perplexed

Is it a bad thing when you realize it's Monday again and you've forgotten what you did last week? Like, did the calendar even experience a Thursday back there? Or did we all skip ahead in some Groundhog Day related disaster that will soon become our unholy nightmare?

And a cold nightmare at that. Magustopher's pond froze over for the first time this winter.
He's confounded by it all. Meanwhile, I appear to be keeping myself well occupied in defense of the frio. I've started some projects, like Argosy.
I'm loving this scarf so far, and I'm also enamored by the idea of expanding this pattern into a blanket. Maybe it's just the cold weather, but visions of hats, mittens, and scarves have been dancing in my knitty head lately. As well as socks. Of course socks.


The aforementioned cold makes the use of sock blockers muy bueno for photography. Finished, and for quite some time now:Pattern: "Madder" and "Oak" Ribbed Socks by Nancy Bush, in her book Knitting Vintage Socks
Yarn: 1 skein of Lorna's Laces in the Jungle Stripe colorway
Needles: Size 2 Addi's, 2 circ style


I started out with the Oak ribbed socks, and decided I didn't like the heel and toe. Thus the switch to the Dutch or "horseshoe" heel and the star toe of three points. Dutch heel close-up:
And one of the points of a star toe:
It's no secret I'm a fan of green and purple, especially combined for sock yarn action. Thus it follows I'm a fan of green and purple socks.

Also, I'm still a fan of the German Heel and the Flat Toe. This all hinges on my fickleness, and the fact that I'm going to be learning how to toe up some socks. I think people with large feet should know how to knit socks toe up to save oneself from frustration.

continuum

Blog called on account of snow.
Bet you didn't see that one coming.
On a totally unrelated subject, cold weather is muy bueno when sporting a new pair of fuzzy feet, perhaps knit out of two strands of Cascade 220 in an orangey Fours variety of colorway, held together on oh, say, size 10.5 DPN's and felted without mercy.

I heart John Mayer.

That is all.

testing

Ankle socks make for quick knitting!
Pattern: Yarrow Ribbed Socks by Nancy Bush, in her book Knitting Vintage Socks
Yarn: About 1 skein of Lorna's Laces in the Hawaii colorway
Needles: Size 2 Addi's, 2 circ style

Gratuitous sock on foot action: I attempted a "French Toe" this time, and it looks quite, um, interesting... And a German heel, which is my new favorite heel because it's wider than the standard short row variety I've seen. Oh, and no holes in the gusset:

I'm excited about figuring it out, can't you tell?

And I'm prepared to share!

indisposed

Hoorah for weekending. I was elbow deep in dyed fiber, took the first mall trip in I can't even remember when, and spent 48 hours saving Hyrule. With help from the cats.

2 points to the Hubs for learning to operate the camera.

I also finished the new monkey socks:

Same specs as prior, Claudia's Handpainted in the Purple Earth colorway.

These are the best fitting socks on me I have knit to date. I call them the spooky socks for the colors, and because I knit these while watching season 1 of the X-Files, grafting the final toe during The Erlenmeyer Flask. Through reliving this series after so many years, I've realized some things.

1. In 1993, cell phones were amfek HUGE.

2. Scully is a really one dimensional character.

3. Mulder is more crazy than I originally gave him credit for.

4. He is no Seeley Booth.

5. I continue to heart the series despite its shortcomings. But it could have been so. much. better.

During this review of important episodes, I ripped back what I had started on a potato sock. Or whatever you wanna call it.

It took three times to get through the first repeat and in all honesty, I just wasn't feeling it. Maybe I'll come back someday. In the meantime, I found some falling leaves to distract. And once I get my size 2's back, I think I'll make with another pair of Monkey.

Where are my size 2's, you ask? Why, knitting a sock, of course.

On two different size sets of needles, no less. Which one will triumph? Only time will tell.

unique

This is timely.
I was just commenting to the Hubs the other day about what a limited edition, very rare kind of special person I am (I have the best illusions of grandeur). Then I made a discovery.

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 0 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

This is clearly inaccurate, as I exist.

Moving on.

Knits finished in '06: Socks!

