Well, College Guy is happily back in his dorm room, sharing space with the room-mates. This is the first year that the guys and dads did not have to completely assemble a 3-person loft on move-in day. New “modular”, “stackable” furniture this year was supposed to make it all easier. We had no idea that they’d spend even more time contemplating the best room arrangement for a triple bunk bed, 3 desks, 3 dressers, 3 closets, 3 shelves, couch, refrigerator and tv. None of these large, heavy pieces of furniture were moved any less than 3 times each, in an attempt to find the perfect solution. All three boys and all three dads were glad when the final arrangements had been settled upon and we could actually move them in, lock, stock and barrel. We all left around dinnertime and they finished the unpacking and settling in. (Yep. I’m sad today. But College Guy is happy and that does help. You know, if your kids are happy, you can deal with your own sadness.) I would venture to guess that he’s the only College Guy who went to college with his stuff packed in a big box that said ShibuiKnits on it, and another that said Regia Kaffe Fassett. But that’s just a guess. Now I’m back in the Loopy mode, and catching up on emails and orders from the weekend.
I did get some knitting done in the car, up and back. Look at these little Baby Monkey Socks I made. (They really are exactly the same size – one is back further on the branch than the other!) A friend of mine just had a little boy and I wanted to make something for her. It was fun to make these up as I went along (using Cookie A’s Monkey pattern on the top of the sock.) I emailed to ask her if I could share the pattern on our Free Patterns page, but she’s on vacation until September 7th. I’ll let you know. I really have no idea how that whole thing works. I know people take things from stitch dictionaries and construct their own socks around them and publish them, but this is different because Monkey is just Cookie’s, in my mind. So I’ll keep you posted. But I had a lot of fun knitting them up and I hope the mom and new baby like them! This was made from 1 ball of a new line that just arrived – Crystal Palace’s Merino 5. (Very squishy yarn base – I love it.)
Fun stuff going up in this week’s Sneak Up. Finally, all of that All Things Heather you all have been waiting for, plus Trekking, Sockina Cotton, Austermann Step, Crystal Palace Merino 5, Regia’s Kaffe Fassett, ShibuiKnits, and more Fleece Artist Somoko and Merino. Maybe more Seacoast Panda (the other half of our order) and Zen String Bambewe. We’ll see how far we get. Plus Wendy’s patterns, Addi Turbos, and a new DPI WIP tube that I know you’ll like.
Anyone do anything fun this weekend while I was gone? Any knitting accomplished?
Sheri didyouknowthatPumpkinSpiceLatteswillreturnfortheseasontomorrowatStarbucks?Yum!
Yay! I love the pumpkin ones – I’ll have to celebrate my arrival in Seattle with a stop at Starbucks (how appropriate, no?) And hopefully I’ll have plenty of luck with the wireless in the hotel, so I can get in on the sneakup if I need to. (Heh….”need”.)
Ugh, all that furniture! So how much agony is hubby in? Are we all hopped up on Alleve? š
I used to work in residence life back in the day and I was always amazed at how much stuff could get crammed into a tiny space!
Your baby Monkey’s look great! I need to knit some baby things for my SIL very soon. I’ve met Cookie before and she’s really nice — I’d be shocked if she gave you a hard time about posting your baby version.
And I’m looking forward to getting my hands on some of the Regia Kaffe Fassett yarn! I’ve been a fan of his since I learned to knit over 20 years ago.
I knit a pair of baby socks this week end too In some left over Lorna’s Laces. Mostly I just tried to get rid of a monster headache, without success I might add. So no real knitting accomplished.
Glad College Guy is settled in. Sounds like he is ready for a wonderful year.
You’d think we’d learn by now that convenience does not necessarily mean easier wouldn’t you?
I had fun getting together with an old group of friends from school when one came in from grad school out of town. They’re all guys but me and not only did I severely beat them at poker but I personally took all of them out! And they thought I’d be terrible š
My weekend knitting was getting the back almost done on what will hopefully be my first completed sweater by the end of the week.
