Close--But No Cigar

I thought I would be posting photos of two finished socks this week, but a lot of things have gnawed away at my knitting time. I came close--just three more inches to the toe of sock number two. I think I'll be posting finished photos next week. I hope so, because I just got my second order of Socks That Rock yarn, in the Carbon colorway. I have enjoyed the Blue Moon yarn so much that I can't wait to start the second pair. I have already started thinking of goodies I can add to the box that will eventually go to my sock pal. Everyday I think of something else--watch out sock pal, this is going to be a really big box!

On the missing pattern front (see previous post), the pattern is well and truly missing. My designing pal, Kris, has offered to create a pattern for the front of the vest so I can finish it. It's not that I can't calculate how many stitches to cast on for the front, and how many rows to knit, but it just has to look better if a designer does it! I'm into the knitting and Kris is into the designing. Works for me....

Missing In Action

Have you ever lost a pattern? I have lost my sweater vest pattern. Here’s a picture of what it would look like when finished, if I had the pattern.

It’s not as though I haven’t been working on it right along, because I have. When I decided to do it all in garter stitch, Sally Melville style, I knew it was going to be slow going, because I’m not fond of garter stitch. So I had to make a firm commitment to work on it at least once a day. The back of the vest, is nearly finished, and is very pretty and different. That is partly due to the teal and purple variegated Encore yarn, but the stitch pattern does lend something to an otherwise blah design. The pattern was from Knitter’s magazine, Winter 2005. Wouldn’t you know that I cut it out and put it into a plastic sleeve, rather than copy it and leave the original in the magazine. Now it is missing from my knitting basket where it has been since I started working on the back. What to do—what to do?

I have never lost a pattern before. I am somewhat obsessive-compulsive as far as organizational tasks are concerned—okay, in everything! I put patterns, in their little plastic sleeves, into a thick notebook, arranged by classification, i.e. sweaters, socks, shawls, etc. I have eleven of those big books, and I’ve been through all of them—no pattern. All of my magazines are in one place—no pattern. So, do I go into “design-your-own” mode? Do I rip it all out and start over with another pattern? Do I search for that magazine all over town and the internet, hoping I’ll find one intact that no one has cut a pattern from? I need some input here people!

I’m going online now to knittinguniverse.com to see if I can get a back copy of the magazine. But I’m asking myself if it’s worth it. What would I do without these big decisions in my day? Knit, that’s what.

One Down, One To Go

The first Sockapaloooza sock is finished, and I'm ready to cast on the second sock. This is pretty good considering the stack of paperwork on my desk at the office, and the fact that I worked most of the weekend. This yarn just sort of knits itself! It was so nice to pick it up and knit for a half-hour at lunch and any time I could grab later in the evening. I completed this sock with my #2 silver Comfort Zone needles, but the new purple and orange needles are in. Here you see the purple needles I will use on the second sock. Why? Because They look pretty with the yarn. The height of luxury--Blue Moon yarn and Comfort Zone dpn's that match your yarn. Life is good....

Life Is A Race

They’re so cute! These are the cashmere blend socks—anklets with ruffles around the top. I tried to get them ready for Valentine’s Day, but I had too many things going on, and was racing against time on two projects at work.

I’m feeling a little like my whole life is a race, and I’ve been keeping up, dancing as fast as I can for many years—a lot of years! I got the tee shirt for keeping-up at around 30, the medal at 40, a trophy at 50, and I’m working on the lifetime achievement award…. When I heard about “Knitting Olympics,” I cheered just as I did when a US athlete won the first gold medal, and then I said, “Not for me!” So, this is me cheering all of my knitting sisters and brothers on, but not joining in because, well my whole life is a race.

Part of the race is getting up in the morning. (I actually slept through a half-hour of the alarm ringing yesterday morning, as did DH). Another part is getting ready for work—looking in the mirror, putting makeup on wrinkled skin, and moaning about my roots getting gray again. Part is working all day when I would rather be knitting, and only mentioning retirement occasionally. It’s not just this time of my life. I have always raced against something; my kids eating taffy with braces, those term papers that the dog ate, the missed school buses that required me driving them to school and being late for work—ahhh, those were the days. Thinking about it, I realized that then I would have probably tackled something like Knitting Olympics. I had the stamina—the non-aching body—the oomph—miraculously, the time. That’s right, then I had more time. What’s wrong with this picture? The older I get, the fewer hours there are in a day. A friend said to me recently, “You don’t suppose that it’s because we are slowing down?” Nahhh, that couldn't be it.

So GO OLMYPIC KNITTERS!!! I’m with you in heart and mind. I can’t race fast enough anymore to keep up, but wait for me at the finish line and I’ll get there eventually—if I don’t sleep through the alarm!

Progress In Yummy Yarn

My sock pal’s first sock has been cast on, ribbing done, and three repeats of the pattern completed. The pattern I’m using is Yukon Leaves by Lela Conrad, and can be found here.... I cast on with US#3 and switched to US#2’s for the ribbing and the rest of the sock. The Blue Moon handpainted yarn is the ultimate luxury yarn. I have never used any like it. It just feels so good to knit with that I want more-more-more! Actually, I did order more in Carbon (a stormy mix of sky colors with green mixed in), but it is out of stock, and I have to wait two weeks for it. That will give me plenty of time to finish these socks and the red socks I’ve started in cashmere blend. Life is good when there are socks on the needles, and Sockapaloooza is in full swing.

Ho, Ho, Ho....

