August socks

I finally can access the internet. Lately every time I try to post the internet shuts down.
Any way August has my PHD month and I did get two projects half done finished. Here are my August socks. I can't find the yarn tag and I don't remember the name but I love the way they turned out.

Tee shirt

I saw a tee shirt in a catalog that had:
Knitting keeps me from killing people
Some days that is very true.

Pi Shawl

I have finally finished my Pi shawl. I have ripped out more on this project than any other, run out of yarn, and had my circular needle cord pull out of the needle leaving me with 90 open stitches to try and pick back up. I used Misti Alpaca in brown and hand painted maple gray, size 8 circular needle, and lots of stitch markers. I got to use my blocking squares for the first time. I really liked the way they held in the T pins. I need to pick up another pack. I was one square short ( as you can see from the picture).
Over all I love my shawl and have yarn to make another one.

PhD or UFO

It doesn't matter what you call them. PhD (Projects half done) or UFOs (unfinished objects) there out there waiting for us. We all have them. Some are projects that we have run into a problem with, some are ones that seem to take forever to finish, and some are now so old that we didn't remember why we started it in the first place.

I'm dedicating August as PhD/UFO month and I'm trying to clean up some of the projects that are nagging at me. The first one is my EZ Pi shawl. I only started this in April so it's not that old but I need to get it done. I have challenged a friend to a race to see who can finish first. That should keep us both on track.
Then I have two pairs of socks, a triangle shawl that I have forgotten the name of, a rectangle shawl that the name escapes my mind, and afghan that I've been working on forever.
We'll see how I do.

Color work

While looking around on the Ravelry group site Great sock off of 2009 I found the finest expamle of sock colorwork that I have seen in a long time. I added the blog site to my list. I don't know much about her other than she is from the Norway and she also quilts.
If you are looking to be inspired try her blog site http://hjemmeute.blogspot.com/.

No July socks

Since I didn't get any socks finished in July for sock of the month club (see Socks, Socks, Socks) I thought I would do a sock book review. I'm afraid to admit how many sock books that I own and vowed to not buy anymore when Wendy Johnson came out with Socks From The Toe UP.
I have other toe up books but I have only successfully made one pair (out of many) toe up socks. I don't like the short row heal. Well Wendy must have been reading my mind and put 3 different kind of heals and toes in her new book. I first checked it out at the Library, telling myself that this would keep me from buying it. Well after taking it home and reading through it I decided that I had to have it. I like the different styles and illustrations.
My review is if unlike me you don't get almost every sock book out there my two favorites are: Wendy's Socks From The Toe Up and Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch.

P.S. I did two pairs of sock in Feb and March so I'm still on track with a sock a month. The problem is I have enough sock yarn to go for another year or two.

Socks Socks Socks

I started a pair of Fair Isle red white and green socks for my Christmas in July theme. The first time I ripped them out they were way too small. Check gauge and try again. The second time they fit up until I started working on the foot(cuff down). They didn't fit over my heal. I checked my gauge again changed needle size and I'm now trying them for the 3rd time.
Real Fair Isle is tricky. Unlike yarn that is dyed to look like Fair Isle you are working with 3 different balls of yarn(or how ever many different colors you are working with). You have to have the gauge almost a little bigger than you want so that it doesn't end up too tight. You also have to make sure that the strands in the back are not pulled too tight. They need room to float and stretch so the item you are making is not too small. If the stands are too loose you also run into problems.
I have made other Fair Isle items like purses,hat and mittens without much trouble. I love working with different colors and patterns.
I will stick with the Christmas socks and I will win out in the end or find someone with smaller feet.