When I have to move a bunch of stuff, I like to make a little scale drawing of the room and the furniture, and cut the furniture pieces out. I can scoot them around on the drawing of the room to see what fits where, then tape it all together for moving day. š
I LOVE pumpkin spice. And eggnog, and gingerbread… Sigh.
This weekend I finished a pair of socks in Shibui Knits in “marine”. So pretty.
I’m contemplating ripping out a yarntini sock in “fig and plum” because it’s my first attempt at Wendy’s Toe Up Sport Weight Sock with Gusset and it’s just too big for my taste. While I decide, I’ve started a pair of Zig Zag Socks from Cavy Knits that I found on Ravelry using Zen Strings Serendipity Sport. I’m concerned the yardage (241) won’t be enough as the pattern calls for 260. The colorway is Naiad and it’s so beautiful. If you ever get it again I will certainly order more!
The weekend also included swimming and baking and vacuuming but the knitting was the most fun part!
College Boy should just be happy his furniture MOVES! I remember our dorm rooms all the furniture was screwed the the floor!
We had baby girl’s 3rd birthday party yesterday, seems like she was an itty-bitty baby just the other day. She’s so big now! She had fun and got some new clothes, a dress up box and dr kit.
I also finished my mom’s Cable Down Raglan on Friday. Yeah!
I made one of the new Cat Bordhi’s socks (the one with the linen stitch)…now I have to make the other one to have a pair š
Gina
Ah, I remember those college days of living in the dorm. It’s amazing that a mini van load of my stuff could actually fit in my half of the room. Maybe that’s where I learned my creative storage ideas that I now use for my yarns.
This weekend, I finished a pair of socks out of Zen String Serendipity Sport yarn in the Valentino color. The colors are so pretty! There’s wasn’t much knitting done because we were watching our friends’ kids. Counting my two, we had four kids running around all day Saturday. Their ages were 6, 3, 3, and 1. Phew!! It was crazy, but everyone did have fun.
The baby Monkey socks are so cute. I like the added touch of the rolled cuff.
I finished a beautiful Kaylee sock in Fiesta Boomerang. Y’all, that is the yummiest yarn ever, even if it’s sort of thick. I could knit with it, umm, a long time. And these socks can be house socks or clog socks, so I will get a lot of use out of them. I also knitted up a sample piece of lace for a friend who’s starting a dyeing business. So far, semi-solids in every color imagineable have been tested. I can’t wait to see what she chooses for “production mode.” Photos of both are on the blog. I will take a picture of the Kalyees in a tree when #2 is finished and send them in!
And if you did not get any of that Seacoast Panda in the last sneak up, don’t miss it this time! That yarn is gorgeous! I got Silver Leaf and it just shimmers. Can’t wait to knit with it.
I started a KAL for the Autumn Cardigan by Ruth Sorensen!
Welcome back to College, College Guy. Glad you made it there safely and mom/dad made it back home safely.
Welcome home Sheri – Glad all went well with College Guy’s move-in, though I know you hated to have to leave him there! Your baby socks are adorable!
Not much sock or scarf knitting for me over the weekend, but I am almost done with a purse to be felted…Hopefully will finish that today sometime after I get my work done, and then back to the Dream in Color socks for a friend. Just the foot left to go on the last sock! I have to tell you, I am IN LOVE with Dream in Color…what gorgeous yarn!!
So glad to see the Fiesta Baby Boomerang didn’t make it for the sneak-up this week as my yarn budget is ZERO until after payday next week!HAHAH
Yummy Pumpkin Spice!
I know it was hard for you to send him back to college. Time sure does fly. I love the little Monkey Socks. I have some leftovers I might have to figure it out for a little girl I know. Enjoy your Pumpkin Spice latte tomorrow. I have never even been in a Starbucks.
Sherri
I love the baby booties and would love to do some for the two new grand neices that I have. When you say that you used the Cookie A monkey sock pattern is that different from the Monkey sock pattern on Knity? I keep seeing everyone talking about doing the Monkey Socks and thought it was the pattern from Knity.
