Brought someone special to work

I came, and they tagged along.

Good morning, socks.

So Where Have You Been?

Me, you ask?
I've been working.
Going crazy.
Stressing out.
Knitting too much, cleaning too little.
Same old, same old.
The semester is winding down, and we're gearing up for Commencement, amongst other end-of-year activities, so it's been very busy.
Which is an understatement.
I went to A.C. Moore and bought more yarn.
Why?
I am not sure, and I was asking myself that question even as I left the store.
I finished a pair of socks:

I call them my 4Evah socks because they took me forever to knit.
And I knit one sock from a pair of socks:

Okay, okay, I still have to stitch up the toe. I will. I'm not afraid of the Kitchener stitch, in fact I really enjoy it.
There was a blip when I was making these socks, however. I started decreasing for the toe, and noticed that I had the stitches wrong on the needles, so I unknit to where I had started the toe decrease.
Well, at least I thought I had.
As I was finishing up the last of the decreases I noticed that I had left a K2Tog in (and if you look closely I think there's still a SSK in there too).
Being the lazy knitter that I am, and knowing that these socks are too ill-fitting to be worn in public with normal shoes (plus too bulky), I left it (them) in.
Can you see them here above the bottom needle?

I'm thinking about calling it a sock dimple.
I'll let you know if that catches on.
I cast on for Multnomah, but as much as I love the pattern, and the yarn I'm using (which sadly seems to be pooling on one side), I needed something bigger for my pre-menopausal, pre-arthritic hands and failing eyesight.
You'll notice the above ill-knitted socks are knit on larger needles (size 7s, as a matter of fact).
I'll go back to Multnomah, but only when it's bright and I can see the needles clearly.
Getting old is a right pain.
I have been reading intermittently, and as a matter of fact I have books that are now officially one day overdue at the library.
Hello $1.50 in fines.
C'est la vie.
C'est la forgetfulness on my part.
So that should bring you partially up to speed with my life.
What's new with yours?

I'm on a roll

That's right.
A Roll.
I'm on one.
Not to eat, but because my knitting has been moving along quite well.
(Hope I don't jinx myself!)
One pair of socks finished, four other pairs on the needles, and one new pair started.
Still love the Kitchener Stitch.
I don't mind getting to the end of my socks because the Kitchener Stitch does not baffle me.
I actually understand it!
Math - that I don't get - but the Kitchener Stitch - that I get.
Perhaps we were related, Earl Kitchener and I.
Speaking of food, and being a kitchener (see link above)....now we were, weren't we?
Remember?
Way up there!
Rolls - Food - Kitchener - get it?
I got a wonderful cookbook in the mail last week.
I haven't had a chance to use it yet, but Wow - and I mean WOW!
The recipes in here are for some good, down home, simple cooking.
And the front cover pictures my favorite comfort food:

Odd, don't you think, that they called it Simple Comforts especially with a picture of some wonderful tomato soup and grilled cheese on the cover - it's like they knew!
Oh yummy, yummy, yummy.
And the cost is not all that high - I got my copy through Amazon (and no, this is not a shameless or paid plug).
Just sharing the love.

Happy New Year's Eve, and Socks to You

Today's goal: knit a pair of socks.
Think I can do it?
I do.
Well I started them last night, but only knit four rows of the first sock, but I think these will work up rather quickly.
Here's the pattern picture, they're called Starboard Socks:

And they are knit on size 10s - yes - 10! - and with two strands of yarn.

If I'm really good I may actually be able to complete two pair - wouldn't that be something.

I've decided to do them all in the two colors - pink and white, and without the different color top.

Who cares, they'll be inside some boots.

I see these socks as a great way to begin knitting up some of this extra worsted weight yarn I have around the house, and the best part is that the pattern is free from LionBrand (all their patterns are free, but it's still a good thing to get excited about).

Hopefully they'll get done before it's too late in the day.

Stay tuned, and have a happy new year!

Now I'm off to begin watching my Twilight Zone marathon - my traditional way to spend New Year's Eve along with some knitting needles, and a good book. 

Why yes I can multi-task thank you.

See you next year!!

Is it too late to knit socks for winter?

