WIPs on Wednesday, and an FO

Let's see - I'm on time for WIPs on Weds for once! I even have a few to talk about, plus I've got a pair of socks that I finished yesterday, and a bit of yarn pr0n.

My Lucy Socks have taken a backseat to the Frog Guts socks (later in the post), so they're still small - though I have completed my first picot hem and love it. A few inches of sock here to show, I'm planning to make them just a bit taller than ankle socks eventually. I really love how the colors are pooling and swirling with the stitch pattern. This picture isn't that great, as I had to hurry to get all my WIP pictures before my battery died.

The Odessa hat is stalled until I can stand to look at it again. Got it all the way to about halfway through the crown decreases, then actually looked at it, and my count had to have been off somewhere, because nothing lined up once the decreasing began. So I ripped it back and will eventually get it done - maybe by putting a lifeline in where the decrease section begins. But for now, it's sitting in a project bag feeling lonely but lovely. THis yarn is a gorgeous DK wool/alpaca blend that I received in a trade last year from another Raveler who lives in England. It's not really my color, so this hat will be a holiday gift for someone, though I don't know who yet.

This is the newest pair of socks, and my 4th pair from this yarn - it's Jitterbug in Whirley Fig (sorry Deb!!), a picot hem, and I'm using the lace pattern (gull lace stitch, I believe?) from the February Baby/Lady sweater. Just started it yesterday, so it's small, but I like it so far. The color is much prettier in person, and is a perfect semi-solid shade of dusty pink.

The Frog Guts socks - I set out to knit a pair of neat socks for Dillon, who will be 10 this month. I've knit him a pair before, but after wearing and washing them once, they were too small for him, and thus were handed down to Lucas (almost 6). I swear, these Froggy socks were for Dillon. But I was halfway through the first sock when he saw them (I'd planned to keep them a birthday surprise) and commented on "how girly" the yarn was. Me, I'd been thinking it was sort of camo-ish. But, since he and Lucas have the same foot circumference, I was able to fix these for L by just not making them as long. They took me 8 days to knit, and were finished yesterday morning. I think they're pretty darned cute, and have put them away for L's bday on 10/24. As for Dillon's birthday socks - I'm at a loss. May have to dig through my Felici stash, as he likes stripes. The yarn in these socks is Araucania Ranco Multi, color #305, on 2.5mm dpns, and seeing this FO picture reminds me that I really want to make sock blockers in D & L's sizes - must go hunt down that free placemat-blocker tutorial!

A nice stash enhancing trade arrived in the mail yesterday, which totally brightened my day. Did an STR trade on Ravelry with another Jessica; I sent her my Tanzanite, and she sent me Ruby Slippers. Ahhh, so pretty - I didn't even know that I needed this color until she posted it for trade, but it's lovely.

OK, I'm off to interview for a new job! If I get it, the hours will mean that I won't need daycare any longer, so I'm very anxious and excited! Cross your fingers, needles, and toes for me, and Happy Wednesday!