What to Knit Next ...

This is (most of) my sock yarn stash. Okay, this is half of my sock yarn stash. Well, really, it's just -- you know, it doesn't matter how much I have, does it? Joanne's was rearranging their entire store, and they kept having sales, and I kept stopping in "just to see what was there." Like I don't already know Joanne's stock like the back of my hand.

Anyway, I finished the button socks:

I didn't remember to take a picture of them outside until it was dark, so here they are in the unflattering glow of the murky twisty-light-bulb lamp. They're awesome ... and too warm to wear in July, so off to the closet they go until October or so.

I can't wait to cast on another pair of socks. Hopefully by the time it gets cold again, I'll have a nice fluffy pile of socks to choose from, in a lovely rainbow of colors.





Tour de Fleece didn't go as spectacularly as I had hoped, but that is mainly because my thumb became too sore to spin. I didn't want to push my luck, so I backed off. I spun every day, just not much. The best part of TdF has been the two new techniques I learned; spinning with beaded fiber, and cable yarn.

Here is the orange-and-yellow I mentioned last post ... the yellow is Merino, and the orange is Corriedale.


 It really isn't quite right, though; I need to give the 2-plies a LOT more twist, to get that "beaded" look that true cabled yarn has.


 
 I love it anyway, though. It reminds me of this:

 There are tiny orange sunflowers coming up underneath these lovelies. Once those are visible, it'll be even more wonderful to look at!

I swear the package said they would grow "3 - 5 feet." If I stand level with them, they are over my head, and I am 5"6.




Since I'm talking plants ...

Up until two years ago, I grew tomatoes here in the front yard. But they were so messy, and so many fell into my neighbor's yard, that I started growing them only in the back yard. Of course, you know what happens, though; every spring, a hundred or so tiny tomato plants come up here from all the fallen tomatoes. I pulled up some, re-planted some, but decided to let this one grow.

My, it got big. 14 lb doggie shown for scale.





Isn't July fabulous? Gardens just grow themselves.



Regardless of my love of gardening, I'm still looking forward to Autumn. Autumn is my favorite ... perfect knitting weather!

I can't wait to get out my handknit scarves and socks and hats and sweaters and head off to the woods for a chilly walk.

 

Molly Cat does not agree with my love of cool weather ... but then again, she doesn't know how to knit. 

Happy Fiber Arts Friday, everyone!