Do you ever just want to be someone else? Something else? Just like magically transform in another person entirely? (uh, besides physically)
I'm tired of feeling all wussy and inadequate; it's time to let that inner bitch out again.
Helpful socialization hint of the day:
If you're riding public transit, DO NOT DISCUSS your private sexual kinks in loud voices. They do not turn me on. Slapping each other and various riffs off "you know you want it bitch" and "you sure know how to please a man in bed" make me want to puke out the window. Except the window doesn't open.
The best part was when the girl said "you know what I hate, when the cops push you down and then shove their knee in your neck. I hate that, it hurts." "Yeah, that hurts a lot" replied her boyfriend. Then they got off and headed to the Nordstrom Rack.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Spring
I've been taking a photo a day (or more, or sometimes forgetting) this year. Some random meme I ran across. Mostly it's just an excuse for me to take as many pictures of anything that I feel like. It's also a way to recapture a little bit of the time that seems to be slipping by so quickly. Bah. Too much wine, too much philosophizing.
New apple blossoms
Flowering plum
Glorious unapologetically orange ranunculus
Leo needs a new pair of shoes
New rose leaves in the morning after a rainy night
Not quite so menacing
Monday, March 26, 2007
Does not play well with others
Ann & Kay of Mason Dixon Knitting are visiting Portland this week -- Wednesday afternoon. The yarn store isn't close by but it's not far either. To go or not to go.
I'd like to meet them and hear them read/talk/throw mitered squares into the air, since I find their blog entertaining and I think they'd be entertaining too in person. Some people have mentioned how their book makes them feel free to play around with yarn, to experiment with pattern and color and texture. I think that's fantastic, because it's my personal belief that my entire culture is losing that feeling of playfulness. People don't sing, because they're not good enough and the message is that they should Leave That To the Professionals. Or dance or joke make movies or write books. Because we're just amateurs and why bother when THE PROFESSIONALS do it so much better? Anything that encourages people to be creative, to think on their own - I think that's valuable and useful. Just because I don't do dishclothes (another story, not for now) doesn't mean I wouldn't enjoy listening to Ann & Kay.
But I'm hesitant and torn, see? Because the last time I did one of these Big Author Events (last year's Yarn Harlot signing), I felt so profoundly alienated I felt alone for days. It's perverse, considering I was, for the first time, completely surrounding by masses of knitting women. My people. People who laugh at the cardigan/pullover joke. People whose eyes glitter and shine when you talk about yarn instead of glazing over with boredom. People who understand your obsession with decreases.
Yet in all that crowd, they all seemed to know each other, and nobody knew me. They were all very polite, I'm not saying otherwise, I just felt as if it was at a big cocktail party for the wrong company. Everybody was there with their own friends. And I didn't know how to break in. Did I even want to break in?
It's me, OK, not anyone else who's doing this to me, but just me. I don't blame anyone but my nasty twisted psyche. If I weren't quite so sequestered into my own personality, if I practiced harder at my socialization skills, I would have joined into the conversations, been less on the fringes and more involved. It's just hard, and I don't know if I have the energy for it. I don't want to cope with the alienation again right now (I also would prefer not to stand again for 3 hours, but hopefully I could get there early enough to get a chair. Or a bit of floor).
I know part of my reticence is because I work almost entirely with men. I'm extremely bad and out of practice with talking to women, face to face. I'm also, how do I say this?, not so good at the acting-like-a-girl thing. I identify as female, I just don't do a lot of the same things most women I know do. I don't even want to get into some gender-identity argument, I'm just staing facts. My mother-in-law, who is much better at the girl thing, and I get along best of all when we're both extremely drunk.
So there you go, too much information about my psychological hangups. I should just get over myself and go, huh?
I'd like to meet them and hear them read/talk/throw mitered squares into the air, since I find their blog entertaining and I think they'd be entertaining too in person. Some people have mentioned how their book makes them feel free to play around with yarn, to experiment with pattern and color and texture. I think that's fantastic, because it's my personal belief that my entire culture is losing that feeling of playfulness. People don't sing, because they're not good enough and the message is that they should Leave That To the Professionals. Or dance or joke make movies or write books. Because we're just amateurs and why bother when THE PROFESSIONALS do it so much better? Anything that encourages people to be creative, to think on their own - I think that's valuable and useful. Just because I don't do dishclothes (another story, not for now) doesn't mean I wouldn't enjoy listening to Ann & Kay.
But I'm hesitant and torn, see? Because the last time I did one of these Big Author Events (last year's Yarn Harlot signing), I felt so profoundly alienated I felt alone for days. It's perverse, considering I was, for the first time, completely surrounding by masses of knitting women. My people. People who laugh at the cardigan/pullover joke. People whose eyes glitter and shine when you talk about yarn instead of glazing over with boredom. People who understand your obsession with decreases.
Yet in all that crowd, they all seemed to know each other, and nobody knew me. They were all very polite, I'm not saying otherwise, I just felt as if it was at a big cocktail party for the wrong company. Everybody was there with their own friends. And I didn't know how to break in. Did I even want to break in?
It's me, OK, not anyone else who's doing this to me, but just me. I don't blame anyone but my nasty twisted psyche. If I weren't quite so sequestered into my own personality, if I practiced harder at my socialization skills, I would have joined into the conversations, been less on the fringes and more involved. It's just hard, and I don't know if I have the energy for it. I don't want to cope with the alienation again right now (I also would prefer not to stand again for 3 hours, but hopefully I could get there early enough to get a chair. Or a bit of floor).
I know part of my reticence is because I work almost entirely with men. I'm extremely bad and out of practice with talking to women, face to face. I'm also, how do I say this?, not so good at the acting-like-a-girl thing. I identify as female, I just don't do a lot of the same things most women I know do. I don't even want to get into some gender-identity argument, I'm just staing facts. My mother-in-law, who is much better at the girl thing, and I get along best of all when we're both extremely drunk.
So there you go, too much information about my psychological hangups. I should just get over myself and go, huh?
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Wax Philosophical
I could, but no. I'm feeling all babble-ey. Babble babble babble. After almost a week of feeling not full of words at all. Now, lots of words, just not useful ones.
The moon is waxing. Good enough?
First I am sad because I can't make it to the ASK hookup in L.A. this weekend. I had this crazy insane scheme of flying down there and crashing the party with some Kahlua fudge. I was looking forward to actually meeting some of these cool people in person, despite that I am terrified they would think I was boring and annoying and a killjoy. The Scheme was not so crazy, really, because sometimes Alaska or Southwest offers these last minute el-cheapo plane fares, but there was no joy in Mudville for this weekend. So. lame.
Second I had hot pot for lunch (shabu shabu - uh, like the scene in Lost in Translation where they are at the restaurant and she says "you have to cook your own food? This is the worst restaurant ever". It's really pretty good ("really" "pretty"-- arggh, SUCH descriptive adjectives), like a cross between a buffet salad bar and fondue (broth, not cheese).) But I go there with these coworkers and they are very snarky and bitter and really I can't take so much cynicism right now so I can only handle lunch with them once a month or so. This also makes me sad because I miss eating lunch with people, but people don't seem to do it here (except snark group).
Third, Faina is blocked and I wove in the ends. The alpaca was more slippery for end-weaving than I was expecting. I didn't use Russian joins because they look like ass when I do them for most yarn. The blocking really evened up the stockinette but did nothing for my somewhat wonky decreases. I'm over it.
Third.5: I am afraid of The Fringe, which I have never done before. I am afraid I will be VERY ANAL about the length of The Fringe and position of the knots.
