Jessimuhka Knits

You know how sometimes you get behind at something, and it becomes this big monkey on your back because the longer you put it off the bigger of a job it becomes? I feel like that's what happened with me and blogging this month. I suddenly got super busy with school (shouldn't have been a surprise) and also suddenly got some sort of social life (ok, that was a surprise), and blogging kind of fell by the wayside. I have been knitting though, and taking some pictures, so I'm going to try and get everyone caught up so I can start off on the right foot next month.

I don't know if anyone noticed, since I wasn't posting, but I added a Google Reader blurb to my sidebar. I think it's a pretty cool little tool. I switched over to reading my blogs through google when I was having some trouble with bloglines, and I've decided I like it better. The blurb thing shows items I've recently read and flagged because I thought they were interesting and worth sharing for one reason or another. I'm probably not going to bother flagging any big name bloggers because y'all probably read them already, but I thought this would be a fun way to expose other smaller bloggers that are doing cool things.

As far as knitting goes, I've re-obsessed myself with socks. I finished a pair of Koigu socks and started (and almost finished) another pair in Socks that Rock.

Koigu Socks in color #447, 3x1 rib. 63 stitches over leg, 64 over foot, standard round heel. I made these about a quarter inch longer in the foot than I usually do, and the fit is much better. The picture is pretty much true to color.

Socks that Rock in Red Rock Canyon. Another true to color picture. These are just plain stockinette with a ribbed cuff and round heel over 64 stitches. I lucked out with the stripes lining up. The first sock is done and the second is just past the heel gusset, so these should be done soon.

Continuing the sock obsession, I saw this picture in my sock knitting flickr group, and just had to have the pattern by Cookie. Luckily, Jen was going to Stitches West and was able to pick me up a copy. Thanks Jen! There are a whole bunch of other great new sock patterns on Cookie's blog as well. I have a feeling I will want them all eventually.

I've also knit a bunch of little things this month, including two garterlac dishcloths. The first is in some left over Knitpicks Shine and makes a good face cloth as it's textured but not too scrubby. The second I don't have a picture of because it went straight into the shower. It's in one of the ____ 'n Cream cotton yarns from craft stores and is an excellent wash cloth. I don't feel clean unless I've really scrubbed off a couple layers of skin and it's great for that.

This was super easy to make and only took an evening of tv watching to complete. Pattern available here [.pdf]. I'm considering making some sort of garter based entrelac scarf, obviously out of a nicer yarn, at some point in the future.

Another thing I haven't gotten a picture of yet is a set of fingerless mitts for my friend Tammy. We have a class Monday and Wednesday nights in a room that is absolutely frigid. It's like sitting in a meat locker, and I always bundle up with my Endpaper Mitts, one of my knit scarves, and a hat. (Those of you who know me know I don't get cold easily either. It's really cold in there.) She's been jealous of the mitts, so I knit a pair out of Rowan Calmer based of the Fetching pattern from knitty. I added a thumb gusset to make typing easier too. Hopefully I'll get a picture of them in use on Wednesday.

Finally, I've been slowly working on the Tina Shawl. It's pretty impossible to photograph now because there are so many stitches on the needles. I've got a good 35 or so rows to go before finishing the third chart though, so I won't be making that goal this month. It's still a fun knit though and I know I'll enjoy the finished product as well.