Allie Knits Away

Sleeping socks for saying goodbye

2007-08-29T23:50:00.000-06:00

At last, a completed pair of these socks--one of the sleeping socks patterns from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage socks. I actually started these last summer and got just a few inches into them before putting them down for some reason. I found this UFO (one of too many, alas) when I was "cleaning up" my yarn room (my husband says I should put a sign out on the street and try to sell some). The yarn is just gorgeous--a Cherry Tree Hill "potluck" that I got from Simply Sock Yarn oh so many months ago. I love the way they turned out and sent them off to school with our oldest daughter--she's going where it's cold (a great knitting gift opportunity). Our youngest is back at school too, and now we hope things will calm down, at least a little bit! I also started a pair of socks with this cool new Crystal Palace "Maizy" yarn made from corn. I'm adapting the pattern and will post more on that one soon. Happy knitting, all.

Sock Pal Socks Arrived!

2007-08-20T18:32:00.000-06:00

We are home from vacation--the pink "baby thujas" are the only finished knitting I have to show for it, but I hope to have a shawl to post soon (more on that then). The big news is that my Sockapalooza IV socks were waiting for me when I got home--they are so beautiful, and it was so exciting to put a hand-knit pair of socks on my feet that I didn't knit--and they fit! I drew a real expert as my sock pal, and I am very, very happy with these socks-- a much more complicated pattern than I would attempt. So thank you, Knit One, Purr Too, and thank you to Alison of The Blue Blog for coordinating all this again!

The last socks of summer?

2007-08-10T20:30:00.000-06:00

I hope not, actually (last socks, that is). It is finally vacation time around our house, and we are heading out to the beach (yes, it's 103 in the shade, but at least we'll be close to water!) I finished this pair, what I am calling my "Lemonade Socks" just in the nick of time to post before we go. This pattern is actually based on a pattern I found on Knitting Daily, the "Ambrosia Socks" by Ann Budd. I adapted the pattern a lot, actually; it was written for toe up with short row heel and I changed it to cuff down with a flap (square heel). I really like the "Butterfly stitch" pattern, but I'm not entirely sure how they'll wear--they are knit on size 3's (3.25 mm) because of the stitch pattern pulling in so much, but the sole of the foot seems much too loose to me. But they did go a lot faster than when I knit on my usual 0's and 1's! In any case, they were a fun knit, and I am happy to have tried both a new stitch pattern and what is for me a totally radical adaptation of a knitting pattern (I am finally getting brave enough!). I now head off with a car full of bathing suits, sand toys, and of course, yarn and needles enough for a month--you never know! For all of you heading back to school this week, good luck!

Done!

2007-07-29T12:00:00.000-06:00

Yeah, here they are! I didn't trust myself to wait until for better weather for the "phot shoot"-- the color is so much deeper and truer in person)! I know I haven't posted lately, but I really have been knitting! These Sockapaloooza IV socks--well, I thought they might be the end of me! They have been variously known as "the socks that wouldn't end," the "why didn't I just make Thuja's," the "see what you get when you try to impress people you don't know," to, well, almost affectionately, "the brown bombers." This summer has taught me several things....when one is in the middle of a giant job stress, a baby is born in the family (a niece for me), and your cat of 14 years dies, one will quickly turn to knitting to comfort oneself. This is a good thing. In my case, though, it basically meant knitting everything except my Sockpal socks--so I made a couple pair of baby socks, a really cute baby hat, a pair of socks for no one in particular (a three-pointed modification of Jaywalkers), and a very lengthy, curiously non-essential silk and cotton scarf. Then I woke one morning about two weeks ago, dreaming about the giant balls of this gorgeous yarn sitting in my knitting basket with a cuff of the first sock and about 2 inches of a 10" cuff done, and well--I was having bad dreams about it! This gave me a chance to prove, one again, alas, that I work best under pressure, and that sore fingers are just the consequences of being me at the end of a knit a long! So the socks are done (phew) and washed and blocked, and drying. I will pack them up with some koigu and send them off to their guy in waiting, on time. I just knew finishing early during Sockapaloooza III was a fluke! But now that these are done, I like them and am glad I chose the pattern, which involved my first ever shaping on a cuff, and the most yarn I've ever used up on a pair of socks (525 yds+)!

Sockapalooza update: It's not too late....

2007-06-04T19:16:00.000-06:00

I have the yarn, I have a pattern selected, I have a sockpal's preferences firmly in mind, and I think I am (finally) ready to go. I know it seems like it took a while for me to get started, but there seemed like there were sooooo many decisions this time. I love Sockapalooza, really, but I always feel so much more pressure when knitting for someone I don't know. I want everything to be perfect! Well, I think I did find perfect yarn; this absolutely gorgeous yarn called "Thoroughbred" from an Etsy Shop called Fearless Fibers. It's the most beautiful, subtle mix of browns and other subtle colors; a technique called "rainbow dyeing"; I can't wait to knit with it! And I have a pattern selected "Gentlemen's Half Hose in Ringwood Pattern" from Knitting Vintage Socks (thanks to all who pointed me in this direction for men's patterns in my last lamenting post). Even though this skein of yarn has a whopping 550 yards; I am a little worried about having enough (see recent experiences) I plan to increase the number of stitches used for the sock; the last few pairs of socks I've made have come out too narrow; I think I must be knitting more tightly these days (can't imagine why!). I might shorten them a bit; not sure (have to have something to wonder about as I go, right) I will cast on for these this week and knit away--nothing like a deadline to get my needles smokin'!

Casting away

2007-05-29T21:13:00.000-06:00

Here they are, a cute little pair of Crusoe anklets, knit for my youngest out of the beautiful fleece artist that I so unceremoniously unravelled after its last mis-adventure. I altered the pattern a little bit--did an eye of partridge heel, since it had looked so good last time! I like the way they turned out, and how this pattern really doesn highlight the yarn beautifully. I have to admit that I had originally intended these for myself; but then when I noticed they looked small, for our older daughter, and then, when I finished one, for the one who really wanted them all along--my youngest! I have knitted this pattern before, and I remembered that they were not really stretchy because of the stranded pattern, but have actually worn other pairs I knitted! It's that cursed gauge thing, no doubt! On other fronts, I have picked a pattern and ordered yarn for the man socks I am going to make for Sockapalooza--more on that soon.

I feel lucky...

2007-05-23T20:08:00.000-06:00

Oh so lucky! My new yarn came in after my recent shortage experience, and it was the same dyelot and everything! (Thank you ebay!) So I have been knitting like mad and finished my neopolitan socks tonight! The stripes don't match, but I really don't mind it. And I have to give a plug for this "Belle Maman" sock pattern--it was a really easy one to memorize it (believe me, if I can memorize it, anyone can) and it looks so cool. I even had the courage to do the picot edge and knit the hem as I went--a new thing for me. So now, on to the next socks, more pattern searching for Sockapalooza 4, and jumping back in with my Fleece Artist from my last sock debacle--I'm thinking about trying the Crusoe pattern from Knitty, which I made a while back; I think it would show off that pretty yarn.

The agony of defeat....

2007-05-20T18:31:00.001-06:00

Okay, I admit defeat! I have not met the sock in a day challenge! But it was not for lack of trying, really! This sock has been, well, sort of an exercise in patience--not sure why, it was not a hard pattern, but I had to frog back after the heel twice, because the pattern wasn't lining up right on the instep! I still haven't figured out what I'm doing wrong--it's not working right again! I started with the idea of making these really cute Nasturtium Anklets that I found online--I decided to make the cuff longer because I really like how the pattern was looking! Luckily (or not), they are looking like they'll be too tight a fit, so I may frog all the way back and start all over again, which I think I have pretty much never done in my sock knitting life, but hey, there's a first time for everything! But all in all, it was fun to see if I could get a whole sock done in a day, and it really did make for a good time trying, so thanks to Liz and all! (And oh yes, the fantastic yarn is Fleece Artist merino, in a shade called Popsicle....)

The short and winding road

2007-05-13T17:03:00.000-06:00

Think I'm going to run out of yarn? I don't know how this is happening; except that I clearly have less yarn than I thought! Of course, I only have ONE SKEIN of this Trekking XXL 126, which I was so excited to find on EBay just a few weeks back. My patterning is already messed up on the leg, despite being sure that I had cast on at exactly the same place in the color repeat that I had for the first sock. But I love the way the lace pattern and the yarn striping look, so I am going to figure out a way to finish this one (EBay, here I come). No doubt it will be a different dye lot, but I will be sure to keep my feet moving of they look too different! So while these socks hang out and wait for more yarn to appear, I will have time to get ready for Liz's "Sock in a Day" challenge, for which I have finally wound up a beautiful skein of "Popsicle" from Fleece Artist. Now to find a pattern. And Happy Mother's Day to all you moms (and all you daughters) out there!

It's a boy! (Help!)

2007-05-09T17:28:00.000-06:00

It's a boy! My Sockapaloooza 4 pal, that is! This is a challenge for me. Not because I worry about knitting for big feet (mine are plenty big, I'm used to it), nor because I have not knit socks for men before (husband and brother in law among them), but because I feel like sockapaloooza socks should be interesting, different, not your basic 2x2 rib, anyway! Any ideas for good, interesting patterns that a man would like (any other guy sock pals out there)? I am also in the process of deciding about yarn--he likes his yarns natural but not muted; I'm thinking of either "petroglyph" or "gendarme" from Lisa Souza's sock colors; any votes? The great thing about this is it gives me an excuse, I mean good reason, to buy some more sock yarn for this project instead of just raiding my abundant, yet very girly stash! Hope to hear from you all soon!

A Hat a Day....

