Twins!

Two socks, cast on and off at the same time, on the same needle.  Wee! 

Details: 

Pattern: Pedicure Socks  My second pair, but these were done via Magic Loop, two at a time, courtesy of 2-at-a-time Socks.  I did jump off track and do the heels separately, so the next pair, I’m going to follow one of her patterns to a tee.  Then, I hear there are variations on the 2 socks on one circ theme, so if doing it her way doesn’t seem absolutely perfect, I’ll search out more. 

Yarn:  More Wick.  Can’t get enough of this soy blend.  This is colorway #565.  I really like named colorways better, just in case any yarn makers read my blog.

Needle:  Knitpicks Options Harmony #6, 40″ cable.  I can’t imagine doing two socks on anything shorter than a 40″, but I might have to, because Addis only go down to a #1 that I can find, and KPs only make their tiny sizes in a 32″ cable. 

I cannot tell you how much satisfaction there is in pulling a PAIR of socks off the needle at the same time.  I also didn’t mind all the pushing and pulling as much as I did with my first pair of ML socks - my very first socks EVER, done one at a time.  I think it is comparable to the pushing and pulling with two circs, so I’m now sold on Magic Loop. 

I love this colorway, and hope my friend will too.  It just goes to show that there are no absolutes for me on colors.  I say I don’t like yellow or orange, but they’re both in there, and look great!  I think if I could name this colorway, I’d call it Spring Garden. 

I had another package yesterday.  While chatting about Magic Loop and socks, Ruth offered to trade her 40″ Addis for some 32″ Knitpick metals.  Most of you know Knitpicks are slow shippers, so I hope Ruth doesn’t have to wait too long for my end of the trade!  You’ll see she also included some teas for me to try.  The lavender certainly has my attention, and I think once I hit “publish” here, I’ll try a cup.  Thanks Ruth!  Hopefully soon, we’ll both have sock needles we like.

The weather and Sissy finally cooperated.  There are my first (and only so far) dropped stitches.  After seeing the finished Clapotis yesterday, I’m glad Grace suggested that I do fewer repeats for a summer wrap and to assure that I have enough yarn.   I think I’ll spend the afternoon with Clappy.

That’s just about one skein’s worth.  I don’t think you can see the purple in there, but it’s there.  Blue, yellow, tealish green, and a bright purple are the colors twisted in with the base of blue to form the stripes.  Seeing the completed project yesterday has motivated me, so I think I’ll get to knitting while I’m so inclined. 

Eatin’ Crow

Anne gets a front-row seat, as does Caroline from Carodan Farm, and KSee and Robin can beam on like proud mamas.   But that’s just a teaser; that will make more sense after I tell you about my change of plans yesterday.

The baby shower got bumped, not because I dislike the guest of honor, but because I had a chance to meet another blogger and some of her friends, and go to Stony Mountain Fibers, the LYS owned by a friend of my inlaws.  You see, Firefly (aka: Rosanne) called Friday night to say that Robin was coming to town, and was there any way I could be tempted to change my plans?  You betcha’.  (I already had a dinner date with mom to be and two other ladies this coming Tuesday.) 

I caught up with Robin and Mary  for lunch and a quick trip in a local artists’ boutique.  (Robin chronicles the trip nicely, including a funny shot of a pup in a pink sweater and matching sunglasses.)  Then, we headed to Stony Mountain Fibers, where Margaret, another Charlottesville gal, joined us.  I’d read her blog before too, and I’d seen her name along with a local knit night I keep meaning to attend.  They - everyone except Rosanne and me - tested out the spinning wheels, and I now at least have an understanding of the spinning lingo.  It’s a fascinating process, and I might take a class for curiosity’s sake, but I still maintain that I love to knit too much to get into spinning.  Besides, can you see me spinning with Sissy around!?

So, while others spun, I shopped. 

Robin found the FiberTrends sock pattern, and luckily, there was more than one copy.  I am determined to do two socks at a time, so I’m going to try Magic Loop again.  (I did my very first pair of socks ever via Magic Loop, and didn’t enjoy it.  However, desperate times call for desperate measures.)  That’s a 40″ #1 Addi over on the left, and then assorted yarns that wanted to come home with me.  There were several colorways of Tofutsies I don’t have, but I left them for another day.

