Must Keep Knitting

Little Cursed Box of Socks

So, last week I got my Little Box of Socks in the mail from Amazon, and I immediately loved it.  Most every pattern in it was nice (with perhaps one glaring exception) and I immediately dove in, starting with these socks:

The Double Basket Socks, using Plymouth Galway.  Oh, how lovely the stitch pattern is.  And sooo fast, on size US4 needles, and 48 stitches around.   

So, the day after I got the box, I decided to ride into town with my parents, rather than drive myself, to save gas.  I thought I would look at my new patterns since I wasn't driving.  That plan would have worked, had I not left the freaking box on top of the car!!!!  So, less than 24 hours after I got it, I lost it.  Including the pattern card I had been working on, because I had put it back in the box.  For safe keeping. 

Well, after a night of pouting, I went to Borders the next day and replaced it.  Fast forward a couple days.  This time, I left the box at home, and took the sock to my kids' swim class, as I always do.  Have done so, without incident, for months on end.  But this time?  I get home to realize the sock bag is not with me.  I distinctly remember putting it in my purse, but it must have fallen out.  Fortunately it was found, and I picked it up the next day.  But add to this the fact that the pattern said I would need 100grams to do these, and I ended up needing a bit more, I am convinced that these socks are cursed.  I'm almost afraid to wear them.  Almost.

Let's hope the next pair are less dramatic.  Yeesh. 

Finished pics forthcoming.   

Does This Thing Still Work?

Hmmm, well.  Okay, so I got tagged by Sara at Sweet Surrender (aka swamimommy in my links to the right).  I won't even try to link her name, because I haven't blogged in so long and everyone is talking about what a pain in the ass the new typepad changes are. 

The idea is to list 6 quirks about yourself.  Me, quirky?  Please.

1.  I can't stand a noisy dinner.  That includes music, even music I really love. 

2.  I used to be hard-core punk.  Twenty-plus years ago, before you could buy Misfits t-shirts at the mall. I pierced my own nose with a needle and ice.  The ice didn't help. 

3.  I studied Swahili in college. Na wewe je?

4.  I pretty much always have some fantasy running in my head.  Get your mind out of the gutter--I'm not saying sexual, usually not.  Just, you know, alternate scenarios of my life. 

5.  I'm afraid of bears.  And sharks.  A lot.  Because of my brother messing with my head when I was a kid.  Thanks Andy.

6.  I'm incredibly judgmental about, well, everything.  But especially the way we parent in our culture.  I'd worry about getting hateful comments if very many people read this blog.  But seriously, if you don't want to bond with your kids, to raise them up yourself, why have em? 

Wait, I'm not sure that's quirky. 

6, alternate.  I am thoroughly convinced, and no one will ever convince me otherwise, that you need to wear a hat if you want to stay healthy in spring, summer and fall.  If you don't wear a hat, you will get sick.  A nice old man in my grandparents' camper park in Okeechobee Florida told me that when I was like, 5 years old.  He always wore a hat.  Always.  And if Doc said so, it's true.  We are hat people.

I am not tagging people, unless someone actually reads this.  Then consider yourself tagged.

 

Trying to Catch Up

Okay, I finally thought to have Keith take a pic or 2 of my finished top down V neck cardy.  I finished this back in December I think.  I love it and wear it any time I can.  It's the most stylish thing I've ever knitted.  I'm usually more of a functional traditionalist.  (Well, maybe not with socks, but that's different.)   This was a Knitting Pure and Simple pattern, well written.  There is side shaping too.  I modified it by using a single button rather than a knitted tie, and also by doing one less set of increases and decreases on the shaping.  Why?  Because I mis-counted.  It's Cotton Fleece (80%cotton/20% merino wool) in "Rue".  I want to make another one of these, in all wool.  The only complaints I have are more to do with the user (me) than the pattern or design: 1) when it's really cold I can't wear it because my tummy gets cold and 2)  the cuffs are already a bit grungy because they are slightly bell and I am messy.  Oh, actually that reminds, there was one more mod.  The pattern calls for you to decrease the sleeves way down, then increase them back up a bit as you approach the cuff (top down remember).  I only decreased down to the number that I was to eventually increase back up to.  Does that even make sense to you?  Anyway, I would not have wanted the arms any more snug than they are.

Please note.  This is very important.  THERE IS SUNSHINE!!  Woo hoo. 

Here is the current spinning project.  This is the single ply.  Soon to be finished, hopefully tonight.  Falkland wool top from FatCatKnits. 