2007-04-23T11:07:00.000-06:00

Keeps the boredom away (or at least the foot tapping fidgets).....I had to to travel this weekend for a conference and sat through lots of long talks--some quite interesting, really. But ever since I have started knitting again (aka become obsessed with knitting constantly), I have a great deal of trouble sitting still when my hands could be productive! So I managed to overcome my knit in public meekness on the second day and made this very cute beret. It for the Charmed Knits Knit a long for Warm Woolies. It's a free pattern from Alison Hansel's new book of Harry Potter Patterns, Charmed Knits. I am honestly not all that acquainted with the Harry Potter stuff, my daughter is too young for the movies, and it will be a few years before she can read the books. But I was looking for both a knit a long and a charity knitting cause, and this seemed a good one. Alison manages the whole Sockapalooza experience every year, so I figure I can knit some hats in return! I will make a beanie next, and then make myself pack and mail them (my weak point, for sure!). As for the Neopolitan socks, I have made some progress, but not ready to show yet! More soon!

What's done is done!

2007-04-18T18:26:00.000-06:00

And thanks be to God! Taxes (as best as my non-accountant self could do them), work budgets turned in (if overly ambitious), and forced sleep deprivation and stress relieved! Can you say relief? It's not that I wasn't knitting two days ago; it's just that I was feeling guilty about it! But for tonight at least, I can bask in the glow of a few tasks met (and stop dodging them hanging over my head--makes it hard not to drop stiches!). So I started a hat for Alison's Harry Potter/Warm Woolies charity knit a long and got back to work on this wonderful sock pattern I found online for Belle Maman socks. I am using some Trekking Yarn that you have probably read about in blogland before; it looks like those layered Brach's Neopolitan candies that they still sell in some supermarket bins. Neopolitan ice cream was the favorite treat of my childhood, and I really like this yarn! You can see it knit up here, the color # is 126--you can still find some on ebay, it you love it. So back to knitting--and thinking about what yarn I might be able to get with some of that little refund!

What I should be doing...

2007-04-15T21:48:00.000-06:00

Budgets for next year (for work, that is....I don't dare plan all the knitting I'll do next year!), or maybe, Finishing our taxes (can you say "last minute pressure spurs me on"), or maybe, sleeping! But I finally, and I mean finally, finished this pair of socks, and I just had to post them. These were the socks from h-e-double-hockey-sticks (as we say around our house). "Why," you might be asking, "those socks look innocent enough!" Well, the first problem--the color of the yarn (on-line supersocke 100)--dark and other purples, with flecks of black, and a tiny bit of white. I love purple, and just fell for this yarn as perfect "sort of plain" socks for my hubby. But I had a lot of trouble seeing this yarn on my dpns (I blame the yarn, not my eyes!), so I switched to bamboo, but broke 2 of the 2.25 mm babies before investing in a set of silver steel needles--which helped, but not enough. Something about the texture of the yarn, or perhaps the fact that I dreaded picking up these socks, made for very tight knitting, and so they are smaller than I planned, as well. But I can get them on--though I'm not sure I want to wear them....they remind me too much of how long they took to finish (I picked them up and put them down for almost 6 months!). And I guess they will also forever remind me of budgets, and taxes, and not sleeping :)!

It's been a long time since I rock n rolled....

2007-04-13T17:10:00.000-06:00

Gosh, it's been a long time since I posted. Please accept my apologies for my sudden and unceremonious disappearance. It has been a crazy time, and I think blogging became harder and harder to start again once I stopped (I picked up a bad habit of wanting to sleep just a bit!). Plus, I kept thinking I should come back with something incredibly (if not so very characteristically!) profound, and so kept putting it off! I missed it though, and missed the blog buddies I had gotten to know. External forces finally brought me back, most notably the incredible need to have a way to post this wonderful picture my niece (5) made and sent to me. It may not be profound (or perhaps it is) but it is cute! And yes, I did make her some socks, and I put them in a box. They escaped before they got photographed, but my sister is promising a photo of C's footsies in those sox! I made them with the softest, most wonderful yarn, Crystal Palace Panda, which is bamboo, cotton and elastic, and used a cool seed stitch pattern that I found on Trek's blog--called Gumball Footies. What fun! Oh, and then there's Sockapalooza 4, too, which I have been aching for....I have been knitting socks like crazy, if not posting about them! So THANK YOU to those who emailed to say you missed me, and I hope to visit you soon.

When I'm 64...

2006-10-31T18:17:00.000-07:00

I hope someone knits me flowers! (Actually, I guess I hope someone knits me anything!) I knitted this one up from the felted flower wreath pattern in the new issue of Knit Simple, (Nicky Epstein) and I finished it just in time to give to my mom, who is arriving at our home tomorrow for some birthday celebrating. She is, yes, 64! My original intention for this flower was to make it into a pin she could wear; she is very into flowers and told me she saw some on a recent trip to Italy (who knew) that she liked. Alas, I didn't read the pattern too carefully, and this is about 6 inches across--probably too big for a pin! But I am going to make it into a sort of "tussy mussy" (something else she loves) and can give it to her that way. And one more thing: I have found a new use for my Kitchen Aid stand mixer-- yes, the appliance you mix cake batter with. It actually works incredibly well for felting small objects like this--just put the little knitted pieces in with boiling water and a bit of soap, and turn it on pretty low. These felted in about 10 minutes (paton's wool) . Hope ya'll had a great Halloween--it was a bit wacky around here!

Everything old.....

2006-10-28T19:46:00.000-06:00

.....Is new again! Cast On is back, with a new series. I haven't even listened to the first episode of the new series yet, but I am very excited. If you have listened to Brenda Dayne's podcast yet, go to her website and check it out. She is eloquent, her voice is wonderful, and she talks about knitting, life and all sorts of deep things in a very helpful and informed way. She got my started on my podcast listening obsession. Pictured at left is the yarn that arrived today to be knit (I say "to be knit" as if it will magically happen, ha ha) into a clapotis, which I hope to give to my mom, who is dear enough and appreciative enough of handknits to make it more than worthwhile. This yarn is so beautiful in person, silk and merino, called Max, in a colorway called "Joseph's Coat," for reasons that are probably apparent. It's from Lisa Souza, as you can probably tell from the photo! And I have to tell you what I "heard in the hall" this morning. I was taking a very uncustomary rest in my bedroom reading a knitting magaizine with the lights down low. My husband and younger daughter were out in the family room with the dogs. All was fine, until I heard my daughter yelling, "Honey, Honey, no!" at the dog. I could hear my husband speak up, "Don't get too excited sweetie, what is Honey doing?" "She has mommy's knitting," daughter shouted, and I heard my husband jump up and wrangle the knitting away from the dog. "Phew," he said, "Good thing Mommy's not in here!" So good that my family knows what's important, hee hee! Talk to you soon!

Three from the road

2006-10-27T19:51:00.000-06:00

At last, some pictures of some of my knitting lately. The first is a bag I knit and then constructed out of the fantastic handspun from Hello yarn. It is slubby and nubby and soft soft soft, and I just had no idea what to do with it! So I started out with the Chunky Funky pattern from MagKnits that I had used for some red plied handpsun before. It has a really cool twisted cable that runs the length of the bag and gives it very cool texture. But then I decided to modify the pattern and wrap it around a dollar store mini tote (made of, well, plastic.) This meant I had to line it, which I did, not very artfully, but effectively enough, with fleece (there was a 50% off sale on fleece this past weekend at the fabric store, and my gosh, does that bring out droves of people!). It's very funky and not incredibly practical, but I like it a whole lot, and it makes me feel good to use it.
The second is another bag, the famous Booga Bag, which I knitted with Paton's Soy Wool Stripes, in Natural Navy which stripes beautifully when used single stranded and FELTS LIKE CRAZY (and I mean that-even with my front loaded, this was shrunk in half in about 15 minutes). I had used this yarn in their geranium color for another bag, and I really like it. This one was a fun and oh so easy knit; it was great to have those endless rounds of stockinette while try to pay attention to other things. I have to admit though, that knitting 7 feet of icord almost sent me over the edge!
And the third picture is a headband I knitted from the Nakiska pattern from Knitty. The yarn is this super soft angora blend called Fat Bunny that I got from Lisa Souza. It knit up beautifully, and I love all the cables. I had thought it might be a gift, but I think I may just keep it for me; I love hats but have a real problem with hat hair! Headbands are much more forgiving! And I still have socks in progress, fear not. I have not had the courage yet to frog my Jaywalkers; I like them so much. But of course liking them is the reason to make them so they will actually fit me!I got word that my clapotis yarn shipped, I can't wait!

Stayin' Alive

2006-10-23T21:10:00.000-06:00

I'm still here! Well, actually, I'm back. I actually spent last week at a conference at which there was no internet access (!!!!!!). I could check my email (somehwat laboriously) on my cell phone, but that was it! Boy, did I miss reading blogs and message boards and blogging! The good news, though is that I had knitting time! I had worried about "knitting in public" at this conference, but when it started, I noticed two other women pull out knitting (a clapotis and a scarf) and one another take out some quilting (!) I was so excited! And what was really cool was that the incredible woman who led the conference managed to work our quilting/knitting into her remarks on the last day in a wonderfully artful way. Yeah! So I will have some pictures to post: of a bag I knit out of some gorgeous Maisy Day Handspun I got from Hello Yarn, and an almost finsihed Jaywalker that I think I am going to have to frog (they are not going to fit me, and I think the colors are too wild for anyone else I know), as well as a Booga Bag I made (which I hope to felt tomorrow) and a lacey scarf I am still struggling with from some ridiculously expensive (but gorgeous) hand dyed mohair silk that I got at a LYS in the area. And I finally finished the toe of my hip hop socks (I had actually lost the little sock bag that I was carrying the WIP in; talk about panic, but yes, it was found!). I was so inspired by watching the clapotis evolve through the week that I came and promptly ordered some beautiful hand dyed silk merino from Lisa Souza to (finally) make my own! I fear I am rambling somewhat incoherently(as well as using too many exclamation points), but am so glad to be back on line and blogging, and will get to all you and your wonderful comments from my last posts soon. K1P2!