Fourth, I'm inexplicably reluctant to just forge on ahead with the whole blog hosting thing. What am I scared of?
Fifth, Spring proceeds apace. My peas are up. HOORAH! Still waiting to see if the Echinacea seeds are a complete bust.
Sixth, Wen sent me yarn and other cool stuff! Fabulous red Lacey Lamb that I have been lusting after for ages and ages. She also sent a plethora of fabulous things (the candy is already gone gone gone). I was floored when I got the box. I gotta post pictures. Thank you!
Seventh, Zoe sent me yarn too! Floored #2! It's wonderful, wonderful Socks that Rock, a whole other skein to finish off the Pomatomous socks (and another pair after that, there'll be plenty left over), and TWO (2!) other skeins in a gorgeous pinky-peachy-brown. Thank you!
Eighth, I have news. I sold a pattern I designed! I'm still reeling. I'm working on the sample now.
Ninth, messing about with the camera. This one was the best of the bunch. I think I look kind of worried.
The moon is waxing. Good enough?
First I am sad because I can't make it to the ASK hookup in L.A. this weekend. I had this crazy insane scheme of flying down there and crashing the party with some Kahlua fudge. I was looking forward to actually meeting some of these cool people in person, despite that I am terrified they would think I was boring and annoying and a killjoy. The Scheme was not so crazy, really, because sometimes Alaska or Southwest offers these last minute el-cheapo plane fares, but there was no joy in Mudville for this weekend. So. lame.
Second I had hot pot for lunch (shabu shabu - uh, like the scene in Lost in Translation where they are at the restaurant and she says "you have to cook your own food? This is the worst restaurant ever". It's really pretty good ("really" "pretty"-- arggh, SUCH descriptive adjectives), like a cross between a buffet salad bar and fondue (broth, not cheese).) But I go there with these coworkers and they are very snarky and bitter and really I can't take so much cynicism right now so I can only handle lunch with them once a month or so. This also makes me sad because I miss eating lunch with people, but people don't seem to do it here (except snark group).
Third, Faina is blocked and I wove in the ends. The alpaca was more slippery for end-weaving than I was expecting. I didn't use Russian joins because they look like ass when I do them for most yarn. The blocking really evened up the stockinette but did nothing for my somewhat wonky decreases. I'm over it.
Third.5: I am afraid of The Fringe, which I have never done before. I am afraid I will be VERY ANAL about the length of The Fringe and position of the knots.
Fourth, I'm inexplicably reluctant to just forge on ahead with the whole blog hosting thing. What am I scared of?
Fifth, Spring proceeds apace. My peas are up. HOORAH! Still waiting to see if the Echinacea seeds are a complete bust.
Sixth, Wen sent me yarn and other cool stuff! Fabulous red Lacey Lamb that I have been lusting after for ages and ages. She also sent a plethora of fabulous things (the candy is already gone gone gone). I was floored when I got the box. I gotta post pictures. Thank you!
Seventh, Zoe sent me yarn too! Floored #2! It's wonderful, wonderful Socks that Rock, a whole other skein to finish off the Pomatomous socks (and another pair after that, there'll be plenty left over), and TWO (2!) other skeins in a gorgeous pinky-peachy-brown. Thank you!
Eighth, I have news. I sold a pattern I designed! I'm still reeling. I'm working on the sample now.
Ninth, messing about with the camera. This one was the best of the bunch. I think I look kind of worried.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Woop woop!
Friday WOOOOOOOO!
I cast on for some socks last night, my own pattern, and worked more than an inch and was just about to start the pattern when a big yarn mump appeared before me. One of those big unspun bits that you can NEVER disguise. I'll have to cut the yarn and start over.
However, I DON'T CARE, because it's FRIDAY! HOORAY!
And it was actually a productive day for me, AND the weather is GORGEOUS today (hello, sunny and 65 degrees), AND I will be walking to a microbrewery for dinner tonight, oh yes, I will NOT BE DENIED. The air is perfumed with the scent of jasmine and sweet box and weigela and the birds are... well, the birds are asleep, but the possoms and raccoons are trundling about.
Even wild blackberries look beautiful when they're popping out new leaves.
Aw, the hell with it, I'm in a good mood. Let's post another flower pic. Call it dye inspiration:
I cast on for some socks last night, my own pattern, and worked more than an inch and was just about to start the pattern when a big yarn mump appeared before me. One of those big unspun bits that you can NEVER disguise. I'll have to cut the yarn and start over.
However, I DON'T CARE, because it's FRIDAY! HOORAY!
And it was actually a productive day for me, AND the weather is GORGEOUS today (hello, sunny and 65 degrees), AND I will be walking to a microbrewery for dinner tonight, oh yes, I will NOT BE DENIED. The air is perfumed with the scent of jasmine and sweet box and weigela and the birds are... well, the birds are asleep, but the possoms and raccoons are trundling about.
Aw, the hell with it, I'm in a good mood. Let's post another flower pic. Call it dye inspiration:
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Mental Meh
It has been a loose ends kind of week.
The Daylight Savings Time switch, better known as Jet Lag for the Entire Nation, did me in. I still haven't caught up. Every day I have to rip myself out of bed and I'm just not feeling like negotiating with the universe today. I'd rather have stayed in bed.
Every day's work feels like more and more pedantry. I'm proud of my efforts and I like to do a job well, but lately it's hard to make myself care. Yo ho ho and a bottle of ruination.
ANYWAY
Faina's main body is DONE. Woop woop! I cast off Tuesday night. Now she just needs a block and some fringe. Block and Fringe! It always sounds like "lock and load" in my head. I think block first, then fringe, but I have never done The Fringe before. I might have to re-do the cast-off first, it looks a little too tight.
Now I'm casting about trying to figure out what's next. What with my lack of concentration and just general flightiness lately, I really want something IN PROGRESS RIGHT NOW. Something I do not have to think about. Lace is fine, lace can be Follow-The-Charts,-You-Automaton which is great because I still feel as if I'm accomplishing something even though I'm plopped on the couch, vegetating. Geez, I haven't even felt like starting the new video game K bought lately.
There are several things I *want* to do, and several UFOs, but I just don't feel enough energy to care. And I need a new commuter knit, dammit. K's raglan needs some love, and there's a partially finished baby sweater that looks at me sadly from the knitting basket. I've thumbed through sock recipes and everything is looking distinctly meh (it's just me, they looked a lot better pre-loose-end-period).
BAH. Need more braincells! Send neurons fast!
The Daylight Savings Time switch, better known as Jet Lag for the Entire Nation, did me in. I still haven't caught up. Every day I have to rip myself out of bed and I'm just not feeling like negotiating with the universe today. I'd rather have stayed in bed.
Every day's work feels like more and more pedantry. I'm proud of my efforts and I like to do a job well, but lately it's hard to make myself care. Yo ho ho and a bottle of ruination.
ANYWAY
Faina's main body is DONE. Woop woop! I cast off Tuesday night. Now she just needs a block and some fringe. Block and Fringe! It always sounds like "lock and load" in my head. I think block first, then fringe, but I have never done The Fringe before. I might have to re-do the cast-off first, it looks a little too tight.
Now I'm casting about trying to figure out what's next. What with my lack of concentration and just general flightiness lately, I really want something IN PROGRESS RIGHT NOW. Something I do not have to think about. Lace is fine, lace can be Follow-The-Charts,-You-Automaton which is great because I still feel as if I'm accomplishing something even though I'm plopped on the couch, vegetating. Geez, I haven't even felt like starting the new video game K bought lately.
