lostpurl

I got money for my Birthday. I don't need more yarn or needles or books. In fact I don't need anything just now. I was wrong, I do need something, I need to share. So I am now a banker to a couple of hard working (they work harder then I ever have) people. It is like eating chips, you can't stop at just one. Every time I get another $25.00, I know just where to spend it. It has gotten to be a sort of game, how can I gather up $25.00 without making everyone in the house think I have gone nuts. again.
I use to have a bumper sticker that said If You Want Peace, Work For Justice. I am not allowed bumper stickers on this car.
Any how it isn't that I am so nice or anything like that. This is really great fun, and I am hoping that all of the people will be successful. One lady has already started paying back her loan... You go Shehergul

"I just made a loan to someone in the developing world using a revolutionary new website called Kiva.

You can go to Kiva's website and lend to someone in the developing world who needs a loan for their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks. Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent - and you get updates letting you know how the business is going. The best part is, when the entrepreneur pays back their loan you get your money back - and Kiva's loans are managed by microfinance institutions on the ground who have a lot of experience doing this, so you can trust that your money is being handled responsibly.

I just made a loan to an entrepreneur named Terane Zaliyeva in Azerbaijan. They still need another $1,100.00 to complete their loan request of $1,175.00 (you can loan as little as $25.00!). Help me get this business off the ground by clicking on the link below to make a loan to Terane Zaliyeva too:

Kiva

It's finally easy to actually do something about poverty - using Kiva I know exactly who my money is loaned to and what they're using it for. And most of all, I know that I'm helping them build a sustainable business that will provide income to feed, clothe, house and educate their family long after my loan is paid back.

Join me in changing the world - one loan at a time.

Thanks for the kind remarks ladies.

Joan I usually knit the cuff of my sock to match the length of my foot. More or less. My heel flap is 2 1/2 inches so I make the leg around 7 inches. It could be an inch more or less. I like my socks to end before the calf. Just where the calf starts developing.
You could have picked up the stitches just below the cast on row. Cut the cast on row and then reknit it. Believe me, I hate doing ribbing so I have done all the cheats to get around doing it over again :-) Including putting in a life line after the ribbing is done. Just in case I hate the stitch pattern or it doesn't work out. I can frog back to the life line and NOT have to do the hated ribbing again. I am so lazy.

Lisa I am so glad to know I am not the only person to ditch the pattern. I think the trouble is it is too easy and is just boring after awhile. I nearly didn't finish the Nancy Bush Evening Stockings for the same reason. I saw someone else say that they got bored with the pattern too. So I felt like less of a looser. I mean Nancy Bush boring! Bite you tongue Suzann, just who do you think you are

Grace Do you really want to knit socks? Cause anyone who can create all that lacy goodness can knit anything. I saw a lace pattern sock that I think has your name on it.

Danielle I will email your for your mailing address. I have to go to the post office. And I will send you the pattern. It is a lovely yarn, but not for me.

Benne The yarn does look like cantaloupes. I feel better, but still tired mostly. I am knitting so that is good. I don't mind thick socks, I have a pair of old clogs that they fit in. But not everyone feels like that. This yarn is as thick as the socks I sent you.

Bets I hope you are not in the rain area. I have been thinking of you. If only all that rain could be redirected to the west cost. And we could use some too.

Sorry no pictures. My camera needs a charge. My daughter will be home from Alaska tomorrow. She asked for a pasta dinner. So I am making the sauce right now. I missed her. Even thought I kind of got use to not having all the settings on my computer changed.
Anyone want some tomatoes or zucchini? I asked for ONE zucchini plant and got 5, we are not hip deep in them. And you can't give them away for love or money :-)I tried leaving them on the neighbors doorstep in the middle of the night. But they were always back on mine in the morning :P

This bowl of porridge was too hot, this bowl of porridge was too cold. One pair of socks is a bit thick the other has a pattern that is driving me nuts. Both yarns are beautiful. I am probably less in love with the Merino Tencel blend. It isn't slick it feels like mercerized cotton, rather then wool. Cool and silky to the touch. But (there is always a but) I have had trouble getting gauge. And what possessed a woman who barely tolerates ribbing at the cuff to choose a pattern that is just tarted up ribbing? I knew when I finished the cuff I would never finish two socks in this pattern. Frogging is not really an option, as the yarn untwisted when frogged. Anyone want a half finished sock and pattern? I will gladly send it off to you. No kidding. Otherwise it will die in the back of my yarn closet. I am using a size 0 needle and still getting the occasional loose stitch. So it is tug at each and every stitch. But someone with better tension that me, would probably zoom right along.
The second sock which is suppose to be for my Sockapalooza exchange. I am worried about this because the yarn is a bit chubby. Even thought it is supposed to be fingering weight, I would guess it is closer to sports weight. I love the yarn, Merino, Cashmere an a bit of nylon. It just glides. But suppose my swap partner doesn't like thicker socks? I love them, but then they aren't for me. I have scoured my partners blog for hints. But nothing so far. I mean you aren't likely to see a blog post saying "I love thick socks" I would start another pair, but I am afraid I wouldn't have them done in time. I don't knit all that fast. I might have to hire Karin :-)
Both stitch patterns are from the new More Sensational Sock Patterns. I love how the pattern on the finished sock breaks up the hand dyed pooling. You can see the difference between the cuff and the foot part. On the cuff leg area the yarn looks like it is striping. On the foot part with is just ribbing you can see how the colors swirl around in thick bands. This is the Stansfield 196 pattern. You will find a very similar pattern in Barbara Walker's Second Treasury. Barbara recommends using this pattern on variegated yarns. And I can see why. If it wasn't for the thickness of the yarn, I would be very pleased with the socks.
A word about the new More Sensational Socks book. Lots of great stitch patterns. A good many of them from Barbara Walker. But they have been simplified and of course converted to pattens in the round. Also the pattern stitch pictures in the book, really don't show what the stitch pattern looks like worked up in fine yarn. They look very like they had been worked in thick yarn with tiny needles. It is a surprise to see how open and lace like they do look.
Because the yarn is so much thicker then fingering weight, I choose not to do any slip stitches on the heel flap. I used the pattern repeat without the yo. And edged it with seed stitch.


This is a better picture of the color and stitch pattern


The sock that I can't bear to finish. Give this poor lady a home. I have turned the heel and finished the gusset decreases. But whoever takes it might want to do that over to fit themselves. There is plenty of yarn