Looking for pastel yarn

There is a talented designer whose blog I found. Her name of Jane Lithgow and she has designed some pretty summer socks that she calls "Summer Pick 'n' Mix Socks." You may have seen the patterns for them on Ravelry.

Well, they are just demanding that I cast on for some of them, but I don't have any pastel yarn. Do you know of a source that I could use to order some? Knitpicks has some that will be available in September. I'm not sure these socks will wait that long. They are calling my name!

I have no pictures for today. (I know, I'm falling down on the job.) I have been stalking the hummingbird that comes to my feeder to no avail. He's quicker than I am. The dogs haven't done anything cute this week (possible due to the triple digit temps). And my WIP is almost a FO. So I will get a picture of it later this week.

Let me know about the pastel yarn and I promise to put in photo(s) later this week.

Beginning of pair #3

This is the first sock of my next pair. I have it all done down to closing the toe.

The pattern is Diagonal Cross Rib from Favorite Socks by Interweave. The yarn is called Goody by Tempted in fingering weight. The needles are 5 Clover Bamboo US size 2 dpns. This is the third time I've done this pattern. It is a quick knit. I started this one on July 18.

I will enter these in the next drawing for SOS08.

I only have one new pic of the pups. Here is Buster trying to be the big guy's little lap dog. He is a loveable little fellow. With Bunny's medical problems, I'm afraid he doesn't get his share of attention.

Summer of Socks 2008, Pair #2

Here is the second pair of socks completed for SOS08. They were cast on July 6 and finished July 18 just in time for the second drawing.

I have already cast on for the next pair. I'm using the yarn that I received for the April Tempted sock club. The pattern I chose is Diagonal Cross-Rib Socks from Favorite Socks from Interweave. I've used this pattern twice before. The modification I use is to make both socks ribbed in the same direction, instead of one going each way. It is an easy pattern to remember and it fits me well.

One of my problems with patterns is when casting on for cuff down, I need at least 70 stitches. My ankles and calves are thick and some days they get puffy. So all those cute sock patterns that cast on 50-some or 60-some just won't fit.

When there is no deadline, I can add some stitches here and there and make them fit. But when I'm knitting for a 2-week drawing, I need something that fits from the get-go.

Here's a couple of pics of the babies. Everyone is healthy and happy at the moment.

New Books

Friday while I was playing golf, the mailman came to my house with two new books! One was Wendy's Book, "Wendy Knits: My Never Ending Adventures in Yarn," and Nancy Bush's "Knitting on the Road: Sock Patterns for the Traveling Knitter."

Needless to say, my knitting has suffered, as I have had my head in a book most of the weekend. I'll get back to it tomorrow, I promise.

Spring Forward

For this two-week period in SOS08 I'm knitting Spring Forward. Many of the knitters are using this pattern and I know why. It is a speedy knit. There are no purls, only knits, ssk's, k2tog, and yo's. I'm using a ball of Trekking XXL, I think the number is 100. It doesn't look springy, but I like brights. The picture washed out some of the brightness, but I took the photo after dark. When I get them finished I will take one outside in natural light.

Buster took a trip to the vet's office today for a manicure. His nails were so long he looked miserable. He fights me when I try to trim them, so I pass him off to the techs at the vet's office. He doesn't mind going there at all. In fact, all my dogs have loved going there. Bunny rode along but stayed outside with the big guy.

The vet decided to reduce Bunny's meds again, not as low as before, and to continue there until he gets back from vacation on the 23rd.

The pictures were taken with my new camera. I'll eventually learn how to operate it, I hope.

I had a nice day off today. It rained and rained. That means we stayed mostly inside and read and knitted. I enjoy that occasionally on my day off. I only hope that by Friday it will be dry enough to get on the golf course.

Good News, Bad News

The good news is that I finished my first pair of socks for Summer of Socks 2008. They are a generic 2X2 rib, knit from Tempted's "Envy" on Knitpicks US #2 circular. I think they finished up nicely. I'm happy to be able to start something new.

The bad news is that Bunny had 2 seizures Thursday 4:30 and 4:45 a.m. The vet has us upping her phenobarbital through the 4th, then we will report and find out what comes next. I thought the 1/2, 1/2 was going to work. I guess it isn't.

Here are Buster and Bunny enjoying the 4th of July in the sun on the deck. Happy Fourth everyone.


Now it is time to pick out yarn and another pattern for my second pair of socks for SOS08. I think I will go with whatever is ready to knit. I don't have a winder and the big guy is not handy to hold it on his feet. Check back to see what I chose.