Over-socked

After making the Pomatomus Socks too long and narrow for Cass, I started another pair for her. These were just sort of made up as I went along. I did 1x1 rib for about two inches, then switched to 4x2 ribbing. I added some twisty not-quite-cable things that sort of spiral around the cuff, but left them off the top of the foot. I was afraid cables on top of the foot might become a comfort issue. They're not quite done yet- I've just gotten started the foot area on both.

The color is most accurate in this photo:

And here is a close up of the twisty bits:

I started with two cables, spaced even apart on the cuff. Then every four rows I would shift the cables one rib further.

Sock boredom hit me again partway through these socks, so I started a shawl. Just something simple and quick for some sense of completion. It was knit with two skeins of Dancing Leaf Farm's Slubby Nubby on size 11s. It took me about a week, but someone less distractible could make it in a weekend.

I'm still a little over-socked, so maybe I'll work on that Boyfriend sweater from way back for a little while.

It took a while, but I finally spun some yarn:


That's a nickle in there, for reference.
And a close up of the color:


It's 100% merino from Cloverleaf Farms, bought at Maryland Sheep and Wool. The merino was a little bit more slippery than the colonial I spun before, and while it wasn't too much trouble it did make me look nervously at my two pound bag of alpaca fiber (which is even more slippery).

And I learned a new spinning lesson! I have three bobbins, which means that I can fill up two and ply them together on the third. Unfortunately, I also have rather terrible spacial-relations skills. I tend to forget that if I fill (or nearly fill) two bobbins, it is not likely that the contents of those bobbins will fit together on the third. So next time I will be sure to only fill the first two bobbins about halfway.

Anywho, the Pomatomus socks are nearly done as well. And in an interesting turn of events, I'm keeping them. They were too small for Cass, so I was going to give them to my niece. But when I finished the first sock and tried it on, it fit. Despite the fact that I knit them to fit her much smaller feet, they fit me pretty well. And honestly they might be too long for her or Cass. Plus after further rationalizing, I decided neither of them can be trusted to care for lace socks properly. So now they're mine! All mine!!

Knitting Gloves Is Not That Bad, Actually

A friend of mine asked if I could make a pair of gloves for her friend's son, who was born with two fingers fused together (so he obviously can't wear store-bought gloves). I'd never done gloves, but agreed anyway. The whole thing was a lot easier than I expected, and the fingers were much less fiddley than anticipated. It probably helped that the boy is not quite five years old, so the gloves are small and knit up quickly. Here they are:

They are still damp from the wash in the photo. They're not bad... They're knit up with Austermann Step, which is a self-patterning yarn, and it makes the fingers look a little goofy, but I don't think it's a bad thing. I might knit myself a pair someday.

Still no progress on the Pomatomus socks, but now that the gloves are finished I will probably pick them up again.

Fail Socks

I have failed the Ravelympics. The deadline is about 14 minutes from now, and this is all I have:

I finished the gusset on one sock, and the other is a few rows behind. I have only myself to blame... I spent too much time screwing around online, I forgot my socks at work, and I may have spent an inordinate amount of time watching for an accident at the intersection in front of my house when a new stop sign went up. If you're wondering, there was a lot of honking and slamming on brakes, but no accidents.

The socks are pretty narrow, and will be sent to my 11 (almost 12) year-old niece upon completion. They're pretty tough to get over my heel and my stepdaughter's heel (the original recipient). My gauge swatch was a filthy liar, and told me I should knit these on size zero needles. Stupid swatch.

And now it is 8:07 and I have officially failed. Oh, well. Maybe next time.

My Ravelymics Plan is No More

The plan was to knit the Pomatomus Socks like a fiend before my stepdaughter (the intended recipient) arrived, or at the very latest before she left. Well she left this morning, and this is where I am...

