31 Days of Socks

Today's the last day of Socktoberfest. Whew! My fingers sure have been busy knitting up those socks. I even managed to do a pair over the weekend. Yarn: Wolle Rodel Sport and Strumpf Wolle Color Pattern: toe up with no-wrap short rows Yes, these bad boys only took 4 days. Gotta love the size 5 feet and 7 stitches per inch. No, they're not for me, my feet aren't that small. Or even remotely close. Someone on my knitting list mentioned high heating bills and cold feet, so they're getting two pairs. I still have yet to finish the Latvian Lace socks, but I give myself a few more weeks for them. They're not exactly a fast knit. I'm actually kinda burned out on the socks. Good thing that I signed up for the Warm Hands knitalong. Some little boys I know need new mittens. Well, to be honest, I don't really feel like making mittens either. I'm itching to cast on for a new sweater. I know, it's the last thing I need to be working on right now. Yet, it's getting to be that point where I'm squirming. Indeciveness about which one to start is the only reason I haven't casted on yet. Ok, I'm off to go think about my choices some more. Maybe I'll have something to show next time too. Happy Halloween!

It's All About the Socks

Pattern: Gentlemen's Fancy Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks Yarn: Mountain Colors Bearfoot in Crazy Woman (I think, I lost the band) These are the replacements for the cabled socks from last week. I only used the stitch pattern for them, substituting my usual heel and toe. My gauge was also different so I only worked them on 56 stitches. A nice fast knit! Closeup of stitch pattern and better shot of the color Whew. It's been one of those weeks! I had let a lot of things build up and with the news I had received on Monday, my body revolted. I've since spent the entire week with my behind planted on the couch with an excrutiatingly painful back. Tylenol and antacids have become my best friends. One might think that this equals quality knitting time, but at times it hurt just to be awake. Thankfully, it's feeling somewhat better and I'm able to get around the house easily. I'm not pushing it though, I don't want to overdo it. Thankfully, I've received a few things in the mail that have helped keep my mood in good spirits. This book was a present from my hubby. For no reason either! Honestly, I think it's to butter me up for something. :) Isn't this too cute? Keri sent me a little package with a few knitting themed gifts and I love everything. Especially the chocolate that is now gone... Thanks Keri! Awhile ago, I had won a contest on Kim's blog. She had just moved to a new town and was in the process of getting their house finished so I wasn't too concerned when I didn't receive my prize right away. Actually, I had kinda forgotten all about it and was quite surprised when I opened up the package. Thank you, Kim, I appreciate it!

Scoop du Jour

Pattern: Scoop du Jour Yarn: Gedifra Wellness, I think 10 balls Yay, it's done! Well, almost. I need to reblock it for the button and neck band. I also need to tighten up the cast off edge since I did it a bit too loose. While I'm at, I should just rip the whole dang thing out and reknit it. Once again, it's too big. I really have a hard time with this, don't I? I won't rip because it's going to make a great around the house/errand sweater. I just love these buttons! I'd had this great post made up in my head, but I can't recall any of it. I just found out that our battalion has lost our sixth soldier. It's only been eleven weeks. I'm really not liking these statistics. Frankly, it scares the crap out of me. I could get into it more, but I won't. Mostly because I can't quite make sense of what I should say. Have a great week everyone! I'll be back when I'm in a cheerier mood.

Pretty Cabled Socks

Yarn: Knitpicks Swish in Red Pepper overdyed with Burgandy Pattern: Karen's Sugar Free Socks I'd had some reservations about finishing these barely mentioned before socks. In the interest of clearing up the needles, I finished them up since I was already near the toe when I had put them aside. Ok, so there's a bit of a story behind these. I'd ordered the yarn after comparing the color swatches online and in the catalog. It showed such a pretty bright but deep red. Look at what I got: Bright flaming red that was flat and devoid of any beauty. Prompty I put in an order and got some burgundy dye. My first "real" dyeing experience. Lessons learned: overdyeing uses alot less dye than I had anticipated and tie the skeins very loosely. Nonetheless, the color I ended up with was quite pretty. This is a horribly out of focus and dark picture, but I think it best represents the final color. Well, because I had tied the skeins too tightly, there were a few spots where the original color popped up. Originally I had intended to gift these away, but in good conscience I can't now. So, I get a new pair of super thick and cushiony socks. I've got some last minute planning to do now!