The color is "electric ocean". 

Also, in the spinning department, here is some merino seed yarn I finished t'other day.  It's called seed yarn because of the bumpiness.  The color is "water lilies".  Very Monet.  There's the tiniest bit of sparkly stuff in there too.  This isn't sock yarn (for once).  Maybe a hat or scarf.  The little skeinlette could go into a sock top, as a stripe or something.  There was quite a bit of experimenting with this yarn, as I decided how I wanted to spin it.  I think I ultimately decided that for what I like to do (durable sock yarn), I prefer top or roving to a batt (which is what this was).  But I like how it turned out, once I moved on from the sock idea. 

Okay. Hope y'all had sun today too. 

Giving Up on the Sun

The sun would not shine.  It was too cold to play.  So they sat in the house on that cold cold wet icy day.  And at the end of the day, I decided to take some photos, because waiting for the sun is apparently futile.  These little slippers should brighten things up.  I made these some days ago, but didn't get a photo quick enough.  When I made them, I figured they would never be worn by my foot sensitive daughter--too much garter stitch and too many seams.  But man, she hasn't had them off.  These photos were taken after they had been washed-the best I could do.  They are the building blocks slippers from Socks Socks Socks made from koolaid dyed cascade 220 or maybe Wool of the Andes.  They are knitted flat, then sewed up like some crazy origami.  The photo accompanying the pattern, telling how to fold them, was marginally helpful.  But they are cute.

You might notice that the lovely Fair Isle sock that is in this picture is not the same one I was working on from the last post.  That one is waiting for a journey to the frog pond.  Too tight.  Gauge is a fickle mistress.  I worked on birch 2.25mm needles.  Too loose. Rip.  Then I started in earnest on 2.0mm.  Looked good.  Gauge on.  Check it again.  Gauge off.  So, I decided to start another pattern with metal 2.25mm needles before I ripped the first one.  Looking good now.  So, the other one is not lost, but taking some space to think about what it has done.  I still love the naughty socks-to-be.  It's not their fault.  It's that bad gauge.  And I love these too.  These are Bird Feet from Red Bird Knits.

We also have the first half of a Zigzag sock, from the new Vogue sock book.  They are being made from Knitpicks bare, dyed by Moi.  They are being very well behaved.  The lace pattern is easy to memorize, and if I didn't have eleventy-eight projects going, they would already be done.  Better photo forthcoming, assuming sun appears before the end of my time. 

And finally, here is another CIC vest that I'm working on.  The first one is done, but for strings.  A very nice and generous lady by the name of Gerry sent me (at her expense) a giant box of 100% wool yarn, to use for CIC vests and sweaters.  This is the first of many to come, hopefully.  It is very bright green, striped with a bit of dark cranberry that I had left over from another project.  These are so fun to do.  I know the colors are a bit...elfish, but I like it.  There's not much about me that is subtle.

So there you have it.  Me.  Knitting.     

Cold Dark Days

Okay, I yield.  I have gone beyond my capacity for cold weather.   Seasonal Affective Disorder is raging in my home.  The kids are planning a rebellion and arguing in favor of global warming.  Any thing--so long as spring is here promptly tomorrow morning.  I want to be warm without long-johns, a cardigan and a scarf on (in the house).  I know I often claim to want to live in a more wool-tolerant climate such as Maine, Upstate NY, the U.P. or Alaska.  But today I realize it's folly.  I'm too skinny and cold-natured.   Well, maybe I would enjoy it, if someone  could guarantee me sunshine.  When it's cold and cloudy day after day my productivity plummets.  My will to move a meter away from the woodstove dissolves.  Blood thickening.  Freezing up. 

But hey, here's some knitting to the rescue!  I have almost finished my first vest for Children in Common.  Just the pesky edging to finish up.  This interesting color combo is called "What I Had On Hand" and I like it.  It's lamb's pride bulky in bright blue and autumn harvest.  The pattern was spit out of my sweater wizard.  If you want instant gratification, knit a size 2T pullover vest in bulky wool.  Mmm mmm good. 

I also started my first Red Bird Knits sock a quarter sock kit--this pattern is "Fair Not", and is a Fair Isle sock pattern with black background, and Lorna's Lace Bucks Bar as the contrast.  The photo is super dark, but it was the one most true to color, and for some reason, my camera had a heck of a time focusing on this sock.  My camera probably has SAD too.  These are being knit on 2mm needles, instead of my 2.5mm that I typically use for fingering weight yarn.  I'm getting gauge, and it's 72 stitches, so seems just fine.  But pretty snug going over the heel.  I'm keeping my floats nice and loose, so I'm thinking it's going to be okay.  I love how stranded knitting inspires one to keep knitting, revealing it's pattern so seductively that you can't resist one more row.  I also love the challenge of knitting black yarn on size 0 needles on a day without sun.  Really I do. 

