Monday, March 27, 2006

Here's The Proof

Now that my pics will upload I have proof of my progress. Here we have one Stripey sock from my first complete pair. I've worn them to bed almost every night since! The other is my Wildfoote with a Feather & Fan cuff. Hard to see the design.
I also managed to knit off a swatch for mom's poncho and catch cold this weekend. I could have done without the cold. It cut in on my knitting time.
My roadtrip to Web's resulted in a Lana Grossa sock yarn called Meilenwiet/Mega Boots Stretch. Quite a bit heavier than the Wildfoote. That store can be so overwhelming, so many choices. Their anniversary sale is coming up in April and their maniac tent sale at the end of May. Must wear protective gear for that one, it gets wild!

Friday, March 24, 2006

Pay Attention When Short Rowing...

I ended up starting my Wildfoote sock twice because I became too engrossed with what Rachel Ray was cooking. It's all her fault! ; P But I'm back on track and with this yarn being smoother than the last yarn I used I find that it splits easier so I'll have to mind what I'm doing. I'm curious to search out different materials now. I'll have to hit Woolies and Webs this weekend. I also need to start mom's poncho...that kinda got pushed aside when sockmania struck me. So many projects, so little time.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

More Socks!

The stripey socks are done! If only I could upload the picture. Apparently blogspot is having an issue with a server and those of us that were on the now smashed server are having trouble with the picture upload part of our blogs SO WE JUST HAVE TO SIT TIGHT! I'll just knit more socks. The next pair will be Wildfoote by Brown Sheep Company in Rhapsody. Dutifully knitting my gauge swatch.

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

One Down, One to Go

Finished one striped/pattern sock and it snowed so I can't knit the second one fast enough. I find I've made them a touch too long so the next set will be tweaked. I like making socks, even if I don't like wearing them past March 20.
I still can't get my photos to load, the upload function says it working but no picture appears. And I used to be a WebMaster! It's not rocket science! uurrrgggg!

Sunday, March 19, 2006

My New Adventure in Socks

You know what's ironic, I hate wearing socks. As soon as March rolls around I try to leave them behind but inevitably in New England it snows a couple times forcing me to don a pair just to keep my feet out of the snow. But here I am, knitting my second pair of socks in less than a week. I'm trying to upload a picture but my ancient hand crank computer is having a tough time of it.
I found an easy way to divide a ball of yarn to make 2 evenly. Some knitters use scales to weigh the original ball, wind a new one and weigh it periodically to see if it's the same weight. In my effort to always shorten the process, I just left the original ball on the scale, set up my ball winder next to it and wound off until the original ball weighed half what it did. I have a pic of that too, honest.
The clerk at Northern Woolies and I bonded in our conversation of the dpns and circ methods. (She brought it up, I didn't.)That was comforting. Apparently I was just unaware that there was an established class system in the knitting universe. Well, too bad, knit with what you want I say.

Friday, March 17, 2006

Congratulations! It's a sock!

I did it! I made my first sock. I've been knitting for over 30 years (hey, Grandma got ahold of me early folks) and if I could get my pics to load I could have visual record of it for this here blog. I used the Generic Toe Up pattern from Wendy Knits! and I'm quite pleased with myself. I have some minor tweaking to do when I get to sock 2. I managed to get a tiny hole on the heel/instep join but I just need to pick up a stitch or two extra to rectify that. My kitty Jay was not impressed but a cat at 24 years old doesn't impress easily. Yup, on April 1 she will be 24 years old. After hooting that I had turned the heel and lived thru it she merely lifted her head, yawned, and tucked her nose under her chin. Reality check mom. It's a sock.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Uncle! Uncle!

I made my apologies for causing such pain and anguish in the war between the circular and dpn factions. (See "How to Start a Knitting War")I'm not sure why I'm apologizing and I didn't say anything bad about dpns, I know I'll still use them, but pity the people that use circs and didn't dare comment lest they be beaten with them. Oh well, life goes on.
Finished the toddler size pullover I was making so that leaves 2 pair of mittens, Fair Isle baby hat and sweater to block tonight. Well, maybe not tonight, I received the Harry Potter Goblet of Fire dvd in the mail yesterday and it needs to be watched.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

How to Start a Knitting War!

Wow! I asked a question on another knitting blog site (forgive me, I'm new at this blog thing)about using 2 circular needles vs. double pointed and things got downright hostile! Won't do that again. Feel like I've been flogged...Hey, I'm happy with the 2 circ method and it's MY knitting. That's what makes the world spin--boring if everyone did everything the same. I did learn about something called the Magic Loop. Interesting and I'll give it a try. That got blasted as well--people, take a deep breath and knit! It was just a question! Geesh!

I'm finishing up projects out of my yarn stash which is so dismally low it nearly brings a tear to my eye. Plenty of hats and mittens for Warm the Children project and such and I'll keep adding to it. Luckily WEB's yarn shop will be having their anniversary sale soon, next month I believe, and I'll join the melee to enhance my supply.

I found a design pattern for the poncho I mentioned earlier, now I need to chart it out.