Well, Look At That!

I've finished a pair of socks!! This pair of socks has taken the whole of 2018 to complete. I've stated my intention was to have a pair done every two months but, as it turned out, that was a pipe dream. If I'm lucky I'll have two new pair of socks by the end of the year. In any case--

They are done! AND, I'm so pleased! The yarn came from Cara (January One) in one of her destash extravaganzas. I'd never knit with, or even heard of White Birch Fiber Arts, but I enjoyed knitting with the perfectly striped yarn. The socks are very matchy, matchy, which is the point, right? The yarn is high quality and the dyeing suburb. 

The pattern I knit is the tried and true Carole's Picot Edged Sock pattern (yes, THAT Carole), which is available FOR FREE on Ravelry. The pattern is straight forward, easily understood, with perfect pictures of how to create the picot stitch cuff. You can't beat it. 

I'm pleased as punch. Here's the Ravelry link. 

My reading has been going well and I'm pages away from my second Bingo and working on my third.  I didn't have a chance to take a picture of my card, but here's a picture of what a little mazik can do when you turn your back for 30 seconds. 

Mylo pulled the bookmark out of my current read, The Light of the World by Elizabeth Alexander, and chewed up the end. I am very grateful he only wanted the free bookstore bookmark. The coaster was a casualty of the same variety a few hours later. Puppies will be puppies, do not take your eyes off him or you'll be paying for it. Next week I'll give you the lowdown on the books I've read this week.

 

And, just so you know, Mylo does not like to be taken for a walk when it is near 100 degrees, nor does he like to be told to "sit" and "look at me" while on said walk. (Training never ends around here.) As you can tell by his look, he was less than thrilled to "performing" in the heat of the day. Poor Mylo. (Poor me.)

I'm Unraveling with Kat and friends! 

Sock Stories

In October of 2009, a time I was known as an obsessive sock knitter, I signed up for Kirsten's Mystery Sock. I liked the pattern so much I started a second pair, and knit them so quickly, both pair were finished by the end of the month, which was quite a feat (hahaha). However, one pair was uncomfortable, the only difference being the yarn used. Both yarns were lovely, but, perhaps there was a difference in row gauge. The other pair I still wear all the time and they fit nicely, but the uncomfortable pair was relegated to the back of the closet.

Sock knitting waned from my usual habits in 2011, which means my sock drawer has had no replenishing. If a pair wears out, a hole is left in the drawer with nothing to fill it and, sadly, as it turns out, 2016 was a very bad year for the drawer. Many of my longtime sock companions bit the dust, some of which could be repaired, but many were beyond hope or help.

Because I could see the attrition rate was high I knew something needed to be done. My feet cannot tolerate anything other than hand knit socks and the solutions were few: start new socks (and I did) and, (two quicker solutions) stitch up a few holes, and rescue any abandon projects. I dug around the closet, found the banished sock, ripped the toe off (it was painless, I assure you), and picked up the stitches. Thank goodness I had plenty of yarn, as the used yarn was quite a curly mess. To make sure they fit this time around, I added a repeat, then reknit the toe.

You can count me one very happy person as the Sunshine socks now make my feet very happy!

You might remember the one and only pair of socks I finished last year. I loved their red/black/gray stripy-ness and decided I had to use more of my stash and knit more stripy goodness. (My sock stash has been gathered over many years and holds much secret potential).  This time I picked a Knitterly Things Vesper Sock called Fire and Ice. How I love this colorway! I was totally entertained and the only thing that slowed my progress, this time around, was knitting two shawls (not one, but TWO. I'll tell you about them later, we're talking about socks, remember?) 

As you can see the Fire and Ice socks came out beautifully and I am thrilled to have them on my feet. It is still winter in Utah, although spring does get a day or two to call her own once in awhile. The momentum of sock knitting is still with me, which means as soon as one pair is finished another pair is cast on. For color inspiration I went with spring! 

See? More stripy goodness (and there is still more in my stash!). Deets later, friends. 

Amazingly

Amazingly, it has been 5 years since I knit a pair of socks. Also, amazingly, I've finished a pair this year! The driver for knitting this pair of socks was the high attrition rate of the elderly socks in my sock drawer. The oldest socks in my drawer are around 20 years old. I know! It's stunning to think they're still going! I knit socks constantly from 1997-2011. A pair progress was my constant companion for many years but, this year, they have started to show their age. Anything from a small hole—that can be fixed—to blowing out the toe and/or heel—which is a bigger problem—has happened this winter. If I didn't get on the ball and at least try to knit a pair of socks, I was going to be forced to buy (and WEAR) mass-produced socks!! gasp 

The pain in my hands was severe, but I had to try. And try I did. There were days I could only knit a couple of rows before I had to rest my hands, but I kept going. A little here, a little there, and progress was made. I sought the help of my doctor and he prescribed prednisone and advised I get an X-ray of my shoulder. The results of that came back that all was well. How could I be in so much pain and if ALL WAS WELL?!

