Sleet, Snow, and Socks for Soldiers

Just when it seemed that spring was here, the Northeast - along with much of the northern half of the country - was hit by a storm which included snow, and sleet. It began as snow Friday morning, then switched to sleet around 4 pm, and ended early this morning. Traveling home from work yesterday was very slow and slippery, as I traveled 10-20 mph all the way over poorly plowed or unplowed roads. Today, it's sunny and starting to melt.

This morning, I spied the wild turkey in the woods. He likes to visit on an almost daily basis, and often likes to perch on the deck railing and is not perturbed by our two cats and a dog.


This week I've been working on the second pair of BBS (Big Black Socks) for Socks for Soldiers . Will finish up the first sock today, and start the second. The second pair is easier than the first. The long 12" of ribbing for the cuff is the hardest part.
Kim, aka Sarge, leads the SFS group, and often runs contests, and awards yarn to be used for BBS or for leisure socks for the troops. The grey and blue yarn was a prize, and will be the next sock project.

Blue Socks

Finished a pair of "Man's socks" using Regia Silk. Although the pattern was rather ordinary, the yarn is one of my favorites to knit with, to wear, and to give as a gift. The silk really blends well with the wool, adding a bit of luxury.


I've started another pair of Black Socks for Soldiers, and depending on my free time, they should be done in a week or so.

It was an extraordinarily sunny and mild day today, and I spent most of the day outside, cleaning the yard, and clearing the flower garden of stalks and leaves. Also swept and cleaned out the garage, and vacuumed the car. A bit of spring cleaning, perhaps?

Socks for Mom

Last weekend, I completed a pair of socks for Mom, and mailed them on Monday. Wrote a heartfelt thank you with the socks, for all the love and support that she's shown over the years. Felt really good. The sock pattern was "Roza's socks" by Grumperina, in Interweave Knits, Spring 2007, and is a brioche and rib pattern. The yarn was Lana Grossa, Mega Boots Stretch. The yarn was great, will definitely use it again. Here's the socks:
Warning: unnecessary Cat photo with knitted socks.

Am really looking forward to a package of squares from Kristy of Knit a Square for Grandmother Purl. The squares that were made for the project are so nice, and it will be fun to assemble the squares. Visit Knit a Square for Grandmother Purl for pictures of the squares, and the first completed blanket, to be posted soon.

Socks for Soldiers

Although I'm not a supporter of the war in Iraq, supporting our troops overseas is the reason why I joined the Socks for Soldiers group, and decided to knit at least one pair of socks. The specs for the socks are very specific, from the type of yarn (from the approved list of wool blends) to the color (has to be black) to the length of the cuff (12 inches!). The long cuff is needed so that the socks are above the boots. The toughest part for me was the length of the ribbing at the cuff, as I chose to make the entire 12 inches in 2x2 ribbing and to continue the ribbing down the top of the sock for a closer fit. This pair is going in the mail tomorrow:


Here is a closer picture, but the camera's flash caused the socks to appear gray.

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. :)