So, despite being full from breakfast, I’m eating crow.  As I predicted, the Magic Loop version of two socks at the same time makes more sense to me than my beloved 2 circs method.  I’ve frogged this version in favor of the Cascade Sierra Quattro I purchased last weekend, and yes, those are pedicure socks.  I have two pairs I need to gift sooner rather than later.  My technique isn’t pretty, but it’s working, and that’s all that matters.  I’m hoping that by the end of the socks, I’ll have a system that works, and after another pair of socks, I’ll have to decide whether to invest in more 40″ wee sock needles or to take my new skill and try again to transpose it to the two circs method.  Stay tuned…

Was it *MY* birthday?!

I had a great day yesterday with one of my dearest friends in the whole world.  Firefly  and I have been friends for forever and a day, as the saying goes.  Yesterday, we spent the day stomping around one of the two spots in the world I consider a hometown - Warrenton.  (The other spot is obviously home now…)  The yarn crawl was bookended by two great meals with her OH, starting with lunch at the comfy chic It’s About Thyme, and ending with supper at the very down-home Pig ‘n Steak.  (Sign of the times that each has a website, eh?)

We’ll get to the yarn crawl, but go grab a cuppa’ (I’m having chai this morning, with blueberry bread) and a snack, and tuck in for a long post.

Before we look at what moved south to my house, let’s check out what was waiting for me at home.  (Not the Knight; he was also out with friends when I returned, and y’all see enough of Mugsy and Sissy…)

The incredible yarn at the top is “Tulips” by NH Knitting Mama.   I got to help name it!  It reminds me of tulips, and I’m looking forward to seeing mine in another month or so.   The Knight actually planted some that should be the very blue of the yarn, and we debated over a funky purple that would be close to the kinda’ grey in the yarn too.  I’ll have to take photos when they bloom and we’ll compare notes.  Someone remind me, okay? 

So while I’m on the subject, pop over and check out her CONTEST, tell her I sent you, or head straight to her SHOP for some of her to DYE for yarn yourself.  Really folks, it’s incredibly soft, and the colors are soooo vivid… You really do need to see for yourself!

The rest of the photo is my Knitpicks order.  I couldn’t wait for Alison’s book to arrive!  As I predicted, I’m struggling to race through the rest of the Omega Wrap so I can get started on the Bigfoot shawl in there with my Fred yarn.  There are so many great shawls and scarves in there, and I truly adore the history of the inspiration for each one included within.  Each of you NEEDS this book.  Every pattern is rated from beginner to experienced, and the instructions are provided in “words” and charts, whichever you prefer.  Go on, order it, and while you’re waiting for it to arrive, check out the free patterns on her website, which also include the snippets of history behind their designs.

And yes, the cable is to replace the one Sissy ate.  She’s doing much better these days, and has trained me to put my knitting up when I leave the room.  I just wish Knitpicks would sell the silly little ”key” tool thingamabob by itself. 

Still with me?  Good.  Here we go…

First stop in quaint, downtown The Plains (and yes folks, *THE* is part of the name, thanks much), is Hunt Country Yarns.  Friendly and helpful, even with a full shop, they carry some truly primo yarns, which I enjoyed petting and left there.  I nearly bought so many things, but knowing Firefly’s favorite shop was yet to come, I paced myself.

That’s Cascade Sierra Quattro, probably for MJ’s pediwicks, but really, to “test drive” for my Clapotis.  I’ve decided that 800+ yards of cotton just SCREAMS “slog along” to me and would doom the project.  There’s also a sweet little Addi crochet hook, because Addi rocks, right?  I also finally settled on the I wonder what Sissy is doing now I miss her Panda Wool, which I’d not seen before.  (Socks for me, in case you were wondering.)