Or maybe it's too early?
The weather was agreeable this weekend, but Sunday while sunny was still very cool.
I finished a sock on Saturday morning.
Check it out, it's quite cute:



Yarn is Schoeller and Stahl Sockina Cotton Summer Dream in Forest.
I really like the colors, that's what drew me to the yarn, but knitting socks on size 2's doesn't move very quickly.
I don't want to say that I became afflicted with SSS, but I did consider other socks to knit instead of starting the second one.
How did I beat SSS?
I cast on for the second sock, but then I cast on for a different pair as well.
This time the satisfaction is a bit more immediate.
Of course it would help if I didn't have such huge feet.
That makes knitting socks take a really long time.
And seriously, look at the difference between an 8 and a 3 (or is it a 2?):



I should be knitting socks for the baby across the street, she has tiny feet for an 18 month old.
Oh well, I'll stick with these new socks on size 8's, Lion Wool in rose:



DH said that he thinks they'll be itchy.
I can't say I disagree, but I think they'll be great in winter (or those cold fall/spring days) with a pair of boots.
A small consolation would be to wear a pair of white socks underneath.
Either way, I don't think I'll get much wear out of this pair right away.
They'll be ready for fall 2010.
So no, I don't think it's too early to knit socks for next winter.
After all, in New York State we only have two seasons: winter and construction, and I think winter is just about over, don't you?

Reading Roundup - Week 16

I've only read one book this week.
Surprised?
Me too.
It's not like I'm not in the middle of several books - because I am!
My Goodreads list of what I'm in the process of reading is proof enough.
So why have I only read one book?
Hold onto your hats -- I have been knitting.
Well, and watching Ballykissangel, beginning with Season One (I'm currently on Season Three).
I have two socks in the works, from different pairs, and both being knit on 2.75 mm needles.
They're slow going, but they're moving along.
Now the book I did finish was An Acceptable Time (39), by Madeleine L'Engle.
I'm really about L'Engle'd out.
Well, that's not really a true statement, but I'm full, and want to move on to the next course.
Especially since Pride and Prejudice and Zombies came in the mail today.
Sigh.
So much to read, so much to knit, so much to learn....so little time.

One sock down....

...one sock to go.
I can only hope I have enough yarn to finish a second sock for my big old feet.
Picture later.
Although really, it's just a plain sock.
Even still...it's done!

TV and socks

First up, did you see that they are delaying the date for the analog to digital switch?
The AP has an article discussing the Senate's four month delay until June 12th.
Honestly, I'm a Republican, but why would the Republicans block a switch?
I don't get it.
It's not even logical.
Ergo, it must be about money.
Truthfully, if I lost my job, the first thing to go would be cable tv, and I sure wouldn't rush out to buy a converter. We would be listening to a lot of radio to get our news.
Back to the old way - radio and newspaper.
Politicians (and I'm being non-partisan here and including all politicians) always seem to forget the little people who don't consider cable to be a necessity, or something that automatically fits into a budget.
Anyway, interesting stuff about this switch, and I don't think we'll realize the extent of the families that don't switch, regardless of the cost of the converter, until after the switch has taken place.
What's interesting about the switch is that it caused my mother to finally sign up for cable tv.
She has about 10 extra channels now, and is just as thrilled as a cat with new pajamas.
And speaking of socks...
Have you seen the latest Vogue Knitting?
There is a pair of socks in there that I would like to try.
Have you seen these?


The socks in the middle picture.
Plus I like the hat too that is pictured right next to it (although no one in my house does -- but I think Karzai's hat is a keeper too -- see a resemblance?).
(And I'd like to have the waist size of the model with the belt, thank you very much.)
What's interesting is the yarn used in the sock pattern is Patons Classic Wool, available in any major craft store, plus my local Ben Franklin.
Nice.
I've never cabled socks, so I'd be interested in trying these, plus I have this particular yarn at home already.
Double nice.
I looked up the cost of yarn for some of the big knit sweaters in this issue - one is about $190 and the other is about $220 or thereabouts.
Wow, and they're really not even overly attractive sweaters.
I would wait for them to appear on the clearance rack at JC Penney, that's how distinctive they are.
Or I would knit them with much less expensive yarn.
There is a woman I know who learned how to knit, and she and I and someone else were having a conversation about knitting. I mentioned that I like to go to Ben Franklin, just because, and she said to this amorphous other person, who asked about Ben Franklin, that she thought they have nice yarn there but their prices there are a bit high.
I can't remember the gist of the entire conversation, but I do remember being shocked.
I thought, "Really? Ben Franklin expensive? Honey, you haven't shopped for yarn if you think that store is expensive."
That's what I thought - what I did was gape at her with my mouth open and the conversation took another turn and when on to something else.
Perhaps I should show this sock pattern to her.

Back to School....for some

Tomorrow is the first day of classes for the college.
You can tell the students are back because the traffic in town has increased.
Since we have one main thoroughfare through town that is about 3 miles long, trust me, you can tell when traffic has increased.
It's no Beltway traffic, like we left behind in Virginia, but it's enough to be an irritant.
For the extra 5 minutes it takes to get through.
Stop laughing, all you NYC, DC and LA readers.
And while the students will be bracing for their long walk to class through these low, low, low temperatures, I won't be.
Oh I'll be going to work, but I'm not heading back to school for the first time since 2003 and I can't believe how difficult it is for me.
Taking classes is almost like a compulsion - I have to do it.
I love going to them, and I love learning, so it only makes sense to feed my compulsion, right?
I just have to keep telling myself, "No!"
Think if I bought some sock yarn I would feel a bit better?