There are several things I *want* to do, and several UFOs, but I just don't feel enough energy to care. And I need a new commuter knit, dammit. K's raglan needs some love, and there's a partially finished baby sweater that looks at me sadly from the knitting basket. I've thumbed through sock recipes and everything is looking distinctly meh (it's just me, they looked a lot better pre-loose-end-period).
BAH. Need more braincells! Send neurons fast!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Looking for Yarn in All the Wrong Places
Thank you for the suggestions on what to do on the Pomatos. Heh, signature orange toe. I would feel better about doing that if I hadn't already finished and woven in all the ends on the first sock. Also I might be more inclined if I happened to have some complementary sock yarn lying about, but I don't. I may just suck it up and buy another skein. I can always just make another pair of socks, some plain vanillas that don't slurp up as much yarn as do all those twisted stitches in the Pomatomus.
I'm flirting with an idea right now of making a need yarn/got yarn website. It would superficially similar Good Yarn Karma, but allow you to post requests for specific kinds and dyelots of yarns that you needed. The site would also also allow people to offer extra partial or odd balls for swap or payment.
The site would be MUCH less hands-on than Good Yarn Karma, as I don't have that kind of time in my life. Instead of a blog, it'd have a more automated format: submit a request or offer by form, then let people respond to that request or offer. The site also would NOT be involved in arranging and guaranteeing payment and shipment -- it would only help connect the yarn-less with the yarn-enabled, who'd then figure out their own exchange. There'd be a search functionality so you wouldn't need to comb through all the posts to find something.
It'd be somewhat like the skein list that yarn store owners keep. The goal would be to connect people with extra skeins with people who need them. I see requests all the time for needing just one extra or partial skein of X in dyelot Y. What do you think? Would such a service be useful? Or would it be unnecessary or easily abused?
I'm flirting with an idea right now of making a need yarn/got yarn website. It would superficially similar Good Yarn Karma, but allow you to post requests for specific kinds and dyelots of yarns that you needed. The site would also also allow people to offer extra partial or odd balls for swap or payment.
The site would be MUCH less hands-on than Good Yarn Karma, as I don't have that kind of time in my life. Instead of a blog, it'd have a more automated format: submit a request or offer by form, then let people respond to that request or offer. The site also would NOT be involved in arranging and guaranteeing payment and shipment -- it would only help connect the yarn-less with the yarn-enabled, who'd then figure out their own exchange. There'd be a search functionality so you wouldn't need to comb through all the posts to find something.
It'd be somewhat like the skein list that yarn store owners keep. The goal would be to connect people with extra skeins with people who need them. I see requests all the time for needing just one extra or partial skein of X in dyelot Y. What do you think? Would such a service be useful? Or would it be unnecessary or easily abused?
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
ARGGGGH
I didn't make it.
And not even close enough to just fudge the decreases.
Anyone got about 10 yards of Socks That Rock lightweight in the color Puck's Mischief?
Yeah, didn't think so.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Friday Night Sock Smackdown
ONE NIGHT ONLY
LameSockKnitter Co. Presents:
The End of the Sock
Big Alice & her Pomatomus socks go HEAD TO HEAD! You've NEVER SEEN this kind of action!
Marvel at the 24 decreasing rows left to the final sock -- only the toe to go!
Gasp at the dwindling yarn supply!
Wonder at the seething inner passions and denouement of the Pomatomus socks!
Will she make it!? Will she complete the pair with a SINGLE SKEIN of SOCKS THAT ROCK?
This Friday night only! No repeat performances!
We'll sell you the whole seat, but you'll only need THE EDGE!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Roses, before and after
These are kind of bigger-than-normal images, so click for bigger. I apologize that they're somewhat hard to see, too.
Roses, before prune.
Roses, after prune.
(The stuff underneath is St. John's Wort, which grows wild here. I like how it looks and I REALLY like the big yellow blossoms in summer, so I let it be)
They look decimated, don't they? They actually prefer it and will grow much better and stronger after this. Pain in the bazunga to do it, though. Just because I imagine I can hear plants screaming.
(The stuff underneath is St. John's Wort, which grows wild here. I like how it looks and I REALLY like the big yellow blossoms in summer, so I let it be)
They look decimated, don't they? They actually prefer it and will grow much better and stronger after this. Pain in the bazunga to do it, though. Just because I imagine I can hear plants screaming.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Whole lot of nothing
Roses: pruned
Faina Scarf: slightly over halfway (about 20 rows into the 3rd main chart)
Floors: vacuumed
Tasty Sunday Brunch: consumed
Yarn: fondled
Guest Room: cleaned out of all the junk that accumulates there.
Studio: disaster area
Weather: too nice to be stuck inside today.
Peas: pre-sprouting
Hmm, I guess I accomplished more than I thought I did this weekend.
Ugh I hate pruning roses. The inner perfectionist makes a play for dominance and I spend hours squatting down looking for outward facing buds and agonizing over which branches to cut. I like roses and all but I once read a quotation calling roses the "Poor sickly children of the flower world" and boy howdy do I resonate with that. They get EVERY disease. I think the black spot and rust is endemic now. And the camellia is trying to eat the red one (perhaps because the camellia is also red?).
On the other hand, the blooms are nice and my goodness you can cut those suckers down to nothing and they don't care, they LIKE it. I always feel like I'm decimating the roses when I cut them. Ha. Sickly yet tenacious. It gets easier to prune as I go along, once I get the first few thorn puncture wounds.
I didn't put them in, we purchased the house avec rose bushes, and when I first hit the Net trying to find out to prune them - HA HA HA. Because every pruning manual ever written assumes you have perfect new roses and not hoary old things with stems that are inches thick. INCHES. I have to use a saw to cut things out sometimes. No way can I form a "perfect 5-fingered open hand" or cut them down to 1 foot. So I just kind of try to thin them out, cut them down to not very tall but generally not into the old wood. Whatever. Only one's died on me so far. And that was probably from the black spot, rust, and lack of light. Yeah, for sure. Not me at all.
The old(er) previous owners had a Thing for Pink, as ALL of the flowering things in the backyard are pink (except the lilac, which I think was planted after the era of the pink-lovers). Roses? All pink. (And all hybrid teas. FEH). Rhododendron, azalea, even a Mountain Laurel (Kalmia) - pink. Let us not forget the pink tulip bulbs. Oh yeah, and except for the hydrangea. Which can be made to bloom pink.
I gotta go to Powell's technical tonight because Microsoft is making my life HELL and it'd be nice to know why, and please please please to make it stop.
Faina Scarf: slightly over halfway (about 20 rows into the 3rd main chart)
Floors: vacuumed
Tasty Sunday Brunch: consumed
Yarn: fondled
Guest Room: cleaned out of all the junk that accumulates there.
Studio: disaster area
Weather: too nice to be stuck inside today.
Peas: pre-sprouting
Hmm, I guess I accomplished more than I thought I did this weekend.
Ugh I hate pruning roses. The inner perfectionist makes a play for dominance and I spend hours squatting down looking for outward facing buds and agonizing over which branches to cut. I like roses and all but I once read a quotation calling roses the "Poor sickly children of the flower world" and boy howdy do I resonate with that. They get EVERY disease. I think the black spot and rust is endemic now. And the camellia is trying to eat the red one (perhaps because the camellia is also red?).
On the other hand, the blooms are nice and my goodness you can cut those suckers down to nothing and they don't care, they LIKE it. I always feel like I'm decimating the roses when I cut them. Ha. Sickly yet tenacious. It gets easier to prune as I go along, once I get the first few thorn puncture wounds.