Then, ventured to My Favorite Yarn Shop, tucked away on a Warrenton side street I hadn’t been on in over 20 years.  It’s not to be missed.  Firefly was sorry I’d missed the owners, but the daughter of one owner holding down the fort was sweet and friendly.  They have the complete line of Bryspuns, which I’ve only seen in such quantities at Knitting Addiction, and just a great variety of yarns of all sorts.  If you’re on Rt 29 anywhere near Warrenton, swing in. 

After fondling just about every yarn in the place, I finally settled on what would come home with me.  It was also here, after carrying around some Ty-Dy for the majority of my visit, that I decided I needed to trust my gut and admit that I didn’t want to knit 800 yards of cotton, much less a dropped stitch pattern.  With that decision behind me, I went a little crazy.

Note the notions.  I’d just finished telling Firefly on the way to The Plains that I try to pick up my notions at Ben Franklin’s or JoAnn’s, because they’re cheaper.  Sigh.  Couldn’t help it.  Y’all know I needed “crochet” stitch markers, and those little rubber disks are my favorites, and I didn’t have the pink and blue set.  I also didn’t have any #10 straights, so now I have ‘em in my favorite straight brand.  That’s Morning Moon wool in the happy, spring colors, and I love the colors so much I very nearly bought two more skeins for the Clapotis, but reminded myself it’s supposed to be my spring/summer wrap…  I couldn’t leave Ocean Breezes there once I had it in my hands, and it was only with some fiscal restraint that Victorian Lace Today stayed behind.  (The patterns within are rather advanced.  I’d need a few more basic lace items under my belt first!)  However, the Ella Rae Palermo was irresistible, so home it came.  I also couldn’t resist more Wick for more pediwicks, and that was all the yarn library enhancements I made. 

Thank you for sticking with me through the whole post.  As a reward, I’ll whisper that yesterday was indeed Firefly’s birthday.  She doesn’t like to make a big deal out of such things for herself, but if you’re inclined to stop in and wish her a good year or something…  It’s not like I did my normal birthday bit of putting her photo up and titling the post accordingly, right?!  Now, I must go hold Sissy and try to knit around her.  I still hope to finish the Omega Wrap tonight!

Big Lilypad

Ironically, the new slipcover for our sofa is green.  It’s on order, and should be here any day.  How fitting, because Sissy is learning to hop, and I swear I heard Mugsy say “Ribbit” yesterday.

No photos.  I didn’t get home until around dusk last night, and it is raining this morning.  The baby blankie is done, and I can’t wait to show it to you.  The scarf is done too, but I don’t think you need another photo of that. 

Devon asked me this morning what was on my needles.  Nothing.  Sincerely.  I have the start of a snuggle for Sissy on the hook, and I have yarns out for three different projects, but all I can do is cast on, knit one or two repeats, and frog.

Seriously.  My Fred Yarn needs a special wrap pattern.  It has to be big, comfy, and not at all delicate.  I thought I’d found that in Cozy, until after well into the second repeat of the lace, I realized it just wasn’t looking anything at all like the photos.  Duh?  DK and Bulky yarns are rather far apart.  I have lots of yarn, but not the THOUSANDS of yards it would take to make the pattern work with Fred’s Yarn.  So, I spent several hours organizing my loose patterns and searching Ravelry, and I’m pretty sure I ordered Wrapped in Comfort yesterday.  It contains a pattern I believe will be perfect - the Bigfoot Shawl.  It’s perfect because it will wrap around me and comfort me, which is what I want, even though Fred was more of a sit on your feet kinda’ guy.  It’s perfect because the Knight was known to call his dear boy a big footed sucker (or something like that) as Fred rolled across a bare, human foot.

So, not caring to start a sock at ten o’clock at night, I pulled out my three lush cakes of Ellen Cooper yarn, and cast on for the Omega Wrap, after much measuring and debating over what size I might need.  I decided to do a medium, and picked up my #8 bamboo circs (which I’d just purchased to use with the Fred yarn, of course).  I have Harmony tips in #10.5, and the pattern calls for #10.  Knowing I tend to knit loosely once I cast on, I thought the #8s would be about right. 

I’m loving the colors, and the mohair blend isn’t unpleasant to knit with either.  In no time, I was into my third repeat, when suddenly, I was overcome with the urge to measure my gauge.  (What?  It’s never happened to you?)