Will you be selling the Cookie A Monkey sock pattern? Do you have any other fun easy baby bootie patterns?
thank you
martha
ugh. coffee. It’s okay, though — leaves more for you.
Knit a bit. Working on summer shells since it’s still in the 90s here.
I’m going to be making some wee Monkey socks. Too cute. I’ll use my leftovers. Should be just enough.
Her Serene Highness turned four yesterday. There was cake. I ate some for you. (So you could save your calories for the pumpkin spice latte, of course. I’m ever so thoughtful.)
Baby monkeys! I love that. I’m definitely going to have to make some now! š
GET OUT!!!!!! In one post you told me about Pumpkin Spice Latte and Kaffe Fassett! I am on Mini-Vacation until Wednesday so perhaps I can indulge in both.
HUGS to you for the College Guy Sadness. I know it is hard, been there and done that. Be kind to yourself and remember you are cherished. It helps.
So do pumpkin spice lattes.
Have two.
Great minds must think alike – I just started my first pair of baby socks this weekend.
Such cuteness!
Pumpkin spice latte – be still my heart!
i knit the baby booties from Last Minute Gifts. So cute!!!! I can’t wait for the pumpkin lattes!!!
Well, I accomplished part of what I set out to do according to the list I gave myself on my blog at the end of last week (but no photo taking). I am nearly finished with my first Monkey sock – just the Kitchener left – it looks so nice right now I’m afraid I’m going to make it look ugly if my skills fail me, lol… And, I love those baby Monkeys! So cute! I just got an annoucement that a friend had her baby, a boy, on Thursday, so I think I need to make something cute for the little one!
In other non-knitting news, I think I most enjoyed my visit to see the EugĆØne Boudin exhibit at the National Gallery of Art in DC – it really makes me want to go back to Normandy – I think that is my “happy place.”
And, thanks for the heads up about the Pumpkin Latte – I just may need to have one! : )
Umm–how about I’m curious about…
1) If you knit your cute little baby Monkeys toe-up or cuff-down?
2) What you guys think of the new so-called loftable dorm furniture? At my son’s university, the ones who never had their own home built lofts don’t know any better. But most of the kids really miss their own lofts because they could store so much more that way than the new way. It was nice to get new furniture, but bad without a lot of their storage.
3) Are you going to carry the Addi Lace Needles? Those have quickly become my favorite. Also, can you talk them into making a size 0 & sizes from say 7 to 10 or so?
Welcome back! Enjoy some Cold Stone & cookies. Sorry for all of the questions, but inquiring minds want to know, please. š
I love pumpkin! The local custards always have pumpkin as the feature flavor in October. YUMM!
I made some progress on the Fall Socks. I’m just about ready to complete the gusset, like 6 rows away on the second sock. BUT, now I need to frog the first sock back to the heel. My step-DD has taken over the socks and the heel flap is too long for her foot.
She’s also put in a request for turqouise socks to bring her luck while she’s ice-skating. And the socks must be a bright turquoise, not teal, not pastel, but in-your-face turquoise.
Pumpkin Spice is my all time favorite. I’m a huge fan of anything pumpkin. I have a recipe for easy, to die for pumpkin scones that I can’t wait to pull out once the cool weather arrives. I love having a fresh scone for breakfast…with coffee of course!
Getting him settled must have felt good, sadness is to be expected. I finished a pair of Monkeys this weekend, too. They’re bigger than yours, though. š
Now I’m even more excited about the Starbucks opening in town, sounds yum.
Ah yes, we spend the better part of the previous Saturday doing the same thing for College Guy #2, only with two sets of furniture, and the previously-owned-loft was not built to accomodate the type of bed in CG#2’s room! Never thought we’d be sawing boards in the dorm hallway…..
Started a Sensational Sock for my dad in Lorna’s Java…only to have him remind me of his wool sensitivity…dang! SO, I just get to use that lovely stuff for something/someone else…more knitting….aw gee…..I *am* starting to feel that need-to-get-it-all-done-by-Christmas pressure, though….I think my list gets longer every time I look at it!
