Mosaic Knitting ROCKS!

As the title implies (I'm not known for subtlety), I am somewhat enamored with the idea of Mosaic knitting. But let me back up and tell you what led me here. I've been feeling the need for some new knitting reads and I am out of money so I decided to turn to my local library. I LOVE the library. Did you know that when you go there, you can get as many things as you can carry and you don't even have to give them money when you leave. And you can keep these things (books, CDs, books on CD) for 3 weeks. Holy cow! I love it. Anyway, I decided to check out the library one day and I looked through all 138 title that came up in the subject search for knitting. I found Anticraft, Fitted Knits, EZs Knitting Glossary Video, and my new favorite, Mosaic Knitting by Barbara G Walker. Now let me tell you, I knew nothing of this book but I have heard of Barbara Walker, of course, so I decided to just check it out. Wow, this stuff is cool!
So the picture is of my first attempt. Simply put, Mosaic knitting is using two colors with slip stitches to make patterns. It is so easy because you only carry one color at a time and by slipping you stitches in a particular order, you make the two color pattern. My first attempt you see above taught me it would look better with two yarns with more contrast but I am hooked on the technique, I can already tell. I've marked a number of different patterns to try and I can see this a great little addition to some upcoming projects. :) Now the funny thing is, I went to look up the book to link it here and it is shown as "unavailable" since it was published in 1976. Well, here's the funny part, I just got the new KnitPicks catalog, and guess what's in there...right! the new version of this book. It looks like the Knitting Gods are looking down on me because I think I will need to buy this one. It's in my cart now so I just need to come up with the funds. Did I mention I have Moccasins for sale on Etsy. ;)

I also spent some time this week working on my Alien Waves scarf. I'm about half way through as near as I can figure. I still love the look of the scarf and it is so light and airy. S is pretty excited about it too. The colors continue to pool just right so I have high hopes for the whole thing.

Lastly, I've made some progress on S's socks. I not as fast as a lot of folks out there but these seem to be moving along pretty well. I really like this yarn (Plymouth, Happy Feet) and the way the colors are moving around the leg. The pattern is super easy and makes a neat effect. We're gong to a picnic today and I think I'm going to take this sock along and see if I can make some progress there.
Lastly, the garden pic for this week. Things are growing nicely and seem to be fully rooted in. We've had so much rain this spring that the peppers seem a bit wilted and I think its because they just can't get dry. Hopefully we'll get a break here soon. It has been nice to not have to lug water out there each day, I guess. Anyway, I am really looking forward to watching this grow and documenting the process over the summer. I think it will be really neat to go back in the Fall and see all the pics. I hope you like it too.