I didn't put them in, we purchased the house avec rose bushes, and when I first hit the Net trying to find out to prune them - HA HA HA. Because every pruning manual ever written assumes you have perfect new roses and not hoary old things with stems that are inches thick. INCHES. I have to use a saw to cut things out sometimes. No way can I form a "perfect 5-fingered open hand" or cut them down to 1 foot. So I just kind of try to thin them out, cut them down to not very tall but generally not into the old wood. Whatever. Only one's died on me so far. And that was probably from the black spot, rust, and lack of light. Yeah, for sure. Not me at all.
The old(er) previous owners had a Thing for Pink, as ALL of the flowering things in the backyard are pink (except the lilac, which I think was planted after the era of the pink-lovers). Roses? All pink. (And all hybrid teas. FEH). Rhododendron, azalea, even a Mountain Laurel (Kalmia) - pink. Let us not forget the pink tulip bulbs. Oh yeah, and except for the hydrangea. Which can be made to bloom pink.
I gotta go to Powell's technical tonight because Microsoft is making my life HELL and it'd be nice to know why, and please please please to make it stop.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Public Knitting
It's raining today (as it has been all week, not to make you think that the weather's unusual), but it's heavier than a drizzle and steady and the air is completely saturated. I wore my full hazmat raingear to walk to work today: 100% waterproof ripstop nylon, baby, and none of that breathable crap either, that stuff leaks after 10 minutes. I may make a dorky swishy sound with every step, but by heaven and hell I'll have dry jeans.
Some extremely stoned-sounding man on the train today said "Yo, what you knittin', bro?" He then apologized once I turned around and revealed my gender. I displayed the current sock and described its sockiness (I'm used to the excuse-me-sir by now. I doesn't annoy me, I'm kind of big and it's any easy mistake. What pisses me off is that the catalog for Patagonia had many women's clothes that crested in a size L but their men's clothes went to XXL. Thanks, Patagonia, I see there's no double standard AT ALL). He told me his grandmother had taught him how to knit a long time ago but he'd kind of forgotten. I should have encouraged him to knit again but I wasn't feeling very chipper this morning and I don't think on my feet quickly, especially in the morning.
Now that the current sock has its heel turned, it actually does look like most of a sock and not some stylin' fabric tube. Which is a boon to identification during random train encounters. That makes 2 this week, a bit of a record: Wednesday was the "Oh, look at YOU! You're doing needlework!" lady, who really was quite nice despite how she came off in that exclamation.
My favorites were the teenage girls who were completely engrossed in what I was doing. They kept asking these questions in awed voices. And people, I am not cool. I do not look cool or sound cool or act cool. But they thought my knitting was cool. There's a reason why I stick with DPNs--makes me look like some kind of badass look-what-I-can-do-with-toothpicks knitter.
Some extremely stoned-sounding man on the train today said "Yo, what you knittin', bro?" He then apologized once I turned around and revealed my gender. I displayed the current sock and described its sockiness (I'm used to the excuse-me-sir by now. I doesn't annoy me, I'm kind of big and it's any easy mistake. What pisses me off is that the catalog for Patagonia had many women's clothes that crested in a size L but their men's clothes went to XXL. Thanks, Patagonia, I see there's no double standard AT ALL). He told me his grandmother had taught him how to knit a long time ago but he'd kind of forgotten. I should have encouraged him to knit again but I wasn't feeling very chipper this morning and I don't think on my feet quickly, especially in the morning.
Now that the current sock has its heel turned, it actually does look like most of a sock and not some stylin' fabric tube. Which is a boon to identification during random train encounters. That makes 2 this week, a bit of a record: Wednesday was the "Oh, look at YOU! You're doing needlework!" lady, who really was quite nice despite how she came off in that exclamation.
My favorites were the teenage girls who were completely engrossed in what I was doing. They kept asking these questions in awed voices. And people, I am not cool. I do not look cool or sound cool or act cool. But they thought my knitting was cool. There's a reason why I stick with DPNs--makes me look like some kind of badass look-what-I-can-do-with-toothpicks knitter.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Blush
I'm flattered by all of your attention in my Random Things I Like list; it was fun to compile. Run with it, I love reading all your lists! I get these great mental pictures reading them, like Pacalaga sitting on the deck and scratching her dogs' ears and laughing with her kid.
And nah, I'm not terminally depressed, it was just a bit of a cold grey day and I'm doing something at work that isn't exactly attention-grabbing and I was (ahem) daydreaming a bit since Spring's been a kind of fickle mistress this year and keeps tease, tease, teasing. Hey, I stayed late afterwards. Also, I can't seem to stop writing as if I were a nature-obsessed prose poet. Shoot me now.
Kristen made an impassioned plea to escape the tyranny of blogger comments and use haloscan, but I've just been too damn lazy to figure out why I don't have the necessary options on my interface. Or even to switch hosting. Um, yeah. Maybe this weekend?
She also pointed out this awesome little utility which will generate email-me pictures so as to foil spammers. How cool is that? However, I'm going to keep my pleasantly techno-crude current image for now, mainly because it made her laugh :)
Carol, if you're ever up in Oregon, or I ever happen to be in Florida, we're on for a Twilight Zone marathon. Yes, we've got stars at night here (when it's not cloudy. Which is a lot of the winter), though not a whole lot. It's still in the city-ish, but it's not that big of a city.
Thanks all for the comments on Faina, I appreciate the love.
And nah, I'm not terminally depressed, it was just a bit of a cold grey day and I'm doing something at work that isn't exactly attention-grabbing and I was (ahem) daydreaming a bit since Spring's been a kind of fickle mistress this year and keeps tease, tease, teasing. Hey, I stayed late afterwards. Also, I can't seem to stop writing as if I were a nature-obsessed prose poet. Shoot me now.
Kristen made an impassioned plea to escape the tyranny of blogger comments and use haloscan, but I've just been too damn lazy to figure out why I don't have the necessary options on my interface. Or even to switch hosting. Um, yeah. Maybe this weekend?
She also pointed out this awesome little utility which will generate email-me pictures so as to foil spammers. How cool is that? However, I'm going to keep my pleasantly techno-crude current image for now, mainly because it made her laugh :)
Carol, if you're ever up in Oregon, or I ever happen to be in Florida, we're on for a Twilight Zone marathon. Yes, we've got stars at night here (when it's not cloudy. Which is a lot of the winter), though not a whole lot. It's still in the city-ish, but it's not that big of a city.
Thanks all for the comments on Faina, I appreciate the love.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Faina's Scarf: Pilgrim's Progress
I actually did cast-on for Faina's scarf on February 14th. I'm just too lazy to have posted pictures. Here's a "dry block" of my current progress:
I love the yarn, it's amazingly soft, and the pattern is fun. I just have to stop and admire FREQUENTLY, so I catch all my missed yarn-overs before having to rip out multiple rows.
Thanks for all the well-wishes on the cold, I used it as an effective excuse to not do much besides sit around and knit most of that weekend, so I'm about 3/5 done with the scarf.
I cannot capture the green of the scarf with a camera, which I guess makes sense seeing as the color looks different to me depending on what light I'm knitting in. Aw yeah. I love complex shades like that. You can also tell it's a home dye job, since it's got small variations in the color. One of the ugly secrets of home dyeing: it's difficult (to impossible, especially with wool) to get completely even colors. If you want even color, dye the roving, not the yarn. I happen to like the slight variegation, it makes the yarn more interesting to me.
Frances the attention hog cat
Catbutt!
I ripped out the first chart twice. First time, the slip stitches on the ends of the rows weren't loose enough. Even though I'm now being very loose (knitting, not morally, Rabbitch) on those side stitches, I'm still worried they're going to be too tight when I stretch out the lace. I don't know how I'd be looser at this point, though.