Pattern: Monkey by Cookie.
Yarn: 2 skeins Claudia's Handpainted sock yarn, Spring Break colorway.
Needles: Size 2 Addi's, 2 circ style.
These socks are comfy, squishy, cozy, and I heart the lace pattern. Took six repeats to get down my monster feet, but I was still juiced enough that I'm nearly done with a second pair. They are also inspiring a shoe shopping trip in the near future.
Hey, must use the handknits, right?I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like moments of time are knit into the items I create. All I can think about when I wear these guys is a crazed trip to Richmond and a marathon of Bones with one (1) awesome variety of person. Go team!

So I'm looking for another sock pattern. I'm hoping there is one either already in my grasp or that will be headed my way soon to inspire me. There's more yarn that I would like to admit in the sock stash at the moment (my civic duty!) and I am in the mood for fancy footwears. I have the personality and the gumption for obsessive, repetitive pattern knitting if I really dig the pattern. And while the idea of plain stockinette socks make for speedy ideas, I'm wondering if there isn't something else out there I would like just as well.

It's looking like 2007 will be the Year of the Sock at this casa.

finito!

First, huzzah for the ol' blogger. I think a new facelift has been a seriously long time in coming.

Second, the socks be done, yo!

Wait, lemme see that toe action again.
Ahhhhh yeaaaaah, that's the stuff.

Pattern: Gentleman's Shooting Stockings from Knitting Vintage Socks
Yarn: 2 hanks Lorna's Laces in "Pinstripe" (75% superwash wool, 25% nylon, 215yds/57g)
Needles: Size 0 Addis, 2 circ style

Fear that stitch definition. Per Nancy's suggestion in the book, I twisted the stitches picked up on the heel flap:
Muy bueno!
I'm a fan of Lorna's now. The plain stockinette was plenty squooshy and soft
And the ribbing is stretchy and springy without loosing shape.
I find I'm a big fan of the long ribbing thing.
In summary: I heart these socks! Funny thing about me and socks is I have always knit them inside out and didn't know there was a difference. Meaning, I have knit them in a counterclockwise fashion so the "right" side is inside the sock as it is knitted. I didn't even realize the could be knit in the clockwise direction until I tried it on the second sock. Thus, the pooling is a bit different on the two.
Pooling does not bother me in the least; I am indeed a fan of handpainted yarns and believe things just are the way they are. I read somewhere that weavers of yore felt the same way. If they ran short of a color and had to dye more they didn't let the fact that the new fiber was a shade different bother them but embraced the handmade item for the way it was.

I think more people should feel the same! Handcrafted items are to be treasured. They are your personal expression of art and interests.

Now, to wrap these up for the father-in-law.

anticipation

Advice: Taken.
Attitude: Readjusted.
Knitting: Back On Track.

Apparently, I do take requests. This weekend, between shopping, treasure hunting and other insanity, I whipped up two (2) slippers sized specially for the Hubs.

Pre Felt: Way Too Large For Me


That would be a seven inch cuff on these babies. Another custom request.


Zoë was very interested during the drying process. Wet wool is very, well... wet. Time allotment for drying is muy bueno.


It took two trips through the "heavy" cycle of the Maytag and one through the rinse. I think it came out well. Even then, one was an inch longer and had to be felted some more. Lots of old towels went into the making of these slippers. Literally, in the wash with the pillowcase of wet wool.

Post Felt: the "Armored Boot" winter fashion
(I can't describe how amused he is by the form they took. It has to do with EQ, I think...)


Pattern: Fuzzyfeet from Knitty!
Yarn: 1.5 skeins each Cascade 220 in Navy and Some Kind Of Green (Tags lost to the stash, i.e., forever.)
Needles: US 10.5 Clover DPN's.

I held two colors of yarn together when I knit these for extra thickness and for super matching of the bathrobe, a blue and green plaid. I tried them on myself and they are very warm.
Mission accomplished.

While knitting these I realized that I'm a moron. Not that this is news to anyone. I was so sure I had never knit anything like this before. Then I remembered.
I've knit socks before.
I've knit socks on DPN's.
I've knit this pattern before.