Other than Sockapaloooza, and starting Christmas 2006 knitting, what’s up with you? Yeah, yeah, I know it’s too early for Christmas, but I decided that if I don’t start now I will be beating my head against the same brick wall at the end of the year. It sounds like a good plan on the surface—knit those afghans, socks, scarves, shawls, gloves, hats etc. now and stay ahead of the game. But am I going to be tired of Christmas by the time it gets here? Is it really necessary to rush, hurry and just about run out of time every Christmas? Maybe I will, and maybe it is, but I’m going to try this for at least one year, and see if there are universal repercussions.

So, I’m starting with red cashmere blend socks for DD. They have ruffled tops and are amazingly soft and comfy. This will be followed by an Aran afghan for same DD, and a prayer shawl for DIL who drives a long distance to work everyday, requiring a lot of prayers on my part! Add to that all the family members who are grousing about not getting socks this year (5), an HP scarf for youngest GS, green cabled leg warmers for the Irish dancer, and the golf club covers I didn’t finish this year for DH…well, you see why I’m starting early.

I have to admit though that this is the kind of stress I LIKE! It gets me away from the approaching threat of tax season, new accounting clients, and all the other day-to-day things that drop in on us and make us want to yell, “Hey, can’t you see I’m busy here?” This time of year I develop a total inability to multi-task—it’s all just too much for me. So adding Christmas knitting makes me feel better all around. I just have to keep my priorities straight—knitting first, work second!

Ready, Set, Knit

It's SockapalOOOsz time! I have the yarn--Blue Moon Fiber Arts handpainted, superwash merino, in the Cobalt Bloom colorway. I am tossing around two patterns in my mind. Don't know which I'll use yet, but I'll let you know. I've never knitted with this wool before, but I love the softness and texture. I think it will make yummy socks. I may have to order lots more of this.

My Sock Sister said in a message this morning that there may be knitters out there who have finished their socks already. I'm fast, but not that fast! Anyway, I want to finish my Opal Dreamcatcher socks before I start. It's not that I'm a project purist--you know, finish one before you start another. I am far from it! I have about five projects going right now. But, I really like this Opal and the pattern I'm using, so I want to finish them so I can wear them. I am turning the heel on the second sock, and expect to be finished by tomorrow night. THEN, Sockapaloooza sock here I come.

What more could any knitter ask for, luscious yarn, Comfort Zone needles, and a sock pal eagerly awaiting my creation. Life is good!

I Missed It....

One of the things I hate about this time of year is that we're so busy at work that I miss all the good stuff. By the time I read my favorite blogs it is late at night and too late to address subjects of interest--plus, I can't think straight by then. So, I totally missed the bloggers (silent) poetry readings. Late or not, I would like to share one of my own works, from when I was very, very, VERY young and did crazy things like write poetry. This is for all my cat loving, knitting friends...

SAGA OF WEE WILLIE
Wee Willie was a wondrous cat
Of wildly vibrant fur.
A fat cat blessed with ego bold,
And rasp instead of purr.

Wee Willie won the cat fight
Weekly held on alley fence.
He waged the fight of wilder cats
Who prowl in jungle dense.

There was no match for Willie Boy...
No other cat his equal.
Which is precisely why this story
Does not have a sequel.

The drama started late one night
Behind the garbage cans.
there was the sound of wailing,
And clang of pots and pans.

Wee Willie took on Tiger Cat
Of fierce and savage stock.
Willie's spunk in battle
Was really quite a shock.

He slashed old Tiger with his claws...
Bit him with his fangs.
The Tiger rose to run away...
On that Wil's victory hangs.

As Willie reached out with his paw
To slash old Tige once more,
a withered shoe came flying through
An open alley door.

Tom Simpson yelled, "Take that you cat!"
At Tiger, as it hit.
Then Willie had the title won
Cats present would admit.

With forepaws poised, he shoved Tiger
right on off Tom Simpson's fence.
The cats joined in the mirthful squeals...
With details I'll dispense.

Except to say poor Tiger
Landed face down in the dirt,
And wanting to avoid more shame,
Pretended he was hurt.

He always said Wee Willie didn't
Fight a fair Cat's fight,
But no cat questions Willie's power
to rule the alley night.

And no cat wants to fight him,
Just in case old Tiger's right.
Katherine Myers

Opal!

The first Opal Dreamcatcher sock is coming along. I'm knitting with US #2 dpn's--not my favorite thing to do. I don't like to knit with anything smaller than a #3, but I do it when necessary. Using Comfort Zone needles helps a lot with comfort, but it seems like a project on #2's just goes on and on and on. I can't imagine how long it takes to knit a sock with #0's, and I'm not going to find out! I have to say, the Opal is great. I'm still loving the colors even if they are mostly a dull gray.

I got the yarn today for my Sockapaloooza socks. It's Blue Moon Fiber Arts' Socks That Rock yarn in the Cobalt Bloom colorway. Sooooo soft and yummy, I can't wait to start--which I will do as soon as the gray socks are finished. I may cast on sooner, but the "head-down" knitting will begin after the Dreamcatchers are on my feet.

I was really tickled by the comment on yesterday's entry. It's from my sock pal--the one who is knitting socks for me. I'm so excited about the promise of "over the top" socks, and I am one who enjoys over the top stuff!! I am currently wearing the Koolaid dyed lime green "Kiwi Waffle" socks. I had my hair cut this morning, and you know how your socks show at the bottom of your jeans when you sit down. Another customer came and hiked up my pants leg and said, "those are wild!" Yup, that's me, wild woman. Just ask my kids. Having six of them will make anyone wild.