Double Cast Ons

2006-10-08T18:11:00.000-06:00

Better late than never. Pictured at left are my Jaywalkers, which I started the other day, in the Lime & Violet Lisa Souza yarn. I will, I think, let these socks do double duty for the Lime & Violet KAL and Soctoberfest! Now that I'm finally knitting this pattern, I understand why it's been so popular: it's a great, cool and easy knit. And I am surprised but pleased with how the yarn is working with the pattern, too. At the far left are the real start of my Socktoberfest socks, the very beginings, (cast on this morning) of the "Heelless Sleeping Sock" from Knitting Vintage Socks. I am wondering about the sizing of the socks--there are very few stitches for fingering weight socks, but the pattern recommends 2.75mm needles and claims they are very stretchy and don't wear out (despite the looser gauge) because they have no heel. We shall see!The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill Potluck from my stash, and it's gorgeous! I can't believe I waited this long to knit it up. I'm so excited about all these "sockportunities"! (Yes, it is probably time for me to go get some sleep (I am getting a but punchy) or at least go back to my knitting!

It's Socktoberfest!

2006-10-06T20:09:00.000-06:00

My very first pair (some moons ago...)!

Yes, I am a little behind on this, though I always have some socks going! I'm so excited, because I love to have a good reason to do what I do all the time anyway, in this case, knit socks. I'm excited about Socktoberfest, and grateful to Lolly, one of those super-functioning, amazingly organized and generous people that we are so lucky to have in the knitting world, for organizing it all. I can't wait to see what everyone is doing! I cast on for a pair of Jaywalkers today (yes, I am the last person in the world who hasn't made them yet!). I was really inspired by Knit Mongrel, who made me think the simplicity of the pattern was just the lack of dizzying effort I needed right now! So now, I need to answer the Socktoberfest questions. Here goes!
When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class? I started knitting socks about a year ago. I was inspired by an episode of Knitty Gritty, on which Karen Baumer made it all look logical and wonderful. I learned from online tutorials, slowly! If I had taken a class, I no doubt would have made fewer mistakes along the way (and since) but that really has been part of the fun (and the learning).
What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?
My first pair turned out really niceley--the stitches looked good, the heel turn was lovely (if I do say so myself) and the kitchener on the toe quite respectable! There was just one problem--they were, as my daughter would say, "gynormous!!!" But I did two of them anyway. If they hadn't been pink, (well, they were coordinated pink & grey actually, because I was running out of the pink yarn; clearly I have always had this difficulty) I would have given them to my brother in law. But since they were, I kept them, and since they've not really been worn, they've held up just great!
What would you have done differently?
Nothing, really, except, well, probably swatching better! Or perhaps not ignoring the little voice in my head that said, "Wow, this sock is sure looking big!"
What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?
I like all sorts of yarns--I have knit with a lot of Lorna's and Regia, and lots of Knitpicks. Recently, I have developed a real bias for "homemade" yarns, buying from places like Hello Yarn and Lisa Souza.
Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?
I knit my socks, and use all three methods. I learned first on DPN's, and they are still my first love. But I usually have a pair going on DPN's and a pair going on one of the other methods as well. Variety is important to my knitting (or at least my attention span!)
Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)
I mostly do flap heels, they seem to fit me best. I've also done a fair number of band heels, a few strong heels, and exactly two short row heels (they are hardest for me).
How many pairs have you made?
I've not kept a real count, but probably about 15 pairs. I wish I had kept a log from the beginning (meaning preblog), because relying on my memory is always dicey. But I never stop knitting socks!
So, I am editing this post to include a photo of these first socks, please, no laughing!

In our ends are our beginnings

2006-10-05T17:33:00.000-06:00

A few finshed objects: the Baby Kimono from Mason Dixon Knitting, done in Lion Cotton, pure white. It is, I hope, destined for a "real" baby, but in the meantime, my daughter has appropriated it for her doll (at least it fits the doll perfectly!). This is a fun pattern, very easy, all in one cool piece knitting; I love that kind of thing. Makes me want to try the Baby Surprise Jacket I have been reading about here , and also here. Also pictured are the cable purse, finally sewn up--I love it (even if I don't love sewing things together at all); the felted clutch, with the ornamental buttons finally actually sewn on (why is it that the last minutes details so often elude me?), and the scarf that wanted to be a purse in Tagliatelli--it's the pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts that I have made at least 10 times with different yarns. I always love how it comes out. I made this one last night (yes, it was a bit of a late night, what with all that sewing up of other projects), and is supposed to go in the mail tomorrow with some soaps for my mom's birthday! Now, it is time to figure out what my next socks will be for Socktoberfest....and what I will knit for the Lime & Violet Knitalong (my beautiful yarn arrived today). Sometimes I think (though only sometimes) that I am too much of a joiner! More soon!

Can't buy me love?

2006-10-03T16:57:00.000-06:00

I am so in love. I bought this incredible, beautiful, touchable handspun yarn (called "uppity", how appropriate) from Hello Yarn. I wanted to just keep the beautiful ball it came wound up in on my desk and pet it all day when I needed to release stress, but decided, probably for the best, to knit it up. I was so afraid to do anything that would detract from it, but found this cool purse pattern in MagKnits, which was specifically written for handspun. It's hard to tell from the picture, but the pattern has a beautiful intertwining cable pattern down the middle. It's blocking now; I can't wait to sew it up and use it. I think I will sew a lining into it, just to protect the gorgeous yarn from whatever I might put in the purse. And I have to give a big shout out to Adrian at Hello Yarn, who not only has beautiful yarn and lots of free patterns on her site, but also gracious and wonderful customer service--the yarn came quickly and was lovingly wrapped in tissue. I can't wait to order more, actually, I ordered some more today. It makes me want to spin, it makes me want to bury myself in handspun! I will post a finished pic once it's sewn up, as well as a pic of the baby kimono, which is also blocking, but less photogenic at this point (and I ran out of yarn on that one, too, and had to steal from a dishcloth in progress to finish (just to increase my chances of elevation to duchess-hood!)

Of felting and other monsters

2006-09-26T17:46:00.000-06:00

I finally finished the Noro bag. Yes, I went and bought a whole additional skein to do four rows, but glad I did it, because I got to the end of the bag, cast off, and noticed that the handles were off center!!! I don't know how it happened, I don't know how I didn't notice it before, I don't know why I didn't check it before I bound off! So, I tried to unwind it, but it, well,.....it tangled (what is it with me and tangles lately!). You can see the resulting Noro monster in the photo below. My daughter enjoyed it (tangled noro makes quite a monster whig!). But I did finish, and then I felted and felted and felted some more, until I finally got the pretty cool looking bag being modeled by both daughters. It took 3 days to dry, but I like how it came out! Then, I happened to be listening to Lime & Violet, and heard a tip about using dish soap and putting a pair of flip flops in the washer with a front loader to help the agitation.
So I knitted up this really pretty new craftstore yarn: Patons Soy Wool Stripes, and the clutch pattern from One Skein. It felted really well and really fast (well, it was fast except for the extra trip I had to make to the craft store to get, yes, you guessed it, another skein of the yarn to finish the bag). The pattern calls for buttons to be sewn on; I'm still deciding about that. I have some cool things on the needles, including the toe of my formerly tangled sock (almost done!), a Baby Kimono from Mason-Dixon Knitting (no, I am not having a baby....) and a scarf for a friend out of the prettiest wool ribbon yarn I found on that last LYS trip. It's called Tagliatelli, and it is gorgeous! But my hands are itching to start more socks. More socks. More socks!

Oh the agony....

2006-09-21T20:39:00.000-06:00

I ran out of yarn. I am an inch or two from finishing the bag and I ran out of yarn (if I keep repeating that over and over I think perhaps I will believe it). Now you may be asking, how did you not notice you were getting near the end? I can only answer this by saying that I am great at denial--I kept looking at the rapidly diminishing second ball of noro and thinking, "I'm sure I only used two balls or noro last time I knitted this pattern, surely I am going to make it." Well, surely, I am not going to. So I am not felting tonight, (nor am I sleeping of course...) I am trying to figure out how I can sneak out of a lunch time meeting tomorrow to run to the LYS that I don't particularly like (but it's within sneaking distance of my office) and get one more ball of noro. Oh boy. On another note that certainly deserves to be its very own post, I spent four hours in the car today and listened to 4 side-splitting hours of the Lime & Violet podcast. Do give it a listen; but not necessarily while driving, lest you be pulled over by a kindly police officer who just doesn't understand that you're fully capable of driving even though you can't stop laughing! And oh yes, Lime & Violet talked me into a knit-a- long, too. I'm so impressionable! But I am still out of yarn...sniff.

The unwind...

2006-09-19T19:45:00.000-06:00

Thanks to all for the helpful comments on how to wind my newest ball of hip hop to avoid another tangled disaster--it worked, yeah!!! I am happily knitting away on sock number two and am on the heel flap (in the end, it's the small things that matter, right--where did I find such thrills in my life before I took up obsessive knitting?) In the meantime, my bag that will be felted is progressing--amazing how used I am to very tiny needles--this bag is just flying by! I should finish it in carpool line, and then it's on to felting, which is not my gift, nor my washer's gift (I have a front loader and it's hard to get that agitation). But this is a big weekend, so I am determined to get it done (hope I'm not up all ALL night tomorrow opening and closing my washer) :) If anyone has any insight on felting in a front loader, feel free to share (yes, I do need some sleep)!

Good, and Plenty done....

2006-09-16T13:21:00.000-06:00

Here are the finished "Good and Plenty" socks (I know you've been waiting with bated breath after that last post!). I just had to get a box of Good & Plenty for the photo after Twig's suggestion (though I do admit to a definite fondness for this candy, well, pretty much any candy on some days). And thanks again to Yarnbeans for the contest that got me this cool yarn in the first place! These were a lot of fun to knit; Broadripple is one of the best combinations of looks complicated and easy to memorize I know. The "extra skein" of hip hop arrived last week from the very friendly "Yarn and Thread by Lisa". Now I am ready to go back to work on the tangled web socks in progress. But here's the riddle: since I had so much trouble when I pulled from the center of that skein, if I pull from the outside and wind it back into a center pull ball, can I knit from the outside and have the pattern repeats in the right order???? This is too much logic for me at this point (I am babysitting three of my sister's children right now, so I am blaming that for my inability to figure this out.) Any input very much appreciated!