Well, must dash.  My plane for the Bahamas is waiting for me.  Oh, no, wait.  That's my messy kitchen waiting for me.  My mistake.    

Can't Fix the Roof When It's Raining

It's very cold here this morning.  It's been bitter cold for several days now (as it has been for much of the country).  I woke up this morning thinking "What I need is a lot more thick woolie socks.  What I need to do is spin up a bunch of sock yarn and make some."  Of course, what I really wanted was those socks right now.  But alas, knitting (especially with handspun yarn) is not instant.  Not even thick 48 stitch ones.  Quick, but not instant.  So, I plan on getting to work on them soon, so I'll be ready  next time.  It's no real emergency; I do have a pair made from pure Icelandic wool from Tongue River Farm, and a pair made from Real Vermonter that are so warm--70% mohair!!  But you know, variety is the spice of life.  And any excuse to make more socks.  I finally finished my second pair of Loksins!  I love everything about this pattern, I'm not sure why these took so long.  I started them at the very end of July--the birthday yarn.  So this makes sock pair #4 of 2008.  I've decided I will count Christmas stockings as a pair of socks, but not slippers (unless they have a turned heel).  Arbitrary rules by Aimee.

This gorgeous stuff is also done.  The merino/tencel hand-painted by Ginny at FatCatKnits.  I love it. Love. It.  But I'm not sure what to do with it.  It seems a little too drapey for socks.  It may just have to mellow in my stash for a while until the right project reveals itself.  Any ideas?  The spinning binge is continuing, now I'm working on a batt of merino with the tiny, tiniest bit of sparkly stuff in it.  No picture on that yet. 

Also, I'm this close to finishing these socks.  I would have finished them, but they are so close that I haven't taken them with me when the girls do their classes,  I'm at that constant measure/knit a little/ measure point and I just need to sit down and do it.  Maybe today. 

Have I mentioned, it's cold?  Must go stand by woodstove.       

Quick Knit, Quick Post

I knitted these up two days ago, for Littler One.  I added the book, Socks Socks Socks to my collection, after resisting it for quite some time.  And I'm happy I did.  There are a number of socks in there that I can't imagine ever wanting to make, but so many that I love.  These slippers, the SOS slippers near the back of the book, weren't even on my list until my daughter saw them.  So I whipped them up out of some kool aid dyed cascade 220 (or maybe knitpicks bare).  My gauge was 5/inch instead of 4.5, which was perfect to make the pattern for her instead of a woman's small.  I added a bit of length to the foot before doing the toe.  This pattern is quite easy, and I have a plan to do some similar ones for me.  Mine will be toe-up.  Christy made a pair of these last fall, if memory serves.  So, finished object #4 of 2008.  Do I count these as socks or no?  (No heel turn.)  Tricky. 

And the perfectly ugly roving I mentioned?  Well, maybe it's a mother's blind eye to imperfection, but  it's grown on me.  Rather like fungus?  Here is the roving, in process of getting a second chance.  But I only had made an ounce.  So I plyed it with natural, which help to tone it down.  I actually rather like it!  This is still only 2 ounces, but I think enough for my pair of slippers. 

Lastly, I must add that both my kids are suddenly into the dark fiber arts.  Today, I was treddling the wheel for one, while over-seeing the beginning knitting of the other.  Mwa-ha-ha-ha!

Again with the Spinning...

I had to show just one more shot of the merino/tencel that I'm working on.  Usually I have a pretty good sense of how a roving is going to look spun up.  This one, I just can't quite visualize.  I tried a new spinning technique, called fractal spinning, that is supposed to create a stripes within stripes effect.  Yeah, umm, that's what I read.  So, we'll see. 

Today I spent too much time working on dying some sock yarn.   After carefully measuring out and creating stock solutions, then creating diluted color bottles, I used the "hot pour method", adding one color at a time to a simmering pot of yarn.  I visualized a beautiful blue,green, turquoise mottled yarn with little bits of bright yellow here and there.  Toxic smells mingled in my kitchen and I sent the kids outdoors.  And the result?