Pattern calls for 3 stitches per inch.  I had a very generous 4.  I shoved the whole mess on the table and went to bed.  When I got up early this morning, literally with no lights on, I frogged.  I knew it had to be done, and I knew it would be easier if I didn’t dwell on it.  I’ve come to accept frogging as a part of the process, thanks to lace.  It no longer pains me to discard even hours of work.  Granted, with lace, that’s more likely and more of a necessity.  I’m pretty good at fixing mistakes, even a few rows back, but sometimes with lace, it’s just best to rip.

One of these days, I’m going to rip the start of the wrap for a someone special.   I get bored easily, and I’ve since learned that what pattern writers call a four-row repeat is really two patterned rows with rows of pure knitting or purling in between.  Plus, I don’t intend for that to be a dainty wrap.  Light, but not fragile, and I’m afraid all of that open stuff won’t be practical enough for the intended recipient. 

Anyhoo, back to the Omega.  (And my little mind hears “The Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.”  Indeed begin again.)  PLEASE help me.  What do I try?  Yes, yes, me gonna’ swatch, and not in the 140 actual cast-on stitches as I did last night.  Do I use my (sigh, used to love them) metal Knitpicks and try a #10?  Being a whole stitch per inch off, dare I try the #10.5 Harmony tips?  A whole inch off.  It boggles the mind, because I generally do knit rather loosely.

Ribbit. 

I’m a Blocker!

Warning: LONG post ahead, with lots of photos.  Grab a cuppa’, and a snack too, and read on.   

It’s been a great weekend here at Haddon Wood.  Friday night, I blocked.  I mean, I REALLY blocked.  (And for the record, how cool is cool water?  Should my hands turn red from the chill?)  Unfortunately, there’s no photo of Sissy standing in the midst of it all, with me screaming “get down!”  so a word to Anne and any other houseguests, this gal is agile and athletic.  You’ve been warned.  For the other basset-savvy folks, I did come to my senses and gently place her in the floor rather than encouraging another wild leap, but…

(Yeah, if you look hard you can see the wrapping paper box there under the bed, or rather, not quite under the bed…)  The blocking wasn’t scary at all, thanks to Mr. Puffy’s mom and the Yarn Harlot’s great instructions (scroll down for the blocking post).  The results were SOOOO worth it. 

So, the scoop:

 

The blue wrap was done in Debbie Bliss alpaca silk on #8 Bryspun straights.  Sigh.  I’m glad there’s some left over, because I might have to make myself a hat out of this.  Yum!!  The only complain is that if I’m gonna’ fork over my money for a premo yarn, should there really be two joins - knots, at that - in several of the 8 balls I used?  I loved the The Princess Lace Wrap pattern (see Ravelry; my desktop isn’t cooperating with the PDF file link), and would do it again, but I might make it a 3-5 stitch border, because even after blocking, I think it’s not as “flat” as I’d like. 

The shawl (and special thanks to my assistant there…) is the Forest Canopy Shawl in Mirasol Hacho on #7 Knitpick Options.  I used the steel tips because that’s what I had, but I’m ordering the Harmony set VERY soon, as lace has *PERHAPS* eclipsed socks in my knitting passions.  There were no problems with the sharp metal points only because Hacho is such a tightly spun, sproingy merino.  Had I been using something like the alpaca silk mentioned above, I’m quite certain there would have been problems.  (And Bryspun, why must you make such weird [read: awful] circs?  I don’t like that flat join you and Susan Bates Quickslivers use, but I love nothing better than Bryspun straights…)  I’ve already commented on this, but a pattern that is well-publicized as perfect for lace beginners should have said in bold print somewhere that the shawl was coming together from the neck down.  I would have thought I was just a dolt, but I know Jeanne is no slouch, and she had similar problems with another shawl, her first neck down…  As for the yarn, while I love the colors, there are so many soft and wonderful merinos out there, so I’ll only come back to Hacho again if the colorway is the only one that will do.  It was just a bit rough for me after Malabrigo and the alpaca silk, plus the skeins are a little short at 137 yards.

