Another Year, Another Pony Show

Every year I get the call to come to the Welsh Pony Show (lately in Walla Walla, WA) and be in charge of the ribbons and awards. What a fun job! I not only get to to see all the great ponies and cobs, but touch bases with all the people here in the Pacific Northwest that show Welsh. And like every year, I come home, reved up to work with my own pony and next year, hopefully I will be taking him! The picture on the left is of my good friend Liz from Ellensburg and her lovely Section A mare, Puddles. Puddles is the first pony I ever got to drive in a show and she is really, really sweet! She and several others tried to talk me into adding to my herd, but I really do need to sell some of the ones I have before I can do that.

While waiting for the classes to finish, I made good use of my time and worked on my latest pair of socks. I finished my Dragonfly KAL Socks on Sat night, and started a new pair that I'm calling my Pony Show Socks on Sunday (using the Tidal Wave pattern)

A Year of Socks? Maybe..

So far I have finished 2 pairs, and have the 2nd one of pair #3 half done. Not bad for a beginner sock knitter, huh? My sock yarn steadily is growing. Not to mention my stack of sock pattern books.. I've learned quite a bit already, such as..

1. Knit tighter..

2. Kitchener stitch can be a pain, but it's doable

3. Knit tighter! Either that or switch to a smaller needle

4. Lace patterns and cabling are cool. I love them!

5. Did I mention I have to tighten up my knitting?

Pair #1 is made with Comfort DK sport yarn. Soft and slouchy. Need to work tighter!

Pair #2 is made with some Rockin' Sock yarn. Ditto on above remark. Found out that plain socks are a bit boring to make! Don't know if I'll finish this one. Might frog it.

Pair #3 is made with Red Heart Heart and Sole "Toasted Almond" yarn using a "Sweetheart Sock" pattern from a British knitting magazine. Love the colorway! Minor struggle with the lace work, but I figured it out. After finishing the first sock I put it aside to work on a pair for the Spring Swap Sock on a Yahoo groups I belong too. Once those were done, I started on the second one and I'm already half way finished! First sock is a bit big, but I'm consciously tightening up my knitting and the 2nd one is MUCH better!

Pair #4 is made with Deborah Norville Serenity "Thyme" and using the "Dusk Sock" pattern for the Spring Sock Swap. Love the yarn and pattern both! Will have to make this one for myself!