Monkey Socks

The Monkey sock pattern is a very popular design by a talented, creative sock nut named Cookie A. It was first published in Knitty, an online knitting magazine, in the Winter 2006 issue and moved to Ravelry once that site got up and running. There are now 15,303 projects posted on Ravelry, which doesn't include the two pair that I have made or thousands of others, no doubt. 

These were made with Madelinetosh Sock in color "Port" on US size 1 needles. 

Rose Star Blocks

 

Rose Star Block Party 

 Tutorial

I have a good start on a long term, hand sewing project. I saw these blocks on Flickr or in blogland somewhere and wanted to give them a try. It took some looking around before I realized I was not going to find a PDF pattern that was the exact size that I wanted so I fashioned my own template and have been making copies on our printer. 

This is a good way to use some Kaffe Fassett fabric that I have on hand. Going scrappy also means this could grow to be a very large quilt. But that decision is yet to be made. I'll just keep making them until I lose interest. 

Email from Calcutta

A friend writes from the road:

This city is SO strange and powerful.

I took this shot outside of a once-magnificent British manse, now in the most glorious state of decay and new life.

Nearby was this lonely street child. For 10 minutes I lingered, captivated by the building and this tree growing thru the enduring remains of an

ornate wall and down to the grimy sidewalk.

For the entire time I was there,

he kept his head in his hands, barely moving.

Thao Shawl

Pattern: Thao

Yarn: Big Alice Dyes Foxtrot

50% Superwash Merino

50% Silk

Color: When I Learn to Fly

Needles: US 5

Mini 'X' Quilt

I better get a move on with the blog posts. There are two mini quilts, a shawl and a pair of socks in the finished pile and only pictures of one project. I have been working at the clinic more than usual and it is hard to always stay motivated to take photos and blog. 

My motivation for rowing also disappeared this winter. Work was interfering and substitutes were hard to come by. Another person on the crew bagged out for similar reasons and so - I quit. Quitter! Yuck. It was time to face facts, though, and I can certainly sub as opportunities arise when work eases off and the weather improves. And, actually, I do have a rowboat of my own gathering dust. Hmmm...

This little quilt is about 18" square. I must have seen it on Flickr or referred to on some quilting blog. The tutorial is here. It was easy to make and I was happy to find a good use for some Kate Spain charm squares. It is machine quilted with variegated thread (which hardly shows and may not be worth the special purchase) and bound with the sashing fabric. 

Going to State

I only have a fuzzy idea of what it is all about but Ray has qualified for a state music competition. I guess it is a competition - it is called All State Solo Ensemble. He was practicing after school for a few weeks with 4 other boys in a brass quintet, then announced that he needed a ride to Bellingham for a regional event. Off we went - it turns out to be quite a big deal. There were hundreds of kids there. It was all organized and judged and our kids won. Maybe it was their rating or score but in any case, they qualified for state. Hooray! Emails began to arrive - make your hotel reservations for April because Ellensburg is a small town and the prices go up and the rooms go fast. Hire a coach, arrange schedules so five active teenagers and the music teacher can meet somehow, somewhere, often. It is all very doable and we are very proud of Ray and his friends. They sounded really good.