Homeward bound

2006-09-13T17:37:00.000-06:00

Okay, I have no pictures yet, but I just had to post this. While at my very crowded conference, I wound up seated (well squeezed) on a back bench in the meeting room. The man next to me was an old friend, so I decided I could take out my sock and start knitting. I was happily knitting away (and of course paying attention to the speaker), when I noticed my benchmate squiriming a little. Finally, he leaned over and whispered in my ear "Is that a knitting needle brushing my leg, or are you just glad to see me?" Lesson: socks in very tight quarters are best knitted on dpns, which makes for no needles hanging down to "caress" the leg of the man sitting next to you. Good thing he was an old buddy! Hee Hee! Enough said! Good and Plenty sock pictures tomorrow!

On the road again....

2006-09-10T16:32:00.000-06:00

Have I mentioned before that I really dislike business travel....but off I go, for just a few days, into the wild, blue yonder (wild and blue enough, anyway, that I will probably NOT be able to blog, boo hoo). The crucible for me is whether or not I will be able to knit with all the men at this conference ogling me (well, ogling my hands if they [my hands that is] do anything but look like they are diligently taking notes!). We'll see, wish me luck. I hope to bring back a pair of finished "Good and Plenty" socks--(a big thanks to Twig for the name suggestion). Ciao.

Oh what a tangled web....

2006-09-09T11:18:00.000-06:00

It is someting about me and ball winders.....and in this case, something about the stickiness of this Kroy Sock, which once tangled will never, I mean, never, ever, let go. This is the mate for the lonesome sock of my recent post--and it will be awhile before it is warming a foot. I wound up with such a tangled mess with this I had to cut the yarn to try to work it out, and I fear it is hopeless. I managed to find a matching yarn and dyelot on ebay and have ordered another ball, because when I finished the first sock, I had about 25 inches of yarn left--so there's no way I will get all the way to the toe on this one once I get this tangled mess cut out. Sheesh. I know, I must wind too fast. I try, I really do, try, to slow down and to keep it loose, and yes, I use a swift, but boy, what a mess. But on a sunnier note, I did finish, largely without incident, one of my Broadripple socks. The yarn is very soft and nice, and the colors knit up beautifully in the broadripple pattern. I have the second one cast on, and since this is both sport weight yarn and for a small footed friend, it should go quickly. I love this pattern. It looks so cool, and it really is simple enough to memorize (if I can memorize it, anybody can! I travel this week for a few days for work (car trip, alas), and should be able to get some knitting in. Now I just have to plan what to pack!

Dog days

2006-09-04T19:45:00.000-06:00

Happy Labor Day weekend, all. It has been a busy one around our house. I started another pirate sock and had to frog it, knit away on my self-striping thuja, and started a pair based on the Broadripple pattern from Knitty with the cool pink and black yarn I won from Yarnbeans. I have no pictures, because, basically, well, I've been busy taking pictures of our new dog. Yes, we already have a dog, no we had not actually planned on another one, but had been thinking about it, and when we went to Pet Smart on Sunday for supplies, their weekly "Rescue Fair" was there. The rest is history, but we are happy, and so is Honey, our new dog (the little one in this picture) and Laika, our "old" dog (too shy for this picture) and especially our younger daughter, who is thrilled, of course. Our cat, well, we're working on that one! All is mostly well so far, and blessedly, Honey the new dog is as uninterested in messing with my yarn as Laika the old dog! Pictures of knitting soon, promise!

The real cost of second sock syndrome....

2006-08-29T18:22:00.000-06:00

"Help, my foot is cold, help Daddy's toes are cold (please graft me)!"... Here is my one and only "Pirate Sock" (aka Skull Sock of Fury). Amazing how long it took me to do that cuff. Amazing how difficult it is to get the cuff over my, my older daughter's, my younger daughter's (yes, anyone's) heel. One of these days, I am going to find, and make myself take, a class on two color knitting. Clearly, I need some help with it. But as you can see from the pirate close up below, they are kind of cute (I think). After that experience, what else could I do but cast on for a super easy Thuja (I think I should start paying the guy who designed them, aka Bobby Ziegler, royalties, I knit the pattern so much) variation, at a nice tight gauge on nice small needles, with nice self-patterning yarn, for my hubby's brother's very easy to fit feet (yes, they will be a Christmas present, or maybe a birthday present, and yes, I have actually made progress on the second one of that pair). The second pirate will have to wait for the weekend, when I should have some more concentrated knitting time (or at least the chance to concentrate!) And on another note (sompletely), I won (me, I actually won something) some very nifty "Spunky Eclectic" yarn in a pink and gray colorway from the very friendly blogger at Yarnbeans. Yippee (really!). But I better do the other pirate before I start that project! But it wouldn't hurt, would it, to look for patterns! And on one more note--the camera was in my car. Someday, maybe, I will tell the story of the bottomless pit that is my car!

They might be pirates....

2006-08-23T18:03:00.000-06:00

Then again, well, they might be frogs, or frogged, that is. It's been awhile since I posted--mainly because my digital camera has vanished (not stolen or anything, just placed by some well-intentioned soul in my household into someplace that made sense at the time, no doubt, but of course, which cannot now be remembered! Any day now, I will open up a bag or box or drawer, and there that camera will be, looking for all the world like it belongs there! But in the meantime, I have finished the cuff of one of the pirate socks, actually called "Skull Socks of Fury" in black for the main color with a very fuschia pirate (can't you just picture it....). I'm concerned though about the sizing. But I must admit that I am so woefuly slow at chart and color knitting that I don't think I will have the heart to rip the one out (of course, when I finish the next might be a while). I'm also working on another pair of what will probably be Christmas (what IS going on here!) gift socks, in some self-striping/jacquard kroy sock for my brother in law, who is wonderful to be so impressed by such things. Now, to go in search of the camera once more...if only I call it the way I do my cell phone!

All the children of the world...

2006-08-16T12:55:00.000-06:00

Have you heard about this Save the Children "Caps to the Capitol" knitted caps project? It was apparently in a feature on Good Morning America, but I actually read about it on a knitting blog (though of course I can't find the page I thought I bookmarked about it....) The idea apprently came about after " Save the Children’s State of the World’s Mothers 2006 report highlighted simple, low-cost practices that could save newborn lives — like warming their heads with a knit or crochet cap — Save the Children received numerous calls and e-mails from Americans around the country wanting to organize their friends and family to knit and crochet caps for newborns in developing countries." They have patterns posted that they want you to follow, since they're sized for the heads of children in developing countries. The idea is about advocacy as well as hats--we are to send completed hats to Save the Children to deliver to the White House in January as a witness that people in America care enough about babies in the developing world to spend the time making caps for them. (Apparently, a warmed head is very important for survival!). There are lots of details in their action kit at the link here, do take a look. Since I do everything in three's, I've made the three pictured here, all with leftovers, (and you can see I still need to finish the striped one!). It takes almost no time, is very easy, and will mean a lot to lots of people. How cool (or warm), is all I can say!

A spring in my (well, someone's) step!

2006-08-15T19:48:00.000-06:00

It may be end of summer here, but I am very happily finished with these springy socks--made with the previously mentioned "Wonky Lace" pattern (all my lace is wonky, actually, but that's another story!). I made these so they would fit one of my younger sisters who is allergic to wool (yes, she really is, I have tested it several times, thinking she was imagining it.....). But since the Fixation is so stretchy, they actually fit me pretty well...(yes, I am the big foot of my family, luckily, I am also the knitter of my family). So we'll see. It would be just too surprising and weird to have two potential (notice I said potential, I hardly ever manage to hold onto gifts that long) done in August! I want to give a big thank to Trek for this pattern, and the many free patterns she has on her site. They are very clearly written and all quite adorable! My next sock project is going to be a pair of Pirate Socks, which I found on the Hello Yarn site....after I finish these little Save the Children Hats--more on those tomorrow!

There's no place like home....

2006-08-13T09:57:00.000-06:00

We're home, we're home, we're home! And many loads of laundry later and bags mostly unpacked, I am back to my computer and blogging! I wound up having the s l o w e s t of dialup connections on vacation, so I got online just a few times to check email, but didn't have the patience for much else (I am so spoiled with my high speed connection at home!). But we had a great vacation--a very long one for us, and very laid back, restful, and casual. And yes, I managed to get to a yarn store: look at all this pretty yarn (I have to admit I have no plans for the Kid Merino, I just couldn't resist the color!) The beautiful Himalayas wool (from the Queensland Collection), which I had never seen before, is for a felted tote for my mom, who is quite a bag lady, for Christmas. The Sirdar Spree will be a hat, probably for next summer at this rate, and the Dune, probably a scarf--it was buy one get one free, what could I say?

And yes, I did some knitting, too: these are my socks in progress I brought with me, which are destined for my middle sister's petite feet. It was great to finish them, they were knit at such a small gauge! I had one real learning experience with these--I somehow (don't ask me how) knit a pearl row during the gusset decreases. And I somehow didn't notice it until I was a few rows along (yes, I am a bit concentration challenged at times). I thought I would have to for back whole rounds, but thanks to my handy dandy Knitting Answer Book, I was able to drop each stitch back as I came to it, and pull it back through in pattern with a crochet hook. Admittedly, this might have taken as much time as it would have to frog and reknit, but I didn't risk losing any stitches, and I learned a new trick that I've been needing to know! The other socks, which I didn't quite finish, but am now to the toe on, are Trek's Wonky Lace Socks. This is a great pattern, easy enough for a normal person to follow no doubt, but for the concentration-challenged like myself, writing out each pattern row line by line on an index card helped tremendously. The only trouble I've had with these socks is the "stickiness" of the Cascade Fixation on these Bryspun needles I'm using. I've had a lot of trouble with the K2togs, etc., too, because I can't get the points through. But they're what I started with, so I'll persevere. My new discipline with socks during vacation was to count rows even when I didn't have too, instead of trying to rely on eye-balling or even measuring. So on this pair, the cuffs are 56 rows to the heel, and the feet are 65 rows from the start of the gusset to the start of the toe decreases, etc. I am hopeful that this will get me socks the same size!My only other knitting was a drop stitch scarf, which I made with some "Lang Lotus" (which I think is discontinued) that I had from somewhere. It's a wool, nylon blend, but has a very unique texture--almost papery. It's apparently a very hip fall color, or so I was told by someone who saw me knitting it at the hair salon--so I'm all set.
Now,here are a few of the obligatory vacation shots:
A view of the ocean at sunrise from our balcony (the early bird gets more knitting time!)

