Monday, May 31, 2010

Blue Sock Redemption

I'm not going to lie, I was pretty ready to write off socks after the last two adventures. Then in rides Cheryl with her Knitting UFOs project. Of course, I have to finish the mate to the sock that was my first sock. Cheryl taught me how to knit a sock on double pointed needles about a year ago. I finished that sock and for some unknown reason never did the second one. I remember Chris asking for a pair of socks, so I made him the same type of socks from 'Cheryl's Favorite Sock pattern' in Paton's Stretch Socks in Mineral. Then I knit myself a pair of Halloween socks using the Jacquard & Stripes sock pattern with Patons Kroy Socks Stripes in Burnished Sierra Stripes. Then it all gets kind of fuzzy. I have no idea what happened. But that poor little orphan sock stayed buried in the back of a drawer. It would have stayed there until the end of time if not for Cheryl and her UFOs. So I sucked it up and knit the other sock. It's a ankle sock, with worsted weight yarn on size 5 dpns so it went really quickly. I used Ella Rae Amity Print 103 and the colors were me. I really liked this yarn. Darn you Cheryl and you restoring my faith in my ability to knit a sock with no drama.



Tuesday, May 25, 2010

EPIC FAIL!

I think maybe I just wasn't meant to knit socks. Maybe it's just another curse of the big feet. In the homestretch of yet another pair of socks when disaster strikes again. I flat out ran out of yarn. None left. Not an inch!

Unless Cinderella's step-sister wants a new pair of stockings, these are destined to be frogged. They are completely salvageable. I just have to tear them out to the entrelac, take out 2 tiers and redo the foot. No biggie. Just don't have it in my soul to tear it out right now. Or they make a nice pair of flip-flop socks... Note to self: from now on knit all your socks toe-up.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Thank ya kindly!

I'm nearing the end of my first Sweater Girls knit-a-long project - the Annetrelac Socks by Sandy Beadle. Nearing the end meaning I'm 4 inches from done and I've hit the wall. The worst part of having gigantic feet is that it takes FOREVER to knit yourself a sock. Seriously, knitting stockinette stitch for 8 inches to finish a sock sucks. At least when you are doing the leg you have a pattern to keep it interesting and turning the heel is always an adventure. I digress....

I came to the realization that I learned how to knit a year and a half ago. That's it! And here I am knitting entrelac! I've taught myself double knitting for the space invaders scarf, intarsia for the tea towel set, and how to knit socks two at a time on 1 circular needle for the infamous ravelympic socks. All in 18 months!

Thank you #1 is a huge thank you to my mom. She showed me how to knit when I was home visiting and it has become a hobby we can share despite the distance. She is always there when I call and say, "HELP! I've screwed it up!" and more recently when I say, "I'm not sure what pattern to use with this fantastic yarn." or "Shrugs take a deceptive number of yards!". (Seriously, look at a pattern for a shrug. I bet you it's about 1000 yards. For a tiny little almost sweater.) So thank you Mom!

Thank you #2 is to Cheryl and the ladies of the Fiber Closet Thursday knitting group. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the group from 2000 miles away. Thank you for asking my mom how I'm doing and what I'm knitting. Thank you for allowing her to brag when someone decides to write an article about a student group I co-founded. Thank you for sending your unwanted stash to a poor grad student with extreme yarn lust and the budget of a, well, a grad student (Thanks Barbara!). Thank you to each and every one of you.

I knit these socks in Ty-Dy Socks by Knit One Crochet Too in Blue Pansy. I have really enjoyed knitting with this yarn. The colors are right up my alley. It wasn't prone to splitting, which I think is critical for knitting entrelac, especially for someone teaching them-self entrelac as they go. I will edit this post to add in the all finished modeling pix!

So a ginormous thank you to everyone and Happy knitting to all!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Gather your party and venture forth

Where does time go? I feel like the days just fly by! I've been working on a tea towel set to give to my significant other's mom for her birthday later this month. I finished it up and added some coasters in to match. It's super cute! As always there are a couple of things that I wish I had tweaked in the pattern, but it was too late to do anything about it by the time I figured it out. Luckily, she is not a knitter and he says she will never notice because he can't figure out what I'm talking about.



Things seem to be crazy busy right now for everyone you talk to- regardless of age, rank or station. It kinda makes you wonder if it's something in the air. Or maybe everyone wants to get everything done before summer fun-time starts. Whatever the reason, I have spent more time running from this meeting to that meeting over the last few weeks. It's hard to keep my head on straight, let alone get any actual thesis research done. Thank heavens for portable hobbies. I have an entrelac sock in my purse for those few minutes between meetings when I need to take a deep breath and knititate for awhile.

Those of you with keen eyesight will notice my bag of emergency chocolate in the top right corner. Caramel filled milk chocolate Ghirardelli Squares. YUMMY! I like it when the good chocolate is on sale.

For now it's back to knitting and chocolate and forgetting for a few minutes that I have more meetings tomorrow....and a lecture to write for Wednesday....and.......sigh [opens another chocolate square].