Finally! An FO!
We dropped the little guy off at grandmas for a couple of hours on Sunday and I had a few minutes to sit down and finish the Copper Diamond Socks.
These are made from Socks That Rock yarn purchased at a Michigan Fiber Festival 3 or 4 years ago. I cast on 56 stitches and created a diamond pattern with purl bumps. They are just a tiny bit big, but not enough to bother me.
I haven’t felt like blogging much. Probably because I have so much going on. I started freelance programming. I’m finishing up the semester at school. And I’m doing websites for some friends.
Needless to say, not much knitting going on right now. Heck, I just need to graft the toe closed on a sock and I’d have an FO. I’m hoping that after this week I’ll get a little more time. This is finals week a college, so it’s been a time sucker.
I’ve been really enjoying the contract programming I’m doing. It’s web stuff (my favorite) and it involves Google Maps. It’s been challenging and interesting. What more could you want?
On the fitness front, I’m managing about 4-5 workouts per week. Last week was an exception as I developed a cold and only worked out 1 day. I finished up the November 2007 Turbulence Training for Mass and Fat Loss (and saw some significant upper body strength gains). This month I’m kicking it old school with the November 2006 Female Strength workout. Pretty basic stuff in it and it just alternates 2 workouts instead of 3. I kind of prefer the 3 different lifting routines a week. Just from a boredom perspective.
Monday
Pullups 6@ Level 14
DB Split Squats 26.25 lbs
Pushups 8 (On the toes, YEEHAW)
Single Leg RDL
Tuesday
6 60/60 Intervals + 10 High Intensity Cardio
Ab rollouts on the ball 3×12
Back Extensions on the ball 3×12
Yesterday I left work early to go to a dr. appointment (nothing serious) which gave me about 1/2 to work on the Copper Sock. I finished the decreases for the instep and knit about an inch. We’re on the home stretch baby!
When I got home, Bill, Sam and I were going to go for a walk when the door bell rang. Evidently a neighbor lost a cow and they though it might wander over to see our cows. Sure enough…we walked out back and along came a pretty herford heifer. After chasing her around for about 10 minutes Bill managed to lasso her and it took 3 guys to walk her out of the field and tie her to a truck to get her to walk home. She was stubborn about it the WHOLE way. We did get a nice walk in while following the cow home.
Today I started a new Turbulence Training program…Turbulence Training for Mass and Fat Loss from the Turbulence Training Members website. This is the new November program. I considered starting a longer plan, but I think I’ll save it for the new year. I’m gonna stick with these short 4 week plans until then.
Lunch
TT for Mass and Fat Loss Day 1 Week 1
BB Bench Press 75
BB Deadlift 75
DB Incline Press 30
DB Row 30
Kneeling Pushups 20
Blast Strap Inverted Row 15
(Ouch, did an extra set here)
I haven’t had any new knitting related content because, well, there’s been no knitting. The only time I’ve had to knit lately is in the car when Bill and I go somewhere together. The last time I was able to work on the Copper Diamond socks was last weekend. We drove over to Falmouth to go to Ebel’s and get some bacon (Hey, if you’re gonna have it, you should have the very best) only to be dissatisfied with the selection. I managed to get the heel turned on the second sock. Gotta love the Sox that Rock yarn. It knits up really quickly.
Lunch
8 running intervals outside. Total distance: 3 miles.
And, by the way, I wear Thorlos when running. They are the best!
I’m getting ready to cast on for a new project. I got some lovely yarn at the Northern Michigan Lamb and Wool festival a couple of weeks ago…a beautiful hand painted superwash wool from Yarn Hollow. I’ll post pictures of it soon. It’s a lovely combination of oranges and yellows. I’ll be making Annie Modisett’s from a Knitty Gritty episode. The pictures on the DIY site don’t do it justice. It was really cute in the show.
I still haven’t dyed any yarn. I did get two books from Amazon to help me learn what I need to do:
Next on my wish list is The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook:
Bill, Little Man and I will be attending the Northern Michigan Lamb and Wool Festival on Saturday. I’m looking forward to meeting new people, seeing and touching lot of luscious yarn and having a great day. Last year was cold and rainy, but the forecast looks pretty promising for this weekend.
Here’s what I’ve been knitting lately. These socks are knit from Socks that Rock yarn from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. The colorway is Copper. I bought this yarn at my very first Michigan Fiber Festival.
I cast on 56 stitches and used a size 3 Addi Turbo with the magic loop method. The yarn is a little bulkier than what I’m used to for socks. I’m usually cast on 64 stitches with size 1 needles with Opal or Regia sock yarn. The extra bulkiness meant speedy knitting for me!
I created a diamond pattern with purl stitches just for something different. That’s the texture you kinda see in the picture. And the little guy is my adorable son, Sam.
I woke up ridiculously early this morning. Like 3:30 AM. I lay in bed till 4 then I finally got up. I just wasn’t falling back asleep. So after I dinked around on the internet for a little while…and the coffee had a chance to do it’s magic I remembered I had a tank top just waiting to be blocked.
This is made from the no-name Ebay yarn I bought a couple of years ago. Anybody want my leftovers? I have 1 1/2 HUGE balls left. Probably a couple of pounds worth.
I didn’t get a chance to dye anything this weekend. Saturday we we’re too busy with the chickens and Sunday Bill had to work on his products for a martial arts tournament he is going to this weekend. Little Man wasn’t interested in entertaining himself so I didn’t get to do any dyeing. I got some books from the library and I’m just itching to get started!
This weekend isn’t looking good either. Saturday we’re going to a cookout and Sunday Bill is headed to Chicago for that tournament. Maybe Grandma will come over and help watch Little Man while I get my fibery groove on.
I’ve pretty much finished the Soleil tank. I have one last end to weave in and it desperately needs to be blocked before wearing. Too bad the weather has cooled considerably.
Workouts are going good this week. It’s a continuous battle to stay consistent with it, but boy do I feel better when I do.
Monday
Morning - 10 min pilates, 10 min stretching
Front Squats 55
Assisted Pullups (level 15, I forget how much that is)
Reverse Lunges 25
Pushups 6 Toes, 4 knees
Tuesday
Morning - 20 Min Yoga
Running intervals on the treadmill 6 60/60 Intervals, balance steady jogging
I got so inspired when I went to the Michigan Fiber Festival this year I decided to dye my own yarn. I ordered some skeins of undyed yarn from a fiber mill here in Michigan…Zeilinger Wool Co. and some acid dyes from Pro Chemical.
I got the yarn on Monday and the dyes today. Unfortunately, we have a wedding to go to tonight and tomorrow is chicken processing day. No dyeing for me until Sunday, it looks like.
Workouts were good today. I’m still coughing and congested, but otherwise feel fine.
Morning
1/2 Hour Yoga
Lunch
1/2 Cardio on Elliptical. 8 60/60 Intervals and the rest just steady state cardio.