A walk through the nature preserve, (hand in hand, aren't they cute!)

And swimming at low tide (no waves, so happy mom, but not-so-happy kids on boogie boards, wanting to catch a wave!).

I would spend all my time at the ocean if I could. Even if the beach is crowded, you can look out in to the ocean and see so far and see no one....

And we're off!

2006-07-27T15:33:00.000-06:00

Almost! At least the knitting is ready, and there are many, many bins of things lined up in the hall (this is the problem with travelling by car--not enough incentive to pack light!). As knitting goes, I settled on bringing some Noro for a felted bag my teenager wants (not that I'll be able to felt at the beach!), needles and back up yarn (in case I can't get to that wonderful yarn store in time) for the Wonky Lace Socks, some remnants for the kids to knit with, some more leftovers and crochet hooks for me to practice, practice, practice my crochet flowers (they need it!), some nubby yarn and big needles for a possible scarf project (you never know!) my socks in progress (one DONE, one just begun) and a copy of Knit Simple, some patterns, and some back up needles, just in case! And, I of course reserve the right to totally divert from all plans once I hit the yarn store! I only wish I didn't have to drive--kills so much knitting time! But we have two weeks in the sun, two car loads of kids and gear....and an overflowing knitting bag.... what could be better?! I hope to be able to blog while I'm gone, but may have to hunt for a connection. If you want, subscribe to my blog with bloglines (see the button at right), and you can be notified with updates. Safe travels, and happy knitting, all!
One addition already: look at this cool link about knitting white squares to contribute to an art project at Sky Between Branches.

To knit, perchance to swim....

2006-07-25T22:32:00.000-06:00

I am getting ready to get ready for vacation--I am thinking about knitting projects to take with me! I have my current socks n progress (one down, one to go), I have a crazy urge to knit another hat or two (maybe child size this time so my girls can wear them) and I came across this great pattern from Trek for "Wonky Lace Socks". I like the name, and the pattern looks like so much fun, and it uses Cascade Fixation, which is a great thing to knit at the beach. And I have some Fixation in my stash, but I don't love the color, so this will give me a great excuse (like I need one) to visit this really cool yarn and used book store we found on the island last summer. I can't wait! Now I guess I have to start thinking about packing other things, like clothes, and sunblock and all that--but there's time!

Two, two, two wee sockies...

2006-07-23T22:05:00.000-06:00

Okay, here's the thing. I have exactly one person in my life who are expecting babies. Now I'd like to say they're best friends, and that they'd love nothing more than to be showered (get it?) with lots of hand knit gifts....But honestly, she's a person I'm friendly enough with, but you know, not best. So since I've already given her those wee hats, I fear I might be seen as sort of stalking her if I show up with these baby socks too, but I'm just amazed at how much fun it is to knit these little things (and, okay, quick too; a gauge of 10st/inch goes a lot faster when you only have 40 stitches on the needle and the feet are just 4" long)! I think I will chance sending these along to my friend, just because they're done and all....maybe with a card that promises I am not a knitting stalker! (And by the way, this is the now discontinued [of course, I like it] Knitpicks Dancing, on u.s.0/2.0mm magic loop, and is an adaptation of a couple different patterns I've seen, with a repeating but traveling purl stitch).

Another day, another sock begun

2006-07-21T20:47:00.000-06:00

No, I have not finished my red socks of the previous post. I am almost through the foot of the first.....but I have started another sock--a different sock of course--and this one is a baby sock. I just couldn't resist! I'm just started -- another 2.0 mm/us 0 experience, but with only 40 stitches cast on this time, in the last of my Knitpicks Dancing....since I want them to be teeny tiny. They will be cute. The somewhat troubling thing is what this kind of fickleness with my sock projects says about me--but I guess I will get back to my knitting, and think about that tomorrow!

Socks, socks, must knit socks.....

2006-07-18T21:00:00.000-06:00

My little hat making break made me a little crazy I think, even after my last sock debacle! I cast on for these day before yesterday, and I think I'm knitting too hard (or too excitedly, if you can do that) because I'm bending my needles! Oh, but it's fun to see those tiny stitches again--they always look so neat and tidy (something in my life should be neat and tidy, right). This wool is Regia, a really pretty kind of mottled red (one of my very favorite colors) that I got on sale somewhere (ah, the memory fade amidst the haze of wool) I'm using size 0/2.25 mm needles, and getting about 9 stitches to the inch in the stockinette portion of the sock. This is an adapatation of the Posh Yarn "Slip up socks" pattern I used for my earlier Fingerless mitts, this time using a 72 stitch cast on to accomodate my bigger feet and the gauge I'm knitting at. The cool thing about this pattern is it is so easy and it looks so much like cables--love it. Now, to knit some more, and, perchance, to sleep (at some point!) Amended: found the ballband (whew!) The yarn is "Regia 4 Fach Haltbar/4 fadig Color" The color number is 5571.

And baby needs three?

2006-07-14T12:51:00.000-06:00

Here are the promised baby hats, made from the pattern in Last Minute Knitted Gifts, with the yarn the pattern actually called for(imagine that), Mission Falls 1824 cotton. I think they came out really well; I have to say the yarn is a bit more rustic looking knit up than I expected, but I am hoping that will be part of the charm! The colors might be a bit wacky too, but I figure you don't see all that many babies with purple hats! The baby shower is not until tomorrow morning, so I am feeling way ahead of myself (for me)! I still need to come up with some pretty packaging; that will be tonight's project. And I started another sock this week (red ones!) , will post that picture soon!

You CAN be too distracted...

2006-07-12T20:50:00.000-06:00

Okay, it's been awhile, but I have finally managed to really mess up a pair of really simple socks. I think this is because I knitted these in a combination of places, and never more than a few rows at a time....at the pool, at swim meets, while watching much too engrossing movies, I'm not sure....And I was clearly not careful enough....for although the first sock made me think nothing could go wrong, when I finished the second sock, I discovered that it was, well, a completely different size....both in the length of the cuff and the length of the foot (what was I thinking, well, I was clearly not thinking!). I also discovered that this yarn, (Elann Esprit), at least in this 4/2 seed rib I decided to use, is not as forgiving or adaptable as the Cascade Fixation (cotton/elastic blend, pretty much a sport weight), I like so much! And as the Yarn Harlot warned, this is not going to come out in the blocking! . Phew. I wasn't going to post these at all, but "in the interest of full disclosure" (as we say), here they are. Luckily, my daughter doesn't seem to mind the sizing problem and has been happily scuffing around the house in them. Alas, I had planned them to be for me (yes, this yarn DOES stretch a lot, but not that much!) Now, to finish my shower gifts (all little hats, which don't have to match)!

Oh say can you crochet....

2006-07-07T17:24:00.000-06:00

Well, as you can see, not really, or just barely (can I crochet, that is!) I was inspired to post this attempt at a small bit of crochet by reading Craftybernie, who talks about her own struggles to get past wobbly single crochet to actual shapes (Coming Up Blank: While I was feeling rotten....). Believe it or not, I have "known" the basics of crochet for years (meaning, "how to"), but I have never been able to make it look right! This is the closest I have come--a wobbly version of a crochet flower circle "pattern" I found in the winter issue of Knitscene. I know, I could have chosen an easier yarn (what can I say, it was there.....). It is clear to me this will take much more practice...and maybe a better set of crochet hooks (I always think equipment will rescue me!) . I am determined to keep trying, slowly, and soon!

Oh Baby, Baby...

2006-07-03T17:35:00.000-06:00

Baby knitting--I haven't done a lot of it. But a friend is having a baby, and I got invited to what looks to be a very lovely shower, so I have gone through tons of patterns searching for something special to knit. Alas, I have spent so long searching patterns that I am now within two weeks of the shower date!(I won't even tell you how much this happens to me!) But after all that searching, I came up with these "Children's Cotton Hats" in Last Minute Knitted Gifts, one of my favorite (and most used) knitting books (which could have something to do with my general tendency to procrastinate....but it is a good book, really). I decided to make her three hats; one pale yellow, one very pale green, and one almost purple. (Don't know if she's having a boy or girl). I had to order the Mission Falls 1824 Cotton, so I went ahead and made up a prototype today in some Lily "Sugar n Cream" that I dug out of my always cooperative stash. The gauge of the yarn is different, but I wanted to get a feel for how the hat looked in person. I like it a lot, and think it will be very funky and hip knitted up in the Mission Falls. Now, while I wait for the yarn, I can work on some very cool packaging.......hmmm..........will have to look for some ideas on that!

A knitter in Paris

2006-06-28T18:21:00.000-06:00

Okay, I have to admit something. This started out as a dishcloth. I'm not really a dishcloth knitter, but I found this very pretty double flower pattern by Yvonne Hussey. I had some Lion Kitchen Cotton in and old corner of my stash (yes my stash is big enough to have corners!) so I pulled it out and started knitting. It's a very cool pattern, knit in the round from the center out. The further along I got, the more I thought it would look really cool as a hat for my daughter. So I knit the whole pattern, just as written, decreased down to 80 stitches and did 10 rows of K1P1 rib. And it is a pretty cool beret (actually it looks more like what I've heard called a "snood" on my daughter; this may be destined for her older sister)! Which just goes to show, you never know what you might end up with when you just try something new!