Second time, I got farther but then ripped because my SSKs look like complete ass (that's the technical term, you know). UGGGGggy. I wasn't at all certain they'd even out with blocking.
They looked sloppy compared to the K2Togs and I couldn't figure out how to get them even. I tried making them tight, loose, and tugging on the 2nd stitch vs. the first. I somewhat have this problem with socks too, but the tension seems to be tight enough that it doesn't really bug me that much, and washing does even it out.
I finally went with a modified SSK: slip 1 knitwise, slip 1 purlwise, insert left needle through front loops of slipped stitches then knit them together. I got this idea from the Knitting Tips & Trade Secrets book that I got for Christmas from the 'rents. A very close look reveals that 2nd twisted stitch, but I don't much care because they're coming out more even (not completely though, which irks my inner perfectionist). It also helps to carefully not stretch the stitches when I slip them.
Now I'm at the point where I'm faced with the eternal scarf question: should I add another repeat to make it longer? I think have enough yarn....
Also, I'm vaguely entertaining the idea of knitting it halfway, knitting another half halfway, then grafting them together. Am I insane? Would this look awful? Could I pull off the grafting if I did it on a purl row?
I love the yarn, it's amazingly soft, and the pattern is fun. I just have to stop and admire FREQUENTLY, so I catch all my missed yarn-overs before having to rip out multiple rows.
Thanks for all the well-wishes on the cold, I used it as an effective excuse to not do much besides sit around and knit most of that weekend, so I'm about 3/5 done with the scarf.
I cannot capture the green of the scarf with a camera, which I guess makes sense seeing as the color looks different to me depending on what light I'm knitting in. Aw yeah. I love complex shades like that. You can also tell it's a home dye job, since it's got small variations in the color. One of the ugly secrets of home dyeing: it's difficult (to impossible, especially with wool) to get completely even colors. If you want even color, dye the roving, not the yarn. I happen to like the slight variegation, it makes the yarn more interesting to me.
Frances the attention hog cat
Catbutt!
I ripped out the first chart twice. First time, the slip stitches on the ends of the rows weren't loose enough. Even though I'm now being very loose (knitting, not morally, Rabbitch) on those side stitches, I'm still worried they're going to be too tight when I stretch out the lace. I don't know how I'd be looser at this point, though.
Second time, I got farther but then ripped because my SSKs look like complete ass (that's the technical term, you know). UGGGGggy. I wasn't at all certain they'd even out with blocking.
They looked sloppy compared to the K2Togs and I couldn't figure out how to get them even. I tried making them tight, loose, and tugging on the 2nd stitch vs. the first. I somewhat have this problem with socks too, but the tension seems to be tight enough that it doesn't really bug me that much, and washing does even it out.
I finally went with a modified SSK: slip 1 knitwise, slip 1 purlwise, insert left needle through front loops of slipped stitches then knit them together. I got this idea from the Knitting Tips & Trade Secrets book that I got for Christmas from the 'rents. A very close look reveals that 2nd twisted stitch, but I don't much care because they're coming out more even (not completely though, which irks my inner perfectionist). It also helps to carefully not stretch the stitches when I slip them.
Now I'm at the point where I'm faced with the eternal scarf question: should I add another repeat to make it longer? I think have enough yarn....
Also, I'm vaguely entertaining the idea of knitting it halfway, knitting another half halfway, then grafting them together. Am I insane? Would this look awful? Could I pull off the grafting if I did it on a purl row?
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
An effort to think positively today
Random things I like
- Garlic
- Very fresh butter
- the way grass moves in waves when blown by the wind
- the feel of silk charmeuse
- The Princess Bride, by Willim Goldman (referring here to the book. The movie's pretty good too, but I'm thinking of the book today)
- pale green of new spring leaves
- tulips
- seeds
- fresh sugar-snap peas
- blue hydrangeas
- Frances the cat, purring as she sits on my chest
- bird tracks in the sand
- tasty BEvERages
- sleeping
- bouncy, springy wool yarn
- D'Affinois brie
- grilled salmon
- GOOD chocolate chip cookies
- drinking and eating and talking on the back patio on a summer evening as the stars come out
- fresh raspberries picked from the vine
- bouquets of dahlias from the Farmer's market
- candlelight
- blueberry pie
- Twilight Zone marathons (oh yes, so horribly cheesy and dated and slow-paced, but I like the concept of T.Z. Marathons)
- DVD players
- massive summer thunderstorms in the desert
- sound that snow makes when it's falling
- EuroRails (it's a board game)
- Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade
- Vineland, by Thomas Pynchon
- the clouds scudding quickly across the sky
Monday, February 26, 2007
Long time, no blog
Thank you all for the compliments on the grey cable-twists socks. EXACTLY as you say - just enough pattern to make them interesting, yet still easily memorized and compliant with the Not-Too-Fancy K requirement. Like ribbing++
Sorry I haven't been around. I submitted a design to the Purlescence Storytellers competition and was scrabbling to get that all together. I'm not expecting much of it because I am TRULY AWFUL at drawing. Truly. My sketch of my lace stole looks as if it's demonically posessed. I always failed art classes in elementary school, my only shameful minuses on the whole report card. I took woodshop in junior high just so I could avoid art. And because bandsaws are cool. If nothing comes of the contest, maybe I'll finish up the design post it here.
Then last-last Saturday I picked up a cold from somewhere, and even though for 2 days I managed to keep it confined to my throat (and thought I was over the hump), Tuesday was the Great Snotfall and Achiness. I'd been trying to Zinc and Vitamin-C it to death and been drinking so many liquids I had to pee every hour, on the hour. Wednesday I caved and bought some Airborne to try. Because, see, Wednesday night K & I left for a little romantical vacation for 4 days.
Fortunately I felt much better on Thursday and mostly completely healthy by Saturday. No Pseudoephedrine-enhanced benadryl supplies were exhausted. We had a good time and K got some respite from the annoying, frustrating, and long hours he's been spending at work for some months. It's awfully nice to sit in cushy chairs in a warm room, with a lovely view, and have people bring you good beer.
Plus I didn't have really much to say lately.
Not like I have much to say today. But hey, travel and airports are sure conducive to lots of knitting time. I'm past the heel of a Pomatomus already. (Faina didn't come along for the ride, since it's not a great travel knit (too many charts to be checking all the time)). Day-umn. It took me WEEKS to do the first one last fall.
First sock: 51 grams
Yarn leftover for second sock: 52 grams
It's going to be a close one.
Sorry I haven't been around. I submitted a design to the Purlescence Storytellers competition and was scrabbling to get that all together. I'm not expecting much of it because I am TRULY AWFUL at drawing. Truly. My sketch of my lace stole looks as if it's demonically posessed. I always failed art classes in elementary school, my only shameful minuses on the whole report card. I took woodshop in junior high just so I could avoid art. And because bandsaws are cool. If nothing comes of the contest, maybe I'll finish up the design post it here.
Then last-last Saturday I picked up a cold from somewhere, and even though for 2 days I managed to keep it confined to my throat (and thought I was over the hump), Tuesday was the Great Snotfall and Achiness. I'd been trying to Zinc and Vitamin-C it to death and been drinking so many liquids I had to pee every hour, on the hour. Wednesday I caved and bought some Airborne to try. Because, see, Wednesday night K & I left for a little romantical vacation for 4 days.