Green? Very. Comfy? Verily.
These babies, circa January 2006, come complete with rounded toe because the directions of "graft together" meant "break the yarn and thread through remaining six stitches, then pull close and weave the end in like hell on the inside" to my newb knitter mind, vice the kitchner graft I maimed with the second pair.
I kinda like it this way.

I was at a loss for what to do next, so I pulled out starsky. Yeah, it was that bad. I set out with good intentions. All I have left to do is finish the last 12 inches or so on the belt, sew up the sleeves and attach them to the sweater, and knit the collar onto the body.
Then something new came into my life.
I can't even begin to tell you how happy it makes me. I'll attempt to show you. But trust that the picture doesn't do it justice.

The yarn is Noro Silk Garden, Color 208, Lot A. The scarf pattern is Shifting Sands created by and available at the blog of the one and only Grumperina.
I must have cast on six different scarf and stitch combinations before settling on this. That's how excitable and nervous I am about using this yarn. Also, I wanted something that was moderately reversible. Imagine how delighted I was at discovering I like the back side to this pattern just fine. It's really the color that does it for me. And the cable pattern totally roxxors and is super easy to do without a cable needle.

All I want to knit right now is this scarf, until it's six feet long or I run out of yarn, whichever comes first. But this is not the time for selfish knitting. Christmas is coming. And I have stuff to knit for other people. I think?

I'm too lazy to go to the hardware store, so I'll knit up some socks for my father-in-law. I visited a new to me yarn store and picked up some more Lorna's Laces for such a purpose. I'm thinking something vintagey. Published in a book by a woman. Possibly named Nancy.

Yes, these will do fine.

denouement

On Knitting, And Things Relating To It
Wherein we learn that the Swallow Tail Shawl has been knit, weaved, blocked, and hidden for three days so that it might not be discovered inopportunely.

Pattern: Evelyn Clark's Swallow Tail Shawl pattern from Fall 2006 Interweave Knits.
Yarn: Less than 1 Skein KnitPicks Shadow (100% Merino, 440yds/50g) in Sunset.
Needles: US 4 Addi Turbo circular

It's a quick knit; mostly simple; lovely to play with. I look forward to knitting it a second time, as soon as I figure out what I want for myself.

Also completed:
Pattern: Grumperina's Jaywalker for Magknits.
Yarn: 2 skeins Claudia's Handpainted Yarn (100% Merino, 175 yds/50g) in Black Walnut.
Needles: US 1 Addi Turbo circulars

You may recall the first was done some time ago. I may not have finished with others for Socktoberfest, but I did discover along the way I heart knitting socks. And through some twist of nature (and alcohol), my father-in-law determined that not only is his foot the exact same size as mine, but wearing handknit socks could be described as "sex for your feet". (Also, these socks do not feel like they have mistakes in them. He's quite upset I wouldn't let him have the screwed up pair.)

On Turkeys

This year I am very thankful that I did not have to wake up at the crack of dawn to be at work for the mall rush at 4 a.m.

Now that "mall employee" is behind me (and a four letter word), it is my turn to exact revenge on retail workers... by sleeping in until noon and then scoring a yarn swift for 60% off.

Also learned this holiday: chugging a glass of milk after several cocktails is not conducive to a good time.

On Things That Are Leafy
Rescheduled or not, this (indoor) Carbon Leaf show was astronomically overwhelming. I don't think I could have asked for a better spot than front and center.
If you were there, I apologize for the excited chattering before/during/after the show (and to the stealmonster, who was forced to deal-at least the strangers had a headstart). If you were wondering, the glazed over expression and the drool were not anything to be concerned about. I was within reach of Barry, as he proved twice. An invading army could have pulled a Red Dawn on downtown and I wouldn't have budged. It was worth having my car milkshak'd.
In summation, the show was crazy awesome. As are the (surprisingly sweet) band members.

Lest you think this had nothing to do with knitting, you can get it on good authority that the only music I have listened to since September the 12 has been such levels of awesome as seen here. They are inspiring my knitting/spinning/dyeing (oh, there is so much to discuss).

Leafy, tambien: The "Backyard Leaves" scarf that I'm going to knit when I get to Richmond and get me some Debbie Bliss. Because I met a ball of cashmerino this weekend. And it will be mine.