Fingerless mitts it is!

2006-06-22T22:11:00.000-06:00

Well, the fingerless mitts were clear winners with this yarn, and here's the first one (Now to do another, my daughter already exacted a promise to let her borrow them). The funny thing that happened in all this was that once I decided to go with the fingerless mitt option, I realized I had no socks on the needles. It made me crazy, really! So I cast on for a pair with some lavendar Cascade Fixation (a taste of summer, to go with the peach!) Can you say obsession?

To sock or not to sock....

2006-06-18T12:58:00.000-06:00

What is it? I started knitting today with my Dye-o-rama yarn from Girl on the Rocks. It is just gorgeous! I started knitting with a pair of socks in mind (of course) with this cool free pattern I found through Knitters Review Forums, and called "Slip Up Socks" on the Posh Yarn site. But now that I have about 5" of "cuff" done; (the shorter closeup of the stitches, on my hand, was taken earlier today) I am thinking how cool this yarn/stitch pattern combination would look as fingerless mitts or gloves....and would probably fit me better too (though I do have some slim-ankled buds who would, no doubt love to be gifted with a pair of these socks). Hmmmmm what to do? Okay, it's about 90 degrees in my neck of the woods right now, but decision time is only about 2 inches away (do I start a heel or a thumb gusset?) Which would get more wear? Which would be cooler (so to speak)? Which would show off this amazing yarn best? If you have a vote, leave a comment! Either way, I am loving this yarn, and especially amazed that it was made "just for me"! This swap pal stuff is great (now that I've had two whole experiences of it, that is!). What think you?

Other Brother-in-Law socks

2006-06-17T16:15:00.000-06:00

Green Bay Packers socks, I am calling them. They are the biggest socks (meaning longest in the foot) I have yet made. These are for my sweet Wisconson brother in law (yes, a big Packers fan, with a size 11 foot--I'm lucky to be related to a lot of small-footed men, not that I'd call them that to their faces!). I knit these in a new way; I used 10" circular needles for the cuff and foot, adding dpns at the heel and toe shaping. The yarn is Knit Picks Parade (which I have, of course, grown to love now that they are discontinuing it!) The 10" circular is called a "Stretchy Circular" ; I heard about them on the Socknitters Yahoo Group, and decided to give them a try. The cord is a very firm elastic, and they do flex and stretch. They only come in 2.75 mm (us 2) at this time, so that's what I used for these socks. They made for fast knitting, I must say, but I think my hands are not used to such short needles. But I did get a nice firm fabric, and have yet another pair of socks to add to my as yet unassembled Thuja gallery! My Brother in Law will be here in a week or so for a visit, and to help my husband build a Climbing Wall (yes, a rock climbing wall, yes, in our back yard, yes, we are crazy in this house about more than yarn!)
PS: My daughter is now telling me that these should be BRAZIL World Cup socks. I guess it all depends on your perspective!

Saving graces

2006-06-11T20:48:00.000-06:00

Here are my finished "Sock Savior" Socks for Sockapaloooza! They are blocked and ready to pack and send in the morning, I am so happy! I like how the colors turned out, and love this pattern, ("Fluted Banister" from Six Sox Knit a Long). It was fun to do this "extra" pair, and now to packing and shipping! I've got birthday party invitations all ready to mail tomorrow (S is "finally 7," as she puts it), so I will have lots of fun at the mailing store. Next project--finish my brother-in-laws socks (yet another Thuja variation, and find a pattern for the luscious dye-o-rama yarn I received (thanks again, Girl on the rocks!)

Popsicle Party

2006-06-11T14:26:00.000-06:00

Phew! I have finished dying some yarn that I like! It took two totally separate "paintings" to get the color I wanted, and a looooong steam bath on the stove top to set the colors, but I like how it turned out--bright and fresh, and hopefully yummy to my dye o rama swap pal--hence the name, "Popsicle Party!" It is now packed up with care instructions and a set of clover bamboo dpns, ready to go in the morning mail, yeah! And there are only a few kool-aid stains on the grout in my kitchen. :)

Knitting in Public

2006-06-10T16:57:00.000-06:00

Finally, the long awaited World Wide Knit in Public Day 2006 has arrived. And S I were determined to get out and "Hide no more" as Franklin's Delores puts is. So out we went....to knit....in public. Well, sort of. We were very definitely knitting, and very definitely in public (a park), but because it was about 90 degrees in the shade today; my daughter S lamented that there was not much public to be knitting in front of! But here she is, knitting away, under what shade we could find. She commited to do (and completed) two whole rows before the lure of the giant empty playground became too much for her. But once she was on the playground, I got to sit under the shade of the giant slide while she played and work on the second of my "sock savior" socks for Sockapaloooza. I will be able to send them out on Monday, yeah. So happy knit in public day, one and all. Now I just need to get the pinestraw out of my knitting bag.

Orangina meets new mown grass....

2006-06-08T20:29:00.000-06:00

Can you believe how beautiful this is!? I received it earlier this week from my incredibly talented, formerly secret, dye-o-rama pal, Karrie of Girl on the Rocks . She even included stitch markers and the most adorable little hand-made pin cushion. I can't wait to knit this up--orange and green, and the colors are just fantastic (of course, this picture can't do them justice). I can't believe I got a professional as my pal--you should see all the beautiful things in her Etsy store. I love, love love it! And by the way, I am still working on the yarn for my pal--I've been doing little hanks to experiment; but still don't love the results (it may be a long weekend, but I will get some yarn mailed Monday, I promise!). I bought another bunch of kool-aid today at the grocery store--hope springs eternal!

Under pressure.....

2006-06-03T17:57:00.000-06:00

But it's good! Remember that Queen/David Bowie song? I had volunteered to be a "Sock Savior" for Sockapaloooza III, and heard from Alison today about making a pair--luckily the preferences of the thus far negelected pal fit some wonderful yarn I already had! I searched and found another cool pattern in the Six Sox Knit a Long--they're called Banister Rib, designed by Laura Gallagher. I think they'll be really pretty in this handpainted yarn. So back to knitting--I need to get these out PDQ!

Hats off...the knit's on

2006-06-01T11:03:00.000-06:00

This little lace cap is from a pattern by Adrienne Robson, published a few summers ago in Knitty. I originally found it while looking for something to knit for the Knit the Classics/Pride and Prejudice Knit A Long--it looks pretty Jane Austen to me! I made it from a silk/baby alpaca blend that I had purchased just because it looked pretty (from elann) and just love how soft and cozy it feels. My daughter is modeling it, but I actually knitted it as a high school graduation gift for my niece (who wears a hat to cover here beautiful blond hair pretty much every day and everywhere!

The pretty bag is from Franklin at The Panopticon; he has produced these (along with lots of other cool knit-related shirts, bags, mugs, etc) for World Wide Knit in Public Day -- which I found out about just recently enough to get my bag in time! My daughter custom-colored it for me (amazing what you can do with a few sharpees) and we're both looking forward to knitting in public together. Now, to find a spot.....
(And then, to figure out a better way to post photos, so they flow in with the text better!)

Dying to knit

2006-05-20T18:42:00.000-06:00

Well, here's all the stuff for dye-o-rama! I got some great instructions from Knitty, (by the very cool Kristi Porter) and I have plenty of yarn (in case I mess up a batch!). I have A LOT of orange cool aid. I realize this is because I have an orange haired daughter, and so have a thing about orange--which I realize might not be shared by by my swap pal--so I will tone thist first batch down a bit. I'm undecided about whether to try hand painting or striping, or just see what happens (which is often what I do in life, and as I know, not always the best choice, though never a boring one!) I'm hoping for time on Memorial Day weekend to jump right in (so to speak....). And this week I'll get out the markers and color wheel and see what could unfold.

Hats off (or on, that is!)

2006-05-17T21:25:00.000-06:00

Just finished this hat--made after ripping out two different sock patterns made with this Plymouth Sockotta yarn (which is a cotton/superwash wool)blend and very nice to knit with). I just decided it was not destined to be socks, and when my daughter pointed out these were her favorite colors (yes, she has three, orange, green and pink!), I knew I should do something for her. Inspired by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's ode to hat making in Knitting Rules, (after all, she says, you just have to make ONE hat,); I just jumped in and did it, following her basic guidelines. I had made a few hats last winter, with nice chunky yarn, starting on 16" circulars and switching to DPN's for the crown. This time, I used magic loop, with 2.75 mm needles. I cast on 128 stitches, and just kept going, around and around and around (and some more!). I did crown decreases all the way down to 4 stitches, and then did a 6" i cord and tied it in a few knots to finish off the top. The rolled brim is very stretchy, which my daughter likes. Now, if it weren't 80 degrees outside, she could wear it more. My husband, though, said she look like askateboard dude in it, which means the weather doesn't matter--hence the BIG smile. (She is saying "yabba dabba doo", in case you wondered!--you know why!) And so am I, one hat done, no more to go. Now, back to those socks!

Of socks and purses and computer crashes....

2006-05-13T12:53:00.000-06:00

Here's the completed purse that I was able to give to one of my "baby" sisters up in Charlotte Sunday. It's a berroco pattern (see my last post), but I used some Lion Brand Incredible that I had in my stash, and got the adorable bangles at good old Target, so it was a cost -effective eneavor! Very quick and easy too. In the meantime, my computer system crashed, and I am waiting for a friend of a friend to come back in town to see if he can retrieve any of my unbacked up data (including my pictures, knitting patterns and itunes, woe is me), as the cost of a professional service doing it is absolutely insane. (Yes, this is all my own fault!). This makes it hard to blog too, as my other home computer, an old lap top, won't read my card reader.....I've also made and frogged an almost complete sock, and have now started a hat with the yarn. The sock was a great lesson for me....I didn't like the way it was turning out from the start (I tried using bigger needles, thinking a looser gauge would be better for summer socks, but they just felt too thin to me, and the ribbing didn't look right with the seld patterning yarn, and on and on. I decided to stop because I realized that while I might force myself to finish one of these socks I didn't like, I was never going to be able to make myself knit a second one! Since I was reading about making hats in Stephanie Pearl McPhee's latest book, Knitting Rules, I rewound the yarn and started a little fairisle hat. I'll post a picture of progress as soon as I can get to the right kind of compuer again. And now, back to my Cascading Leaves Sock, from the Townsend Knit A Long yahoo group. They are slow going so far, too, but once I get the pattern repeat down, I know it will get easier! (Knitting is so much like life)!