Next we have the zippy quick Dog’s Paw Lace Scarf.  Ravelry says the pattern is available HERE, but it’s not there at the moment.  Nice little garter stitch lace here.  I went out on a limb and changed things up on this one.  The pattern calls for a mohair blend laceweight, but I wanted something a little bigger and bulkier for the nameless owner to be. (Note to those thinking I’m knitting for them - don’t be too sure of yourself.  My intent is to surprise and delight you, even though you MAY see your gift on the blog first.)  I used #10.5 bamboo straights and Bernat’s Soy blend yarn.  Sadly, it doesn’t block worth a hoot, and it specifically says no iron, so I’m at a loss for shaping those yarnovers into perfect paw prints.  I did like the yarn; it has a bit of fuzz to it, as all soy yarns seem to, but I considered that a plus with this pattern.  I could have stopped with ten repeats and used just one skein, but I went for 12.

While this isn’t a FO, I wanted to go ahead and get a good shot while the sun was out.  It’s my first crocheted scarf, and I adore it!  It’s quick, and I cannot tell you how delighted I am to be able to make shells.  You see, my favorite baby blanket (deserving of his own post, which lives in draft form, but I digress) has a shell border.  I’ve decided that since I remember rubbing the shells as a little girl drifting off to sleep, they’re going to be the border for my Oh My blanket, which will end on the current round, to assure that I have enough yarn for five double crochets per shell all the way around said blanket.  It’s done in Bernat’s cashmere blend, and I wasn’t as impressed with this one.  It’s soft enough, but the pretty, rich brown has some very obvious flecks of white here and there.  (See above - third shell on the right section.)  No, it’s nowhere near the price of cashmere, but geeze…  I don’t know that I could gift it, it’s that obvious.  But, since it’s for me and I have so little time invested, even after adding another row in the center, it’s fine.  I chained with a J hook and the rest is done with an H hook.  We’re into the second ball, and the third might be needed to finish the shells… dunno.

Wow, that’s a lot to read!  I’ll save the post about my sweet package for tonight or tomorrow.  I have to go get ready for a meeting, but it’s at Starbucks, so if I haven’t finished the scarf, it will go with me.  If I have, I’ll drag something along to start, because Mommy to be of the Oh My is going to be at the same meeting… 

Hope you’re having a great weekend too!

Achy, but no breaky

This is going to be another long one, so grab a cuppa’ (I’m serving peppermint tea, so you’ll probably want to bring your own) and settle into a comfortable chair.  Maybe grab a snack too.

First, it’s the second Sunday of Advent.  Peace is this week’s theme, and as mellow as I’m feeling, that’s a good fit.  Regardless of your religious beliefs or affiliations, I wish you peace this week and always.  Peace beats blood pressure medication every time, but we’ll come back to that.

Next, I need to bring a lot of you up to date on a few things.  It’s come up in conversations, and while I don’t wish to make a big deal of it, I did realize that this community we have here online is real in its dynamics.  That means that you want to share the good and the bad in my life, just as I would in yours.  To cut to the chase, Mugsy and I had an encounter with black ice Friday morning.  I knew it was there, I consider myself a good driver in wintry conditions, and we still ended up with the driver’s side on the pavement.  Mugsy is perfect.  There’s only one explanation for his old, brittle bones surviving without any aches and pains, and that’s our own little miracle.  I fared well enough, but for ten years, we’ve lived in fear of even a simple fender-bender setting me and my back into a fit.  I am walking, talking, knitting and blogging, so it’s going to be fine!  The Knight has waffled after seeing my vehicle yesterday, so we’ll just wait and see what the adjuster has to say.

With all of my down time, I have an FO!  My model isn’t cooperating - we had a high of 52 degrees today, so I am sympathetic - but you know you’ll see him in it in due time!  This is my THIRD coat from the Fiber Trends Dandy Dogs, and I am well-pleased. 

Needles:  #6 x 14″ Clover bamboos for body, with #5 Addi turbos for the neck.