Fortunately I felt much better on Thursday and mostly completely healthy by Saturday. No Pseudoephedrine-enhanced benadryl supplies were exhausted. We had a good time and K got some respite from the annoying, frustrating, and long hours he's been spending at work for some months. It's awfully nice to sit in cushy chairs in a warm room, with a lovely view, and have people bring you good beer.
Plus I didn't have really much to say lately.
Not like I have much to say today. But hey, travel and airports are sure conducive to lots of knitting time. I'm past the heel of a Pomatomus already. (Faina didn't come along for the ride, since it's not a great travel knit (too many charts to be checking all the time)). Day-umn. It took me WEEKS to do the first one last fall.
First sock: 51 grams
Yarn leftover for second sock: 52 grams
It's going to be a close one.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Grey Cable-Twist Socks
Hey, another pair of socks! These ones for K:
Pattern: Cable Twist Socks from Hello Yarn (actually, I used only the stitch pattern and went my own way for the rest)
Yarn: Rowan 4 Ply Soft in color 372: Sooty (a steel grey). 100% superwash merino wool. I used 2 balls + part of a 3rd (there were 35 g left on the 3rd ball). Each ball: 191 yards/50 g. Purchased from Woodland Woolworks.
Needles: 2.25 mm (US 1) Lantern Moon wooden DPNs
Gauge: 7.5 st/inch, 10 rows/inch in stockinette
Notes about the yarn: very soft, squishy, and elastic, and not easily split. Two thumbs up!, a pleasure to knit with, although pricey if you need that 3rd ball. I don't know how well it will wear, but it's got a tight twist to it.
Notes about the needles:I like to use wooden double-pointed needles or magic loop. I avoid ladders in the socks by:
1) hiding the needle change in a purl trough - lots of those in this sock.
2) working the first stitch of the next needle, then putting the needle into the 2nd stitch, and then tugging to tighten up the first stitch and the join. This tends to work better for wool than cotton.
I used 2.25 mm needles which produced a firm fabric. It's not as bouncy as the original yarn, but K liked it better than the 2.75 mm and it'll probably hold up better to wear.
Pattern notes:
I used the stitch pattern from the original and crafted the rest of the sock from generic sock patterns and my own head.
The pattern isn't difficult, is easy to memorize, and gives you a nice cable effect without the cabling. All the cables on those socks are left twists: just work the 2nd stitch first, then slip the first. This is essentially the same as cabling without a cable needle, using only 1 stitch to cross. The ribbing it produces is very springy! However, it still was too small to fit over K's feet, so I added a couple more repeats. These still fit firmly on his feet, but not restrictively.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My version of the pattern:
Leg:
Cast on for 10 repeats of the pattern, instead of 8 (10 x 7) = 70 stitches.
If you wish to do calf shaping, cast on 10 additional stitches = 80 stitches.
I cast on only 75 stitches and you can't hardly tell there's any calf shaping. If I did it again I'd do 80.
The stitch pattern is 5 knit/2 purl, with the cable shaping happening over the 5 knit group.
Calf shaping: Work 5 knit/3 purl for about an inch, then switch to stitch pattern, still working 5 knit-cabled/3 purl. Work about 4 repeats of the pattern then purl-2-together over 2 purl stitches in every 3 purl group = 70 stitches.
Work stitch pattern until leg is long enough, ending with the final stitch pattern row.
Heel flap (I used a plain old slip-stitch heel flap):
Assuming your stitches are arranged as follows:
needle 1: 5 knit, 2 purl, 5 knit, 2 purl, 5 knit, 2 purl
needle 2: 5 knit, 2 purl, 5 knit, 2 purl
needle 3: 5 knit, 2 purl, 5 knit, 2 purl, 5 knit, 2 purl
needle 4: 5 knit, 2 purl, 5 knit, 2 purl
And you are at the very beginning of needle 1:
Knit 18 stitches, k2 together (this will be 1 knit and 1 purl knit together). Turn work
Purl 34, turn.
The non-purled stitches will be worked later as the instep)
(One each end you are dividing the 2 purls into 1 purl held on the instep to work later, and 1 purl to be involved in heel shaping.)
1. (Sl 1, K1) across, turn.
2. Sl 1st stitch, Purl back
Repeat rows 1 & 2 for a total of 17 times (34 rows total)
Now repeat row 1 one more time
Turn heel (34 stitches to start):
You should be starting with the wrong side facing you, after that final #1 row from above.
Sl 1, P 17, P2 together, P 1, turn.
Sl 1, K 3, SSK, K 1, turn.
Now, repeat the following 2 rows until you have no more stitches left. On the final repeat you won't be able to do the last P 1 and K 1. No worries.
1. Sl 1, purl to 1 stitch before the gap. P2 tog, P 1.
2. Sl 1, knit to 1 stitch before the gap. SSK, K 1.
Gusset:
Pick up and knit 18 stitches across the side of the heel, one for each slip-stitch loop on the edge + one at the end where it looks kind of loose. I always tend to pick up 19-20 stitches, instead of 1 per slip-stitch loop. If you do so, just decrease the stitches using a few judicious K2tog or work the gusset a little longer. A couple stitches REALLY doesn't matter much at this gauge.
I tried Grumperina's Pretty Way of picking up stitches and I like the effect. It gives a nice taut edge with a neat pattern. I twisted every stitch I picked up, as she directs. This has been the best thing for me to avoid the dreaded "gusset gap" when you join instep and heel.
After picking up 1 side, work the instep stitches IN PATTERN--just start a new repeaton the cable pattern. You should start with a purl 1 and end with a purl 1.
Pick up and knit about 18 stitches on the other side of the heel. Knit half of the back stitches onto the same needle you used to pickup/knit the heel stitches.
Rearrange your stitches so that you have the following:
Needle 1: starts at the very back of the heel, includes half the heel stitches and left picked-up stitches. I also move the 1 lonely purl from beginning the patterned instep to this needle.
Needle 2: all the patterned instep stitches, minus the 2 purls at the ends. If it's awkward to hold, break the stitches on this needle up into 2 needles.
Needle 3: the lonely purl at the end of the patterned instep, all the right picked-up stitches, and the first half of the heel stitches.
Next row, start the gusset decreases:
Repeat these 2 rows until you have 20 stitches (18 knits, 2 purls) on needles 1 & 3 (33 stitches on needle 2) = 73 stitches total
Round 1:
Needle 1: K to 5 stitches before the end. K2 tog, K 1, P 2
Needle 2: work in pattern
Needle 3: P 2, K1, SSK, K to end
Round 2:
Needle 1: K until 2 stitches before end, P 2
Needle 2: work in pattern
Needle 3: P 2, K until end.
Foot:
At this point, work the toe straight, knitting the knits, purling the purls, and working the cable pattern section in pattern. Work until you are about 2 1/2" inches before the end of the toe, ending with the last cable pattern.
Toe:
*** this first part is important to a balanced toe!
Move the 2 purl stitches at the end of needle 1 to needle 2.
Move the 2 purl stitches at the beginning of needle 3 to needle 2.
Needle 1: 18 stitches
Needle 2: 37 stitches
Needle 3: 18 stitches
total: 73 stitches
Work one row all knit. (I didn't do this, but would have, because the purls look funny if you go straight into the toe decreases)
Work the following 2 rounds 9 times (until 9 stitches each on needles 1 & 3=37 stitches total)
Round 1:
Needle 1: Knit to 3 stitches from end, K2 tog, K 1
Needle 2: K 1, SSK, knit to within 3 stitches of end, K2tog, K 1
Needle 3: K 1, SSK, knit to end.
Round 2:
Knit entire round
Next, work Round 1 every round 7 times, stopping before you work needle 3 the very last round (you're going to leave the yarn at the end of needle 2).