I call it "disappointment green".  Not wanting to end the experience on such a negative note, I tried spot dying some roving, then trying the microwave to set the color.  I am not showing you that one.  I'll call it "disappointment multi".  Actually, I'm calling it garbage.  I know there's a learning curve, but I don't think I'm willing to endure it.  I plan on limiting my dye projects to kool aid and mason jar semi-solids.  And hopefully someday, natural dying.  I defer to all the lovely handpaint artists on the Internet.  Worth every penny.  The yarn is Panda Wool, and I'll put it to use.  But, really, it's uglier in person.

Here's my current, albeit stalled out, sweater project.  I'm about to the armpit, so I started the sleeve.  Then I restarted the sleeve, with a little more slack in the ribbing.  Now I am debating starting the sleeve again, with more length between the increases.  Also trying to decide whether I want it to be a saddle shoulder, as I had planned, or do a Fair Isle yoke instead.  Decisions decisions.  It's cascade 220 in a lovely heathery periwinkle color.  Too lazy to find the color number.  Maybe next time.  It's really nice to have a bit of plain-o stockinette that goes on and on.  I think I'll start another sleeve before I rip out the other one, then compare them and decide which fits better.  Or, I could make two different shaped sleeves for it.  Now that would be interesting. 

   

Mergers and Acquisitions

Here are some of my lovely fiber goodies that came to live with me over the holidays.  I know, that was weeks ago.  But you know I'm slow.  This year the theme seems to have been spinning.  I have wanted this book for some time.  It is full of lovely patterns hats, mittens, socks and gloves.  Check it out, even if you're not a spinner.  In the photo, there is some dark brown yak and merino, some hand-painted Falklands wool, Blue faced Leicester, some wool/silk blend and merino/tencel.  If anyone wants more detail, let me know.  I will say that most of the hand-painted stuff came from Ginny at FatCatKnits, and I just love her work. The brown handspun socks I recently finished came from her top (roving). 

And here is some of the recently acquired being merged into my stashed by way of my spinning wheel.  This is beautiful hand-painted 70% merino/ 30% tencel that I am spinning up into sock weight yarn.  The picture is showing lots of green, but actually there is a lot of pastel space, along with dark purple and a bit of electric blue.  So pretty.  I've really been enjoying spinning lately.  I can't wait to finish this and get it plied so that I can really see how it looks.  The tencel gives it a little shine like silk. 

I've been tempted in years past to join the Sock a Month clubs that are all over the place.  This year, I finally decided to join Red Bird Knits' "Sock a Quarter" club, which is a sock kit every 3 months.  More affordable, less commitment.  So, hopefully that'll come soon.  I have more goodies coming from there that I used Christmas money on, but I don't know when they're coming.  I ordered just after Christmas and it's not on it's way yet.  Patience.  Patience.  Have I mentioned before just how patient I am?  Yah. 

My other little join is a Fiber a Month club from Spunky Eclectic.  It's paid monthly, and I can drop out when I want to, so I wanted to give it a try. (Does it sound like I'm justifying myself?)  The fiber will be 2-4 oz each month, so that's a pretty easy bit to get done.  The first installment of fiber should be here at the end of the month.  I want to have my wheel empty and ready for it.   

So, if the sun is out tomorrow, I will take knitting pictures.  For now, I think I better get busy! 

Never Enough Time.

Little by little, I am trying to get caught up sharing my projects with you.  I realized I never posted pics of my finished cardy, or mom's and Keith's socks.  In fact, I haven't even taken a picture of my finished cardy or K eith's socks, so that will wait.   But here are the socks I very quickly knit for my mom right before Christmas.  I think they turned out great, and mom seemed to love them.  Mom is a blue person.  That's her color, no other color comes close.  Working in the yarn shop, I've noticed that, although most people have their favorite color zone, they sometimes are willing to choose "something different" once in a while.  Blue people are completely loyal to blue.  It's admirable.  Anyway. Sock.  I had bought this lovely hand-dyed sock yarn from Jessie last summer, because when I saw it I immediately thought of mom.  It's called "my favorite jeans".  Mom and I are jeans people.  But then I swore off holiday knitting for the year.  When I saw this pattern,  it seemed to me the perfect union of yarn and pattern and person, so I got busy.  They got done, they fit, and they were a total surprise (I think).  So, the pattern was called "cable clock socks" (or close to that) from the book Getting Started Knitting Socks. 

     Well, it seems that I can't locate my other pictures within my newly configured, less charming computer.  So, until next time, have a lovely day.