That's two out of three chart repeats on the leg complete. Not even half way done. And you know what else? They're too small. I had Cass try one on and she could barely get it over her heel... neither could I. So these socks will likely find themselves on the feet of my niece, who is going into 6th grade so they should fit her. Should. Then I will knit a different pair for Cass, remembering my hard-learned lesson: smaller feet do not necessarily mean narrower feet.

Other than the size, the socks are coming along nicely. The yarn/colorway is perfect for the pattern, the chart is less complicated than it appeared, and the pattern is written very clearly. There are more Cookie A. socks in my future for sure.

Super Secret or Super Sucky?

In the last post I said something about a super secret project... well it was supposed to be an awesome pair of felted slippers, made to look like those of Dr. Henry Killinger (a character from my favorite show, The Venture Bros. who wears skully slippers).

Well, the slippers came out looking absolutely nothing like they were supposed to...

THEIRS:

MINE:


Note the hideous ridge running up the top of the foot on mine. I'm pretty sure that's due to the instruction to keep the first and last two stitches in garter for the entire slipper. So where's their ugly line of felted garter stitch? Gah. But honestly, I'm a little glad they came out jacked up because that Slate Gray yarn looked a lot less blue on the website. I'll try again, but not until the stench of defeat leaves the air. And next time I'll make up my own pattern.

Right now I'm working on a sweater with the Brooks Farm yarn I got from the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. It's the Boyfriend Sweater from Design Essentials by Suss Cousins. I decided to knit it at a tighter gauge though, so it will be a little smaller (closer to a 34" bust instead of 38") and added some waist shaping. So I guess it's not much of a boyfriend sweater anymore, haha. I'm only halfway up the back so far, but it's going well and I love the yarn.


Last week I was aimlessly perusing the Jimmy Beans Wool website, and noticed this among their clearance yarn:


That's Regia Stretch sock yarn in their Royal Bristol colorway- it's red, black and yellow... Maryland colors!! Okay, so the Maryland flag also has white, but it's pretty close. So I've promised Scott a pair of Maryland Socks, and there's enough for a second pair for myself.

The Ravelympics are approaching, and I am now faced with a dilemma. The plan was to do the Pomatomus socks, which would become a gift for my stepdaughter, Cass. Only now she is coming for a visit (yay!) right in the middle of the Ravelympics. So should I knit feverishly and attempt to finish them in about a week, so that they're done before Cass arrives; or should I just start them now and do a different pair of socks for the Ravelympics? Hmm. I think I can finish them in time- it's not like they're knee socks, and Cass has small feet. Maybe I'll just knit up a swatch and go from there.

Flighty, much?

I'm already sick of crochet. I made a dishrag, and hated every minute of it. Cotton is absolutely no fun to crochet with- the non-stretchy factor makes it a real bitch to get that little hook through the stitches with any sort of speed. I don't hate crochet, and it's obviously a useful skill to have, but I'm sure as shit not going to be crocheting any more cotton dishrags.

I finished a square for another Obama afghan:

This afghan will look like the flag, and be made up of squares representing each state (except the star section, which is just solid blue with stars). I did West Virginia (IL and MD were already taken) and I actually made two- the first one was about an inch too big. Not sure how I didn't notice that, but whatever. They're quick. Second square came out just the right size, and is on it's way to be sewn up with the others. Just like the other afghan, this one will be raffled off by the Ravelry group Knitters for Obama. If you're on Ravelry, check out the group for more info. If you're not on Ravelry, and you want the chance to win a hand-knit Flag afghan, contact me and I'll tell you how to do it. Either way, go here and give him $$.

I managed to squeeze in a few more rows on the Clapotis, but it's still largely neglected. Now I'm pounding out a small bag for Scott's toiletries (for when he travels), per his request. It's in cheap, easy-care Red Heart so it can take a beating.

I ordered a little yarn. I'm going to make a super-secret project. It's small, so when the yarn arrives, it shouldn't be too much longer before the big reveal. Stay tuned.