How green are my feet?

2006-05-05T16:25:00.000-06:00

Just finished these, using the new Hedera pattern by Cookie, published in Knitty. I was totally intimidated by the lace pattern when I started, so I made them anklets, but once I got down the instep of the first one I had it down, and realized I could have done a full cuff. But that's okay, because I like them as anklets. The pattern was very thorough and really well written, which I really appreciate. And I made them in a cotton/wool yarn (Fortissima Cotton/Schoeller + Stahl--the rest is in German!) I found in my stash (amazing) and used just over one skein--so the whole project was a real win win! And the little girl holding them up is my dear, dear six-year-old, who puts up with all my knitting (she's learned to cuddle around it) and has even learned to knit herself (yes, I'm proud, as you know!). Now I need to take a tiny sock break (help!!!) and make this cute little ribbon "Mita" yarn purse by Berroco that The Knitting Zone newsletter found for me. Thanks! It will be a giftie for my sister who I visit Sunday.

I'm so excited (I just can't hide it)

2006-05-05T15:48:00.000-06:00

They're here! MY sockapaloooza socks arrived today, from Megan in Ohio, and she was sweet enough to send some adorable little knitting sheep notes and a lovely note. I'm sure lots of you knitters have the same experience I do -- I knit for a lot of people, but nobody knits for me (obviously, I need to meet more knitters!) The socks are beautifully knit and fit perfectly. It's the "Falling Leaves" pattern from Knitty--so pretty. And the heel is done to perfection (I have kind of a thing about heels!). I am hitting the road this weekend for a trip to my sister's in North Carolina, and plan to wear these oh-so proudly. Thank you again, Megan, and thanks Alison, for organizing us all! Can I say it one more time??? I'm so excited!

Make new friends

2006-05-01T23:32:00.000-06:00

Well, not content to wait for another sock exchange, I joined "dyeorama," and got my "swap buddy" today. I also joined Knit the Classics this weekend, and have subscribed to the almost-brand-new Craftli t to listen to the May book, Pride & Prejudice. Not sure I can handle making a feather & fan shawl, but I do have some beautiful lace weight, and I also have some Knitpicks dye-your own..... So off we go! And yes, I was a girl scout.....for a long time.....And my favorite colors, should my dying swap buddy read this, are orange and green, and red.....and yellow (well, okay, pretty much anything bringht, but especially orange and green). Soooo...I'm off to listen, and knit, and pick colors!

Oh, Canada!

2006-05-01T07:08:00.000-06:00

Here come the socks! Here are my sockapaloooza socks, ready to be wrapped and sent to my sock pal, Alynda in Victoria, British Columbia. I printed out a postcard of our "home town," and my 6 year old wrote a very sweet (0f course) note to go with them. I hope my sock pal likes them, I hope they fit, I can't wait for them to arrive! This was my "first" knit exchange, and it was a lot of fun for me; though a bit intimidating to be knitting for someone who might be a real expert! And a big thanks to Alison of the Blue Blog and her "sock sisters" for coordinating all this! Maybe we should put some knitters in charge of world peace!

Baa Baa Sheep Basket....

2006-04-29T11:31:00.000-06:00

Okay, is this not the cutest inanimate, non-knitted, made by someone other than yourself object you've seen in a long time? I got this at my Cathedral Book Store right around Easter (and talked the friend with me into buying the small one that matched it to keep me from buying both!). She is now very much at home in my keeping room, and my 6 year old daughter has even named her, "Yarnie," of course!
Just look at that face!That Plymouth Jungle yarn peeking out from amongst the sock yarn was bought in the clearance bin at my local yarn shop, and is intended to be a summer shawl--now I just need to find a nice open pattern for it!

A Walk in the Park

2006-04-28T17:00:00.000-06:00

Or a walk in the backyard, anyway! These are my completed "Sixth Sense Socks" from the Six Sox Knitalong, and I LOVE how they turned out. I made them in Elan Peruvian Baby Cashmere, on a 2.25 mm addi turbo (swooshhhhhh, as Brenda of Cast-On would say). I originally intended them as a gift, but they turned out to fit me perfectly, and my daughter loves how "cuddly" they are, so they may just keep on walking in my own yard! These were a good experience for me because I got to do a garter stitch short row heel, and a hemmed cuff, both of which were new to me. So off to the next pair, which are the new Hedera pattern from Knitty!

Coming to my senses

2006-04-07T10:15:00.000-06:00

I have been a member of the Yahoo Group Six Sox Knit a Long for quite a while--great patterns available to members, and lots of wonderful help from the designers if you run into a problem. We've just started a new sock the "Sixth Sense Sock," and it's lovely; I've started it in periwinkle baby cashmere, and I love how it's turning out so far. It does have a garter-stitch short row heel, which I have never done before, and am looking forward to trying (As you can see, I'm still on the cuff)., as well as a hemmed edge at the top of the cuff; which I think looks nice. It will definitely be a warm and soft sock and so not too wearable in the already hot south this summer, but imagine it could be a great pair of make-ahead (imagine that) Christmas gift socks! If you're interested in sock knit a longs, check out the Yahoo Group linked above.

Done (in)!

2006-04-04T23:31:00.000-06:00

They are done! My Sockapaloooza socks are done! You have no idea how amazing this is: not because plenty of other sock pals have not already finished their socks, not because this pattern was woefully complicated, not even because this is the 2nd and 3rd sets of yarn I have started these socks in.....It is amazing, because I am, well, a procrastinator from way back. I stayed up all night finishing papers not just in college and graduate school but in high school. I finish the cookies for class snack at 2 am the night before. I pull almost-all-nighters before a major presentation (still!). Okay, I did pull several almost all nighters to finish these, but hey, there is almost a month to go before the deadline. What can this mean? Could it mean a sea change in my life of adrenaline- fed high production marathons, could it mean less hysteria as a deadline approaches? Could it mean fewer fedex fees for last minute birthday gifts???? Well, I will not get my hopes up too high on this.....lets just hope for a little more sleep! (And for those who want to know, the yarn is Lorna's Laces, "Daffodil" for the variegated and "Lime" for the almost solid.....and they should fit....now to start gathering the packaging materials and some southern goodies for my very northern (aka Canadian), sock pal!). (And not to be left out, the pattern is the Old Shale Two Color Sock Pattern, by Marguerite, at Stitches of Violet, a great pattern and a very helpful designer!)

Home, where my socks are waiting....

2006-03-30T23:11:00.000-07:00

Silently for me......Yes, I did get some knitting done on the road. My scarf was really slow going; I'm really grateful to larjmarj for help in finding an enhanced description of the pattern stitch I was using....but it will take a lot of blocking! I got a good start on one of my Sockapaloooza socks in the Lorna's Laces, and when I got home, I sat down and finished the second of the fingering weight Thuja's--and I love the way they came out. I was travelling in Florida, where it was just hot enough to make it feel like early summer, and I love the beach, butI got all of a half hour of outside time, but hey, it was a business trip. I brought home some very pretty shells I picked up on the beach, as well as the usual chotkes, as my husband called them. And it was a real treat to come home to comments on my blog from larjmarj and jaymeknits! I realized when I was repacking to come back home that I bring all this knitting with me even though I probably won't have much time allowed to knit because the idea of running out of knitting just sends me into a PANIC! This must be one of the distinctions between a traveller who knits and a knitter who travels. So I will always carry more luggage than I need to just so I can have plenty of yarn!!!

Leaving Home

2006-03-25T18:30:00.000-07:00

I have packed a roll a board and a small duffel. I have a few changes of clothes, a few bags of travel size toiletries, one good book, one distracting magazine, and three knitting projects (did I mention I will be gone for 3 whole days?) : A herringbone scarf in some Gelato (cotton, stranded acrylic mix) which I have just started for some airport knitting, my re-started Sockapalooza project, and a couple balls of a beautiful red wool/microfiber for an one the way home project. I think my Sockapaloooza socks are too complicated for airplane travel, at least for me, hence all the extra projects! I hope I'll have SOME downtime at the hotel between meetings to sit and knit. I will be at the beach, actually, in Ft. Lauderdale, and I hope to at least glimpse the sun! Business travel, blech. Knitting has helped so much with this new need to travel for work; it gives me something to look forward to in what is otherwise just grueling for me. I hate leaving my family, worry about my girls while I'm gone, get crazy trying to get everything in my household settled before I go. Everytime, I think it will be easier. Everytime, it is still just as hard. But it is, for right now, the way life is. I hope to bring home shells for my youngest, (even if store bought; she loves them) and the required "snow" globe, and hopefully, a completed sock, too. We keep on keepin' on, like we've learned to do. See you later this week!

The Long & Winding Yarn

2006-03-21T23:36:00.000-07:00

Here's the lorna's laces I just got for my much delayed sockapaloooza socks. I decided that it will be Spring by the time these socks are sent (well, pretty much summer down here), so I might as well go for cheery spring colors. The colors are "daffodil", a variegated, and "Gentle lime" (click here for color card pics; tghis picture doesn't do the colors justice! I'll post a progress sample soon) a surprisingly subtle, almost solid. I think they'll be beautiful in the Old Shale pattern. I'll be traveling next week to sunny Ft. Lauderdale and will no doubt have plenty of airport wait time to work on them, and hopefully, a good knitting seat!

