Great day to snuggle up to the yarn stash

It's been sleeting all day, and the temperatures are predicted to pludge into the single digits in the upcoming days. School was cancelled, as well as many activities at night. It's been almost a no-winter winter this year, with moderate temperatures and no lingering snow, while many parts of the country which typically get little snow getting the big storms.

It is a great day to rummage through the yarn stash. Sometimes I buy yarn which I like, without a specific project in mind, and decide what to do with it later. This summer, I bought two skeins of (mostly red) Noro Big Kureyon, but didn't have a specific project in mind. Made two different hats out of the skeins and still have a bit of yarn left. This hat is a newer style (the beanie)



and this hat is an older, more traditional style.

Happy New Year!

It's been two months since I posted, and the first post of the New Year. Have been doing quite a bit of sock knitting for family, from Christmas presents to after Christmas presents. Mom received her socks and loved them, as did Wendy, Mark and Dave. It was their first pair of handknit socks. Also made two tiny pair of socks for a baby shower, and a pair for myself using Opal yarn and a favorite Nancy Bush cable pattern:


Currently on the needles is the second sock of a pair of MAN SOCKS using navy blue Regia.

Note: I've noticed that while the Knitpick Essential yarn was softer than some of the other sock yarns, it had a tendency to get fuzzy over time after machine washing, something that hasn't happened with other brands (which were superwash) that I've tried. Has anyone has this problem?

Hell in a Handbasket

Sometimes, despite one's best efforts, life turns into "Hell in a Handbasket". Life goes along so smoothly for so long, and suddenly and abruptly, one is blindsided by misfortune. It can be random misfortune (someone close dies, a storm or a fire destroys a home) or misfortune created or eminating from those around us, or regrettably, by our own bad decisions. Even if someone makes moral (and often tough) choices with their own life and relationships, misfortune hits all of us sometime in our lives. It must be the happy, carefree smoothness of the ride that makes the bumpy ride of the misfortune that much more difficult. It takes a great deal of strength to get past the "why me?", forgive oneself and others, and to count one's blessings. Perhaps that is what misfortune is for: to build compassion for others, and to make us stronger, and make us more thankful for what we have.

I named this basket "Hell in a Handbasket" because I was struggling with this basket as I coped with some turmoil in my life. The spokes of the basket resisted coming together at the base as well as bending upright. In the end, the slightly curved shape of the sides was more interesting than other baskets that I've made. Perhaps the best way to reach a point is not a straight line, but a more accomodating curved line.

The socks are a Christmas present for my sister in law, Wendy. I think that she will like the red wool socks with the graduated colors. It's the second pair of toe-up socks which I've made; an interesting technique that I'll use occasionally. The Cherry Tree Hill socks which I completed a few weeks ago were a present for my Mom's birthday. She loves them! :)

Carpe Diem!

It's an incredibly beautiful fall day today, and I've taken the day off.
Carpe diem! (Seize the day!)


As it's close to the end of the year, it's time to use up those vacation and personal days or lose them!

Here's a picture of a basket which I finished last week. I love the round shape, double rim, and the color, but the rim was a real struggle. It took hours, and some boiling water to shape up this rim.



One of my favorite colors is red, and it's not much of a coincidence that the colors in the basket are similar to the multi-colored yarn selected for these socks.

Rainy Saturday

It's very windy and rainy today; a great day to stay in, snuggle up with a warm afghan, and knit. I started a pair of socks with Cherry Tree Hill, a color called Winterberry. It's made in Vermont, and is 100% superwash merino. Great yarn; it's so smooth and silky. It's a bit pricey, but it takes so many hours to knit a pair of socks, that the quality of the yarn is more important.

Will post sock progress tomorrow, today is for a bit of housework, knitting and, who knows?

Tiger Lily knows just how to spend a day like today. :)

Autumn Saturday

A heavy rain and high winds on Friday blew down many of the beautiful autumn leaves, and today is sunny and cool. The bear which I had photographed on Wednesday was missing something important: a smile! He's looking a good deal better. I'll keep him until I make a few more; one may go to a coworker whose wife is expecting, one to a neice, and the rest to a police program which gives out stuffed animals to children who have experienced trauma. More bears and more knitting (including socks) to follow.

Knitted Teddy Bear

I'm not sure why I knitted this bear. I was planning on starting some socks, until I stumbled upon a cute teddy bear designed by ax174, on her blog, "Blah Blah, Blahhhing". Had a little trouble with the ears (not sure if I did them right), but everything else went well. Great use of scraps of worsted weight yarn, and knits up pretty quickly.

Gotta Love Sundays

It is one of those terrific Sundays! A beautiful, crisp, autumn day. The trees are just beginning to change color here; it's peak color in Northern New England, but it's a few weeks from happening here. It's a relaxing day; time to spend with family, catch up on hobbies (and even housework). Or, perhaps, to loaf around and take pictures of one's socks!



Just finished the red toe-up socks with the cable pattern. It was an interesting new technique. Although I had little difficulty in doing the Turkish cast-on and knitting the toe, the knitting itself was too tight, and off from my usual gauge. Had to tear out the first toe, move up to a larger needle, and the next try was much improved. The heel with the wrapped stitches looked better on the second sock; I think that I'll look for another way to form the heel.


Here's a picture of the first try at the toe and the improved toe:

Socktoberfest Questions

When did you start making socks?
I made my first pair a couple of years ago.


Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class? I taught myself from free patterns and many tutorials which I found on the internet. Nancy Bush's book, "Knitting on the Road" was a good source for different techniques.


What was your first pair? I used a self-patterning Regia yarn using a free pattern that I found on the internet. It was a cuff-down pair.


How have they "held up" over time? Pretty well; they have been washed and worn many times.