Yarn:  Paton’s Shetland Chunky, colorway “Country Boy”

Mugsy still needs a lightweight “jacket” but I didn’t plan on this mini-heatwave…

Then, you’ll get to see a rare thing at my house.  Meet the Wick’d Quant, which is on its way to the frog pond.  I squeed this morning when I realized that Wick is variegated, and it wouldn’t be quite as warm as wool, but as you can see, the repeats are too short and the entrelac is lost before we even begin.   

 I’ve already cast on with my lone skein (88 yds!) of Wooly Stripes, so if you’ve already knitted Quant up, let me know if there’s just no way it will work, please?  The Ravelry buzz is that with a skein around 120 yds., there’s still a lot left over, so I’m hoping…

The lace is growing too, and I had hoped to block the secret project, but I can’t bend over even the slightest bit, so blocking doesn’t seem like a good idea.  The Knight has been taking great care of me and doing errands, but somehow, I think it’s best if I don’t ask for him to block my first lace project.  If it comes it that, I’ll get my mother inlaw to help…

The world is full of wonderful people though.  The other vendors at the open house I was supposed to attend this afternoon collected Pampered Chef orders without me, and there’s just enough to turn in a little show!  For all of my griping about lacking the holiday spirit, the truth of the matter is, I am just not inclined to shop, shop, shop.  I do feel very blessed, even moreso now, and I know I live a very good life.  Maybe this is just my Christmas of Peace.  For me, peace is something that settles deep within me, but has the rather unique ability to wrap itself around me when I need it most. 

Practice peace, and enjoy your week.

Questions and Answers

So, my Fall Felted Bag Exchange pal has questions.

Questions: what is your preferred sock knitting method and what needles do you use? Also, favorite sock yarn or one you want to try?

Well pal o’ mine, I like anything BUT Magic Loop. Which is to say, I like dpns a lot, but two circs are so easy to travel with that I guess they are in the #1 slot. Needles? Addis and KnitPicks. I thought I was all about metal, but of late, I’ve been into wood and bamboo. ANYTHING bamboo appeals to me, because it’s the ultimate renewable resource. The stuff makes Virginia Creeper (read: kudzu) look like a slow grower. I’m also really liking the toe-up approach to socks, just for the record.

Favorite sock yarn. Okay gentle reader, I know I’ve professed my love for about ten different sock yarns, but honestly, Tofutsies has to get the #1 slot. For merino/superwash, I’d go with Lorna’s Laces or the local Misty Mountain, both available at the Loopy Ewe. Heck, if all else fails, if you can buy it there, I’ll like it. Wick is the only worsted weight sock yarn for me, although I might be trying some others in the holiday knitting rush, which I do believe is upon us. The simple fact is, I love wee little skinny sock yarns. I want to try them all.

Lace is also working its way into my heart, but we have a problem; I’m fickle and want a fast, but passionate fling with my works in progress. Lace? She’s a demanding mistress. She wants my full attention, my time, and to Mugsy’s chagrin, a lot of my lap space too. She’s what the boys call high maintenance, and ask my bigger than a wallet felted bags and baby blankies where that will get ya’. I’m high rent but not high maintenance, so lace is happening on my terms. (Read: Some of you will be getting pictures of your intended holiday gifts instead of the items.)

I have questions too. Why did my new-found joy in one LYS get dosed with cold water today? Do they really not want to sell me more yarn because I haven’t brought in a finished project from their stock yet? (I swear. I wouldn’t lie to you. That’s about word for word what the lady said, in the 14 seconds she took away from her friends at the table in the back. I need to finish up something(s) with the yarn I’ve purchased there so I can buy more. ‘Scuse me? Me and my yarn appetite walked out without even a good-bye. There’s a Fiber Festival this weekend, you know!)

Do you (specifically, Anne) know how hard it is for me to not to share a cool work in progress with y’all? I’m learning new skills, trying a new yarn, and keeping it to myself is killing me. I know you’ll love the bag, because I’m already thinking maybe I need one for me too…

And now, I have to walk away from this idiot box, so that knitting can actually take place.

Tofutsie Up!