6 year old knitting & a "pair" of socks

2006-03-19T23:22:00.000-07:00

No, the knitting is not six years old, the knitter is! I had to post this! This lovely doll cape is my six year old daughter's second project (the first being a wristwarmer for her grandmother). I bound it off and sewed the button on, but otherwise it is her project--in all its glory. She learned to knit pretty easily, and is encouraged that I still make mistakes--and told her that if we can't fix them, we turn them into features! I am soooo proud, and so is she. Now I have to let her back into my GOOD stash (she picked out this Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran!) for some Spring knitting! And I have to say it's obvious she DOESN'T take after me in one knitting habit:
When I told her she could start another project even though she hadn't finished that one and come back to it later, she said, "No, that's okay, it's better if I have one knitting project at a time." Well, cast your eyes on my one modified Thuja sock and my one Simply Lovely Lace Sock (in some beautiful Lorna's Laces, in Embers...), both of which were finished this weekend but also need a mate to make a true pair! But I went to a party today at a friend's house and got to talk about knitting--woo hoo! And tomorrow is a dentist day--no doubt some tiem to knit in that waiting room!

Welcome to my new knitting blog!

2006-03-17T16:26:00.000-07:00

Thanks for taking the time to come on over from episcopalallie. Please keep coming back, and let me know you visited so I can visit you too!

Soccer socks aka sockapaloooza procrastination

2006-03-16T19:47:00.000-07:00

Aren't these pretty? It's that Thuja pattern (from Knitty), yet again, this time in fingering weight--in this cool cotton wool regia that I found on ebay. Those are 00 us needles, and they're knitting at 10 stitches to the inch, and the socks feel great--sturdy but soft, all at the same time. I have been telling myself that I started these after just finishing the red sockettes because I need a pattern and yarn that are easy enough to do sitting in a "lawn chair" at soccer practice, and sitting in car pool drop off, and sitting at red lights (well, only really long red lights....and I am STILL paying attention to the traffic!). Anyway, that's why I am saying I started these. Truth be told, I have been avoiding restarting my Sock pal socks after the problem with the yarn (see the sad post below), and after a great and VERY helpful email exchange with Marguerite, writer of the beautiful old shale two color sock pattern (and one of the most helpful and patient pattern writers and email answerers I've run into!) I am making for my sock pal, I am convinced of the need for stash enhancement in order to make this beautiful pattern in all its glory, AND so it fits over the ankle of my sock pal! So watch for more on my trolling amongst the Lorna's Laces listings on the internet. In the meantime, Thuja rocks, and so does having some time to knit! And I promise I will not let my sock pal down (neither rain, nor snow, nor shortened time at airports, nor non-cooperative kid merino will keep this humble knitter from several thousand more appointed rounds!)

Angels wanna wear my red socks?

2006-03-10T09:39:00.000-07:00

These were sooooo quick! Another pair of sockettes, ready for dancing, this time in Cascade Fixation bulky. I used just 40 stitches on 3.75 mm/us 5 needles, and the stitch pattern from the Thuja socks in the latest Knitty (so easy!). I can't wait to wear these to the soccer game tomorrow (bright red is my daughter's team color). They are very thick and very cushiony, and may turn out to be hot for the summer, but will still be good for sliding around the house in!

Well, Harry Potter would say I'm a P.....

2006-03-07T14:59:00.000-07:00

Harry Potter Personality Quiz by Pirate Monkeys Inc.

Though every time I have taken the Myers-Briggs before, I have come up ENFJ.....but the P part definitely fits my knitting style more--always looking for a new project, always excited to start.....always starting another before I finish one! Which fits, I think, both with "fun to be around" and "short attention span...."

Carolina on my mind

2006-03-05T14:00:00.000-07:00

Well, it's spring break, and that's supposed to mean at trip to see beautiful Carolina blue....but life (soccer games, swim lessons, plumbing problems, lack of sleep.....) is interfering with travel plans....so we've settled for park outings and I've been up knitting alot, and am making these little sockettes (you can see I've JUST started the second one) and this ribbon scarf. I made up the pattern for the sockettes, in Knit Picks Dancing, using a band heel and the simplest of 3/1 rib cuffs and stockinette on 2.0 mm needles. The scarf is a one row pattern I found on this site and adapted it to use just 10 stitches and ribbon yarn on (huge for me) 10.0 mm needles. I like the way it's come out and will love it for Spring--which is pretty much here, down here! There's something incredibly peaceful about a sunny day and happy children and an easy knitting project in colors that match the day--I'm lucky, this time, to be able to stay put! But now to plan for Easter Break.....

Texas one step

2006-02-25T09:53:00.000-07:00

Well, this is my traveling to Texas and back sock. Have to say I don't love it--love the pattern (Simply lovely lace socks from the latest Interweave Knits), like the yarn (Kroy sock) but don't think the combo is A+.....but I love knitting while traveling; I especially love knitting socks on dpns while traveling--it is such a conversation starter! I am usually pretty solitary when I'm traveling; listening to my IPod (this time the latest "cast on" podcasts-love them) and just knitting away, but this ast trip was full of flight delays and frustration, and when a woman sat down next to me and pulled out her crocheting, I knew it was time to talk. Airports are really the strangest combination of people rushing like mad and people killing time--a real slice of life really. Like most people, I rarely have time to kill, but sitting in an airport on a plane, IS one of those times. Knitting helps me feel productive, helps me feel connected and lessen the pain of being away from home, helps calm my nerves. And on the plane, it gives me a sense of creation in control when I have put my own fate in a creation of steel and the control of a pilot. It is good that I can knit. I keep coming back to that, these last few years when I took up knitting again and have learned and done so much. It is good, it is hopeful, it is true. And I'm, grateful I can do it--to Texas and back, and when I finally get back home. And now, to knit another!

Sockapalooozoops!

2006-02-17T18:29:00.001-07:00

Well, I have a sock finished. It's lovely, I think, and very soft and warm and fuzzy. There is just one problem, but it's a killer: the ankle of the sock, knitted in the kid merino in the old shale lace pattern, has NO stretch to it--it will NOT go over my heel--even unrolled, even stretching beyond what's reasonable, even praying to the knitting gods, even when cursing under my breath.....my sock pal has about the same size feet as mine, so I think they (well, at this point, still it) will not fit her (well, they might, after she has used a shoe horn to stuff her heel through the ankle, but that hardly seems the most hospitable sock to offer someone! What I don't know is if this problem is because of the yarn, or the lace pattern, or the tension--though the rest of the sock (the cashmere part) seems fine. So I'm not sure what to do. I ordered some more of the cashmere; if the "Old shale" pattern is part of the problem, I may need to switch to something else, even if I add stitches. And I guess I will finish this pair of socks for a very skinny footed and ankled person! ANy thoughts out there on this pattern? (help!)

SOMETHING to do.....

2006-02-14T19:11:00.000-07:00

I stopped by a knitting group today--not a knitting group I'm in, because I don't have one; but a group that meets at my younger daughter's school. We went by to see someone, really, a teacher that we knew would be therethat has been out with a broken ankle and that we were missing-- a lot. And my daughter, who is just 6, got to see her, and her knitting,and that I think made them both happy. I talked with the others there about knitting--they see me as more of an expert than I am, no doubt. But in talking with them and hearing about their projects--a prayer quilt they and their friends had knitted squares for to give to another mom with cancer, I was struck by the idea that I love knitting so much not just because it is creative, though it is, or because it makes people feel good when you give them something you make yourself, though I believe it does, or because it is a conversation starter, or even for the amazing community it creates around you even when you are basically a solitary knitter like me.
No, it is because it is SOMETHING to do when there is nothing you can do-- a tangible, touchabale, real thing that you can do for someone who is sick and that you can't help in any other way, a way to focus thoughts and prayers as you knit for them, a way to say, "My gosh,. life is so blinking out of control and I have no way to reassure you that there is hope when there seems to be none, but I can do this and show you that something can come from almost nothing, that amazing things can happen when you just keep on keepin' on, that busy hands can not JUST hold fear at bay but can knit a shawl, or a scarf or a hat or soft comfy socks, and give a person you hardly even know, or give yourself, proof that creation is new every morning, no matter how dark it seems, that you have the power to respond.
It is something I can do when I don't know what else to do in the face of difficulty and difference, when I don't have any words that I know how to speak. I think that is what knitting can do, a something we all want to be able to do. That small group of women were doing that. My six year old and my 16 year old do it with their faltering knits. Lots of us do seemingly alone in the night. It is something to do, and it is powerful, and wondrous.

Happy Days...or doing 2 things at once

2006-02-12T01:22:00.000-07:00

Here's the thing:
Can you knit and play with sparklers with your kids at the same time? Don't worry, I didn't try!
You know you knit too much when: your youngest says to her friends, "Don't worry that mom is knitting....she can knit and do other things at the same time," you should be sure to teach her to add, "unless one of the other things involves fire!" And yes, we celebrate like this all the time around here. And yes, I started my sockapoolooza socks (all the way to the heel on sock #1), but I promised my daughter (much against my better judgment) that she would get SOME time on this blog)!

Brother-in-Law socks

2006-02-11T16:18:00.000-07:00

These are some socks I just finished for my brother in law--I think the ONLY person I did not make socks for at Christmas! I wound up sort of inventing the pattern as I went along--a long 3/1 rib cuff, then a band heel (from nanknits) and then I continued the ribbing down the instep and did a star toe. I had some trouble with the yarn tangling, and so had to keep cutting and reattaching to get the stripes to match on this self striping yarn, but I'm happy with the way they turned out. They will be a "Presidents' Day" gift--very appropriate for my husbands political family! And since my BIL swears he wears wool socks all year round, I hope they'll be well worn!

Sockapaloooza & Midnight ramblings

2006-02-10T22:52:00.000-07:00

I'm starting this blog to have a place to post some sockapaloooza 3 progress. I get so much inspiration from other peoples' blogs, that I thought I'd start sharing too! I hope to post about lots of things, but mainly knitting, and the rest of life, which involves children and work and lots of other joys and challenges.
For tonight, I'm posting a picture of the makings of my socks for my sock pal--some kid merino, some peruvian baby chashmere, and some 2.25 mm needles. It should be a challenge and fun!