Stalled

I'm not sure what's wrong with me. I'm having a very hard time completing anything. I have a pile of knits that need to be finished, but for whatever reason I can't seem to pick them up. 1. Mariah from last winter still needs a blocking and a zipper. 2. The Manly Sweater needs to be ripped to the start of the neck shaping and redone. 3. Hero needs the shoulder shaping reknit due to my inability to count. 4. Scoop du Jour wants a button band and a seaming. 5. The Latvian Lace socks are awaiting the recipients measurements. Ok, that's not my fault. 6. The red cabled socks are awaiting a decision as to whether reknit in another yarn or forge ahead. Details another day? 7. Lastly there's PotW. After sitting on it for a week, I did finally manage to pick up all those stitches and am about to start the edging. Ok, I know some of you may think it's not all that bad, but they're all weighing on my conscience quite heavily. The holidays are fast approaching, there's baby knits to get started on (they won't wait for something warm before making their debut) and plus it's getting cold! Reilly and I would really like to wear some nice sweaters. Does anyone else do this? Get to a certain point that requires a little thinking or effort and stop? I did manage to finish one thing though: Yes, I realize that in every single picture the socks have appeared to be a different color. They do this in real life, not just in the camera. I gave up trying to get what I thought was the truest color. Then since I can't commit to anything, I started a new pair of socks: This is one of the yarns I picked up the other day in a new to me LYS. Depending upon my mood, I either love the funkiness of them or I completely hate them. I'm forging ahead mostly because I need the solace that only stockinette in the round can give me. This??? I couldn't resist the call of the new fiber that landed in my house. It's superwash merino from Crown Mountain Farms in the Good Vibrations colorway. Mmm... I love this stuff. It's very easy to spin and so soft; I see myself buying more in the future.

New Stuff

New socks on the dpns New fibery goodness An almost new pair of socks for the husband

My Sock Drawer Exploded

Whoops! Sorry about the dark picture. I did do some editing but I guess something didn't get saved. I'm still trying to figure out how Photoshop works! I also wanted to get a bit more creative, but I had to take the picture before little hands took off with all of them. Since I don't have very interesting progress shots to dazzle everyone with, I thought I'd distract you with Socktoberfest activities. When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class? My interest in socks started early in '04 when a friend mentioned she was crocheting a pair. I bought some Lion Brand Magic Stripes and proceeded to knit an entire sock before discovering the dang thing didn't fit my foot. Stupid gauge. What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time? My first real pair was knit in April/May of that year during our move to Germany. I used a pattern I found on the internet that I now forget which. The yarn was Plymouth and I still wear them although they are a bit snug in the toes. What would you have done differently? Nothing. Those first few pairs that I made were learning experiences. Gauge, fit, yarn content and stitch preferences would never had been learned without some goofs. What yarns have you particularly enjoyed? Almost every one. All sock yarns have a place in my drawer. Some are gorgeous and some are durable. Some I can even wear with sneakers without looking silly and being too warm. Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method? 5 dpns are the best! I've tried Magic Loop and 2 circulars only to be miserable. I can't keep track of those long needles hanging about and usually end up screwing up royally. I have started a crocheted pair but I'm afraid they're off to the frog pond. First I misplaced the sock for a month or two and now I can't find my notes. I'll probably try again at a later date. Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?) For most socks I prefer a flap solely based on how they fit. But I like to mix it up and use short rows when the sock dictates that. How many pairs have you made? Oh, good question. I've got 25 in the picture, 4 in the wash, 2 for the hubster, 3 for Reilly, and 5 or 6 as gifts. Plus there's the pair that the laundry room ate one of. So, that's over 40. Goodness! Have a great weekend! Me, I'll be nursing three kids back to health, along with myself. Hopefully I'll have something more interesting next week.