What would you have done differently? The first pair, I changed to stockinette stitch on the cuff. Now I prefer all ribbing on the cuff for a tighter fit. I also prefer cable socks, or socks with ribbing continuing down the top half of the foot.


What yarns have you particularly enjoyed? I've enjoyed Regia, Opal, Cherry Tree Hill, and KnitPicks Essentials. There are so many different brands, and many more to try out!


Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method? I've never croched socks, but have crocheted afghans. My preferred method of knitting socks is two (16 inch) circulars. Favorite kind of needles are currently KnitPicks. They are so reasonably priced, and I love the points, and everything about the needles. I also have Inox and Addi Turbos.


Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?) The flap heel.


How many pairs have you made? It's hard to say; I've made socks for friends and family, and also quite a few pairs for me. A guesstimate would be between twenty and thirty.

First toe-up socks

The yarn and pattern are part of a swap sent by Colleen. Have been busy, and have had little time to work on them. The first toe was too tight; I took it apart and switched to a larger needle and had a better gauge. It's much better to test one's gauge first, but I don't think many knitters actually do. Used the turkish cast-on directions from FluffyKnitterDeb; she has nicely written (and illustrated)directions. Everything progressed nicely until the heel. Not sure yet if I like the wrapping technique to form the heel. I've made so many socks from the cuff down that I didn't even have to think about how they were made. It is a nice break to make some lady's socks with cables, though. Only time will tell if I convert to toe-up socks.


Tiger Lily looks on from the lower deck.

Second Pair of Man Socks finished

Continuing the k2, p2 ribbing down the top of the sock gave the socks a closer fit. I like it better than the straight stockinette on the entire foot; I'll leave it up to the recipient each time. They were made with Knit Picks Essential, a superwash wool. After two pairs in a row of (too big) MAN socks, I was happy to start the toe-up pattern that Colleen sent. It was a beautiful sunny day today, and I spent lunch outside with a co-worker. The turkish cast-on was remarkably easy, and it was a shame to have to go inside!

Friday!! and a Square for Grandma Purl

It's been an interesting week, and thankfully, it's Friday! The house is in pretty good shape, amazingly, and I also completed an 8 inch square for Grandma Purl. The yarn is a Superwash Cascade, and chose a basketweave pattern (because I make baskets). There are pictures already posted of some of the squares; it looks like it's going to be a beautiful afghan. Off to the mail tomorrow!

On to the socks! Men sure do have big feet!

Knit a Square for Grandma Purl

For those of you who enjoy reading Crazy Aunt Purl's Blog , here's an opportunity to help her Grandma:

Tiger Lily

would like to join Knitting Kitty. She loves to lurk near my (her) computer, and lay on my (her) knitting bag. Can we join, please? :)

KSKS kit received

from Colleen. She put together a fun package of a felted tote (favorite colors, green & brown), along with red Fortissima Socka yarn, a lamb with tape measure, and treats of Dots and "Knitting Girls" mints. It was all so neatly packed into a cardboard box that actually fit in the mailbox. Love the toe up pattern, it's a new technique that I wanted to try. It also has cables! Here's another picture:

I wasn't quite sure at first if the sheep had a tape measure. It did suffer some pulling on its tail and hands before I discovered the correct one. How did she know that I had wanted one of those? Very thoughtful kit! Thanks, Colleen! :)

Blue Man Socks

Just finished the first sock of another pair of "Man's socks". The first pair that I made had stockinette stitch for all of the foot. This pair has the k2, p2 ribbing continuing down the top (1/2) of the sock for a tighter and more comfortable fit. I think that K will like this pair. :)

This really is a

knitting blog, not Wild Kingdom! My co-workers had a good deal of fun with the chicken story.

Why was the chicken sitting near the phone? Because he needed to make a call! (An even worse variation of the why did the chicken cross the road joke).

On the knitting front, I've started another pair of MAN'S socks. I am using "Essentials", a washable wool yarn and circular needles from Knit Picks. Have read some good reviews from other knitters, and decided to give Knit Picks a try. The circulars are definitely as good as Addis at a fraction of the cost, and the yarn was good quality, too.

My Chicken Story

This is embarrassing but true! I live in a large city, and went to a small quickie market near a major road to buy the Sunday newspaper. I was a bit surprised to see a black chicken on the sidewalk just outside the store. I joked with the attendant about the store raising its own chickens. He said that he had tried to catch it, but couldn't. I felt bad for the chicken as it curled up near the pay telephone outside. I felt bad about doing nothing about the chicken, worried that it might be hit by a car or cause an accident, and when I got home, I ended up calling the police (the routine number not 911!) It was REALLY embarrassing, having to apologize and all for calling for such a trivial thing (and as my DH said, it's only 69 cents a pound). The dispatch actually said that they would send someone to check it out. Imagine the police officer's embarrassment to be sent to a call concerning a chicken! Sorry officer!

Nature

A deer visited our front yard yesterday. It was about five to ten feet away from the house initially and then moved closer to the street by the time I took its picture. It was content to eat the overgrown vegetation on the fence, and wasn't too quick to leave. The deer are used to people, and my dog was totally unaware of the visitor.


A very large spider is spinning an equally large web by the front door. It's been very successful at catching insects, as they are attracted by the porch light at night. Plan to keep the web there, as it will be a natural decoration for the kids who will be trick or treating. Nothing like the real thing to scare the hell out of them!

In knitting news, I finished Dad's socks last week, and began another pair for someone special.

Waiting is somehow easier.....

when I knit. It is calming, and makes me feel the time spent waiting is worthwhile, and to look forward to it. My current project is a basic sock in medium blue pair for my Dad.

I'm not sure what my pets were looking at (when I took this picture) but they seem to be quietly waiting for something or someone.