Needle 1: 2 stitches
Needle 2: 5 stitches
Needle 3: 3 stitches.
Transfer Needle 3's stitches to Needle 1 and graft the toe closed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
These have been done for a couple weeks but I wanted to get an Action Shot. K liked them so much, he wouldn't remove them from his feet after this pick. A successful socking!
Pattern: Cable Twist Socks from Hello Yarn (actually, I used only the stitch pattern and went my own way for the rest)
Yarn: Rowan 4 Ply Soft in color 372: Sooty (a steel grey). 100% superwash merino wool. I used 2 balls + part of a 3rd (there were 35 g left on the 3rd ball). Each ball: 191 yards/50 g. Purchased from Woodland Woolworks.
Needles: 2.25 mm (US 1) Lantern Moon wooden DPNs
Gauge: 7.5 st/inch, 10 rows/inch in stockinette
Notes about the yarn: very soft, squishy, and elastic, and not easily split. Two thumbs up!, a pleasure to knit with, although pricey if you need that 3rd ball. I don't know how well it will wear, but it's got a tight twist to it.
Notes about the needles:I like to use wooden double-pointed needles or magic loop. I avoid ladders in the socks by:
1) hiding the needle change in a purl trough - lots of those in this sock.
2) working the first stitch of the next needle, then putting the needle into the 2nd stitch, and then tugging to tighten up the first stitch and the join. This tends to work better for wool than cotton.
I used 2.25 mm needles which produced a firm fabric. It's not as bouncy as the original yarn, but K liked it better than the 2.75 mm and it'll probably hold up better to wear.
Pattern notes:
I used the stitch pattern from the original and crafted the rest of the sock from generic sock patterns and my own head.
The pattern isn't difficult, is easy to memorize, and gives you a nice cable effect without the cabling. All the cables on those socks are left twists: just work the 2nd stitch first, then slip the first. This is essentially the same as cabling without a cable needle, using only 1 stitch to cross. The ribbing it produces is very springy! However, it still was too small to fit over K's feet, so I added a couple more repeats. These still fit firmly on his feet, but not restrictively.
My version of the pattern:
Leg:
Cast on for 10 repeats of the pattern, instead of 8 (10 x 7) = 70 stitches.
If you wish to do calf shaping, cast on 10 additional stitches = 80 stitches.
I cast on only 75 stitches and you can't hardly tell there's any calf shaping. If I did it again I'd do 80.
The stitch pattern is 5 knit/2 purl, with the cable shaping happening over the 5 knit group.
Calf shaping: Work 5 knit/3 purl for about an inch, then switch to stitch pattern, still working 5 knit-cabled/3 purl. Work about 4 repeats of the pattern then purl-2-together over 2 purl stitches in every 3 purl group = 70 stitches.
Work stitch pattern until leg is long enough, ending with the final stitch pattern row.
Heel flap (I used a plain old slip-stitch heel flap):
Assuming your stitches are arranged as follows:
needle 1: 5 knit, 2 purl, 5 knit, 2 purl, 5 knit, 2 purl
needle 2: 5 knit, 2 purl, 5 knit, 2 purl
needle 3: 5 knit, 2 purl, 5 knit, 2 purl, 5 knit, 2 purl
needle 4: 5 knit, 2 purl, 5 knit, 2 purl
And you are at the very beginning of needle 1:
Knit 18 stitches, k2 together (this will be 1 knit and 1 purl knit together). Turn work
Purl 34, turn.
The non-purled stitches will be worked later as the instep)
(One each end you are dividing the 2 purls into 1 purl held on the instep to work later, and 1 purl to be involved in heel shaping.)
1. (Sl 1, K1) across, turn.
2. Sl 1st stitch, Purl back
Repeat rows 1 & 2 for a total of 17 times (34 rows total)
Now repeat row 1 one more time
Turn heel (34 stitches to start):
You should be starting with the wrong side facing you, after that final #1 row from above.
Sl 1, P 17, P2 together, P 1, turn.
Sl 1, K 3, SSK, K 1, turn.
Now, repeat the following 2 rows until you have no more stitches left. On the final repeat you won't be able to do the last P 1 and K 1. No worries.
1. Sl 1, purl to 1 stitch before the gap. P2 tog, P 1.
2. Sl 1, knit to 1 stitch before the gap. SSK, K 1.
Gusset:
Pick up and knit 18 stitches across the side of the heel, one for each slip-stitch loop on the edge + one at the end where it looks kind of loose. I always tend to pick up 19-20 stitches, instead of 1 per slip-stitch loop. If you do so, just decrease the stitches using a few judicious K2tog or work the gusset a little longer. A couple stitches REALLY doesn't matter much at this gauge.
I tried Grumperina's Pretty Way of picking up stitches and I like the effect. It gives a nice taut edge with a neat pattern. I twisted every stitch I picked up, as she directs. This has been the best thing for me to avoid the dreaded "gusset gap" when you join instep and heel.
After picking up 1 side, work the instep stitches IN PATTERN--just start a new repeaton the cable pattern. You should start with a purl 1 and end with a purl 1.
Pick up and knit about 18 stitches on the other side of the heel. Knit half of the back stitches onto the same needle you used to pickup/knit the heel stitches.
Rearrange your stitches so that you have the following:
Needle 1: starts at the very back of the heel, includes half the heel stitches and left picked-up stitches. I also move the 1 lonely purl from beginning the patterned instep to this needle.
Needle 2: all the patterned instep stitches, minus the 2 purls at the ends. If it's awkward to hold, break the stitches on this needle up into 2 needles.
Needle 3: the lonely purl at the end of the patterned instep, all the right picked-up stitches, and the first half of the heel stitches.
Next row, start the gusset decreases:
Repeat these 2 rows until you have 20 stitches (18 knits, 2 purls) on needles 1 & 3 (33 stitches on needle 2) = 73 stitches total
Round 1:
Needle 1: K to 5 stitches before the end. K2 tog, K 1, P 2
Needle 2: work in pattern
Needle 3: P 2, K1, SSK, K to end
Round 2:
Needle 1: K until 2 stitches before end, P 2
Needle 2: work in pattern
Needle 3: P 2, K until end.
Foot:
At this point, work the toe straight, knitting the knits, purling the purls, and working the cable pattern section in pattern. Work until you are about 2 1/2" inches before the end of the toe, ending with the last cable pattern.
Why all the purl 2 fuss? Because I wanted the cable pattern on the foot to be framed by 2 purl troughs, of 2 purls each, just like the purl trough from the top of the sock. You can see this effect best in the "wearing" shot below, where the stitches are stretched out.
Note on the picking up the gusset stitch: to be totally correct, you would need to PURL the first stitch you picked up on the right heel, and PURL the last stitch you picked up on the left heel, to keep the pattern from the top continuing exactly.
I tried this on the 2nd sock, but a) it was really awkward to purl and twist the stitch, and b) I think it actually looked worse than picking it up and knitting it with a twist, at least using the Grumperina pick-up method. So I say, just go with the knit-twist.
Toe:
*** this first part is important to a balanced toe!
Move the 2 purl stitches at the end of needle 1 to needle 2.
Move the 2 purl stitches at the beginning of needle 3 to needle 2.
Needle 1: 18 stitches
Needle 2: 37 stitches
Needle 3: 18 stitches
total: 73 stitches
Work one row all knit. (I didn't do this, but would have, because the purls look funny if you go straight into the toe decreases)
Work the following 2 rounds 9 times (until 9 stitches each on needles 1 & 3=37 stitches total)
Round 1:
Needle 1: Knit to 3 stitches from end, K2 tog, K 1
Needle 2: K 1, SSK, knit to within 3 stitches of end, K2tog, K 1
Needle 3: K 1, SSK, knit to end.