I Sit in the Stands and People Look at me Like I'm Crazy

So I'm sitting at a soccer game this evening and this lady working as security keeps looking at me like I'm crazy.
Seriously, don't you knit at sporting events?
Even in inclement weather?
I do.
What's a little rain to some socks?
They're going to be washed anyway.
Perhaps that is not what people are staring at, perhaps they are looking at me knitting.
I've gotten to the point where I have not only knitting ADD, but I can't sit still and not be working on something.
So we went to SN2's soccer game this evening, and naturally I brought along my knitting since I have a sock to work on.
And yes it was raining, but I managed to get several inches done on the leg.
His team won 2-1 in a game that was very dirty, and I don't mean because of the mud.
A lot of tackling from behind, and one of the players punched a guy from our team.
Did the ref see any of this?
Rarely.
He must have been too busy looking at the crazy lady sitting in the stands knitting in the rain.

Triskadecaphobia anyone?

Can you believe it is the middle of June already?
And Friday the 13th at that.
Time is flying and I have barely made a dent in my summer reading.
I think that is due in part to my Grammar class.
(My exam went okay yesterday, in case anyone is wondering, although I won't find out until Monday if my confidence in having done well is based in fact or not.)
Once that is finished on 3 July I will read like a fiend.
DN2 wants to go to Darien Lake and my thought is, gee, if we go, can I just sit in a chair by the wave pool and read or knit?
Speaking of knitting, I finished a sock last night.
Check it out:

Now I just have to knit the other one.
Can I say that I am slightly tired of this pattern.
Of course I make these socks a bit bigger so they'll fit more people than just me, so they are a bit baggy around the ankle. I do realize they are not slim-fitting summer socks and they will be used primarily when that cold winter wind blasts us once again.
I'm just anxious to get this pair done and move on to some other sock patterns.
I have been buying more sock yarn so I have two choices: either move my sock yarn to a larger container or knit socks faster.
In the meantime the recent rainfall has helped our grass to grow.
Perhaps I should get some sheep and take care of that problem:

I'll leave you with a picture of my new Lantern Moon knitting bag (40% off!):

Enjoy your weekend - and don't forget that tomorrow is the official Worldwide Knit in Public day!

An Inch an Hour

Sunday evening we sat and ate dinner and watched two movies.
After I had finished eating I picked up my second sock and got to work. I have taken it with me everywhere and knit on it when I can, but having devoted tv time is almost priceless.
I'm also working on another sock so this second sock keeps getting pushed to the side as I go back and forth between projects.
I started working on the leg and I figure that I knit about an inch an hour during the two films that we watched.
(Wash up the dishes? Shouldn't the cobbler's elves be taking care of that later?)The first film we saw was The Seeker, and you know I was prepared to be underwhelmed mostly because it is based on Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising series. It should say loosely based, because this movie contains only portions of what the books has. And even then it is not really clear. On a rating of 1-10 I'd give it a "meh".
Then we watched Into the Wild. It was beautifully filmed but I know I'm getting old because I can't help but wonder why he couldn't find his enlightenment until he was near death and alone.
SN2, however, who is 16 thought it was outstanding, so I guess the theme of wanderlust is alive in our youth and not quite so much in old fogeys.
The music was superb. But it was Eddie Vedder.
Do the math.
And I can totally see how Hal Holbrook was nominated for an Oscar for his role - he was superb.
So I watched and I knit, and I knit and I watched, and imagine my surprise when Monday night I realized that the leg was not supposed to be 9" long, which I kept thinking it was, but 7"!
It is those special moments you have to treasure, because this morning I turned the heel!
I was 5 minutes late to work, but how do you leave a heel right in the middle?
I will bring my sock with me today and continue to work on the foot.
I've got to get it done because I also started another sock yesterday - but it's knit with Lion Brand Thick and Quick on size 13s. I'm already staring the heel in the face.
And loving these socks!!!

Sock Enjoys TV

I finished my sock on Saturday evening while watching Starsky and Hutch.
My sock likes Starsky especially.
Here she is:
Sock also enjoys the English Premier League.
Here she is comfortably resting on DH's foot:
I've started on another sock - another pair - but I've also cast on for sock number 2 for this pair.
I have also counted my sock yarn - I have enough to make 7 more pairs of socks.
I'm becoming obsessed.
Is it showing?