Finally, the prednisone did its job, a very good PT helped me do my job, and together we've found what works to ease, and maybe someday, eliminate the pain. What is it they say? It takes a village? Well, that is very true. In the meantime, I have intrepidly worked on the socks. Usually, I could only work in fits and starts during SnB. Mostly I sat with the socks in my lap, but at other times, I could keep up a pace. The first sock took over 2 months to knit,  but the second sock was knit in one quarter of that time.

I used the tried and true pattern, Carole's Picot Edge Socks, and Biscotte & Cie Felix Self-Striping yarn in the colorway, Loopy Herman. The next pair of socks is waiting in the wings. I'm hopeful my sock drawer will have one or two more additions this year.

Reasons To Finish a Pair of Socks

1. It was the right thing to do. 

2. It's the process...there are no excuses, no WIPs. Practice what you preach, so to speak. (See #1)

3. I had a few days off.  Which doesn't mean there was more time to knit, as I was doing other fun stuff,but it just felt right. (See #1 & #2)

4. Encouragement from blog friends was helpful and made it necessary not to disappoint. (See #2) Thank you, friends.

5. There was the most excellent opportunity for a photo shoot, as I had a few days off. (See #3)

6. It took constant vigilance to knit the foot and, thank goodness, the toe was short. I finished it and wove in the ends while Smith drove up the canyon. (See #3)

A weekday is the only day (which means taking a vacation day) Silver Fork can make a GF meal.   Happy am I to be able to dine at one of my favorite places once again! 

As usual, after our breakfast at the Fork, we took a stroll around Silver Lake. Most of the aspen leaves had fallen, but the last stand provided an excellent backdrop.

Prymania was totally fun, entertaining, a total blast to knit, and Pandora Sock (from The Woolen Rabbit, of course), made it all the better. The yarn feels so good on my feet and it will be durable. (Raveled here)

How about one more shot of Silver Lake? 

The mountain snow left by the last storm has not melted away, which is surely a sign our fabulous fall will soon be over.  My vacation days coincided perfectly with the last few days of sun.

Socktober is Over!

And I'm feeling over any need to knit socks. That isn't to say I'm not happy to add two more pair to my sock drawer.  The Monkey Sock misbehaved through the whole journey, but since they were finished Saturday night, I wore them all day Sunday. When I wear them I know they are silly socks, a good reminder to not take everything so seriously.  Rouge socks are fun and everyone needs a little crazy in their lives.

Sunday I worked and worked and knit and knit on the Mystery Sock and, at 8:56PM, I finished the second toe. That's late for me, dudes.  If there had been any way to take a decent picture at that hour the socks would have been posted on Monday.  As it was, and with a very big smile on my face, I went straight to bed.

The sock fits perfectly and I certainly like the SuibuiSock better than the Monkey yarn (Blue Moon), but I'm a little unsure of how it will wear. It is after all a soft merino. However, that might be why it feels so good on the feet. I'm not going to worry one little bit.

This week the weather has been, and will remain, nicely warm, which means I've left the socks behind....at least for the next few days. I'm ready when the cold weather comes, as you can tell. 

Blue-tifully Blue

Look at the various shades of blue in this yarn! The pattern shows off the color, Lagoon, beautifully and the fabric is soft (SO soft), warm and cozy. The pattern and yarn compliment each other perfectly and I'm thrilled Rachel sent it my way and suggested the pattern. Thank you, grrlfriend.

This is the type of shawl I like to wear all year round. It's small enough to protect the neck from summer air conditioning, but large enough to keep winters cold at bay. Add to that the rich blues, the depth of color (tropical water) with a merino/cashmere blend and you have pure delight. 

Patten: Milkweed Casbah by Cosmicpluto
Yarn: Casbah by Fleece Artist – 1 skein, Lagoon
Needle: Size 4 Addi
Time to Knit: January 27-February 7, 2010
Knitter beware – I had less than 3 yards of yarn leftover.
Raveled Here 

 

To make Blue Monday even better, there is a bonus FO! The bits of blue in Sarah's hand-dyed yarn really pop.This is my first pair for 2010's the year of the sock (and nowhere near my last). The yarn is dyed beautifully, enjoyable to knit, and should wear well as it's a 3 ply. The pattern has little give and was hard to pull on (the first time) over my (high) instep, but it stretched out just enough to fit. The pattern spirals (biases) around the leg , but it's a sock, hidden by pants and I feel it's not a big deal.