Round 2:
Knit entire round
Next, work Round 1 every round 7 times, stopping before you work needle 3 the very last round (you're going to leave the yarn at the end of needle 2).
Needle 1: 2 stitches
Needle 2: 5 stitches
Needle 3: 3 stitches.
Transfer Needle 3's stitches to Needle 1 and graft the toe closed.
These have been done for a couple weeks but I wanted to get an Action Shot. K liked them so much, he wouldn't remove them from his feet after this pick. A successful socking!
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
stupid blogger
Making us all switch to the new one. If it's not clear already, I'm not much of an early adopter. To mutilate a quotation: "I do not like CHANGE unless I MAKE IT MYSELF."
Fuck this, I'm going to get hosted and do Wordpress.
Haloscan comment wizard isn't working for me, probly because I'm on a Mac.
I drove today so I could leave early for an optometrist's appointment. Then I left my lights on by accident and my battery ran down. Then I locked the keys in the car. Afterwards I ran fast and just caught public transit and ran just fast enough to arrive in time for my appointment. Then I walked home. Happy fucking valentine's day.
Fuck this, I'm going to get hosted and do Wordpress.
Haloscan comment wizard isn't working for me, probly because I'm on a Mac.
I drove today so I could leave early for an optometrist's appointment. Then I left my lights on by accident and my battery ran down. Then I locked the keys in the car. Afterwards I ran fast and just caught public transit and ran just fast enough to arrive in time for my appointment. Then I walked home. Happy fucking valentine's day.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Faina's Scarf Prep
La wants some yarn porn (isn't that Baby Alpaca Silk enough, honey?), so here's the yarn I'm intending to use for Faina's Scarf.
It's Blue Sky Alpaca's Royal Alpaca and it's baby's buttcheek soft. Yes, from the stash; what, you think I have no self control? Well, I didn't when I was buying this, but that's what you get when you give me a gift certificate and say "limited edition" and "alpaca" in the same sentence.
I bought it in color Pewter from an online store, and I thought that the color would be a sophisticated soft olive green. It arrived and was much more brown than I expected. Now, I love me a good brown, but deep in the gray winter, brown isn't really turning my crank, so I set it aside until I had a better idea of what to do with it.
Last weekend I dyed it up. Jacquard acid dyes, 1 tsp each of blue and yellow (I forget which blues and yellows I purchased: probably sapphire blue and sun yellow).
It's now this lovely shade of vibrant green that I ADORE. I could hardly wait until it dried so I could ball it up. Every time I walk in that room I have to pet it. It'sa deep grass green but sophisticated-deep, not dark-deep. This picture is crap but it kind of reflects what I feel about this yarn: it GLOWS
Does alpaca stick to itself after dyeing? Because if it doesn't I may have felted it a teeny tiny bit. Not much but I had to tug a little strands to get them to separate when I was converting it to a center-pull yarn mass. I was very, very careful about the temperature differentials and agitation while it was hot. Maybe I am too much of an agressive rinser? It doesn't look any more or less hairy than before, and I've got no dreadlocks, so I'm not worried.
Gratuitous pictures because I feel like it:
Dedicated to today's break in the Winter greyness:
a view from my office window during a pretty sunset last week. I love how the quality of light changes during the day, and especially how it colors things at sunset and dawn.
And for my Bob Esponja fans:
It's Blue Sky Alpaca's Royal Alpaca and it's baby's buttcheek soft. Yes, from the stash; what, you think I have no self control? Well, I didn't when I was buying this, but that's what you get when you give me a gift certificate and say "limited edition" and "alpaca" in the same sentence.
I bought it in color Pewter from an online store, and I thought that the color would be a sophisticated soft olive green. It arrived and was much more brown than I expected. Now, I love me a good brown, but deep in the gray winter, brown isn't really turning my crank, so I set it aside until I had a better idea of what to do with it.
Last weekend I dyed it up. Jacquard acid dyes, 1 tsp each of blue and yellow (I forget which blues and yellows I purchased: probably sapphire blue and sun yellow).
It's now this lovely shade of vibrant green that I ADORE. I could hardly wait until it dried so I could ball it up. Every time I walk in that room I have to pet it. It'sa deep grass green but sophisticated-deep, not dark-deep. This picture is crap but it kind of reflects what I feel about this yarn: it GLOWS
Does alpaca stick to itself after dyeing? Because if it doesn't I may have felted it a teeny tiny bit. Not much but I had to tug a little strands to get them to separate when I was converting it to a center-pull yarn mass. I was very, very careful about the temperature differentials and agitation while it was hot. Maybe I am too much of an agressive rinser? It doesn't look any more or less hairy than before, and I've got no dreadlocks, so I'm not worried.
Gratuitous pictures because I feel like it:
Dedicated to today's break in the Winter greyness:
a view from my office window during a pretty sunset last week. I love how the quality of light changes during the day, and especially how it colors things at sunset and dawn.And for my Bob Esponja fans:
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
The Fug
Wen, just for you and red Lacey Lamb do I drag the fugly out of the closet.
This loveliness is the first shawl I ever knit. Back in the L.B. (Lion Brand) Era, when I'd first started knitting but didn't know such things as Local Yarn Stores existed.
This next one is a bit blurrier but truer to color. I haven't messed with the color saturation/hue/brightness at all. Natural but slightly dark lighting.
I telecommuted to work and at that time I was a new knitter, obsessed, and didn't have anything to knit (patterns? Where do I get those from?). Hadn't yet discovered the knit blogs, knitty, just about anywhere except the Lion Brand Pattern site. Oh yes.
I also was on the phone in boring meetings A LOT and was desperate for some knitting. I picked that shawl pattern and went to find some yarn. Yes, some L.B. HOMESPUN a.k.a Acrylic Wonder.
What possessed me to choose the orange/green with Maleficent-purple highlights, I have no idea. Probably it was on sale. I seem to remember a clearance of some kind. I think the name of the colorway was "Renaissance". Let's see a close-up (this one is with flash):
Knit on US size 11, a bunch of YOs and K2Togs. There's even a crochet edging on that puppy.
To give it some credit, it's warm and soft... and is that awkward shawl size that will never stay on your shoulders. Poor thing spends its days balled up in the closet.
This loveliness is the first shawl I ever knit. Back in the L.B. (Lion Brand) Era, when I'd first started knitting but didn't know such things as Local Yarn Stores existed.
This next one is a bit blurrier but truer to color. I haven't messed with the color saturation/hue/brightness at all. Natural but slightly dark lighting.
I telecommuted to work and at that time I was a new knitter, obsessed, and didn't have anything to knit (patterns? Where do I get those from?). Hadn't yet discovered the knit blogs, knitty, just about anywhere except the Lion Brand Pattern site. Oh yes.
I also was on the phone in boring meetings A LOT and was desperate for some knitting. I picked that shawl pattern and went to find some yarn. Yes, some L.B. HOMESPUN a.k.a Acrylic Wonder.
What possessed me to choose the orange/green with Maleficent-purple highlights, I have no idea. Probably it was on sale. I seem to remember a clearance of some kind. I think the name of the colorway was "Renaissance". Let's see a close-up (this one is with flash):
Knit on US size 11, a bunch of YOs and K2Togs. There's even a crochet edging on that puppy.
To give it some credit, it's warm and soft... and is that awkward shawl size that will never stay on your shoulders. Poor thing spends its days balled up in the closet.
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