I can now add Magic Cast-on and Toe Up socks to my resume. Sure, I’m a long way from complete, but there’s a little toe and foot for ya. I don’t know why all the photos of this August limited edition Tofutsies makes it look all sage and pink, because the toe is much more accurate; it looks like a hodge-podge of summer colors with yellow, orange, a Caribbean blue, and a little black for contrast I guess. The photo of the yarn is much more accurate. It took some dry runs, but I got the hang of the Magic Cast-on soon enough, and my M1s up the toe turned out better than I could have hoped. I think I might like toe-up better, but we’ll wait and see how the heel goes first.

See the little divot/dimple/crimp on the needle to the left front? That’s what will keep me from using these Susan Bates Quicksilver circs again. The point is fine, the surface is fine, but that dimpled join is a bear, as is the odd, gentle bend in the needle just above the join. I’ve also decided that I really prefer the 16″ length for socks, so I’ll be ordering more Knitpicks when I get a chance. Right now, I need to head to the fire house for dinner and a membership committee meeting. I’m taking my sock with me. Summer Daze, an exclusive pattern available only with the limited edition colorway, was easy to memorize, so I won’t need to bring the paper along.

Anyone else getting some long weekend knitting done? I’ll work on the laundry when I get home…

Cass’s Contest and Stash Building

Well, part of this was easy. Cass wants to know my favorite vegan yarn. Sigh. She knows. She really does, but because I’m a good sport, I’ll tell you too. (Bet you can guess!) Wick. I love it. It’s so squooshy and yummy, knits up quickly, and the fact that it draws moisture away from the body is too cool. I used it first to knit my yoga socks, but I bought more (and was swap-gifted still more!) so my female relations and a couple of friends are getting Wick footies for Christmas. (You don’t know it’s you for sure, and you don’t know what pattern or color, so quit acting as though I’ve spoiled a surprise. Geeze.) Yes, it splits a bit, especially with my love of wee, sharp needles, but no yarn is perfect. Wick is as close as it gets, at least until they make it in a fingering weight…

Cass is lucky I love her. I hate to have my picture taken, so the thought of taking my own picture knitting in public was PAINFUL. I thought about taking it at the firehouse, sitting on the tailboard of an engine, but it was raining HARD Tuesday, so I didn’t take my knitting or my camera. (I don’t generally knit at the station because of diesel smoke and cigarette smoke.) So, since I had my can-travel sock at the ready while at the vet yesterday, I snapped a photo. This sock was actually cast on in the parking lot in front of the Northside Library on Monday night, and I got the stitches divided onto two needles in the vet’s. I wanted Fred to pose with us, but he was busy having a nervous breakdown. I’m sure if you click on the photo and enlarge it, you can see a wad of Fred’s hair in the corner.

This is also my first effort at taking a dpn pattern and knitting it on two circs. I find it easier to travel with circs. I can just push the working portion off the needles, and it rests safely on the cord(s) until I pick it up again. No waiting until the end of a needle, no shoving the little pointies into a keeper of some sort, etc. Yeah Anne, gloat. (I’m rolling my eyes, okay?) I can’t see ever giving dpns up entirely, but I think I am headed towards being a two circs gal, with dpns in second place, and Magic Loop remains a very distant, non-ribbon-worthy third.

I hate admitting the Knight is right, and he’s insisted since the first moment he saw those canister-style yarn “jars” that I needed the large one. Whatever, walk away, roll my eyes… Oh, how I wish I had that STILL honkin’ big hunk of Pound of Love in one. It’s a good thing blankie is going to a home with two dogs, because I think I’ve knitted Mugsy hair in on every row, with a Fred hair here and there too. So, when I slipped into my local Michael’s to buy a magnifying glass for my boss (Hush. My father inlaw is my boss, and he doesn’t mind if I do some stash building while I shop for him. Really.) I couldn’t find the canister (it’s too late anyway), but I found this thingee instead. The picture on the right shows it being used with three different yarns, and I figured it might come in handy on the Knight’s blankie, which will be done in secret, and will need to be tossed into hiding when I see his lights coming down the drive. I also picked up some of the much-recommended Caron Simply Soft in a cheery red, for baby’s first Christmas kimono, and a TLC variegated that caught my eye.