I just returned from vacation in Kansas City. Went to a couple of yarn shops, but since I’m mainly sock knitting, didn’t buy much sock yarn– yours is soooooo much better! So, placed another order with you today! This weekend, I finally finished 1 of my Monkey socks with Cider Moon Pistachio — absolutely gorgeous! Really wish I didn’t have to make 2! š Back to work here, too — but it’s pretty slow right now, so think I’ll just go home and knit!
Does College Guy have the same roommates every year?
I think it might be time to break out the picture albums from when he was a wee little pre-college guy.
We had a pretty packed weekend -shopping for and attending the second kid birthday party in as many weeks, company for dinner one night, and a trip to the zoo in Tucson. Even so, I finished one sock and got halfway through another! I’m feeling a need to really crack down on knitting up more of my stash but the next sneak-up will just make it grow again!
I had a great weekend. I got Cat Bordhi’s new book “New Pathways for Sock Knitters.” I sat and made 2 of the practice socks. All I can say about the book is WOW. I have been knitting for over 50 years and I learned more this weekend than I did since I started knitting.
It will blow your mind. It was hard at first to grasp the new ideas about what socks look like. but now I can’t wait to knit more of them. I am going to use all my left over sock yarn and make all the sample socks.
I guess all my goats will have warm socks this winter.
I love those baby socks!!!
Well, I felted up some bowls and noodled around with a mini-bowl pattern using up some leftovers. I also continued to work on the heel flap for my Rococo socks.
Does Addi make DPNs or just circs? If they make DPNs, are you going to carry them? I’ve already bent my Susan Bates size US0 that I am using to make my Rococo socks – don’t ask. š
I accomplished some late night shopping… but you would know that. š
And it looks like you’ll be adding a few more must haves this week. You are so naughty! And I’m so glad!
I wonder about the days when my boys will be off to college. It will be strange. This year I have one starting Kindergarten and one starting high school (plus 3 in between). I hope you have a peaceful adjustment.
A *triple* bunk? As in…3 beds high? You might have to make monkey socks for whomever has to climb to the top š (let’s not think about when chili is on the menu at dinner for those guys!)
I am in the mood for a pumpkin spice latte. The forecast for Seattle right now is mid to upper 70s (with maybe one day around 80) from today through Friday. And then a cloudy, cool, and possibly wet Labor Day weekend. All 3 days š A perfect time to break out something that tastes like Fall to go with the weather than FEELS like Fall.
I’m in Christmas knitting mode right now. Currently working on cashmere scarves and also about ready to cast on for a baby blanket for a friend due in October (and it’s a lace pattern so I must be a total glutton for punishment to pick that pattern and start this late!). š
I asked my dad Saturday if he was happy that this is the first year he hasn’t had to move someone in or out of an apartment or dorm and he said yes, but we were still needy and took up his time. =P I love my dad, he tries to get everything done in a reasonable amount of time. Now my dvd player works, internet, lights are brighter, and I won’t electricute myself on the wonky light switches because he fixed them. =)
Great socks! I love knitting baby things!
Pumpkin Lattes – YUM! Although I am sad to see summer leave, fall is my favorite time of the year! I love the changing leaves, the crisp feel of the air, you name it! I finished a pair of socks in Fiesta Boomerang (Quince colorway) – check it out at knittingkris.blogspot.com – I purchased the yarn from you! My aunt is the lucky recipient! š
I’m gearing up for a chevron scarf out of Fiesta next, after I finish crocheting a prawer shawl for my friend (did I say crochet?)! I can crochet a lot faster than I knit at this point, and I want to get it to her ASAP! š My children started school today too, so it’s a little rough on me! But oh, the smiles on their faces!
Love the socks! What a great idea to make baby Monkeys!
Oh, A pumpkin Spice latte sounds perfect right now! Every fall, I make pumpkin chocolate chip muffins….they are way too good!