Pattern: Nutkin by Knitzi's Beth LaPensee
Yarn: Fiberoptica by Sarah Marsden, 1 skein, Thailand
Needle: Size 1.5 DPNs
Time to Knit: Januray 12-February 12, 2010
Raveled Here

Another Mystery

I've got sunshine
On a cloudy day.
When it's cold outside,
I've got the month of May.

Well, I guess you'll say
What can make me feel this way?
My sock. (My sock, my sock)
Talkin' 'bout my Sunset Mystery sock.

The color is bright and even a little shocking, but it chases away the dreariness of a winter's day. How can you not smile, sing, or laugh out loud when this color is on your feet?

After knitting and wearing many, many, many socks, I've become rather snobby about the yarn I use. It must hold its color, it shouldn't pill or shrink, and above all else, it must be durable. The Mystery Socks, both fabulous pair, have met my criteria. The first pair I used Kim's yarn, and this pair was knit with Judy's yarn.

This isn't the first time I've knit with either yarn so I knew they would wear and be beautiful for a long, long time. In 2008 I knit Thelonious Socks in Judy's yarn and the Mystery Sock with Kim's yarn. I love and wear both pair often. They feel good on the feet and in a year have shown very little wear. 

I've got so much honey
The bees envy me.
I've got a sweeter song
Than the birds in the trees.

Well, I guess you'll say
What can make me feel this way?
My sock. (My sock, my sock)
Talkin' 'bout my Sunset mystery sock.

Yarn: Ball and Skein – Sunset
Pattern: Mystery Sock 2009 by Through the Loops
Time to knit: Oct 13, 2009 – November 27, 2009
Raveled Here

Mystery Solved

As soon as the final clue of the Socktober Mystery Sock was published I finished up the toes of my pair. I love them because they are warm, cozy, and very necessary for the cold weather. It was wonderful to have them on my feet all weekend and they made me feel happy, happy.

Kim dyes the most beautiful yarns and I love the depth of color in Pussywillow. It is a soft mix of browns,golds, tans, grays and soft greens. (They really are grayish green.) On-line the colors show up better in a picture of the skein than in the stitches of the sock. The yarn is durable and nicely warm…perfect for a special pair of socks. 

The Sunset colored yarn from Judy is also durable and beautifully dyed.  I love wearing sunshine on my feet in the dead of winter and hope to have this pair finished by the end of the month.  Unlike the first pair, in which I knit both socks at once, I'll knit this pair in the old fashioned way...first sock then the second. I only had one set of the square needles (which I like very much) and didn't want to splurge on a second pair. Second Sock Syndrome has never been a problem because I love wearing my socks too much.  Sock Mojo may or may not hang around through the end of the year because he heard I had a pair of gloves in the planning.  But, I'm hopefully he won't desert me completely. 

And Not a Sweater in Sight

Sweater avoidance continued throughout the weekend and is still on active duty. All the pieces are finished, blocked and sitting in a pile o' remnants. This poor project will only get attention if it starts a revolution and causes trouble with the other projects. My resolve to finish has evaporated.

Instead my attention has been drawn away by a carnival of color, the Zauberball sock! The yarn is not quiet and, for the most part, is constantly in party mode.  What's not to love about a yarn that loves to show its true colors and is always ready to bring a smile, even a belly laugh, your way? You gotta love a party in a ball.

 

Several of you wanted a report on the square knitting needles and I'm here to tell they are very, very nice. They are light weight, especially for metal, have an excellent point and are comfortable to hold and use. My theory on why they work, abating tired hands and abating repetitive injury, is because they don't move around in your fingers. With a round needle, your hands work constantly to hold on as the needle moves (imperceptible round and round), but with a flat side your fingers stay in one place and there is no need to keep a grip the needle. Saturday I knit for several hours and, instead of the usual claw-like feeling from knitting for that long, my hands felt very relaxed and comfortable. I'm sold!

Now, after you've ooohed and aahed over the fun sock, can you please tell me the best way to get me sweater knit on again?

Maelstrom Moment

This picture is truest to the color.

Maelstrom caught me in its current and I had a swirling good time. This sock is as much fun to wear as it is to knit.

The yarn is Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Mediumweight, color Coral. It worked well for the leg and heel as my instep is high, but the foot would have been too large had I not decreased down to 58 stitches after the gusset.

They look great in my favorite shoes and my toes are happy and warm.