In the most exciting news of the day, I’m a Loopy Groupie! I didn’t take a picture of the tote, nor will I share the details of the “couple of surprises” but I can assure you, Sheri treats her loyal customers generously. I picked up some Panda yarn, which is sock yarn speak for “Bamboozle in a finer gauge.” The blue is for me, and the green is for… someone else. The All Things Heather in the center is also for a gift, so I’ll say no more, other than that when Sheri answers your recommendation request and the drool stains come through the email for one yarn in particular, order it. You won’t be disappointed.

We All Live in a Yellow…

…baby blanket. Yellow, yellow, yellow. Have I mentioned that I am not a fan of yellow, all on its own? With other colors, I can appreciate it, and this photo isn’t showing the solid, baby yarn YELLOW I feel I’m drowning in. Better than school bus yellow, but still. I won’t use Lion Brand’s Pound of Love yarn, ever again, no matter how easy I think it will make blankie care for the mom to be. I just don’t like it, and there are plenty of other wash and snuggle baby acrylics out there. (Aren’t there?) What are your favorites? Help me out here, because I’ve never had a baby to try to keep blankies and clothes clean for, but I do know that this working mom to be needs machine wash and dry. That’s what she’s getting, but surely she can have that and I can have a yarn I like to knit with too?

The pattern? Lydia’s Baby Cables from Knit Along with Debbie Macomber : The Shop on Blossom Street. (Look! Wee little baby cables, repeating all over this ding dang blankie!) Now that I’m on my second repeat (there are two of those kinda’ diamond thingees per repeat), I’m getting the hang of the pattern and picking up speed. It’s surely not one I can memorize, but that means I’m not getting bored either. When it is done, it will look like a yellow version of this, I hope. The finished dimensions in the book are 32″ x 41″ (don’t quote me, but something like that - I’m too lazy to walk back and check), but I don’t know that I’ll go that long. Those of you whom endured the three blankies in a row this spring know that probably somewhere in the 20″ range, I’ll be looking for an excuse to wrap it up. So, I’m thinking as soon as I get to row 21 of the repeat (the stopping point for the last repeat, the book says) and I’m past 30″, I’m heading home and wrapping it up.

You very nearly had no photos. I don’t know what’s wrong with the HP Photosmart program, but it has a seizure when I try to upload. Corel Photos had no problem, so I guess I’ll be using that until I am inclined to dig deep and figure out what troubles HP. I did have a frantic moment though, until my gooblette noggin’ recalled that Corel existed!

But back to knitting. My box from JoAnn’s arrived yesterday. Strangely enough, that Total Tote wasn’t packaged as well, but it’s going back for a refund anyway. (Thanks again, R! I’ve already used the one you sent earlier this week, and I like it very much.) However, I finally found me some 2.25 mm circs.! The picture says it all. The tips look pointy enough, and I’ll be casting on - again - for the June Tofutsies Sock of the (not quite every) Month just as soon as I either finish Baby Cables (I’m a cable knitter, no matter how simplified they are!) or at the moment just after I realize that I cannot knit another stitch on that gag me with not even weak sunshine yellow blankie. You see, I not only have to finish the blankie before said baby makes his/her way into the world, but the sooner I get that on the FO list, the sooner I can try out some of that Maizy sock yarn.

It’s all about socks with me, I know. I’m about to try lace too, but that will be a Christmas gift for someone known to stop in here once in a while, so mum’s the word. I might sneak a peek when I get to a place where I think it’s innocuous enough, because after all, you won’t know that I’m really doing the lace thing unless I show you, right? Wow. What a world. Cables, lace, and there’s still entrelac out there too.

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‘Tis better to have loved and lost

Than never to have loved at all.
Alfred Lord Tennyson, In Memoriam, 1850, line 27, stanza 4English poet (1809 - 1892)

(Thanks, The Quotation Page!)

And thanks to all of you whom showered us with kind words and supportive thoughts. My favorite poet said it best here too, so I’ll leave it at that.

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Did you write once, and I mean more than blog posts? Have you thought about writing?

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