I accomplished quite a bit this weekend, Sheri. I kissed wonderful plump liitle baby cheeks. I gave crazy kisses to my three year old. I took the baby to meet my Satrday morning knitting pals. I was up in the middle of the night….and I think I knit about three stitches this weekend:)
You have a great week. Drink a Latte for me….I am so glad there is a Starbucks near me:)
Yay for the pumpkin spice lattes–one of my personal favorites. I’ll be up early to hit the gym, then reward myself with a grande. Actually I pretty much love anything pumpkin. All the new yarns sound fabulous! Sock knitting just keeps getting better and better. I understand about the sadness when College Boy goes back to school, but starting a new sock and drinking a pumpkin spice latte can sure help.
Too cute sockies!!!!! I just finished the first of my new pair of socks using Cat Bordhi’s new book. I used the Coriolis pattern holding 2 strands of Trekking XXL together using two #3 24″ circular needles. This was my first time using 2 circs and knitting continental and I am very happy with both techniques. Can’t wait to get started on the second one. I’m looking forward to the next sneak-up with all these new yarns!
I remember moving daught when she left for college – holy henry I never saw so much stuff in all my life – & of course she couldn’t live on the first floor anywhere or anywhere they had elevators!! Since then we have moved her 14 times. Twice to school overseas. After this last move into the city we said never again! (Her in-laws agreed we’re getting too old for this!) Sonny boy wasn’t so bad although he has moved 9 times he got his buddies to do the lifting. The absolute worst was when they shared an apartment off campus. One would come home for the weekend & go grocery shopping in our pantry. One night at 3:30 in the morning we got a call – daught wanted us to tell Sonny Boy to share the can of Pringles he brought from home! My hunka hunka burning love was LIVID – took the phone & threw it against the wall. (Not like him at all!!!) Sooo when we got up at 5:30 to go to work we tried calling them & the little sh**ts let the answering machine pick up – hellloooo they were sleeping. Ahhh the good old days!
Got a ton of knitting done this weekend – almost finished another sisters socks for her birthday today. Hope to finish them this afternoon!
Love those baby Monkey socks. Hope you can share the pattern. I’d hate to have to try to figure them out for myself.
Waiting for the Pumpkin Spice Latte Season is like waiting for Shamrock Shakes….:o)
That’s right, almost everyone is back in school today! I imagine the dorm room was kinda crowded w. three pairs of sons/dads, let alone furniture. One day, someone will see those “special” moving boxes and say to your fella, “…hey I order from there and the lady is soooooo nice and the yarns are soooooo nice!” Cuz it’s so true! Sounds like some great new yarns!
Love pumpkin lattes…SO not ready for fall, which is what pumpkin means…eeek!
Glad College Guy got moved in all right! The rearranging the room part was always fun for me…though not so much for Dad and brother!
The weekend was spent coping with the loss of all 3 children to different college campuses. Coping included, but was not limited to, knitting, shopping, chocolate, lattes, more shopping, knitting.. well, you get the picture. I love those Monkey baby socks! Hope you can post the pattern.. Also feeling the need to enhance my stash with the next sneak-up. You are such an enabler. š
Sherie
The baby monkeys are adorable. I need to do some so I hope you can post the pattern. I have a question about the Monkey socks. So many blogers are talking about the monkey sock. The pattern I found was in Knitty. Does Cookie A also have a pattern? Are the the same or similar?
I want to start a pair but have not had the time yet. I just finished two baby blankets for new babies. Now I think I need to do the monkey booties.
Thank you
Martha DC.
Those baby monkeys would be perfect for the bits of left over sock yarn! We went and cut another load of wood for this winter on Saturday. I was able to knit down to heel flap on some campfire socks on Sunday evening. It’s only about 70 degrees here in centrla Colorado, and the willows are already starting to turn yellow, with the aspens not far behind.
Happy kids – proud Dads – great photo.
Hmm, I swear I left a comment earlier. I know I asked if he had the same roommates every year.
And then I mentioned the necessity of looking through pictures of a pre-college guy.
I wonder if the processed m*at filter picked it up for some reason.