight.

[Paula]

I think "Moxie" would make a great colourway for man socks. Flowers got nothin' on Moxie!

[Manise]

Love Grayce's yarn! That Magenta colorway is wonderful. I like how the layers of color show up in the stockinette fabric. What breeds are Grayce's sheep- is the yarn a blend?

[Julie]

I'll take a picture of Moxie any day!

He certainly is a cutie :)

[ann]

is Smith as good looking as Moxie?

[yvette]

I love your new cardi colour, very pretty. As is Moxie, what a cute, adorable face.

[Kim]

Not usually a pink person am I, but I think I am in love with your cardi....just lovely!!!!

Moxie's as pretty as any Friday flower I have seen :-). Have a great weekend!

[Elaine]

Moxie is gorgeous! I have a little black female mini schnauzer that is the sweetest thing. I'd gladly look at Moxie pictures any time you want to post them.
Elaine

[Frarochvia]

I really like that cardi! Mottled and a bit showy, but definitely never boring.

And Moxie is a very cute flower ;)

[Lolly]

Love the yarn variegation for the Classic Knits pattern - so pretty! Hope you have a great weekend :)

[Carol]

You have a nice weekend too! Looks like Moxie is gently demanding that we do also :) Kelly looks gorgeous on your stones, have I ever told you I'm crazy about your stones? Well, I am! Ruby My Dears are stunning!

[Knitnana]

Hey, Moxie! We've missed you! The socks are just gorgeous...I love those colors!
Have a great weekend - enjoy those cooler nights...we're stuck in the hot, stickies still...
(((hugs)))

[Chris]

The Ruby socks are gorgeous! Aw, Moxie - so serious!

[Diana C.]

Moxie's a cutie! We had a mini schnauzer growing up, so I'm partial to them.

looking forward to seeing the finished socks and more of your cardi.

[Heather Joins The Round]

What a sweet expression your baby dog has.

I love that color for you!

[Marcia Cooke]

What a face! Love the socks and, darn you, I now have to go buy another knitting book!

[Beth]

Those are lovely colors on Kelly - she's got a way with the dyes.

[Tan]

Oh, that face!

[Teyani]

love the Magenta. it'll make a great cardigan.
Moxie is such a cutie pie.

[Wanda]

Those Ruby socks are beautiful. I so love the design and the color you selected. P&F is always a dream to work with. I'm still undecided if my P&F will be a cardi or a pullover. Maybe this winter will be the time to work with it.

[debbie]

believe it or not, the nights and early mornings have been cooler than usual for summer here in kaneohe, hawaii - i've been able to use my handknit socks almost all summer long! moxie looks like he's ready for a walk....have a nice weekend - and yes! hooray - it's friday!

[Beth S.]

Someone's going to have a new pair of socks this weekend! :-)

Kelly looks the way I think a variegated project should look. There's no beating a very simple stitch pattern with very simple shaping to bring out the beauty of the yarn. :-)

[kelly]

Awww. Haven't seen that little guy in a while! How does he like the summer heat for his walks? I'm guessing not so much!

[Cookie]

I love that little face... and I am so not a dog person. :p

Wonderful red socks! Kelly looks very promising. Although, I'm not sure how you can work on a sweater in the summer. /sigh

Has this just been the weirdest summer weather-wise or what? Thank goodness you're in for a cooler weekend.

Happy Weekend!

[Lucia]

Those socks are gorgeous! So is Moxie. And a great weekend to you too.

[kathleen]

ooops. hit post accidentally. I am letting my fingernails grow and they are unwieldy--not even action length but I am a weenie. Anyway. Moxie is adorable and I love the colors of Grayce cardi. Reminds me I have to finish lengthening the sleeves on my Kersti cardi.

[Pat K]

Sweet Moxie! Just as good as any flowers, if not better!

[kat]

Moxie photos are always welcome!

Now, your knitting photos are dangerous! I always end up wanting to knit whatever you are working on or just finished. Just call me a lemming. The socks look great.

[kat]

Moxie photos are always welcome!

Now, your knitting photos are dangerous! I always end up wanting to knit whatever you are working on or just finished. Just call me a lemming. The socks look great.

[kat]

Moxie photos are always welcome!

Now, your knitting photos are dangerous! I always end up wanting to knit whatever you are working on or just finished. Just call me a lemming. The socks look great.

[kat]

Moxie photos are always welcome!

Now, your knitting photos are dangerous! I always end up wanting to knit whatever you are working on or just finished. Just call me a lemming. The socks look great.

[Ruth]

Aww, look at those whiskies! Moxie is such a cutie.

[Alarming Female]

Are those Moxie's eyelashes? Cosmo's are so long--they just keep growing like the rest of his hair.

What a sweetie.

[Debi]

Moxie certainly is a cutie! I love your cardi, M. It's nice to see variegated yarn turning out so well!

[sandy]

That Moxie has some face, huh? How can you resist all that cuteness going on?? :D
Loving your socks.
I'm so ready for fall! Summer is overrated!
xoxoxo

[Laurie]

That's going to be a stunning sweater. Moxie agrees.

[Anne]

Oh I just had to post about Moxie :) what a cutie he is . We have two mini schnauzers as well ,aern't they adorable ?

[Kelly]

The socks look great and I love how the Kelly cardigan is knitting up! Moxie is adorable much cuter than flowers.

[liz]

Moxie is certainly an appropriate name for that sweet, fuzzy face! I love the red socks. Gorgeous!

My sympathies on the loss of your friend.

[eyeleen]

Wonderful red socks! Moxie is quite the cutie.